Miller:‘I’ll keep my council’

| 12/01/2011

(CNS): Following the vote in the Legislative Assembly on Monday to introduce advisory district councils for MLAs that are appointed by the Cabinet, the independent member for North Side has said he will be keeping his own elected council. Ezzard Miller said he was not going to allow the premier to come to his constituency and disband a duly elected council which is functioning well in favour of an appointed body. The MLA said that he would not be offering suggestions for members of government’s advisory body and was under no obligation to meet with it or take its advice but said he planned to attend out of respect.

“If the premier appoints one and they ask me to meet with them then I will go and listen to what they have to say. I shall be honest and forthright as usual and tell them what I think of anything they raise,” Miller revealed to CNS on Tuesday. “If they say anything sensible then I will run that by the members of my duly elected district council and if those elected constituency members consider the issues relevant and important then I will take them to the Legislative Assembly.” He also said he would take the minutes of the government’s council quarterly meetings to his own monthly sessions with his “duly elected” advisory council.

The advisory district councils, which are expected to be appointed shortly, will be made up of ten people who live in the district, two of them can be recommended by the leader of the opposition or the non-government party of the day. In the case of single member constituency such as Miller’s the non-government party may recommend three. However, as an independent representative and not a member of a political party, he fails to see how the law allows him to put forward anyone. “If the premier writes to me and asks I will decline to make recommendations,” Miller stated.

Miller warned that this was not just an argument about principle but said there was a genuine potential to undermine the real constituency representative by manipulating an appointed body. He explained that he believed it would be very hard for the government of the day not to appoint the candidate which had represented the ruling party in the district in the election and lost as chair. With the ear of government and access to taxpayer’s money through that advisory body, the chair could very easily get to work in the district campaigning for four years against the incumbent.

“At the same time the government can vote to deny me funding for projects I suggest based on the wants of my elected council and constituents who voted me in at the polls,” Miller observed, illustrating the kind of issues and challenges that he and Arden McLean, another MLA from a single member constituency, are likely to face.

“What could easily happen is that the duly elected member will struggle to deliver public projects in the district while the government’s rejected candidate will have the means to deliver what he wants.”

Miller said any district council should be there to support and help anMLA not campaign against him but he said that is almost certainly what will happen if it is appointed by government. He also said he believed that these bodies would be used to give credibility to government’s support of the plan cargo dock in East End. He said it will be very easy for the premier to say an advisory council is in favour of something that the constituency representative is against to attempt to undermine that position, even if the council is not representative of the feelings in the district.

With well over 50% of the constituency vote in the election, however, and wide support in his district, Miller said he was confident that he would be able to “temper any skulduggery” that may arise from potential political candidates on the advisory council. 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard

    I am behind you 100%

    Please ALWAYS stand for your people!  It is news like this I like to hear from you!

  2. Caymanians against Needless Jobs says:

    I quote – “The real power in these Blessed Islands is the Governor. Not a lot of hum emanates from this generator, but it can pack a punch when unleashed. Advisors out there inthe political wasteland now to be known as the ‘district councils’, can sit around in the shade of a neem tree and discuss, advise and pontificate all the long Caribbean day, but the Cabinet, condoned by the Governor at his pleasure, will continue to be the real executive power in the Cayman Islands” — Knal N.Domp, 11 January 2011

    Thank you!!

    http://www.knalsaywha.blogspot.com/

    • Anonymous says:

      Who cares what Knal has to say? She is the same bimbo who sent around saying in respect of the Operation Tempura affair that the "Governor knows best" and implying that serious corruption would soon be revealed that would justify that egregious travesty. She thinks these comments are putting us in our place which is beneath the British.      

  3. Caymanians against Needless Jobs says:

    This is curious…Ezzard ( the elected politician) wants to keep “his” council. Is this much different to the Government of the day wanting to appoint 7 of the 10 councilors? I understand EM called a meeting and 50 people came and voted for “his” council…..everyone in Cayman knows how this works…have you ever seen a PPMer at a UDP meeting or visa versa?? Never.

    At a EM meeting there will be more EM supporters by far than the other group. This works in reverse as well. (not being partisan here)

    So what does that give us? Councils ‘democratically” elected by those that call the meeting. Does not sound very democratic to me. Just fools those there to think they can impact the system.

    Poll, and only official polls, are the only way to select representatives that are ACCOUNTABLE!. PURE AND SIMPLE.

    So you all can chat nonsense about these councils. Until they are elected by secret official poll they are no more than a group of people sending “recommendations” upstream, in most cases to be ignored. Waste of lots of money and energy. Ala Vision 2008.

    Pass the Bacardi!

  4. Anon says:

    Expats will temper Skullduggery. Expats have good ideas. Yes that so true!

    Which ones? You should state their names.

    If anyone really believes this, then they should ask where most expats in Cayman come from, and just look at why those countries are in such a mess.

    Is that Caymanians doing that too?

     

    • Anonymous says:

      "Expats will temper Skullduggery. Expats have good ideas.

      Which ones? You should state their names"

      Which ones? Look around you, they are the people who cut your lawn, who fix your car, who construct your house, who serve you in restaurants and bars, who teach your children, and who care for your sick and infirm. In short, they are the people all around you who keep this country running by doing the jobs that most Caymanians refuse to do. You should show some respect and at least pretend to appreciate these people just a little bit. And yes, if you would bother to listen to them, they do have some very good ideas.

