Mac rejects election observers

| 28/02/2013

_DEW9466(1).jpg(CNS): The former premier has revealed his intention to file a private member’s motion in the country’s parliament calling on MLAs to reject the FCO’s request for election observers at Cayman’s general election in May as he says it is part of the UK’s efforts to undermine the country. However, it is not likely to pass as neither the opposition nor the independent members in the House are willing to support the UDP leader’s position. And while the minority government has reserved final judgement, given certain conditions, the Cabinet has already offered its tacit support for the international observers.

Speaking at a UDP public meeting in Bodden Town Tuesday, McKeeva Bush said that observers only go to countries where election problems exist, which was not the case here and this was all about the UK wanting to embarrass Cayman.

However, Alden McLaughlin, the opposition leader, said that the sole reason why the UK had requested that observers come to cover the local elections was because of the former premier’s behaviour in office and the allegations of corruption. The PPM leader said he was disappointed that it had come to this but it was entirely as a consequence of Bush’s poor governance record. He said it was a “bitter irony” that the man who is responsible for the UK asking Cayman to have observers present at the general election would be the one filing a motion to ask the legislatures to reject their request.

“I am disappointed that it has come to this but it is been done because of all the allegations of corruption and the poor governance in Cayman over the last four years,” he said about the UK’s official request. “It is Bush’s conductthat has brought the UK to this point and we must recognise that this is the consequence of poor governance.”

McLaughlin said that, given the circumstances, he had to accept the need for the observers and the PPM members in the House would not support Bush’s motion.

Despite the concerns that this is the case, when he revealed his intention to file the private member's motion Bush made no mention of his own legal difficulties and the allegations of corruption made against him by the authorities. He said the request was designed to embarrass the country and the people should say ‘No’.

The issue was announced at last week’s government press briefing, when the current premier read a letter from the OT minister in London, Mark Simmonds. The correspondence confirmed details of the meeting between the UK and the Cayman in January, when a Cabinet delegation went to London to try and repair the relationship with the mother country after the public spat between Bush and the FCO before he was ousted from power.

The government said it was not opposed in principle to agreeing to the request to allow international observers at the poll, given certain caveats, not least the need to make sure the elections law allowed for it and that it was clear that the independent observers were just that and were not here because of any indications of suspicion, given what happened in December.

Premier Juliana O’Connor -Connolly said government was examining the request but she was inclined to believe that in the end the decision would be in the hands of the supervisor of elections and not local politicians.

However, the supervisor could be persuaded by the position of the incumbents ahead of the poll. Given that the new premier appears to be trying to maintain a much more cordial relationship with the FCO during the few months that she will hold the reins of power until the election, she and her colleagues are unlikely to give Bush’s motion support.

Her deputy, Rolston Anglin, seemed to see the request as acceptable and said observers are now often present during the elections of major democracies and no longer go only to places that are having their first free elections or where there are suspicions of corruption.

North Side MLA Ezzard Miller told CNS that he felt it would ensure everything was above board.  “I support the UK observers for the election. If we have nothing to hide, why not have the observers?” he asked. “And as an additional benefit they may make others think twice about breaking or skirting the anti-corruption provisions of the election law.”

With the current Cabinet already expressing some support for the idea, the PPM blaming Bush for the need in the first place and the independent member for North Side fully in support, it is doubtful that Bush and his three UDP members would sway the election supervisor.

There is considerable support for the observers among the new candidates who will be running for the first time.

Wayne Panton one of the PPM’s new candidates said the PPM’s first timers were, in principle, in favour. “Whether there are specific concerns or not, we do not see a basis for any reasonable objection to having observers and we feel that our election officials shouldfacilitate this,” he said.

There was support too from the C4C candidates in George Town. Winston Connolly said that in maintaining good governance and transparency, election observers provide an additional safeguard in the process of fair and free elections. 

“I await acceptance of the observers by our government and hope that all candidates, officials and the public will work together to ensure that the Cayman Islands is above reproach in our 2013 electoral process,” he added.

