MOU on Cayman’s Future
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government and the Chamber of Commerce have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the Future of Cayman economic development initiative. Implemented by the Chamber, the initiative is a public-private partnership aimed at improving both the quality of life and the economic environment. At a briefing Wednesday at which Chamber CEO Wil Pineau outlined the initiative, Premier McKeeva Bush told government and business leaders that the Future of Cayman was especially important in the context of the new world order. (Left: Premier McKeeva Bush and Chamber President-elect David Kirkaldy)
“Without a vision for the future by which we can navigate through uncharted economic waters we may very well meander aimlessly,” Bush said. “Through the private and public sector partnership created in the Future of Cayman forum, we can work together to a Cayman Islands that fosters a superior quality of life and prosperity for the generations that follow us.”
Since the first forum in November 2010, a steering committee comprising representatives from the public and private sectors identified five key drivers necessary for economic development and sustainability, and how to achieve them: develop talent, create a business-friendly climate, diversify the economy, enhance quality of life and build a smarter infrastructure.
Bush said that through these drivers Cayman can develop a sustainable 21st century economy. “We cannot do that by sitting down and doing nothing,” he said, adding that challenges shouldn’t prevent action.
“The alternative is to stagnate and that to me is no alternative at all.” If similar economic crises affect the world in the future, he said, “I am determined … that our islands will be able to withstand the kind of negative impact that affects us today because we took these steps to plan to bring in investment to our shores.”
Pineau outlined how the Future of Cayman initiative was developed and the way forward. “We are trying to promote this initiative and get people involved in the process,” he said, explaining that there are sign-up sheets for the various subcommittees and that co-chairs will be actioning items under each driver.
In addition, the just-launched Future of Cayman website will enable users to monitor the progress of the initiative, access a social network link to follow developments and allow organizations to endorse the plan.
Pineau stressed that the website will only offer good news. “It is intended to be a positive website that’s going to promote Cayman positively to the world. We see a lot of blogs out in Cayman and a lot of sites that are very negative about Cayman. This site is intended to be positive. It’s going to celebrate our diversity. It’s going to celebrate our infrastructure. It’s going to promote us as a people and a reason why people want to invest in this country. It will not include negative blogs and write-ups which really do nothing to raise up this country.”
However, he added, “We will have a blog but it will be monitored by our office.”
Among the points agreed toin the MOU, government and the chamber will increase awareness, participation and support of the initiative; promote and endorse the initiative in public addresses; and improve the quality, timeliness and simplicity of public-private sector communications.
Bush warned those gathered that unless people wanted to return to life in the ‘40s. ‘50s and ‘60s where there was little education, too many mosquitoes and wealth in the hands of a few, “we can take the steps to do something or we can listen to the radio shows and do nothing. And talk and criticize and do nothing.
“Not me. If the Cayman Islands are to have a bright future then we must open our minds and our hearts to accept change and have people from outside who can work with us for our best interest…Those who go about promoting an ‘us and them’ mentality should be ignored. We must find the common ground and reach out to each other to build an island home that is vibrant, dynamic and full of opportunity for its people.
The premier added: “If you remember nothing else that I say today, remember that change we must if we are going to survive. The world is not waiting on us, no matter how grand we feel we are. The world is not going to wait.”
Category: Business
I would suggest that we grow the local economy and ensure that Caymanian businesses are given more incentives to prosper such as decrease import duties/taxes and fees instead of giving multi million dollars concessions to large developers. The USA is in a recession make no mistake about this, most will even say that it is into a depression. What will happen with its debt ceiling in 2 days, what effect will this have on the stock market, interest rates and the global economy in the near future? I would suggest that as a country we take a careful look at our finances and plan accordingly. We don't want to be caught totally off guard with too many commitments and unfinish projects God forbid that Tuesday 2 August 2011 history should repeat itself and the world is faced with another of those fateful Tuesday's of 1929 .
A "smarter" infrastructure? Is there any doubt now why we're going to hell in a hand basket.
By the way Mr. Pineau "smarter" is not a word.
