Referendum will be a holiday

| 08/05/2012

Hooray.png(CNS): As a result of the need to have sufficient people to man the polling process, the premier has revealed that the referendum planned for 18 July on one man, one vote will now be an official public holiday. Although McKeeva Bush had previously stated it would not be a holiday, which had caused concern for those campaigning for the national ballot, on Tuesday afternoon in an official statement he announced that the government has decided to “declare July 18, 2012 a public holiday in order to facilitate the holding of the referendum on single member constituencies,” because of a number of logistical reasons.

“In order to have sufficient personnel to work in the polling process people will have to be off from work. The RCIPS will be using Special Constables; civil servants and private sector workers will be utilized as election officers and people will also be recruited as observers and scrutineers during the referendum process,” the premier acknowledged. “In order to ensure the smooth running of the referendum process it was thought best to declare July 18th a public holiday.”

On hearing the news Ezzard Miller said he was delighted that the premier had bowed to the pressure as it was obvious with the amount of volunteers involved in any poll that it would need to be a holiday. As one of the leaders spearheading the campaign for one man, one vote,the independent member for North Side said a holiday would certainly help the ‘Yes’ vote as it would be easier for people to get out to the polling stations.

He said that despite the difficulties represented by government hi-jacking of the referendum, he and the opposition members will still trying to get further amendments to the proposed bill.

Although he didn’t expect to get very far with that effort, Miller said it was drawing close to the point where the government needed to forget the need for a national ballot anyway. He said the premier could save public money by passing the legislation for one man, one vote before the 2013 general election.

“Given the widespread support across the entire country for the equality and accountable system of one man, one vote, the government and the campaigners could all be saved the money if the premier brought a bill to change the election law,’’ he added.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Shame…another holiday that the already struggling small business’ will have to pay for.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What's ironic is you people have time to browse the web and write comments, yet business is bad and another holiday is the worst idea.

  3. lazy Civil Servant says:

    thanks Prime Minister !!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Do you realize that every holiday we have how much money leaves our country and never to be re-invested. We have no natural resources for export so just do the estimate on how many people go for a small vacation or shopping trip and on average how much money they take with them.  Dont bring up duties cause bags and bags will go past because who know who and who is family.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Wouldnt it be cheaper, faster and simplier for McKeeva to pass the referendum law!

    Guess that would make too much sense and confuse their little brains…oy vey

  6. Anonymous says:

    Dis ga be a double holiday fa me, ca i ain goin no way to wote,i guess unna kin say i na support one man one wote!!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Just what I needed! yay! another long weekend!

    Where should I go this time? 😀

  8. Anonymous says:

    You people complain about everything.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Very tempted to NOT treat this as a public holiday. I intend to provide the day off for any registered voters or people who are working or volunteering at a voting station. For the rest, it will be business as usual. 

    • Dred says:

      Not your choice. Public Holiday is a Public Holiday.

      DO NOT BREAK THE LAW!!!!

    • Kung Fu Iguana says:

      Aaah, the joys of the greedy employer mentality in Cayman.  Guess what, I am stealing your stationery right now.

    • Anonymous says:

      You're joking, right? Unless you want yourself hauled before a magistrate, that is.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Yet another public holiday? Never mind Cayman, the expats will keep the economy going whilst you indulge yourselves in Mac's PR exercise. You know, as they do for the other 364 days of the year.

  11. Anonymous says:

    "the government and the campaigners could all be saved the money if the premier brought a bill to change the election law,’"

     

    I AGREE 100%, UDP should try saving us some money for a change!!! Just pass the amendment to the law.

  12. Anonymous says:

    You really know how to piss-off people including who supports you.  Why, another holiday? We have a business to OPERATE. You have now upset the entire business community. Get real Sir.

    • Language, please. says:

      A couple of things : "p*** off" is considered offensive language here in Cayman ; and the comma you put after "Why" wasn't needed, but was after "real".

      Hope these observations don't get you more annoyed than you are already. Just trying to help.

  13. Anonymous says:

    100% IN AGREEMENT to :Submitted by CICC Member (not verified) on Wed, 05/09/2012 – 00:25 I operate a business too and all this fu%$ing around just f%$k up my business too.  I do admire the UDP government but of lately my admiration is now being watered down. (1)This holiday foolishness is not positive for business people. (2) Not standing firm with projects getting started is not good for the islands. (3) Remember that your people are all hungry and a hungry man is an furious man. (4) Time for YOU to get serious.

  14. Austerity says:

    Meanwhile in Portugal the government just CANCELLED 4 public holidays out of their 14 as a cost saving measure.

    Thanks guys

    Small, Medium, & Large Business Owners of Cayman

     

  15. Anonymous says:

    Yippeee..Ezzard says we should take tomorrow off too and come hear him and Alden butcher McKeeva on the steps of the LA..I don't know why he didn't force McKeeva togive us a holiday for that too..Don't know about taking tomorrow off  but I'm planning a nice 5 day week end come July..

