LA rejects Mac’s motion

| 15/03/2013

mac pointing.jpg(CNS): The government, the opposition and the independent members all voted ‘No’ to the private member’s motion filed by the former premier Thursday, asking for government to refuse the request from the UK to invite election observers to Cayman. At around 10pm last night legislators rejected McKeeva Bush’s motion but the beleaguered former premier didn’t go down without a fight. With the election just ten weeks away, the debates on all four of the private members’ motions looked more like campaigning than policy debate but the final motion of the day was the one which saw tempers fray on the now crowded opposition bench.

Tabling his motion to have government refuse to invite a team of international election observers to come to Cayman for the election, Bush said the UK government had raised the issue with him as well and he had asked them why it was necessary when the election process here was without any problems. The UDP leader argued that observers only go to places where there are known or suspected problems or to emerging democracies. He said no one here has ever made a request for observers as there have never been any threats to voters or problems with elections here, which he said have been free and fair.

Despite the persistent rumours of vote buying and undue influence on voters for decades, Bush said observers should only come by invitation and there were many problems associated with their presence, as he laid a book before the parliament that detailed the process of election observation.

“There is a lot entailed in observers," he said, adding that it was not just a matter of sending people a few weeks before the poll and that a whole range of things needed to be done to make it credible. Having been involved in ten general elections and a candidate in seven, he said he was well versed about the process. However, he described the past when there were no political parties as “mayhem” and said he has seen voters punched in the face when they said they had voted for the wrong person.

Observers could smearCayman’s reputation and were only invited where there were historical problems or systemic problems and where the scope and coverage of a mission was established. “We have a good system,” he said as he praised the election officials and said that candidates all behave well.

As a contingency against government rejecting his motion, he said, if observers must come he had a preference for regional representatives and offered potential names, including the former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

When his motion was rejected, he accused the current premier of agreeing to the idea because she wanted to please the governor because of her minority government, as he referred to her washing his feet on his first visit to Cayman Brac. He lambasted his political colleagues for not supporting it as he said that the observers go where there is massive election fraud. “They go to places like Haiti and Angola where results are not heard for days because of the massive fraud,” he exclaimed.

He hit out at Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin, who said he believed the request by the UK was as a result of the complete loss of trust in government over the last four years and the numerous questionable actions of the premier and his UDP administration.
Bush accused Alden McLaughlin of persistently trying to undermine his government instead of trying to help, and because of “weak people” in the UDP government, the “so-called leader of the opposition” had succeeded.

“Let them investigate me; they have found nothing,” Bush said as he referred to the more than three police investigations relating to accusations of theft and corruption made against him that had led to his arrest in December. “I know why I was removed and the whole world knows it,” he said. “I have done nothing illegal.”

Defending his record in office and the controversial decisions, including the infamous Cohen loan deal, he blamed what he called the "stopaholics", who he said were petitioning against everything, which he described as a serious sickness. 

He said government was not supporting him and going along with the governor, whom he accused of dividing the local politicians.

“Now it’s a pitiful mess, where we are so divided and conquered, where we have a government and an opposition and an opposition to the opposition,” he said.

Bush said he brought the motion because “we are taking enough licks from them up there”, referring to the UK officials. The only reason why the FCO wanted observers was so they could find a way to smear the Cayman Islands, Bush said, and it was not about endorsing what other members had referred to as a gold plated election system.

“They are coming to look for wrong," he said, adding that he would not trust anyone coming to the country from the FCO.

With only his remaining UDP team supporting him, while the government, opposition and independents rejected his proposition, Bush’s motion failed. Echoing comments she made at a press briefing recently, the premier said government was still looking at how the observers could be facilitated within local legislation. She said it was becoming normal practice in many countries, including major leading democratic nations. 

