The Editor Speaks: Stunned again
I was writing about documents that had been “discovered” by North Side MLA, Ezzard Miller, and I commented that “The ForCayman Investment Alliance that Premier, Hon. McKeeva Bush, and Dart have championed and told us about omitted the above information. Why? “
The “above information” I was talking about concerned Mr. Miller “revealing” that:
“Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd will be taking a 50% share of all tourism taxes levied from guests staying in any of its properties for the ten years following the development, renovation or acquisition of any hotel under an agreement it signed in December with government.
“If that isn’t enough, Dart and its affiliates have also been given a 100% duty concession on all materials used in the development of anything for the next 30 years!!”
So, I was stunned.
An “Anonymous” reader sent me almost immediately a reply:
“Why so stunned? All these details about rebates and duties were published in full at the time of the announcement http://www.compasscayman.com/c…”
Now I was stunned once more. I missed it. To make matters even worse I received, as did all the media houses, a press release from the Premier making the same point and more. Please see today’s lead story “Premier replies to Miller over NRA-Government-Dart Agreement comments”.
Whilst not taking back my concerns that Dart is getting “one hell of a deal regarding the 50% share of all tourism taxes staying at any of his properties” I must apologise for insinuating we were not told at the time the Agreement was made. I am not going to split hairs saying only one media house was told as I am not 100% sure on that point. The main thing is ALL the details Mr. Miller said had not been announced and had been kept back from us has been proved otherwise. And it appeared on the front page of that publication.
I am stunned that it was not only me that failed to pick this up.
In view of my poor eyesight I must implore the premier to send me at iNews all the relevant information and not to rely on important information getting released to the public by just one media house, even if it is the government’s favourite. Not everyone reads it.
Obviously, I have to apologise to the premier, in this case, for the paragraph “Transparency and open government is what the UDP, and especially ex talk show radio host, Ellio Solomon, shouted to the masses in their bid to become elected. And what have we got over the last three years plus? ANYTHING BUT!!” There was transparency here and I missed it.
So, I am most apologetically, “stunned”.