Mac says he will sign FFA
(CNS): The country’s premier said he will be signing the Financial Framework Agreement with the UK next week at the territrories council meeting in London and admitted Friday that the document had been given to his government over a year ago. McKeeva Bush has not yet given a full explanation on why he was called to the UK ahead of the annual council for direct talks with the OT minister but he indicated that the framework document had dominated what was an “urgent” meeting. The governor’s office confirmed that the fiscal agreement was only one reason why the FCO minister had wanted to meet with the premier ahead of the scheduled OT council and that other issues were on the agenda.
Although Cline Glidden accompanied McKeeva Bush last week, the financial secretary, who has led the negotiations regarding the framework agreement, was not present at the meeting with the UK’s Henry Bellingham.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, however, Bush said that he had discussed the framework agreement with Bellingham when in London and solid progress was made and “all things being equal” he would be “in a position to sign an amended FFR document next week” during the planned UK trip to for the consultative council meetings, the premier stated.
Scheduled to leave for London this weekend, Bush revealed that the document presented challenges to the country and it would prevent the government from borrowing money for any capital projects that were not self-financing or that could not be paid back from government's own revenue.
In his statement to the Legislative Assembly he blamed the former administration for the pressure that the UK was applying on the country's finances, and although he acknowledged that his government would shoulder the responsibility for improving the situation, “we cannot, and will not, accept responsibility for causing this grievous fiscal situation” that Cayman was now in, he added.
Bush expected that the opposition would play on the public’s sympathy by saying the government was trying to blame them for its failures but it was their “recklessness in handling the public purse” that had caused the UK to press so hard for fiscal responsibility and that the opposition should hang their heads in shame.
“Instead, they try to divert attention from their own malfeasance," he said. “They talk about our approach to procurements and about our funding of church development activities. This is not what the UK is concerned about.”
He did not go into detail about all of the issues that the UK were reportedly concerned about but said that the FCO had agreed with the government “partnering with churches to get good facilities,” he said, adding that Bellingham did not talk about “such expenditures". Bush said the British minister had criticised “the $100 million schools and the impending costs for their maintenance, and a building for over $90 million without the funds.” He added that the UK cited those projects among the examples of past mis-management, while the UK was “pleased” with his government's fiscal performance.
The premier said the point ofthe agreement with the UK was to set a framework to continue to achieve and sustain a fiscally prudent administration. Bush emphasised that under the FFA government won’t be able to borrow beyond the limits of its ability to pay back from operating revenues. “We know this is a tough position; it calls for both elected representatives and civil servants to work hard and work smart,” he said, adding that the efforts to turn things around so far could go further.
Bush said the goal to improve government’s fiscal position was a huge challenge. “Whether government fully accomplishes this mammoth task in the next 18 months is right now anybody’s guess, given the outlook on the world economies and given the UK’s dictum for a very long process. But we will continue in doing our utmost in trying to make things better for our people,” he added.
Pressed by the opposition for the reasons why he was asked to go to London last weekend so urgently when the agreement had been around for almost one year, and it was not unique as most OTs had been asked to sign fiscal commitments, Bush said he did not know about other territories. But he said he had made it clear to London that Cayman was different to other territories and had a different kind of economy and should not be lumped together. He said that Cayman has its problems and the UK wanted to see a new procurement system but he said things had not gone “awry”.
Category: Politics
Ok so right before the private meeting he is all fire and brimstone about the UK oppressors. Right after he signs away god knows what. Makes you wonder what else was on the table at across the pond.
Wonder if we will ever see any charges from the real estate dealings with Stan Thomas?
Mac would like to lead some to believe that he has a choice.
This guy will sign anything put in front of him.
Let's talk about this, as direct taxation seems to be rearing it's ugly head again as a means for the CIG to balance it's budget.
FLASH! It has no budget. Doesn't even know what a budget looks like. It hasn't even kept up to date accounts. Without those how can you create a budget? Answer: it hasn't doneso not this government, or the last, or the one before that. They just made sure they were paid.