Juliana O’Connor Connolly pointed out that it was in the new UK whitepaper on its overseas territories. However, if observers came, government would want people from the region. She refuted the idea that observers imply the process is inadequate and said welcoming them demonstrated the confidence a government had in it system and become a “badge of pride”. She added that there was a global trend towards observers as it demonstrated strength and commitment to democracy.  “We have not made a decision but I believe it would be more negative to say 'no'," she added

McLaughlin said he failed to understand what the former premier objected to when the system is as robust as everyone believes. But he said there was a loss of confidence in the probity of government following so many headlines about the failure to follow proper process and the lack of transparency. But 22 May signalled a fresh start when a new government could begin putting behind it the reputational questions that have arisen over the last three and a half years.

“I would have thought he would be the last person to suggest that we should not have observers that could give us a certificate of good standing, as despite the rot in government our election process is solid and robust, capable of delivering a true and fair result,” McLaughlin said, adding he was always astounded at the audacity of Bush, “but this one takes the cake.”

He said any concerns about how it looked would be short lived and erased with a clean report from the observers confirming a good, solid, system with a fair and reliable result, free of fraud and intimidation.

The opposition leader said it could be what Cayman needed to lift it from the depths that its reputation has sunk.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    "With only his remaining UDP team supporting him"

     

    So that means Ellio, Mike and Eugene also do not want observers here? Goes to show their character eh

  2. Anonymous says:

    The only people who believe in you are those who got free Caymanian status & brain wash wb’s!

    Braca

  3. Anonymous says:

    Not sure why you’re so worried mac. Just get the darned fridges out before the buggers get here. You know you can depend on foolio as long as you can grab him a seat too. Oh oh, half of west bay is paved already. Ain’t no way to hide THAT one. Sorry, looks like you’re done guys.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Sonwa gun, afta all dees yeas a tryn mek someting out dem po lil waywud chilrens now dey decide dey cant wuk wid mi. Unna betta hope a dont buy nuf wotes ta get back in dey cos unna a** is grass n y know who'll be pushin the mower, unna ferewa dishonerable donkey faced devil worshippin traitas unna. A hope unna trip up n pop unna mout. 

  5. Anonymous says:

    The problem with democracy is that this idiot even got his motion on the order paper. He just ignored the oppositions motions, including two votes of "no confidence", so they were never scheduled. 

  6. Anonymous says:

    The UK was nice enough to ask. They didn't have to, you know. You are a UK territory.

  7. Anonymous says:

    JAMAICA JAMAICA

  8. Anonymous says:

    So sad to see McKeeva embarrassing himself in this way. "Licks"? Please, the country's moved on from such utter nonsense.

    • Anonymous says:

      By “sad” you mean ” hilarious”?

    • Anonymous9 says:

      I know! I'm getting tired of the simpleton comments like "sitting in ivory towers"  that he learned from Mac. Every single speech/rant/harraguing of Mac's is peppered with kitsch colloquialisms. Because they can't find their own words. Grown up words..

  9. Anonymous says:

    Wonderful, we have vitally important legislation pending while impotent juvenile delinquents posture in The House. There was a day of wages well spent say I with sarcasm and disgust dripping with every word. Between my husband and myself we have 12 votes to cast in May I believe. Anyone taking bets it will go to anybody that did this or is associated in any way? Frankly I could care less if they bring over 18,000 observers if they pay for it that way they can watch each registered voter and think of the hotels filling up and money spent at restaurants! Me thinks thes people doth protest too much! And on our dime too! They should be fined for misuse of time and have it deducted from their way too high salaries!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Seriously, who would accept one of Mac's motions, we're already in a whole pile of crap of his making anyway.YUK!!

  11. Anonymous says:

    I'd like to know which foreign elections has Cayman requested to be observers for?  Does Cayman monitor Jamaican elections?

    Maybe Cayman should may a demand to the US government, to observe the US elections.  And I'm sure they would totally be open to that request.

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe one day sonny… maybe one day. But for now you got a lot of growing up to do so run along and play while you still can.

