CHEC port deal leaked

| 03/04/2013

Cruise_Full+137.jpg(CNS): The incumbent members for North Side and East End were the recipients of yet another critical but secret document that was leaked this weekend. Arden McLean (EE) and Ezzard Miller (NS) received a copy of the CHEC Framework Agreement relating to the cruise port, which was signed by former premier McKeeva Bush and Port Authority Chair John Henry in March 2012. Miller, who gave the document to CNS, said the shocking revelations amount to, at the very least, misfeasance in public office on the part of those involved, as none of them were in a position to sign away the huge sums of tax-payers' money, as revealed in the document, without Cabinet approval.

The confidential deal, which is posted below, contains a number of clauses which show that claims made by the previous government, and in particular Ellio Solomon, the lead negotiator with CHEC, about the cruise port deal were incorrect and cast a considerable shadow of doubt over the promises the UDP administration made about the deal.

However, even more worrying is a clause that the Cayman government appears to be liable to CHEC for as much as US$3.5 million now that the deal has been terminated to cover the Beijing-based firm’s expenses. This means that the next cash strapped administration could be faced with a whopping legal bill that the public purse will have to meet.

The deal shows that promises of a full Caymanian workforce on the project were undermined by a clause permitting CHEC as many as 300 work permits as part of the agreement. Another clause calling for the Chinese firm to use the service of local firms and to purchase from local merchants was also weakened by a list of so many exceptions that the developer had no obligation to use local businesses at all.

The deal also gave CHEC up to $10 per passenger from the taxes that would be collected from the cruise passengers, as well as the tender fee that would have been paid to local operators. It also guaranteed the firm passenger arrivals that would have committed the CIG to make up the difference if those arrivals were not met by the cruise lines.

Although the lease was set for 49 years, there was a clause for renewal that could have given the Chinese firm ownership of Cayman’s port for over 80 years.

Shocked by the details in the document, which is understood to have been kept secret not only from the UDP caucus and the rest of the port board but also from the members of Cabinet, Miller told CNS that in this case Cayman had to be grateful to the UK authorities for stepping in and stopping the deal.

“Nothing that the UDP administration claimed about this deal appears to have been the case; in fact, it is the opposite,” he said. “How it was possible for the chairman of the port board to commit to a guarantee of some $16 million in fees per year to CHEC without the approval of Cabinet or the port board has to be misfeasance in public office by all those involved.”

He pointed to the fact that Bush signed the document, which Miller described as a complete sell out of the Caymanian people, in his position as premier and not as tourism minister, even though the deal is between CHEC, the Port Authority and the Ministry of Tourism. This, he believed, was to offer comfort to the Chinese firm that it was being signed by the country’s ultimate authority.

“Yet he and the port chair did not have the authority to do this without Cabinet approval,” Miller added. “We understand from the current Cabinet members that none of them were privy to this framework agreement, undermining claims by the premier and others that consultation had been taking place over the negotiations, which were being led by Solomon,” he said.

Miller pointed to what was now clearly misplaced praise from some supporters, as the North Side MLA said that anyone who read the deal would see how bad it would have been for the country had it not been stopped.

“It begs the question of the competence of the UDP member who is seeking re-election. We have to be grateful for the UK’s intervention,” the North Side representative said, adding that the British government had stopped the deal without even seeing the framework agreement.

“On 22 May, the people of Cayman need to think hard about the competence and the motivations of those involved in this when they go to the polls and ensure that the UDP can never be in a position to put Cayman at such great risk again,” Miller added.

See the CHEC framework agreement below.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    More than Chuckie leaking documents these days.

  2. Voter says:

    I wonder what Candidate Stafan Baraud is saying about this seeing he was one of the UDP board members that was dumped by McKeeva Bush?

  3. Native says:

    UDP Supporter:  "Arden is a clever fox. You have to watch him and Ezzard. It is all about winning elections for these two. News 27 called Mckeeva about this very said document. The 300 work permits was for marine technicians and plus he the deal was to provide for 1500 caymanians to get work! The document was only a preliminary agreement and not the final agreement to secure the best deal for these islands. For those who don't know what premilinary, check the webster dictionary! This is just another Arden and Ezzard tactic to not only further demean the former Premier's character, but to ensure the PPM party gets the power in May. We already know who Ezzard is siding on most issues. If PPM get in, it will be REPEAT, Cayman… mark my words."  I must say that you are very ignorant commenter. Not even would you put a preliminary agreement on an official draft paper with signing. Even if this was just a mere draft, the fact that the Chinese are Communists and supporters of North Korea, is clear evidence we were on the wrong track. The Cruise Berthing project facility could have been contracted out to a conglomerate of local companies. Going to the Chinese was a slap in the face to local companies on this island, and every UDP member should have pick that up.

