AGP Executive Report

Premier Office Update: Karie Bergstrom is set to become Premier André Ebanks’ chief of staff on 1 October, bringing professional and financial services leadership and board experience, with a remit covering strategic policy advice and day-to-day coordination across ministries. Small Business Support: Caymanian Times launches a new Small Business Initiative next week, with a six-month job-advertising package starting 14 September (CI$99 for up to three ads). Housing Accountability: The Auditor General’s housing findings are feeding fresh political pressure, with the OAG flagging gaps in the government’s housing strategy and performance reporting, and the PPM/Progressives calling it a turning point for holding government to account. Regulatory & Insurance: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September for unpaid fees/penalties and solvency and filing failures; AM Best also affirmed GUNA Re’s ratings after a capital injection resolved balance-sheet uncertainty. Tourism & Hospitality: Stay-over tourism hit record momentum, and MPLAHI named Cayman’s 2026 Young Hospitality Champions ahead of March 2027 world finals. Industry & Finance Ecosystem: Enterprise Cayman and DMZ welcomed 18 ventures into the Launch Labs incubator, while the Cayman Islands Financial Services Institute earned CPD accreditation.

Financial Services & Regulation: Cayman Islands Financial Services Institute (FSI) earns CPD Accreditation, letting eligible courses issue CPD certificates for AML, financial crime risk management, governance and the Cayman regulatory framework. Insurance Oversight: CIMA revokes Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September after fee, solvency margin and audited statement failures; the insurer can appeal to Grand Court. Reinsurance Ratings: AM Best affirms GUNA Re (Cayman Islands) at A- with stable outlook after removing it from under-review negative implications, following an ITOCHU capital injection that restored capital after accounting-related erosion. Housing Accountability: Auditor General findings on gaps in the 10-year housing strategy and public housing delivery keep pressure on government, with PPM calling for stronger accountability and faster fixes. Tourism & Hospitality: Cayman’s stay-over tourism hits record highs for the year-to-date period, while MPLAHI names 2026 Young Chef/Waiter/Mixologist champions who will represent Cayman at world finals in March 2027. Payments & Remittances: JN Money partners with WapiPay to expand remittance options to Jamaica via JN Money’s payout infrastructure. Startup Ecosystem: Enterprise Cayman and DMZ Launch Labs Incubator welcomes 18 ventures, with Enterprise Cayman adding more programme partners. Aviation Service: Cayman Airways rolls out “Refund Protect” across routes with Protect Group managing refunds end-to-end.

Housing Accountability: The Auditor General’s latest housing findings are pushing the PPM to demand stronger delivery and reporting, while the OAG flags gaps in the government’s 10-year housing strategy and calls for faster legislative action. Housing Fees & Access: Government confirmed revised driving licence and related fees take effect 1 September, cutting non-Caymanian full licence differentials and adding longer-term Caymanian discounts. Tourism & Travel Demand: Cayman welcomed a record 333,747 stay-over visitors in Jan–July (+11%), with July stay-over arrivals up 10% as cruise numbers fell but stayed ahead year-to-date. Insurance Regulation: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September for fee, solvency, and filing failures. Reinsurance Ratings: AM Best affirmed GUNA Re (Cayman) at A-/a- with stable outlook after removing it from under-review status following an ITOCHU capital injection. Industry & Business: IMAC’s annual gala silent auction opens for its scholarship fund, and Cayman Airways launched “Refund Protect” with Protect Group across all routes. Crypto & Compliance: A pay-to-play influencer dispute is under WORC investigation, while US regulators warn consumers about unregulated offshore DeFi exchanges.

