‘Ozziegate’ causes outrage
(CNS): More than three hundred and twenty comments were posted to the CNS website in the two-day period after the news story regarding the health minister’s profanity-littered tirade on his chief officer was published at just after 11:30 on Tuesday morning. Osbourne Bodden’s outburst has stirred up a public storm that the government may find hard to ignore, despite its best efforts. So far, with the exception of a short statement from the premier’s office saying that CO Jennifer Ahearn had reported the incident to the deputy governor, that the minister had apologised in writing and that there was a plan in place to address the issue, the country’s leaders have been less than forthcoming about the incident and the calls for Bodden’s resignation.
The member for North Side told CNS Thursday that he believed both the health minister and his chief officer should resign following the well-publicised altercation and set an example. Ezzard Miller said he did not believe that the incident was unprovoked but regardless of why Bodden had lost his temper, what he did was unacceptable and it should not be tolerated. The minister, he said, should show the necessary political maturity and step down.
He said that, given the circumstances, the chief officer should also resign as it was clear the two were no longer able to work together and that this disagreement would create a disruptive division in the ministry that would be hard to overcome.The independent member said Bodden should take responsibility for his actions and the people need to see accountability from their political leaders. But, he said, it would also set a good example for civil service accountability for Ahearn to resign as well, as she was not able to work with her minister.
Miller is so far the only member of the Legislative Assembly other than Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush to comment at all about the incident following Premier Alden McLaughlin’s short official statement that the matter was being dealt with and he did not want to air the details in the press. Bush told The Cayman Compass that he did not have all the facts about what occurred in the ministry offices but based on what has been said the premier “couldn’t whitewash” the situation.
No one else on the government benches has spoken about the incident. CNS has contacted the minister for labour and gender affairs but has received no response with regards to that ministry’s position on the health minister’s workplace behaviour and what appears to have been a bullying attack on his female chief.
No details of the tirade, which was loud enough for most people on the top floor of the government administration building to hear, have been confirmed but CNS understands that the insults and profanities used by the minister focused on Ahearn’s nationality rather than her gender.
The issue has raised considerable attention from the public at large, not just from the CNS commenters but across wider social media and on the local airwaves as well. Most of those participating in the online discussion on CNS and elsewhere are calling for Bodden to step down from his ministerial post and for government to act if he does not.
However, it appears that the government is hoping that the public backlash on this issue, like the situation surrounding the police commissioner and the recruitment of a murderer to the RCIPS, among other sticky issues for the current administration, will go away.
If it does not, the premier will be faced with a difficult decision on who can replace Bodden.
The obvious candidate to take over is Alva Suckoo, who has worked with his Bodden Town senior colleague in the ministry as a councillor. However, although becoming increasingly popular with his constituents, Suckoo is believed to be less so in the party ranks as a result of his outspoken and independent position on a number of issues.
He voted with the opposition on 'one man-one vote' when the PPM administration tried to deflect dealing with the change to the country’s voting system. He also defied the premier recently when he spoke out about the need for the police commissioner to be removed following the revelations about the recruitment of Tyrone Findlay to the RCIPS while he was under investigation for murder in Jamaica, and charged soon after.
Suckoo has also been outspoken about the failure by government to do enough to tackle the increasing number of problems faced by local people in the labour market and the numerous employer infractions that are preventing Caymanians from having an equal opportunity at securing work.
Anthony Eden had chosen not to take a ministry during this administration and it is very unlikely that the veteran politician could be persuaded to return to the Cabinet. Given the workload of Deputy Prime Minister Moses Kirkconnell, he probably not willing to give up his councillor, Joey Hew, so he is also an unlikely candidate to replace Bodden.
The remaining backbench MLAs, who are both Coalition for Cayman members, are also unlikely to be a favourite choice, as that may prove too much of a coalition for the PPM leader to embrace.
Julianna O’Connor-Connolly, who joined the PPM following the election result after she accepted the speaker's post, might be persuaded to return to ministerial office, leaving Eden, who is deputy speaker, to take up her post should the premier decide that 'Ozziegate' has left him no choice but to oust his PPM colleague. But this scenario would not be without its problems.
Although O’Connor-Connolly has proved a popular choice for speaker as a result of her experience and competency in that job, there are still some uncomfortable issues surrounding her ministry during the last administration. Questions remain over her travel bill and the paving of private driveways with public cash on Cayman Brac, which may prove difficult for the PPM, which took a vocal stand against the issues when in opposition.
