Local contractor to start Hurricane Hilton
(CNS): Phase 1 of the new emergency shelter on Cayman Brac’s Bluff will be built by Island Builders Co, which was awarded the contract following a tendering process through the Central Tenders Committee. The owner of the construction company, Dean Scott, officially signed the contract with Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who is also minister of works and of District Administration, at a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on Wednesday evening. Scott told CNS that his bid of $285,000 to build the 27,000 square foot foundation was the lowest of five bids and he expected the work to begin shortly. (Left: Dean Scott with the deputy premier, chief officer Kearney Gomez and Deputy CO Tristan Hydes)
Speaking to the small gathering at the recently cleared site next to the Brac’s playing field, the deputy premier focused her remarks on berating her critics, especially the media and “the bloggers” for not understanding her vision for the future.
A lot of vision and foresight had been put into the shelter for the present and future needs of the Cayman Brac, she said. “When one studies history, one finds that great buildings were rarely appreciated until the person who had the vision had passed on and you read about it in the obituary,” O’Connor-Connolly said, adding that it did not matter if there were praises in her obituary, only that she had done as much as she could for her constituents.
The shelter was located next to the playing field, she said, because after a hurricane when people had lost their homes it was important “from a sociological standpoint” for them to have that social network and have somewhere for them to exercise.
Claiming that she was proud that the building had been referred to as the “Hilton”, she said that there was nothing that her people did not deserve. “After all, it’s you the people who pay the fees and revenues year after year, and some do so with much hardship,” she noted and said that when we fail to protect the people we have failed as visionaries.
“If I had to gauge what is right and wrong based on the blogs or the CNS or any other medium, I wouldn’t get out of my bed in the day, but there’s none of them who go out on Election Day to give me the mandate of what to do. It’s you the people of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman and I’ve canvassed enough of you to know what you want, and Cayman Brackers don’t hide their expressions.”
Noting the criticisms of her when, as minister in 1997, she had started the road building on the Bluff, she said that when the naysayers write her obituary they will not be able to say that “Juliana was dishonest, that Juliana was not conscientious, that Juliana put self before country and that Juliana never worked hard for her people.”
While stressing the purity of her own intentions – “For me, it’s not about the money” – she then plainly indicated that the motivation of the media was only greed and “a moment of glory” and they were not interested in publishing the truth.
“So you, Nicky, and the rest of the media, write on,” she said to the CNS reporter. “Make your monies at the expense of Juliana. It may cause tears, it may cause hurt, it may even cause embarrassment for those who don’t understand and who chose not to catch the vision but who decides that for short term gain and for the sale of a newspaper or for popularity to build based on tearing people down.”
When the next hurricane comes, she said, “it will be my satisfaction that my people will have one of the best facilities in the Caribbean, if not the world, to find safe harbour and shelter for them and their families.”
Professing that no one loved the news better than she did and that she was a great believer in freedom of the press, which fueled democracy and protected people from tyrants, she said that as a person who studied English and who graduated at the top of her class at university, she appreciated journalism “whose modus operandi is to educate the people so that they can make choices, not to influence the people by their own objective perspective.”
For more on the new Brac emergency shelter, read Hurricane Hilton happening
Category: Local News
Maybe some of these naysayers would hush if she placed a burger king next to the shelter which was in high demand by the cayman refugee's after ivan….
Wikipedia, Online Encyclopedia on Hurricane Paloma, states that… and I quote: "Cayman Brac, to the east of Grand Cayman, experienced hurricane force winds that blew roofs off some buildings, although there were no reports of casualties, according to the Hazard Management Committee. A sustained wind report of 151 mph (242 km/h) was reported on that island. Residents of Cayman Brac sought refuge in an emergency shelter where the roof partially collapsed. Torrential rains from Paloma peaked at 17.77 inches (451 mm) on Cayman Brac with a storm surge up to 8 feet (2.4 m). The District Commissioner of Cayman Brac said that 90 percent of the buildings were damaged and that about 500 people have taken refuge in shelters. The government is working on a plan to provide temporary accommodations for residents of the island. The total cost of the damages amounted to $15 million (2008 USD) in the Cayman Islands." Here, people can criticize Julie for being so thoughtful and wise for preparing for another disaster. And don't even mention the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan when you had 2000 to 3000 Grand Caymanians running over there for shelter. You can't say historical records lie. ;o)
Come people, you know very well what happened after hurricane ivan, how so many ran to the brac for relief. Ju Ju is vindicated and justified!
Not only this shelter with a good local company, Island Builders… but UDP is in the process of finishing a project that PPM was unable to complete – See the EVIDENCE on News 27. Copy and paste this link to your address bar: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/9790
Leave Alden and Kurt alone, it was just a mere financial oversight! Global Recession was against them.
they could have avoid putting us into an 81 million deficit in 2008… and what's funny, to believe people would dare think to put him back in to reck up this country even more!
