Mac plans clause in FFR law
(CNS): The Cayman Islands premier has said that he intends to insert a clause in the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR) when it is passed into local law. Regardless of the position of the UK on the issue, McKeeva Bush says he wants the British government take responsibility for any financial loss or reputation suffered by the Cayman government as a result of FCO advice or instructions relating to the agreement. Admitting that he signed the FFR under duress in London last year, he said he told the FCO at the time that he wanted the clause inserted into the agreement but the UK categorically refused.
Appearing on Radio Cayman’s Talk Today programme on Thursday afternoon, ahead of his latest overseas trip, the premier spoke candidly about his reticence over the agreement, which he thinks is too onerous, costly and difficult for the Cayman Islands to implement.
Bush said that when he was essentially forced to sign the FFR in London last year in order to get support for the budget, he had raised his objections and insisted that, should the Cayman Islands lose money, miss important financial opportunities or suffer any reputational damage because of the rules the UK was laying down, the British government should foot the bill.
“They said, 'No, no, no; this is what you have to do',” Bush said on the government-owned radio station, adding that they refused to entertain the idea. “If this is a partnership, they must be responsible but they wouldn’t allow the clause. With all that the UK is demanding from us, where is their accountability?” he asked. “They are not infallible; they can make mistakes.”
During the signing in London, Bush explained, he had made his position very clear to Henry Bellingham, the then overseas territories minister, and the FCO technocrats. He also stated that he had asked for the ceremony to be videoed, including his comments about the need for the UK to be willing to pay if they got things wrong for Cayman, so he could show the public here. But he said that when he went to the FCO for the tapes, “they told me that it did not come out good. What a bunch of hogwash!” he stated as he accused the FCO of moving the goalposts to suit their benefit.
The premier said that when he brings the FFR to the Legislative Assembly to pass it into law, as required by the UK, which is expected to be sometime in November, he intends to insert the clause regarding the UK’s responsibilities for any loss or damage to Cayman that their advice, rules, or delaying causes, despite the fact that the governor must assent to the legislation.
“They must do what they must do,” the premier said, referring to the possibility that the governor will not sign the bill. “I am going to do what I think is right and what I have to do,” he added as he made it clear there was likely to be something of a diplomatic spat over the clause.
The premier stated that he believed the agreement was all about the UK wrestling back continuous control of the Cayman Islands budget well into the future. He said the FCO has now said the UK will continue to approve CIG’s budget even when the local government becomes compliant with the Public Management and Finance Law borrowing requirements.
Once again, the premier blamed the previous government, which left office three and a half years ago, as the source of the agreement being foisted on his government. He said it was not the deal with Dart or the China Harbour proposal for the port that was the problem but the projects undertaken by the PPM administration — the new government building and the schools — that had led to him having to sign the FFR.
Despite his concerns about the requirements of the FFR, Bush said that the objectives in it were laudable and he agreed with them, but it was the means by which they were to be achieved that he objected to.
He emphasised several times during the radio appearance, saying that he expected “they were listening”, that he supported and believed in the principles of the agreement but it was how the objectives were to be reached that was the problem. The administration of the FFR was going to be too difficult for Cayman, he warned, despite its commendable aims.
Category: Politics
he need go back highschool to gain some sense.
Has anyone thought about giving this man a thorough"psychiatric" evaluation? Maybe it's time!
If Mac seeks independence, would he also want the title of Minister of Justice?
If Mac took Cayman to independence would he then become King?
King Mac sounds nice – although I like Burger King better…
Mr.Bush, there reaches a time in everyone's life when it's just plain time to move on. Do your country one final act of personal selflessness and resign before the next election, so as to give your fellow UDP representatives at least a fighting chance of survival, in particular the doomed duo in Bodden Town, poor fellows, who are, in a cruel twist , surely about to get "dumped" by the good folks of that electoral district.
I'm sick of all the Mac's BS, I'm just gonna drink milk and eat carrots!
The time for honouring himself will soon be at an end!
(Russel Crowe, Gladiator)
I just read thru a little history on Cayman, more like a refresh on my history lessons. I come to understand in my history lessons, The Cayman Islands were first logged as sighted by Christopher Columbus on 10 May 1503 during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. Which is now 509 years old today, and he name the Islands Las Tortugas, for their was a lot of Sea Turtles. And the first English visitor to the Islands was Sir Francis Drake in 1586, and he name the Islands, Cayman after Caiman a Neo-Taino word for Alligator.
