Mac’s travel bill revealed
(CNS): Updated 3:45pm –Over the last twelve months that McKeeva Bush held office as premier of the Cayman Islands he spent more than $350,000 travelling overseas and, combined with information from previous years, Bush spent almost $1 million on overseas travel while in office. Despite originally refusing part of a records request made by CNS regarding the former premier’s travel expenses because of the on-going police investigation, an internal review has successfully resulted in the costs being released. In a letter to CNS the chief officer in the ministry said he had reconsidered the situation and, taking into account the fact that the documents would have been released were it not for the police investigation, the ministry forwarded the documents to CNS Monday.
The spreadsheet reveals the costs for all airfares, accommodation and subsistence allowances for all trips taken by the then premier and his support during 2012, with the exception of his final trip to Jamaica after his arrest.
In the previous release of documents relating to a freedom of information request it was revealed that the then premier Bush had travelled to more than 34 nations. The request revealed that between June 2009, a week after taking up office, when he visited Paris, London Washington and New York, until 15 October 2010, Bush had racked up a travel bill of over four hundred thousand dollars. But from January 2012 until November 2012 he added a further CI$350,091.89 travelling in the region and around the world.
A request which was released later on Monday filled in the missing years revealed that Bush has spent close to one million on travel throughout his period in office from the public purse.
The current premier and former deputy premier, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, has also been severely criticised for her travelling and the $200,000 she spent over the first three and a half years after she took office in 2009 as DP and minister for district admin, agriculture and works. However, McKeeva Bush spent more money on travel in one year alone than O’Connor-Connolly has since the last elections.
The former premier also criticised his predecessor at the tourism ministry, Charles Clifford, for racking up a $200K bill at the ministry, though it is understood that figure covered travelling expenses for all tourism ministry staff over the full four year term.
Bush’s travel expense spreadsheet reveals that many thousands of dollars have been spent from the public purse on airfares and accommodation for himself and the accompanying delegates on the 18 trips he took during 2012. The document also reveals several significant cash transfers on to Bush’s government credit card without explanation. Although a payment for some $17,000 paid to the card was debited, several more transfers to the credit card, totalling around $70,000, have been made and remain unexplained.
The alleged misuse of his government credit card is believed to be at the heart of one of the investigations currently being undertaken by the RCIPS in connection with Bush’s arrest in December. Although this was cited as the reason why the FOI request was first refused, the ministry confirmed Monday that the police did not believe the release of the spending details would hinder their enquiry.
Bush is expected to return to police custody for further questioning next month, having been was bailed in December, but the police have not yet revealed the actual day that the former premier will be back to face a further grilling in connection with his arrest for theft and offences under the anti-corruption law.
See details of Bush’s travel expense for 2012 below and see additional document covering 2009-2011.
Related articles on CNS:
Category: FOI
To explain this type of behavior I'll draw an analogy with a school boy:
When you don't have your homework finished one method is… to not go to school the next day. When McKeeva Bush failed to tackle crime, government accounts, a balanced budget, and numerous other portions of his job description he chose the same approach. He went traveling.
When you are doing poorly in school because of the above neglect on your part a convenient method is to…. blame the teachers, the school, or the principal. When McKeeva Bush failed to bring in any economic benefit at all he chose a similar method…. He blamed the U.K., and the Opposition, "bloggers", "devil worshippers". And for good measure… CNS.
He may have tried the same tactics he used earlier in school but the consequences were much more dire: He left a country in a financial shambles.
When you were the big boy in the schoolyard you could try…..bullying to get your way.
There is lots of evidence on hand McKeeva Bush did just that.
Let's continue
When you were small and had spent all of your allowance you could….rifle through your mother's purse.
When he spent his allowance… he transferred funds…. to his credit card.
In general the frightening thing is…he was not mature enough. He may even have suffered from Arrested Development with rants and temper tantrums, etc. So how in God's name did he become the Premier?
I believe my favourite part is the written entries with the old-time Caymanian pronounciation of "Hondoras".
McKeeeeewa, you goin' Hondoras or wha?
