Port bid winner to be revealed in 3 weeks
(CNS): Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell expects the winning bid on the cruise port project to be announced within three weeks and has said that government intends to press on with the process regardless of the petition for a people’s vote. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum event Wednesday, he told the audience, “We can’t run a country by referendum.” He added that government had “a green light” for the project after spending millions of dollars on consultant reports that he said justified the project.
As he made it clear that the process would not be stopped unless, after the final bids were evaluated, the costs was unacceptably high, the minister said the design would be made public as soon as the bidder was selected and that government anticipated the cost would be somewhere around CI$205-210 million.
But as Kirkconnell made it clear that the referendum was not going to change the process and that government would only deal with it if the signatures were verified, the opposition members released a statement that they were calling for an urgent meeting with the governor to address what they said was the government’s attempt to railroad the entire petition.
Opposition Leader Arden McLean said government was actively seeking to disqualify signatures rather than verify them.
“The verification process has now become contaminated by political interference, and it is clear that the government has invented a verification process that has no basis in statute and only serves one purpose: to disqualify legitimate signatories to the petition,” McLean stated.
While there is no referendum law or regulations, he said the Constitution is clear that Cabinet’s only role is to set the question and the date of the referendum, as he asked for an urgent meeting with the governor.
Kenneth Bryan, the MLA of George Town Central, the constituency where the proposed project would be located, said government’s approach was designed to intimidate people and fuel fears of victimisation. “This is a psychological tactic being used by the government, and the governor needs to now shut this process down,” he added.
In response, Premier Alden McLaughlin issued his own short statement refuting that claim that government was interfering.
“There has been no political involvement at all in the process for verifying signatures on the petition. We have not and nor will we interfere in any way, ” he said.
“The Constitution requires the Cabinet to act if a threshold of 25% of registered voters has been met. In order to fulfill our duties under the Constitution we therefore need to know if the threshold has indeed been achieved. Accordingly, we have instructed the elections supervisor that he must be able to satisfy Cabinet that the target number of signatures has been properly achieved by the petitioners.”
He added that the method of verification had been “left entirely up to the supervisor of elections”.
However, many believe that the petition could be confirmed via random sampling or cross-checking voter registration ID’s rather than all 5,289 signatures.
Nevertheless, the premier said government had every confidence in the integrity of the Elections Office, the process and the supervisor of elections.
See opposition statement and other documents in the CNS Library
Category: development, Local News, Politics
Well, looks like Alden and Moses have managed to have their way once again.
This will continue for years to come because Cayman Bracers will always vote Moses in as he can do no wrong in their eyes and the damage he is inflicting is not on Cayman Brac. As long as he gives them a few empty jets flights a week, they will be happy. Eve wonder why he has pushed to have the dock on Cayman Brac where they have deep water rather than destroying our Hog Sty Bay?
If you would like to know what is behind this, all you have to do is find out who will be running the security behind this project.
Yes, that’s right. The Chinese.
Treasonous behaviour is afoot and large sums of money have been offered to very, very, very greedy people.
By all means if you have the evidence to make such claims about people We elected, PLEASE present it to a court or be considered nothing more than marl road chat.
It’s incredible, the people don’t want this. There’s stats coming out everyday how fly in stayers spend more money in the country than cruise ship tourists. There’s no plan on how the environment surrounding the shore will be taken for. There’s a plan to build a dock but HOWEVER no plan to accommodate the 40k tourists that’ll arrive in the heart of George town no less on one given day. Yet CIG continues going forward with the plan with every stat saying it’s wrong to do, that’s insane, how are people not rising up.
Why can’t CIG invest these funds into making sure our education is what it used to be, invest in a proper form of public transportation, invest in providing more to flyover tourists who ACTUALLY spend more. Invest in infrastructure. There’s so many better places this money can go.
CIG, what are you doing?!
“We can’t run a country by referendum.” – Yes you can if you have written it into law.
