Good Governance

‘Conflict of interest’ concern over CUC’s renewable energy bid links – Cayman Compass

Concerns have been raised over conflicts of interest for Grand Cayman’s monopoly utility company CUC as the island attempts to accelerate its transition to renewable energy.

Monopoly Transmission & Distribution Grid

The Ombudsman – Cayman’s public sector complaints watchdog – has flagged potential challenges with the bid process for large-scale solar projects.

“It appears that one bidder (CUC), which already holds a monopoly position in terms of the sale of electricity, is co-designing the specifications of the request for proposal for an upcoming bidding process, in which they, themselves, will be an interested party,” Ombudsman Sharon Roulstone wrote in a hearing decision on a related freedom of information dispute.

“In my mind, this has the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

https://www.caymancompass.com/2024/02/13/conflict-of-interest-concern-over-cucs-renewable-energy-bid-links/

Dutch Court Moves to Block Export of Fighter Jet Parts to Israel

A court in the Netherlands on Monday ordered the Dutch government to stop exporting parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, a move that reflected mounting alarm over the heavy civilian toll of Israel’s war in Gaza but was unlikely to have an immediate effect on the military campaign.

The Netherlands hosts a warehouse of U.S.-owned F-35 parts that are exported to countries that operate the fighters.
https://nyti.ms/3wf9ctg