Author: Ross Bachiller

The Truman Bodden Law School (TBLS) celebrated an auspicious occasion Thursday, 17 October, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new modern campus, located at Artemis House along Fort Street, George Town.

Esteemed dignitaries in attendance included Her Excellency Governor Ms Jane Owen, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Deputy Premier Hon. André Ebanks, Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin, KC, Solicitor General Reshma Sharma, KC, Grand Court Judges Hon. Justice Richard N. Williams and Hon. Justice David Charles Doyle, former Leader of Government Business Mr Truman Bodden, OBE, and Director of TBLS Mr Michell Davies, BEM together with the wider staff and faculty of the law school.

“The law school has come a good modern way since the days that I studied here, since the Deputy Governor studied here, since former premiers have studied here and I am thrilled for the school and in particular I’m thrilled for our Caymanian students,” noted Deputy Premier Ebanks while reaffirming the government’s commitment to TBLS.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held four months after the law school relocated from Monaco Towers, located along Edward Street, George Town. The new larger campus now provides more lecture and tutorial rooms along with upgraded IP connectivity, allowing staff and students greater access to TBLS’ UK partner institutions, the University of Liverpool and Oxford Brookes University.

“The Law School is grateful to the Premier and the Government for its support in making the relocation possible. Staff and students have transitioned smoothly to our new home, which provides much-needed additional classroom and office space. TBLS looks forward to serving many generations of law students in Artemis House in the years to come,” said Mr Davies.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the foyer of the new campus, guests were given a tour of the library, lecture and tutorial rooms, common areas and offices.

“The fact is that the law school population is growing, and it is an important institution in our educational framework and so we need to have appropriate settings and accommodations for our students and lectures so they can be more optimal in their delivery,” noted Attorney General Bulgin.

Formerly the Cayman Islands Law School, the institution was founded in 1982 and later renamed in honour of Mr Truman Bodden, a former Leader of Government Business and a former lawyer by trade. Mr Bodden who was also on hand at for the celebrations noted his excitement at the development of the law school.

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Note to Editors:

Credit: Image Courtesy Cayman Islands Government Department of Communications

Caption:

TBLS Ribbon Cutting 1: Center from Left – H.E. Governor Owen, Deputy Premier André Ebanks, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, KC, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Mr Truman Bodden, OBE, TBLS Director Mitchell Davies, BEM, cut the ribbon of the new TBLS campus at Artemis House as special guests and staff watch on.

For more information:

Email: tblsadmin@gov.ky

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TBLS Lecturer Laura Panades gave a conference talk at a leading regional conference on 27^th September, being the Caribbean Sociology Association (CASA) Conference.

The University of the West Indies, in Kingston, Jamaica, hosted the conference.

This year marked the 4^th meeting of the CASA Conference.

The conference’s theme, ‘Decolonising Development: re-imagining development for a sustainable and just global community’ hosted academics and practitioners focusing on the study of the Caribbean.

Ms Panades’ was invited to present her latest research: an investigation on the main public procurement trends in the Caribbean.

Public procurement is the area of the law that covers the public sector’s purchases of goods, works and services from the private sector.

Her research finds that the Caribbean is, ‘surprisingly, managing different problems than modern, Western economies by engaging with the same trends: e-procurement, sustainable development and legal reform’.

This research is important because it showcases the Cayman Islands as a regional trend-setter in public procurement.

The conference paper has been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed, procurement journal, and will be published soon.

Panades is extremely grateful to the Portfolio of Legal Affairs and the wider Cayman Islands Government for having sponsored her attendance.

Laura Panades, author of the research, said:

“Through my research, I am putting my skills to the service of the Cayman Islands Government and the wider Caribbean.

 “Showcasing my research in this regional conference has given me a better understanding on the main regional issues we need to work in, and how I can contribute best in helping to solve them.”

Mitchell Davies, Law School director, said:

“Participation in conferences helps TBLS lecturers be the best version of themselves in the classroom.

“Laura’s research is a good example of how TBLS is embedded in national, regional and international research networks, sign posting ways for our society and Government to reach continuous improvement.”

FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM

Laura Panades

laura.panades@gov.ky

TBLS Lecturer Laura Panades was invited to present her latest research at an international conference in Nottingham, UK.

‘Public Procurement – Global Revolution’ is the leading worldwide conference on public procurement research.

It hosts top academics, policy makers, legislators and international organisations since 1997.

The conference takes place every two years.

This year, the conference focused on environmentally responsible procurement.

Ms Panades’ was invited to present her latest research.

Her latest work is a comprehensive study on Public-Private Partnership (PPPs) regulation in British Overseas Territories (BOTs).

PPPs represent innovative ways for the public and the private sector to design, fund and deliver public goods and services as a long-term partnership.

She concluded that PPPs in BOTs are centred on financial sustainability. This makes us different from other jurisdictions, where the focus is placed on innovative public goods and services.

This research is important to Cayman. The Integrated Solid Waste Management System, currently under negotiation, is expected to become Cayman’s first PPP.

The event was organised by the University of Nottingham, the leading UK University on public procurement.

The paper has now been accepted for publication in a top international journal and will be released in its Autumn edition.

Panades is extremely grateful to the Portfolio of Legal Affairs and the wider Cayman Islands Government for having sponsored her attendance.

Laura Panades, LLM course leader and author of the research, said:

“My research seeks to improve our understanding on how Cayman’s public money is spent.

 “It is my honour to further the Truman Bodden Law School’s international presence, and to show, whilst small, how mighty our jurisdiction is.”

Mitchell Davies, Law School director, said:

“International experiences like these showcase the great capabilities of the Law School’s teaching team.

“Laura’s research is very important for the financial sustainability of the Cayman Islands, and to show the world how Cayman engages with modern legal trends.”

FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM

Laura Panades

laura.panades@gov.ky