3 ministers and MP hand-deliver $80k of aid to Roatan
(CNS): Three Cabinet ministers, an MP, a number of public servants and private sector delegates were all sent to deliver around CI$80,000 worth of medical supplies this week on a Cayman Airways flight to Honduras. A devastating fire burned down the only public hospital in Roatan on 19 April and four days later, the Bay Island Roatan Hospital Relief Committee was formed, chaired by McKeeva Bush MP, to help with donations.
The Cayman Islands Government also footed the bill for the Cayman Airways charter flight to hand deliver the supplies to a makeshift hospital on Monte Placentero in Roatan, according to a release about the trip. Accompanying Bush were ministers Sabrina Turner, Kenneth Bryan and Jay Ebanks, as well as several government workers and people from the private sector.
The donation included sterile gloves, gauze, needles and specialised medical equipment, such as incubators, fetal monitors and dopplers. The Health Services Authority (HSA) donated supplies worth around CI$56,000, and Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) donated supplies worth around CI$30,000.
“We are deeply thankful to our government for joining this multi-stakeholder body to provide much-needed help to our brothers and sisters in Honduras,” Bush said in a press release about the trip.
HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood explained why the authority was happy to help. “To lose the only hospital on Roatan is unfathomable, and our thoughts and prayers are with their medical community,” she said. “We are grateful to be able to donate medical supplies during this loss.”
HCCI Chief Business Officer Shomari Scott, who was among the delegation on the trip, said that Health City was committed to helping in times of disaster.
“When the hospital in Roatan suffered a devastating fire, and the Cayman Islands Government asked, we didn’t hesitate to step up and provide whatever portion of the much-needed medical supplies and resources we could. We are proud to be a part of the Cayman Islands’ medical response and are always ready to play any role necessary,” he added.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said it was a pleasure to lend a helping hand in the relief effort. “In times of crisis, it is heartening to witness the unity and solidarity among Caribbean islands,” he said. “I am proud that the Cayman Islands could extend support to the people of the Bay Islands during their time of need. This collaborative effort not only underscores the resilience of our region but also reaffirms the bonds of friendship and compassion that unite us.”
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Category: Health, Medical Health
I don’t know if I’m missing something….
We can charter an Aid flight to Roatan, but KX can’t fly there regularly… Insisting that they have to use (the absolute slums of) La Ceiba airport instead? When several international full-service carriers routinely fly to Roatan.
Please help me understand
Those in charge want to go where the prices are lowest for the local “attractions”.
Cayman at this point is rotten to the core. The Treasury is being used for the perks of office. None of this is new. But the scale is ever brazen and growing.
Cayman people keeps their mouths shut too much. Must demand more VALUE FOR MONEY from Policiations. Speak out against money waste only for their own and friends befits to enjoy. All those people to over night in Roatan ?????
Madam Auditor-General? Any comment? I know from my old pal in the past, Nigel Esdaile, one of your predecessors, auditors don’t usually get involved in “government policy” ( ie give money to Honduras) unless there is, for example, a value for money or dubious motivation issue. But surely this does not pass the “ smell test”? What was the cost of flying the plane plus man hour costs of politicians and civil servants as opposed to what we actually gave Honduras? Isn’t that an A-G issue?
Do not forget the hotel accommodation and meals that was not mentioned in the press release. I also remember Nigel. He was a good auditor as indeed is our current one.
Could have simply taken the seats out of one SAAB and loaded her up..but guess there would be no room for the politicians.
The charter likely cost more than the medical supplies…
Only in Cayman..
This is Vote buying – in the disguise of charity aid. I’m happy that those that need help got it, hopefully or at least most went to those who really, really needed relief.
By Vote Buying, I’m referring to these MP’s who are trying to get those residents who are Honduran by birth with Cayman Status and/or have family from here and vice versa. I’m wondering what the percentage is, which districts have the larger voting base that are of Honduran birth/descent/family relationships.🤔
You all never have anything positive to say.
Let me tell you something… two days after Hurricane Paloma hit the Brac, a commercial fishing boat from Honduras diverted far out of their way — giving up any opportunity for catching fish — to donate the ice in the hold of the boat to the Brackers. It was one of the most selfless things I’ve ever seen, and that was the best and most welcome ice I’ve ever had.
Well done, CIG. I’m not a fan of some of these folks, but I’m glad they helped Roatan out. Don’t care if they had fun doing it either.
You totally missed the point. No one is objecting the gift to help out Roatan. the point is that it was totally a waste of our money to send a plane loaded with goods and money with a few politicians and others. The money could have gone by wire transfer and the hard goods by the regular flight. Moreover the plane stayed overnight thus incurring food and accommodation costs. By the way Cayman Airways was given less than 24 hours notice.
