Premier overseas for regional OT conference
(CNS): The country’s leader was not in the Cayman Islands yesterday when the governor revealed to the public that it was the premier who is at the heart of an investigation by the RCIPS into “financial irregularities.” McKeeva Bush has not yet responded to the governor’s revelations and is currently in the British Virgin Islands. The premier is attending the 2011 Pre-Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting which began this morning. The premier’s office said the meeting brings together the leaders of British Overseas Territories to plan for the annual territories meeting in London that is scheduled for November.
Once the leaders of the Caribbean territories and Bermuda have agreed, they present a proposed agenda to the UK for the UK meeting.
At the opening ceremony of the meeting which the premier’s press secretary said lasts until Sunday 24 July the BVI premier, Ralph O’Neal welcomed the delegates and Bush spoke on behalf of the Overseas Territories.
Category: Local News
If this was Civil Servant being so investigated, that Officer would be immediately suspended from duty and put on half-salary, pending the outcome of the investigation. If the investigation reveals nothing is untoward, the officer is reinstated and his back pay restored. If the officer is charged with an offence he continues to be suspended and remains on half-pay until the matter is determined by the Courts. If he is found innocent he is immediately reinstated and his half pay restored. If he is found guilty he is disciplined in accordance with the nature of the offence, and includes up to dismissal.
It has happened hundreds of times before and it is common knowledge to those who know the system.
What, may I ask, makes the position of Premier immune from the same procedure? He should be man enough to “step aside” until the investigation is concluded.
AND the investigation should not be allowed to drag on forever. It should be brought to a speedy conclusion in the interest of everyone concerned.
this is too much i got to LOL these guys boi lol; riddle me this first i was 'nothing to be explained' then i become a 'real estate bill' then i'm a 'red-herring' now 'my heart is pure and my hands are clean' now i'm a 'distraction' and now i am a very simple thing with a simple explanation that i cant seem to be explained hmmm what am i your guess is as good as mine u have 18 months tick tick tick
I like both Hon. McKeeva and Hon. Aldine and Mr. Ezzard. So I hope that they all get together and like each other.
"I like both Hon.McKeeva and Hon. Aldine and Mr. Ezzard" – I read no more as that just don't make sense, as "both" is 2 and you name 3 people!
Bush is a disgrace and must step down.
Step down, stop the projects – THEN WHAT?!
Under Investigation is the operative word, the Premier is not charged with corruption, get it you thick heads!!!!! The man is not charged with anything in this case. I am so sick of these negative people who refuse to grow up and act like adults. The Premier went on a trip to the BVI with regards to the regional OT conference to be held in the UK in November. Make suggestions on what should be discussed in London in regards to governance of the regional OT such as education, investments, globalization, human rights, immigration, security and other revelant matters.
Stop the stupid and mindless chatter, encourage our regional leaders to unite and adopt the good policies from each other. Put their heads together to find common solutions to benefit each OT. These leaders are all unique one is an Oxford graduate with Hons, they are all people with something to contribute encourage them to use their skills for good governance of the people of Anguilla, Bermuda, BVI , Cayman, Montserrat and TCI, these islands are the 6 OT left in this region with the smallest populations within the regions. We should encourage each on the way forward to have a better and more regional interaction. Instead of this garrison politics attitude, we are developing here in Cayman.
When the uDP govt. had Lonnie Tibbetts (former Director of Labour) under investigation was he suspended pending the completion of the investigation? Was he charged with anything?
Loren,
He is under investigation for the contents of a letter that surfaced during court proceedings The content of that said letter gathered enough suspicion form the judiciary to warrant the investigation.
Can you understand that if a judge thought it right to have him investigated that there is something not inherently right?
Can you understand that if the leader of a country is under criminal investiogation that it does not bode well with public perception on the matter, both locally and internationally?
Can you not understand that it would be best that he step aside until the investigation is complete?
Can you not understand that if this investogation ahs been going on for the last 18 months tht there might actually be more to it than just the said letter?
THE MAN IS UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION!!! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEAD!!!!!!!
Thank you Loren, well spoken.
