The Cayman Islands Cabinet recently gave media agency MCM, a sister company to Cayman Net News, a private audience to hear a sales pitch for its services during one of its regular meetings.
MCM chief executive Desmond Seales followed up the effort with a letter that went to Government department heads detailing the services his company offered.
The letter, dated 12 September, offered assistance in public relations, press releases, annual reports, website development as well as other services.
Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts acknowledged that Cabinet had met with MCM.
‘MCM approached Government to make a presentation,’ he said.
When asked if other media agencies would be given equal opportunity to present their services in a Cabinet meeting, Mr. Tibbetts said they would.
‘If you wish, you will be allowed to do so, time permitting,’ he said.
Mr. Tibbetts said any media contracts given out by government would be done via the tendering process.
He later clarified that contracts under $20,000 did not have to go through a tendering process and can be awarded at the discretion of contracting government department.
Mr. Tibbetts said contracts over $20,000 and less than $100,000 had to go through a department tendering process, while any contract over $100,000 had to go through a Central Tendering process.
Since the Government had listened to a sales pitch for services that included public relations and press releases, two functions of Government Information Services, Mr. Tibbetts was asked if there were any plans to privatise any of the responsibilities of GIS.
He said there were not.
Chief Information Officer Pat Ebanks noted that there was currently a Service Level Agreement between the Ministry and GIS for the duration of the fiscal year.
Mr. Tibbetts said he was not surprised MCM’s letter that was sent to Government department heads, noting that there were no restrictions preventing such solicitations.
‘Perhaps (MCM) feels they’re entering virgin territory and have an opportunity,’ he said.
Mr. Tibbetts said it was not unusual for Government departments to use public sector media agencies for specific projects.
‘This was a business entity making an attempt to get as much business as it can,’ he said. ‘But we will not have one entity facilitated in this manner and not give others the opportunity.’
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