    • Anonymous says:

      When Cayman gets its own house in order and acts like a responsible democracy, then the world might take you seriously. Oh yes, and you're not an independent country, you're a territory of Great Britain, the mother of parliamentry democracy. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Anon 0732 you are right that we are not an independent country and so the UK is sending down observers to make sure the election process is fair. This has been brought on by a lesser extent of the PPM financial fiasco 4 years ago and to the greater extent by the UDP, especially their leader.

        By the way the UK democracy works great for UK citizens but not so well for Caymanians. 

        • Anonymous says:

          Please explain the last line

        • Anonymous says:

          What's a Caymainan? Oh you mean a British Citizen, Cayman Islands.

          Root out corruption, nepotism, sycophancy, xenophobia and good old racism, and the simplicity of democracy might just work for you. Until you can demonstrate that you are grown up enough to do that, then get over it and stop whining.

          • Anonymous says:

            We all know perfectly well what a Caymanian is – those people who discriminate against in the workplace, whose culture and heritage you denigrate, whom you defame as lazy and incompetent.

            Up until recently Caymanians were not British Citizens at all. But if you think being a British citizen and living in Cayman makes you a Caymanian you should try voting, running for elections or owning a business.     

        • Anonymous says:

          What would a PPM"financial fiasco" as you put it have to do with the need for election observers?

    • Anonymous says:

      You need to learn to count first and with a 70% + failure rate at mathmatics that's not likely anytime soon.

  12. SOS.com says:

    Mac, just give it up!!

     

    There's only a hand full of people that believes what you say., anymore.

     

    Would you pleeeeeease read that speech on 'INTEGRITY" a few million more times.

     

    Maybe you just might get the idea what it truly means!!

     

    Change your Legacy!!….

     

     

  13. Anonymous says:

    GOOD GOOD GOOD!!!!!!!

  14. Anonymous says:

    Yea all good but i hope we nah ga bumbo klatt pay for this,if they want to come observe then they should fork out the money!

    • Anonymous says:

      Please don’t use words on this forum that you wouldn’t be willing to eat.

    • Anonymous says:

      Just a hunch, but do you by any chance hail from Jamaica?

  15. Anonymous says:

    These other MLAs just dont see the big picture..or perhaps are bullied into accepting anything right now in exchange for a "Pass" in their own interests.!

    Mr Bush is indeed right in this instance,

    History will prove it.

    This expenive and contrived 'invited visit'  will result in a big know hole in our foundation!!

    As if there are not enough UK 'Obserrvers' planted throughout the entire government already!

    • Anonymous says:

      No one is suggesting UK observers. They are talking about international observers, just like the ones at the last UK election. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Big hole in the foundation was already created – time it was cleaned out and filled fresh!

  16. J Salasi I. -111? says:

    Global trend towards observers, I an I need to know the stats of that statement. Can any of yo bredren out there enlighten I and the rest of the people. Hey I don wanna wait in vain scene.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Dah wha ya get mr. former premier (emphasis on former). Now go back home and hush!

  18. x-Pat says:

    Daycare

  19. SKEPTICAL says:

    This evening, watching the CITN News video report of bush’s speech in the LA, one could be forgiven for assuming that he had taken his ” Mr Hyde ” pills the morning of the debate of his Private Members Motion. Bit of a contrast to his ” Prince Charming ” public persona, pressing the flesh, kissing babies – etc. The Sergeant at Arms should ensure that there is at least one person in the House trained in CPR, and an easily available oxygen bottle.
    Although this will possibly only resonate with those who have read the literary classic ” Wind in the Willows ” – there are remarkable similarities, both in appearance and personality, with the central character Mr Toad.

  20. King Cobra says:

    Mr. Bush sad to say the observers are not the ones that single handed tarnish caymans reputation.

    I just hope it’s not too late to salvage what’s left…….

  21. Catholic British Bulldog says:

    Mr.Bush. Stop making a fool of yourself. This thing of "licks" for God's sake, You don't know that's long gone? Go home, take a long nap and forget 'bout things, right?

