“I simply reported what I understood from the briefing I received from the ministry responsible. I was not in any of the meetings. If I was mistaken in naming Davenport, then I apologise.”
Premier Alden McLaughlin
(CMR) Premier Alden McLaughlin issued a statement this afternoon admitting that a comment he made at Monday's Chamber Candidates Forum may have been a mistake. The question was in response to the hot button election question of traffic management for the eastern districts.
The half-hearted apology comes after Davenport Developers issued their own statement yesterday stating that the Premier's comments that they had just come to some agreement about an access road passing close to their Grand Harbour property is “a lie”.
McLaughlin's release claims that he was not really privy to the information first hand but instead had relied upon a “briefing I received from the ministry responsible”. He now claims that may have been mistaken in naming Davenport Development as being a party to the agreement. He mentioned the company's name on multiple occasions in relation to the matter.
Davenport responded with a swift and direct response on Tuesday sharing their disappointment. The developers have shared that as a result of his comments:
“Our clients have been upset and calling since this broadcast, questioning Davenport's integrity since we communicated the Government's earlier position. They purchased and have been misled by the words of the Unity Government that we passed on to them.”
Speaking to CMR Paul Pearson shared that they are prepared to legally challenge the government if comes to that. He explained that the vast majority of his purchasers are people who live and work in the Cayman Islands and it is a shame that they have been misled on this.
McLaughlin goes on to state that he was disappointed in the developer's response but that the road matter will be resolved and the road is imminent noting that “The ministry staff is working on finalising the terms of the agreement before the roadway is gazetted.”
He goes further to note that he was advised that “the approval of Davenport is NOT required as they do not own the property or the Grand Harbour Road” a point that Davenport also noted in their letter. However, Davenport shared with CMR that the owner of Grand Harbour has also not entered into any agreement with them nor has she been notified of this latest development.
McLaughlin's opponent in the April 14 election, Samuel Jackson, pointed out that this is not the only lie that the Premier told during the debate. Jackson join the Cold Hard Truth this morning to discuss his ongoing concerns about the direction the country is traversing under the leadership of any Progressives led government:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
