Mac tears up rules proposal
(CNS): The premier literally tore up and threw in the bin a private members motion which proposed that government follow a clear set of rules and be more transparent when dealing with major projects. McKeeva Bush said on Thursday evening in the Legislative ASsembly that Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin had done everything he could to try and stop government in its efforts to turn the economy around but his motion belonged in the waste basket. During the debate on the motion asking government to conduct proper analysis on potential development projects before signing deals, Bush said that it was “political and nasty and dirty as can be” as he told the opposition leader to stop trying to make the country think he was doing something wrong. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)
As he tore up the motion and asked the serjeant-at-arms to bring the waste basket, the premier said that he couldn’t accept it, despite the fact that government would be undertaking assessments and studies and “doing all those things” because the member (Alden McLaughlin) in his usual “dirty stinking ways” had no grounds to challenge government. The Speaker interupted the premier before he flung more insults at the opposition leader, warning him to "watch his adjectives", before he continued on.
The private members motion asked government to commit to publishing independent and objective feasibility studies, economic and environmental impact assessments, as well as telling the people what the plans entail before approving major development projects.
McLaughlin had pointed out that over the last eighteen months or so there had been a number of announcements that had caused enormous concern and generated significant opposition in the community, such as the proposed East End Sea Port and the North Sound dredging.
He said that when announcements were made by government about projects they are usually declared as being beneficial in the absence of assessments demonstrating what the impact of the proposals may have. “It is simply presumed that if there is major development it will inure for the good of the Cayman Islands, it seems,” the opposition leader said as he tabled his motion.
He said that all governments were faced with the challenge when considering development about how much to concede in return for the benefits and had to carefully balance the issues. McLaughlin said that before the countrycould support a project it needed to understand the proposals properly, based on independent reviews and assessments.
In response, Bush said government was not entering into any major project deals without undertaking the proper assessments and he said that the opposition leader knew that government would not have cut a channel in the North Sound before an environmental impact study was completed.
He railed against McLaughlin when he said that it was because of the leaks that must be at the hands of the opposition that project proposals were circulating in public before government even had a chance to say anything about them.
“They don’t even give us time to go out and be able to explain it,” he said. “It just shows you the real situation in this country and the kind of politicking that is going on … and the kind of political manipulation of the public service in the country that has gone on, that they can do these kinds of things with impunity! And get away with it because it got to be them doing this, nobody else has this kind of information,” he yelled at the opposition as he spoke about documents being “placed on car windshields” or “pushed under people’s doors”.
He also criticised the opposition for the agreement that he says the PPM administration made with Michael Ryan behind closed doors for Dragon Bay, which was worth millions of dollars in concessions. He said that the PPM signed a heads of agreement with Ryan and kept it secret and until now they “haven’t told the whole world” what they did. “They gave all kinds of concessions,” Bush added, asking where the opposition leader was when the Cabinet he was part of was signing that. He said the PPM didn’t even do assessments for the government projects much less the private sector.
“And he has the audacity to stand in this honourable House and accuse us of not doing the right thing. I intend to do with this motion … where it ought to go, that is to tear it up and throw it in the waste paper basket,” the premier said.
Bush said government signed MOUs to give it room to discuss possible projects but it is not until after those discussions that assessments or studies could be done. However, he said that when they get to that point, the projects would go through the correct regulatory procedures. “All we want to do is the right thing and the correct thing for the country,” he said.
As he wrapped up his motion, McLaughlin said that he wasn’t sure he should dignify the premier’s rant with a response but he said that anytime anyone suggests anything which the premier believes might prevent him from exercising his almighty power without any regard to anything, he becomes like that. He said the premier’s tearing up of the motion was indicative of the way the he manages the country.
“Anyone who suggests anything not in keeping with his way, he just destroys whatever it is they have said or written and describes in adjectives that are not parliamentary because it doesn’t meet his will,” the PPM leader added.
McLaughlin said he thought the premier might have learned his lesson after trying to force huge projects down the collective throats of the people with little or no thought having being given to them but the only consideration was for the almighty dollar. He said the motion suggested entirely reasonable propositions to help people make sound judgements about projects.
No other members spoke on the motion, which was defeated when all the government members present voted against it.
Category: Politics
honestly….this is not how our PREMIER should be acting! it is just childish. why cant the government be more transparent with the counrty…we are SUPPOSEDLY not a dictatorship country but this just shows that we are, and have been for a long time now. if it is in the best intrest of our counrty then we should be able to be informed on it whenever!
