Archive for February 15th, 2011
East End gunman charged
(CNS): An 18-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident in the district of East End at the weekend. Police have not named the teenager but said he was expected to appear in court this afternoon (Tuesday 15 February). The chargesrelate to a shooting which occurred along Sea View Road at around 2.10 am on Saturday, 12 February. Police said that as two couples walked along the road towards the Pirate’s Cove Bar they approached a point close to the Old Post Office when a lone gunman appeared from the side of the building and began firing at one of the men. The man ran off from his friends along Sea View Road and was chased by the gunman.(Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
Several shots were fired and although none hit the intended victim some damage was caused to a house at the location. Although bullets were fired through the window the occupants of the house were also uninjured.
Later that day police said an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident in the district. The man has now been formally charged with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and damage to property.
School kids robbed for $12
(CNS): Two men have been arrested, police said Tuesday, following the robbery of five school boys on Monday afternoon as they made their way to football at around 3:15pm. The teenagers, who were all 13 and 14 years old, said they were walking in Lingeane Circle towards the Truman Bodden complex in George Town when a grey motor car stopped beside them and the two men inside demanded that the boys hand over their cash and valuables. Although the teens told the police that the weapon was not pointed at them, one of the boys said he saw what looked like a gun in the car. According to reports on Cayman 27, the robbers fled with only $12.
Police said that two men were arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday evening. One man, aged 45 years, was arrested on suspicion of theft and another, aged 22 years, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Both of the men are currently detained in police custody in connection with the robbery
The boys, who were walking from John Gray High School towards the Truman Bodden sports complex in broad daylight, were not hurt during the incident but police confirmed the boys had handed over a small sum of cash to the robbers before the men drove off.
When police attended the scene they took statements from the teenagers, including the report that they had seen what looked like a firearm within the car. Police said enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
Anyone with any information about the crime should contact George Town CID on 949-4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).
Cops want new traffic laws
(CNS):Police appeals for drivers to take more care on the roads continue to fall on deaf ears, following another major single-vehicle smash on the Linford Pierson Highway in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The commissioner has called on law -makers to pass recommendations made by police to ban cell phones and increase fines, among other things to address the on going road safety issues. At a recent press briefing he said that appalling driving standards were endemic and more still needed to be done. In the latest smash Police confirmed the Honda Integra was heading to Bobby Thomson Way, just after midnight when it collided into a rail at the side of the road. The driver sustained only minor injuries and was released from Hospital. Enquiries are ongoing. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
According to the latest police statistics, there were 1,374 road accidents in Cayman last year, which including seven deaths. Although accidents increased by 4% in 2010 compared to 2009, the history of road traffic accidents in Cayman is high. In 2008 there were over 1,500 smashes and 1,430 in 2007.
Some 8,600 offences were recorded last year, which, although down 23% on the 2009 figure of a whopping 11180 tickets, was still a very high number.
Despite the continued campaigns by the RCIPS and the pleas from senior officers, the accident toll remains disproportionate for the size of the driving population and the miles of road, with many accidents being single vehicle crashes.
Speaking at a recent press briefing regarding crime and traffic statistics David Baines said that the 300 collisions that took place in the last six-weeks or so of last year was a clear indication that much more needed to be done to educate drivers.
“Drink Driving, the use of cell phones while driving, speed and appalling driving standards are endemic and all of these issues will be addressed in our planned National Road Safety Strategy,” he said. “Too many lives have been lost on our roads – and that’s why two years ago we made some significant recommendations to legislators. These include raising fines, banning cell phones and introducing new road traffic charges.”
However, he said that the police can only enforce the legislation that is in place and the RCIPS needed the backing of legislators to make the roads of the Cayman Islands as safe. “We look forward to the days when our recommendations are passed into law,” he added.
