Mac fears LA deadlock
(CNS): Some two and a half years after the Electoral Boundary Commission finished its report the premier finally laid the order to increase the number of MLAs on the floor of the Legislative Assembly Wednesday. Accepting the recommendation to add the seats to George Town and Bodden Town, McKeeva Bush voiced his fears over possible government gridlock. He said he did not believe 18 was the best number as it may be difficult for the next group of elected members to form a government if there are nine on each side. Bush said that with an even number, as had been the case in other parliaments, there was a real risk of failure for future legislators.
The premier acknowledged that nineteen would be too many, given what was already a costly exercise, but the House could have gone to 17, he said, as he dismissed claims regarding the UK’s insistence that there must be a balance in favourof the parliament as a check on the executive. Bush said in the future the legislature would need to return to odd numbers to eliminate the risk of an elected parliament not being able to form a government.
Selecting the Boundary Commission's recommendation, based on population figures, Bush confirmed that the district of George Town would increase to six seats and Bodden Town to four. He indicated that the government was not accepting the recommendations that the George Town-Bodden Town boundary be switched slightly to accommodate the growing numbers, as he said that it was too much of a change for people who have voted in the capital for decades to now be told to vote in Bodden Town.
Facing an increase in the number of votes that they will have at the May 2013 General Election, Bush called on all of the members of the House to educate their constituents. He also asked for the members' support to give the motion smooth passage, enabling government to move to amend the elections law before the end of the given the timetable for the governor to issue the election writs on 12 December.
“I hope my fears and concerns will never become reality, but I worry about it with an even number,” he told the LA as he opened the debate.
The opposition leader said there had been a long process to get to the point where the premier was finally bringing the order, following several attempts to try and increase the number of seats in West Bay. Pointing to the successful referendum in favour of one man, one vote, which had technically failed because of government’s high bar, Alden McLaughlin said that, given the eleventh hour situation, the premier was implementing the worst possible option.
“Of the many arguments put forward over one man, one vote there is but one cardinal principle that can’t be negated, which is the principle of equity. It is simply wrong in principle for George Town to have six votes and East End and North Side one,” he said. People across the country and even the boundary commissioners have agreed that it is unfair and unjust, for voters in the capital to have six times the power to influence the make-up of government merely because of their postcode.
McLaughlin said he had less concerns regarding gridlock than the premier as the speaker has a casting vote to retain the status quo on a deadlock vote. He said that forming a government would require compromise if there was an even return for both sides and, if not, then the people would have to return to the polls.
“I believe that concern is not well founded as many parliaments around world that have even numbers. We did for 20 years and there was never a situation where the House was paralysed,” he said, adding that the issue of numbers was raised, considered, contemplated and argued extensively during the constitutional talks.
McLaughlin said the additional seats were as a result of the need for a finance minister and to spread the workload of the Cabinet. But to get two ministers and retain parliamentary balance, at least one more backbench seat was required.
“Many believe one of the weaknesses of the Westminster system is that there are few checks and balances on the executive,” the PPM leader said. “Parliament is one of only a few and if the executive is behaving badly the House can, if it has the will, bring the government down.”
With significant concerns about the cost and aware of the pushback from the public, McLaughlin said that the former PPM administration had opted for the least costly option that met the balancing criteria, which was 18 rather than 19 members. Although he said the decision by government to choose this recommendation was far from ideal, given the lateness of the order, there was little choice and members had to support the motion.
The premier launched a scathing attack on McLaughlin as he wound up the debate, in which, with the exception of the independent member from North Side (check back later today to see separate CNS report), no other MLAs spoke.
He accused McLaughlin of not really wanting one man, one vote because if he did he would have put it into the constitution, for which he got the MBE. Bush also questioned the result of the 2009 referendum saying the “votes came in too quick”.
Bush also taunted the opposition leader over his reluctant role in the one man, one vote campaign, suggesting that he had let the movement down and hung them out to dry. The premier accused the opposition leader of not really wanting OMOV and of making comments during the constitutional talks, which were not recorded on the transcripts but implied he did not want it. Bush said that the opposition leader did not believe he could get elected in a SMC and could only get voted in on the coattails of the former PPM leader, Kurt Tibbetts.
