CO made misleading claims in sworn document
(CNS): Chief Officer Stran Bodden made several misleading claims in an affidavit he swore was true used by lawyers representing government in the recent court case about the cruise project. Bodden said tendering was “dangerous” and was cutting down the time and money passengers were spending here, without evidence to support the claims. He said “many” larger ships were bypassing this port, when in fact only one is currently missing Cayman.
Bodden also swore that the ministry was not just considering the environment but were being good stewards and had engaged and worked closely with the Department of Environment.
While the DoE was closely involved in the process in the previous PPM administration from 2013-17, since the 2017 election, which resulted in the current coalition government being formed, the department has been largely marginalised. In 2018 it was booted off the project steering committee and since then has not attended any meetings with government and has not been allowed to give any technical advice publicly at port opposition meetings.
Bodden also made claims that the Cruise Port Referendum campaign was being “motivated by private commercial interests”, as he erroneously claimed that one of the co-owners of the tender boats had donated $100,000 to the campaign, which is untrue.
CPR is an entirely grassroots movement which collected signatures from more than 6,000 Cayman voters, with no major donors at all and is not motivated by commercial interests, in direct contrast to the government’s plans, which increasingly appear to be driven by the two major cruise lines and partners in the proposed project, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
In his affidavit Bodden also claimed that the albeit unofficial ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns had become “vitriolic and antagonistic” as he pointed to the insults famous ocean explore Jean-Michel Cousteau endured after it was revealed that he had u-turned on his position opposing the project publicly when the news emerged that he was on the payroll of Carnival cruise lines.
Bodden also pointed to the slashing of tyres at a meeting about the project on a truck being driven by one of the CPR founders, Mario Rankin. Bodden said that the referendum had to take place as soon as possible to “draw the poison” from the public discourse.
The sworn document also contains a number of denials and counter claims in response to an affidavit sworn by the director of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, Nadia Hardie.
See Bodden’s affidavit in the CNS Library
Clarification: CNS understand that the money donated by Adrien Briggs, quoted from the Cayman Compass in Mr Bodden’s affidavit, funded the Save Cayman campaign and not CPR. However, a CPR spokesperson said that, as a non-profit organisation, they do not disclose details of funds received from anonymous donors.
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Category: development, Local News, Politics
If you genuinely care about the environment then you would also put pressure on private developers who are constantly trying to find loopholes or outright break the law and destroy mangroves, contribute to beach eroision, etc. And dont blame Government, private developers must be held accountable for their own actions by all of us who care.
Maybe someone has already asked but can we see Stran Bodden’s first affidavit too please?
First Affidavit of Nadia Hardie, Cause No GC195 of 2019, 11DEC19:
https://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/First-Affidavit-of-Nadia-Hardie-sworn-not-sealed-without-exhibit.pdf
On Rushing Geotech:
It is a mistake to represent that CPR supporters are in favor of accelerating indiscriminate exploratory drilling, for whatever “standard” would pass as a geotechnical survey by this regime, prior to a Port Referendum. CPR should not seek to recklessly propel ANY damage of the delicate marine park and mission blue “hope spot” that is our harbour prior to a FULL and honest disclosure/debunk/education period, leading into a vote. CIG have already skipped enough steps, misrepresented, and papered-over due process, flaws in which can be easily exposed by reading their own affidavit, and noting the omissions in standard they left out. We don’t need to add a forged/botched geotech survey to the pile. Everyone should read these court affidavits on the CNS library and get versed.
Amateur Mindset of Negotiators:
Having been involved professionally in mining and infrastructure deals for over a quarter century (some, in the poorest of third world countries), it is amazing to read, in Bodden’s affidavit, how simple and blindly focused this regime is on getting past the paperwork and the simple financing of the primary “construction” phase. There are no decommissioning, or remediation plans, or corresponding bonds, for 50-75 years from now. There is no Corporate Social Responsibility plan. Who is going to insure this engineering marvel? Where can we review the Register of Members for VIPP?
Complete Project Lifetime Cost Assessment:
In addition to earmarked phases above, there has been no provision, nor widespread discussion of the unintended detrimental impacts, like expanded cruise tourism’s affects on (already mismanaged and taxed) natural and man-made attractions, seven mile beach congestion/security/lifeguarding/sunscreen pollution, traffic and waste management, and of course, the repulsion of legitimate stay-over tourists – the actual money maker for the tourism industry! These are all legitimate lifetime project costs and consequences that need to be quantified and added to the balance…if we are going to have any semblance of balance.