It’s not only local drivers who are adding to the traffic woes. A visitor to Cayman was involved in what could have been a serious accident Monday in down town George Town. However, no one was injured when a Suzuki APV van took a nosedive onto the iron shore in front of Atlantis Submarine. According to a report on Cayman 27, the driver said the vehicle’s floor mat got stuck on the accelerator when the van over ran the parking block and tipped onto the ironshore with the driver and his passengers on board, who were planning a trip on the Atlantis Submarine. (Photo Courtesy of Cayman27)
It’s PPM time again
Folks, there’s a new dawn on the horizon for Cayman’s only genuine political party, formed for the right reasons – for love of country! Refocused, re-energized and ready to lead these islands once more. I believe I am ably qualified to speak on this matter; as most of you know, I was an integral part of the PPM administration from 2005 – 2009, and from that to this day I remain justly proud of our accomplishments, not for self but for these Cayman islands.
For us it was never about power or money, it was always for love of country.
Saturday night saw the historic event of an official change in leadership between two of my dearest friends – long before politics – two men of integrity, two statesmen. Whatever one may think of these guys as individuals, no one can argue with those characteristics that I just mentioned. Can you ask for two more critical ones in your leaders? To Kurt, I say job well done and history will be very kind to you, my friend, and these islands will forever be grateful for all you have done and will continue to do. You are a truly great leader. To Alden, I say good luck – the load will be heavy, but your shoulders have always been broad. Learn, listen and act decisively. You cannot be all things to all people, but do what’s right at all times, with a broad vision. I know your heart better than most and I know how you feel about Cayman and its people.
Of late I have taken a backward seat in the political arena for personal reasons that I care not to elaborate on in this forum, but I would like to just point out a few things that people seem to quickly forget.
The PPM was elected to lead in May 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in late 2004. The UDP started the re-building process (albeit chaotic and, sadly, ladened with patronage) and we had the job to continue and complete this process – no mean task. Much was left to be done and much was done with the rebuilding of homes and public buildings. Mid-way through our term the global economic downturn started. Despite these two horrendous setbacks, the PPM accomplished the following, amongst many others, for these islands and its people:
New roads all over the islands, including a new access road to the Bluff in Cayman Brac – no mean feat;
new state of the art playing fields all over the islands and a new world class track at the sports complex;
new launch ramp facilities in East End, Bodden Town and George Town;
a renewed focus on agriculture and the start of the Market at the Grounds;
start of an affordable housing scheme;
a new student veterinary school at the same location;
a new female re-hab centre in Breakers;
major progress with the handling of the country’s waste and plans for a comprehensive waste management system;
plans for a national ID system that has not yet been activated;
a large budget to the RCIPS for the purpose of fighting crime locally and on our borders, with emphasis on marine patrols;
an immediate stamp out of violent crime that was occurring at the time;
increased social programmes for our elderly and indigent;
a new post office in Savannah;
start of a new vehicle licencing headquarters, now gratefully completed and operational;
a re-branded national carrier in CAL and management re-structuring;
formulation of cruise ship berthing plans;
re-building of Pedro Castle as a cultural centre;
the completion of the Turtle Farm as a tourist attraction, albeit a costly development by the previous administration – the UDP;
new sea walls in East End and beautification of that district and all others by a national committee;
comprehensive plans developed to alleviate flooding in low lying areas and especially for the Savannah gully problem;
the start of the three new high schools and hurricane shelters for these islands to cope with the growing numbers of students and their needs (expensive or not, they are needed!);
new libraries built or developed in East End, Bodden town and George Town;
the start of the new government admin building (GOAP project) to bring the many offices scattered around the capital under one roof and to save millions in rents being paid, soon to be happily and proudly opened by the current administration and our premier;
introduced real transparency in government, taking away victimisation of civil servants and others and introducing FOI legislation – a thorn in the side of the current administration as they seem to prefer secrecy (Why I ask? It’s the people’s money, not yours or PPM’s);
constitutional reform – a huge time consuming task but an important and rewarding one;
regular weekly press briefings on all that was going on within government and our future plans;
major work on the international front to deal with the many financial initiatives and threats to our jurisdiction, and at the same time promoting these islands for tourists to come and enjoy and do business.
And the list goes on, folks! Just a timely reminder, now you be the judge – all this with not a hint of patronage or corruption and abiding by all legal tendering processes. Please compare this list of accomplishments to the UDP’s almost two years in office – only so far finishing what we started and blaming us.