What I see happening…..
At a quick pace….
When will this be on Radio Cayman? Just can't wait for that new govt TV you've been promising Mac.
Tear it up yes. They want to add insult to injury. Stand your ground Big Mac. Show respect to those who show it to you. Trying to insinuate that you dont follow the rules. They want to have you like a trained lap dog and do what they say when they say it but show them that you lead and they follow.
Yes you are the elected leader . Would a captain take orders from a subordinate? No they would tear up that order and throw it in the bin.
Lead on McKeeeva, you still have plenty of supporters.
To the CNS team.
Why havent you published a article about the PPM deal with Mike Ryan/Dragon Bay that they kept secrect? I am sure myself and all your other readers what to hear your spin on that.
@ Anon 17:05, all I can say to you is hahahahahaha, good one girl, plenty of supporters? That's a good one hahahahaha you poor pitiful fool hahahaha that's funny
Hmm I wonder why he got elected as premier, maybe it was because he got more votes than everyone else??
And you think that the same people that voted him in still dont support him, you fool if you think not. He all the young peoples attention in a good way because he is looking out for them instead of progressively setting us back to the 60's.
Let those "plenty of supporters" speak for themselves, would you please? They seem to be getting progressively mute with each news headline that comes out.
Its now official. Cayman is now run by a Dictator. All rules, regulations, and laws will now be thrown in the trash along with Grand Caymans reputation. Not hard to see it coming. Just hard to understand why the people of "Cayman would let it get this far. All thats left is seeing how far the UK will let it get before stepping in the pile of crap and trying to clean it up. Hope its sooner than later.
truth, well put
I wonder if you people know that you are wasting time talking about McKeeva Bush. Cayman wants him, and he will be voted back in office. Heads will roll next election Hehehehehehe, Hahahahaha watch an see, think you can figure out these people, then dont even try. The attitude of Alden is worse by far, or you really do not know him or listen to him talk.
Obviously you've never heard McKeeva talk.
And we see him again. The Dishonourable Nightmare McKeeva Bush.
OPEN LETTER TO THE PPM!!!
I am deeply troubled at the events that I am reading in the online newspapers, and feel that I need to step up and volunteer where ever help is needed for the people of the Cayman Islands.
I wanted to see if any one of you can reply to me and let me know if a People-Initiated Referendum has the momentum to make it successfully to Cabinet right now and if you will support the people of the Cayman Islands in getting this underway.
Please let me know if I am figuring this correctly, because to get the 25% minimum required signatures that the Constitution says we need, I estimate that only 152 people (or Team Leaders) would be needed to get 25 signatures each to start the Peoples' Referendum Process to get McKeeva's attention to stop this dangerous course he is taking Cayman's future! (152 x 25 = 3,800, and of the 15,187 registered voters in Cayman, this is calculated off of our current total electorate of 15,187 x 0.25 = 3,797).
Our Constitution states that when that many signatures are collected, Cabinet MUST obey the PEOPLE, NOT the UDP members!
Since I was reading an archived article concerning voting results and we only needed 152 to get this off the ground, I wanted to know if ALL OF YOU IN THE PPM will support this referendum and start with getting the initial 152 Team Leaders.
The Chamber of Commerce reported the following 2005 numbers of electors that voted for you, and I'm sure you know who your supporters are from your community involvement:
http://www.caymanchamber.ky/events/candidatesforum05/
Candidate Total Votes Percentage of Votes
Mr. Kurt Tibbetts 2,529 18%
Mr. Alden McLaughlin 2,328 16%
Ms. Lucille Seymour 2,125 15%
Mr. Alfonso Wright 1,646 12%
Mr. Anthony Eden 1,623 25%
Mr. Charles Clifford 1,186 18%
Mr. Osbourne Bodden 1,140 18%
Mrs. Edna Moyle 278 56%
Mr. Arden V. McLean 344 66%
If the 9 of you split up the 152 Team Leaders and could think of 17 VERY STRONG SUPPORTERS and delegate the task to each of them to get 25 people more to sign the referendum, IT'S A WRAP AND WE CAN SAVE THE CAYMAN ISLANDS! Will you help us, PPM, THE PEOPLE'S PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT?