Tourism & Consumer Watch: A Delta flight attendant visiting the Cayman Islands has triggered complaints and a WORC investigation over alleged “pay-to-play” social media influencing, with claims she posts positive or negative reviews based on whether local businesses pay. Insurance & Regulation: AM Best affirmed GUNA Re’s A- financial strength and “a-” issuer credit rating after removing it from review, citing a capital injection from ITOCHU following accounting-related capital erosion. Housing Oversight: The Auditor General flagged gaps in the government’s 10-year housing strategy and called for faster action on key legislation, including the Residential Tenancies Act. CIMA Enforcement: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence after fee, solvency margin, and audited statement failures. Tourism Numbers: Cayman recorded record stayover growth—333,747 overnight guests Jan–Jul (+11%)—with July stayover arrivals up 10% year-on-year. Payments & Remittances: JN Money and WapiPay expanded ways to send money to Jamaica, using JN Money’s local payout infrastructure. Aviation Commerce: Cayman Airways rolled out “Refund Protect” across routes via Protect Group. Industry Growth: Enterprise Cayman and DMZ added Eightpoint Technologies as a Programme Partner for the Launch Labs incubator.

Tourism & Hospitality: Cayman welcomed a record 333,747 stay-over guests in Jan–Jul 2026 (+11%), with July alone up 10% to 45,053; cruise passenger numbers fell 23% in July but were up 4% year-to-date, while hotel occupancy hit 66.7% (+9.4%) and ADR rose 7.6%. Housing Oversight: The Auditor General says gaps in the government’s 10-year housing strategy and programmes leave affordability worsening, with no clear reporting back to parliament and urgent legislative steps still lagging. Regulation & Finance (Insurance): CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 Sept after missed licence fees/penalties, solvency margin shortfalls, and failure to file audited accounts; an appeal route to Grand Court is available. Cayman Business & Industry (Startups/Tech): Eightpoint Technologies joined Enterprise Cayman and DMZ as a Programme Partner for the 14-week Launch Labs Incubator (Sept 1–Dec 4). Payments: JN Money Services partnered with WapiPay to expand cross-border remittance payout options to Jamaica via JN Money’s local infrastructure. Aviation Commerce: Cayman Airways launched “Refund Protect” with Protect Group across all routes and markets. Reinsurance & Capital Markets: Greenlight Capital Re added John Welch to its board as an independent director. Critical Minerals (Corporate Structure): NT1 agreed to merge with Plutonian Acquisition Corp II, with a Cayman exempted company set to list on the NYSE.

Cayman Housing Oversight: The Auditor General says the government’s 10-year housing plan has gaps on strategy, performance tracking and risk management, with no clear reporting back to parliament and key legislation potentially years away. CIMA Captive Update: Cayman Islands Monetary Authority revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September after fee, solvency margin and audited statement failures. Insurance Leadership: Greenlight Capital Re added John Welch to its board as an independent director, strengthening underwriting and actuarial oversight. Captive Industry Call: Nominations are open for the Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026, spotlighting the people and firms behind the island’s captive insurance sector. Tourism Momentum: Cayman recorded record stayover growth—333,747 overnight guests in Jan–Jul (+11%)—with July stayovers up 10% year-on-year. Travel Services: Cayman Airways rolled out “Refund Protect” across all routes and markets via Protect Group. Fintech/Payments: JN Money and WapiPay expanded remittance options for sending money to Jamaica using JN Money’s local payout network. Tech & Startups: Eightpoint Technologies joined Enterprise Cayman and DMZ as a Programme Partner for the Launch Labs incubator. Critical Minerals Deal: NT1 agreed to merge with Plutonian Acquisition Corp. II, with a Cayman exempted company set to list on the NYSE and target a 2027 close. Crypto Regulation Warning: Attorney General Tong warned consumers about unregulated offshore DeFi exchanges and the lack of protections for retail investors.

Insurance & Regulation: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September after the captive missed licence fee payments, failed solvency margin requirements, and did not file audited financials for 2024. Housing Oversight: The Auditor General says gaps in the government’s 10-year housing strategy and housing policy include weak performance measurement and risk management, with no clear reporting back to Parliament on public housing spending. Tourism & Travel Services: Cayman stay-over tourism hit a record 333,747 overnight guests in Jan–Jul (+11%), while July alone brought 45,053 (+10%); Cayman Airways also rolled out “Refund Protect” across all routes and markets via Protect Group. Cayman Captives & Finance: IMAC opened its annual gala silent auction to fund its Educational Scholarship Fund, while Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026 nominations are now open. Tech & Business Growth: Eightpoint Technologies joined Enterprise Cayman and DMZ as a Programme Partner for the 14-week Launch Labs Incubator. Reinsurance Leadership: Greenlight Capital Re added John Welch and Ariel Warszawski to its board.

