Mac blames division on PPM
(CNS): The opposition leader has said that the current serious divisions in the community over the proposed immigration amendments and the planned street march against the changes are a direct result of the People’s Progressive Movement’s anti-foreign stance which has back-fired. McKeeva Bush said the PPM’s position for the last ten years had created unrealistic expectations. Although he has not yet stated what line the opposition United Democratic Party will take on the Immigration Amendment bill when it comes to the Legislative Assembly as discussions are ongoing, he said that the UDP took the position that the country must grow while Caymanians must be given the first opportunity on jobs.
Responding to the controversies surrounding government’s proposed changes to immigration, Bush said that the PPM had opposed the UDP’s immigration philosophy for ten years and had now got itself into trouble.
“The PPM as a government has found themselves in a ‘pickle’ because of their political campaign based on lies, Anansi stories and an anti-foreign mentality, which did nothing but grow false expectations, which now they're finding out can't be sustained if our country is going to be a viable location for both local and international business whilst also being able to keep giving our people free education, healthcare, better roads etc," the opposition leader told CNS.
“The PPM opposition was a damning opposition to the UDP's immigration philosophy since 2003. They ran a successful national campaign based on scare mongering, anti-foreign residence and employment against the UDP immigration policies from 2003 to recently, wherein they tricked businesses to support them in their negativity towards most things foreign,” he said.
Bush claimed this had resulted in the current division and that the planned public march would generate particularly bad press for Cayman and fuel the negativity.
“The problem of migration and immigration has been the 'harlot of the ages', but in a small country such as ours with no vast natural resources, it is showing just how negative political posturing to win the government at any cost, as the PPM did, will indeed inflict wounds that will go deep if there is not a change in their narrow-minded approach,” Bush warned.
“My position is: first the country must grow and our policies must enable that growth to take place. Do we want to go forward or backward?” he asked rhetorically. “Backwards means worse times than what people are experiencing now.”
Secondly, he said, Caymanians must be given the first opportunity on jobs and in ownership of businesses that they can grow, as well as being trained for available jobs and to meet the demands of an ever changing workplace. But he did appear to offer his support for the government’s position that employers have to be truthful about their vacancies.
“This approach includes removing the proverbial glass ceiling and the placement of all truthful, authentic ,advertisements must be part and parcel of any strategy going forward,” he said. Additionally, that must entail a government machinery that is much more forward thinking and a business private sector that is truly a partner … willing to cooperate, with government and all employees towards building a society that is truly beneficial to all stakeholders.
“It is my party's overall position that the future of growth of our country and its society must be based on a relationship which is built on a high and deep level of mutual respect towards growth and the challenges which that growth objective will place before us. Giving Caymanians jobs, jobs, jobs,” Bush stated.
The first phase of changes to the immigration bill are expected to be pushed through the Legislative Assembly before 28 October to avoid the exodus of more than 1,500 people holding what are known as Term Limit Exemption Permits all on the same day. Having made a decision to push the rollover or term limit policy back two years, the new government will be providing every work permit holder, including those with temporary extensions, to now apply for permanent residency, regardless of their working status. The PPM government has rejected the idea that this will open the flood gates for every ex-pat worker to stay, as the premier said that the new permanent residency application process will be more stringent and robust.
Despite the claims, the government has failed to win the hearts and minds of all Caymanians on this issue, and with the independent members for East End and North Side leading a vociferous campaign against the changes and groups of local activists also vehemently opposed, a rally is now planned to march against the policy changes on 11 October.
Category: Politics
My God, this is all so old. Mac still "rowin" about stuff. Hasn't he got a yard to take care of at his house, for crying out loud?! Let's move on, folks. Please.
So stupid. I cannot for the life of me understand why CNS would post such stupid remarks that make absolutely no sense and does not even offer any solution/s to what this country is facing today. Please, just shut up!!!
