Cayman Islands Research Articles

The Infrastructural Power of the Cayman Islands and the US State Power: A Financial Networks Centrality Approach

ABSTRACT This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between the Cayman Islands and the centrality of the United States (US) in global financial networks, using their connection as a test case for a broader theory of how infrastructural power of states is achieved through transnational and networked strategies. The legal and financial infrastructure of the Cayman Islands is extensively used by US financial institutions. This infrastructure supports the development of a significantly US-centric fund industry, facilitating substantial investments into US capital markets. Additionally, it serves as a global conduit, channelling funds from regions such as Asia and Latin America into US markets, streamlining the process by which foreign investors acquire US securities, and supporting the development of complex USD-denominated financial products. This dynamic enhances the depth, liquidity, and complexity of US capital markets, thereby reinforcing US centrality in global financial networks and bolstering its geopolitical power through financial diplomacy, economic sanctions, regulatory influence, and control over critical financial infrastructure. The relationship underscores the infrastructural power of the Cayman Islands, whose financial and legal framework is essential for sustaining and amplifying US centrality. Consequently, this paper aims to integrate the transnational perspective on infrastructural power within the International Political Economy (IPE) and Geopolitics literature, demonstrating how the Cayman Islands function as a multifaceted networked site that strengthens, projects, and sustains US state power on a global scale.

Robots replacing human arbitrators: the legal dilemma

ABSTRACT Robots are slowly replacing humans in many areas of the economy. This paper compares the current-day arbitration laws of Australia, Cayman Islands, European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Qatar, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which are considered arbitration friendly. The paper confirms that the respective arbitration laws do not clearly and unequivocally provide for a robot to be used as an arbitrator. It is well understood that robots today do not have the emotional or social intelligence, such as bias, that a human naturally brings to the arbitration table. There are four streams of studies on this issue: AI-powered arbitrator, AI arbitration, AI-assisted arbitration, and a robot as arbitrator. However, none of these is clearly defined by arbitration law. This paper argues that the current day laws do not provide for robots to replace the human arbitrator, and must retain the status quo. Any law reform to allow a robot to replace the human arbitrator, would be a jump too far, and would significantly diminish the long-standing reputation that arbitration has as an effective legal mechanism for resolving international commercial and investor-state disputes.

Reproductive Risk Factor Patterns in Caribbean Women With Breast Cancer Across 4 Generations

Breast cancer (BC) is commonly diagnosed among Caribbean women. Shifts in reproductive patterns modify the incidence of BC diagnosis and age at BC diagnosis in population-based studies; however, reproductive patterns in Caribbean women remain understudied. To describe the temporal trends in reproductive patterns and age at BC diagnosis in Caribbean-born women. A cross-sectional observational study-the Caribbean Women's Cancer Study-was conducted, with data on reproductive patterns known to affect BC risk collected in The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Participants were recruited prospectively. The sample included women born in Caribbean countries and diagnosed with invasive BC and/or ovarian cancer from June 1, 2010, to June 30, 2018, and was divided into 4 birth cohorts (born before 1950, 1950-1959, 1960-1969, and in or after 1970). Data were analyzed between August 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. Receipt of a BC diagnosis and birth in a Caribbean country. Change in reproductive patterns between birth cohorts, including age at BC diagnosis, family history of cancer, age at first pregnancy, number of pregnancies, number of full-term pregnancies, number of siblings, age at menarche and menopause, estrogen receptor status, and germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants. Of 1015 participants diagnosed with BC and ovarian cancer, 995 women (mean [SD] age, 46.6 [10.8] years; 605 [81.8%] Afro-Caribbean, 98 [13.2%] East Indian, 22 [3.0%] White, and 12 [1.6%] >1 race) received a diagnosis of invasive BC. Comparison from older to younger birth cohorts (presented in the order of born before 1950, 1950-1959, 1960-1969 and in or after 1970) showed an increased proportion of women experiencing menarche at age 12 years or younger (33.0% vs 47.3% vs 45.5% vs 57.9%; P < .001), women with no pregnancies (6.8% vs 6.8% vs 10.5% vs 22.8%; P < .001), and nulliparous women (8.6% vs 9.2% vs 13.9% vs 27.6%; P < .001). Younger age at BC diagnosis was observed in women experiencing menarche at age 12 years or younger (mean [SD], 45.0 [10.5] years) vs 15 years or older (mean [SD], 49.1 [11.2] years) and in nulliparous women (mean [SD], 42.1 [11.2] years) vs 3 or more full-term pregnancies (mean [SD], 49.9 [10.6] years; P < .001). For every year of first pregnancy delay, women had a 4% increased chance of being diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive tumors (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P = .02). In this cross-sectional study, between each 10-year birth cohort, women diagnosed with BC had a lower age at menarche, number of pregnancies, and number of full-term pregnancies. These findings suggest that interventions targeting other BC risk factors need to be implemented.