Wow! You better don’t have a conscience, desire to tell the truth or call them out on their policies. If you will not allow your bosses to steal your minds and integrity then you have to become like them!!
This is that real spill!!!
Face up to it leadership. Caymanians do not deserve to go forward on progress. They much prefer to stay in third world bliss. Better to try and offer a real modern day education facility to those who would like to get ahead in life. Maybe just a small one designed and built by off island educated professionals. Then try the cruise pier things in about ten years.
Lmao “off island educated professionals”
Other than the bit about the CPR funding, which could be proven or disproven through forensic audit, the rest seems to depend on your point of view.
For example, would megaships not on the Western Caribbean itinerary, but that might be if Cayman were available, bypassing Cayman & Jamaica or not? Depends on your point of view. I may have a personal opinion on the Port & the inaccuracies being used to push it, and that that isn’t the right use of the word ‘bypassing’ despite what the CO and the Jam Min. Tourism may think, but I’d also be hesitant to call it a lie either.
Where do you see the word ‘lie’ in any part of the article?
Misleading is the word and it is a valid one.
His statements are indeed misleading no matter what your point of view is.
And let’s remember he’s not meant to be partisan in this – he is a civil servant whose primary duty is to the country and the. Town, not the government of the day. Courts expect opinion presented as fact from litigants with a commercial interest; he’s meant to be acting impartially and in accordance with a fiduciary duty. Misleading affidavits go way beyond both his responsibility and the what the court could reasonably expect.
And then the issues with the funding and the alleged liaison with DoE – well that’s getting a bit closer to downright perjury if he knew it wasn’t true, or close to it if he was told it was and didn’t make it clear his source and reason for belief but presented it as fact based on personal knowledge.
@7.55pm His duty is to carry out the wishes of the elected Government.
not at the risk of knowingly providing misleading statements and jeopardizing his integrity. No man or government is worth me giving up my integrity…
No is duty is to serve the public. He carries out the policy of the elected government but that does not extend to partisan politics, breaking the civil service code or the law, or misleading court because it’s convenient for his political masters.
The liners are public companies with public filings and hundreds of global analysts covering them (RCL, RCL, CCL, etc). So, pretending that there is more than one Oasis ship passing us by, every second Thursday (during high season) is a lie. This is the entire baseline premise, and it’s false. We also know the shipyard order book 10 years out. Fewer bigger ships, the biggest going to expanding markets in Asia and Med. Oddly enough, those going to Asia will be tendering! These are not opinions. At the onset of CIG’s false promo, the home ports couldn’t even host these vessels, and many still can’t. Jamaica was swindled into laying the first egg, and we are being pressured into a worse deal that isn’t even necessary or desirable – by people that have a long history of not being trustworthy – and a “Unity” Coalition government of losing party mandates, that were not elected, and carry demonstrably less popular support than two years ago.
What was the source of funds on the years of $250,000/month Seminole Hard Rock Casino Cage transfers? How was the doctorate degree procured (still professed as genuine on 2020 LA bio)? Who is paying whom, and for what, and how are they receiving their promised share? These are enduring questions we might have answers to if there were investigative powers to ensure good governance. We cannot pretend that there is any acceptable standard at present – and the Financial Industry, with much at stake from a CFATF negative review – need to start getting much more vocal about protecting lawful activity here, lest it all get lumped together, with whatever is going on in public service. If it actually matters to anyone!?!
Has anyone else noticed how far South they keep anchoring the ships now? There is one anchored over a pristine piece of reef off Eden rock rite now. We are soon going out to see if it has caused any new damage.
Why build a dock, when we can just keep anchoring on top of the reefs?
Because the same people crying about the environment are the same people buying dart’s Styrofoam in take-outs every day while burning fossil fuels in their 16 miles per gallon cars.
I assume you mean “tow’ the line! i.e. as you would tow a boat for example!
No, the phrase is ‘toe the line’ a reference to placing your toe on a line, to be a conformist as in placing your toe on the start line of a race, or be on parade all lined up etc.
The Civil Service is a parasitic organization and to survive at the highest levels strict adherence to the culture is required.