What happen was just human error and lack of judgement on their part. They never had business skills like McKeeva… so you need to give PPM a break
That should be 'avoided' and 'wreck'. Man what is it with you UDPers? GO BACK TO SCHOOL, maybe then someone will listen to what you have to say about who's 'recking up' the country.
Interestingly, I am not UDP? lol
Yup… actions do speak louder than words. The 260 employees, under 30 constractors are now hired to work there – more jobs! Luckily under UDP this project was reduced down to 100 million dollars. Under PPM it would have been more costly if they had another 4 years. The proof is in the pudding!
What pudding?
Dah… the pudding that's EVIDENCE!
What EVIDENCE?
Interestingly, Kurt Tibbitts delcares the REASONS why a new shelter in the Brac is so urgently needed – See this link by copy and pasting it in your Address Bar: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/163
you know, I think you're right. that flimsy shelter built in the brac where its roof was blown off during paloma… wasn't it built by ppm? oooopss
CNS: The Veteran's and Seaman's Society shelter, which is the one I believe you are referring to, did not lose its roof but the roof was severely damaged. From the extreme level of destruction to several buildings in that area, it is generally thought that it was caused by a tornado, however, the building survived, as did everyone in it. Since the hurricane the society has replaced the roof.
The shelter is not government owned or government run. It was a V&SS project and they deserve credit for it.
there ya go, good job julie gal, build dat shelta. don let no man stop woman progress
oooopss.
Instead of you commenters blasting the Deputy Premier for spearheading this project, you should all be supporting such project that is in the BEST INTEREST of these Islands. Why are people opposing self-preservation because a woman is spearheading it, it foolish – there is no wisdom in being partisan
There is no wisdom in being partisan.
lol… you make it look like the commenter is being partisan in his/her statement. So I guess whatever is for our "BEST INTEREST" must be UDP. And whatever is NOT FOR OUR BEST INTEREST, must be PPM?? 🙂
Paloma and Ivan had a terrible impact on these islands. Now something is being done about it to provide room and shelter for a large influx of people to the Brac. The same should be done in Grand Cayman. I don't like Julie, but to me, a shelter like this outweighs further cost of having to house people at inconvenient locations. It also provides shelter, emergency quarters, and support staff to those who feel that their homes are not safe enough to protect them from a hurricane, and support for those are without family and friends. Think positive!
Ms. Julie,
You have vision. Although the spending seems a little extra on the private parking, we have found it to be beneficial, especially with my aging parents who have slowed down a bit. Maybe this is what you saw, at least I assume so. Just how we strike the balance on the deficit and supporting the people, I don't know. I trust you have envisioned and incorporated the vision in your plan.
We need to find another way to keep her from getting out of her bed in the day.
Good work, Julie
So sorry to hear Ms Julie say on the radio that she had to sleep on a chair next to the pool at Brac Reef
She also said something to the effect that as long as there was money available she would help her people, and as such there was nothing wrong with paving private property
I guess she did not get the memo about the deficit maybe Mac should put her on the email list.
She was overseas undergoing extensive training on how to use her cell phone at the time.
Thousands of people spend thousands of dollars to sleep in those chairs.
Congratulations to Island Builder's Company – a noble task!
Huh?
yes, and I also want to say congratulation to Dean, boy, it is shooking to see so much bull s@xx written about this building.
I hope the time never comes that a disaster ever hit these Islands, that you perpetrators of the nasty blogs, don't have to take refuge in this same building.
Stop your hate, I hope none of you are professing to be born again in the Christ, cause you sure won't be seeing the pearly gates.
Damn it!…
We hope you're not professing to be born again in the Christ. If so you really should reconsider your use of such vulgar language. Otherwise you sure won't be seeing the pearly gates.
Let us never forget the critics premise: "Worry about cost over self-preservation" – that is what they believe! But amazingly, the same "worry" you have here, was the same "worry" from Japanese critics prior to the tsunami took thousands of lives. They critisized the waste of government's monies on emergency evacuation programs
Shhhh. Please. We don't want to get Ju Ju started on spending government's monies on emergency evacuation programs…
i personally think that because they are building a high school on the bluff, instead of building a shelter government should put more money into the building of the high school so that it can be used for both a shelter and education facility. Is is just as big or even bigger and it can hold more people not just julianna people from watering place.
Building all two of these facilities, is a waste of money!!
lol… one mix-up cookie… I have not known of any government that has wasted more money like ppm under Kurt and Alden's tenure
You obviously don't know very much at all.
The shelter will help Julianna get elected next election. Surely that is millions of dollars well spent?
There should be a 5% duty increase on the Brac to raise funds to pay for this. Brackers say they are proud people, but their pride does not seem to extend to paying their way.
Ok, let's put your brain in gear… Duty is payable on freight and purchase costs… Do you think the Brac pays more than Cayman?
