Mac still denies wrong-doing

| 23/04/2012

mac pointing 2.jpg(CNS): As pressure mounted over the weekend for McKeeva Bush to resign in the wake of revelations that he is the subject of three police investigations, the Cayman Islands premier was defiant about the accusations and said he would not step down. In a statement released by the premier’s press secretary, Charles Glidden, Bush said he had done nothing wrong and knew nothing about the enquiries.  “I have done nothing illegal, much to the disappointment of the opposition and those that see themselves as the premier, or as new government ministers,” he stated following a release from the RCIPS that saidBush was under investigation relating to an unlicensed shipment of dynamite and two enquiries were ongoing in regards to “financial irregularities.”

Bush said he had “no intention of resigning” and would “hold the course of continuing my government's efforts to restart the economy”. He said, “A key part of my job is to keep us on the course of financial responsibility, and to take back full sovereignty over all our financial affairs. That is what I was elected to do and what I will continue working towards.” 

The statement said the premier was seeking legal advice in connection with the comments made by the police and Governor Duncan Taylor, who first revealed that Bush was at the heart of further probes other that the original investigation into the letter he allegedly sent to Texan developer Stan Thomas in 2004 demanding payment of $350,000 in connection with land rezoning.

Members of the United Democratic Party were expected to meet on Monday evening but sources close to the party hierarchy stated that whilethere may discontent about the premier staying in office, it was unlikely that there would be significant pressure from inside the UDP for him to step down.

However, the opposition was calling for Bush’s resignation in the wake of the weekend revelations. The PPM members and others stated that it was untenable for him to remain in office. Arden McLean said he must step aside until the matters are resolved before causing “irreparable harm to the image and reputation of this country” and deterring the investors he was purporting to attract.

The opposition has also denied being involved in any international conspiracy which Bush is now claiming is the reason for what he called the “baseless allegations” being made against him, which he believes have originated from civil servants in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

See statement released by the premier's press secretary below.

Vote in the CNS poll: In light of revelations that McKeeva Bush is at the centre of 3 police investigations, should he step down as premier?

See related stories:

Mac faces 3 investigations

Bush subject of 2nd probe

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  1. Anonymously IRON CLAD says:

    This SoB is one UNRULY DRAGON that MUST BE put under 'HEAVY MANNERS' as the Caymanian would say. Just MAKE him damn well SUBMIT!!! Cha man!!

    He is NOTHING more than a wutless man with the title of Premier and UNFORTUNATELY being paid from the Public Purse and givin the priviledge to DESTROY our tiny lil nation.

    Wow,… it's KILLIN ME here People!

  2. Mushroom1 says:

    None of this is the least bit surprising. Just business as usual on the rock. Mac will continue his stance of denial and intimidation. All his UDP spineless cronies will remain silent, and decent people will go suffer and pay the price. There are only arbitrage opportunities for the dishonest, and said is rewarded.

  3. Anonymous says:

    What is Ezzard and Alden are doing is trying to bring down the Goverment just because they cant get there way thats all take a look at Turks and Caicos and see what happened there

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes am sure Ezzard and Alden are hard at work trying to bring down the Government. Hate to tell you bobo but the Premier is doing a good job with that all by himself. He is bringing down the island too. He can't bring himself down because to me the man cannot get any lower. He has sunk to new depths and all the while blaspheming God talking about his Christianity and how his hands are clean and he has a pure heart. 

      Be careful Mr. Premier, don't tempt God. You can hide from your fellow man but God knows and sees all and He knows exactly what you are up to and just like He did many in the Bible, he giveith and he taketh away. 

  4. Mac'n'Cheezies says:

    Coming soon to a theater near you…  

    From Far Side Productions in association with Banana Republic Studios and Looney Tunes, a roller coaster ride through the mind of megalomaniac…

    De Nile – it's not just any old river!!!

    Cleansing the purest hearts and washing the cleanest hands since the dawn of time…

  5. Lesson Juan says:

    He washes his hands in denial, keeping them so clean and drinks from denial for a pure heart!!!  It ain't just another river in Africa any more!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully on Thursday the Lord will open thee eyes and with your pure heart and clean hands dont let the door hit you on your ass on the way out. 

  7. Anonymous says:

    McKeewa, right now you jus wutless!

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually judging from the news it seems he might be wut quite a bit right now.