Despite the protestations of the opposition leader that he never made any comments during the constitutional talks about not supporting one man, one vote, and insisting that the premier withdrew the untruthful remarks, the speaker refused to ask the premier to withdraw.
“It’s too late in the day for those two to come here and start afight,” Bush stated, without any acknowledgement of his part in the delay. He said the order was based on the recommendation of the Boundary Commission, which had done its work according to the constitution. “If you don’t like it then you will have to do the next best thing and go to the public and ask for a majority and then make the changes,” Bush said.
Although he denied trying to get an extra seat for West Bay, stating that if government had wanted that he could have got it as he had the majority. “But maybe we should have done that as I still have concerns,” Bush added as he pointed out that with six seats George Town members could form the government in collaboration with either just West Bay or Bodden Town, which would see four districts left out of government.
Bush revelled in what he clearly believed was a clever move on his part over the referendum. He said the opposition benches had tried to “play games” and were “running around with a petition”. But he said “I pulled the rug out from under them” with the decision to call the national poll. “They got caught out!” he said, with a certain amount of glee.
Category: Politics
The representatives who are there haven't done much to solve the existing problems. So, the solution? Create more of them. And…. put them on the payroll. Maybe even allow them to collect pensions as well? Someone must have taken a page from the ENRON book or Wall Street's scheme about derivitives. In a country you can drive across in 3/4 of an hour? C'mon now there isn't any justification for eighteen members in the Legislature. This is just what the country needs….more individuals sitting in comfy chairs trying to stay awake until next payday without any clue as to what they're going to until then.
Who cares what he thinks? Mac will soon be irrelevant. He has proven himself to be a self-serving ego maniac. Good riddance to him and his culture of greed and corruption.
Love the picture…Kurt is asleep and Big Mac seems to be at the planetarium
The Premier is an insecure little child in the way he carries on in the Assembly. One thing is for sure that we will definitely not have a deadlock in forming a Government in the next election because there will be an overwelming majority breaking all historical records to vote this dispicable fool and all his blind little followers out of office and place intelligent well qualified people in Government who have the country's interest and future at heart. It is an absolute embarrassment and shameful that we have this idiot as our first premier of our country.
May 2013 can not come soon enough for it is the end of this man's political career and after he is prosecuted and sentenced, he will be able to start a new life in Northward, with all the same needs as he has now, high walls, personal cook, subsidized living by the country and a driver of his bus out side the compound for cleaning our roads and bush.
A more appropriate headline is: "The Public fears deadlock stranglehold which Mac has around the country's windpipe."
But Premier Bush said “I pulled the rug out from under them” with the decision to call the national poll. “They got caught out!”
Hmmmm…..
This sounds like that move by him on OMOV was "politcally motivated". Now, where did I see that comment recently? Hypocritical a**hole!!!!!!
"a real risk of failure for future legislators"? Really? Any risk of failure for future legislators pales in comparison to the total failure of this UDP government.
"Bush revelled in what he clearly believed was a clever move on his part over the referendum. He said the opposition benches had tried to “play games” and were “running around with a petition”. But he said “I pulled the rug out from under them” with the decision to call the national poll. “They got caught out!” he said, with a certain amount of glee.
Hmmmm, I respect the views and opinions of others, even when the are opposed to my own. Upon such blocks a society is built. However, I cannot respect any individual who celebrates circumventing democratic principles and process to have their views previal. Even (or possibly "especially") when those views are also my own.
Didn't Cayman have an even number of seats (elected members) in the L.A. for a very long time, namely 12, & it was not a problem for all those years. Once again Mckeeva Bush is playing politics because he can't get his way. He will soon find someone to blame because it is always someone elses fault!
I agree with you but unfortunately Bush (I refuse to call him Premier) will have absolutely no clue what you wrote and someone will need to break this down to him in very, very small pieces.