I am struck by the similarities of Alden's Highschool projects and Juliana's Brac-Hurricane shelter;
a) Both projects are championed by the #2's of their respective Governments
b) Both projects are actually needed and will be good for the community
c) both projects are far more lavish then they need to be to fulfill their intended purpose
d) both projects have been proposed and started during times when Government borrowing was near (or at) the legal limit
e) The Highschool projects are at a standstill since the elections and this Shelter project will also be stopped due to the un-availability of funds.
There is one significant difference: While the Highschool project contributed to the election defeat of the PPM, the same is not likely to happen to Juliana, because the people that have to pay for that shelter cannot vote in Cayman Brac!
and that's all I have to say about this!
It's going to be a strong building, good material, a little costly on the side, but that's good for a shelter. This will also provide jobs for Caymanians. Although some in Grand Cayman don't like Cayman Brac's elected woman, and will talk dirty about her all they want, I can see they will be in for a big surprise in 2013. Mark my words
You are absolutely right. This is all about the woman. Certain folk don't like Julianna and hence will oppose a good project. So dumb!
So Dumb!
I hope she won’t be letting those Hindu’s and Satanists shelter in there!
Stop talking dirty.
That's good news for Cayman Brac. I am glad that it is on a high elevation. It is way better than spending money on paving private roads and drive ways 🙂
We hope you're not running in the next elections.
One has to wonder if Julianna graduated at the top of her class in English.
Her appalling misuse of the language, reaching for expressions which she clearly does not understand, makes for hilarious reading. "…not to influence people by their own obective perspective" is exactly what good journalists do. Given that an "objective perspective" is getting a perspective from someone who is not biased, it is a great compliment to Wendy. Hilarious!
And a human being mistakenly spells the word objective, "obective" like you just did. Also, remember this is the Cayman Islands – not mother tongue england. If people want to speak Caymanian gibberish and be casual about it that is their business – not yours.
Whoosh! Right over your head. The point of the comment was not the misspelled word, rather the word itself. Call me backward but I would rather be influenced by an objective perspective than a subjective perspective. If one is going to speak Caymanian gibberish at least call the right words.
Quite Frankly Rizzo, some of our posters seem to be influenced by a subjective perspective rather than an objective perspective. From my perspective I would be very objective to including obective in our caymanian gibberish dictionary, but that is just my objective subjective perspective. From another objective perspective, it seems objective if not subjective to include Whoosh! Right over your head. In our Caymanian gibberish dictionary. Some folks simply refuse to see the forest for looking at the trees.
Hurray, Caymanian gibberers, we have a new word in our dicshunary. It's called 'obective'.
People, we could cut out a lot of these bloggers if we use the spell check in your browsers. Then, what will they have to write about?
It's not her fault. She went to the same school with McKeeva.
The Deputy Premier is engaging in a very important project that can be useful for not only hurricane shelters. Some of you need to read the article carefully before you criticize. If the shelter doesn't work out for our best, itcan always be sold or make good investment – simple! There is no loss in making a shelter of refuge for the people of the Cayman Islands.
Does it really not make any sense at all to people like you and Julianna that the school should be finished and used as a shelter rather than spending millions of dollars that we don't have on this foolishness to win Julianna more votes to keep her in a position to keep us all in a deficit position forever?
With the "vision" of Ms Julie there may not be anyone left in Cayman Brac to use it by the time it is completed. As was said by another poster the time, effort and money should have been spent on long term economic plan for Cayman Brac. If that was done then everyone would be able to afford to build their own homes as they like. Cayman Brac would stop being the welfare state that it has become in the last 15 years and no longer need to be subsidised.
Cayman a welfare state? Where the hell did you get that from? I think you need to learn a lesson as to what is a welfare state. And for the last "15 years"? We don't even have direct taxation here! You definitely don't know what you are talking about!
This may be a help to you, nothing about direct taxation
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welfare+state
Definition of WELFARE STATE
1: a social system based on the assumption by a political state of primary responsibility for the individual and social welfare of its citizens
2: a nation or state characterized by the operation of the welfare state system
What is the thought process that goes into giving a thumbs down to a dictionary definition? Is it that you think the dictionary is wrong or that you don't like the meaning?
We agree with the definition, but how does "welfare state" apply to the Cayman Islands when we don't even have a minimum wage. In the job world, this government doesn't give any handouts. Sorry, but I can't see your reasoning. A welare state would be a place like the United States.
Just count the number of civil servants. Can you honestly say that we need that many to run a Country of no more than 55,000 people? That's a welfare state….
I voted UDP in the last election simply because the PPM looked so useless and inactive other than Alden and his stupid Ritz Carlton schools. But I and my family will not vote for them again simply because of this disgraceful woman, the Deputy Premier so called and Bush's pandering to her and "my people" (ie her family). All this is equalling the XXXX excesses of the Unity Team when our national hero was selling us out to the Texans around him.It's disgusting and it's hard to believe she would even try to call herself a Christian. Talk about giving God a bad name.
