Mac’s 11th hour allegations
(CNS): The former premier of the Cayman Islands, who is still very much in the running to be the leader of the next government, was hurling last minute allegations on Facebook Tuesday night when he posted a statement accusing his former UDP colleagues, the PPM leader and the independent member for East End of also using government credit cards for personal use. McKeeva Bush accused the governor of carrying out a “vindictive attack” on his government. He claimed that the use of the credit card was for his personal security and that the governor ousted him from office with support from Rolston Anglin, Cline Glidden, Arden McLean, Alden McLaughlin, and the C4C candidates and their management.
In the statement, posted at around 11:30 on Tuesday night, Bush claimed that Anglin was on a re-payment plan, paying government back for the use of his government credit card for personal expenses, and that Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin, Mark Scotland and Arden McLean had “extensively used their government credit cards for personal use” but said none of them had been charged.
Bush said he repaid his credit card in full when he was notified by his financial staff. The former premier said that the charges and attacks were “cheap, dirty and political opportunism” for his former PNA colleagues in West Bay, the C4C and McLaughlin to use against him to better their chances in the election as he urged West Bay voters to see through “their shenanigans” and reject them for what he said was “political trickery”.
Bush is currently facing 11 counts of theft and abuse of office over the misuse of a government credit card, including cash advances taken from ATMs in casinos in the United States.
The former auditor general of the Cayman Islands, Dan Duguay, spoke out about the misuse of government credit cards by public servants as well as politicians in Cayman during a debate at the Miami-based watchdog conference, OffshoreAlert, earlier this month.
Bush had pointed to these comments in his own defence recently but Duguay told CNS this week that it was always inappropriate for public servants to use the cards for personal use and noted the irony that the former premier was now using Duguay's comments, of all people, to defend hisacitons.
“It must have been very difficult for Mr Bush to use comments from me to support his position in this matter," Duguay told CNS. “As I recall, the last public comments from Mr Bush about me were calling me a cowboy and incompetent. I can only assume that Mr Bush's perception of me has gone up sufficiently to now quote me in his defence.”
Duguay explained that during the OffshoreAlert conference he had said the personal use of government credit cards by politicians and senior management in Cayman was something he had often encountered, as he pointed to the former ex UCCI President Hassan Syed and the Gasboy-gate scandal.
“Using government credit cards for personal use is against the rules of government,” Duguay said. “When we encountered such use, we always noted the violation in the management letter that is sent out with any audit.”
The former auditor general said that his team would also ensure that there was no loss to the public purse and check if the individual paid the personal use part of the bill in a timely manner. If it was, the office took no further action, but when repayment was not made or not paid in a timely manner, the abuse was reported to the Financial Crimes Unit.
“This is what happened in the case of Mr Syed of UCCI. Such matters constitute fraud and become the responsibility of the police,” the former auditor general explained. Duguay added that the use of government credit cards for cash advances is always inappropriate. “When a cash advance is made, interest is charged from the date of issuance,” he said as he pointed out that the advance from a credit card is equivalent to borrowing from government.
“I believe that leaders lead by example and that the true measure of a person is how they react when they believe that they are not being watched or when they won't be caught,” he said,” Duguay added.
See Bush's latest statement below.
Category: Politics
So that I get this straight… up until now Mac has said "I've done othing illegal". Is he now saying "yes I know misuse of a government credit card is illegal but I'm not the only one who does it so why pick on me?". No doubt had he said this from the start peoples opinions on Mac may be different… and no doubt it is an excuse which could work in court much like the "sacred vessel" excuse which still makes me scratch my head!
Who was McKeeva Bush?
Dont worry Dear. It was all just a bad nightmare…
And today is a bright new day…
HAHHAHAHA
In the statement attached "all this happened and the governor know very well"
BUSH. EDUCATE YOSELF. LEARN ENGLISH.
I cring everytime that he travelled as an abasadore to the Cayman Islands and had to speak in a foreign country. I wonder how many people attending those meetings with him went home and had a good giggle that someone as un-educated as him could possibly be running a country. I wonder how much harm that did to potential financial investment in Cayman. To be honest I wouldn't have given him the contents of my piggy bank let alone invested millions of dollars in a country that had him at the helm.
Well my friend….we can ALL hold our heads high as we can show that we were not willing to tolerate the ugly face of disgusting politics. We can breathe free and invest again without fear of vindictive and self serving obstacles.
Onward now with charges being turned into convictions.
Interesting. If these 11th hour allegations were posted at 11:30 PM on Tuesday night, that would be just around 7 minutes after the UDP weather man called the Bush doctor to the podium to make his speech at the Tuesday night national meeting broadcast on Cay27. Wonder what this means.
As for the broadcast itself Mr UDP weather man was interviewing the UDP cant-didates as if they were on the Price is Right. Meanwhile Foolio could be seen fast asleep and even when RB was trying to give his supreme leader a compliment, the Bush doctor was fast looking at his feet and paying him no mind. What an unorganized, disrespectful mess, even when it came to recognizing each other on the stage. Much like they way they have governed the country. What teamwork. NOT!