I am prepared to do whatever you instruct me to do. Once a People-Initiated Referendum document can be drawn up, I will happily contact AT LEAST 25 of my Facebook friends, do a name search on the Elections Office website to confirm that they indeed can be included as eligible signers of this Referendum, and then forward my signers to you so that you can present this to the Cabinet. As a registered West Bay voter, my Constitution allows me "to participate in governance and the politics of my country", as it reads word for word.
I estimate that since today is already Wednesday, if we take a couple of days to at least get the wording right, it would only take me maybe 2 more days to ask 25 people to sign and get this back from them. I haven't even asked, but I already know who I can ask to sign this, and push come to shove, I can even commit to getting 25 MORE! So, I think that this could begin wrapping up by next week if we all get cracking on this RIGHT AWAY. Are you in? Your country NEEDS you to SAY YES so that WE CAN STOP THE MADNESS OF GIVING AWAY OUR ISLAND!
LET'S GET BUSY GATHERING SIGNATURES BEFORE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISLAND LEFT! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! DELAY IS DANGER AT THIS POINT AND TIME IS OF THE UTMOST ESSENCE! PLEASE Alden, Kurt, Lucille, Alfonso, Anthony, Charles, Arden, Edna, Osborne, Joey, RESPOND TO THIS SO WE CAN GET THE BALL ROLLING!
Mr. Premier,
We are interested in proper governance.
We are interested in being informed properly when capital projects are undertaken. Before they happen.
We are interested in procedures being followed in government procurement and where our money is being spent.
We are interested in full disclosure. If a project or government procurement could benefit a member of government, their friends, or associates.
We are not interested in your personal opinion of a member of the Legislature.
of course madam speaker will not speak up against McKeeva if it wasnt for him she wouldnt be there. Dont bite the hand thats feeding you .
"Baines issues corruption alert" and LITERALLY right below "Mac tears up rules proposal". Does anyone else see a problem?? More importantly, the whole five UDP supporters still left on the island – DO YOU SEE A PROBLEM?? It is unprofessional and uncalled for. If it was any proposal that he didn't agree with, there are less theatrical and dramatical ways to show that you disagree with it WITHOUT disrespecting your fellow politicians. If you see the need to continually disrespect and berate someone of equal standing in your profession, you would be called in by your boss (Governor?) or HR (UK?) about your behaviour, given a warning or suspended. If this episode should happen again, you would be FIRED! Whether working in Starbucks or the LA, the same rules apply!!!
Oops, I'm sorry, my bad. Just realized Mac doesn't follow rules. Rules are for everyone else apparently. Transparency is for everyone else.
If anyone thumbs down this, please kindly comment. I am just wondering why anyone would disagree with transparency and rule-following by the government as a means to improve financial spending of the people's monies and prevent corruption (which is obviously rampant but by which parties is in disagreement). I think transparency should be followed by both the UDP and PPM, no favourites. I DO NOT believe only some should follow it. If someone feels they are above the rules and transparency, do they believe they have been gifted with divine intervention? That seems about the only (il)logical reason to ignore democracy in the 21st century.
As shameful as his behaviour is to the office of Premier, his party and the people of this nation, this is great entertainment!
Dear Premier,
Don't take this personally (like everything else), I know you are only human and have feeelings.
1) Politicians should not be corrupt.
2) Politicians should be seen not to be corrupt.
3) Transparency and procedure rules help to ensure 2.
4) Blocking 3 leads to concerns about 1.
So why are you against checks and balances?
David Frost: Are you really saying the President can do something illegal?
Richard Nixon: I'm saying that when the President does it, it's *not* illegal!
There really is not much more that needs to be said. The Premier believes in his heart that when he does somehing it is not illegal, regardless of what the laws, or rules state. Their are clear similarities to be drawn as Mr. Nixon did tremendous damage to the office of the President, just as Mr. Bush is currently doing to the office of the Premier, both with little regard for the rule of law. We are in a sad state of affairs.
Truth be told, he is unable to do better as he really does not know any better.
Like Mr. Nixon, Mr. Bush should resign.
Oh, my head hurts. McKeeva seems genuinely confused about why people have a problem with his way of governing and negotiating. Mac, if you are reading this, let me explain it to you.
Quite often, the first we hear of these projects is hearing that you have agreed to them, or agreed a framework for negotiations. This is the same thing as agreeing in principle because negotiations do not begin until you have something to negotiate about. When this is the first thing we hear, it means that people have been whispering in your ear that the project would be a good idea. That or you are romancing developers on your own initiative. Who are these people? We want to know. This is the information age.
