Mac rails against process
(CNS): The premier said “so-called good governance” is nothing but “pure unadulterated bureaucracy” when he gavethe closing remarks at the Chamber’s forum event on Friday. Speaking about the “setbacks” to the projects his administration had promised because of pressure from the UK, McKeeva Bush said that, although things were now more “onerous with thenew processes”, he intended to press on, but things “won’t happen overnight”, he said. Railing against the imposition of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR), the premier said that past governments in Cayman used to get things done without all the bureaucracy that he now had to face.
“If those people had to do what I have had to do, we would not have had the West Bay Road,” he said. “If they had to deal with FFRs, there would not have been any duty free regime … maybe some people might have got investigated … but there would have been no expansion of the airports. If they had to put up with what I have had to put up with, we would not have got oil terminals or Cayman Airways. If they had to do that, we would not have gotten the port, and I could continue and …even my harshest critics have to agree.”
Bush implied that the FCO was being hypocritical after UK Prime Minister David Cameron in London made a speech recently about the need for the UK to be competitive. He said that in Cameron’s speech he had spoken about doing things differently and getting rid of the bureaucracy. However, Bush said he was getting cursed if he “moved an iota” and that too many members of the Chamber were criticising him and that they “should know better”, as he attacked those he accused of blogging against him.
“People are downright dirty … If you think I am doing wrong … to get you business … to better your businesses … we are not going to succeed without some of the things I want to do,” he said, adding that talk was cheap but “criticism was even cheaper”.
With only six months to go before the next general election, Bush raised the issue again of the possibility that he may not run for office, but claimed everything he has done during his seven terms in office was for Cayman. “I don’t know if want to go back and be premier but while I’m there I will do what has to be done," he said. "It is not about the election. I’ve had seven terms and I can get the next one.”
The premier said that people can criticise him if they wanted, and while it hurts, the issue was about the future success of Cayman. “You know where I stand on business but you hear accusations …. Well, let them accuse; it is business; it is your future that I must care about. I have to be concerned about that the success of Cayman and not about a blog on Wendy Ledger's rubbish,” he said referring to the comments on CNS.
Although the premier pointed the finger at some Chamber of Commerce members for criticising him, he also spoke about the collaboration needed between government and the business community. The wheels of commerce were always turning and it was impossible for the government to keep abreast of all the opportunities or threats, he said. Hence the need for partnerships with business, which historically Cayman had benefited from since its early ventures into financial services and tourism. Bush described it as an “integral part of what made us a major international centre”.
The future would, however, be one based on a wider range of sectors and Bush said he was proud of the work he had done to start broadening the economy. He pointed to Cayman Enterprise City, Dr Devi Shetty’s health city project, the reinsurance law and regulations, which were opening up new frontiers of business and facilitating a breadth of service offerings.
“We must be pro-business, and whatever you say about my government, you can't say we are not pro-business,” he claimed.
Bush acknowledged that there could be better information sharing between the public and private sectors, with decisions and applications being more consistent and timely, adding there was room for improvement. He also pointed to the pressing need for improvements in infrastructure. Most of all, he said, it was important to grow the population in order to grow the economy. He gave the Chamber audience a heads-up that he would be announcing the planned changes to immigration, and in particular the seven year rollover policy, at the CBO conference in January.
“Although we have been criticized for immigration,” Bush said, referring to the UDP administration, there had been some success but not enough for the economy. He warned that if he was not the leader of the next government and the country got “what they did between 2005 and 2009, then dog eat your supper.”
He said there was more work to be done on the new policy for immigration before government was certain about what to do regarding the term limits, but he said, “We cannot build this country with just a few people. It’s obvious when we see how many businesses closed.”
Answering his critics, Bush said he was a hard worker and “was born on that side of the street”, adding that he intended to continue working hard to address “systemic problems”, but it was “not about political power, but our business and our survival. Don't expect to make a shilling when there is only sixpence in George Town,” he advised.
Category: Politics
More delusional rantings:
“If those people had to do what I have had to do, we would not have had the West Bay Road,” he said.
(West Bay Road has been around for decades).
“If they had to deal with FFRs, there would not have been any duty free regime … (duty free businesses were around before the 1970's)
maybe some people might have got investigated … but there would have been no expansion of the airports.
