Bryan makes appeal for Scranton Park project
(CNS): When parliament meets on 25 June, Deputy Opposition Leader Kenneth Bryan plans to ask the new government several questions, including whether or not it plans to cut any of the capital projects that were started under the last administration, in particular, the Scranton Central Park, which he spearheaded.
Bryan wants to know if and why the NCFC government plans to stop any of them, as he claims it should not be about money, given the huge surplus during the first three months of the year. A review of public finances conducted before the election warned that Cayman was headed for a $26.2 million deficit by the end of this year, a prediction that the new government has said is accurate.
The NCFC’s position was reiterated by Finance Minister Rolston Anglin at last week’s Finance Committee meeting, when he made it clear that unless the government takes corrective action, there is a real risk that the Cayman Islands will breach the Public Management and Finance Act by around $26 million. He pointed out that April was in deficit and that will be the case for the rest of the year.
However, Bryan disagrees because he says the first quarter surplus is much more than forecast. Speaking on Radio Cayman on Wednesday, Bryan said the government was muddying words, adding that public finances can be “tricky”. He said the opposition was planning an “exposé” of the situation, as he suggested that he had been unable to get a straight answer.
He urged the new government not to use the deficit to stall the Scranton Park project, arguing that it would not be just for his constituents; it would be a central park that would include a facility for seniors and the community.
Bryan said that he was not aware that any cuts had been planned yet, and before he left office, he ensured that the necessary funds for the approximately CI$10 million project were in place. He said that all the relevant contracts had been signed and that a significant part of the work was already complete, adding that he had been visiting the project site frequently.
“I am begging the government, please do not undermine this project… It’s not just a central park but a park for the country,” he said, adding that the seniors and youth centre was also a major part of the overall project, as there is no such facility in George Town.
Bryan claimed it was not, as he heard on the campaign trail, his “vanity project”, but a park for all. “It’s not about me. It’s bigger than the constituency and bigger than a district park,” he said. The project is now under the planning ministry, which is headed by Jay Ebanks. Bryan, who described the minister as a friend, believes he will continue with it.
In addition to questions about the NCFC’s plans for the capital projects, Bryan also intends to ask about the referendum results and the government’s plans to give effect to those results. He said he will also ask about affordable housing for George Town, the number of families being helped by the Needs Assessment Unit and the NCFC’s position on the minimum wage, as well as a direct question about the projected deficit.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
“A review of public finances conducted before the election warned that Cayman was headed for a $26.2 million deficit by the end of this year, a prediction that the new government has said is accurate.”
What part of this does the knucklehead not comprehend?
Bryan said that public finances can be “tricky”.
In other words the lamebrain is too damn clueless to figure out how it works.
If the minimum wage is so vital an issue, while they were in power why did his collection of lazyass deadbeats not pass legislation ensuring that the minimum wage was sufficient and would be indexed to the cost of living and automatically updated on an annual basis? That is the question I would pose.
Kenneth Bryan stop it. You have no legacy you threw it all away when you strived for power and rejoined with PPM who thought of you as nobody, treated you like a boy and laughed at you openly, you come in like their little boy who just gave up George Town West who pointedly told the country on radio that he would eat his own vomit rather than work with Mckeeva Bush and Lo and behold they were bussom bodies with the Mckeeva Alden agreement to form a government a few terms ago..
Given the Scanton circumstance and what has transpired in front and behind the scenes., kenneth you should be advocating that the Flowers family make a decent offer to the remaining families in the immediate area ; Ramoons and Seymour which includes housing and monetary compensation for their holding of land. This would be true advocacy for George Town Central sah for “your people” .
The country knows that the park will be an added attraction for the owners of the majority of the sorrounding area and fits in well with their Master Plan, in short We the People got conned in this scheme through you Mr. Minister. Take that as your Legacy.
People pay attention at who is developing around the Scranton Central Park. Who is the Real Estate Company for the Flower’s Group. Whose wife works at Century 21. Who is the primary company providing baggage and check through services for Owen Roberts International Airport and Cayman Brac Airport. Who encourages their constituents to sell their surrounding land around the park and the Flower’s Group development of Cricket Square.The park will be built by Government, the legacy of Bryan (who was heard stating “I don’t give a f*** who hangs out in the park as long as I leave my legacy!” This Park was intended upon completion to be a part of the Flower’s Group development and an entual place for their tenants and employees to enjoy.
Well that’s much better than a drug dealers park. If that’s the case then it should be supported. The Flowers Group are 100% real Caymanians that have worked hard through successive generations to get where they are. Why would any Caymanians want to tear them down? Dart maybe but he’s not what I would call a Caymanian and Dart is only out for Dart.
6:44 I SAY bs to your comment, We the people cant afford to be building parks for the sole use of a rich conglomerate. rgwy want it, then pay Government for the expenditure thus far and then finish it.
notice how the park went from $1.5 to $3.5 to now $10 million. That needs to be scrapped immediately and all contracts investigated.
This park is the definition of a boondogle. i visited for a month Feb 2018 from Missouri after IrMaria USVI devastation routed us to Grand Cayman. We did not return to KY. Even then local cultural and historical sites were almost non-existent. Wild orchids at the QE II Botanical Park, the orchid show there, Agricultural Fair, and program on traditional sailing were highlights. No to cruise piers (and public subsidies for NFL & MLB stadiums anywhere in the US).
CI$10m / CI$150k = 65+ affordable homes..
CI$10m x 10% “commission” > 65 affordable homes.
$8Million to prison consultants is 40 affordable homes.
Kenny beach is 30 homes.
Government step in now and stop the bleed .
Who lives forever?
so is this official ppm policy now????
from the people who think buying beach land for cemetaries is a good idea….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
welcome to wonderland
Go sit down ya coke dealin prick.
This man is appealing to Govt to save his park, speaking for Govt on his mega-millions airport project. He wants the new Govt to carry through his agenda.
Let’s see what they do!
That agenda was already tens of millions overbudget at handover. Scranton, the FBO move at Airport, and the Brac school for no students all need to be canceled.
Stop that new Brac school, please. Cayman Brac needs a bigger, modern port that generates employment and support trade. They also need their drinking water situation re-evaluated and more private sector satellite offices employing young people in the field they want to pursue. Hopefully CBE voters are learning the lesson.
Uneducable.
we should relocate the prison to the Brac.
that will generate income.
Now THAT is a GREAT idea!
now there is a brilliant thought!
land is filled.
perfect for low cost housing
ugghhh…..think i’d prefer the crack park….or maybe one and the same thing?