"But I and my family" I don't care if it is your clan, church, distant family, whatever! Julianna is getting back in, and yes, she calls herself a christian who is a person that always gives God a bad name, because they are sinners. Maybe you should go to a church and ask the pastor to explain to you what a christian person is
Perhaps if you care to make another attempt at making another post in future you could try to put some sense in it? I don't believe anyone even with Julianna's intelligence could interpret THIS one.
AMEN.
Why malign someone dead and gone in your comment? One thing I know for fact – Jim Bodden never sold out his people and lived off their backs the way McKeeva and his bunch do.
And any investors he may have encouraged – Texans or otherwise – pale in comparison to the massive sell out of Cayman by McKeeva to Dart and now the Chinese and whoever really pulls the strings behind the UDP (politicos from a close neighbouring island perhaps???)
Jim did not hide behind a title or expect people to kowtow to him. There was no security detail, no government-paid household staff or state-funded home renovations and Xmas lights.
And if you needed to talk to him – you could find him and he would listen. And help. Because he loved his people – and not just his constituents either – and his country and wanted to see them grow and prosper – with first world facilities, housing and jobs.
So next time you want to throw unfounded slurs – try picking on someone who is here to fight back. Julianna is here to rebutt any criticism – she's just not smart enough to form an argument. Ditto for her fearless leader.
And Jim never paved anyone's driveways! He did, however, in a fit of pique, climb onto a bulldozer and destroy Fort George….
As i read this post i noted the comments made by the Deputy Premier it is crystal clear that this project is clearily going to define her political legacy as she makes no bones in regards to the very vain statement in regards to her obituary the problem is we the people will have to pay for both. XXX
CNS: The tender for phase 1 went through the Central Tenders Committee.
At the end of the day, although it has went through the Central Tenders Committee, the Deputy Premier still gets credit, and can at any day, refuse to sign an MOU. The DP has the last say on the company to be awarded the task. Is that not so?
Julie, good job, hang in there! Critics will yap all day and night about this noble endeavor, but they don't know the future. The bluff is an ideal location from the perils that come with a hurricane. Love you and take care of yourself.
UDP picked a good company, Island Builders Co., I beleive they will a build a strong shelter that will withstand hurricane force winds. If anyone don't know who Island Builders Co. is, they need to take a jump in the lake. It is nota foreign company. The money being spent on this project will also be going towards paying Caymanian workers.
The UDP did not pick the company. It says they were chosen via CTC.
So as long as the UDP stay out of it we'll be OK.
Hello! CTC or no CTC, UDP signatures are written all over it! The CTC is just for the decision making, and would be out of work if they were not commissioned by them to find a good company
Sounds like a cheaply built shelter. If you're going to build a strong shelter, you put in the best material. Now where was I, oh yes, the PPM hypocritical comments are making me sick…
The owner is Caymanian. When this shelter starts, I intend on going to the Bluff and counting exactly how many "Caymanian" are working there.
He is not a Caymanian he is a BRACKER and dont you forget it. Not only come and see if he has any Caymanians working for him but check out his other work ethics – now thats another story. Dont think you will find Caymanians working for him either. Oh well as the Brac Turns
If island builders were truly Caymanian, they would have refrained from bidding on this waste of our peoples money. Yes we WILL see how many Caymanians are employed on this job.
No one is picking on the Builder as they are some of Cayman Bracs finest, but we cannot afford this project. After all the Islands did well over the years but they had very good business people running the affairs such as the builders family. We say it is too much money to spenf to get someone elected. She could think of a better and cheaper way to get support.
And when since did you become an economist, to tell the country what we can't afford. I can see right trough you, you dislike Julie…well just call her and tell her so, it sounds like a personal thing with you. stop misleading the people that we don't have the money. Simple put, if the Government don't have the money then nothing will happen, are you trying to say they are going to steal the money for this building? Stop tearing down your own, if she didn't do anything for the Brac you would be tearing her down the same way. you just can' please you people.
Our beloved Premier says that we don't have the money, that government must stop all spending from now until the end of June. Are you accusing the Premier of lying? You must be one of those expats who hate the Cayman Islands.
AMEN!
It's not costly! I've seen worse than that! PPM, Alden and Kurt in their helicopter! For every rotation, all you hear is ding-a-ling! Sick of seeing it fly above Fosters
Alden Mclaughlin and the Commissioner of Police, are on board the small two seater helicopter when suddenly the COP, the pilot, decides to parachute out of the helicopter. Not knowing how to fly a helicopter, Alden grabs the radio for dear life. "Mayday, mayday! The COP has just jumped out of the plane!" Ground control receives the call for help and answers back: "The COP?" "Yes! He left me here after we had a conversation on getting another helicopter if I am elected another four years in office! He took the parachute!" "Sir, are you talking about the Commissioner of Police?" "Yes! Gosh! Who do you think I am talking about???" "Okay, okay, please don't panic, sir. I'll talk you down, just do as I say. First I need you to give me your height and position."
"I'm over six feet and sitting in the front!"
With an inagination like that, if you ever decided to put it to some use, you could probably replace McKeeva. Or at least JuJu.
