Brac church gives cash back
(CNS): As controversy swirls around the Nation Building Fund and grants to churches, the Hillside Chapel on Cayman Brac has made a decision to give back its $50,000 grant. In the wake of Thursday morning’s Cabinet press briefing, when Premier Juliana O’Connor Connolly defended the $100,000 grant to a church on Grand Cayman that she sometimes attends, the Rev Audley Scott released a short media statement in connection with the Brac church’s grant saying that the church membership at a joint meeting with the council on Wednesday April 10 had made the decision to give the cheque back. Hillside Chapel was one of ten churches to receive money from the controversial fund this financial year, which the premier said had all been approved by the previous premier.
However, according to the statement from the Rev Scott, the church had not received any commitment from the previous administration and it was not until this February, after chasing its application last summer with O'Connor-Connolly, who was deputy premier at the time, that it was told its application had been approved.
“On February 14, 2012 a request was made to the then Hon. Premier Mr Bush for the grant of funds under the 'Nation Building Program'. We never received a reply to this request,” Scott said in an emailed press statement. “In July 2012 I spoke to the Hon. Deputy Premier Ms O’Connor-Connolly about our request. She asked me to give her a copy of the letter again, which I did. On February 10, 2013 I was informed by the Hon Premier that the amount of $50,000.00 had been approved. On March 31, 2013 the cheque was received,” he added.
However, it appears the church began to have second thoughts about what it said was much needed funding as a result of the “negative publicity and political spin”.
“The request for funds was made out of necessity of on-going works as a result of Hurricane Paloma. Our church is very grateful to the government of the Cayman Island and to the Hon Premier Ms Juli for these much needed funds. However, because of all the negative publicity and political spin, the church membership at a joint meeting with the church council on April 10, 2013 took the decision to return the $50,000.00 to the government of the Cayman Islands, through the good office of the Hon Premier. Our need is great, but our God is greater," the reverend added.
The news was released just hours after the premier had defended the donation to the church she sometimes attends in Red Bay and just days after the news of that donation had generated considerable public indignation.
More than 220 comments were posted on the CNS report in less than three days, the vast majority of which were opposed to tax payers money being given to churches via a fund where the criteria appears ambiguous and where approval appears to be granted directly by the office of the premier.
Related articles on CNS:
Category: Politics
If the slush fund cannot be considered 'treating' then the cornbeef sandwiches have no effect on voting.
I could understand if Government made a list of all churches in the three islands and made a grant to them in equal amounts if Government had the money. Giving money to churches that are either the Premier, Ex-Premier or crony church and all others that the majority of attendees are Jamaican leaves nothing to the imagination as to what the motive here is all about.
What a disgrace that Cayman is now as corrupt as all of the other surrounding nations. You have little more than one month to decide whether this behaviour should be continued or whether we are going to put an end to it. Search your hearts and decide against wrong. There is no long term benefit in corruption.
Nation Building Fund has rewarded my family. My nephew is one of the student that attended the Superior Auto Mechanic Training Programme for one entire year. Just last week all the young men that remained in the progamme and engaged themselves both in class room studies and hands-on training, completing assignments with pass marks all exceeding over 70%, are now a Level 2 Mechanic from the German School. My nephew's certificate does not qualify him to work in the Cayman Islands alone but also internationally. What I heard from my sister in relation to the Superior Auto training programme, is that she saw the budget, and $61K was not enough to train these 10 young men at the level that they are being trained along with a full-time university vocational teacher. However, with the assistanceof Superior Auto and other donors, the programme has once again proven to be a success. By the way, my nephew and the other young men are all employed while they were waiting on their certification from the Accrediting Body. Yes, I do agree that NBF should be channeled into developing our youths both locally and overseas. The real living evidence is at the Superior Auto compound. Go take a visit and take a young man with you.
Why not take a young woman? Is this school only for males?
Try encouraging all to get better educated so that they can get jobs and support themselves rather than having babies.
You go Rev Scott & committee! Kudos to you. Many more should have such integrity.