Good enough for government work. An old expression but quite true.
Also, the past Miller-Shaw Report was quite clear the CIG can not afford itself. Has never been able to afford itself it has not made and can not make contributions to it's own employees' pension and health plans. Ergo: Direct taxation will mean a request from government for an even larger civil service to manage it more managers, more assistant managers, more under-assistant managers, more paper movers, more newspaper readers more Blackberry users. Additional staff. Same incompetence. Can you see the problem?
And all these new votes excuse me civil servants hired by government will be paid for: by the majority of the population having deductions made from wages and who can not vote and are not represented.
The worst part is Direct taxation a.k.a. a payroll tax on Cayman will be like giving a credit card to a shopaholic.
"The Bad news is: We haven't any idea where the money went.. The Good news is: We're in the process of finding the missing accounting but it's complicated and will take awhile. The Bad news is: You won't be here. The Good news for us is: The money deducted from your wages will."
No Taxation Without (Democratic) Representation
Can we signal some good intent to the FCO by cancelling the vanity tower project and just have a nice little park instead?
Fellow Caymanians, before we can save the world, we need to save Cayman. If I were the Premier (God forbid), I would have published the 'Framework' document online as soon as we had received it.
Then I would have instructed the MLA's to solicit opinion from their own voters as to whether they agree with it or not. When a party leader can override democracy, we no longer have democracy.
So if a GT, BT or WB etc MLA wants to kiss his leader's ### and his constituents are not in favour of said motion, what is implied?
DEMOCRACY IS DEAD!
I am a simple man who believes in the values of the Cayman Islands. I would ask the leaders of these blessed islands to stand up for democracy, truth and transparency.
If you cannot do that, then please step aside. Some of us never have nor never will take a 'bung' and we would gladly put your wrongs to right.
Heck, I remember when my mother went to the butcher to beg a bone for soup for her dog (children). "What dog do you have missus?"
"Irish Wolfhound"
She had 4 hungry boys. A brave woman.
So does that mean he will do everything he can not to sign it? Since he said he will. Isn't that what he always says/does? Right?
Give unto Bush all that is Bush's. There is plenty to blame Bush for. There is plenty to blame the former administration for. Getting either of them to take responsibility for any of it is the impossible task here. Expecting anything from either of them any different from what they have shown is pure maddness. Simply put anyone who continually fails at a job should not be expected to be succesfull anytime in the future.
Unless you are fool fool.
Which explains why Cayman is and will continue to fail until further notice.
AND plenty to blame the Administration before that one as well.
This didn't just creep up on us overnight. This has been building for at least 15 years.
This island is like the old fable about the Ants and the Grasshopper. Cayman has been living the grasshoppers life for the past 15-20 years. I've been watching it. We've all been watching it. And now many of us have status and naturalization and the power to wote.
That's what I'm doing. How about you?
If we are going to doggedly insist on going back "15 or 20 years" to address the problems we are having today then the obvious conclusion is that the CURRENT administration is more to blame for our CURRENT predicament than any other past Government. We CANNOT change or improve on whatever may have happened in the PAST folks, we can only change and improve on what is happening in our country TODAY. There is no future in the past, my Caymanian people. Let us UNITE to USE the POWER we most certainly have to DO SOMETHING about TODAY'S problems in our country, my people, when we have DONE that it will be very obvious that there is no longer any point whatsoever in digging up bones, regardless of WHO'S bones they may be.
Two thumbs down…Mac and Ellio…oh well.
What happens when we don't live up to the FFA?
Independence?
What ever it is will be bettter for Cayman in the long run than what is happening to it now and in the recent past. Giving Cayman independence would be cruel. But understandable.
I am sorry but I can no longer take Bellingham or his country seriously.
The UK, our "mother country", just released its most dire economic and employment outlook report ever.
This is the country that called the Premier of the Cayman Islands for a sit-down to discuss its finances.
