People need probe update
(CNS): The governor needs to update the people of Cayman Islands on the current situation regarding the on-going police investigation into the country’s premier as a result of the uncertainty that is being created, the independent member of the Legislative Assembly has said. Ezzard Miller says that the speculation surrounding the issue because of McKeeva Bush’s decision to neither step aside while the probe continues nor seek to explain what the letter he sent to Stan Thomas in October 2004 is about is not good for the country and sends the wrong signals. Miller told CNS that while he was not expecting the commissioner to give a blow by blow account, there was a need for an update and for more information to be released.
The North Side representative was the one who extracted the information from the governor that a letter from Bush to Thomas was at the heart of a probe which had been rumoured to be about the premier. Miller wrote to the governor in July asking for a commission of enquiry to examine the letter sent by Bush to the Texan developer. The correspondence regarding land zoning was sent when he was leader of government business from the fax machine in his former ministry of tourism, environment and development to Thomas asking for a payment of $350,000.
Miller said that there was no clear explanation for what the premier has since described as a real estate bill and he believed a commission was required to examine it. However, in response to Miller’s request the governor confirmed that the letter to Thomas was indeed the subject of an RCIPS investigation so there was no need for a separate commission of enquiry.
Since then no further information has come from the governor or the police commissioner about the progress of the investigation, despite mounting speculation and uncertainty in the country.
“We know the governor has identified the premier as the person being under investigation for financial irregularities and I know it is not normal for the police to give running updates, blow by blow, on what happens in investigations of this nature but there is a need for an update,” he said.
The probe is understood to have been going on since February 2010, when a member of the judiciary came across the letter and forwarded it to the commissioner. Although sources recently confirmed to CNS that the probe is still on-going, there is speculation in the public domain that the investigation will be stalled as a result of a statute of limitations.
“There is some concern that the statute of limitations might be running out on this matter and I would invite the governor or the chief of police to respond to the concern of the public that it might have expired recently,” he said, adding that had to be clarified.
Miller said at the very least the governor needed to explain to the people of the Cayman Islands if the probe would be stalled because of a technicality or whether the people would eventually receive an explanation about the letter, which he said was certainly difficult to dismiss.
Whatever the long term outcome, Miller said he still believed that the premier should step aside, regardless of whether or not he is innocent, because it would be the right thing to do given the situation.
“I repeat my call to the premier to at the very least step aside while this investigation is taking place,” he added.
Miller pointed to the UK and the Westminster system on which Cayman politics is based where just the slightest hint that a minister, never mind a leader, may be involved in something untoward, he or she is forced to resign. For a country’s leader to be under police investigation, regardless of innocence or guilt, without at least stepping aside until their names is cleared would be unheard of there, he added.
“What is missing in our political environment is that we have not developed a similar system of honour among politicians as is found in the Westminster system,” he said, noting that there is no expectation that “people will do the honourable thing and step aside” in Cayman.
Miller said it was bad for the future of politics and the country in general when people in high office did not do the right thing. He noted a number of circumstances in Cayman’s political arena recently that illustrate that there is no pressure on politicians to ever step down when questions are raised. Miller said politicians and government ministers should be expected to accept their responsibility when things are brought into question, whether guilty or not, and resign.
Category: Politics
This man should not continue in office until the investigation is completed. Why the investigation is taking so long is the question everyone needs to know. No one should be above the law, at least no one should appear to be above the law.
Hon. Andrew Holness Prime Minister Jamaica.
"I come to do one thing, and that is to improve the life of the Jamaican people … . I am not in politics for myself. I am in politics to make the best decisions for the Jamaican people."
Golding argued "Vested interests must be submerged into the common interest so that we can move forward, in single formation, with a single purpose, to make Jamaica a better place for all of us to live," declared the man who served as prime minister from 2007.
POSITIVE NEWS, I enjoyed the rain last night. Did you?
I have to admit, it is more refreshing than the one that's coming down inside the LA building.
Now, PUT ALL the F&$%ki*%g joke aside. Do any of you think that you can get rid of Mac?Wishful thinking, he got West Bay covered. The only time this is going to happen is when he choose to bow out.
Sad but probably true. Doesn't mean we will stop trying to do what is right and get rid of him.
yea Anon 11:53, you damn right "covered"! Covered with washing machines. microwaves, cash, plywood, top soil, cash, generators, cash, PR's, a/c units, cash, promises, top soil, & the list goes on. West Bay is really "covered"!
For someone who supports such an upright, God fearing man you sure have a filthy mouth.
