Cabinet admit port surprise
(CNS): Members of the current Cabinet, most of whom were members of the previous UDP government, have admitted that, while they knew talks with CHEC had moved toward a framework agreement, they had no idea their leader had signed that deal without any legal advice. The ministers stated Thursday that they could not be sure that other things that they were unaware of would not turn up that may cause concern or raise liability issues for government. The framework agreement, which was signed by McKeeva Bush without consulting his then Cabinet colleagues, including the attorney general, was discovered by the minority government only last week.
Speaking at Thursday’s government press briefing, in the absence of current premier, who has not yet made any public comment about the discovery, the remaining four ministers revealed how they were kept in the dark about this deal. The copy of the signed framework agreement between the Port Authority, the Cayman government and China Harbour Engineering Limited was leaked to the independent members for East End and North Side and first published on CNS this week.
The document was first seen by Cabinet members last week, when it was given to Cline Glidden, the new tourism minister. Glidden’s ministerial team had set about looking for any and all documentation relating to the cruise berthing facilities project to help with the strategic outline for a competitive tender. Glidden said the framework document was given to his ministry by the Port Authority after several weeks of pressing for relevant information. He said there were also question marks about what commitments had been made regarding the proposals surrounding the Spotts Jetty, which he had wanted to clear up.
While not surprised to see the agreement, the ministers said it was surprising that it had been signed without any legal advice.
Glidden, who had been involved in the previous negotiations with both DECCO and the GLF Construction, also said he was surprised to see some of the details of the agreement. He pointed out that the talks with DECCO were stopped because there was concern over the original request for a 99 year lease that the Dart Group’s construction firm had been seeking to ensure it recouped its costs, and that GLF had been dropped because the premier believed they did not have financing.
The current tourism minister noted that the content of the CHEC deal offered the Chinese firm a lease of some 81 years and that the financing was less than certain and still dependent on passenger guarantees.
None of the Cabinet members were able to say why they believed the former premier had not consulted Cabinet and signed it before engaging in a discussion with his colleagues, let alone the wider caucus. The ministers said they had repeatedly been told that when the negotiations were over, they would all be privy to all of the details.
The legal department has now been given a copy of the document to assess any possible liability to CIG. But Glidden said there was no way to know if this, or any other documents which to date remain undiscovered that could have been signed behind closed doors, will lead to future liabilities for the next administration.
“We would love to say there are no more surprises, but …” Glidden said.
See related story here and CHEC Framework Agreement below.
Category: Politics
The photo attached to the story, and which depicts a monkey with a surprised look on its face, while it may be somewhat funny, is probably inappropriate and maybe even be a little bit disrespectful.
And when, 20.47, did Cayman politicians show any respect for anyone other than their own bank accounts? Spot on CNS, great photo, keep up the good work.
Agreed, and I would like to be the first to offer my apologies to the monkey.
It's NOT a monkey..it's an APE..an Organgutang specifically…
The monkey says that he agrees with you.
If this is true, then it shows how much McKeeva trusted and respected his colleagues.
That picture is CLASSIC…
Rolston & CG soo embarassed to run in West Bay and afraid that no one will come out to their meetings, that they are not even going to hold any public meetings.
They know that the tide has turned against them in West Bay, so they are being cowards and only holding yard meetings. Their popularity has slipped so badly that they only had 12 people at their big yard meeting last night. How sad!
Mean while a small yard meetng in Bosun Bay by the UDP drew some 200 people. Mack is still King in West Bay.
It doesn't really come as much of a surprise that they didn't know. Why would he have bothered to tell them? They followed him faithfully no matter what he did, so what was the point? None of them would have had the backbone to disagree.
If Mac signed it without Cabinet approval, and John H signed it without Port Board approval, then the contract is null and void. The Chinese should file a suit against the two of them personally to recoup all of the expenses these two idiots made them incur. And finally, I hope no new government agrees to accept any responsibility and pay off the Chinese for a disaster created by these two idiots. Let the Chinese squeeze it out of them. And I hope they disclose how they "massaged" the process too. I guarantee you that the more this one is looked into the more interesting it will become.
