Archive for December, 2012
Mac expecting to be charged
(CNS): The former Cayman premier said he expected to be charged sometime ahead of the general election in connection with what he claimed were false allegations against him fuelled by a governor who had come to the country to destroy it. McKeeva Bush described some of the allegations against him to a crowd of well over 300 people Thursday night at his first public meeting since his arrest, but vowed he would be exonerated. He said he was accused of theft for books he had bought on the government credit card and dry cleaning bills but skimmed over the matter of a missing $10,000. He also denied being an owner of Midland Acres, the company which imported explosives without the correct paperwork.
In Bush’s first public statements about his arrest and subsequent ousting, he said he had not resigned from the premiership in the wake of his arrest on the advice of his attorneys. He told the audience of supporters that his lawyers had said that it would set a precedent. Had he stepped down at that time, he said, in future whoever the UK did not like they could accuse them of a trumped up crime and get rid of them, even though they were democratically elected.
“I fully expect that I will be charged any time before the elections,” he said. His attorneys have advised him to say nothing further, he added, but he went on to talk about the humiliation of his arrest and the search of his home when nine police officers came to his house at around 7am on Tuesday, 11 December.
He denied that he was arrested because he would not talk to the police when they came, but admitted that, on the advice of his lawyers, he did not answer their questions. He also confirmed that the warrant had been signed by the new judge, Justice Williams, whom the governor “had brought from TCI”.
Bush said the warrant listed books and gifts he had purchased in London on a government credit card that were in his home. He said the books were meant to start a reference library for the office of the premier and the gifts were for staff. However, he also mentioned a missing $10,000, and although he did not elaborate, he said it was being paid back. Bush said less about the memo regarding the importation of explosives by Midland Acres but denied having ownership of that company.
Re-iterating his belief that the arrest was part of a collusion between Governor Duncan Taylor, the commissioner of police and the opposition, he accused Taylor of coming to the Cayman Islands “to destroy what he could destroy” because of the jealousy for what Caymanians had built up.
He said the governor had seen the position of the opposition and used that to achieve his objective to divide and conquer. Bush accused the UK’s representative of refusing to assist with any project that could have wiped out unemployment and created opportunities. “Everything we put on the table he voted against it,” Bush said, adding that with the opposition’s help the governor had done everything he could to discredit him.
He said the collusion was illustrated by how quickly the international media, as well as the local press, was informed about his arrest. Bush said he believed the whole thing was orchestrated to coincide with his planned trip to Jamaica to receive an honorary doctorate and to engineer his removal from office.
Bush listed some of the historic run-ins Cayman has had with the UK, not least the Euro Bank scandal and the revelations that the British had planted spies in the banking sector.
“This little rock is always at risk with them,” Bush said. “I know my phones are bugged but don’t be fooled, I’m not the only one. These things burn me up when I think how much our ancestors fought and worked so hard. We never got anything from them. They should respect this country and its leadership,” he said, stating that it was hard under the circumstance for Cayman to have respect for its British rulers when they had none for Cayman.
"We have laws here," he said, adding that Cayman did not need more of theirs designed to stop the development of business here because they want it there.
He also called on the governor to answer the question of whether the police in the UK would arrest a sitting prime minister on the same trumped up allegations as had been made against him when he had been taken into custody.
Bush also turned his attention on what is now the ‘former UDP 5’ and described the new government as a “sham cabinet which won’t make the lame walk”. The former premier said the government was now unconstitutional as it was in a minority and he would be pursuing that issue as they could not be allowed to “bastardise the constitution” in this way.
Speaking about the process that led to his ousting, he said that in the past he had not criticised them but suggested that Rolston Anglin, in particular, had also been one of those stopping him from doing some things. He also criticised the education minister for comparing his DUI conviction with Bush's own situation and said that they had tried to run him down at Wednesday’s press briefing with innuendo. Bush added that he had created, nurtured and enabled the political careers of the five people who were now sitting in Cabinet.