These oppositions are like vultures, trying to jerk Mac from his seat. I couldn't agree with you more ,they need to grow up.
They are relentless and adamant on destroying this man, and in the process of trying, they are going to take down the Cayman Islands, just out of sheer jelosey, covetiousness, and stupidity.
They have never brought any solotions to the table, and don't tell us this is not your job. I can see the house of commons telling the English people.."our hands are tied, we can't get any laws passed in the house". If you can't do your job, give it to some one else that have the interest of the Caymanian people.
As far as I'm concern, you guys are full of shit….do some thing for your country, go visit Roy at UCCI and get your people educated and prepared for the up and coming jobs…do something!
Luckily Loren, it is clear that Mr Bush still has he prioritising and scheduling skills intact, because he had time to add his facebook friends. 81 adds since Saturday.! Way to prioritise mr premier!!
Let’s say Mac step down! Who the hell is going to replace, don’t you dear tell me the men from the north or east!!!! They should be going to the light house school. What? The new opposition leader he should stick to roaster talk show he is better at criticizing than finding solution. No one has made any contribution to the house debates in terms of finding solution. Oh sorry save the promise for when election is close. At lease the Premier is trying to find a way forward. It’s a small island much too dam small for some of the things tourist have to listen to on the radio talk shows. A lot of experts and no solutions, if it was not for Bush I wouldn’t want to imagine where this island would have been right now. Let’s all admit that Mac saved us from the last government. They even admit it themselves; yes they did, when they said a lot of policies they implement were wrong. In the real world that would have been treason and people go to jail for it. That’s one for a governor and a commissioner of enquiry.
Tim Adam, in my opinion, could be a credible leader.
I wish that he would step up and replace Mr. Bush.
All voicing discontent with the Premier please remember that he could not have done this without the support of all members of his party. They are as responsible for any of your concerns as he. Don't forget!!!
If Mac was a leader, he would travel economy on the shorter flights, such as the various ones between here and the BVI, to show his personal commitment to deficit reduction. Symbolic, maybe, but symbolism is important.
The Uk wants to warn them that their behavior wo't be tolerated.
Maybe he is teaching them how to make their Government's financial dealings invisible?
Oops. I meant transparent!
Shouldn't your story have read –
"The country’s leader was yet again not in the Cayman Islands yesterday," to push the point right home?
Realistically these OTCC and pre-OTCC meetings are a joke. Which is cheaper – to fly all the representatives of the OTs and their entourage to BVI or London to discuss what they hope the their future might hold for them or to let Henry Bellingham do a whistle stop tour of the OTs telling them what their future is? I'd put my money on the latter.
He travelled first class too
To the same commenter (or, person) that's posting for Mac to step down: tell me….what must we do? replace him with who??? please don't tell me Ezzard! please don't tell me six years with Alden! Have you heard any solutions from these guys? So the projects that will help boost this economy must stop! please…. get real!
How about replace him with Rolston? Julie? Mike? Mark? I would even settle for them temporarily. They could hardly do any worse! And at least they dont YET have quite the reputation that Mac has. Any one other than Mac will do right now. When will you all get the point that this is not merely about politics?? For those of you crying that you just want work, i am sorry to tell you that first off XXXXX and secondly if perceived political corruption is allowed to continue there will be plently more people looking for jobs for a very long time!
Honestly I supported Mac when the PPM's term of indecision was coming to an end however I now apologize. I had no idea as to what the Premier was capable of. Yes I would accept Alden now although my preference would be for some of our retired successful Caymanians (paper or proper) to run as independants. These "projects" you speak of have not been subject to any kind of reliable analysis that shows they will be good for the country. XXX
I believe the decisions being made by the premier without expert or even intelligent unbiased consultation while suspiciously by-passing established due process may be at the expense of current and future generations of Caymanians. We can't even get proper reporting of ministries which would give some comfort to our debt holders.
It is time for change before he commits our country to these projects.
