Ex CS boss slams waste

| 13/08/2012

donnie ebanks.JPG(CNS): The former deputy governor and head of the civil service, Donovan Ebanks, has said that the public money spent in Cayman Brac on paving private driveways should be paid back to government coffers. Following his recent retirement, the public sector boss is now free to express his opinion over political issues, which he did last week as part of a public panel discussion on government’s budget crisis. Ebanks also revealed that he believes the $9 million hurricane shelter project for the Sister Islands needs to be suspended, given the current financial circumstances of government. Asked about wasteful public spending, Ebanks said that there were some classic examples that stood out.

“Certainly the situation that we saw in Cayman Brac with the paving of the parking lots is at the top of the list and I think those expenditure should be recouped,” Ebanks said at the Generation Now discussion last Wednesday at the Harquail Theatre. “The other classic example … is this proposed shelter for nine million dollars which I think is absolutely unnecessary and should be stopped.”

This is not the first time since his retirement from the top civil service job that Ebanks has spoken out; he was vocal in his support recently on the referendum for one man, one vote and publicly signed the petition and encouraged all public sector workers to do the same.

On Wednesday Ebanks also express his opinion on the issue of over-development in Cayman, which he said put pressure on the local infrastructure and, in turn, the public sector.

During what prove to be an interesting and focused discussion, the other panellists also noted the issue of waste and mismanagement of public cash by government. Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin pointed out that here were many areas of waste that could be addressed but he pointed in particular to things like the Nation Building Fund, which had been allocated some $10 million in the last two budgets.

McLaughlin said it wasn’t that the all of the money was necessarily being wasted but there was serious potential for mis-management with a whole new structure for allocating public money and with a minister being so close to that allocation.  He explained that if it was too onerous for young people to get scholarships, then government should address the criteria laid out by the Education Council, not create a separate way of awarding them.

“Why is it necessary for the premier to select who gets scholarships?” McLaughlin asked. “Anytime we give a great deal of discretion to ministers, whoever the ministers are, as to how they can dispense money you inevitably get into problems. The ministers get into problems because they are always going to be lobbied by people for this grant and for this assistance. It is far better if there is a system that is run where there is at least some degree of distance between the minister who makes the policy decision and those who actually dole out the money.”

Cayman Finance chair Richard Coles, who was also a guest on the panel, pointed to his own experiences as the head of the Legal Affairs when he was attorney general and how in his first year in post he was delighted to find that he and his staff had come in under budget, only to be told by his chief financial officer that this was bad. Not only would the department not be able to carry that savings over to the next year if they did not spend the money on something before the year end, the following year’s allocation would be cut by that amount as well.

“That is an absolutely crazy situation that was happening throughout the civil service,” he said.

UCCI Professor Dr Weishan said government all over the world had that system in place, where people are rewarded to be wasteful rather than thrifty and prudent.

Ezzard Miller pointed to some serious wasteful spending in government at present, not least because the proper processes and checks and balances were being avoided, ignored and even aborted.

Pointing to the premier’s claims during the Cohen loan controversy that substance was more important than process, Miller said that’s when government risks a serious level of wasteful spending. He also agreed with Ebanks that money spend paving private driveways in Cayman Brac should be paid back.

The Generation Now panel discussion will be broadcast on Radio Cayman at 7pm this evening.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I'd be willing to bet that for every dollar of misappropriation we know about (illegal paving, gas cards etc) there is at least $10 we don't know about.  That might be on the low side.  And McKeeva tells us with a straight face that they have "gone as far as they can with cuts". Hey Mac WE ALL KNOW THAT ISN'T TRUE. Don't you get it yet?

     

    It reminds me of that Iraqi minister that they called Comical Ali who denied the US had invaded, while US tanks cruised around in the background.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I think it's better late than never that Mr. Ebanks is now speaking out.

    That someone in as powerful a position as he had (or felt he had to…whichever) wait until retired though speaks volumes of the archaic "systems" though.

    And now he has a big fat pension to boot!

    Rememeber the Chief Officers that Mac couldn't "wuk wid" home on gardening leave for years now (collecting six figure salaries…and headed for big fat pensions)…and of course Mr. Duguay?

    While the PPM gave us FOI and are no doubt the lesser evil compared to the UDP…the 2009 Constitution gave the premier far too much power…and for that the PPM are in large part responsible….not to mention the UK/FCO.

    Afterall they should have forseen this as it's common knowledge (if one researches history at all) that "power corrupts…and absolute power corrupts absolutely"!

    • noname says:

      TALK TO THE HAND!

       

      I can't believe this man. Why in heavens name did Donovan Ebanks do something about the 3,000 jobless Caymanians, and the thousands of work permits his government granted that kept and is still keeping Caymanians from making a livlihood??  sorry Donnie but you are only positically postering on behalf of Ezzard Miller. This means we should vote for Joey by all means in North Side.Oh yes it does.

      MR. DONOVAN EBANKS, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE AND 'COULD HAVE DONE MORE 'TO HELP CAYMANIANS

      "Talk to the hand!"….

      • Anonymous says:

        Vote for WHO????? Joey? Not Joey of Turtle Farm infamy? Not joey who helped himself to a 'loan' and thousands of dollars of free turtle meat? Joey who was running with PPM one day and the next was on McKeeva's platform lambasting them? That Joey. Go hide your face in shame to even suggest such a thing. He is politically, dead, buried and forgotten.  

        What does "positically postering" mean?

        What could Donnie have done for unemployed Caymanians? Employ them in the civil service? Isn't that the problem now?

  3. Anonymous says:

    We don’t need hurricane Hilton in Cayman Brac. Never did never will. This project needs to be stopped and now. The money can be better used elsewhere. Also we do not need a new Public Works compound and offices in Cayman Brac – my goodness our population has dwindled to less than 2000 and the government keeps spending and spending in the Brac – for what so Mi Lady can brag about what she has done to get re elected this is madness. The PWD facilities are just fine – sure new is nice but it is not a necessity so why are we spending what we don’t have. Can someone please just put their foot down and say NO

  4. Anonymous says:

    The money spent of the paving of private properties should be paid back AND the minister responsible charged with defrauding the public purse, but as usual there is silence from the government on this as the minister is one of their own!  That is what disgusts me.  This is plainly wrong and there is not one thing anyone can do about it.

    • Anonymous says:

      JuJu Banton said she would make a statement after receiving legal advice. Her legal advice is taking longer than the 2012/13 budget.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Am I the only one bothered by the fact that we have a Premier who says “Bobo” quite often whilst addressing the public? Really? Mr. World Leader.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Donnie BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. Everyone in the Brac is afraid to speak up you see. Too much money wasted that is not hers. Any other part of the world something of that nature was done the Politician would either be dismissed or thrown in prison. Folks can hardly live in the Brac again as it is even more hot than before with all this asphalt. Just imagine body guard calling and saying that they are coming a certain day to pave the yard when no one even asked for it to be paved. Then the Hylton hotel that is not needed as every family has someone with a home on the bluff that is a hurricane is coming that can go with their family. Instead since she does not know what to do with money wy not get piped water to our homes. We all need to march and stop the hylton hotel. Now for our good ole Miss Sylvia. A woman who had no fear of no one. Last but not least we wanda who the hell going to trouble the barefoot gal? The money spent on body guard per year can help train some poor child for the next olympics. Come May, come fast.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Thanks for your courage Mr Ebanks. It is so refreshing to see leadership. It is so good to read the posts on here. Don’t get me wrong I find it disturbing that so many voters can’t speak up because of their employment with civil service. I’m just glad that someone is finally brave enough to point at the elephant in the room. It will encourage others to do the same. Then who knows, maybe things will start to change for the better. Real freedom of speech and reform will come once civil servants can express their point of view without fear of reprisal.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Waste…? Like the Christian Heritage park …?

    That's a paying car park for George town..stop pandering to the churches and look after the needs of the real people.

    • Anonymous says:

      And the $2M (at least) to churches.  And the $2M (and change) to pay off GLF.  And the — what is it —  $6M unpaid by Ryan?  I really wish Mr. Bush would have the courage to accept that he is way, way out of his depth as Minister of Finance at this particular time; that he actually doesn't know what's best for country; that his constant political interferring (for whatever reason) is causing financial havock. And I quote Bananarama — well why not!:  "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it.  That's what get results."  Process leads to substance and fiscal prudence.  I just noticed a little pink pig fly by my window?

  9. Anonymous says:

    As a former very senior civil servant I am astonished by some of the posts below that seem to assumethat Mr Ebanks (or any civil servant in his position) could speak out against politicians' policy initiatives and make them change them "in the public interest". It does not happen. Politicians, to do them credit, often listen to their senior civil servants but when it comes down to them and the "woters", they listen to their "advisors" ( Mac = Leonard Dilbert, Charles Glidden, Richard Parchment, Julianna O Connor whatsit). The reason Ebanks is talkingnow is because like many of us he has had  to sit quiet for many years and watch these elected officials (of all political persuasions) do things that are ill advised and often purely political and vote gathering – eg the Brac driveways. I hope to God Donnie offers himself for political office at the next election and I have been encouraging him to do so.. I wish I could join him but as a very long term paper Caymanian, I recognise that that is not possible as Cayman at this point in its history just could not accept a non born Caymanian candidate running for election. Since that is the case, let us carefully assess and sort out those born Caymanians who do (often repeatedly) offer themselves for election and consider carefully whether (1) they have political ideological beliefs that they can articulate to the country, (2) they are running because they have been let go from their employment (in some cases recently both from Government and private sector but they will not tell you that!!!) and are just disaffected Caymanians looking a big paying job. Frankly, number 2 is a problem if you look at many existing politicians and wannabes who the civil service was glad to get rid of for many reasons. I have said enough and will get masses of thumbs downs! But ah so it go.

    • Anonymous says:

      It didn't stopping him slagging off the Auditor General (see previous posts) for simply doing his job.

    • Anonymous says:

      This country is now (finally) ready for a real qualified non-Cayman born indicidual. The late Vasal Johnson was born in Jamaica. We need to elect responsible people who wish to serve and not gain profit from the job. Thumbs up-you agree. Thumbs down-keep everything just like it is!

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, agree to the point that we need to elect responsible, accountable quality legislators. This is what OMOV was all about.

        However, you should note that Mr. Vassel was never elected. He was Financial Secretary which is a position that is appointed. 

        • Anonymous says:

          Err…Sir Vassel was elected as an MLA in 1984 after he retired from the civil service. He served as ExCo Member for Development and Natural Resources from 1984-1988 (which means he was also elected by his fellow MLAs).

        • Anonymous says:

          After he retired he ran for elected office and served one term in Exco. He was the person who introduced the Marine Parks legislation.

        • Anonymous says:

          No, I think you are wrong. Sir Vassel was indeed Financial Secretary (and protested when the Budget went over 10 million, God bless him) but he eventually ran for election. He became what we would now call a Minister in Agriculture, I believe. Kearney Gomez (who was in that ministry so long some say he worked for Noah when he built the Arc) was his PS.

      • Anonymous says:

        Could you imagine a Caymanian running for Election in Jamaica? It could never happen.

      • Bobo says:

        And that goes for statutory authorities too! 

    • Anonymous says:

      "I wish I could join him but as a very long term paper Caymanian, I recognise that that is not possible as Cayman at this point in its history just could not accept a non born Caymanian candidate running for election".

      Cayman has had non-born Caymanians run for office. One was particularly successful: the late Sir Vassel Johnson who was not only elected by his constituents but also elected to ExCo (as it then was) by his legislative colleagues. Contrary to some views put forward here the Constitution does not prohibit non-born Caymanians from running for office. One simply has to be fully naturalised as BOTC by virtue of one's connection to Cayman, have Caymanian status and renounce any other citizenship one might have. I think if you are willing to take the necessary steps then the voting public (which now includes Caymanian status holders) would like to have the option.    

      • Anonymous says:

        Thank you for these comments 12:06. I think Sir Vassel is a slightly different scenario. His family came here so long ago that the "fever" about expats and their role in Cayman had not yet begun. Many people hail the late Clarence Flowers as a Caymanian entrepreneur. He was a Jamaican who also came in the very early days. But he was a Jamaican who married a Caymanian. No one sensible would now call the Flowers family Jamaican. I believe the late Val Anderson was born in Nicaragua- no one would call his descendents non Caymanians.

        BUT, things changed in the late seventies and eighties onwards. I don't want to go on and on about this, but if you ask many Caymanian older voters of the non professional classes whether they would vote for stalwart expats like Peter Milburn, Tim Ridley, Chris Johnson, Travers and others who have clearly benefitted Cayman, you will be told "no". I repeat, you have to ask the non professional older ones ( ok, i.e not so enlightened but they still have a vote).