The former premier made it clear that he may be down but he was far from out, although he said he had not yet made a decision on whether he would or would not run for office at the next election. Bush told the party faithful who had come out to support him that he intended to pray about it but he didn’t really feel like running.
A test of character
“Fame is a vapor, popularity is an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today may curse tomorrow and only one thing endures – character.” – Harry S. Truman. As I reflect on events of the past months, and especially on the events of the past week, the above quote rings especially true in my view. Mr Bush faced a test of character after his arrest and failed miserably when he did not stand down of his own volition.
Admittedly few of us thought he understood that the right thing to do was to stand down, but we hoped nonetheless. He made this failure worse when, after being asked to step down by the colleagues who stood by and defended him over many years, he selfishly refused to listen to their counsel and pleas. Happily they finally realized, even if Mr Bush did not, that it was in the best interest of their party, their government, possibly their political careers, and in the best interest of the country that Mr Bush should leave the post of premier after being arrested.
His refusal to do the right thing by the people of the country left his cabinet and backbench members with two choices. Either to continue to blindly support Mr Bush staying in office and risk further harm to the country’s reputation, or to support the Progressives' (PPM’s) Lack of Confidence motion and thereby join the opposition members in voting down the government — and in so doing to send a message to the world that the parliament and people of the Cayman Islands would not stand by and ignore the arrest of a sitting premier on suspicion of serious offences.
Fortunately for the country, five of the UDP’s elected members finally stopped blindly following Mr Bush. Three, sadly in my opinion, decided that loyalty to Mr Bush came before loyalty to country. These three helped embolden Mr Bush and helped create the events that unfolded in the Legislative Assembly. I suspect that history may be kinder to the five than it will be to the three.
Few politicians in Cayman’s history have been as divisive as Mr Bush. Indeed in my opinion he has been a destructive political force for too long and with his recent actions he may end up destroying his own party. If Mr Bush had stepped aside he could have done so while still confirming his innocence but stating he was doing this for the country.
There would have been an orderly transfer of power to the deputypremier, with perhaps Cline Glidden (given his experience) taking a ministry position and Mike Adam remaining in cabinet. Mr Bush’s party would be intact, the country would have been saved the drama, and perhaps Mr Bush and his supporters could seek to claim a high moral ground with his ‘sacrifice’ for country. Instead, the events played out as they did this week and with a new government now being formed with the “UDP 5”.
Whilst I am happy that the “UDP 5” finally did the right thing and help the opposition evict Mr Bush from office, I cannot forget that they, and others, helped to prop him up through all these years, despite the many issues that surrounded Mr Bush and his UDP administration.
The “UDP5” should also not forget the part they played in helping support and embolden Mr Bush and I pray that they think long and hard on the lessons learned. Hopefully, the tone of their first press conference along with a promise to act more transparently, and follow correct process, is an indication that they have learned those lessons. Alas the “UDP 3” have shown that no lessons were learned and, as such, I suspect that their political futures will end in May 2013.
I will end by returning to the theme of character and give Mr McLaughlin his due. I listened to his debate in the LA and again later that night on TV. He continued the approach he took after the arrest. His comments were appropriate and measured and he repeated that he preferred that the UDP had resolved this matter quickly without the Legislative Assembly needing to.
His tone and approach to this serious matter was statesmanlike in my viewand in the end he and the Progressives played a huge part in assisting this matter to come to a productive end. He has not gloated or rejoiced, or looked to take any huge credit; and this has helped cement in my mind, and I am sure in the minds of many, the character of the man.
Further cementing the view of Mr McLaughlin’s character is the manner in which he has steadily moved forward, putting together a team of quality, capable new candidates with varied backgrounds and good reputations, to compliment the current sitting MLAs. The fact that these individual are also willing to work with him, some choosing the Progressives even after approaches from the UDP and the C4C, is also an indication of the character of the man.
Since taking on the leadership of the Progressives the arrows sent his way have increased but he has stood steadfast and continued moving forward. Those who say they prefer someone more flamboyant than Mr McLaughlin need only look at where Mr Bush’s flamboyancy got us. I will take thoughtful and steady leadership any day over brashness and flamboyancy.
