Gov’t facing cash flow issues
Posted on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 08:23 in Politics
(CNS): Despite claims by the government that it is getting to grips with public finances, the opposition leader has said that the administration is once again facing problems paying bills. Alden McLaughlin said that several authorities have not been paid money expected from government, including CINICO, the National Roads Authority and Cayman Airways and, he added, it appears government is now anticipating yet another deficit this year. The opposition leader said government needed to update the country on what is happening with the public purse and it needed to hold a Finance Committee meeting to regularize the executive spending and budget changes.
“We have not had a meeting of the Legislative Assembly for some time, with no explanation why and, other than during the budget, this government has never held a Finance Committee meeting,” he said. “As well as serious cash flow problems, we understand that government appears to be projecting another deficit. And as well as not paying authorities, it has not paid any money into the past service liability pot.”
Although government has bragged about sorting out its revenue and having also paid back the civil service cost of living allowance because of a surplus last year, McLaughlin stated that it now appears to be in further financial trouble.
With no meeting of the parliament, however, it was not possible for him to know exactly what the financial issues were, he said, as the opposition were not given updates, briefings or information in connection with government earnings or spending.
The only way that the parliament, and ultimately the public, can know exactly what the current state of the public finances are is through an open meeting of the Finance Committee, he said.
“We are becoming increasingly concerned about what we are hearing about the finances,” the PPM leaders stated. “But there has been no discussion by government or any indication when the Legislative Assembly is likely to meet.”
The debate on government’s financial agreement with the UK has also not yet been held in the Legislative Assembly, which McLaughlin said was meant to be discussed at the last meeting but was deferred by the premier. Although the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility was signed and came into effect in November last year, the final draft has not been made public, nor has it been discussed on the floor of the House.
The opposition leader raised his concerns again about the unpredictability and uncertainty regarding the government’s attitude towards the parliamentary process, and in turn democracy.
“Parliament is supposed to act as a check and balance on the executive and to scrutinize what government is doing. That is part of its major function,” he said. “Given the amount of things that are supposedly in motion and being negotiated, it would be quite right and proper for parliament to be updated on a regular basis about what is happening and for us to ask questions and raise these issues.”
Aware of the many concerns in the community, the opposition leader pointed out that there was little that the opposition members could due to prevent government barrelling ahead with projects, regardless of whether they are supported by the majority of the people or not.
He said it is only via public pressure or scrutiny and public opposition that there can be an impact on government, but if it is not prepared to listen to the public opinion then the government can go ahead with all of the current plans regardless.
“Under the constitution the government has responsibility for policy,” he said, so whether the people like them or not they are properly within the remit of the Cabinet.
McLaughlin explained, however, that as well as security and civil service issues the governor does have a responsibility for good governance. “But going to England won’t make a jot of difference,” he said, referring to the trip planned by Miller, as he stated that it is up to the governor to address that problem here.
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Poor Macksta... This
Poor Macksta... This political harrassment is neva ending. I hear him planning to think about maybe stepping down if the political harrasment continues and the political climate is not improved. But then if in case he does decide to think about maybe stepping down and lets say he does mayby do it then he will find some people to run with. Cause he aint gonna leave his district for any pretend tigers or even wanna be Macs. Well al i can say is keep up the harrassment and hope he does go.
Why is the investigation of
Why is the investigation of Mr. Bush taking so long? He should not be above the law. If it was a simple man on the street with a stick of weed, he would already be in prison. I think Alden should be pushing to get answers as to why this investigation is dragging despite the very serious nature of the charges.
Relax. The same people the
Relax. The same people the Premier says are going to pay the government millions for the "intellectual property" in the cruise dock fiasco will certainly pay more millions for the "intellectual property" in the Premier's deficit reduction plan.
Did anybody ever audited
Did anybody ever audited those books during or after the PPM 1 term period? No, I don't think so. Why? Because Mac and the UDP wanted everyone to believe what he was saying, that the PPM left us broke, so broke, that the schools had to be stopped and the GIS building has to be sold. Audit the books from The UDP period before and during IVAN of 2004. Remember the mess PPM found when they took over. Then audit the period from 2005 - 2009, then tell the people the truth to erase any lingering doubts about PPM. If the Government was so broke, why was Mac and the UDP spending out of control from the start of their tenor. Remarkably, we ended up with a 25mio surplus 2 years after, under UDP and I ask how?. Listen, what broke this country was IVAN, the status grants, McKeeva and that's the truth. The effects of Ivan was estimated to be felt for the next 10 years. Plus the economic down turn worldwide. UDP told us lies, so they could look good. Something nah right Bo Bo!!!
I am sure there is a logical
I am sure there is a logical explanation. The current government would not do anything to purposely hurt the people of the island.