  4. St Peter says:

    So if the payout to settle is $3.5 million – how much would the commission be?

  5. Anonymous says:

    UDP is saying C4C is PPM.

    PPM is saying C4C is UDP

    Joey Ebanks/UDP’s minion is saying the C4C was formed by the Governor!

    PPM is accusing them of being a party! I don’t care whether they are a party, group , team, alliance etc!

    I am voting for all five of them in GT , because each of them are smart successful Caymanians that are equipped to manage the task ahead! Most Caymanians think that education is not important to be a MLA… excuse me.. it surely is.. so sit down Ellio and Kenneth (Ellio 2.O) Ellio go work for VIBE as a host and Kenneth go back to JET night club!

    This is what we get for electing uneducated people! And we elect them every four years.. this year because UDP failed the past four years, what are we going to do vote back in PPM? You got to be kidding me?! It is the same leadership!

    We should be proud of the C4C members instead of hating on them just because they are successful Caymanians!

    The past eight years of my life have been hell! Thanks to these two political groups.. I want them out every one of them who have been in the LA for years not doing a thing besides sleeping in government chairs with their mouths open! On the 23 May I want to wake up to a brand new government!

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree completely….

      Trouble is, the voting masses for the most part believe the political toilet waste that they are fed at gatherings and in the media. That's why the same parties keep getting turns at the wheel.

      It takes courage to move away from the familiar and into the unknown.

    • Anonymous says:

      Madoff was educated and highly successful. Education and success is important but can all come crumbling down with poor character. Be sure to look closely at characters for all.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree that the five C4C candidates for George Town are for the most part successfula nd well educated persons however many of them are past associates of the UDP and they will most likely side with the UDP, ifelected, in putting a UDP, or UDP influenced, government back into power.

    • Anonymous says:

      It is obvious to anyone with a brain in their head that C4C is not PPM. That is just a UDP ruse to fool the people so that the can split up now and regroup later. Most of the C4C were big supporters of McKeeva against the PPM. We would be fools to elect anyone that would join with McKeeva to firm a govt.

  6. Anonymous says:

    All I can say is $10,000,000 goes a long way. Helps you overlook the little fine print every time.

  7. Anon says:

    I am waiting for the day when Ezzard’s truck will be full of paper. At this rate he’ll need an 18 wheeler in a few months.

    CNS please invest in fast scanners and be prepared to work some serious overtime Wendy! Ha ha!

  8. Anonymous says:

    Anyone who turned a blind eye, or accepted any of Mac's "gifts", including churches, is asguilty as is he.  Evil prospers when good men do nothing.   I give credit to the individual who had the guts to leak this document.  Thank you.

  9. Last of the Sea Urchin says:

    Thank you England for seeking good governance over our islands. Thank you Ezzard for bringing to light the under hand deals and thank you to the anonymous donor of information that keeps on getting into the right vehicle. Now for heavens sake lets get some info on the 4 alliance and dump deal. XXXX Isn't that our beach land? We have a right to know!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Follow the money, that will tell what the true motives were.

    • Chris Johnson says:

      Follow the money but follow the sleaze. Whilst one person signed the document I just wonder if it was approved by the board, whoever they were at the time. The responsibility lies with the board in it’s entirety.
      The astonishing lack of transparency exercised by the ex Premier and the Port Authority is beyond comprehension.
      Of particular interest will be the reading of this by the Auditor General although one might think that the Attorney General should have something worthwhile to add. Having said that, far be it for me to stir things up as that is not my wont.
      However before our Chinese friends start lodging claims we need ascertain the degree of their complicity in the whole debacle. I rather suspect no claim will be lodged because of their complicity and that of Bush and his user friendly compatriots. Bets are on.

      • SKEPTICAL says:

        Suspect that if there has been any ” Jiggery Pokery ” , the Chinese would be as liable as our local signatories, under the Anti-Corruption Law.

      • Anonymous says:

        Absolutely right Chris. The rotten apple in a barrel compromises and usually corrupts many others.

        There are many political appointees placed on various boards to facilitate certain decisons which should be removed or have the decency to apologise and step down.In particular the Shetty and Dart agreements  should be scrutinized. They both have the hallmarks of the Chec agreement. The attorneys who assisted and witnessed the drafting of these agreements should be challenged. Bush and his lackeys Solomon and Ebanks are only the visible tip of this incestuous dump. 