        • Anonymous says:

          There is some truth to what you say. I was not saying they would necessarily be elected the first time out but they would get significant support and in any event that is no reason not to give it a try. Someone has to blaze the trail.   

  10. Anonymous says:

    Incredible.  Civil servants say they can't offer opinions that may be seen as not towing the government line.  They say they can't risk losing their job.  So they stay within the government machine, acquiescing to all that the govt says & does, no matter how detestable. 

    What baloney.

    Not once have I seen anyone discuss personal integrity.  Surely you don't stay employed by a regime you don't like, otherwise it's hypocrisy, pure & simple, no matter what the current salary is.  Anyone then leaving the CS after many, many years of service, and suddenly finding their voice, is not a credible witness.  Their integrity has been compromised by years of turning a blind eye.

    In particular, DE was so vocal for the "untouchable" civil service while he was in power that who can believe his about-face now ?  He must think we are all stupid and have no memory of his defiance of cuts.  Makes me sick.

  11. lookeyhere says:

    You know im thinking better late than never. If he is standing up now then dont criticise him to much. Its still a small island and in the circles he travels i feel he must have made quite an impression with this voice of opinion.

  12. Anonymous says:

    The old pickle should just stay pickled and retired – he had his time.  Time for the new generation to take over (e.g. Cayman United).

    • Anonymous says:

      yep and what did he do.

      • Anonymous says:

        Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of nothing.

        • Anonymous says:
           
           
          • Anonymous says:

            Silly goose, I was being kind when I said "unless I'm mistaken"…of course he did nothing.  He stood by and let all kinds of dirty things happen under his watch.

  13. Abrana Banks says:

    Quoting 14.38 "Why are you posting anonymously if you are so bold and courageous?"

    It sure does frustrate me to see everybody posting anonymously.  No one has the courage to put their name to their words so why waste your time.  It can be easily surmised that ONE individual can sit by their computor all day and post and post just to stir up trouble  Until you put your name to the comments you could save the ink because your words are not having any impact on the changes that you want to see in Cayman. 

    Stand up for your beliefs and let the world know what you Stand For and who you are.

    There seems to be only one person that the MAJORITY of the posters have a problem with.  So are you telling me that all of you are scared of losing your jobs.  Surely you are all not employed by Government and surely not all are on Work Permits.

    You are mostly all running down Donnie, ANONYMOUSLY OF COURSE, for not speaking up when he was Deputy Governor.  What harm can he do you if you had the guts to sign your name to your post.

    While I did not always agree with Lac MacTavish I respected htat he signed his name.  Same with Peter Milburn.

    As far as I am concerned, the thousands of Anonymous posters are just causing unrest on the island.  If you signed your name might have some success in your endeavours.  Yo

    Please remember whether we are UDP or PPM or Independent we are going to all suffer the same fate.

     

     

    • Truth Hurts says:

      Causing unrest? Or do we care deeply about Cayman and want our voices heard – but have genuine fears of "repercussions' from those we critize? If people could speak freely, without fear of such reprisals, then we would. But the history of Cayman is littered with such instances where reprisals do occur against those who speak out, and until it is stopped, it will forever be a part of Cayman life. Its not pretty, its not fair, its not reasonable, but its REALITY.

      • Anonymous says:

        Correct, if people could have truly spoken freely about mismanagement without recourse, the many cancerous problems we now see would not have grown to their irreversibilty observed today. Prevention is the best medicine, but it cant be administered when management acts in denial and suprresion of a diagnosis.

    • Chris Johnson says:

      Well said Abrana. More need put their names on their opinons. Stand up and be countered.

    • Anonymous says:

      I say thank god for anonymous.

    • Anonymous says:

      Put names to anonymous so the rumour-mill, character assasins, personal-attackers can start to make comments on commentors relatives, nationalist,  how they speak, how they walk, how they dress, how they smell, where they work, what is there religion …sound like a plan to to block comments that are addressing the real issues. Anonoymous needs to be anonymous because of distractors from the reality of the situation.

  14. Anonymous says:

    "Collective Responsibility" – That phrase didnt affect some past stalwarts like the late Sir Vassel Johnson.

    Also, this term is often claimed (Wrongly) by ordinary MLAs as a cop-out — but it does not legally apply to them!

     

  15. Anonymous says:

    True he could have said something but the he probably had to sign a declaration of secrecy,  FOI should have dismissed this all together but for some reason people are still being asked to sign.  What holds up?  A declaration of secrecy  that you signed years ago or the now current FOI law.  

