Tony to talk territories at tennis dinner
(CNS): The former UK prime minister and leader of the British Labour Party Tony Blair will be talking territories, finance and globalization when he visits the Cayman Islandslater this month. Blair, who was leader of the UK from 1997 to 2007 and went from charisma to controversy during his time in office, will also be taking questions from the audience when he speaks at the KPMG Legends Tennis Championships charity fund-raising dinner at the Ritz. The limited number of tickets are going for $1600 per head which includes a four-course wine pairing dinner at Eric Ripert’s five star restaurant Blue.
Scheduled to speak on Wednesday, 16 November, Blair’s special dinner speech forms part of this year’s Legends Tennis Championships and all proceeds will go to support the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands’ local junior tennis programmes and the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre.
Michael Ryan, Developer of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, said he was excited about having a great world leader come down as part of the event.
“It really helps the finance community engage and says in the broadest possible way that this is a world-class event that has something that appeals to all different aspects of Cayman’s society and Cayman’s economy,” Ryan stated.
Blair will be joining some of the world’s best tennis players of all time, including Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati and Mark Philippoussis, as they converge in Grand Cayman for the 2011 KPMG Legends Tennis Championships from November 16 to 19 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
The tournament will begin with the fund-raising dinner followed by the First Round matches of Thursday, 17 November, the Semi-Finals on Friday, 18 November and the Finals on Saturday, 19 November, concluding with the Whites Party. All matches will be played at The Courts at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
Category: Local News
From reading some these posts, it would seem reasonable to conclude that Satan himself has been invited to speak. This in itself is truly is remarkable when it is remembered how Blair was idolised in 1997.
Whether or not you consider Blair to have been a poor Primeminister, some perspective is required. He did not gas 6 million innocent people, nor did he suspend elections, nor did he lock up, murder and torture his political opponents (Major, Hague and Howard are all alive and well today), nor did he live in a palace with gold taps, nor did he bomb, starve and terrorize his own people.
The lack of perspective of supposedly intelligent people comparing him to Hitler or Saddam Hussein is childish, and anyone who says that living in London under Blair was like living in Baghdad under Saddam frankly offends the victims of those tyrants.
If you want your comments to be taken seriously, compare the man with a relatively moderate contemporary, such as Thatcher (not Robert Mugabe).
I am not an apologist for Blair. He made many mistakes. But blindly trusting and acting upon the advice of your intelligence services at a time of international crisis makes you a fallible human being, not a war criminal. He never ordered the murder of civillians, which ironically distinguishes him from Churchill who authorised the Dresden firebombing during WWII. I imagine he was concerned about how he might be viewed by the British public if he ignored the advice of M16, and Saddam was left in power with nuclear or biological weapons at his disposal.
But a war criminal is what he will be remembered for. Whether or not the Iraq war was jusitified (and I agree that it was not), it seems that the consensus is that the Iraqi people were better off under the murderous Saddam than as the free citizens they are today. Nobody bothers to ask them of course before spouting off.
But then people also forget the introduction of the minimum wage, the massive overdue investment into the NHS, the reduction of class sizes, rising standards in education, reduced youth unemployment, and a committment to social mobility.
That is because his government and its successor was responsible for all that sovereign debt. Funny how that also seems to have affected the US, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy etc. But then Satan is responsible for all the world's ills.
Cue thumbs down…
(I am now crouching in my bunker wearing my tin hat)
Ok, so what you are saying that his war crimes were not as severe as those of others? Interesting.
Regardless, you are starting from a flawed perspective because you have swallowed the bait, hook, line, and sinker that suggests that the illegal western invasion was actually in an effort to protect humanity from big, scary Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).
At the time I was far from the role of an elected western "leader" and even I knew that the entire episode was laced with bull manure. Therefore, how could Blair (and Bush) not know?
* For goodness sake, the USA was blatantly linking Saddam with 9/11 and Al-Qai'da neither of which he had any connection whatsoever. (However, raging western superiority justifies the gang mentality of "Oh well, its only Brown, Muslim people, they're all the same – who cares. Let's bomb 'em.") Voila – billions in profits are made.
