Still no date for LA return
(CNS): Despite government’s pressing legislative agenda, there is still no date set for government to return to the country’s parliament. North Side MLA Ezzard Miller said Monday that the continued disrespect to members and the democratic process was unacceptable but it was also damaging. The independent member pointed to the recent eleventh hour problem with the amendment to the Companies Law, which was rushed through parliament without consultation, as an illustration of the problems ignoring due process can create. Miller said the rules of parliament, which have been bent and twisted by government, were there for a reason.
Pointing to the significant problems that the offshore financial sector now faces with a law which has already been passed through parliament, he said it was a consequence of attempting to rush legislation.
Members of the offshore sector and government are currently discussing the law in order to find a way to address a clause that now requires every single registered company in Cayman to keep a record of every single financial transaction in Cayman.
“This disrespect for the process has resulted in this significant problem with the Companies Law. It is what happens when you don’t follow procedure. The reason why a bill requires several readings is to make sure we’ve got it right,” Miller added.
He pointed to government’s attempts to press through a dozen laws from the first reading to the vote in two sessions by suspending standing orders, when each bill should have 21 days in the public domain before the second reading and the debate on the legislation.
With a long list of key legislation, much of which had issues, Miller warned that there were likely more problems to come for government with a number of the laws. He pointed to the National Pensions bill, which the employment minister is attempting to steer through parliament but presented a number of issues, with board members and the major local pension firms raising concerns about the law’s impact on both the funds and the members.
Miller warned that the clock was ticking on the need to bring the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility, which the premier signed with the UK last November, into local law before the end of this month. But with no date set for the next sitting, if that were to happen it was clear that, once again, there would be “no 21 day notice period” for critical legislation, he said.
It is understood that the premier is expected to return to work from his personal leave this week but he will be attending the FCCA conference in the United States and will not be returning to Cayman until after that. Meanwhile, the deputy premier is travelling again, this time to Sri Lanka for a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference, so the local parliament is unlikely to convene until the week beginning 17 September.
Category: Politics
what is the status of the 3 invesigations into the Premier??
soon come…cayman style….zzzzzzzzz
Whose in control of the Country then, while Mr Bush & Associates are MIA?
The fact that they aren't sitting is probably best, since when they do sit they bumble toward destroying the main pillar of Cayman's economy with ill-conceived legislation and unrealistic fee levies. What a government… if this were a joke the comedy would be extreme, but as it stands it really quite tragic.
I am really fed up and disgusted that McKeeva and the whole UDP gang treat their high paid jobs as an entitlement to personal gain and privilege, as opposed to service to their constituents.
Remember this in May 2013…unless you want more of the same.
Can one avoid extradition in Sri Lanka?
You know we should all just ignore these idiots for a few days or change our immigration policy so that when they return have them show us their"WORK PERMITS"and then tell them when they say they dont need work permits tell them they have all been replaced by Robots that have been designed by 6th formers at John Grey High School to perform only what is in the best interests of this country.The robots would be working for years.
but are these conferences and travel really essential? there ismore pressing business at home and you supposed to cut your expenditure in this budget crisis
what is the matter with you people?!
and then they will show up last minute and rush through these important laws without reading, without consultation and without proper analysis —
Fire.Ready.Aim. (UDP in a nutshell).
The following "quote was sent to me from a friend in South Africa. A country which has had it's fair share of time in the limelight for the worst possible reasons. First as a racist apartheid state and more recently for the corruption and bias in it's leadership.
When I had finished reading it and acknowledged the truth in what was said, I was very troubled by the fact that it was just too easy and just as true to substitute South Africa with Cayman and Zuma with Bush…………
QUOTE OF THE CENTURY
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out.
"The danger to South Africa is not Jacob Zuma but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of a Zuma presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Zuma, who is a mere symptom of what ails South Africa. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Jacob Zuma, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their President.
Well spotted, this quote sums the whole problem up, it is even worse of course because in Cayman, unlike SA, there is 4 times the opportunity for a small number of voters to get it wrong!
It was so predictable that this would happen though, his battles over the budget were taking irresponsibility to the limit, in the end he said Ya mon to whatever was required, knowing that ultimately he wouldnt pay any mind to it, wandering off to an expensive conference trip is rather like sticking two fingers up!
There is some truth in that but please remember the Cayman electorate did not elect McKeeva Bush as premier. He, along with his 3 team mates, were elected by the WB constituency. But the Cayman electorate does need to remember that a vote for any UDP candidate in any district is a vote to return McKeeva Bush as premier.
Actually, Mac was voted in as premier by all the UDP MLA's, not the West Bay voters.
Never forget that they put him there, they keep him in power and ONLY they (by voting with the opposition) can remove him.
This is what the voters get in return in voting them in to represent us. DO AWAY WITH THE PARTY SYSTEM first of all.
Vote these people out come next election every last one of them put in new members straight across the board at least if the new members mess up we can say they new or never know.
Why are we attending the FCCA confrence when we not even providing what FCCA is requesting. Shouldn't we provide what they need then attend the conference.
I agree. Break the party system that has been so divisive for Cayman. Vote for independents and let them form a coalition government.
It involves another trip and more waste, our governments mantra …"good ol'Caymanian common sense".
What? I have to WORK for my inordinately high salary from the public purse? Since when?
