MLAs retreat on big pay cuts
(CNS): The country’s politicians say they are no longer prepared to take the major pay cuts originally proposed in the Legislative Assembly earlier this year. The premier has confirmed that he will not be taking the 30% cut in his own salary as stated in the LA and his fellow legislators will no longer lose 20% of theirs. Instead, all members will be taking a 3.2% reduction on their average $120,000 annual salaries, in line with the cuts impacting the wider public sector which begin on 1 July. McKeeva Bush originally announced in the LA that he was cutting his own pay by 30% and his colleagues by 20% and that the MLAs would all be paying a 50% contribution to their health insurance.
However, News 27 reported last night that the premier has admitted this proposal has been dropped in favour of the 3.2% cut and retention of benefits.
In March Bush had said that members of the House had to set an example given the dire circumstances surrounding government finances and MLA salaries would be the first pay cuts before government began to cut other public sector workers’ remuneration in order to address the budget crisis. He added that members of the United Democratic Party agreed that elected members of the Legislative Assembly must set an example.
“We agreed that effective March 2010, the premier would have his salary reduced by 30% and all other elected members of the House would have their salaries reduced by 20%,” Bush stated. He said constituency allowances would not be cut but government would require elected members to pay 50% of their health insurance premiums.
In the CNS online poll "Should MLAs take a pay cut?" only 3% of the voters believed the legislators should not take a pay cut while more than 86% wanted to see a cut of at least 10%
Category: Headline News
You guys just don’t get it. McKeewa is not doomed politically because he flip flops, threatens the media, or sounds like a ten year-old on the radio.
He is doing just fine.
Because Cayman has a retarded political system, McKeeva only has to keep 2,000 of the dimmestof West Bayers happy with him. He is in for life. Wake up and face reality. Bush doesn’t answer to the Caymanian people. He only has to answer to those 2,000 Zombies in the West. And they love him unconditionally because he is one of them.
Every time he goes on the radio and babbles like a child they cheer. Every time somebody accuses him of corruption or incompetence, they circle the wagons around him.
Politics is a long war, not a brief battle.
McKeeva Bush won and you lost, Cayman.
Suicide by Democracy, baby. That’s what it is.
From the U.S.:
Senate Passes 60 Billion Dollar Military Spending Bill…House Cuts 20 Billion Dollars From Unemployment Benefits.
The bottom line is….people don’t have enough money to buy the votes of elected officials after an election, which is where it counts. That’s when the money is spent an election is just the beginning.
Not to over-simplify it but in an election we are given the right to then pay people to spend our money.
For the next four years they decide, along with their friends how they’re going to spend it and on what. If they run out we’ll have to make up the difference later. They’re at the top of the list of course!
In the U.S. most people don’t own a large financial institution, an oil company, a drug corporation, or a gigantic arms manufacturer. Who’s your Daddy?
Where does our money go? How come there’s never enough? We have to make do on what we have. And don’t forget we’ve given a good deal of it to the government.
Same old same old.
This move which is a seeming broken promise comes as no surprise because it follows the philosophy of "what’s yours.. is for the common good, and.. what’s mine is mine." Tough luck.
3.2% is an insult to all of us who have to scrimp, tighten our belts, dig-in, and sacrifice for the common good. Why??
What about a Constitutional petition to have a referendum on capping MLA’s pay at say CI$75,000? If they all love their country so much they will stand for re-election whatever they are paid.
I think Mr. Bush should step down for a better way forward for the Cayman Islands and it’s people!
and replace him with who???
hello…reality check, we have no-one to choose from to run this country.
What you believed an MLA would do what he said he would do ? my sides are splitting.
Just cut Eugene’s and Dwayne’s salary because they na doing 1 thing…
I believe that in itself would be a huge, much needed, saving that could be spent on something for value.
Eugene? who dat is?
Oh another one on Govt. pension (Cayman airways) plus now full salary as a do nuttin MLA…
You would think they would have graded the cuts along the civil service’ salary scale to be fair at least
I would have graded it thus. Anyone making –
15k and above – 15% cut
14k – 14% cut
13k – 13% cut
12k – 12% cut
11k – 11% cut
10k – 10% cut
9k – 9% cut
8k – 8% cut
7k – 7% cut
6k – 6% cut
5k – 5% cut
4k – 4% cut
3k – 3% cut
2k and below – 2% cut
Now does that look so hard?
This looks better than a 3.2 cut across the board
And results in a larger overall reduction in total expenditure on payroll.
I understand and agree with your general train of thought but you would have the leave the <$3K people alone. But you are absolutely right that it looks a lot better than 3.2% across the board. Are you sure the F.S. can work these complicated sums?
Is it true? Did the leadership of the Cayman islands strike a secret deal with the U.K. a while back to destroy everything that had made Cayman a bigger financial center then them? If so that explains a lot. If so then they are doing a great job and getting paid a lot from the very people they are working against. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that very soon the money will run out, The Government of the day will sweep up all the money they can get their hands on before the bill collectors come and the country will be handed over to the U.K. Now I see why it appears the Governor is doing nothing. He doesn’t have to do anything but wait. XXXXX
Hmmm…
Like many others, Joe
I have two fears:
1. The pendullum of our self-determination swinging towards Independence; and,
2. The pendullum of our self-determination swinging towards full British Rule.
Either way, the people of the Cayman Islands will suffer because all they want is the people’s money or what they financial industry can give them!
Its seems to me that one of Caymans problems is too much independence already. The elected Caymanian leadership are obviously not mature enough to lead period. They would do much better if they had someone older that would tell them No No No. you can’t do that. Or Stop doing that or the people won’t like it, etc. They are like a teenager with no parents to show them the way. Cayman needs a much more mature type of leadership. Hopefully some of Caymans many Successful Caymanian business leaders and/or some of the up and coming young Caymanians will step in and soon to retake the country for the people before the UK HAS to take over. Which right now looks like that’s Caymans ONLY hope.
Cayman has many Caymanians with the knowledge and integrity to do the job. Could it be that they are smart enough not to want it? fixing the Government of the day would mean getting rid of at least half of it and replaceing the top ones with those with the skills and experiance needed. Not easy. Now THAT person/persons would earn the big pay leadership is now getting for doing nothing but hanging out and talking/yelling at each other.
Bush has cooked his goose this time!
Wake up and smell the coffee fellow Caymanians.
Over the past 12 months he has lost all or any respect he may have had from the general population, He has shown us all that he does not know what he is doing and even as the Grand Dictator of the country, he has no will or the shear guts to do what is needed to recover and build this great nation. We cannot believe anything coming from this man and obviously greed has priority over "the will" for our representatives in Govt.
Without the will of our leaders and the civil service, to do what is necessary to cut spending in the public sector our country will be heading south forever as the country simple cannot sustain the cost of Govt and the public service. Banana republic here we come, as the "good times are gone" and there is no hope of recovery when we have absolute incompetence in the leadership and his followers, in the running the country.