      • Cayman against political abuse says:

        Mr. Johnson there was NO approval given the Port Authority Board Chairman. But, as you can gather from a former colleague of yours who was apointed to the board but quickly RESIGNED, he realized the board members were made up of a majority of incompetent BUSH supporters who hadn't th clue what they were there for. 

      • Anonymous says:

        "one might think that the Attorney General should have something worthwhile to add…"

        Actually I doubt he has anything worthwhile to add.  He usually doesn't. 

  11. Anonymous says:

    it doesn't matter how Ezzard got the information, what matters is that it is ours now and more importantly how you and I will decide on election day!!

  12. Anonymous says:

    Look collectively more people should be held accountable.  It took more than Elio and McKeeva…hmmm who are the others?

  13. phil the phop says:

    The minute I saw "UDP Supporter", it was an automatic "Thumbs Down".

    Because I knew that the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 [   bullshit   ]                                                                                                                                                   [    dodo      ]                                                                                                                                                   [    poop      ]                                                                                                                                                   [stinky stuff]

     would follow!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

    What a strange land we live in!

  14. Anonymous says:

    This is the kind of agreement you get when a former gardener and a former talk show host are allowed to "negotiate" by spineless MLA's, board members and supporters. 

  15. Anonymous says:

    The Chuckster and Arden have been preaching about the corruption that needed to be rooted out……..Ezzard has been preaching too but more belatedly !!!

    Now Cayman let us not forget on 22nd May !!! Mac and the UDP/PNA must be removed Cayman Islands style.

    Prepare the brooms Cayman……..a really clean sweep coming yah shortly !!!

  16. Anonymous says:

    How many millions as the former Premier wasted so far? 3.5 millions for the port deal, 1.2 millions for the bad Cohen loan, etc.

    A nightmare of politics that hopefully will be over next month. Enough of the UDP and PPM. Bring in some new blood!

    • Anonymous says:

      And my permit is now nine grand !

      • Anonymous says:

        Not the $22,000 the law says it should be? Wow, what is going to happen when the new Government calls for an audit of institutionalized under payment of fees by the (formerly) well connected?

  17. Anonymous says:

    Wow, first Deep Throat now Windshield Man?

  18. Anonymous says:

    Did the FCO review this agreement before they insisted that the negotiations be canceled? I am not saying that the FCO made the wrong decision; but I just want to know if they took the time to review the agreement prior to making the decision to terminate the agreement.

    • Anonymous says:

      FCO said the process was wrong, therefore the details of the agreement, terrible as they are, were irrelevant.

       

      No more Macgnam Style negotiations.

      • Anonymous says:

        There was no FFR in place at the time so the FCO should have looked at the existing agreements/projects on their own merit to ensure that the wholesale cancelation of existing agreements would not have put the country in a worst situation.

        This is the type of reactive behavior I would have expected from the UDP and the PPM but not the FCO.

        • Anonymous says:

          Worse. That’s worse.

        • Dred says:

          There did not need to be any FFR in place to stop this. The whole process of tendering was side stepped for CHEC. The CTC selected GLF as the provider after others were disgarded and then Mac cancelled the bGLF agreement without due cause BUT the main issue was CHEC was never being considered for Cruise Berthing and then became the selected partner.

          Not only all of that but the fact that what CHEC ended up proposing was never offered to the other bidders either with all the upland development and addirtions to Spotts dock and West Bay dock.

          So in the end it was the culmination of everything not the details that mattered.

          The details only after the fact ensured that the decision to terminate was the right one and THANK GOD FOR ENGLAND AS THEY SAVED OUR TUSH AGAIN!!!

           

          And PEOPLE…they saved it from ONE OF OUR OWN or SOME OF OUR OWN.

          Our problem…as it has always been, trusting the wrong people. NO BODY BUT NO BODY GIVES YOU SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. There are NO HANDOUTS. That goes for DART and every other investor. In the end they will get theirs and what we should be worried about is what we are gioving up in return.

          The DART Deal when revealed will not be a whole pile better, trust me.

          • Anonymous says:

            Yes, all you say is true, but WHY did these people agree to such disadvantageous terms, WHY did they avoid due process, and WHY did they want to abandon a good deal and deal with CHEC, a company whose name has been connected with questionable payments to counterparties. (Some might call that bribery!)

            it doesnt take much to presume a link!