Miles!! Apologies if someone already asked, but who got the air miles?? This is something future governments should track as well. If you are travelling on the public purse it is Public miles! These should be used for other official trips when and where they can. NOT PERSONAL USE!
Did the NRA Paid for that BIG Birthday Party in the Shores on Sunday night? or did the Nation Building Funds paid for that? Who did, who paid for that? as I understand Mckeeva is broke and has no money to pay for his legal fees. Trust me, that was a very big party.
Thats the people that love him and his supportors that had that party for him. One thousand people turning up to a birthday party that could only be love.
Or it could have been the free food and booze…
Or free food and drink ……….
True, Ellio was shaking a collection can for Mac a few weeks ago seeking donations for his (Mac's) legal fees.
I heard there were approx 400 ppl there, with catering at $25 per head (food $10 plus drinks and alcohol $15 per person), that works out to be $10,000. That could have helped with his legal fees.
Mac will absolutely no stop until he is put in jail and even then he won’t stop. Lord, what have we done.
Were any C4C members there?
The Shores…? BIG BIG Mac supporters thanking him for linking them to George Town by Dart road….bet none of them will object to WBay road closure.
I'm still asking and no one is telling: what is Leonard Dilbert doing now to earn the $140,000 salary that McKeeva ensured for him by demanding that because he "could wuk wid him" he MUST become his Chief of Staff to join the powerful advisory team of …er…Richard Parchment, Charles Glidden, Paul Parchment (for UK affairs) Graham Rankine and Steve McField. We are entitled to know as it's our money being spent on a position which has NEVER been "needed" up to now in Cayman's history. Roll on May when we MUST rid ourselves of these expensive political groupie hangers on.
Bush travels and spends hundreds of thousands, meanwhile, "With space increasingly tight in the courthouse and NO MONEY to begin the long shelved new court building project, things are likely to get worse over the coming months as the case load for the courts grows."
wtf?
The saddest thing is we could have saved nearly $5450 on Mac's Singapore trip alone if we had just paid for a one way ticket and not the return portion…
Singapore is a well run country. I doubt the likes of Mac would be welcomed there. Trust me, I been there, I know what I am talking about.
He’d be covered in cane welts in no time.
Unfortunately one-way tickets are often more expensive than a return!
I think he should be thrown out onto the streets of Singapore with nothing but a case of chewing gum to eat.
This is such a ridiculous non-issue.
I'm so tried of these childish petty politics.
He's the leader of a country! Granted that we are not on the scale of the US, but Obama spends 100K _a day_ just on a hotel fee (Martha's Vineyard) for _vacation_.
What's should the budget for the Premier of the Cayman Islands? 100.00 a day at a Holiday Inn Express?
I would presume some of those trips had to be for business development and to do what leaders of countries do? 350K for the year and you criticize this guy really?? I don't care what party or non-party you're with, this complaint is idiotic. I expect ANY leader to travel to other countries and shake some hands, and not only that, I expect them to do it in high class. We are the Cayman Islands, not Haiti. If that happens to be a perk as well BIG DEAL!
If you're gonna bicker, do it for some substantial reason like policy. If you have a disagreement with Bush or you don't want to vote for him for some real reason, fine. But not this infantile BS that always continues to happen no matter who's in charge.
I agree with the concept behind your comment. However, I disagree in the fact that there is a right and wrong way to do anything. To have it proven that a mispending of CIG funding for travel then lie about it, definately the wrong way! Leaders should travel well, but in times of announced economic tension this travel should be limited to absolute necessary and reasonable spending excerised by those whom the people of these islands have paid for to allow them to go abroad. Courtesy is also a part of good leadership.
hello. the man spent almost $1 million dollars on travel. so much for "we broke".
how about spending a million on youth development?
Your right but people are so small minded and ignorant as to what it costs to run and promote a country, it could have been 35K a year and you would have had the same result.
People think that they could manage this country from their armchairs.
You are a part of the problem in this country – a member of the Mac can do no wrong brigade. Scary. Commonsense should tell you that you cannot find ANY country or territory the size of Cayman whose leader has spent anything approaching that amount on travel.
