Thursday, 3 February2000 | Updated at 8:55 PM |

LegislativeAssembly Report

During the sitting of the House of Assemblythis morning, the following questions were raised by Mr. McKeevaBush, the First Elected Member of West Bay to the Hon. Ministerof Tourism, Commerce, Transport & Works - Mr. Tom Jefferson.

Question: What is the Ministry's budgetfor the Miss Cayman Islands' Pageant?

Answer: The 1999 Budget for the Miss CaymanIslands' Pageant was approved at CI$75,000. The Miss Cayman IslandsPageant Fundraising Committee raised a certain amount of fundsto assist with the pageant fundraising events.

Question: Can the Minister say what is thepolicy on materials taken from roads that are being re-constructed.

Answer: The Public Works Department (PWD)has no formal written policy on materials taken from road works.Materials removed from areas where roads are being constructedor reconstructed is referred to as "unsuitable materials",mainly because it is unsuitable for road construction. The materialsare usually peat, soft marl or a combination of both. While itis unsuitable as road base materials, PWD makes use of the materialsfor other purposes on Government projects, such as fill for playfieldsand shoulder works on minor works. Where the material is mainlypeat, it can be sieved and used as topsoil.

PWD has been approached by several churches,private schools, charitable and non-profit organizations, as wellsas members of the public, regarding donation and/or purchase ofthe materials. As the material is of considerable use to PWD,the department refuses any such request.

Question: To say what is the present workingrelationship with the Tourism Association of Cayman Brac and LittleCayman and the Department of Tourism.

Answer: The relationship between the SisterIslands Tourism Association and the Department of Tourism is verystrong. The Department supports numerous initiatives through trainingprogrammes, co-op programmes for the diving sector, visiting journalistsand familiarisation trips for travel agents. Additionally, theDepartment maintains a sub-office on Cayman Brac which is opendaily and which provides brochures and information to visitorson the Island as well as other types of assistance.

Mr. Kurt Tibbetts, the First Elected Memberfor George Town asked Minister Mr. Tom Jefferson:

Question: If any representative of the Departmentof Tourism (DOT) in North America receive remuneration on a regularbasis from Cayman Airways Limited.

Answer: All staff who holds a Cayman AirwaysIdentification Card receives remuneration on a regular basis.The United States staff of the DOT are representing Cayman Airwaysas well.

Question: To state the terms of the contractwith the advertising firm of Oleary-Clarke & Partners.

Answer: The terms of the contract betweenOleary-Clarke & Partners and the Cayman Islands Governmentis Minimum Guaranteed Compensation. The minimum guaranteed compensationshall be agreed between both parties from time to time.MORE LATERON PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY TO FOLLOW.