Tourism Pulse: Cayman recorded a record 333,747 stay-over guests in Jan–Jul 2026 (+11% vs 2025), with July alone up 10% to 45,053; cruise passenger numbers fell 23% in July but were up 4% year-to-date, keeping overall Jan–Jul visitor totals at 1,058,781 (+6.2%). Housing & Public Value: The Auditor General says Cayman’s affordable housing programmes aren’t delivering value for money and highlights a widening affordability gap as rents and mortgage costs outpace incomes. Insurance Regulation: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 Sept 2026 for unpaid fees/penalties, solvency margin shortfalls, and failure to file audited statements. Cayman Finance & Governance: Finance ministry disputes claims it already spent over half of the CI$252.3m mid-year surplus, arguing approvals set limits rather than confirming payouts. Healthcare Workforce: Doctors Hospital launched a two-year apprenticeship programme for young Caymanians, targeting support roles across marketing/business development, supply chain, and information technology. Industry Recognition: Cayman Motoring Federation won the FIA José Abed Award for STEM Racing Cayman Islands, linking motorsport education with engineering and tech skills. Air Travel Add-on: Cayman Airways rolled out “Refund Protect” across routes via Protect Group, offering enhanced refund terms at checkout. Captive Sector Spotlight: Nominations are open for the Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026 (closing 27 Sept). Business & Capital Markets: Greenlight Capital Re appointed John Welch as an independent director, adding to board changes announced earlier this year.

Insurance & Captives: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 September after missed licence fees/penalties, solvency and capital shortfalls, and failure to file audited 2024 financials—though the firm can appeal to Grand Court. Reinsurance Governance: Greenlight Capital Re named John Welch as an independent director, adding actuarial and underwriting experience to the board alongside Ariel Warszawski. Tech & Startups: Eightpoint Technologies joined Enterprise Cayman and DMZ as a Programme Partner for the 14-week Launch Labs Incubator (Sept 1–Dec 4), backing ventures across tech, fintech, AI and consumer solutions. Tourism & Travel Services: Cayman welcomed 333,747 stayover guests Jan–July (+11%); July alone saw 45,053 stayovers (+10%), while cruise passenger numbers fell 23% in July. Cayman Airways also rolled out Protect Group’s Refund Protect across all routes and markets. Healthcare Workforce: Doctors Hospital launched a two-year apprenticeship programme for young Caymanians, targeting support roles across marketing/business development, supply chain and information systems. Housing Oversight: The Auditor General’s affordable housing report says Caymanians face a widening affordability gap and criticises value-for-money and oversight across 2019–2024.

Healthcare & Regulation: Mervyn Conolly retires after 45+ years, including leadership roles in Cayman’s hospital expansion and health insurance regulation. Insurance Oversight: CIMA revoked Progressive Grocers Insurance SPC’s Class B(ii) licence effective 1 Sept, citing unpaid fees/penalties, solvency margin shortfalls, and missing audited statements; the firm can appeal to Grand Court. Tourism & Hospitality: Cayman logged record stay-over growth—333,747 overnight guests Jan–July (+11%)—with July stay-overs up 10% and hotel performance strengthening (occupancy +9.4%, ADR +7.6%). Aviation Services: Cayman Airways partners with Protect Group to roll out “Refund Protect” across all routes and markets. Housing Accountability: The Auditor General released a report on government’s affordable housing approach (2019–2024), highlighting a widening affordability gap and value-for-money concerns. Local Business & Talent: Doctors Hospital launches a two-year apprenticeship programme for young Caymanians across support roles (marketing, supply chain, information tech). Cayman Finance & Markets: Eightpoint Technologies joins Enterprise Cayman and DMZ as a Programme Partner for Launch Labs; Greenlight Capital Re adds new independent directors. Tech & Crypto: Toobit is featured in CoinGecko’s 2026 security report; Bit Origin rebrands to SANGRIX (Cayman-incorporated) ahead of a Nasdaq ticker change. Critical Minerals: NT1 plans a $500m merger with Plutonian Acquisition Corp II, with the combined entity set to list on NYSE.

