Sub-sea cable may be taken on by private firm
(CNS): Government’s plans to finance a third sub-sea communications cable may have changed, but it’s not clear from Infrastructure Minister Jay Ebanks’ opaque answer to questions in parliament last week when he said that an undisclosed private sector company had offered to build it and Cabinet was exploring that option.
Ebanks said the consultants hired by the government had costed a project plan, and “an interested party” had made an offer “to connect the Cayman Islands to a multinational system”.
Although he was pressed on the matter, Ebanks said very little about the proposed costly project that would have seen the public purse pick up the tab. When Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart asked the minister for an update, Ebanks said that Cambridge Management Consulting, which was contracted last November, had reviewed previous analyses and assessed potential industry partners and stakeholders.
“Preliminary recommendations and a costed project plan were presented to caucus in March 2024,” he said. “Caucus then instructed further engagement with potential industry partners and evaluation of alternative partnership and delivery models. An interested party has submitted an offer to connect the Cayman Islands to a multinational system. A cabinet paper is being prepared for consideration.”
Although the minister did not identify the interested party that had made the offer, Seaborn Networks made an unsolicited application to OfReg in 2022 to pay for and connect a marine communications cable, which is likely to be what he was referring to.
When Opposition Deputy Leader Joey Hew asked whether the ministry had “accepted or rejected” the consultants’ recommendations, the minister read the formal answer again, even though it did not directly answer the opposition member’s question. When Hew asked if that meant the government was going to enter into a partnership with a private firm instead of doing it themselves, the minister insisted he had answered the question.
However, Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin intervened and told the minister that he did not understand how that answered Hew’s question, which required a yes or no answer. Ebanks insisted he had answered the question, but added that he did not want to say more because a paper was going to Cabinet and he did not know what would happen “once it gets there”. He said he was waiting on that Cabinet decision before he gave any more information on the project.
The government has faced criticism over the proposed project as there has been little information offered to justify the level of investment required. The CIG has already spent between CI$1.5M and $2M of taxpayers’ money on consultants relating to this project.
Ebanks’ reluctance to answer questions about the project is not unprecedented; he and the ministry have been very reluctant to reveal documents or reports, answer media questions about the proposed project or reveal how much has been spent to date.
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What’s the betting Jay knows a good sub sea cable contractor who will take him on all inclusive trips?
What are the chances that elected members are in partnership with others to do this work which would be a blatant unethical conflict of interest. Just putting 2 &2 together!
Cayman is like a E Type Jaguar driven by a deaf and near sighted driver at sunset in a NorWester
No surprise his chief officer and his sponsor have their billion dollar scheme ready to go my only hope it it’s better than the NSide police station operation cause that mysterious Fire looks like it hit a real snag .It’s now being rebuilt .
So, tell me something, who is this Caucus, and what authority do they have to make decisions regarding Govt work?
I thought it was Cabinet that made the decisions? But Jay says “Caucus” made the decision. Did he lie to us?
Forgive Jay as he might not know or realize that there is a difference between Cabinet and Caucus. We must remember that he isn’t the brightest crayon in Cabinet.
The arrogance of this dude is mind boggling! He needs to realise that the funding to do belongs to “we the people”. He is being very disrespectful. We know he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer; so a little manners would help him be a little more tolerable.
Why do we need more sub links when the providers are unable to provide the basic services that we are paying for? Has anyone tried to get service from flow at the galleria? Absolutely terrible!!! I don’t understand how they are still in business.
Ask OfReg!
Hush bout them. They like trophies on a desk collecting dust.
The option of a private company stepping in to lay the cable is being explored. Humm, does that mean the minister is exploring how much palm grease would be required to lubricate to the point of him awarding the contract?
Overseas consultants again!
Why can’t we have Starlink satellite internet on island? That’s a retorical question, of course
Starlink is being blocked by these people who raise their prices while offering nothing better. I’m sick of these people robbing the population while saying they protecting Caymanian jobs. People need to vote them out of Government. It’s coming!
Opaque is saying it nicely CNS. This minister is a shame to the country- he is inept, unqualified, uneducated and arrogant. His answers to 75% of PQ’s leave alot to be desired.
There is more intricate complexity to this issue than might appear on the surface. On this one issue, cut Minister Ebanks some slack. If full disclosure of this root issue were disclosed, it might cause widespread panic.
Intricate complexity for Jay would be pulling his phone from his pocket while eating a sandwich.
Every 10 years or so, some get-rich-quick group of “consultants” decides we need a new submarine data/telephony cable, pitches the CIG Cabinet of the day on a data-deficient *.ppt, and seeks to fund the utility rip/scheme with public money we don’t have. The dumbest Ministers flag themselves. In 2024, in the era of competitive communications arrays, we should already know that we no longer need to lay a single yard of cable.
More ‘projects’, more $M, no answers, election time!
another day of waffle and nonsense from cig.
bottom line…they have done/little or nothing on the issue.
any comment mrs governor???…is this good governence?
Look Bobo 9:34, you need to understand that the Governor is not a politician. She can only get involved, according to the Constitution, on issues related to national security and defense.
Though I am increasingly thinking with all the screwups with the dump, port options and now this sub sea cable that direct rule for 10 years might be the best way to go to straighten this place up, and clean up the corruption and government dysfunction.
Un D is isclosed private sector company?
All you got to say is Jay Ebanks is involved – results not excuses – over 3 years of what?
Lots of subcontracted roadworks though.
Maybe the private company will also employ his dad, and the Govt will be paying for it again.