‘FFR is not a constraint’
(CNS): The overseas territoriesdirector has said that the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility is not a stumbling block to the resolution of the George Town landfill but by following the process the government is more likely to get the solution right and provide value for money. During his two day visit to Cayman this week Dr Peter Hayes from the Foreign and commonwealth Office told CNS that the UK can and will supply the technical assistance necessary to help deal with the issue but he said the problem of decades of mismanagement could not be resolved overnight, and given the fact that the Cayman Islands public will pay in the end, government had to ensure it got things right.
The environmental health minister has stated that he anticipates it will be two years before government has a full workable solution in place as a result of the need to follow the process set out in the FFR agreement with the UK, which is now part of the local Public Management and Finance Law, a timeframe that the public is struggling to accept.
However, Hayes indicated clearly that the process could not be circumvented and that it would cost the tax payer much more in the end if government got it wrong by not setting out the policy, the business case and then setting about with an open and transparent procurement process.
“I would not say that the FFR is a constraint,” he said. “But with any significant amount of expenditure the government has to get it right now or pay for that later. The CIG needs to make sure it gets the best deal for the Cayman people or it will cost far more in the long run. “
He said that if nothing else the public was much more aware about waste-management, and with the country talking about the issue, it presented an opportunity for everyone to reconsider how much waste they generate and methods of mitigation and minimizing the waste going to the landfill through community initiatives. As an example, he spoke about glass crushing in BVI, which is now using its crushed glass as fill.
Although attempts were made in Cayman several years ago in the private sector, the lack of support from government and developers for that saw the efforts disappear. While some bars still have glass crushers purchased at the time, the crushed glass is still ending up in the landfill and not being utilized as fill by any developers, who are continuing to quarry and dredge instead.
Nevertheless, Hayes said Cayman was presented with an opportunity to think about how it wants to deal with waste management and reduction, recycling and reuse.
While some believe that the timeframe to get to the solution is too long because so much research and analysis on the potential solutions have already been done, others have raised concerns that because there is no current waste-management policy in place, the government is a long way from actually being able to produce a business case on how it wants to deal with "Mount Trashmore".
Category: Politics
The FFR is not a constraint. Not doing the right thing and implementing the Bodden Town proposal is the constraint.
Wake up people. Alden and Ozzie are using any excuse in the book to stall. Almost a year after the election and they form a "committee." Then they say its at least two more years after that for FFR. Then it will be election time again, and they will proudly tout to BT how they kept their promise of no dump in BT. Another 4 years of nothing! I will never vote PPM again if they dont fix this in this term, period.
To:Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/03/2014 – 22:51. Did you bother to read the whole article,or did you stop reading after the headline which you see as supporting your own opinion on this subject?Had you bothered to read the whole article,you would realize that the gentleman went on to say that the process is not considered a constraint, but has to be followed in order to get the best value for money.
Looking forward to finding a solution at the current site! In the mean time we could recyle the plastic, cans and glass, we don't need Govt to do that!
Yes more of the public can do their part also but the public alone cannot make them start to separate trash for recycling at the dump and private recycling companies are not enough either. Government needs to take steps forward to making the situation better and they do not need 2 years to start. What does Ozzie know about healt and the environment? Does he have a degree and if so is it relevant to the job that Alden has him responsible for? By the actions we have seen from the current government since they won the election, we all know Alden is not the right leader for this country but what i also know is that Ozzie is not the right man for this job!
If it was me, I would not feel comfortable within a government that was not producing the goods or in a role that I was under skilled and "gained" it through such a minuscule vote.
We live in a time when governments can come and go very quickly and not by choice or design usually. What was once set in stone and a ticket to exploitation is nowadays, very precarious indeed. I really would not want it despite the double dipping of pensions.
People need to see something tangible, the want to see results quicker than smoke and mirrors can be pulled out. People don't want to see committees being formed, the loyal given roles and salaries and most of all, they will no longer be fed on a diet of acceptance and bs.
Elected persons should accept that the door in to the position is also the way out and should be even quicker if results are not seen.
Watch the news, I bet you tonight, there is another government somewhere rethinking that the job for life just isn't panning out their way anymore.
What now for the rubbish minister the UK has set the record straight so what other excuses do you have now?
LOL. Try reading the article dumbass. The UK Director did not say anything different from the Cayman govt. – Waste to Energy is possible on site; the project must take all the steps required by the FFR which cannot be circumvented.
Why not vote to see how many of us wants Dart to take over this hole DUMP problem?. Pretty sure the man is preprared to handle this and more…. The man means progress and so far he has not built any place without a toilet…. Sure by his site this DUMP PROBLEM means his site TOILET. Who wants that?.
