A Government minister and opposition MLAs have voiced concern about the Caymanian Land and Sea Co-op in Finance Committee.
While there is a slight increase in funding for the co-op in the 07/08 budget, which the committee passed on Friday, the number of sea tours organised have been halved and the number of land tours is down by one third.
Opposition MLA Cline Glidden noted that the number of members (boat owners, taxi drivers etc.) remained the same at 175, but there was a reduction in land and sea tours. The number of land tours shows that it has gone from 4,500 in the 06/07 year to 3,000 for the forthcoming budget year. Sea tours have halved from 2,000 in 06/07 to 1,000 for 07/08. Mr. Glidden noted that the amount being allocated for 07/08 is a little more than was given the previous financial year – $200,000 over $190,000.
Mr. Clifford said the number of active members has been reduced from 38 to 31.
‘The Land and Sea Co-op continues to experience challenges,’ he said, but added that he has a meeting scheduled with them for Monday.
The funding is supplied by the government for the purposes of public liability insurance to allow the co-op do business with the cruise ships, Mr. Clifford said.
Mr. Glidden said a reduction in seven active members might be understandable, but such a reduction in land and sea tours could be a concern.
‘The Ministry has significant concerns over the Land and Sea Co-op,’ Mr. Clifford said.
He said it is a non-government organisation and care needs to be taken that it is regarded as such.
The Land and Sea Co-op struggles with the turnover of its management structure, he said.
Mr. Glidden said Land and Sea gets financial assistance from government and once government gives the funding it runs a private operation.
‘But with costs remaining the same and a reduction in tours, something is going in the wrong direction,’ he said. ‘The cost for government is the same but business for members is halved.’
Mr. Clifford said while they must account for the funding given to Land and Sea, the government must be careful not to micro-manage it as a business.
Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush said more help needs to be given to the Land & Sea Co-op.
Members of the Land and Sea Co-op are the least likely to be able to help themselves, he said; that was why the funding was started. He asked what government will do to help the co-op
Mr. Clifford said management turnover doesn’t help. ‘We made recommendations to those there before, then there was a change in management, and we have to do that over again, which we will do on Monday.’
Mr. Bush said, however, ‘They need a whole lot more help than that’.
Mr. Clifford said whenever government meets with the cruise lines it continues to represent the needs of the local people.
The Land and Sea Co-operative was set up in 2001 to increase the business opportunities for the small and/or independent watersports and transport operators.
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