    • Anonymous says:

      Ya, boy, I feel a sore throat comin on. I think the fever will set in around July 19th!

  16. CICC Member says:

    Thanks once again Mackie Boy and UDP for f@%king up my business!!! Sinceyou got into to power you increased fees all across the broad! You have cost me and the island potential new investors that say no thanks because they are concerned (about) the Stan Thomas matter (investigation number 1) and now because of stupid, self serving posturing designed to save your own political asses, in yet another kneejerk move you now throw at us another PUBLIC HOLIDAY! Hey Buddy, have you forgotten we the business community are suffering in this soft market!

     

    Get real joker, there are real lives and dollars out here, this is not a game of Monopoly. Now you have given me and my fellow business owners another day that we need to pay staff for, some that cannot even vote. I got the Queen’s Jubilee to contend with as the one in Nov is fast approaching as well! Why the hell don’t you just pay attention and simply change the law in a day saving this island millions. You know as well as every investor here that this new voting system is inevitable so do the right thing and put an end to it all. You have been around long enough to know you will be respected by all.

     

    Failure to do so will result in the business community not forgetting in 2013 and withdrawal of that much required support starts immediately. You know how the game works Mackie Boy! If you do not announce that you will change the Law this Thursday the snow ball starts down the very steep hill!  

    • Anonymous says:

      CICC MEMBER, it is either you cannot understand, cannot read or just plain dumb.  Cluck, cant you see that the PPM forced McKeeva to give a holiday.  Which part of you body do you have your ears eyes and nose.   Must be some place below your head in the back.

    • Anonymous says:

      exactly – this is extraordinary and kinda sums up the problems here …..a public holiday, so that far less than half the population can go vote….and thats assuming 100% of those whocan vote will vote…..this is really short-sighted and mistaken…..i understand the politics of it….but with so many public holidays already in most years, and this year even more….combiend with the economic climate, its wholly unnecessary…..why not simply allow people who want to go and vote to leave work on their own accord for a few hours, or even a half day……but by implementing a formal public holiday, it means any business that stays open will have to pay those working extra….and most of those working are going to be expats who can't vote!! 

    • Hungry,Angry man says:

      This holiday crap is just another way for the UDP to garnish votes. All he had to do was to send out a bulletin stating that the government is asking that employers allow the registered voters to go cast their vote.  Very simple.

      No Mr bush, you just stuck  another expense to my business. As a small business man I can barely make two ends meet, with the pension, sick pay, vacation pay, and now more holiday pay. Get serious man, prove that you care for this country and step aside before its too late for all of us.

      I beg you, show that you care about our island.

  17. Anonymous says:

    A lot of people are going to be sick that week end..lol….long week end yay!!!!!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Excellent.. online now booking my trip off island…Did everyone here Cayman Airways has new summer service to Dallas and Panama…Good chance to sneak in a long week end..

    • Anonymous says:

      Your type of mentality is what is hurting this country.  It is another reason why the government, on all sides, should stop playing the popularity game! I'm sure this came as a result of the claimed large turn out to the PPM/Ezzard et al meeting last night. So transparent that it came on the heels of that meeting, so "lets give um a holiday to distract from the messy issues we are dealing with".  What a mess.

    • Anonymous says:

      I hear Dallas is a lovely place to visit in the middle of July.   A great place to escape the chilly 90 degrees here for 105 degrees in Dallas. 

  19. Anonymous says:

    I still do not see the real relevance of this initiative, as there are several other key issues that need to be addressed and resolved such as the dump, reducing or even eliminating this budget year's deficit, and deliberating who we think will best run this country come May, 2013, just to name a few. It is not a matter of how the system is designed in electing or officials, but simply whom we elect.

     

    The easy solution is for persons to stop using the "popularity" notion of electing persons to the LA and to begin looking at candidates who are up to the task at hand. In other words, vote for those who put country before themselves and/or party.

    • Homer Simpson says:

      Not true at all! Problem this country faces is that no matter who you pick, it will always be an idiot, for the most part, running the country, and all because of party politics. Yes you might have elected one or two good candidates, but they are overrun by the head of the party. This is why we need a lot more single independant candidates. This is where we will get things done. None of this 'yes sir yes sir' business we have going on at the moment in parties. Have you ever once seen a party member disagree with the party leader? Ever? No, because they all fear them. But they all quick to put down the other party candidates/leader.

      We strongly need to get rid of party politics. Yes at the start we will have constant back and forward not agreeing to anything days in the LA, but thats all part of the change we want. Whats becomes then is ousting them, who constantly argue/gisagree with every single motion put forward by a opposite member. Get some young blood in there. Get them back to working together,while we, Cayman, still have a chance to survive.