Thank you Rev Scott. Like Johnny Appleseed you stand out as a bright beacon of integrity and show what the effort of one man can achieve in galvanising a movement towards the demonstration of individual integrity. We all have this power. I hope and pray that by your example more people will start to use their personal power to demonstrate their personal integrity.
Coming Soon!
The country as a sacred vessel.
Private Donations,
It seems like there are a number of bloggers and persons in the community that would like to make a monetary donation to Hillside Chapel. To those who are so kind and generous you may send a donation to:
"Hillside Chapel"
P.O. Box 94
Cayman Brac, KY2-2001.
Thank you and God Bless,
Concerned Brac Citizen (and by the way I do not go to this Church)
Why would one cry foul after applying or asking for it? Seems like political posturing itself!
You know a goverment's stock is low when even churches won't take their cash!
We all should hope that some of that money returned can go to the old Caymanians on indigents salaries, to sea men and all the peoples in need in this country who can't find a job or can't get one. This would help prevent so may problems and help less of them not to become a burden in society.
They would appreciatte at least a few dollars more to pay their bills and give at least $5 for their lunch money.
Maybe some that maney can be used by Goverment to open a company to hire only Caymanians who can't find jobs and/ or to help retire all those old ladies who have worked all their lives and can't still get retired. Make them feel honored now not after they dead.
Can some of that money and part of the POLITICIANS SALARY go to helping the class in need and the PEOPLES.
Why all new and past politicians don't GIVE 20% of their salary to help aliviate so much need and for once see all of them live on a more down to hearth salary?
PLEASE CAN GOVERMENT use some of that money to BETTER THE REST OF WEST BAY ROAD, SIDE WALKS and BICICLE SPACES?
The NEW ROAD is great, but the peoples who rides their bikes to work they may just have to carry their bikes on their shoulders untill they can ride on to the NEW ROAD OR GETT OFF IT to walk to WEST BAY on foot. For most of the times every one has to RUN IN TO THE BUSHES to avoid being nocked down by the cars. The bikes tires destroided with so many rocks and holes.
SPEND THE MONEY TO HELP ALL THE PEOPLES IN CAYMAN.
Our government is in no position to give more handouts sir. Money needs to be invested in educating our young generation. Govt needs to invest in education and by that I don’t mean new buildings.
No more handouts to “people in need”. We need to determine why they can’t find or keep a job and then invest specifically to address those deficiencies. For example, spending that money on a course that teaches the young graduates how to write a cv or how to interview for a position, may actually get some of our young employed. We need to teach our people how to market their skills and strengths to potential employers.
Remember the saying about giving a fish or a fishing line?
Now let's redirect the funds towards the education budget. Young Caymanians (especially young men) need to be educated if this crime infestation is to be removed.
Now if only ALL the nation building fund recipients had such integrity. Especially those who live in gated communities.
For those keeping count, here's a reference sheet of those that have accepted Nation Building Fund payments since 2009. Perhaps CNS could update this so we can keep track of who, if any, will return their payments. 48% are churches, 31% to various grants, and less than 16% to education. Looking at the aportionment, and knowing the considerable personal discretion that was allowed, it's hard to understand how JOCC or her predecessor can pretend that education took priority over the church grants (feel free to update or correct), or that any considered thought was put into this at all:
CHURCHES:
Wesleyan Holiness Church West Bay KYD$1,300,000.00 !
Church of God Bodden Town KYD$1,000,000.00 !
Church of God West Bay KYD$450,000.00 !
Seventh Day Adventist Church West Bay KYD$275,000.00 !
Light of the World Christian Fellowship KYD$180,000.00 !
All Nation United Pentecostal KYD$175,000.00 !
New Testament Church West Bay KYD$130,000.00
90 & 9 Outreach Ministry KYD$125,000.00
Church of God Frank Sound KYD$125,000.00
Wesleyan Holiness Church George Town KYD$122,585.00
Convent Moravian Church KYD$104,991.00
Seventh Day Adventist Church KYD$100,000.00
Church of God Holiness Red Bay KYD$100,000.00
Hillside Chapel Cayman Brac KYD$50,000.00 <== ONLY PAYMENT RETURNED!!!
