CIG accounts mess rolls on

| 21/10/2014

(CNS): The auditor general has focused his concern on two ministries, which have failed to account for more than one billion dollars, in his latest report the ongoing mis-management of public finances and the appalling state of government’s accounts. Alastair Swarbrick said the Ministry of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture has never produced a reliable or credible set of accounts since the introduction of the Public Management and Finance Law while the Finance, Tourism and Development Ministry has failed to account for a broad variety of transactions, calling into question the capabilities of the management and finance staff in that ministry.

Examining in particular the financial years ending 2011 and 2012, he said that the audits of the ministries have raised “significant concerns about the governance and internal control environment.”

With poor controls, a disregard for procurement rules, poor bank reconciliations, inappropriate authorization of invoices, a lack of management review and the writing off of large account balances without approval, he said that the managers in these ministries have no reliable information on which to make informed decisions, legislators have no assurances that the resources they approve are being used as intended and the public remains in the dark about how millions and millions of dollars have been spent over the years.

“Ultimately there has been no accountability for around $1 billion of public funds in these two ministries and a significant increase in the risk of waste, misuse or abuse of public funds,” he said.

Reluctant in the pas, to point the finger publicly at the real problem, Swarbrick has now stated that the incompetence of civil servants tasked with dealing with the management of public cash and the mismanagement by their bosses is one of the major reasons for the appalling state of affairs that remains regarding public finances.

He said the financial management problems are indicative of the failure to ensure competent people and practices are in place.

“The lack of due regard for reasonable controls and the number of transgressions of the laws has led me to conclude that management in certain ministries and portfolios have not discharged their duties to ensure appropriate practices are implemented to protect public funds and that they have disregarded their responsibilities to comply with Cayman Islands laws,” Swarbrick stated in the most damning indictment from the independent public auditor to date.

In the report, which is now a public document, the audit team found a staggering amount of problems with the ministry of the former premier, McKeeva Bush, headed up by Stran Bodden, Sonia McLaughlin and Kenneth Jefferson for the audit periods that the office examined.

“The significance and sheer volume of the matters identified provide clear evidence of significant weaknesses in the inter control environment providing opportunities for mismanagement and abuse of public funds,” the auditors stated in their governance report for the years ending June 2011 and June 2012.

Meanwhile, at District Administration, which was Juliana O’Connor Connolly’s ministry headed up by Kearney Gomez and then Alan Jones during the period in question, the auditors found many similar problems. An absence of information and evidence has essentially prevented the office from reaching any kind of opinion about the accounts or agree that any claims made by the ministry about their accounts were fairly stated.

While Swarbrick focused on the particular problems of these two ministries, he also found a litany of problems with many other ministries and portfolios. Although there were some improvements in the public accounts and efforts to get some form of financial records to his office on time for audit, the quality still leaves much to be desired. Swarbrick noted that the improvements are against the backdrop of the truly dire circumstances that existed a few years ago when ministries were simply failing to do their accounts at all.

However, aside from the continuing problems of government entities simply not having the people in place that can manage the books, Swarbrick’s team found other major management system problems that are contributing to the poor accounting standards and enormous risk of abuse to public funds.

“There continues to be a lack of due regard by senior officials for ensuring that appropriate systems are in place, exposing public funds to risks of waste and misuse,” Swarbrick stated as he pointed the finger at all of government’s chief executive officers and chief financial officers. The auditor urged the members of the Legislative Assembly to act promptly to ensure senior officials do something to mitigate the potential abuse to tax payers' money.

Check back to CNS later for more on the auditor’s latest damning review of the ongoing financial mismanagement in government.

See the financial and performance reporting from ministries, portfolios and offices for the years ending 30 June 2011 and 30 June 2012, report below

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Ďaaaam, i drudda be losin dey money in wegas din be ya dealin wid THIS crap.

  2. Anonymous says:

    One year from now a report will come out showing that a bunch of leadership types went out on a fact finding mission for a week,  came back, and then forgot why they went in the first place.

  3. anonymous says:

    It is getting better, in 2008, 1.5 billion went missing so I guess the government has shown some progress.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Cowboy with those expensive boots surely knew how to work it. He retired into oblivion but his past sins are now just beginning to haunting him.