(I have always criticized the culture of over-spending and fiscal mismanagement within Cayman government, however that is in no way unique to this jurisdiction, e.g. £ 789,000,000.00 for the London Millenium Dome.)
Currently there stands over a million unemployed British young people under the age of 25.
The truth is that the UK is in far worse economic situation than us and even that of its European counterparts.
Their sole saving grace is that, unlike Greece, Spain and Italy, they still have a central bank from which they can simply print more of that monopoly, worthless "money" into the economy to (temporarily) cover up the true extent of the situation.
(The EU nations are fast learning that unless you control the MONEY of your country you longer have a "country". In effect, they are all colonies as well … colonies of some mysterious and undemocratic entity known as "the European Union".)
I trust everyone is finally waking up to the point that calls for a "union" today are never for its stated purposes. One must identify the main beneficiaries of such a union to fully understand what is going on. Unfortunately, a few hundred million Europeans have already been duped, and as evidenced in the past few weeks, there is no going back … democracy or no democracy.
Inany event, I will be quite annoyed if the arrogance and pig-headedness of a few Caymanian individuals results in major changes for this country.
Then again – is that not the theme of the times globally?
* By the way, I wonder if people are finally beginning to understand exactly why much of the "3rd world" is in the position it finds itself today?
What we see unfolding in Europe / USA / UK right now is the very same treatment that has been doled out to Black and Brown regions for decades. E.g. IMF "loans" with strict guidelines that stifle all opportunity for growth, education, development and freedom (i.e. "austerity".).
However, many people dismissed their failings as evidence of their human inferiority.
Alas it has arrived in their very own frontyards. We see these very peoplerioting, burning, looting and acting like the "uncivilised" and "uneducated" impoverished mobs we have witnessed on our television screens for decades.
Anyway, I will see the majority of you in the morning.
Until then …
all because this spineless government/governor would not accept the miiler shaw report and slash the over paid, overstaffed, under achieving civil service………
I find it interesting that the premier had the document for a full year and did not mention it nor did he apparently do anything about it. Why the secrecy? Why is so much of what affects Caymanians being hidden from Caymanians by the premier?
Because he can't do what he wants and do what he is supposed to do for the people at the same time. And if it isn't kept secret from the Cayman people they would be even more mad. Maybe mad enough to actually do something about it. But most likely not.
Cayman is awash in hidden agendas.
It has been in the Premier's possesion for year because he forgot about it as he was galavanting around the world at our expense.
WAY TO GO BIG MAC!
And i can guarantee that this is not the last "thing" to be in the premier's possesion for x amount of time that he has failed to act on.
Plainly obvious where his agenda stands and will always stand, ME ME ME.
"Premier Bush do you know why we've asked you here?"
Bush: It's not my fault
"To meet the Queen?"
Bush: It's not my fault
"We enabled a loan for you government. Where has the money been spent?"
Bush: It's not my fault
"How does your government plan on paying down the loan?"
Bush: It's not fault
"By selling the island to the Chinese and Mr. Dart?"
Bush: You can say anything you want to say, it still is not my fault
"Has your government been addressing the enormous shortfall in public service pension and health funds?"
Bush: But, that's not my fault
"Do you have a process in place to consult with the public on important decisions?"
Bush: That is not my problem, and I will say again, time after time, it is still not my fault
"Do you seek public input?"
Bush: With who? You mean those devil worshippers? No sir, It's not my fault
"Have you read your Constitution?"
Bush: Why? I never voted for it and it's not my fault
"What fiscal strategy has your government begun?"
Bush: What? and you want to now blame me? It's not my fault
"What infrastructure improvements has your government made?"
Bush: You can say all that you want to say, that is not my fault. But, I tell you what my fault is, is to come here and sit with you and allow you to bambazzle me. Now, that is my fault.
Where are your balls? I just got here and I am very unhappy. It appears as if the men in these islands have no balls. Why are you allowing this to happen? If tax is imposed on these islands I will be leaving and so will the fabric of these islands.