CNS poll 1: Should Osbourne Bodden resign from Cabinet?
CNS poll 2: If Osbourne Bodden resigned or was ousted from the Health Ministry, who should replace him?
Category: Local News
THERE IS A FRIGHTENING AMOUNT OF DISRESPECT AND VOILENCE TOWARD WOMEN
in this country
And it usually starts with the Verbal Abuse. THen it escalates
Ozzie is a friend of mine. But truthfully for years I know of him seriously needed
ANGER MANAGEMENT Help !!
We need to show Cayman those in HIGH OFFICES need to be setting the Example for those below; Wether that is Ozzie or the Commissioner
When I first heard this story I resolved myself that I have no hope in my own personal encounter with verbal abuse. I have come to the realization that if a top member of cabinet feels this way about women and non-caymanians, there is really no one to listen/protect women who endure domestic abuse. Violence against women by their partners is alarming in this country, and a lot of it is targeted towards the nationality of that individual because of the belief that somehow not being a Caymanian makes you a second class individual. I have made a mental note to self. Yours truly, DRIFTWOOD.
17:17. "Violence against women by their partners is alarming in this country", and in a lot of countries around the world.There is also a widespread belief that" being a Caymanian makes you a second class individual".
I am a BT Voter and this incident will weigh heavily on my mind come next elections. I believe Mr Bodden owes the people of the Cayman Islands an explanation, but more importanmtly an apology, Mrs Ahern deserves a public apology also. Mr Bodden should also be forced to a class for anger management. Mr Bodden as a BT voter you have disappointed me.
So let me get this straight…
I can no longer cuss and shout…
I can no longer get vex…
I can no longer use my 'cow-cod'…
I can no longer say the 'driftwood' word…
I can no longer say the 'fxxx' word…
But can I still say 'O-Bombo-clot' ?
And what about 'OOO-Rass-clot' …
I certainly DO NOT condone Osbourne Bodden's behaviour but can't help but see a bias displayed by the Compass. Today's editorial called for Minister Bodden's resignation, perhaps rightly so. But last week the Compass vigourously defended Commissioner Baines, despite him being the head of the organization which recruited and paid a murderer – as well as consistently displaying other shortcomings in improving the level of performance and crimefighting. What happened to "Tthe Buck Stops Here" principle?? The Commissioner deflecting the blame to his staff or the Jamaican authorities was shameful.
The Compass has publicly called for improved crime-fighting yet it vigoursly defended Commissioner Baines' limp position. That is hypocritical in itself and more so by clearly exhibiting two different standards for Baines and Minister Osbourne.
Shame on the Compass' biased "journalism"!
Facts versus rabble rousing:
Rabble – "the Compass vigourously defended Commissioner Baines, despite him being the head of the organization which recruited and paid a murderer "
Fact – He wasn't charged with murder when recruited, and any investigation into a possible murder wasn't revealed by his JCF employers when asked to provide references.
Rabble – "The Commissioner deflecting the blame to (his staff or) the Jamaican authorities was shameful."
Fact – Hello, the Jamaican authorities provided glowing references and made no mention of a possible murder investigation.
For discussion – I am unaware of the Comissioner deflecting blame to his staff; can you back that up or are you just full of Rabble shit?
01:03.Fact :Commissioner brought him back from suspension and gave him a desk job, while he was awaiting trial on murder charges.
OMG! Can we all join together like this on the things that matter…like the cost of living??
13:02 you should have said "Can we also join together like this on the things that matter…" and you would have gotten a thumbs up from me. You seem to think that the Minister's verbal abuse does not matter.
The public statement from the Women's Minister was fascinating. Oh yes, Tara has done nothing. Coward does as cowards do.
Women on these islands are afraid of Cayman'men and would not stand-up for themselves.
Are you suggesting that a female elected politician would be too afraid of her male colleagues to speak out about something that really mattered and was part of her portfolio? If so, this would imply that no women should ever be elected here and that is a pretty sorry state of affairs.
Bodden is no doubt sat in bewilderment wondering what all the fuss is about. His only regret will be that his outburst was overheard. Ezzard wants the victim in all this to be sacked. River's silence sums up her character and cowardice. The Premier sits in a funk hoping it will all go away and be forgotten. Cayman has a very small gene pool and to find enough people of intelligence, integrity and character to run the government and various institutions in even a low satisfactory manner is proving impossible. It is very difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel. Depressing.
Of course if you opened up the pool of available candidates to those with status and didn’t exclude those who worked overseas or had traveled you might have a wide range – in numbers and quality.