We wouldn’t need any marches if Mac had not f’d us all by cancelling the GFL dock deal.
Oh, so you want to blame him now???? What is it that has gone so wrong for you now my friend???
Down Boy!
Down Boy!
Stop your barking and sit and wait for your bone…
Can you please make some suggestive solutions to the problems and please stop trying to make dogs of people. If you eat bones then that's your business. But not because you chose to eat bones everyone has to.
Then stop making it your business, fluffy.
Who?
Oh really? You don't think the expat tax you proposed might have something to do with the division, McKeeva Bush?
I guess if God decided that nature should take it's course and blow Cayman off the map the whole country would want to blame Big Mac for that too huh???? Good thing he can take the licks. Now that's man for you!!!. Good example for you to follow. Very broad shouldered man he is. Big Mac all the way boi.
Mac blames everything on the PPM, and the PPM blames everything on Mac. I just wish some of the yahoos would focus on the people of Cayman, stop blaming and start producting solutions.
Yep, still an idiot. And still getting paid for it. Caymanians please see to it that your kids get a good education.
Oh Mackie sounds like you want to eat your cake and have it too. How can you accuse the PPM of being anti-foreigner and anti-Caymanian at one and the same time? Is better you say nothing than this nonsense.
We will listen closely to the debate in the LA to see what parts of the Bill you object to.
As for Paul Rivers, it is clear he does not understand the Amendments and is just trying to incite Caymanians for his own narrow political agenda. If this is his idea of leadership then we are better off without him and his kind.
OLe Buddi who criticizing Big Mac, listen up. THe PPM begun to isolate or create a division wih Jamaicans in this country by imposing a visa system for Jamaicans coming to this country, which was reciprocated by the Jamaican Government( our first International diplomatic incident caused by who THE PPM). The PPM are not sound minded business men and therefore blow with the wind after their long drawn out comitee after commitee meetings. If yu belive PPM is Pro Caymanian, then you must be blind, for look at one of the very first actions, dealing with providing permanence to immigrants while 10% of their populace is unemployed. And you have no right to criticize Mac. Mac created the avenies for all to participate in the economy, the biggest failing was that he na listen to his own people and listen to those johnny come lately wanabe caymannians.LIsten Up get outa we kitchen.
Another Kool Aid drinker. Let me debunk some of this nonsense.
1. The visa for Jamaicans was not a PPM political issue, but a national security issue. That should be obvious to you if for no other reason the fact that the Governor did not allow McKeeva to abolish it during his tenure as Premier. Imposition of visa in respect of Jamaicans is in place in the UK and virtually every other BOTC in the Caribbean plus Bermuda. It hardly counts as a PPM 'diplomatic incident'.
2. As the previous poster said you can't have it both ways. First, the PPM is anti-expat and now the anti-Caymanians. Make up your mind.
All of this partisan political nonsense amounts to fiddling while Rome (Cayman) burns.
We sit here and complain, look what the idiots to the north are doing tonight. Our world is descending further into the toilet, while the political elite and wealthy laugh at us.
We are on here beating up each other about people who are sleeping good tonight, why? Because they have a lifetime pension & medical benefit, which WILL get paid.
I have a question for everyone: when was the last time one of our local politicians called you up begging for money to pay their utility bills or rent or to buy a little food?
It's da old donkey faced PPM wid dey milk and carrots. I hope dey trip and pop dey mout. Cha!
The game of choice for unemployed people or maintenance level workers is basketball.
The game of choice for frontline workers is football.
The game of choice for middle management is tennis.
The game of choice for CEOs and executives is golf.
Conclusion: The higher up on the corporate ladder you are, the smaller your balls are.
A teacher was teaching her second grade class about the government, so for homework that one day, she told her her students to ask their parents what the government is.
When Little Ebanks got home that day, he went up to his dad and ask his what the government was.
His dad thought for a while and answered, ''Look at it this way: I'm the premier, your mom is the legislature, your maid is the work force, you are the people and your baby brother is the future.''