What’s ridiculous is the fact that cayman has a population of around 60,000 persons and the budget is around 600,000,000! That’s more per person than the US–which has a military, social security, Medicare/Medicaid and public schools for everyone (immigrants, citizens,illegals, etc). Cayman is in debt and now under the UK’s thumb more than ever. It’s unjust spending like that exhibited here which is ridiculous. Any “business” trips–like the one to meet with CHEC were to fill Big Macs own pockets first, then maybe help Cayman. I doubt you’ll find any leader of a country with this small population traveling to 30+ countries!
"He's the leader of a country!"
No he is not! He is the leader of a small, rinky-dink little town of 50,000 people.
His tax base can afford is $100.00 a night rooms. No more.
$100.00 a night gets you a clean room, clean bed, and hot water. He and his entourage needed no more.
Also, most of his travelling could have been replaced with video conferences.
So true.
Can you imagine the mayor of any medium or large-sized town in the USA or UK carrying on like this?
But that's the problem isn't it? Everything is completely out of proportion and way outside any concept of a real world financial budgeting.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.” – Charles Dickens from David Copperfield and still true today.
This is just to let everyone know I'm not the "AJ (not verified)" who posted the above comment.
Thank you A.J.
This is just to let everyone know I'm the "AJ (verified)" who posted the above comment.
Thank you A.J.
OMG
OMG
Petty Politics? Really!!
Let me put this damn thing in properperspective for you IDIOT. There are people out there loosing their homes that have to pay the bills your IDIOTS are creating by TAXING THE FLYING F out of us only so you damn idiots can jetset around the world staying at the finest hotels eating caviars and what not while we back here haven't seen the other si of the pond in 5 plus years and not even close to seeing it again this year.
You self righteous perverse IDIOT!! HOW DARE YOU!!! HOW DAMN DARE YOU!!!
Please shut the hell up and crawl under the rock you crawled out from. People like you need to be sent packing to some other country because you sure don't care for the people of this Island.
US$350,000 is more than many of us see in 10 years salaries wise and you THREW IT #$#ing AWAY on luxury trips. YOU my friend are a new breed. You have concrete where your heart should be. YOu see YOU and ONLY YOU. You could careless for the single mother fighting to keep her job.
And what's your answer? You would think your stupid a@@ would say "let's stop spending". No you dumb a@@ want to give more of the country away so you can travel more.
God you UDP Idiots get's me in an bad state.
Come this election I am telling EVERYONE VOTE STRAIGHT….VOTE OUT UDP…..PPM is not the answer BUT WE NEED UDP OUT SO VOTE PPM!!!!
People simply put. We can not survive another 4 years with UDP at the helm and this election UDP has put "Shadow" candidates out there to split your vote. We need by any means necessary UDP to be gone.
Ask yourself this question when you go to the poles….
What has UDP given me over this last 4 years?
Now think about this…..
1) Threw away some 400K on Cohen & Cohen financing deal – NO RETURNS TO THE PEOPLE
2) GLF – Threw away another 2.5Mil dollars because he wanted the Chinese in bed with HIM. Only God knows what was happening behind the scenes that we will never ever know. Let's just put it this way. It looks so good to HIM he put us in a legal position to get it. I ask you to think about this in great depth. Again NO RETURNS TO THE PEOPLE.
3) Nation Building Fund – Buying votes? You tell me why this was done!! We have a program in place for every single thing he wanted to do BUT HE WANTED TO GIVE THE FUNDS, to what end I ask??? Millions of dollars dispensed with any controls in place.
4) The man spent nearly 40% of his time in office overseas. At a time when crime was rampant and people were suffering he was not here to deal with it. At a time when budgets were running behind he was not here and to ad insult to injury he THREW AWAY 1 million dollars doing it.
5) Our first Premier and the first minister to be arrested and under investigation in the Cayman Islands for corruption.
6) Giving away our Countries greatest assets to an investor hell bent on taking our country from us. Also doing moves that ciould damage our eco-system beyond repair.
This is a government not about the people. This is a government about the government. How can I say this? It's so brutally simple people. Has their ever been another government that would invest time into ensuring that they be called Honorable for life? With all the problems we are facing they are investing time into keeping their titles while truth be known they do not even deserve them when they hold them much after.