  8. Truth says:

    So Bush's line is I'm innocent but I don't have to prove it.   Or

    I'm innocent but I can't prove it.  Or

    I'm innocent because I don't know anything about any investigation.  Or

    I'm innocent because a caymankind investigation means no work will be done on it. Or

    I don't have to tell the truth if I don't want to and no one has ever called me on it.  Or

    I am THE Premeir so everything I say becomes the truth.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Julie as a bracer you are second in command you should make a stand against keke and what is right!you grew up in my area of Waterjng place, you also go to my church, for god sake take control or your vote in my household is terminated permanent!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      We see here illustrated several aspects of the sociology of the native Caymanians:

       

      – strong ties within villages

      – instinctive connections to where one was raised

      – religion as a proxy for community

      – patriarchy

       

      What a fascinating post.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Please get this in your thick greasy heads.  3 investigation a dozen (12) investigation but Mac will always be Premier. The guy is admired by the right people who have the most votes. Now you tell me what you do not understand about that?

    • Anonymous says:

      Speaking of thick greasy heads…

    • Anonymous says:

      Thick greasy heads?

      Nice, are all UDP lackeys punks? 

    • Anonymous says:

      Greasy heads are better than greasy hands holding for hand-outs.  Typical brainwashed die-hard fan – can't think for himself or herself.  

  11. Anonymous says:

    Our Premier will be back.  So start getting used to it.  Our Premier's heart is pure and his hands are clean. It is people like you that keep setting him up and telling lies on him. 80% of the voting population believes in our Premier and know that he is only trying to make blood out of stone to get the country back on track. Therefore, the other 20% of you better try and get used to the fact that "Long Live and Reign Premier McKeeva Bush" is going to be Premier for a very long, long time. 

    • Another Anon says:

      Being Premier for a very. very long time is known as a "Dictator".

    • Anonymous says:

      We hope you have an office in your house for him. Don't forget he'll need a fax machine.

  12. EYE ON THE ISLAND says:

    A wise man would step aside a fool will stay and bring down his country. Which is he?

  13. Anonymous says:

    This is a pile of foolishness, Bush deciding whether he wants to resign or not resign. I believe he needs to be kicked out of office. We may never recover from the mess he has put this country through. 

  14. WREX says:

    Man! this is bad for Cayman, let's hope these investigations come to a conclusion soon so we can get this over with and move forward.  

    I personally think there aren't many good political condidates to vote for as our representatives but if Caymanians continue with their current involvement in politics at some point in time we'll get through the crap and filter out the good ones.  

    I really would like to see more young Caymanians come forward, not like Elio or any other puppy type candidate, but a mini Bernie or something…

  15. marius voiculescu says:

    When everything is coming your way you're in the wrong lane…

    • Anonymous says:

      When everything's coming your way…you're in the wrong lane?  Hey, I love that!  Reminds me of exactly what's going on here in Cayman.  John Candy is Mac and Steve Martin is Rolston.  We keep yelling at them they're going the wrong way, but deh nuh listening!

    • Anonymous says:

      Isn’t it strange that the new constitution and it’s writers did not see fit to provide fr resignations or demittal from office when investigations ate being carried out on sitting Premier, Cabinet Ministers or slack benches.

      • Anonymous says:

        It's always easier to be an armchair critic than to do. I am sure that we could think of a dozen other provisions that could have been put in the Constitution after the event. But not having that particular provision is not strange as it is not found in the Constitution of any British Overseas Territory. 

  16. Anonymous says:

    No he doesn't. He's waking up.

  17. Anonymous says:

    UDP…TAKE HEED. Something nasty has happened in your woodshed, you all have a cancer in your party meaning your " leader", time for all of you to stand up and do the right thing for your Country and your people; show that you can do what the people of this Island asked you to represent them and take the bull by the horns and be leaders and not followers and stand up for the sake of this Country. YOU ARE ALL FAILING AND GOING DOWN THE TUBE WITH HIM AT THIS POINT. 

  18. Praying old lady says:

    You just tell me why you all want to draw that poor ole sole Rolston to head up the party? You leave that young man right where he is because he is doing a good job with education.  And you all should leave Mckeeva too until he is charged. If he not charged with a crime why the heck all of you hurting up your heads for? I will pray for all of you and both parties to learn to live good. As for Ezzard, I going to pray for him too, because all lot of them need prayers and God to guide them so that we can have a better Cayman

  19. Anonymous says:

    It depends on what your definition of the word " is " is.