His colleague Roy McTaggart agreed, telling CNS that he had no objections to the UK sending election observers. “Caymanhas a strong reputation of conducting fair elections and I have every confidence that this election will be no different,” he said.

Jackee Haynes, also running on the C4C platform in the capital, said she too wanted to see the observers welcomed here. “I am in favour of having election observers,” she said. “I believe the upcoming election to be one of historical importance for the future of these islands and I am in favour of ensuring that the process is conducted at the highest levels of good governance, transparency and accountability.”

Meanwhile, Dwene Ebanks, who will be going it alone in Bush’s district, said he was also in favour for a number of reasons. “Officially we have recorded past elections as fair in process. This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate this,” he said, adding that it could be an opportunity to settle long held suspicions. “We have all heard the stories, particularly in my home district West Bay, that calls this process into question and this is an opportunity to put this to bed,” he added.

election cheating.jpgWhile Cayman has enjoyed years of free and fair elections with the count in particular being above suspicion, snags regarding in appropriate influence in the otherwise clean record appeared in George Town in 2009, when UDP party officials were seen handing out small cards to voters before they went into the polling stations with the names and numbers of the four UDP candidates running in the district, which is strictly forbidden on election day. (See CNS report here)

There have also been persistent accusations of vote buying running up to the elections for decades, but the actual vote and count have not been in question. The supervisor of elections, Kearney Gomez, has been commended on many occasions for his exemplary record and has been part of teams assisting other countries to improve their own systems.

Nevertheless, independent observers are becoming increasingly common at many elections, including staunch democracies such as the UK itself, France and even the US, undermining the premier’s position that they only go to country’s suspected to have problems.

No particular reasons were given over why for the first time the UK has asked for observers to be welcomed in Cayman but in a letter to the current premier Mark Simmonds, the overseas territories minister, said it was simply good practice for mature democracies. Recently other Overseas Territories, including the British Virgin Islands as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands, have had foreign observers watch over their elections, although Bermuda recently rejected UK observers during its election.

Rejecting the idea of observers, Bush said Cayman had nothing to hide but the request would give a negative impression of the islands. Ironically, he entirely avoided mentioning his current legal difficulties and his arrest before Christmas on suspicion of a number of offences, including ones relating to corruption. He has said on a number of occasions that the allegations are false and all part of a major UK conspiracy to remove him from power.

Bush, who is due to answer police bail again later next month, was removed from the top job by his party colleagues shortly after the arrest, when five of the former UDP government members voted with the opposition and the independent candidates in favour of a no confidence motion in the  Legislative Assembly filed by opposition leader, Alden McLaughlin. The UDP government then fell, but the opposition leader and both the representatives from the eastern districts agreed to support a quorumfor the former UDP members to hold office until the parliament is dissolved ahead of Nomination Day next month.

Despite his problems, Bush has come out fighting and denied all the allegations, saying they are nothing more than trumped up charges of which he will be completely exonerated. He has, however, said publicly on a number of occasions that he expects the police will charge him with something before Election Day.

Related article on CNS:

UK wants CI election watched

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  1. Captain says:

    I am sorry and I am not a UDP supporter, but declaring a watchdog on our elections will produce, I think an unnecessary negative impression of the Cayman Islands election process to the rest of the world and include us in with other countries that have major issues. Some may think not so, but I have notice how this Governor and the FCO have been careless with our reputation / name in the past. And it is not outside of reality to think that this may be the intention of certain other folks to have our islands in the press. So my position would be that unless they have valid reasons or concerns for feeling the need to observe this election process they have no need to be here.

  2. SKEPTICAL says:

    Said it before – just ignore him. Don’t report his “Meetings”, don’t report his “Comments” – treat him as if he doesn’t exist. It will show him how unimportant he has become, and drive him crazy.

  3. Anonymous says:

    A bit suprised at the amount of attention this is being given, given that Mr.Bush is a spent force. I for one couldn't give a hoot what the fella says. For goodness sake, cannot someone get through to him that it's over and that he has more important things to concern himself with, surely? He needs to do us all a huge favour and go home and take a long nap.