Now lets fast forward to 1670 it's more interesting here, the Cayman Islands remained unhabitated until the 17 Century, the first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands, was Isaac Bodden who was born in Grand Cayman in 1661. England took formal Control of the Cayman Islands along with Jamaica under a treaty of mandrid in 1670. Which means these Islands been under England for 342 years today.
Now lets fast forward to today, we have a Premier who thinks he owned Cayman, and not the UK, and feel that he can do whatever he feels like, and don't have to up-hold anything that UK instructs him to do. This clearly shows his lack of education, he doesn't seem to know the history of these Islands, he think UK just took formal control of the Cayman Islands in 1962, when Jamaica went independent after being under UK control for 292 years. One interesting thing I ran into while refreshing my history lessons on the Cayman Islands, that Cayman Islands historically have been a tax-exempt destination, which I think it would mean from 1670 that the UK didn't imposed tax on these Islands, I could be wrong, but if I'm right, it would be 218 years today exempt from tax. Where as Mac tries to make the Caymanians believe that UK want's to imposed tax on us deliberately, which is far from the truth.
I remembered UK giving Mac three years to sort out the finance of these Islands by cutting cost etc. He fail to deliver, so UK brought FFR ( Fiscal Framework of Responsibility) to the table last year, and Mac signed the agreement and he suposed to have made it law on the 30 June 2012. But due to budget delays it was instructed by Henry Bellingham that it must be come law by the 30 Sept 2012. Now Mac wants to put his own Clause in the FFR, now who do he think he is? UK said no to his Clause and I think that no should stand. Macdinejad needs to get off of his high Horses and start to respect UK, before they pull the rope on him.
Live Free….
You forgot Article 73 of UN Charter?
Well Dennie I don't see what the U.N has to do with us directly,but lets move on to the Constitution 31(3). Are you trying to say that the Governor have to sign the FFR even if Mac add his clause into it? This what I come understand from the chapter you give me, and in 31(3) it Quotes: The Governor shall not enter, agree or give final approval to any international agreement, treaty or instrument that would affect internal policy or require implementation by legislation in the Cayman Islands without first obtaining the agreement of the Cabinet, unless instructed otherwise by a Secretary of State (FCO) comes to mind, to my knowledge these Islands don't have a secretary of state. so in this the Governor would have to respect the wishes of the FCO when they said no to Mac adding his clause into it.
By the way I can't understand what you are trying to say by these Links, for they don't to say anything about UK not looking out for us. If UK didn't care about us, why would they ask the Government to control their spending and make necessary cuts, why would they implement the FFR, in which other British Territories have to abide to under different names, so Cayman is not alone. To me this is more evidence that the UK care about the Cayman Islands and their Territories, come on Dennie think about it, 342 years of formal control…. It's Mac that making it seems that UK have a problem with Cayman, when it is him who is ignoring their rules, and not carrying out his agreements with them. I notice anytime the UDP is in power, there is always this issue about UK don't care about these Islands. Because that's the element that UDP creates, and some Caymanians believe in it.
Live Free…..
This section simply makes express what has been long establoished, when exercising powers over a territory, the Governor needs to act in the interests of the nation, ie the UK. If Cayman does not like that self-evident proposition no-one in the UK is opposing Cayman's independence. If you don't want to be independent then you have to accept that the greater good of the sovereign state prevails. What you wish, sir, is to have your cake and eat it. It would probably be a gun shaped cake.
Re Article 73 – Sucks to be in a dualist system then.
If this works I'm adding a clause to my work permit saying I can stay as long as I want and do any job I want because I didn't agreed with the original conditions, which were signed under duress because I was broke and needed employment.
Yea, that'll work.
Beware of a leader intent on AVOIDING Financial Responsibility! Particularly a leader who is your Finance Minister. Particularly a Leader and Finance Minister with personal Financial interests in avoiding Financial Responsibility! And further, if that man tries to blame others for requiring Financial Responsibility, get really suspicious of his motives!