    • Anonymous says:

      Don't worry.  Someone's gonna soon write a book about all this one day and it's not going to be pretty.

      • Anonymous says:

        The Godfather was already published years ago 🙂

      • Anonymous says:

        Already being worked on and it definitely ain't going to be kind to the Cayman Islands or the FCO.

  20. Anonymous says:

    I hope they are going to investigate his oppulent lifestyle and lavish spending of the public purse by travelling to every corner of the planet, at least once. Some destinations were a home away from home.

  21. EYE ON THE ISLAND says:

    Megalomania is one hell of a thing. You make irrational decisions at the worse possible time. The damage is done no matter how it turns out. He doesn’t care about the good of the country, its people, his party or his supporters. He only cares about preserving his power. The question is, will he pull is party down with him? I’m betting he will. What do you say?

     

  22. Cat says:

    Doesn’t he realize that all he has to do to make these probes end is actually prove that he is in fact innocent? I mean seriously, he is so busy talking smack all the time, trying to use other MLA’s as decoys,playing blame games and trying to take others down like a real child, “If I getting in trouble, I’m telling on you too”. Lol… Where he definitely went wrong though, is that he chose someone who is being honest, transparent and responsible and doesn’t have anything to hide like he does.

    He really need to step down, because even students in UCCI who have court dates for serious allegations or crimes made against them, and have not been proven guilty or innocent, have to “step down or away” from their studies and are not allowed to return to school campus until their investigations are over. If they are innocent, they can return.
    He needs to do what’s right for the country and if that does not mean enough to him to do the right thing then he should never be voted in ever again.

    Further more, since the other UDP members have not proved to have a back bone and force or encourage their so called leader to step down, none of them will receive my vote come election time. They make one vote doesn’t count but trust me it does.

  23. Anonymous says:

    In 1996-1997 Bush was on the Executive Council (ExCo, now known as Cabinet) and took an appointment as Director of Gulf Union Bank.  Soon afterwards, the "financial irregularities" of that venture emerged.  CIMA revoked Gulf Union's license and wound up First Cayman Bank.  At that time there was a petition circulated in the Legislative Assembly calling for McKeeva's immediate resignation from ExCo.  Bush went home and rested for several days before eventually attending a meeting with the then Governor John Owen, from which came his  resignation from ExCo.  He'll take his time, even if summoned again to remove himself from office.

  24. Concerned Citizen1 says:

    MY FAVORITE QUOTE:  "Just wondering though why they chose to announce this in the press without informing McKeeva first? Something smells here.. and it ain't the dynamite."

    May I add that from the start, I smelt something fishy about the 1st Investigation. It seems that there is NO EVIDENCE TO THIS DAY to remove the Premier. Yet there is a campaign to REMOVE the Premier whilst investigations are ongoing. Also, efforts to disclose as many investigations as possible about him as to raise doubts of his character. And it seems like UK officials are in it.

    The first is as well fishy, because many politicians have a valid trade and business license, and are currently running their own business while working for the Cayman Islands Government. The Premier has his own business and received or sought payments from a developer, Stanley Thomas. The issue of official corruption is whether he ensured Cabinet's approval of a rezoning application to benefit his business. Yet they have not come with any EVIDENCE and news sites and bloggers and opponents have already deemed him guilty of official corruption and have sensationalized the whole issue.

    Such things have raised my suspicions, and I am of the opinion that it is indeed party politics that is going to ruin this country, because of sensationalization of investigations like this with no verdict. 

    • cayman stew says:

      Now they are saying that Cayman's reputation is on the line because of the investigations and the Premier needs to resign?  Oh please….. our reputation was on the line from before Ivan's days.

    • Anonymous says:

      "The issue of official corruption is whether he ensured Cabinet's approval of a rezoning application to benefit his business. Yet they have not come with any EVIDENCE and news sites and bloggers and opponents have already deemed him guilty of official corruption and have sensationalized the whole issue."

      Clearly you are clueless. Firstly his wife's realty business was not the realtor for the transaction involving Stan Thomas. Her/their business had no part of the transaction whatsoever so why would the Premier be sending Stan Thomas a realty bill for $350 thousand? Did you read the letter? XXXX he said he has ENSURED the rezoning XXXX

      But then again I get the feeling I am wasting my time explaining all this to you. You are obviously another faithful UDP supporter with blinders on. 