Yet this administration was removed from office in May 2009 by you the public. Why? Because you listened to their propaganda? Because some of you could only see the small tokens handed out through an election campaign, ridden with inaccuracies and saying we overspent and blaming us for a failing global economy? Yes, maybe we did spend a lot, but we didn’t spend on ourselves. We spent on you and this country, and we spent where many previous administrations had failed to spend to make your lives better. We were also blamed for a rollover policy that they, the UDP, developed and we had to implement. Thankfully, we reduced the break from two years to one year, as was the original case. Who remembered that?
If this is my swan song from the political arena, then so be it, but I can hold my head high and know that I was associated with the best organised group of statesmen and stateswomen these islands have ever seen – the PPM. That is no mean boast, and one that I do not make lightly, for I respect all those that have served this country previously and laud their achievements. To all those that supported us and worked so hard at the district and national levels, I say a heartfelt thank you. To those civil servants and board members that did the same, I say the same – thank you! Your country is better for it and you served well.
To my friend Al, the new leader of the PPM and next premier of the Cayman Islands, I say once more, hold fast to that which is good. You have intelligence; pray for wisdom; God will guide you. Your support will be there, just know how to harness it and use for the greater good. Embrace all.
Evil can only prevail when good men and women do nothing, and you and Arden (the Action Man) and the rest of the team will do something, of that I am certain! You have my unwavering support until I prove otherwise.
To the young people of Cayman between the ages of 20 and 35, I say take an active interest in your country and get involved. Your country needs you and your futures are at stake. We are teetering on the brink, and what we do from here will make or break these islands. Do the right thing for yourself and your country. Do not simply follow greed and corruption and short term platitudes.
God bless you and your families and these islands we all love!
For love of country!
Osborne Bodden is a former MLA for Bodden Town
Leading member of finance community dies
(CNS): Eric Crutchley, (71) who was one of the early driving forces behind the creation of the Cayman Islands Financial Services, passed away on Wednesday 9 February after a prolonged battle with cancer,. He started his involvement in the offshore business at the helm of the local operations of Barclays Bank and subsequently became CEO and President of Cayman National Corporation, where he was then chairman for ten years. His contributions also included service as president of the Cayman Islands Bankers Association (CIBA) and was a co-founder of CIFSA, which became Cayman Finance. Crutchley was a member of Rotary for over 33 years and involved in Special Olympics for over 20 years.
Chairman of the Pines Retirement Home for 7 years, a director of the Pensions Board, director of Republic Bank and Chairman of NCVO, he will be deeply missed by many. Crutchley received an MBE in 1992 for his contributions not only to the development of the Cayman Islands financial services industry, but also his extensive services to the community. A memorial service will be held in his Honor on Wednesday 16 February at 5:30pm at Elmslie Memorial Church.
Cayman Finance expressed both sadness and regret over Crutchley’s passing. “He was a tireless proponent of the financial-services industry, always ready to help, always ready with ideas, one of the early and critical leaders within the financial-services community,” said Nick Freeland, a director of Cayman Finance. “Savvy, articulate and tremendously credible, Eric had a sense of exactly what the industry needed at any given time, and was able to communicate that to an international audience. His influence and personality will be very much missed,” he said.
His 48 years as a overseas international banker with Barclays included time spent in New Hebrides/Vanuatu, Zambia, Sierra Leone and the Caribbean – including 18 months in Cayman Brac.
“Eric’s drive and vision helped build Cayman Finance into an organisation that efficiently and effectively promoted the local industry, among Cayman’s largest and most-important. Because of his efforts, both the organisation and the industry gained an internationally respected voice, advancing the high standards of our offshore jurisdiction”, Freeland added.
Director of the Cayman Island Monetary Authority Cindy Scotland said he was an avid supporter of financial services regulation.
“Many of us in the authority had the pleasure of interacting with Mr Crutchley in his capacity as a licensee and through his involvement in CIBA. In these roles he contributed to the development of various initiatives for the enhancement of the banking sector and broader financial industry. He was an avid supporter of sound financial services regulation and of CIMA. He will bemissed,” Scotland said, adding condolences on behalf of the board, management and staff of the authority to Mr Crutchley’s family.
Crutchley leaves wife Cindy and two sons: Michael, a UK resident; and Jonathan, a New York City resident.
