Topic: Ministry of District Administration
EDITORIAL – The FOI regime: Address the mess
We believe the government could alleviate much of its FOI backlog, costs and drain on its personnel resources if it adopted a much more transparent, government-in-the-sunshine, open-records approach.
Opposition MLAs question boxing ticket giveaway
Complimentary tickets for Saturday’s Island Rumble – attended by Philippines boxing legend Manny Pacquiao – were being handed out Friday at the Progressives Bodden Town MLA office, according to text messages sent around last week.
Electric car takes up postal duties
The Cayman Islands Postal Service will deliver up to 30 packages a day next year using the NV-200e commercial Nissan van.
Ministry pursuing millions in garbage fees
Cayman's government is still trying to collect trash fees from a decade ago.
Glass House to be demolished by January
Contractors will demolish the Elgin Avenue landmark Glass House, home to government offices between 1974 and 2011, by early January, making way for a city park.
Government paid 47 percent more for Cayman Brac land
The Cayman Islands government paid nearly 50 percent more for land purchased on Cayman Brac in 2012 than the same parcel sold for in November 2010.
Auditor General report: Government acted unlawfully on two major deals
The Cayman Islands government went outside the law in signing two major real estate development deals, auditors say.
Ministry of Health passes audit for first time
The Ministry of Health for the first time received an unqualified opinion from the Office of the Auditor General on an audit, which covered the ministry’s 2012-2013 fiscal year.
New affordable homes on Brac occupied
Six months after breaking ground on four new affordable houses on the Brac, the Sister Islands Affordable Housing Development Corp. handed the keys to the last new owner on Friday.
Swindon and Houston kids back
The Cayman International Youth football tournament returns next week and will feature local Under-16 teams from Cayman Athletic Sports Club and Future Sports Club against international opposition.
More genetically modified mosquitoes planned for Cayman
As genetically modified mosquitoes used to control mosquito-borne viruses like dengue and chikungunya, a technique first tested in Cayman, is proposed for the Florida Keys, researchers in Cayman are preparing for a bigger release of the genetically modified insects here.
Bush, as 'witness,' blasts travel and hospitality audit
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush says he and certain civil servants had been “smeared” in an auditor general’s review of government travel and hospitality expenditures.
Legislative Assembly gets controversial travel audit
Discussion of a controversial travel audit set for today may be "difficult," according to the Public Accounts Committee chairman.
Premier trumpets audit successes again
More government agencies pass their annual audit tests, but most of those reports still haven't been made public.
Chamber of Commerce calls for new government accountability standard
The Chamber of Commerce acknowledges the government's progress in accountability over 10 years, but says there is a long road ahead.
Two of 41 government entities ace audits
Cayman Islands leaders say public sector accountants appear to be getting their numbers “right the first time, and on time.”
Auditor General: $1 billion ‘unaccounted for’
Around a billion dollars of spending in two government ministries remains unaccounted for, the Auditor General's Office states in a new report which questions the competency of some officials responsible for managing public money.
Auditor: Long way to go for financial accountability
Financial statements produced recently by government ministries are still being disclaimed.
Exorbitant travel expenses revealed in credit cards
Globe-trotting, luxury dining and limo rentals were among some of the charges on the credit card bills of upper-echelon civil servants and elected ministers.
Credit card records revealed
Hundreds of pages of statements relating to charges made by government officials on goverment-issued credit cards have been released through an open records request.
Workers ‘de-muck’ Brac pond
Work is under way on Cayman Brac in an effort to deal with the smell from a salt water pond, blamed for the closure of the Alexander Hotel.
Chamber cites ‘complete disregard’ for public purse
Cayman's Chamber of Commerce lashes out at the local government over travel and hospitality spending.
Anti-corruption review for travel costs
Hundreds of thousands of dollars of unexplained or questionable travel and hospitality expenses in local government are revealed.
Gov’t spent $12,000 on booze at parties
Government runs up some serious 'hospitality' bills on the taxpayers' dime.
New appointments in tourism ministry
Two Caymanians are climbing the civil service career ladder after recent promotions.
Firm sought for environmental assessment of cruise berthing
The government is seeking to hire a firm to conduct an environmental assessment in relation to a proposed cruise ship berthing facility in George Town.
Nearly 19,000 cruise tourists make Boxing Day visit
Six cruise ships carrying 18,826 passengers arrived in George Town on Boxing Day.
Tourist influx to close George Town road
Nearly 19,000 cruise ship tourists will arrive in Grand Cayman on Boxing Day.
New roads board holds authority’s fate
In a pivotal time, the National Roads Authority has a new board of directors.
Paving equipment staying on Brac
National Roads Authority paving equipment isn't returning from Cayman Brac anytime soon.
Tourism board faces grilling
Gilbert Connolly occupied a hot and uncomfortable seat on Friday, facing a barrage of questions from legislators about potential fraud and misappropriations at the Tourism Attraction Board, pursuing alarms raised by the Auditor General.
Little Cayman's airfield: Private property, public dilemma
Development proposals highlight problems with Little Cayman's private airfield.
New buildings proposed downtown
Planning officials look at new buildings downtown and in Camana Bay.
Dump bid winner: We got scrapped
Naming the Queen, the Attorney General, the Ministry of District Administration and the premier, Wheelabrator partner Peter Campell yesterday sought Grand Court relief from a 2011 decision to ignore recommendations giving the company a multi-million-dollar waste-management contract.