Now I believe it is time for a referendum. This is not only about MBush but also to show to the UK Government our thoughts on direct taxation.
We NEED to speak up. The UK Government will think twice if the will of the people is against this.
At the same time we need to remove the current government and call for immediate elections for an interim government that would stay in place until we elect a new full government.
Sorry Buddy,
You are already in the process of having four referendum's on line and available to everyone. The fact that they are hardly used will also be used evidentially.
That is your referendum, that is what will be projected as part of the 'End Game' to the UN.
But don't worry, there are people lining up to get here apparently and there has never been a better time to buy …. especially with the new bank forced foreclosures hitting the market each week!
Nothing unites a nation like a common enemy. That's a simple fact. Even the bitteress of enemies will join together to fight something they both care about or a common enemy.
Unity is definitely needed! Unfortunately, having read the comments on numerous articles on this blog. Very few people realise who the real enemy is!
Not true. Mac stands unopposed, aside from some jaw-flapping. No one rallied together there.
If he signs an agreement to implement direct taxes on these Islands this place will become a ghost town. No one in their right mind will stay in a place that is thisexpensive with so few personal freedoms and have to pay direct taxes upon the already hidden taxes on every aspect of day to day life. Good luck Cayman! you will soon have what you all have been wanting…a smaller population and only Caymanians living here. Unfortunatly, the only remaining residents won't be able to afford to exist unless they work for the oversized, corrupt government and accept the monthly handouts it will take just so you can eke out a miserable existance in your so called "Paradise".
What the hell are you talking about Freedom Man? If they bring in a 5% payroll tax, are you honestlty going to cut your nose off sto spite your face by moving to a country with a 50% rate? Go then. We won't struggle to replace you. People are lining up to come here. If you think the economy is bad here you are in for a shock.
(People are lining up to come here.)
Yep, lots of low-income Chinese and Indian workers are lining up to come here, but not many from Western Europe or North America. Hope the locals can accept lots of people practicing Budhism and Hinduism.
A payroll tax would be the beginning of the end of Cayman as we know it.
What most don't understand is that it will only begin with an income tax. What about a property tax of 20%+ per annum? Are you ready to pay that based on what the Government decides the value of your home is? IE $250,000 home taxes will be $50,000 per year. That is how they are going to fill all the rentals…not one middle class or poor person will be able to afford the property taxes they want to impose. WAKE UP!
Pathetic scaremongering of the highest order. Any property tax would, at the most, be 2 or 3%.
So Adam, we are getting it. You obviously have some inside knowlege of this.
I could tell you but then I might have to kill you.
Actually, it wouldn't be a shock. After doing some figuring, it would make more sense for us, as Canadians (professionals), to return home than pay 5% tax here. And yes, we know about the door of the plane.
I’m back in Canada practicing, and there’s a lot more money here than there, plus a lot more to do. You know what I mean. Happy to be back and the bank account’s doing much better now.
Can you tell us what culture is like? I have lived so long in a cultural vacuum I have forgotten.
By the nature of your posts I suspect you never did have any.
I agree and the pension benefits are 100% better.
Income tax in Canada versus cost of living in Cayman.
Financially it is equivalent.
Weather? In Canada, winter sucks. In Cayman, summer sucks.
Unless you ski… Then it rocks.
Its time you learn a littl about history or else you are doomed to repeat it. Wake Up! Look at the facts…you are already paying 50% tax on everything you do!
Lining up to come here? Then explain all the EMPTY rental units? Smart people like value for money. Do you know what that is?
Overbuilding post Ivan. There are waiting lists for higher end and modern/ new properties.
Nope. That ain't it. Still developments going up left and right.
Ok, name one new development with a waiting list.
There are a lot of savy folks packing their bags.
“…lining up to come here.”
AAAHHHHHH haaa haaa haaa … AAAHHHHHH haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa !!!!
Man that’s the best one yet. 20% of the population of Cayman has left already (but don’t worry, it’s only the ones with the money) and banjo-pluckers like you think it’s still 1980. Hilarious!