Genomics of historical museum collections clarifies species diversity in Cuban hutias (Capromys)

Abstract Specimen-based taxonomic research is essential for understanding diversity and setting management frameworks for threatened mammal faunas, and ancient DNA techniques are increasingly used to extract information from taxonomically relevant historical specimens. The largest survivors of the depleted Caribbean mammal fauna are hutias in the genus Capromys, which is usually interpreted as containing a single species, C. pilorides. Previous studies have demonstrated genetic differentiation of Capromys populations across Cuba, but infrageneric species diversity and nomenclature remain unclear. We conducted ancient DNA analysis of historical Capromys samples using cytochrome b and complete mitogenome data sets, and including the 19th-century holotypes of 2 species now considered synonyms, C. fournieri and C. geayi. Our analyses identify distinct western and central/eastern Capromys clades that diverged 1.75 Mya based upon mitogenome data. These clades are separated by the Havana–Matanzas Channel, which represented a barrier to dispersal throughout the Neogene–Quaternary. Divergence date comparisons with other hutia species provide support for interpreting divergence between Capromys populations as species-level differentiation. Although we were unable to yield amplifiable DNA from the C. fournieri holotype, our analyses confidently assign the C. geayi holotype to the western Capromys clade. We therefore recognize 2 extant Capromys species: C. geayi (western Cuba) and C. pilorides (central/eastern Cuba and Cayman Islands).

Joint Liability: A Brief History of the Criminalization of Cannabis, Ganja, Marihuana and Marijuana in the Cayman Islands and Pathways towards Legalization or Decriminalization

Abstract This paper chronicles legislative developments in the Cayman Islands regarding the movement towards decriminalizing marijuana use and possession through various legislative measures. The exposition commences with an explanation on the nuanced contrast between decriminalization and full legalization. Subsequently, it delves into the historical evolution of legislation governing marijuana-related offences and offenders. Judicial interpretations arising from these statutory changes are also examined. Additionally, the article critically evaluates the legislative reforms pertaining to the expungement of offences associated with marijuana. Finally, it offers recommendations to address identified statutory anomalies and discrepancies, with a view to establishing a viable legislative framework conducive to achieving the objectives of decriminalization.

Neutron Activation Analysis Reveals Jamaican Origin of Afro-Caribbean Ware Excavated from the Cayman Islands

Neutron Activation Analysis Reveals Jamaican Origin of Afro-Caribbean Ware Excavated from the Cayman Islands

Corrigendum: Renewed occurrence of schooling scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and of great hammerhead (S. mokarran) sharks in the Cayman Islands

Corrigendum: Renewed occurrence of schooling scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and of great hammerhead (S. mokarran) sharks in the Cayman Islands

Phenotypic variability of Montastraea cavernosa and Porites astreoides along a depth gradient from shallow to mesophotic reefs in the Cayman Islands