What is your point about "smarter"? "Smarter" is the comparative of "smart".
If "smart" did not take the comparative, it could not take the superlative and we would not have the phrase "smartest tool in the box" – a phrase that apparently does not apply to you.
Mr. Dick please let me help you with the phrase that you thought you knew.
Please write it down and then repeat it several times so you don't forget.
The "SHARPEST TOOL IN THE BOX" say after me "The Sharpest Tool In The Box"
Very good ! Keep practicing.
PS The toolbox line was an in-joke. But no-one took the bait.
Has anyone thought about what the acronym M.O.U. stands for?
Well here it is!
"MORE OUTRAGEOUS UTTERANCES"
What a load!
Whatever happened to vision 2008! The same folks feeding us the same BS. NWO only benefits the rich!
chamber of commerce…whistling past the graveyard………
When is the UDP is going to sign an MOU with the PPM? We might get a lot more done.
Pineau stressed that the website will only offer good news. “It is intended to be a positive website that’s going to promote Cayman positively to the world. We see a lot of blogs out in Cayman and a lot of sites that are very negative about Cayman. This site is intended to be positive. It’s going to celebrate our diversity. It’s going to celebrate our infrastructure. It’s going to promote us as a people and a reason why people want to invest in this country. It will not include negative blogs and write-ups which really do nothing to raise up this country.”
There's a word for that. Propaganda.
Yawn. Yet another massive crock of complete and utter BS.
yep…chamber of commerce seems to have its head in the sand…..
"New World Order" WAKE UP PEOPLE! Do you not understand what this means?
would I still have grass?
Another MOU ? we have about as much of these as we do "Roundabouts" this maybe a good simile, as this is what they are doing here going round and round for no rime or reason . I am going to sign an MOU with CUC next week in relation to my light bill and then with Fosters and Hurley's to get food.
Will these so called Politicians we have here get on with real work ? instead of pretending to work and STOP buy shit with our money like GO FAST CARS and expensive CARS for CHIEF Officers in Government YUP not only the POLICE is getting expensive toys lol
MOU's are typically linked to commercial gain / progress. Mac and the UDP seem to be masters at producing MOUs. Don't people realize that MOU stands for "Mine or Ours."
Manifesto of the blindingly obvious.
Never in the field of human endeavour has so little been owed to so few by so many. God help anyone that thinks the country can be saved by these few pages of vague vacuous platitudes.
Modernize the airport? Genius. I can't believe the government never thought of that.
Develop a sustainable energy policy. So basically your conclusion is that someone should develop a policy. That's helpful.
Support efforts to improve communications? Were you planning to oppose them previously?
Promote the establishment of segregated infrastructural funds? Hmmm. Can't wait to see how you do that (other than to write that sentence down).
Streamline the immigration process. Good thinking Batman. Any ideas on how? Neither does the government.
A well intentioned waste of time.
Please prove me wrong. Please, please, please.
Good intentions… the road to damnation is also paved with good intentions
With a MOU MOU here and a MOU MOU there,
Everywhere a MOU MOU, old Macdinejad had a plan
Eee WHY? Eee WHY? Eeely Ooh……
I hate people that use the words New World Order!
I was thinking the same thing. BTW, what is this NWO? Of ten people who used this term in the next minute, i bet there will be ten different definitions. What is this NWO?
Develop talent – duuhhh, like in education and arts n stuff?
Create biz-friendly climate – like uuhhh, raising biz fees n stuff?
Diversify the economy – like uuhhh.., making it costlier for "on-trop-penuers" to start-up biz in cayman
Enhance quality of life – for who Biff? since 2008 qual of life has been eroding for majority of cayman population – got worse when bills increased and jobs/salaries decreased
Build smarter infrastructure – like what Biff? biggest hole in EE? zero-pollution Oil refinery? berthing facility (where to start)? bridge over troubled waters in South sound?
BTW, what about the rising crime issue? Any plan to deal with or prepare for that in the future of cayman?
I hate people who use the word "hate".