Without enactment of Standards in Public Life Law, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner’s powers are limited, and there is NO EFFECTIVE MECHANISM to remove/arrest/impeach anyone in civil service. This is a conspiracy culture expecting complicit silence where whistleblowers are openly intimidated, and/or threatened with termination, put on paid leave for 4 years, or given a secret and generous early retirement severance package. We are blind if we can’t how CIG is used to operating by now.
Bodden also made claims that the Cruise Port Referendum campaign was being “motivated by private commercial interests”, as he erroneously claimed that one of the co-owners of the tender boats had donated $100,000 to the campaign, which is untrue.
Really??
Excerpt from Compass 13th November. Briggs acknowledged he has personally provided funding to both environmental group Save Cayman and to the referendum campaign. He said he had committed up to $100,000 to the cause.
CNS: See added clarification.
If you read through the affidavit, it looks like it was prepared for him and he just signed it. Was he knowingly lying or just putting his name to the document on behalf of CIG? Won’t be the first time someone got caught out doing that.
It doesn’t matter. There is no legal distinction. He signed it, and Sam Rose witnessed with his seal.
1:39 Maybe not but it raises a few questions about his status as CO doesn’t it? Is he the leader or just the chosen figurehead?
@ Anonymous 28/01/2020 at 10:18 am
Well then he’s a fool, isn’t he.
Can anyone explain why there is associated rental machinery loitering in the Harbour?!? Who ordered this stuff, signing contract, before the result of referendum, or completion of revised scope of a new EIA? Can Baird be considered impartial when they also were contracted to review port facility and Royal Watler (other 100-year infrastructure projects but whose concrete is falling apart just 12 years after being poured)?
In conclusion… Stran is another Yes Man puppet, not afraid to bend the truth. Tell a few white lies… He must be so proud that his statements are believed by some. Wonder how proud his ancestors would be?
I am disappointed that none of these folks have an ounce of integrity and would do anything for an extra bit of cash and to have their name on something. “mY hOnorABle LeGAcy!”
This is why I would never accept the position to be a CO, I wouldn’t last very long because I am not a “yes man” and can’t “toe the line” for ignorance and stupidity.
Stran is repeating the information he is given.
He is a decent man, so don’t shoot the messenger.
He SIGNED the document.
No, he swore the document. He is attesting that the information he is providing is true, based on his personal knowledge or, where he relies on others, disclosing that. You don’t swear an affidavit just because someone tells you to – not if you don’t want to risk getting disembowelled on cross examination and your personal integrity brought into question.
9:24. Join the private sector and see if you can refuse to support your employer or speak publicly against your employer.
His employer is the taxpayer, not whichever politician happens to be in office for 4 years. That’s why the hire and fire is under thebDG not the Premier, why there is a civil service code, an association to represent them and why, when they do fall out with politicians, they either get a transfer ( if it’s just the minister) or several years paid leave and full pension protection. All about different from the private sector. But you are assuming that he was forced into this, and is not doing it voluntarily. No way my employer would force me to sign an affidavit that I thought misleading or false.
The above post is not in the realm of reality.
Whats new? just like the dump situation no one will be held accountable for their inaction or misconduct in government and endangering our health or destroying the environment They will simply be reward with a big retirement $$$ package and as we have seen returned to some lofty chairmanship or post to double dip in the pension fund.We Caymanians are so full of $#!€ all talk no action as usual. Time for Stran to get his MBE for his stellar work in Government boyz?
20 years ago CIG stated that the dump was at capacity, but we somehow continue to jam more and more trash in there from an ever increasing population and rampant physical development.
The acting port director says the port is at breaking point. Maybe we can manage with some innovation. Fact is, further port expansion will help fuel even more rapid physical development and population rise. The “All Clear” has not been given for this tsunami.
Does anyone see a need to better manage this madness and focus on fixing the dump and traffic problems etc.
Frankly, future marine environment destruction is still in the future. What is happening today on land, on your tiny rock is far more urgent because it is an environmental catastrophe.
Thousands of residents just got exposed to extremely toxic byproduct of the dump fire, and it didn’t dissipate in the air, it contaminated every sq.inch of every surface. Toxic ash on the fire site remains in the open, further contaminating everything with the help of wind and water.
Yet, not a pip from your government, as if nothing really happened.
This is truly a crime against humanity, against Cayman residents. Regardless where you live, in a mansion or a shack, you’re affected equally.
Lawsuits coming.
They need to move the dump away from the most populous area of the island.
