Mac heads to frozen north
(CNS): The Cayman Islands premier is travelling to chillier climes — over 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle — this week as he heads to the Overseas Countries and Territories of the EU forum being held in Greenland on Tuesday. Before heading to the icy territory, McKeeva Bush was in London last week, where he reportedly met with the new OT minister Mark Simmonds. Bush was headed for Greenland Monday after a stop in Denmark, where he is understood to have attended an extraordinary meeting on Sunday of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council (COCTC). The Cayman premier is currently vice chair of the regional organisation, which was established in April.
A statement was reportedly issued to the Caymanian Compass by the premier’s office relating to some of Bush’s travel plans to northern Europe. However, requests from CNS for details of the premier’s itinerary since he returned to work following personal leave remain unanswered.
It is understood that Bush took some annual leave at the beginning of September after the budget was passed through the Legislative Assembly, but since then he has spent only a few days in Cayman. There have been various sightings of Bush in other locations over the last few weeks, including reports from the Turks and Caicos where Bush was present to receive the awards Cayman won at the World Travel Awards.
However, the issue of the whereabouts of the premier continues to be a controversial issue because of the reluctance of his office to reveal the details to the public. Bush has been criticised by opposition politicians and the wider community not just for what many consider a significant amount of travelling but the mystery that often surrounds the premier’s destinations, as well as questions about who is travelling with him and the purpose of the trips.
There are no details on the OCT-EU website regarding the forum which is being held in Ilulissat, in Greenland, a territory of Denmark. The premier of Greenland, Kuupik Kleist, is the current chair of the organisation.
According to a report from the British Virgin Islands, the current status of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme approved in August will be one are of discussion at the OCT Forum but it is unclear what other issues will be on the agenda during the three day meeting.
There is no information or agenda available on-line regarding the COCTC meeting, which took place Sunday, and the organisation does not yet appear to have its own website.
Category: Politics
Mac will fool you all again, when he prints his budget in the Greenlandic and Danish Language – We will never understand it again..
I wonder if he can donate me some of his Frequent Flyer Myles….god knows I need get off this rock for a bit (rock feva a kill me)!!!
My feeling is, and I could be wrong, you know, is that he KNOWS he is out of here May 2013, and he doesn't care anymore and he is quite possibly just sticking it to us, by using any and every opportunity to travel first class on our expense and have a really nice party on our dime. Hopefully everyone sees what is happening and realizes that the problems of this country comes last on his list, as long as there is a "conference" to be attended elsewhere, which seems to happen almost every other day now.
All you people who thought Mr. Bush was staying as far away as possible to avoid the realities being a leader of a country in deep financial trouble were wrong. He's in Greenland.
Time to stop wasting energy bothering about Bush’s “Jollies”, and focus on what he is really doing. We know he has blatantly ignored an “instruction” from a UK government Minister to pass the FFR into Law by 30 September. There has to be a huge incentive for bush to have risked incurring the wrath of the FCO,and one of the first candidates must be the Dart Deal – does he hope to irrevocably commit the Cayman Government contractually, before 5 November, knowing that it would not pass the “sniff-test” if the FFR was in place.
I only hope that all of you people that consistently express dissatifaction with the UDP party of one remember what a diaster the Mac has been come when in really matters in May 2013.
"Say No to DeMACacy and DeMOCKERacy"
The country's new slogan: "He Hath Founded It Overseas". Or should that be "He Hath Losteth It Overseas"
"He Hath losteth Overseas, So He Increaseth All the Fees"
…And they shall know our stupidity across the sea…
Greenland can keep him
One thing McKeeva cant say is that he havent travel the world on the expense of the people of these islands. Hope u enjoy it .
An expression that my late father always said comes to mind. I think he meant worthless but it came out as:
WUT-LESS!
What has he accomplished (positive) as Premier for him to spout off at this conference. Was this in the budget or did he have to stop in England for an overdraft.
Dear Mac – while your there tell Snow White and Frosty the Snow man hello for me. Oh, and make sure to tell Santa that you have NOT been a good boy latley.
So let's see if I get this right….
You taxed us to death AGAIN so you can go run around the world AGAIN??
God I sure hiope we can see this government for what they are. TAX and SPEND. Nothing to resolve our issues. All they can do is to give away the country to VULTURE CAPITALIST.
I want a Wall of Shame built…..I got a bunch to place on it.
Dudes….This is the WHOLE reason we have had new and increased taxes put on us……to pay for this bumbling idiot to roam the world in first class. With more of our money he will only be doing more of the same……more roaming the globe wasting funds and embarrassing the hell out of us.
