LA plans observers debate
(
CNS): The country’s legislators are expected to debate the issue of observers coming to monitor the Cayman Islands election after the former premier and MLA for West Bay, McKeeva Bush, filed a private members motion in the Legislative Assembly objecting to the request made by the UK. Bush believes it would give a negative impression of Cayman on the world stage but the motion is one of four private members bills on the agenda for Thursday and, given the slow progress legislators made yesterday, what is likely to be a heated debate may not happen today. The government had suggested this final session would last three days but unless the MLAs sit late, government will struggle to get through all of its business.
The members made relatively slow progress in the first day of the final sitting before this parliament is prorogued ahead of Nomination Day on 27 March for the 22 May General Election. Legislators managed to get through just two bills from a list of ten pieces of legislation Wednesday, after starting at 11am, taking a two hour lunch break and finishing at 5pm.
The members all made contributions to the debate and supported the new adoption law, which was finally passed through the House. The former premier reminded members that the government didn’t start in December and that the work on the bill had been done when his colleague Mike Adam was at the helm of the ministry. Members also passed amendments to the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s governing legislation, introducing a board, which will be appointed by government as opposed to one appointed by the membership. Law makers began the debate on changes to the marine conservation law to protect stingrays in local waters but the Legislative Assembly was adjourned before the debate concluded.
With only five elected members on the government benches, Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, who had wanted to work until 7pm, was out-voted because other members had commitments made well before the government announced when it wanted to meet for its final parliamentary session.
The MLAs are scheduled to return to the House this morning and begin with the private members motions. Bush reveals his opposition to the election observers at a public meeting in West Bay recently but the government has stated that it is likely to accept the UK’s request given certain caveats.Meanwhile, the opposition and independent members have also stated that they are willing to support the arrival of international observers at the poll. The opposition leader told CNS last week that the reason why it had come to this was as a direct result of the behaviour for the former premier.
Today’s session is expected to start at 11am as a result of what is reportedly an urgetn Cabinet meeting. It will be broadcast live on government’s TV channel CIG20 and Radio Cayman will continue its recorded coverage this evening.
See Bush’s motion and today’s draft order paper below.
Category: Politics
I dont want a washer..I need a load of white gravel rocks , some paint for my house , and a few dollars in my hand wont be bad either.. only problem I am a G.T. voter ??? Maybe if I get enough positive response I will tell you where i live so you bring me rocks an paint…lol
WE need these observers desperately. Our polling stations on election day is a disgrace and absolute scandal!!!
Hey fellas, you should instead be debating whether to prevent Cayman looking any (worse) on the world stage by signing the Ritz Carlton transfer. Seeing that you've already spent the fee, that should only take a minute of your precious time.
Can't imagine who talked JuJu into paving half of West Bay (at our expense) two months before elections?
Apparently Mr. Bush doesn't want any help in giving a negative impression of Cayman on the world stage, and I have to admit he's doing a pretty fantastic job of that all by himself.
Any hopes of cleaning house and getting our country in the right hands can start with observers present at the polls!! It is a racket that has been running for too long.
Whoa did I actually read this correctly, they started at 11 a.m. Took a two hour lunch break and stopped at 5 pm and ju ju gets out voted because she wants to work longer which might actually be a first in history for her to actually work because members had OTHER APPOINTMENTS!!!! Are you freaking kidding me at the hourly rate we are paying these losers cancel the appointments, unless you had an appointment with the undertaker your most pressing appointment was to complete more than a four hour freaking work day!!!
Unbelievable! 4 hour work day and they don't have time to stay late or do anything worthwhile. For this many of them take a salary AND a pension. Lazy, egotistical parasites.
Believe they finished at 10.00pm last night – hard work eh?
A woman was mugged in broad daylight in George Town this week. Another found an intruder in her bedroom and had to bite his finger off. The head of the ERA XXXX has been arrested for corruption. The country has had to borrow more money because, to the surprise of no-one, projected revenues have failed to materialize.
But THIS is what the LA decides to focus on?
Are they capable of thinking about anything other than their own re-elections?
They should have been debating the illegal vendor issue, in an attempt to find a solution, instead of being highly paid cry babies toying with monkey politics; while peoples lives and livihoods are at stake! WUTLESS!!
Why is this being debated when there are other pressing issues? Why not debate the retirement age extension? My mother is on social service’ no work because of her age so tell me again why is this a priority? As far as I am concern let them come in and observe if there’s nothing to hide? Oh yeah john john and marks illegal appointment, Perlina and Jonathan at the George Town poll and the give always of washers……..
Macmadman…..FYI…….there is nothing that could be anymore negative for Cayman on the world stage than having you as our Premier. The damage you have done will never go away. Hopefully you will.
Was he democratically elected?
"AND WHEREAS our Electoral System has evolved to an excellent system with no electoral fraud and no major flaws or mishaps…"
Ahhhh haaaaa haaaa haaaa….
Translation: "Give me da fridge and da list of who I vote for, ya mon. Dar be no electoral fraud here mon."
Can you provide the names of the people that you can prove have received a fridge or similar item in exchange for votes? I keep hearing about this but it does not appear that anyone has the integrity to stand behind these claims.
i really wonder how it must feel for the high and mighty Bush, that he now has to file Private Members Motions, and can no longer just push things through. da wa u get
How does this comment help to move the country in the right direction?
Helps to remind us not to re elect a dictator like bush
Hope that the commission is permitted to look at "inducements", fridges, paving, and so on. Be in no doubt, thats corruption at the start of the process, and if you turn a blind eye to that, then you cannot be surprised if you get corrupt politicians!
Wait. So now you are telling me that this idiot has a negative foresight?! If that's the case, who the hell we have had in power this whole time?! Because I'm looking back, and we are so far up shit creek without paddles- It's nothing to joke about!!!
Mac just resists any kind of transparency or oversight that could put a stop to his dubious schemes. I can't see how these observers can be a bad thing.
This is the same Mac accused of conspiracy in civil proceedings filed this week?
Tell us more, tell us more…..
Do you have a link and details re. filing of this – would love to know the details what he is accused of this time around.
CNS: Ritz alleges abuse over 6m
Same old same old time wasting and not getting along as per usual.When will these folks start EARNING their pay?The world may well come to an end before they can ever hope to work together on ANYTHING that is or could be good for the country.Time is short for pretty much all of you so enjoy your time in the LA as it will hopefully be your last but6 having said that you are all cordially invited back to view the swearing in of the NEW house members and I truly hope that will be the case for this has been going on for far too long.
The motion might have been a bit more impressive if it hadn't been typed by what looks like a semi-literate monkey.
Doesnt have Michael Ryan to write it anymore.
Dumb move, it just spells 'GUILT' in ten-foot tall capital letters. In any event, if the LA does vote down the presence of official UK observers it won't stop the media flying in for the circus.
trying to prevent this happening or blocking it makes it look like cayman has got something to hide…..
just get on with…