GRANTS:
Pines Retirement Home KYD$>1,500,000.00
Cayman Traditional Arts "Bringing Heritage to Life" 2x KYD$60,000.00 = KYD$120,000.00
Boxer Charles Whittaker Camana Bay Fight Purse KYD$100,000.00
Boxing related expenses KYD$31,050.00
Boxing Gym Renovations West Bay KYD$25,000.00
Cayman Scouts Association KYD$100,000.00
MORE GRANTS:
St. Lucia and St. Vincent Hurricane Relief?!? KYD$83,750.00
Cayman National Cultural Foundation KYD$75,000.00
Kem Jackson for Cayman Catboat Club KYD$65,000.00
Hurricane Shutters for unidentified buddies KYD$64,879.79
Superior Auto Mechanics Training Programme KYD$61,000.00
James Anglin to turn Jeffrey Wilson into a Musical Talent KYD$60,000.00
James Anglin needed more money KYD$8,000.00
Hope for Today Foundation KYD$55,000.00
Imaginary museum on Boggy Sand Road? KYD$54,800.00
National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, a real museum KYD$50,000.00
A CCTV monitoring system KYD$45,000.00
Somebody's Randyke Gardens sewage issue KYD$40,000?
Hush payment to Barry Martinez from NRA KYD$35,000.00
Another Barry Martinez payment KYD$10,344.38
And yet another Barry Martinez payment KYD$24,655.62
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS:
99 unidentified students KYD$1,500,000.00
OTHER:
Misc Barkers "Consultants" KYD$46,000
Select Local Matrix Intl contract victims KYD$365,000.00
Jubilee Park/Christian Heritage Monument KYD$58,000.00 <== Not only was this plan scrapped, Cabinet approved a further KYD$1,000,000.00 for this park: where is the money?
Thank you for the information, very interesting indeed.
However, out of all you mentioned, I think some good is coming out of Superior Auto Mechanics Training Programme’s KYD$61,000.00. I was there just this week for an assessment on vehicle damage and saw over 6 young men (Caymanians) actually working on real car repairs. I was encouraged to say the least. We need more on hands training like this and guidance for our youth. As been said before, not all skill sets require a college education/degree. But one has to start somewhere and go from there.
Now if only the churches would step up and sponsor this and other programs that “focus” our future generation. Ask yourself, ‘what would Jesus do?’
What a load of money given foolishly!!! You forgot to list the Watering Place Church or in other words Julies Church. These buildings certainly dosent help with the crime. This is the worst that these Islands have been. If you wanted to look like you are a fear person then all this money should have been divided equally amongst all the churches. There are so many people here who are quietly finacially suffering and they don go to social Services because as usual all those that will work dont get any assistance. It is only the lazy and drunks that get any attention.
More than one church in Cayman Brac declined funding when offered by the then deputy premier who is now the premier. All of the churches accepted should be named and shamed
I say the former Premier M.B. attending more than one church. He was at Pastor Bobs church and I heard from another he was at there church. Apparently he is all over the island with his visits; and I heard Ellio Solomon was recently baptized in Pastor Clarke's church in Swamp, G.T. What the hell is going on… oh I forgot it must be the May-day frenzy!
Wow! So Elio was baptised in a swamp? No kidding? I am surprised he came back up, the slimey rascal must have felt right at home.
Guess which (swamp) churches property has a huge UDP sign on it too – you guessed it!
Guess who is not voting for JUJU !….
I guess its me and you too!
From a biblical perspective churches SHOULD NOT be taking money from any Government at any time, for anything.Shame on those who gave to the churches and shame on the churches who took it.
Correct 07.10..Church and State are separate, they have to be.
Utmost respect for the Brac Church, a hard but correct decision.
I would say to the pastor and the congregation of that Church, that if you have a clear funds need, and a clearly organised fund drive, many people, me included, would support it financially. For you have taken the correct route.
This should set an example to the general public!
