CAYMANIAN TIMES: 2025 REVIEWED - THE BIG ISSUES

For Cayman, 2025 was more than ‘just another year’. In fact, judging from the issues that arose and which we covered over the past 12 months, Caymanian Times can say with a great degree of certainty that 2025 was definitely ‘one of those years’. It will be a year that will long be remembered, especially for the politics, the policies, the personalities, and the social trends.

For this annual review, we’ll focus on two main issues, as usual. But this year being the year that it was, we’ve given two other matters ‘a mention’.

When, at the end of 2024, we editorialised ‘2025: A Year of Change Coming For Cayman’, we knew that something was afoot. But little could we have forecast the extent and footprint of the change that was on its way.

The outcome of the April 2025 election was a game-changer, and not just for the way it remapped the political landscape. More importantly, one promised policy is already causing seismic shifts throughout the society.

The reinstatement of the Caymanian Protection Law, updated to address the politically, economically, and socially sensitive issue of migration, is a realisation of  commitments straight out of the 2025 (and previous) election campaigns demanding that Caymanians get a priority slice of the economic and job opportunities pie.

Running parallel with the preferential access to jobs and opportunities for promotion is the issue of acquiring Caymanian status, a contentious issue for quite some time. The implications of the changes are far-reaching and will define eligibility for Caymanian status and Cayman identity for generations to come.

The label, National Coalition For Caymanians(NCFC), under which the present government functions, is to us more than just a title for a coalition of two parties and two independents. It’s a statement of intent…and the intention is already manifesting itself through the revised and updated Caymanian Protection Law.

But it should not be a blunt instrument. For 2026, we expect to see other wrap-around policies supporting this core ideal.

In that vein, reflecting on its coalition formation in 2025, the NCFC will be under close and intense scrutiny as it takes Cayman forward in 2026 and the generational implications, especially of its immigration and other policy agenda.

THE REGION

When we look back at 2025, the devastation wrought on Jamaica by late season Hurricane Melissa, has carved out its own chapter. This disaster is indelibly recorded as not just a milestone event in Jamaica’s history, but a case study by meteorological experts for its intensity. Equally, disaster management professionals will be assessing the pre-impact preparation and the ongoing recovery efforts for lessons learnt.

THE WORLD

There is no question that the second Donald Trump presidency in the United States is having consequences far beyond the borders of the United States. From trade to conflict arbitration, the Trump way of doing things has the world’s attention for the way it appears eagle-eyed focused on rewriting the rulebooks - and even rewiring global processes.

The effects are already being felt not just as ripples but for their tsunami level impact.

For America, the Trump administration, and the world, 2026 will be decisive…especially with the US midterm elections pending.

...AND BACK HOME IN CAYMAN

When those issues are considered in the context of the banner under which the new government operates, the pieces come together to underline why we at Caymanian Times say with a great degree of certainty that 2025 was definitely ‘one of those years’.

For this 2025 review, there are two other issues that impacted the news cycle this year that we feel deserve mentioning.

We still grieve over the disappearance of our media colleague, the much-loved and respected Andrel Harris. Whatever the reason and outcome of his disappearance, the void he left will remain unfilled.

Another media matter that started trending in late 2025 with much attention and speculation involved Caymanian Times. In that vein, we wish to reassure our readers that your community paper, Caymanian Times, will continue to serve you with the high quality of content you expect and have become accustomed to.

Caymanian Times is here to stay!!!