  22. Anonymous says:

    Well done LA..show the ignorant has been that he is of no consequence. Then remind him it is because of his greed in office that the UK have felt they can't trust our election  system anymore.

  23. SANDFLY says:

    Maybe Mac knows something that he don't want extra eyes to see? This bafoon never stops with his sillyness. If he gets inducted like I think he will, his blind ambition supporters will be jumping ship to befriend other candidates and saying what a mistake they made. To late for that.

  24. Anonymous says:

    McKeeva himself is one of the best arguments for election observers.

  25. philo the philosopher says:

    SO SAD! They all [dictators] say the same thing. "I did nothing wrong".  SO SO SAD.

     

  26. Richard Wadd says:

    MacKeeva wants us to invite who? P.J. Patterson?

    This wouldn't be the same Patterson, Ex-prime Minister of Jamaica who once very publically stated that,

     "… the LAW should not be a 'shackle' …"

     because he had declared a national public holiday, even though as a Lawer, he was well aware that he was breaking the Laws of Jamaica when he made his declaration. 

    Birds of feather …..

  27. Anonymous says:

    I always heard that the pig that squeals the loudest is the one that the stones hit.  True every time, isn't it?  Now would someone put a bandage on the former Premier so he can stop squealing?

    • Anonymous says:

      NO!!… We need to finish stoning that pig and all the others out of existence.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Why is the former Premier fighting so hard against what should be a simple process? 

     

    Elections oversight can only make things better, including global perception of us (for those who may care). 

  29. Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

    Oh my, how the worm has turned. I wonder how the bully feels now!

  30. Anonymous says:

    This  whole thing is a travesty upon  the people of Cayman. The perpetrators are the Governors office, the members of the LA and those local businessmen that stand to profit after the next elections. I will exclude the press for now,because I have no reason as yet to suspect their duplicity. McKeeva Bush is an explosive tool in the hands of those who control him and the end result is not in the best interests of this country.

  31. SKEPTICAL says:

    Well, suppose it is one way of drawing attention to yourself in the event the “Observers” go looking for any “jiggery-pokery” in the election activities of candidates.

  32. Jonas Dwyer says:

    What reputation is the Right Honorable Leader of the Opposition talking about, the reputation of Piracy and money laundering, the reputaion of being Financially strapped of which he knows quite well for he is the root cause or the "allegations' against the former Premier.  Added to the pot is the reputation for still being a bastion of colonialistic philosophies with leaders past and present  not having the will or the testorone level to start chartering thecourse for self determination.

    Let us not Forget people let us not forget "only divine intervention can stop me", and the rest the children in Timbuktu know.

    • Anonymous says:

      Since repayment of debt is only about 15% of the budget, how can capital expense be the problem? The problem of being financially strapped is because of recurrent expenditure, such as flights to Timbuktu, lawsuits, Boatswains Beach, Cayman Airlways, gargantuan civil service, pensions, medical, nation building money to supporters etc…… Read the Miller Shaw report and you may see the problem is that government costs way too much to run, not that buildings cost more than they should have. 

  33. Anonymous says:

    I think the observers should be here now. Checking on the free give aways and cash bribes that always occur before elections.

    After the last elections when people were shown on the news coming out of the West Bay MLA's office with dollar bills, and members from the election office were shown – again on television- observing a UDP members voting list given to voters in George Town.

    Nothing was done in either case. These were known because they were shown on TV maybe other ways of bribery were done behind peoples' backs that the general public know nothing about

  34. Anonymous says:

    You won’t have your flyer boys handing out flyers this time round keke in red bay school? Not looking too bright this time around keke lol!

    Braca

    • Anonymous says:

      YES!!. The Flyer handouts was done in GT, WB and possibly BT as well. Someone had reported that they were doing this and they escaped being caught in act. Makes you wonder just how badly we need Observers… XXXX.

  35. Anonymous says:

    It's all over, Bush baby.  You're finished.  Why don't you take your millions and leave!