"Hand-outs" are the reasons why we're living in a Country where we have accounts listed with ridiculous figures, for no reason – meaning they say they've spent X amount on Education (e.g.) and no one sees wherethis money literally would have went.
What really happened to the qualites we Caymanians have always boasted about being HARD WORKING??
I've had an addict say to me he will not find a job because he knows who's door to knock on whenever he needs money.
This is all too sad!
When i think of People that still have God i thing of the People of this Church in Cayman Brac. I hope that the Red bay will do the same and show that they are people of God, JULIE please give your heart to God, he Loves people that will live for hem all the time, when people work the Street you can look and see a child of God, Red Bay Church live for God and give Back the Money. I am flying all night but will read CNS.
Wow, Brackers are sensible people. Well done.
Except one.
Well, only the ones that won't vote for JOCC. The rest have been bought off already.
Hold on a minute ya now (and bring on the idiots about correct spelling etc) but, who told you that Brackers had no sense? I guess it was a bunch of fools that built Foster's, Kirk's, Scott's Industries, Associated Industries, managing Cayman Airways and I could go on. Yeah, boy, I guess they're all fool-fool right? You moron
So much pressure put on them after that article was posted, I guess he had no choice – now hopefully the $100,000 given to Red Bay has not been used to build someone’s mansion and they will do the same – shouldn’t have accepted it in the first place!
Let's see if the Academy, Mr. Rosie and the Red church will keep the public's money.
Mr Rosie- and ALL other churches :
Your people are speaking! Your flock says no to corruption and favortism. Your congregations are telling YOU they would rather see schools lunches and the $500k shortfall for after school programs and leave the thanking and praying for Sundays-
The church’s role is not to step in for the government and the government should keep their money for the people (taxed from the people) out of churches!
You are rolling all of these into the same category but they are not. The monies going to the BTCOG were not a gift to the church and were not solicited by the BTCOG. Instead, when CIG learned that the BTCOG was constructing a new church building and hall the National Hurricane Committee (under the 2005-2009 govt.) sought out the church and asked to enter into partnership with it so that the hall would be upgraded into a hurricane shelter as there was (and is) no proper hurricane in the district. It was agreed that CIG's contribution would be based on the cost to upgrade the building from the original plans into a hurricane shelter to serve the needs of the district as assessed by quantity surveyors. The contribution was not for the purpose of supporting the church or meeting its needs or desires but for fulfilling a public need.
While CIG has paid certain sums towards its assessed contribution it has not in fact paid a large part of the sums due under the agreement.
The partnershiprepresents excellent value for CIG since, (a) it will not be necessary for govt. to either use existing crown land or purchase new land for the purpose, (b) the cost of its contribution is much less than building its own hurricane shelter, (c) a single purpose hurricane shelter would be woefully under-used, (d) it does not bear the burden of the maintenance and upkeep of the property, (e) it does not bear the cost of insuring the property (the insured value of which is almost double the cost than if it had not been upgraded to a hurricane shelter).
There is no basis for asking for monies to be returned.
So let me clarify the treating law….Nothing more than cold sandwiches at rallies are allowed, but 100k 'donations' from the nation BILIKING fund are just fine? Wow, whadda country.
Some church’s have received even more!
Brackers leading the way of courage and right once again! How typical. Gotta love Cayman Brackers! I understand from reliable sources that Stake Bay Church declined to even apply for a handout when offered it. I wonder how many other Brac churches did likewise? How many Grand Cayman churches?
This pretty much sticks it in the eye of all the churches who received $millions. Take that, Red Bay! Hang your heads all ye who wrapped your fists around the handouts.
I would hope that members and friends of this humble church will take careful note of this church's selfless deed and rally to make up any financial lack. Ok Christians! It is time to show God's providence! I for one will pray God's blessing of abundance to all you who would give to their cause.
Bro. Audley comes across as a regular guy trying to do his best and is not known to be one who speaks down to an individual. I know this decision could not have been and easy one, but then I am pretty sure Bro. Audley preaches that the Cross was not so easy either. Seems like this congregation must actually listen to the preacher's sermons and more importantly they acted.
