UK coming to work on plan

I wonder what Premier Bush now thinks of his decision to publish the initial correspondence from Chris Bryant.

For anyone interested, the follow-up letter to the Premier after his visit to london with the Governor is now posted on the FCO website. Also the details on the FCO's impending visit.

Here is a nice little excerpt.

If you read the netnews and compass version of this story it does not suggest that the purpose of the visit is for the FCO team to do a 3 year plan instead it is obvious that this is the fco's annual visit. This may be because these guys are very familiar with the annual visit whereas CNS may not be. This whole "UK coming to do a 3 year plan" twist is a cns thing. unfortunately even the governor's office does not realise the subtle but important difference between saying that they are coming for their annual visit versus implying that they are here to work on a plan, the latter suggesting a TCI style invasion!...and CNS did not have the awareness to suss out this distinction (or intentionally were quick to delfect /ignore it for news credits) 

I just heard that the Governors office was planning to issue a clarification correcting this misperception but now they may not bother as this too shall pass with time i guess..

CNS: The Premier's Office told us that the Governor's Office was going to issue a clarification. We called the Governor's Office and they said they weren't going to issue a clarification but verbally made the clarification that our article was fine. I hope everything is clear now.

I think it's good that the UK is coming over to the Cayman Islands to help clean up the government's financial mess. Government could use some help to get itself out of it's economic slump.

Incompetence

at its best!!!! That's why they're coming!!!

Well, I'm glad they have the sense to come down to keep track of him. Not only is he denying the PPM members the opportunity the contribute their valuable input to the running of this country, he wants them to 'write their suggestions on paper" and IF they like it they will then "consider" it. This sounds VERY much like a typical game of marbles that the older West Bayer folks talk about when Mckeeva played with them.

I also believe they have heard and heard and heard ENOUGH XXXXXX !!!

However, I have ONE BIG concern, i.e. is this another TEMPURA expenditure?????? WHAT WILL IT COST US????

 Great! Cause obviously these uneducated people that were elected cant seem to put Lego together! While there at it, they should send a spokesman for the Premier!

Questions...

So why do we pay our Financial Secretary?

Are the costs borne by this teams visit be passed on to the Cayman Islands? 

How common is it for Overseas Territories to be put under this type of "AUDIT"...dont think that this is only "assistance" this is an undercover audit for the descrepancies in the financial reporting but also policies.

We should welcome this review positively.  Everyone! including governments should be audited. 

Let us all encourage positive dialogue supporting these types of endeavours.  Please lets try to refrain from negative talk and lets wait for the results of this project to be made public.  "Life and death is in the power of the tongue" including collectively as a country! 

Blessings!

how about we pay out the ACV of the pensions under the old defined benefit plan and close that silly plan.  I know that some old kings in the CS will hurt but they have had years to accumulate wealth.  Then we can start with the healthcare issue and making arrangements with Cuba and Panama instead of S.FLA. ..We can close CINICO too sorry folks only the fit get the chance to live in this new world order of greed.

It's a crying shame that being one of the largest financial centers in the world and having so many qualified and professional accountants on Island, both locals and expats alike, that we have come down to this bringing in the big dogs to smell the crap the other Government put us in. Yet you the Caymanian people only seem to be pointing fingers at the present Government and Big Mac........please! Where is the PPM in all this, they should be the ones made to clean up ALL this mess and yet they sit back and critize Mac on trying to do what needs to be done. I say Mac has more balls that all you put together including the PPM, he was the one to bring things to light about the lacking CS and the way they have been living for years in their own little world. They have been feeling protected for years just because they work for Government and they know its not easy to just get fired, so what's a pay cut compared to a job cut! I say let half of them ago and let them end up in the Private Sector and do real work and get paid for it.....

Hear the complaints now that they having to bring in a team from the UK Government to help us clean up the mess, one can never win with ignorance and small minded individuals I see!!! someone has got to do the job, be it the expats from the UK or our own Goverment, you will all have something negative to say and make a fuss about, but no one, not one has a better solution to the problem......give me a break people. Wake up and smell the roses, stop living in a world with your eyes closed and just open them wide look around you and say, "we have a big problem, lets get it fixed no matter what, tomorrow will be a better and brighter day" Nope that is too hard for us to do because it's being positive, too sweet of words and optomistic.....

The FCO is coming and believe me the British Tax payers are watching very closely. The British taxpayer will be up in arms if Cayman is rescued by the British tax payer in light of the fact that hedge funds etc played some part in the collapse of the banking system around the world.