Not to mention the female candidate wholooked and sounded like she was intoxicated.
You cry like Robert Mugabe with millions in the bank I don’t even think God can help these beloved Cayman Islands if this monkey is in power.
It look like Mr. Bush adimitted that he used and abuse the credit card, whata shame!!!
…….. and getting frequent flyer miles as well. Beam me up………….
Can you use the air miles for one way flights to somewhere far far away? Let's all hope so.
Mommy they are picking on me. We were all stealing but they only caught me. It's not fair! I too should be allowed to keep on stealing. Poor Mac. He hasn't no idea what honest looks like.
I expect our leaders to be the pinnacle of integrity and honest. I expect this because I want my children to be able to look up to our leaders. Mac you set a very poor example for our youth.
So if he knew about all of this, why didn’t he come forward about it at the time? Oh wait, because he was misusing his cards too.
I feel a warm wind of change blowing over this small nation. Could it be that we are about to see McDaddy ousted or could it be that we are about to see him sent to the LA the sole winner on the UDP ticket. Quite honestly, I prefer the latter so that he can be properly dealt with in the confines of our respected legislature. I voted early this morning and made sure that I checked and rechecked that NONE of my X’s were anywhere close to a UDP candidate! Let’s hope when the count is over, we have very little or possibly NO UDP candidates in the winning bracket.
You are a person of great thinking and of high intellect. I support your comments 110%. I am no huge fan of the PPM either, BUT give me them any day over the UDP. What an awesome Cabinet we would have if it included, some PPM, some C4C, some PNA and some Independents. Show that West Bay dictator that whilst candidates have philosophical differences, a lot can be achieved when ALL work together.
What a nightmare that would be. How would anything get done? For starters tell me how would they select the Premier, draw straws. I guess we need another four years of lessons.
15:46, we all think that the 1500 people who support Mac are thick, but when you all post comments on CNS you clarify the position.
I couldn't agree more. This must be the only place in the world that someone who is on bail for theft and corruption can campaign and run for election. The should be a law that MacChavez cannot run for politics, (but wait, he is not running for politics, he is running for "POLITRICKS". Ifhe does not buy, then he cannot fly. He finds a way to buy as many votes as he can. He is not educated, but he is as wily as a fox.
Italy
Birthplace of the Mafia…hmmm
naw, in Italy he was already convested and sentenced to 5 years and was appealingduring the election.
He won his seat and lost the appeal, worked out well
In todays economic downturn and with the finical situation the Cayman Islands are in, a real politician,, one who cares about his people and country, would make a donation of at least 20% of his salary for the past year, to the Cayman Islands Government.
Facebook….. *snicker*
You Caymanian sick as hell look how you hate each other.Is the Jamaican that help you all make life. If not for them you all will be still plating rope for the white man up in England.It's your own you are voting for.Show love and respect for your vote.
Excuse me. Jamaican never did anything for me. My father went to work there and almost starved to death. United States is where my family got money to survive or my cousins and I wouldn't be here today.
please save you racist remarks for, well I don't know, but not here.
Now listen here now. YES jamaicans did their part in helping to build cayman but you put it across as if you all weren't paid and you came over here in chains and a gimp suit. Don't even compare Cayman to Jamaica, you all are born into corruption so I can't expect you to differentiate between the "honest humble man" and the "lend me a hand so I can take the whole arm man". If you have a problem with how we live then go back to your beloved Jamaica – bet you won't though because da na weh da money is.
I would much rather plait rope for the white man in England than for you. Try emancipating yourself and leave the English out of this. As a born Caymanian, I am proud to say that I would rather the Cayman Islands be affiliated with England than any island located in the Caribbean Sea. Having been born and educated in the Cayman Islands I am happy to have been the product of a good colonial education. Sorry I can't say the same for you.
Lets get this straight Mista. No Jacan ever worked in Cayman for free. To say that Jacans is what helped Caymans? Do you not think that its Cayman that help all the Jacans here. You sir, have some respect and dont try to talk about who should vote for who. We all do know who you vote for. Enough is enough. Everybody helped build and maintain this here Cayman Islands. Jacans benefit more from the Cayman Islands more than any other nationality, and they want to ruin this lovely Islands. Cayman Islands is still one the best places in the World to live. Please jacans stop this stupidity that you built Cayman. For years you have always had the chances to work, so much so that there are reported more Jacans here in cayman , than even caymanians. Now you feel that you own the place. Chu. go sit down. we have a right to critsize our own and complain and grumble, but as you notice, there is only that , complain and grumble, no riots or anything. just good ole cayman politics. And the results look good yu kno.