How can you possibly expect the people to accept taxes and further borrowings by Govt or for the people to continue to support their extravagant and wateful life styles in Govt when our representatives are all unwilling to contribute in any way or do anything about reducing the spending or cost of the civil service and public sector.
Cayman, what you see in Greece today is where we are quickly headed, a public run and social state which is financially bankrupt with no hope in being able to work themselves out of their mess. Except we will not have anyone to bail us out.
Caymanians, you foolishly elected him into office and now you will have to "pay" for the consequences. It is ironic how one man as a dictator, together with his followers and supporters can ruin a country so quickly.
Today is a turning point in our lives because it clearly shows us that it is now quite obvious that we do not have a future in this country.
Who ever wrote ‘Bush has cooked his Goose’ has in my opinion a complete understanding of what is happening in these islands. This email says it all, plain and simple.
I wonder what approval rating Bush and UDP would have right now if a survey was done.
Also, from a political standpoint, if PPM was smart they’d opt to take the 20%-30% cut – it would give them fantastic firepower for the next election. But it doesn’t seem as if they will.
CNS: See our online polls
How successful has the first year of the UDP administration been?
Is McKeeva Bush leading the country in the right direction?
Mac weeds should be ashamed of himself. How much longer will he be allowed to ruin us? It is a disgrace to listen to him on the radio.
FLIP FLOPER what on earth do this man take us for.he made the announcment of these paycuts in the legislative assembly. his backers benchers do not agree with him so he wants to blame arden. when arden refused to accept his allegations,he had to admit that his dum dums was the ones that realy did not want the cuts. This is what we call an untruthful politician. but on sunday he is a christian. what a disgrace, west bayers must be pulling out thier hair knowing that they voted for this ***** Arden and PPM members let me warn you, it is more dongerous to deal with one liar than to deal with one hundred thives. you can watch for a thief ,but you cannot watch for a liar Now we realy need a march, or no confidence motion against this goverment
After listening to rooster I decided that this is the time to start slowly packing and looking for a place to move to, as I am certain that the UDP/PPM is determined to take this country down a deep ravine, where you cant turn around. I can smell the smoke from our neighbouring island now.
There is no resources here to bail us out, what little we have is being driven out daily by the high cost of doing business here and the crime that is allowed to continue to grow without any deterence.
Caymanains you have to be smart and look at what you have been putting into the house to represent you, think again, just because he/she is friend or family you do not have to vote for them, you have to weigh the consequences of what it means, can anyone truthfully say that any of these politicians have truly done anything for their district or this country that is worth writting home about in the last 20 years, I’m not talking about a few hand outs at election time, thats partially why we are in this mess today. Shame on the politicians for the bribeing and shame even more on you the voters for expecting it or taking it.
Mac, think and count to 20 before you put your mouth in gear,cause once thats in gear you cant stop it the tongue is faster than the brain for you.
Give us back our little island that we love so much and WERE so very proud of .
Headline should say UDP RETREATS
they were the only members who opposed it, Big Mac said so on Rooster
Civil Servant if una didn’t want to march for that building una better start now
Typical cowardly leadership.Business as usual.
it is so unfair!!! poor people have to take 3.2 cut and they living lavish no way mackie boy how can u even have the guts to tell the poor civil servants such a thing…shame on u !!! the only civil servants deserve a high cut is those make over 7K
Do they deserve a cut, or can they afford a cut? there is a difference.
Hello… anyone who is a husband making over 4k in the Cayman Islands with at least two kids and a wife who makes below him, plus have a reasonable mortgage, can survive with a 10% cut of their salary. It is not hard!
I am married, a Caymanian, have two kids and I am making below 3000 and my wife below 2000 and we have a mortgage, and although we are saving nil right now, we are making it paying off bills and what needs to be paid. I can’t see how an MLA can say they can’t afford it???
Simple, just sells your assets, cut your expenditures and then you can!
Perhaps, a pay cut would also help the MLAs lose some weight.
we really need strong smart men as Chuckie and Arden to run this country!!! if you all have not heard the rooster show, please log on and listen..Mac u shame me as a Caymanian!
I think you have this all wrong. The mess and the financial crisis that the UDP Govt. is now facing is because of Chuckie, Ossie and the PPM Govt. if they had gotten back in power, a pay cut for civil servants would have been minor to what we would have to go through. If they had not wasted govt. funds we would still have money for these tough economic times, but no they wasted it, flying their friends and supporters to NY, Washington, Panama etc. when there was no need to do it.
As for the talk show I heard every bit of it and as a mature and decent Caymanian, I am totally ashamed of Arden and his aggresive and hostile behaviour. The only thing he should be representing is a bunch of pigs, but certainly not a representive for the people of these islands. He and anyone who endorses that kind of behaviour are all alike. He has no respect for his leadership nor the people of this island. The Premier was only reminding him of what he had said and if that was not the case as he remembered it then he could have rebutted it more professional. But no he went on like and ignorant man, no certainly a leader of this country. I say SHAME ON HIM and SHAME ON YOU for endorsing him on this kind of outrage.
It is obvious from the Hansard that the Premier was not being truthful. He was not ‘reminding’ Arden of anything. Arden obviously knows what he said and did not say and the Hansards do not support this claim by the Premier. In fact anyone listening objectively to the cross talk exchange could hear that he was making it up as he went along. First he said it was the expression on their faces, then that they were muttering but he couldn’t hear what they were saying, and when he realized that that didn’t sound too impressive he then brought out this allegation that Arden had actually said he would only take the same cut as civil servants. I also noticed how he changed the absolute commitment that he gave in March of 30% of his salary to "up to 25 or 30% of his salary" as if this gave wiggle room for 5%. He was playing a political game of the UDP taking credit for the idea of salary cut in March (with no consultation with the Opposition), but the PPM must share the blame when only the UDP reneged on their commitment in May. Arden was right to defend his integrity although he should not have lost his cool. I too am a mature and decent Caymanian but I am not blinded by party loyalties. The shame is on you for trying to obscure the real issue with this faux outrage.
We really need strong smart men as Chuckie and Arden to run this country!!! are you serious? You need to go have yourself a brain scan cause only a brain damaged person would suggest something so crazy!!!
How can you believe anything that comes out of mac bush mouth. He will say one thing today and something different tomorrow. These MLA’s are grossly overpaid while the rest of the population is struggling to make ends meet.