        • Anon says:

          Buddy, the FFR was in place before this agreement was signed. However mckeiva thought that the FFR he signed in the UK in 2011 was not really final so he carried on his ways. When UK saw that the man is not the type to hounour his signature, they askedhim to put in into law and subsequently threatened to do it for him.

          Did u forget all that?

          • Anonymous says:

            Can you remind me of the date that the FFR was voted for in th LA?

      • Anonymous says:

        I think that we can all agree that the details are relevant if the termination of the agreement could possible end up costing the government millions of dollars.

        • Anonymous says:

          Termination at 3.5 million is probably cheaper than following through with this very corrupt and flawed agreement.

  19. Anonymous says:

    For this to have been negotiated in complete secrecy and in terms so unfavourable to the Caymanian people, can only be interpreted in two ways: Foolio and Bush have the business sense of donkeys, or they were selling us out, on the knowledge that CHC would  be suitably  grateful  for the one-sided deal, apparently made in Chinese Heaven. Take your pick. Oh! And thank you UK Government for cutting the rope secretly placed around the neck of Cayman by Foolio, Bush and his UDP Fries, thus  saving us from this giant  millstone that would have taken us down, along with the Turtle Farm and its $10 million in losses per year, another of The Eternally Honourable Bush's gifts to his people. "The gifts that keep on taking."

    • Anonymous says:

      "…gifts to his people…"

       

      McKeeva represents West Bay, not the Cayman Islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        McKeeva represents the handout mongers of West Bay, not the Cayman Islands.

  20. NJ2Cay. says:

    Leaking of Court Documents is Crime as far as I understand but I may be wrong. Ezzard clearly has someone on the inside feeding him information because he’s always getting this stuff on his windshield as he claims, if it’s illegal he is a party to a crime. Funny how this all comes out during the election season..

     

    • Anonymous says:

      What Court document was leaked?

    • Anonymous says:

      NJ2Cay. – always with a pro-McKeeva spin.

      • NJ2Cay says:

        Not meant to be pro mckeeva, I am more pro law. At this point I think the whole lot of them are all crooked and need to be replaced by all new faces..I think the UDP and the PPM need to be dismantled and I think Ezzard just complains to complain although I do agree with some of his gripes that's all I see from him is gripes. And what do the others actually do but talk. My point about the leaked document is that I thought it was a comfidential government document and I thought it was against the law to leak confidentail information but I guess the phrase 'Inter arma enim silent leges' best discribes what going on in government..Becuase there is definately a fight for power going on and there seems to be no holds barred..I am just sick of of the same old faces bashing each other and never answering the qestion of what and HOW they are going to do differently to make things better…

        • Anonymous says:

          The focus on the leak rather than the misdeeds the leak reveals is a typical McKeeva tactic. Just ask Chuckie.

          • NJ2Cay says:

             

            Point taken. But I don’t think it’s just a Mckeeva style tactic I think it’s probably a standard politically move to deflect from the actual issues. Here’s my thought, if the CIG actually owes money to the CHEC it would have come out anyway without this so called  leak of a confidential document which make Ezzard l and Arden look like some type of saviors. This is still all about slander politics to deflect away from the fact the most of the candidates have no answers or no solutions just listen to their campaigns they say we are going to do this and we are going to do that but have no ideas ofhow. I think that at this point there no chance that Mckeeva will get reelected and everyone knows that he f*(%ed things up, so enough of bashing him to get yourself elected. What bothers me is that everyone seems to forget that the PPM under Alden F&%^ed things up as well and now it’s good chance that they will be back in control and Cayman will have 4 more years of F%*^ed up leadership with the same thing one Party against the other me against them instead of people putting their heads together and all working for a common goal.  

             

            The only difference will be this time the UDP will be the opposition doing everything they can to make the PPM look bad.

            • Anonymous says:

              I agree with most of what you say, but the PPM’s problem is that it showed no restraint with the spending on the schools. We got a Rolls Royce when a Toyota Camry would have done. Unrestrained spending simply won’t be possible under the FFR. But you really cannot compare this to the debacle that was the McKeeva Bush govt. where corruption, abuse of office, lack of transparency and incompetence appear to have been the order of the day.

              Quite to the contrary, mcKeeva will get re-elected and will probably have 4 UDP MLAs along with him. However, I’m pretty confident that he will never be the premier again.

            • Anonymous says:

              So you are admitting that your post was a “standard political move to deflect from the actual issues”?

  21. Nunu says:

    But wait a sec, people, this document was not finalized.

