No plan details at UDP rally
(CNS): The premier has failed to deliver details about the new cruise port developers that are offering to undertake a number of other infrastructure projects on island. Despite saying in his Monday night TV and radio broadcast that he would be updating the country on government’s plans for the cruise berthing facility and other new developments at the public meeting outside the courthouse on Tuesday night, McKeeva Bush reviewed the past but offered few details on the future. Although he said he planned to start some projects, he did not say which or when. He offered support for the oil refinery proposal again but failed to say if government had entered into a deal with the developers. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
Despite opposition from inside the civil service, as well as the PPM, their supporters and others who opposed the development proposals, Bush insisted that he would be going ahead with some new projects soon. He said the people of the country had voted for the UDP to deliver economic growth.
“The projects have to go through otherwise the country is going to go belly-up,” the premier warned as he accused the opposition of putting every possible barrier in place to prevent development. He said the PPM leader knew these developments would bring jobs and economic prosperity and he was attempting to stop all that with his no confidence motion.
The premier said he would be revealing the details of the projects before the end of the month but said nothing about the cruise berthing facilities and the recent decision to cancel the deal with GLF. He simply stated that government was in negotiations with a new group of developers that would deliver multiple infrastructure projects.
He did, however, state firmly that Dart would be capping and remediating the dump and “government would work with them” as it had been an unsightly mess for years, despite the situation with the CTC process. He said people could "cuss" him out but he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Bush also raised the possibility of an oil refinery once again, insisting this was a modern version that would be clean and not give off dirty emission. The premier said if this had been developed many years ago as he had suggested people would not be paying so much now for fuel.
In what turned out to be a mid-term political rally for the United Democratic Party, Bush ended a long night of political speeches, MC’d by Ellio Solomon, and focused on the shortcomings of the PPM and in particular the party leader, the no confidence motion filed by the opposition and what he said were the successes of his administration so far.
Aside from taking political swipes at Alden McLaughlin, the opposition leader, Bush also questioned the loyalty of the civil service, pointing to the recently leaked memo he had sent to heads of department. This illustrated the difficulties his government had to deal with in getting things done, he said, when the civil service were leaking things to the press, who were making headlines before he was able to deal with issues.
He also answered a number of the criticisms railed at him and his Cabinet colleagues, though not all of them. Bush said that while people were criticising and saying they weren’t free, he had never heard so much criticism in his life and wondered how much more freedom to criticise people wanted.
Bush also defended his travelling, which has been a particular focus for his critics, but he said he would continue to travel when it was needed. The premier said he had to work tirelessly going “from country to country” and had to “beg them for business” because of the state the PPM had left the public finances and the country in general. “We didn’t have money,” he said and added that Cayman was being watched and when its name was called by international bodies and G20 countries he had to be there to defend the financial sector.
He also defended his deputy, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, and said there was nothing wrong with paving the private driveways in Cayman Brac as it was often done when the main roads were being paid to level the areas off so water would not run on to them.
Referring to his demands that civil servants find a surplus before the fiscal year end, the premier, who is also minister of finance, said it was completely puzzling that in March there was a surplus of around $15 million and then a few weeks later the country was running a deficit. He would not tolerate that and warned that he would not allow unnecessary spending and did not care which public servants weren’t happy.
Focusing heavily throughout his speech on the previous administration, he said his government was hindered by having to rectify the problems of the last one. Things, however, were now getting on track, Bush told the audience of around one hundred people, and that was why the PPM leader had brought the no confidence motion — because he knew things were set to turn around and he did not want to see the UDP government succeed.
“They know we are going to bring a better budget soon,” he added.
Category: Politics
Going Out of Business Sale
3 used islands, has broken leadership. Going cheap.
Call 1-800-thx-bush soon (before the line is cut off at the end of the month).
I really feel for the young Caymanians who voted for the first time last election and more aware of the importance of exercising your civic rights. Yes it's very sad that our Leader and government and Co. came out and gave a nothing meeting. Nothing informative to the BIG announcement of nothingness. Nothing good to say about others. Ecucation Minister accusing ex- minister of education. yo. We now have to educate ourselves and try and help piece together a good bunch of persons that will lead us out of this mess !
Who is surprised by a lack of clarity? As I've said in the past the premier will only address convenient issues and even then with vague and useless statements. At best this is due to incompetence…at worst intentional evasion. The Premier and whole Cayman polical body must think most voters are fools and the others selfish enough to accept free paving and other favors in lieu of ethical and transparent governance. I know the latter catagory does exist as I have heard and read the resentment and jealousy of Caymanian or foreigners who have done well on their own merit. For these people corrupt government favoritism has now been accepted and everyone just wants a piece greater than their neighbors.
When will the United Dart Party answer the 24 questions?
That's what we want answers. Noattacks or blame shifting.
United Dumb People please answer the questions?
lets organise a march/demonstration…… this nonsense has got to end!
The first four words sums it up…….. full stop !!!!!!!!!!!
I began to listen last night….but just could not get past Richard's prayer and Elio's opening comments (rant).
I decided it would be much better (and healthier) to just read about it today.
