New Deputy Premier Bryan says ‘no cause for alarm’ in Chamber speech

New Deputy Premier Kenneth Bryan said that “the government remains stable and there is no cause for alarm” in his keynote speech at the Cayman Islands Chambers of Commerce Annual Parliamentary Luncheon on Thursday.

Taking to the stage in the ballroom at the Hotel Indigo in front of the assembled attendees, Bryan declared, “I don’t shy away from the truth”, telling the audience that the current turbulent political situation where Cayman Islands has a minority government was “not unprecedented,” saying, ‘It’s not the end of the world.”

He added, “We are on track to serve until the General Election.”

After a wide-ranging speech which covered a host of issues, including population growth, the environment, tourism and road-building, he finished by saying, “The government remains committed to working closely with you, particularly those in the business community … to improve the lives of those who call these wonderful islands home.”

With former deputy premier André Ebanks sitting just a few metres away, Bryan added, “We will and can overcome the challenges ahead, by managing our growth and to build a future that benefits us all, as long as you don’t quit before you finish the job.”

Asked afterwards what he had thought of Bryan’s pointed remark, Ebanks shrugged it off, saying “He has a right to free speech.”

Bryan was appointed deputy premier last week by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly to add to his position as Minister of Tourism and Ports, and Social Development and Innovation, after Ebanks resigned his post at the end of last month in a breakaway from government along with three other MPs.

The tourism minister then went on to outline his priorities over the coming months, including the environment and, in particular, the ongoing row over the National Conservation Act.

“For some of you, this is a very sensitive issue, and rightly so,” he said. “The approach that we have been taking over the last three years is woefully unbalanced.”

He added, “So how do we go about rebalancing? This government intends to have those hard conversations.”

Government would need buy-in from opposition MPs if it wants to bring amendments to the legislation. Both opposition groups have previously indicated that they will not support contentious legislation prior to next year’s election.

Referencing an ongoing court battle between the National Conservation Council and the Central Planning Authority, Bryan added that it was a “sad indictment for the history books” that two government entities were facing off in court, saying bluntly, “I’m embarrassed”, but adding “I hope we can resolve these types of issues amicably.”

“Can we do better?” he asked rhetorically. “Of course we can. Will we do better? Of course we will.”

“One of our most important concerns we have to address is our environment,” he said. “The Cayman Islands is becoming caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Bryan went on to discuss the problem of rapid population growth, saying that it had not been managed effectively, and that priorities needed to be adjusted; otherwise, there was the risk of ‘Caymankind’ vanishing. “We have to ask ourselves, who are we developing for?” he said.

Cruise referendum not a certainty

Bryan also discussed the rise in air tourism figures, but said that after next year, cruise tourism figures were predicted to fall, along with revenues.

As tourism minister, Bryan is a keen advocate of building a cruise ship berth, but said that government would need the support of Parliament to ensure that the planned referendum on the issue would still take place.

“At the next sitting of Parliament, I intend to bring the referendum back to be debated, which will formalise the process from a legal standpoint and pave the way for a comprehensive public education campaign, [which] we can’t start until we’re sure it’s going to happen,” he said.

With a minority government currently in place, any legislation will require the support of opposition MPs to make it through Parliament, he explained.

“If we don’t get the support of those on the opposite side, there will be no referendum,” he said.

Other speakers at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Parliamentary Luncheon included Chamber President Joanne Lawson and CEO Wil Pineau, and Shomari Scott, chief business offer at Health City Cayman Islands.