Should the headline have been – "Chamber buys world's largest carpet enabling nothing wrong here website to launch"
I would like to see good news like, ":Corruption ended in Cayman" and "Honest people now have a chance to compete for government contracts", and "Local businesses to be given same competitive advantages as foreign investors". Actually I think that if the first headline were true then the others would be a given.
Just out of curiousoty can you elaborate on what competitive adavanges are given to foreign investors as opposed to local businesses who are competing for the same project. I hope you are not referring to Dart and others who have proposed developments becuase as far as I am aware no local businesses have put any similiar proposals forward to compete against them…..I could be wrong but I await your response with examples.
"Bush warned …… there was little education, …….and wealth in the hands of a few….."
Whats changed?
yea yea yea the only people at these meetings are ones with vested interest and reporters.
they have a website two goooooodbye CNS oh please guys !! good try at censorship ; that seems to be one of the cornerstones of the 'new world order' aye mister M.
Also Mac either stoppped writting his 'speeches' or he got someone new such a change of tone it almost sounds go_ly
I am forced to wonder when the rank hypocrisy displayed by the Chamber of Commerce will stop. On the one hand the organisation clamours for government to trim the civil service and live within its means on the other its individual members appear to have no issue grossly over – charging government for anything from security systems to vehicles. Greed by our political leaders and greed by our society will ultimately see Cayman become a story of what could have been.
agreed…if the chamber of commerce was concerned about the future of cayman they should be calling for the removal of mckeeva bush and the governor who have failed the people for 2 years…….
There needs to be an MOU between the Government and the Chamber to support the future development of Cayman? What? Shouldn't this go without even saying? Mr. Bush has gone MOU mad! Now, the public will worry about the Chamber being in government's pocket! Wil Pinneau has set the chamber up for a fall: If the economic recovery fails, the Premier can pass the blame onto the Chamber! Every single sentence uttered by the Premier in this report lacks substance, it's all just rhetoric. Cayman doesn't need an MOU, it needs a proper white paper: a full and comprehensive DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
Actually just a functioning effective government would probably be enough, but that's a goal too far away.
Please Mr. Premier as good as your intentions are in signing this MOU with the Chamber of Commerce, this will hasten the demise of middle class and poor Caymanian the very people that you are seeking to help. The mantra of the NWO is that the rich must get richer and the poor poorer. Just look around the world primarily the USA and Greece they are in financial ruins because of the NWO. In the USA major banks were no more than Las Vegas high stake gamblers and when they lost the Federal Government had to bail them out with tax payers money because they were too big to fail.
Getting back to the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, is this the same Chamber of Commerce that less than 7 days ago asked government to pull the equality bill and for years have rallied against minimum wage, because it would be too costly and not to mention the formation of a workers union (because they would lose their power and defacto government status) and the same organization that is always advocating internal self government and future independence for these islands?
Mr. Premier if the answer is in the affirmative, then Sir in my humble opinion this is no more than the Fox guarding the chicken coop and we all know what will happen then! May I suggest that you rethink the matter again not once or twice but over and over again until it is crystal clear . Just remember if it walks like a Duck, quacks like a Duck then one can only assume that it's a Duck.
Sounds like Mac got Wil and the CoC in his pocket for the next election….
Look now for the Gender Equality Bill to be taken off the LA's agenda…
What the Chamber of Commerce of the Cayman Islands wants, the Chamber gets.
The Chamber of Commerce has some nerve!!!!!
It's because of some of their greedy members having over inflated prices that have suffocated this economy for years!!!
Instead of signing MOU's with Government they should be lobbying them to do something about CUC, which is chocking this economy and holding it from any chance of recovering soon.
CUC is a vacum on this economy, it is sucking every dollar from the economy possible.
I thought the Government had "expert" advisors that would see this; oh I forgot, they just sucking up money too, instead of being good advisors.
It looks like some things never change in Cayman, always someone sticking it and breaking it off in the people here.
What about the elephant in the room here? All well and good Wil saying we don’t want negative talk but the negative talk isn’t the problem is it? – its what’s causing the talk ie the country’s leader being under investigation and the widespread belief that there are far too many financial irregularities across government.