Do you honestly believe that Tony Blair was misled and made an honest mistake when he made the decision to illegally attack Iraq? (Even if you choose to ignore everything else in my post please address that question.)
My friend, it would serve you well to acknowledge the truebeast that is this western world.
Lastly, you need to understand that in certain regards – the "President" and "Prime Minister" are NOT the head honchos in charge.
Sending your countrymen and women into battle, knowing that many will be killed, and knowing that civillian casualties are also inevitable, is the most terrible burden any leader would have to bear. I for one would not wish such a responsibility on anyone. However, it is a responsibility a leader must be prepared to shoulder, and he or she must live with the consequences- which includes being subjected to the sort of dross which has appeared on this board.
Perhaps I am naive? Why should I be? frankly it would be far easier for me to jump on the fashionable bandwagon that condemns Blair as a murderer in shouty capitals, and equate what happened in Iraq as a holocaust.
Sorry, but I remain of the view that those who believe Blair to be some sort of murderous psychopath are the deluded ones. I instead maintain that Blair, (a social democrat who also cancelled third-world debt owed to the UK), is a principled man who took a brave, but tragically wrong decision. A decison which, by the way, was fully supported by the Conservative Party now in power in the UK. Many other world powers were delighted to see the back of Saddam, without having had the responsibility of removing him.
There was no oil in Kosovo or Sierra Leone, but Blair was also prepared to take the difficult decision to commit UK forces to those theatres in an attempt to save the lives of the innocent from their oppressors. We have all forgotton about how many thousands of innocent lives were saved bythese commitments. I doubt that they would agree that Blair is a war criminal, and they are certainly not sitting in an ivory tower.
I will also not apologise for pointing out that for all the terrible bloodshed, the Iraqi people are better off without Saddam, and that in the round, many more lives have been saved in removing than would have been lost in appeasing him.
Or perhaps history has taught us nothing.
Wow …
You remind me of my old self.
The provided snapshot into your perspective has reminded me that there are somein this world that still believe that western military might is fuelled by the forces of honor and integrity.
We should simply end this discussion right now my friend for I we are not even in the same room.
Thank goodness that the younger generation is much wiser and in tune with reality than their elders today.
(You must find this wave of change within the young western collective conscience quite unsettling don't you? Are you somewhat confused with what is taking place around you?)
Anyway – to each his own I guess.
Good luck to you buddy.
As a member of the younger generation myself, I take that as a compliment.
Your response is typical of the conspiracy theorist who talks of the New World Order, higher powers and dark deeds. Those evil men didn''t fool you, did they?
Unfortunately the evidence suggests that the world is actually far more ordinary and boring than that.
When this is pointed out, the conspiracy theorist does not try to meet the argument, but instead replies in patronising terms, suggesting that those who do not sign up to the theory and join in with the two-minute hate are suffering from false conciousness.
Do not worry about me buddy, I will be alright. Don't forget to check for monsters under the bed before you go to sleep tonight, because whatever you mother may tell you, they're there all right… (and I think your mother may be in on it too…)
"A man's enemies will be of his own kin….."
Why would you be "crouching in my bunker wearing my tin hat?" Did you do something wrong? Before "spouting off" as you say, did you even bother to look at the holocaust inflicted on the innocent people of Iraq and Afghanistan (soon to include Iran)?
Did you? No you didn't. You sit in your ivory tower behind your all-powerful keyboard and you cannot find a cause of human suffering to believe in. Shame on you.
If you think Blair and his cohorts made decisions in good faith, then you are as blind as the proverbial bat. They got away with it because of APOLOGISTS like you.
This man is an unashamed globalist (puppet) and unless you have been in a hole for the last 50 years, the globalists are hell-bent on achieving their aim at any cost.
Apologise for that!