Reinsurance Governance: Greenlight Capital Re appoints John Welch as an independent director, adding fresh underwriting and actuarial experience to its board after Ariel Warszawski’s election. Critical Minerals Deal: NT1 Pty Ltd has signed a merger agreement with Plutonian Acquisition Corp II, setting up a Cayman Islands exempted company structure and a planned 2027 close tied to rare earth and other minerals exploration. Aviation Customer Service: Cayman Airways partners with Protect Group to roll out “Refund Protect” across all routes and markets, giving passengers enhanced refund terms at checkout. Housing Affordability Check: The Auditor General says housing remains unaffordable for most Caymanians and that government programmes have not delivered favorable value for money, while government points to its new policy and 10-year plan as the next step. Tourism Numbers: July stayover arrivals hit 45,053 (+10% year over year), marking a ninth straight month of growth, with cruise passenger totals down but still ahead year to date. Local Skills Pipeline: Doctors Hospital launches a two-year apprenticeship programme aimed at growing Cayman’s next healthcare workforce through supervised placements in support roles. Driving Fees Update: Revised DVDL fee structure takes effect 1 September, reducing non-Caymanian licence differentials and offering Caymanian discounts for longer-term licences. Cayman Captives Spotlight: Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026 nominations open, with entries closing 27 September. Healthcare Education: UCCI’s STEM Summer Camp marks its 10th anniversary with hands-on robotics, renewable energy, and science projects for ages 10–13.

Aviation & Travel Flexibility: Cayman Airways is rolling out “Refund Protect” with Protect Group, letting passengers request refunds for qualifying unforeseen circumstances across all routes and markets, including via the mobile app. Local Governance & Housing: The Auditor General says housing remains unaffordable for most Caymanians and that government programmes aren’t delivering favorable value for money, as a separate government response points to ongoing implementation of housing reforms. Tourism Performance: Cayman welcomed 45,053 stayover visitors in July 2026 (+10% year-on-year) for a ninth straight month of stayover growth, while cruise passenger numbers dipped in July but stayed ahead year-to-date. Workforce Development: Doctors Hospital launched a two-year Apprenticeship Programme for young Caymanians, combining coursework with supervised placements in support roles across departments including supply chain and information tech. Industry Recognition: Cayman Motoring Federation won the FIA José Abed Award for STEM Racing Cayman Islands, highlighting motorsport education and youth STEM pathways. Corporate & Finance: Bit Origin rebranded to SANGRIX Inc. and will trade on Nasdaq under “SGRX,” while Cayman-linked investment and reinsurance items included Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026 nominations opening and a Bermuda life reinsurance sidecar market update.

Healthcare & Workforce: Doctors Hospital launched a two-year Apprenticeship Programme for young Caymanians, combining coursework with supervised placements in support roles across Marketing & Business Development, Supply Chain Management and Information Services. Housing Affordability: The Auditor General says government housing programmes aren’t delivering value for money and that rents and prices have outpaced incomes, leaving many Caymanians priced out. Tourism & Jobs: Cayman recorded its ninth straight month of stayover growth, with 45,053 visitors in July (+10% year-on-year) and 333,747 stayovers Jan–Jul (+11%). Motorsport Education: Cayman Motoring Federation won the FIA José Abed Award for STEM Racing Cayman Islands, highlighting engineering and teamwork pathways for students. Cruise Construction: Oceania Cruises floated out its next-gen Oceania Sonata in Italy, a major milestone ahead of an August 2027 debut. Local Policy & Fees: Revised driving licence fees take effect 1 September, reducing non-Caymanian rates and adding longer-term discounts for Caymanians. Cayman Finance & Markets: A report notes hedge funds are emerging as major U.S. Treasury holders, amplifying bond-market volatility—Cayman is cited among top holders.

