🚢 Cayman Islands government raises port fees without informing opposition

The UPM Government of the Cayman Islands has been criticized for not informing all MPs about its plans to raise fees charged by the Port Authority at the start of the New Year. The opposition, alongside the wider community, was taken by surprise by the fee hikes, which were approved by the Cabinet. Progressives Leader Roy McTaggart has expressed concern that the increased fees will impact ordinary people and contribute to a higher cost of living. 🏝️

Despite these concerns, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has argued that the government fee increases will not be inflationary or adversely impact ordinary families. However, McTaggart insists that the rise in port fees will undoubtedly affect the cost of living. He also warned that the government's increasing expenditure will necessitate further increases in duties, fees, and other taxes. 📊

McTaggart has pledged that the Progressives Opposition will be vigilant in monitoring any further unexpected tax increases. He expressed concern about the potential impact on people's wallets, echoing his earlier warning during the budget debate. He also questioned how many more surprise tax increases would be revealed in the coming months as the government continues to fund its extensive spending spree in the last year of its term. 💼