    • Anonymous says:

      "The issue of official corruption is whether he ensured Cabinet's approval of a rezoning application to benefit his business. Yet they have not come with any EVIDENCE and news sites and bloggers and opponents have already deemed him guilty of official corruption and have sensationalized the whole issue".

      No, that's not really the issue. The issue is whether he received or was promised a bribe or extorted or attempted to extort money or from a developer to ensure (or not prevent) Cabinet's approval of a rezoning application. The evidence which have seen is the letter from Mr. Bush to Mr. Thomas demanding payment of the remaining $350,000 where the only service mentioned is ensuring Cabinet approval of the rezoning and certain witness statements given in connection with that demand which indicate that Mr. Bush's business was not involved with the sale of the land. It is still possible, although in my opinion unlikely, that Mr. Bush will have evidence to explain all of this away but the onus is on him to do so. For example, he might be able to produce a copy of the contract that shows the services which he was providing for the $350,000+. He should be able to explain whether this demand was paid and if not why he did not sue for it. If he does then he should disclose it right away and save himself and the country a lot of grief.

      However, even taking your interpretation, if we accept Mr. Bush's claim that it is a real estate bill and if he has exercised his office to ensure approval of rezoning and to receive private benefit then that may also be an issue of corruption.   

      This has nothing to do with "many politicians having a valid trade and business license, and are currently running their own business while working for the Cayman Islands Government" which while unethical is not corrupt since there is no abuse of their public office. This is a very serious matter. It is quite sensational all on its own. No help needed.     
       

  25. Anonymous says:

    Do I see shades of another Turks & Caicos Islands emerging here ?

    I'm no McKeeva Bush supporter, neither am I a supporter of the other lot either….PPM, or whatever they're called.

    NEITHER of this lot are any better than the other so its the smarter, more intelligent people in Cayman to figure out things for themselves.

    As far as these 3 allegations are concerned….Baines has had the first one in his  hand for almost a year now, requested by the judiciary of the country….and has done absolutely nothing that the public is aware of….now there is a second one of an unrevealed nature and a third one regarding the illegal importation of a shipment of dynamite….

    But, according to McKeeva Bush, he has had to formal notice from Baines, the CoP, that he is being investigated, meaning, that he has not yet been questioned by any member of the RCIPS on any of these alleged investigations.

    Does members posting on this forum not find that strange ?

    The Commissioner of Police has the same responsibility as the Premiere, McKeeva Bush, to keep Cayman's public fully informed on such serious allegations…and the nature and stage at  which any ongoing investigations are currently.

    This is beginning to look more like a real old-style British colonial stitch-up to me.

    • Anonymous says:

      No, it's not strange not to alert the target of your investigation as to the precise nature of investigation while you are still gathering evidence. In fact there is a real risk of sources of evidence drying up if that is done and you only question the target of your investigation after you have got the evidence you need to properly question them.

      I don't see how you cansee shades of TCI here and then refer to it as a British colonial "stitch up" which as I understand it means "to incriminate (someone) on a false charge by manufacturing evidence". That is a very serious accusation to make. 

  26. SKEPTICAL says:

    PARANOIA !!!! Bush is clearly now convinced that EVERYONE is conspiring to overthrow him, or at the least embarrass him – amazed he didn’t add a couple of members of the Royal Family just to round off the list. The statement creates a rather disturbing image – the desperate words of someone lashing out blindly at imagined foes – not entirely dissimilar to a blindfolded child trying to smash a hanging Pin’ata with a baseball bat.

  27. Anonymous says:

    There are a few gems in this press release.

    "The continual rumors of investigations without any formal notice to the Premier"

    Mac, when the UK OT Minister, the Governor and the Police Commissioner make official announcements that you are the subject of three separate police investigations that does not constitute "rumour".  You may take it that the investigations are real. Like Arden you don't have to wait for any formal notice from the Commissioner; you can just go and volunteer your cooperation and assistance just like he did simply because you announced that you had made complaint.

    "It has not been forgotten that Operation Tempura unjustifiably ruined reputations of respected Caymanians and others and cost the people of the Cayman Islands in excess of ten million dollars."