Depressing indeed….how about letting some "driftwood expats" have a shot at running things?
No thanks. We've seen the treatment of Caymanians by your kind in the private sector.
But they are Caymanians too. Don't you get it?
Nope. They’re “Drifters”. Lol
That's the point that 15.49 was trying to get across. Status holders or freshly arrived driftwood (with status) may have the skills and abilities to make a difference for all, at a government level.
Disliking and trolling such points of view purely exemplifies the real deep seated issues, with regards to who is more Caymanian and more entitled on the island.
12:45. Your statement that " Cayman has a very small gene pool and to find enough people of intelligence, integrity and character to run the government and various institutions in even a low satisfactory manner is proving impossible" is so disgusting,demeaning ,racist,xenophobic and insulting to Caymanians.If this was a level playing field your comment would be attracting hundreds of negative replies,but the field is not level ,so it won't and the hundreds of posters who are upset that an expat/Caymanian was allegedly insulted ,will have nothing to say now that the racist comments are being directed towards "natives".
Could have been worst. The cow cod could have been used.
Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy….. Go Go Go
The Cayman Compass was totally out of order with today's paper. Publishing their editorial on the front page above the fold like it was the lead news story. Editorials belong on the editorial page not the front page. It was in bad taste an deceptive to do so.
I have no problem with the contents of the piece, in fact I agree with it. But the manner of presentation is another example of the poor journalism we see out of that paper.
Not surprising for a paper essentially controlled by DART who is unhappy that the minister isn't doing what they want with the dump.
This situation begs the question where is the police in this whole matter. We have an individual who in this case happens to be a Minister of Cabinet who has obviously assaulted another person who happens to be his Chief Officer. There are obviously a building full of witnesses. This is the same thing that happened to another individual recently Mr. Kenneth Bryan, and he was arrested and charged and now has to go to court.
In addition Mr. Bodden could be charged with insulting the modesty of a woman.
Why has he not been charged, he actually has admitted to the crime and there are a significant number of witnesses.
If he is charged we would have to expect that there would be consistency in the treatment that was dished out to Mr. Kenneth Bryan which would require Mr. Bodden to be at least suspended and if found guilty removed.
Why are we operating at such double standards, is there a ongoing Police investigation? Why the harsh treatment on Mr. Bryan who it appears was simply trying to assist an innocent person.
Kenneth, if you know what was good for you, you would leave PPM before they totally ruin you. Alden or PPM is not going to stand with you through this. They got what they wanted from you already. Do some research on what they did Alfonso. Take a fools advice………
i am a North Sider and Ezzard Miller himself needs to be out because all he do is talk about the rest all day and everyday but what has he done for the North Side people NOTHING because he is all about himself and his Family so he needs to stop judging and look at his self
Oh be quiet. You probably voted for Joey.
rape is a crime of passion, so i guess assault is OK if is is done in passion
Rape is certainly NOT a crime of passion it is a crime where a person demonstrates their power over another, it is a crime with violence and contempt as a motivating factor, not passion.
So where is Winston Connolly on this matter? He was quick to speak out on McKeeva Bush even after he was acquitted of all charges in the court yet not a peep about Minister Osbourne Bodden insulting the modestly of a woman which is a criminal offence. Shame on you too Winston.
He picks his battles.
Is Cayman so different from the rest of the world that the minister's tirade will be overlooked or brushed under the carpet? We can do anything we want in our own country and no one can fault us or punish us,but remember it is the information age and anything we do is being observed by the intrnational community. We interact with other countries in trade, education,scientific cooperation etc. so for some posters that i see on this and other sites who are upset when you call out public officials for acting in an outrageous manner, unbecoming of their office(s),get use to accountability. You cant use:"they are being hard on Caymanian"card annymore anymore.Principles and standards are of paramount importance and should supersede indiviuals personal opinions and idiosyncrasies
What about starting a movement on Facebook (similar to the Caymanians and Expats Unite against Taxation)? We have to believe that in a free, democratic country that aspires to be first-world, there is enough disquiet in the comunity that such an arrogant, misogynous fool is allowed to hold a plpace of high office. Do we not live in a place that is supposed to uphold the rights of women and human rights in general? Lets stop speaking freely under the Almond Tree and have the guts to speak out without fear of reprisal…I will not be buying gas from Ozzies station ever again…maybe this can be a starting place htps://www.facebook.com/groups/caymanunited/
I am curious to know why every news station has raised this story… But cayman 27 has yet to report on it. Hmmmm….. Are they now becoming a biased political news station? Does anyone know why this might be?