    • Anonymous says:

      The same cowboy hated any kind of reform and declared he was not going to be browbeaten by it because the way things were done in the past 50 years in Cayman were perfectly ok and did not need any changes, Another way of saying he did not want any new system that kept a close watch on how he spent money since he had been going along quite happily since he beame a PS 20 years before..A very arrogant cowboy and no one dared challenge him.

      • Anonymous says:

        Maybe the cowboy was right. If the new system kept a close watch on how money was spent, and if it made government more transparent and efficient, wouldn't we be able to tell where these billions went?

    • Philioous says:

      There’s more than a kernel of corn of truth there! He’s gone off the rader for sure!!

    • jkjuram says:

      There’s more than a kernel of corn of truth there! He’s gone off the rader for sure!!

  5. anonymous says:

    This is what happens when you let kids run the candy store.

    The temptation is just too much.

    Get them out and bring people in if need be.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Auditor General says the incompetence of civil  servants is to blame. Well dear sir before your time and before anyone in the civil service had an accounting degree, and computers did not exist the books were kept straight. We progressed to computers and qualified accountants and were still efficient,  nothing hidden, every penny could be accounted for.  The civil serviants were doing a good job, then suddenly everything went wrong. Why!  Look at it this way, we had a train service that was running smoothly, always on time, always reliable.  Then somebody decided we needed a new machine and suddenly there was chaos in the system.  Now who is to blame, the people running the train, the train, or the person who replaced the old train? "Cruel accounting".

  6. UHUHUHSN'T THAT SPECIAL says:

    When I would sometimes be ranting and raving about all these things that were going on throughout Government, not one of these CFOs, COs or the Financial Secretaries  [I say secretaries because it did not start under Kenneth Jefferson]  were heard to have addressed any of these many problems that existed then and continues to exist year after year, and Government after Government.

    My frustration at that time caused me to realize that one of the most significant elements in the causation of these abuses and indiscretions was: That, long serving civil servants who were being promoted to more responsible positions without  have any practical experience and or training for the post they would have assumed, be it financial or otherwise. These persons [not all] were so thrilled to have been promoted that they felt some special allegiance to those who promoted them "usually the minister at the time" that no matter what they were told to do, they never questioned anything. Why? because they were briefed by others who had some seniority, and were now some of the perpetrators who themselves had traveled the same road to what they considered success!  In other-words. 

    "They Had Reached Their Level of Incompetence"

    These indiscreet promotions continued as Government continued to grow through nepotism and cronyism and without any real regard to how ,when or where our finances were spent.

    Take the Boatswain Beach [turtle farm] project] as an example! Original estimates! Twenty four million dollars. Actual cost $68,000,000.00 an increase of 245%. Not one member or the financial secretary screamed about this. Why? They should have been screaming for accounts! But even they seemed to be afraid to question anyone, even though they had to have known that something was wrong. I was told that on pay day while this project was being built there were people on the job site collecting wages who were never seen on the job site until the pay period. It was told to me that the reason the last auditor general could not make heads nor tails of the books was because people were being paid in cash and signing vouchers for "no one knows how much". In other-words they collected X Dollars but were signing a voucher for Y dollars. Y being the higher figure I was told. If this happened then, it makes perfect sense why the Auditors past and present cannot make sense of this fiasco and the millions of dollars spent on this project.

    These things went on everywhere! There was no scrutiny! It was a free for all. Why? Because greed and avarice had infiltrated every fiber everyone who were involved, and since there was no accountability, the cupidity  grew and grew. All the ass kissers and hangers-on were seen driving new cars and dining at the best restaurants, or just plain old blowing the money on anything. After all! As the say "easy come easy go" And what do we have to show for it? A place that's costing us  somewhere in the neighborhood of $8,000,000.00 in subsidy per year to operate. [which I don't believe for a minute]

    Remember the 299 turtles that supposedly died from lack of a water in the pools. That's the best one yet! Turtles can survive for weeks out of water. They are amphibians! And what's most interesting is that "no body seems to know where the carcasses of nearly 300 dead turtles were disposed. ISN'T THAT SPECIAL! But that's another story.

    So as I've said before The Beat Goes On! But with the help of the Auditor General and those in Government who genuinely want to see Honesty, Integrity Morality and Justice prevail for the people of this Island, just do the right thing, and let us all pray to God that  this is the beginning of the end of  that awful plague visited upon us for so many years.