In my view Mr McLaughlin, and his team of Progressive candidates understand what President Truman meant by “… only one thing endures – Character.”
UDP moves to oust former 5
(CNS): The Bodden Town ministers, Mark Scotland and Dwayne Seymour, have been given seven days to resign from the UDP or face a hearing with the district council, which would result in their forced removal. An e-mail from the Bodden Town UDP chair, Mario Rankine, who was, CNS can confirm, arrested Thursday, chastised the two Bodden Town MLAs and makes it clear that they are no longer welcome in the party. Following the decision by Scotland and Seymour, along with the new premier, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Rolston Anglin and Cline Glidden, to oust Bush from office Tuesday, the new Cabinet had already said they expected in turn to be ousted from the United Democratic Party.
In his e-mail Rankine states that he is “very disappointed that you guys did not care to inform or communicate with the council on what your actions would be that took place earlier this week”, and went on to write that the move demonstrated “the highest level of disloyalty and disrespect to the UDP.”
Rankine, who has been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, told Seymour and Scotland in an email sent to them sometime on Wednesday afternoon that it was the die-hard supporters who made it possible for them to be legislators. But in light of their actions they were exercising “the power in the UDP constitution to discipline any member whose actions are not in the best interest of the UDP and more importantly the people of the Cayman Islands.”
He said he was signing aletter to serve both men with seven days’ notice of the hearing, giving them a chance to be heard.
“However it would be easier if you Mark Scotland and John Seymour just simply step down as UDP and save the good people who put their entire life and reputation on the line for you guys any further embarrassment,” he wrote. “For the record Mark Scotland and John Seymour do NOT have me and my family support anymore the campaign against them starts NOW,” Rankine stated in his correspondence.
While the five former UDP Cabinet members now have control of government, it appears that all five are likely to be ousted from the formal UDP over the next few days. CNS understands, however, that not all of the party membership is deserting the five, with some senior members already making moves to leave the UDP and back the breakaway group.
McKeeva Bush will be hosting a public meeting in George Town this evening when the extent of the party's lack of unity will be revealed. The former premier and political veteran is expected to respond to the events over the last ten days, which have seen his fall from high office in the wake of his arrest Tuesday 11 December on suspicion of theft and several offences under the anti-corruption law.
In the Legislative Assembly one week later, on Tuesday 19 December, the opposition leader’s no confidence motion succeeded as five government members supported it, bringing down Bush’s administration. However, before the debate began, Bush effectively resigned from the government benches when he crossed the floor of the House in the company of Mike Adam, Captain Eugene Ebanks and Ellio Solomon. While the UDP is now split, it is clear that Bush, not O’Connor-Connolly, remains the leader of the UDP and will be re-grouping that party in preparations for the May general elections.
Rankine was arrested Thursday afternoon by officers from the immigration department but no details of that arrest have been released.
Bush set to face the people
(CNS): The former Cayman Island premier is scheduled to hold a public meeting in George Town this evening, when he is expected to speak about his recent ousting from office and the new shape of the United Democratic Party. The political group is now divided between support for the ‘former UDP Five’ now holding government and the ‘Bush Four’, following theousting of McKeeva Bush’s government on Tuesday. Following a meeting with Bush and the UDP membership last night, it is understood that he moved to oust the five from the UDP and is alleged to have accused them all of various questionable dealings.
Bush, Mike Adam, Capt Eugene Ebanks and Ellio Solomon walked across the floor during the no confidence motion on Wednesday, causing a split in the party. According to sources inside the UDP, Bush is not going quietly and will remain in the political game. Confident that his arrest will not impede his political career and insisting he has done nothing wrong, Bush appears to be ready for what is likely to be a major political battleground in the May 2013 general election.
When Juliana O’Connor-Connolly held her first press briefing yesterday as premier, she and her new cabinet colleagues admitted that they did not now know exactly where they stood in relation to the UDP and being ousted from the party was a risk the five of them took when they made the decision to put country first ahead of their leader.