Phenotypic variability is the ability of the same species to express different phenotypes under different environmental conditions. Several coral species that exist along a broad depth distribution have been shown to differ in skeletal morphology and nutrient acquisition at different depths, which has been attributed to variability in response to differing levels of light availability. This study examined the phenotypic variability of two common depth generalist corals, Montastraea cavernosa and Porites astreoides, along a gradient from 10 to 50 m in the Cayman Islands, by examining changes in skeletal morphology, photophysiology, symbiont cell density, and chlorophyll concentration. Skeletal features of M. cavernosa were found to increase in size from 10 to 30 m, but returned to smaller sizes from 30 to 50 m, while P. astreoides skeletal features continued to increase in size from 10 to 40 m. No differences were observed in either symbiont density or chlorophyll concentration across depths for either species. However, all photophysiological parameters exhibited significant depth-dependent variations in both species, revealing adaptive strategies to different light environments. These results suggest that both species have high variability in response to depth. Patterns of skeletal morphology and photophysiology, however, suggest that M. cavernosa may be more variable in regulating photosynthetic efficiency compared to P. astreoides, which likely facilitates the broader depth distribution of this species.

Comparative Analysis of Data Protection Laws in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands

Comparative Analysis of Data Protection Laws in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands

Ultimate beneficial holders of offshore bonds are contingent creditors for winding up proceedings

There has been a recent flurry of decisions from offshore common law jurisdictions dealing with the issue of whether the ultimate beneficial holder in a New York law bond structure has standing as a “ contingent creditor” to present a winding up petition (or the local procedural equivalent) against the Issuer. First-instance courts in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Hong Kong have held that the ultimate beneficial holder is not a contingent creditor for this purpose. The BVI Commercial Court has held that it is. The BVI decision had been appealed by the company, but this has now been withdrawn. In view of the lack of consideration of the issue at the appellate level, this article examines the reasoning of the decisions in detail. It concludes that the approach taken in the BVI is correct. The approach taken in the other jurisdictions is flawed, based on an erroneous conflation between privity of contract and creditor status and relies on unsound case law that has been rejected by more recent authority from the UK Supreme Court.

What’s on the Cayman Islands regulatory horizon for trustees?

Abstract The article outlines the main regulatory changes on the horizon in the Cayman Islands that are of relevance to trustees. It provides an update as to Cayman Islands Monetary Authority’s (CIMA) priorities, based on a presentation given by the Managing Director of CIMA at Mourant’s 2024 Regulatory Seminar, the overriding concern being to ensure that the Cayman Islands remains at the forefront of technical compliance with the Financial Action Task Force 40 Recommendations. It also considers one of the larger regulatory changes on the horizon, the incoming changes to the Cayman Islands beneficial ownership regime.

FDI technology spillovers in Chinese supplier-customer networks

This paper examines foreign direct investment (FDI) technology spillovers between firms in a supply chain and analyzes the mechanism behind their occurrence. Results using firm-level transaction data from China between 2009 and 2020 show that, unlike inter-industry linkage effects, in the Chinese market, FDI technology spillovers can directly occur through connections between suppliers and customers, demonstrating the existence of inter-firm technology spillover effects of FDI. Further analysis reveals that FDI technology spillovers between firms are generated through channels of knowledge transfer and optimized supply chain configurations, predominantly observed in state-owned firms, small and medium-sized firms, the manufacturing sector, and high-tech industries. Upon analyzing the detailed breakdown of FDI sources, it was found that FDI from developed countries exhibits inter-firm technology spillover effects. In contrast, FDI from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions, developing countries, and tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands show insignificant effects on inter-firm technology spillovers. These conclusions offer policy insights for China and other developing countries to better utilize FDI to promote the development of local firms in the context of the sustained global supply chain restructuring.