“As he made it clear that the process would not be stopped unless” – The peoples referendum says to stop it
“But as Kirkconnell made it clear that the referendum was not going to change the process” – but it can
On behalf of CPR, we thank Governor Roper for his statement re: the verification process and his assurances that there will be no political interference from the Cabinet.
We understand there must be a verification process. Our concerns about the proposed process are well documented as there is no relevant referendum law to regulate this historic moment in Cayman. CPR has offered solutions to assist the verification process to Governor Roper to help speed up that process.
CPR believes in a fair and objective verification process that will guarantee Registered Voters the opportunity to have their voices heard on this matter of national importance. We will not be deterred despite the arrogance displayed and efforts made to deny voters their chance to engage in participatory democracy.
We strongly believe in and have the support of over 25% of Registered Voters that signed the petition who also believe in the principles of participatory democracy, accountability, transparency and good governance.
Naming a preferred bidder is only part of the process as negotiations with CIG must commence and there are several steps in that process confirmed by the National Procurement Office on 26/9/19
Those next steps include the following:
1. Updated EIA,
2. EIA goes out to Public Consultation,
3. Updated Business Case (including cost of Environmental mitigation)
4. Back to Cabinet for a final decision
Before any final contract is signed as per the comments of the Minister of Tourism and National Procurement Office.
Just so you know China Harbor has already got this. Google them, they are corrupt and pay kick-backs wherever they do projects. So you go figure.
Wendel a los of bad publicity about China Harbor. I definatly hope it’s not them if ….
No it’s not them, I think Dart got it. I guess the lesser of two evils. The premier and Big Mac sorted this out among themselves. My heart breaks for our Beloved isle Cayman.
Wendel Wendel zPublish the proof please. Show us a press release, copy of contract please.
Whether for or Against the port , if China Harbor wins the bid Every body In Cayman will regret what is about to happen . They will half finish the project , take the money and walk . Countries around the world have lawsuits pending for years against this company . None will win ! They are renowned as one of the largest scamming contractors in the world Period . Who ya gonna call when the shit hits the fan ?, So sorry we don’t speak English , This is Fact and anyone with a computer can investigate it themselves .
We know who will regret the most if CHEC is not awarded the contract, oh and the guy who helped the Chinese screw the investors in the Bahamas.
1:19, You cannot win lawsuits against the People’s Republic Of China Government.
CHEC board members and top management are all members of the Communist Party Of China.
Good luck CIG taking the big boys on in court.
If this is the plan then my goodness, while in favour of the project this is way too much/too big.
The project does not need to be this size at all.
i bet china harbor or dart?
or both
“many believe that the petition could be confirmed via random sampling or cross-checking voter registration ID’s” – Come on CNS. The elections office has explained why neither of these options are applicable. This is like saying “many believe the earth is flat”. Not wanting to accept reality doesn’t change it.
Hahaha – let the sh*t show commence!
I am sick to my stomach to read this information this morning.
This reigning Dicktatorship CIG just confirmed every single bad word that has been said and written about them by giving their constituents a hard FU with their finger by saying that the referendum will not hold water.
RISE UP.
Read and watch the news.
See what went on in Hong Kong this past weekend.
See what the Yellow Vests are doing in France.
Look what is happening RIGHT NOW in Honduras.
There are a lot of examples, present day, of people telling their governments: NO!
Do it Cayman! Stand up for yourself.
Do it for your children.
Whoa, take a breath.
A deep breath of the towering and stinking dump?
How about some biomedical waste that hasn’t been picked up?
Sargassum beach stench?
West Bay Road sewage treatment aroma?
Better still – 700,000+ dead and rotting green iguana corpses?
No, thank you.
If it’s so bad here and not better than any other place with a population over 10,000.. there’s many flights out to wherever you came from, daily.
Just fix your problems!!!
Stop telling people to get on the next plane out, that is 98% of the problem in Cayman right there: you don’t like it, leave.
It’s the wrong attitude.
