Alden asks about Vegas ATM
(CNS): The opposition leader was still demanding answers from the premier on Wednesday morning as he stood in Hero’s Square leading an opposition LA boycott. Alden McLaughlin raised more questions for McKeeva Bush to answer regarding the letter he sent to Stan Thomas in October 2004 relating to the rezoning of land on the West Bay Road. Having pressed Bush to explain what service the $350,000 was for on numerous occasions, the opposition leader also asked if Bush had met with the Texan developer in Las Vegas earlier that year and if the meeting was connected to thisand if it ended with a trip to an ATM machine where $20,000 was withdrawn.
He also asked Bush to answer if other payments had been made via wire transfer and exactly how much Bush or Windsor Development, his former real estate company, was paid by Thomas and why.
The opposition leader, his PPM colleague Arden McLean and the independent member for North Side, Ezzard Miller, all took part in a mock debate in Heroes Square after walking out of the Legislative Assembly at the start of business. An audience of around 150 people also braved the mid-morning sun to cheer the MLAs on as they demanded the premier’s resignation.
“The premier does not have the moral authority to continue the business of this country while under the weight of three criminal investigations for which he has offered no explanation,” McLaughlin said, adding that the boycott was a protest over the failure of the premier to place the no confidence motion on the agenda.
However, he said the opposition would return to the LA Thursday in order to debate the referendum bill of one man one vote because of its importance. He said they would be pressing government to change the requirement for the referendum to pass from 50% of the electorate to 50% of the people who turn out because it is a government-initiated vote and not the people-initiated referendum that the campaign had pushed for.
After nominating Consuela Ebanks as a temporary speaker, the opposition leader read his lack of confidence motion to the gathered crowd. He said that unless some credible explanation was forthcoming, Bush did not have the authority to continue to lead the country. McLaughlin asked again why it was that Bush would not explain the letter and why he believed he could not speak about it.
“The people of this country deserve a fulsome credible explanation,” McLaughlin maintained, adding that research had revealed there was no business relationship with Thomas and the premier or his real estate company, Windsor Development.
This sentiment was echoed by Ezzard Miller who said that freedom of information requests had revealed all of the details relating to that land and its re-zoning. The planning documents reveal that the zoning application for the land had been made by the previous land owner and the process had been completed by the time Thomas acquired it. All that remained was for the zoning to go before Cabinet for approval but it was deferred a number of times.
Meanwhile, as the outdoor LA meeting continued, the government members remained in the air-conditioned parliament building and debated the motion to introduce the referendum bill.
The premier said that government would proceed with the business despite the opposition not being there as the work of the legislature was important and the members were all paid very well.
“I consider it my duty to be here if I am on this island when this House is called for business,” Bush said.
All of the MLAs will return to the LA Thursday morning for a special meeting of the House in order to debate the actual bill for the referendum set for 18 July.
Category: Politics
Do Chinese construction companies have magic ATM machines too?
You have to laugh at Billy Culbert's explanation in the Compass that the buyer might pay the realtors "commission" in order to reduce the amount of stamp duty payable. So…. Stan paid Mac THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION dollars to save $75,000 in stamp duty. Sounds like Macanomics to me!
If the land sale was 28 million how do you come up with $75,000 in commission. I thought that shoulkd be around 7%, a heck of a lot mor than 75K
$750,000 in commission.
The better question is how come there is no evidence of a real estate contract for a commission until after the land was sold?
I didn't say that the commission was $75,000.
Same old PPM political strategy used in 2005, accusations of corruptions, win election and then fall silent on investigations except for the housing, no official charges were filed against Dr. Frank and now his accusers have him on their platform.
Except it is not a strategy. It is the reality of what we faced then and which got swept under the carpet. Time for spring cleaning.
Wow! can you imagine next election. We will have Frank back, Consuelo will be speaker and Alden will be Premier and Ezzard will be deputy Premier for the first year after which Arden and Ezzard will file a no confidence motion and have him removed. Ezzard will then become Premier and Arden will be deputy Premier. Consuelo will be kept on as Speaker and given a raise.