I find it unlikely that the framework agreement was not drawn up by lawyers representing the parties to the agreement. In any event the Chinese should have ensured that the parties signing the agreement could legally bind the parties thereto. The Chinese are big boys and I have no sympathy whatsoever. Notwithstanding that Bush has much to answer for.
The Chinese do not have to show that he had authority. If an Officer of a company signs a contract on behalf of the company and it is reasonable for the other party to believe the Officer has the power to buind the company they can rely on it.
Cool photo CNS!
Collective responsibility people, can you even spell it?
I T .
Tell us what REALLY happened in Venice Cline. GLF were dumped about three days after you and your wifes trip there with the Bush's.
And tell us who went to Hong Kong from Cayman and who left HK and went on to China?
Love this picture – good job CNS
If this is at all true, it just goes to show us all that the country was being run by a bunch of high paid morons who really had no idea what was going on in the despotic dictatorship of McKeeva Bush. I am sorry, but playing dumb and and ignorant to what is going on around you is no excuse and personally I think they are all lying to save their asses and reputations in this coming election. You cannot hide this when the document was on record inboth the Ministry and the port as this was not any secret that only Bush knew about. We were not born yesterday so who are they all trying to fool because the port chairman and foolio both knew about it and the staff of the ministry and the port must have known about it.
You all need to be fired for incompetence and lying to the people and disqualified from running as a candidate in this coming election for the total lack of due diligence in knowing what was going on together with never having the balls for standing up and representing the people, doing your job and challenging the dictator Mr. Bush.
SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Mr. Gladden, if you want o know if there are other port/CHEC documents our illustrious former premier signed, then why don’t you just ask him….grill him if necessary and put him on oath. It seems like a no-brainier.
All along they were behind their leader, but now it is time to cower their backsides, they play ignorance and stupidity! But that only shows how ill prepared and incompetent they were as cabinet members. How can anyone in their right minds vote for these guys?
And these people who "didn't know anything" are asking once again for our votes in May? What a brazen bunch of liars and tricksters. Have they no shame?
I agree with your post and I wonder every day what the Governor was thinking about ny appointing the same politicians who went along with McKeeva Bush to finish out the term of our LA. He is duty bound toprotect us and he rights of Greaat Britain and he should have called for the new election then and there. Everyone who is in power in our government now were all supporting McKeeva Bush in all he did.
Nice pic CNs – made me immediately think hear no evil – see no evil – speak no evil
Of course they did. But let's believe them, if Dwayne says so then it must be true.
These little monkeys "saw nothing, heard nothing and for damn sure ain't saying nothing".
So if this is the way things were being run, why wait until now to jump ship? What about the Holy new premier – haven't seen or heard much from her in recent times!
McKeeva might not deserve his self bestowed forever honerable badge, but he certainly deserves some recognition (ten years more at the hotel perhaps) for so very expertly and completely pulling the wool over these idiots eyes for four years. Then there is foolio and the one and only Santa Claus, oh my.
Former Premier Bush's Cabinet Members, now that an election is near, had no idea what had gone before, what agreements were signed, or what liabilities the Cayman government may be facing because of them is that what they're saying?
Two questions:
How much did these people collect in salaries while they had no idea what was going on?
How many were collecting pensions as well while they still had no idea what was taking place?
In the very same government they were a part of.
The only UDP member who can honestly say he knew nothing about what was going was Capt Eugene cos he slept thru all this s***t..
Whogene?
You all seem to forget that NOONE in Cabinet knew Mac had done a deal with the Chinese and intended to terminate GLF back in 2011. On the very day Mac wrote GLF's termination letter in Miami, Cline Glidden was in Cayman writing an email to Cabinet recommending they sign the contract with GLF. CG and the rest of cabinet had no idea 2 years ago what Mac was planning and they had no idea 2 weeks ago until the document surfaced. The man was a ONE MAN BAND DICTATOR with only 2 cronies, one a backbencher and the other a lawyer!
