Henry Bellingham, UK Minister for Overseas Territories, said he had many concerns over the George Town cruise facilities.

During Mr. Bellingham’s visit last week he said, “There are concerns on a number of issues, including procurement and the major projects. I believe it’s vital that such important projects be procured in-line with international best practice to ensure value for money. I have concerns over procurement of the cruise ship terminal project, which I have raised with the premier. I have made it very clear to him, for me to be able to support the project, it must be in line with international best practice.

“I am seeking reassurance of how the premier will achieve this. The financial framework agreement, which the premier signed last year, went further than the issue of public spending. It is also about good governance across the whole of the public sector and procurement. The Cayman people needed to have confidence in the procurement process.”

MLA Ellio Solomon, who is leading the negotiations with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) – the company Government have slated to construct the cruise facility against much controversy, said on a local radio talk show last week, he was confident construction would start in September

The biggest piece of controversy is CHEC were not part of the original tendering process that Government initiated when they came to power in 2009. DECCO, part of the Dart group of companies were the lowest bidder but talks collapsed over the period of time DECCO wanted for the upland development area revenues they would be keeping. They said they had to have this in order to recoup their investment.

MLA, Cline Glidden, who was the government’s lead negotiator then commenced talks with Italian based company GLF Construction along with Royal Construction who was to be their local partner. An agreement with them seemed to have been reached but then came the astonishing news that Premier McKeeva Bush, without Mr. Glidden’s knowledge nor the Port Authority Board who were part of the negotiations, announced he was terminating the talks as he believed GLF did not have the necessary financial resources. He said negotiations would now take place with CHEC.

Some members of the Port Authority Board resigned and Mr. Glidden was removed as the lead negotiator and Mr. Solomon was appointed by the premier in his place.

However, this does not fit in with the UK’s definition of international procurement best practices and one can only wonder how the premier can continue with his present negotiations with a company that was not part of the original tendering process.

Like a number of things that were supposed to be happening and even started, we will have to wait and see what happens.

But, if this project disappears the premier can blame it on the UK and the opposition.

See today’s Editorial on the same subject