  4. Anonymous says:

    "Mac rejects election observers"? Well blow me down, I'd never have guessed!

  5. Truth. says:

    There is no bigger fool than the ones who vote for one.

  6. Anonymous says:

    After reading this article and all the comments here, the only name that kept beating at my brain for this man is “Daddy Demon”.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Relax first and worst. They’ll never catch you

  8. Anonymous says:

    Judging from the thumbs, either Mac has 3 computer literate supporters……..or Ellio has 3 computers.

  9. Polly Tricks says:

    Shouldn't the headline be "Backbench politician whose party were implicated in several instances of alleged electoral impropriety at the last election indicates displeasure at election observers"

    • Anonymous says:

      Pretty good. I would simply say "Criminal suspect condemns election observers." 

  10. Anonymous says:

    Keke paving his way in wb! Juju style lol!

    Caymanian

    • Chris Johnson says:

      Bush claims he is broke. Who then is paying for the motion he promises or rather threats to bring? This over the hill despot needs to go. Both young and old have had enough. Just review all his promises that he made since the last election and see how many came to fruition. Cayman needs to stand up to his bullying tactics and form a cohesive government. There is enough talent judging by those who have thrown their hats into the ring.

  11. Anonymous says:

    who rejects it?  Who the hell is Makeeva Bush??

  12. Anonymous says:

    The more Mac fights observers, the more I think we must really need them. If he had nothing to hide, it wouldn’t matter.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Cayman’s reputation is not an issue. It may seem like a big deal but the rest of the world doesn’t care and nobody is talking about it. It’s a local issue only with no consequences whatsoever on the international stage.

    So give me a break with the reputation worries. It’s just the former Premier blowing smoke for the fools who still listen to him. Scare tactics from a politician under criminal investigations. Why do we even pay attention at what he has to say anyway? He’s done.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Not surprised. Everything he does is murky and fishy. Enough of you, we all want to move on past the UDP.

  15. Whodatis says:

    The UK is hardly concerned about the doubtless spotless report that will be the result of our elections being observed.

    Therefore, there is clearly something else at play here.

    However, such things are not allowed to be discussed within "the empire" … at least not until after the fact.

    Anyway, in light of us having nothing to hide – send in the observers. However, on one condition only; they cannot be wholly comprised of UK personnel.

    Otherwise that in and of itself would be contrary to the spirit of true transparency, no?

    I find it interesting that none of the declared candidates have spoken to this issue. I also find it interesting that the community is once again up in arms as a result of a largely disliked individual (McKeeva Bush) speaking to an issue that could have serious implicaitons for the country as a whole.

    Are we "scattered" yet again?

    Do we know what normally happens at times like these?

    Be careful Cayman.

  16. anonymous says:

    'Still preferable to the elections in '71 (or 72?) when the pork-barrelling and threats of violence caused a British battleship to anchor in Hogsty Bay!

  17. Anonymous says:

    How can anyone with a grain of education or common sense sit on a platform with him and support his campaign. Are you hallucinating? What will you say when your children grow up and look you in the face and ask how can you support a 'criminal' and profess to be so upright.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Let's modify that headline a little bit just to get the essence of who McKeeva Bush really is.

    "Mac claims that he rejects elections observers."

    I don't believe a word that this man says. He has played the public like a fiddle and if he has his way, he will continue to fiddle while Cayman burns.

    I cannot believe that the Cayman electorate has been so gullible.

    Let me give you two primary rules that apply to the words that come out of Bush's mouth. If the words are positive, then he is kissing butt to get something.

    If the words are negative, then he is in bed with the people that he is criticizing and has promised them something. So far, he has quite a few takers. UK and C4C for starters.

    The secondary rule is this. If he really criticizes you and gets Richard Parchment involved, then you have really pissed him off and primary rule number one no longer applies.

    Spock out.