This foolishness about having to travel for meetings is so out dated. i hope we practice getting a FOI for each and every trip he (premier) takes.
i am truely beginning to think; call it a 'red-herring' if you may; that he 'waistin muney' lolol
*note* if u ever want to saveyour employer money instead of having to travel to every blinking 'meeting' you can… this is a long shot here…. use a 'conference call' or a 'web conferencing' interface that allows you to see eachothers poker faces
Mac, if he had any ethical bones in his body, should have stepped down weeks ago.
What do you expect from a leader who admits he has nothing to offer other than "granny wits"?
Its so obvious that poster 20:44 and 21:40 is the same person and I would not be surprised who it is! What a bunch of jokers you people are but nothing can change the inevitable so just sit back and take what comes your way!
Weeks??? Make that years!
Yes, if there is evidence that he is found with corruption, but in my opinion, I believe it wouldn't be feasible for the Opposition to make a public cry for his resignation without that solid evidence. It would only be a waste of energy and precious time. Besides the last thing the Opposition want, is for people on their side to start sympathizing with the Premier, because he would be portrayed as an innocent man accused of something he did not do. All I'm saying is, you need evidence before you start accusing and crying for this man's resignation. It could seriously backfire on the Opposition, if they accuse the man in the midst of an ongoing investigation with no results as yet.
what you said went through one ear and came out the next
Perhaps they know something you don't.
Mr. Bush must step down.
It is the only honourable thing to to until the ethical allaegations against him are resolved.
If it was a Civil Servant they would be put on required leave until the investigation has been completed because they might hinder the investigation. This should apply even more to any high ranking official.
Mac should have sent someone else to this conference because at this rate he should not be the Premier come November 2011 !!!
What an embarrassment to our country. Perhaps if Stuart Jack had called a Commission of Inquiry into the alleged corruption exposed by Charles Clifford instead of the exposure of alleged corruption by Charles Clifford our beloved country would not have to face this embarrassing situation today.
The Clifford detractors can say what they will but clearly Clifford was right when he warned the country repeatedly.
I guess he is the only one of the infamous three amigos standing Amigo 1 Bermuda premier had to resign, amigo 2 TCI premier removed by UK now amigo 3 Cayman premier under investigation.
maybe they should have hm stand down, if not what do that tell us.
DO THIS MAN HAVE ANY SHAME. I HOPE THAT ONE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS ATTENDING COULD Asked him about the investigation in the ear of the press. i would like to hear him threatening the press over there
The Gall of the man.
Does he not have any shame?
Can he really represent Cayman as Premier knowing that all the other leaders know what is taking place in Cayman concerning the Police investigation.
Well I suppose he will never change!
I thought (& hoped) that his excessive travel would slow down now that the rest of the world, & especially world leaders, know that he is under police investigation. It is an embarrassment for Cayman, but I honestly thought it would be more of an embarrassment for him. Does he have no stomach?
Anon 2028,
you have to express such stupidity? do you understand deplomacy? he was invited to this conference, and why sould he not go? would you prefer sending you to these meetings.He has a job to do, and we should be proude that he is doing his job.
When it is he who cut civil service pay, why does he not contribute, by not travelling very expensive first class to the Virgin Islands for goodness sake. THAT is NOT leadership!
I wouldn’t be too “proude” of your own “deplomacy” talking about another poster expressing their stupidity
Diplomacy. Proud. Please use spell check!
He must really have stomach to go on this trip, invited or not! The other delegates & leaders are probably laughing & talking behind his back. Which would you prefer, diplomacy or laughing stock? I do not care how diplomatic it is for him to attend it is still embarrassing for him knowing that regional leaders are very likely talking about the scandal & laughing behind his back! I know for sure I would be diplomatic & STAY HOME!!!
Mr. Bush should step down and send someone credible, like Tim Adam, in his place.
@18"30…Innocent until proven guilty! Despite everything you say we should not proclaim him guilty until it is proven that he is guilty.
NONSENSE. You don't think that an investigation for corruption carries ANY weight; requires no initial action? These are serious allegations. The law removes POTENTIAL criminals from society before their trial.
I wonder if people realize that there are some persons who still think that Gaddafi is a good man and for some reason support him, so people can be fooled!