PPM: Bush being investigated
Posted on Mon, 06/27/2011 - 08:34 in Politics
(CNS): A press statement from Leader of the Opposition Alden McLaughlin claims that McKeeva Bush, the premier of the Cayman Islands, is the subject of a police investigation into allegations of official corruption for activities that took place during the previous UDP administration. He says that Governor Duncan Taylor has confirmed to both him and Independent MLA Ezzard Miller the existence of a police investigation but has not said who the subject of the investigation is. However, the premier stated when asked about the allegations, “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year and it is quite obvious that they will stop at nothing to defame and slander me in the hope of being the Premier. Please understand, if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!”
“For some months now rumours have been circulating regarding a police investigation into allegations of official corruption by an elected member of the Government,” the release from McLaughlin said. “As the official Opposition in the Cayman Islands we were under a duty to make enquires. As a result of those enquires, on 10th June, 2011, I wrote to His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Duncan Taylor, CBE setting out what the Opposition had learned. I copied my letter to the Attorney-General, Mr. Samuel Bulgin, QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, MS. Cheryl Richards, QC and the Deputy Governor, Mr. Donovan Ebanks, MBE who was then Acting Governor.”
He says he was aware that on the same day but quite separately from their own enquiries, MLA Ezzard Miller wrote to Police Commissioner David Baines, who is also Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, asking for an investigation into the contents of a copy of a letter which had come into Miller’s possession and which appeared to bear the signature of W. McKeeva Bush.
“On Friday, 24th June, 2011 Mr. Miller and I met with His Excellency, the Governor to discuss this matter. His Excellency confirmed the existence of the police investigation, that it was commenced more than a year ago and that it is ongoing, but declined to say who the subject of the investigation is,” the statement read. “However, we have confirmed from other sources that the subject of the police investigation is the Hon. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP and that the investigation relates to the period between 2001 and 2005 when Mr. Bush was Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, Environment, Development and Commerce.”
McLaughlin concluded, “Given the gravity of the allegations and the acknowledgement by His Excellency of the existence of the year-long investigation, we believe that the country is owed an explanation by way of official statement.”
The office of the Police Commissioner, when asked about the alleged investigation, only confirmed that the RCIPS had received a complaint in connection with alleged financial irregularities. “We wish to advise that as our enquiries are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment about the specific allegations or identify any individual involved in that investigation,” the statement read.
When the premier was contacted by CNS, he said by email, “Alden is doing all this in the hopes of carrying me down, so he can be premier! He is even more incensed because we have asked for a commission of inquiry into how the contracts, procurements and funds were handled on the high school projects when he was the minister.” The premier also told CNS that “anyone suggesting me in the same breath as corruption they will be sued!"
In Finance Committee on Friday, Bush said he would be asking the governor to open a commission of enquiry to investigate the dispute between contractor Tom Jones International (TJI) and the previous government which led to construction of two high schools being halted in November 2009. (See Mac seeks enquiry of PPM)
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What happens when a
What happens when a supposedly democratic country seeks to change its government but finds that there are laws and "house rules" which serve the ruling party and prevent opposition from their fair say in matters?
Our new constitution apparently is lacking in its ability to offer a fair and level playing field for all. Since reform and referendum are long and tedious processes, it might be worth looking at alternative measures to help prevent disasters at the hands of a few loose cannons.
I propose that the handling of Cayman's finances and policy decisions be made by a non-political, non-partisan panel or committee of at least 8 to 12 experts in the fields of finance and economics. Their decisions are to be implemented by government and not merely as suggestions for those in power to accept or refuse. Our livelihoods, cost of living, jobs and better way of life are dependent on knowlegeable planning and handling of our money and economic policy.
It cannot and should not be expected that any random citizen who gets elected has the knowlege or experience to make decisions on matters of finance and economy.
We have a planning department but we don't seem to be able to stick to a plan. Each new government sheds the old plans and comes up with new ones. The result is the mess we have made of this country.
A proper non-political committee should be given absolute power and control over the public purse to assure that our economy stays healthy, productive and less prone to corruptive practices.
XXXX
In these criticisms I hope we
In these criticisms I hope we all remember the Premier is not alone and would not be able to run the country in this manner without the blind or similar interested support of everyone of the UDP members. They should have abandoned the party years ago and went independant. I truly hope this term is the end of all their political careers.