    • Anonymous says:

      Regardless, it shows you how poor their negotiating skills are and how wicked their intensions are.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Shame on you John Henry. I can understand politicians but why would you undermined your people? What were your gains on this deal? I believe people who are working in the financial industries or government authorities should not sit on any government boards. This only ruins the reputation of an organization or creates conflicts of interpretations.

    • Anonymous says:

      John Henry is Truman Bodden's appointment to the Board, not McKeeva's. Do you notice how Truman and John McLean never say anything bad about McKeeva and his band?

       

      I wonder how and how much Truman and John will defend Mac and Ellio on this "almost" agreement.

       

      Who wants the mic first, Tru-Tru? John?

  23. The Man who would be king? says:

    It's pretty obvious from this that former premier Bush did not have a very good understanding of his role <The understatement of the year?

     

    This leads to a very important question with regard to the election process.

     

    Perhaps someone could help me and clarify.

     

    With over fifty five candidates running in various poltical parties as well as the independents how will it be decided who will fill the position as the next premier?  My understanding is: the winning party, if there should be one, will elect it's premier from among it's ranks. In some cases, this may be obvious. But, as the position seems to have a lot of autonomy for decision- making would it not be best to have a separate election for the position of premier? Similar to the United States?  In that way at least would voters not have some control? Over not having to suffer another meglomaniac like McKeeva Bush?

    • Anon says:

      They would elect a leader the same way a board will elect its chairman in the corporate world. Unless we elect power grabbing MLAs whose only mission is to see themselves at the helm.

      They should appoint based on skills each candidate has. For instance should Jude or Roy win, wouldn’t it make sense for one of them to take the finance ministry in light of the fact that no audited financials have been issued for almost 10 years. No one should argue over it as no other mla would have the same résumé as those two. They would need to appoint the best for the job.

      The problem is if ppm or udp or any group group for that matter end up having majority, that won’t happen and we will end up with a drunk driver as education minister, person charged for corruption as finance minister, drug dealer as community and gender minister etc etc etc.

      Careful who you vote for. We need humble and open minded people to be elected to LA not people blinded by power.

  24. UDPsupporter. says:

    Arden is a clever fox. You have to watch him and Ezzard. It is all about winning elections for these two. News 27 called Mckeeva about this very said document. The 300 work permits was for marine technicians and plus he the deal was to provide for 1500 caymanians to get work! The document was only a preliminary agreement and not the final agreement to secure the best deal for these islands. For those who don't know what premilinary, check the webster dictionary! This is just another Arden and Ezzard tactic to not only further demean the former Premier's character, but to ensure the PPM party gets the power in May. We already know who Ezzard is siding on most issues. If PPM get in, it will be REPEAT, Cayman… mark my words.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:52, is that you Foolio? Congratulations, you are the winner of the stupidest comment award for thisstory thus far.

      Can you please point out where in the "preliminary agreement" it mentions anything whatsoever about  the deal providing for 1500 caymanians to get work? Oh but wait it must be true because Mac said so……Mac is the best there is at spouting BS, and it scares the crap out of me that there are still idiots out there who believe it considering what has happened here in the last 4yrs.

      With the Chinese in charge the job probably would be done as well as a DART project but unlike DART the Chinese would then leave to conquer other retarded governments with the same such deals and what would we be left with? A massive development owned by the Chinese, with all profits and god knows what else going to the Chinese.

      Jobs for Caymanians? F'all.

    • Anonymous says:

      Nothing could be as bad as a repeat of the last UDP government – NOTHING

    • Anonymous says:

      10.22  Whenever someone tells me to go and get a dictionary, particularly for a simple word like 'preliminary, I stop reading. If you'd read the attached  agreement  properly, you'd  see what a travesty it is. For you to pretend otherwise, well, there's plenty of sand on 7-mile beach for you to bury your head in. As for Ezzard, I'll grant you he has dictatorial tendencies, like Bush, but I believe he's honest, which makes a world of difference in my book.

      • Anonymous says:

        And there I was looking for “premilinary”. Lol.

        I wonder if Foolio doesn’t realize that everyone knows that he posted this nonsense.

    • Anon says:

      Every agreement Mac signed was preliminary, that’s why the government has had numerous suits for breach of agreements.

    • Big whopper says:

      Joey is that you?

  25. Anonymous says:

     

    Has CHEC asked for any money as of yet, I would think that if the CIG owed them they would have sued..