When are people going to realize politics is the biggest heist in existence. People pay vast sums to a bunch of overweight, overpaid clowns (Obama isn’t overweight, but he’s a trained puppet) to pretend to make important decisions made by someone else or some special interest group. Or no decisions at all because "their hands are tied", "there are contingencies", or "unforseen circumstances" or the best one… they would do something….but it’s the fault of the "other party". Who are asleep also and doing exactly the same. All politicians really do and there are few exceptions is line their pockets, huff and puff, act statesmanlike, make meaningless speeches and ready themselves for a comfortable retirementor a job as a consultant and speech giver. Christo!! Do we need these idiots?? Think about it. What would happen differently if theyweren’t there? Come up with anything yet? I know what a fireman does. I know what a cook does. But I have no idea what these jokers do. The only thing they have going for them in this awful charade is that we were all brought up to respect authority. But look at the results! Look at what they do! Look at what they have done! Chaos! And… indecision. And every decision they make… is the wrong one. And we pay them for this?
We hired ’em. We can fire them.
Take it away Donald
YOU’RE FIRED!!!!!!!!!
Chuckie…can you please begin to organize a march?…i’ll be calling you to get involved…
Enough of this bull$^&*
Another March? i’m still waiting to see one marcher from all the other marches i heard people talking about on these blogs. no one ever follows through with things they say in this place, you really expect the MLAs to if they know there will be no accountability if they don’t?
OK Civil Servants- I say we strike for this lack of consistency. Since they make the BIG paychecks- and can only "afford" a measely 3.2% pay cut- we, the Civil Servants- should stage a sick out to protest this lack of follow through.
I am so disgusted and embarassed with my government. I feel physically sick. How many of them currently in power have a political science degree? A law degree? You don’t necessarily need a degree to be a leader but Lords knows they probably do because they have no concept of a democracy, of separation of powers, of ethics; they aren’t sheperds. I cannot wait for the day when my generation is ready and able to infilitrate and fix this mess they have created. Mckeeva Bush you sadden your people.
College degree? McKeewa does not have a HIGH SCHOOL degree!
He has bragged about this fact on the radio, saying fancy degrees are not necessary.
That’s because McKeeva is a born politician –
clever, is never wrong, and cunning… oh… and loves to flip-flop, which I believe is his strategy – don’t like people and FOI to know what his left hand is doing from his right
Almost like a magician
Timing is everything. To go into battle unprepared is to plan one’s own demise. Not all but a fair amount of my generation are away studying at University. When we are mentally prepared and able, we will be advocates for change.
There is no logical argument that could possibly justify the fact that Cayman’s MLA’s earn as much as, if not more than, their equivalent in major developed countries. It would be interesting to see the result if a General Election was held next week………….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 15 people that are working hard for the country! Elio where is the people’s champion now!!!
are these the ’15 individuals’ the police chief was talking about???d
Great pic! Count the sleeping politicians!
What a joke. These guys make so much money, and for what???!!! Geez, I could do their job. I would be happy to run this country into the ground for half their salary!
It’s so sad that Cayman’s gullible and simple voters continually give these people so much money and power.
Over the last 30 years we have witnessed a country commit suicide by democracy. It would have been better if we had suffered under and been robbed blind by a military dictatorship. Then we could at least say we were innocent victims. As it stands, we are just a bunch of well meaning idiots who elected malicious idiots so that they could legally rob us.
Will the last cruise ship visitor to leave please turn off the lights…
WOW Rectus, I think that for once I have heard a term that I have never heard before and it amazes me that someone has actually put a label to it…"Suicide by Democracy". Such an accurate description for what has happened to this country in the past 20-30 years… I am still shaking my head in amazement at how eerily accurate this simple description is…
Mac has proven that he and his puppets are only in the LA for the money and not for love of country!
ARDEN FOR PREMIER !!!
Mac is a disgrce as Premier!
Hey, look on the bright side. They finally found an issue that UDP, PPM and Mr. Miller can all agree on!!!
So very true! Ezzard was the first months ago on his radio show to say, "the law does not allow the Premier to reduce my salary and I need my money."
Well, the original bluster was just a PR stunt — what else should we expect?
Obviously, their gesture was just that — a gesture — and had no depth of commitment to this country and its people to give it substance.
So when their bluff was called — there was nothing but emptiness.
I hope that people will remember this empty promise when judgement day rolls around.
But, oh, I forgot, there will be plenty a-spending then, won’t there?
I am at a loss for words this time….they have shown by their actions this time their true colors and feelings for their country. They have none.
No surprise to this news!
This from the same greedy bunch who have voted themselves raises totalling 20-35% over the past five years.
Just look at what they make compared to major G20 countries…and it shows clearly the level of greed and entitlement mentality involved.
Tell me it ain’t so – some MLAs are collecting their huge salaries plus they are collecting a pension for past service as an MLA at the same time?
I know that unlike what happens in the real world for those of us who work for a living, MLAs voted to give themselves a full pension and benefits worth more than $10,000 per month after they have served in the LA for 16 years.
Today I heard that MLAs get this MLA pension payment even if they are still serving in the LA. That would mean that at least one of our elected officials – guess who – is sucking more than $25,000 per month from the suffering taxpayers of these islands in addition to having us pay for his personal servants. If true that is outrageous beyond any of the other waste in government – and at the same time they have decided to go back on their previously agreed cuts – now there is a reason for a march.
That is right – $25,000 per month is $300,000 per year and on top of that we have to remember that the Premier also has his expenses paid for by those of us who actually work for a living. When do we march!!!!
If you are a caymanian, of any sort, I would suggestyou stop talking about it…. and do something about it.
Nice pic! They all appear to be dozing off…..ZZZZ$$$$$$ZZZZZ$$$$$$$
actually any Civil Servant making over 10k should take a 20% cut…
we can no longer afford to pamper these ppl…with these very high salaries!
Now here’s a voice of reason. Senior civil servants’ salaries are indeed way too high. No wonder they appear to be all smiles in the newspapers. Life is good!Time for an independent review, but I won’t hold my breath. Having said that, maybe our new governor (as the head of the civil service) can take the initiative here?
BITTER WAY FORWARD
It looks and sound like a better way downward to the bottomless pit!!!!! Our Country is gone…. thanks to ur great politicians, God help us!
So the low wage civil servant making less than 3 grand per month, must take the 3.2 cut, and those making more than a six figure, must take the same cut, do less work, and enjoy perks and benefits beyond all measure…
ah…
Can anyone explain to me how this is fair? 🙁
I thought they would all do the noble thing like first reduce their salaries by 20% and those making more than 7 grand, have more of a percentage cut than the rest. Much more, at least give the man making below 1800 a month for government a break!
I am very upset 🙁
All this and yet Bush and his way overpaid buddies are STILL collecting huge money for almost no work, first class travel and accommodations paid for maids, drivers,security,cook, housekeeper,etc.etc. etc. And all the intelligence on this island can not stop it. There must be a lot less then I had first thought. Explains a lot of other stuff here. No wonder a lot of the island people have joined the "if you can’t beat um, Join um" group. At least until the money runs out and the islands infrastructure is totally trashed. Soon Come.