    According to the the following quote it was Mac himself who started Operation Tempura so if this was a part of a conspiracy to bring down Cayman he must have been party to it and responsible for the damage:

     "…Leader of Government Business McKeeva Bush had himself played a part in triggering the investigation when he approached the former commissioner, Stuart Kernohan, about the information he had regarding Desmond Seales and Anthony Ennis, as revealed during former UDP MLA Lyndon Martin’s trial".

    http://centos6-httpd22-php56-mysql55.installer.magneticone.com/o_belozerov/31115drupal622/headline-news/2009/10/10/la-erupts-over-op-tempura

    "…the Premier has received legal advice that to avoid any excuse for a further investigation the Premier must first obtain specific legal advice and is doing so from United Kingdom Counsel in keeping with his usual adherence to the principles of good governance and the “rule of law”"

    That is exactly what we are concerned about, Mr. Premier: that you will continue to act in keeping with your  "USUAL adherence to the principlesof good governance and the rule of law".   

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Advice from 'United Kingdom Counsel' is not 'adherence to the principles of good governance and the "rule of law"", which by the way is not a term one puts in quotation marks.  What it is is something he needs desperately, which will make for very uncomfortable reading.

    • Anonymous says:

      English legal counsel?  From the public records I've seen of late, its a Jamaican Counsel he has been using… I always did think that an odd choice for the leader of a UK territory that (supposedly) follows English law to make.

    • Anonymous says:

      It may have been Mac who claimed credit for kicking off Tempura but it wasn't his fault that it turned into the free-loading fiasco it ended up as – that was down to the Governor of the day.

    • Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

      He claims he loves Cayman.

      Give me a break!

      If he truly loved Cayman, he would step down until the investigation is finishedand if his "heart is pure" and the investigation proves so, then he will be reinstated and I am sure with damages, but right now he is hurting Cayman by bringing the bad spotlight on Cayman by remaining as Premier.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Do I have to give back my fridge?

  29. Frank says:

    The fact that McKeeva has the CHOICE to resign is what we should be finding extremely disturbing. You mean to tell me that the leader of our country could potentially be convicted in the near future of some serious wrong doing yet we are still allowing him to make decisions on our behalf? It should be MANDATORY that he step aside until this is all dealt with correctly rather than taking the "Innocenet until proven guilty" approach. If, after the dust settles he truly hasnt done anything wrong (XXXX) then he is reinstated until the next election. It would serve our government better to act now and maybe have to apologize for false accusation in the future than not act at all and suffer worse consequences from the potentially ludicrous decisions that he could make while still in power.

    • STRAIGHT TALKING says:

      Frank you have two tongue, because you was all over McKeeva at one time.  You have a short memory.

      • Anonymous says:

        He's being frank.

      • Frank says:

        Please go back and find somewhere where i was "all over McKeeva" I have never been an advocate or supporter of the UDP or McKeeva Bush. Until you can give correct information using correct grammar please stick to licking windows.

      • Anonymous says:

        Even if he was, everyone is entitled to change their minds.  Pity the rest of the UDP and its supporters don't see the light and change their minds too.

  30. Anonymous says:

    The proverbial sh** is hitting the fan now – and Gov Taylor is extending his tenure for a year so he don't miss any of it!

  31. Dreadlock Holmes says:

    True, that the Premier may believe he was elected to turn the economy around, although the indications of that are tenable at best, he was also elected if I recall on a platform of "openess" in government.  This was perhaps to many the most important aspect as for too long local government seemed to operate outside the boundaries of transparency and therefore good governance. Mr. Bush would go far in acknowledging that fact especially in light of the released document demanding payment for a substantial amount of money payable to him from a developer.  If this payment was above board and legal then all he has to do is explain it to regain some credibility. Instead of blustering, blaming others that it is part of some "conspiracy."  The ball I believe is in your court Mr. Premier.

  32. UDP Supporter says:

    I don't believe a word of any of this. Obviously the political opponents of our Premier and their British allies are attempting to smear the name of our Premier who is nothing less than a Godly, Christian man. Without our Premier and his colleagues in the UDP this island would be no where near the paradise it is today. People need to be grateful and not destructive and always trying to pull down good people.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hey Mac, can't believe you still have one supporter. Unbelieveable.

    • Anonymous says:

      That's a good one, you almost had me there! Now, where's that laugh button?

    • Anonymous says:

      Good to hear from you again UDP Supporter – always good for a laugh. 