I think I also saw monies shooting out from the propella… ding a ling… must be imagining things again. But to think that ignorant folk will be putting him backin power to start this spending-spree cycle all over again
Oh lawd, here we go again, Grand Caymanians against Cayman Bracers getting a new shelter!
You know folk, I don't see anything wrong with spending money on a hurricane shelter. I am kind of shock that the ones who believe in spending for schools, are the ones opposing "spending." I don't get it – must be a party thing. No body cares about the issues anymore without taking sides. It could be a life and death issue and because it is UDP, dumb folk who pick sides will oppose it. Like I said, party politics is destroying and dividing this country.
We need a third party, but apparently Ezzard Miller doesn't want to budge, because he is PPM under cover! And apparently, there is nobody out there that is willing to give Cayman a third option.
The only people that will use this shelter are those who can't afford to build their own home that is safe/strong.
If the minister would instead pour the money into the economy and getting business to happen on the island each person would be able to have their own climate controlled room in their own home and the public would not have to pay to maintain it.
I understand that this is too much forward thinking for the minister but maybe the next person who is elected and has some power will have some foresight.
The fact that less than 10 people (other than the required attendees/media) proves that the project is not supported and that no one wants it.
We, here on the Brac, would like to see a university (similar to St. Matthews) open that can attract business and allow people to have enough money to build their own home and not rely on government for more crumbs.
Have some Pride!
"The only people that will use this shelter are those who can't afford to build their own home that is safe/strong." ;o) Hence… we can't leave these people out in the cold, we need a shelter, and Julie is doing a fine job!
So….. Its all about the obituary.. !!
No…… its all about the personality behind the project and forgetting what's best for this country and our preservation
Wow… learn from history. PPM purchased supplies for those who were effected during the aftermath of paloma, and now UDP is doing even way better, but building a facility that PPM has not even mentioned. Where was Moses when you needed him?
Wow, learn that you don't know how to type proper sentences.
Moses was busy feeding people, getting power restored, providing generators, providing gas vouchers, rebuilding homes, checking in on the elderly, getting roads cleared… and get this, he WASN'T the minister!!!
Imagine if he had been… we wouldn't be wasting our time looking at another "monument" to julianna.
So this government has put aside CI$ 9mm for a 27,000 sqft building that equates to approx. CI$333.33 per square foot when finished.
Fellow Caymanians you tell me where this government's priorities lie, when high schools need to be completed?
I can now see the new high schools coming online in 2012 just in time for the election which Big Mac and da fries are scheduled to lose.
Signed,
McCarron McLaughlin
And where was Alden Mclaughlin's priority in 2008??? Please don't let's go down that road of no return! Please don't let us repeat how he dropped the ball and put the country into an 81 million deficit, him and Kurt Tibbetts! You think us fo-fo or what?
Tell me, was building such an expensive school during PPM's tenure (way more expensive than this shelter) necessary??? All I have to say, you Mclaughlins need to go! Don't post here just to make yourself a name and think we young people will shun UDP just to jump on another PPM bandwagon! We are smarter than that!
LMMAO….That's the biggest load of BS I've read in a longtime, I aint making no name for myself, I shoot from the hip and I can't help that ignorant people like yourself can't sign your name when posting on simple blog.
Look in the phone book and give me a call when your ready for debate on going down that road of no return.
Until me meet or speak have a nice day Shammer.
lol… ignorant??? very smart people don't sign there names on everything they post. this the real world buddy!
psst… earth to mclaughlin… the high schools are not in Cayman Brac. For all I care, they can be in tim-buc-too, but relax.. they're not here.
Then perhaps your representative should have built a high school that could double as a hurricane shelter. Like the smart folks do in Cayman. That way twenty years from now you could actually have educated folks representing your island.
Thank you, Julie. It is sad that people are still in the valley of decision as to whether or not they should choose our preservation from natural disaster OVER cost and money-making. Also, I commend those who are loyal to this cause and will persevere to the very end.
How many Brackers turned out to the ground breaking?. Of course not including those that attended because of their jobs or close family members of Ms. Julie. A low turn out may indicate that there was not much support for this project. A large turn out would show that it is a popular project
"A low turn out MAY indicate that there was not much support for this project"… EXACTLY… YOU DON'T KNOW, SO SHUT UP!
I do know, is that why you are so defensive…… Because it was only a handful of people????
CNS how large was the crowd?
CNS: If you don't count ministry staff or district admin staff or the press, there were about 8 or so close family members of the deputy premier and about half a dozen members of the public.
so???
they meant 8 one day, 18 the next, 80 the other day, and 800 on election!
and how many voters are there in Cayman Brac & little Cayman?? I doubt that every last person will vote or that all of those who do vote will vote for her.
Strange to get thumbs down for answering a simple question with a factual answer. Is it now unpopular to ask a honest question and in turn get a straight answer? Cayman is really going down….