Frank cannot come back as he is a convicted man in the eyes of the law.
I thought what happens in Vegas STAYS in Vegas!
Here is a couple things that make you go hmmmm
1. A popular money laundering scam that is commonly used. Say for example you have a company in the BVI or Cayman, and you received some ill gotten gains from someone who you do not want to be revealed via any investigations. Well all that person would have to do is meet you at a casino, purchase say $50,000 in chips and hand them to you. Then all you would have to do it play a couple hands of Black Jack (win or lose) and then cash in the chips, get their check and deposit the check in BVI or Cayman as "your winnings".
2. Suppose you are running a road cleanup campaign using funds provided by the Government and or a private company and you wanted to fraudulently keep some of the funds for yourself. Well I suppose what you could do is
a) Submit a timesheet for some of the workers for the entire week even though they only worked 2 or 3 days for the week. When the check is issued you could ask them to endorse the checks, and you could go to the bank and cash it for them (as an added service) and pay them for their 2 to 3 days in cash and pocket the rest.
b) Suppose you had a worker by the name of John Henry Smith, you could write one check for Mr Henry Smith and one for Mr John Smith and ask him (same individual) to endorse one of the checks which you could take to the bank and cash it, putting all the cash into your pocket.
Just some food for thought today.
You have obviously never heard of Source of Funds information which all financial service providers, particularly banks, are required to obtain for deposits of any amount which represents “unusual activity” for a customer, or exceeds, customarily, anything over as little ad $2000.
Ah yes, they would be supposed to file SAR’s …
oh, the 'SARs' that werent filed when Joey Ebanks repaid his Turtle Farm bar tab/ salary advance of $50,000 in cash
Yes I have, the source of funds would be "Winnings from the Casino" you could also state you walked in with $1000, got lucky and walked out with $50,000 and the real source of funds is now hidden and it looks like you are good at Blackjack.
Also, for these individuals a $50,000 deposit is not considered unusual activity.
Anyway, I guess I will just go to the Police with what I think and not bother to try to convince people on this forum. Maybe they will listen.
Then you could go back to Vegas or the Bahamas on a private jet and try and win back some of the money you just lost, I suppose?
So if there is evidence of corruption should we assume that the AG's Department is preparing asset freezing orders?
The AG needs to be wary of obtaining freezing orders as he will need give an undertaking in damages. Lose the case then the Government gets sued, yet again and the taxpayer foots the bill.
If this mess ever gets to a public enquiry I hope that someone asks about cash payments to politicians in relation to all the "irregular" things that have happened in the past 10 years.
Oh there are lots of cancelled/cashed personal cheques out there for favours! Not even smart enough to use a nominee company!
McKeeva Bush does not realize that he may put Cayman on the map in regards to their Financial Reputation and their stability. All he has to do is step aside, before damage is done.
Much of the damage isalready done, and the damage from Operation Tempura is still hurting us: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/cayman-islands-the-mets-caribbean-connection-7697811.html
And there's a lot more where that came from.
It would seem that the Opposition believe that just because they are referred to as the Opposition, their job is to "oppose" everything, regardless of how important it is for the country to move forward in a positive way. This is what has caused the "Political Paralysis" that we suffer from today! Gents, you need to leave your egoes at the door when you go into the LA building!
They support the Shetty Hospital, they support the Port, they support the arterial extension in WB, they support the new Tech Park – your comment therefore lacks substance (as does most of what Mr Bush says).
Many of us support the arteial extension to WB, just not the closing of the current WB Rd. We need both alternatives as the original plans called for.
And how is our broke government supposed to pay for the extension? You can't have one without the other. There is no way the government would be able to afford to buy the land for the extension and then construct the road without private sector partnership. Not not. Not next year. Not in five years. Not in ten years. All major infrastructure projects going forward are going to have to be public/private partnerships and that's not easy to do with roads.
Thank you bingo, try explaining to these people that we can't borrow that kind of money to do any more of our infrastructures.
Like you said all forward infrastructures will have to be public private partenership. And the most sensible one we have to work with now is Mr. Dart. He has already invested billions, and as a Caymanian he na going no where.