Diagenetic development of rhizoliths in the Ironshore Formation (Pleistocene) of the Cayman Islands

Rhizoliths in the Ironshore Formation on the Cayman Islands, up to 12 cm in diameter and 1 m long, developed in skeletal grainstones that accumulated on sand flats above high tide level. Internally, these well-preserved rhizoliths are characterized by well-defined concentric zones, centered around the central root opening, that reflect radial variations in calcite–aragonite content, decreases in micrite content, increases in porosity, and radial variations in trace element (e.g., Ca, Ni, S, Si, and Sr) concentrations. The stable isotopes, δ13C and δ18O, which vary in accord with the internal zones are more variable than the δ13C and δ18O of the host sediments. For the rhizoliths there is a high correlation between the δ13C and δ18O values and the calcite content. The contrast between the rhizoliths and their host sediments is largely a reflection of the more intense diagenetic processes that were largely mediated by the microbial populations that were concentrated in the rhizosphere that developed around each plant root. Microbial activity, which mediated micritization of the skeletal sands and micrite precipitation in the intergranular pores, was largely responsible for development of the internal zonation in the rhizoliths. Use of the δ13C values to determine if the rhizoliths developed in association with C3 or C4 vegetation failed because the δ13C values correlate with the calcite content that developed largely as diagenetic products.

Depth Range Extension for the Misty Grouper Hyporthodus mystacinus Documented via Deep-Sea Landers throughout the Greater Caribbean

Misty Groupers (Hyporthodus mystacinus) are one of the largest and most geographically widespread grouper species and one of the few grouper species known to occur at depths greater than 200 m. However, aspects of their basic biology, behavior, and ecology remain poorly understood, leaving significant gaps in our ability to evaluate their functional role throughout the vertical water column, as well as our understanding of their conservation needs in a changing ocean. Through in-situ video observation obtained using deep-sea landers in both The Bahamas and Cayman Islands over multiple years, we documented Misty Grouper occurrence up to 470 m depth in the mesopelagic zone. These observations provide a new depth range extension for the species and illuminate the potential importance of deep-water habitats for large grouper species in the wider Caribbean.

Renewed occurrence of schooling scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and of great hammerhead (S. mokarran) sharks in the Cayman Islands

The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), a critically endangered species with a decreasing global population, is characterised by its occurrence in large schools. Such schools are still observed today in the Pacific Ocean, but this is generally not the case in the Atlantic Ocean, and in the Cayman Islands not since the 1970s. Here we report a recent record of a school of S. lewini in deep water off Grand Cayman, and describe a recent, concomitant increase in numbers of the species, and its critically endangered congener, the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), around the Cayman Islands. Relative population trends and seasonal patterns were assessed using data from shallow and deep-water BRUVS, scientific longlining, citizen science projects including the Sharklogger Network and REEF, and social media reports. It appears that S. lewini may be slowly re-occupying the area, selecting and using deeper waters to school, while S. mokarran has also become less scarce than hitherto.

Epidemiology of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotypes, isolated from imported, farmed and feral poultry in the Cayman Islands.

Non-typhoidal Salmonellae (NTS) are common foodborne pathogens throughout the world causing acute gastroenteritis. Compared to North America and Europe, there is little information on NTS in the Caribbean. Here we investigated the prevalence and characteristics of NTS present in the local poultry of the Cayman Islands to determine the public health risk. In total, we collected 156 samples. These were made up of boot swabs of 31 broiler farms and 31 layer farms (62 samples), paper bedding from 45 imported chick boxes, and 49 pooled cecum samples from feral chickens, each sample representing 10 individual chickens. Salmonella was isolated using the ISO 6579 protocol and isolates were characterized using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis. Eighteen Salmonella isolates were obtained and comprised six S. enterica subspecies enterica serotypes and one subspecies houtenae serotype. Serotypes were: S. Kentucky (n = 9), S. Saintpaul (n = 5), S. Javiana (n = 1), S. Senftenberg (n = 1), S. Poona (n = 1) and S. Agona (n = 1). S. Kentucky strains were all ST152 and clonally related to poultry strains from the United states. S. Saintpaul ST50 strains showed clonality to North American strains. Over half of the strains (n = 11) contained resistance genes to at least two antibiotic groups and five strains were MDR, mainly those from imported day-old chicks. The blaCMY-2 gene was found in S. Kentucky from day-old chicks. Strains from feral poultry had no acquired AMR genes. While serotypes from feral poultry have been identified in human infections, they pose minimal risk due to their low virulence.