To Blogger 13:53 the reason why those massive shelters/Schools in Grand Cayman are still left undone, is because UDP fail to finish them, because the projects were started by PPM. They did not want to continue any projects started by another party. So silly and childish. 2 years afterwards they are still blaming everything bad on PPM. Practicing real Granny Politricking. UDP has failed to produce anything and this is the best they can come up with, by wasting 9mio on a shelter that is not needed, as there are already other shelters in the Brac. Since the UDP is so good at diverting funds, divert those funds to finish the High Schools in Grand Cayman and get the accelarated pogram going. so that our children can progress in these brutal times. How backward thinking the UDP are. They just needs something that they can put they plaque on, to say they accomplish something other than travelling.
But are not the UDP completing the school project as we speak. PLEASE STICK TO THE FACTS! See News27: "Supervisors at the Clifton Hunter High School site say they don't yet have a timetable for when the school will be ready to use. But they say crews are working hard and significant progress has been made toward completing the project." – http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/9790
What a delusional woman!!
Delusional??? So people who anticipate another major disaster and build shelters to prevent worse case scenarios, are all delusional??? Hello! I think you are the one who is delusional, you and your opposition high-rating crew!
Ah people… stop talking rubbish! This shelter will be built upon this rock and the gates of hell that prevail against it, will not see to its demised! Be on the right side of history!
An excellent project that is urgently needed for these times. Everyday in the news, you are hearing some earthquake or storm devastating a place – we need this now!
"An excellent project that is urgently needed for these times. Everyday in the news, you are hearing some earthquake or storm devastating a place – we need this now"
Earthquake? I didn't know the shelter had "wings". Must have been drinking Red Bull.
What an absolute load of rubbish!
What about the children crammed into buildings daily, that are decades old, at the current High Schools?
And when PPM provided the rationale that the new schools had increased kitchen and other capacities because they would also serve as Hurricane Shelters and provide DAILY comfortable learning environments….the UDP went to extremes to say how we couldn't afford it?
But now she spews this rubbish to justify HER memorium?
Ahem, about the decades old buildings, most Ivy League institutions we are revere are in buildings that are a few centuries old, this usually demonstrates a community with pride and one that has high values and pride. If we need to rebuild our buildings every few decades, maybe we are doing something wrong at the start?
The point is that the current High Schools were designed and built decades ago, for a smaller population, hence said schools are inadequate for many, many more students today.
I was not sayings the buildings were poorly built!
THIS SHELTER IS NOT NEEDED. cayman brac has enough shelters now,this si another stunt for reelection. at a time when goverment in running a deficit and premier asking civil servants to cut back in grand cayman but , starting this project in the brac. what a thing. you the people pay the fees and revenues , every time i hear about the fees being raise cayman brac is excempted. but this hilton is being built over there and we cannot finish one of the school here for our children to attend. juju i do not blame you i blame the other udp members. the two members from bodden town will hace to explain this on election day . this shows how much there care about the children in thier district. i guess it is better to beat people and appear in court for it…. good example bobo.i would ask the members from george town . do you think this hilton is moreimportant than the high school. what a bunch of extension CORDS for your blind leaders
errr…… me-thinks that would be 'subjective"
God I wish we could get rid of 'me-thinks'. Where on earth did that come from anyway?
11.45 in regards to your comment wasnt it your own Brackers that reside in Grand Cayman that came back to Brac after Ivan they where only coming back home I doubt if there where any one else that came there to stay so welcome your people in hardship as you would say.
You must have had your head under a rock before, during and after Hurricane Ivan. The majority of what flocked to Cayman Brac after Hurricane Ivan were Grand Caymanians, along with our own Brackers yes. I am from Cayman Brac but I had to stay put on Grand Cayman and go back to work 2 or 3 weeks after Ivan. It was a strain on the people of Cayman Brac but we managed ok. Those who sought refuge on Cayman Brac after Ivan should be thankful they had some where to run to, to get a decent meal, watch tv and some a/c!
OK after it has been built WHO WILL MAINTAIN IT ( YOU THE PEOPLE). More $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Let's see a 27,000 sq ft building costing $285,000 is only 10 cents to buildper square foot. How is that possible? But then the article does state to "build the foundation" so how much will the rest of the building cost? What a crock!
Hope you are not in construction nor an accountant. Its more like $10.55 per sqft. Still a bit cheap though 🙁
Its CI285,000.00 for the foundation…not the whole building. If a 27,000 sqft building was built for that money i sure as hell wouldnt be in it during a hurricane!
I believe you meant CI$ 285K / 27K Sq Ft = CI$ 10.55 per sq ft.
Thanks Julie. The cost is not that much! We need more leaders like you. The bluff is the best strategic place we have on the island. It is high from rough seas. I recall in the old days, how they would say that the bluff was a place of refuge from an incoming disaster.