    • Anonymous says:

      Hope he cant leave, surely they will have his passport til the trial? I do hope there is a trial soon!

      • Anonymous says:

        Trial? Better ask the DPP.

        • Anonymous says:

          Yeah that's right.., didnt the current Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions get their Cayman Status from the Government headed by Mac?

           

          When did they get their status again?

  36. Anonymous says:

    Ooo La La. Looks like it's time to step down, Mac.

  37. Anonymous says:

    In In happy that keke never got what he wanted! It’s about time you all stand up for something rather than being a keke puppet! It looks like you have a hard road in front you keke! I hope you fail miserable in May & you just just leave these islands for good!

    Caymanian

  38. Anonymous says:

    hard to beleive that mad mac was actually the premier for so long…….

    • Anonymous says:

      Just don't forget the former supporters, former UDP MLA's, former members of the UDP who helped make him premier and kept him there. Some of them are running for election too. 

  39. Anonymous says:

    We the people in two months will also show him how we feel about some of the things he spearheaded. 

  40. Anonymous says:

    The UK wants observers here because of the former Premier's behavior and well known patterns. Funny he's the one complaining about it. Just go away, it's getting tiring to constantly hear is uneducated rants.

  41. Anonymous says:

    I'm surprised Julie didnt say the "audacity of pride". But really, this next comment "We have not made a decision but I believe it would be more negative to say 'no'," – that's just GOLD!

     

    And here I was thinking that Mac was the only one to win  The Worst Quote Award

  42. morphy says:

    perhaps he fears they observe his house

  43. Anonymous says:

    Interesting!!  At least he didn't get his way on this one thankfully but I bet he had a temper tantrum!

  44. Anonymous says:

    The last two paragraphs of the report sums up the benefits of observers nicely.  Bush's worthless rants are electioneering to the few West Bayer's still in his debt.  Roll on May.

  45. Anonymous says:

    McKeeva Bush's greatest fear: Free and Fair Elections.

  46. Cheese Face says:

    The man is a F@*%#(N NUTTER!!!!!!

  47. Anonymous says:

    Does this now mean that Mac will not be running in 2013?

  48. Anonymous says:

    Look to your defense of your upcoming court appearances macidiot, you are done. Better get to church and see if you can get a handout? might not be so easy getting it back from your fellow christians as it was to give

  49. Anonymous says:

    Wooooo Hoooooo….. dat wha ya get Mac! Do you like how it feels to be outnumbered and ignored? I thought not. Get used to it.

  50. Anonymous says:

    Good!

  51. Anonymous says:

    Once he loses the motion doesn't he have to shut up? What is the soeaker for if not to tell people to sit down after they have already said their say.

  52. Anonymous says:

    LOL!!! Da wa ya get Mac!!

  53. Anonymous says:

    It says it all that Mac and the UDP are the only ones objecting to election observers.

  54. St Peter says:

    What was that saying again?

    Oh,

    Throw a rock in a pig pen and the one that squeals is the one that got hit.

    Welcome to the election observers. Please investigate the massive vote buying that has been happening here. Especially where tax payers money have been used to buy votes…

  55. Anonymous says:

    I bet there are a few off-island journalists reading this and saying, "Damn, that just cancelled my all expenses paid trip to the Cayman Islands in May to dig up dirt on the elections." Seriously, good move – possibly even a few ounces of sanity creeping into Caymanian politics.

  56. Anonymous says:

    Yes! Good job guys! That must have been a horse pill for um to swallow!

    No McKeeva. Last election wasn't FAIR, and it was FREE yeah, to YOU!

    What about Pearlina & Johnathon?? Was that FAIR?? Didn't think so!! Had it been an Independent or PPM supporter you would have had them hung out in town by the Town Clock!

    I say for tranparency, bring umin! Let them come and do their job.

    The government of 2009-2013 have been outa orda' and deserves to be reigned in where fit!

    Now Mckeeva, go sit down and collect dust. Cha!