    That plague called: CORRUPTION!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  7. Anonymous says:

    and they buy our votes with a couple of microwaves and a fridge… LOL! Seems the joke is on us my fellow Caymanians

  8. Anonymous says:

    Suppose this is the Expat’s fault as well right?

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm sure Whatshisface will be able to put some expat / anti UK slant on this, maybe with a smattering of Chagossians for good measure 🙂

      Always entertaining reading the ramblings of the completly disillusioned. 

      • anonymous says:

        Not until "anti imperialist camp" kicks out at the weekend and the parents collect the junior freedom fighters from the bunker in Newlands. Then he will be back on.

      • jonas dwyer says:

        And what you think your mama thinks about you, coming to someone else's house and being such a scmuck. Go home ole boy, go home if you don't like us, one less arrogant bastard.

      • Anonymous says:

        You forgot "the endangered cows." ……………. he really loves those endangered cows!

  9. Anonymous says:

    So we need to downsize the Civil Service because those in charge have been stealing from its funds. If downsizing means getting rid of the  fat at the top, you will hear no objectons, but the fat at the top is what caused this mess, and they want to slim down those at the bottom. Those at the bottom are already suffering and they had nothing to do with this mess.

  10. Anonymous says:

    We are finally part of CARICOM!!!

  11. Anonymous says:

    I don't get it though. How do you remove money (MILLIONS of it) from a bank account & not know who authorised it or where it went or to whom?! The banks must have records; find out WHO they issued it to & pursue THEM for what they did with it. This is THEFT of Govt funds.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone know where I can have my driveway done cheaply?

  13. Knot S Smart says:

    I say we just drop the pay for those responsible to one dollar plus one banana per day – until they straighten this mess out…

  14. Anonymous says:

    This is completely unacceptable! It is not business as usual I want this situation HANDLED. People need to be fired, policies and procedures need to be put in place and ADHERED to, with strict and swift consequences if they are not.

    Its from the top down, I feel sorry for those lower ranking civil servants who are doing their jobs but keep being blocked by their incompetent bosses. We HAVE to change the mindset. It is NOT okay if "so and so" does it, it is NOT okay that's how its always been, it is NOT okay to accept this crap.

    I am fuming! I don't want this story to go away until their is political will to ADDRESS this shi*!!!!

     

    I want it HANDLED!!

     

     

    • Joe B says:

      Because the same ones who broke it will be the ones relied on the fix it failure is the Caymanian Governments only option now.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Just ask bobo for some blank cheques

  16. Anonymous says:

     

    Time for the UK to take over and set things right again.  It  can't get more wrong.  I belive CIG has out corrupted the Turks and Caicos fiasco and has no idea how to stop itself from stealing its own future.  They all are ether incredibly incompetent or just plain thieves.  More likely a little of both.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Some people got to be hanged for this.

    • Anonymous says:

      You cannot hang people in a country that does not have capital punishment (thank goodness). Besides using public money is not illegal in the Cayman Islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep…the Darwin award radio presenter agrees with callers claiming this is a continuing effort through a foreign AG to get at MAC….For goodness sake every time anyone is caught doing something wrong or inefficient, blame the Limeys …..What an immature society that cannot even see or condemn a wrong when it is ommitted  by their  own

  18. Anonymous says:

    We civil servants call the system “Cruel Accounting”.
    Time to get rid of that system, along with those ancient idols who brought it here to destroy us!

    • Anonymous says:

      Your point would be far more valid if you told us your accounting qualifications. 

    • jonas dwyer says:

      Well one of them is retired and the other is still a Minister

    • Anonymous says:

      So, 5:21, do you and your friends run your own personal finances on a cash based system or on an accruals one? Or do you even know what I'm talking about?

  19. Anonymous says:

    Say  I told you so, remember when Ezzard the Terrible as chair of the Public Accounts Committee summonded all COs and CFO to the LA and in public read the section of the PMFL which says if you do not produce papers and documents when asked you commit an offence under the law punishable by a fine and or jail time.

    You john public and the civil servants rediculed hmi and the DPP told him he could not prosecute them.

