We’ll give up fees, says Mac
(CNS): Although the government will not be borrowing money or guaranteeing any loans for the development of cruise berthing facilities in George Town, the premier has acknowledged that it will be giving up passenger fees in order to pay for it. Following the expiration this weekend of the extended MOU with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), McKeeva Bush said there were still things to consider about the deal before he signed the major definitive agreement with the Beijing-based firm. He also said that negotiations about the share of profits in time and the opportunity for investment in the upland element were still not finalised but the development could start in September.
“We want to make sure that we are doing the right thing before we sign this agreement,” he told Cayman27 news on Monday. “We believe that we have the best partner in China Harbour but we have to make certain."
Speaking to the local TV station via phone from Houston, Texas, where Bush is on his latest trip, reportedly meeting with representatives from a major oil company, he indicated that government still had to discuss some key elements of the proposed cruise port development, which could take a few months.
“While we are not required to sign a guarantee and while we are not borrowing, we still have to give up the passenger fees that we get to be able to pay for this new dock and various processes have to completed,” he said. The premier did not indicate exactly how much of the fees currently collected by the Treasury would now go to the developer or how much the fees would be increased.
Bush signed the first MOU with the Chinese firm some ten months ago after pulling out of talks with the then potential partner GLF construction in April last year. Speculation that his decision had cost the public purse a significant sum was confirmed in Finance Committee recently when legislators appropriated over CI$2 milllion to settle the legal dispute with the firm outside of court.
Government then entered into new talks with CHEC and signed an MOU in June. When that expired it extended the negotiation period to the end of March. Since government entered into those talks with the Chinese, the project has grown significantly from the original two finger piers, one of which would accommodate the new mega ships with basic upland facilities, to a major upland retail development covering some 100,000sq ft. It includes two larger finger piers as well as a pier in West Bay at the Turtle Farm, the renovation of Spotts Jetty for poor weather and possible facilities on Cayman Brac.
Retailers in George Town, the Cayman Contractors Association, the political opposition, several of the sea captains and water sports operators, as well as numerous local environmental activists have all raised concerns about the growing size and cost of the project as well as the choice of partner. Despite widespread support for the need for cruise berthing facilities and what could have been government’s most supported proposal, the project is becoming increasingly controversial.
Listen to the premier’s call with Cayman 27 here.
Category: Politics
A genius he's NOT…Unfortunartely not even a business mind. Oh, on the other hand, mind, did I say?? oops!
Another 2 million $$??? When does this man ever stop? Can't he see oue islands are broke??
How can the contract not be complete, yet they may start work in September? Am I to presume all the 'blasting equipment' is already on hand? Smells fishy & like we ccant geet outa this one!.
Good point about the future of cruise ships…& you know they (the shipping lines) will have the upper hand on controlling port fee increases! They will threaten to 'pull out' anytime there is a proposal of fees hike and with mac's financial obligations (for how long?) dumped on us, I figure we will THEN have to pay income tax/property tax in order for our government too pay the Chinese!
Does anyone know how the addition of the extra piers and WB Pier, Spotts renovations/pier will impact the overall cost of the project? Ever seen a shopping frenzy??? The man is outa control…now you believe me?? Sure we don't need a football stadium while we're spending??
Has anyone bothered to ask if it is possible for the Chinese to sell their Cruise Pier to a third party like Dart?. If so this would give Dart control of the port and the major shopping area of GT. Stranger things have happened.
We need a detailed explanation NOW, before the deal is sealed about how the Chinese were discovered and who brought them in at the exclusion of GLF. No one is volunteering this information so it must be pretty juicy.
I believe Dart has been very successful buying a country's debt for pennies on the dollar, and then collecting the full amount. Ask anyone in Argentina.
The deal is dead!