"Our need is great, but our God is greater". Wow! I am impressed beyond words. What more can I say? I know Bro. Scott personally. Heck I know a LOT of preachers…but this truly leaves me speechless.
This is the first church I would consider joining, THANK YOU for actually exhibiting Christian values!!!!
What a confused nation. On one hand we are so holy we can't have the lottery because of the churches and on the other hand if the church gets some money because they are in need you all start bickering and being hateful. Our little island must have a bunch of sad, unhappy people. Stop b….ing and complaining for everything. Get a life. You all make a mountain out of every molehill. What is the big difference if the church got the money 6 months ago. You are a sad sad sorry bunch of complainers.
Pot calling kettle black.
Why does this woman keep lying? She and the whole world know that Red Bay Church Is her church that she has attended all her adult life in Grand Cayman and she has the nerve to try and fool the unknowing public that it is a church she attends some times. What a liar. Giving Hillside Church moeny after nomination day IS VOTE BUYING. And then she tries to blame Mac for this saying he approved it. Well Rev. Scott has revealed that is a lie. When will she be arrested and charged and asked to account for her misdeeds?
Just because lying is bad in everyday life doesn’t mean it’s not a powerful political tool.
Being a Christian makes lying ok. Being a Chrisitian Premier makes lying, stealing, more lying and more stealing ok. Being someone who questions the lying and stealing, makes you a devil worshipper.
ju ju, please resign now…from public office!
Now what will the Red Bay Church of God do? Will they also do the Godly thing or will they keep Caesar's money?
Can we have the parking lots back too?
Rev Scott you must be the only minister with integrity in Cayman. I hope and pray that the others follow your example.
Bet you Red Bay Holiness is not so fool as to return the money. For those of you who do not know Sister Gracie, I bet she is praising God right now for the funds magically appearing.
Amen.
Well done Rev. Now this is a church I would attend and give a donation too.
Let no gamble and see how many other churches do the same, or if the ministers want to keep wear their Rolex’s, drive fancy cars etc….
Hope you make your donation soon and this is not all talk. The Church's do need help with afternoon programs and soup kitchens.
OK CNS we got it about the church money now. How about telling us about the new road!
I want to be the first to say thank you for doing what you have done. It is very possible that you are in real need of the funds but it it was almost absolute certainty that the funds were granted now for one core reason and that is to have your congregation be SO THANKFUL to cast her a vote.
The questions they needed to ask is this:
Why did it take them a year to respond?
Why now?
You have made the rigfht decision. I know its a hard pill to swallow by Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights….you can survive also.
Think that was the best and most honest decision. Lets hope that it isnt spent on something less needing or worthy, and is put to a good and constructive use.
Wendy, kudos to you and the other journalists at the Press Conference today. You are all beginning to sound like real seekers after truth, quoting things like registers of interest etc. No one gave a damn about this in the past!! Your very pertinent question as to why you weren't given simple information from her Mimistry immediately you asked for it was never answered really by Sister Julie. You and the others must pursue this. When I was in the Service in Benson, Jim Bodden's and Truman's days we were told categorically "do not give ANY information to the press or you will be disciplined". That culture is still there but now the technique is to say "you will have to put in an FOI request". That kicks things into the bureaucratic touch and gives breathing space to come up with more excuses for silence. FOI has created a large number of jobs and a huge amount of bureaucracy.
Two comments about Sister Julie's (she used this term herself) Press Conference today. Her rant combining it wasn't my "holdin" government that did it plus the fundamentalist religious stuff was very embarrassing for people like me who would like our premier to be calm, collected, grammatical, separation of church and state,and embracing of diversity. But, to be fair to her, kudos for having the Press conference and and handling the questions she was asked. Her fellow ministers were very C-. Mr Seymour was an inarticulate F. He doesn't seem to understand what government is about. Very embarrassing.
Just for that I will be sending a modest contribution to this church.
Yes, they help the community, but separation of church and state will always keep people honest!
“Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state,' therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.”