  19. Dreadlock Holmes says:

    It is irrelevant what Mr. Bush wants, or doesn't want what is relevant is what the Caymanian people wanted. They wanted to see some results from Mr. Bush's extensive traveling costs. On their dime.  They wanted to see some government accounting that made sense from the Finance Minister Mr. Bush, they wanted open and transparent dealings and agreements from his administration. Transparency I believe was an election promise. It never happened. Above all, they wanted their voice heard and to be taken into account but Mr. Bush wasn't listening.  Then it should come as no surprise to Mr. Bush that they aren't listening to him.

  20. Ya Mon says:

    For xxxx sake, there's that annoying buzz again… I swear to God it's driving me crazy!  Will someone please, please swat that insect?

  21. Anonymous says:

    I think we should stop calling this geek Mac which is far too friendly a term for someone who has tried to take so much from us. Call him Bush.

  22. Anonymous says:

    sounds like keke want his guys to hand out flyers again this May & encouraging people to vote for him & his crew! Yo get Ra$$ bobo!

     

    Caymanian

  23. Anonymous says:

    People are trying to move on, do something positive and get on with things while this man and his cronies are still moaning, complaining and babbling the same ole.

    As for a negative impression, there is only one and his blind followers that are still trying to create a negative impression for these Islands.

    Stop the negativity, sit down, be quiet or go bury your heads in the newly created sand on WB Road!

    • Anonymous says:

      When will the press just stop covering this fool. His name is not a headline anymore and he is of no importance.  Enough!

      Save the headline for when he is convicted and jailed.

      • Status and VOTING says:

        Ooooh, THAT is a good idea.  Perhaps take away his soapbox or limit his exposure.  It is a good question.  Are the newspapers giving "fair time" to ALL candidates or are we so addicted to the train wreck that Mac knows "any press is good press"?

        A very good question to our jounalists.  At what point does a politician control the media and sway votes by continuing to spew outrageous accusations?  Hmmm.

    • Anonymous says:

      Bush and the UDP disciples miss the irony that it is because of THEM that the UK feels observers are needed.

      How they have damaged our beloved Isle…please please don't let them anywhere near the LA come elections in May.

  24. Anonymous says:

    No words can describe the arrogance of this man.

    Maybe an idea for the media to completely ignore him.

  25. Anonymous says:

    So he doesnt want anyone to see what happens at election time? Not surprised at that!

    He doesnt want anyone to see what happens at contract awarding time (think CHEC and many more!). He doesnt want anyone to see what happens when land is rezoned. He doesnt want anyone to see what he gives the Darts in exchange for a dumb deal for Cayman.

    Are we building up a pattern?

  26. Anonymous says:

    Bring them come. Of course Bush don't want them here, XXX the dead won't be able to vote this 2013 election in West Bay, please make sure of that Mr. Gomez. Mr. McKeeva do us all a favor and stop showing your true colors, it's better you not say anything than to open your mouth because everything that comes out of it is XXXXX.

     

    I am shocked but not surprised to see Ms. Theresa Lewis on the platform with this UDP party, I had a lot of respect for her, but that has changed if she is associating with that breed of politicians. Anyone who can't see through McKeeva is also blind and looking for ways to get a piece of the pie, I am sure she is paid a handsome salary to head up the Legal aid office that has now died out. God help us all this May 2013.

     

    A true PPM supporter and not ashamed to say so.

  27. Anonymous says:

    I agree that we DO need observers, but in the long run it might be a WASTE of money. Cause they too would be bought out!!!!

    • An Observer says:

      How much you offering?

    • Anonymous says:

      I'd like offer my observational skills to obverse the observers to ensure that all observations are observed correctly. I always observe strict obervational guidelines and I cannot be bought, unless I observe a lot of cash going into my hand. 

    • Anonymous says:

      NOT. It's cheaper for them to buy their fridges at home.

  28. Bodden. says:

    I assume that this is an issue of TRANPARENCY versus the question of our REPUTATION it seems. An expat can always take our reputation lightly because they don't live here. But then again there are some locals amongst us who may take for granted the possibility of corruption spoiling our election process. So whether we have Bush advocating reputation or not, these are all important issues that we must all embrace and take seriously. 