(The airport has been expanded many times, even before Mac disgraced Caymanian politics by running).
If they had to put up with what I have had to put up with, we would not have got oil terminals or Cayman Airways.
(What oil terminals? Cayman Airways has been around for about half a century).
If they had to do that, we would not have gotten the port,
(which port? The one we have paid $3million to GLF to NOT build?)
and I could continue and …even my harshest critics have to agree.”
Yes Mac, your harshest critics have to agree that you have totally lost the plot.
Not standing up for Mac in any way, but you seem to have lost the point of what he meant and I feel the need to clarify when criticism is actually unfounded. When he says we would not have gotten the WB road/airport expansion/Cayman Airways/etc he means if the persons in Government when those projects were completed had to "deal with" what he has to "deal with" then it wouldn't have gotten done. Soooo… you're actually reinforcing his point that everything was completed pre-Mac and pre-"good governance" focus.
Good governance wasn't a major problem until we elected crooked leaders.
One thing we have to acknowledge. It sure took a hell of a lot to quiet McKeeva's supporters on CNS. But it has just about happened. We were down to one diehard thumber there for a while and it looks like even he has given up. Poor guy must have worn that thumb out completely. I sure hope his brain can be donated to science when he departs this life. And we can only continue to hope and pray that the puppets will soon follow suit.
Does this sound familiar?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derikGAEE9g
This is a man who has told the Global Financial Regulators that Cayman’s Financial Services Sector is one of the most compliant in the World in relation to Due Diligence and KYC policies and procedures for accepting new business, and that he fully endorses these principles. These principles are totally analogous with good governance in the fiscal and administrative management of Cayman – obviously he is very selective in deciding when he, and/or Cayman have to live by ” THE RULES “..
Here's an all too familiar phrase that Mac should know well "whats in it for meeee?"
Yah Mac, too much red tape getting in your way.
Too much tracking and record keeping for your likes huh
Yup, its all about being done in secret so you can put the "me" in it.
Your time coming tho…………………..soooon cpme
Keke & Udp you”ll are natural born losers!
Braca
No-one likes being watched, particularly when they are doing something they should not be. Because if you are not doing something bad, you have nothing to hide, right? EU, USA, Canada all have to put up with scrutiny from independent bodies and the free press, which helps bring out any abuses and get the controls in to stop them. The UK expenses scandal is a prime example. And heads rolled. And rules changed.
Any good, honest leader should be applauding FFR. Seems we don't have a good leader.
Big Mac's next job could be coaching Real Madrid. Wait, they already have someone who thinks any success can only be attributed to his own sheer genius, and any failures must be blamed on someone else.
And you are too dumb to understand what he is trying to say!!!
Mac, 从哪里弄来的，山羊胡子吗？
Don't you know that Goat Yard is in his district?
The difference between the Politicians in the past and presently …… ist that they were statemens, cared about the country and not self. Mr. Cradock Ebanks, Haig, Norman Bodden and I could go on were truly honest men. Politicians today are GREEDY . STUPIED, BULL HEADED, and FULLY of it….. I don't trust any of them any further that I could throw them and that not far .
Wake up Cayman in a few months. TIME TO SWEEP HOUSE …. Just saying
Awww! Poor wittle Mackie Boo Boo! Is him havin' a wittle hissy fit? Him is, isn't him? Dere, dere now…ery tign gonna be awright, Darlin'.
We know, we know. Dem bad ol' people from de UK expects a lot more dan your voters exepects from you, don't dey, Darlin'? Dey expects you to do your job accordin' to acceptable standards, but we all know dat poor wittle Mackie juss not used to doin' stuff de right wey, isn't dis true, Darlin'? Yes..we know, Darlin'…tings 'roun yah used to be done diff'rent dan now. Right Boo Boo? But den we used to wear wampahs and cook in a caboose too, didn't we Darlin'? Hmm…?
Well guess damn what, Bo Bo? This is the 21 century (Darlin') and if you don't like it, you can bloody well do everyone a favour and resign! (Ok, Darlin'?)
I agree that you are all about business alright…monkey business!
