Dart funding, oil refinery touted
Some $18 million that would be given to the Cayman Islands government under a proposed agreement with the Dart group will go for new school building construction, affordable housing and educational training programmes, Premier McKeeva Bush said. Speaking with supporters at a political rally on Public Beach on Saturday, Mr. Bush ran down a list of projects the additional funding would support.
The works include building additional classroom space at primary schools in Bodden Town and Savannah. Work has already started on buildings at several Grand Cayman primary schools to help deal with expanding student populations.
The Premier said $2.5 million would be spent on affordable housing projects in George Town.
Several parks would be developed in areas of George Town, Bodden Town and Cayman Brac. Mr. Bush said the agreement with the Dart group called for a total of five in the Bodden Town area, where the agreement also calls for the relocated landfill to be placed.
Funding from Dart would also help pay for technical and vocational training for students through the “TVET” programme run by the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Bush said the additional projects would not only assist Cayman’s education and quality of life, he said the work would provide needed construction jobs to members of the community.
“We’re going to stimulate the Cayman Islands’ economy through the benefit of Dart’s direct investment,” Mr. Bush said.
Refinery project
Mr. Bush said proposals for an oil refinery in George Town should also be given serious consideration, despite what he said were “negative” comments in the local press about the plan recently.
The refinery proposal is separate from the proposed agreement with the Dart group and is being pursued by other interests.
“If they were to do it, it is going to make Cayman better,” Mr. Bush said. “I wish that we didn’t have to do something like that, not that I think it’s going to be the worst thing in the world for us. It will encourage new employment and reduce our utility bills.”
“The fact is, for many years to come … we’re going to have to depend on fuel,” he said.
Mr. Bush said the local refinery would “lower the cost of living for every resident” and would also protect Cayman’s somewhat vulnerable fuel supply in case of a major hurricane or other natural disaster.
“Do you know that we only have 14 or 15 days of [fuel] supply?” the Premier said. “If the ships can’t come in here we don’t get fuel. We have to learn to protect ourselves.”
The Premier also noted that the current location of the country’s petroleum fuel tanks and fuel pipelines through George Town is dangerous, and the situation could be corrected be implementing the refinery.
Mr. Bush said a ministerial memorandum of understanding signed with refinery developers doesn’t mean the project is automatically going forward, merely that negotiations would take place.
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And that was the reason why I was not apart of the march. Not that I didn’t want to be holding hands with Alden, Ezzard, and Arden, but NOT ALL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS I OPPOSED. I oppose the East End Sea Port one, but most of the dealings with Dart, I didn’t see anything wrong with them. The road along Public Beach will be remove, but West Bayers will be getting a brand new road to replace it, and more expansion of the beach. So this and the dump… I don’t see anything wrong with these deals. I’m not quite sure about the Oil Refinery one. But before you oppose think about what you are opposing. We need to improve our economy in a safe and effective way.
Are you KIDDING ME!!!!!!! Instead of using this found money to pay off projects the country can not afford the government is going to start NEW projects.
Really?
Well, It’s your roving report here, We now have confirmed that creating stuff makes jobs. And in other news water is wet, fire is hot.
Websters definition of Leadership.
process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.
The Premiere should be leading from the front. What we don’t need is for him to lead from the front, middle and rear; There are district Representative to fill in those roles.. I believe if he was to assign each proposal to a Representative with their buy in and commitment to solicit public input and formal presentation for debate in the legislature, it would not seem as if the premiere was pushing things down throats. It only make sense that you have a district leader’s OK before you ocupy his/her district.
If you invade you should expect a fight.. The human animal may be educated but protection of territory is instinctive.