And a Minister if Finance under 3 criminal investigations…still ongoing
Whilst very unlikely, wonder if the members of his Cabinet, and YELLIO in particular, realize that after May next year, they will need to find some sort of a normal job, and one which will support their current lifestyles. Personally, I would’nt use any of them as a Yard Boy.
Bush is a fool doing what comes naturally to him and what is now expected. Is he really the best Caymanians have for the job? If so then perhaps it is time Government is run like the private Caymanian businesses. Get trained experianced expats and pay the high work permit fees so Cayman can finally get what they need and pay for. Or keep watching and complaining as any future hope for Caymanians to be able to make a living in Cayman is flushed down the toilet. No one would be surprised if its the latter. Not to worry many expats will have the money to survive what is coming and take over the running of the country when it fails.
Soon come
`…financial loss or reputation suffered by the Cayman government as a result of FCO advice…
McKeeva does not need any help from the FCO when it comes to lost reputation and financial loss. He already has that well covered all on his own.
While everyone has a perfect right to be stunned and ashamed by the Premier's latest announcement (made of course just before another overseas trip) there may be something else going on which leads him to believe he can get away with such foolishness at least without consequences to himself. Consider: Unless he is completely dislusional, he is fully aware that this is his last term. And the end of an unexceptional political career, so what would you do? Or rather what could someone do with this remaining time. Perhaps, just perhaps spend the waning days of this administration making deals for yourself of a personal financial nature? In doing so, remember unpopular as you are, you are also still in a position to give favors and move along certain plans for certain patrons. Also because of their financial clout they may be calling the shots and giving instructions, but to the population, you appear to be. So you take a little flack then take a little vacation. Make another ridiculous announcement take another trip why not it's free. What I mean to say is: none of this could matter to Mr. Bush not the criticism, the comments, nor the opinion of the FCO or the rest of the world. If Cayman goes down in flames, goes bankrupt, or the U.K. takes over – none of it. He travels in a different circle, knows certain people, has different priorities than the people he supposedly leads. This is not unusual at all in a last term if George W. is any example. Trash the economy, start a war, give away billions and leave. After statements like this one, almost guaranteed to disrupt and/or destroy relations with the U.K. which could very well lead to Cayman going over a cliff Mr. Bush may not be worried at all because he has a golden parachute. And- another agenda than the one given a public face. He may be smarter than he acts.
Sad but true and frightening for our beautiful country.
I for one cannot wait for Mac and UDP to go but folks please read that FFR…apply it to any futuregovernment and recognize what the UK is doing. It is a very bad document for a developing country and almost unachievable without direct taxation. It’s a set up. Mac is for once correct on this as much as it grieves me to agree with him. Put politics aside for 30 minutes and read that document. Then ask yourself realistically – can we afford it? Can we generate any future capital works without direct taxation? What is the timeline to execute a new project? And how can you ever justify value-for-money calculations for a country of our size and with our tax system.
I suspect you will all change your minds as I did when You look at it objectively. UK is only using the current anti-UDP and anti-Mac fever to hang us all . UDP, PPM and all other Caymanians will be swinging in the breeze by the time you all realise what happened.
Read it please.
Remember that the Governor has to sign off on any piece of legislation here – is he likely to do that with the FFR that contains the proposed modification? It is difficult to see how he could.
…Loki who just caught up!
I have just been reading about Dinosaurs in a previous article which was immensely interesting when it suddenly occurred to me that Mr Bush could be related. Forgive me if I am slow.
As a West Bayer I am not sure if this man should be our leader. What do you think?
Independence???? Maybe now soon come.
That's the whole point – putting in a clause into a law saying another country is liable for anything doesn't make it true unless they assent to it. If the Governor assents to the law there is an argument UK agreed to be bound by the clause. If he objects Mac shrugs and says he complied with the obligation to put it into law, not his fault Governor wouldn't pass it – and then none of the law applies, including the bits he doesn't like.
Superficially clever – up to the point where the Governor does not assent, and the the UK then refuses to approve the ongoing budget, and more importantly tells the banks it will not underwrite the overdraft. As we have no money and cannot borrow legally by existing law without the UK's assent, CIG simply runs out of cash. No more money, not just for Nation Building and grand trips, but for paying for civil servants salaries, for government office rent, for petrol for police cars etc etc.