She said "The shelter was located next to the playing field, as it was important “from a sociological standpoint” for them to have that social network and have somewhere for them to exercise." – well I see that she personally has taken full advantage of that !! 🙂
"there was nothing that her people did not deserve. “After all, it’s you the people who pay the fees and revenues year after year, and some do so with much hardship,” 2 comments on this one – "Revenues" well I'd like to see some of those – as far as I am aware, one doesn't pay revenues the receive revenues. 2ndly Yes Ju Ju it is us the people who PAY THE FEEs for unnecessary probjects like this, when the money could be used elsewhere on other more beneficial projects.
you know, I notice you are the same writer that uses "Ju Ju" all the time. how many comments will it take for you to spam your nonsense
Actually this is the 1st time I have ever commented. Just thought it was a bit ironic that someone who is as unhealthy as she looks should harp on about exercise, and someone who is in the position she is in, doesn’t appear to know the difference between fees paid and revenues
OK, I had to read this in small chunks as I was worried I was going to throw up big chunks…….
Now that I wiped off my computer screen, I must really say – how can we survive another two years of this?
The logic seems to be that our kids can manage to get through a hurricane (courtesy of the shelter), but they can not manage to survive well on a daily basis as they still graduate from school without proper reading and writing skills.
Awesome!
When the next hurricane comes, she said, “it will be my satisfaction that my people will have one of the best facilities in the Caribbean, if not the world, to find safe harbour and shelter for them and their families.”
Apparently, Dean Scott and the rest of the contracters that will be building the Hurricane Hilton must be the fastest builders in the world, hurricane season is June 1st, only 18 days away! XXX
she said that when the naysayers write her obituary they will not be able to say that “Juliana was dishonest, that Juliana was not conscientious, that Juliana put self before country and that Juliana never worked hard for her people.”
You're late ju ju, Caymanians been saying those things about you for years, and you've been proving them righton a daily basis. Thank you for ensuring that our Country will remain BROKE. We the people of the Cayman islands truly appreciate your honesty, conscientousness and hardwork. God never sleeps.
You sound ignorant and a lonestar, because when you say "Caymanians been saying those things" you must not be talking about me and my entire family in Cayman Brac! As far as I know, my entire family is in support of this project. Please be specific when you generalized everyone in your comments.
(P)aloma (P)unished (M)any in Cayman Brac,yes ladies and gentlemen the PPM is the worse thing to ever happen to the Cayman Islands especially Cayman Brac and hurricane Paloma is proof of that,the PPM just didn't care about the Brac, after the mess of hurricane Paloma, nothing absolutely nothing was done to help the Brac and everybody in the Cayman Islands knows what i am stating is true…good job miss Julie and UDP,i hope the haters and naysayers don't ever put a foot in this building,i can see them being the first ones to run there during and after a hurricane,i hope while breaking their necks to get there the winds pick up and blow all of them away.Good job to you miss Julie and the UDP……
Are you really that ignorant? The PPM government pumped about $10,000,000.00 in to Cayman Brac before and after Paloma. Apart from the plywood that was passed out before Paloma. After the storm the PPM government air lifted in generators (with gas vouchers), repaired homes (seperate from the NRF) provided free furniture and appliances to any who asked.
and that was a hell of a lot more than the UDP helped us in Grand Cayman by telling the world that we did not need help. People in Bodden Town and other areas are still suffering 7 years after.
yeah, get off ya lazy ass and wuk! ppm believe in too much government hand-out
Oh Please – exactly what help did the Brac give Grand Cayman when Ivan totally devistated the Island – more so that what happend to the Brac.
Common now let's be fair, the Brac helped out in many ways. The most important was helping the hundreds of people that moved here afterward, some of which had no family here and no where to stay. Faith Hospital was jammed to capacity, the schools rooms were overcrowded for the first time. Brackers pulled together and help as best as they could. Large quantities of canned and packaged food (including fresh fish & breadkind), clothing, water etc were sent over from Brackers.
Some folks loved it so much, they never returned to Grand Cayman to live, and thats a fact!
You should'nt open your mouth unless you have the facts, but then again you too blinded with hate for UDP…poor you!
Actually, after Ivan the Brac became a home away from home for many, many people. This included my sister-in-law and my very young neice and nephew. There's no need to make comments like that. We should be discussing government spending, not being rude and telling lies about each other. Come on Caymanians!
What a convenient memory you have. The PPM government spent TEN MILLION DOLLARS to help Cayman Brac after Paloma and all you can bitch about is how much money they spent!
Why not redirect those funds to finish the 2 high Schools in Grand Cayman and hence hurricane shelters too? That is a total waste of funds when they already got enough shelters in Cayman Brac. Those high schools could multi function for more than classrooms, shelters, but for more things. The Hurricane Hilton will just be sitting there for when/if another hurricane comes to Cayman Brac. What a total waste of resources. My God woman!!!!!