    • Anonymous says:

      He may be not guilty of any of it, but he really should do the right thing and step aside until the matters are sorted.  It's the right thing to do and if he was an honest man as he claims, he would be asking the same if another leader was in his position.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wait until the facts come out bobo, you soon chnage your mind..

      • Anonymous says:

        Hey UDP supporter…you're not Jordanian by any chance are you…?

        • Anonymous says:

          No, this one can spell and make complete sentences. I think he is also tongue in cheek. 

    • Don Quixote says:

      To 10:51, 

      Please, please, please!  DRINK THE COOL-AID… if you're hurting so badly.

       

  33. Anonymous says:

    Gee gangbusters!!!!!!

  34. Anonymous says:

    Rolston for Premier please. Mac needs to step down, and heaven forbid Julianna take the reins. The only sensible choice is to make Rolston Anglin head of the UDP and Premier until the next elections when Cayman can decide whether the UDP or PPM run the country.

    • Anonymous says:

      She would prob want to hold Cabinet in Brac coz she's [too busy] to come to Grand. Noticed that she even missed the photo opt of Henry Bellingham "Meets the Cabinet" on Govt website.

       

      Also, since when did CG become a member of cabinet?

       

      CNS: The Deputy premier was in Tonga when the OT minister was visiting the Cayman Islands. See UK OT minister heads for Cayman Islands

      • anonymous says:

        What the Hell on earth was she doing in Tonga??!!!!  Did she really need to go that far to try to distance herself from Mac??

        • Anonymous says:

          If you were offered paid vacation half way around the world with no liability what would you do? I hear she's not in her Minister's office very much either, maybe two days for every two weeks so four days a month. For a Minister, she is rarely, rarely seen in the Govt building.

  35. Anonymous says:

    I feel embarressed just being privy to such information, – I will look no more. . .

  36. Anonymous says:

    Interesting stuff and no UDP MLA's saying they still support him.

    • Anonymous says:

      None saying they DON'Tsupport him!

      • Anonymous says:

        None saying much at all really, all they do is bleet "Baaahhahahahahh" and run after their "leader"

  37. Anonymous says:

    Just wondering though why they chose to announce this in the press without informing McKeeva first? Something smells here..and it ain't the dynamite

    • Anonymous says:

      Probably exactly the same reasons the Aina report into the Bridger/Polaine complaints is still secret.

      It means we all have to speculate and second guess about who was accused of doing what to whom and when. This is part of a very carefully calculated series of actions to de-stabilise the Cayman Islands

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Just because McKeeva SAYS he doesn't know anything about investigations DOES NOT mean that McKeeva doesn't know anything about investigations.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Obviously they couldn't wait because the smell was so bad.

  38. Anonymous says:

    Where can I find a copy of the UDP Constitution? I am wondering if say a thousand of us join could we as citizens of the country kick Mac out of the UDP and declare that the UDP has no confidence in him?

    • Anonymous says:

      Excellent idea. There are only a couple of hundred voting members so it would be pretty easy to create a new majority inside the UDP that want Mac out.

    • Anonymous says:

      So I see from the thumbs down that this comment may have hit a nerve among current UDP members who don't like the possibiity of losing control and losing what goes along with control.

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually it may be PPMers who want Mac to stay as they think that their chances are much better with Mac at the head of the UDP than someone like Rolston or Mike Adam.

    • anonymous says:

      What Party???….UPD is not a party by any definition I can find. No wonder you are looking for the constitution- not sure anyone has seen it since the UDP was formed.

      • Anonymous says:

        … But they been having a party… one BIG party and we're footing the bill!!

  39. Legal Seagull says:

    Even if the taking of payments by a politician to "facilitate" a planning application is not a crime, monies paid under such an agreement can be claimed by the government from those that have benefitted from such payments – see AG for HK v. Reid.  Just saying.  Just wondering if our AG is reviewing this?  Just asking.  Interest would be payable too.

    • Anonymous says:

      So what are 2 condos in the Ritz worth these days anyway?

      • Suivre le fric says:

        You would LOVE to know who has been renting one of them.

      • Anonymous says:

        Not sure about 2, but for a condo at the Ritz its whatever the market price is on recent, within the past year or so, sales of such condos apparently.

        • Anonymous says:

          I wonder if there are any nervous lawyers or bankers around now. You guys did full due diligence and reported anything to the authorities, right?

  40. Anonymous says:

    For some reason the thing that popped into my head when I read the ridiculous press release was the famous Richard Nixon statement -"I am not a crook".

