In a resignation letter, Jude Scott, who stepped down as chairman of Cayman Airways’ board last week, cited several reasons for his decision, including delays in increasing staff salaries, the licensing of the Little Cayman airport, and a ‘dual-destination policy’ which he said Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan had not discussed with him and the board.
Scott, in his letter, which has also been published in other local media outlets, stated that he found it “increasingly difficult to get hold” of Bryan, whom he said had “instructed” other board members without his knowledge. He said the minister had also announced policies, such as a dual-destination plan with Jamaica which is under discussion, without consulting the full CAL board.
“There are several critical areas that our advice and requests do not appear to have been properly considered or actioned in a timely manner by Government, resulting in Government not giving Cayman Airways the much needed attention, support and funding,” Scott said in the letter.
Bryan, in response to the criticism levelled against him in the letter, said there is currently no policy regarding dual- or multi-destinations, and that it is an issue that will be discussed next month at a regional tourism conference to be held here. He also queried why Scott felt he had be consulted by a government ministry before entering discussions about potential future policies.
Bryan denied that he had been “unavailable” to Scott or the board, saying his chief officer Stran Bodden was a member of the board and represented him and the Ministry of Travel and Tourism in meetings.
Cayman Airways staff pay increases
Scott, in his resignation letter addressed to Bryan, called for “urgent attention” on the securing of funding to the airline – which is a government company – so that it can compensate its staff in compliance with the Public Authorities Act, including matching the recently announced cost-of-living increase for civil servants.
Bryan insisted he discussed this matter with Scott at a meeting two months ago, and let him know that while there may be a delay in getting pay increases for airline staff, the matter was being dealt with. The increases would not be immediately available because a supplemental budget would need to be approved, as there was not a surplus in the airline’s current budget to fund the pay rises, he said.
He added that the issue of bringing staff in statutory authorities and government-owned companies in line with the pay scales of civil servants, as per the requirements of the Public Authorities Act, would “be resolved in the next budget” in January 2024.
“I gave [Scott] that commitment, so I am surprised by him raising that in the resignation letter. At our last meeting, I said I would bring it to Cabinet,” he said. “It is something by law that we have to address.”
The minister said this was not just an issue affecting Cayman Airways, but also a number of other statutory authorities and government-owned companies.
Dual-destination policy
Scott also stated that the CAL board was not “officially asked to consider or provide advice” on a dual-destination policy, which he discouraged, saying it would likely lead to a reduction in the “overall visitor nights by shortening visits to Cayman or redirecting prospective Cayman visitors to other destinations”.
He added, “The Cayman islands should always focus on being ‘The Destination’… not a stopover hub for visitation to other countries”.
But Bryan said no such policy exists at the moment, that it is merely at a discussion stage. Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has been touting the advantages of multi-destination tourism for the region, which would allow international airlines to fly into the Caribbean and travel through the air spaces of the other countries.
Bryan said the issue was discussed with Bartlett when he and a delegation from Cayman visited Jamaica earlier this month. Kris Bergstrom, a Cayman Airways board member and former CAL pilot, was among that delegation, Bryan added, stating that Scott was off island at the time, and would have been on that trip if he had been available.
Little Cayman airport
Scott also highlighted problems with the Edward Bodden Airfield in Little Cayman, noting that it is currently an unlicensed aerodrome, situated on land that is not owned by government, and for which the lease has expired. It operates on the basis of special temporary waivers from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands, he said, adding that in the event of a waiver not being granted, operations at the airport would have to cease.
“It is essential that the Minister and Ministry of Transport and Tourism participate in a meeting with CAACI, District Administration, Airports Authority, and CAL to discuss and agree suitable short-, medium, and long-term plans for a proper licensed aerodrome facility for Little Cayman,” Scott said.
He also called on government to provide support for CAL to purchase a third Twin Otter aircraft, to ensure that the airline can meet the growing demand for airlift to and from Little Cayman, especially when one of the planes is undergoing maintenance.
Bryan told the Compass that Scott’s observations on the situation at the Little Cayman airport were correct, and it was a matter that the government was highly aware of, and that it was recently discussed at a caucus meeting where a resolution was sought.
Saying the future of Cayman Airways was bright, Bryan described Scott’s resignation as a “disappointment”, and thanked him for his service on the board, which he said had lasted just under a year.
The Compass reached out to Scott who said he would provide no further comment at this time.
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