Some people look up to this man but he has single handedly did more damage to our country than any hurricane ever could.
You my friend are the reason Cayman will go back to the dark ages. Dust your turtle net off. It’s the only industry you will have left. Wake up Caymanians!!! There is a huge world out there no one cares about your petty arguments about expats and tiny Goverment allowances (just compare the OPEX per capita with pur rival jurisductions – we spend nothing in conparison. Get the FACTS! For example, 75% of the population of Bagrain are expats. Why? Because you need economies of scale! Without it, good luck fishing!
Excuse me, but what post are you responding to??
No question that a lot of money went to vote buying..sorry nation building and it was taken and used. How much did you get?
Well said AJ, Judging by the thumps down I see why there is an educational problem here. You are one of the few who thinks logically. All the best.
Well, judging by the fact that you only have one thumb up you must be AJ speaking to himself.
Certainly is an educational problem, thumps.
For goodness sake please try stop drinking the Mac koolaid.
Cayman, nor it's leaders, cannot sensibly be compared to the USA or any G20 country. Try comparing to relative size and type of economies…like Bermuda or Guernsy…or TCI (and see what happened in TCI?)
The main point here is that Mac spent way more than can be sensibly and honourably justified! And then huge effortwas made to not provide the information about his travels. Travel that was supposed to be for us the people of Cayman…and paid for by us too.
The premier is supposed to work for us the people, not the other way around!
I hope to God you never procreate. If you came out from your cave, you may see that the 'other countries' aren't exactly doing so well themselves and often because the leaders cannot reach a moral high ground. Not ALL leaders have this sense of entitlement.
Jose Mujica is the president of over 3 million people in Uruguay. He makes 12k a month which he donates 90% to charities and small business owners to advance the lower classes, not feed their habit. He drives a battered Volkswagon, lives on his wife's small farm, and adheres to a humble lifestyle. While being progressive, and not stuck in his own selfish ideologies, he has seen the healthy growth of the country in a time of global economic distress. In the past he fought as a guerilla for his country, and has served for his country.
Now a man who has earned the respect and love of his people, has proven with his life that he is for the people, and that he does not believe he is entitled to the luxuries of the position I can argue for. How you can so strongly defend a man as selfish, obscene, classless, and ignorant as McKeeva is sadly reflective of, what I see as a young Caymanian, a country where many of the people have forgotten pride, dignity, and honour, and seem to relish in ignorance and greed.
Let's do a comparison over the last 10 years for the travel costs of LoGBs and Premiers, then we will see who was more kind to our pockets.
Joey Ebanks is that you again?
I have just cut off my manhood because I don’t want to raise children in a world where insane eople give insane people like mac the green light
Two questions come to mind:
a. Is this theft? We send people in the private sector to jail when funds are misappropriated in this manner. If not why not? It is a lot of money. These expenditures can't be justified. And they haven't been. These were sightseeing trips for him and his friends plain and simple.
b. Where was the opposition? Why didn't they make any noise when all this was taking place? And even more disturbing we're they asleep in their chairs in the Legislature dreaming of their turn? Ergo: they had a voice when they voted themselves raises and when it was decided they could all double dip but as these trips went on and on there was silence.
In the end. There was no debate and no one authorized this extravagance. No one got up and said "wait a minute!" And this is what one would expect from an opposition but it seems as if they just wait for the others to shoot themselves in the foot (sorry McField!).
Makes you wonder what all this about.
In fairness to the Opposition they would not be privy to who was travelling or the reasons for which they were travelling. It certainly did not require their approval and one can't arbitrarily raise these issues in a debate on an unrelated matter. However, it was the PPM govt., now the Opposition, who gave us the FOI Law which is why we now have this information. You should be thanking them, not blaming them.
and how was anyone to complain if the information has only just been released? You think Bush was sharing the details with the opposition? Sheesh!
"Makes you wonder what all this about."
Two words……corruption and incompentance; a lethal combination for a small country.