It is understood that the membership is now lining up behind both sides but it appears Bush will be laying claim to the continued leadership of the original UDP, while those supporting the new government are likely to take on a new moniker in the coming months as the election campaign begins in earnest.
Although the former UDP 5 were unsure of their party label, they did make it clear they would all be running in the next election, including Cline Glidden, who, after joining the new Cabinet, said he was reconsidering his earlier decision to exit the political arena at the next election.
The UDP boss will now be seeking to redefine the party, create a new West Bay team to ensure his own return the Legislative Assembly and take stock on the other districts. With time ticking on the election calendar and as a veteran of the political game, the former premier is likely to concentrate only on George Town, where the six seats will prove a critical component, given the loss of his two Bodden Town members, who will now inevitable split the UDP vote.
Bush is scheduled to speak at 7:30pm at the courthouse in George Town. The former premier was arrested at his home in West Bay some ten days ago (Tuesday 11 December) on suspicion of theft and various offences under the anti-corruption law. The allegations relate to the misuse of a government credit card and the importation of a consignment of dynamite without the correct permits. He has denied all of the accusations and described the arrest as a witch hunt by the UK fuelled by his political foes.
Voter register still open as elections stay on track
(CNS): Following the decision by the governor to revoke the appointment of McKeeva Bush as premier and allow Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and her four colleagues to form a new government to take the Cayman Island through to the General Elections next year, the calendar for the national poll remains on track. With an early election now unlikely, there are only two weeks left for those who qualify to register in time for the critical elections in May. Urging all eligible people to make every effort to grasp the remaining opportunity to become a voter, the office said time is running out. People with Caymanian Status who have not been naturalized can still register to vote as naturalization is no longer a prerequisite to qualify.
The final date for registration is 2 January 2013. Registering Officers will be available until midnight on that date and the Elections Office will have a registration station downstairs in the lobby of the Smith Road Centre (150 Smith Road) open until midnight.
For those electors who have changed their names, occupations or street addresses since being registered, this is the final opportunity to complete a Form 13 to update their particulars. This is also the final call for voters who have changed districts to ensure that they are registered in the correct electoral district.
In order to further accommodate all those who may wish to register, the Elections Office will maintain a registration station downstairs in the lobby of the Smith Road Centre on Saturday 22 December between the hours of 10:00am thru 4:00pm.
Rose gets top cabinet job
(CNS): Samuel Rose has been appointed as the government’s new cabinet secretary and chief officer of the Cabinet Office to replace Orrett Connor, who retires in February next year. Rose was appointed following an open recruitment process in which twenty-six people applied for the position. Five were shortlisted and assessed before the four best candidates were chosen for interview. Governor Duncan Taylor said the role of cabinet secretary was established under the constitution and is critical to ensure policy coordination across the whole of government.
“I am delighted that we have a person of Mr Rose’s calibre to be the next Cabinet Secretary. He is a respected individual both within and outside the civil service. I am confident that he has the ability to be an outstanding cabinet secretary,” he added.
Rose’s road to the post involved on-line tests that assessed cognitive ability, emotional intelligence and learning agility. Also the interview candidates undertook a written examination, which consisted of three separate scenarios that had to be completed in a defined period; these tasks reflected what would actually be expected of the Cabinet Secretary.
The applicants then appeared in front of a panel and were asked to deliver a speech which they had prepared previously. They were then interviewed by the panel consisting of Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who chaired the interview; Regional Managing Partner of Ernst and Young Dan Scott, who is also chair of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and a member of the National Security Council; Brigitte Kirkconnell-Shaughness, Proprietor and Operator of Kirks Home Centre and a member of the National Security Council; and Peter Gough, Strategic Advisor to the Deputy Governor.
Rose, who is still only 34-years-old, has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Since 2003, he has worked as a Graduate Research Analyst, a Policy Analyst, a Deputy Permanent Secretary and his current post is Deputy Chief Officer (Financial Services).
He is also a Licensed Social Worker and has recently completed a United Nations course in Public Diplomacy and is on the Board of Governors of the University College of the Cayman Islands. He is a Member of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Task Force and also Member of the International Tax Cooperation Team.
Rose is also a talented musician was has played violin in the local kitchen Band Swanky for several years.
The deputy governor said he was pleased to have Rose as part of the management Team.
“As cabinet secretary he will ensure that the government’s policy framework is cohesive and coordinated,” he said. “In addition, as the chief officer responsible for Information Technology and Government Information Services, I will be expecting him to champion a fresh impetus towards a more ‘digital’ government that delivers services more effectively to our customers and to promote the use of social media to communicate with our citizens.”
Rose said he was humbled by the opportunity to serve his country and was ready for the challenge of the new position. “I will work faithfully alongside the excellent team of individuals within the Cabinet Office and its departments to make a difference both in the public service and in the wider community,” he said.
The governor also thanked Orrett Connor, who will be retiring as cabinet secretary in early February, for his long service and for the support and friendship he has shown to him over the past three years.
Cops on hunt for West Bay mugger
(CNS): A police spokesperson has confirmed that police are currently investigating a report of a knife-point street robbery in West Bay in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The mugging is said to have happened at around 4am near Centennial Towers, by the four way stop. The two victims, one male and one female were walking together when they were both attacked by a robber and sustained minor injuries. Police said that more details would be released shortly but anyone with any information is asked to contact the RCIPS on 949 3999 or the confidential CrimeStoppers line 800-8477(TIPS).
Dr Frank declares on drug decriminalization ticket
(CNS): Controversial social commentator, playwright and former cabinet minister, Dr Frank McField, has declared his intention to run as an independent candidate in the May 2013 general election and says that, among many things, he will be campaigning for the decriminalization of drug use. The first independent candidate to declare for one of the six seats in the capital, McField told CNS that he would not be seeking endorsement from the Coalition for Cayman but would be running on his own autonomous agenda dealing predominately with social justice issues and the promotion of Caymanians in the country.
Motivated to stand for political office once again by the call for change from many in his local George Town community, McField said he would not be seeking a cabinet post but would instead concentrate on building a broad coalition for change.
“Many of the real people in my district and the nation feel that my experiences and caring leadership style make me the ideal candidate to help define and lead the change so many are demanding,” the former Community minister stated.
McField lost his George Town seat in the 2005 PPM landslide election, having served in the Cabinet with McKeevaBush following the 2001 coup. He has often been surrounded by controversy, such as the recent episode where he was shot in the leg but remained uncharacteristically silent about the incident.
The normally outspoken McField said he plans to campaign on a platform that addresses issues that affect those in the lower socio-economic strata of the community and in particular the criminalization of people through draconian legislation.
As well as the diversification of the economy to enhance employment opportunities, including the development of mari-culture and a marine service or coast guard, and a refocus on Cayman’s crime fight to its watery boarders, McField will be campaigning for Caymanians first in the private and public sector. He said a reduction in the civil service must come through what he described as a “triage basis”, where foreign workers would be the first to go, followed by civil servants with private sector interests.
Setting out his political stall, McField will also be campaigning for a curb on development and a call for environmental legislation that allows Caymanians access to marine food support.
Calling for more oversight and transparency in government operations, especially the RCIPS, and the offices of the attorney general and director of public prosecutions, he also said he will be campaigning for a reduction of crime by a review of the present RCIPS policies and an intervention with youth at risk.
Calling for the decriminalization of non-violent non-intrusive behaviour, McField confirmed this related to consumption of ganja, as he said the prisons were filled with people who were not criminals but drug users.
He said that more Caymanians need to be fast tracked in the RCIPS, while the number of foreign nationals in the police service needed to be reduced and the helicopter cancelled. In addition, he said, there was a need to limit the budget that was directly controlled by the RCIPS and called for the redirection of the excess road cameras to watch the coastline instead.
McField also wants to see civilian oversight of the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions replaced by the Crown Prosecution Service, with the introduction of a term limit and referendum for the director and the attorney general.
Julie vows to consult
(CNS): Leading her first press briefing as Cayman’s first female leader, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly promised an open, transparent, stable and consultative government to take Cayman through the next five months before the general election in May. All five members of the new Cabinet insisted that their decision to support the no confidence motion on Tuesday was not a power-grab but in the best interest of Cayman. The new premier made a clean break with the past when she said the new government would operate an open door policy, be as consultative as possible and move to repair the relationship with the UK.
She said that the decision her colleagues had made yesterday could see them all ousted from the United Democratic Party, but so be it. They could not yet say how the new team would run in the next election, she said, but in the meantime there was a lot of work to be done in the next five months to rebuild confidence in government and to ensure it stuck to the three year plan in order to address Cayman’s economic woes.
Although the minority government is now dependent on the goodwill of the opposition and independent members to pass any legislation, O’Connor-Connolly’s new government said they were confident that they could stabilize the administration and deal with important legislation with the support of the other members of the legislature until the LA is dissolved in March.
All five new Cabinet members said that Tuesday’s decision was a difficult one that was agonized over by them all. However, they made it very clear that on Friday all eight caucus members had agreed on the way forward. But when the premier did not voluntarily resign, three of the caucus changed their minds and opted not support the no confidence motion, despite agreeing that the premier needed to step down.
The new premier confirmed that she and her Cabinet colleagues had consulted with the opposition leader and independent members about their position before they moved to support the no confidence motion. All five said the move was in the best interests of the country and, as a result, had secured the support of the opposition for a reformed government made up of the five members in the wake of Bush’s departure. In return, the new Cabinet has agreed to consult with the other MLAs on all proposed legislation and major decisions over the next three months.
O’Connor-Connolly said there was lots of work to be done, but they were trying to make the transition as painless as possible and were looking to the civil service for support rather than trying to cause any insecurity in the former ministries.
The group said that they would continue talks with Dart over the ForCayman Investment Alliance but seemed reluctant to commit on how far that proposed deal would now advance. However, they pointed out that Cayman still needed development and investment to get out of the current economic crisis. Therefore, they would be focusing on moving the port and airport projects forward.
Rolston Anglin, the new deputy premier, pointed out that all government projects would now be conducted in line with international best practice and all of the proper processes would be followed. The education minister, who now has financial services added to his portfolio, also defended his own position regarding his DUI conviction.
He acknowledged that he had made a mistake and he had apologised for that, but his position was not comparable to that of former premier, McKeeva Bush. He said he was not trying to make light of it but he did not face jail time over his conviction, with the worst punishment he faced being the loss of his licence.
His colleagues also pointed to the potential problems of interfering with the police investigation in the case of Bush as the probes were not just into his personal affairs but his role as the former premier as well.
Anglin will now have access to a government driver as the new premier confirmed that no one would lose their jobs in the wake of the Cabinet reshuffle, but there would be some slight adjustments with chief officers and transfers of other personnel, including the government cars and drivers.
Check back to CNS for more this week on the new UDP government and the UDP members now outside of government.
Major Red Bay smash lands two in hospital
(CNS): Two people have been taken to hospital following a major road crash in the Red Bay area Wednesday, police said. At around About 1:35pm today, 19 December, a white Honda Integra collided with Toyota Landcruiser as it tried to turn left from Selkirk Drive into Red Bay Road. The Landcruiser flipped following the collision before coming back to land on its wheels again and both cars sustained major damage. The man who was driving the Honda lost consciousness and is currently being treated at the Cayman Islands Hospital. The woman who was driving the Landcruiser is also being treated in hospital for injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening.
Police and fire crews remain on the scene where there is an oil spill. Although single traffic lanes remain open in both directions, drivers are being urged by police to drive slowly and use caution.
Anyone who witnessed the crash should call Inspector Adrian Barnett at the RCIPS Traffic Management Dept. on 946-6254.