His real concern, and the reason for the long delay is that his block vote of four, himself and the inevitable three dimwits he drags in on his back, have less of a blocking vote in the LA. Good for democracy, but not as good as one member constituencies, ie you mught be unlucky enough to keep him, but you wont get the three dimwits!
Every time he opens his mouth he proves himself incompetent. Again. Come on Caymanians. At least get someone who has an education up to high school. Or you all anti smarter than a 5th grader? Honest question. It would explain a lot and be understandable.
We should consider having six Premiers.
One Premier to travel.
One Premier to overtax the people.
Another Premier to to dole out taxpayers money to their churches, friends, family and supporters.
The fourh Premier should be in charge of referendums.
The fifth Premier should be in charge of paving private driveways. (this one however will need a personal aide/personal assistant/driver/bodyguard/ travel companion/ houseguest and must be good at what he does).
And the sixth Premier will be the role model for the rest of us bar hopping, skirt chasing, womanizing and cavorting, drunkards…
run for premier, knot so smart… you have what it takes to be one… you have my vote of non-confidence… hehehe…
How pethatic, that even on this tiny tiny island, the people are still able to think in even tinier districts.
Isn't it time to think ONE island ?
If so, we can reduce the amount of politicians to 7 or so.
Caymanians should start to think in terms of policies (liberal, left, right, social etc) instead of "I am from Westbay or Eastend".
3 or 4 political parties with a nation wide policy on issues. Have to 2 biggest form a government and you're done.
A national vote for 6 Cabinet members and a district vote for one representative each. Cabinet will bring bills and the District Representatives will vote on it. The total number of people elected will then fall to 13. That's 5 less to pay for.
I waited 2 years for no good reason and now I am afraid it may not go through before the next elections…
Awwwwwww poor Mac!
“Many believe one of the weaknesses of the Westminster system is that there are few checks and balances on the executive,” the PPM leader said. “Parliament is one of only a few and if the executive is behaving badly the House can, if it has the will, bring the government down.”
Apparently, our members are lacking in the will!
"The premier launched a scathing attack on McLaughlin as he wound up the debate, in which, with the exception of the independent member from North Side, no other MLAs spoke."
Cluck cluck cluck cluck (Chickens!)
I hereby move that the assembly be reduced to eleven members.
Gridlock could be very good for the country. It would minimize the damage.
A legitimate concern.
Imagine if the LA is evenly split after an election (9 UDP and 9 opposition) – it could result that there is a change in Government everyday if a politician that does not get his (or her) way.
This instability would not be good for the Country.
It sounds a lot better than what would happen with 9 UDP and 8 sane people.
Absolute bloody nonsense. What about absentee members, abstainers etc., no matter how many MLA's you have (odd or even) there is always the possibility of a "hung" vote.
You mean it could get worse???
More confusing maybe but not worse. Nothing is worse than Mac's hold on the Government.
I wonder if Mr.Bush is aware how utterly out of touch he is with the real world?
10:54 How old are you? Youshould be worrying as to how utterly out of touch you are with the Word. Stop worrying about what is going on in todays world. There is nothing that mankind can do to stop what is coming. Stop worrying about Mr Bush, can you and all others understand that Mr Bush is not answering you all. The man is getting his heart right with God.
Have you considered if you was to be suddenly called, would you be worrying about Mr Bush, or wondering where you would be going. Of course if you do not believe in God, then my words are in vain. However if you do, please stop letting politics destroy your thoughts.
"The man is getting his heart right with God".
There is absolutely no evidence of that. And I am a devout believer.
cayman …this is your premier????……hahahahaha…..
go home mac, stay indoors and shut up, your done
This complaint shows how petty and tribal Mac is. If there is not a majority then the politicians may need to consider consensus building. Now I know the concept will be alien to boorish knuckleheads like Mac, Ellio and John John, but that does not mean it cannot work.
Where is MR Bush"brilliant" suggestion to create two member constituencies? LOL does anyoen remember that Brain Fart?
there has been many brain farts over the last 3 and half years…….