Minister for Tourism and Transport Kenneth Bryan has apologised for videos, circulating on social media, showing him distributing flyers in support of his wife’s real estate activities.
In one video, which was sent to the media by the Opposition, Bryan introduces himself to viewers in Tropicana Crescent as “your representative” as he explains he and his wife will be delivering flyers to residents in the area.
In another video, posted on Michele Bryan’s job-related Instagram page, she says: “After years of me helping Kenneth in his election campaign, I’ve now recruited him to help me do some ‘flyering’. But don’t worry, I’ve only got him for today, for a couple of hours, and he’s all yours again tomorrow.”
This is followed by the local real estate agent asking viewers to contact her if they are looking to purchase or sell a home.
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart drew attention to the social media post calling it “a shocking video that troubles me greatly”.
McTaggart said it was “a serious conflict of interest” for Bryan to publicly endorse his wife’s real estate business, from which he benefits, and to urge his constituents in Tropical Gardens to support it.
He said, “In all my years, I have never seen such a deliberate and flagrant breach of the principles of good governance by a government minister.”
By doing so, the Opposition leader said, Bryan had violated his government’s Ministerial Code of Conduct, which states that no minister should endorse a product or service in any media.
Anyone “seeking to gain favour with the minister may feel bound to choose to use a person he has endorsed and may expect to receive a benefit in return,” McTaggart said and called on Bryan to apologise.
Bryan: ‘I got this wrong’
In a statement titled “Regarding breach of ministerial conduct”, Bryan responded that he fully supports the code of conduct and the principles of good governance it was designed to enhance.
“In relation to the video, I got this wrong and apologise unreservedly to my constituents, the people of the Cayman Islands, the Governor, the Premier and my other colleagues in the PACT Administration.”
He added, “Going forward, I will redouble my efforts to ensure that my actions are in keeping with the highest ethical standards of the office.”
In his video message, McTaggart continued to criticise the government stating that Premier Wayne Panton had “faced several challenges regarding the behaviour of some of his ministers”.
This included the Opposition leader alleging that Minister Bryan’s billboards in George Town had been “erected without the necessary planning permission”.
Bryan features prominently on the campaign-style billboards, with messages that range from encouraging residents to get a booster shot of the COVID vaccine and to prepare for hurricane season, to wishing parents a happy mother’s and father’s day.
In April, West Bay North MP Bernie Bush was stripped of the Home Affairs ministry and sent on two weeks leave without pay after making comments about the fire service that violated the Constitution and Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Bush’s statements were seen as an attempt to interfere in human resources matters of the civil service, including salaries and bonuses, in which ministers have no say.
Related Videos
Bryan’s response and apology is classy and proper. This was not the holocaust as one might glean from McTaggart’s hyperventilation.
I do not believe an apology would be enough in this case.