Len, you can't have your cake and eat it too. the whole business idia of this partenership with Dart, and the Cayman people, were to stimulate the sick economy of our Island. without trading that piece of road, there would be no 1.2 billion spent by Mr. Dart. I take my hat off to Dart for sucha brilliant business deal.
Would'nt you say it's a suberb deal, comparing giving away other roads to developers and got nothing in return. Just in case you didnt know, we gave away our beach road from Pagent beach, all the way to Beach club, thats approximatly 3.5 miles of road.
So the first three posts are made at 7:35, 7:38 and 7:40… all a similar style, all a similar sentiment… then a 20 minute break, then three more posts made at 7:58, 8:00 and 8:03… again similar sentiments and styles. ALL posts by anonymous, ALL unpopular according to the thumbs…
My bet is that they're all the same person. But that's just my theory.
Who are you – the post police? You really pay close attention to these posts.
Interesting observation…Keep up the good work POST POLICE!! Maybe you should change your handle??!!
OMG people did everyone see that mess in front of the LA yesterday. Makes one wonder who is sending out the messages of instability in the government.
I don't like McKeeva any more than anyone else but these fools really take the cake. My god the things these politicians will do for power.
I believe in standing up for a cause but getting up in the middle of town to make a mockery of the Governments business going on in the house while it is session for the OMOV which is what they wanted is a total farce.
Unlike you?
$20,000 from an ATM machine???..Come on Alden..I was expecting better
I thought the same thing but you can from a Las Vegas ATM.
Your statement is misleading because regardless of where the ATM is any limit on your ATM is designated by your BANK . If your bank imposes no limit then you can withdraw whatever you feel. However, with AML restrictions and rules I find it highly irregular that any Bank would allow such a high limit especially given that $10,000 is usually the limit that triggers Federal review.
Bank sets withdrawal limits for their customers! And where was that ATM Machine? George Town Hospital or Las Vegas? You think people go there to gamble with $1000?
Have you changed your mind now that Mac has admitted he received the $20,000?
Does anyone out there know whether money which is accepted by any politician in relation to corruption, which is then disguised as a normal business transaction, counts as money laundering under our laws?
Depends where the money came from. Given some of the business people we have in Cayman, I wouldn't be surprised if a payment to a politician was like a pre-wash cycle on the way to a proper laundering.
If a politician accepts money from an illegitimate source and puts this in his Bank account here in Cayman, this would not be considered Money Laundering, this is nothing more than having a Pure heart, clean hands and feet and honest friends. Now if he later got caught smoking ganja up in West Bay, that would be suspicious! Stop worrying, there really is not much crime in Cayman. We go to church often and get baptized every couple of years. Yes I can surely say Caymanians are honest!.
"Does anyone out there know whether money which is accepted by any politician in relation to corruption, which is then disguised as a normal business transaction, counts as money laundering under our laws?"
The answer is no! It would only be illegal if they did not have Clean Hands and a Pure Heart!
Sincerely Dr. Joice Brudders!
Any hint of official corruption ought to be pursued to the fullest extent of the law no matter what office is involved – no exceptions. The public is entitled to know the facts in relation to these allegations
How in the world can you have thumbs down to this statement. It appears like a very reasonable statement to me.
Investigations just waste time. Don’t do it. Better to spend the money sending your government officials oput into the world to “take care of business”.
Unless your one of the "BAD" guys? They have them here you know? And more than just 4.
I am one Caymanian that would like a definitive on the record statement from the Premier on whether or not any such payment was ever requested or received.
He needs legal advice first apparently
ANSWER: No.
Is that a "no" like no payment to GLF?
Any time a politician in a position to make or influence government decisions gets large cash payments from anyone who can benefit from such decisions, the public should demand and receive a full explanation.
Oh, please. First Frank McField and now Conseula Ebanks to help prop up the Opposition's stance?
And a fake Parliament because they couldn't get their way in the real Parliament? What's next? A fake governor to tell a fake police commissioner to arrest McKeeva because the real ones won't do it? Then maybe they can have a fake prosecuter conduct a fake trial and a fake judge can convict McKeeva, since the real ones won't do that either? Good grief. The PPM has lost the plot.