You go first!
The ignorant against the informed. What a great fight this will be. Even the winners will lose.
‘we can’t run a country by referendum’….an election every 5 years is a referendum….where’s waldo?
After all this investment to get our new cargo and cruise ports if ppm can’t get this built then I won’t vote for them again
Four years even…
What a travesty…..shame on you Cayman Islands for allowing this to proceed!
Project been going on for 5 years, this Johnny come lately petition effort pretty ridiculous.
This project has been talked about for 30 odd years and the reason it hasn’t happened is that nobody actually believes it to be a good idea except those who stand to make more money out of it such as the Kirks and bots (yep, they out in force again today, and think no one notices.) No good business case has been found, an environmental assessment has been overruled (yep, lets destroy the greatest piece of real estate we have), and it just does not make sense. If this goes ahead I look forward to all the owners of SMB property suing government due to loss of value caused by their blind and reckless decisions.
So everyone that doesn’t agree with you is a kirkbot? Oh Puhleeeeze. SMH.
To 3.46pm It is really amazing that you chose to ignore all the others who also earn their living from cruise tourism.eg taxi drivers, tour bus operators, The Botanic Park, Pedro St James, watersports operators, local restaurants that are included in some island tours etc. What about the trickle down to suppliers of sérvices such as gas stations. It is convenient to scapegoat one family in an effort to win your argument but it is far from thr truth.
What about the Marine Life? Dive industry and fisheries? so sad
The harbor is the only diver site ?
It’s the only dive site for…cruise tourists…funny how that works
Come on Cayman what did you expect? It is entirely normal that fairness, morality and legality are thrown out of the window in any dealings in Cayman. It is entrenched in the culture, and affects dealings and decisions at all levels in all parts of the economy. So why think it wouldn’t apply in the biggest deal of a generation?
Favoritism, nepotism, downright corruption – it all is common in Cayman and no-one will ever be surprised by any future revelation about any politician, Govt official, civil servant or board member…… it’s the Caymanian way. So protesters, sorry but get used to it. They have a plan and no upstart voters’ group is going to stop them unless you get a Court injunction, which you probably can’t.
The Island is well on its way to being ruined and this project will render it a tourist turn-off, with immeasurable damage to coral and sea-life from George Town to West Bay. A few fat cats will get considerably richer off your backs, as usual, and the younger Caymanian generation can go f@%% itself.
You have said perfectly what everyone knows to be true but no one wants to hear about it. However progress (and this is what it is) will always be necessary and unstoppable. Not just here but everywhere there is commerce. Cayman will need the changes just to keep up especially with the way they make public money disappear. Let the people spend all their efforts getting in the way and they won’t have time to do what really needs to be done with the government.
Long gone. Looks like you are confusing Cayman with your home country. If you think so little of Caymanians then maybe you should really be ..Long gone.
How pathetic. I am long gone, but I still have a genuine interest in things Caymanian. But it’s more of a sideshow nowadays, a car crash in slow motion if you will. Sad to say.
Everyone who signed the petition can go down to the Elections office and verify your signature. If you care enough this is what you will do and you can have 5000 signatures verified in a week.
9.11am I went there, but there is no effort from the Elections Office to encourage signatories to visit as this would mean a loss of significant overtime.I asked why they have not done this, and received a blank stare.
Good on you and agreed they won’t put in the effort. But we the people can put the effort in to do what you did and encourage others to do the same. After all, this was a grass roots campaign.
What kind of encouragement do you expect? Red carpet, refreshments, turtle meat dinner…..?
The elections office have already said anyone wishing to visit their office to verify their signature is welcomed to do so. What more do you want?
Wrong Say it as I want it to be. Mr Howell was on CITN encouraging this and stating that it would help to speed up the process. Ask Tammi to re air the interview.
‘We can’t run the country by referendum ‘ ?!
That’s totally undemocratic.
