Bushes enjoy consolation reception

| 30/04/2011

(CNS): The UK’s foreign secretary and his wife hosted a reception at Lancaster House in London on Friday afternoon for the international guests to the Royal Wedding that didn’t make the invitation list for the reception hosted by the queen. McKeeva Bush and his wife Kerry joined leaders from other overseas territories as well as representatives from countries all over the world. The guests at William and Ffion Hague’s reception were bussed to the grade I listed mansion adjoining St James’s Palace on The Mall from Westminster Abbey following the royal wedding ceremony. The alternative Royal Wedding party for foreign VIPs is said to have cost the UK taxpayer £15,000. 

Representatives of notorious dictatorships including North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe were among the 300 dignitaries who were invited to the champagne and canapes reception laid on by the Foreign Office.

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  1. Shamrock says:

    Let’s look at the big picture, Folks. If the premier could muck up something as simple as choosing the appropriate attire for a wedding, imagine his handling of much more complex matters. This faux pas underscores and speaks volumes of the type of leadership Cayman has. *smh*

    • UDP Supporter says:

      That’s why I like dredges and big bulldozers. They work the same regardlessof how you’re dressed.

  2. Anonymous says:

    The world has become a sad pathetic place when the majority of posters can only focus on what the Premier was wearing. I for one am not into all that “high society” fashion crap.
    God doesn’t care what people wear to church as long as their heart is open and pure but yet people put so much emphasis on the fact that the Premier was wearing what “someone” at “some point” determined to be as “fashion no-no”. A bit shallow if I should say so myself.
    The British Prime Minister’s wife showed up without a hat which was as I understand part of the dress code. So what?
    When all that people can focus on is that someone supposedly didn’t wear the “correct” attire, it is a sad say indeed.

  3. Anonymous says:

    He should have sent JuJu. She certainly knows how to dress boy, I wonder who her fashion advisors are? Is it the Protocol office people too?

  4. Anonymous says:

    I remember my late mother saying–Son, always dress in simple and clean clothes. Even if it isslightly tattered, it is fine as long as it is clean.

    Hope this debate about the Premiers dress code fades away. We have more important issues facing the country and the dress code of the Premier is definately not one of them

  5. Sick and Tired of the B...S... says:

    Wonder how many people asked him if he could possibly get them another drink, or, “Could you please direct me to the Ladies/Gents bathroom.

  6. Anonymous says:

    At first I thought this was Bruce Willis with the Premier and that his expression was ‘I’m babysitting these two while Demi is at home babysitting her boy toy and the other kids’. After reading the article I accept that my first impression was wrong and instead the Bruce Willis look-a-like is thinking ‘Darn I hate this job and cant wait to send them home to mind their West Indian Plantations’

  7. Anonymous says:

    Mugabe the despot of Zimbabwe was NOT at the wedding. Mugabe was in Rome for the Beatification of the former pope – get your facts correct.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Before I even read the article I looked at the picture and immediately thought…why is he wearing a tux during the day?? It’s totally inappropriate. I’m sure that faux pas reflected on the Cayman Islands as a whole…for sure. Too bad.

  9. TennisAce says:

     Wow, if people here are demeaning the leader of their country in this way and getting an outlet for it, how else do we expect the rest of the world to view us.  Sometimes it is good to tone down the rhetoric and not air the dirty laundry but it seems as if that may be a wasted effort around these parts. Shame

  10. Anonymous says:

    I’m one of McKeeva’s biggest critics, but give the man a break. He went to eat, so he tried his best and wore a dinner jacket. The people that I love and admire the most (McKeeva NOT being one of them) grew up in simple times and were grateful to have underwear made from a floursack. They would feel uncomfortable dressed up like a buffoon just because it was the “proper” attire. Good breeding is exibited by what’s inside of you, and not what you chose to wear on the outside.

    • Anonymous says:

      Good breeding is also exhibited by correct spelling, and not always what you choose to wear on the outside!

      • Anonymous says:

        Good breeding has nothing to do with spelling since one can be illiterate and still have good breeding.

        I chose to use the word “chose” as in the past tense of “choose” in that sentence since the Premier had already made his “choice” of what to wear.

        What you chose to wear, and what you choose to wear are both grammatically correct, but it’s nice to know that there are out-of-work school teachers and nit-picking morons ever ready to review the text on this forum.

        • Typo-man says:

          Actually you mispelt :exhibited”, and chose was correct. That said, 17:06 obviously has nothing better to add to the discussion than pointing out what is obviously just a typo, so don’t pay any attention to them.

          I sey, dem farkin boo-stairds pesting mee ohf wid dat spelin natzi stuf. I gon cum doun on dem I sey.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Correction:

    Representatives of notorious dictatorships including North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe and the Cayman Islands . . . .

    By the way Margeret Thatcher was a lifelong friend of general Pinochet (Chili) who was responsible formore than 3000 murders while he was dictator of Chili. He lived his last years in extreme comfort in england.