That's ridiculous. We're not the only country with murders, rapes, drug addictions, poor performing students, high unemployment either so let's not do anything about these issues. Is that your argument?
Follow the money.
It is more than obviously clear as to why Minister of Health and Chief Officer positions should be held by persons having solid academic healthcare education backgound and qualifications to achieve that which evokes the expected successful results for the benefit of our nation and its people. What we have here is a "disagreement" scenario with smoke-screen excuses citing passion of both jobs as as an explanation for a public display of apparent incompatibility rather than compatibility of purpose and as such resultant anger management issues. To let this matter be is to condone acceptance which will likely pave the way for it's re-occurrence. The voting public deserves more than the whimsical excuse provided.
Ozzie should man up and admit that he has an anger problem.
He should check into an anger anagement program.
He must resign as he is, in his current state, unfit for office.
Do they have hate management courses? Where did he learn to hate? We are all born the same. Then we separate and blame turns to hate.
No strings attached to Cayman! Just remember-expat Driftwood can drift back to where we came from. And take our talents, assets +kids with us in so doing.
05:09.And that my friend is a huge part of the problem;a large number of expats have Cayman status but no love for Cayman.It is just a place for them to work.Most of the expats who came in the late sixties,the seventies,and eighties,fell in love with the people and place, made an effort to fit in ,and did.They did not come looking for status,but chose it after living her for a while and wanting to stay. A lot of the late arriving expats arrive looking for status and come with a sense of entitlement.When rollover was first introduced there was a comment posted on the Nets News blog by a Canadian who stated that he had been thinking of coming here to work but would not be coming since he could not stay more than seven years.I guess his life in Canada must have been pretty rough if he wanted to be guaranteed more than seven years away from there,or maybe he felt entitiled to live in Cayman as long as he chose ,simply because he did us the favour of coming here to work.
Time for full political rights for driftwood.
Please…..this man is an embarrasme t to caymanians too, please do not assume caymanians are all the same.
Step Down Ozzie! You will still be called honorable! Because it's now the law! Thanks to our first Premier Mr. Bush.
Only former Premiers, former Deputy Premiers, former Speakers and former Deputy Speakers retain the title "Honourable" after leaving office. Ozzie is none of the above. On the other hand if he doesn't know this then perhaps it will encourage him to resign as he must do !!! LOL
Not the Deputies.
Ummm…Professor you need to go back to school. Ozzie would not still be called Honourable if he stepped down. That is reserved for former Premiers, LOGBs, Speakers of the House and National Heroes.
Love it. The man who said that people shouldnt behave like N*****s says Ozzies conduct is unacceptable.
Who you going to replace him with??? The whole lot of them think the same thing about paper Caymainans!!!!! Driftwood for so!
Not Big Mac: He refered to expats as "MIGRANT WORKERS"
That is one of the few things he was right about. That is the correct term in international law.
Just Commenting ,I wonder did you read over what you typed? Do you really believe that Alden has the Authority to interview civil servants? The answer is NO he does not.The Deputy Governor is responsible for the civil service,not the Premier.
Ohhh pleeeze! Reallyyy? TheConstitution provides that the Governor is responsible for the appointment and discipline of public officers. However, under 108.b all public officers must "…implement Government policy to the best of their ability and in accordance with the with the directions given to them by the Cabinet or other responsible person or authority." Administrative responsibility for public officers rests with Cabinet (inclusive of the Premier). (Do I hear any fluff from you about that?) Who gave the press "authority" to interview the public servants who bore witness to Ozz's trashy behaviour? Do you know of a law that would preclude Alden from asking questions of anyone about the actions of a member of his Cabinet? Do tell.
So what's your point? Who cares anyway? Alden need not go any further than the fact that Ozz admitted he crossed the line. By his very words Ozz stands tried and convicted. Alden is responsible for his Cabinet. Since you are gittin' a might pickisome, Alden's power in the case of dismissal of a member of his Cabinet is provided for in 52.2.b of the Constitution. Alden should have advised the Governor to execute the order for Ozz to vacate his office. This should have happened long before the issue became a media circus and the matter allowed to get messy and fester to this point. That would have been good leadership. Nip the problem in the bud and move on.
Worse things are happening in the world and on this island. Give it a rest for peace sake!!
As one long time expat lady said out loud in the office one day. Oh My! Are we all so sensitive now?
She was very, very right.
