Mac hopes for UK approval
Posted on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 13:02 in Politics
(CNS): Although the UK has not yet given the Cayman government the go-ahead for the latest budget submission, the premier has called a meeting of the Legislative Assembly for Friday afternoon. McKeeva Bush, who is also the finance minister, plans to present his delayed budget statement on government spending for 2013/13 following the Throne Speech, which will be delivered by the deputy governor. However, the premier will still need to wait on the UK’s approval to pass the appropriations law, otherwise the governor will not assent to the bill. On Thursday afternoon there was still no word from the UK, which had asked on Monday evening for more cuts on the CIG’s latest budget proposal -- a request the premier refused.
Members of the Business Committee met at the Legislative Assembly on Thursday morning and the premier confirmed that he intended to present the budget on Friday afternoon.
The delivery of government’s spending plans is already almost two months overdue after Bush was forced to bring an emergency motion to the LA in June after his government was unable to put together a budget that met with the Foreign and Commonwealth’s approval. Aside from breaking its own guidelines regarding the Public Management and Finance Law, the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility that he signed with OT minister Henry Bellingham last November requires that Cayman’s budgets have UK approval.
In the last few months the government’s financial crisis has reached unprecedented heights with the premier going to the brink of implementing direct taxation on the earnings of ex-pat workers. That controversial plan was averted at the eleventh hour when the private sector, and in particular the financial services industry, offered to shoulder more fee increases on directors, hedge funds and other areas as well as increases in work permit costs.
The new package of revenue raising measures was presented to the FCO at the end of last week and the UK's economic advisor responded to the CIG verbally Monday night asking for further cuts. Public spending for 2012/13 is believed to be in the region of $580 milllion, the largest ever core government spending bill in the islands’ history. Bush plans on raising $650 million in revenue to cover the spending and produce a $70 million surplus -- some $6 million short of the target set by the UK of $76 million.
It is understood that the UK continues to exert pressure on the CIG to cut costs further as they still have concerns about the credibility of the projected revenue. Sources say that the FCO wants to ensure that Cayman does not fall into deficit in the forthcoming financial year and instead begins to get back on the track of fiscal responsibility.
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Who Frightened Who? I recall
Who Frightened Who?
I recall the Premier making statements to the effect that the Governor frightened the Civil Servants and as a consequent, his projects have not gotten off the ground.
Well, I must ask him why he allowed the expats to frighten him? So much so, that he took the Community Enhancement fee off the table.
He said he was not going to do anything that would bring hardship to the Caymanians. I am waiting to see if the Civil Servants is going to suffer the lost.
I assume cuts are being made and there is no public announcement as to what is going on. For that reason I must assume that it's the Civil Servants that is bing targeted. I hope I am wrong in my assumption.
My opinion is that there,ire should have stood his ground and follow through on the Community Enhancement Fee on work permit holders.
Friday afternoon: Don't look
Friday afternoon: Don't look like it folks.
The UK are just giving him
The UK are just giving him more and more rope, and he's so fool he can't see it. I doubt very much that he will see out his last few months in office.
13:32 I hope you realize that
13:32 I hope you realize that the UK can only do so much. She can make her rules Laws and regulations, but she better come off Mceeva's foot because we are standing beside him, DIE HARD.
BRITISH AIRWAYS will make trips like Hurricane Ivan soon if these problems are not solved. In fact I believe it is too late to make up. The relationship between Cayman and expatriates is broke to the point, we need to divorce. I am sure that it is too late to fix anything.
Cheer up mr grumpy. There is
Cheer up mr grumpy. There is always redemption right around the corner
You have Banana Republic
You have Banana Republic mentality. It's dangerous and pointless. In the end if people like you continue with your foolishness you/we will either end up like many of the drug producing countries with mass graves and no answers, children selling themselves on the street for food or alternatively be dependant on UN for rice in brown bags and milk in tin pans like so many others with that attitude.
We have prospered BECAUSE of that tie to the UK, and NOT because of that 18k gold plated calf that you worship.
"Die Hard" only work with Bruce Willis in a scripted movie with lots of retakes and editing.
But you do not have any shame
But you do not have any shame whatsoever, eating the bananas produced by my republic mentality.
Your comments only goes to show how low some of you will stoop to get Cayman dollar. .
I am a Caymanian and some of
I am a Caymanian and some of my own people do infact have Banana Republic Mentality. While you drink the fruit punch the rat is eating all the bananas.
Hon Bellingham: Did you take
Hon Bellingham: Did you take out the nation building fund and the solar panel giveaway?
Hon Mac : Naa but I added 40 million more in taxes on yo donkey faced people.