Mac’s revelations at conference make smallscreen
(CNS): The speech in which the premier made a list of announcements regarding his latest proposed projects at last month’s CBO conference will be televised this evening. McKeeva Bush used the presentation to reveal his hopes for the coming year, including the construction of a channel in the North Sound, a new ‘techy’ business zone and the revelation that Dart would be tackling the old dump. Organisers of the conference also said that the panel discussion, “Things Tough! So Don’t Cut My Pay, Tax Me Less & Give Me More Free Services. And Do Something about Crime…Education…and Jobs. And What About Those Expats?”, which scored well with the audience and post event bloggers would also be aired. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
The show will be broadcast on CITN Channel 27 on Tuesday 15 February at 8pm, when those who were unable to attend the Fidelity’s Cayman Business Outlook at the Ritz , have the opportunity to listed to the premier’s list of announcements.
CITN General Manager Mike Martin said that covering local events was an important community service. “It is our mission as a news, educational and entertainment provider to present a broad spectrum of information to the people of the Cayman Islands. We are therefore very happy to facilitate a wider audience for the most pertinent aspects of this year’s Cayman Business Outlook in a special 2-hour broadcast to the nation,” he said.
Given what Fidelity Group chairman Anwer Sunderji said was the importance of Bush’s speech, it should be shared with a broader audience. Grateful that for the first time more Caymanians will have access to some of the important content from CBO, he said, it would make for good television viewing.
Cooler temperatures cut into CUC profits
(CNS): Local power provider Caribbean Utilities Company has released its unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year for 2010 and revealed that profits were down for the year and in particular the last quarter as cooler weather lead to a fall in consumption. The firm said net earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2010 were $4.7 million, representing a decrease of 20% or $1.2 million from net earnings of $5.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2009. The results do not relate to the recent problems faced at CUC following the explosion last month of one generator and the major failure of another.
The firm attributed lower sales during the period compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 to a cold December.Net earnings for the whole year were $19.9 million a 1% or $0.1 million fall from the $20.0 million the company earned in 2009. This was again due to lower sales the firm said as well as increased depreciation expense and an increase in finance charges.
Richard Hew, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company said the results were no surprise. “Apart from the unusually cool weather in December, which caused significantly lower than expected sales, year-end results were as expected,” he said in the statement. “The Company continued its response to the recessionary economic environment by trimming capital and operating expenditures to maintain financial stability while meeting the obligation of safe and reliable service to our customers.”
Hew said that during 2010 higher fuel prices drove operating revenues up by $21.3 million, to $180.1 million."The higher fuel factor revenues in 2010 as a result of the fuel priceincreases were partially offset by a 10%, or $1.7 million, decrease in electricity sales revenue in fourth quarter 2010 which was driven by cooler weather,” he explained.
“Average fuel costs, which are passed on to customers without mark-up, rose from $2.77 per Imperial Gallon (“IG”) in 2009 to $3.45 per IG in 2010 with the fourth quarter 2010 average rising to $3.85 per IG.”
The CEO added that the company continued to invest in infrastructure and equipment during 2010 although at a lower level than in 2009 when capital expenditures of over $19.0 million were made on generation expansion. “Capital expenditures for 2010 were focused on transmission and distribution upgrades and generation plant replacements and upgrades. For the fourth quarter of 2010, capital expenditures were $5.5 million, down $1.0 million or 15% from $6.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.”
He also stated that the reliability of the power company’s service improved. “Reliability, measured by the Average System Availability Index, was 99.966% and exceeded 2009 results. Despite economic challenges on the island, we see safe and reliable electricity supply as critical in supporting the established financial services and tourism industries as well as in attracting new development.”
After adjustment for dividends on Class B Preference Shares, earnings on Class A Ordinary Shares for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $4.0 million, or $0.15 per Class A Ordinary Share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.20 per Class A Ordinary Share for the fourth quarter of 2009. After adjustment for dividends on Class B Preference Shares, earnings on Class A Ordinary Shares for 2010 were $18.9 million, or $0.67 per Class A Ordinary Share, as compared to $18.8 million or $0.67 per Class A Ordinary Share in 2009.