A lot of people have complained that you travel too much. I noticed that you have not been travelling lately. Why is that? It seems to us that you did a lot of travelling, stopped travelling, and now we have a lot of potential projects going on. It looks as if you are meeting and being entertained by potential investors, often not of the sort with which we aspire to do business, and making commitments on behalf of the entire country, including concessions which will cost the public purse. You may be doing this on trips which are publicly expressed to be for a different purpose. This is dishonest. Even worse, you may be doing this on private trips, when you may or may not be accompanied by the appropriate persons from government. You do not have our permission to do this, so we get upset when you do it.
We observe your temperament. We see how you react to challenges and bad news. You are a notorious bully. You must be, because if you are not, then your parliamentary colleagues would feel free to disagree with you openly, which many of them surely want to do. You will notice that Elio Solomon said the other day that he was 'proud to be a member of the government today'. This means that at other times, he is not proud. But he votes with you all the same. You have just publicly accused unknown persons within the civil service of leaking documents. You have just physically destroyed another MLA's motion during parliamentary proceedings. We know how you are. We know that you will have your way.
So you will understand why we have little confidence in your explanation that all projects will go through the proper procedures at the appropriate time. If you have already agreed in principle, and you always get your way, then the person operating the procedure will understand that they are expected to approve the project. In several cases, you have publicly stated that someone who does not support a project is not patriotic, not sound, or even a 'devil-worshipper'. Many of these people are religious themselves. This is an enormous amount of pressure to place on public servants. We can see that they do not question your initiatives. You have given hundreds of students paid work experience at the drop of a hat, with interested persons to apply directly to one of your assistants. You have established a pool of funds from which you may make any disbursements that seem appropriate to you. We can see that you have enormous power over the people who form and service the government, and we do not trust you with it.
This is why when you say that something is going through the proper procedure,we understand this to mean that the person you have instructed will comply with your instructions, hole-punch the papers in the correct manner, put the right amount of postage on the cheques, and make a note of it somewhere. These are not proper procedures. The citizens of the Cayman Islands have a right to an accounting of the revenues extracted from them. They have a right to know that decisions are being made on an objective basis – that they stand up to scrutiny. Unfortunately, as you left formal education rather early, you were never taught critical, logical thinking. We know this, and it gives us a basis for assuming that if you think something is a good idea, that is not necessarily the case. It may be that you have people who make these assessments for you, but we have no confidence in them either. Why? Because we already know that people who wish to remain employed arenot in the habit of disagreeing with you.
Smart people – who care if their colleagues decide they have fallen below applicable standards of behaviour – have designed a system of government for this country with checks and balances. The areas where decisions are subject to interference have been identified and removed from the remit of elected officials. This is where they are meant to stay. They are in place because history demonstrated that if it was any other way, bad things happened. Indeed, you overruled the Central Tenders Committee, and it cost us half a million dollars. You do not have the authority to overrule the CTC, but whoever you gave instructions to do so, followed them.
Do you understand now? You are a bully. This is how we know that no one is advising you and no one is applying scrutiny to your ideas. Your parliamentary colleagues do not feel able to disagree with you. You have shamed them all with your actions and behaviour, and they know now that their political futures are finished, so they will serve out their terms and say as little as possible until the next election.
You have done many good things for Cayman, but we expect more of our leaders now than announcements. In the old Cayman, people picked up the paper, read it and thought 'oh, that's good, they're finally doing something with that land'. Now we want to be involved. We can receive information faster, but you do not provide it. We want to know what you are doing and why, or we will be suspicious. Democracy does not work without information.
No one likes a bully. We know that you have been at this now for twenty-seven years, and you are tired. We know that you will not change. We want you to leave. I hope you understand now.
Dear Adviser,
Hands down, this is the best written post I have read on CNS since its launch. Absolutely spot-on, very well done, simple, clear, concise, factual and well balanced.
You ON FIIIRREEEE today!
Please,as one person who has a bald spot on the left side of my head from reading the news with my head in my hand – keep writing.
theatrics! Disrespect! Real classy behaviour from our LEADER!
Stop shaming us please. Caymanians are not of that calibre and I resent being represented by a bunch of classless brats who are afraid of rules and transparency and a Speaker of the House who has no control, and no knowledge of her job -or rather , too interested in her big paycheck to have the guts to do her job and tell the Premier to SHUT UP!