    Wh will Ken Jefferson be held accountable as provided in the PMFL the same one who gave Mac his credit card without a policy

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess our new government with all its promises dont look so lilly white now. OH! there still is the blame it on McKeva card

      • Anonymous says:

        LOL. This is not about the new govt., at least not exclusively. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Ezzard is part of the problem. He and all politicians of the last 12 years. He just makes noise when it suits him.

  20. Anonymous says:

    CNS: find out how many salary increases these CFO's and CO's received as well the large amounts of overtime and paid time off and time off in lieu that was paid to such senior individuals. You will all be shocked, FOI and you will see it for yourself. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Don't forget to include the pension that is already being drawn as an addition.

  21. SKEPTICAL says:

    This must be the most damning exposure ever of poor governance and administrative incompetence, assuming we accept that the Report in no way suggests corruption or misappropriation. ONE THOUSAND MILLION DOLLARS has apparently disappeared into thin air. There appear to be no tangible assets that can be identified as having been acquired as a result of this expenditure, so where has it gone. Assuming that this is a " cash " figure, it is difficult to believe that payments from CIG bank accounts are not traceable to at least a primary beneficiary/transferee. Mr Swabrick has said that in many cases their is no supporting documentation, but we are not talking about the odd couple of hundred, or even thousand, dollars – we are talking about MILLIONS  of them. Why can't the individuals, from Ministers down to CS's, be hauled before the LA and cross examined, as they do in the US with Congressional enquiries.

    • Anonymous says:

      "…be hauled before the LA …"

      Ummmmm, the forever honourable members of the LA are big part of the problem.

      The phrase "political interference" appears in the Auditor's report.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      great post.

    • Hancock says:

      If Government always used credit cards rather than the banks to pay expenses then there would be a proper paper trail, or have I missed something.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well it's about time the country discuss the elephant in the room.  The old boys club and lodge control the CS always have and until incompetent people are fired they always will.    

      The management of the civil service is a joke and the level of nepotism and cover ups is sickening. If people  only knew how bad it is they heads would spin. Franz Manderson is the boss who has his puppets in place all over so none are held accountable because they all kiss ass and cover for each other.

      Wait until the other ministries results are made public then Cayman might understand how bad things are for the future. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

       

      • Anonymous says:

        7:25- Mr Manderson is not the problem – did you read the report?  Of course no one has noticed that the AG said the following " There has been improvements in the quality and timeliness of the annual financial statments reporting for M&P over the past 3 years. As at the date of this report, the audits of the financial statments for the years June 2011 and June 2012 have been completed for all ministries, portfolios and offices"…

        Mr Manderson took over in Feb 2012- why are we blaming him for these audits?.  Look at what he has done since taking over? Where are the two CFO's that were in these Ministries? neither one is there now…. check if you don't believe me. We also have two new Chief Officers in those Ministries who appointed them – Mr Manderson.

        Where is the Chief Officer in charge of Government finance for the past 10 years-  answer – home. Who made that decision – Mr Manderson

        what we need to do is stop talking about the past, action has been taken  – look at the future- it will take time for these two ministries accounts to be clean- but i bet you the new team will ensure that there is major improvement next year.

         

      • Anonymous says:

                07:25.You seem to have a lot of information since you say that "This is just the tip of the iceberg".Will you come forward with your information,or are you just content to spread rumours.

      • Anonymous says:

        07:25 Thank you for saying it! People talk quietly about it but are afraid to say. The puppets are everywhere kissing ass, backing news and making up lies like no tomorrow. They are moved from offices where competent bosses try to manage them and are seemingly rewarded for their misdeeds. The boss who catch them in corrupt behavior and attempt to deal with them are hated and treated as if they did wrong. It is sickening! You are so right, if people only knew their heads would spin! 

  22. Anonymous says:

    anywhere else in the world….mac and juju would be forced to resign from public office…..

    but in cayman.???…zzzzzzzzzz……..just another day in wonderland…..

  23. Anonymous says:

    As a hard working civil servant I can honestly say that is Not the only dept / portfolio there are several ” managers” that have no idea what their doing junior staff have to always bring them up to speed.

  24. James Mclean says:

    This is crazy!!

    CNS can you please find out who were the CFOs during the period in question and what experience do they have at a CFO level. The CFO and the CO are responsible for the accounts what are the consequences for this poor performance? If these CFOs still work in CIG get them out if they are now in the private sector you deal with them.