''I still don't get it'' responded the Little Ebanks.
''Why don't you sleep on it then? Maybe you'll understand it better,'' said the dad.
''Okay then…good night'' said Little Ebanks went off to bed. In the middle of the night, Little Ebanks was awakened by his baby brother's crying. He went to his baby brother's crib and found that his baby brother had taken a crap in his diaper. So Little Ebanks went to his parent's room to get help. When he got to his parent's bedroom, he looked through the keyhole to check if his parents were asleep. Through the keyhole he saw his mom loudly snoring, but his dad wasn't there. So he went to the maid's room. When he looked through the maid's room keyhole, he saw his dad having sex with his maid. Little Ebanks was surprised, but then he just realized something and thinks aloud, OH!! Now I understand the government! The Premier is screwing the work force, Legislature is fast asleep, nobody cares about the people, and the future is full of shit!
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!
To: PPM,C$C and Chamber of commerce
The rich have been getting richer and the middle class has been shrinking and the only class that has seen any significant growth has been the poor and disadvantaged. This has been going on since the mid eighty's. Working people are getting trampled by a Coalition Government bought and paid for by the rich. The other UDP party have their own problems with the rich not as open and profound but still there. Let the rich make as much money as they want but when its time they have to give something back or someone will have to point it out to them clearly.
If you elect someone to do something for you, then you logically expect then to do something for you. Manipulating words to make this appear nefarious in it's most heinious form. We expect our elected officials to put the best interests of the nation first, not last, after their profit and their corporate masters profits.
Mac, you are a joke that will soon be silenced.
You wanted to tax expats and only expats. Who is anti-foreigner when it suits them?
Is this suppose to be a THREAT or a PROMISE?? Be careful what you say.
Why is anyone even paying attention to this man? He has no credibility.
You don't seem to have any either!!
Mac, please save whatever you have to say for your trial next year. So far you've been VERY quiet in court.
Cayman is tired of your politrix.
The only TRIAL is really faces is dealing with idiots like you. God is a just God. Remember that!!
Keke is a lonely voice in the wilderness! You Better shift our attention on your court case bobo! You created this problem by selling the country out for the almighty $$$ bill! Gt
These politicians need to be honest with the people and admit they're all loyal and obligated to the businesses/lobbyists that support their campaigns and don't care if hundreds benefit from their policies.
Is it a coincidence that the heads of most governement agencies, departments the immigration boards were all closely connected to the business sector? In my opinion that is the way to get your work done….hire the majoity of politicians (as party eg UDP or PPM and of course the biggest boy on the block C4C) and government workers then businesses dont have to question loyalty of any government because the voters aren't being respected despite that powerful vote.
Next Mac will blaming the PPM for sending his 'real estate commission' demand fax to Stan Thomas…
Is 'Fall Guy' Parchment not still on his payroll?
Its totally amazing all this blame game that is going back and forth between the two parties.Gentlemen please GROW up and STOP acting like SPOILED children.The high school kids could do a far better job of at least working together.Why dont you all give that a try for a change?You might be pleasantly surprised but first we have to get rid of the EGOs that abound.
I am a little tired of having to hear Mr. Bush politiking again. Please get him out of the PAC as he will find every excuse in the book to delay the findings. Sorry but we’ve seen this senario before and it’s getting STALE. Please Mr. Bush try to help get out of the mess youkve created from 2003.
In your face, he's doing the same thing the PPM did for the last four years, this is how they get into office along with pitting Caymanians against each other..
its the he said she said….. and don't forget about starfish navigation system…..
The point he makes is good, the whole thing is a mess, but he is also to blame for it. The solution lies in Caymanians and expats working together to make sure that the solution is long term and right for all parties. It is the one thing that could unite us, a common interest to get things stable and beneficial for all.