Yeah! You might have been "born on that side of the street” but that was then, eh? Now you are living like a prince, high on the hog; living in an ivory tower you have forsaken the little man who is still trying to make ends meet on "that side of the street". Case in point: civil servants had their raise taken back yet again, and all the while you bask in a lavish lifestyle of privilege and luxury, paid for in part by the hard-earned dollars of the little man. You have less shame than you have sense (and that ain't much).
What tripe you spew, Mac! About the only sensible thing from you in this whole article is that you might not run for office in the next election. Would to God this would be true, Darlin'!
The mayor of Toronto has just been removed from office due to a conflict of interest of about $3000 and his willful failure to read the "Conflict of interest Guidelines". What does that tell you, Cayman?
I tells us that the Mayor of Canada was removed?
"A statement of the bleeding obvious" (acknowledgements to Monty Python).
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has limits…
You would be pissed off too if you had just lost the Real Estate fees on the GT Cruise Port.
Or they have already been advanced and now have to be refunded!
LOL Mckeeva wa happen Mr. Simmons showed you who's in charge. wa you gaw say now as the saying goes the bottom of your bucket gaw holes and is about to drop out bobo.
Mr Bush, dont look on it as a nuisance but see due process as an opportunity.
It may surprise you, but if you read some of the comments on this story and others, you might get the impression that people dont trust you. Some even seem to think that things like secret deals with organisations suspected of giving bribes are suspicious, yes i am sorry to tell you that there are those that think you do these things without proper documentation in order to feather your own nest. For myself of course, I am sure that you are above such things, BUT, and it is a big but, you do need to be able to show the populace that your hands are clean and your heart is pure, and that is where due process comes in. Do your deals in the full light and open to inspection, invite your good friend and colleague Mr Swarbrick to inspect all the records, and then all those doubters will see you for what you are, worth a try isnt it?
How can you be pro-business when you practically run them from Cayman with all the increased trade and business licences, work permits, fees, etc.? The latest increase (just implemented) is the final nail in Cayman's business coffin. Bye Bye Cayman.
UDP is gone – no more!
PPM is downright depressing !
Now there's talks about C4C !
Personally, given the people involved and their backgrounds/history politically, C4C scares me just as much as the present bunch of idiots.
I was just thinking, if PPM resist C4C hard enough and C4C gets enough supporters, it could divide the electorate in half, and that could put McKeeva's UDP party back into power. LOL, JUST A HUMOROUS THOUGHT :))
Jeezus what a frightening thought….
It's not a humorous thought at all, it would be downright disaster for Cayman. I'm sure the UDP are very happy to see a third "entity" join the fight. Just as the votes for the independents split the "anti UDP" vote last election and resulted in the UDP going right back in.
I just wish that the UK would do direct rule like TCI atleast until there are FIT ENOUGH individuals to be left alone to run our islands, and put/keep us on track!
C4C is just UDP revamped. Under cloak beating their gums about coalition and anti-party politics. BLAHHH!!!
Then Mac still saying he don't think he's gonna run in 2013…bahahaha. ok. I get it.So he's going to be Chief Consultant to C4C come 2013 then??
Sorry. Come better than this people!
They have to be better than the UDP because I guarantee you McKeeva can neither C nor 4C.
Maybe you dont remember that before C4C , tthere was talk about just C4. Not heard much about that "explode" in the news latley.
Can you see why this man is so dangerous? He wants to do what he wants with no holds barred, no matter how stupid or illegal they maybe. The law and process be damed. All he cares about is chasing money people all over the globe. But that's over too. If there is one thing wehave learned and that is party politics and the people that control them do not have our country's best interest at heart. Let us dump them and elect people that put country and people first.
The real question is; can we find any who are willing to tackle and clean up the horendous mess our past politians have put us in? Let's hope so!!
Don't worry Bush, folks will get see what the PPM will do for them next year..
Dear Mr. Premier
Thank you for the very colourful speech that you gave at the Chamber meeting in which you outlined your progress and although well intended let me tell you that as good as many of your proposals are they need oversight and that is just what the FFR will do. I know that as a parent you do not give your children everything that they asked for neither would you encourage them to spend all their income and not save. I believe the FFR although not perfect it is a good check and balance method for any government.