How about I come around your office and scream racist abuse at you and see if you maintain that perspective?
Let's not lower our expectations too much!
Yes, let's sweep aggressive racism under the carpet.
Would you have the same view if it was your wife, mother or daughter who suffered that abuse?
After I heard of this digusting animal behaviour, I have decided not to buy gas from his gas station in Boddentown anymore.
I am a frequent visitor, but enough is enough.
This is the way to teach this man a lesson.
STOP BUYING GAS FROM TEXACO GAS STATION BODDENTOWN ! ! ! !
21:15.Boy you sure are angry,I guess Ozzie is not the only one with a temper.And look at how hateful you ar.trying to cripple a Caymanian's business,just because you do not like him .Wow.
Well I am Caymanian and i sure as hell ain't buying from him
Say “Paper Caymanian”.
And paper is made from wood, right?
Apparently you aren't visiting that often because there's no Texaco Station in BT -LOL.
Third world mentality.
I am glad not to be Caymanian, it's embarrassing . . .
20:48.Bet you are glad to work here and support your family though.Bet you are not embarassed about that.
Guess there are no idiots where you come from – they all left for other countries. Embarrassing
Let me guess, you're a first world Canadian? Perhaps related to Rob Ford?
Or maybe you're a Brit? Or American? Jamaican? Too many examples to even choose from those places.
But even so, as a proud Caymanian I would never think to say to the people of those countries "You must be so embarassed to be from X because of the actions of Mr./Ms. X"
I'm not defending the guy or his actions, but these types of comments are just so silly and devisive.
That was one of the best posts I've heard in a long time.
Just a quick aside, it is "divisive", not "devisive".
Your comment is as deplorable as Boddens.
Seriously!? Surely you must know that these types of people hail form every country, not only Cayman. You are living in Cayman and speaking this way? I would never be residing or visiting in anyone's country no matter what and speak this way.
Be proud to be where ever you are from. Hell if I am going to make the stupidity of one or more idiot Caymanians make me embarassed to be one. I am proud to be Caymanian.
There are many decent Caymanians, same as there are many decent and idoit asses from all over the globe including your country I am sure. Sure if you think back a few may come to mind.
I am proud to be a Caymanian no matter what. Why because at the end of the day I am a decent Caymanian and I interact with many paper and resident Caymanians. I at all times treat all the people I come in contact with respect no matter their nationality, status and race.
You should practice the same. I dont know you but based on your comment adivse you not to let anger make you feel so ignorant, that you start behaving like the very person you are despising.
Think about it… Merry Christmas to you and yours. Happy Safe & Prosperous New Year when it comes.
Ah boy. When it is a Caymanian at fault they quick to say he should resign. When it's an expat, like Baines, they circle the wagons. And Caymanians get taken in.
Baines didn't verbally absue any employee……… at least not that we know of, there is the difference and hiring of the Jamaicans was the fault of the other jamaicans running the show
Oh, we realise he has pawned off blame on to other people. The point is that he is the head o fthe organisation that did the recruiting and ought to accept the blame. And if he was Caymanian that is exactly what you would be saying too.
Is this not a legal/criminal case of insulting the modesty of a woman? And if it is and he is convicted then I believe that is a clear cut case where by he Has to give up his political position.
Not if he is of the intitled clan. Not if this is a third world country still. Watch.
He only has to give up his title and is only barred from politics if he serves more the 12months in our Hotel.
Nope. Only if it resulted in a term of imprisonment exceeding a year which would not be possible for that offence.
That ridiculous law needs to be repealed any way since it is discriminatory and in breach of our Bill of Rights.
How can Alden permit a minister who displays such trashy behaviour to remain in so lofty and esteemed a position? If Ozz needs the job, put him to work in a job befitting his demeanour…like, maybe, sorting throught Mt. Trashmore.
A man with the manners and temperament of a common troglodyte should not be sitting in a position of leadership. We have enough pathetically poor examples and sorry role models for our people (particularly our young men) as it is. Osbourne should not remain sitting in our Cabinet.
What irks me is that the anti-Makeewah faction jumped all over Bush for answering a young lady using the condecending but quite common term "Darlin" in his reply during a public meeting. No curse words, no malice, no really crappy temper just "darlin". I am certainly no Bush fan, but, giving the deveil his due, we never, never, never, never, everrrrr, read in the media that Bush cursed at a woman or cursed out a subordinate.