    The positive thing is, Mr. Ebanks is now speaking up.  We should commend him for doing so. 

    Collect all if not most outstanding debts owed to government, cut unnecessary spending, and put that money back into the economy to create jobs and economic stimulus. Oh yeah and find ways to create efficiency, most of the money government spends is in wasting time and money.  Make it easy to collect revenue from the public and make it easy for government to process.  All the red tape is unnecessary.  You got entire departments created for red tape.   

     

  16. Anonymous says:

    It is time for a new generation to step in, I mean young, bright  and educated Caymanian people.  And welcome expats – a small gene pool causes species to become extinct. The word "inept" is being used a lot here…. time to take it seriously…

     

  17. Nanoo says:

    In other local news, in a speech today and man who was in the stables at the time, but left the stables since, pointed out "The horse has bolted", referring to the escape of a horse which he was actively involved in keeping secure at the time but did not stop escaping.  He continued "These are classic examples of how not to keep horses secure."

  18. Uncivilized service says:

    The greates enemy of the human soul is the self righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation! Mr Ebanks prehaps needs to look around at the government in particular the civil service and the serious situation we are now in and rememeber who was incharge and who he appointed???? Just more sweet talk from the hypocrites

  19. O.B/ says:

    Waste?  I am so upset with the UDP government. The headlines:  "CAYMAN ISLANDS DON'T WANT FOREIGNORS"  What a headline!  What a blow to the Cayman Islands reputation which our leaders have taken for granted!  Waste?  Waste is nothing compared to the message they sent to the world!!! 

    • Anonymous says:

      We can actually be concerned about both, you know. There is actually a relationship between the two issues. Less waste, less need to tax. 

    • Anonymous says:

      On the discussion as to whether Donnie could speak out: I agree he could not speak out publicly, but he could have spoken out internally but I could guarantee he did not. He wanted to keep his job and not offend anyone. That speaks about our state of development as much as it does about him. Unfortunately we have not evolved to the level of tolerating opposing views and, more, learning from them.

      It is also about character. We have to be willing to stand for principle cost it what it will — even a high paying job. That is why some people of character do not rise to the top of the civil service.

  20. The Parliamentarian says:

    Mr. Richard Coles pointed out that there are governmental departments all over the world just like ours.  They have no incentive to save money!  If they don't spend all funds alloted, then their funds will be cut next year, thus they spend it all and ask for more.  That, and a leader that has access to large sums of money with no checks and balances, is a recipe for financial disaster.

    • Anonymous says:

      I wonder why do they fund churches, if they do not teach people anything…Wisdom which comes from within (with your mother's milk) is not nearly so easy discarded as wisdom which comes from another.

    • Anonymous says:

      Christ Almighty, Mon 13:51. Coles did NOT say that. It was Weishan. When I read posts like yours I understand the intellectual component (ie limited) that is often in evidence in these posts on CNS.

      • Anonymous says:

        Coles did say that if they don't spend all funds alloted, then their funds will be cut next year, thus they spend it all and ask for more. He gave himself when he first arrived as AG as an example. Weishan amplified this. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I think mr. Coles is a little out of touch. The finance management law had actually been introduced to stop that outmoded type of action that he described. I do agree, however, that the way the whole new regime was implemented was too sophisticated and may be even unnecessary for a small island government. I believe that the principles of the new system can be achieved in a less expansive fashion — if we can get civil service managers to do their job in supervising staff. I must say however that the ethos of the organization tends to work against them mightily in that area.

  21. Anonymous says:

    Seems to me that there is a lack of understanding among some people about how our government works. Individuals who hold positins in Cabinet, whether and elected or appointed person, are bound by what is called "collective responsibility". That is why you will never hear any such individual speaking publicly against the government while they are in office. It simply isn't accepted or allowed. They would be expected to resign.

    From the way I have heard the Premier speak about Mr Ebanks, I suspect that there were lots of times that Mr Ebanks didn't agree with the government, even though he might not have been saying so publicly while he was in office. 

    • The Beaver says:

      Blah.  McKeever is in Cabinet and he speaks all the time…in fact, he speaks way too much.  Sometimes he so confused he don't know which side he arguing for – for or against himself.  The Beaver

    • UGH says:

      "Collective Responsibility"

       

      I like that.