Firstly, the opposition doesn’t get to approve spending for any cabinet ministers travel. Secondly, the opposition has consistently spoken out about the outrageous travel spending of the government during the last 4 years…so stop speaking out of your ass and try a CNS search on the matter. (I’ll perhaps have to do so in a second reply to you, won’t I? SMH.)
Who is the K Bush listed on some of the expensive airline ticket charges – and – how could $70,000 be paid into his credit card account without supporting vouchers justifying whatever expenses this amount represents.
I would hazard a guess that K Bush is Kerry Bush, McKeeva's wife.
Probably Mrs. Kerry Bush, his wife
There is a sad conclusion to all this because it's already happened. It's done. On the bright side, McKeeva Bush.. although he has been a failure as Premier has taught a valuable lesson. Don't ever let a self-serving tyrant get into a position like this again. Use your vote carefully because it is all you have. That is the plain truth. You can't recall these assholes once they're in power. That is the critical lesson because as you can see the money is gone now. And all people can do is be outraged and disgusted. Too late isn't it? Don't pick the lesser of two evils when voting. You shouldn't have to hold your nose. If the people running don't deserve a vote………demand better! If you have to.. boycott the bloody election! Until there is some true representation and accountability this song and dance has gone on long enough, being robbed blind, while bitching and moaning for four years. And that my friends is the most valuable lesson McKeeva Bush and the rest of those useless big spenders have imparted:
They wouldn't have been able to pull off this theft without being let in by the voters.
Do you know which ministry forwarded this report to CNS? Im pretty sure it was'nt Ju Ju's . I cant see her doing a thing like that when we are all awaiting her report.
Ministry of Finance – CG I would guess
Sometimes, spoiling your ballot is the best that you can do.
Dressed like Mr Flamboyant!
Living high-off-the-hog – on our tax dollars…
I see the Speaker appointed by Mac is looking on with approval in the pic….smh
Another bandit who hit the lotto thru Mac
Bush and his team of idiots paying back the public what they have stolen: justice.
Nothing happenen: Third world.
well at least the new '5' are different……not!
Some of the nw 5 went on these trips as well. Not to mention Julie. What time will Ezzard sum up the amount of money she spent on trips. Even two trips to Honduras. Oh we forget that her daughter in law is from Honduras. Also Africa, and when she retires she is going to do missionary work there, just hope that will be after May . She should be investigated same as Mack. Nothing in Cayman is fair.
but don't forget all that was achieved by his travels……..ooopps….
Mack certainly have alot of suppporters out there. What alot of friends from all over Cayman attending his birthday party Sunday. Someone counted 1000. Knock him down and pick him up.Sorry for those not on his side.
He must pay back all of our hard earned tax dollars,to the Caymanian people,then be jailed for twenty five years.
how is he gonna pay back the Cayman people when he could'nt even afford his own lawyer?
That's what he wants us to believe. Maybe he could sell his yacht or condo at the Ritz!
That would take something Caymanians don't yet have. But they are now learning the lesson on why they need it.
The best way to look at this:
Is there any documentation that any of this travel increased the public purse?–if not, then think of what kind of improvements $1million would do for this island!! How many meals could that buy for those needing CIG support? Or how about paying down some debt?
For all of Big Mac supporters–the former premier spent $250,000+ a year in travel!! He spent over 400 days overseas or taking "personal days" Ask yourselves this–would you, as an employee, be able take take 1/4 to 1/3 of a year off?? People of Cayman — in May please vote intelligently, please don't give into politics, don't allow your personal gain to get your vote bought. Now you see what happens when an uneducated, self-serving, power-hungry person is elected who "helped" his constituency with promises, cash and appliances!
May this thief who stole from ALL of us…rot in Northward.
He has to be charged first, then found guilty.
What, pray tell, is anyone prepared to do about it??
Other than talk about it on cns for the next 2-3 days….?
And still he has to be addressed as honorable.
I was more thinking JAIL.
He hath founded it upon the seas and spent it all overseas.
We would still like to know where the money that Mr Dart gave for home repairs disappeared to? Only heard of one house in Cayman Brac being repaired and two in E.End. A lady in Cayman Brac called the District Admin Bldg to ask about the repair fund and was told that Miss Julie was handling it. I would like to know if Mr Dart gets get a report on how his money was spent. People are still awaiting not only in Cayman Brac but also in Cayman to get some assistance.