Listening to the Panel on Cayman 27 last night, a feeling of nauseau descended while watching Elio's evasion of questions and crude attempts to spin and distract from the real issues. Capt. Bryan asked what the grey area of 130,000 sq. ft. was to be used for. Elio went off on a tangent before finally saying only 50,000 sq. ft. would be retail facilities (as if that is still not too much). He failed to answer what the other 80,000 would be for. Well, word on the marl road is that a casino is being planned there, and until the Government comes out and confirm what is being planned, speculation will continue. I wonder how the cruise lines would feel about that, if this is true. The CCA member expressed concern about the sheer size and impact of the project, whether the EIA will be made public, and what written guarantees would be given that labor rates would be in line with standard rates paid by CCA members, and materials would be purchased locally. Elio said he promised this was being taking into consideration. Again evading the question about written guarantees from CHEC. Capt. Bryan noted politicians are masters at breaking promises. He asked why he had to leak to the public what the Chinese drawings were, and why Government had not revealed it nor updated the public and seek input from the people paying their salaries. He asked why the largest project in the islands history was being negotiated in secret. Ms. Sulliman asked Elio at least 3 times, how CHEC got here, who introduced them here, and how negotiations commenced with them, as they were not among the original bidders who responded to the Port Authority's invitation for expressions of interest and did not go through the vetting / review process of the technical team appointed to select the winner. She noted they suddenly appeared later with no explanation as to how they got here, and it was this lack of transparency, plus Government's having to settle with GLF to the tune of $2.5M in the face of legal action, that this was what had caused Caymanians to get stirred up. Elio in typical fashion, evaded her question before finally saying she could ask the Premier, but he did feel the Premier was doing it in Cayman's best interests. For a person who is supposed to be spokesman plus project leader, he sure seems to lack relevant details to share. And this is the person they have spearheading the negotiations with those who are masters at fine prints and at reneging on contract terms. God help us all.
His oft repeated comment is that certain matters cannot yet be revealed publicly as details are still developing and subject to modifications and certain matters have to be kept confidential until they had worked out the details to a point where they deem it is ready for release. I would suggest to him that Government is going about this the wrong way. You don't come up with a plan that certain politicians and the Chinese feel is acceptable to THEM, and then expect the public to accept it whatever it is you are planning. Rather, you consult with the merchants, the businesses, the environmentalists, the contractors, in short, the people who live and work here and pay their Government representatives salaries, and figure out what THEY require to meet THEIR needs, and develop a plan around that. If you had done that, the message would have been loud and clear, 2 simple finger piers for berthing, and minimal retail to compete with existing businesses. As Captain Bryan said, "cut the cloth to fit the country's needs", not the other way around. In times of financial austerity, we should be looking for less costly projects, not moreexpensive ones, and ensure we remain competitive in the marketplace as a tourism destination. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. Only Politicians try to complicate things.
Makes you wonder who they are really building this port project for, is it to benefit the cruise lines, those of us who live and work here and existing local businesses who have been taking a really hard hit lately with reduced arrivals, or is it to benefit their newly found Chinese buddies and a few selected chosen elite Caymanians who will be allowed to front the Chinese' businesses? We keep hearing how Caymanians will have opportunity to buy into new businesses – but if you read the fine print, it is fully at the discretion of the Chinese. So you tell me, who are we really building for again? Can somone also tell us, what happens to the GT landlords, who will lose tenants that will be forced to move to the Chinese facility in order to stay in business and compete for the passenger dollars? And once they move, what happens to those vacated spaces in George Town? Will those tenants even be allowed to break the lease contracts early without penalty? Has anyone done any impact surveys to see how this whole thing will affect existing local businesses? I think I know the answer to that one – a resounding NO!
Why Mac did you abandon the cruise berthing plans that The Chuckster had in place? He wasn't proposing to give up any government revenue. Why are you doing so Mac ? Who is benefiting ? If you had stayed with the Chuckster's plan we would be enjoying the benefits of the berthing facilities today and wouldn't be shuttering up stores and restaurants in GT.
The people who can only say negative things about our Premier had better pray for forgiveness for their mean-spirited and godless ways! Our Premier has done more for our islands that anyone else in history and should also be praised and respected for his Christian deeds. Where would Cayman be without our McKeeva Bush? No where I can tell you!
Hilarious – keep up the posts – it is like having a comic strip on CNS.
The Cayman Islands would certainly not be in the news so much if it were not for the Premier and I don't mean that as a compliment either. Every time that man opens his mouth the world wonders how he is the Premier and where did we get him from. They look at us and wonder "Is this the best your island has to offer to represent you on the world stage?" Constantly making reference to "for uneducated boy from West Bay who used to sleep on plaintain trash" is not cute or endearing to the world. He continues to make the Cayman Islands look like it is filled with idiots!
But from your post, looks like he managed to fool you so we know he has at least one person who believes in him.