Cayman Housing Watch: The Office of the Auditor General says Cayman’s affordable housing push hasn’t delivered value for money, citing a widening affordability gap as rents and mortgage costs rise; Government replies that its 2025 policy and 10-year plan are already underway and built from broad consultation. Driving Licence Fees: Revised DVDL fee changes take effect 1 September 2026, cutting non-Caymanian full licence fees and adding discounts for Caymanians buying longer-term licences. Captive Insurance Spotlight: Nominations are open for the 8th annual Captive Review Cayman Awards 2026, with entries closing 27 September. Cayman Industry & Finance: Symbiotic appoints Mahendran Nathan as Global Head of Onchain Solutions, while NAIC adopts a new C-1 life RBC framework for CLOs—both signals of shifting risk and capital rules. Local Business & Skills: UCCI’s STEM Summer Camp marks 10 years, and Hello2Hired returns with a strong jobseeker turnout. Trade & Logistics: Port Authority executes specialized offshore cargo transfer in Grand Cayman.

Housing Oversight: The Office of the Auditor General says Cayman’s affordable housing programmes (2019–2024) haven’t delivered value for money, as rents and prices outpaced incomes, putting more pressure on Caymanians. Driver’s Licence Fees: Revised DVDL fee changes take effect 1 September 2026, cutting non-Caymanian full licence fees and adding discounts for Caymanians buying longer-term licences. Local Waste & Recycling: Cayman Brac recycling has restarted, but it still depends on residents sorting and driving to drop-offs, with no full pick-up plan in sight. Employment Pipeline: The Ministry’s Hello2Hired recruitment push brought 91 Caymanian jobseekers to a second event with 24 employers, aiming to turn turnout into real hires. STEM for Industry: UCCI’s STEM Summer Camp marked 10 years, training young Caymanians in robotics, renewable energy, 3D printing and hands-on science. Finance & Corporate: Greenlight Capital Re adds two independent directors; Cayman-incorporated NorthStrive Acquisition Corp begins separate trading of shares, rights and warrants on Nasdaq. Construction & Design: Jomai’s “Glory of Galaxy” wins Gold at the A’ Construction and Real Estate Projects Design Award.

Reinsurance & Governance: Greenlight Capital Re appointed John Welch as an independent director, adding fresh underwriting and actuarial expertise to its board. AI & Media Services: Baosheng BVI signed an AI cooperation framework with DirectBooking Technology to expand AI-enabled marketing, brand promotion, and direct-booking systems. Housing Oversight: The Office of the Auditor General says government affordable housing programmes (2019–2024) aren’t delivering value for money, as costs and rents rose sharply; Government welcomed the findings and pointed to its newer 10-year housing policy and plan. Driving Licence Fees: Revised DVDL fee structure takes effect 1 September 2026, cutting non-Caymanian full licence differentials and offering Caymanian discounts for longer-term licences. Local Employment: MCEI’s Hello2Hired event connected 91 Caymanian jobseekers with 24 employers across hospitality, finance, retail and more. STEM Pipeline: UCCI marked 10 years of STEM camps, with hands-on robotics, renewable energy, 3D printing and physics demos for ages 10–13. Recycling Update (Brac): Cayman Brac recycling has relaunched with drop-off sites and limited materials (PET/HDPE plastics plus cans/aluminium), but still no full pick-up plan. Crypto Market Pulse: Toobit’s HALLU presale sold out in just over a minute, followed by a spot trading rewards campaign. Industry Finance: NorthStrive Acquisition Corp I (a Cayman exempted company) begins separate trading of its shares, rights and warrants on Nasdaq from 2 September.