    • Anonymous says:

      To 09:27

      What pops up in my mind is the statement President Clinto made; i never had sex with her! he was never removed or steped down from his office and went on to win his second term in the  USA.

       

      • Anonymous says:

        He was impeached and not convicted only because the Democrats controlled the Senate.

        • Don Quixote says:

          HMMMMMM!

          He was impeached and not convicted only because the Democrats controlled the Senate!

          VERY SIMILAR TO OUR SITUATION!!

      • Anonymous says:

        Clinton wasn't billing Monica or vice versa…

      • hmm says:

        We are not talking about the Premiers sexual exploits, we are talking about illegal importation of explosives and financial irregularities, big difference, I could care less where Clinton got his jollies!

        • Anonymous says:

          Indeed (although there's many a man of a certain age who would be, err, flattered at such speculation, surely) : it'sthe depth of denial folks with some knowledge of history are drawing a comparison over, not what exactly was or is being denied, you understand. Evidently Hilary did.

      • Frank says:

        True, but the only thing Bill Clinton was guilty of is bad taste.

      • Anonymous says:

        At least he was just a liar and not a thieving toe rag

      • Anonymous says:

        wrong.  He said, 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman".

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, and let's not forget Bill's claim to never having had a little bit of Monica in the White House.

    • SKEPTICAL says:

      What about – ” I am not, and never was, a Director of First Cayman Bank ”

  41. Anonymous says:

    We have a new world record for "longest rope".  Representatives of Guinness World Records will soon arrive in Cayman to verify and officiate the achievement.  Sources say this rope is at  least a third longer than the previous holder of the title, affectionately known as the "rope longa den time".  The exact length of the new rope is presently unknown.

  42. DanDan says:

    Step down already!

    If you are not guilty, as you claim, then move aside and allow the investigations to run their course!

    Then when you get your letter saying your name has been cleared (don't hold your breathe for that one) you can sue the PPM!

    LOL, you know what's even more scary than Mac's denial XXXX?

    Who in the UDP would make less of an ass of themselves if they had to step up to the plate as acting Premier…Julianna, oh smh, wow lol, God help us…. is the right thing to say right about now!

    • Anonymous says:

      It is disingenious to the members of Cabinet to suggest that no-one is qualified to replace the Premier. If the members of the UDP and the Premier had any love for Cayman and any desire to save their party going into the next election, the Premier would step down until the investigations are completed and MLA Rolston Anglin, who has done a commendable job with Education and seems to be one of the furthest removed from controversy and corruption allegations, would take over.

      The problem is that  either the ego of the Premier is so large or XXXX, that unfortunately, supporters of the UDP and Caymanians in general, will never see such an unselfish act take place. XXXX Great Pity! 

  43. Anonymous says:

    UDP party members, grow a pair, throw him out NOW or go down with him. Except you foolio, you couldnt grow a pair to save yourself.

     

    The only one embarassing us is you mac,  STEP DOWN NOW

  44. anonymous says:

    Mac,

    For heaven sakes, You are now accusing civil servants in the FCO?

    That's just taking it a bit too far.

    What do they know about you that we don't know, you are now squealing on yourself!!!

     

  45. Turtle's Head says:

    Dear Mac,

    Your presence is now an impediment to investment in the Cayman Islands.  Please put your ego aside and step down, at least until these investigations are completed. 

    Kind regards

    Everyone with common sense.

  46. Anonymous says:

    The statement issued indicating that the Premier would stay on and suggestng that the investigations are the result of a secret cabal of rogue bureaucrats in the FCO is beyond ludicrous. Did one of them come to Cayman and send the "bill" to Stan Thomas that I seem to indicate the Premier acknowledged sending? Did another one sneak into Cayman and try to get the unlicensed explosives released? 

    If the Premier does not have sufficient love of country to step aside and to cooperate fully with the investigations then someone else needs to help him exit.

    • Uriel says:

      It seems that the Premier's love of country is equal to the majority of the bloggers on cns. Furthermore, I don't believe it is the Premier making fools of us, or destroying the country, anyone reading some of these comments would say we are doing that all on our own. It is obvious that naivety is rampant and that good sense and political awareness seems to have eluded us, even with our higher education and degrees, the tribesman mentality persists. I would suggest to some of you, think before posting and to some, not posting at all, for the LOVE OF COUNTRY.