That's definitely better than where we are WITH him.
This UDP Govt. (Mac) just will not listen to reason…incompetence galore!
GLF would have been well on the way to Pier completion…at half the cost.
This man never misses an oppertunity to shaft this country. Can we get a fund together and send him out of our country until the next election? I'm sick of this.
Can someone tell me what it means for us if 10 years down the road the cruise ships decide to stop coming here so that there is minimal revenue coming from the cruise port. Is CHEC undertaking this risk or will taxpayers have to bear the cost of paying off CHEC?
What it means is that China will then have a nice little Military/Navy base!
Good question. I wonder if the Premier has even considered things like this. He is quick to tell the public that the Cayman Islands is not paying for it but there is no such thing as a "free lunch" my mama always tell me it may appear to you to be free but someone is paying for it.
A company such as these Chinese people are not in this project out of the goodness of their hearts to help the Cayman Islands get a berthing facility. They are in it for the money and if the deal is for them to get that money from passenger fees surely they must have some clause in the agreement in the event that this revenue is not realized.
I am getting a bad feeling about this whole thing. I am just seeing years from now the Government being sued again and another foreign company basically besieging the public coffers and then laughing all the way to the bank because we have someone stupid at the helm of our ship!
Ellio, if you are going to be the official Government spokesperson, educate yourself (and I don't mean taking a few college courses and claiming that you have a degree) I mean educate yourself on the issues at hand, investigate the pros and the cons and then make a knowledgable decision. Don't just get up there and do the same UDP song and dance for the people. It just makes you look stupid, it makes you look as though you do not think for yourself.
You cannot answer some very basic questions intelligently. You think that you can someone avoid them and the public is not going to notice as long as you spout off some other nonsense or maybe you think by being evasive it makes you look more important like you are a part of some covert operation that cannot be revealed. Spending of the taxpayers money is no covert operation. Telling the public they are not paying for it but doing a project that is going to affect them for the rest of their lives, their children lives and future generations is not a covert operation.
Devil's always in the details!
“We want to make sure that we are doing the right thing before we sign this agreement,” Bush said.
Well it is obvious from his past mistakes that Bush is not a "detail man." So acting in his capacity as "Premier by Default" (win one elected office and get promoted to the other) he has appointed one of his underlings (call this fellow a "scapegoat") to represent the country in negotiations and if they, too, fail–like so many others have–well, "twasn't my fault" the Premier will say.
And just what are the qualifications of this chief negotiator? Is he a qualified and certified civil engineer? Is he a developer with hundreds of successful projects behind him? Is he an architect? Is he a skilled and long-practicing corporate lawyer? Or is he just another political hack subject tothe whims and fancies of his boss?
No matter what the answer or the outcome, Cayman is going to pay, Pay and PAY.
"What a Maroon", as Bugs Bunny often said. I keep following this story thinking after each new development "it can't get any worse", but then it does. How can the people of Cayman let this continue?
Bush is just doing what he has always done best. But he is the best (premeir) that Caymanians have. Ergo: The nation is as "built" as its ever going to be. Look at the bright side. At least you don't have half a pier that you owe money for.
Bush is the only premier that we have ever had but he is very far from reflecting our brightest and best for the job.
Can you prove it with facts?
The man (Mac) gives us proof every day!
Just read the news every day. My 9 year old could do better.
Thats your facts? Explains a lot.
Yes, it does. It says I am well informed. Take your head out of the sand.
The nation is a "built" as its ever going to be? Does that mean no more two million dollar donations to my favorite church?
Gulp! You mean is isn't gonna be free?
Looks like Cayman is about to become China's newest BI#%H!
So here we are 1 year later, after the last developer was swiftly fired by Government for what appears to be no valid reason based on the info reported in the press and after forking out some $2.5M of money to settle to thwart off a full-blown lawsuit in court, we are now being told that the CHEC deal which was previously extended from a deadline in Nov 2011 to a new deadline of March 31st, 2012, now has to be extended YET AGAIN? And Government HOPES to finalize things so that work can start by September IF ALL GOES WELL? And come September, will there be yet more excuses as to things that need finalizing and further extensions entertained by Government? So to sum it up, it has taken some 1 1/2 years (to September) to finalize details? By now the last developer, who only took 4 months to finalize their proposal and who had "checked all the boxes" according to the Port Authority Board and the Port Board's own lawyer, would have been some 10 months into construction and the first pier would probably have been functional later this year. Instead, at the fine rate this new developer is going, we will be lucky if we have even 1 pier functional anytime before the end of 2014. Great going, esteemed Government Leaders. You certainly have chosen "the right partner" – NOT. I hope the downtown merchants will be very forgiving when election time rolls around in May 2013.