To: you need to know???? ..why …so you can kick us off????? Nope, just that I can send the Ghost Busters to catch all the Ghost. And Caymanians cannot kick off Caymanians, do not forget that we are one united race that looks out and protect each other as long as you are a Caymanian.
Still cant figure out exactly why in the world this is being submitted by Anonymous, or is that your real name?
So stoned he forgets….
What are you smoking. We would like to get some.
Where's the Govenor? Is he still here? What's he doing beside pulling down that large paycheck? He could update us on the investigation.
it;s been mighty quiet this week except for fo0lio on Friday on Rooster. You have to admit that he is a good talker, After being asked about why the premier is not stepping aside contrary to the insurance/ board/ member of the housing board which he did as Director of UDP oh well that was different., Telling us that had any prroven wrondoing, the commish or the Governor would have asked him to step down. Some of these members of the UDP must be brainwased or sotmething or everybody got a good thing going for themselves; Has to be. Mr. Alden I believe i time for you to turn on the heat as well.; questions need to be answered and it's time for you to be like a tick and parasite on them; I believe that it would be nice for you to start affiliating with those who are interested on being on your side vocally and publicly. Right now you need some backbone in your party as you cannot do it alone. Ni disrespect to Mr. McClean but understand that Ezzard is for Ezzard and is for Noth Side. I believe it;s time for some to start coming out of the closet and you will need,honest, respectable,clean and not afraid of tackling the issues. We kind of feel as Big Mac and crew doing what they want and nearly getting away with it. If that don't work, look at leading a party of thru independants with us and our Country at heart. This will give us time to analyse some fresh blood and make us feel part of something tp look forward to/. rRght now our Opposition is weak and sorry toi say need to become more pto Active. I write this letter in confidence of a brighter future. We need voices to be heard in a conxtructive manner wihile dealing wiyh the current issues/ Yours,for a better Cayman
Tell me some thing- EZZARD is planning on becoming the new PREMIER??????Lord Help Us.
I wonder if EZZARD thinks that exposing McKeva, is causing the people of Cayman Islands to forget who he was when he made his first appearance as representative for the people years ago. According to some of his lyrics he has not changed. What a Mess we the people is in.
McKeva, Ezzard, Arden,Alden – What a thing -4 bulls in the same pen. They are allalike.
The Ezzard Government – Na I don't think the people is that fool.
If they were fool enough to allow the McKeeva government anything is possible. McKeeva is exposing McKeeva, not Ezzard. And he's doing a very good job of it. And people like you need to stop trying to cover up for him, for the sake of us all, including you.
I could not agree more!
Colllectively the people of this territory proved themselves to be fools in allowing a maroon like The Macaroon to attain a public office. Caymanians proved themselves to be stupid fools allowing the Macaroon to become the supreme leader. And every day he steps into his office, with every ignorant rant he utters, and every embarassing faux pas he commits, the people of these islands prove themselves to be utter damn stupid fools for tolerating this man as their leader.
Ezzard as premiere? I damn well hope not! Here is the deal: We know what damage a poorly educated, not-the-sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer, megalomanic can do. Just imagine what an educated megalomanic with an agenda and an axe to grind would be capable of? Frightening indeed!
Wouldn't anyone else under criminal investigation have their passport confiscated until such time the case is ready to go to trial?
99.9% of you bloggers that writes on this site about our Wonderful Primer signs as Anonymous. Are you guys ghost? I need to know who is dissing our number #1 man.
you need to know???? ..why …so you can kick us off?????
…or have us fired from our jobs?
We need to know who is dissing us.
Isn’ Ju Ju VP – that would likely be out of frying pan, into fire territory.
There is no statute of limitations for criminal offences.
Hate to shock you BOBO but you are incorrect, there are statute of limitation for most crimes.
Cite to us the statutory provision of which you speak.
Probes in Cayman take so long, they make the flow of molasses in wintertime look like a lightning strike. Even coastal erosion is significantly faster. In fact the only things that move at the same unimaginably slow speed are stalagtites in the dry season, parcel deliveries from the UK, and the start up of my first computer.
ever wonder why the national symbol is a turle?
Not if you are educated about history.
Although the truly educated would not have taken the post quite that literally.
If the authorities cannot do a timely investigation they should delegate it to a private firm that has the resources to do a decent investigation. This is not rocket scientist stuff.
Your first sentence should have started with the word 'certain'. You want to see action? get caught with a stick of mother nature's wonderful weed…
Ezzard loves to make sound bytes for CNS and Rooster radio.