PS – there’s an economic boom going on where I am, which isn’t there in Cayman. Best of luck with your new economy, and with your banjo.
Where are you?
What is wrong with you people? You, like the Miller Shaw cretins, can't distinguish between jobs and workers.
If 20% of the workforce has left the islands it can only be because 20% of the jobs have gone. Are there 5,000 unfilled jobs? No. People didn't leave because Cayman is expensive, they left because there were no jobs.
People aren't just lining up to work here, they're lining up to work anywhere. Unemployment is at the highest point in decades in most Western nations and it's especially acute among young people. You honestly think someone would rather be unemployed in London than working in the Cayman Islands?
To the people who say we pay high taxes already, I say, do we really?
There's no tax on property, so the government makes nothing from my biggest expense, rent. Nor from health or any other kind of insurance, nor pensions. That about 40% of my salary accounted for and nothing to the government so far.
We pay a buck a gallon on fuel. I fill my tank once a month, so that's $30. Maybe $80 on my electric bill if I leave the A/Crunning constantly.
Fosters pays 27.5% on the goods it imports. Assuming they mark up by 100% (on the price including duty), duty will be around 11% of your grocery bill. I spend about $800 a month on groceries. So that's another $88.
I pay duty on all the clothes I don't rip the tags off in Miami, so that's…. nothing. I haven't bought so much as a pair of underpants in Cayman in five years.
I pay duty on all the electronics I buy overseas that I can't make it look like I have owned for years, so that…. nothing.
Then there's all the duty I pay on goods and services on the island, right? Hmmm, let's see.
"Duty" for services is basically whatever the service provider spends on consumables (chemicals at the dry cleaner, paper and pens in an office). So that's pocket change.
I eat out quite a bit, but here's the funny thing about that. It doesn't matter whether I spend $5 on a piece of salmon or $25. The duty is the same (because it's paid on the price of the food to the wholesaler, not the price to me). So the food cost is 20% of the price I pay in the restaurant, even though I spend $1,000 a month on eating out, it only contributes $50 to government coffers.
So what's that? $248 dollars a month and change. Not bad for someone that earns well into six figures. Double my salary and I will pay exactly the same in tax.
So the tax I pay in the next 20 years will just about cover the cost of an entry level civil servant (not including unfunded pension and health commitments, of course).
This government doesn't run on the taxes we pay. It runs on corporate taxes (sorry, fees) and debt.
I'm still looking for that $5 salmon.
You should try the deli counter at Kirks!
how can you write so much with your head stuck in the sand?
People being opposed to tax is no different to kids being opposed to green vegetables. As Oliver Wendell Holmes said "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilised society". Against a 5% payroll tax or 2% property tax to help pay for roads, airports, docks, law enforcement, healthcare and education? I hear Somalia is wonderful this time of year.
You're missing the point. In other jurisdictions with direct taxation every citizen is entitled to vote. But not on Cayman.
I agree with you. As an expat, who will be rolled out in a few yrs, I am not prepared to pay any % of taxes in a country where I can't stay or have no say and will leave before my time is up if tax is brought in. And I think a lot of expats will think twice about coming down here to work in the tourism & financial industry if tax is imposed. This isn't a threat just reality. No taxes and sun is the attraction of Cayman. I like Cayman a lot so no sour grapes as we own a home here and will certainly vacation down here and send friends and family down as well. It is simply a matter of making the most from our wages.
Every citizen IS entitled to vote in Cayman. If by "citizen" you actually meant "resident" then that is a false statement. A non-U.S. citizen cannot vote in U.S. elections and a non-Canadian cannot vote in Canadian elections regardless of the fact that they pay taxes to those govts.
Life is perfect where you are and you are glad to be out of Cayman yet you are still reading and posting on Cayman News Service. LOL.