Your efforts to turn the Cayman Islands around is very commendable however the proper rules must be followed. Thank you for trying to diversify the economy and being pro-business. I beg that you would give the small Caymanian business the opportunities to grow their businesses as well, businesses with less than 10 employees really need a break, pension should not be mandatory for expat employees or for Caymanians who operate small business of which they operate solo. I hope you will choose to run in the next election as you still have a lot to offer in any capacity in government . I know that you care about the Cayman Islands and business but CNS is not bad they just report the news and is not responsible for what bloggers write you must try to rise above what hurts your feeling and continue with the good governance of the country.
I agree that we should grow the population but this is very risky if we do not have the proper infrastructure in place. First of all we need to upgrade our education system, healthcare, roads, sewage and garbage, we are badly in need of a proper sewage system and this should be one of our primary focus before we increase the population further. We need to invest in an efficient waste management facility and services like they have in North America. We need to provide the proper waste bins where there is less manpower and greater effeciency in garbage collection. Recycling should be put in place ASAP.
I agree that immigration should be streamlined and the policies should come into line with those of most first world countries similar to that of the USA. An immigration policy similar to the USA would only enhance our country just look at how successful the USA is and it all starts with their immigration policies. I believe we should copy their immigration policies to the letter.
Mr. Bush, you have reigned over a period of the accelerated destruction of the business environment in Cayman. Instead of reducing the size and cost of the civil service, you have fought valliently against reducing it, heaping the cost burden on our fragile economy. As business continued to leave our shores, to make up the gap in income you raised the already high cost of doing business in Cayman to new unprecidented levels where businesses just cannot survive. This is just accelerating the exedos of business leaving, and local businesses closing down. A lot of business can be done elsewhere now, and the high cost of doing business in Cayman is driving that business elsewhere, to the detriment of Cayman.
We already cannot borrow any more, and are already finding ourselves in period of cashflow crisis, and it is only a matter of time before we reach the tipping point where we cannot meet our financial obligations. Imagine hundreds of unpaid civil servants on the streets demonstrating. Soon come bobo!
A great message from the only real leader out there. Be under no illusions, if you lose Mac – the territory will go to the dogs. Lead, follow or get out of the way
… Or just. Check yourself into prison
lol. The territory is going to the dogs BECAUSE of Mac. We are experiencing the worst case scenario for a premier.
As far as leaders go, Hitler was one. The question is was he a good one?
i am in no way comparing Mac to Hitler just that your argument doesn't hold up. we need more than just a leader.
I wonder who wrote that for him. LOL
The PPM despite all the money available to them did not build a Port.
Under the PPM the number of cruise ships calling to the Cayman Islands went from 784 in 2005 to 547 in 2009 according to the ESO: http://www.eso.ky/docum1/docum105.pdf
What does that have to do with this article. Is that Macs latest excuse for not producing anything?
UDP? PPM?
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
…. shouldn't that be Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dumber?
You mean that the PPM is dumber than the UDP? That would be quite a feat.
Yeah, they have to be pretty smart to achieve THAT one.
Better cautious than crooked.
The PPM (now Progressives), by their own admission, during their administration of 2005-2009 engaged in the largest capital spending the Cayman Islands have ever seen.
However during the same period 2005-2009 the unemployment in the Cayman Islands almost doubled – going from 3.5% in 2005 to 6% in 2009 according to the ESO: http://www.eso.ky/docum1/docum112.pdf
The 2009 statistics reflect the reality of the worst worldwide financial crisis since the Great Depression. What is your point? Are you blaming the PPM for the worldwide recession?
And the UDP did absolutely nothing to improve the situation in their term.
Thank God for Wendy Ledger rubbish CNS. It's because of this rubbish that I am able to know much of the real issues facing this country and how the people of Cayman feel. Keep up the good work Ms. Ledger and CNS.
Now would you listen to this pile of BS now. Mckeeva is really going to blame all of his cock ups on the FFR? "past governments in Cayman used to get things done without all the bureaucracy that he now had to face." He has had 3.5 of 4 years without this in place and still hasnt managed to get anything done. What is he talking about?? Move over buddy, your time is done. Thank God. (And no, you could not win the not election as stated)
We are not accusing you of getting things done! We just don't like the under the table unfair bidding and back door deals, if it was legit and above board and transparent ; go for it.
Thats all we ever asked for Sir.