Alden's actions in the coming days will tell us what kind of man he is. If he can excuse this unacceptable behaviour by citing Ozz's "passion" for his job, then he can excuse domestic aggression as a spouse merely displaying "passion" for his marriage. Only a moron would offer excuses for such poor behaviour. A real man, a real leader, will rid our government of this blight. If Alden offers us excuses then he is just as bad as Ozz and no better (and probably a helluva lot worse) than Makeewah.
And hey, what happened to the Hon. Ms. Rivers? She in a coma, or what? You know, Tara Rivers…the one who waxes all holy and righteous about women'srights and gets people worked up with all her talk about stopping aggression against women. One would think that if Rivers' dedication to women's rights was more than just window dressing, that she would be the loudest voice calling for Ozz to resign. One would think Rivers would be calling for his arrest and his resignation. If she sits idly by and says nothing, then we will all know that her high position and politics are more important to her than her desire to stop aggression against women in our society. I am dissappointed – no, appalled – by her silence.
Ok, Alden, you have had long enough to decide what to do. What's it gonna be? Are you a leader? Or a lemming? You have had ample time to determine if Ozz said what he is accused of saying. You could have interviewed the people who were there in about, what, 20 minutes? And if their story stacked up, Ozz should have been asked to vacate his office forthwith. Why are you dilly-dallying and letting this issue fester like a canker on our land? You are certainly not manifesting good leadership thus far. What are you waiting for? You gonna take the lead on this? Or are you in a corner, crouched in a fetal position sucking your thumb, paralyzed by the fear of what Ozz and his supporters will do if you fire him?
Folks, I can understand Alden's stonewallng and waiting, he would like it if Ozz sees the light and just resigns without any fuss. But sometimes the mark of a true leader is the ability to make the tough call and stand up for the right rather than playing politics. If Alden fails to act against Ozz, then he will eloquently have told us that all his high-minded rhetoric and smooth words are just the vile spewings of a spineless self-serving demagogue – and no different than Bush, just uses better grammer, that's all.
You have the answer in your last sentence of your post.
19.45. Smack on. Thank you
u finally got it
So far only BS politico speak coming from the premier on this. Mr. premier you need to do the right thing here and cause Minister Bodden to step down.
Whatever Ms. Ahearn did or did not do, does NOT warrant the level of abuse leveled at her by Bodden….period. "There is no excuse for abuse"!
And Ezzard is completely wrong that the CO should also step down. She did nothing to warrant such abuse.
Nothing from Ozzie on this indicent at all. Nothing but a lame response from Alden and Franz, before the major facts of what was said came out. Nothing from the Governor as the head of civil service. Nothing from the Civil Service Association. What does the PPM and the Cayman Islands government stand for? It stands for bullying racists hypocrites, not for victims of abuse. This is one of the most disgusting things that has happened here and I thought McKeeva set the bar so high it could never be topped. Everyone who has stood by and said or done nothing to address this issue substantively should be ashamed of themselves.
Ezzard flits between moments of excellence and times of total nonsense.
According to this report, he seem to give two differing reasons why Ms Ahearn should resign.
First of all he says Ozzie's outburst was not unprovoked. Presumably he means that Ms Ahearn provoked him (as opposed to someone else provoking him and Ms Ahearn just being in the blast zone hen he went off). If so then I agree she has a case to answer about her behaviour. If found to be the cause of this toxic evironment – and only then – she should go.
To that extent, while I completely disagree with Ezzard that any provocation by Ms Ahearn means she must go, he is right to raise the question
His other argument however is frankly dismaying. Being unable to work with a Minister who behaved in the appaling way he did toward her (and yesI do note that while there seems to be consensus around what his behaviour was there seems to be a startling difference between the Govt and pretty much everybody else about whether it was appallling) is not a shortcoming – it s perfectly normal and healthy human behaviour. I would be more worried about someonein a senior position if they could work with someone who behaves the way Ozzie has.
Ezzard if you truly believe that somebody should step down because they can't work with someone who behaves unacceptably then you are not fit to represent people.If one of your constituents came to you and told you their boss was harrassing them and verbaly abusing them in front of colleagues, would you effectively tell them 'get over it or get a new job' which is what you are saying to Miss Ahearn.
Shame on you Ezzard.
Mac, Ozzie, Ezzard, Arden and Alden all need to resign.
Huh? Why – because you don't like them? LOL.
There aught to be teeth in the Constitution that allow MLAs and Ministers to be suspended when they commit offences or conduct themselves in a disorderly fashion and if convicted of either, they should be removed and barred from office for a specified time.