  29. Quick Scholar says:

    Another Bush fuss designed to get people to think that there is actually a choice and that they are obligated to choose one or the other.

    "Scholars have been slow to appreciate that elections are and always have been for the most part a sham – a mere ceremony intended to make people believe they have some control over their fate even as they are mercilessly bullied, bamboozled, and fleeced by their rulers."  – Against Leviathan 2004.

  30. R.U. Kidden says:

     "McKeeva Bush said that observers only go to countries where election problems exist, which was not the case here and this was all about the UK wanting to embarrass Cayman."

    Why should the UK want to embarrass Cayman?  Government has already taken care of that.

    "Alden McLaughlin, the opposition leader, said that the sole reason why the UK had requested that observers come to cover the local elections was because of the former premier’s behaviour in office and the allegations of corruption."

    Alden, you could left out "allegations of".

    "Ironically, he entirely avoided mentioning his current legal difficulties and his arrest before Christmas on suspicion of a number of offences, including ones relating to corruption."

    I think I would have left that part out too, if it were me!

  31. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately, Cayman will re-elect Mac and his party in May!

    • Anonymous says:

      They might get a tick or 2, but now more power for the Bush – and you can take that to the bank! His days are DONE!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      No siree bob, not Cayman, just those Noddies in Westghanistan will try to re-elect him but I hope for the sake of these Islands that they wake up from their slumber and get it together otherwise the rest of us might just campaign to have a wall of Jherico built around the rest of Grand Cayman leaving West Bay outside trying to get in.

    • Anonymous says:

      You guess wrong. The UDP will be lucky to muster 6 (out of 18) seats.

  32. Voter in GT says:

    The main goals are the legitimisation of an electoral process, where appropriate, and the enhancement of public confidence in the electoral process, to deter fraud, to strengthen respect for human rights, and to contribute to the resolution of conflict.

    Sounds look good goverenance to me and should be welcomed. 

    Mac, your days of petty politics are over.  You are reaching at straws and I hope the people have stopped listening to your nonsense!  No more party politics! The last decade has been nothing but wasteful and a blame-game between the parties.

    This is my first time voting and I simply want to see the Govt. books balanced and the blowhards thrown out.  (Mac and every single "politician" both UDP & PPM alike) We do not need career politicians for a population of 60,000.  We need decent auditors, good immigration and human rights experts, and a few good adminstrators to guide the Civil Service.  

    • NeoSurvivor says:

      Spot on.   It seems possible that the "observers" might be an indication of just how close the Cayman Islands came to being TCI-ed;  many of the patterns perceived in the T&CI were present here under former-Premier Bush's administration.   

      Having election observers seems like good policy from the UK's standpoint, and promotes transparency from our perspective.   Moreover, this might be a step that helps restore the Cayman Islands' credibility within the global community.   Remember, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, the damage has already been done here — our reputation has been damaged.    Allowing and even encouraging the elections observers shows that the people and CIG have nothing to hide.   

      I'm all for it.   Many of us have heard, read and even seen suspicious activities surrounding the last election.   We have to get this right, and there should be no reason to not welcome the observers.  

  33. Anonymous says:

    What a surprise (not).  Mac doesn't want international elections observers. 

  34. Anonymous says:

    They coming to make sure Mac don't rig the voting like in the past.   Thank God they coming, Cayman finally getting its shit together !!!! 

  35. Anonymous says:

     

    Bush said the request was designed to embarrass the country and the people should say ‘No’. You must betalkingto the WALL!!

    Will we the people are very sorry to inform you Mr. Bush, but YOU & the rest of what’s left of the second half of that thing you call UDP party, has already caused damage to these islands with your reckless dictatorship back house style of politics.

    One of the mean reason that the election observers are coming is to Observed YOU (look at you, Elio, Mike, Wally, Chris, Lazy Capt. & whoever very HARD!!) because your same GT candidates tried to pull some business style cards to vote for UDP clan at the last elections is going to be a hard thing for you to try and pull. Not this time Bo-Bo, not on this watch!!