Nonsense!! This was even a debate question posed during the campaign and every single one of them with the exception of Ezzard I believe were all positive and glowing with their response. Voters memories are too short and loyalties too strong!!
So we are talking about an original savings of appx $404,000(20%&30%) annually being dropped to a paltry $62,000(3.2%).
If you read the Hansards of the LA on March 1 2010 Mckeeva’s stance was a very strong one and the pay cuts actually should have been implemented that very month because it was "starkly obvious that more had to be done to stabilise the financial situation of these beloved islands" direct quote from Mckeeva.
How exactly is $62,000 going to help a forecasted deficit of $56 million? Plus we all know by now that our esteemed Financial Secretary provided that forecast so please add another $20-$30 million to get to the TRUE position.
So infuriating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will not accept anything less than the 20% and 30% pay cut as agreed on the floor of the house on March 1 2010 by ALL members(despite Ezzard’s grumblings).
http://www.legislativeassembly.ky/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/LGLHOME/BUSINESS/PUBLICATIONS/148140%20%202009-10%20OFFICIAL%20HANSARD%20REPORT%20ELECTRONIC%20VERSION%20(1ST%20THRU%203RD%20MTG).PDF (page474 onwards)
Enough of this flip flopping CRAP!!!
Nothing the current leadership is doing will help the country period! Everything they have been doing is to the detriment of the country.
Its as if they are actually TRYING to destroy everything that Caymanians had built up to take them out of the Banana republic state. If thats true for whatever reason then they are doing a great job for themselves and whoever they serve.
Ha ha Ha ……….Banana Republic!!!!!!!
I listened to the call in radio show this morning & I clearly heard McKeeva Bush admit (after a while) that it was his UDP backbench that said they would not take any bigger a paycut than the civil service. After falsely telling the country that the opposition refused to take the original proposed paycuts, McKeeva Bush had to do his usual back peddling & say that he was "looking at their facial expressions to determine that they were refusing to take the proposed paycuts." Yes people, this is true, I am positive that is what I heard him say. When Arden McLean told him that he was not telling the truth I swear I heard the thumping of McKeeva Bush’s feet while he danced around changing his story over & over until he became so embarrassed that he had to give up & slam down his phone, without even the decency of a goodbye! "Oh what a tangled web we weave…….!"
It is always best to tell the truth. After being caught in a lie, McKeeva Bush then tried to convince the listening public that Arden McLean was telling a lie. I do not blame Arden McLean for standing up for his integrity. I think it was very rude of McKeeva Bush to do what he did today, it was outrageous. He has gotten use to getting his way & thought that he could call in today & say what he wanted & falsely accuse the guest of saying something he did not say & that no one should say a thing. Oh no, it don’t work so, not in the Action man’s books it don’t. Shame Mr. Bush, you really must grow up & stop with these childish antics. It has to stop. You are embarrassing our country, too often. Well done Arden McLean, you proved once again that you are a man of principle, & a gentleman that will stand up & defend his integrity. As a caller asked "if you don’t have that, then what do you have"?
CNS – is it possible for you to get a transcript of what was said and by whom today on the Rooster call in show today? Both written and recorded? If MLA’s are really telling lies to the public then we need to know which MLA’S and exactly what lies they are telling.
CNS: Here’s the link to download the show http://www.hurleysgroup.com/shows.htm.
Come on CNS — obviously this poster wanted you to do all the work for them and not just put up a link!
To the poster — when doesn’t a politician tell a lie to the public?
The new govt saw the dire financial straits we were in and proposed major cuts in their own salaries to lead by example. The civil service however only agreed to a 3.2% cut. How can we expect the Ministers to take the original proposed cuts of (20-25%) for themselves, which would bring their salaries to way below the Chief Officers who serve them.
The whole thing is a mess.
Because they are supposed to be leaders, not children.
Kurt wake up. They say you are asleep. Show them BoBo you can take 20% cut and it won’t put a nudge in your pocket, plenty dollars there from cassava and breadfruits and fish.
BWAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TRUE MAN
Listening to the radio this morning it sounded to me like McKeeva was set up by Arden. Arden challenged McKeeva to call in to the radio program knowing what was going to transpire and Arden was prepared for his "liar" rant.
It is no surprise that the politicians are not willing to give up their pay cuts and The PPM and Ezzard were no happier and the back bench UDP at the idea.
Allthe politicians could say in response is that they were not consulted, not a clear answer like yes I am in favor of a pay cut or No I am not in favor of a pay cut. It was interesting that each politician recited the same mantra, "I was not consulted".
I respected the idea posed by McKeeva to cut the MLAs salary, too bad it didn’t go through.
Anon 14:34, you can try & twist it (in typical "Mckeeva schooling" ways all you want), but the simple fact is that Mckeeva Bush did not tell the truth & he thought that Arden was going to roll over & lie down like some people do, but he was sadly mistaken. Mckeeva bit off more than he could chew & got choked. Arden put him in his place, & quite rightly so. Can you imagine, Mckeeva said he was judging by Arden’s "facial expression" in claiming that Arden & the opposition said they were not going to take the proposed 20% pay cut! I have never ever in my life heard such foolishness. My 5 year old son would not come up with such utter nonsense! If I was to go by the "facial expressions" of Mckeeva Bush, I could not say on this site what I would judge that he was "saying." That is total foolishness, & finally Mckeeva Bush met his match today, so much so that he had to hang up the phone & run!
If our "leader" is so busy & important as his salary suggests he is, how does he have time to call in to a radio show with such frequency?
P.S. Do you think President Obama calls into US radio shows every time he says or does something people don’t like?
The fact the ranking political leader calls into a talk show to snipe back is an amazing thing to begin with; especially since he certainly doesn’t have to defend himself in that forum. A smart politician would simply have his propaganda machine, GIS, load up on press releases and flood the media with frivolity. But, then again, I said smart, didn’t I? I personally think it’s great he’s exposing himself in the way he has… and he has no one to blame but himself, as a result. Perhaps he should cut out the maid, driver and anyone else he’s bankrolling… and hire a political advisor… who would likely tell him to shut the hell up.
Way to go you 15 liars! You have found a way to dodge reducing your cost on the Caymanian people once again. Anyone remember the Ironwood Fund? I hope you all know there is a room called the “common room” where both sides and the independent plan on how they will deceive the voters. How about they start paying for their district offices out of their salaries if they will not take a cut in salary?
Do you have a logical reason why Kurt and the PPM should take their pay cut? Oh yes.. I got one -their pay cut could be utilized to pay for the world travels of Govt leaders and their friends.
Better to let Mac spend it on travel than to leave those two with it, because they havent done anything to earn it so far this term!