    • Anonymous says:

      What are their education credentials ?

      • Anonymous says:

        Have educational credentials would not mean you dont have a load of theiving high ranking public servants.

      • Buffalo Bill says:

        Maybe they majored in Theft 101.

    • Anonymous says:

      They should change the credentials of the CFO and CO to CUCKOO. That is what they really are considering the financial position of their respective departments. I suppose in Cayman, those with the CUCKOO qualification have the advantage over the rest since they are the ones getting hired for the positions.

    • Anonymous says:

      I can tell you that some of them jumped ship and found employment elsewhere because they knew this was coming. Unfortunately, they ruined the reputation of other innocent people that they wrongfully accused before leaving and it's obvious now this was to cover their backsides.

      • Anonymous says:

        Or, 09:16 it could be that they left out of disgust having become aware of the corruption that washappening! I am so glad that the Auditor General is naming and shaming and I'm sure there is more to come. Let's see Franz jump up now asking for reinstatement of salaries that had been scaled back. Thank God our Finance Minister, Hon Marco Archer, stood firm and told him no. In light of these revelations that increase should be relinquished to pay back this huge debt!

  25. Anonymous says:

    Too many top ranking civil servants have gotten their jobs because the Ministers happened to "like" them.

    • Anonymous says:

      Most of the senior appointments when Mac was in power were not based on their competence but just because he could 'Wuk' with them. No wonder we the poor Caymanian people now have to pay the price of them losing over $1billion of our money. It will onlystop when we elect ethical individuals and not ones that clearly have a gambling problem and think it's OK to gamble with CIG credit cards

    • Anonymous says:

      or someones brother or sister, cousin, aunt, uncle!

      • Anonymous says:

        or daughter… Mother and daughter working in the same deaprtment. smh.

    • Anonymous says:

      20:12.Provide proof or retract your statement.This is a serious allegationand CNS should insist that posters provide evidence to back up their claims,or refuse to publish such unsubstantiated claims.This sort of stuff is damaging to the reputation of the Cayman Is.and therfore should be backed by proofand not just someone's wild guess.CNS ,I believe that you are doing a good job,time now to raise the level of discussion on your site ,and thereby take yourselves to the next level.

      • anonymous says:

        Strange how perception goes. You claim that this sort of stuff is damaging the reputation of the cayman islands. Well, look around you. Billions have been "lost", gambling with public money is ok and each day is another news report that smacks of a Guinness book entry for ineptitude.

        I would say you are a bit too late to be concerned with a damaged reputation and pointing your reply to something that, right now, is the least concerning.

  26. Anonymous says:

    I cannot believe that Cayman has come to this!!! Everything is a 'free for all' no accountability!!!!

    I hope that the loop holes (or whatever you want to call this mess ) wlll soon be closed. Although it sounds more like we have had a bunch of unqualified numbskulls running the civil service for too long now. Let's hope we can get back on track bofore it is forever too late. Stop giving friends and family these jobs if they are not capable of carrying out their duties in a prudent manner.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who will close the loops? Those who got them open?

    • Anonymous says:

      If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will of course frantically try to clamber out. But if you place it gently in a pot of tepid water and turn the heat on low, it will float there quite placidly. As the water gradually heats up, the frog will sink into a tranquil stupor, exactly like one of us in a hot bath, and before long, with a smile on its face, it will unresistingly allow itself to be boiled to death.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Why am I not surprised ?

    Assuming the un-recorded exenditures relate to genuine govt costs & expenses, why can't the over-manned CS get the accounts done ?

    We are just lef to guess that the money has gone to fill somone's pockets, or maybe fund their gambling debts.

    The culture of "entitlement" rolls on.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Turkeys boats roofs car repairs fuel and a little something for unna to hold

    This is the way it is a bunch of thiefs running the place into bankruptcy and direct control of the queen.

    Failure has allready happend and things are just getting worse on the daily

    Elected officials are blind to what is going on afterall they get there checks every month for life so why should anything concern them.

    Turks and Cacos are so much better off today than they were just 5 years ago the Queen must like them more or perhaps they were worth saving more than Cayman. The bull shit is for sure worse here than it was in T&C.