Sure – just because a person moves away doesn’t mean they lose interest in a place they lived before, and Cayman is a very unusual place with facinating (and extremely irregular) activities on all fronts. Just watching Mac’s antics is enough reason to tune in to CNS – I mean you just can’t get that kind of thing in the real world. It could never happen out here. Even Moammar Kadafi didn’t put on a show like Mac does.
Oh, and LOL to you too pal – enjoy the view from up close. I can see perfectly from here. LOL. LOL. LOL.
It appears that your only interest is to sneer and mock.
And educate as to the reality some of your countrymen have difficulty with. But ya mon, it’s mostly to sneer and mock.
Sounds like you are trying to reassure yourself that you made the right move. Your post is inexplicable otherwise.
You find that “inexplicable”? Really? Looks like the posters are simply opposed to BS in other posts such as the “line up to come” and implied addiction to CNS.
Let Mckeeva Bush sign whatever he wants! He does it whether the people agree or not; he is going to do it no matter what, he has told us so!
You know what? I give up! I also say let Dart have all he wants, let Dart buy all he wants of Cayman. That what you all get! Make him own Cayman, I don't care anymore! The good thing about it, & I take great comfort in knowing it, is that Dart & Mckeeva Bush cannot take their great wealth with them to HXXL! I sleep ever so well at night knowing that, despite my island being given away, those responsible will not be able to carry it with them, so I say let Dart buy all he wants, SO WHAT? They can live like kings on this earth but we all live as one in the next, except for those greedy ones who will spend eternity with the devil. Oh, I sleep ever so well at night!
yes you certainly sound like a serene and happy camper.
How on earth can I be happy when my country is being destroyed? But I say that I sleep well at night knowing that it is only temporary. I did not say I was a happy camper, did I? Because i sure as hell am not! What about you? They cannot take their wealth with them, & for that I'm glad!
Who the hell can be serene & a happy camper in Cayman anymore? Dictatorial regimes do not allow for happiness I'm afraid!
DUH! @ Anonymous 17:05, I'm not happy either! I'm not happy where this country is headed. I am not a happy camper either.
Don't give up! Why not join with others who oppose the government giving Cayman away to Dart. We can win. Yes, we can.
So if you stop that, how are you going to plug the cash shortfall? What level of income tax are you offering instead because that is the only option . . .
The plan is to relieve a certain "party" from their duties in Government. The resulting reduction in travel expenses and double pensions and church contributions and committment fees and concessions and friends and family consultant fees and christmas lighting and personal utility bills and security services and improper procurement of Government goods and services will certainly do the trick.
Why don’t you reach out and touch somebody’s hand instead of the cinicalcriticicsm. Blimey lad if u don’t like the heat get outa we kitchen
" . . . they try to divert attention from their own malfeasance . . ." [said Bush].
This is kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.
There's enough blame to go around. Neither side is "lilly white" in this fiasco called the Government of the Cayman Islands and some of it predates the UDP and the PPM. Like a fungus, it continues to grow unabated due to the self-interests of the elected officials involved. And until the people awaken to fully realize what role these politicians (XXXX) have played in bringing about the current economic crisis, conditions will continue to erode and taxes and fees will increase in order to produce the "revenue stream" this FFA mandates.
well well well, thetables have turned and now MAC is being bullied. What goes around comes around
Ok – That does it!
I am going to hold my breath – until the Premier tells us what the meeting was really about.
He does however seem quite subdued!
Mr Bellingham nust have made a strong impression on him.
This man is a joke. Tell the people what is happening Sir. You owe it to us. You work work for us, not the other way around. Obviously, this is is bad news for all of us and we don't even know the full extent of the bad news yet. Explain why you forgot to mention this tiny little unimportant matter over a year ago. Stop blaming the PPM. The premier has been in govt. for over 20 years and was leader of govt business before the PPM were in. They were only in for 4 years. YOur govt. has had a bigger hand in making this mess. For years, no one did anything with the schools. This is why some of our young people are going wrong. Lack of education, lack of care at home and the premier is just as much to blame, if not more so, than ANYONE ELSE ON THESE ISLANDS.
