Statement to the Legislative Assembly – May 2014 By: Honourable Osbourne V. Bodden, JP (Minister for Health, Sports, Youth & Culture)

Re: Exceptional Circumstance Appropriation Change

Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bring to the attention of this Honourable House the details of the Exceptional Circumstance Appropriation Change approved by Cabinet on 15^th May, 2014 in reference to Cabinet Paper 468/14.

Madam Speaker the request for Cabinet Approval was made and granted under Section 11(5) of the Public Finance and Management Law (2013 Revision) for the reallocation of funds from EI 23 to EI 53 and from NGS 47 to TP 53.

The reallocation of funds within the 2013-2014 budget was made, Madam Speaker, to meet certain costs associated with the George Town landfill and to support the Junior Batabano event. The Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth & Culture sought advice from the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development. Madam Speaker the advice relayed was that there will be no impact on the Government’s forecast financial position to 30th June 2014 as the reallocation of funds are corresponding and of equal amounts.

Madam Speaker, an allocation of $240,000.00 was made to the Cayman Islands National Museum under EI 23 to go toward securing a facility to house the Museum’s support function and its collection of artefacts. Due to current conditions and incidents of fire at the landfill, of which this Honourable House is aware, Madam Speaker, a decision to reprioritise this funding was made by the Ministry of Health, Sports, Youth & Culture. Madam Speaker these funds were therefore reallocated from EI 23 to EI 53 for use at the George Town landfill.

Madam Speaker, an allocation of $10,426.00 was made to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce under budget head NGS 47 for the Mentoring Cayman Programme. The Chamber of Commerce indicated that they will not conduct this programme this year as expected. Madam Speaker, the Ministry responsible for Culture has supported the Cayman Carnival Batabano for many years, for the Junior Batabano event. This support has been reduced over the years from $20,000.00 in 2011/2012 to $15,000.00 last year, Madam Speaker. The funds for support are usually taken from TP 53 “Other Youth, Sports and Cultural Programme Assistance”. However, Madam Speaker, funds remaining under this budget head were insufficient to meet the Ministry objective of ensuring that this cultural event for our young people can occur. These funds, Madam Speaker, were therefore transferred from NGS 47 to TP 53, in order to support Junior Batabano.

Thank you Madam Speaker.