    • Anon says:

      Maybe there was an under the table payment but we won’t know since we can’t account for our expenditures. There also seems to be a lot of secrecy too, don’t you think?

    • Anonymous says:

      They don’t have to make their claim immediately. They can potentially make a claim within the next couple of years or so. Just because they haven’t claimed yet doesn’t mean its safe to assume they never will. If they do the public purse will take yet another hit, this time to the tune of.3.5 million… disgusting.

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually it is the greater of $3.5m or their costs. Would their costs include any ‘commissions’ paid?

  26. Anonymous says:

    I am curious as to how hard it would be for someone to type this up themselves and say it's an official document. The one thing it does is put the final nail in the UPD coffin and if there was any room. But can we be sure it is real..

     

    • SKEPTICAL says:

      Don’t be stupid.

    • Anonymous says:

      10:27 Mac's comments indicate that this is a valid document or st least have some facts…………….you Kool Aid drinkers are so gullible…….

  27. Anonymous says:

    Again I say, any deals struck by bush should be put on hold and investigated, especially Dart. He was trying to sell us out wholesale and retire a wealthy (wealthier) politician. This is not about the rights and wrongs about closing a road or moving a dump, it is what he gave away that was not his to give XXX that needs to be investigated and stopped right away.

  28. Sorry Brit - Loyalists says:

    I hope Ezzard won't be so naive and say that the UK was looking out for our interest. They happen to have their own interest in the UK and not knowing the contents of this deal would not have made a difference to them. Letssay if the contents of the document was very good for Caymanians, they still would have blocked it. It reminds me of two elephants fighting over grass. We are the grass getting trample upon. But one of the elephants is the FCO and the other one is our Local politicians in power. We the people and our interest is ignored.  

  29. Anonymous says:

    This deal is totally contrary to the best interests of the country. It is basically signing away one of Cayman's most important income streams. I sincerely hope the investigation against the eternally honorable McKeeva included an analysis ofany payments or favours he received around the time this agreement was signed.

  30. Anonymous says:

    I trust everyone remembers Cline and DUI on the radio repeatedly stating that CHEC was a better deal because Caymanians would be allowed to invest in the port. What a shameless bunch of scum.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, but it would have been good for his electric company. Very good.

    • Anonymous says:

      I remember Cline specifically saying that the GLF deal was a better deal and since that there have been emails showing that Cline recommended the GLF deal. He has been speaking out against the CHEC deal so you must be the only person that did not know that Cline wasn’t supporting the CHEC proposal. Or you must just be one of those Cline haters?

  31. Anonymous says:

    A hope unna trip up n pop unna mout.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Digraceful actions from two disgraceful individuals.  How could they do that?  That is a wicked act!  The UDP and all their followers should be banned from office for life on the grounds of incompetence and the gross losses they have caused Cayman.  Many other questions come to mind, but I'm sure he answers will find their way to Ezzard's or Arden's windshield wipers in due course, so I won't ask them.  Utterly disgraceful.  Where's the tamarind switch?

    • Anonymous says:

      Let's get this straight! This is not just an act of TWO individuals. The ones who are also to blame are all former and present UDP members and supporters. Don't tell me that they had no idea what was going on. They just chose to look away.

      Please remember that coming May. If it sounds like a duck, looks like a duck and waddles like a duck – it IS a duck. Don't be fooled by the ones who now claim to have seen the light after sitting by for years doing nothing!

    • Anonymous says:

      Whether this is true or not, fact of fake, carry on boys. Anything to stop the meglomaniac getting back in…but Cayman, don't replace him with another one, OK?

    • Anonymous says:

      Worry bout tamrind switches, there is a guy I know that has a bull tail whip. And he has experience on how to use it with bad people.

      Call him maybe, here is his number. 1-345-OSI-WHIP. Look at this sentence long enough and his face might magicaly appear.

      "Like a good neighbour, WHIP GUY is here with a bull whip in his hand." OHH Yeah.

  33. Anonymous says:

    not much of a story here in truth…. foolio & mac will both brush it off by saying it that this framework agreement was only part of the negotiation process and they would never have signed it as a final agreement (which they didn't)….

    the bottom line is cayman cannot afford to build a dock…so whoever does build it for you will need serious concessions……

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, but there's a difference between allowing a reasonable return (which is why a developer would come here in the first place) and giving the house and kids to that developer because you really enjoyed all dat shark fin soup boy da wa good, you and me can do business.

    • ThIs WrItInG Is VeRy IrRiTaTiNg says:

      How many more agreements like this are out there?