    Your now new real old Garrison style politics at is most corrupt that you have adapted from 2001 from other settlers that ran from their own back yard & set shop on these islands over time & started to cream you and old and new running mates are looking for which is that nasty smell of roach odor that you find under doormats of which you/UDP  have come very familiar with.   

    What you and the rest of your so call new party is now feeling is what cockroaches feel when a tip of BAYGON spray hits their lil back-sides. You and your UDP or/and NDP (new and old or whoever) are just going to be extinguish, exterminated in May if you get through March unfinished investigation business.  

  36. Anonymous says:

    "Nevertheless, independent observers are becoming increasingly common at many elections, including staunch democracies such as the UK itself, France and even the US, undermining the premier’s position that they only go to country’s suspected to have problems.@

     

    CNS – surely you mean 'former' premier – a freudian slip??

     

  37. Anonymous says:

    Mac just doesn't want anyone catching him and his dirty tricks! 

    Get this dirt bag out of here Mr. Baines!!!!!!!

  38. Anonymous says:

    It strikes me that the best reason on earth to welcome elections observers is simply because Mad Mac doesn't want them! His adversity speaks for itself! Makes me wonder if, at least in West Bay, this sholuldn't have been done years ago!

  39. Anonymous says:

    That's because he's got all those fridges and the 30 day refund limit has been and gone.

  40. Native says:

    I don't know but I dont see anything wrong with having observers here; however, as a Caymanian I would not like to know that it is to create international attention. Just my concerns.

  41. Anonymous says:

    "UK’s efforts to undermine the country"

    "UK wanting to embarrass Cayman"

     

    Oh Big Mac – Time for the Kinks Destroyer

    self-destroyer, wreck your health
    destroy friends, destroy yourself
    the time device of, self-destruction
    lies, confusion, start eruption
    (yea, it goes like this, here it goes) paranoia, they destroy ya

     

  42. Frank says:

    "McKeeva Bush said that observers only go to countries where election problems exist, which was not the case here and this was all about the UK wanting to embarrass Cayman"

    Of course they exist! Hence why the previous premier that was elected was ousted from his position and is under investigation for corruption charges. If those arent problems, then i don't know what is. You're out Mr. Bush. Do us all a favour and sit down and be quiet.

  43. Anonymous says:

    Dear Mac

    Will you and your pal Foolio please take your motion and shove it where your other 'motions' go.  Nobody is interested in you alarmist conspiracy theories… or you for that matter.  We've had enough now.

  44. Captian Cayman says:

    I am sorry and I am not a UDP supporter, but declaring a watchdog on our elections will produce, I think an unnecessary negative impression of the Cayman Islands election process to the rest of the world and include us in with other countries that have major issues. Some may think not so, but I have notice how this Governor and the FCO have been careless with our reputation / name in the past. And it is not outside of reality to think that this may be the intention of certain other folks to have our islands in the press. So my position would be that unless they have valid reasons or concerns for feeling the need to observe this election process they have no need to be here.

    • Anonymous says:

      Try reading the whole article, dumbo. The UK and the US also have foreign election observers.

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank God for people like you for see it for what it is!

  45. Anonymous says:

    The one person who needs watching more than anyone else does, does not want to be watched. Surprised?

    Cos if they watched they would undermine him giving generously to the people of Cayman. And all the people have to do in exchange for his magnanimous generosity is just to put a little "X" in the right box on election day, and everything will be tickety-poo. Its not selling out democracy or corruption, no! God forbid! It Election Engineering. Any one whosays anything else is a liar and a bully and trying to undermine us. Ner-nicky-ner-ner got my fingers crossed.

    Mac,- has a heart of gold, nerves of steel and a knob of butter.

  46. Anonymous says:

    While I do understand Mr Mclaughlin point about the past Premiere behaviour as the reason for the observer. The legilative as a group need to weigh the pros and cons of international observer. I do agree that its unfortunate that the UK call for it because of the behaviour. But forget about Mckeeva for a moment and think about the country. What is really best for Cayman. And thats what is important now.

  47. Anonymous says:

    we need more that the UK to come in here and observe what is going on finally some truth mite come to lite if there is a out sider looking it.