What on earth is he doing in Houston?
Refinery?
Planes with first class seats go there – that is enough.
Isn't Texas where all the cowboys are.
houston…..you have a problem
Wasn't this trip to Texas related to ship-to-ship oil transfer in Cayman Brac?
What a sell-out !
If China Harbour are going to take all the revenue from the cruise ship berth, it will not be Cayman's cruiseship berth, it will be China Harbour's….the property and profits.
What are you Caymanians doing to yourselves !?
Have you all gone totally insane !????
And when the ships stop coming they can use it for their navy…..
ah I can see the headlines now: Cayman Missle Crisis! …… we'll be famous!
Typical Govt BS.
I don't know much about anything. But, I heard a long time ago that "less is more". My advice to Mac would be this: Give it up. Give up the notion of building a cruise berthing facility, especially the deal with CHEC!! I have to agree with what Ezzard said this morning on Rooster – invest in safer and more comfortable tenders and concentrate in making the on-shore experience more pleasant and enjoyable for the cruise visitors – we can do that, in town and in Spotts, with local contractors, at lesser cost, and the $$ stay in Cayman.
Consider what we really need and what we can afford – we definitely cannot afford to do business with CHEC!!
Greed, greed, greed is the only thing that has stopped this dock for over a decade!
Wake up people (and politicians) WHEN is the last time you went on a cruise? These massive floating hotels now offer everything from duty free shopping to gambling to pre-booked shore excursions….there is nothing left for ANY retail business other than a local T-Shirt so please STOP trying to "divide up the profits" and build a simple long cement pier!!! **That is ALL the cruise companies WANT.*** and without the huge infrastructure planned, a pier with water flow underneath will not impact the sand, sea, or environment.
Do you REALLY want to make Grand Cayman the best destination? The "different and most friendly" Caribbean stop on the cruise? Then enforce the taxi ranks not to rip off the passengers, don't build 200,000 sq ft of retail shops, and make a nice park in the middle of town where people can sit under a nice shade tree and soak up a little local culture.
I tell cruisers to go to the national museum, walk the waterfront, and take a local cheap bus to the beach….that is a nice way to spend a few hours here.
STOP THE GREED and just build what the cruise companies have asked for (For over 15 years!!!) a long cement pier for the passengers to step off.
I actually wish the politicians would book a cruise (they go everywhere else, but still have NO CLUE as to what our cruise competition looks like or really how to set ourselves apart to BE BETTER- not the same…) sooooo Big Mac, take your cronies and go to Cozumel, see the simple pier and easy tours….and just GET ON WITH IT AND STOP TRYING TO BUILD AN EMPIRE OF GREED in a tiny cruise ship port. We see through your plans and dissaprove.
We'll give up Mac, says Feepayers.
Dear KPMG: I AM WATCHING YOU.
I sincereley hope your independent report on the proposed deal for a cruise pier with CHEC is not lacking in the area of lost Government revenue. I am talking about the money Government currently revceives from the cruise industry and uses to run this country. From paying Civil Servants to new buidling projects and paying down debt, we rely greatly on this revenue. Since it will now be going to the Chinese to pay for the pier, we will have an obvious shortfall of funds for our treasury. We have already reached our spending limit as a country and are past our limit in debt. Your report MUST show the diversion of revenue from Government to the Chinese in order to pay for this dock. Yes, it will employ a few for a short time but we will be paying back the Chinese for decades. This will lead to less public spending and maybe higher taxes and fees on an already over burdened and too expensive place to live.
You know better than most that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The someone who will pay for this deal is we the people and we don't have the money.
Generations of Caymanians will suffer for this. You will retire after this term and leave us with a smirk but dont worry you have one man to answer too!
We just need this silly stupid government out of office…FOREVER!!!
Whats he doing, speaking with "oil" executives?
Hope BT ain't gonna get a oil refinery to go with their new dump!!!