People and business will leave the island before CIG has the ability to fix the dump and everything else it can’t fix. CIG can not figure it out. They all went to the same schools that are failing now.
@226 As if UK or USA schools are doing so great.
Making yourself look good by making some one else look bad is just desperation. And Pathetic. And your best shot CIG.
First, the whole “but so and so overseas is worse” excuse is lame – what does it matter how well they are doing? If Johnny comes home from school with a D do you care if he says it’s ok because some kid in Birmingham did worse? What is relevant is what we get in terms of the huge amounts of our money CIG spends. And second, can’t speak for the US but UK average results are way better – just look at the last educational review reports comparing pass rates and grades to the UK. And last, any comparison with the US, the UK or Outer Mongolia should take into account the money spent. CIG spends multiples of what is spent in the average public school system kid in the U or UK – and more than the private schools in Cayman charge, yet gets crap results.
This article isn’t about the UK or USA . It’s about us!
Poor Stran is crazy to carry this L for Moses Alden and Big Mac
Stran’s job is to be loyal to his leader he must never question the political direction. Objective thinking is not allowed no matter the cause costs or mistakes that are being made. That is the criteria to become a CO in today’s world class civil service.
A career “yes man”.
Perhaps, but there is no denying tendering is dangerous compared to stepping off a ship onto a pier.
But..stepping off the sidewalk to cross the road can also dangerous
Helicopter travel too.
I heard parking in the road is dangerous but still see it every day. Now they will look into stepping off the sidewalk laws.
Debatable. GT will never be shielded from the blue water ocean conditions driving on those 80+ foot pilings, with tens of thousands of tons of vessel weight propelled by equally massive 10 story freeboard (essentially a windward sail 500 ft long and 200ft high) torquing on the submarine foundations (being devised and constructed by amateurs). It’s never been done.
Maybe it holds together for a few seasons…but unlikely to last long enough for a second ship to be financed by Wall Street, deposit order placed by liner, wait it’s turn for a shipyard booking, get built and launched, and sail to this theatre of operation -one with few other equivalent ports of interest. It seems very unlikely to survive the 25-50yr amortization period forecast for an on-budget construction phase. No other cost-phases pledged, nor any security performance bond pledged from the disposable Cayman shell “partner” with no operating history; and whose shareholders are not public.
You make a lot of unsubstantiated claims.
Can we see some statistics that supports this claim?
Tendering is dangerous, we had visitors come on a cruise ship last February and it was so rough they didn’t get off the tender, but went straight back to the ship as it was too dangerous to get off in George Town. They have said they will never come back to Cayman until it gets a pier.
Yawn….
Good.
And as they didn’t get off the ship you know this how? They went out of their way to contact you and tell you that😏
10.17am Who paid you for that comment. The tender crew would never say that, so if they never landed how do you know what they said?.
Well they will be waiting a damn long time…Come by plane next time..We prefer stayover passengers not those that demand we destroy our environment to build a pier just for them…
Sorry I don’t believe this crap happened or they made that demand to you..
Absolute Rubbish!
Ignorance will deny anything and everything especially here in third world edumacated island. Facts and common sense can not win here.
Try cycling on Cayman roads!
Please explain why it is more dangerous…could the same not happen steppin g off a cruise ship stairway?
As supported by the thousands of injured cruisers clogging ER every year – not.
They need to stop lying….Trump much?!
Hey everybody!! I found the guy that turns everything around to Trump!
Good fun. Thanks.
Let’s impeach them too
Typical…
Slowly but surely, all is being revealed.
Articles like this make me feel more confident that I am voting “NO” on referendum day.
Vote No
WOW they will do anything to push the port down our throats! What next?
Exactly!!!!
I wonder what Governor Roper and Deputy Governor will have to say about this entire mess and revelations that the Jamaican government are directing the Unity government and the ministry of tourism policies?
One cant help but notice the coincidence that a Jamaican company has also recently purchased the largest water-sports operator here ?
Have the governors ever taken any corrective actions to stop stupid or illegal activity? I can’t think of any……….. and there have been many!
There was one quite recently. He only lasted a couple of months unfortunately.
To 6.53 When are you guys going to stop with the propaganda ? I mean you accuse people ldft and right with little regard or desire for the truth.Anything will do for you in your efforts to push your own agenda no matter how many lives you destroy.
You mean the Jamaican Minister was lying?
Government caught telling lies to push the port has been happening from day one. Why are they so desperate for the port? Follow the money.
