🔥 PPM refuses to take blame for ReGen project failure

The Progressive Party (PPM), now in opposition, is refusing to accept responsibility for the failure of the ReGen waste-to-energy facility deal, according to a report by the Office of the Auditor General. Deputy PPM Leader Joey Hew has instead criticised the current government's decision to abandon the project, accusing them of creating more uncertainty and risk. The report detailed a series of errors made by the PPM that led to the current administration starting exit talks. Hew has incorrectly accused the current government of causing a jump in project costs from $670 million to $2 billion, a claim not supported by the auditor's report. 📝

The auditor's report found that the increasing costs were due to numerous fundamental errors made by the PPM-led administration at the start and in the early stages of the project. Despite this, the PPM issued a press release downplaying the mistakes made during its tenure and challenging the auditor general's findings. The party failed to address the early errors that caused the problems leading to the current government questioning the affordability and value for money of the deal. This has left the Cayman Islands with a significant waste-management problem at a time of unprecedented population growth. 🏝️

Hew has demanded that the current government answer a list of questions about the project, many of which are answered in the auditor's report. He also questioned how the government plans to replace the 8% of energy that the waste-to-energy plant was expected to generate. Sustainability Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks has indicated that the government is likely to retender the project and seek a conventional contract with a waste-to-energy expert. 🌍