The best reasons are:
1) It is a statemanlike thing to do;
2) It is the right thing to do;
3) It will win a lot of votes;
4) It will humiliate the UDP MLAs.
Give it to a local charity.
I would be all for the whole PPM team and anyone who has the cahones to go against Big Mac from UDP giving their excess to local charities. I’m sure there are many that would welcome 10,000 to 20,000 a month.
OR
Another idea would be to fund a program of their choosing in their own community that is not funded adequately.
I am assuming the Kurt and the PPM will seize the political initiative and announce that they are volunteering to take the originally proposed cuts.
Or are they as money grabbing as the rest of them? Time will tell.
Exelent idea, lets see if they can do more than just talk.
Before they say they can’t before they can’t change the law, if they demonstrate they are donating the equivalent amount the public will be as pleased as if they were effectively getting the cut.
By the way and speaking of Kurt, to the editor, can we get a full definition picture in the article? Is Kurt sleeping on our money again as many of us have seen him do in public meetings?
Before anybody jumps saying that this is a UDP supporter, the current ministet of Education also indulges in naps in public, imagine the example to the kids that were receiving the prices for science fair…..
In fairness, just let me say that from personal experience, when Kurt’s eyes are closed it does not necessarily mean that he is sleeping but instead that he is concentrating intently. You may be lulled into thinking that he is not being attentive but surprised when his responses indicate that he has absorbed everything you have said.
All fifteen of ou MLAs will turn out to be one and the same.
They are all in politics for money, certainly not in politics for their health as proven here.
Well let them hang themselves, because, I wont forget come next election , which I wish was tomorrow.
I’ve got an idea!
Why don’t we introduce direct taxation for MLA’s only? Lets tax them, say, 40% as it would be if they were in the UK, and put all funds towards paying off the country’s budget deficit. All jokes aside, I get the feeling this would make a huge difference.
On a positive note, the UDP backbenchers are apparently standing up against something their fearless leader has proposed. Hopefully they will do the same with some of the other idiotic things he has said and done and eventually relieve him of his duties all together. It’s time for a change.
You areassuming they weren’t told to oppose. You see, this way Mac looks like a martyr. If there was any honesty, he would have named those refused and still take his pay cut. Let me tell you they are ALL in it for themselves. Not one offered to return the "overpayment" last month. Those of you who choose colors are sadly naive.
It seems like our dear Premier "full of big chat, but can’t defend that".
Flip, Flop, Flip Flop, Flip, Flop.
Pinch me. I must be dreaming.
So Mac said that the MLA’s opposed the cuts when in reality it was just some of them…his own administrations’s backbenchers.
Arden and Alden vouched for the PPM MLA’s who were not consulted about the cuts but did not reject them and Ezzard confirmed that he hadn’t been approched about the cuts either nor was he against the cuts.
Arden called Mac a liar on air this morning. XXXXX
Guys be considerate, Elio needs to pay for his new Mercedez
LMFAO
Yuh see it!
He is writing a screen play too for his Cayman remake of Woody Allen’s "Hannah and her sisters". "Elio and his indeterminate number of brothers" will enter pre-production soon and he needs cash to fund it. It costs money to find a hairdresser who specialises in the sort of camp look normally reserved for the lead singer of Cameo.
Here’s an interesting set of statistics based on what Members of Parliament (or MLA’s, senators, whatever you want to call them) earn per annum around the world and the number of people they represent per MP. Hmmmmmmm. Figures in US$
USA $146,844 696,000
Canada $109,121 107,000
UK $87,372 94,000
Germany $85,292 134,000
France $83,435 111,000
Australia $81,318 113,000
Sweden $61,639 26,000
Cayman $146,341 2,000*
*based on 30,000 Caymanians being represented.
No wonder so many people want to run for MLA!
No no… this is salary, my friend :o)
This has nothing to do with what the UK Members of Parliament make! But last year, they did got away with stealing a chunk of the tax payer’s monies –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_Parliamentary_expenses_scandal
In the future, I wouldn’t set the UK’s Law-makers on a pinnacle, as if they should be our "par-excellence" example
regards
What and the MLA’s make nothing other than their salary???????????
As far as I am concerned the UK Law-makers would be a fine example for our MLA’s. The UK scandal came about because the UK Parlimentarians now have to account for their expenses. Wouldn’t it be great if our MLA’s had to account for theirs? They each get $3000 per monthin ADDITION to their huge salaries ostensibly for "office expenses". Do you have to wonder why nobody ever wants to give up office once they are elected?
They won’t ass tyhey know no-one will notice a change to the level of service if they did strike
ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho ho …. whew! that’s a good one!
I think they are relieved of the fact that the members of Parliament in the UK makes parachut salaries, the UK people complain year after year about what they take home, and nothing is done about the parachut salaries.
Thus their probable reasoning:
"WHY CAN’T WE IN CAYMAN MAKE LIKE THEM OVER THERE IN THE UK AND GET AWAY WITH IT? BESIDES, THE PEOPLE HERE ARE POWERLESS! WE CAN ALWAYS ENFORCE THE LAW UPON THEM, BECAUSE WE ARE THE LAW!!!"
Perhaps if you carry out a proportionate comparison of the number and size of the constituencies they represent, you will find the UK guys get paid way less; do way more work; and actually are held accountable for their actions and expenditure – a stark contrast to Cayman.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Good one – hard to breathe when you are laughing so hard.
The UK politicians sure do a great job spending their kids and grandkids money by the trillions. Ha! Ha! ha!. My sides hurt.
They are doing such a good job, the UK is likely to be looking up to Greece for budget solutions soon.
Nobody laughing here. Its not a laughing matter. How you feel the need to defend your failing politicians defies belief.
Regarding kids and grandkids – I see nothing different here in Cayman. In fact its worse here. At least MP’s in the UK do work. If you look above, you will also see someone else has posted the figures that UK MP’s do earn. So why do Cayman MLA’s get paid almost double that to represent a tiny constituency in the region of 2,000… and tax free I may add, whereas the UK MP’s pay 40% tax on theirs. No wonder so many people want to be MLA’s – it seems their driving force is money and self interest, not the country’s needs.
trust me, their earnings and what they make are two different scenarios altogether
No Anon 14:21, it is indeed worse in the UK because of the level of debt the last Government has saddled Britons with. My grandchildren there will be paying it (including the off the accounts PFI induced debt) off – "intergenerational taxation" is the term for it. Things are not good here but not that bad.I agree with your remarks about the MLAs and the UK MPs, though. Our MLA’s pension entitlement is scandalously generous as well, considering the amount of "work" they have to do.
Original laughing poster here. Where do you get the sense that I am defending anyone?
You made a comment about how wonderful and hard-working the UK MPs are. That made me laugh so hard I nearly busted my gut. The UK parliament is the most worthless and corrupt group of individuals outside of Washington DC.
