Thursday, July 13, 2006

Hon Arden McLean Minster of Communications, Works and Infrastructure.

The re-assignment of Cayman's public, cultural and national parks to certain Ministries, means that we should see repairs begin in public places including the Quincentennial Wall of Honour, a site described as being "in disrepair," though only some two years old.

According to Hon Arden McLean, Minister of Communications, Works and Infrastructure, the Wall of Honour, and cultural parks, will now fall within the portfolio of the Minister of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports & Culture, Honourable Alden McLaughlin.

Speaking at Media Briefing by Cabinet Ministers on 7 July Mr McLean explained that Mr McLaughlin was now "trying to revitalise the Quincentennial Committee" and attend to all the "granite that has broken off the walls" on the Wall of Honour.

Mr McLean said there would also be a new unit under his own Ministry called the Recreation Parks and Cemeteries Unit and he confirmed again without giving full details that there would be a "George Town Manager" that would oversee the clean-up and beautification of the country's capital.

The Minister explained that the new $2.2 million-funded Unit would be responsible for 10 parks, 11 cemeteries, 17 beaches, 20 beach access areas, 6 jetties and 15 areas for beautification.

He said it would not have responsibility for National Parks and for Cultural Parks.
He explained that National Parks would fall under the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural sites, under Mr McLaughlin's Ministry.

When questioned about a particular cemetery Mr McLaughlin pointed out that there were also private cemeteries that did not fall under the new Unit's remit.

Mr McLean said that the Unit would also be responsible for security at  public facilities. He added that more than $800,000 of the Unit's budget was in the form of equity injection for the purchase of equipment.

The Unit will be located at Cricket Square and will be manned by seventeen staff, transferred from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Mr McLean said too that the new Unit would be responsible for the "maintenance, upgrading and upkeep of the Central George Town Business District."

"I am looking forward to the upgrade of the Central Business District," Mr McLean said adding that the objective was to have "people come to a pleasant environment" when they come to George Town.

He said the upgrading process would involve the assignment of a town manager and Mr McLean said that people would no longer getaway with dumping in George Town or leaving rubble and debris around.

"People driving through the town and dropping aggregate will have to pay to have it cleaned," he said.

"Within a year we will have George Town established and looking like a real Business District."

Mr McLean also revealed that he had started looking for a comprehensive programme to make the Works Department in his Ministry more efficient.

In addition, he spoke about a new initiative from the Licensing Department and said that for those experiencing difficulties getting boat trailers into town for licensing, the Department would soon be announcing in which Districts it would be stationed on Saturdays to facilitate licensing - with inspections being carried out at respective police stations.

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