Only a true fool would still
Only a true fool would still belive anything that comes out of the mouth of Bush.
What are saying? That us west
What are saying? That us west bayers are all true fools? We believe in our Premier and we believe what he is saying. He is a God-fearing man. He goes to church regularly and loves the Lord so he wouldn't lie to us.
I guess that's what are
I guess that's what are saying. Oh wait... He is a God-fearing man. He goes to church regularly and he loves the Lord so he wouldnt lie to us? No, sorry, we wasn't saying that.
And McKeewa's nose is getting
And McKeewa's nose is getting longer every month.
It's not a Deficet, it's a
It's not a Deficet, it's a "scheme'
I honestly wonder whether we
I honestly wonder whether we have someone with the tenacity, pride, integrity and competence to get this massive job done. We are talking about years of abuse and incompetence! We need accurate financial information . I can not understand why the Financial Secretary still has his job? He has failed miserably because he caved to the political interference by both parties and now we cannot rely on anything he produces!
Cut off access to the public purse now!!! As long as we continue with this free for all spending with no accountability we will never get out of this hole. Heads need to roll people need to be fired!
50 - 60k population spending half a BILLION dollars that we can't accurately account for why do we keep accepting this people? We should be in the streets protesting because it is of national importance and beyond critical!
Today only 15,175 are
Today only 15,175 are enumerated by Register of Electors to vote. Of those, approx 20% don't care enough to actually show up to exercise their priviledge. So we are left with the 80% that do turn up to vote, a scant 12,140 voters, 2% of those can't write and are spoiled ballots. It is a shame because there are many of the 35-45k non-voters who care more deeply about these islands than some of those that did not even bother to show up last time. But that's the way it is, and why we have what we have.
Don't blame the FS. He has no
Don't blame the FS. He has no power. (And I mean on paper, not just practical.)
Stop Mac & Stooges from
Stop Mac & Stooges from traveling and might be able to ballance the budget. He said Caymanians don't need education he certainly proves that point.
Oh, the can of worms is only
Oh, the can of worms is only just opening, and watch them keep on wiggling out., and on, and on, and on....
Strange - the politicians
Strange - the politicians look so well fed!
Alden I hope those 6 weeks
Alden I hope those 6 weeks you were off from Rooster 101.9, you were putting together a strong Political team in West Bay, Bodden Town and George Town, because we need to get fresh blood in our Government. We don't need anymore UDP's they are all about United Dart Projects and very little about the Caymanian people or infrastructure to benefit the Caymanians on a whole. You need to get started on the PPM promotionals for the next Elections now.
We need to think outside the
We need to think outside the box - there is not just an option of PPM or UDP.
Also, Alden isn't exactly new blood either..........
Sorry, in your for a big
Sorry, in your for a big surprise PPM is "Politicians" Progressive Movement. You better open your eyes and see that if you want fresh blood that will better represent you, look for those who will independently stand up for principles, not those of a party that hasn't even define theres. I don't think I can take another 4 years of the same junk!
Alden to be honest, Mac and
Alden to be honest, Mac and the UDP is still waiting for you and the PPM to give them the solutions to the finacial problems. They cannot do Finances,Economics and budgets, just arithmetic. Remember they don't need Education to run a Country.
Why does the government
Why does the government projects always need to be like the Taj Mahal ? Can't the government simply choose utilitarian designs that function well and do not require gold plating ?
Instead of a dock for cruise ships in the form of a single finger pier we are building a massive white elephant in George Town and adding Spotts and West Bay into the mix.
Why doesn't this government learn from the mistakes of Alden? He had to build a monument to his greatness and now it sounds like the expanded cruise berthing facility will be a similiar mess.
Don't get me wrong I hope that I am mistaken but when I look at the school project I wonder what Alden was thinking and who would pay for it. Ellio please tone this project back and talk with Mac.
In other news criminals are
In other news criminals are running riot, the real estate market is in the crapper, two girls are missing presumed murdered, the dump is still where it was, the new port still isn't where it should be, Shetty is nowhere to be seen, CUC is taking all our money and tourism is down. In other words nothing has changed because nothing ever changes here. Cayman is a talkocracy- what the people want, the leaders will make grand statements about delivering- and nothing more.
dont forget the investigation
dont forget the investigation of our beloved premier!
I thought it was the PPM that
I thought it was the PPM that put us in all these problems. Alden recall all the speading you did.... You have not right to complain.. in fact why don't you give us a solution. Oh forgot, if (god help up) the PPM gets back in all they arer going to do again is spend the countries money.
Both parties suck and Big E.. We need solutions not this back and forth BS from these idiots in Government.