The man would know what to do. He has built the most amazingggg sites: Like Camana Bay. We all can go there and enjoy the place with our kids, family and friends. Every one loves ittt.
Let him find a solution. Sure when he finish with it we all going to be happyyyy that some one has found a solution to the long timeproblem.
Dart's solution was to dig four holes in BT and line 2 of them. That's all.
17;13
Where did you go to gather that information? you are a bigger liar than the politicians. Or maybe you didnt understand the concept!
By your statement, you take advantage of caymanians who wouldnt go out and see for themselves, what was being engineered and proposed to be built.
Thank goodness, finally some objectivity at long last. Like it or not this is something that the UK could and should be involved in. At times another country does need bringing in to help resolve an issue.Nothing wrong with that. Remember the U.S. and Northern Ireland?
Comparing the GT dump problem with a complex, secretarian, territorial war that raged for forty years and produced some of the most ruthless terrorists that the world has ever seen is quite stretched by a long chalk.
Although in the mind of politicians here, I am sure finding a solution to the dump is equally complicated and terrifying.
The fact that they say it will take two years to complete the process and do research to come up with a solution is a testament to their incompetence and ability to get the jobs done nothing will happen by the next election after which they will be the balking at the next government for notdealing with the dump.
If you think this then get them out now. Do not hesitate.
No shit. It's an excuse. Has been from day one.
I completely agree. It's the lack of funding that is a constraint even after going through this whole process and a great solution is identified two years from now. Am I out of place for asking how are we supposed to pay for it. If we don’t have the money in government coffers and we can’t borrow.
UK leadership sure knows how to sugar coat things.
In reality the UK wants the CIG to get the best deal possible.
The people want the problem solved right now.
The previous Government went in for four years and did nothing to deal with any of the countries major problems.
Now we put the PPM back in and all those major problems are still there. The PPMs track record suggest that they will try to fix them all in four years. Gee just like the last time and the country ends up back in the financial hole.
But dont worry in 3 years time we will have another election and the UDP will be back as heros once more.
The hypocricy is a pathetic joke on all Caymanians.
Simple fact is that we need each political group to go in and solve some of the problems. Each and every year.
Take the a Dart deal yuh idiots, fix it for Christ sake!
What makes you think that deal is still an option?
Because it wasn't a gift to benefit the Cayman Islands. Capping the existing dump and moving it to Bodden Town was being done primarily to benefit Dart. The value of his properties would immediately increase.
To:Submitted by Foreign Devil (not verified) on Thu, 06/03/2014 – 12:23 Please show some restraint. You are sounding like an out of control idiot,and you don't want that do you?
But Alden said the FFR was a constraint. He said it in front of a whole room of people at the Cayman Economic Outlook conference, right before he tried to insinuate Johann had something to do with the FFR beingin place. Alden wouldn't lie about a thing as important as the dump, would he?
You should try reading beyond the headline which, taken on its own, is misleading. The article does explicitly state that "Hayes indicated clearly that the process could not be circumvented and that it would cost the tax payer much more in the end if government got it wrong by not setting out the policy, the business case and then setting about with an open and transparent procurement process". What "it is not a constraint" seems to mean is that we should not think of it as a bad thing but that it is beneficial to the process. He seems to be saying exactly the same thing that the Govt. has said.
Constraint in terms of time needed to get it right.
Ok UK has spoken what does that mean for I and I?. Will this park a reduced committee, for those who are part of the present one, have been there for donkey years and therefore are now useless. Will there be a recycling policy ( based on data now available and best practice adapted to this small but growing island community)drafted at this time and public opinion sought, this will be the sensible thing to do at this time thus shortening the period of time for final decision. I rambled a bit there, but the solution is the mechanical process and equipment to be obtained to first of all remediate and then comes the uses that the rubbish as it is now called can be put to as well as how people will have to adapt in the way they process their own rubbish. Oh Gosh that's how difficult this whole thing is and that's why the poor poor politicos have to take two years more added to the 40 past to figure it out.
It is simple. The UK requires FFR compliance. It is a national issue for London, not a local issue for local government. End of discussion.
Finally the truth thank you Dr. Hayes.
Premier and Minister Bodden consistently give excuses for delays on implementing solutions due to the FFR. The data and research is there in bundles now prepare the business case and please start the process now. The lack of political will and incompetence at the Ministry and DEH are the core issues not FFR.
This is nothing different to what the govt. said, i.e. that this project must go through all the steps required by the FFR which cannot be circumvented.
Any constraint on political party profligacy is to be welcomed, embraced and cherished.
The FFR is our only bulwark against the mountain of debt that these politicians would like to keep building.