Clowns like Gordon Brown and Captain Underpants are only good at borrowing money from UK children and buying votes with it. How is that any different than Cayman or any other place in the world?
Gordon Brown, in particular, cost the UK hundreds of billion of sterling by selling off UK gold at the market low in 1999. If that is your definition of working hard on behalf of taxpayers, I would rather have a sleepy Kurt Tibbets.
And they have the nerve to criticize others!!!
And don’t forget that your hard working MPs spent 4 years helping the Americans drop bombs on top of Iraqi children.
Yeah, you should really be proud.
Oh and I also forgot to remind you to factor in the 40% income tax they pay on their gross income, plus national insurance contributions (12%), pension (c. 11% for MPs) and I believe in March this year, all public sector workers were told they’d have to pay their own healthcare contributions too.
Things run differently in England due to the tax regime – at the rate our MP’s and the (higher paid) CS are going – this tax regime will soon become a reality for all of us in Cayman too.
Re 10.52 would someone please advise the meaning of the word "parachut" ???
In 2012/13 we will have our chance to tell our politicians how we feel about them not giving back the 20% to 30% increases they got.
I could say more but I feel it’s truly a waste of time. All MLAs need to be held accountable because in truth they all can still give it back. They could easily write a check to charity for the 20%. No one is holding them back.
The last time I checked these people are suppose to be leaders not followers. It should not depend on the CS taking the cuts. You lead by example not take if they take.
I hope you all are keeping score of this goverment.
We have some very talented, enterprising, intelligent, politically aware youngsters in our midst. I can only hope that some of them get together between now and the next elections to give us a new party worth voting for.
You had your chance in the last election!!!!!
Until Cayman broadens the base of who is eligible to run for Member of the Legislative Assembly, and indeed who is eligible to vote, we will continue to see the same people being put back into office. Whether it is UDP, PPM or some other party, there will be little change, which will be the misfortune of all of us resident here.
Please GOD no! This is CAYMAN & Caymanians alone should be allowed to run for government, please GOD, NO! After what the UDP did in 2003, we would see total strangers running for government, & if they have loads of money then who knows who would be elected, possibly strangers who have no love or care for Cayman & only love for themselves. I say Please GOD no, only Caymanians thank you. It is bad enough as it is, thanks
It’s not just the majority Gov’t, the Opposition MLAs have an opportunity to win the hearts of voters by volunteering their 20%.
I did say ALL MLAs will be held accountable. UDP, PPM and Independent. No one is above this. This is nothing along any party lines.
Rediculous!
THE CUTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BASED ON a progressive percentage OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S SALARY! This across the board thing, leaves a low-wager who is a mother with kids making below 3000 a month, having to suffer more than the man who makes above 6000 a month with the same 3.2 cut.
Do you know how a percentage works?
Do you know what progressive means?
Considering they get paid more than their equivalent counterparts in the USA and other major countries this is ridiculous. but I don’t blame them, they are just greedy bigots and most Caymanians would be the same in their place as this is the entitlement culture here. I do blame the idiots that keep voting for the numbskulls election after election.
It’s high time you started demandin some real change and selected candidates for election based on talent and ethics and not just voting based on how much stuff they promised you. Sponsored hurricane shutters are nice but won’t benefit your family the rest of the year.
CNS can you please do a poll to see how many people would be in favor of a three term limit for our elected officials?
We have to get this system changed and the government will never do it as they are the ones profitting. None of them are actually in politics to help the country, they just want to fatten their wallets, get fame and live the easy life.
They should not be able to run and run and run, the gravy train has to stop somewhere.
As you know MLAs that serve two terms in office (Not necessary for them to be consequetive) get a certain % of their ministrial salaries for life. I would then submit:
Adding to your idea….
You can only serve 3 terms in office. If you have served 3 consequetive terms you get granted severance for life.
I feel that this works better because it adds length of service and it also makes it that you have to be good at your job so you get re-elected not one more time but two times. That should say the people of your district really made the right choice to seat you.
It would mean far less of these payouts and more people working actually for the good of the country not for their
What exactly are they doing for all the money they are getting?
Crime has gotten worse and none of the countriesfinancial, or other, problems have been addressed.
Why do we need government? Can we not just have a council of elder well respected Caymanians make the important decisions? They could not do a worse job.
CI government (both UDP and PPM) are a waste of money.
Does anyone have any evidence that this Govt has actually done anything that they promised to do? Except of course to increase taxes, the cost of living for everyone, desecrate our financial stability by telling the world how broke we are, waste hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions flying around the world, and demonizing the opposition for the substantial roadworks, and infrastructure buildings that they tried to establish?
Oh yes.
I forgot. They created a pretend budget and are delayed creation another one.
Unbelievable!! All though at the same time I’m not suprised. Govt going back on their word as usual. It infuriates me how they say they’ll do something and then don’t take action. It’s constant talk, talk, talk, and it means absolutely nothing!
Rather don’t promise you’ll take pay cuts if you won’t actually follow through with it.
3.2% across the board is so unfair and I have just found out that the lowest paid civil servants that were making $2800 and below also took cuts in their duty allowances which will bring their total cuts to the most given all the pay scales within this corrupt little system we call government.
That means workers that were merely making $3000 with allowances are now going to be making significantly lower,in some cases they have loosed more than the big wigs in government.
The Governor,Deputy Governor,Premier,Chief Heads should all be ashamed to accept this as their solution to balance the budget,what a weak cowardly act,but then again they are the beneficiaries of this spineless decision.
So much for love of country!
So much for a better way forward.
Hi 10:03 – No, thats a PPM solgan (For Love of Country)!
So the CI is now on UDP credit check for now. As the UDP solgan say’s, "A better Way Forward". So they paid that already to the voting public before 2009 elections. We owe them a 36 months credit. Now that’s a "Better Way Forward"….No cuts buddie.
I think the poster you are responding for was referring to Mac’s outburst against the ‘bloggers’ damaging the country and claiming how much he loved the country. And as for a Better Way Forward – seems like a Better Way Backwards if you ask me.
My comment had nothing to do with any slogans!
My comment was purely related to the fact that the cuts are not what were originally stated and does show that self is put first before country!
Perhaps less slogans and mouth and more action would be more beneficial to country!
Mr. Bush, I’m so happy to see that the people of these Islands are coming to realize what your true colour are you are a man of double standards you say one thing and do a next please remember its not only the civil servants you are hurting when you do these things its the whole country that feels it . Cayman it wont be too long before we turn like Jamaica because we are under the same kind of ruling save una coconuts becasue we will need them more than every.
In many countries the "betrayal of public trust" is a serious crime and grounds for impeachment.
Perhaps we could have a poll – do you feel betrayed?
Why would anyone in Cayman need an 8 foot wall?