Awwww, sorry bobo can't have your cake and eat it too anymore. Quit whining and get on with it, as it's now called putting the people before YOUR pocket!
That was like a speech out of a movie!
First one started clapping. Then another. Then the whole audience.
Despite everything that has not been accomplished in the last four years this one speech could turn around everything!
Not…
Dear Mac,
Shut the XXXX up!
That is all.
Thank you,
The Electorate
Mac would not know good governance if it walked up to him with a sign round its neck saying "I am Good Governance", introduced itself as "Hi, I am Good Governance" and then gave him a slap in the face saying "Listen to me I am Good Governance and you know nothing about me so stop talking to people about me".
Yes! I did that this very weekend to this silly girl . But you explain the sentiment perfectly here!
Look forward to more posts from u
O McKeeva has something to say about good governance? Ha!
Any voting Caymanian who believes that the FCO and their cohorts are friends and partners of the Cayman Islands, must be living on Mars or some other planet in outer space, instead of this rock in the caribbean.
When the Cayman Islands were in desperate need after Hurricane Ivan, do you remember what England gave us ?? Some old Tarpaulin and soon to be experienced Tetanus shots !!!! They left after less than a week stay.
Who was flying in the planes with free water, ice and food to feed our sorry asses for weeks and months on end after the Hurricane Ivan ?? Oh yes, it was that "same man" that the critics war about down West Bay Road.
"…..soon to be EXPIRED………" perhaps?
Since you bring it up (post-Ivan), WHO turned away help to our islands, WHO refused to allow a privately-stocked jet of emergency goods to offload, WHO refused assistance from assembled crews from the Sister Islands and WHO told the world Grand Cayman had recovered from the hurricane, only to have droves of tourists declare that GC looked like a war zone, thus ensuring that they'd not soon return?
WHO was afraid of loosing control and turned away British ships with supplies and personnel?
WHO even turned away local heavy-equipment operators willing to volunteer their time, fuel and equipment to help with the cleanup, and used his own construction company instead?
Any guesses? Give you a hint if you need it.
Yes, because McKeeva told them we didn't need any help and would not let reporters in to see how bad the damage was. Who suffered? The people who had lost the most, that's who. Not him. He was doling out generators to who he wanted them to go to but those who really needed, got nothing – as usual.
Obviously, another UDP supporter with no memory, who does not remember that bush told the UK we did not need any help after Ivan. Dart did a good job, but not because there was nobody else willing to help.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3674884.stm
Read this BBC article and look at the video under the red heading "watch and listen" on the right hand side. It is entitled "entire houses have disappeared".
We need politician like Capt Charles Kirkconnell in charge of this country.
LMAO!! I guess you weren't here then and he told you that personally because none of it is true! Mac told them to go away, that we didn't need their help! He didn't want anyone in the outside financial/business sector knowing that we needed any help. Where have you been!?!?! Everyone knows this. Oh, wait. You must be from West Bay.
Nice that someone got a bunch of free stuff for weeks and months on end coz I sure didn't!! You must have been home crying in your beer until they brought you some free stuff. I didn't even see anywhere that people were being notified about free stuff. Nor where you could sign up for free stuff. I had to do it all on my own. I worked for it.
You must be from West Bay
I remember Ivan well, and the weeks and months that followed with long days of work and returning home to no electricity. I just wish someone had told me at the time that there was free food, ice, and water!
If you were a UDP supporter in West Bay someone would have told you about the freebies. There was a queue at Macs house (in the district least affected by Ivan) to get donated items which should have gone to East End.
If Mac was our Dictator, just imagine the deals he could do.
Yeah man! But for whose benefit?
Hey Mac, you are an employee, you work for us. We have rules, processes, and procedures in place to protect the Country’s interests and assets from unscrupulous politicians. The lid is back on the cookie jar. Get used to it and stop whining.
And who was it that created that “pure unadulterated bureaucracy” for himself?? Might I inquire to ask!! (with apologies to Bugs Bunny)
Poor baby. Want a bottle? I expect this out of children not adults.
The reason Mr Bush is because of the HIGH COST of REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY FEES we have experienced.
Or maybe all the dirty back room deals you have attempted to broker…
Clean up your house Mr Bush and these processes would not seem so onerous.