See the full CUC Annual report www.cuc-cayman.com (Investor Relations/Press Releases)
Training paves way for better advocacy on abuse
(CNS): Although government has not yet indicated if the Protection from Domestic Violence Law 2010 which was passed in October last year has had a positive impact on the violence in the community, officials say public sector staff are being prepared to be better advocates for victims. The new law has widen the scope and definition of domestic abuse to include physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse as well as increased the penalties for those found guilty of the crime. It also includes elderly persons as well as women and children widening the net of potential prosecution.
The law however needs people to represent those who are abused to help them come forward. “By training those who work in the field about the new provisions, we are preparing them to be better advocates,” said the ministry’s Senior Policy Advisor on Gender Affairs, Tammy Ebanks.
A recent workshop co-hosted by the Ministry of Community Affairs, Gender and Housing, the Department of Counselling Service’s Family Resource Centre (FRC) and the Legal Department was designed to bring key personnel up to speed on the law’s applications and ramifications.
Ebanks said the legislation, passed last October, increases fines for violations to $10,000 and / or imprisonment of up to two years as well as including other forms of abuse as well as violent and physical abuse. Along with spouses, ex-partners, cohabitating couples, children in the family, parents, people regularly visiting a family or household or any dependent of an alleged abuser can be defined under the new law.
Minister Mike Adam who piloted the law through the law through the Legislative Assembly after a period of consultation which had spanned many years, said the improvements in the law can only be effective if victims of domestic violence and those who advocate for them, come forward to seek protection.
“There is now stronger legislation in place to protect you and your family, and rehabilitation is available through various agencies,” he told victims. “I encourage any man, woman or child who falls prey to domestic violence to seek assistance, for this new law strengthens protection and now we can even address issues such as elderly abuse.“
Programme Facilitator for the FRC, Miriam Foster said the training was important and that the law would help people like her help victims. “It has expanded the range of services that organizations can offer clients, thereby enabling us to meet expanded needs of those seeking assistance,” she said adding that all agencies working with victims and potential victims of domestic violence had to be on the same page where the legislation is concerned.
“Serving the victims is a multi-faceted issue, one with many players. Services include providing for their material needs; giving them access to legal services and ensuring that they are protected from perpetrators. It is therefore critical that all agencies involved actively collaborate,” Foster noted.
Arden: ‘Get on with job’
(CNS): The PPM’s representative for East End has said the commissioner of police should get on with the “darn job” of fighting crime instead of blaming the US firearms policy for the problems in the Cayman Islands and the region. Arden McLean said that the fight against crime should be government’s top priority. The premier, the governor and the police commissioner, he said, should be doing everything they could to make the country safe but instead they were doing nothing. Accusing the premier and his Cabinet of jet-setting around the world, spending the people’s money, which should have been spent on fighting crime, McLean told the PPM conference on Saturday that there was nothing more important than the needto address people’s safety. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
McLean said that if he sounded angry it was because he was, as in six months there had been three shootings in his district of East End and nobody was doing anything about it.
Giving his parliamentary report at the PPM’s special conference, called to transfer the leadership of the party, McLean accused the premier of doing nothing to address the problems of crime except blame the governor. While “he, his cohorts, his friends and his Cabinet” all jet-setted around the world spending money which could be spent on addressing the crime problem, nothing was being done to secure the safety for the people of the country.
Renewing his call to Police Commissioner David Baines to act, he said no expense could be spared to tackle the crime, which had “the country in a choke hold” as there was “nothing, nothing more important” at present.
He implored the governor to instruct the commissioner of police “to stop blaming the US firearms policy for the deaths of young Caribbean men. Tell him to stop talking about getting rid of some of the crime fighting equipment that the PPM bought and get on with the darn job,” he stated angrily, as he referred to the plans by the RCIPS to sell some of the marine unit fleet.
He told the people that if their government couldn’t tackle crime they needed to take a leaf out of the book of the people in Egypt and demand the government step down.
McLean said that from the very beginning of this current government’s administration it was clear that the formulation of policies in the interest of the people was the furthest thing from their minds. He said the government chose to blame the PPM for everything, especially the capital projects, despite the findings of the independent Miller Commission that these were not to blame for the public finance problems.
