CIG spent $444k on 750 workers in clean-up project
Christmas clean-up group at work
(CNS): The Cayman government’s Christmas clean-up was lauded a success this week by Community Affairs Minister Osbourne Bodden, who noted that 752 people were able to get some work over the holiday season and that the project cost $25,000 less than it was budgeted for, as he announced that there would be another clean-up later in the year. Although the PPM criticised the UDP administration when they started the project while in office, Bodden embraced the idea but said he would do things differently to provide temporary work for unemployed Caymanians so they would have cash for holidays while the islands’ communities, highways and byways would be spruced up.
“The question arose as to how we do this in a controlled, transparent manner and I’m happy to say, with the hard work of many civil and public servants and our government agencies, we pulled this off with flying colours and under budget,” Bodden said.
With an initial budget of $475,000 funded through savings in other areas of government, the final cost of the project was $444,359. Given its success, the minister said that, from now on, the project would happen twice a year.
The three-week programme began on 7 December, with work teams cleaning up two weeks before and one week after Christmas. Officials said 752 people registered for the project from all districts. These included 239 from George Town, 240 from West Bay, 53 from North Side, 55 from East End, 108 from Bodden Town and 57 from the Sister Islands.
The teams removed excessive seaweed from beaches, cleaned cemeteries and land-based park areas, collected debris from roadside verges, cut and cleared bush, and other work.
The number of people who came out looking for work was another wake-up call for government, demonstrating that, despite official unemployment figures, many hundreds of local people are struggling to find work and regardless of their work experience and qualifications, they were prepared to work for $10 per hour pulling bush.
During the registration process officials realised far more people had turned up than anticipated and the work was therefore split up. Officials explained that the operational capacity of each of the three agencies supervising the programme was set at 275 persons per week in order to provide safe working conditions, minimise risks and the necessary supervision. In the end, some people only received one week of work. Actual numbers employed during the project were 311 in the first week, 322 in the second week and 308 in the third week.
Bodden said it was no mean feat to organize the project in just three weeks, as he commended Tasha Ebanks-Garcia of the Employment Ministry, who headed the planning team, and Mark Bothwell of Public Works Department, who supervised the overall works.
“Many others made this happen but these two persons went over and beyond to ensure it went smoothly,” the minister said. “I would also like to thank the workers who showed up and who got registered with the National Workforce Development Agency to ensure they have a chance at future employment.”
Project Manager Mark Bothwell, assisted by Brian Chin Yee of the National Roads Authority, Mark Rowlands from the Departmental of Environmental Health and the Public Works Department, deployed the labour force in all districts. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said he was very pleased at how effectively all the different agencies of government worked together to complete this project on time and under budget.
Category: Jobs, Local News
I recently saw a news clipping where the prison director was contacted directly by a citizen, asking for some assistance in cleaning up a beach in West Bay. The prison chose some prisoners who were due to be released in the foreseeable future and viewed it as a good opportunity to begin the reintegration process into society and also enable the prisoners to do something meaningful.
My question is, why can’t this be happening year round? Surely there are “low-risk” prisoners at Northward who would rather do some meaningful work than being stuck behind bars 24/7?
All of the prisoners who did the beach clean-up and were interviewed expressed positive feelings toward having had the opportunity to do some work and give something back to community.
I know there are a lot of thugs in Northward who are beyond help, but there are some who genuinely want to do better, so why not give them a chance and the community benefits from it as well.
I remember when I was little that there were prisoners cleaning the streets. Why did this stop?
Now that the population is so big with so many making and leaving their garbage laying every where , costing the government so much money .
Would it make more sense to make sure that people can have full time jobs , and fine the pigs that leave and throw their garbage out the window that causes the government to spend so much money , and have all that money put into stay in , instead of going out.
Yup – removed excessive seaweed from the beach at Grape Tree Cafe for sure.
if these people had any real pride …they would clean up their own mess for free…..
how many expats do beach clean-ups for free…?
I’m not saying that your statement is completely wrong but how many of these expat’s countries have to employ foreign labour forces to clean up their own countries. Think before you speak…
caymanians litter their own country….
caymanians will not take jobs…
caymanians paid by taxpayers to not work and pick up their own trash….
just another day in wonderland……
This should be an indication that our famous minimum wage of $6.00 is utterly ridiculous. Sure, people will pull bush for $10.00. Now that minimum wage is in effect, will Government continue to pay them the $10/hour for these cleanups? Or will they pay minimum wage?
Our minimum wage should be at lease $10.00/hour. People can’t live on 6.00/hour.
….and our economy cannot function if it were $10.00/hour.
This is why in most places, the minimum wage is for the uneducated and individuals with no trade. The minimum wage is usually what students either high school or university students take as jobs and work while going to school. Many countries around the world have highly educated individuals who cannot find a job. Why is it that ppl here with only high school and barely high school expect some high paying job?
If you want more then work for it. It takes sacrifice and hard work.
Yeah man, free government money. Respect.
Ha…clean what?
8 hrs per day @ $10 per hour = $80 per day. Total estimated costs $378,900 ($80 x 15 days x 315 people on average over the 3 weeks). Difference of $66,000 to manage project?
Admin costs!
Does this not show that the island needs a permanent team of people keeping these areas clean instead of intermittent cleaning up like this. If people are willing to do this then quite clearly they could be willing to do it as a permanent job?
Totally agree. Having seasonal clean ups only spruces up the Island for that one week or two before it gets littered again. Main tourist areas and beaches should always be clean. Cleaning up Barker’s “National Park” alone would probably employ two to three people full time
Neither you not @4:27 seem to realise that there is already a permanent crew cleaning the roadsides, cemeteries and parks.
It is so sad that everything PPM criticize UDP about they are reverting to and calling them good projects. Rotflmao what a bunch of self serving animals
How many of the 752 were not Caymanian? Did they have permission from Immigration to work?
Ridiculous, why can’t these Caymanians go and work DOE and collect garbage, work for the NWA and other organisations in government doing these low but essential job, because they want to collect free money from government all year but when it comes to Christmas time they want that little extra cash for rum and a few iPhone for their kids.
Several of the Caymanians who were employed on this project have applied for jobs with DEH and Public Works to do exactly that – both before the project started and after. None have been employed though – in fact, the latest DEH job advertised has not even been interviewed for yet despite the closing date being well over two months ago. Stop generalising – a lot who worked for those 3 weeks would actually relish the opportunity to pick garbage up of the street on a permanent basis because it is exactly that – permanent. Why the need to be so vituperative and scathing when you surely can’t know every single one of the 752 people and their individual circumstances personally?
I think you should get your facts straight before jumping off assuming that these people didn’t apply for any jobs and just wanted to get money to spend of cell phones and rum.
I personally know a few of those people who were out there, picking up garbage and pulling bush and they have applied to numerous jobs only to get turned down. They did this because they wanted to give their families a better Christmas than the year they’ve been having. Yes they got handouts from Government to pay some bills. But if you know anything about this island. You would know its not cheap to live here.
What you would want them to do? Go steal?!?!
Next time, just do us all a favor and don’t say a d_ _ _n thing.
This is the truth. Not many are living in truth at all. #quityourcorporategangmentality