  34. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully the Government will look closely at the "reasonable and porper costs" if a reimbursement to CHEC is necessary to ensure those don't include and travel and entertainment or other perks for the former disgraced premier or any of the other scum UDP.

  35. The lone haranguer says:

    Well the choices are, either McKeeva and his gang on this deal have no idea what a good deal is or the gang stood to make so much money on this bad deal that it was damm the torpedoes full speed ahead, me, my children and my grand children going to be okay while everybody else’s are going to pay for it over the next 81 years. Nice!

    You know if we where independent we would have been screwed and my ass would have been in jail long time ago.

    Thank god for England.

    • Anonymous says:

      I don't know what England has to do with it. Caymanians made the decision to stay with the "Empire" not Englishmen although I respect your sentiment. Nothing wrong with pride unless it's for the wrong reason.

      If you fears become reality then you need to change you sign in name fro the Lone Haranguer to "The Loan Arranger" –  we'll need you.  

    • Anonymous says:

      And thank you governor Taylor!

  36. Anonymous says:

    WOW, I now stand corrected and apologise unreserverdly. I just thought caymanians moaned and complained all the time about this, that and the other. I am no contract reading expert, but even a 4 year old can see that this is a completely one sided contract. The Chinese negotiators must have been laughing themselves silly at the end of a tough day talking with Mckeeva and Ellio. As other comments have noted, what has slipped through with the Dart deal?

    • Will Ya Listen says:

      "what has slipped through with the Dart deal?"

      That would be Mr. Dart.

      Before you castigate him I know of no other businessman/woman in Cayman who wouldn't do the same – except for the liars and hypocrites (of which we have many and varied examples). Business isn't for the dumb or the faint-hearted. Mr Dart is certainly neither. The people at the other end of his contracts? You decide. 

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      The Chinese don’t laugh.

  37. Anonymous says:

    How many other secret agreements have they signed. This is an act of mistrust and no UDP member past or present should be re-elected! The Dart deal should also be exposed. Where is the Pricewaterhouse value for money report? Look at all the concessions we will be giving Dart once this is off the ground! Shame on you CIG past or present! I do not believe for a second that only Two members of Government knew about this deal. Thank you to the UK Government for stepping in? We are also asking for you to step in and review all the deals that the UDP Gov have done, especially the Dart deals! XXXX

    • Anonymous says:

      They do not have negotiating skills and therefore should not be negotiating on our behalf. You can bet the Chinese had top negotiators at the table and all they were up against were our bigmouths. They must have thought all their christmases had come at once.

  38. Anonymous says:

    It's scary to think that people will still vote for these 2 characters.

    • Anonymous says:

      Always will be, bought and paid for UDP rats that will follow the money anywhere no matter the destructiuon to these islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      What’s scary to me ( I’m an expat) is all the people on this forum that are bad mouthing and calling the people tha oppose the Dart deal (the way it is being done), degrading names. The sneaky deal was tendered by the self same M Bush as the CH deal.
      Some of My fellow expats …. Sheesh, I don’t even know what to say. I’m sad

      • Anonymous says:

        The fact remains, DART is far and away the biggest backer of the Cayman Islands in the history of the Cayman Islands.  The group has pledged Billions towards improvements and philanthropic endeavours, and has always demonstrated good faith and produced as promised.  CHEC has not and will never.  On that basis, it's an apples to oranges comparison. The secrecy was a familiar hallmark of the UDP gang, not of DART, and you can bet that was because of some embarrassing stuff they intend to keep hidden.  I don't blame DART for that.  Time to get some adults in charge this May.   

        • Anonymous says:

          Dart has never been and is not now a philanthropist. It’s all about the end game.

        • Anonymous says:

          Ya right. Waitin for your overlord dart to make public the details of this very honest and above board, for the good of the people deal….. Waiting…….. Dum dee dum dum doooo doo….. Um yep, waiting …..

  39. SKEPTICAL says:

    The only aspect of this document which is not analogous to a – ” Deal with the Devil “, is that bush didn’t actually sign it in his own blood.

  40. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Charles Clifford warned us about what would happen if we returned Mac and the UDP to power……….and here it is. Let us not make this mistake again Cayman. Do not vote for Mac or anyone that is running on the UDP or PNA ticket !

  41. Anonymous says:

    Thank you to whoever leaked this important document and to Mr. Miller and Mr. McLean for bringing it to the public arena.  It will be years before we find out all the madness of this past dictatorship.  The sad thing is Mr. Bush was right when he called our people "devil worshippers", because there are still some who worship him and he is satan in the flesh hiding behind his church robes.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Besides McKeeva and Ellio, shouldn't there be some means by which John Henry could be blackballed from ever serving on any government board ever again in life?

