Premier says government could not help everyone

| 21/12/2011

_DEW4940-web2(3).jpg(CNS): In this year’s Christmas message to the country the premier said government couldn’t help everyone but funds to the elderly and vulnerable were not cut, despite the economic difficulties. Asking people to give love this season, he said that his government was at least offering hope. “Times are real hard, but we have hope that it will get better,” McKeeva Bush said. In his message the opposition leader echoed the point that it had been a difficult and stressful year for many but while times are hard he said we should not lose hope as things will get better.  “Whatever the challenge, whatever the difficult circumstance, we must believe: this too will pass,” Alden McLaughlin said. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)

Meanwhile, the governor encouraged people to help others and reinforced the sense of community. “Like any community, we face challenges and we need to find courage to deal with those challenges. But we are also blessed and we need to appreciate those blessings. What better way to do that at this special time of year than by helping others around us in our community?” Duncan Taylor asked in his message.

The deputy premier, Juliana O’Connor, also issued a message of her own to the people for Christmas in which she encouraged them to be kind to one another. “Lending a hand does not require costly gifts; rather the simple human contact such as a hug, a visit, a kind word and sharing food with a neighbour all count for much and are just as effective as a financial offering,” she said.

See the Christmas messages in full below.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    If the $4.0M to the churches, the $2.0M pay-off to GLF, and the $0.5M (approximately) loss due to the Cohen debacle had been distributed to the very poor, I'm sure this Christmas would have been a little merrier for them.  Merry Christmas ministers or religion – by the way, nice new car! Merry Christmas GLF!  And a very Merry Christmas to you Mr. Premier.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What do you mean ? Not enough for everyone ?

    http://www.offshorealert.com/caymans-mckeeva-bush-problem-offshorealert-blog-corruption.aspx

    Absolutely disgusting . . . . . . .

  3. Reality Cheque says:

    Let's get this straight – things are not that bad!  Cayman has been very well insulated from the rest of the world's economic woes.  Government revenue is bad – that is government's problem because it refuses to have a sensible revenue base and over-pays an oversized and overpaid civil service.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Can not help everyone, however he seems to be able to always help himself. It is time to apply our laws to all and recover the ill-gotten gains for return back to the country and our people.

  5. Knot S Smart says:

    In this photo It appears that he is asking for a handout instead of giving one…

  6. Anonymous says:

    Julie,

    YOu caused us to lose the West Bay Road.
    Apologize.

  7. The Spin Cycle says:

    And I say to you times are tough but they will get better. And things appear to be quite bad for a lot of you. But they will get better. Or tougher. I dunno. Or maybe not.

    But we must all have hope. And…

    when is the flight?

    And even though right now there doesn't look like there's much hope…..

    which hotel in the Bahmas?

    We must all keep hoping. Hope is what makes the world go round and I wish you all…

    are the bags packed?

    Have a Merry Christmas and….

    did we stay in that hotel last time?

    And a properous New Year. Hopefully. I gotta go.

    Don't give up hope.

     

     

     

     

  8. Dred says:

    I am sure your supporters were helped.

  9. Anonymous says:

    There is plenty for everyone.

    The problem is, just a few take it all.

     

  10. Slowpoke says:

    Well, let us start with collecting $6 Mil from Ryan + not have wasted $ 3Mil on GFL + Cohen + travel + …

    = lots for many for many, for whom $1000.00 would have meant a lot.

  11. Anonymous says:

    If the headline bar was longer the following could have been added

    …… so the just helped themselves.

  12. Anonymous says:

    That's because all they re doing is helping Dart and CHEC!

  13. Anonymous says:

    This man is full of BS…(Bushit)

  14. Anonymous says:

    What hope they offerring ppl.  This is  real joke to bad the ppl starving, homeless, jobless can laugh!!

     

    This Government need to sit down!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Why doesn't he address CRIME?  Or, Can he?

    • Chris Johnson says:

      Agreed. Our Mr Bush needs get back to his grass roots and get in touch with his people and a bit of reality. In 1968 the politicians knew their people and respected their views. I remember many of them. They were unpaid and the peoples choice. They did not give away new driveways or washing machines. They were honorable men. Their likes are unlikely to be seen again on these shores unless and I say unless the new generation rise and say “enough”. There is a huge amount of intellect within the new generation. Go for it as there will be an enormous amount of support for you.

  15. Anonymous says:

    This song is for you McKeeva and the UDP Posse….

    http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/earthsong.html

     

    Yes…What about your people?  What about our Islands? Do you EVER care?

    • Truth says:

      Can you ever see for yourself? Words often lie.  Accomplishments(or the total lack there of) do not.  Just as being Caymanian does not make you competent it also does not make you care.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Mac cannot help everyone because he is busy helping himself/

    How many Christmas meals coulds the cost of his ugly 10ft fence buy?  Most likley hundreds of thousands.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Premier, take some of your double dipped earnings and give to those who need it.  Cut down on your inflated benefits which you have given yourself and show the people the love that you want us to show each other. 