It's past clear that this bunch (UDP) haven't a clue….other than to blame and to selfishly look out for themselves and a few of their cronies.
They provided no substantive explanation to the concerns raised in the 'No Confidence Motion'.
Please people….it's time for either 'One person, one vote' or 'National Elections'. To cause real accountability!
I'm seeking out the petition to sign!
And….I'm going to keep traveling from country to country. Because this place is scary, there aretoo many nearly poor people and too much crime and I have no idea how to be a leader. I actually wanted to be a preacher but there's way more money in politics.
Below is a transcript from the Commission of Enquiry in the Turks and Caicos. The similarities to what is happening here are scary to say the least.
MR MILNE: In the short time available to me, I accept, Mr Premier, that you have made declarations in that appendix 5 going back a number of years to financial sponsorship that you have received. That is gifts from, we are told, political supporters, correct? Those gifts being perhaps for political purposes.
MICHAEL MISICK: Well, I received contribution from political supporters to further — in relation to political support and also in relation to some personal political support. The culture of — again of the political, and I think you have to put it in the context of islands where politicians are not only help their party to win an election but also we are expected to help our constituents when they have problems. So political support comes from many different angles.
SIR ROBIN AULD: The figures that are in that appendix are substantial figures, tens of thousands of pounds. I beg your pardon, dollars. Is that right?
MICHAEL MISICK: Substantial is relative.
SIR ROBIN AULD: You don't regard $10,000, $50,000 as a major sum?
MICHAEL MISICK: Well, as I said, substantial is relative in terms of political support. You have to put it in context of our own Territory, which is an archipelago, with many islands. Over the years both myself and my party have received political contributions.
No plan details? What didwe expect? All I heard was anger, from every last one of them (they sure have a great teacher in that department). What a load of HOGWASH! As Arden McLean said this morning on Rooster "someone's head is soon going to bust from all that self-importance" (& I'll add anger to that). BOOM!
It is very sad hearing the UDP Propaganda machine in action last night. I am very ashame to know that these people are my fellow Caymanian. They had no answers for the 24 questions on the "No Confidence Vote", instead they chose to do a character assasination on Mr. Alden McLaughlin and the PPM members. What a shame. McKeeva, Ellio, Rolston and Mr. Adams please stop this tirade you guys are on and just do something and answer the questions the people needs to hear. Its not UDP or PPM you are serving, but the people of these Islands. Remember that!!!! Every time you face the Public you rants on PPM. PPM is not the Government as you keeps reminding us, you are….Do what is right and needed for our people. They are being classed as 3rd and 4th classed citizens of these Islands now and you guys are doing nothing.
I never heard mention at all about the 24 items that was in the no confidence vote. i never heard anything mentioned about GLF and what really happened there. In truth and in fact all I heard was critising the past government and especially Alden, Elio you won't get to heaven with such hatred in your heart for this man, you need to move past the ppm mistakes and the mess you claim they left behind and do something beside trying to pass a motion on dead people organs, and giving out government money to workers who are left still starving after the road cleanup has been done. Get past the Alden thing man, and pick on someone else, Alden is too much a gentleman you can give him all the critisim you want he can take it, pick on ——–, you figure this one out, he will be your cocoa-tea.
I read the first 6 words of this report and that says it all.
the first 4 sum it up for me!
Has anyone considered referring to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, his comments on Government's "Paving Policy". Mind you they would probably just assume that we are so far behind the times that we haven't realised April Fools day is long gone………..
The first five words says it all. No need to read further as it is the same thing over and over again. Just another instance of the failure of the Caymanian people to take charge of their own lives even in the face of the failure of their chosen one to forsake XXXX the needs of his country. Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting diferent results. People is it true you don't feel like you deserve better?
TheBush has always been a dangerous place!!!
The voters would be gluttons for punishment should they choose to venture into the bush ever again!!!
Nice headline and picture CNS, you guys are real objective journalists!
Yes, they are. They print the truth as it is.
I suppose if they printed a cheerful happy headline and put a pic of the Premier at Disney World it would make things better?
governonr….where the hell are you?
ahh…something soon come…….zzzzzzz
Last night was the first I listended to all that the UDP had to say and I must say it was a watse of my time, the same foolishness from those eggheads. I'm still waiting to hear what the premier has to say about these three (3) projects.
More smoke-screens for the masses the masterof deception McKeeva did it again by failing to deliver on what he said the previous day on his radio address.
Imagine the government can't deliver on a promise made one day before. Why should we trust the premier and his fries to lead us? As far as I'm concerned the UDP and PPM should go and this country should get a clean slate.
Everyday this premier of ours looks more fooler than the day before.
Signed,
McCarron McLaughlin
McCarron Mclaughlin i am totally surprized at your comments,all this time i thought you were pro PPM,i had to read your comments at least 3 times to make sure i was seeing right.Now that i know you are for the PPM to get lost i can now give your comments thumbs up.It looks like Cayman should start getting ready for a third party,the UDP along with the PPM and their newly appointed dictator Alden McChavelin must pack up and leave immediately!!!!!!!!!!!
If Cayman needs a third Political party why you don’t you and all those who keep saying this start a new political party?