  29. Chicken Little says:

    "Auditor General admits public finance accounting improving"  = Radio Cayman Headline News summary 5:15 pm.  So tell me again why we should not sell this entity.

  30. Philioous says:

    Oohh boy.
    And this is just the tip of the icebergh I’m sure.
    Why not remove the entire defective top management layer of COs CFOs, Cunsultants, Advisers and demote their salaries and benefits, and then bring in an outside team to Really Ratiolalise; then give a moderate raise to the low-level workers who do the real work?

  31. anonymous says:

    It will be all paid back!

  32. Anonymous says:

    Amend the PMFL so that anything other than a minor qualification to the accounts is automatic ground for disciplinary action or dismissal on both CO and CFO.  

    While you're at it, specify some other things that are automatic grounds – like using a government credit card for personal expenses.  

    A change in the law would allow the DG to say he had no choice in the matter when he issues the written warning or dismissal.  Without this kind of cover it will realistically never happen and if it did the CO could claim unfair dismissal (and might well have a case).

    • Anonymous says:

      Your suggestion makes real sense but I fear you have either not been here long or do not understanding the intricate web of family ties and allegiances that are destroying our country.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Just another day in Absurdistan…really doesn't matter if its UDP or PPM in charge

  34. Anonymous says:

    No surprise here.

    And it will continue….at least until some of those responsible are truly held accountable, without the usual golden parachutes that is!

    If they have broken the "laws" then charge and prosecute them!

    • Anonymous says:

      Those who are in charge of books must have an education in finance and accounting to start with. CFOs must have master degrees and CPA designation to start with. What is their educational level?

      • Anonymous says:

        Listen you are nieve in the extreme if you think this is down to incompetence.  1billion – Jesus it doesn't bear thinking about.  Their are systemic problems in the system, starting with those at the top who believe that public funds are their funds.  What minor accounts clerk is going to highlight to a boss that he has failed to produce receipts.  Get real.

         

         

         

  35. Anonymous says:
    Evidence that maybe the Chamber of Commerce are right about the lack of accountability at the highest levels of Civil Service. Obviously shaming civil servants is not working and more serious sanctions are necessary immediately.
     
    In the real world heads would roll, people would get fired for this level of unprofessionalism.
    • Anonymous says:

      At best it is extreme incompetence at worst the greatest robbery of our times.  No heads will roll and the question to ask yoursel is why.  A few months ago a teller at a bank was brought before the courts for taking a small amount from a customer account, but it seems when you are in government you can literaly gamble public money, make a billion disappear and get away with it.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Well. the truth is coming out at last. Along with these names should be Carson Ebanks, the Chief Officer for many years in Mac's ministry. I feel a bit sorry for Stran Boddden and Alan Jones who are relative newcomers to their positions, left to take over the mess left by Carson Ebanks and Kearney Gomez. No sorrow should be felt for the naming of Kenneth Jefferson and Sonia McLaughlin since their leadership of the handling of Government's finances has been useless over many years. At least Jefferson is a qualified accountant. The unfortunate Mrs McLaughlin is not and should never have been in such an elevated position. It was not fair to her or to the country.Put these civil servants together with Mr Bush and Ms Julianna and their drunken sailor type spending and you have the perfect storm. Poor Cayman.

    • anonymous says:

      Yep, looking at trying to salvage what is left of my pension and f@!king off in QuickTime.

  37. Anonymous says:

    WTF how are all these people still employed and STILL in senior management positions?

  38. Anonymous says:
    How can anybody believe in a surplus especially the Minister of Finance Marco Archer when $1 billion dollars is unaccounted for in the AG's recent report? 
     
     
  39. Anonymous says:

    Shameful behavior if PPM had any ethics and were less concerned with political expediency they would strip Mrs. O'Connor-Connolly of her position as Speaker of the House instead of rewarding such public maladminstration. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Shameful? How about criminal? Breach of public trust.

    • Anonymous says:

      Do you seriously expect the exalted Mr McLaughlin, our esteemed premier, to actually hold people accountable?  It will never happen under either parties watch.  It never failes to amaze me that all the hatred directed at expats on these pages is not harnessed to truly see where the real problem lies.  My belief is that yes there perhaps is a problem with immigration, but the real problem lies in the leadership of this country and the croniesm associated with it.  You think its ok for students to come back with their Masters Degrees from the USA and take up elevated positions in government to which they are wholly unsuited.  It turns out that Cayman is no matter than other countries in the region for ripping off its own people who feel powerless to do anything about it.  You would think after this revelation that people would immediately be suspended from their posts whilst a thorough investigation takes place.  Instead you get silence and the big question is "why silence" from our elected premier.  Its not rocket science!