I wish I could click more thumbs up than just one on this comment.
Nuff said
"Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear." – Albert Camus
Wow.
We did not know about the FFA until Sept 14th.
We did not hide it from the public for a year.
The Financial Secretary who has been leading the FFA agreement was excluded from the top secret discussion – about it.
The UK agrees that giving millions to churches is a good idea but building schools to educate our children is a bad idea.
It is all the fault of the past government.
Civil servants need to work 'hard and smart'.
The UK said it was urgent to discuss these matters.
It is urgent because of the spending of the past Govt..
So we are going to continue with 'our fiscally prudent' management.
Okie Dokie…
And my conclusion is that we need to set up a 'Lying Bee' – you know, like a 'Spelling Bee'.
We could call it 'The Premier's Lying Bee'.
Yup, coz u know darn well the Brits would support developing educational facilities with public money but one thing they would not advocate is giving it to the churches in the manner Bush has done or at all for that matter – its called separation of church and state and its desperately needed here if we're to make any progress at all, along with many other things I might add. I've not believed much Bush has said for a long time, but this beats the cake hilarious and inaccurate inferences.
Well it would seem that he was honest when he said he did not know much about finance.
Mac. You almost single handedly increase the Caymanian population with several thousand people who cannot or will not pay their own way, dramatically increase the number of people who attend school and the hospital for free, give millions to supporters (sorry – i mean churches) and refuse to enforce the pensions and health insurance laws ( which would each save the government many millions every year) and refuse to accept any responsibility for our financial predicament?
Man – you have thick skin.
bellingham criticised building schools but was in favour of church handouts??????
what a crackpot mckeeva is………………………….. goodnight cayman!
No way would the UK condone giving public money to churches and criticise building educational facilities. NO WAY.
I would rather hear what happened from Mr Bellingham or the UK, can't believe a word from the Premier as usual he's trying to point the blame elsewhere and not taking responsibility for his own irresponsibility
What if McKeeva is MI6 and has been for a long time?
XXXX
The US and UK Governments would have proof that Chinese companies do not play by the rules.
The financial experts would not be able to sleep trying to remember what they said in his presence. Or is that "presents"? My spelling is not the best.
Uncle Sam might even get some back taxes from a former citizen.
Can you imagine anyone less likely to be suspected of being an Intelligence Agent?
Oh well, it was just a wild thought that came to mind while I was trying to imagine some of the things that might be said in the next conversation between Little Mac and his handler Big Bell.
"Premier Bush do you know why we've asked you here?"
"To meet the Queen?"
"We enabled a loan for you government. Where has the money been spent?"
"I started a personal fund and gave money to churches of my choice."
"And??"
"I….ahhh."
"How does your government plan on paying down the loan?"
"By selling the island to the Chinese and Mr. Dart?"
"Has your government been addressing the enormous shortfall in public service pension and health funds?"
"I…errr…not exactly. But all of my pension checks have cleared."
"Do you have a process in placeto consult with the public on important decisions?"
"I notify them."
"Do you seek public input?"
"Do I have to?"
"Have you read your Constitution?"
"I've been busy. I travel a lot."
"What fiscal strategy has your government begun?"
"Raised fees for local businesses."
"What infrastructure improvements has your government made?"
"I…ahh have a new fence."
"That will be all, thank you."
wow that was easy
If the politicians and senior civil cervants had insisted from the very start (several years ago) that civil servants comply with the original Public Management and Finance Law before Ken n' Sonia recently managed to remove the bits lazy and incompetent Caymanians in the Service objected to, Britain would not be able to enforce its fiscal responsibility stuff on us because it was already in that Law. We deserve what we are getting and it's going to get worse as we refuse to address the Miller-Shaw report and its recommendations since they affect civil servants benefits with an election coming up. Greece resisted as well for many years but now is facing ruin. Whither Cayman?