Weather radar will improve hurricane alerts
The Cayman Islands’ new Doppler radar weather system will fill a “black hole” in the Caribbean’s ability to track hurricanes in the region.
Gov’t sheds light on civil servants’ moonlighting
Some civil servants stay busy with their own business interests outside government.
Financial reporting woes
Cayman's government is getting financial statements in more often, but their figures aren't quite making the grade.
Authority rejects Governor’s Creek mangrove removal plan
Grand Cayman's planning board didn't look favorably on a proposal to remove mangroves on North Sound.
Future uncertain for roads authority
The National Roads Authority can function through the end of the budget year, but its future is uncertain after that.
FOI: $1.44M spent on gov’t building ‘fit out’
Lots of money has been spent renovating the new government building's third floor, but a new tenant there has yet to move in.
Auditor: Regulations ‘no excuse’
Time consuming and complex public-private sector projects can often go terribly wrong if not managed correctly, Chamber panellists say.
Bulk waste cleanup starts
Residents in the Cayman Islands are urged to take part in Christmas cleanup.
Seasonal messages from Cayman Islands government
The Cayman Islands Government sends out seasonal messages.
Future of Cayman Forum: Strong infrastructure key to economy
The Cayman Islands is a global competitor in terms of the services industries we provide to the world, and it must therefore have in place infrastructure that permits both the financial services and tourism industries, along with the many other business streams that occur as a result of these twin pillars, to be top of their game.
Business in brief
Business in brief
Government audits nearly caught up
Government's turning in more financial statements on time, but some still aren't worth the paper they're written on.
Little Cayman centre expanded
Government officials have opened the extension of the Little Cayman Command Centre.
Roads authority braces for cuts
The National Roads Authority is bracing for major cuts as it handles a budget that has been slashed since last year.
Brac partners with Dart for new community park
The Cayman Islands Ministry of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture has partnered with Dart Cayman’s Growing Communities to provide a new community park for the larger of the two Sister Islands.
Mass NRA layoffs denied
Officials have denied rumours of impending layoffs within the National Roads Authority.
Civil service says fuel abuse under control
Senior civil service managers have employed strict oversight to combat the abuse of fuel usage at the government fuel depot following an auditor general’s report that highlighted, the Public Accounts Committee heard Wednesday.
Gov’t account audits nearing completion
The auditor general's office has signed off on the financial accounts for 2010/2011 of 10 of the 12 government ministries, Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick told the Public Accounts Committee Tuesday.
Brac stripped Grand of paving equipment
Paving equipment transferred to Cayman Brac to pave public and private roads and parking lots left the National Roads Authority on Grand Cayman without its own equipment.
Vehicle fees to take effect Friday
You'll pay more for vehicle registration and drivers licenses starting Friday.
MRCU aircraft facility on track
The Mosquito Research Control Unit's multi-purpose facility is on track and is to be completed sometime before the end of the year.
Roads authority to start work on West Bay Road crosswalk
The National Roads Authority says work will begin soon on a crosswalk in front of the Strand shopping centre on West Bay Road.
Queen’s honours for 2012 received
The 2012 Queen's Birthday honours are announced.
New school zone slated for Frank Sound location
With the Frank Sound High School nearing completion, the National Roads Authority will start work this week on a new school zone to accommodate school traffic and ensure the safety of students.
Little Cayman’s lake boardwalk refurbished
The Ministry of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture restored Little Cayman Tarpon Lake boardwalk back to its natural splendour for all to enjoy.
Brac dump burned all weekend
The dump in Cayman Brac on fire over the weekend, with fire crews fighting to contain the fire from Friday evening to late Sunday night.
Command centre for Little Cayman
Officials broke ground on a new command centre in Little Cayman which will operate during hurricanes and disasters.
Editorial for 25 May: If it looks, walks like a duck …
Brac paving fiasco needs to be addressed by Deputy Premier.
More than $500,000 spent on private lot paving
The government spent $500,000 paving private parking lots in Cayman Brac and had no legal authority to do so, according to the auditor general.
$500k spent on private lot paving
The Cayman Islands spent an estimated $521,090 on paving private
business or church parking lots in Cayman Brac between 2010 and 2011,
according information compiled by the auditor general’s office
Dart Group cleared of wrongdoing
Commissioner of Police David Baines issued a letter to two Dart Realty executives exonerating them from any wrongdoing with regard to the payment of $5 million the company made to the government.
Jason gears up for summer props
Jetski racers should be extra busy this summer.
Things to know for Easter
Easter campers in the Cayman Islands are urged to use food safety practices.
Pressure on to sell Water Authority assets
The government has given the Water Authority and its board three months to sell off its sewage system.
Tiffany Scott takes pride in her job
With a deep love of water and a passion for animals, Tiffany Scott was pegged to take up a career in marine biology.
Petroleum Inspectorate takes on intern
The Cayman Islands Petroleum Inspectorate has taken on its first student intern – Jon Mikol Rankin – as part of a programme to provide students with an opportunity to gain work experience from, and develop more interest in the department.
Mosquito unit hangar nearly completed
The MRCU hangar is closer to completion.
Payments missing in government grabs of private property
More than five years after the Cayman Islands Government exercised its powers of compulsory acquisition of private property in order to build the East-West Arterial Highway, about 40 per cent of compensation claims have yet to be settled.