― Thomas Jefferson
The key phrase in that qoute is "state support of an established religion". Here is another from his famous letter of January 1 1802:
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
As the third president of the United States of a recently formed country having freed themselves of English rule, he was in fact refering to the government establshment of a State religion such as the Church of England. As well as the more extreme government restriction of the free exercise of religion altogether.
Me too, CNS can you please find out and post some information on where to send a donation to? P.O. Box number and name to write a cheque to please.
GT voter
You can send donation to "Hillside Chapel" P.O. Box 94, Cayman Brac KY2-2001 – thank you for generosity.
This Nation Building fund absolutely has to be abolished. It is clearly a corrupt entity run by the former premier. My wife's best friend got a whole bunch of money from it for her child's education although she ALSO got the Education Ministry funds for study overseas. But she is a Mac supporter so…………………
So supporters of Mac should be abolished too? Well, it's not like people like you haven't tried. But as Juliana always say, "The more you keep hitting us from behind, that proves that we're always in front of you".
Nope. That is not the reason at all. The reason we keep hitting you from behind is for purely physiological: we are trying to inflict brain injury and your behinds are the correct target for that.
Nope, it just proves that that is the biggest target.
And what is your point, Civil Servant poster?
If the child got from the Education Scholarship, then the child was qualified for aid. The Education Scholarship doesn't cover near what children need to go to college these days. I don't object to this child getting more assistance because I have two children in college and it is very expensive. They got scholarships but not anything out of the Nation Building Fund. We didn't apply for it.
Not enough if you send them to Colleges in the USA but it is enough if you send them to universities in the UK. My child is there now and the scholarship covers fees and living expenses (just) but not travel. Whoever said parents weren't supposed to contribute to their childrens' education costs. That is one of our problems in Cayman. The freeness mentality, "government must pay".
Proud of you Rev Scott…that IS exactly what Jesus would have done.
No it is not. Jesus would not have asked in the first place.
That's right, Jesus was very much aware of who HIS source was.
Who says that the church asked for the money in the first place?
Read the story not only the comments please.
@20.33 – it was the church who made the application and followed up. It was not until actually being granted did they decide to return the funds.
In response to all of the comments that have been posted I feel obligated to make acomment also.
First I would like to aplaud my good long time friend and former collegue (Immigration)from the Brac for his consideration in giving back the money to the government. I am a civil servant and it bothers me some time to hear about this nation building fund which in my opinion is keeping the country broke. I would offer a very worthy and humble suggestion in regard to the every increasing numbers of sectarians that have sprung up among us, that the Government start licensing them just like they do the bars. I am a christian and my reason for saying this is that we got too many churches and not enough members to congregate and bear the expenses of the church. Never in my life I heard of the WORD OF GOD AND THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST became a liability of the Government. One would think that the government would be better off because of the churches……., No the governmen is broke, and continues to pull from the civil servants salaries to give robust grant to the churches. Really and truly, who is the Cayman Islands belongs to? the people of the Cayman Islands, not the church buildings which appears to be build only for the sake of receiving grants. Church buildings must be managed in a way that the members can afford. The church is the body of Christ, which means that we the christians are suppose to be the church. The buildings are only, a place to fulfil the teachings of the bible, when it says that we must assemble ourselves together, hence the reason for thebuilding. Christians should live within their means and keep the buildings within their means. Why build a building you cant affort to keep or maintain. christians should live modest and reserve lives. Take my advice and start licenising these buildings and weed out all of the new one and the originals will have more people to up keep them.The Government will have less to give grants to.
Bravo. A statement in favour of political integrity. Now let us see the other churches act in the same manner.
now there's a church that I'd consider attending
So…. if delaying a proposed payment to a church until after nomination day is not vote buying – what is?
Finally….. one minister with integrity.
This is certainly something to celebrate, but what we don’t know is how many other churches have turned down the offer for gov funds. I can say for a fact that my church, one of the largest congregations on the island, would not even entertain the idea.
Good point.
BRAVO!
Still honest people in our community BRAVO