6:51 I bet more than a few people we know very well have their comfortable retirement riding on this project. They’re not doing it for us, they’re doing if for themselves.
To Chief Officer Stran Bodden:
“That’s what you get for telling the truth. Someone calls you a liar. Most people will accept a likely lie to an unlikely truth. In fact, they prefer it.”
~ Those insightful but sad words were penned by author Laurell Kaye Hamilton. Mr. Bodden never mind that; there are other insightful words to encourage you to continue speaking the truth despite the false accusations against you:
“Truth Is Its Own Reward.” ~ Those encouraging words were spoken by the ancient philosopher Plato. Truth needs no reason or justification for what it is; it just IS. And even though many may deny the truth, they cannot change it.
Spin much?
So where is the truth in his statement?
True words but, I’m sure Stran will be ok. It’s the lower ranked civil servants like me that was literally forced out of my 30 year career with Government just because I told the truth.
It is unfair to call someone a liar when you don’t have the facts of the matter yourself, even more so when you are dealing with necessarily secretive Government documents and negotiations. Stran is well known for his integrity and attention to detail. He is also the most frugal with Government funds of all the CO’s I know. His affidavit states he knows its contents to be true or otherwise believes them to be so. When people don’t know better they should wait for the process to play out. The matter was in the hands of the people, now it’s in the hands of a judge. Leave the legal process alone and stop trying to influence the public. Being first to opine is not always being right.
Can you elaborate on those “secretive” documents and negotiations for us?
This project has been based on lies from the beginning.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/01/27/jamaica-looks-to-plan-b-amid-doubts-over-cayman-port/
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/01/cruise-lines-ghost-ship-raises-new-concerns/
So Stran is the one with-holding Environmental Protection Fund monies for actual conservation is he?
I don’t think anyone is calling him a liar but he has signed an affidavit with misleading information. He is blindly following Moses and on more than one occasion I have seen him act as if he were Moses..He is supposed to be neutral. He is so tainted now that there is not one new minister that will want him come next election.
What are these secretive documents that you refer to? In my opinion, no one should be tried in the court of public opinion but when you attest to things that you know yourself to be not necessarily accurate or true to try to wrongly influence the courts then you should be at least called out on it and I see nothing wrong with it.
I agree let the courts deal with it but for Stran’s sake, I hope that he takes this as an example of how these politicians will use him to ensure the results they want. In my opinion, he is being set up and he doesn’t even recognize it.
There is no longer any ethics left in our government and everyday they prove themselves in that manner..
SIPL
Exactly – know or believe to be true. So how do you explain the bit about the bypassing Oasis class ships then? He can’t know it’s true as it isn’t. And if he believes it to be true he clearly hasn’t looked into the matter as a simple search would show its bollocks. So what are we to conclude? Or is it In those mysterious secret documents? Pull the other one – it’s got bells on it.
If this is the case either he or Moses should speak to this…
Stran, take it from me, you are being set up to take the fall. Moses, Alden and all that gang have the money and resources to handle anything that comes up..For you, you might get lucky and get a prolonged leave and then finally a “payout” from the next government.
Keep your integrity intact and watch your words carefully as they can be held against you.
Yep. And all he needs to do is tell the truth. Which he doesn’t seem to be doing. Or do you have evidence of some additional phantom Oasis class ships that no one else knows about.
6.48pm Your’e wasting your paid breath, Spam Bodden’s never heard of Plato.
Deputy Governor, will you be buttering this over?! Or will you deal with this the right way???
The right way? Like put him on paid leave for a couple of years then quietly pay him off?
Poor Stran has now become the sacrificial lamb for Moses K
Sorry, not sorry.
This government and the ministry of tourism driving the port project have no shame. Stran Bodden acts like he is a minister. He is a loyal puppet for Moses Kirkconnell that is out of his depth and who has lost the plot. Where is the Auditor General and Governor’s office to investigate this mess?
I can only imagine that Mr. Stran Bodden is being pressured by the Minister to push the Cruise Port as fast as possible – as the longer it takes the more scrutiny there will be of government and the whole process.
Not sure, if true, why Mr. Stran would make misleading claims. With his father on CPA Board I do hope that Captain Ashton will recuse himself of any involvement with the port.
You like ALT does with all the developments his store will sell supplies to? Because the COA is a paragon of virtue when it comes to economic self interest.