The Cuban Treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis (Duméril &amp; Bibron), is established in Jamaica

The Cuban Treefrog Osteopilus septentrionalis is native to the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba and has been introduced throughout the Caribbean islands and the U.S., including the states of Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, and Louisiana (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2021). Genetic studies also suggested that the species may have naturally dispersed to Florida (Heinicke et al. 2011). Although not previously recorded from Jamaica, I shared the presence of the species in Jamaica with the IUCN during the review of the status of frogs from that island (IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2021). However, because of its potential confusion with native hylids, it is important to better document its presence on Jamaica. Here, I report on details surrounding the establishment of the species on Jamaica and its current distribution on that island.

Individual residency behaviours and seasonal long-distance movements in acoustically tagged Caribbean reef sharks in the Cayman Islands.

Understanding how reef-associated sharks use coastal waters through their ontogeny is important for their effective conservation and management. This study used the horizontal movements of acoustically tagged Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) to examine their use of coastal space around the Cayman Islands between 2009 and 2019. A total of 39 (59.1%) tagged sharks (male = 22, female = 17, immature = 18, mature = 21) were detected on the islands wide network of acoustic receivers. The detection data were used to calculate values of Residency Index (RI), Site-Fidelity Index (SFI) and minimum linear displacement (MLD), as well as for network analysis of individual shark movements to test for differences between demographics, seasons, and diel periods. Sharks were detected for up to 1,598 days post-tagging and some individuals showed resident behaviour but the majority of tagged individuals appear to have been one-off or only occasional transient visitors to the area. Generally, individuals showed strong site-fidelity to different areas displaying linear home ranges of < 20 km. The evidence indicates that there was no pattern of diel behaviour. Tagged sharks generally showed increased movements within and between islands during the summer (April-September), which may be related to breeding activity. Some individuals even made occasional excursions across 110 km of open water > 2,000 m deep between Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. One mature female shark showed a displacement of 148.21 km, the greatest distance reported for this species. The data shows that the distances over which some sharks moved, greatly exceeded the extent of any one of the islands' marine protected areas indicating that this species may be more mobile and dispersive than previously thought. This study provides support for the blanket protection to all sharks throughout Cayman waters, which was incorporated within the National Conservation Act in 2015.

First estimates of population size and home range of Caribbean reef and nurse sharks using photo-identification and BRUVS

The assessment of parameters population size and individual home range is important for effective conservation management of sharks. This study uses the novel application of photo identification (photo-ID) to BRUVS footage as a non-invasive alternative to tagging in order to generate individual capture histories. These were used in mark-recapture models to estimate effective population sizes and to determine home ranges. In the Cayman Islands a total of 499 shark sightings of six coastal shark species were recorded on BRUVS from 2015 - 2018, but re-sighting rates were only sufficient for the determination of population parameters for two species - Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) and nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The calculated super-population sizes for Caribbean reef shark (180 ± 37 SE) and nurse shark (336 ± 61 SE) were greater than the estimates for each species based on a closed-population model (Caribbean reef shark: 128 ± 40 SE, nurse shark: 249 ± 48 SE), though both measures indicated that there were about twice as many nurse sharks (1.3 - 1.8 sharks/km2) as Caribbean reef sharks (0.7 – 1 shark/km2) within the study area. The demographic compositions included numerous immature individuals, indicating that breeding of both species takes place within the study area of 188 km2. Most recognizable individuals of both species showed linear home ranges of &amp;lt;20 km, but a few individuals were observed to have moved longer distances (Caribbean reef shark: 125.37 km, nurse shark: 156.07 km). The data indicate that the home ranges and long-distance movements of individual sharks observed within the islands’ marine protected areas (MPAs) often extend to areas beyond the MPA’s boundary, potentially exposing them to fishing activities. This study provides the first estimates of population size for Caribbean reef and nurse sharks in the Cayman Islands and the first estimate of a Caribbean reef shark population globally.

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes indicate photophysiology and calcification mechanisms of macroalgae on Little Cayman Island reefs

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes indicate photophysiology and calcification mechanisms of macroalgae on Little Cayman Island reefs