    • Anonymous says:

      Only if he is charged and/or convicted.

    • Anonymous says:

      and where does John Henry work?  Imagine wherever he works if he is making decisions for clients?????

  43. Anonymous says:

    Could the AG, FCO or Governor please reexamine the other deals that Premier Bush committed us to during his dictatorship to see if there was anything improper in them or will we again have to rely on The Honorable Mr Miller to expose the hidden bodies?  

        

    • Anonymous says:

      Can anyone explain the extent of a Premier ‘s authority to commit public finances. Is there any limitations on what the Premier/minister of Finance can do on his own, without Cabinet/governor approval? If not, we should learn a lesson and put controls in place.

      • Anonymous says:

        The reality is that with the spineless bunch in his ruling party, he could promise anything, and if he bothered with the LA, his lackeys would vote it in. If you want to sort this out you have to address the fundamentals, and that starts at OMOV, boring maybe, but if you have a mathematical advantage from a certainty that one personality can drag in 3 further MLA's on his own, then in a 12 personal assembly he can start to dictate his terms, and that is what he did. The other thing you have to address is that the spineless bunch concerned do not become worthy MLA's by eventually dumping him, they took 10 days or more after his arrest to have the guts to do the only thing they could in the circumstances. Surely you wont trust them for another run? 

    • Anonymous says:

      Remember who was chair person before and when he didn't agree and stood up for what he believed he got dumped…now we have John Henry "another" McKeeva puppet..that does his bidding…here we go again…….

    • Gordon Barlow says:

      I don't think the Premier has the authority to sign binding contracts without the approval of Cabinet – and perhaps of the Governor as well.

    • Anonymous says:

      If anyone says hear hear to calling the China Harbor deal bad, crappy, illegal, and does not call for the same good governance on the dart deal, I call stupidity/racism/ hand in the bucket on them.

  44. Anonymous says:

    As a former UDP supporter, all I can say is "Thank You" to whoever leaked this document to Mr. Miller and Mr. McLean.

  45. Anonymous says:

    The Dart deal needs to subjected to similar scrutiny.

    Refusal by government to publish meaningful information including environmental and economic impact studies? Check.

    Refusal by government to engage in any form of consultation whatsoever? Check.

    Refusal by government to follow previous tendering procedures and instead to proceed with project on irrational basis? Check.

    Existence of serious malfeasance and or corruption?

     

    • Anonymous says:

      It's not DART, it's the same UDP group that were in power in CIG who kept insisting on this non-disclosure: it's their hallmark manouevre when the negotiations become shady and unchecked payments and promises exchanged.  Hard to fault a business for honouring their side of what was a government deal.

  46. Anonymous says:

    This should completely disqualify both McKeeva Bush and Elio Solomon from being in a position to garner one single vote in the next election. What a national disgrace these two are. Please Cayman, let us ensure of neither of these "fabricators of the truth" ever cast their shadow across the steps of the Legislative Assembly building again! 

    • The lone haranguer says:

      McKeeva could shoot someone in the head In front of 100 people but once he promises to keep giving out the free money, he got a least 9000 votes guaranteed.

    • Anonymous says:

      and the chair person should be removed also, remember his signature was on it also

  47. Anonymous says:

    Any Caymanian who votes for UDP is a traitor.  The churches are corrupt as well – the ones who accept UDP gifts and turn a blind eye.

    • Native says:

      It looks like its boiling down to that, commenter. Who is for Caymanian people and who is for some personal or special interest. I just hope Caymanians wont be so fo-fool to put in another party, the PPM party. There some Independents who I believe have Cayman's interest at heart and have no affiliation with a party or group. We need to judge people by their own merit and put in the best candidates. No one is perfect, but I think it is safer to avoid those in the party.

    • Anonymous says:

      And don't forget the PNA, as they were part of this disaster as well. Of course they will say that they didn't know what was going on. That is because they were too caught up in their own selfish practises.

      As long as Juju got to fly up and down to the Brac and act as if she was wqueen of the Brac, she didn't care about what was really going on.

      I wish we had other choices up here to vote for, excluding Moses. It would be great for all of us on the Brac to vote only for him and not cast one vote for her! This would tell her at least that we are not being fooled by her tactics any longer!! She would still be returned by default, but not by us being blind and stupid.

      I can only dream.