What I want to know and what the people of the Cayman Islands needs to know; is exactly what caused Ozzie to loose his cool ?? What were the contents of the e-mail that was sent the day before which resulted in the C.O. going to Ozzie's office to be told to F$&! OFF and being characterised as a piece of Drift Wood ?
Civil servants on the 5th floor please let us know. I'm sure CNS will accept this info in the strictest of confidence.
Please let us know the scoop !!
16:58.Are you going to provide them with jobs ,should they lose their Government jobs?
It does not matter what provokes such an outburst. The outburst should never happen in a professional or woek comtext, more especially when its a Minister to his employee.
Allegedly the whole argument was started by his cell bill. He was asking Jennifer to pay some (or all) of his personal cell bill as he gets political or Gov't related calls on that line. I gather this has been simmering for a while and came to a head the other day.
Unless you are roaming you do not pay for calls you receive, only those you make. If he was issued a government phone he should use that phone, and only that phone, for government-related calls.
Stir the pot, why don’tcha?
I remember Alden and the PPM calling for Mac to step down. They should take the same stand on this. The fact that Ozzie is " one of theirs" makes it even more important they thake the high road and do so!
Fire him…..
Riders on the storm…they do know there is a storm, right? Or do they not have to take into account the people that elected them? Or behave in a wise and sage manner, protecting the public interest? Or take responsibility for their mistakes- 'cos thats what comes with a big pay check!
Oh hell, I forgot, thought I was not in Cayman anymore
Supercop must be happy, at least the attention has shifted.
People please do not forget!
Osbourne Bodden has succeeded in getting the word"driftwood" meaning "expat with status" into our local language patterns, although Roy Bodden was the first to use the term disparagingly like this some years back (what district are they both from?). Someone should do up tee shirts with that word proudly emblazoned on it (but maybe not the "f" word which seems so integral to poor old Minister Bodden's language.
It is not possible to be an expat with status. Such persons are called Caymanians.
That is what they are called by law but we all know they are not really. That is why they are called paper Caymanians.
No, a Caymanian is a person with status no matter how they came by it, who self identifies as Caymanian and does not call their country of origin home.
A paper Caymanian on the other-hand is someone who is Caymanian on paper only and may actually despise the Cayman Islands and its people, treating their status as little more than an opportunity to avoid work permit fees while they send their money "home."
For the avoidance of doubt, Jennifer Ahearn is most certainly a Caymanian.
Or, 16:51, driftwood.
or called f@@king driftwood, whihc ever fits in the scenario at hand
16:51.Are you saying that when an expat is granted Caymanian status ,that they lose the citizen ship of their home country.So and American who obtains status is no longer an American? I believe you got that wrong.An expat who obtains Caymanian status is still an expat.FYI the definition of expat is" An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ("out of") and patria ("country, fatherland").
XXXX
Ezzard should be ashamed of himself saying that the chief officer should resign. Ezzard is a loud mouth bully who has nothing positive to say about anything. Time for u to step down ezzard
I hope Ms Ahearn's children (she was married to a born aymanian from East End) have been shielded from all this.
Nice classless touch using "born Caymanian". Are they better in your eyes?
Which do YOU consider “better”….?
No.
17:02, it means something to those of us who WERE born here. Get over it!
Not better, but surely different. Respect the natives, we do when we travel.
As an expat I have witnessed and been at the receiving end of some hatred towards me and my kind. Not all Caymanians behave in this way but my experience is just that, MINE! If I brought it to the attention of those in power two things would happen (1) I would lose my contract (2) my complaint would disappear. However, I would not allow my experience to taint my view that like everywhere else in the world some Caymanians are racist, but the majority of people are decent. The issue in Cayman is that as an expat I am unable to address the issues I face despite there being policies and laws in place to prevent me from experiencing a very stressful workplace.
The only natives are the blue iguanas.
I think the point they were making is that her children ARE Caymanian (as opposed to the driftwood comment). Being unnecessarily devicive isn't classy either.
Ahhhhh……….if the PPM had acted appropriately and with assertiveness they would still have Arden and The Chuckster in their ranks so they wouldn't have to resort to Cabinet appointees who have neither the temperament or experience to perform their jobs effectively !
This is clearly another one term or perhaps a half term PPM Government !!!
Ozzie cannot survive this situation Alden and if you don't grow some b*lls and remove him from your Cabinet you won't survive it either. We are facing too many serious issues in our country to have to endure this situation with Ozzie any longer. That is why when incidents like this happen the Minister must resign in order to allow the business of the Government to continue !!!