It is time for you guys to put or shut up! You are no help to anyone all you do is blow off steam!
NO PARTY SYSTEM!
It's like a high school popularity contest in a bad Disney movie.
Alden is not a dictator. No comparison to McKeeva whatsoever.
Your assumption is way off track friend, I have never been associated with any political parties in Cayman, I don't know what or who would lead you to believe I was a PPM supporter.
Is it because my comments tend to be towards the government, that your assuming that? Your wrong my friend.
I have always said all along I'm my own man, no party controls McCarron McLaughlin or my comments in this forum.
Stop with the 'us against them' mentality
You should be putting a thumbs up or thumbs down on the statements posted, not on the author of the post. This means that you click a thumbs up if you agree, or thumbs down if you disagree.
Or nothing at all is good too
Ahaahh..yawn
There's a plan???
Extra Extra Read All About It – Dinosaur spotted on podium in George Town Tuesday Night!!!!!
Reported one eye witness – "It wasroaring total nonsense and did not seem to know right from wrong or which way to go."
Classic example of McKeevanomics. One plus one equals four, carry the nine!
At some point Mr. Premier you have to actually DO something!
I didn't vote for you, nor any UDP candidates, but I have triedto support you in your efforts. I fully accept that a lot of international travel is neccessary to build relationships with other governments and with potential investors. Even though it pains me to see destruction of our natural environment, I understand and accept that to have economic growth there must be some some compromises made on the conservation/environmental front. I realize that the Chinese have a new standing in the world, and that our future will and must include them somehow. Finally, I miss the Cayman of my youth where everybody knew and cared for everybody else, but yes we do need an influx of foreigners to help us regain our economic footing. Okay, I agree with you on all of that, but for CHRIST'S SAKE stop talking and DO something!!!!
What happened to Shetty? A pie in the sky idea if there ever was one, but please give us an update nonetheless.
What about Enterprise City? A fabulous idea, with developers chomping at the bit to go forward…..yet no action from your government.
The Cruise Port? You can go on all day about opposition….but this is soemthing YOU cancelled, not the opposition.
Mr. Premier, your party has an overwhelming majority in the parliament. Please shut up about opposition and do something. Or is it that you and your team are simply too incompetent to get anything done? How can it be the PPM's fault? They have no power to stop you (which is scary but true). Stop blaming other people. You wanted this job, you have this job with all its attendant powers, so get on with it!
I must agree its time for action.
Be very careful how you say that. The ONLY action these folks are capable of is increasing taxes and jumping on planes.
You have the knowledge and power to answer all your own questions.
Asking a proven incompetent failure to get on with it will not help you.
My favourite quote comes from Miss Julianna when she admonished "if you can't find the inertia within yourself" as if inertia is a good thing. I also appreciated the metaphor of bush fires, which makes no sense unless translated into irony.
They kept blaming the "World Wide Recession" which, if they didn't get the memo, ended a year-and-a-half ago.
Funny thing is they were having none of that "it's the worldwide recssion" when it came to blaming the PPM (under whose tenure the worldwide recession did exist).
The world wide recession has been ending since it started according to the memos
The man has completely lost the plot.
As a young Caymanian I am mortified to know that I voted for the UDP government in the last elections. After listening to the radio broadcast last night to the nation I am confident that we have a bunch of gluttonous and uneducated pirates that are running our country to the ground. Mr. Premier you said last night that you feel our pain but in the same breath I heard nothing about reducing the cost of living in this country for the people who are not as providential as you and your partners, you and your entire government are an “IGNOMINY”.
Be more careful where you place your vote next time.
Mac and co. have the same MO today as they did in 2001-2005. All they did was XXXX trick ppl into believing that they would be better than the last government; which they clearly are not.
as a young caymanian you should reach out to all the other toung caymanians and set up a 3rd way…..otherwise, the PPM will get in and it'll be more of the same, until 5 years later and UDP be back….the future of cayman needs young caymanians to step up and go for it….not one of the current politicians is worth a vote, its reduced now to people screaming on radio and internet about how they work for 'de people' and never take a dollar…….its all crap…….young caymanians have 2 years to set upa 3rd way, and simply get all your friends to vote for you and you'll get in power…..not as young UDP or young PPM, but as young caymanians……come up with a manifesto and go for it…….otherwise, lets all stop listening to rooster and writing in blogs because it gets nowhere here, there's no inclination on part of any ruling party to listen tot he people, despite what the opposition will promise us in 2 years time…..its like groundhog day, only Bill Murray was funny…..this movie called the cayman islands disaster is a tragedy
Bush and O'connor are living in some dream world. Everything is worste than ever.
Do us all a favor and leave now!
If we could get Mac to stop putting so much hot air into the environment we could significantly reduce global warming. As usual, significant amounts of propaganda and totally absent of substance.
Last night the Premier brought to an end the debate regarding whether he knows right from wrong. He sees nothing wrong with politicians using public money to pave driveways of selected people on the Brac.
The only thing he left out was a claim that there is a specific section in the new Constitution that he did not vote for that requires Miss JuJu to spend money paving the drive ways of her contributors.
So the usual then, he rambled a lot but didn't really say anything. What a shocker!