No where are politicians removed from office during periods of investigation, if that were the case then any political enemy could make an accusation to get rid of a serving member of government. Where does Ezzard get these ideas?
It is sad that there are not more thinking people on CNS.
Its sad that you think you are informed and up to date.
A few of thinking people in West Bay would do wonders for Cayman too.
What part of my contribution left you thinking that I was uninformed?
That Ezzard loves attention and puts out sound bytes of a shocking or controversial nature to remain in the public eye via Rooster or CNS?
Perhaps it was the observation that politicians around the world remain in office during investigations. Clinton in the USA when facing impeachment remained in office, check similiar situations in France and Italy.
Then it must be my view that many contributors to CNS are not too bright. Ignore this and vote thumbs down and you will feel better.
Mr. Miller please investigate who and who is going on the Chinese trip I believe it is scheduled for this weekend and for what purpose does it requires all of those people to go on that trip. Investigate further the Turtle Farm deal from the last tenure, the airport deal and the dock/s deals. Please investigate that 25mio surplus, the "slush funds" and the distribution of the Nation Building funds. Lord…..Its is so much investigations that is needed, as no proper documentations are provided to the general public. One last thing, why is it that McKeeva do not want the books for period 2004-2009 audited? Is it because the truth will come out about the PPM? We all know that the 89mio deficit being broadcast by the UDP people were all incorrect and pure propaganda. Show us the books for us to believe what was said. Too many secrets in the closets and they need to be exposed.
We're going to China? I thought that I had signed up for the Jamaica party for their new Prime Minister. I was told that once we got there then we would have some chinese food and maybe meet with the China Harbour people. I can't go all the way to China, who is going to pick up my children from school?
Let us go back 50 years and start investigating all the discrepancies of our elected members! XXXXX My suggestion to you, is to educate yourself. Get your hands on some history books, try to understand who we are as British Colony, familiarise yourself with all the Administrations this country has had, then start printing your opinions. Caymanians need to unite! To coin a phrase, " WHAT I SEE HAPPENING HERE", is a country being torn apart by pettiness,ego and political ignorance.Think about it, get smart.
Let us forget about the past 50 years and start dealing with the problems we have today.
Sorry dude we don't have time for that crap. All we know is the here and now and in the here and now is UDP. Unfortunately or fortunately which ever way you want to look at it we can not deal with the past only the present.
And in the present it is really messed up. XXXX
I emphatically agree with Mr. Miller, we need to know. Mr. Bush thinks that it is going to be forgotten & brushed under the rug as usual, but NOT THIS TIME BO-BO! As we all know, including Bush, this is a very serious accusation & even though we are aware that the investigation is "on going" & will be carried out until there are charges brought or dropped (in other words this ain't going away any time soon Mr. Bush) we need to be updated. XXXX
Ahhh yes………I will have a Big Mac and 8 Small Fries to go……….No Seriously……GO!!!!!
Careful, they're bad for your waste line.
It wouldn't hurt to have an update on the $25 million surplus that was announced two months ago as well. Also, people would like to know if Ryan has started back on his promised payments to CIG.
There is a difference between him who does no misdeeds because of his own concience and him who is kept from wrongdoing because of the presence of others.
I disagree. A criminal investigation is hardly a public matter.
Are you kidding me? It is a PUBLIC matter if one is in PUBLIC office and one's position allows one access to PUBLIC money.
Even when the person IS a Public Employee?
I always use this sign-in name (Anon), but I see that the poster at Fri, 10/21/2011 – 10:47. has used it too.
So folks, since I am the real anon, that would mean that the poster at 10.47 is an imposter.
My comment would be exactly the opposite of the counterfeit anon. So in response my post is: 'I agree – an update of a criminal investigation of a public figure is surely a public matter'.
Anon at 10.47 your punishment therefore is that you have to stand in the corner and repeat the following statement for 10,593,21 times.
"My real name is Anut and I will never again pretend that it is Anon"
Delay defeats equity, a simple legal principal that by doing nothing, you avoid having justice. It isnt just "the letter" that is at issue, remember also the failure to address the loans farce, the issues raised by the auditor on failure to adhere to spending rules, and of course embracing them all, co mingling of private business interests with ministerial responsibilties, then you have a nasty mix that might lead some reasonable thinking people to wonder if there is real corruption in Cayman.
The way to stop those people wondering is to address the isssues, if no dirty business emerges then I am sure that they will stop wondering!