Wow, I can't believe the organisers of the Legends' Tennis have been so dim as to invite this "person" to speak. Unfortuneatley those that buy tickets will be the uninformed who will come away thinking it was money well spent – despite his many faults he is an effective speaker (so was Hitler, if only he were still around maybe he could speak at next year's tennis at the Ritz). I would not go if you paid me $1600 let alone the other way around. The thought of breathing the same air as Blair makes me feel physically sick.
I welcome Mr. Blair with open arms. Such a breath of fresh air with his "New Labour". Gentlemen like this dont come along too often. Let's embrace him.
As I read through your comments, let me just say how proud I am of the stand you have taken against this advocate of brutal thuggery.
To a man, (person even) you have stood together and condemned the actions of this treacherous individual. You are to be congratulated. Unfortunately, there are many more where he came from, but stay strong, my Brothers and Sisters and we will see the victory.
A Cayman Islands, free of corruption, standing tall on the world stage as a nation that embraces truth and eschews evil with upright leaders who cannot be bought.
Mr. Tony Blair, my respect for you finishes at the fact that you are made in the image of God. Your heinous actions will one day judge you. Please do not come here. You are not welcome.
Rather go to Iraq dressed in sackcloth and ashes and tend to the babies that have been born deformed due to the depleted uranium shells that your protagonists unleashed upon their mothers. Woe, woe, woe!
Just in case you have been in your ivory tower, let me just remind you of the anguish that you have inflicted on the human race in the pursuit of your god, Money.
http://www.thewe.cc/weplanet/news/depleted_uranium_iraq_afghanistan_balkans.html
Is this the Same champagne socialist who tried to shut down our financial industry…?
Now he's back to feed off us some more, and spout his shallow silly opinions before an audience of fawning wannabees.
I support and co-sign the majority of the comments regarding the criminal past of Tony Blair.
However, I have ceased calling him out for his actions simply because he is a member of the WCW (White Christian West).
The rules of international decency and war crimes do not apply to that group. Interesting as they are the very individuals that are the first to call out faraway leaders for alleged infractions of these rules and laws.
Not a single dictator of the past 2 decades has upon his hands a fraction of innocent blood as does the WCW collective.
The WCW has; failed as an economic group, is now reliant on fiat "money", lacks natural resources and commodities of tangible wealth, deflects the true nature of its reality via its bright and shiny media corporations, and lastly – enploys its big guns to straddle natural resources and its position of "dominance" in the world.
Anything or any person (e.g. Gaddafi's plans to introducea gold-backed currency to the region) that threatens the machinery of the above shall and will be removed – regardless of the legality of the process.
And there is NOTHING that ANYONE can do about it.
* However, the "west" still generally regards itself as stellar examples of morality and democracy today.
There it is folks – that is our world today in a nutshell.
Nice huh?
I wonder if Whodatis will be there…..
LOL!!
Front and center my friend … fron' an' SEN'TAH!!
Fully prepared with my megaphone and "CHAGOS" placard in hand!
(Thanks buddy – you just made my day!)
:o)
* Hmmm … should that have been "centre", considering the event in question?
Blair is a greed driven, serial fantasist with religious pretensions and a very high opinion of himself.
With the company he'll be keeping he's going to feel right at home.
This showed the true Tony Blair –
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/video/series-102/episode-1/the-wonderful-world-of-tony-blair
When it was screened the full programme showed how Blair was milking the various positions he holds and living a lavish, jet setting lifestyle without actually doing much of the work he is being paid for.
He'll be right at home with our current leadership.
Who in their right mind would support this heinous criminal? It is sad that the free" world hounds people like Saddam Hussain and Gadaffi to their death and allows this equally evil man and his cohort Bush to walk freely on this earth, and people pay him major money to spout forth his stupid rhetoric.
How could Blair be considered such a great world leader by M Ryan? Blair was trying to abolish British Pound and adopt Euro for the United Kingdom showing his lack of judgement on such a major issue. Thanks to the Chancellor Gordon Brown, this disaster was averted. His poor judgement in making the decision on the Iraqi war resulted in 600,000 lives of innocent people being lost in Iraq.