Dudus Coke is only 5 foot 4 inches tall, and at 40+ years in age I doubt very much that he can jump over the average 4 foot wall that anyone can build without planning permission.
So……….If 4 feet is the limit without planning permission….. why not just stack two 4 foot walls on top of each other?? Seems to me, there are always ways to get around the "rules" if you want to get something done around here…..
People of the Cayman Islands have elected this government. People of the Cayman Islands should have the rights to terminate them for so much incompetency. Anything in the Constitution allows the people to take back their present? At least it will send a clear message to the next government: Don’t mess with the future generation for so much short thinking…
I hope you all were listening to Rooster this morning.
During a very heated exchange between the Premier and the elected representative for East End, it was revealed that the UDP backbenchers were the ones who opposed the paycut.
I didn’t catch Rooster this morning, so I must take the comment about UDP backbenchers opposing a pay cut at face value and on this basis I find it interesting that the only time the UDP backbenchers have the will to oppose their leader is when their own self-interest is directly threatened.
Just one more thing for Cayman’s voters to remember next time around.
Why wait for next time?!!! Do Something Now Cayman!!! mobilize the youth, the CS, the common people of these Island. Three more years is way long to go to be abused or be misled. MARCH!!!! Be HEARD!!! Voice out!!! GO!!! DO SOMETHING!
If your not going to take the pay cut then atleast curtail the civil service operating expenditure.
I listened to MLA Ezzard Miller on Tuesday’s Rooster and he named off the waste government is spending on vehicles alone, sell the unecessary vehicles and give an appropriate car allowance ONLY if there is a genuine need for the use of a car within their job duty. This alone will cut down on car repairs, Car insurance, wasted (because when its your own gas chances are you’ll conserve). Does every HOD need a car given to them? I’m sure on their salary they already have a nice car.
Does every department need their employees to have blackberries, emails can be retrived from your desktop, you know the pc sitting on your desk where you should be. If your job requires you to be on the road then you go check in periodically. Could computer services or the phone company check to see if how many times the emails sent are indeed for govt use or for personal use?
Implementing a 3% salary cut is not going to be a huge savings instead it will proabably cause low morale which in turn costs more money by low productivity & sick time taken.
Make the real cuts in wasted spending!
Did Ezzard Miller vote for or against a 3.2% pay cut? Be interesting to know.
He wasn’t given a chance to vote. Mac and his governement members decided.
Ezzard has made it known more than once that he was AGAINST the cuts for civil servants so we can safely infer he was against them for MLAs too.
Actually you can’t infer that. I’ve heard Ezzard say on the radio that he would gladly take a pay cut.
Yeah, right, Ezzard worshipper! There’snothing to stop him doing it so get in touch with him and ask him to get it all sorted out. We will hail him when he does.
Seems to me as though Randy Merren should be paying at least half of their salaries anyway. These must be the highest paid radio guests in the world by a long shot.
Thanks guys, reading this first thing in the morning puts a smile on my face for the day.
I suppose that if I were Caymanian, I might not be laughing at all of the antics of the elected members. As a non bias observer, I do find them all very entertaining!!
I must agree….the one thing for sureUDP has done since being elected is provide the Country with consistent entertainment!! A real bunch of losers!
Here, Andre Iton, is Exhibit A in your "unadulterated greed" thesis. The unaccountable self-entitled Fat Cats are the reason that Cayman is where it is today. Completely unprepared to do what’s necessary or what they have promised to do.
Ridiculous but typical of this government.
A previous post on another thread was right on. We need to amend the Constitution to limit the pay of all MLAs to no more than twice what the average voter gets paid. That is the only way that the interests of the MLAs will be more or less aligned with the interests of the voters. Even at that the MLAs would be overpaid given that most of them "work" only part time and even when they are "working" they are travelling first class to various luxury destinations.
So Mr. Bush makes $14,818 per month ($177,816 per year) and will lose $474.18 per month ($5,690.11 per year).
A civil servant making $3,000 per month ($36,000 per year) will lose $96 per month ($1,152 per year).
Let me say first that I am fully in favour of the decision that the ENTIRE civil service takes at least a 3.2% cut. Civil servants have known this was coming for a long time, and if $96 per month makes or breaks you then you’re doing something wrong. (People making under $3,000 per month will lose even less, but I’ve used this in my comparison because it is the bar under which most people believe salaries should not be cut.)
Yes, there are a few people/families that are barely scraping to get by, but this does not describe most people. And don’t call me out of touch, you are not "barely scraping to get by" if you have a car, cable television, your own home, eat out, have someone clean your house and watch your kids full time, go out drinking, shop in Miami, keep your a/c at 70 degrees day and night, etc, etc. you are doing well for yourself. But if you think you are "barely scraping to get by," some people who think a lot like I do have suggested many ways in which you could not be broke-ass (see the comments at http://centos6-httpd22-php56-mysql55.installer.magneticone.com/o_belozerov/31115drupal622/headline-news/2010/05/24/salary-cuts-will-hit-low-paid). Or you could go see a financial planner, or talk to a friend who could be objective and honest with you. I’m not saying get rid of all of your creature comforts and things that make you happy. I’m saying cut back a little bit. When the economy and Government revenues rebound your salary will go back up.
That being said, is it really fair to not grade these salary cuts AT ALL? Even if it’s 3.2% at the bottom, 5% at the top of the civil service (say $6,000 per month and above) and 10% in the legislature it’s so much more equitable and will save the government even more money. I also agree with many who have said there are probably so many operational expenditures that could cut before salaries, but the fact is a salary cut will save a lot of money and 3.2% will not ruin anyone’s life.
Aaand, back to my original point, which is more directly relevant to this article… Mr. Bush, you make $14,818 per month and Government pays your utility bills, a personal housekeeper, a driver and security for your home. You don’t pay for the car, maintenance or gas (or the car wash, I’ve seen the driver at Auto Spa). Yes, you are the Premier. Yes, you host people in your personal home. Yes, I can certainly believe there have been threats on your life. But I still don’t really understand how you can justify all of those perks and that salary only being cut by 3.2% when the whole country is suffering so much. If you had cut 30% of your salary from March (as you said you would) Government would have saved over $71,000 by the end of the 10/11 financial year. If the Ministers, back benchers, opposition and Speaker also took these cuts and everyone paid half of their health insurance… that’s a sizable about of money. Think about it.
Remember that I do believe that all the Ministers, Backbencher, etc got a PAY RISE when they took office only one year ago. Therefore 3.2% should not even affect them in the least…
The COLA increase was awarded to the rest of the civil service years ago; thereby giving them time to better incorporate it into their personal budgets!
Civil Servants: "We will take the 3.2 pay cuts"
LA members: "We will take the same 3.2 pay cuts – although we make more!"
