Author: Ross Bachiller

TBLS Lecturer Laura Panades has published her latest research in a leading peer-reviewed journal.

‘Colonial Private Finance Initiative: to what extent did the UK export its public-private partnership model to British Overseas Territories’ is the title of the article.

Private Finance Initiative is the former UK Government type of Public-Private Partnerships.

These are long-term contracts between the public sector and a private sector provider.

Commonly, the private sector would be in charge of design, build, finance, maintain and operate infrastructure assets and related services.

‘The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs’, a leading, international, peer-reviewed journal, has published the article, which focuses on the regulation of public-private partnerships.

This research is important because it brings together the Caribbean British Overseas Territories as a distinctive group.

Public-private partnerships are contracts between the public and the private sector for the long-term provision of goods, works and services.

PPPs are important because they can lead to resources for citizens which offer good quality at the best price possible.

In this article, Panades concludes that:

 ‘The UK priority in steering the overseas territories towards prudent fiscal management is to avoid mismanagement of public funds and potential bailouts, which would be politically damaging to fund with UK taxpayer money. The sophisticated provision of goods, works and services, and the symbiotic relationships between public and private sector in project delivery that normally drive PPPs are an afterthought. What matters is preserving the fiscal sustainability of its territories. Bank crashes can happen, interest rates can rise and financial fortunes can change. In those circumstances, the UK’s priority is to ensure that its overseas territories’ cash flows, first and foremost, navigate calm seas and fair winds.’

The article can be downloaded via https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00358533.2024.2410546

The author welcomes further enquiries and is more than welcome to provide electronic access to the full article.

FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM

Laura Panades

laura.panades@gov.ky

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.

###ENDS###

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