Premier Ebanks praises his government’s performance

Hon. Premier Andre Ebanks, leader of the National Coalition For Caymanians(NCFC) administration, has given a robust defence of his government’s performance and plans as detailed in the recent Throne Speech, marking the opening of the new session of parliament.

In a rebuttal to Hon. Opposition Leader Joey Hew’s critique of the Throne Speech, Premier Ebanks said his government had taken on the challenges head-on since coming into power last April and is making impressive progress.

The Opposition Leader had lamented that Caymanians were not benefiting enough from Cayman’s success story, based on feedback received during a recent listening tour conducted throughout the jurisdiction.

Pointing to strong performances, particularly in the financial and tourism sectors, Mr Ebanks stated: “We are in a pretty good place internationally for our key business line. We now have to turn our focus and our energies and release those plans to focus on our people here at home…My submission to you is that the people have found hope in the NCFC government,” he asserted.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

One of the central issues of the 2025 election campaign, which brought the NCFC to power, was immigration. Premier Ebanks said that coming out of that hot-button political issue, policies are now being implemented. “The number one issue on the campaign trail, which was immigration reform, and while the consultations were going on, we heard over and over, ‘It couldn’t be done’. And now that it’s done - ‘Oh, it’s not that big a deal.’ Let’s be real, there’s meaningful momentum and the credit that’s there for the people to say the reason I have hope is that things are starting to get done.”

HOUSING

The Premier also defended the government’s programmes, outlining that several initiatives have been put in place and others amplified since they came into office.

“The minister has already delivered, for the first time in the country’s history, a 10-year housing plan…It took two to three caucuses to refine it and go through it to provide an overarching framework to now get started on it. Double the money has gone into housing repairs. Proof is in the pudding.”

Mr Ebanks also listed other steps being taken in housing, including relaunching and revamping the Cayman Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit (CHEER) Programme to make homes more energy-efficient. Action is also being taken on the GGHAM (Government Guaranteed Home Assisted Mortgage Programme) to help eligible Caymanians qualify for a zero-down payment mortgage.

He also outlined other actions underway or in the pipeline in healthcare, education, and other ministerial portfolios.

SMALL BUSINESSES

Premier Ebanks then zeroed in on claims by the Opposition Leader that small businesses were being shortchanged due to a lack of support.

“No mention from the Official Opposition on plans that already involve small businesses. For the first time in Cayman’s business license history, you now have multi-year licenses, so people can cut out the red tape, which was the request from the other side. Cut out the red tape and buy up to five years. It launched at the end of April, and there are already 300 issued…We saw that the micro and small business program was working for years, so we said: ‘You know what? Let’s just not do what’s been done before and roll it over for another two years, and then do it another two years’. We decided to make it more permanent and bake it into regulation, and more plans are coming, because we’re only one year in.”

In closing, Premier Ebanks stated: “I think it’s come right back full circle to say ‘serious minds in this parliament want to complete serious matters for the people of this country, so that they can feel the success that some of the financial world feel right here at home…Let’s just get to work.”