My friend, whilst it is true that expats and Caymanian's should work together and find solutions to their obvious differences, the reality is much more disturbing.
Why should I as an expat worker be held at such an acutedisadvantage by those who niavely think that Cayman can survive without 'foriegners'. I came here in reply to a job advertisement, competed for the position against Caymanian's on a fair and open basis, my resume was accurate and my intentions honourable.
I never, for one moment thought that I was doing anything wrong, just competing for work in an open labour market. Whilst I did make considerable sacrifices to follow my work, I acknowledge that this was the price to be paid if one wishes to be employed and gain further life experience.
I get paid in CI$ and spend every last penny on this island, either through investing in property, purchasing and running a vehicle, shopping and socialising. Not a penny leaves this land and all of it goes into local businesses, helping support the local economy. I also support and take part in charitable and voluntary activities, mostly for the good of the local Caymanian population, (I'm no saint, I just enjoy it).
So when I am told, (after living an honest, productive and contributary lifestyle) that someone, whose only qualification is their nationality, can do my work instead of me, I get a little anxious.
It is profoundly unfair to any Caymanian if they excluded from the workplace if they are properly educated and motivated to work. However, it is equally unfair to people who have come to this country to better their own lives and integrate into local society only to be told at their next permit renewal, 'sorry a Caymanian can do your job'.
The 7 or 9 year rollover is a lie, in effect anyone can be rolled over at any permit renewal, and it IS happening now. It is clearly dishonest to say that workers get 8 years to decide whether or not the Cayman Islands is for them, and apply for PR. Some will never get to 8 years and have that opportunity due to the punitive nature of Cayman's current immigration policy. Either have an honest 2 year rollover policy, (destroying any growth in the economy) or allow people to make plans for the entire duration of the current limit, (as long as they remain honest and productive). This would encourage spending, investment and produce the kind of permanent resident that Cayman needs to go forward. At the moment, expat's are feeling unsettled and vulnerable, they are not making long term plans and they are not investing. Why would they?
Clearly it is wrong that someone who has given everything to the betterment of the Cayman Islands, is disgarded like a piece of junk. There needs to be a clearer and fairer policy that ensures work for Caymanian's and stability for expat's. If you are offering a 9 year rollover, fine, at least everyone knows what to expect, but don't follow a policy of open discrimination and prejudice. Expat's need to know that they can invest their money and lives here on Cayman, instead of sending millions of dollars back to their original home country and depriving the local economy of it.
We all know that there are some here who come as economic migrants, to earn enough to support families abroad. But Cayman needs these people to do many of the skilled and unskilled jobs that Caymanian's neither can or want to do. But painting them all with the same brush is wrong, devisive and unfair. On the other hand, many come here to follow a dream, get away from cold climates or expand their working experience. These are the one's that normally keep all their money on island and support the country by using local services.
Their contribution is significant, both in financial and social terms, and it would be economic suicide to dismiss them.
The opposition can't even get their complaints straight!!! The UDP & Mckeeva Bush having been falsly saying for years that the PPM are anti-foreigner, & Bush is repeating that claim in this article also. Then there are those who are claiming that the PPM are anti-Caymanian because of the proposed extention to some permit holders. Can't they coordinate & get their attack stories straight? They are looking very foolish. As for dividing the country, Bush did that better than anyone. It is because of him why the community is divided, he encouraged & supported the division of the community.
Poor old Alden i feel it for you bro you are having to carry this whole burden on you and a party an a deputy leader who couldn't careless and simple aren't capable either ,too wrapped up their own affairs and family business. look at how far this little place is going down eh! Keep your chin up Alden
Social division accusation coming from Mac…that's rich. considering his vindictive and bullying tactics caused more civil fear and unrest than any other Cayman politician in living memory.
Sit down Mac and be quiet.