Let me see, if this is posted becasue CNS appear to be anti. McKeeva. Leave the man alone, if you listened carefully he said he used the Gov't credit card as security on a gov't trip that he went on. Now in many parts of the world persons are giving credit cardsfrom their place of work to use and he apparently used it on the Gov't trip.. He said other persons use theirs as well, so why they were not arrested. I am sure Mac has his evidence to support his claim. HE IS NOT STUPID
But Mac has his XXXL t-shirt that says "I AM WITH STUPID", and it has 2500 fingers on it pointing to West Bay.
This might be the funniest I've read in a long time
STUPID huh!! You will soon see. Common sense isn't that common these days, the educated fools will soon have cayman $1 billion in deficit. GOD save us from the PPM spending!!! GOD save McKeeva Bush and GOD save the Dart Family
Can't happen under the FFR.
McKeeva forever seems to think that because someone else does wrong it makes him right. And you seem to think that our police force is stupid enough to bring eleven criminal charges against this country's premier that are not the result of the perpetration of criminal acts. We shall see, my friend, regardless of whatever McKeeva has you or anyone else in this country believing. And it cannot possibly happen soon enough.
Mac can SAY all he wants about what he used the credit cards for…where is the PROOF?? Without proof to back up the fact that he used the credit card for "Security" he is just blowing more hot air…where is the invoice?, where is the reciept showing the name of the company? NOWHERE, that's where…and he ADMITS that he only paid the money back AFTER he was informed that he had to…if it had been a LEGIT expense, he should have reported it Immediately and accounted for it..as ALL CS's are required to do when they travel and use government monies. And furthur more…since when does Mac need "Security" in Vegas?? WHO is he that he would be in danger or under threat?? Seriously, this tin pot needs to sit down..You would swear by the way he acts that he is the President of the United States. He needs Secret Service, now?? Is Manny not MAN enough??
This you McKeeva making mischief?
I am sure he used it for security yes, so that the people taking the card would not reject it because it was the Cayman Islands Government who was backing it. He knows exactly why he was using it!
He lied, he said he did not use it and now he is saying he did and repaid. Fair enough he repaid what he owed or so he says he did, but the problem is he lied about this in the first place, and if he lies about this he will lie about more.
Cayman, It is time that Mr. Bush looks in the mirror instead of blaming himself for a change.
What? Does this even make sense?
Anon 1055 I take this as an error. Afterall every time I look in the mirror I see me. Thats who I blame. And I dont think Mac has ever said anyone else was to blame except the PPM. Even after his first eyar he fixed the big spending ways of the PPM he still blamed them later.
"………blaming others ………", surely?
Once again, this disgrace for a leader thinks that if he slings enough scat on the platform and the www he can once again fool enough fools to regain the power he covets. Sad, truly sad.
Did you say an extremely large enthusiastic crowd of jamaicans and lazy assed illiterates?
And Mac better hope he has enough left after legal fees to feed his supporters, cos if He's back as Premier it's going to be pretty quiet on the investment/jobs front.
Dr. Busc…Bush doctor
Take not notice of these disrepecful comments Mac. Tommorow wil will find out that most of the country is right behind you
Yes we're sincerely praying that he gets what's coming to him in court next month.
Just like you is behind us. Ouch!
Tomorrow we will know if we need to hire more Psychiatrists based on the number of votes he gets!
Yes we will be behind your omnipotent one, but with rubbing alcohol and smelling salts for him when he realizes that he is still not in power! UDP= Undeniably Damaged Politicians!
please the only udp am not voting for is foolyo and realie moxam
I just voted , but not one individual on the UDP ticket was on my ballot. Sensible Caymanians please do the right thing today.
me too.
same with me and the 4 people I was with! fingers crossed!
Same here, we can't handle another 4 years of the LDA party
Lie
Deny
Alibi
Using a government credit card for personal spending is always lazy, sloppy, and corrupt.
This is true for all public servants.
Dan is, as always, correct in this matter.
But according to Mac, if you pay it back there is nothing wrong with it…..
Lets use an example of his mentality:
The CNB robbers got caught having robbed the joint, and they subsequently handed back over the money they took (every cent).
Should they be punished?
According to Mac, no, because they paid it back.
According to the real world, yes, because they broke the law.
Hmmmm.
I thought 11:30 was macs prayer time before he went nite-nite
This is the kind of leader only a third world type of person could love.
A rat backed into a corner will hiss and spit and bite, just to get away. Lets hope he doesn't, but just goes away.
How could Mac post at 11:30 Tuesday night when he was ralying an extremely large, enthusiastic crowd at Kirk Home Centre?
Yes mac always has an extremely large crowd of Jamaicans. It's the free bottle of water.
somehow someone got my phone number telling me to come to the rally. if it wasn't my work phone i would have sent some seriously harsh words back their way. the irony in not using business property for personal pleasure…..
Dear Caymanian voter,
In this election, above all, please vote for someone who can apply the basic rules of English grammar. If you cannot string a sentence together without basic grammatical errors you cannot make good decisions for the country.
Nice, but all I really want is somebody onest.
Mad Mac. Why on God's earth is this man being allowed to run for re-election in this country is eternally incomprehensible.