He noted that although the opposition had offered to sit down with government and help find a way forward through the recession, the offer was persistently rejected, as were the proposals put forward by the PPM to tackle the economic slump. He said the premier either ignored or publicly derided suggestions to flatten import duty rates, to sell Boatswain Beach and the Stock Exchange and to return the fees back to earlier levels to stimulate economic activity. He also said the opposition had supported the parliamentary pay cut of 20%, which although suggested by government was later rejected.
Over the last 21 months the PPM parliamentary group had submitted many questions and motions concerning matters that concern the people, McLean revealed, but unfortunately their questions have not been answered and motions have not been scheduled to be debated.
“This government continues to exercise might over right,” he added. “You all will recall when the premier chose substance over process by overruling the legitimate recommendation of the Central Tenders Committee on the government’s financing arrangements and awarded the contract to Cohen and Co … We strenuously opposed that action and were chastised on the basis that we did not want the country to move forward.”
He said that the opposition had since been vindicated, however, as on February second the premier was forced “curiously to back-pedal and terminate the previously announced award” because the “increase in the price of the interest rate cap is of such magnitude that it would wipe out the cost minimisation advantage that had been agreed”, he quoted from the premier’s recent announcement. However, McLean said he believed this was “rubbish”and that it was “friends, friends, friends” that had wiped it out.
Saying this was only one example where government was not following the process as set out by the law, he also spoke about the recent angry debate in the Legislative Assembly during the tax concession amendment bill, when the entire opposition walked out of parliament. “This behaviour further manifested itself when I expressed my concerns that the amendments to the tax concession law would allow Cabinet to grant any company tax exempt status and open the door to potential abuse of process once again,” he added.
He warned the people not to celebrate too much over recent announcements by the premier that the deficit had been turned into a surplus due in part, according to government, to a reduction of expenditure. He said the revenue was from first six months of the financial year when it is generally higher than the latter half as it coincides with payment of statutory fees.
However, the East End representative pointed to the good news coming from that US that its economy was showing signs of improvement and “despite the government’s fumbling”, he said that there was still hope that Cayman would recover from these hard times.
Kurt bids emotional ‘adieu’
(CNS): Despite voluntarily relinquishing the post, the former leader of the opposition and the PPM has vowed to continue supporting the party he founded in any way it needs him in future. Bidding an emotional farewell to the party’s top job, but not to politics, on Saturday night, Kurt Tibbetts said he intended to be the best representative George Town could ever have. The PPM founder said that he went into politics because he wanted to serve and that had not changed. He said that when he started, in his mind it was not to become Leader of Government Business but to serve. However, he said there had been many lessons along the way and one was the need for structure in politics, which drove the formation of the PPM.
In an emotional presentation at the special party conference and as the first ever politician to relinquish a position of political leadership voluntarily in the country’s history, he said that while people had said his stepping aside was bittersweet he did not think it was, as it was the right thing to do. “It needs to be done,” he said, adding that nothing stays the same forever and as good as anyone might be they can only be effective for a certain time and he said he was able to recognize that.
“I can still be whatI should be for this movement, to my constituents and to my country,” he said. “I can serve in other ways and I will.” Tibbetts said that while money drives some, self satisfaction for him came from serving his fellow man and he couldn’t survive if he did not do that. “I will go back to where I started and be the best representative the district of George Town has ever seen,” the former party leader promised as he made his final speech in the role.
He said his party colleagues faced “a brave new world”, and despite offering his support whenever and however it was needed to the new leader, he said he would not impose himself. He pointed out that no one can do it alone and the PPM had always been about team leadership. “Working together iswhat makes it work,” Tibbetts added.
As he passed on the leadership of the PPM to Alden McLaughlin, he said the future of the organisation was as bright as it ever was but he pointed out how important the involvement of the people was to the party and that if the community wanted good government they had to be involved.
Tibbetts said the creation of the PPM was to provide organisation and structure in politics to allow the country to move away from voting for people just because they liked a person — but to give the people a political movement that was representative of them, a party in which they could participate and claim ownership.
The people have to do their job, he said, to make sure their MLAs are representing them. He pointed out the people had to say what they did or did not want as this was a crucial part of representative government, Tibbetts added before he stepped aside.