The PACT government spent $12,000 on a pre-budget retreat at an exclusive Cayman Kai villa last summer as Premier Wayne Panton battled to hold his coalition together.
The expensive getaway, which included more than $6,000 for a meeting administrator, came as the warring Cabinet attempted to heal deep divisions over spending priorities.
But the effort – and the expense – was in vain with the coalition collapsing shortly after and Panton ousted from the leadership.
Multiple sources have cited disagreements over the budget as one of the principal reasons for the demise of the administration.
A two-year financial plan was eventually pushed through in mid-December after Panton’s former Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly had taken the reins.
One of the first moves of the new United People’s Movement was to shell out for another retreat – this time in O’Connor-Connolly’s constituency on Cayman Brac.
That forum cost just over $6,000 – mostly on flights, accommodation and expenses for ministers and senior civil servants who are based in Grand Cayman.
Details of the cost of the retreats were released following an open records request from the Compass.
There have been a total of three such events, costing a combined $18,000 since the last election in 2021.
The Cayman Kai meeting, identified as a ‘Budget Planning Retreat’, was held on 14 and 15 July last year at the Rip Kai property in North Side.
Local firm SquarePeg Ltd, identified as the ‘meeting facilitator’, was paid $6,599.99 for services rendered.
According to SquarePeg’s profile, its services include “process facilitation, strategic planning and bespoke leadership and team training”.
Who attended
In retrospect, the participants in the retreat actually provided an insight into the events that followed later in 2023, which saw the end of Panton’s term at the helm.
The PACT coalition members who attended the North Side retreat included Panton, Bernie Bush, Kenneth Bryan, Jay Ebanks, Sabrina Turner, André Ebanks, McKeeva Bush, Isaac Rankine, Heather Bodden, Pilar Bush and Nickolas DaCosta.
Missing from the list of attendees was O’Connor-Connolly and Bodden Town East MP Dwayne Seymour.
Government shelled out $3,074.40 for the venue rental, while Island Taste restaurant was paid $1,985.62 for catering the event.
In the weeks following that retreat, the infighting in the PACT coalition would be made public as Seymour broke ties with the administration.
Following suit was McKeeva Bush, whose departure led to a 9-9 deadlock in Parliament, which put further pressure on the government, and resulted in a special meeting of the House to debate a no-confidence motion filed by Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart. However, the 14 Nov. motion did not carry as the 8-7 vote in favour fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
Two government ministers – Ebanks and O’Connor-Connolly – abstained from the vote, putting the proverbial nail in the PACT coffin and leading to the emergence of the United People’s Movement government.
Prior to the budget session, the PACT administration had held a ‘Strategic Policy Statement Planning’ retreat in March 2023, at a conference room in the Grand Pavilion Commercial Centre with no cost noted for the use of that facility. Catering was provided by Casanova restaurant for $460.
No retreats were listed for 2021 or 2022.
Cayman Brac retreat
O’Connor-Connolly, just over a month into her term as premier, hosted a two-day retreat on Cayman Brac on 8-9 Jan.
The ‘caucus retreat’ cost $6,517.62 which included travel expenses for civil servants, accommodations and meals.
A total of $909.23 was spent for travel for Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose and civil servants Jason Webster, Jana Pouchie-Bush, Karie Bounds, Nickolas DaCosta and Darrel Rankine.
Accommodation at The Alexander Hotel for Pouchie-Bush, Bounds and Rankine totalled $1,451, with Rose, Webster and DaCosta not requiring a place to stay.
Lunch for caucus members on 8 Jan. cost $1,635.99 at the Beach Club Restaurant and $429.50 the next day from Coral Isle Restaurant, which was for caucus members and staff.
The Alexander Hotel was paid $1,299.50 for breakfast and refreshments for 8-9 Jan., with set-up at the Aston Rutty Centre; and received $690 for dinner for caucus members and staff.
Rose rented a car for $102.40, while other staff utilised a Public Works Department vehicle.
Pre-budget retreats, March and July 2023
Meeting facilitator services: $6,599.99
Venue rental: $3,074.40
Island Taste catering: $1,985.62
Casanova catering: $460
Cayman Brac retreat Jan. 2024
Flights: $909.23
Rooms at The Alexander Hotel: $1,451
Lunch at Beach Club: $1,635.99
Lunch at Coral Isle: $429.50
Breakfast and refreshments at The Alexander Hotel: $1,299.50
Dinner at The Alexander Hotel: $690
Car hire: $102.40
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Whatta bunch!!
What really needs to happen….these politicians taking a pay cut because many of them just there warming a chair and not doing a thing. The days of politicians doing things for the actual benefit of the country and the people and not just for the money…..have gone.