  18. Anonymous says:

    No, they can't help everyone – they too busy helping themselves…

  19. Anonymous says:

    The UDP is again insulting the Caymanian people by offering 5 days work per year for Caymanian born people while they grant WORK PERMITS FOR FOREIGNERS TO WORK ALL YEAR ROUND1 HOW INSULTING AND INCITING! They call it helping us for Christmas, Premier Bush and the UDP are a disgrace!
    This Premier, the ,Governor and all leadership have gotten on my last nerve to suggest to the Caymanian people to help themselves and each other ; after they have given Ken Dart a rich billionaire gypsy the people’s most expensive piece of real estate. Very agitating indeed..
    The UDP actually gift wrapped our most prestine portion of the West Bay Road by giving up 2500 ft. of beach and put it UNDER DART’S CHRISTMAS TREE!
    Dart got his Christmas present first before everyone else!
    We are told by the leaders to share with each other while these party pigs oppress the orphans, the widows, and the poor, wining and dining the rich and famous..

    I can’t believer our Sister in Christ, the deputy Premier put such a dangerous bill on the table that have now served to screw us in the a*s. wile Kurt and Alden stand by and watch ..
    God help us. New blood need to be elected in our legislature no more of the same. No more PPM and no more UDP. Our hope is in Independents or nothing at all. Start the movement everyone, lets get it on.

    Both the PPM and UDP must go in 2013!

    Independent member Ezzard must lead or we are f****d!

    • Anonymous says:

      I like your use of swear words but don't agree with all you are saying.  Yes the government is corrupt, Caymanians are without jobs, and people are having a hard time making ends meet, but you can't blame Dart or work permit holders for all the ills of society.  Thanks for the comments and again, I do like your use of swear words.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Merry Christmas.  BTW, you don't need a permit to work.

  20. De Grinch says:

    We hear you Mckeeva but simple put You the Governor and Julie and the wealthy and the leader of opposition can afford to say such these things because you people simply aren't feeling it!

  21. Anonymous says:

    I have hope too. I'm hoping McKeeva will resign. There's a gift that everybody would enjoy.

    • Anonymous says:

      My wish for him, is that he would be more "transparent and accountable" to the people of the Cayman Islands.  That would be good Governance.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Cut the help to the elderly while you pave parking lots and waste money on Christmas lights that noone can see.  Why don't you two dig into your own pockets and give to the elderly instead of spending the people's money?

    • Anonymous says:

      At the Brac christmas party it was said that this will be an annual party. I wonder if they think that they will remain in government forever. One more christmas to go and ther will be a new Government ju ju. Make the best of it now is my hope.

      • Anonymous says:

        Heard it was quite a shin ding.  Even had a live band and a singer from Barbados.  Did you all hear about the party in Miami, CNS?

  23. Anonymous says:

    Yes, the gowerment could help everyone: reduce the duty on fuel.  Simple.

  24. Just Sayin' says:

    This Government couldn’t help themselves out of a wet paper bag.

    • Anonymous says:

      But while in that wet paper bag they fill thier pockets to the brim

  25. Anonymous says:

    Please explain why Jamaica and Cuba tourism figures keep rising. What are they doing that we cant do? DOT.Shamari Scott and yourself are doing very little to promote or get new flight routes. Your interests are always shorttime and self serving.

  26. Bushwacker says:

    My sincere Christmas message and wish to the Governor, Premier, Deputy Premier and Leader of the Opposition is let the spirit of HOPE be your guide. Let it steer your thoughts, actions and reactions. Govern these Cayman Islands as a whole and not as if it is merely for a segmented few. Ensure just acts prevail from the Halls of Justice to the Streets of every district for without those tenets of good governance HOPE will be crushed and what is life without HOPE?

     

    Tis the season for Renewal and Hope, therefore it would be wise to ponder the true reason for the season!

     

    H – having

    O – optimistic

    P –  possibilities

    E – ever day for everyone

     

    Merry Christmas to one and all, and may you be blessed with great health and good fortune in the forthcoming year!

    • Anonymous says:

      So Juliana Oconnor Connolly the Deputy premier, is responsible for passing this law that has allowed giving away the people’s land and hand it over to rich white men like Dart. What a piece of bull s**t

  27. Knot S Smart says:

    In the spirit of Christmas all of the messages were nice.

    Ms. Julie's was especially true, and Alden, the Governor, and Premier, all came across as sincere as well.

    Merry Christmas to all of them, and their famalies too!

    • Knot S Smart says:

      I am spelling 'families' as 'famalies' these days. Santa must have put too much Bacardi in my eggnog.

  28. Kent McT says:

    Really?

  29. Anonymous says:

    Blah Blah Blah Blah – yeah, yeah. Whatever.