Thanks to Gordon Brown?
LOL, you know s**t about what went on in the UK before the last election.
Brown was possibly the worst PM the UK had in the last 100 years and that includes some real stinkers from all sides of the political divide.
If he was still in power the UK would be joining Greece and Italy in bankruptcy stakes.
I'm not saying the current lot are brilliant (because they for sure aren't) but they put the brakes on a few moves in the Brown portfolio that would have crippled the UK financially and taken Cayman with it.
Blair the Murderer who is responsible for killing 600,000 Iraqis in that senseless war should be banned from coming to this island. People should protest peacefully against this guy who spent 2,000 sterling for his hairdo while innocent Iraqis are starving. He is the Mediator for the Palestine-Israeli conflict for last 3-4 years. What peace has he achieved? More and more settlements are going up on the occupied territories and more misery for Palestinians. Most of the money people pay to go for this dinner is given to Blair as speaking fees. Shame on Mr. Blair !!!
Tony Blair is a war criminal. His lies and policies resulted in untold numbers of deaths in Iraq. The fact that his presence here is being touted as some sort of bonus to us in Cayman is just sick. The fact that Michael Ryan is "excited" must have brought about many laughs. I suppose Osama Bin Laden and Ghadaffi can no longer come so Blair is the next best thing. And let's be honest….. Mr. Ryan is not someone who is too worried about reputations is he?
"A great world leader?" How can anyone who leads a nation into war on such flimsy (subsequently proven false) evidence be considered great? Not to mention the fact that he almost singlehandedly tore down the borders that pretected the British culture and way of life allowing hordes of immigrants to claim benefits provided by the British taxpayer.
Countless thousands of innocent Iraquis died as a result of this man's duplicity and many of our troops who could have been better deployed in areas of genuine need were also killed needlessly resulting in many families that will NEVER recover.
I do not understand how the Cayman Islands can welcome this man. He does not stand for anything worth standing for.
I would also like to know why his government covered up the findings of the David Kelly inquest.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-397256/Why-I-believe-David-Kellys-death-murder-MP.html
Something is desperately wrong here. Who will our next guest be? Robert Mugabe presenting Miss Cayman?
I am sorry Cayman, but I feel very strongly aboiut this man coming to our country and those of us with conscience should speak out. I am well aware that my next kool aid might not be kosher, but hey, that's life.
The worst thing about this sorry tale is that this man has been rewarded with riches untold since stepping down as PM of the UK. I would ask my fellow Caymanians and residents to stay away from this event in the name of common decency.
On top of that a couple of the female tennis stars have had their fair share of issues with regards to their escapades off the court.
War Lord and Coke Heads, way to go Mr. Ryan. Perfect for the kids.
who pays to see someone with such bloody hands.
He should be arrested and sent to Den Haag for war crimes
He should be arrested and transferred to Haig to face charges at the International Ciminal Courts.
$1600.00 per plate. Not many of us can make that one. Imagine Groceries for a family of 4 to 5 for 2 months. All the A.. Kis…s will be there foa a likkle favour here at the Ritz. Can you please collect the money and put towards the 6 millions Ryans owe the Government purse. Us not McKEEWA
$1600 seems quite reasonable if you ask me. It really is quite easy to make an awful lot of money in Cayman, especially if you are a Caymanian. So I really don't see why anyone can moan about how those that have seized their opportunities choose to spend it.
Oh dear ! I hope he has a good talk with the Governor about good Governance and how a few tips to our Master Bouffon.
Please pass on my regards to Tony Blair and remind him that the British publice believe he is responsible for the deaths of many British soliders and Dr Kelly by wanting to go to war by telling lies to the British public
It will be more entertaining watching paint dry. An old,'has been' who wrecked to UK.
Tony is coming?
Wow. I need to brush up on my ball game skills.
Is tennis the game that you chase the ball around and kick it?
Oh no – thats basketball – I think…
Never Mind…..