Good thing we are not paying these "honorable" people vast salaries to put the interests of the country first.
Oh…wait….we are…….
If this was not so serious this would be hilarious – I think "Laurel and Hardy" between them could do a better job. So Mac finally realizes he needs funds so thinks "let's tax the ex-pats". Word gets round the globe and makes Cayman look rather unattractive all of a sudden. United front (non-Governmental) stands up and says "no" – proposal is redacted. More sensible and sustainable ideas are presented (not by Government) and Mac says "no" (heaven forbid his nation build fund gets taken away – has the Whittaker fight taken place yet by the way and if, so, did he win?) so instead puts through idiotic hikes on fees and other crazy suggestions, pricing Cayman out of the market or close to it and once again, making Cayman look even less attractive.Industry (not Government) – see the pattern forming here? – takes a stand once again and says "no" and crazy ideas are redacted. So, what next? I can't wait for the next instalment. It seems to me that Government (whether it be the past, present or future) cannot manage on their own to run this island efficiently. It also seems to me that Government NEEDS support with doing "their" job by turning and listening to the people around them, or those people "forcing" the Government to listen to them (again) – those people are the same people who are and are not eligible to vote. Government, you NEED to listen to people, not the ones that tell you what you want to hear because they need their driveway tarmac'd but people from all walks of life to include industry (financial sector especially) as this little island of yours will not be able to survive on tourism alone once the FS decides to trade in other more competitive offshore jurisdictions. "Yes" I hear a few say, let the "foreigners" leave – what jobs will be open to the Caymanian people that cannot leave and call this their "home" once industry (and the jobs) move elsewhere? The trouble is, WHO is available with a steady and honest support group around him or her that is willing and strong enough to take over and to stop this madness and turn this island around. No politician will EVER please EVERYBODY, but show me a politician who listens to people properly and not just to himself and has a vision for a cleaner, sustainable Cayman where people would be "proud" to call this their "home" and with a waiting list of people wanting to come here, and I would vote for him or her (only if I were allowed sigh).
"Members of the offshore sector and government are currently discussing the law" – it's reckless acts like these which are imposing continual costs on others to rectify their imcompetence. Unfortunately Mr. Bush & Co. appear oblivious to their detremental acts because they themselves remain removed (both materially and mentally) from the consequences they're imposing.
Can this get much worse? Ergo: The UDP have already realized the futility they face in the next election but with a system desigend around one person – the Premier who himself is on the ropes and seemingly could care less the government and legislative business grinds to a halt. The Deputy Premier isn't around either. Both of these people are "traveling", using up the rest of their "air miles" before they are ousted. The Opposition can't do anything either. All of the above are collecting salaries. Some of them are collecting pensions as well so what happens? We watch in silent awe and dismay as OUR BUSINESS isn't being taken care of. As it should be viewed, If this were a company the board would be fired- by us- en masse. But we are powerless to do anything about it. That is, until the next election when excuses are made and the blame game continues again. Yes there is something definitely wrong here. Why is it in our day to day lives – we can run businesses, go to work, pay bills, balance accounts, and try to manage as best we can? In spite of government "experts" we manage to do all of this. The main reason for this is we are completely aware of the resources and money available to us. We deal in realities whereas government, this government in particular can come up with any fanciful idea it wishes – Nation Building, etc. To do this it merely has to devise imaginative ways to extract more money from OUR economy. It is time for a sea change. There is no reason on earth why governments can't be run like a business. Quarterly Reports- not just the bad news later from the Auditor General. And along with this a Board of directors meeting held annually when stockholders – that being the public – can make a decision with audited accounts being made available, As to whether the right decisions are being made. WITH OUR MONEY WHICH THEY HAVE EXTRACTED AND WE HAVE INVESTED.
They – politcians- would never go for this. But we should not give them a choice. It won't change – this inept system- UNLESS WE CHANGE OUR PERCEPTIONS about what government means. It's a business.
Our business.
Mr. Bush you're fired. Clean out your desk.
"Mr. Bush you're fired. Clean out your desk."
Yes, and please take your bootlickers with you.
– Syntax error: Ergo used incorrectly –
Ergo precedes the conclusion you draw from previously state facts.
You had no previously stated facts
Ergo: You used Ergo incorrectly
I stand corrected on that,thanks. But the conclusion that we have allowed government to be run in such a haphazard way when vast sums of (our) money are involved is still valid. It is a business that is being run and we are stockholders.
Can MLA pay be linked to attendance?
No, but they won't be allowed to graduate.
JuJu in Sri Lanka? more money wasted "again". A countries leader with international attention to his ongoing investigations embarassing us on the international stage "again", more wasted money.
UDP, we will not forgive and we will not forget what you have done and continue to do. And we will not let you forget either.
Is Foolio in Sri Lanka also? Can anyone confirm this?
Yes, JuJu,Foolio and Adam.Saw them at MIA
Why Sister Julianna has to go to Sri Lanka other than for rest and relaxation beats me. We simply MUST vote this lot of pigs at the trough out.
This new move of McKeeva should be the end of the financial industry once & for all. Get a real life sized picture of some of the large corporations who register their company here, keeping a record of accounts here? The companies will just leave to another jurisdiction, rather than face the $10,000 fine imposed. Caymanian jobs will go too, not to be replaced.The knock-down effect will be far reaching.
"caymanian jobs" or whats left of them