I am sick of this all!
Exactly. We wonder why Caymanian boysare turning to thuggery. It doesn't help that our "premier" exhibits such graceless behaviour. Show a little restraint, please, McKeeva. You're setting the example for our young people.
I know I would have slapped my 5-year old upside down her head if she would have carried on in that manner! Of course the entire UDP party must have swallowed their balls, and I continue to wonder how they look in the mirror every daywhile they stand by this mad man! Don't worry, your day will come because Kharma is a b*(&$% and will catch up with all of you mad people soon enough!
You would slap a 5 year old the on the head???? Great parenting NOT, bully YES!
No, you are absolutely right! We should continue to coddle our children and let them get away with all kinds of behavior of take away a toy. When I look around, it seems that this has been really effective and the children nowadays behave a lot better than they every did before, NOT!
After reading this article, I feel that Madam Speaker is to be put to shame on this particular incident, why did she not speak up and say something. Shame on you Madam Speaker, to me you seem to be ruled by the Premier. Is this because you are afraid to lose your position, I know you have been out of a job for so long, may I suggest that you take a course in LA rules and regulations, because I am sure that any of our other past speakers of the house wold not have let this slide like you did, so I believe you are afraid of losing you job and getting on the wrong side of the Premier, because EVERYONE can see you are very biased. I sincerely thought better of you.
What should be expected of her? Madame Speaker is a pathetic impotent puppet of Big Mac, nothing more.
This women obviously has no shame; as consolation for being of such reprehensibly low esteem, I am sure she smiles all the way to the bank with her fat pay cheque.
I am bitterly disappointed in Mrs. Lawrence. It is hard to believe that this could be the same person who stood up with her husband and did what was right when the leadership was wrong all those years ago.
Only 152 people are needed to get 25 signatures each to start the Peoples' Referendum Process to remove this mad man! (152 x 25 = 3,800, and of the 15,187 registered voters in Cayman, only 25% are required to start the referendum, 15,187 x 0.25 = 3,797). Our Constitution states that when that many signatures are collected, Cabinet MUST obey the PEOPLE, NOT the UDP members!
He will soon be gone! Will you be one of the 152 to stop this train wreck from happening to Cayman? LET'S GET BUSY GATHERING SIGNATURES BEFORE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISLAND LEFT! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
ARDEN MCLEAN WE NEED YOU!!!!!
CAPTAIN BRYAN WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?????
Save your breath, it is amply evident by now most Caymanians do not care that they and their territory are objects of ridicule.
Please tell us Mr. Premier what will we do when Caymanians have to do this:
http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/13/7730301-lawyer-turns-topless-dancer-to-pay-the-bills?GT1=43001
What do you call a banana republic whithout bananas? Sad….
True, no bananas. The Big MacMonkey have 'em all.
It must be a total coincidence that the Police Commissioner warns about corruption and a proposal to increase transparency gets torn up.
Children live what they learn and how on this good green earth, do we expect our young people to follow the laws of the land if the supreme leader of the country refuses to follow them. You can get all the crime fighting tools and personnel in the world and it won't make a difference. Leadership begins from the top down not from the bottom up. Sad times indeed for this country.
Just another distraction designed to keep us off of the Stan Thomas scandal being investigated.
And we keep falling for it. Nothing this man does is surprising. What is shocking however is that his fellow members of the UDP government are sticking by him. It really makes them look incredibly bad. Their political futures are pretty much over at this point.
Proverbially: "You can take the man of West Bay, but you can't take West Bay. . ."
How much does Mr Ryan owe the Cayman islands. That is in the tarsh bin also?
and I am sure you remember First Cayman Bank when rumors were going around that it was bankrupt and somebody was saying everything was fancy nancy only to pull on a locked door the next business day!!! That went in the garbage too nah?
This would just be more bureaucratic harassment!
Keyboard solo – hit it John John.
some of that unadulterated kind
And again the surgeon joke seems appropriate:
Three surgeons are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.
*The first surgeon said, "Electricians are the best, everything inside is color coded."
*The second surgeon says, "No, I think librarians are, everything inside them is in alphabetical order"
*The third surgeon shut them up when he said: "You're all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains, and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable
… me thinks Dr Shetty should operate on his buddy!