  5. Shock and Awe says:

    I have underestimated this man, despite some of his rhetoric. But if Mr. Miller would also understand that ex-pats irregardless of their status have a stake which is not represented- he would take democracy much further. 

    All in all Mr. Miller seems to have a firmer grasp on the workings of democracy than does the Premier of the islands who is forever making up democracy according to his own wishful thinking. 

    Message to Bush’s Cronies:  If you have a desire for re-election- distance yourself from him in the same way he has consistently distanced himself from the people.  In case you haven’t noticed his actions do not coincide with his words.

    • Anonymous says:

      "All in all Mr. Miller seems to have a firmer grasp on the workings of democracy than does the Premier of the islands who is forever making up democracy according to his own wishful thinking. "
       

      Shock and Awe you are so right, His Ignominious Magesty the Right DisHonourale Unquestionable Ruler Maximus of West Bay and its rehlms Distinguished Premierous McKeeva Bush has difficulty to understand democracy unless it is spelled DICTATORHIP!  

  6. nauticalone says:

    Thanks again for standing up for "Good Governance" Mr. Miller!

     

  7. Anonymous says:

    I hope the headline of this thread "I’ll keep my council." by Ezzard was not meant that he has any proprietary interest in that council or that he sees it as his council.

    Ezzard has an ego as big as a barn and this is not his council it is the people of North Side council.

    Many politicians try to keep tight control of their voters.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Someone should remind Ezzard that he can’t have his Council and eat it too.

  8. Point of Order says:

    The Legislative Assembly in it’s own right is little more than a glorified Town Council in any case. What need could there possibly be for more cooks? They will only spoil the soup.

  9. Anonymous says:

    “If they say anything sensible then I will run that by the members of my duly elected district council and if those elected constituency members consider the issues relevant and important then I will take them to the Legislative Assembly.”

    Even if there are expats appointed to the council?

    • Anonymous says:

      Why would an expat be on a district council? explain that to me please ???

      • Anonymous says:

        Because expats live here, too. I should think that good ideas would be welcomed regardless of where they come from.

        • Anonymous says:

          Are you giving "thumbs down" to good ideas or to expats?

          • Anonymous says:

            "Are you giving "thumbs down" to good ideas or to expats"?

            Don’t be naive, the "thumbs down" is for both.

      • Anonymous says:

        "Why would an expat be on a district council? explain that to me please" ?

        To temper any skulduggery

      • nauticalone says:

        I think it will be a good idea to have expats included. After all expats make up a major part of Cayman.

      • Anonymous says:

        I am a born and bred Caymanian 12:24, and my thoughts are this, If we have Expatriates, Resident or Status living amongst us and mean us well,  I see no reason whatsoever that they should not share all the things we share, including being apointed to boards and council.

  10. Dictator says:

    Yea Ezzard, you stand firm and don’t let any form of Dictatorship come into North Side.

    If other Districts will allow the Dictator to run ammock in their Districts, well thats their business, but we have you to stand up for us!

    You had the District Advisory Board of North Side done in the fairest way, by elections, and we will not have any "lackies" for the Premier on our board.

    STAND FIRM!

  11. Anonymous says:

    Appointed councils will lead to "skulduggery", cronyism, corruption,political manipulation etc. The genuine wishes of the people will be ignored.

    On this one, I agree with Mr. Miller.

    • Anonymous says:

      Add to the list:

      Victimizer

      Block Watch thought police reporter (on your next trip to Cuba ask how this works)

      Report goings and comings

  12. Anonymous says:

    It’s a good thing we have Ezzard around to "temper any skulduggery". Otherwise, the skulduggery might really get out of hand!

  13. bradley says:

    don’t know why this old goat from North Side wastes his talent; he should form his own party. ezzard is the only one who appears to be looking out for the people and a real voice of opposition

    • Anonymous says:

       I think he realizes the worst thing fro Cayman is political parties.

  14. Ebanks says:

    You go Ezzard! 

    Stand up for Democracy! 

    LoL… I don’t like none of ya in the LA, but I prefer you any day over Bush and Alden!

    :o)

    • Janice says:

      You see, my friend, I don’t know about the other members… but Ezzard has iron balls!  He was never scared of how people sees him or rates him

      • Anonymous says:

        The problem with iron balls is their tendency to rust. What you really need is brass……

        • robert says:

          Idisagree.Brass is much softer and tend to dent when hit hard.Iron is much harder and will last a long time when properly coated and maintained. 

  15. Anonymous says:

    Right on the money, Ezzard. Is there no end to McKeeva’s machinations?

    • Anonymous says:

      To answer your question, there is no end to McKeevas’ machinations. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes there will be an end on Election Day, remember thatUDP supporters.

        • Backstorke says:

          2013,Cant come too soon.

           As this administration is blind & deaf, with no respect for the good people of theCayman Islands,   when has these people come out to townhall meetings in the districts to talk to us,  NEVER, only when he’s in the really hot seat and he’s in fear of loosing it.    At least Ezzard goes to his council meetings with his croonies, hope he listens to them too.