    It is not surprising dictators to show up in england. They go back a long time.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well, not to let the facts get in the way of whatever bigoted opinion you are spreading, but:
      Thatcher and Pinochet were not ‘lifelong friends’, but they did have afternoon Tea together on more than one occasion. The links between Chile and Britain emerged during the Falklands War when Chillean intelligence and radar information was supplied to the British and assisted in the protection of shipping in the conflict zone. Personally I think Pinochet should have been tried, but let’s see what would happen if Brazil invaded Cayman and Mexico helped kick them out? I think we’d all be pretty big fans of Mexico….
      Pinochet was arrested in Britain in October 2008, whilst on a vist for medical treatment, following his indictment in Chile on human rights charges. A long court battle ensued to decide whether or not his arrest was illegal (he claimed immunity as a former head of state).Without getting bogged down in the details, he was eventually freed by a Labour Home Secretary (very definitely not a Thatcher friend)and returned to Chile in 2000 where he was granted immunity, then charged, placed under house arrest, declared senile, declared not senile, etc etc etc. He died in November 2006 in Chile.

      Considering Britain spent the accumulated wealth of two centuries fighting a dictatorship (and stood alone from May 1940 to December 1941, when everyone else was keeping their head below the parapet or looking the other way) I find your comments to be glib and insulting, but also rubbish. I suspect people often feel that when reading comments like yours.

  12. Anonymous says:

    ‘All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and success is sure.’

    Mark Twain, in humorous mood.

  13. Fashionista says:

    OMG – it looks like it might be a pre-tied bow-tie.  The shame and humiliation.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not only that, it looks like it was one of those battery-powered bow ties that spins around.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Clearly a failure of the Protocol Office to ensure that our Premier was properly attired! But then again do they know the proper protocol for such events?

    McTravel could have asked the Governor, buthis response would most likely have been that it is not his “area of responsibility”.

    In any case it just goes to confirm that you can dress him up but you can’t take him out!!!

    • Anon says:

      I am not much for formal occasions but I would have checked the dress code before I went. It is pretty easy to find out that you don’t wear a tuxedo to a daytime wedding in the UK and that you don’t wear a white dress. Oh…. the embarrassment! Not to mention taking a gift when you have been asked not to. You can’t buy class, no matter how much money you have.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think you’ll find that most contries and members of the Commonwealth have provided gifts – usually a token demonstrating some specific skill of a local person or item that is indigenous to the area. I wouldn’t stress over the gift as this is one of those times the protocol office got it right. The British Prime Minister gave them a book of photographs he had professionally taken of the Island of Anglessey, and the Mayor of London gave them a tandem bike!

      • Anonymous says:

        "You don’t wear a white dress"

        That may be, but I feel so sorry for Mrs. Bush. She must be grieving terribly for her daughter, yet trying to be stalwart for the sake of her husband’s image. I suspect she is blindly going through the motions required of a Premier’s wife, and just wore what might have been set out for her. Please cut her some slack.

  15. president of Spotbay says:

    As our grand Premier dined with despot government reps and FCO detractors who are undermining Cayman. Cayman is suffering high gas and food price$$$$$$ daylight robberies people getting killed and committing suicide, XXXXX Our impotent opposition is suffering from election denial. Dead people floating in vessels of the sister islands and our useless and inept Marine units & million dollar helicopter cannnot for the world locate. What a mess we in .

  16. Michel Lemay says:

    Qui s’abbemble se ressemble !

    • The Beaver says:

      I think you mean to say "Qui se ressemble, s’assemble…" – in other words, birds of a feather, flock together…  The Beaver

    • TechnoFrog says:

      "Qui se ressemble s’assemble", if you please.

  17. Anonymous says:

    "Representatives of notorious dictatorships including North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe were among the 300 dignitaries"   

    Is this a joke? 

  18. Voice of Reason says:

    That’s a lovely smile he has. Collar down shirt might have been a better choice.

    For all his faults, Big Mac is fantastic at smiling.  Nice to see.

     

     

  19. Anonymous says:

    Representatives of notorious dictatorships and other world-reknown thugs were among the 300 guests attending along with the Premier.

    Must have been like old home week for Mac. One can only wonder how many invitations he got to visit them over the coming months.

  20. Anonymous says:

    How embarrassing!  You NEVER wear a dinner jacket (US translation: tux) to a wedding in UK.  The choice on the invitation was morning coat (as William Hague is wearing), lounge suit (US translation: business suit) or military uniform.   Can’t Mac read?  Sorry, silly question.  Couldn’t Mac ask one of the many Brits on Cayman?

    • Pa Faugh says:

      One can wear black tie to an evening reception for a day wedding (i.e. one can change from wedding attire into an evening outfit).  Indeed that is what Charles and William did.

      Saying that, he does look a buffoon out of his depth with the winged collar.  It is these "little" things that scream "complete lack of breeding" to Brits. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Uh, who cares? It all appears a little inbred anyway.

        • I Agree says:

          I do not subscribe to all of this “high society” garbage! I mean who really gives a S$#! what someone was wearing as long as they are wearing decent clothing and are not looking shabby or wearing anything that is considered offensive.

          Too many people in the world have nothing to eat for me to be worrying about what is appropriate to wear to the Royal Wedding.

          the big question is, whats up with those minature hats perched on top of most of the womens heads ?
          LOL, what fashion genius thought that would be a nice trend to introduce and OMG those women are such followers they fail to recognize the absurdity of the whole thing and call it “fashion”. Well in my opion its not fashion it just plain “silly”!

          • Crabs in a Bucket says:

            He’s supposed to know how to dress in proper British fashion because he lives in a British Overseas Territory. Being a British subject, of a sort, requires a degree of propriety in such things. This is especially true when he is going to a royal ceremony in the presence of both royalty and many state leaders, and he is there representing Cayman (I mean, he certainly wasn’t invited for his charm and appeal).

            We could have used a good show by our representative on the world stage, but instead we had people whispering “Look at that odd little man over there, wearing the wrong clothes for a vastly public affair. Why does he not know how to drees?”

            What a shambles.

            • Anonymous says:

              Once again–people with breeding don’t waste time cutting (or thinking much about) other people’s choices of clothes, so one’s knickers do not need to be in a twist about it. Form over substance as usual from the Brits in exile.

      • Anonymous says:

        That’s true, but the article says they went to the afternoon reception straight from the Abbey.  I doubt even he would change in the back of the bus.

      • McBushy Keeva says:

        Hey Pa Faugh – so wher doo we weer a wing-collar shirt? Me wanna know.

  21. Anonymous says:

     "Representatives of notorious dictatorships including North Korea, Iran and Zimbabwe were among the 300 dignitaries who were invited to the champagne and canapes reception laid on by the Foreign Office."

    He should fit in quite nicely then.

  22. UDP Supporter says:

    Good job representing Cayman McKeeva!!!

  23. Anonymous says:

     The Premier and  First Lady do these islands proud by looking so  smart and elegant

  24. Beau Brummell says:

    Many congratulations to the newlyweds. Let’s hope Big Mac can get the tux back to Men’s Warehouse before he incurs any late fees.

    After checking the full picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/5669409741/in/photostream/) my question is this: Didn’t he get the memo on the dress code?

  25. Anonymous says:

    At least he was among friends of like mind.

  26. Pa Faugh says:

    Oh dear!  I hope Mac realised he looked like a complete oik wearing a winged collar with a dinner jacket.  This was not a fly-over State prom.  One wears a full turned down collar with black tie.  In London social functions the wearing of a winged collar is often considered a good sign that the wearer is out of their social depth.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Well done to the Protocol Unit if they advised on the dress code.

    • Anonymous says:

      The turned down collar only arrived in the 40’s. Dinner jackets and tuxedos were worn with wing collars for 60 years before that.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Bad form cutting out the Premier of Bermuda and her husband.  Shame on you.  Our media carried the proper photo along with the your leader and his wife.

    • Anonymous says:

       "Bad form cutting out the Premier of Bermuda and her husband.  Shame on you.  Our media carried the proper photo along with the your leader and his wife."

      CNS didn’t want to show him up so bad.  If we had seen him next to the Premier of Bermuda and her husband, he would have gotten showed up twice.
       
    • Cupcake says:

      We really don’t care about your politicians.

  28. Anonymous says:

     who cares which party he went to….. was Pipa there is the question??

    • Anonymous says:

      JEALOUS SET. Be happy that The Cayman Islands was represented. No one is perfect but Mack is as perfect as what I see going. You done well boy, that Cayman Brac man once said I am told “THATS MAN”. As for Lady Kerry, she looked like a Queen, always there doing a good job representing Mack. Just rest off you jealous bunch.

      • Libertarian says:

        If he wore what the critics consider to be appropriate, there would be something else to fault. Such is life nowadays!

        • Anonymous says:

          It doesn’t boil down to what the critics think’ it boils down to what the invitation said. Morning Suit, Lounge Suit or Uniform. What Premier Bush was wearingw as wrong, and he did stick out like a sore thumb in the Abbey. Someone, somewhere got it wrong – Bush is wearing a Dinner Suit. And the sad thing is that a person does stand out in a crowd of 2000 when they are wearing completely the wrong thing, and it will be commented upon. Nothing to do with being inbred, you just wouldn’t turn up to a funeral in jeans and a white t-shirt, would you?

          • Anonymous says:

            if it was james dean’s funeral…. yes 

          • Anonymous says:

             Just remember that Mack was with a very intelligent and educated group of folks who realized that he was at a wedding and then joined the party. I think that they were more interested in listening to what he had tosay, and afterall he is a handsome man and perhaps they only saw his good looks. Some of us are very embarrassing  and too jealous to see another of us go some place thats why we will always stay at the bottom.

        • anon says:

          Although I am in agreement with a lot of comments on here that he should be wearing the correct attire, I am also in agreement with you, that if he had turned up in a Morning Suit, someone would comment on where he got it from and how much did it cost, and who paid for it.

      • Anonymous says:

        pipa,  pipa…. 

    • Anonymous says:

       pipa pipa pipa……..