Dentons buys HSM Chambers as Premier denies leadership challenge

The Kiddiewinks affair continued to dominate political coverage. Premier André Ebanks dismissed reports that members of his government were weighing a leadership challenge over the purchase of the former West Bay preschool, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday 3 November, Cayman Marl Road reported. He described the National Coalition for Caymanians as "a unified team" following a review into the acquisition, according to the Cayman Compass and the Cayman Independent. Cayman News Service reported that Ebanks said he did not recuse himself from the decision because there was no conflict, even though one of the property owners, Jen Stein, had nominated him for office at the last general election.

In professional services, global firm Dentons is expanding in Cayman through the acquisition of HSM Chambers, taking over its Fort Street offices in George Town, the Cayman Independent reported. The same publication said the Premier is pressing for US recognition of Cayman as a qualified jurisdiction for reinsurance, with an application submitted to the insurance regulator in August, and reported that Greenlight Re has returned to profit, that Oxbridge Re discussed tokenisation at the Uncorrelated Cayman event, and that Cayman has joined the launch of a Commonwealth family office investment network.

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority has begun redesigning banknotes to carry the image of King Charles III, the Cayman Compass reported.

On labour and immigration, Cayman News Service said the first monthly Cayman Hiring Report logged at least 2,347 positions from 838 employers across 1,388 adverts in October, highlighting very low advertised wages. Customs and Border Control director Marlon Bodden urged roughly 800 overstayers to use a one-month amnesty, Cayman Marl Road reported. Healthcare leaders, meanwhile, are urging public-private coordination and specialist centres of excellence to curb duplication and costs, per the Compass.