Mac we live in a modern age where the public demands clear, unadulterated processes. We no longer like when politicians manipulate systems for their own benefit and for the benefit of their supporters. We want fairness and equality. We find the Stan Thomas' type deals unacceptable. We find the CHEC deal unaceptable. We find the cancellation of the GLF deal unacceptable. Do you know what that did to our reputation internationally? We don't like you selling off CAL shares without you consulting us on it and sharing the details of what you intended to do with us. We did not like you trying to circumvent the Central Tenders process for Cohen to buy the new Gov't Admin Bldg. We did not like you failing to listen to civil servants on government finances that resulted in you losing several hundred thousand dollars on the failed Cohen financing. The deal you struck with Dart without the public being informed of what you intended to barter for a few bucks to pay people's mortgages for a short time and finance a private school is not something we find palatable at all. Processes are there to ensure fairness.
We want a fair style of government, but we know where you and the UDP stood when you failed to listen to us and grant one man one vote, the first step to bringing equality to the voting system. We demand a change that will bring an end to the loopholes that has allowed all of the above to prevail and we hope that the manifestos that candidates will put forward will clearly define how they intend to bring that change about.
Lord, hasten May 2013 before any more damage is done.
Anonymous 19:40 Well Said, and Mac, he is full of Hot-Air, which is best to ignore him whenever he speaks.
Pro-business? Anti- us poor people.
With all the talk about the high cost of insurance (since Hurricane Ivan) one would have thought something would have been done to negotiate the astronomical insurance rates. I wonder if I could get that Gov't tax on my house insurance waived? I can't afford to take a trip much less bring in any goods to get import duty waived. Certainly can't afford to purchase any property to apply for a stamp duty waiver. But I really can't afford to pay the insurance tax – especially since my salary was reduced.
what a raving looney……..
Mac is clearly unhappy at being prevented from being the Caribbean's latest dictator, Papa Mac Devaluer.
Surely there's enough evidence here to have him committed.
ATTENTION FCO: Can We Now FINALLY get RID of McKeeva as the Primier of the Cayman Islands?
Just read this RHETORIC below.
"" “If those people had to do what I have had to do, we would not have had the West Bay Road,” he said. “If they had to deal with FFRs, there would not have been any duty free regime … maybe some people might have got investigated … but there would have been no expansion of the airports. If they had to put up with what I have had to put up with, we would not have got oil terminals or Cayman Airways. If they had to do that, we would not have gotten the port, and I could continue and …even my harshest critics have to agree.”
Bush implied that the FCO was being hypocritical after UK Prime Minister David Cameron in London made a speech recently about the need for the UK to be competitive. He said that in Cameron’s speech he had spoken about doing things differently and getting rid of the bureaucracy. However, Bush said he was getting cursed if he “moved an iota” and that too many members of the Chamber were criticising him and that they “should know better”, as he attacked those he accused of blogging against him.
“People are downright dirty … If you think I am doing wrong … to get you business … to better your businesses … we are not going to succeed without some of the things I want to do,” he said, adding that talk was cheap but “criticism was even cheaper”. ""
THE AUDACITY > “People are downright dirty … If you think I am doing wrong …
on another note, I often wondered if “Pure Unadulterated Bureaucracy” would ever be a BIG HIT AGAIN!!! It's just amazing how fashion and music makes full circles to come back popular!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derikGAEE9g
Seven terms? from gardener to suites at the ritz, you did well.
For yourself and a few rich developers.
pure unadulterated bureaucratic "HARASSMENT?"
that's what he sees happening?
Are you sure this was real and not just a re-hash of "What I See Happenin""?
Keyboard solo – Hit It John John.
Bush has a point about bureaucracy slowing things down excessively here but that is mostly because of the appallingly slow pace at which senior civil servants work in trying to put projects together. There is no culture of "can do on time within budget" so things drag on forever and no civil servant is ever held accountable for his/her slowness except perhaps Diane Montoya and Debbie Drummond and what happened to them was NOT right as it did not follow a proper disciplinary process.
PLEASE MAC!
"RESIGN NOW" and save any more "EMBARRASSMENT" to "YOUR FAMILY" and to "YOUR ISLAND…….
Poor beloved Brother Mac. Now he has to sign all contracts above the table. Man that must really hurt.