Whether the Premier is re-elected or not is a moot point. The fact remains that he WILL leave a lasting legacy. So far, it seems a shameful one, with MANY uneducated, contemptible decisions that have been disastrously amplified by an economic down-turn. The UK obviously think of us as backward island people and are taking us for a ride as they try to plug holes in their own sinking ship. Unfortunately, as condescending and small minded as they may be, they have every right to think of us in that light as the government currently representing us – voted into power by us – are an embarassment to every Caymanian, non-Caymanian and resident alike.
When will we learn? From the track record, we have a very long way to go. With a leader quixotically leading us to the bottom of the sea and the UK determined to shoot down all other sinking vessels around in order to save herself, one can only wonder as to how our poor, little Cayman Islands will survive the assault.
"He Hath Founded It Upon the Seas" – I only hope that we do not capsize in the storm.
Let us assume that he complies with theFFA, and Government releases the figures for the unfunded portion of the Government Pension Fund, PLUS details of the current Net Asset Value of the funded portion. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Civil Service when they realize that they haven’t a “snowball’s chance in Hell” of ever getting anything remotely like what they will need as a “pension”, when they retire.
The final paragraph of the article states that the Premier said that the UK wanted to see a new procurement system. Umm, was widespread corruption, including that by elected members of governmment also on the agenda at the meeting with the OT minister?
I would like the Premier to confirm if there is any truth to the rumour that he is being asked to step down in exchange for not being prosecuted for the letter he sent back in 2004. If that is the case, the country has a right to know.
Signing this FFA is going to essentially cripple the Cayman Islands ability to provide necessary future infrastructure and comply with the impending bill of rights. I would like to know whether he is signing under duress with a full understanding of exactly what he is agreeing to or if it is that he has no idea what this document will mean for the Government or the people of the Cayman Islands.
looks like you just started the rumor…I supposed he had the option not to sign the darn thing….
Or is this the first step toward his announcing his retirement from public office? As vindictive as he has been toward his opponents, as evidenced by many of his prior "tirades" in the LA and via his public pronouncements against his detractors before his followers, is this the how he plans to get even with his enemies? SCREW YOU ALL! I'll enjoy my retirement, living off the public dole.
Why is it that I can never believe anything that spews out of this guy's mouth?
Because you know the man’s veracity is sadly lacking.
This is a crazy move by the Cayman Islands
1. It calls for DIRECT TAXES- or as the English cleverly puts it "realignment of our revenue base"
2. It is impossible for all government capital expenditure to be 'self funding". We are a developing country and this is really not an option nor achievable. We need to continue to put in our base infrastructure as we develop and that is never self-funding. This in essence stops ALL borrowing into the forseable future (5 to 10 years)
3. The conditions of borrowing( economic and environmental surveys, value-for-money evaluations by independent companies) will delay the average government project by 8 months to a year and half. That means we cannot expect this recession to be over anytime soon without the private sector investing heavily.
4. I can only imagine the ForCayman Alliance and CHEC Cruise Port deals are dead in the water for now. Lets now hope for Shetty and CEC. if they have to do the value-for-money review they will be held up another year as well.
Crazy, crazy for Cayman to be in this position. They must be laughing over the sherry in London.
If that road governemt says will have to be built to carry the increased traffic to the Shetty site in East End is going to be built by government, how will that be paid for under this FFA agreement?
Maybe it could become Cayman's first Toll Road.
If we end up with direct taxation there's only one person (and his UDP sheep that blindly follow), to blame for not implementing the recommendations set out in the Miller Shaw Report. Ignoring these recommendations was like putting Cayman's head in a noose and it was only ever a matter of time before the chair got kicked out from beneath our feet leaving us to hang. I'm surprised the UK let it slide for a year, but I am not surprised that Bush has known about this document for over a year and said/did nothing, after all, why change the habit of a lifetime?
If Cayman falls we all know who is to blame.
Wair, he knew about it for a year but didn’t ask for any input until a few days ago? Something doesn’t smell right here.
Nope. It all smells like a McKeeva government who has messed up AGAIN. YOU my friend are in denial.