  48. Anonymous says:

    MacKeeva who?

  49. Anonymous says:

    Checking up on the soundness of a democracy is a good idea. But, it doesn't hurt to observe the observer.

    • Anonymous says:

      I'd volunteer for that. I am a Caymanian who has refused to register. I have no political affiliation and I'd gladly peer over a few shoulders. Somehow, I don't think anyone will take me up on this offer.

      All I want is that the people of these islands get the leaders they voted for, not the ones who were pencilled in by the counters. XXXXX

  50. Anonymous says:

    Hey Mac,

    Where is my port? My hospital? My Enterprise City? My E-commerce? My islands in the North Sound? My refinery? My good governace? Myaccounts? 

    While you are at it, how have your travels been since being romoved? Visit anywhere exotic lately?  What about your travelling buddies? Have they turned their attention to the Turtle Farm? Cayman Airways? 

    Or let me put all of this another way. What have you accomplished for us, as opposed to yourself, in the last four years?

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      People like you, the UK and the PPM is the reason many of these projects has not gotten off the ground!  

      • Anonymous says:

        Still blaming others for your failures. The reason they haven't got off the ground is a combination incompetence and corruption.

  51. Anonymous says:

    It is not a "bitter irony" at all, Alden. Only those who have something to hide would object. It is exactly what I would expect from McKeeva.

  52. evjon95 says:

    If this country has not had the problems that other countries have had in their elections, why now does the UK want to come here? It gives the wrong impression to the outside world. The UK should stick to their own problems as their economy is faltering with their rating being downgraded. And it is those people that want to give us advice? Please. The worse part is that some of these ignorant people who in their quest to continue bashing Mr. Bush also continue are being most detrimental to the Cayman Islands. Shame on you people! You are probably the same people that think we should live off of planting mangoes and fishing and that you don't need to travel to get business done.

  53. Big whopper says:

    This is like a nightmare I can’t wake up from..Lord help us if he is re-elected.

  54. Anonymous says:

    If anyone would, its Mac. I wonder why? I can only hope enough voters can see through this absolutely pathetic man.

    • Anonymous says:

      All of your pathetic comments will not stop the final outcome of the election because people sees through your absolutely pathetic statements.

  55. Anonymous says:

    Of course.  He also rejects transparency in government.  Is anyone surprised at this?

  56. P A Rody says:

    Didn't he say that expats that didn't want to have their frintprints taken must be afraid of something!

    Well touche

  57. Anonymous says:

    I TOLD you so.

  58. Anonymous says:

    Mac, why don't you just go off fishing with Capt. Eugene and give us all some peace from your lunatic ranting – please!

  59. BT. says:

    I reject them too.   It doesnt have to be Mac to reject something.  I just dont see the need for Observers… we really have no serious issues of corruption except for Mac! 

    • BTer says:

      That is not why they come.  Please don't let Mac and Foolio fool you with their lies and deceipt.  They are merely here to observe as they do in other countries (whether election problems exist or not).  If we have nothing to hide, why reject them?

    • Anonymous says:

      Operative word 'Mac'. Until he is northward he should be observed

  60. Chris Johnson says:

    Mr Bush you lost your credibility long ago. Never in the history of the Cayman Islands has a politician been involved in so many questionable and unsavory deals. Please retire and tender your garden.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Political Stage in Cayman is far too small for Mac. He is wasting his God given talents here.

      There are plenty of countries that would welcome a man of his charisma, talents, religous persuasions, negotiation skills, contacts book and ability to cut thru the red tape in spite of regulatory obstacles.  

    • peter milburn says:

      Way to go Chris.Time for serious changes and about time too.Never have I seen such BS being spouted in all my 47 years of living here.May 22nd Hurry come.

    • Doh! Homer... says:

      That would be his little plot at HM Prison Northward, right, Chris?

      • Chris Johnson says:

        Northward is the right place for him where there are people of similar disposition. Moreover it is quite possible that he may be joined by friends. In this Garden of Eden he can reap what he has sowed.