But at this rate, our Premier might just lose the interest of Dr Shetty and other prospective investors, as well as those who have already invested and decided to throw in the towel and leave this complete and utter madness and go and do business in the real world.
Serena was right. "You're out of control. … You're a hater, and you're just unattractive inside.
Wahhhhh!!! Diaper change needed in the house – (small p) premier throwing anudda tantrum…
I think someone needs a time out – and then, when he has calmed down, perhaps he can go back and finish fifth grade…
Definitely no playtime and snack treat for you, BOBO…
The man is clearly losing his marbles!
Caymanians should be calm and attentive and listen to what is happening in the LA and to "your" country. This type of non objective and unbalanced Bush behavior and is not what you all deserve. This "is not" governing for the people or the country. This is "power" and power alone. Do the right thing, demand a government that is for you and the country not one man's quest for power and money.
Lachlan MacTavish
Let us not forget this link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derikGAEE9g
Democracy ? What Democracy 19.31
You have hit the nail right on the head – what are the “Three Stooges” of West Bay who support this man, actually doing to warrant the $10,000 + a month that they are pulling down for sitting on their fat arses and contributing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the island. They are a dreadful indictment of their kind, all over the World, and the living proof of the line from “Dire Straits” famous hit record – ” Money for Nothing”
DeMOCKERYcy!!
You show them Mr. Premier you and the UDP are above board and have done nothing wrong you are the leader and your fellow MLA and people know that you are right in all your actions. They need to stop harrasing you.
This childish act by the premier once again, yes, ONCE AGAIN, proves to the Cayman people just how little respect he has for the people of this country & the house of Parliament. This shows once again how little regard the premier has for the people.
The opposition leader was simply asking that government, ALL governments, think about (& notify) the Cayman people when negotiating large projects, yet the premier threw it in the bin & said "that is where that belongs"!! Is that where he thinks the peoples opinions belong? He is a disgrace, & yes I agree with a previous posting he is a BUFFOON. He is uncouth, he is ignorant & he is an embarrassment & disgrace to the office of premier.
Mc Keeva Bush would have no reason on earth to tear the proposal up and throw it in the garbage if he was "doing nothing wrong". Get a brain, my friend.
Fake post trying to get people going. Get a life buddy.
A new party anthem is born, "We have done nothing wrong, that is why we oppose transparency and accountability."
This just goes to show the respect and contempt that this man has for the Legislative Assembly and the people of The Cayman Islands.
But I suppose he treats us the way we allow him to treat us, what a disgrace!
It must be a huge embarrassment for the rest of the LA (if they've got any balls) to have their leader act that way in the House. McKeeva Bush is exactly what he has always been, an ignorant, uneducated, money-grabbing buffoon. He runs around spouting inanities regarding his fantastic deals for the country. His Cabinet is made up of some very well-educated, sensible men, but like all dictators, he has them cowed to the point that they are apparently afraid to vote against him. I have a message for them, "Stand up for what you know is right and your country will remember that when the next election rolls around." all the money and perks they are receiving now can never make up for the continuous XXXX of our beloved Cayman Islands by this greedy, illiterate man who is all for self and none for the country. We are in a financial situation in the Cayman Islands than we have ever been in. The Interbank and the First Cayman Bank fiascos were never as bad for the islands as this one man is. STAND UP AGAINST HIM AND SHARE THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE or everyone of you will be replaced.
Although this came from fairly reliable sources, and only time will tell how true it is, but it is my understanding that more than one person from Mac's UDP camp have made secret overtures to the PPM with a view to oust Mac before the next elections. My understanding is that the stepping up of swipes by the PPM is being done, in part, to soften Mac's hard-line base so a good number of his former supporters will be disgusted by seeing his true colours and will be on board with his ouster.
The plan as I understand it is that they will wait until a time a bit closer to elections – the early campaign period – because if it is done too soon Mac and the rest of what will then be the UDP back bench might try to backlash and redouble their efforts to rally voters and get back into power. If done closer to election time the UDP will be put into total disarray. Not only will Mac have to overcome the ouster of his government but he will have to find replacements for the defectors and roll out a new team. Mac may well snap completely and have a total melt down. If it indeed goes down like this, the PPM and the defectors will come charging in like White Knights to save the day by ousting Mac. Mac's political disgrace is key to the PPM strategy. The formation of a PPM government that includes at least one of the defectors will then be a sure thing.