You cannot fairly compare
You cannot fairly compare spending by the PPM Government to Bushocracy. We have a new Govt Admin Building, the schools were started (after the UDP broke ground on them), a new VL facility, a new bypass, an upgraded civic centre in BT, an upgraded national sports complex...........compare that to the money Mac has spent travelling, giving to cronies (sorry, nation builders) and to settle lawsuits when he changes his mind. At least we can see where the money went last time, the current government has NOTHING to show for the huge amount of spending, not even keeping up with bills, not to mention funding liabilities like pensions for civil servants.
thank you! it looks like
thank you! it looks like some are ready to vote for ppm once again, and these are the same ones who will be voting for udp... this back and forth thing is just beginning, and both sides are benefiting from the countries divisiveness
I'm sure Mr Dart can work out
I'm sure Mr Dart can work out a solution.
TO YOU MY DEAR on Wed,
TO YOU MY DEAR on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 08:57. Mr. Bush will find the money under your bed.
Of course we have a surplus.
Of course we have a surplus. All tied up in unfinished school buildings that God had to put on hold along with lovely roads with excessive material that was used.
NRA and other Authorities
NRA and other Authorities should have been privatised long ago. There are private companies who can do the same work, at half the cost, thereby being less of a strain on the public purse.
NRA shouldn't be paving
NRA shouldn't be paving people's parking lots for free.
Unless someone tackles the
Unless someone tackles the civil service....... Caymans finances are doomed...read the miller shaw report!
You can throw the Miller Shaw
You can throw the Miller Shaw report out the window. The kinds of abuses and subterfuges being committed by this government dwarf any other issue in terms of the amount of money wasted, improperly spent or stolen. There is no financial accountability, this government has seen to that XXXX
Is this the best you can do?
Is this the best you can do? Every country on this planet is experiencing cash flow issues at this time! As Leader of the opposition, please tell us what you would do to exclude Cayman from this global problem? We are waiting, so tired of all the critics, incapable of offering any sound solutions.
We are a part of the world and so dependent on the rest of the world in many areas. Stop the petty politics and maybe develope a real concern for your country and it's people if you want to be the power to take this country forward.
Bush should bloody-well stop
Bush should bloody-well stop telling porkie-pies about the state of the public purse.
I think the frustration is
I think the frustration is this constant flip flopping between having a surplus and having run out of money, he had a surplus when he wanted to give the civil service a pay rise and yet has run out of money and can't pay bills now. Surpluses don't just disappear overnight so is it those that are meant to be keeping track of the finances that are feeding the Premier bum info, or is he making it up to suit his political aspirations?
Mr. Anonymous 16:14, I cast
Mr. Anonymous 16:14, I cast my vote for the second option you offered.
The very least our Gowerment
The very least our Gowerment can do is stop lying to us about it.
Yes, many countries are
Yes, many countries are facing fanancial issues, BUT they are trying to do something about it and are reporting to the people. The Leader of the Opp. and the public have every right to ask questions. Please use your head. Trying to keep the public in the dark is not making anyone feel better. Ignorance does not make the situation go away.
I thought we had a surplus?
I thought we had a surplus?
We have a surplus of FOOLS.
We have a surplus of FOOLS.
I think we have a surplus of
I think we have a surplus of deficits.
and 'schemes'
and 'schemes'
Blah, blah,
Blah, blah, blah...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Same Sh*t, different day.
The best quote is..... "via public pressure or scrutiny and public opposition that there can be an impact on government, but if it is not prepared to listen to the public opinion then the government can go ahead with all of the current plans regardless."
No Sh*t Sherlock, hasn't that been happening all along?
We have some serious academics in Government if they can decifer those sorts of facts from Mac's actions.
BTW Alden, there is no Government, its Mac's island and he does what he wants, are you sleeping in the LA or have you aslo been galavanting around the world on the puublic purse? You sit in MLA ? (Mac's Legislative Assembly).
Next the PPM will be telling us crime is down.
The new norm. Until we hire
The new norm. Until we hire people in government who actually possess the will to spend less than they earn, this story is going to be repeated over and over. Right now funds are seen as "other peoples money". Too bad Robbin Hoodwinked can't see we are robbing from ourselves.
It goes beyond earnings -
It goes beyond earnings - expense claims too. Lets inspect the MLA offices we pay rent for and see if its a reasonable rent for the premises... if any. And staff on the payroll. Where are they, what do they do? The 'business trips', the utilities, and all other expenses should all be audited for value for money, amongst (cough) other things, if they exist at all in reality.
What a shock of
What a shock of surprise-ation...
I wonder what all those
I wonder what all those idiots that were rallying behind that UDP Motorcade before the last elections will be saying now?
Probably the same thing that
Probably the same thing that the idiots on the UDP truck giving out candies escorted by a POLICE CAR on Xmas day were saying............ by the way, that's our money being spent to escort that important outing............
How many suppoters they say
How many suppoters they say they had again?! HAHA
Poor us.
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