Premier talks fiscal prudence with OT minister
(CNS): The Cayman Islands’ premier McKeeva Bush was in talks with the UK’s minister for overseas territories, Henry Bellingham MP yesterday ahead of the annual OTCC meeting in London which takes place today (Wednesday). The bilateral discussions covered what was described by officials as “mutual interest and concern” including the Cayman government’s commitment to reduce public spending. The FCO minister stated that he was interested to hear about the plan to make savings via the civil service review. The two men reportedly discussed Cayman’s three year budget plan and the importance of maintaining Cayman’s high standing and international reputation.
According to a release from the governor’s office the UK minister congratulated the premier on Cayman’s success in achieving the standards of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, noting that it is the first Overseas Territory to have this Convention extended to them.
“The Premier and I had a useful meeting and agreed on a timeframe for the development of a Framework for Fiscal Responsibility to embed fiscal discipline. I was interested to hear the Premier’s plans to implement savings through a review of the public service, and look forward to continuing our discussions at the OTCC tomorrow,” Bellingham said on Tuesday
Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting Bellingham said in an FCO release that the UK was seeking to reinvigorate it relationship with and have better risk management of the territories. The OT leaders and the UK government will be discussing , public finance; the environment; criminal justice; transport safety and security; and good governance during the council.
“I am delighted to welcome elected leaders from the Overseas Territories to this year’s Overseas Territories Consultative Council. Much has happened since Territory leaders gathered in London 12 months ago,” the OT minister said. “The UK government wants to develop a new strategy for the Overseas Territories which provides more effective support for their development and better risk management; one that involves, and is agreed by, the whole of UK Government.”
Bellingham added that the UK valued its ties with the Overseas Territories highly and was keen to maintain the bonds of friendship.
Category: World News
I used to be a Patriot, all things Caymanian including the right to govern ourselves but as the years go by and I become more aware I say Thank God for the United Kindom for only they can save us from ourselves. These are our politicians that we voted in and look what we have and what is even more bleak is that we have no good options when election time comes. Its like who won’t cause the most damage when it comes time to vote. I don’t think we can rule ourselves effectively
Hence, you would prefer to be ruled by a Governor (a UK dictator)? Give me a break!
He looks "darlin"" in the scarf!!!
"Premier talks fiscal prudence with OT minister"
Must have been the shortest conversation ever…
News of the "talks" and anything else FCO/Cayman related can always be found here.
http://ukincayman.fco.gov.uk/en/news/
Good Governance: In other words, when you have a legally established body to make decisions, quit overiding them for your own personal agenda.
I worry about our country. All of the other political leaders at the OTCC are eithers PhDs, Lawyers, CPAs but ours is…………………well.
Embarrassing !
You rant about Mr. Bush’s lack of education and yet when he is in those circles, he has earned much respect from all his counterparts. You had better be glad he is a strong man or Cayman would be in a lot worse shape by now against the UK.
What are you smoking?
Have you ever heard Mac speak before? Unless it is written down on a piece of paper in front of him he cannot formulate thought into word. When he is put on the spot he rants and raves, shouts or ignores the question being asked.
No surprise that you and those like you think he is a "smart" man. Or that you all "respect" him. Explains why things in Cayman are what they are.
Could Mac look more like a bumpkin?
Hurry come by Mac………its only 29 days to success for our country.
We can’t do it without you….hurry. LMAO !!!
OH yeah by the time they print this for you to read it will only be 27 days left !!!
Love that scarf. NOT!
OT minister said: “The UK government wantsto develop a new strategy for the Overseas Territories which provides more effective support for their development and better risk management; one that involves, and is agreed by, the whole of UK Government.”
In other words folk, they got the last say! We can break our backs development our economy, and they in one decree can take that all away if they like! Let us not forget that!
THE UK ALWAYS LOOKS OUT FOR THEIR OWN INTEREST FIRST!