Can we get the same clause for his errors and mistakes, namely Cohen, GLF and the Turtle Farm?
Perchance bigmac related to meglomaniac. I have always wondered.
How can you agree on something, shake hands, and then behind the other parties back change the agreement and expect them to accept it. Does he think that will stand up to scrutiny? This is simple political posturing to get pity votes, because he knows, or I hope Mr Steve McField has advised him that altering agreements without the other parties consent is not only stupid – its crimminal
"…is not only stupid – its crimminal…"
Does McKeeva care? Talk to the hand.
McKeeva clearly wants to go independent, so he can rule as Dictator-for-Life
The spectre of an independant Cayman Islands with William McKeeva Bush is, withoutf one iota of doubt, grounds for what would become a civil war. Under no circumstances whatsoever will such a scenario be tolerated without conflict, armed or otherwise.
Dictator-for-Eternity. He has God on his side.
Always looking a way to avoid accountability rules for himself! Disgusting!
At least he’s consistent….?
What part of the word ” NO ” doesn’t bush understand. As for signing anything under duress – what did they do – beat him with rubber hoses, subject him to a spot of ” waterboarding “. All of his fingernails appear to be present and correct, although without seeing him shoeless and sockless, we cannot be as certain about the toenails.
What a load of self-serving drivel.
If this is successful, then in December JuJu will add a new clause to the Constitution stating the world is only 6,000 years old.
And that she and McKeeva have the right to use our money to buy votes.
Absolutely ridiculous, it's got to be at least 10,000 or so.
Seems that long to me since Mac and Juju have been 'in power'.
Simply put, the Earth is between 2 to 4.5 billion years old, Humans on Earth is about 10,000 years, so the Earth is older than mankind, remember that the Earth was just Ocean before God created man on Earth. The land came from under the Ocean, which all trees of all types was form by God command. So in a nut shell, I'm confident the Earth is 4.5 billion years old.
Live Free…..
Pinnochio didn't get away with it either.
It is as obvious as the nose on his face that on every occasion over the last few years that he promised the UK to tackle the defecit and produce a surplus that he was/is either incompetent, unwilling to do so or lying through his back teeth. All countries have to balance budgets. You have seen what happens in ones that don't.
Now, we all basically know that if someone consistently fails to keep promises you either stop dealing with him, or tie him down so he has to do what he voluntarily agreed to do in the first place. The UK does not want to bail out Cayman as it had to with the Turks, and why should it?? If the UK has to step in, the cut backs will be fierce, civil service slashed and more people out of work, and probably zero tax out the window. If the budget was dealt with properly and the squandering stopped, this island would be making a profit and be able to do more for it's Caymanian citizens. And it can still be done more gently if done soon, but it has to start now.
So the only reason Mac is or was under duress is basically because of his own failings, and why would anyone in UK believe him now, when even his own people can no longer believe him. His credibility on any international platform is zero.
The fact that he needs advice to run a budget and wants to blame UK if it goes wrong is the most amazing piece of bullshit I have seen him come out with yet. And in itself shows he is unfit for the job. Caymanians, he is killing you, throw him out.
Thanks – you couldn't have said it better.
Anonymous 11:43, you've said it all! When the time comes (if criminal charges haven't already made it unnecessary) I shall do my best to unseat our disasterous leadership….. top to bottom!
That means that the UK should be tied down too after having to borrow Billions to address their financial woes. Do as I say but not as I do. Ridiculous. The present government has come a long way in addressing the financial problems left by the previous government and there is no quick fix for that calamity however well intentioned they were plus they were warned about that extravagant spending and refused to heed to the call. Too arrogant I would say.
Anon 1143 I dont see Mr Bushs request as being unreasonable but of course it needs to go both ways. If the FCO recommends and we do what we are supposed to and we are damaged financially or otherwise then they should pay but if the recommend and we do not comply then we should have nothing to say.
By the way how you are talking the UK will come in and fie a lot of civil servants as well as cut salaries. This country would be in a big mess. The problem with most is that they think the CS are making a lot of money. They include in that group the Politicians and the top officers, but there are many individuals in the CS working hard and not making much money.
At the end of the day what is needed is an altenative source of revenue. To the elected Government that simply means another form of tax. The reality is that the country is becoming very difficult to live in. Not all of us make piles of money.