MacKeeva is correct on this one….while I'm not a UDPer or even a fan of Mac the idea of issuing work permits to those positions that need them is critical. We have to realise that we have jobs here in Cayman that Caymanians are not trained for or even worst will not do….it is not a simple thing to just dump 2000 expats and create 2000 jobs for Caymanians…that is childish thinking.
Please UDP and PPM listen to each other and get this country back in order…this party system is ruining this country!!! Get together around the table and work this sh*t out….at worst case you can always blame the FCO and the Governor and not each other.
It's ' worse'. Not worst.
Mac, could you please sit down and be quiet. No one cares what you think anymore. Well no one except your defense lawyer.
Funny how people cussed Alden when he offered no opposition yet you now tell Bush to sit down when he's doing his job. You are all a bunch of hypocrites who deserve everything that coming to you, because of your own bad choices. You let Alden poison you against Bush and the UDP just to get himself in office and he has already turned his back on you..
EXACTLY!
…and we're not convinced about your defense lawyer.
McKeeva is playing politics with this issue. Of course it was his UDP govt. that created this crisis by kicking the can down the road and introducing the 2 year TLEPs in the first place. It was also his govt. which introduced the 10 year work permit. Now he is seeking to shift blame. Mr. Leader of the Opposition, forget the political rhetoric and answer plainly – should the TLEPs be permitted to apply for PR? Presumably, since you are claiming that it is the PPM that is anti-expat, you are in favour of that.
Big Mac. Sit down and be quiet. No body cares about you and what you have to say. The only time we need to hear from you in next year in court when you will have to answer to all your corruption and lies, etc.
This court case is all BS, if they have something on him why is it still being so delayed, another year while he still has his job how crazy is that. At this point I don't believe for a minute that they have anything on him..
Ummm… it was delayed at the request of MCKEEVA's LAWYERS, dimwit.
Drunk on Kool Aid.
Believe it or not, but what McKeva Bush is saying make sence. I have been around here long enough to have seen the political manouvering of both parties. It makes one shake their head to have listened to all of the Bull that was preached last election. THEY LIED. and THEY PROMISED and now the fire is going wild. All of them lied to get votes. They promised people jobs, they gave some people jobs for three months before election, and after they never got back in they ignored the persons they tried to assist. Those that did not get back in, I am very happy about it because they were a bag full of tricks; and those that got in and are now running the show. My thoughts are this "Take your licks, because you don't know where your head is from your foot." Everyone of you is just bucking the forehead of the other. Whether we want to hear it or not McKeva Bush knows his job, no matter what you have to say about him, because if you check many of the others closets, you will find skeletons in them bigger than his. As for Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller, I take off my hat to these two men, because they are men who have stood up for what they believed in and have never bent an inch. Thank you Mr Arden and Mr Ezzard.. I just only hope that you stay wide awake now to see what is unfolding. What a waste Caymanians did by going to the polls in May.
Wa corrupshun in lies? Y mean you doo no i is da ferewa honerable one. Jes ass mr Daat n Mr Stan in all dem po foks a keep buyin dem friges fa if y doo beliewe mi. N all dem chuches a keeps buyin wotes from wid unna big buckaroos. N CHEC kin gi unna a hole book bout how good i is. Y kin check wa he name in da pelice foce too if y like. Jes wait till me n unka stewe shuw all dem foo foo chaages up he sun doo shine nex yea. Cha man. Bout a tek unna funs. wa he talkin bout bo bo? mackie might be a lil crackie but he sho na dumb. I only gi Cohen all da money cuz it was a good deal fi mi cuntry. Wa unna expec? Unna doo trus mackie no mo o wa.
There have been too many pairs of shoes worne out kicking this can further down the road, that the time has come to either repair of throw them away. The immigration Law has been hanging us for a long long time, and we have to untie those knots. Too many things have gone wrong in our country for the past 13 years, and we seem not to have the remedy to resolve our problems. I hope and pray that something can be done for the sake of our Caymanians who have become the people that time forgot on their own soil.