Updates on sub-sea communications cables, a promised public transport report and progress on the Eddie Sanchez Memorial Park were all given in Parliament this week.
The answers came in response to six questions posed to ministers during the second day of the third meeting on Thursday, 27 April.
Jay Ebanks, Minister of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, had the most floor time, after being asked three questions on government projects.
First to quiz the minister was Deputy Leader of the Opposition Joseph Hew who requested progress on the government’s plan for a new undersea telecoms cable.
Ebanks said the “essential and critical infrastructure” has been prioritised because existing communications systems are rapidly ageing.
He said the MAYA-1 cable from the US has been in place for 23 years and is nearing the end of its life, while the Liberty cable from Jamaica is 26 years old and also vulnerable.
“Considering the infrastructure is responsible for 99% of the international communications from these islands, we take this matter seriously,” he said.
As a result, his ministry delivered an outline business case report that explored and developed options for replacing the system, he told Parliament.
“The report has confirmed the existing systems are at risk and the government must act swiftly if the local telecom sectors will not,” he said.
Cabinet reviewed the report and authorised the ministry to explore interests for building the cable system independently or finding a partner investor.
A full business case with costs of the system and a detailed solution has now been completed and will go to Cabinet for review “hopefully this week”, Ebanks said.
The ministry does not currently have the money to complete the project, he added, but he expects the government to support funding in the next budget.
‘Substantial improvement’
Alden McLaughlin, MP for Red Bay, asked the planning minister for an update on the progress of the Eddie Sanchez Memorial Park in Red Bay and Prospect.
The park, on which ground was broken in 2019, will sit on six parcels of land between Victory Avenue and Prospect Drive.
Ebanks said “substantial improvement” has been made over the past year, including the introduction of cabanas, a walking track, a sidewalk, and the asphalting of a carpark.
“The park has also benefited by installation of partial landscaping, including the planting of three mature trees and the spreading of 300 cubic yards of topsoil,” the minister said.
During the second quarter of 2023, another 300 cubic yards of topsoil will be spread in preparation for seating, laying turf for the playing field and fencing the carpark.
David Wight MP for George Town West, asked the planning minister for an update on the Deloitte report with recommendations on public transportation.
“My team has just set a timeframe for next week for us to actually sit down to dissect that whole report to see how we will be moving forward,” the minister said. “So shortly I will be making a statement on that in the following weeks.”
Local and overseas
McLaughlin asked Minister of Health and Wellness Sabrina Turner for an update on completion and operation dates of the new mental health facility in East End.
The minister explained, as reported in a Compass article last week, that completion of the build is projected for the summer, and operations are likely to start six months later.
“Ministry is also working on putting in place the policy and procedures required to accept residents both local and from overseas based on the admission criteria,” she said.
“I’ve also been reliably informed by my team that it is anticipated that the facility will be in full operation by early 2024.”
In a second question, Wight asked for facts on the controversy at the CARIFTA Games earlier this month in Nassau, Bahamas.
During the event, the Cayman Islands Athletic Association reported Caymanian shot-put gold medallist Lacee Barnes-Riley for lack of coaching credentials and she was ordered to leave.
In response, Minister of Sports Bernie Bush said the association had already presented a complete response to the Opposition leader.
And George Town North MP Hew asked the health minister about management of the George Town landfill.
He requested details on the compacting and covering of waste material, and if the Department of Environmental Health is still dousing the landfill with water to prevent fires.
The response will be covered in a separate Compass article.
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