It has come to my knowledge
It has come to my knowledge that no one is to blame for this situation, but the Premier. His wheeling, his dealings and his attitude. If he slept with the dogs, he will get fleas. PPM or no one else is to blame for his demise or this situation today. Mr. Bush, I command you, to Step Down for the sake of Democracy and in honour of your people. You have caused all this problems for your people. Stop bleeding our economy and our people.
Mr. Bush knew that he was
Mr. Bush knew that he was under investigation, but he thought the rest of the Members did not know. And further more it is not the PPM that is pushing Cayman to become like Turk and Caicos it is our own Premier Mr. Bush.
After Hurricane Ivan it was Him that went to England and told the Queen that Cayman did not need any help from the UK it was not PPM.
Everything that took place after UDP got in last Election they have stopped alot of project even the one with TomJones and now they want to blame PPM.
I would say Mr. Bush please step down from being the Premier you are killing us dont like what happen in Turks and Caicos happen here.
Vote Independant. We'll still
Vote Independant. We'll still get a bunch of screw ups but at least they will be screw ups who don't wear colors. We will have won half the battle. Vote no to UPD and PPM and get the party system out for good.
If you vote Independent the
If you vote Independent the UDP will be right back in. There are diehard UDP supporters who will vote for them no matter what.
Maybe we should ban fridges
Maybe we should ban fridges from Cayman.
The premier stated when asked
The premier stated when asked about the allegations, “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year and it is quite obvious that they will stop at nothing to defame and slander me in the hope of being the Premier. Please understand, if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!”
Who wouldn't want to sue another person for defaming and slandering their character? The Premier has a point. He has not been found guilty yet, and already in the spirit of blind partisanship, some people are aiming to secure 2012 elections, despite the negative repercussions of such allegations.
XXXX. The problem is three
XXXX. The problem is three statements:
1. " if anyone accuses me in any shape or form I'm going to sue them!” If anyone accuses him he will sue, not if they falsely accuse him, he will just sue, XXXXX.
2. “I understand from the opposition that they have been at this over a year" He wants us all to assume that "they" are the PPM. In fact, "they" are the police and the judiciary. Nothing to do with anyone who would want to secure the 2012 elections.
3. "He has not been found guilty yet" How come the police and other officials have to stand down whilst they are being investigated and he doesn't?
A hope y trip up n pop y
A hope y trip up n pop y mout.
I am no UDP - But the PPM is
I am no UDP - But the PPM is pushing to get us into the same sticky situation like Turks and Caicos! Why did Alden and Miller had to write letters to the Governor when there is still no "evidence" made public? At least, wait until the case close or evidence is shown against the Premier before you encourage or bring in your allegations!
Alden... you of all persons!
This does not look good on Cayman Islands.
100% agreed
100% agreed
A lesson learned for other
A lesson learned for other British Territory Premiers.
During any newly appointed governor's inauguration, DEONOT greet the Queen's Representative with these words...."YOU'RE ON MY TERRITORY NOW!"
You will pay.And respect is due any governor.
Bushy, behave yourself and respect your elders, ye hear?.
Respect is also due to the
Respect is also due to the people and their democracy!
Maybe the best thing to
Maybe the best thing to happen in the whole situation is for the UK to come in and call for some time out as they did in the Turks and Caicos.
Stop the back door dealing, give aways, trade off, political interferance by outsiders, unnecessary spending, It time for the real one person show HM government to take control, then and only then will the fighting stop and the people of the Cayman Islands become united again. This is the identical playbook from the Turks and Caicos.
For a better Cayman, rule UK, rule.
Ummm... I am trying hard to
Ummm...
I am trying hard to comprehend just how being under a UK dictatorship (like TCI) is a good situation to be in for the people of the Cayman Islands?
No Democracy
No Elections allowed
No Democratic Representation
No more a Constitution but what the Governor says
And the media censored... etc...
You tell me how that is a better state to be in than what we have now???
I quess the word Democracy
I quess the word Democracy doesn't mean what I think it means.
you forgot
no hiding where all the money went.
no stupid half hidden excuses on why things can't get done.
no questionable Bush deals with questionable companies.
no public paid double dipping pensions, first class 5 star mini vacations, personal utility bills, outrageous security cost, SUV's, gas cards, $10 million dollar nation building slush fund, and dumb and dumber political protest.
But thats the price you have to pay to go CIG!
Nobodys blaming the PPM but
Nobodys blaming the PPM but the truth is the PPM is going to Bandstand on this. It's so easy to see through these guys. The PPM is the lesser of the two Evils but that's not saying much. They are still politicians.
As a concerned voter I have
As a concerned voter I have to agree that its best to go the route of the lesser of two evils HOWEVER the PPM is really not what we need running this country, not if the leader that they have now is still in charge. The man is too arrogant, egotistic and same as the Mac .
What we really need is true honest statemen / women that see's and wants the best for our little island, those who do not need their names or face in the media every day,who truly want the island to succed and the people to have a say in what happens in our beloved isle with out selling us down the drain as the last two adminsterations have done.
No Mac, no Alden, then I will vote
Shame some status holders
Shame some status holders cannot be nominated for government - especially those concerned with saving Cayman's environment - they appear to care more about Cayman than those currently holding titles in either party.
Please don't beome like the
Please don't beome like the US and vote for the lesser of 2 evils.
Investigate your candidates not the party.
Don't vote by party but by the thoughts and actions of your candidates and not their turkey or gift card.
Cayman was always a honorable set of Islands please get it together.
Don't vote PARTY period.
Don't vote PARTY period. Vote in all Independents!
More to come! Do you honestly
More to come! Do you honestly believe that this is the first time?
These guys are acting no
These guys are acting no better then rival gangs...this personal war between the UDP and the PPM is going to tear Cayman apart and it will be the people that suffer in the end. The sound like two year olds
fighting over a rattle,,,
Mac has been repeatedly
Mac has been repeatedly encouraged to be transparent, accountable and to help to ensure Good Governance. He has repeatedly chosen to do the opposite.
His attitude and behavior is an ebarrassment and not fit for leadership! That's sad but true. And it's best he step down!
Embarrassment is the word ole
Embarrassment is the word ole chap,maybe ppm needs to really send it's blogging supporters back to school or buy them spell check software hey
Nice try at deflection
Nice try at deflection swotting at a typo. What is even funnier is that your own post contained the actual grammatical error: there should be no apostrophe in "it's" (contraction of "it is" or "it has") in that context. What's that you were saying about going back to school?
the phrase is "old chap"!
the phrase is "old chap"! Maybe you should go back to school or at least try to use the correct phrase!
Boy are we embarrassed, a UDP
Boy are we embarrassed, a UDP supporter outspelling a PPMer. What is this world coming to? That's simply awful. Man that's even worse than McKeeva being investigated for wrong doing. Anything to change the subject, right guy? Isn't THAT a UDP supporter now. Well, guess what, this time the subject is not going to be changed. Good try though. By the way, maybe next time you could try ending your sentence with a period?
SOME of you PPM haters do not
SOME of you PPM haters do not understand what is going on here.. It was the premier who announce it on saturday at his rally/protest against the people of the country (history). On friday he announce that he was asking the governor to investigate aldin, what TIMING. THIS WAS ONLY DONE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HIS INVESTIGATION WOULD SOON BE PUBLIC. He is now blaming the PPM, for this but i understand that it was the court that passed on the documents for the investigation. as usual has to blame some body elsenot himself. I now hope that they will start to investigate the nation building fun. we need to know where that went and how/who and what for. THE CHUSTER WARNED US ABOUT THIS MAN.
Cayman will be much better
Cayman will be much better served in the long term if it is known here and abroad that we do and we will ruthlessly root out all political corruption and that we will not allow our country to be held hostage by any criminal element. There is nothing to be gained by sweeping things under the rug,
Almost anything would be
Almost anything would be better than what Cayman is known for right now in the States. After watching countries like Libya and Egypt to name a few finally getting rid of their Dictators and claiming the country for the people you have to take pity on Cayman just starting to get into the Dictatorship type of regime. Especially when everyone can see first hand to what kind of country it leads to. Good for a few. Very bad for the rest. where will Caymans refugees go? Where will they be welcomed?
Maybe time to reopen the
Maybe time to reopen the Fisrt Cayman Bank case where tings went under the carpet.
An' mek Mac Mac call out
An' mek Mac Mac call out about dem deh hens teet again????
Sorry Nicholas Robson, there
Sorry Nicholas Robson, there comes a point where you have pull all of your dirty washing out of the cupboard and at the least wash it - and if worse comes to worst, burn it. Otherwise the odour seeping under the door will only get worse and attract even more attention. If we try to cover up whatever is alleged to have happened, then we rank with Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton whose biggest mistake was to try and cover up their respective types of jiggery pokery. This has gone too far and we should beware of the "JAWS" syndrome - pretending that there really isn't a "shark".
It would be very wrong to prejudge any situation, but certainly the old cliche' comes to mind -"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".
I actually feel very sorry
I actually feel very sorry for the Police right now. They were quietly going about their investigations for a year, and I presume either making progress on developing a case, but now the opposition politicians have let it slip (intentionally?) and the front page of every local media is screaming about it, the Polices job trying to unravel the past and put together a proper case just got a whole lot harder.
Sometimes quiet, diligent investigation achives much more than everyone shouting about it.
Maybe this will encourage
Maybe this will encourage more people to step forward that were afraid of retribution from Mr. Bush before.
guess you would prefer it was
guess you would prefer it was kept quiet so that the Police could do as they did with the questionable ballot mess that transpired during the last election? investigate forever figuring it would eventually be forgotten then quietly state that the investigation is over and there's really nothing to pursue any further - yeah right!
remember it was Mac who
remember it was Mac who publicly announced it at his rally not the opposition. Please get your facts straight please
Gracious me! Feel sorry - I
Gracious me! Feel sorry - I sympathise with that view but dont blame the Opposition for making the life of the Police difficult!
If anything it seems the Opposition has acted very responsibly in keeping this under their hat for a number of months!
In hindsight it is pretty obvious that McKeeva was getting nervous about this investigation coming to light. He has made several statements alluding to an investigation being carried out by the PPM over the last few weeks trying to control and drip feed it to the people and importantly to attribute it to the PPM.
He then threatens a commission of enquiry in relation to the Alden on Friday.
Finally on Saturday, at his "protest against the protest", he admits there is a police investigation into his actions which he says related to a "real estate bill". It seems to me that he was trying to to control how it was published and to, rather clumsily, spin it to make himself appear to be a victim rather than the subject of a legitimate investigation.
So -
Mckeeva is under police investigation
It has been ongoing for a year
It was NOT started by the opposition
It was not until recently even known to the opposition
It was publicly disclosed by McKeeva on Saturday the 25th June
It seems to me that it has started with McKeeva and hopefully he will do the right thing and resign to end it. That would be the result in most democracies.
It is damaging to the Cayman Islands.
If there is substance to it will be even more damaging to turn the proverbial blind eye as this sort of thing gets worse if unchecked.
Very well said!
Very well said!
The police have had a year to
The police have had a year to investigate. Typically in these cases they will faff around for years and summarily announce that there is "insufficient evidence".
In life today, be it in
In life today, be it in politics, the corporate world, advertizing or the stock market, what matters is perception. Reality is secondary.
Therefore, perhaps we should contemplate how the political mud-slinging makes the Cayman Islands appear to the rest of the world. The Cayman Islands are no longer an unknown place in the Caribbean, and acting as we do is certainly not going to attract investors to these islands.
We must all ask ourselves, before we act or indeed open our mouths "How will this affect the Cayman Islands? Will it have a positive affect or a negative one?"
true - would be nice if you
true - would be nice if you had some influence on Mac/UDP and could convince them to ask these questions!
I see... so if I perceive
I see... so if I perceive that it is alright to steal the reality of it being wrong is outweighed by the fact that if I am caught it might embarass me.
Hmmmm...XXXXX.
If politicians are open,
If politicians are open, accountable and honest there would no investigations and no news stories. We must not cover up any politician acting in a corrupt manner just to keep reports of corruption out of the media.
With the previous/present
With the previous/present Leader of Opposition & the Premier butting heads at each other, who needs to watch "Monday Night Raw". Get a cage and put them in. Have them battle it out to the end. Maybe Mr. Dart could do a lil sponsorship, and we watch them live on national television.
PLEASE STOP. You are taking
PLEASE STOP.
You are taking The Cayman Islands in a dangerous direction with this PPM vs UDP.
As a born and bred 5th generation Caymanian living in Jamaica, I see first hand the aftermath of party politics. What you all are doing is not a joke and you are playing with more than fire.
I am begging the Jamaicans who love Cayman and experienced the 80’s war to please try and speak up, tell the die hards PPM and UDP what BOTH political parties did to the beautiful land of your birth. I know that with what is going on in Cayman now, you can see the beginning of it.
Let me give you a little of the quiet peaceful aftermath of war because of party politics. You are afraid to drive through certain communities, forget walking. If you wear orange shirt you’re seen as a supporter of one party, if you wear green shirt you’re seen as another, albeit you have affiliation with neither. I was visiting my in-laws once a few years ago, and my brother in law wanted something from a particular shop, but because he lived in a die hard green shirt community and would have to pass through a section that was affiliated to a orange shirt, then the other route had gunmen, he had to send a 5yr old child to get it. Needless to say I don’t go back there. I was asking my mother in law if they had yet caught a particular young man who was affiliated to the Don that was on the run and she said “shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, don’t talk too loud”. I was in her living room!!!!!
Ask any Jamaican about a garrison community, if they tell you they lived in one, ask them to tell you the truth about the life, how men who control these communities treat persons who live there. If you have your teenage in some cases younger daughter, they take them and “break them in” if you don’t send them you better “run wey” or you will die. If you don’t hold order you dead. If they can’t get you they kill your mother, father, sister, brother, granny, baby and so on. They then burn you out. In one green shirt community, a elderly man who would not hold order, and give them free rent, was killed and they take his property as if it was their own. If your MP is doing something that you don’t like you better keep you mouth shut, if police kill a member of the community that is gun man, you are forced to go protest, if you don’t you die, because you must support the other party.
I always remember two incidents that my husband described to me, when he was a young man in a green controlled garrison. He was on his way to church and political gunmen was blocking the road, he was draped up by one and was told block the road he refused and could have been killed, when some one told the guy to leave him alone cause he’s a church ‘yute’. The other is one day he was heading to work and a green shirt gunman ask him who him and “wha yu a do ya?” and marched him off to an abandon building, where the others were, and asked them if they knew him and if nobody did he would be killed, (his brother was a well known jockey, and they look alike), as the guy put the gun to his head, Gods mercy sent a young man who said “yes man mi know him, him a jockey brother”. And they let him go. Even today over 20 odd years later there are daily curfews in garrison, communities island wide trying to clean up what party politics started.
Is this the kind of life you want for your children and grand children. Is this the legacy you all want to leave behind, that you ruined Cayman because of party politics. If you say I hate Mac or UDP or hate Alden or PPM, you are headed down that road. That’s how it starts,with hate. Then you become a die hard, then you tell your children that the next party is and its people is no good and the cycle gets worse.
Cayman already have a gang and gun problem, imagine if one of these thugs decide to become aligned to either of these parties. STOP you are not PPM or UDP, you are Caymanian. And if you all take off your party alignment glasses you will see that PPM &UDP are both power hungry.
Remember after ivan when you all was whipped into a frenzy and wanted to get rid of UDP and then you got PPM and wished everyday for election to come to get rid of them. Then you got rid of them and got what you wanted the UDP, now you don’t want them again you getting whipped into a frenzy again to get rid of them. Do you all know what you want? If you all don’t stop, you, not the politicians, but YOU the voters and die hards are going to ruin Cayman. And when you cross that line there is no coming back.
So I implore you political party followers who say you love Cayman STOP NOW, before its too late, remember once you let the genie out of the bottle there is no going back. Do you want to have to run and leave what you have worked for behind? Do you want to have to hand over you child or teen daughter to a political thug to rape her, do you want your teenage son to die at the hands of them, because, if they don’t get you, they will get your sister, brother, son, mother, granny. Is this what you want?
You have been warned, if you don’t take heed, when its ruined you can’t say ‘I didn’t know’.
.CNS. Maybe you can somehow calms the tempers, maybe do a segment of historical stories of countries world wide that party politics have destroyed economies and cost lives. Maybe interview some of the different nationalities that now live in Cayman that have experienced this. Somebody has to do something.
God Help the people of the Cayman Islands
Mon 12:55 It's too late for
Mon 12:55
It's too late for all that. It's time to make the chips fall where they may. We cannot continue with this environment of fear. We need our freedom back.
What you say refers to the
What you say refers to the worst case scenario that was brought about largely by the very corruption we are trying to root out here in Cayman so we dont become like Jamaica. Every democratic first world country has a party system that works just fine. It is actually a good thing that one Party does not stay in power too long. Without a party system you invite back room dealing and back stabbing and in the end you end up with groupings ( same as partys) but the people have no control over them as they would with a proper functioning Party. Im sure there are greedy people here though that would take us down the samy path as Jamaica but we wont allow that.
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