The person being investigated holds a PUBLIC office, therefore it is a public matter
I suppose if it was a pubic matter then it would be private even if they had someone by the short and curlies.
Especially a puplic servant in the Cayman islands. Right?
Your broom is simply not big enough for this one, my friend.
I really do not know what you guys are expecting. To be honest 99.9% of us SHOULD KNOW how this ends already.
Here are some clues….
Big Broom…..Big Carpet….
……aaaaaaaaaaaaaand ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzllllllllllllleeeeeeeee !
Keep throwing them bombs Ezzard, keep throwing them punches Alden, keep throwing those probes, Mr Swarbrick.
It looks like we have two real men in Government after all. Couple that with a real Auditor General and things are starting to look encouraging indeed.
It's certainly true that if this situation had arisen in the UK, the Premier would have been out of a job the same day.
Oh, Oh Ezzie, now you're scr…er, sued for sure.
Mr. Miller – you are sounding better and better!
Keep up the pressure!
I keep going to the doctor to find out whether I am going deaf – because I am not hearing even a burp or a babble, from the UDP about these various investigations…
And you won't, brother Knot. That's the trouble with a two-party system.
While I agree, that this whole thing with the letter does seem fishy, I have a hard time putting faith in things that Miller says and does because I know that he’s basically determined to bring down the current government by any means necessary. And that means that he will exploit every little thing he can to make them look bad.
If the current Premier was to step aside now, what would happen to us? Who would step in and lead the country? Another UDP member? A PPM Candidate? or Maybe Ezzard? In any situation I don’t think we’d be any better off. One thing I’d hate to see is the projects that are getting started come to an abrupt halt, which would just put more people out of work.
Whether you like it are not, things are starting happen, although slowly they are starting to happen and there are people getting back to work. It’s been hard for us all, except the ones making the choices such as all these MLA’s
Things are starting to happen? I agree, but we are probably not thinking about the same things. You are probably thinking about the Esterly Tibbetts Highway Extension where all of the UDP showed up for a photo shoot with their shovels six weeks ago. How is that coming along?
Things should have started happening two years ago. Things have indeed been happening. the very big question is, WHAT THINGS?
there needs to be a march to the governors house…..
to do what…have tea??
no, we know then governor will do nothing…but the point will be made……
i have to say that the governors performance has been as dissapointing as the this udp administration over the last two and half years
Thanks CNS, your headline reminds me: I have an appointmnet with my proctologist tomorow.
If the Governor let the statute run then the Governor had better step aside.
The Prophet says, that many of you do not realize how badly you are destroying this Island, by digging these political holes every where. My opinion is that the Governor of this Island is no fool, and he sees that what is happening here is just that certain people wants to have power. It is all a Tit for Tat. no different from the shooters. There is nothing else going on between Politicians in this country but Titting Tatting, they are not paying attention to how much the country and its people are detoriating. Mr Miller be careful, because there are so called friends setting you up for failure. They are using you as a mouth piece, and calling you mouth champion. It is time that you take a seat and hear what the others have to say up front.
But you have one problem that you need to think about(listen to good advice)
You are a good person, who so far has shown interest in your people, but I really thinkl you need to hand the mike to some of the other and hear what they have to say.
I prophesy.., no I am absoluetely confident that Mr. Miller's concerns are valid.
You silly rabbit. Trick are for kids….and …..
Well bud this is not tit for tat but rata tat tat.
We need the Bleeeeep bleeeeep to stop. If it's not bogus schemes it's dismantling boards or stepping around the CTC to getting paid for services we have no idea about to being the lead on projects which your companies seem to win bids for.
This is darn choas we have here. We are two breaths off of the UK stepping in here and he of course will blame it on PPM but it is his idiotic policies and ways of running this government that has created this.
I can only hope his followers are watching and remembering come 2013.
Agreed, we need to ask to be updated, and ask again, and ask again until we get the answer we are all entitled to.
Even if it takes 20 years?
The answer we are entitled to would be immediately.
Again Mr. Miller is correct, both in regard to the public needing more information and the need for the Premier to step down until the investigation is resolved.
So if the premier steps aside, who will run the country? In the states I think the vice president takes over if the president steps down, but do we have a vice premier? I don't think so. We need one….. to take care of any vice that might pop up.
Anyone would be better to run the country, let's face it.
17:31 Deputy Premier???
We need that Premier to step down for good and leeeave the country and its business alone entirely and infinitely.
Shall I repeat that statement?