  40. Civil Ian says:

    Cayman it's time hold those responsible including former Ministers McKeeva Bush, and Juliana O'Connor- Connolly and their former and current Chief Officers Stran Bodden, Kenneth Jefferson, Sonia McLaughlin, Kearney Gomez, Alan Jones and all deputies, CFO's and ultimately Head of the Civil Service, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson accountable for this mess. $1BILLION unaccounted for and nobody is to blame what a mess!

    PPM should not gloat because the situation in 2005-09 was just as bad but they will never show the public those figures.

  41. Anonyanmous says:

    The mess rolls on indeed, Caymanians are unemployed, fed up, hungry and angry.  People need jobs!  Do the right thing please government make it GRAND Cayman again.

  42. Anonymous says:

    In a normal place the leaders of these ministries would be fired and someone capable of sorting it out and controlling it put in. How many years and how much money has been wasted or frittered away? Hang your heads in shame- you are a disgrace to these islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      Do they have competent people to replace them? How many qualified accountants are available?

      • Anonymous says:

        This is not wholly down to lack of qualifications.  You don't just misplace one billion dollars.  You systematically create smoke screens, ensure there is a culture of fear of whistleblowing, do away with accountability and place people in positions for which they are grateful and therefore less likely to create a fuss.  It stinks but being on here and venting my anger will actually change nothing.  In the next election everyone should vote who can and destroy their vote making sure that neither party can be elected.  Yes it would cause a constitutional crisis, but what is the alternative.  Another four years with both parties maintaining the status quo. thank goodness I have dual nationality because with hand on heart I can say I am unwilling to subject my young children to such an uncertain future here.

    • The Parliamentarian says:

      In a normal place the leaders would be incarcerated.

  43. Anonymous says:

    1 Billion…  that is about $25,000 to each Caymanian living here (estimating about 40,000)

    That is a crying shame.  And we keep these people employed?  Good time to fire them!!

  44. Anonymous says:

    That is why the FCO and past Governor alledgely had their doubts that a particular person should have remain in the position he was in!!  Wat a mess!!

  45. David_Marchant says:

    The residents of the Cayman Islands seem to condone corruption and incompetence by politicians and civil servants. It seems to be an acceptable aspect of Cayman culture.

    Fraud and corruption Monday to Friday, church on Sunday. Oh the irony!

    • Anonymous says:

      David, indeed you are right.

      The offshore private sector however does its utmost to remain clean and transparent, as it recognises the world of compliance we live in. Of course there will always be one or two bad apples, but when you compare to other equally large financial centres, Cayman is streets ahead both in terms of relative size and frequency of financial crime. 

      Goverment finance is a separate issue and yes, whilst generally going in the right direction these reports show it is far too slow and government must be willing to cut off some heads and prosecute those that have done wrong.

      • Anonymous says:

        The vociferous Caymanians, with little sense of history, seem to think Cayman thrives because of them, when, in fact, it thrives despite them. For Cayman to move forward competively the good Caymanians need to step up to the plate, introduce work ethic and accountability. The culture of entitlement must be defeated and education needs to be taken seriously. A place with this kind of money should have some of the best schools in the Caribbean. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Governor Kilpatrick i think it's time to earn that paycheck without real consequences from top to bottom the madness continues.

      I can't wait to hear the bull$hit and justification for this latest mess from the Deputy Governor. The buck stops with him and he handpicked the clowns running the civil circus. Beyond the usual "not on my watch" sound bites what is he going to do to fix this? 

      • Philioous says:

        Yes David,
        It ultimately falls to the Crown, so stay tuned.
        Obviously this will be the Cayman civil service’s “Waterloo” as it was in France.
        Pity tho!

    • Anonymous says:

      This is corruption at its worst, what happened in TCI pales in comparison to this mess.  Further investigations should be done by the FCO, there is no excuse for this.  If this country was a corporation all the elected leaders would be on trial for this.  This is a financial center and we expect prudent leadership.