Premier puts on tourismminister hat for latest trip
(CNS): The country’s premier is meeting with Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) officials today in Miami to discuss the Spotts cruise ship landing, port security and Boatswain’s Beach. Accompanying McKeeva Bush on this business trip is the Ministry of Finance, Tourism and Development Chief Officer Carson Ebanks, as well as backbench MLA for West Bay – ministerial councillor for tourism Cline Glidden and Boatswain’s Beach managing director Timothy Adam.
Following the Miami meeting, a government spokesperson said the premier and his wife will be taking a brief vacation although the destination was not revealed. Before returning home to the Cayman Islands the premier is scheduled to meet with the Department of Tourism’s Toronto office and executives from WestJet Airlines.
The Canadian based airline will begin a scheduled service between Toronto andGrand Cayman in November of this year. Also attending the Toronto meetings are Chief Officer Carson Ebanks and CITA President Harry Lalli.
Bush returns to the Cayman Islands and back to his office on 30 July. During the Premier’s absence Deputy Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly is acting premier.
Category: Local News
I wonder if Mac will ever bring himself to admit that it was former Tourism Minister, Charles Clifford, who secured the service from WestJet from as far back as 2008 during his negotiations with them in Toronto.
WestJet’s plan at the time was to start service to St. Lucia in December 2008 and to Grand Cayman in December 2009.
The Grand Cayman service was delayed by 12 months to December 2010 because of the global recession.
So come clean Mac….don’t try to claim this one.
Happy to see it become a reality. So congrats to Mr. Clifford and Mac as I’m sure Mac had some "finalising" to do so lets give him a little credit too otherwise he’ll blow up again……poor fella…….must always be the saviour 🙂
I don’t object to The Premier etc. going to Toronto to finalize the WestJet agreement and visit DoT offices. What is odd, however, is that Caribana will be fully underway and there is no mention of the Premier, or Mr.’s Ebanks or Lalli attending Caribana functions. One would think that given it’s revenue ($438mil. in 2009) they should be interested in studying a Caibbean venue which will attract 1.2 million visitors.
Many small, less-prosperous Caribbean nations participate in the competitions and events, with their tourism people heavily involved. Trip give-aways and all kinds of island travel and activities are promoted. One would think that DoT Toronto Office should be very busy during this event, promoting Cayman tourism, but, alas, Cayman has no presence in Caribana.
It’s not like the Premier wouldn’t know Caribana is on, as it has been running 43 years on the same dates: the last two weeks of July.
I don’t get it.
I agree these trips are expensive. But look at the cost to the country from Kurt sitting at home and not traveling during his time as LOGB.
At least Kurt spent the money on Caymanians (schools, etc) and not himself. I’ll take that any day. What are we getting from Mac’s trips?
What schools?? you mean the unfinished abandoned schools!! The flying Premier is doing government business trying to raise money for the island. Stop being grudgfull cause you can’t afford to go no were!
So a little trip to Toronto on "official duties".
I’m still bowled over by the Premier and Orrett Conner just stopping by in Bermuda, to see the cricket matches. As we all know, one doesn’t just "stop by" Bermuda, given it’s location.
When the Premier’s trip cost request comes from FOI, it would be interesting to see the time-line between trips and costs. Clearly, such trips as the Olympic boondoggle were innacurately reported : two days due to an "Official invitation". Oh really? I’d like to see that invitation, given that the Canadian Prime Minister himself paid for all his own expenses, and there were no political or diplomatic meetings.
Good riddance. No more fool fool laws passed for 2 weeks. Too bad he didn’t take Julie.
Too late for God’s help…………………..
god help us