To proceed without any regard for the referendum is shameful and shows an unbelievable amount of bad faith. If the Govt legally commits the country to expenses at this point -and the referendum subsequently brings a halt to the process- then Ministers should be held personally responsible.
The Minister is absolutely right. Government would never make progress if every project had to be decided by referendum. We elected PPM and now we should expect them do the jobs they were elected to do.
Some people elected PPM, some elected independents, some elected UDP. Then they decided to join forces, so the majority didn’t vote for PPM and the port.
They were all pushing the port, until suck time as they thought it politically expedient to instead oppose.
But it isn’t every project now is it? It is more than obvious the port, environment is a very controversial subject, with enough interest to generate a huge petition. The government are showing no regard for it. Since when was the ppm elected to build the port?
It is just the projects that will effect the income of the wealthy tender boat owners who pocket $15 million a year. If I was going to lose a monopoly giving me that kind of money I’d be fighting against whatever the project was too.
and if i owned a slew of dying jewelry stores and a 1/2 empty “Mall” I would be fighting for it too.
Alden was not for the Port or China Harbor when McKeeva was premier. What has changed?? Wake up Cayman. Please save our precious environment for future generations.
Alden was against it because, like the FCO , he knew what was going on with CHEC behind closed doors.
Up to this point a referendum HAS NOT been triggered so its business as usual for government which is totally correct. IF and when a referendum is triggered and the government continues with business as usual THEN you have something to crow about. But until then, they are not doing anything wrong.
Finally someone with some sense. Thank you 10:29
Except they have said they are proceeding irrespective of whether there is a referendum.
I think you mean they said they are proceeding UNTIL there is a referendum. Big difference.
True, but they can do things to delay the referendum and quickly sign a binding contract so that the referendum question then changes from for or against a port to for the port or for throwing away millions of dollars which is then manipulating the referendum. I don’t think they should stop all work towards the port but I think they shouldn’t sign any contracts that commit anything financially as it is pretty obvious at this stage that there will be a referendum.
I hope that you Register Caymanian Voters see that when
Mr Mosses say that the Country can’t be ruñ by Referandum .
He is telling you the Register Caymanian Voters that you have no say in the Country . I hope that everyone is watching the arrogant disrespectful that they are doing .
On the contrary, I was in the forum and he was explaining to Opposition MLA who were trying to shirk their responsibility to do the work their constituents elected them to do. It looked like Kenny just wants some political exposure and is using this to get it. I give the DP credit for telling him straight!
So what happen to the petition???
What petition?
[Alden] added that the method of verification had been “left entirely up to the supervisor of elections”.
Ok Wes so just do a large enough sample now pls, and back it up by internationally accepted statistics procedures and interpretations (confidence intervals). Thanks.
There is an obvious result of this issue that shows Aldens arrogance; what do you think is going to happen next election when you ignore this many people? Not just ignore, but spit on them? Making Kenny look politically smarter than Alden, now that is a feat.
He is smarter than Alden, he just had a tougher start to his life. No one in high places to prop him up. Look at him now!
Where is the LOL button when you need it
The Cayman Islands has only two pilars to their economy. Both are important and both are fragile with stiff competition. The people of the Cayman islands should be trying to protect these industries and grow new ones not cut off what they already have.
Core government total revenue:
– Other company fees 23%
– Bank and trust mutual fund and security investment, business licenses 21%
– Import duties 14%
– Partnership fees 13%
– Other domestic levies on goods and services 10%
– Work permit fees 6%
– Levies on property 4%
– Tourist accommodation charges 3% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
– Other levies on int’l trade and transactions 2%
– Investment and other operation revenues 2%
– Sale of goods and services 2%
https://i2.wp.com/media.caymannewsservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/13110048/Core-government-total-revenue-as-at-31-March-2019.png?ssl=1
So what 2 pillars are you talking about?
The ECONOMY is not just fees to government.
Then post your own stats to answer the question.
Those numbers look absolutely accurate – for government revenues.