Emmmm… (choke on my tea)
"Question to the LA members and the Premier: What has happened to your COMMITMENT on the 30-20 percent pay cuts you spoke about some months ago??? And why do you allow your civil servants making below 2800 per month to feel the pinch more than you???"
TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS…
NOT EVEN KURT TIBBETTS IS COMPLAINING!
He’s sleeping. If you look close enough you can see from the picture above, Kurt is sleeping. haha!!!!
hmmm….
The picture speaks words! I hope it is a recent photo and not some copy-out! Here you see Mr. Tibbetts and the Premier leaning back on their comfortable chairs – almost look like napping time.
And then unanimously declares:
"We will take the 3.2% cuts"
Completely disinterest in the civil servants who are really doing the backbone spinal cord’ work for little pay.
I tell you, I don’t like to judge, but such a comparison with a hard working civil servant who get paid little for much work, speaks words
Anon 09:47, you can see that Kurt Tibbetts is sleeping but you cannot see that Mckeeva Bush is also sleeping in the same photo above? My my, you are one biased nut, & soooooo hypocritical. Or is it that your glasses are twisted? Poor you, girl
the latest flip-flop……..
this place is doomed and no amount of pretend budgets can save it….
This is the height of political bullsh**!!!! This is completely unacceptable and very infuriating.
Can we please take a look at what is going on with Jamaica now and actually LEARN something?!
It is painfully clear to me that this Government and Premier(and don’t get me started on the previous Government either) have absolutely no clue how to solve our current financial problems and are clearly putting Party and garnering votes over what’s best for the Country.
What kind of message is this sending to the Civil Servants who are already reluctant for any kind of cuts when our so called leaders do not have the cojones or servitude to do what is right? This is the height of absolutely selfish and disgusting behaviour. For goodness sake how is a 3.2% cut going to aid the deficit? We are talking about a paltry sum which will have no real effect on bottom line whatsoever.
Maybe we aren’t broke after all because every day I am seeing some new project being rolled out and we are spending money frivolously at the drop of a hat. However, I know we are broke but once again all these projects are political in nature and you can guarantee they are securing future votes in one way or another. I am very curious to see this "budget". I suspect that it will be garbage in garbage out.
This is the kind of mess that we as a people need to march about and cause a major stink about. This should not be yet another act of stupidity that we turn a blind eye to. Enough is enough.
Please please please my people please vote on the issues and not on personalities and handouts in the future. We have to hold these politicians accountable. They are way too arrogant and self serving.
… Thus securing the Guiness Record for the greatest number of flip-flops by any government in history.
Once again the Premier demonstrates his profound understanding of both leadership and the problems related to overspending by government.
How can we get rid of these incompetent ridiculously overpaid louts?
Brooms are in demand for the next election year.The elected officials are behaving as if the rest of us are fools. Its almost time to sweep them out again.
Our leader is very indecisive…XXXXX??? What happened to the budget cuts?
surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get used to it, they will only do what we make them do. There is a reason why we call it PoliTRICKS after all.
They are massively overpaid.
A statesman would have cut his salary by more than the rank and file.
But there are no statesmen in the LA.
I look forward to the PPM and independent MLA’s announcing that they will stick with the originally proposed reduction . . ..
And also the Speaker, Ally Gator. She makes more than any of them.
Talk about setting the example LOL…. Big Mac you really are something else… This civil service situation as reached a new low… I really want to see some good news…(However this is good material for "RUN DOWN") This CIG is like a daily soap opera….
"Tune in tomorrow folks!"
We (the Cayman Islands) are just a big joke to the rest of the world…(this is just how I feel)
I take it the budget is in good shape for the next fiscal year, then????? It makes me dizzy trying to follow our Premier’s decision making process and reporting of facts. It seems that if I throw any expectations for logic, consistency, and long-term planning out the window, I have a better chance of understanding him! I appreciate that our MLAs are facing many challenges, but I waver between increasing prayer for them and reviewing the new constitution to see what it says re impeachment!
This is the only reason why they decided to cut pay straight across the board! So they will not be greatly affected if they lose a mere 3.2 % of thier salary! A drop in the bucket for them! Thier motto seems to be "Kill everyone else as long as I still have my money!" What a disgrace!
Some of them could use a lil’ pay cut! Saving a couple dollars at fosters or BK for that matter could do some of them real good!
Great leadership!Governor =looking out for governor, Premier= looking out for Politicians, Deputy Governor =looking out for top Heads in government,
Answer=greed and more greed.
With the elected officials reneging on their pay cuts. I took a drive to West Bay yesterday to see the construction of the CI$100,000 plus wall around the Premier’s house is now underway. This is a slap in the public’s face. While the lower earning civil servants are taking pay cuts and charitable programs are being reduced in their government grants. Our Premier is building, at the peoples expense, a 8 foot wall around his compound.
His arrogance and lack of concern about the common Caymanian is beyond comprehension.
We are sliding further down that proverbial "Slippery Slope".
When will reason take over???
Gr8 the main reason were in all this mess are getting the same pay cut as us wow at least they have other businesses to make up the lost in pay from.
Well, no cuts in spending and waste. Therefore taxes & fees must go up. These people are digging us all in to a deeper hole.
The MLAs definitely need to take a minimum of a 10% cut (or better yet the proposed 20%)….they help run the country – or should I say put the country in debt – therefore should be the ones to take the bigger pay cut….3.2% is hardly a cut on a six digit salary.
Geee! I’m really shocked and surprised at this!…… NOT!
These guys back peddle so much, I bet you they can start a race with an advantage of 10 feet in front the start line and end up 10 feet behind the start line when the race is finished.
We need a special sock or something designed for these guys, as soon as they open there mouth to talk as the locals say "a bunch of Do-Do" the sock inflates in their mouth and shut them up.
Are we really surprised at the mentality of the civil services if this is the kind of things the leaders do?
What a great example they seem to be setting, it fills me with so much confidence for the future. Can’t wait to see the bright ideas they came up with for the Budget “IF” they actually release it on the 31st
Masters of the Universe ! Great picture lol !
And we’re supposed to be surprised? Something XXXXX MacBush said in a very public forum with much fanfare is now being retracted? Not sure about others, but I’ve reached the point where I don’t even listen to what he says any more. The retractions and double-talk are now so commonplace that there’s not an ounce of credibility in anything he says. I hope CNS is saving up for their $100,000 Trade and Business License – we wouldn’t want to lose the opportunity to comment on the day-to-day foolishness!
Zzzzzzzz….Z.zzzzzz….Zzzzzz……cough….cough…..Zzzzzz…..Zzzzzz…..Zzzzzz
does these guys ever follow though on somethink, way to go in showing the Civil Service that you have some balls.
you asked "does these guys ever follow though on something"
Errrr…. hmmm….. wellll…. if you look at it from a diffrent angle…. maybe if you…. lets see here…. errr,
that will be a NO!