Five man delegation spend $19K on JMC trip
(CNS): in keeping with the PPM administration’s travel policy and commitment to transparency over expenses for overseas trips, government officials revealed that the recent trip to London by the premier and his delegation to the Overseas Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London in November cost the public purse around $19,000. Premier Alden McLaughlin, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Joint Ministerial Council “Sherpa” Jennifer Ahearn and Home Affairs Chief Officer Eric Bush all attended the annual meeting for discussions with the foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The JMC was hosted by the FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories Mark Simmonds.
The five man Cayman Islands delegation ran up a bill of just $19,316.80 for the four day trip between the 25 and 29 November. The airfares for McLaughlin, Panton, Rose and Ahearn totalled $13,316.80, while the governor’s office footed the bill for Bush’s flight. The per diem allowances for McLaughlin, Bush, Ahearn, Rose and Panton totalled $6,000.
This year the annual meeting focused on promoting the security and good governance of all the overseas territories as well as economic diversification, attracting investment, vocational education and employment.
Category: Politics
What was the benifts to the country?
Impressed… $3,800 per person for a four day trip… that would have been Big Mac's limo bill for the trip alone!
3300+ for a plane ticket to England? Ever heard of Expedia? DUH!!
Duh, that's standard price at present. Are you suggestingthey should change planes 15 times to save $1000 and arrive incapable of working on what is an already long journey. Try saying thanks for doing it very reasonably, it won't hurt, honest!
If my memory serves me correctly this is a fraction of the cost of the trip by the "lady from the Brac" and her "aide" to visit an "overseas post office" with no published benefit to the taxpayers.
Call the person by name, it was former lady Premier Julianna ("the lady from the Brac" that spent an enormous amount of taxt payers and CI Government on trips of no purpose.
Or even explanation as to what the money went on…
Well done, our previous leadership would have spent $190K. I'm particularly impressed by the $300 a day per diem, that's good going for London.
Don't know why Ms. Ahearn is referred to in this article as "Joint Ministerial Council (Sherpa)", as it makes her sounds like some political lacky. She is currently the Chief Officer in the Ministry of Health, Youth, Sports & Culture.
What's a "sherpa" and who gets to be appointed as one and what qalifications does it require?
JMC meetings only take place above 10,000 feet. No one knows why. It might be to keep the sherpas employed.
You have to be reasonably educated, able to assist the Premier, and other Ministers with the relevant information, should have good knowledge of the subjects being discussed, able to articulate well, dress appropriately for the occasion and have a great sense of humour
Yawn, no news here. They spent 1/5 what the previous government would have spent on such a trip, no big surprise. Moving on..
It is news coz if it were alot more you would be ranting about it. You must be a Bush-ite by trying to downplay the savings a change in elected Govt can bring!
Actually, quite the opposite. Anti-Bush and straight PPM, This is the norm of PPM's good governance, that's why it is a non-story. IF they had spent a lot on the trip, then it would be a story because it would be outside their MO. Interesting take on my comment, though, sorry you misinterpreted it.
PPM bloggers hard at work. Gots to love it.
Any updates on the plans to address unemployment, cost of living and increase in crime?
Sincerely
A.Caymanian
One step at a time, my fellow Caymanian. They can't fix all of UDP problems overnight..
Really now what a laugh!
We still trying fix both Goverments UDP and PPM problems and mistakes from 2002!
About time one of them try to save tax payers money!