Have you noticed how their noses are getting longer and longer?
and they are getting fatter and fatter
Hmmmmm, I wonder why Mac never told them about the deal, let’s see, oh I got it, X/3 is more than X/8 Mac may not be a rocket scientist but he can sure check money.
Finally someone has hit the nail right smack-dab on the head!!
Yeah right they knew everything that was going on!! be men an women and stop the sillyness. Good governance doe snot only apply to a few but all people!!
That just proves to me how out of touch these clowns are. First, they were shouting to the top of their lungs about how they stand behind their leader. Now the screaming to the top of their lungs about just how far behind they were from him, in an attempt to not be cast in the same light.
Forget it!! It won't work PNA!! You are no better than the UDP because you all ARE the UDP begining and the end!!! Juliana you should be ashamed of yourself. You are always twisting and turning and slipping your way through in an attempt to not get pinned down to anything.
You may fool some people some time, but can't fool all the people all the time; not even Cayman Bracers!
Aaaaahhhh {Yawn}! Where am I? "Man" you don't know? Damn! After you guys won the election in 2009 you all gave yourselves a pay raise and then you fell asleep! Really? Yup! So wha happen? Well there are so many things that have happened I really don't knowwhere to start, but I'll try to remember the more important ones OK? OK! Well there was the Dart dock deal,then GLf dock deal, then the CHEC dock deal, then there was the dump in Bodden Town deal, then there was the Closing of the West Bay road deal, then there was the.
Wait, wait, wait!
You mean there's more? Oh yea, There's the Michael Ryan deal and the, "Stop, Stop Please" we can't take this no more. "So what you tellin us, is that "wile we was sleepin" Mac and Elio perpetrated all this on us. "Well I wouldn't say that"! You see you guys could have stopped them but you were sleeping so I guess you are partly to blame. See! I told you guys we shudin drink tha Cool Aid, I know da wha go happen. "Anyway" I glad we back now! Well, one more thing guys and I hate to tell you this, but, nobody believes a thing you say, and nobody wants you back in office, so maybe you should do us all a big favor and take a few slugs of the "Cool Aid" again. Whaaah, Whaaah, Nobody Luvs us nomore. Sniff, Sniff
Sleep Well Guys!
Now, why do I find it so very hard to believe these people? And it seems that a group of people who were being paid by the public to do a job, and being trusted to be actively doing it, are now claiming that they may know nothing about that which they were being paid to do. I think it’s time we asked for our money back.
I would beleive that Rolston did not know what was going on in light of his drinking problems, and then CG had so much time on his hands that he actually got a law degree in the last 4 years when he should have been paying attention and doing the work of the people.
"…they had no idea…"
At least they got that right, they do not have any ideas at all. It explains why McKeeva could operate unchecked. No one had the guts to stand up and ask pointed questions.
They don't have a leg to stand on. They want us to believe that Bush called all of the shots and they were unaware of anything. That's crazy and they still think that we are all fools. They were members of a party that formed a majority government that they held controlling positions in and they absolutely knew nothing???. If that's the case then they should return the money that they earned as salaries during that time because they have now confessed that they did nothing while they were there. If what they say is true, then they are thieves at the most and incompetent cowards at the least.
They each should be made to perform a Seppuku.
Oh how dem tell lies, all in the name of getting re-elected. The forgotten five should know that only Julianna will get re-eleced because nobody with any gumption is challenging her in Cayman Brac. The rest are all history, too bad we have to pay them pensions though. Hopefully, the new govt. will abolish pensions all together because that is a failed legailzed ponzie scheme.
Liars, to the last. They all new the scumbag who was in charge and they followed him like his pets.
Cline has been negotiating contracts with Dart on behalf of government and his own company for years while his employees are housed on Dart land. Conflict of interest XXXX that was/is not even hidden from view. Did not know? they all knew and they were all doing the same thing one way or another with other deals.