The next meeting of this "group" is Dec.12, New Delhi. Now that trip with entourage will really cost!
Unna try remember this sh!t come election time n stop selling out yo votes!
Mac Claus gone to the North Pole to check on the elves who are busy making presents so we can all have a Merry Udp Christmas. Some will get a park, otherswill get a house while a few will get a lil bit from the nation building fund.
You forgot to mention the appliances!
He has probably gone to Greenalnd to get Santa and the reindeer to bring down a load of appliances on a sleigh for Christmas presents for all of the Bayers who support him and his party.
Mac has done a good job considering where we were when he took office and with
the portforlios he has had to manage, no government member has every taken on as much.
We have to understand that the guy was elected and he is the Premier whether you supported
him or not, but the tearing down of our elected members daily is becoming rather sick,
it does not help and further more it has not worked to your advantage,he is still as popular as he was sixteen years ago!
You folks have been so bitter since the last election that you are starting to sound like the tea
party up north and i'm sure you see how much that has helped Bo's friend Romney!
I must say however that I am happy to know that they did not include the very expensive
Swanky 'OJ on this tour,what a waste that was!
21:04, I am assuming you have been living somewhere else since 2009 and have not been following anything in the local news whatsoever.
The only thing that Mac and his crew have done since coming into office are these two things, and two things only:
1) Spend money we don't have out the ying yang, so much infact that the country is now in 3x more the debt it was folloing the PPM's tenure.
2) Tax us all out the ying yang to cover thier spending.
There have been no projects started or taken on, nothing at all to imporve revenues. NOTHING!!!!!! They don't evebn tell us what's happening (and these supposed town hall meetings do not count as all they are are mud slinging matches).
So excuse us all for giving them a hard time while they galavant around the world on my dollars that they take take take constantly with absolutely no return.
Perhaps you have a different view?
I am neither PPM nor UDP by the way. I just want to see some competent individuals in Governemnt unlike the current bunch.
Please cite these “accomplishments”
It could be worse, he could have stayed home and made a decision on something.
Why don't we ever have these conferences here it would be a win win for the local economy, increased tourism revenue, increase air fares for Cayman Airways, publicity etc etc.
Mr Bush should be doing something to preserve cash not waste it going sledging in Greenland! What a cowboy!
This needs to stop, its not another stupid attempt at promoting new direct flights to Greenland is at that will cost us in excess of $70k again!!
London, Denmark, Greenland – he must be running out of pages in his passport by now!
And all on our dime, with entourage probably….first class all the way…while the country is in a debt crisis and our international and domestic obligations are left unattended!!
What is wrong with Caymanians??
Eh?
Why?
Just curious put in regards to this specific role he is playing.. Who pays for those travels?
the Civil Servants pay for foolishness like this. WOW
After taking back the 3.2% he gave christmas from september pay, you decide on the same day which monthly workers get paid 25 September 2012 (tuesday) you go to Greenland….shame on you.
How do you expect us to survive with all the duties you have added on, the permit fees, and what not. You really think that people with businesses going to be hiring people if they have gone up, they might but they will have to cut salary in order to offord it.
There is no need for all the traveling, if you want to travel so much STEP DOWN and travel not on government expense.
Interesting how they pick these high-end places to meet. Been a while since I was in either Denmark or Greenland but even back then a night out could get pretty expensive.
Why didn't they pick somewhere cheaperlike Cuba or Bulgaria?
Or the Central African Republic. I would love to have seen Julianna and Paul there.
How about WebEx or GoTo Meeting? No travel required at all. Very cost effective.
Because its easier for Mac to travel than to set up a WebConference.
Remember they only know how to spend, not save as their actions have shown.
It "feels" to me as if the Premier is riding the pony for all it's worth — travelling to any forum, meeting or committee that might possibly pertain to the Cayman Islands.
I would absolutely LOVE to be proven wrong.
Is the Premier acting in the best interests of the country? I kinda think we need him here, to pass the provisions required prior to their expiration on 30 SEP 12. THAT is important — very important.
I guess I will go and plant a few more tomatoes and cut back the callaloo, so it can fourish. Maybe on Saturday afternoon, I will go fishing. These things I do to provide for my family — my whole family, not just those living in my house.
I wish I had the conviction that the top of the Cayman food chain cared about this country as I do.
I heard he goes to the places and does not even attend the meetings.
It could be worse, he could attend the meetings and participate thus leaving other attendees with an impression of Caymanians that would be extremely difficult to overcome.
