Official Opposition Calls for Transparency and Accountability Over Government's Purchase of West Bay School Property

Statement from the Official Opposition The Leader of the Official Opposition, Honourable Joey Hew has written to Her Excellency the Governor, expressing our concerns and requesting that the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the KiddieWinks Preschool be appropriately investigated.

Our correspondence seeks clarification regarding the valuation and approval processes, the safeguards applied to identify and manage any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, and whether the transaction complied with the relevant procurement requirements governing public expenditure and the acquisition of property.

These are matters of public interest. The people of the Cayman Islands are entitled to have confidence that decisions involving millions of dollars of public funds follow proper procurement processes, are made objectively, properly documented and subject to appropriate scrutiny.

We emphasise that raising these concerns does not constitute an allegation or finding of wrongdoing against any individual. Rather, it reflects the Official Opposition's constitutional responsibility to scrutinise the actions of Government and seek accountability on behalf of the people we serve.

We await Her Excellency's response and remain committed to ensuring that this matter receives the careful and impartial consideration it deserves.

Public confidence in our institutions depends not only on decisions being properly made, but also on the public being able to see that the appropriate safeguards have been followed.

Statement from HE the Governor on Kiddiewinks Purchase

Following Premier André Ebanks’ statement and the public interest in the acquisition of Kiddiewinks preschool, I wish to announce the outcome of the process which has been under way.

Notwithstanding the fact that I am not aware of any direct allegation regarding a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, the Attorney General has considered this question at the proactive request of Premier Ebanks last week.

The Attorney General has provided a full review of this issue, in light of the information available to him and with reference to the relevant sections of the Ministerial Code of Conduct and the Standards in Public Life Act.

Having considered the Attorney General’s review, I can now report that I am satisfied that there is no breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct by Premier Ebanks.