DON’T BE FOOLED
We ARE British, and this is British soil owned by the British and if you are Caymanian you ARE British.
Rule britania, La, la, la, la, la,la, la.
Love the scarf mac.
Your post is symptomatic of the underlying attitude in Cayman which in my view is largely responsible for the mess we are in now. You want the benefits of a relationship, in this case with the UK, but you do not want the responsibilities that also go with it.
Don’t like the ultimate authority the UK has? Move to have Cayman go independent, I seriously doubt the UK would stand in your way. Don’t want to risk this because it might hit you in the pocket? Then man up, accept your obligations and as you say, " let us not forget" that the only people responsible for maintaining the existing relationship are Caymanians.
but still… what I is said prove that it is not true
Now thats what I call looking out of place!
You mean to tell me that even while in the UK the premier cannot let that damn green go? How childish!
Awkward!!!!!!!
Transport safety and security among the topics?
I told you so!
Air transport? Flight safety? relating to Tourism Investment and Mr Bush’s idea of exemption from Custom Inspection upon landing in the Cayman Islands just because he’s a big Businessman with Big Dollars? I’d say yes we know the premier could never get away with this risky immigration policy.
The UK says ‘NO" to such a policy. Read between the lines!
National and international Security and the reputation of the UK in the eyes of its ally the US and the United Nations is of concern to the OT Minister.
The OT Minister is very diplomatically telling the people of these islands that YES HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEWLY PROPOSED IMMIGRATION POLICY BY OUR PREMIER!
He is concerned about the affects it could have on crime and our neighboring countries as it relates to NATIONAL SECURITY!
That Big Mac cannot deny!
Sorry, but what the hell are you talking about? Where are your sources?
Libertarian,
Read the Cayman Compass’s reported version of the UK trip.
My sources? you’d be surprised! I suggest you read over both the Compass report on today and CNS reports on this UK trip yesterday. Compare the two and the slight difference in content , pinch yourself, then ask yourself some hared questions..
The delegation got a good whipping in the UK on the national security issue but they will come back here and play it off as if the talks were all about financing and borrowing. Don’t believe a word of it.
The OT Minister made it quite clear to Big Mac that on matters of national and International security THE UK CALLS THE SHOTS , THEY ALONE WILL DRAFT SUCH IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND NOT BIG MAC!
This information is only privy to those political strategists capable of interpreting the Kings English, Mr. Henry Billingham’s subliminal statements showing his authority over our premier and our ability to interpret advanced philosophical or political science jargon.
Mr. Billingham very brilliantly covered his sterness with nice comments about Mr. Bush and at the same time issued his orders concerning the national security of the Cayman Islands. Why do you think the CAA, the AG, the accountant, etc. was there? This is the same as the United Nations calling up President Obama and the US Federal Government concerning a serious issue!
Wake up Caymanianians something of great importance and concern to the UK is up that’s the reason the entire Heads of our State was called up to the UK for not only talks but to take their chastisement, receive their instructions, and be reminded of Who is really in charge and who makes high level International Security decisions like this one recently attempted by our Premier. It was rejected! by the UK.
They did not approve of his immigration proposed policy! Its far too risky! for us and the UK!
I wonder if they discussed the Cayman Brac Hurricane Shelter that was $0.9M in the proposed Budget the Premier gave to Bellingham, and $9.0M in the application made to the Cayman Brac Planning Board?
CNS: The entire project is estimated at $9m. However, $0.9m was in the last budget. See $9 million shelter for the Brac
Thanks for the clarification, CNS. However, if the entire project will cost $9m is it reasonable to believe that over the course of a year only $900,000 will be required to be spent?
Just to further clarify, $0.9M was the TOTAL spend over 3 years in the budget presented to Bellingham.
Mr. Premier – What is this big green thing around your neck?????
Feeling the cold. What other colour would it be.
That is a green iguana scarf, cant you tell ?
"It was made by my constituency sir, the UDP, on my two by four island"