Vote them all out and never forget what they are and what they have done.
LESSON: If you join a party, next time be prepared to break away from the party leadership to for your conscience. Don't get attached to leadership, money, and power. Don't let it lure you.
But ….
Best. Political. Statement. Ever.
LOL… THEY HAD NO IDEA! Whilst the country had the idea of corruption from long ago, don't tell me that they were so naive to not had known anything! PARTY-SYSTEM… I TELL YOU, AND I AM HEARING TALKS ABOUT PUTTING THE PPM PARTY IN TO FINISH RUIN US. We have good Independent candidates and candidates in the C4C. I think we need to do our best to promote them in West Bay and George Town, because following Jamaica's example with a two-party system, has only divided Cayman, caused economic loss, and rumors of corruption. See how Jamaica is today? Do we want a futher corrupt society? Then… let is put this party foolishness away and put in candidates that will represent us and us only.
Yur Momma!!! say what you want about Jamaicans, but I tell you one thing, our Prime Minister could never have stayed in power as long as yours did with all the crap he's accused of doing, fire would have to burn and man would have to leave town fast.
Well I'm not sure that's true actually. Didnt PJ do it for 14 years
Clearly you have not lived in Jamaica for a very long time. Let me remind you of a few of the scandals that to date no one has been charged, tried or convicted and they still remain in politics. The Sugar Scandal, Shell Scandal, Furniture Scandal, Telecoms Scandal and more recently the Trafigura Scandal and Cuban Light Bulb Scandal. The Shell Scandal saw an individual resigning and stating "I will be back" only to return as prime minister. The Trifigura Scandal had party officials receiving 31 million dollars in a "gift/bribe" and party officials described this as "chicken feed" when the scandal broke. The Cuban Light Bulb Scandal has been in the courts for over 5 years and once again we are told it is "stalled". A prime minister tells us that "the law is only a shackle" , a finance minister says the party used tax payer's money for unbridled election campaigning in his "run wid it" statement. These are a few of the scandals that the people of Jamaica have had to endure. I suggest you do some reading on the history of Jamaica since 1962. Please note that successive governments have continued to fail the people of independent Jamaica.
And to think that McKeeva even went there at our expense to learn politics from them.
If you want a Change to an Honest Government VOTE PPM. Mac didn't write this agreement I think we should ask his legal advisor XXXX or his financial advisor XXXX. UDP advised by the current C4C Candidates spent nearly $2000 MILLION in 4 years. What do we have to show for it. And don't blame the PPM because UDP borrowed to pay for those project which are in addition to the $2000 MILLION? What about the millions borrowed to pay off the turtle farm loan? is that PPM's fault too? What about CAL we waste millions every year on a National Airline, why don't we hear anything about those wasted MILLIONS or is there too many family connections between C4C and CAL. C4C and UDP don't want better schools for local children they want to keep us bare foot and ignorant. VOTE SMART IN MAY VOTE PPM.
The Party System itself is not to blame. The corrupt members of the UDP Party are responsible for this mess. Just because many of the UDP supporters and enablers are now saying they are independent and have seen the light of “Country first”, don’t think for a minute that their corrupt ways have died with their UDP membership. Don’t assume “independent” status automatically assigns honesty and integrity to a candidate.
Most of the C4C would be a continuation if the UDP since they were key supporters of McKeeva. C4C is there to protect certain vested interests, that is all.
Yes we find it amazing too that these five individuals were chosen to run the government when it is pretty obvious they know absolutely nothing about nothing and were thrown under the bus or went to hide underneath the bus to avoid doing anthing. Yes and the bus driver Mckeeva drove off with out them. What ashame eh!
So are you saying that all the Cabinet members knew the details of the Shetty deal and ratified it? Do you know what is in that deal and how it compares to the Chec giveaway?
Word on the street is that Bush is finished and the rats are doing everything they can to fool the rest of us into thinking they were never on board.
