Our darling of the Cayman Islands Government, Tara Rivers, Minister for Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, went, according to some reports, AWOL (Absent without leave), or rather AWMK (Absent without media knowledge).

Ms. Rivers was known to be in South Africa but the media was kept in the dark as to why, what and who?

Last Friday all was revealed when a statement from the Premier’s Office said:

“CPA government Minister Rivers is attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Annual Conference, including the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian meeting as the official delegate representing the government.

“This is an annual conference that the Cayman Islands branch of the CPA sends delegates to every year – one from the Government, one from the opposition. She was invited to attend the CPA regional conference earlier (in July) but was not able to attend that one, so the opportunity arose to attend this one, as the official delegate.

“The cost of the trip, as all such CPA conferences is taken care of by the CPA. She intends to issue a press release covering the trip upon her return.”

One can only wonder as to why we were all kept in the dark but it made for some speculation.

Of course we all want to know in these hard times of austerity who really is paying for the trip, especially as Cayman’s official CPA representative, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly was also in Johannesburg for the conference. She, however, returned early so as to be back in Cayman for last Friday’s swearing in ceremony for new Governor, Helen Kilpatrick.

Yes, we know the CPA is paying but do we pay anything into the local CPA coffers?

According to our ex-premier McKeeva Bush, who now would not do any mischief making, and now in opposition is also now talking to CNS, told them “funds given to the local CPA come from the public purse”.

The question is how much?

“CNS has contacted the relevant government authorities to make a Freedom of Information request for the cost to local coffers for the Cayman delegation’s Africa trip.”

Thank you CNS. Once again – all will be revealed.