Opposition raises concerns over ministers’ budget silence

Government ministers’ failure to speak on their budget allocations has been criticised by the Opposition as a major break from tradition.

The People’s Progressive Movement said ministers had “remained silent in their seats” during the budget debate, with the exception of Nick DaCosta, the district administration and home affairs minister.

A party spokeswoman said, “The absence of input from the government, particularly from the ministers, raises significant concerns among the opposition and the citizens of this country as they have not had an opportunity to understand the details surrounding the plan for the government’s plans for the substantial $2.5 billion expenditure.”

She added, “The Opposition views this lack of engagement as a troubling violation of parliamentary conventions.”

She was speaking after Opposition leader Joey Hew on Nov. 11 tore into the coalition government over its failure to outline plans to deal with the eyesore landfill site and shore up Seven Mile Beach.

Hew highlighted in his reply to the budget that there was no word of funding to tackle either problem.

He told MPs: “For too long environmental management has been treated as an afterthought rather than a national priority.

“Yet, it is central to our health, our economy and our very identity.”

No landfill remedy

Hew said the George Town landfill was “bursting at the seams” and was “rising like a mountain on the horizon”.

He said that, after almost five years, there was no replacement for “Mount Trashmore”, no timeline for one and no independent oversight board set up.

“The landfill continues to expand, leaching into the ground, threatening the North Sound and undermining public confidence.”

Hew warned, “This is not merely an environmental hazard, it is a health hazard and an economic one.”

He said that air arrivals got a bird’s eye view of the dump and cruise ship passengers could see it from the balconies of their cabins.

Hew added, “That is not the first impression a premier destination should give.”

He called for a specialist body, perhaps under the environment department, to be set up to monitor and report on “all critical aspects of landfill operations”.

Hew reminded the house that his Progressive People’s Movement negotiated the original 2021 ReGen deal with Dart to do remedial work at the site and build a waste-to-management plant nearby.

He said, “Since then, progress has stalled and the plan axed. We are calling again … for immediate transparency.

“In the absence of any clear funding, I hope to hear from the honourable minister what is the government’s plans to address the landfill?”

Hew added, “We expect to hear clear timelines for the plan and, Mr. Speaker, we expect to hear how it will be funded.”

Seven Mile Beach erosion

He said that the erosion problem affecting Seven Mile Beach was “quieter, but no less serious” an environmental problem.

Hew said, “This beach is not just sand; it is our brand, our livelihood and a national treasure.

“When Seven Mile Beach suffers, our tourism industry suffers. And when tourism falters, so do thousands of Caymanian jobs in hotels, restaurants, taxis and tours.”

Hew added that experts had warned for years that erosion, if not dealt with, would increase with each storm season.

“Yet, in this budget not one clear line item, not one defined capital allocation has been set aside to address it.

“We cannot continue to rely on nature’s grace alone. We need immediate investment in shoreline stabilisation, beach nourishment and sustainable coastal management.”

He added the PPM had a long-standing commitment to a national coastal protection and climate resilience plan to coordinate environmental science with tourism development to ensure Cayman’s beauty and prosperity remained.

Hew proposed a “Coastal Resilience Fund”, set up with a portion of tourism revenue, to ensure Seven Mile Beach, mangroves and coral reef health were “funded permanently, not politically”.

Cost of living

Hew said that the coalition’s “transformational budget” was “a transformation in name only” and the administration had relied on the old formula of “tax, borrow and spend”.

He added that more needed to be done to ease the high cost-of-living and to help Caymanians struggling to make ends meet.

Hew said, “While this budget speaks of prudence, it offers her little relief. There is not reduction in fuel duty or import fees on essentials.

“Government revenue grows, but so does the pressure on Caymanian families.”

He added, “The PPM has proposed a series of cost-of-living measures that would bring some immediate relief; a reduction in import duties on essential goods, a suspension on the recent vehicle registration fee increases and a temporary 12-month cut to fuel import duty.”

“These are not radical ideas; they are reasonable steps to help households breathe again.”