Online Forum - Website posting from caymannetnews.com

Wednesday,  January  12, 2005

• Low cost housing project issues
  Apart from the fact that a Cabinet Minister is reported to be using at least one, and possibly as many as four of the low cost housing project houses to house some truck drivers for his trucking company, despite there still being many Caymanians who are suffering and without homes because of the hurricane, the Minister has also admitted that eventually, all of the homes at the Eastern Avenue site are to be torn down to build high-density, multi-storey housing accommodations. 
  The Minister said that “We have a real issue with land, so we decided to use the insurance money to redesign the whole project.” Does this mean if the hurricane did not come, we would have been stuck with a housing project that has issues and is inadequate?
  This lends support to the many rumours that were flying around before and after this housing project began, particularly the rumour that someone (or more) with pull must have been getting something, because despite the protests of the people about the project, and concerns about the houses themselves, and that a foreign company was being used as opposed to a local company, the Minister seemed hell bent on making sure that the “Italian owned, Cuban based” company got the contract, at the expense of his own people.
  These cheaply built houses have barely been completed, and apart from the truck drivers, they are mostly empty. Now the Minister has finally admitted that there are issues concerning this project, and the houses will be demolished. 
  I would have thought that before agreeing to any contract, and especially one of this scale, any sensible person and particularly a Minister would have had a survey done, much more so when it is as unpopular as this one was from the beginning.
  It is my opinion therefore, that our concerns were valid, and this makes me more suspicious that the rumours that there were “kickbacks” to certain persons (I am not calling any names, because I do not have evidence to support these rumours). Why would any right thinking person ignore the protests of his employers (we the people employ the politicians) and forge ahead with a project that is not only extremely unpopular, but as is now being proven, is also a problem project with issues?
  Why would any sensible politician cut Caymanian businesses and Caymanians out of a piece of the pie to accommodate a foreign company, while sending millions of dollars out of our economy, unless there is “more to it than meets the eye?” I have to admit that there has to be something there that we do not see.
  I would love to believe otherwise, because I can’t believe that any politician would hurt their own people to enrich themselves and others, but how else can you explain it if a leader will sign a contract with a foreign company against the wishes of his people, knowing that there are issues with it?
  Now this new housing scheme is being demolished to make way for another project. Saved by the hurricane again? I wonder if the Minister will be brave enough to use a foreign company and foreign labour for this latest venture, but come to think of it, elections are but a few months away, so what better time is there to FINALLY use Cayman companies than now? This is so typical of the UDP’s dirty track record.
  Politicians are employed to help their people not themselves, and if they fail to do so, they must be fired. Come May 11, Bob Marley Day, we shall do just that to the UDP for failing their people and employers.
  Stay alive, vote out UDP in 2005!  - Chris
  
   
• Tim Paterson Adam - the Cayman Islands Person of the Year 2004
  I am happy to see that Mr Timothy Adam has been given some recognition for the deliberate and conscious decisions he took at a time when the Cayman Islands was seemingly without leadership or direction for the largest catastrophe it has ever seen. 
  As of now I have yet to see any true concern otherwise. Support from those in a capacity to help has been miserly and minimal at best and, for goodness sakes, I still can’t believe the fifth richest country in the world (Cayman) couldn’t put something together for the children of Cayman during the Christmas season, especially against what they have been and are still going through. This is seriously wrong and obviously the “leadership” couldn’t care less.
  I personally hope the people will recognize this great man for his selfless ambition for the betterment of the people of Cayman. Mr Timothy Adam, above anyone else during the moment of need, was more clearly, more visible, actively concerned and in the moment than anyone else on the behalf of the country.
  If Caymanian industry can’t support Cayman then raise the prices! Those businesses using Cayman as a tax haven are saving billions of dollars a year from paying their fair share of taxes to the American government. Cayman alone may be the best reason that the America government has less money to give to other countries, like Cayman today, for disaster relief! Raise those fees or get better management for your country.
  Looking on in disbelief - Rosy
  
   
• Inconvenient Boston - Cayman schedule
  We live outside Boston and the Boston to Grand Cayman flight is perfect. Leaves early (just like all other flights offered by other airlines), but is direct- no more stops in Miami, Atlanta or Charlotte. What more could we ask for? Also, it still departs Cayman in the afternoon which gives us plenty of time to enjoy our last day on the island. Thank you Cayman Airways for giving us this option. Please keep your rates fair and we will be travelling with you many times this year. - Katie
  
   
• Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital up for sale
  It’s a shame that the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital is to be sold. It’s such a beautiful hospital with great doctors and nurses.
  But the hospital has got to ask itself why it is not getting the support from the private doctors on the island. Is it because people are not treated with respect? I am not talking about the public but the staff as well. Why is it the staff had to find about the sale of the hospital from the newspaper? What kind of employer is the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital?
  It’s amazing, Dr Tomlinson stated that the hospital has made a small profit after the bills are paid, but the Hospital failed to pay its staff a full month’s salary for the past three months. So which is it, is the hospital making a profit or not, and if it is, why can’t the staff be paid?
  And why must the nurses be shouted at and insulted in front of patients? I have heard it! How does anyone expect to earn their respect and loyalty by calling them idiots? 
  But don’t worry; we will still support the hospital. There are still doctors at Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital who are capable, professional and courteous. The nurses are caring, competent and affable professionals. I have been cared for by some of them and they are wonderful!
  I really hope that the hospital does not have to be sold. I know that Dr Tomlinson worked hard to build it, and it was a beautiful tribute to his late mother, a sweet lady; God rest her soul. 
  May her spirit of kindness and gentleness come alive in him; so that he may gain the loyalty and cooperation that he so badly needs for the hospital to succeed.
  God bless you all.  - Al
  
   
• Cubans slept rough on Cayman Brac
  Could you run that by me one more time? (“On Tuesday, seven migrants that have been staying on Cayman Brac left from Little Cayman.”) If they were staying on Cayman Brac, how did they leave from Little Cayman? Flew there, we assume, but where was the boat? Perhaps like most of the Cubans, they left Cayman Brac in their boat, but actually only headed for Little Cayman. 
  Perhaps the word “from” in your story, should have been “For”. In any event, this travesty of illegal transport of these people to enter other countries illegally is outrageous. - The Printer’s Devil

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