I'm just glad Kurt Tibbetts is stayed out of this farce. Say what you will about Kurt's leadership style, but at least I respect him.
I respect your post but it seems to me that you do not understand the real issue here.
Cash payments from an ATM ……. I suspect that if this happened then the US authorities would be able to easily access the ATM records and possibly camera info from inside the casinos if they have not already done so. Cameras record everything in the public areas in casinos in Vegas.
Cameras record everything here also……look how well that has worked out for us
Very worrying. If there is any evidence of a cash payment that co-incides with the amounts specified in the now public "invoices" then I hope that it is being made available to the appropriate authorities.
I wonder if I filed an FOI request that I could get a list of how much it costs to get certain favours done?
Obviously you weren't at the Public meeting on Monday night as Alden spoke about the cash withdrawn at the ATM in Las Vegas to give to McKeeva so dont try to undermine the information that Alden STILL has to reveal!
Boy, you UDP will try anything to make your hero look like an Angel – desperate times for Mac & UDP!
Good grief, Alden I can'tr believe this is all you have under your hat!
Get over it! You're not going to get the premier to step down just because the
opposition wants him to! find something else to do?
‘Rundown’ held on the steps of the L.A. – PPM make a mockery of our system of government!
So true. What a disgrace. Guess the OMOV is NOT priority for the PPM. They lost an opportunity to really show their passion on this matter but walking out of the LA yesterday. Sad.
Yeah! what's wrong with a little comedy for the tourists??..Alden was playing himself and Consuelo was playing the Speaker of the House…Ezzard and Arden were playing themselves as Rundown has yet been unable to get anyone to fit the bill for those two..
Too bad Angela and Dave couldn't be there…
Really? $20,000 from an ATM machine? I call BS.
Its vegas dude
Vegas Baby.
Gotta gamble if you want to win, Baby.
Have you ever been to Vegas? Didnt think so.
Guess you have…Did you have the occassion to prove the theory and withdraw 20k from an ATM?
Alden is it our business when you are travelling how much money you withdraw from
an ATM or your account. You are going just too far with your accusations.
Read the compass. How does that grab you?
You will not become premier by bringing down the Premier, it's just not going to happen!
You are wasting our time.
Alden For the sake of of your sanity, you are loosing it. You are so obsessed with McKeeva Bush that I fear you will get a stroke or something. Stop the obsession, you are not doing any good for the country, only letting the Governor and everyone else see through you now that this is just a Vendeta call between you and the Premier.
Be carfefull that your followers do not make you fall off and fall out. Just some good advice I am giving you. You are now making people hate you.
I don't know about hate, but I'm really starting to dislike him. I found yesterday's theatrics in front of Legislative Assemblychildish and disquieting. It appears that Alden has put his hatred for McKeeva and his own political ambition ahead of the country to the point that he doesn't care if Cayman suffers as a result of his actions.
LIsten, I'm not saying what McKeeva Bush may or may not have done is right. We all know what McKeeva is about and have for decades. I just don't see the need to tear the country apart when general elections are only a year away. I get the feeling that Alden senses that he just can't become Premier as long as McKeeva is around. Instead of his constantly telling us why we shouldn't like McKeeva, I'd rather have him tell me why I should like him. The problem is that behind all his paper tiger bravado, Alden is lacking charisma, leadership ability, ideas and, apparently, intelligence.
I don't know who should be the Premier, but God help the Cayman Islands if Alden gets the position.
Is this ATM the big news? ha, what a let down, boy I was waiting to hear some shocking news in all this drama. I going back to catch some more parrot fish.
Is this the "smoking gun" that Alden has???
Alden this shows how desparate you guys are, to remove Mac. All your BS is only making us love our Premier more. People are look down on you bunch as a power hungry..have nothing to give Caymanians. get real and give up the BS…. Mac is not going anywhere.
There are thousands desperate to get rid of this mockery of a premier you muppet, enjoy your fridge