But the pillars of the economy are about more than government coffers… they are about the money that goes into all those businesses. Part of the evaluation can be drawn from the import duties – since that is related to the value of goods sold to tourists (at least for goods that are imported).
So simply put – your comment is misinformed at best and misleading at worst.
You do realise that import duties are actually charged on everything sold in Cayman right, not just items sold to tourists right? Apart from duty free items obviously which are primarily sold to tourists and don’t bolster the public coffers at all.
Tourism accommodation charges are 13%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And make up 3% of government revenue…
To 9.36pm Show us the figures that reflect what is put into the economy of the islands.That includes monies paid to taxi and tour operators, airlines, hotels, restaurants,entertainers, tourism attractions,etc and of course Govt fees.
Although an original and strong proponent for a referendum on the dock, I also believe Cayman is in actual need of an upgrade.
HOWEVER, there is a difference between a “new dock” and “this proposed dock”!
Meaning, had the CIG-proposed dock been in a location other than Hog Sty Bay AND OR was half the size (i.e. one finger pier instead of two – which all but guarantees the dreaded “over-tourism” fallout) I, and I suspect many other objectors, would lay down swords.
However, this particular CBF proposal is simply too damaging, too expensive, carries too high a risk of exploit and ruining what is (tourism) product Cayman.
This current proposal will potentially bode well for a tiny number of undeniably concerned individuals and entities, but will all but definitely negatively impact the rest of Cayman and Caymanians.
– Whodatis
*Btw, it cost, what was essentially the same government, approximately $120m to construct a school in the bush of Frank Sound – yet we are to believe they can pull off an incredibly sophisticated and sensitive underwater mega-project for a few dollars more??
Fool us once, shame on you…(we all know the rest).
** The brave and right course of action would be for govt to call a referendum on this issue of national importance.
Who knows, the people may approve of their ill-conceived proposed CBF.
If so, I for one will happily accept the country’s decision – come what may.
Cant believe a Whodatis post without a comparison to the UK, when its crying out for one. One is a country where the elected leaders decide that they will ignore popular electoral sentiment, they say in the interests of the economy because they know better than the ordinary voter what is good for the country, and the other….oh, there isn’t actually that much of a difference from a democratic perspective, except maybe the UK politicians made the beginners mistake of actually allowing a referendum.
There you have it, we have officially moved to a dictatorship – “We can’t run a country by referendum.”. Democracy in the Cayman islands is dead.
Is it true a massive protest is being planned to shut down downtown on the biggest cruise ship day of the week. Basically choking off and blocking access to the ships passengers? That will certainly anger the overlords.
How effing irresponsible would that be…?
Grow up.
Caligula.
I can’t believe that there are people who want Government to accept the petition without confirming that 25 % of voters have signed it. What if there are only 2000 signatures confirmed in a random sampling? Certainly it would be foolhardy to set a precedent in our first people initiated referendum by accepting less than the constitutionally required minimum. What if thrte are a signicant number of forgeries, would that still be ok with everyone.What if the petition is about an even more serious matter eg Should work permit holders be allowed to vote in our general elections? wouldn’t we want to be sure that only registered voters have signed and that they amount to the required 25% of the electorate. Were the elections office to blindly accept the signatures without verification would be criminal and a failure to do its job. Not only would it be criminal but it could make it impossible for that office to ever be respected again.Let’s do this the legal way, let’s verify the signatures.
Because it is the results of the referendum that are important. The PIR is simply a way to show there is enough interest to have a referendum, it has no effect on the outcome. Sampling when done properly is more than adequate.
8.53am Before there can be a People Initiated Referendum in Cayman , there has to be a petition signdd by ” 25% of registered voters”.Note.the Constitution requires 25% of registered voters and not ‘random sampling of registered voters’.Once the signatures of 25% of the voters are verified then a referendum is triggered; until that happens all that we have is a petition signed by a large number of persons who may or may not be registered voters
BINGO!