       

      We need to shower the same "Collective Responsibility" upon all the cabinet members.

       

      Since we have yet to hear otherwise, they must all back up The Oh So Honourable Premier in all that he says and does.

       

      Collective Responsibility – It works for me!

       

  22. Anonymous says:

    The idea that Mac keeps pushing that nation building is for scholarships is a load of crap. Everyone who applied for a government scholarship last year and met the exam results they needed got the government scholarship. There is absolutely no need to hand pick other recipients. Other than vote buying that is. Look again at the breakdown of handouts including hurricane shutters, "settlements", park rangers salaries of $3000 a month, church handouts and so on……the scholarship amounts are a small portion of this major misuse of OUR money. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Corruption is the elephant in the room. Let us deal with it no matter how painful and messy.

      • Anonymous says:

        In total agreement there. Maybe not the whole world's watching, but enough to tank the economy for a very long time.

    • Anonymous says:

      So much so for the scholarships, applications handed in from 2011 only surfaced out of a hide-away drawer quite recently.  The funds have not been released to the recipients by is being railroaded along the way.   

      It is just like the assistant that is doled out to friends and their associates.  People who receive this assistance from Children and Family Services Unit, are at home doing nothing, walking their house dogs and collecting taxpayers hard earned cash, or holding up babies.  Others are in jail and their money is being sent to the bank, to be collected after they have completed their sentence.  There are so many classic examples of waste in this governement.  Can  something be done about government departments?  It is a shame.  The Titanic is sinking, where is the Captain?  

  23. Anonymous says:

    Donnie has given me a lot to think about. With 3 votes instead of 1, should I give my last vote to him or John John?

    • Anonymous says:

      Ah but if you only vote for one person it is the same as giving her or him three votes.

    • Anonymous says:

      It really explains why our country is in dire straits if as a voter you are incapable of distinguishing between the quality of Donnie Ebanks and John-John. It says far more about you than it does about Donnie.

  24. Anonymous says:

    I think the fact that one has to retire or become otherwise relieved of one's post BEFORE one can voice an opinion that is critical of Government is disgusting.  Must civil servants be mindless beings just processing paperwork and not be able to voice their opinion.  As deputy governor he was in a position to know what actions were not in the best interests of the country but now that he has NO POWER now he has an opinion.  I think that the fact that this is how things work if a person wants to keep their job is disgraceful and flies in the face of democracy.

    • A. Pastafarian says:

      Sorry, Anonymous, but that's the way democracy works.  You have to keep your mouth shut if you want the pay to keep coming in.  You rock the boat, you're out!

    • Libertarian says:

      It is not easy being a civil servant. You are to follow orders and remain silent. If not, you could lose your job, your livelihood, and worse, who in the society would give you a second chance?  Who in the private sector would want to hire let's say an ex cop that has been dismissed or fired? Everybody knows that Cayman is a small place to live and people gossip and talk. Like "He was once a civil servant, but something happen, something shady happened and now he is like this…. and that is the reason why they kicked him out… something shady."  It doesn't look good. The only option for that Caymanian and his family is to live somewhere else.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Ebanks was free to express his opinions over political issues even back when he was head of the Civil Service – he just chose not to.

    In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.
    – Martin Luther King, Jr.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      You can't express your opinion when in the Civil Service.  I was with a group of people and one person voiced an opinion about McKeever.  Another person in the group was a supporter of McKeever and said, "You should be careful what you say cause somebody could tell McKeever." Everyone went silent especially when they realised that this person was calling his office. 

      • Anonymous says:

        I am the original poster…  I respect your opinion and I understand what you are trying to say.  My opinion is that Mr. Ebanks could have and should have expressed his opinion, even though he was not "supposed to".  The fact is, Mr. Ebanks occupied a very powerful position with many responsibilities – as such, he could and should have spoken out for the thousand Caymanians and Expats who could and cannot do so.  It is much easier to remove Everyday Joe Blow from the Civil Service or the islands than to remove a Deputy Governor.  The fact is, he allowed many wrongs to pass without saying BOO.  True leaders don't do that – they step up to the plate and speak up, whether or not they're supposed to…

        • Anonymus-mus says:

          Two Words to back up the above: Gardening Leave

          • Anonymous says:

            So wha wrong wid gardenin leawe? Stay home n get paid….like dem Chief Officas

        • Anonymous says:

          Very easy to say what others should do when your @ss is not on the line. Why are you posting anonymously if you are so bold and courageous?