It is funny how we ask the British for help when we are in a mess and then show them the cold shoulder when we are doing just fine. Shame on us I say.

Lets have a plan that we can sort out the problem without outside help and if it means pay cuts and jobs so be it.

I hope they filed their work permit applications with the appopriate fees attached.

Can you say TURKS & CACOIS 2 ? This one is even more subtle ( in the typical British way) of ensuring we do what they want. "No need to come in heavy-handed in Cayman, the locals are all so docile, they will have us in and even throw a cocktail party or two for us....and we can even squeeze in a beach bash or night pool party"

This is not a UDP/PPM issue...ALL Caymanians should be concerned about this development. Let me guess THEIR conclusion now..."we looked at everything and we conclude that introduction of direct taxation is the only way forward. The FCO and the Governor will be looking at introducing this taxation directly within the next three years." The funny thing about this is that we will PAY for this and implement it thinking it is OUR idea. ( ohh, the British are subtle!!)

Local Caymanians will think this is great that the "rich" will be paying taxes until one day we get up and they are gone....by that time, so will the FCO advisors.

Wake up Cayman...

(PS- Wendy, nice photo. We will wait for the updated one at Kai of the "new UK Squad" having Mudslides)

Thank you FCO and Her Majesty.  The decision by the UK to assist us with our financial plans is an excellent move.  It's much better for us to have the UK assist in our financial planning than the IMF.  This is what happens when you don't follow responsible financial policies. 

The Cayman Islands are BODTC thus the UK's responsibility.  If this country had done what was right there would be no need for the UK to intervene. 

We were once the 5th financial center in the world where did all the money that we derived from those services go or was it all a facade? I am waiting to see if the many financial institutions on island will  assist us with some funds instead of demanding salary cuts and selling off our assets.

As for the UK having direct rule over Cayman likeTCI, although no one wants to see that happen it's a better option than independence. 

Let come together and find a practical solution to this financial crisis and if income tax is one of the necessary measures so be it atleast that is one tax that is equitable and no one will be able to cheat the government out of.  I would not like to see any form of taxes but if is a necessary evil lets have income taxes vs property taxes. Most of our competitors in the financial industry pay income taxes and there are no less attractive than us, as a matter of fact the BVI's (British Virgin Islands) pay income taxes and they are doing much better than us in the financial industry and with their tourism I wonder why.

Who is responsible for the bloated civil service? Under the last five administrations, when young Caymanians have returned from University and college (for some 25 odd years now), and sought jobs in the civil service, to bring the much needed reforms, changes and streamling of jobs to make it a more efficient Public Sector, they have been systematically stifled, shunned, shuffled around and in some cases shoved out of the civil service.

Their ideas and suggestions were dismissed and ridiculed by certain elements who view change as an enemy and a destructive element as they fear losing their very comfortable positions of power. They were so keen on this demoralising program that they allowed returning graduates to get out of government paid scholarships with no strings attached. Those they deemed to be a low threat or who had political or family connections who very lucky enough to get a job in the public sector were either quicky converted to a cuthroat lackey or demoralised at jobs way outside their degrees or qualifications.

Those that protested or argued were simply told that they had to start at the very bottom as if they had no education and qualifications and if they persisted, a harsher program of harassment and victimization was implemented to render the person mentally unfit for service. Alot of very good students and their ideas left for the private sector, leaving behind a bunch of constipated  "job-for-life" stalwarts, doing the political bidding of whatever administration was in power and building up the political and economic power and influence they now wield today.

Unfortunately this same power and influence attracts another element of our little society "Da Good ole Boys" network and now women,whose intentions and motives are very, very clear. If you make the mistake of ever approaching certain politicians with a complaint or problem you soon find they are part of the very problem and will not or cannot fix it. There was some fleeting glimmers of hopes when the now Premier Bush started an aggressive program to include and attract younger capable minds this was done by making the salaries compatible with the private sector unfortunately the "job for lifers" saw this opportunity to pad their existing high salaries and benefits. However this program came to sudden halt for some mysterious reason or  certain elements felt threatened.

I could continue outling the dynamics of this problem but it would be too long. I will conclude this by saying this, I cringe when i here about cuts to the civil service because i know that these same people will be left untouched or remain in place an as usual the performers and the most effecient hardworking civil servants will be the ones who depart or salaries cut, and you will here the old Politicians Excuse "We need a steady hand at the helm" the same one use to return their Loyal political vindictive mothballers to Government. As for the FCO/UK experts fixing the problem well all they do is fill in the slots left vacant by departed civil servants with their own, hardly a solution now is it.