How much does this affect the balance sheet of Cayman Airways? Will they be paid back this time for these tickets? I remember the last time he was in, he had owed them $75,000 plus. I believe he had owed Dominoes a big pizza bill too. He should be made to pay back every red cent out of his own pocket. Don't leave Richard Parchment out of this too. Looks like he has been on everyone of these trips, for what? only God knows. I think the police needs to question him too, as hetoo has gain a lot from this fiasco. This is what you call bleeding the Government purse. Not a red cent came out of their own pockets and we the people are left to pay for it all. This Premier has taxed the residents of these Islands to the gills, just to feed their greedy appetites. Mafia! Cartel! Dictators…whatever, No difference.
Folks me hates to point this out but em, well, em dis is not all he spent. look at CAL credit cards, DOT expenses and other departments. from the days of Harding Watler, departments and CAL have been picking up some of the tab because as Mr. Watler used to say smiling "The Ministry never pays"
Remember now, the "5" is also responsible for this bill as well.
McKeeva didn't do this all by himself, Julianna (& Leonce) and Mark Scotland travelled with him on MANY occasions!
We should now re-allocate these expenses agaist their salaries, give them a payment plan to repay these frevilous expenses made against our Country / us.
I certainly do not have any extra cash to support their "habit". I'm struggling to make ends meet these days.
Three years ago, I was considered Cayman"s middle class
Today, I am in the poor class, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Mr Leonce lives like one of the rich politicians. Did Ju Ju submit a report on his trips too? That must be some humongerous amount of money. Any Caymanian would love to be in his shoes.
It's rather amazing to see how much was left out from the previous FOI when Big Mac was still in the office manipulating the information.
http://centos6-httpd22-php56-mysql55.installer.magneticone.com/o_belozerov/31115drupal622/sites/default/files/FOI%20McKeeva%20Bush%20travel.pdf
For example, in the previous release it says on April 25 – 28 McKeeva went to Aruba & Curacao accompanied by Richard Parchment. Here we see that tickets were also purchased for Leonard Dilbert and Wilburt Myles.
The Information Commissioner should audit ALL of the information released by McKeeva's office in the last 4 years to see if the FOI Law was followed.
No wonder Mr. Leonard Dilbert still believes that the former Premier is not guily after all he was enjoying all those free trips.
Thank god for the Freedom of Information law.
Without it, all this would remain hidden.
Thank your Mr. Tibbets & co.
There is no way the police can expect to bring charges if they allow the release of this information. How can a unbiased jury be chosen should it go to trial with this information out in the public domain? I wil be very surprised if they can bring charges on his return from bail! Doesnt seem like this was thought through to me
Rubbish 21.53. If it is public information that the public is entitled too under current laws then it belongs in the public domain. The courts will decide whether it was illegally mispent or abused, not about whether it should be public.
If the FOI law did not exist, then there could be an arguement, but it does, so not relevant
The question should be, 'how can an unbiased jury be found at all?'
The release of FOI documents won't make any difference to placing evidence in front of a judge or jury.
Please don't be so niave to think that the process against McKeeva and his band of merry men so far is anything but initial probing. Trust me, the fraud squad and financial crimes units won't allow this to become anything but an indepth investigation, followed by a whole array of serious charges. They won't reveal their hand until they are ready and the FOI act information will be peanuts compared to what will eventually come out.
Have patience, I will bet that within a few months Bush and his cronies will be facing the full might of the law.
If it should ever come to that, doubtful he would ever be tried by jury. Judge alone, for a man of his…position….
Probably thought through very well by Mac’s group which may be what was “reconsidered”.
Ok..I'm 50 years old and I want a controlled bareknuckles with all the UDP members…not you Killa the sell out…but actual ministers….any contributers to the purse?
wow the Pig and his piglets travelled in style. So all you folks at the WB meeting shoutin hallaluja when ever he whined and complaining about how as a taxi driver charging 10$ a mile you couldn't afford an increase in fuel prices…this is what you supported…you are all pigs.