Now you fire Ozzie or we will fire the PPM !!!!!
If Ossie is required to resign, Anthony Eden should be assigned that Ministry – he has previous experiencess Health Minister.
15:11 is correct. Anthony is the man for the job. The alternative is not acceptable. We cannot afford more reckless paving of driveways.
Just because you have had yours done…..
And he gave us Cinico.
A place where you dump the sick and poor, so the private insurrance companies can make more profit.
Actually it was Gilbert McLean who gave us CINICO and it covers those whom the private insurers refuse to cover. Would you prefer that they have no coverage at all?
No, he did not, 19:45, that was Gilbert Mclean.
Ill take Ozzie over Ezzard any day. If anyone needs to resign it is the blowhard from the north. Come on Ezzard, give the people an early Christmas present.
too many ZZZs,my head is spinning..
zzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Oh how low are your standards? You could always say "none of the above"
Ossie's dear mother of blessed memory would be embarrased, even if he is not. She would not have tolerated that of him and were she alive he would have apologized BIG and PUBLIC by now! He was not raised to be like this!!
I agree with Ezzard that both should resign.
Ezzard is that you?
Only if that means that Ezzard and Ozzie both resign; not Jennifer.
The best choice for this position is Mr. Anthony Eden or Julianna they are the only two with experience. To give it to someone else would mean another year of learning and this country cannot handle that.
If Mr. Anthony does not want it give it to Julianna and make eden the Speaker of the House
Julianna? You have got to be kidding
Julianna…..are you off your meds?
Can it be any more obvious that Buzzard Miller can't stand expats. HIs suggestion is absurd. As far as what's been reported, nothing show Ms Ahern to have been out of line; why the hell should she step aside. Idiots, idiots and more idiots.
We all know what caused the outrage but why is it not being publically acknowledged? Because it makes the Minister look even worse (which it does)?? Almost certainly. Disgrace heaped upon disgrace.
You say we all know but I don't know. Please enlighten the rest of us.
no, we don't please, do tell
she queried an expense reimbursement
I don't find that explanation credible. Nobody explodes in that way from asimple query as to expenses.
Nobody except Ozzie. That is what happened, 9:29
Please DO NOT resign Jennifer. You did nothing wrong.
McKeeva Bush the Casino Credit Card manager, should look in his own backyard and do his du diligence. Giving no one person right or wrong, he should remember what chaos he caused during the building of the Dr. Hortor Hospital.
Was the Dart deal with the dump a give away by me, you or who? Who was instrumental in that fiasco? Or, is the pusher still pushng, pushing.
Hey you, focus please this is about the present Minisyer of Health.
Ezzard Miller isunable to exclude himself in anything taking place in the country regardless of it being any of his business. For him to suggest that the victim ought to resign is some of the most bzarre piffle yet received on this topic.
According to Alden it is OK to be a bullying racist. As long as you say sorry. If you say sorry then you can still be a bullying racist cabinet minister.
Imagine that, Cayman is the only place on earth with racism. I can't think of any other country in the world that has the same issue.
But civilised places don't keep racists in the Cabinet.
It’s far worse here than it is in Canadia, for sure
19;05
That racism you are speaking of comes from the expat population. Let me explain how stink this racism is with you expats.
Most of you came here in the 80s, we caymanians opened our arms and welcome you all in, some of you married our caymanian women and men, some stayed until you got caymanian status.
Back then caymanians were mostly in controlled of the industries, they all had jobs, even shared jobs with expats and we all lived in harmony, peace and love.
I will expoung on the building industry; In the 80and up to the mid 90s There were under 100 builders in these little Islands. 99% of construction businesses were owned by caymanians, (dont get confused by the Canadians, Australians ,Scottish,and jamaican nationals who have caymanians fronting for them so they can opperate their own Construction Businesses)
These are not Caymanians. They want nothing to do with Caymanians
The paper Caymanians are the same, they want nothing to do with Caymanians, period..how can we callthem Caymanians? lets be fair!
Look around and see who they are hiring to construct their buildings..sure not the Caymanians of yesterday.
And you wonder why we wont accept them as caymanians? its all their fault..greed and prejudice have taken over with you expats. It is so obvious. You are only using the position-Caymanian to enrich yourselves, at the same time you disenfranchising the caymanians.
Remember the Bahamas went through the same mess, it is near time Cayman do a cleaning up themselves. We were a loving people until greed came within our midst.