Premier gives cash towards costly primary school trip
(CNS): Year 6 students from John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay received a cheque for a $1000 from the premier’s office recently to help cover some of the expenses for their school trip next month to Washington DC. The trip had caused some controversy among parents earlier in the year as a result of the $2,700 price tag per child, which was beyond the pockets of most of the parents of the 90 students invited. It was later reduced to around $2,300, when the trip was cut from seven to five days and after teachers agreed to pay their own costs.
According to the premier’s officer, 21 children are now confirmed on the excursion to the US capital, which was described by the education department as providing “first hand learning opportunities” in the “political capital of the Western Hemisphere".
The premier agreed and said he was happy to be able to help the young people expand their minds. While in Washington, the students will stand where Martin Luther King made his pivotal speech, go to the Holocaust Museum and tour the Vietnam Memorial as well as participate in other activities.
“They are going to an area that is steeped in history and I hope they have a good experience and learn much,” Alden McLaughlin said.
Since the trip was confirmed, the Year 6 students from the school have also engaged in fundraisers to help offset the pricy tickets.
See related story on CNS:
Category: Local News
On United Airlines 1495 / 1427 from GCM to Washington, DC (1 stop) on Tues 1 July to Wed 9 July 2014 (7 days), staying at the Hampton Inn near Dulles Airport, the cost for hotel and airfare is USD910 per person, or KYD750 – so that's flight and hotel taken care of.
2300 less 750 = 1550, divided by 5 days = 310 per diem, why is it that amount?
Who was adult in charge of making arrangments for trip?
who were the funds made payable to?
Public funds = public disclosure
Even worse, I based by costs on a 7 night stay, not five. So it is even less from any US based travel provider. Why charge our kids 2300 CI for a $1300 expense??
price include transport, entry fees, hotel food etc the price is actually really cheap, as usual the media does not state all the facts!
To add in the mix, no one has asked or mentioned the fact that any excursion outside of school must meet all the requirements stated in the Ministry's Excursion policy which in this case has driven the cost up as the trip is being managed by an accepted international organization for which permission has been granted. If the participants were to travel on their own the cost would be less.
THE COST IS NOT CHEAP!!
My daughter went to Orlando on a 5 day trip (LAST WEEK) with her music school to Disney.
COST = CI $900
Yes. for 5 days including EVEYTHING: airfare, hotel, transportation, ALL food, entrance to Disney and Hollywood Studios.
Let's add $300 more to cost of airfareto DC.
The cost of the trip for the year 6 kids is a damn joke!!!!
Easy target.
This still begs the question…why does this trip cost $2300 CI which is approx. $2800 US? I went on several travel sites, and could book this trip for under $700 in a 2 star hotel, or $950 in a 4 star deluxe hotel, both with airfare and sll taxes Even alloiwing for $100 per child, per day for food and transportation, which is silly high, that is $1400 to $1650. There are zero admission fees for all USG attractions, such as the Smithsonian. Either there is gross incompetence or out right theft for this trip to cost $2300 for a week. Who benefited? Not the people of Cayman, not the kids.
What happened with the monies that they have collect from the student lunches. This is the reason that they are able to do their own lunches at the school so that they can use the monies as a fundraiser????
THE PREMIER SHoUlD BE ASHAME OF HIMSELF
One thousand dollars give me a break. They spend millions of our dollars on cocktail parties and Governors house receptions and that’s all he could give these children. WHAT A SHAME!!!
$1000 is better than nothing
The Government should not be donating anything! Absolutely nothing.
Since Mackeever spent $10 million on travel, it is only fitting that the opposition Leader hand over some of his big monthly salary and pension-doubledip… i mean, isn't this HIS district?
So what happened to the rest of the schools where the parents were struggling?????
Steeped in history?
Your having a laugh.
Cayman was discovered before the good old US of A.
If you want history go to Mexico or other central American places or even DR or Cuba.
The only history America has is one o drugs, violence and aggression.
Why are they learning about US history when we live in a UK territory?
Because the US is the most powerful and diverse country in the world. We lead the world in everything and we can turn off your economy in an instant, so respect the real mother country.
It's geography dude. We are located much closer to U.S soil than Mother England. It isn't about America being the biggest and baddest country, far from it actually. America is the biggest consumer country, fact. And di you say America is "diverse". LOL Try Europe.
Europe isn't a country
Even better China can turn off yours, including your electricity and many other things with the press of a few computer keys.
And you wonder why the world hates Americans?
Nope, don't wonder that at all
17:05, I wonder what your friend Putin would say about that.
Why they learning about the US , let me tell you why, because Britsin no longer rules the waves, and we would starve if we had to wait to buy food from all the way over de. And another Ting.
Speaking of drus and violence, Cayman isn't doing too bad! All you hear about are the drug problems, shootings, robberies and more crimes!!! Wake up and get your head out of the sand!
And get the sand out of your butt.
You sound jealous. Are you jealous? Here, have some world leadership and opportunity. There ya go. Better?
World leadership by starting wars, killing people, GM food, supporting right wing dictators, poluting the world, rubish TV, boring sport, the list goes on.
Diplomacy at it's best
The only reason the U.S.A go to war is to teach their students Geography!
I don’t object to D.C. as a destination. There are so many cool things to see there, and almost all attractions are free. Just seeing the holocaust museum alone is worth the trip. BUT…we shouldn’t overpay because it excludes children, is a waste of resources, and just plain stupid.