Tag: Public Accounts Committee
Over 22 years late, development plan still misses latest target
(CNS): The chief officer in the planning ministry has said the target to get the National Development Plan completed by the end of last year was “over-ambitious”, even though this project is now more than 22 years late. Eric Bush reeled off a long list of meetings, consultations, reviews and redrafts involving civil servants, politicians, […]
UPM stalled work on economic plan because of election
(CNS): The first steps taken by the finance ministry to begin shaping a sustainable economic development plan for the Cayman Islands were stalled by the UPM administration back in August 2024 because the caucus decided that it wasn’t appropriate even to do the early groundwork because there was to be an election this year. Financial […]
Port splurges CI$46k of public cash on Christmas party
(CNS): After spending CI$56,522 on a Christmas party in 2022, which the Office of the Auditor General pointed out was more than eight times the recommended allowance for public sector holiday celebrations, the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands splurged again in 2023, according to its financial report for that year.
Only 27% of construction workers are Caymanian
(CNS): The idea that construction is critically important for local jobs was dispelled by Ministry of Labour Chief Officer Wesley Howell on Thursday when he told the Public Accounts Committee that only around 27% of people working in the sector are Caymanian. Howell was answering questions about a report by the Office of the Auditor […]
WORC bosses to face PAC grilling
(CNS): The Public Accounts Committee will hold a public hearing from today, Thursday, to 20 June regarding the Office of the Auditor General’s latest performance report, Improving Employment Prospects for Caymanians, May 2024, in which the OAG made ten recommendations, primarily to WORC. Ministry of Labour Chief Officer Wesley Howell, WORC Director Jeremy Scott and […]
CEO bemoans meagre pension for CAL staff
(CNS): Retired Cayman Airways Ltd (CAL) workers are facing a bleak future as the private pensions they accumulated are nowhere near enough to live on and they do not have post-retirement healthcare. Answering a question at the Public Accounts Committee hearing last week from Bernie Bush MP (WBN) about former airline staff struggling on meagre […]
PAC to quiz CAL and ministry execs over OAG report
(CNS): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing this Thursday at 10:00am to examine the Office of the Auditor General’s recent performance report, The Efficiency and Effectiveness of Cayman Airways Limited. President and CEO of CAL Fabian Whorms will attend as a witness alongside CAL Board Chair John-Paul Clarke and Ministry of […]
CIG still dodging CI$2.2B CS retirees healthcare liability
(CNS): At a Public Accounts Committee meeting on Thursday, senior officials once again dodged questions on how and when the Cayman Islands Government proposes to place its liability for the future healthcare needs of retired civil servants squarely on its books. This financial liability is currently only included in supporting notes that form part of […]
UPM failure to appoint member stalls PAC’s work
(CNS): The Public Accounts Committee was supposed to review the latest report by the Office of the Auditor General on Thursday. However, the meeting was adjourned until March because the five-member committee did not have a quorum (three members plus the chairman), not least because it is currently one member short. The OAG report to […]
Reporting $2.1B liability would create huge deficits
(CNS): Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson has said that putting the Cayman Islands Government’s future liability for post-retirement civil service healthcare costs firmly on its books would create massive annual deficits for public finances. But until it fully reports and accounts for these future expenses, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) will continue to give […]
PPM challenges premier to oust Mac from PAC
(CNS): PPM Leader Roy McTaggart is challenging Premier Wayne Panton to remove beleaguered MP McKeeva Bush from the high-profile Public Accounts Committee following the news that he had been charged with rape. The opposition leader has also asked if Panton will continue to allow Bush to remain on the government benches, given that he now […]