$250 million a year for the CS not counting what is stolen in gas. Why should we (the ones paying for it) feel sorry for you again?
So would it be safe to assume that bush will also be adding to that clause that any financial loss or reputational loss suffered by the Caymanian people as a result of him NOT listening to FCO advice or instruction he will take personal resposibility for? Or is that too fair? Maybe not the "honorable" thing to do? What say you Bush? Never mind. Expecting an answer from you would be foolish.
Perhaps one of the Island’s legal eagles could advise us if it is actually possible to bring action against him,for mismanagement in a Government office?
My feeling is, that we should all examine the possibility of devising a mechanism whereby we can hold him accountable for his deliberate mismanagement (1000 cases in the small claims court might prove putative)
Either way I would like to see retribution for his arrogance and utter incompetence….he has to be accountable in some respect, what ever it is.
Come on Cayman, lets kick his ass in to the next century and teach him that democracy can work in favor of the electorate, because the FCO seem incapable /unwilling of reigning him in.
It's just the Cayman way, pass the blame onto everyone else, but this time he's gonna make it law.
laughing stock……
Wait..what? He negotiated and signed the agreement already and now he wants to legislate an indemnity into it? I'd like to see him make a claim on that!
Mac. I voted for you and your party. But you have lost it. You just can't see that it is not the Governor's or the UK's fault. It is yours (in particular) and the yes-men and yes-woman behind you. You also can't see that you cannot take on the UK and win. Something has happened to that native common sense you used to have. Prepare to retire after the next election, please.
Mac, please retire before the next election.
So let me get this right. There will be a clause in the proposed bill that states the UK government must make good shortfalls or losses incurred due to the FFR. How will this be enforced?
The amount he has squandered away and will not take responsiibility forthis, namely the Ritz outstanding millions to the Country; now he is the upstanding government rep lookingout for us. what a joke. I agree with England do not change the agreement as he never could account for the funds he squanders and wants to pass the buck.
Did the duress have anything to do with the criminal investigations?
Duress my a**, normal people call it jet lag.
"Under duress"!! What more is this man going to come out with. If he, on behalf of the Cayman Islands, did not agree with the FFR then it should not have signed…and have been able to manage the consequences of this. Please can this country have a leader that it can respect! And is competent!
Stalling on the FFR again. This time making it impossible for the Governor to consent, to give him an excuse not to sign itinto law and in doing so try to allow one or more of his crackpot deals to go through. If he thinks he'll get the China deal through by these games, watch out. I reckon the FCO, having continued to give him enough rope to hang himself, will quickly tighten the noose if he tries that one.
This is all to get those agreements signed before passing the bill.
My only PRAYER cause it needs to be in that form now is for the UK to say…."No agreements that do not meet the FFR standards can be signed in the interim as the date of the passing of this agreement was initially Sep 30th 2012 will be deemed LEGALLY binding and any third party signing such agreements will do it with full knowledge as such" PERIOD.
This baffoon is trying to delay so he can sign agreements that WOULD NEVER PASS UNDER THE FFR. Sighting all kinds of stupidness.
I would like for the UK to comment on the fact that Mr Bush claims that they told him the video, how did he put it, did not come out good so they could not give it to him. I would like comment on if it was recorded as per his instructions and if so where is the video.
Is he lying to the Cayman people AGAIN???
Man is a dam fool….he signed a legally binding agreement which is not subject to the vagaries of the prevailing wind, balance of his bank account, shape of west bay road or the weight of his belly.
As a politician, he ranks alongside Chavez, Misich and Mugabe, if anyone is going to cause financial problems for Cayman, it will be him, making stupid, ill informed comments like this on the radio, only shows just how unreliable and desperate he actually is.
He is unconvincing, unintelligible and very definately unhinged
Is it just me laughing at Mac talking about someone being accountable for financial mismanagement? The Ritz (and the nice apartment), the Cohen deal (and the free private jet flights), the collapse of the Marriott (and the consultancy fees and the Vegas ATM), the GLF debacle (and boy does that stink) . . .
I am happy his term in office will soon end. This embarrassment of ignorance is killing me.
Its not just you its killing – its killing the entire country.