A number of smaller government agencies would be abolished or absorbed into larger departments under “lower priority” recommendations made by Ernst & Young in a report released to government this week.
Several government entities, including the National Drug Council, Government Information Services, the National Housing Development Trust, the Special Economic Zone Advisory Board, the Cinematograph Board and the National Pensions Board, would be abolished or devolved into other departments if EY’s recommendations are accepted. In addition, a number of smaller entities would be merged, including the administrative functions of the Truman Bodden Law School and the University College of the Cayman Islands, the Hotel Licensing and Liquor Licensing boards, and the National Museum, National Gallery and National Cultural Foundation, if Cabinet agrees with the EY proposals.
The lower priority designation by EY, which reviewed government’s staffing and structure with an eye toward trimming public sector spending, does not mean low priority in terms of timing.
“[These recommendations] do not warrant the detailed analysis within this report, are required as part of implementation [of the civil service downsizing] or are more straightforward,” the consultant’s report stated.
Restructuring of the Tourism Attractions Board and some sharing of the administrative staff among the auditor general, complaints commissioner and information commissioner’s offices were also recommended.
The EY reviewers suggest that the overall role of the District Administration department in Cayman Brac be more strictly defined, and that government generally should “re-evaluate the need for the volume and scope of security services” it now employs.
The EY report also recommends transferring the National Drug Council to the Ministry of Health, where employees would have greater access to resources and could be used as part of a wider effort. The move would not necessarily result in any job losses.
Government Information Services, as it currently exists, would be devolved into various ministries, where employees would report to separate elected officials, rather than operate as a centralized service. A “lean central functionality” would be maintained.
“[GIS] has experienced significant challenges with its reputation, stakeholder management, capability and service delivery,” the EY report says. “There are delays in communication being distributed to the public on critical matters.”
The recommendation that the National Housing Development Trust be abolished and absorbed into the Cayman Islands Development Bank operations depends on whether Cabinet decides to keep the development bank itself. Other EY recommendations seek to dissolve the bank if there is no “political will” to continue its functions.
The Cinematograph Board and the Special Economic Zone Advisory Board functions would both be subsumed in the Trade and Business Licensing Board functions, if EY’s proposals are accepted.
Tourism attractions
The EY report makes a number of recommendations regarding the sites now managed by the Tourism Attractions Board. These include:
The Department of Commerce and Investment would take over the Cayman Islands Craft Market
Hell Park management would be transferred to the Parks and Cemeteries Unit
The Pirates Week Festival, Batabano, the Miss Cayman Pageant and the George Town downtown revitalization effort would all be placed under the Department of Tourism
The Tourism Attractions Board would retain management of Pedro St. James and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
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