Nothing like the fresh smell of sulphur in the morning…
If it's even necessary, the Cayman Islands should ask the key stakeholders finance their own modest one finger pier rather than embarking on yet another concrete freakshow which gives up the goose for decades. Will there even be cruise ships 50 years from now? Get Kirk Freeport, the Jewellers/Perfumeries/liquor stores, Royal Caribbean and FCCA and CLIA to pay for their own pier and take that risk – they are the ones that will benefit from those herds, not me, nor the CI gov't!
The UDP is not letting us know up-front what the true position is. If there is going to be a shortfall of Government revenues in order to compensate CHEC for their costs, all we are really doing is amortizing the payment to CHEC over a number of years (I believe it was 50 years). While we all agree that there needs to be a priority placed on getting this job done, we cannot throw common sense and good judgment out the window. We may end up with a huge facility that offers no benefit to Cayman, and may only benefit CHEC.
What does this mean?
1. Government is speculating that the construction of the piers will result in increased cruise ship traffic and that the increased numbers will result in a greater trickle-down effect for local businesses. What statistical analysis and projections do we have to support this claim?
2. The upland development (owned by CHEC) will feature many retail spaces and vendors will be forced to move into those spaces with CHEC as their landlord. We do not yet know what the level of rent will be, and whether or not any controls have been negotiated by the UDP to protect our local merchants from extortionate rent, and whether or not local businesses will be given priority.
3. Government has entered into these discussions ahead of the proposal being finalized and the appointed financial experts assessment. How can they assess the agreement if it is still not final? It seems to me that this is a lot of smoke and mirrors and we are more than just a few months away from this becoming a reality.
4. If Government is giving up fees and indirectly paying for the piers (or a portion) this will directly impact Government revenues, and contrary to Mr Bush’s suggestion that we are getting this dock for free, it appears as if we will indeed be paying for the dock.
We have not heard any suggestion on how the UDP plans to make up the shortfall of revenues, and we are left to assume that other fees will be increased to compensate, further driving up the level of inflation and as a result hurting the general public’s pocket.
5. There is still no final architectural plan, and it seems as if CHEC will be given full license to construct something of their own design once it meets their budget and capability. this is concerning because they do not represent the people of the Cayman Islands in any form and their idea of a beautiful facility could very well be considered a monstrosity for many of us.
6. Ellio Solomon said he was negotiating on our behalf, what has he secured besides a promise that the construction workers will be compelled to live and eat "local", that is short-term and hardly anything to write home about!
7. Cline Glidden opposed giving this deal to CHEC, can the public have some information with regard to his direct opposition? Why did he think it was not a good deal?
This whole deal needs full disclosure and transparency and it seems all we have received so far is smoke and mirrors.
Typical short terms thinking that mortgages our children's futures. We need statesmen/women that will guide the country to living within its means.
Honestly, I cannot understand why we are using a foreign firm to build this supposedly necessary new berthing facility in Cayman. Also, why on earth would such be constructed in George Town or Spotts? Building it in these places can disrupt well known and beautiful dive sites, traffic will remain to be terrible (if not worse), business will still be lost when bad weather is around as the South of the island is most often the side which feels the brunt of nor'westers/easters etc. Oh and it will cost an arm and a leg using a foreign company (in this case CHEC, which a simple google search will show these "cowboys" cannot be trusted).
Why not make things simple and use this option:
http://www.caymancruiseport.com/
I've read through this website thoroughly and, if government are insistent that a new facility be built/constructed, then wouldn't it make sense to do so in Red Bay and give the work to locals and not have such a massive financial impact on our already exhausted deficit!! Just saying…
Give up landing fees AND let them build all that retail space! So the government loses money it can't afford to lose AND George Town's stores are forced out of business and the Chinese get all the rents. How can this be a goodthing?
Is there anyone running in the next election who understands income versus expenes and is willing to reduce our expenses? You know, like run an efficient business. We have the best tax model in the world. Can we not keep it through prudence? Its also our ONE competitive advantage over other countries. We lose this and we are just another third world island in the Caribbean – GUARANTEED. Again, is there anyone willing to step up to the plate?
And and I will soon have the opportunity to shae your hand!
It looks like thats a NO on your first question and a definate yes to the third world status.
