Debate ends as ministers quiet
(CNS): Not one of the government’s minsters or back benchers stood to add anything to the 2010/11 budget debate in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Even though the occasion traditionally offers all members of the House the opportunity to talk about their achievements and their future plans, none of the UDP members exercised their right to speak. Following opposition member Arden McLean, the premier stood to begin his right reply to the contributions from the opposition benches and wind up the debate. McKeeva Bush said they had no right to criticise the budget as all the problems he faced were the fault of the PPM and once again he had heard no solutions from the leader of the opposition. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
On Friday evening the premier said he would make his full reply to end the budget debate on Monday morning (21 June) but not before he had criticised his opposition colleagues and once again blamed them for the continuing financial difficulties. He said the opposition had made a mess when in office and left the country without any money. He accused them of driving business away and doing nothing but “building a few roads” and starting some buildings.
“They are the very bunch that ruined everything,” Bush added.
The premier accused McLean and Miller of talking nonsense over their objections to the cargo port in East End and that the debate was over. “I have let people say what they want,” Bush said, adding that the member for East End could lay down in front of bulldozers or trucks but he was going to get it done.
Bush told the Legislative Assembly that the opposition did not know anything about developing and attracting business but yet he had to sit down and listen to them when they did not understand he was trying to build something for the future. He accused the opposition of trying to make a comeback before calling for an adjournment until Monday when he said he would be dealing more fully with their criticisms.
The debate on the budget will end once the premier finishes his right to reply this morning and the members will then begin the scrutiny of the government’s spending plans and revenue expectations in the finance committee.
The Finance Committee stage usually provides the members with the opportunity to talk to chief offices in each department and to question them directly on spending plans. This will be the first time the committee will be chaired by the premier in his role as Minister of Finance and he has already indicated that things will be done differently and he will be seeking to keep the deliberations short.
Category: Headline News
If you making the kind of Money they making and all the big deals going down you would keep quiet too hahahaha poor old Cayman suffering as usual.
HELLO…………..I thought the budget address was about the finances of the Country? Why then is the only Minister with a CPA sitting quiet on this. Is it because he is afraid to tell the people of this country that come July & August they will not be able to pay their electricity bills or buy gas for their car?
Rollie, honestly, I expect better of you, you have let us down – big time. To sit by and increase our fuel charges by .25cents means that each family of at least 3 persons will see an increase in their monthly expenses(electricity, gas & food) of probably $300 a month or more, depending on the size house & car etc. All this at a time when people is already struggling because their salaries/wages are being reduced, people are getting laid off, and unemployment at its highest level.
You all should hang your heads in shame, because you have let the people who voted for a "better way forward" down. If this is a better way forward then, Lord help us!
I hope you all remember who voted for the UDP – itwas not those who are pushing such an idea, because their light bills are probably paid for by their employers.
I tell you what, I hope you all are ready to pay the electricity bills and give financial assistance, because many requests are coming your way, trust me.
‘you wanna pass blame? you wanna blame them? mckeewa, you funneh’
You sound surprised.
The "others" can only talk when given permission and they can only say what they are told to say.
Hahaha
Surprised? More like pitifully amused. It just amazes me how this even amounts to news-this is daily business. We don’t have a government, we have a free for all with one spoiled XXX kid pretending he’s king of the hill.
It’s all the people here that have created the need for roads, schools, an airport, a fire department, hospitals, policing, etc.
If we could just get rid of the people…
The Premier’s Budget Address. Page 64.
10. My Government remains committed to the introduction of new legislation for the more effective supervision and regulation of education in the jurisdiction. In the first year of this administration, the Minister of Education, Training and Employment has consulted widely with stakeholders in our education system; advanced the secondary transition in the government system; put in place preparations for a variety of post-16 options; and is in the process of reorganizing the management of education.
What did you say Rollie? Oh, I see, you are busy watching the World Cup on the big screen TV in the Education Department Board Room.
There is No FREE LUNCH
· You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
· What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
· The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
· You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
I foresee that in three years time when the Honorable Premier and all his sycophants have totally failed that they will still be blaming the PPM.
Time and again Dictators (and sometimes presidents) have picked upon a "whipping boy" to divert attention away from the way they are running things into the ground.
It is so obvious that we now live in a Dictatorship that I am truly concerned that we won’t have another election as Mac and his "boys" will again change the law to suite themselves!
I just had another idea.Since our Premier seems to be making ALL the decisions for HIS Govt why not just do away with all the other ministers?Seems like a great way to help make cuts in our huge deficit.Would be mighty lonely in the house as no one else needs to be there.
The Republic of Cayman.
True: except not "The Caymanian Peoples Republic" ( "A Republic is a form of Govt. in which the head of State is not a monarch and the people (or at least a part of its people) have an impact on its Govt" -Wiki).
More likened to "The Premier’s and Those He chooses Republic Of The Cayman Islands", soon to be changed to "The Premier’s Dictatorship of The Cayman Islands" as evidenced by the total submission of the other "Ministers" (and what a joke that title has become).
Helllllloooooooooo! "Ministers quiet"???? This is not news! It is my very humble opinion that the ministers are always silent. They have one voice & unless that voice gives them permission to talk they shall remain silent. That is what a dictatorship is all about.
Now Premier and Leader of the Opposition, let us get on with the people’s business and let us move from the past and fulfill our duties without favor, hate, partisanship, and expecting reward or salary increase for a little sweat and pain. Let us sacrifice for our people and our environment, and put away the bickering, complaints and who did what, when, where, and how!
It is about time we become responsible and focus on the task at hand. This dwelling on the past by the UDP and gloomy future-talks by PPM, is not productive and will get us no where. You are representing the people for crying out loud! The people need you now, not back then, and not after another four years! If you have solutions, share them! If not, stop the criticizing! And if you see we got to balance a budget, then do so without bambastic comments against the other party.
Trust in God and move forward!
You, the ministers for the people and by the people, need to get your act and house together! The indecisiveness and lack of support for any good initiaive or cause even by the other party has to stop! The budget needs to be balanced and you need to humble ourselves by God’s grace and support the powers that be in order to supply us with food on our tables and a clean environment for our children. I can’t stress the importance of our ministers to wake up and put the people of the Cayman Islands first!
This is no time for fickled minds in the House, easily swayed by partisanship and "who said what or did what to me." Foolishness! Every decision you make in the House with no care in the world for your consequences, is a waste of time and injustice!!!
We count on you, we voted you in, and we can vote you out! So please make a difference and put your own self-interest behing you!!!
That says it all .If we didnt know it before we now know for sure who the "Boss"is in the Govt.Good job all you followers!!!!!!