"The Hurricane Hilton will just be sitting there for when/if another hurricane comes to Cayman Brac. What a total waste of resources. My God woman!!!!!" So anonymous, please don't tell me that you actually believe that another hurricane is far off in the distant future, so far away that this structure will not be put to any use. At least it will get done! When PPM was in they left a larger and more expensive structure, the skeleton of a massive million dollar school in frank sound, and guess what??? It was left UNDONE! At least this project will not be left undone and is way UNDER one million dollars! My God man!!!!! You need to wake up!!!!! MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING!!!!!
"Under one million dollars"? The projected cost is $9m (nine million dollars!!!). The $285,000 is just for the foundation!
Woman, Wake Up! The PPM started the schools/hurricane shelters. They didn't stop the building of them, the UDP did!
You go Julie! You look out for us whilst we were down and our roofs blown off by terrible Paloma; now, we will look out for you because of this shelter in the next election! This was a wise move – the best out of all the projects!
Julie, the enitre class sings the national anthem and see your picture. You indeed will leave a positive obituary. People think that women have no place in society or politics – prove those men wrong. What you're doing is moral, and although costly, it will pay off
A ridiculous waste of public funds aimed at re-electing a completely incompetent woman.
I had thought my opinion of Juliana could not get any lower but after reading this article I am happy to admit I was wrong. She is a vacuous, self serving, misguided and arrogant individual who will grab any opportunity, protocol be damned, to bitch, whine and complain about the fact that she is quite rightly criticised for her nepotistic, uninformed ways. Speaking as someone who has interacted with both her and Nicky Watson, the reporter she accused in a government speech of making money at the expense of criticising her, I know Nicky could give Juliana a few tips when it comes to dignity, intelligence and self awareness and depracation. The woman is an embarrassment to the Brackers who blindly elected her after she spat vitriol at various government employees on the Brac for their choice of faith and continues to be an embarassment to the country as a whole for her freeloading ways and lamentably poor decision making. More fool you Juliana, for someday, according to you, you will face a 'higher power' who will condemn you for the money grabbing, the 'expenses' and the hypocrisy you have shown in judging others so frequently and harshly – when compared to your own standards, they would shine.
By the way, a woman who lauds herself as 'studying English and graduating top of her class at university' should really know the difference between objective (an unbiased, balanced view point based entirely on the truth) and the word I'm sure she was searching for in her speech, subjective (a biased viewpoint usually based on personal feelings). Truly sad that this is held up to Caymanian youth as someone to aspire to.
Good news… They need some proper hurricane shelters in Grand Cayman as well.
Actually what we need is some UDP shelters.
its fine that she is trying to defend her position, but why does she have to keep shooting the messenger/s when she says "So you, Nicky, and the rest of the media, write on,” she said to the CNS reporter. “Make your monies at the expense of Juliana"…. CNS and all other media are only reporting what they see and its thier job to report on issues and topics such as this!
It is there job to report the facts… no one is contesting that – But isn't it strange that the only comments you see on this site, at least 95% of them are from PPM / Independent supporters, rediculously opposing UDP on trivial matters? Plus, you have bloggers repeating the same thing over and over again like a spam of similar negative comments. I am not dumb, but I think alot of people can clearly see that your site, CNS, is more leaning Independents / PMM
Are you sure you're not dumb? You sound dumb to me, as this CNS site is a very balanced site when reporting the news, in my opinion.
Looks like that one right above you is dumb too. AND blind.
rubbish…..95% ofthe people have had enough of the daily nonsense from the current government
Just like 95% from the Ppm blind followers
April fool's day was last month…. I thought. God woman, please seek help for your condition you are a total embarrassment to most Brackers
This a damn shame!!!!
I feel sick just reading this. I don't deny facilities are needed, but they don't have to be on such a grand scale. The money would be better spent making smaller facilities on the Brac and better facilities on Grand Cayman in the districts that so desperately need them, and have little to no facilities at all right now, and certainly not enough for the number of people who reside there.
NO it's not needed or wanted, just another building to hang a plaque on with JuJu name on it
lol… a clear example that this has to do with personality (Mrs. OConnor) and not what is in the best interest of these islands
There is a rumour that one who wants theiir yard paved has to submit a request. RUBISH!!! XXXXX Cayman was always hot and it will now even be more hot with all that paving. Wouldnt some fine crush rock look better less hot and definately cheaper for that X.
Moneys should be spent on more home repairs before the next hurricane season that is right around the corner.
Well… it will solve the problem of a sudden increase of population, like when after hurricane ivan, up to 2 to 3 thousand people, mostly women and children, flocked the island to escape Grand Cayman's hardships. We need shelter space with more rooms as well, because rooms can be used for a number of reasons – like emergency reasons, child care, and storage of supplies. It all has to do with self-preservation, but because Julianna is not liked, I feel, it more has to do with her spearheading this project. Some people jsut don't like the deputy and use as a red herren the issue of "cost." I agree you can use cost to attack the udp when it comes to paving roads and paving private grounds, but when it comes to our self-preservation, we need to look beyond party politics, because everyone is in the same boat. The next big one will come – it is just a matter of time. Perhaps, they can fix up or build other stable shelters in Grand Cayman too.