I seriously doubt Mac and the UDP will get reelected even if there is no coup; the defectors realise this also and do not want go down with Mac. Good move!
If indeed the story is true, it will certainly be a surprise to Mac who one of the defectors is said to be. Here is a hint: "Kai su, Bruta?"
One can only hope.
But I am in agreement with 6:49: the time to step up is now! If I know about it then you are as good as outed already. So why the wait? I wrote this in hopes of hastening the process. Make your deals now and let's get rid of this plague before it kills us.
Gee, Mac, "What goes around, comes around", eh?
Yeah, but now you've gone and wrecked the plan.
"No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution." N. Machiavelli
"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."
-Horace
Carpe diem indeed Mr. Bush 'cos In transit Gloria…. and of course let's not forget coitus interruptus.
You can still be a proud Caymanian. There is no need to be embarrassed about who you are and where you are from. However, I can understand why you may feel that way. Unfortunately, you as a people are being judged by the actions of one power hungry idiot. Caymanians, be proud and take action now. Remove this imbecile as your leader.
Democracy..? what Democracy when the Premiere refuses to accept rational suggestions for good governance..and accuses the leader of the opposition as having "dirty stinking little ways."
C'mon UDP guys , are none of you man enough to stand up and speak up../ are none of you able to point out to the Premiere that this kind of behavior belittles our parliamentary process and makes all of you look no better than third world village idiots…?
I am ashamed to be a citizen of a country whose leadership behaves in this way… Dignity has never been the man's strong point, but he demonstrates time and again, that ignorant behavior seems to be his strength.
The man is an embarassment.
"dirty stinking little ways" ain't that pot calling kettle black.
So there he said it. following the rules and regulations is not something he belives he has to do because he is above that. and anyone who does so is??? And making him do so is political, nasty, dirty (really?) as can be. He has just told the world that he does not have the ability to follow any rules, regulations, or laws that he does not understand (which is all of them). Now what?
Anything?
The usual whining and complaining or will someone actually do what it takes to get this idiot out of the drivers seat while there is still something to save.
Alden? Governor? People of
Cayman?
Anyone home?
This is madness gone crazy.
How can a leader so blatantly confirm his refusal to obey the rule of law and transparency in progressing the country's business..?.!! How much longer can the UDP govt. members stand by and be associated with this blind and self centered dictatorial behavior without expressing at least SOME concern..? !!
How much longer are WE willing to let this go on…please SOMEONE do something.
Not sure why you’re questioning if the other UDP government member will say anything when they all just voted to support Mac in the No Confidence motion last week. They are all just as bad as him for supporting him.
Have any of you stop to consider what you are to Alden, can I suggent that you stop and take a long look at yourselves.
Just a thaught
Go and learn to spell.
You think even worse than you spell.
Remember the old saying, "show me your company and I will tell who you are". If they were not of the same cloth, the garment would've torn long ago. What I see happening is by design, to gather the most nuts for the winter.
Now it is time for the people of Cayman, locals and foreigners alike to understand that the wrangling between the Premier and Alden Mclaughlin is not Political . Please ask questions before you follow these two people, and you will find out that the two of them will always be going at each others throats as long as they live on this planet. Why? well as the saying goes it is for you to find out.
It’s because Alden believes in the rule of law and Mac is lawless.
20:50 Sorry I have to tell you that you have the wrong answer. Ask both of them see if either one will tell you. Long, long story.
Alden doesn't have to try to make us think anything. We already know. WE CAN think for ourselves.
Apparently not, as you seem to be voting him into office often enough…
Very, very sad. McKeeva Bush is incapable of following the laws of this country and pitches a temper tantrum worthy of a five-year old every time someone challenges him.
"Premier". No one I know on the face of the planet is more ill-named. McKeeva Bush is certainly not the premier Caymanian. He is not the premier politician. XXXX
Where was Madam Speaker when all this was going on? This type of behaviour should not be condoned in the House and the Premier should have been ruled out of order!
Ruled out of order? That kind of behaviour would get any MLA thrown out of the House IF we had a worthy Speaker in the LA.
Madam Speaker???? She does what the premier tells her to do! She does as she is told, she has no say! Did someone just say Puppet?
Watch your mouth, dont go dissin our Madam Speaker now, because by doing so puts you in no better position.
Wasn’t she one of Mac’s singing muppet vegetables?
Keyboard solo – hit it John John.
Checking the length of the reporters pants !