As to Paloma you can also thank three of the Grand Cayman Rotary Clubs for making a sizeable donation
8:48’s point flew well over your head.
BS. The plane did not stay overnight. The plane was on the ground for about 3 and a half hours.
And, what regular flights are you referring to that could have taken the supplies?
One thing for certain, WE as Caymanians are our own worse enemies. The proverbial “crabs in a barrel”.
A Fifth Generation Caymanian.
Maybe The plane didn’t stay overnight, but our not in the least bit honorable representatives certainly did… yes.?
vote buying exercise….
In times of hurricanes and earthquakes in the Caribbean service clubs send members to assist. Haiti readily comes to mind. When it comes to financial assistance many year ago these clubs discovered a new invention. It was called a wire transfer.
Perhaps someone could train our government in using this invention. That would have saved about $20,000.
They just had to make the trip over for a photo opportunity lol.
Is there a West Bay arsonist setting fire to things in Roatan? What is the Cayman connection, to the many suspicious infernos that strike the Bay Islands in Honduras (a totally different country)? How was this money requisitioned from CI public funds?
Do the brothels and hookers in Roatan take CI government credit cards? Asking for someone who flew there recently.
“There’s no law against it “ was the last defence that was used..
So long as you pay ot back if you get caught.
9.34.. I think it’s so long as you CLAIM to have paid it back after you’ve been caught.
Third world meets third world.
shame they didn’t stay
Shame is something totally lacking in our representatives…what a Blatant waste of public funds just so that our overpaid and over fed politicians can have an all expenses paid booze and booty fest.
It was a call to the Booty Bar in West End!!!
Tax payers paying for a 737-800 to fly them to “what for”??
HORSE SHIT is what this is.
@2:53PM
I don’t think that people realize that the cost to operate that aircraft to Roatan likely cost more than the medical supplies..
Of course the math of the politicians never include their frills and expenses…
Could somebody cognizant of the figures please let us know what it would cost for the plane charter .. fuel, staff, charter, overnight, various fees.
Add this to the wages for X number of govt workers and politicians, multiplied by X days we paid them salary for.
Hotel rooms, meals for staff and pax, etc.
Transport to and from the makeshift hospital.
Cost of medical supplies paid by govt $56,000.
Now tell us exactly why you all thought this was justified?
How much did the CAL charter cost the people of the Cayman Islands who are suffering.
That plane could have been filled with people desperate to get to Barbados!
1215pm Dubious characters on a jaunt Bra disguise as humanitarian event that’s all going on here. Minister of Nothing posing again for photo op!
Could we not donate the MP’s too? okay, Honduras would probably sever all ties with us, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
WTF is Sherry Ann doing giving interviews in Roatan? What the actual F#$% I am so embarrased.
Who Sherry Ann is..?
And who cares
People living in their cars with their children, sleeping under the Catboat Club, begging in the supermarket parking lots and on the waterfront and these clowns all need to head down to Roatan for a jolly? No suh.
I counted 18 people on the jolly… Just the cost of their air fare and expenses would add up to thousands which they could donate to a needy cause in Cayman.
This Mac inspired gang of disgusting parasites have absolutely no shame at all, as they travel wine dine and whatever else , at our expense.
Bet there was a fight to get those first class seats .
I applaud the timely philanthropic actions of our dear leaders who consistently extend their charitable donations to our brothers in the Bay islands who have done the same when we were in need. My only wish is that we could extend our co-operations in the drug trafficking and arms smuggling arena to stop the current up surge in crime here and in efforts to remove some of the undesirables now inundating our workforce and community here.
“Philanthropic” my a$$…
Cheap rum and even cheaper booty is why the usual suspects are there… on one Ministry or another’s expenses.
Free for all travel junket disguised as charity. A bank transfer couldn’t work???
Gotta have that photo op!
Bank transfer? You think it would be better to wire $80,000? You better rethink that. Personally I see nothing wrong with donating supplies to others in great need. Also Caymanians have relatives in Roatan who will benefit from our generosity.
Bank transfers do not include medical bandages and equipment. Would you be able to guarantee the funds being spent on the emergencies at hand? Asking for my 4 year old grandson!
Regular bi-weekly flight to La Ceiba? Sit down gramps.
If they had not used Cayman Airways for this boondoggle we could have donated another $20000. This is public money we are talking about. The supplies could have gone on the regular flight to Honduras.
En which una going down Booty bar with meh?
12.16 sure as hell there’s no other reason for Mac to go there.