The ship has indeed gone down and you with it.
Is Glidden even legally allowed to stand? Do we have an attorney general?
And they say Mac threw them under the Bus…They all need to retire..
Surely this must be abuse of office when a public official – by his actions oversteps his power and signs a document which has the potential to create liability for government and all of us taxpayers…
What a bunch of BS from them all.Collective responsibility is the word they all seem to forget whether or not they were part and parcel to that "so called agreement"Its all about saving their own skins come election day and to be quite honest I hope NONE of them get returned to office as that would only continue to add to this downward spiral that we now find ourselves in.Enough of the rhetoric as we are all sick and tired of hearing the same old record election after election.Take a hint and stand aside and let some new fresh candidates take us back to where we should be.We have enough damage to deal with without adding fuel to the fire.Enjoy your early retirement.
Lets get this straight, this is one of the biggest projects the Islands have ever seen, the contractors chosen through proper channels are fired and replaced amidst great controversy, the new contractors allegedly have history of giving "inducements", andthe then Deputy Premier along with most of the then cabinet dont ask for details? Dont look at the "draft" agreements, dont ask appropriate questions.
Well, personally I dont believe that story, and if I did believe it I would consider that this disqualifies them from being worthy of government. Whatever happens now, the current Premier, the then Deputy Premier must answer questions, silence, gone shopping, or Biblical references are not enough.
Like ships deserting a sinking rat.
HOw come you guys. Play fair. You guys must have known about it. Its better to keep silent than to play the blame game. Bcause you looking like idiots now. Come on. Thats a high school excuse. If you want my vote be a man and accept responsibility. Better you say you knew about it but never agreed on it. But dont give us that buls…t of an excuse! Good god man. Stop taking us for idiots.
As much as I think that McKeeva should be muzzled and thrown behind bars for the rest of his natural life I hope to hell the idiots that surround him don't think they are going to get away scot free.
To all of the UDP and his buddies, 'You are all responsible and I hope to hell he starts singing like a parrot when the fire tun up underneath his behind'.
Any of the UDP who thinks that they can now try to sepearte themselves from this mess and be taken seriously need to seek serious psychological help. You are all guilty by association and let this one man dictate to you for FOUR long years.
You expect us to believe you all grew a backbone overnight?
XXXX
I am only hoping that as they were thrown under the bus once and he is now being thrown under the bus that this whole thing culminates in an outright verbal war where all the dirt can come out so we can take a nice big broom, a very wet mop and some cleaning clothes to the whole situation and put all that need be behind bars behind bars for their natural life.
Let me end by saying this.
It's amazing how things are turning out. The former UDP colleagues would have us believe they knew NOTHING ABOUT NOTHING. Well I am not buying it. One of two things would have to be happening in my eyes.
1) He is the devil himself and he is the master manipulator and did do this all himself.
or to me the more likely scenario
2) They all played some role in it and just throwing him under the bus for everything HOPING AND PRAYING that he will say nothing because he would implicate himself also and basically seal the case against himself in the process.
My guess is this is a game of Russion Roulette where they figure they will remain protected as long as he tries to keep himself from going to jail.
BUT this is just MY OPINION on the matter and only time will tell. If Mac get's cornered does he try to make some sort of deal that would allow for everything to surface? We can only hope. I would still say that IF FOUND GUILTY he should face jail for a minimum of 10 years. If others are implicated then I hope they get theirs as well. We need to clean house,
This makes interesting reading. No doubt there is a lot of information on the former dictator's computer now in the hands of the RCIP. The interesting aspect is as to precisely who is entitled to obtain copes of emails other that the RCIP. I see no reason why the Government in particularly the Auditor General should not obtain such information. However I imagine this is just one particular example and that many similar situations are out there with the contingent liabilities that go therewith.
McKeeva Bush signed without authority. McKeeva Bush is responsible. He should be sued for the CI$3.5million. Next.
But you keep forgetting it wasn't only McKeeva Bush that signed!!!!!!