Premier ‘made Cayman proud’, officials claim

| 05/02/2014

(CNS): The Cayman Islands premier did an “excellent job” when he faced Stephen Sackur yesterday in London on BBC’s HARDtalk, according to Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose and Senior Political Advisor Roy Tatum. How well he did will be plain for all to see when the show airs but officials say they have not yet been given a broadcast date for the flagship news interview show, which is broadcast on BBC television, radio and the internet. Alden McLaughlin agreed to give the interview to the programme in which the host is known to ask difficult and awkward questions and previous guestshave walk out of the studio. However, his staff said McLaughlin did Cayman proud.

Answering questions about the Cayman Islands and overseas territories and the tax haven label, his interview followed the premier’s appearance at Chatham House, where he gave one of two keynote addresses at a conference regarding global corruption and financial crime.

CNS will be keeping a close eye on the HARDtalk website for indications of the broadcast dates and will post the information as soon as it is available.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    "officials claim"? Well it's great to have an unbiased assessment, that's for sure. But consider this, had they not thought it to have gone so well would they have reported it to be so? Let's get real, folks. It's reality time. Think about it.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Amazing how many folk are willing to sing the praises of their builder before he's even poured the foundation ("great job" etc). For crying out loud, take a cold shower and sober up!

  3. Michel says:

    Congratulations Mr. Premier , even with their editing we still know that you had become an attorney first and have the guts to step up to the plate in the face of adversity. ” Oh ye men of little Faith, time to Unite For the Betterment of self and Country,try to be your Brother’s Keeper” . Miche Lemay.

  4. Biggert says:

    Imagine that we cannot wait to see the interview without trying to bring Alden down. Do we not realize that when we do that we are also bringing down our beloved Cayman Islands.'

    Shame on you who are so partisan and petty that you would belittle us all by trying to belitle our Premier.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Why would we want our Premier to fail really beats me.  People need to understand his failure is our failure and our country failure.  We need to succeed and build each other up.

  6. anonymous says:

    Great job Alden, I had no doubt that you would conduct yourself professionally and with dignity.

    Thanks for making us proud!  Your next interview should be with Bill O'Reilly.. Obama cringed in front of him, I am sure you would stand firm with him. 

  7. Anonymous says:

    The cayman islands are worldwide known for money laundering and hiding funds of the excessive wealthy.

    Acting as if that's not the case is taking it away, simply because it IS the case.

    • SSM345 says:

      17:55

      Before you spout anymore absolute BS perhaps you should check out a few places called Delaware, London and Nevada, which rank 1,2 and 3 for money laundering.

      The Cayman Islands have signed and entered every possible Treaty there is in existence.

      Maybe you should look at places that haven't, and thats where you will find money laundering.!!!

      Don't know where those places are? Refer to examples 1,2 and 3 for a start.

      Clean out your own backyard before you spout BS about ours.

  8. Whodatis says:

    Not sure what all the hoopla is about or why people are shocked by the claims of the officials.

    All the Premier had to do was stick to the truth of the matter and he didn't have a thing to worry about. Moreover as the interview was being conducted in London, UK – one of the greatest on/off-shore banking centers in the world.

    Hypocrisy much?

    As for corruption, all one has to do is examine the discrepancy between the location of the natural resources (include manufacturing today) most necessary for the world's economic framework and the location of the majority of the "wealth" / poverty. Thereafter it becomes clear that the entire system of the world is upside down and overflowing with corruption.

    A greater appreciation and understanding of these fundamental issues go a long way in explaining the storyline and tragedies of the past, as well as the unthinkable atrocities that mankind has inflicted on itself. It also clarifies much of the "perplexing" realities that we face in this world today.

  9. Anonymous says:

    WELL DONE ALDEN

    Whilst I am not PPM it does this country proud to hear you represented us well
    Congrats.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I really hope that the Premier did well. But non of us should have expected his staff to say otherwise.

    We shall be the judge of how well the Premier did when the Interview airs. I just know one thing, and I am no fan of Alden either, but thank you Jesus that it wasn't McKeeva Bush speaking for us in London. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Wh ever you are I am wondering if you could have done better?  Some of you should not really have access to the internet.  Do you even know anything about the topic he was discussing.  So tired of stupidity on this little rock.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Well, it clearly must have been a major improvement compared to if the self inflated buffon from WB would have represented the country!

  12. Anonymous says:



    It will all be about the editing!

  13. Anonymous says:

    We'll be the judge of that, thanks.

    • The real bobo says:

      Oh ye of so much faith, ona  know the Prime Minisyer tell the host to ease up his boy, so stop chatting rassery.

      • Anonymous says:

        17.00, wow, I thought the cave men had died out. Congratulations for surviving so long.

  14. Anonymous says:

    I wouldn't expect them to spin it any other way.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Well perhaps the interview went a lot better than CNS commenters thought it would. Sure looks that way from this photo of the Premier and Stephen Sackur sharing a laugh.

    • Far Canal says:

      Thats before they started!  

      I'll reserved judgement until I watch it, although I sincerely hope he did himself and us proud. Thank god it was No. 3 and not No. 1 or 2.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone know when this will air? I'm honestly looking forward to watching this – thankfully it was no cringe worthy performance from Mac.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I knew you would do our country proud, Al! Bless up!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Hopefully this will shut up all the vultures who just want to see him fail.

    It truly disgusted me to see the comments willing Mr. McLaughlin to do poorly on the last article.

    • Anonymous says:

      I thought from the get go that The Premier would do well.  I have watch many interviews with Mr Sakur, and while he has his "in your face confrontational style" I believed that if the Premier stuck to the facts and did not allow Sakur to incorrectly repeat what he said he would have nothing to worry about.  Sakur like to take a response from the interviewee and completely change it around with his  usual "so you are saying……….."  I have  seen people saying back to him " No I am not saying that at all – this is what I said".  Right about there he switches to another question.  What really bothers me is that so many people commenting on this story does not seem to have any  self confidence.  Why were so many of you out there saying he should not go, he should get Ridley and Travers to have a mock interview and the like.  While they might also have the knowledge, I really do not think that they are any better at public speaking that The Premier.  Why are we as a people so timid and  bashful. Why does everything has to be done by anyone else in the world than our own?  I think it is time for us to show up, speak up, say our truth with honesty and humility and do not be concerned with the outcome. The Premier had every right to go and defend out islands- all of us should do that whenever necessary instead of siding with those among us as well as those elswhere whose main agenda is to tear us down.

    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t worry about them they were really the idiots among us!!
      what is sad is that there are so many!!

  19. Anonymous says:

    Fantastic, Alden! I can't wait to watch how you handled yourself. Proud of you Mr. Premier.

    • Anonymous says:

      What does the protractors have to say?  Where is CNS comments?

      The majority are always ready to put Caymanians down.  Stop it.  We are smart people.  Only need that opportunity that so many have tried to block.

    • Anonymous says:

      Do me a favour and never tell me which horse to bet on. Ahead of the finish line.

      • Anonymous says:

        Obviously one of those bad-minded people who were willing him to fail.