The Cayman Islands spent an estimated $521,090 on paving private business or church parking lots in Cayman Brac between 2010 and 2011, according information compiled by the auditor general’s office.
In a public interest report released Wednesday, Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick states that there appeared to be no legal basis for using public funds to pave private lots
“In respect of these specific laws [the Roads Law, 2005 Revision and the National Roads Authority Law, 2006 Revision], we were unable to identify any statutory provisions that allow for the paving of private parking lots,” the public interest report read.
“We also reviewed the relevant budget documents to identify whether the government had the relevant authorities to incur expenditure for the paving of private parking lots. We were unable to identify any.”
In a response to the report, the Ministry of District Administration – which has overall responsibility for the paving projects in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – said there was nothing within the two laws referenced that “specifically prevents” the paving of parking lots.
“Monies are provided for under the ministry’s budget to cover the maintenance and repair of roads and associated works,” the ministry statement read.
The auditor general’s office said the ministry told its representatives that the parking lot paving was considered a contribution to the overall development of Cayman Brac and that it would act as an “economic stimulus” to the local businesses and churches.
Please see the full story in Thursday’s editions of the Caymanian Compass….
Medical expenses mismanaged
In a separate report issued by the auditor general Wednesday, auditors noted that Cayman Islands records of provision of health care overseas for citizens and residents could not identify – in many cases – who was ultimately responsible for those payments or why some of the expenses were paid at all.
Because of the general lack of record-keeping found within the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company and its selected case managers, the auditor general’s office was unable to quantify how much may have been overpaid for certain health care services.
“Overseas medical expenses were not effectively managed,” Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick noted in its report.
The Cayman Islands National Insurance Company, or CINICO, saw its annual incurred claim losses for civil servants and pensioners rise by 35 per cent in the last five years, going from $11.5 million in 2006/07 to $15.5 million in 2010/11. Health care losses for indigents almost doubled during the same time period, according to figures contained in the audit.
A total of more than $29 million was spent in the 2010/11 government budget year for overseas medical expenses.
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In a response to the report, the Ministry of District Administration which has overall responsibility for the paving projects in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman said there was nothing within the two laws referenced that specifically prevents the paving of parking lots.
I’m on the Minister’s side with this. I too read the law, and I can hardly believe that there is nothing in the Roads Law that specifically prevents the Director of the NRA from taking conchs from a Marine Park.
When Juliana decides to retire from politics, we can only hope that she takes up the post of of Legal Draughtman for the Cayman Islands.
Another story which, in a properly functioning and accountable democracy, would demand a ministerial resignation by the end of the day.
In the UK the relevant minister would have been personally sur-charged for the cost.
In Cayman though, we shrug and move on.
Wow and I quote: In a response to the report, the Ministry of District Administration which has overall responsibility for the paving projects in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman said there was nothing within the two laws referenced that specifically prevents the paving of parking lots.
That goes to show you that if it isn’t in the law, regardless of common sense/ethics, then your MLA’s think they can do it without any problem. I laugh daily at how your leaders really just don’t care about too much. As someone said, you will shrug and go on…but probably not too much longer if this continues.
So, do we need a committee forming to come up with a list of everything that shouldn’t be done…ever?
There is no law preventing me from dressing as Sponge Bob square Pants every day, but I don’t do it. There is no law saying I can’t eat patties by pushing them through my eye socket.
How ridiculous this is…this 500k could have been much better spent fighting legal battles with developers, or fitting gold plated bathroom fittings in my house.
To the one person who seems to be disagreeing here – how is your new driveway?
Also, here’s an idea. Pattieman Palace – the govt. could build it for free, for me, but it would act as an ‘economic stimulus’ as it would put people into work, and become a great tourist attraction. Just what this place needs, another folly.
This story is infuriating, someone needs to be held accountable for this. Let’s start with whomever made the comment there was nothing within the two laws referenced that specifically prevents the paving of parking lots. Why didn’t the Compass report his/her name? How can that bozo make a comment like that and keep a straight face?!
This is just another example of Cayman Brac milking the resources of this country. While Grand Cayman residents are burdened with the debt of this country, Cayman Bracers pay no import duties (aka tax free), and half the population works for government. What a croc! Neither UDP or PPM want to address this issue, now why is that? It’s time for Cayman Bracers to start paying import duties and pay their fair share!
Even after all these years away from the islands I still enjoy Cayman politics. There is never a dull day, and there’s always someone getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar!