PPM: Bush being investigated

| 27/06/2011

(CNS): A press statement from Leader of the Opposition Alden McLaughlin claims that McKeeva Bush, the premier of the Cayman Islands, is the subject of a police investigation into allegations of official corruption for activities that took place during the previous UDP administration. He says that Governor Duncan Taylor has confirmed to both him and Independent MLA Ezzard Miller the existence of a police investigation but has not said who the subject of the investigation is. However, the premier stated when asked about the allegations, “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year and it is quite obvious that they will stop at nothing to defame and slander me in the hope of being the Premier. Please understand, if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!”

“For some months now rumours have been circulating regarding a police investigation into allegations of official corruption by an elected member of the Government,” the release from McLaughlin said. “As the official Opposition in the Cayman Islands we were under a duty to make enquires. As a result of those enquires, on 10th June, 2011, I wrote to His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Duncan Taylor, CBE setting out what the Opposition had learned.  I copied my letter to the Attorney-General, Mr. Samuel Bulgin, QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, MS. Cheryl Richards, QC and the Deputy Governor, Mr. Donovan Ebanks, MBE who was then Acting Governor.”

He says he was aware that on the same day but quite separately from their own enquiries, MLA Ezzard Miller wrote to Police Commissioner David Baines, who is also Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, asking for an investigation into the contents of a copy of a letter which had come into Miller’s possession and which appeared to bear the signature of W. McKeeva Bush.

“On Friday, 24th June, 2011 Mr. Miller and I met with His Excellency, the Governor to discuss this matter.  His Excellency confirmed the existence of the police investigation, that it was commenced more than a year ago and that it is ongoing, but declined to say who the subject of the investigation is,” the statement read. “However, we have confirmed from other sources that the subject of the police investigation is the Hon. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP and that the investigation relates to the period between 2001 and 2005 when Mr. Bush was Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce.”

McLaughlin concluded, “Given the gravity of the allegations and the acknowledgement by His Excellency of the existence of the year-long investigation, we believe that the country is owed an explanation by way of official statement.”

The office of the Police Commissioner, when asked about the alleged investigation, only confirmed that the RCIPS had received a complaint in connection with alleged financial irregularities. “We wish to advise that as our enquiries are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment about the specific allegations or identify any individual involved in that investigation,” the statement read.

When the premier was contacted by CNS, he said by email, “Alden is doing all this in the hopes of carrying me down, so he can be premier! He is even more incensed because we have asked for a commission of inquiry into how the contracts, procurements and funds were handled on the high school projects when he was the minister.” The premier also told CNS that “anyone suggesting me in the same breath as corruption they will be sued!"

In Finance Committee on Friday, Bush said he would be asking the governor to open a commission of enquiry to investigate the dispute between contractor Tom Jones International (TJI) and the previous government which led to construction of two high schools being halted in November 2009. (See Mac seeks enquiry of PPM)

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  1. Bean Counter says:

    What happens when a supposedly democratic country seeks to change its government but finds that there are laws and "house rules" which serve the ruling party and prevent opposition from their fair say in matters?

    Our new constitution apparently is lacking in its ability to offer a fair and level playing field for all. Since reform and referendum are long and tedious processes, it might be worth looking at alternative measures to help prevent disasters at the hands of a few loose cannons.

    I propose that the handling of Cayman's finances and policy decisions be made by a non-political, non-partisan panel or committee of at least 8 to 12 experts in the fields of finance and economics. Their decisions are to be implemented by government and not merely as suggestions for those in power to accept or refuse. Our livelihoods, cost of living, jobs and better way of life are dependent on knowlegeable planning and handling of our money and economic policy.

    It cannot and should not be expected that any random citizen who gets elected has the knowlege or experience to make decisions on matters of finance and economy.

    We have a planning department but we don't seem to be able to stick to a plan. Each new government sheds the old plans and comes up with new ones. The result is the mess we have made of this country.

    A proper non-political committee should be given absolute power and control over the public purse to assure that our economy stays healthy, productive and less prone to corruptive practices.

    XXXX

  2. Anonymous says:

    In these criticisms I hope we all remember the Premier is not alone and would not be able to run the country in this manner without the blind or similar interested support of everyone of the UDP members. They should have abandoned the party years ago and went independant.  I truly hope this term is the end of all their political careers. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    It has come to my knowledge that no one is to blame for this situation, but the Premier.  His wheeling, his dealings and his attitude.  If he slept with the dogs, he will get fleas.  PPM or no one else is to blame for his demise or this situation today.  Mr. Bush, I command you, to Step Down for the sake of Democracy and in honour of your people.  You have caused all this problems for your people.  Stop bleeding our economy and our people.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Bush knew that he was under investigation, but he thought the rest of the Members did not know. And further more it is not the PPM that is pushing Cayman to become like Turk and Caicos it is our own Premier Mr. Bush.

    After Hurricane Ivan it was Him that went to England and told the Queen that Cayman did not need any help from the UK it was not PPM.

    Everything that took place after UDP got in last Election they have stopped alot of project even the one with TomJones and now they want to blame PPM.

    I would say Mr. Bush please step down from being the Premier you are killing us dont like what happen in Turks and Caicos happen here. 

  5. Anonymous says:

    Vote Independant. We'll still get a bunch of screw ups but at least they will be screw ups who don't wear colors. We will have won half the battle. Vote no to UPD and PPM and get the party system out for good.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you vote Independent the UDP will be right back in. There are diehard UDP supporters who will vote for them no matter what.  

  6. Anonymous says:

    The premier stated when asked about the allegations, “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year and it is quite obvious that they will stop at nothing to defame and slander me in the hope of being the Premier. Please understand, if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!”

    Who wouldn't want to sue another person for defaming and slandering their character?  The Premier has a point.  He has not been found guilty yet, and already in the spirit of blind partisanship, some people are aiming to secure 2012 elections, despite the negative repercussions of such allegations.

    • Anonymous says:

      A hope y trip up n pop y mout.

    • Anonymous says:

      XXXX. The problem is three statements:

      1. " if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!” If anyone accuses him he will sue, not if they falsely accuse him, he will just sue, XXXXX.

      2. “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year" He wants us all to assume that "they" are the PPM. In fact, "they" are the police and the judiciary. Nothing to do with anyone who would want to secure the 2012 elections.

      3. "He has not been found guilty yet" How come the police and other officials have to stand down whilst they are being investigated and he doesn't?

  7. Justice Z says:

    I am no UDP – But the PPM is pushing to get us into the same sticky situation like Turks and Caicos!  Why did Alden and Miller had to write letters to the Governor when there is still no "evidence" made public?  At least, wait until the case close or evidence is shown against the Premier before you encourage or bring in your allegations! 

    Alden… you of all persons! 

    This does not look good on Cayman Islands.

    • anonymous says:

      A lesson learned for other British Territory Premiers.

      During any newly appointed governor's inauguration, DEONOT greet the Queen's Representative with these words…."YOU'RE ON MY TERRITORY NOW!"

      You will pay.And respect is due any governor.

      Bushy, behave yourself and respect your elders, ye hear?.

    • Anonymous says:

      100% agreed

  8. Anonymous says:

    Maybe the best thing to happen in the whole situation is for the UK to come in and call for some time out as they did in the Turks and Caicos.

    Stop the back door dealing, give aways, trade off, political interferance by outsiders, unnecessary spending,  It time for the real one person show HM government to take control, then and only then will the fighting stop and the people of the Cayman Islands become united again.  This is the identical playbook from the Turks and Caicos.

    For a better Cayman, rule UK, rule.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Ummm…

      I am trying hard to comprehend just how being under a UK dictatorship (like TCI) is a good situation to be in for the people of the Cayman Islands?

      No Democracy

      No Elections allowed

      No Democratic Representation

      No more a Constitution but what the Governor says

      And the media censored… etc…

      You tell me how that is a better state to be in than what we have now???

       

      • Anonymous says:

        I quess the word Democracy doesn't mean what I think it means.

        you forgot

        no hiding where all the money went.

        no stupid half hidden excuses on why things can't get done.

        no questionable Bush deals with questionable companies.

        no public paid double dipping pensions, first class 5 star mini vacations, personal utility bills, outrageous security cost, SUV's, gas cards, $10 million dollar nation building slush fund, and dumb and dumber political protest.

        But thats the price you have to pay to go CIG!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Nobodys blaming the PPM but the truth is the PPM is going to Bandstand on this. It's so easy to see through these guys. The PPM is the lesser of the two Evils but that's not saying much. They are still politicians.

    • Anonymous!!!!!! says:

      As a concerned voter I have to agree that its best to go the route of the lesser of two evils HOWEVER the PPM is really not what we need running this country, not if the leader that they have now is still in charge. The man is too arrogant, egotistic and same as the Mac . 

      What we really need is true honest statemen / women that see's and wants the best for our little island, those who do not need their names or face in the media every day,who truly want the island to succed and the people to have a say in what happens in our beloved isle with out selling us down the drain as the last two adminsterations have done. 

      No Mac, no Alden, then I will vote

      • Anonymous says:

        Shame some status holders cannot be nominated for government – especially those concerned with saving Cayman's environment – they appear to care more about Cayman than those currently holding titles in either party.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Please don't beome like the US and vote for the lesser of 2 evils.

    Investigate your candidates not the party.

    Don't vote by party but by the thoughts and actions of your candidates and not their turkey or gift card.

    Cayman was always a honorable set of Islands please get it together.

     

  11. Anonymous says:

    These guys are acting no better then rival gangs…this personal war between the UDP and the PPM is going to tear Cayman apart and it will be the people that suffer in the end. The sound like two year olds
    fighting over a rattle,,,

  12. A naw no mouse says:

    Mac has been repeatedly encouraged to be transparent, accountable and to help to ensure Good Governance. He has repeatedly chosen to do the opposite.

    His attitude and behavior is an ebarrassment and not fit for leadership! That's sad but true. And it's best he step down!

    • Geo says:

      Embarrassment is the word ole chap,maybe ppm needs to really send it’s blogging supporters back to school or buy them spell check software hey

      • Anonymous says:

        Boy are we embarrassed, a UDP supporter outspelling a PPMer. What is this world coming to? That's simply awful. Man that's even worse than McKeeva being investigated for wrong doing. Anything to change the subject, right guy? Isn't THAT a UDP supporter now. Well, guess what, this time the subject is not going to be changed. Good try though. By the way, maybe next time you could try ending your sentence with a period?

      • Anonymous says:

        the phrase is "old chap"! Maybe you should go back to school or at least try to use the correct phrase!

      • Anonymous says:

        Nice try at deflection swotting at a typo. What is even funnier is that your own post contained the actual grammatical error: there should be no apostrophe in "it's" (contraction of "it is" or "it has") in that context. What's that you were saying about going back to school?

  13. Anonymous says:

    SOME of you PPM haters do not understand what is going on here.. It was the premier who announce it on saturday at his rally/protest against the people of the country (history). On friday he announce that he was asking the governor to investigate aldin, what TIMING.  THIS WAS ONLY DONE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HIS INVESTIGATION WOULD SOON BE PUBLIC.  He is now blaming the PPM, for this but i understand that it was the court that passed on the documents for the investigation.  as usual has to blame some body elsenot himself. I now hope that they will start to investigate the nation building fun. we need to know where that went and how/who and what for.   THE CHUSTER WARNED US ABOUT THIS MAN.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Cayman will be much betterserved in the long term if it is known here and abroad that we do and we will ruthlessly root out all political corruption and that we will not allow our country to be held hostage by any criminal element. There is nothing to be gained by sweeping things under the rug,

    • cicero says:

      Maybe time to reopen the Fisrt Cayman Bank case where tings went under the carpet.

    • Anonymous says:

      Almost anything would be better than what Cayman is known for right now in the States.  After watching countries like Libya and Egypt to name a few finally getting rid of their Dictators and claiming the country for the people you have to take pity on Cayman just starting to get into the Dictatorship type of regime. Especially when everyone can see first hand to what kind of country it leads to.  Good for a few.  Very bad for the rest.  where will Caymans refugees go?  Where will they be welcomed?

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

    Sorry Nicholas Robson, there comes a point where you have pull all of your dirty washing out of the cupboard and at the least wash it – and if worse comes to worst, burn it. Otherwise the odour seeping under the door will only get worse and attract even more attention. If we try to cover up whatever is alleged to have happened, then we rank with Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton whose biggest mistake was to try and cover up their respective types of jiggery pokery. This has gone too far and we should beware of the "JAWS" syndrome – pretending that there really isn't a "shark".

    It would be very wrong to prejudge any situation, but certainly the old cliche' comes to mind -"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".

  16. Anonymous says:

    I actually feel very sorry for the Police right now. They were quietly going about their investigations for a year, and I presume either making progress on developing a case, but now the opposition politicians have let it slip (intentionally?) and the front page of every local media is screaming about it, the Polices job trying to unravel the past and put together a proper case just got a whole lot harder.

    Sometimes quiet, diligent investigation achives much more than everyone shouting about it.

    • Anonymous says:

      The police have had a year to investigate. Typically in these cases they will faff around for years and summarily announce that there is "insufficient evidence".   

    • Anonymous says:

      Gracious me! Feel sorry – I sympathise with that view but dont blame the Opposition for making the life of the Police difficult!

      If anything it seems the Opposition has acted very responsibly in keeping this under their hat for a number of months! 

      In hindsight it is pretty obvious that McKeeva was getting nervous about this investigation coming to light. He has made several statements alluding to an investigation being carried out by the PPM over the last few weeks trying to control and drip feed it to the people and importantly to attribute it to the PPM.

      He then threatens a commission of enquiry in relation to the Alden on Friday.

      Finally on Saturday,  at his "protest against the protest", he admits there is a police investigation into his actions which he says related to a "real estate bill". It seems to me that he was trying to  to control how it was published and to, rather clumsily, spin it to make himself appear to be a victim rather than the subject of a legitimate investigation. 

      So –

      Mckeeva is under police investigation

      It has been ongoing for a year

      It was NOT started by the opposition

      It was not until recently even known to the opposition

      It was publicly disclosed by McKeeva on Saturday the 25th June

      It seems to me that it has started with McKeeva and hopefully he will do the right thing and resign to end it. That would be the result in most democracies.

      It is damaging to the Cayman Islands.

      If there is substance to it will be even more damaging to turn the proverbial blind eye as this sort of thing gets worse if unchecked.  

    • Anonymous says:

      remember it was Mac who publicly announced it at his rally not the opposition. Please get your facts straight please

    • Anonymous says:

      guess you would prefer it was kept quiet so that the Police could do as they did with the questionable ballot mess that transpired during the last election? investigate forever figuring it would eventually be forgotten then quietly state that the investigation is over and there's really nothing to pursue any further – yeah right!

    • JD90 says:

      Maybe this will encourage more people to step forward that were afraid of retribution from Mr. Bush before.

  17. Nicholas B Robson says:

    In life today, be it in politics, the corporate world, advertizing or the stock market, what matters is perception. Reality is secondary.

    Therefore, perhaps we should contemplate how the political mud-slinging makes the Cayman Islands appear to the rest of the world. The Cayman Islands are no longer an unknown place in the Caribbean, and acting as we do is certainly not going to attract investors to these islands.

    We must all ask ourselves, before we act or indeed open our mouths “How will this affect the Cayman Islands? Will it have a positive affect or a negative one?”

    • Anonymous says:

      If politicians are open, accountable and honest there would no investigations and no news stories. We must not cover up any politician acting in a corrupt manner just to keep reports of corruption out of the media.

    • Anonymous says:

      I see… so if I perceive that it is alright to steal the reality of it being wrong is outweighed by the fact that if I am caught it might embarass me.

      Hmmmm…XXXXX.

    • Anonymous says:

      true – would be nice if you had some influence on Mac/UDP and could convince them to ask these questions!

  18. "Always Thankful" says:

    With the previous/present Leader of Opposition & the Premier butting heads at each other, who needs to watch "Monday Night Raw".  Get a cage and put them in.  Have them battle it out to the end. Maybe Mr. Dart could do a lil sponsorship, and we watch them live on national television.

     

     

  19. Anonymous says:

    PLEASE STOP.

    You are taking The Cayman Islands in a dangerous direction with this PPM vs UDP.

    As a born and bred 5th generation Caymanian living in Jamaica, I see first hand the aftermath of party politics. What you all are doing is not a joke and you are playing with more than fire.

    I am begging the Jamaicans who love Cayman and experienced the 80’s war to please try and speak up, tell the die hards PPM and UDP what BOTH political parties did to the beautiful land of your birth. I know that with what is going on in Cayman now, you can see the beginning of it.

    Let me give you a little of the quiet peaceful aftermath of war because of party politics. You are afraid to drive through certain communities, forget walking. If you wear orange shirt you’re seen as a supporter of one party, if you wear green shirt you’re seen as another, albeit you have affiliation with neither.  I was visiting my in-laws once a few years ago, and my brother in law wanted something from a particular shop, but because he lived in a die hard green shirt community and would have to pass through a section that was affiliated to a orange shirt, then the other route had gunmen, he had to send a 5yr old child to get it. Needless to say I don’t go back there. I was asking  my mother in law if they had yet caught a particular young man who was affiliated to the Don that was on the run and she said “shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, don’t talk too loud”. I was in her living room!!!!!  

    Ask any Jamaican about a garrison community, if they tell you they lived in one, ask them to tell you the truth about the life, how men who control these communities treat persons who live there. If you have your teenage in some cases younger daughter, they take them and “break them in” if you don’t send them you better “run wey” or you will die. If you don’t hold order you dead. If they can’t get you theykill your mother, father, sister, brother, granny, baby and so on. They then burn you out. In one green shirt community, a elderly man who would not hold order, and give them free rent, was killed and they take his property as if it was their own.  If your MP is doing something that you don’t like you better keep you mouth shut, if police kill a member of the community that is gun man, you are forced to go protest, if you don’t you die, because you must support the other party.

    I always remember two incidents that my husband described to me, when he was a young man in a green controlled garrison. He was on his way to church and political gunmen was blocking the road, he was draped up by one  and was told  block the road he refused and could have been killed, when some one told the guy to leave him alone cause he’s a church ‘yute’. The other is one day he was heading to work and a green shirt gunman ask him who him and “wha yu a do ya?”  and marched him off to an abandon building, where the others were,  and asked them if they knew him and if nobody did he would be killed,  (his brother was a well known jockey, and they look alike),  as the guy put the gun to his head, Gods mercy sent a young man who said “yes man mi know him, him a jockey brother”.  And they let him go.  Even today over 20 odd years later there are daily curfews in garrison, communities island wide trying to clean up what party politics started.

    Is this the kind of life you want for your children and grand children. Is this the legacy you all want to leave behind, that you ruined Cayman because of party politics. If you say I hate Mac or UDP or hate Alden or PPM, you are headed down that road. That’s how it starts,with hate.  Then you become a die hard, then you tell your children that the next party is and its people is no good and the cycle gets worse.

    Cayman already have a gang and  gun problem, imagine if one of these thugs decide  to become aligned to either of these parties.  STOP you are not PPM or UDP, you are Caymanian. And if you all take off your party alignment glasses you will see that PPM &UDP are both power hungry.

    Remember after ivan when you all was whipped into a frenzy and wanted to get rid of UDP and then you got PPM and wished everyday for election to come to get rid of them. Then you got rid of them and got what you wanted the UDP, now you don’t want them again you getting whipped into a frenzy again to get rid of them. Do you all know what you want?  If you all don’t stop, you, not the politicians, but YOU the voters and die hards are going to ruin Cayman. And when you cross that line there is no coming back.

    So I implore you  political party followers who say you love Cayman STOP NOW, before its too late, remember once you let the genie out of the bottle there is no going back.   Do you want to have to run and leave what you have worked for behind? Do you want to have to hand over you child or teen daughter to a political thug to rape her, do you want your teenage son to die at the hands of them, because, if they don’t get you, they will get your sister, brother, son, mother, granny. Is this what you want?

    You have been warned, if you don’t take heed, when its ruined you can’t say ‘I didn’t know’.

    .CNS. Maybe you can somehow calms the tempers, maybe do a segment of historical stories of countries world wide that party politics have destroyed economies and cost lives. Maybe interview some of the different nationalities that now live in Cayman that have experienced this. Somebody has to do something.

    God Help the people of the Cayman Islands

     

     

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes a few historical stories of the "wrecking" (ships lured onto the reef) that was carried out by some of the people of West Bay will certainly calm things down.

      It will point out that the recent behavior of some of our politicians has a historical basis!!

      • Anonymous says:

        West bayers ship wrecking,Yea right! Please advise us where the shipwrecks are in West Bay? Oooh right; the kittiwake!

        • Anonymous says:

          You show your ignorance of local history, plus the fact that you cannot comprehend a simple statement. Where did I say those who carried out the occupation did so in West Bay, I did say they were from West Bay.

          And why should any wrecks remain even partially intact? This practice was also carried out in some areas of England and there are no wrecks remaining of this activity.

          Please do a little research and if you have one engage your brain before your mouth!

           

    • Anonymous says:

      What you say refers to the worst case scenario that was brought about largely by the very corruption we are trying to root out here in Cayman so we dont become like Jamaica. Every democratic first world country has a party system that works just fine. It is actually a good thing that one Party does not stay in power too long. Without a party system you invite back room dealing and back stabbing and in the end you end up with groupings ( same as partys) but the people have no control over them as they would with a proper functioning Party. Im sure there are greedy people here though that would take us down the samy path as Jamaica but we wont allow that.        

    • Anonymous says:

      Mon 12:55

      It's too late for all that.  It's time to make the chips fall where they may.  We cannot continue with this environment of fear.  We need our freedom back.

       

  20. Anonymous says:

    Please stop the politics, Caymanians, Residents and Repeat Visitors do not want to see what has happended in the Turks and Caicos Island happen here.

    Why are we so happy to drag our country and each other down?  Let the healing begin.

    It is time to get rid of politicial parties, we should have a march against political parties.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is not politics.  This is upholding the laws of our country.  The strength of our country is in our justice system, not in any one person.  I applaud Alden for having the fortitude to stand up for the laws of our country and take the bullying from McKeeva.  The question is whether this Governor has the same strength.

    • Anonymous says:

      How can you say that a police investigation into alleged financial improprieties by the Premier is mere "politics"? What does this issue have to do with the existence of political parties? If there has been corruption then it ought to be brought to light and dealt with by the law. Then perhaps some healing can begin. Nothing is gained by sweeping dirt under the carpet in the name of unity.  

  21. Anonymous says:

    How can a country survive with so much hatred and malice. May The Good Lord help us to rise above such things.  The polititions cant help themselves- to be good abiding citizens much less help us.  We are a nation bound for hell's door of starvation.  We got a hot headed Premier, a hot headed leader of opposition and a hot headed independent.  Put the three of them in a ring along with Arden Mclean, lets see who will be the first to fall. HeeHaw we are in a mess.  None of them can be trusted.  One carries to much wind, one makes too much wind, and the other cant make any wind. What a mess. They are just like the chu chu train " I know I can, I know I can" but getting them canned is another story.  We need a change.

    We dont need Alden, McKeva, Arden nor Ezzard. We tested them all ready.  

  22. sick of the fighting says:

    WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!

    Instead of seeing who can prove who's more righteous than the other and disagreeing just because Mackeeva suggests something…i think its time we work together for the best of the country. I for one am sick of the PPM fighting Mackeeva on principle alone and am switching sides. and believe it or not PPM there are more like me…We might not agree with all the UDP come up with…but at least they are coming up with ideas and  offering solutions rather than opposing because its Mackeeva.

    • Anonymous says:

      "I for one am sick of the PPM fighting Mackeeva on principle alone"

      In this case, the principle is that corruption is wrong.

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      It has nothing to do with PPM and UDP.  Frankly, I don't see a way forward with either party.  We desperately need some new blood in the LA.  We need accountability and adult cognition.  If I were a backbencher with a clean name attached to either of those parties, I would be making plans to either go independent or form a new coalition party.  

      • Incognito says:

        Completely agree with you. Unfortunately the "independents" are actually part of a one of the two parties, so you don't know who to trust. It's sad that everything has come down to people selling their souls for a buck.

        When you vote now, its more like "who's the lesser of both evils".

        It's embarrassing as a young-ish cayman to see what my island has come to. No one, and I honestly believe that no one is doing anything truly for Cayman.

        Sure is funny though; I sit and watch the same politicians walk right by me now with their noses in the air.Not even a hello. Just a few years back they were shaking my hand hoping to get my vote, and now that they're in, they don't need me again.

        The whole party system is a crock. A bunch of children running a mock, that's all it is. I have no faith or hope for the people in there. They have yet to prove to me that they are there for the betterment of my country and people. What a wast… all of them.

    • Biker says:

      Hey "sick…"

      You, obviously, have never listened to the proceedings of the house in session, or you would recognise malicious behaviour, a.k.a. "fighting", at it's best, led by the very person you're leaning towards.

      In my opinion, we need statesmen, not childlike, "I can lambast you louder" politicians.

      Time will tell how long your "switch" will last. Good luck.

    • Anonymous says:

      I don't understand what your post has got to do with the article which is about a police investigation into alleged financial improprieties by the Premier. The Premier has in fact admitted that there is such an investigation. 

      It sounds like an attempt at political spin which has taken its cue from the Premier's statements at his rally on Saturday that sought to paint the Premier as the victim of a vendetta by the PPM rather than the target of a legitimate investigation by the police.

      I think it is also propaganda that you have switched sides from the PPM to the UDP on account of its criticisms of some of the more harebrained policies. It is not merely the PPM which is opposing some policies of this Govt. which will wreak havoc on this country. There is a groundswell of public opinion.

       

  23. Anonymous says:

    This is a joke.

    After spending millions to ferret out corruption in the country. It seems every corruption case was lost and those charged turned around and sued the government.

    So if you think for a second anyone expects anything to come of this then you are sorely mistaken.

    The only way to follow the money is through direct income taxation lacking that you will never convict anyone of anything.

  24. anonymous says:

    We got your back big Mac.

  25. Kirky says:

    Macky, looky ya, if ya get through wit dat law suit, can you spot me a lil case of busweisa or wha?

    • Anonymous says:

      Man a kin buy y a hole truckload if y wote fi mi nex elekshun. A ga nuff good bills now ya na.

      • Kirky says:

        Wha ya say, a truck load? Looky ya, now dat brings tears to ma eyes. Bless ya child.

        • Anonymous says:

          Y ga wote fi mi now doe ya na. Oddawise a’ll bring taes ti y eyes and peen ti y backside too.

          • Anonymous says:

            Macky boy, y tink a could get one lil fridge ta put all mi buds in too? No worry bout nuttin boy. A kin get mi foo foo sista n mi poor ol mudda t gi ya 2 more X's fi dat. No problem bro.

  26. Dreadlock Holmes says:

    10 million dollar slush fund for "Nation Building"??? "Government Bidding Irregularities"??? "Lack of Accounting"??? Police investigations into allegations of "Financial Wrongdoing"???

    Maybe it's time to start over??? Boot them all out. And form a political party with NONE of the usual suspects.

    Yes it's time. Cayman can't take much more.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      to 11.29. With none of the usual suspect??  That will be hard to find.  Because none of them arent any better than the other. Just given them all achance you see what happens.  All polititians got one thing in common. Me Me Me.  If it were the days when polotitinos were not paid, you would see one oft hese guy running for the race.  They all need to Go. Even the independents as they call themselves.  Allol Talk

  27. Anonymous says:

    Well we have Mac's standard response. "If unna accuse me I'm gonna sue unna !" This is his usual attempt to intimidate people.

    I heard Alden, Arden and Ezzard on Rooster this morning and I also heard the Chuckster call into the programme.

    Mac I don't know who you're planning to intimidate but I know it won't be either of those four Caymanian patriots.

    Brace yourself Mac……..it gonna happen to you again……..remember First Cayman Bank !!!

  28. Anonymous says:

    We have a hothead premier and a hothead leader of the Opposition. If ever there was a need for cooler heads to prevail, now is that time. The Caymanian people deserve better than this, surely?

    • Anonymous says:

      I do not see any evidence of a "hot head leader of the Opposition". Quite to the contrary he has shown clear thinking under pressure. If anything sometimes Alden is too measured and it makes him less dynamic. It seems that you are relying upon McKeeva's statement that Alden is "incensed".    

    • Anonymous says:

      Not to mention and a"  hot headed independent" what a mess th country is into

  29. mmcLaughlin says:

    Nobody has to accuse you McKeeva, we already know what your all about.  ATL

  30. petermilburn says:

    Lets clean this up once and for all.Let the chips fall where they may.I have said this once and I will say it again ever since we started political parties we have become a divided nation.THEM/US and this in my opnion is where most if not all of our present problems started.Whatever happened to Honesty and Integrity in this country?Its all about greed and power and this is totally wrong for these islands.Time for a drastic change in our political arena and lets slow down this speeding train.

    • Al Nomadi says:

      How true. Keep up the good work Peter.

    • Geo says:

      Posts that indicate there should not be a part system should also state how they propose to change the system,don’t you think, ya leaving us reaching out for more savvy words?

  31. Anonymous says:

    CNS…How come you have not posted anything on the UDP rally on Saturday? Have to say as a bystander and a expat living here, I was most impressed by the large turnout and the fact that they are embracing persons like myself. I was also impressed that there just wasn't speeches but that the Premier and his ministers stayed around and mingled and talk with crowds. In the USA where I come from we would be hauled off by the secret service if we could close to our elected officials like that.

    It was certainly a different twist to my normal Saturday at the public beach but I thoroughly enjoyed listening and talking to the local people and hearing their concerns and thanks to all who made my family and I so welcome.

    CNS: This is not an omission by design. Wendy, the only CNS reporter on Grand Cayman, was off island this weekend, which she arranged months ago, and we were unable to find anyone to cover it. I'm surprised that the premier's press secretary has not released anything about this event yet.

    • LOL Mac says:

      Is that Mac posting stuff pretending to be an Expat ? I went by there at 3 and all I saw was a couple of people in line getting food.

       

      • Anonymous says:

        @lol Mac

        I have no reason to pretend to be anyone than who I am. My family and I were at the beach attending a birthday party of one of my nine year old son's friends. We were under the cabana right near the rally and had a birdseye view.

        We enjoyed listening and again I thank them for allowing us to feel welcome. For the record, I did see some people there getting food but it certainly was not the majority of them nor was there a line up, per say. i thought it was very orderly and organized.

        Thanks again to all of those Caymanians who treated us well and no, we did not partake in the food. We brought our own.

    • anonymous says:

      CNS, you covered East End in the morning…Did Wendy leave island after that rally??

      CNS: No before, but we managed to find someone to send us pictures and info for the EE protest. I thought I had found someone to cover the rally but it just didn't work out. Most people don't realise what a small operation CNS is.

    • Anonymous says:

      "Have to say as a bystander and a expat living here, I was most impressed by the large turnout and the fact that they are embracing persons like myself".

      This seems to imply that as an expat you would not have been welcome at the protest in East End. Just so you are aware it was a wonderful mix of expats and Caymanians, young and old, rich, poor and middle class from every district. It represented what is best about Cayman.    

  32. Anonymous says:

    the mere suspicion of impropriety should be enough for the "premier" to stand down in the name of his country…….but he won't, he's in too deep and hasn't seen the wood for the trees in decades……but guys, regardless of how most users of CNS view this current Govt….this sort of news is truly appalling and can really damage our country……..we should let this one be fought behind closed doors and everyone calm down before the FCO/Governor/Duke of Cambridge come in and advise us how to run our lives…….

    • Anonymous says:

      What we have here is an police investigation into potential impropriety based on evidence presented to the police. That is not the same as mere suspicion of impropriety. In any first world country he would have forced to stand down.  

  33. Jacky boatside from oldbush says:

    Police are always investigating Hahahahaha I have a running bet insufficient evidence will be the outcome or Lack of evidence. No worries Mac If you had drugs now! only the lord could help you!

  34. Anonymous says:

    Mr Bush, please go ahead and sue if it pleases you, but please DO NOT utlise public funds to do this!

  35. Anonymous says:

    I am not sure I understand someof the posts. Should we close our eyes to possible corruption by our government and Premier just so that we are not another TCI? But is that not the ultimate outcome if we give in to the ostrich mentality.

    To quote from a great journalist : "Democracy dies in darkness and secrecy." We should never be afraid of what is right. If they must all be investigated – UDP, PPM, cronies, etc – they should be. Because it is our country and our reputation at risk. We must appear to have "no tolerance" for any form of corruption.

    XXXX

    Let all the worms come out….it is time.  

  36. Anonymous says:

    well done ppm….unfortunatly given your track record of financial mismanagement you are not fit to govern either…..

    who's left..independents???,,,hahaha

    the solution is direct rule for 2 years!

  37. Anon says:

    Party politrix at its best. Getting sick and tired of the UDP/PPM rants.

  38. Bodden says:

    The Opposition needs to be careful. Cayman's reputation is at stake. And the UK may interpret the findings as "poor governance" instead of "good governance."  People be careful what you ask for

    • Anonymous says:

      The opposition did not start this, the police investigation has been going on for a year.

    • Anonymous says:

      no different than what we have now with Mac and UDP – poor governance instead of good governance and our reputation at stake!

    • Dr.Florence Goring-Nozza, D.Div says:

      Bodden you keep making a lot of political ideological statements using words and phrases cautioning how we the people think and feel about the UDP government. But  strangely enough, I have yet to hear you even once criticize the actions of this premier. You appear to be extremely biased in your position. As  you are indeed an expert on legislation, and  a political pundit you will agree that this current premier has indeed gone out of his way to  disconnect and ignore the wishes of the people of the Cayman Islands and  is consistently being manipulated and controlled by the rich and  wealthy living away from us. We all take note that registration of the unemployed during a political rally speaks volumes to the integrity of a political party and is nothing short of a political stunt or shall we say political "grand standing?

      Bodden, what do you have to say about jobs for our people?

    • Anonymous says:

      If a politician is engaged in "financial irregularities" that rise to the level of official corruption the that is very much "poor governance." Such a politician should be dealt with forcefully under the law for the protection of "good governance."

      So far there are allegations and counter allegations. A bit of financial transparency (anyone remember that long forgotten idea?) should shine the light on the dealings of government to protect the public purse.

       

    • anonymous says:

      you are correct.  It may be like Turks and Caicos …the Opposition AND the government had a joint march against the UK 'governance' and suspension of their constitution. 

       

      Would really be something to see UDP and PPM jointly marching here for same reason. 

       

    • Anonymous says:

      The truth must and will be brought to light.

    • Anonymous says:

      If it is poor governance..then, it is what it is!!!!   Thanks to whoever the bad apple(s) is/ are!!!

  39. Anonymous says:

    "When the premier was contacted by CNS, he said by email, “Alden is doing all this in the hopes of carrying me down, so he can be premier! He is even more incensed because we have asked for a commission of inquiry into how the contracts, procurements and funds were handled on the high school projects when he was the minister.”'.

    1. Alden isn't doing it. There has been an ongoing police investigation for the past year.

    2. Since there has been an ongoing police investigation it makes no sense to say that it is being done because Commission of Enquiry into the tendering of the schools project has just been requested.

    There are other investigations that should be done by RCIP into Mr. Bush's dealings, e.g. Cohen loan and China Harbour Engineering Company.  

  40. Anonymous says:

    And of course…. we had Alden, Arden and Ezzard, (totally _conincidentally_ of course) fully prepared, and salivating first thing this morning on Rooster for these headlines.

    I suppose the Tuesday and Wednesday spots weren't as good this week hey fellows?

     

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      so what? I guess youthink it would not be the same if were the other way around?! get over it.

    • Anonymous says:

      As mentioned on the show, they were scheduled for this morning last week because of the march scheduled for tomorrow.

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess they are more ready than you give them credit for. LOL. 

  41. Anonymous says:

    Well this should be good! Popcorn ready! 

    PPM plays this card to get more voters rolling into election! 

    How will UDP respond? 

    Stay tuned for the next episode of Politricks!

  42. Anonymous says:

    Baffled.

    One side argues the UDP is corrupt and hence we are left poorer.

    The other side claims superiority due to having integrity, but overspends.

    Either way, I'M POORER and live in a less stable place due to these incompetents aka professional politicians.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well it seems the UDP also overspends and their overspending is on non-essential projects done apparently to garner votes, e.g. Boatswain's Beach, the Hurricane Hilton, and the paving of private car parks.

      • LOL says:

        lol… a typical PPM response. So PPM is good. PPM did not spend. Alden and Kurt did not managed our financial affairs without vision.  You party people, are just so ignorant, it is sad!

        • Anonymous says:

          I am not PPM but yours is a typical illiterate UDP response. Don't you understand the meaning of the word "also"?

      • Anonymous says:

        Let me translate my post for you. Whether one party is honest, or not, both parties overspend. We are all worse off by electing either of these parties. They party system has failed us.

  43. anonymous says:

    It……'s 'showtime"!

     

     

  44. Kent says:

    Intimidate much?

    "Please understand if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!” Quote from above by Big Mac.

    Should it not be "…anyone wrongfully accuses me…" Asif he has done something wrong, he should be accused!

    Big Mac, don't try to throw your weight around, remember you don't carry as much around as you one did.  Pun intended.

  45. anonymous says:

    oh god, help us!  these people of power, are itching to find corruption in the seat of our government!  i can only see a british dictatorship soon on the arise.  not good for the cayman islands, seeing there is no proper auditing of the financial budget. not good for a financial offshore center, if the brits take it over and call the shots!  god help us!  this is worse like independence!

    • Watler says:

      Party politics is going to ruin these islands.

      Instead of Caymanians being united, I have never seen so much division

      in my life time.

    • Anonymous says:

      Au contraire, the Brits stepping in has been fantastic news for the finance industry of Turks.

    • Anonymous says:

      At this stage, I'd rather a direct British dictatorship then what we currently have.

    • Anonymous says:

      All well and good but do you really think ANYONE in the political arena is qualified, experienced or indeed astute enough to run this country?  I would love for every single MLA to stand up and swear an oath that they have never done ANYTHING corrupt or have sought to, or achieved, any individual gain from their position.  Do you honestly think they could all swear that oath without crossing their fingers?  The whole system appears to be corrupt.  The whole country knows it but it is swept under the carpet – time for a change Cayman, get rid of them all!!!!