🔒 Ministry withholds study on proposed undersea cable

The planning and infrastructure ministry has disclosed some documents regarding the proposed new undersea communications cable project, the recruitment of the project team, and the CI$1.3 million contract with Cambridge Management Consultants. However, an external study, believed to be the Outline Business Case, detailing the justification for the project remains withheld. The ministry cited section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act, relating to national security, as the reason for not releasing the document. Critics argue that the entire report should not be kept from the public, given the significant taxpayer funds allocated for the proposed cable. 🌐

The external study is suspected to be the business case conducted by Grant Thornton after they secured the CI$250,000 consultant contract last March. The ministry attempted to justify the costly project in a press release in December, but did not provide any supporting evidence. This led to a freedom of information request being filed to determine the project's justification and to allow the public to assess its necessity. The government's procurement site indicates that a tender for legal support services for the project closed recently. The legal team will assist the growing number of consultants already employed to establish the new international submarine cable system for the Cayman Islands. 📑

Even before the actual construction begins, the United People’s Movement Government has already spent a significant amount on the exploratory stages of this proposed project, which was initiated under the last PPM administration. An internal review of the refusal to release the business case has been requested, with a response awaited. 💼