      Now, you might be thinking I'm a UDP or PPM. I'm neither. In fact, both parties are as useless as each other, to an extent. Yes both parties have done a lot of good and bad. But the only way we can proceed is to work together, and not thinking of our pockets as politicans.

       

      Just my 2 cents worth

  20. Anonymous says:

    Sounds good and just another cost business have to suck up!

    Why not make it an unpaid holiday to help out business that play by the rules…..

     

  21. Anonymous says:

    When is the petition going to be turned in? What's going to happen with that vote?

  22. Expat says:

    {{Rolls eyes}}

  23. Anonymous says:

    At least now the CNS reporting clearly displays that the OMOV leadership is political and the misinformation that it was a grassroots nonpolitical movement is now exposed.

     

    CNS Note: The petition for one man, one vote was launched in February by two MLAS – see story here so not sure what you believe we have exposed.

  24. Anonymous says:

    How will the rabid Bush haters turn this into some scheme to destroy OMOV referendum?

  25. Mushroom1 says:

    While I am all for allowing time for voting, this seems to be overkill. Couldn’t we just give Caymanian REGISTERED votersthe choice of am or pm off?

    Oh, I know. It is because our politicians have absolutely no grasp of the economic realities facing their constituents.

    Heck, who cares if it puts a few more struggling businesses over the edge, they can always eat cake if there is no bread.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Great I get a day off!!  Cause I aint wasting my time with this or even the election next year!!  This place is a mess!!  No party is worth my time and effort to get out of bed.  They are all the same, talk no action!!

    • Anonymous says:

      All talk and no action. Sounds exactly like your plan to post on CNS and just lay in bed……why don’t you get out of bed and help create change.

    • Anonymous says:

      If you don't participate,  you have no right to complain about the results. Unless of course you are not allowed to participate.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wish I got the day off.

      My government department does not get public holidays off. No extra pay. No day in lieu. Nada. :/

  27. Anonymous says:

    please no more public holiday as people need go to work to pay bills!  Do it on Sunday where almost people dont work on sundays

  28. anonymous says:

    Mr. Bush, just save the country the $350,000 for this referendum…just do it, do what is right.

    Its going to pass 4-1 anyway and you will look silly the next day (… and lose 2013)

  29. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations to all the PPMers and Ezzard lovers who forced McKeeva to do this with all their whining. You''ve just hurt my business badly.  I'll not only have to pay my employees for yet another day off of work, but I'll have to deal with the inevitable rash of sicknesses that will turn a Wednesday off into a five-day holiday.   I won't be able to vote in the referendum because I'm be too busy trying to keep my business afloat. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess you are just one of the people who blame everything on PPM. I guess you will also be part of the apathy vote and not bother to turn up.

    • Anonymous says:

      For those business owners concerned about ppl calling in sick – It should help for you to know that according to the labor law; staff members who call in sick the day before or after a holiday are NOT eligible for holiday pay. I learned this the hard way when my legitimate sick leave ran pass a public holiday which I was not paid for. It seems the private sector is very familiar with labor laws while the Gov't is relaxed. CS employees call in sick over a nail ache yet it isn't properly monitored and no deductions are made. If Gov't were to start deducting pay from staff for going over sick days etc…. that would save the country MILLIONS!!

      • Mushroom1 says:

        True, true about the sick before a holiday. But I would think most employers know of this provision.

        My question is how many people are going to request the Monday off – as a vacation day. I think many. What a great 4 day weekend as gifted by our obtuse leadership, and payed for on the back of struggling merchants.

        I would also guess that this ‘holiday’ will just result in fewer voters on Island, not more.

        I guess what really scares me is that no one in a position of political authority thinks through their proposals to any sort of logical end. There is ZERO process management in our govt. No one thinks of the domino effect. None of them even remember that we, the people, are the customer, and they work for US.

  30. Question says:

    Will all bars and liquor stores asked to be closed on that day? Just like election day?

  31. Halelula says:

    Thanks for the Holiday it will be smoth weather I am going fishing all day.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yay, me too!

      • Anonymous says:

        And me too, but just to be sure Mac, can youplease write the DOE and tell them to make sure the sea is calm that day! I’ll cut you in on a percentage of my catch.

  32. Broke says:

    Great, now I have to pay everyone Holiday pay, even if they can’t vote. Thanks.

    • Question sign says:

      Well who is to Blame for demanding this holiday from the Premier.  Tell me who is to blame.?  I do not understand the PPM, they wanted the One man one vote idea to be approved by Bush, then when he said yes HAVE IT, they whine and cry that they do not like the day.

      Then they said they wanted a Holiday for people to turn up to vote, and now they dont know if they want that too because they have caused businesses to close.   Further more, I would be a dam fool if I get a paid holiday for free to spend it in some line waiting to vote.  Are you nuts?  I am going fishing.