      • Anonymous 11:35 says:

        I am wondering why I do not believe the story you are telling.

        • Anonymous says:

          You are a Kool Aid drinker?

        • Anonymous says:

          I dont care if you believe it or not, I was there and know what I said. I also had cause to upbraid the then Financial Secretary in public because I felt he had failed to keep his political masters on the straight and narrow, but thats the difference, if those that represent you politically or by "service" did their duty, you might know more about them and they would be shamed by that knowledge. But frankly, thats wishful thinking.

          A very particular Cayman trait is to hedge around what you all know to be true, truth might hurt, but it doesnt make it wrong!

          • Anonymous says:

            While everyone lives in fear, why is it big mac fears no one? Indeed, he speaks his mind (unfortunately) and does what he wants (at our expense). But why does he fear no one?

            • Anonymous says:

              Because not enough are prepared to take "collective responsibility" and stand up against him.  If they did, things would run differently, but so long as people are complacent and continue to let this man stomp on your heads, dats wha u get!

      • Anonymous says:

        I was involved in a conversation some years ago, also present was a very senior civil servant. I voiced the opinion that I could not understand why a population continued to vote for someone as closely involved in the organisation that lost them their savings as Bush had been. (First Cayman Bank) The civil servant told me that as a work permit holder I should be careful what I said, my permit would be at risk. I believed him, but that didnt stop me saying what I thought.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well said, people that are given posts of significance need to have the strength to speak their mind. The worst sin in all of this is to allow the governments, PPM and UDP to avoid proper accounting. The auditors of both eras have had the strength to speak up but without proper records they cannot get to the truth. I suspect this lack of records could exist to hide the truth, maybe the whole truth would reveal worse than slack accounting, and that is something the head of the civil service had a duty to comment on. Sad to say, the fate of the last auditor gives us a clue as to why these salary men are careful with their words, they get fired (sorry, dont get reappointed) luckily for you that didnt stop the existing or previous auditor from speaking as he found!

      As an example of bad records being endemic, think about the Cohen deal. An appalling waste of public money, thats obvious, but what I would like to know is, was there worse than that? Hidden in that mess could have been improper "finder fees", "introduction fees", if so then who got them? Maybe it was all fine and above board, but without the records we will never know, without due process we will never stop it, is that what some high ranking individuals are ensuring, I wonder!

      Not very honourable is it?

      • noname says:

        "Depends on if you mean the honourable defined by a dictionary or by Caymans "honorable" premeir Bush.  It is very honorable if you go with the Caymanian meaning.  Right?

    • FUZZY says:
       
       
      • Anonymous says:

        The many who used the same excuse "oh no, not me, I was just following orders" to carry out various atrocities are rotting in jail…  In case you don't understand that, allow me to spell it out for you.  If he, in the capacity of Deputy Governor, saw something amiss, it would have been his responsibility to speak out and do something about it.  Comprende amigo?

        • Anonymous says:

          Not in Cayman. Not in "my island".Cayman is a corrupt third world country.  Made so by its third world undereducated people in charge and the mass of third world uneducated backers.  This is the way the rest of the world sees this.  And yes we all understand.  Just like we all understand that Cayman is following a road well traveled by many former rich (and now very poor) third world countries.  Everyone knows what has to be done.  Everyone not Caymanian knows they can't do it.  Smart money is on Caymanians building a huge debt trying to feed the unemployable but totally intitled mass.  Its what they have been trained to do.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think this person maybe speaking about being hounded by politicians either going in or out of polling stations asking if they voted for them.

    • Anonymous says:

      @@ %%%%%%%%%% ######

       

      You know he was not free to talk publicly

      You should not try to misinform the public.

      The WASTING of our money must stop now.

      Live within our means, in otherwords reduce the budget NOW.

      • Anonymous says:

        He made a choice not to speak publicly – big difference…

      • Anonymous says:

        I get a memo every election time from my bosses (and there are a few of them) reminding me NOT to openly speak of my support for any candidate or participate in political rallies.  I am told to remain neutral.  I have a mortgage and children to support so I have to comply.  I don't even vote because of the intimidation.

        • Anonymous says:

          Your last sentence is speaking volumes. Are you saying that someone can determine who you vote for in the private booth at the polling stations? If not, why do you feel intimidated?