Yes well.. I admit that for 50 years we will give the Chinese all of the fees that we now receive, and then we will need to increase fees to the residents on everything, so that we can cover the infrastructure costs involved with supporting the cruise business…
Also I admit that the local residents might go out of business when the Chinese build the 100,000 sq ft shopping center…
Also I admit that had I continued the arrangements that the past Govt had in place in 2009, the Port would have long been completed now, at 1/3 the costs of today… And either Dart or GLF would have had the dock almost complete by now too…
But I just love to travel… and China is such a beautiful country…
And since I am admitting everything – about that Stan Thomas letter..
Oh well… I better just hold off on that one until Baines can figure out what the hell he is doing with that investigation…
Just this past week-end as my family was discussing all that is going on -or not going on I said that I don't think the dock will get started before the next election andI am now almost sure of that. Finally we are hearing from the Premier what Ezzard and Rooster has been saying all along. Finally he is seeing the error of his ways. It makes me wonder though, what will the people of the Cayman Islands gain from this project if the passengers fee will go th the Chinese. It looks like the stores downtown will not get anything either, so remind me again who are we building it for. PPM /independents please get your plans in order to have to deal with this when you are elected next year. The businesses are leaving the town area – most of them are closing down. Please do not contribute to their demise by bringing in competion that no company has the capacity to deal with. Remember our "old Caymanian Families" who toiled all these years to offer quality products that the vistors enjoyed and paid for. There is no place in Cayman for more "cheap chinese souvenirs"
PROPERTY TAX or INCOME TAX….. that is the choice we are going to be left with. Not only did the Queen forbid us to borrow any more money she also insisted that the income into the coffers can not change. So if we have to give the passenger fees to the Chinese where do you think the difference has to come from ??? Yep… us (tax). If this deal goes through there will be no choice.
No man, the more I hear of this China Harbour deal with the udp Government, the more it makes me know that the GLF deal would have been a God-send!
More appropriate that passenger tax would increase significantly and that Cay would share the increase with the developers. There is room for an increase. I think the Bermuda head tax from the cruise passengers is approx 3x that of Cayman. Major difference is, that large vessels overnight in Bermuda. Such an arrangement here (overnighting) could bring massive opportunity for the transportation people, onshore nightclubs and restaurants, as passengers do like to dress up and go ashore after dark for a change from what's offered onboard. As has already occurred in Bermuda there would need be major infrastructure improvements, as envisaged with the Chinese, dare I say.
The Queen????….funny.
Actually, both property and income taxes!
The Chinese benefit and the money goes offshore…no benefit to us.
A number of local businesses will benefit from the cruiseship trade but the profits will be consumed by the imposed property and personal income taxes. A negative balance to say the least.
More money will be flowing through Cayman, but each and everyone will become the poorer for it (except, in my opinion, possibly a few well connected people).
End result, the people get screwed!
3 yrs later and there are still more questions than answers…….zzzzzzzz
the incompetence is mind boggling….
The important questions were answered three years ago. They are still being fine tuned to perfection. They have nothing whatsoever to do with how much this is going to cost the Caymanian people. That is not an important question at all.
Little bits of information are slowly prised out of your premier, there must be lots he isnt telling. As each bit of detail comes out, you are forced to wonder what else there is, how much he has promised, and lets face it, how much he personally could have been promised. Given his past record, surely this project has to be looked at in detail by the LA, if only to show that your doubts and mine are unfounded?
I'm not sure the LA is either the appropriate place to examine this mess or that the members have the necessary skills and impartiality to do so.
This is a longterm project that has potentially catastrophic economic consequences for the Cayman Islands if it goes wrong and it is being negotiated by amateurs.
It is time for the UK government to step in and put the brakes on this lunacy.
I agree with your post wholeheartedly and beg all of the Cayman Islands and anyone else who has enjoyed living here, to stop this nonsense now, before it is too late. The decisions to give our democratic country over to communists are being made by an un-educated, XXXXX Premier, a pompous, self-acclaimed negotiator and backed by an outdated attorney advising them. The Cayman Islands are in serious trouble and unless the Governor uses his Executive Power and dissolve this government, Cayman and Caymanians, as we know and love, will become extinct. Please, Mr. Governor, stop this madman (who must have been trained by Fidel Castro) from causing the demise of the Cayman Islands as we all knew and still love.
The LA cannot consider it if it never meets, and in any event given the government's majority what difference would it make? Investigation by the Auditor General maybe.