That's probably a good thing – less embarrassing for us, although it would be less embarrassing and cheaper if he just stayed at home and did the job we pay him for… if he were able, which he's not.
To me this is a slap in the UK's face. He's showing them thier demands mean nothing to him.
He agrees to put this thing into law by end of Sep to get his budget passed then suspends the house a month past the deadline and then runs off on another World Tour.
I wonder when they will reign in on his parade.
He better stay there after raising the taxes on my boat!
You goin pay dat? I know you fool.
you should been paying taxes on your boat for years now. We have to stop wanting everything in this country for nothing.
the jollies will never stop and I can only expect them to increase between now and next may……..
CNS: Why don't you people have a little respect for our premiere and stop calling him Mac? He is Mr. McKeever Bush.
Respect should be earned. In my opinion, Mac has done absolutely nothing during his tenure that deserves the respect you so demand.
RESPECT is earned. In bush’s case, he has a lot of ground to make up.
Sorry, just noted you were referring to a Mr McKeevER Bush – possibly a completely different person, who DOES deserve respect.
I think Mac is better than misspelling his name don’t you think?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You can't even spell his name
LOL
You don't even know how to spell his name and you have so much respect for him?
do u want fries with that?
Excuse me…..its the Eternally Honourable William McKeeva Bush.
He doesn’t like his first name as it doesnt make him seem like “son of the soil”
"Billy Bush"?
Bushwacko?
You can't be serious. Clearly this individual holds the people of this country in utter contempt. Look what he's up to now – with people struggling to make ends meet he's jetting around the globe with his cronies flying first class and staying in swanky hotels, gourging himself on sumptuous meals and generally having the time of his life. All paid for by you and me. And for what? Can this apology for a head of government explain exactly how his obscene waste of the public's money benefits us one bit? Lord save me to cast my vote to remove this person from office come next election.
I believe you should be appreciative. Most of us use more colourful names for him and none of them nearly as nice as Mac.
When I heard he wanted us to call him honourable for life I puked.
He may seem like an Angel to you like some sort of Robinhood but in fact he plays you poor fools for all you are worth. He knows that basically you make him look smart so he manipulates you to do his will. Want an example?
Okay. He raises taxes on everything under God's Blue sky such as Work Permits, Duties on general products, Duties on gas which leads many small businesses to shut down causing many of you people to loose your jobs. Now that he has you in a desparate situation he then calls on you to support his HAIR BRAINED SCHEMES saying it will means work for you. He rallies you at a public beach telling you PPM this and PPM that when in truth an in fact the person speaking to you is who has done the damage.
What he is doing is selling us out to the highest bidder. Dart, CHEC or anyone else who can throw a few bucks his way.
So don't go abusing CNS for calling him MAC cause it's a hell of a lot better than the names I use.
PS. I will never in my life ever call him Honourable. I find NOTHING honourable about him.
Why don't you have a little respect for the Eternally Honerable Mr. McKeever Bush? Is it just because he only has three police investigations hanging over his head for three years now?
I don't call him 'Mac'. I calls 'im as I sees 'im – 'Mad Mac'!!
Only had to work a few days since the beginning of September and been paid a salary and a pension and been flown first class all over the world despite two police investigations and despite having recently screwed up nothing less than the national budget. No wonder Mac wants to get re-elected, he has the best job in the world.
The Overseas Countries and Territories forum and the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council have been consolidated into the Caribbean Politicians Who Need an Excuse to Go Oversesas Forum. Due to security concerns the fortnightly meetings can onlybe held in 5 star resorts and in a different country each time. Agenda and minutes will not be made public.
I thought the headline read Mac's Head Frozen!
I wish they would keep him!
Denmark is an EU country, no reason why he can't stay there.
The Faroe Islands are particularly nice but the population has been known to shoot harpoons at large blubbery things in the past.
Hopefully they will progress the extension of the four freedoms to such territories.
Glad he is taking his international responsibilites for COCTC so seriously and making every effort to attend every meeting, whereever it is held in the world. What about his responsiblities HERE?
More wasted money that Cayman cannot afford
Can someone enlighten us as to what time the money from Mr Dart will be given out to repair homes? awae heard today that the Premier and his Deputy will be giving it to the churches. There are quite a few Caymanians on the Brac and I am sure in Grand Cayman as well who have to be assisted by Government in paying rent for them because they do not own a house. Will the churches be helping these people in the future? I am only asking as I cant believe that this would be the decision of Mack.
Prepare for high seas, once he gets off the plane and opens his mouth the glaciers will melt.
Nice helpful guy came round and took all the documents we need to register to vote and sign us up, whole family, 6 more voting [him] out