The only precedent being set here is that in future a People’s Referendum can always be ignored by the Govt of the day, simply by employing similar tactics and pressing on regardless whilst the referendum languishes under the extra red tape they created.
We are in this situation because too many people voted with their bellies (how was that turkey at Christmas) rather than their heads.
Alden, Mac and Kirkconell are the poster boys for self love, self interest and selfishness.
Wake up Cayman.
‘We can’t run a country by democracy’. FTFY.
As long as the Premier and Deputy Premier (and all the others giving full support) are willing to sign an agreement, that in the event this Port Building project is not the finacial windfalll they have so adamently expressed, which allows the people (Govt) to recoup any costs from their own personal and business attachments (provide suretys), then I fail to see where the it makes sense to disregard the referendum.
Basicaly put your money where your mouth is. If you cant do that, without blinking, then it is true that these officials are catering to certain bussiness groups only, at the expense of the people of the Cayman Islands.
Put Up or Shut Up.
Put it ip. As long as the leaders of the petition..are likewise required to put up their personal propetties as surety (in the interest of fairness) then I can agree with you.
Great news!
It is a conflict that the Chief Officer that report to the Premier is the head of the Elections office. He will be pressured to do as his Minister says. The head of elections should not be a Civil Servant at all. Not sure if Wesley is brave enough to stand up for what’s ethical in the face of “bullies”. Where is the Governor in all of this? Why aren’t we using the European Union Referendum Act 2015 in absence of one in the Cayman Islands? Come on people see through these delay tactics. The government will sign a contract before the referendum happens and then it will be too late. The Governor and/or FCO needs to put a stop to this before its too late! God bless Cayman because we seem to have dictators leading us! People stand up for your rights!
To 9.38pm. The Supervisor of electoons reports to yhe Governor and not the Premier. Just yhought I would point that out.
The Premier decides whether Wesley has a day job and gets a salary to feed his family and pay his mortgage – the Governor decides if he supervises an election on the side every now and then. Just thought I would point that out.
You’re both wrong. The Deputy Governor Franz Manderson in his capacity as head of the civil service and decides whether Wesley has a job or not. Just thought I would point that out.
Got to give them credit, they are a lot smarter than the referendum folks. We don’t need the port but I hope they build it anyway just to piss that lot off.
Well. That Brexit referendum went really well for the Mother Country. Right?
Proves my point. One cannot run a country by referendum!
Nuff said.
So what if you’ve given away the money to an absolute poor cause. That doesn’t give government or anyone the right to destroy the nature that has been in countless generations. This cruise port is nothing but a sham drunk up buy the greedy politicians we got crawling around. Any locals who support this atrocity should reevaluate your citizenship and mental status.
This port is sorely needed for our local businesses and Caymanian jobs. I just can’t wait until this is done and we can stop all this crazy talk and get the port built
9:08 pm is a troll.
Ah hahahaha. Unna tek dat!!!
Unna hear ya, there’s no brakes on this HYPE train!
Our only hope is that Mother in London will block CHEC being awarded the contract.
London is fully aware of CHEC’s record of corruption around the world.
There are times I think we are better off being a colony so corruption does not totally rule the island.
I support the port as long as it’s not CHEC building it.
CHEC will build the port. The payoffs have been made and the deal has been signed. Chinese Government bank financing.
So what, a little payoff never hurt anyone. I say lets join up with Red China and get rid of the British. Alden should be Premier for life!
Alden should be Premier for life just like Trump and Putin should be President’s for life. 6:49, you are truly a fool.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself!
Howell just got thrown under the bus. Fair-weather friend, that Alden dude. Now Howell is in a pickle. Take a step wrong and next the Premier will be confirming the Government has lost faith in the supervisor of elections.
Lie down with dogs and …
Governor. It appears we are incapable of properly governing ourselves.
Governor?, we have no governor. The last one was Mr. Russell and the only one before him was governor Gerard. The rest only came for the sea, sand , beach and booze.