We need to educate the west bayers to be internet literate. They need to know about this.
Hmmm, will Mac buy Macs to buy the election?
I hope I dont hear about any "hero" monument to be erected for this moronic, narcissist has- been. Useless wasteful inconsiderate loser…..He should be made to repay every cent.
If we moved the dump to West Bay it would be a fitting monument to McKeeva. The biggest pile of crap anyone has ever seen, and still stinking even when you can't see it.
Quote 'the police did not believe the release of the spending details would hinder their enquiry'.
In other words, "He's going to walk."
This is what they have done while the high import duties imposed by the UDP have brought so much hardship on the average family.
They all need to be arrested and charged for this looting of our treasury…
One big party!
One big party in The Shores in West Bay on Sunday night you mean.
Why is this info so late in coming? Had it been available in a timely manner it might have been stoppable. This is certainly only the tip of the iceberg of abuse. Think of all the Real Estate transactions that have been fee'd by a third party and you are now in the big leagues of abuse. As I keep saying this just keeps adding more foder for a good book and movie.
Seems to me, everyone was flying first clas with the cost of these plane tickets I see quoted here. Why? It needs to be established as a protocol that when flying officially on Goverment business, the highest category of travel should be business class. NOT FIRST CLASS !!! The difference in cost between the two classes of tickets is in the thousands of dollars and business is just as comfortable and rightly so more appropriate. Where was the scrutiny from the Auditor General on this? It is an outrage. Is anyone doing their job in the CIG?? It should be made as a standing order….. this travel bill though outrageous by any standard could arguably have been cut in half had that simple issue of ticketing class been addressed. Heaven help us all……
The sign in front of his West Bay residence still says '"Premiers Residence". Is there something the Governor is not telling us?
The "Premier's Residence" sign must remain as he is still in charge ruling by 'proxy'.
Well done CNS! Shining a light in places we would never otherwise get to see.
With $1m of free travel I can understand why Mac was so keen to keep the job. And why we're broke and everyone is having to empty their pockets to help CIG pay their bills. By my calculations Mac transferred $86,692.57 of government money to his own personal account. Even the lowliest sole trader knows better than to do that without full documentation.
But don't forget to contribute to the collection to pay his legal bills!!!
Please don't be so shocked and disgusted the reason he did it is simple:
Because he could.
Absolutely disgusting! And to think the people of Cayman were asked by the fool to dip into their pockets to fund Mac's lawyer bills!!! They should all be made to return the money so we the general public of many nations don't get raped anymore by hike after hike of numerous fees & taxes.
Its nice to be king of a third world country where you are the law and there is no such thing as accountability. Can you even imagine what a great time he and all his friends had spending like there was no limit. Not having to worry if you can afford to eat all that food (time for a well deserved stomach by pass) courtesy of the public purse of course, or if your friends will get the bill this time. First class seats for me and my friends along with 5 star hotel rooms, room service and all the extras without a care in the world. Boy he had it good. Let me just say what he never will. Thank you all the people who live and work in Grand Cayman for letting a 5th grader like me live like I was smart enough to earn all that and more. And for paying ALL of my bills for me.
WTF
Who is Wilburt Myles and why did he travel ?
Why ticket for K Bryan or Graham Rankin to Honduras?
Why all the changes and penalties incurred??
EXPLAIN Goddamnnit!!
Mr. Myles was Mac's official chauffeur…but I don't why he need to drive Mac around in a foreign country. The blind was driving the blind!!!!!!
Why not – Ms. Julie takes her driver to foreign countries but may be for different reasons.
Graham Rankine is a MAJOR Big Mac supporter.
That's an understatement.
OMG! Who else could get away with this? Ask the CEO of any huge business if he can just "transfer to credit card" and not account for the spending and I guarantee the answer would be "no". All of the minions travelling first class too? Security in Honduras? I would love to know what some of these people were actually doing. Paul Parchment? Why does Ken Jeffersons ticket cost twice that of the others on the same trip?
My votes will go to the candidates who will not fly first class and who will not fly all over the world using our money. Can the country have the frequent flyer miles please?
Thank you CNS and FOI.
Thank Kurt Tibbetts and the PPM for FOI – because of them, now you know more of what is going on.
Put your votes on them that do not travel ,
Im putting mine on the ones that traveled, it's called having an open mind, and not coming from a bunch of narrow minded …black crab, village people.
Grow up Caymanians, the world has finally reached your door steps.
We have Premiers now as head of our elected government and we just cant accept that they are deplomats of our country.
God help us!!!
No wonder you support them, your education appears as good as theirs!
Would help if they were 'deplomats'…!!
*Diplomats, can't, they're (they are)
have a nice day 🙂
Its pretty obvious you have no clue how modern day government's operate *faceplam*. First off its diplomats not your poor ass spelling. Secondly, Government officials are servants of the people and should utilize every opportunity presented to find value for money. A lot of money could have been saved by hosting meeting via video conferencing and/or other voip services. Lastly Ambassadors arent usually elected there are appointed and/or selected through years of service. So how exactly do our current electorate fulfill the role of ambassador? Simple answer is they don't.
Thats right. The next premier should travel by banana boat and no driver either, strictly bicycle or rickshaw. And make sure they can get public approval on everything from which potholes to fix to what brand TP they can buy. No Charmin.
Lets save some cents.
But think about all he accomplished!
Not…
"…accomplished…"
After all that travelling he brought home several multi-million dollar law suits which Cayman lost and paid for.
Woo Hoo Mr. Bush.
I read this credit card statement with absolute disgust. I now have to pay back the great makeewa bush credit card bill with fees hike after fees hike after fees hike. When will this nightmare end!!!
We need change my Caymanian people and we need it now!!
Yea we need different names to do the travelling…. who do you think you are fooling??
A time is coming when we will have our electors travelling to attend the British parliment on a weekly basis…what are you going to say then???
We are not the fishing village we were yesteryear!!!
Jeezus its frightening to think what the credit card statement might be like. This government breakdown is only the tip of the iceberg.
McKeeva, Juliana and the rest of their cohorts should be put before the courts and made to pay back every cent that they illegally spent or unnecessarily cost the taxpayers of these islands. Might stop anyone else from doing what they want with this country.
So where was the "Love of Country" the Fab 5 speak about, when all this first class flying was going on?!! O thats right, they were on their own jaunts around the globe collecting important awards, like medals for sending mail!!!
This is a shame!!!! NONE of this UDP deserves to be put back in the House. What a disgrace.
14;51
If you were in any civilized country and made that statement about your leaders..they would have you institutionalized in a mad house.
Do you guys really think for once, that we are still in the dark days??? so backward..the rest of our neighbors must be really laughling at us
It appears that the leaders and the ones that still support this bunch are the one that needs to be institutionalized and still in the dark days.
The only ones laughing are the ones that spent all this money that belongs to the 'people' on their self indulgence.
Actually in any civilized country, politicians wouldn't be able to get away with so much corruption and greed, particularly when they have their own people footing the bill. Its called accountability – something we don't have here. And only in dictatorships would anybody be institutionalized for exercising their right to freedom of speech – not in any civilized democratic country (except Cayman of course).
Get with da program buddy. Yup the rest of the world as laughing at us for being stupid enough to put up with it. Who can blame them?
You need to get off island more. Most countries are not third world. Yes you are really still in the dark days when a moronic 5th grader can be made king and act accourdingly to his limited education and still have some who still think he is just great. It stopped being funny when it started getting pathetic a few months into his reign of incompetence. In a civilized country he would still be mowing lawns or in jail.
I didn't vote for this. Hopefully as part of the next elections, the candidates will put forward a proposal that prohibits this from happening again.
How about more stringent requirements and an approval process that involves the governor signing off on ANY travel.
No more first class, business class on flights more than 6 hours and economy for the rest. here must also be a limit on hotel costs. Perhaps our politicians can lead by example?
Just putting a little more accountability in would greatly reduce these freeloaders' junkets on our dime.
The words "former Premier". What lovely lovely words.
"Formerly honorable" would be more appropriate. But that's assuming he once was.
How about disgraceful Premier?
That word is only for a short time.
I'm looking forward to Inmate # ???????