Hon Bellingham: For the third time I am telling you to take out the DAMN nation building fund and the solar panels! Remind me again - who are you most afraid of down there?
Hon Mac: Nooo please dont call the Hitman or the Prosecutor Sir...
Bush is only afraid of his
Bush is only afraid of his boss. The Civil service. The only people on Cayman he represents.
1st - We need to get rid of
1st - We need to get rid of Bush, PPM, UDP and electing parties.
2nd - We need break away from the UK and at least annex ourselves with Canada or some other superpower that would deal with us more competently (sorry to step on some toes - I love UK people but they have a screwed up government).
3rd - We need to educate Caymanians more about human rights and democracy, and drafting a better Constitution that will represent the people of Cayman solely and not just for the politician or UK politician.
Was the budget that was
Was the budget that was presented today the same one that the UK already refused? If so where does that leave the country??
And what happened to ministerial responsibility?
BTW Ellio, if Cayman Finance
BTW Ellio, if Cayman Finance is doing the right thing, Gordon Brown nor Barak Obama can touch us. The secret to our success is that we know and they don't know. That is why we have strived for so long and will still strive, if you and your Government don't mess it all up for us.
Anybody that ownes a home
Anybody that ownes a home valued at USD500,000 and more, should have to pay some form of property tax. Boatswaine Beach has got to go!! Those former and current Cayman Airways personnell and their families should have to pay full fares to travel on Cayman Airways and the head tax that has been around from the seamen days, has to be brought back. Any person over 18 years has to pay a CI$50 head tax, that could bring over CI$2.75mio a year. The prisoners should be painting Government buildings, cutting the roads side out and servicing any of the Government entities. Stop paying FADS to secure the airport and start hiring retired abled bodied Caymanians for that job. It will work out cheaper. Caymanize the Security for the Government entities with former able bodied Caymanian Government employees. Install a Docusharing system within Government, in doing so, all scanned documents can be shared within Government and make life easier for them and the customers. Like another blogger said some time ago, the Hospital can be Privatized, Privatize it and save the Government the overhead expenses and the stress. The list can go on and on.
This country is crying out
This country is crying out for good governance and the sooner the better. There was an old saying "we've come a long way baby" by goodness this is true, the crimb to the top was long and difficult but the race to the bottom is now fast and easy.
Hopefully West Bayers wake up
Hopefully West Bayers wake up before the next elections and vote for the right reasons, because this is getting rediculous. IGNORANCE is killing my country.
It must be remembered in the
It must be remembered in the next election that a vote for ANY UPD candidate anywhere on the island is a vote for Mac. ( if he is still around)
Whole lot of hopeing going on
Whole lot of hopeing going on ova hea.
If all the other districts
If all the other districts had sence like West Bay. They fully well know that McKeeva is a good person, a good representative and a good Premier. They will do what is write. Keep him as their leader along with his crew. Stay out of West Bay business.
Should that have been " they
Should that have been " they will do what is WRITTEN ", or more likely, " they will do what is RIGHT ".
14:17 I thank you for
14:17 I thank you for correcting my poor English, that is one of the reasons MCKeeva need to keep the idea of seeing that all Caymanians get a college education. Not like the old folks who never got that opportunity. There was only the elite, and selected few then.
So, does this mean that the
So, does this mean that the budget being presented this morning in the LA takes into account civil servants paying half their pension and half their health insurance?
And if so, this is without consultation or confirmation from civil servants?
And also without formal UK approval?
I think this is going to backfire in the elected government's face.
When asked by Mr. Gilbert this morning if it was known or if we could assume that the UK had given approval to the budget, all you could hear from Mr. Glidden was:
"(pause) Ahh.., (pause) well..., aahhh Gilbert.., you know that aahhh... Cabinet is aahhh really the one who approves the budget before it goes to the LA"
Anything other than a "Yes" from a politician is a "No".
I'm listening to Crosstalk
I'm listening to Crosstalk right now.. Elio, Rolstin and Cline. A bunch of bullys!! Gilbert is quiet - only because he respects their position, not the person - and being the gentleman he is he will stay that way. These are a bunch of smooth talking bullys who rely on the ignorance of others. This has worked for years, but beware - honorable gentlemen... the young Caymanians are stirring and they gonna come and show you how its done. Rolstin I believe you have the skills to run the country but you let yourself down by blindly following Mac, and allowing him to pull your strings. Boys.. you have done this country a huge disservice by being weak. Btw Elio - You never disappointed me as my expectations of you were significantly lower - and you managed to stay below that yard stick.
THis continuos call for these
THis continuos call for these young men to take over is something which could be regrettable. Yes the youth must take their rightful place when they are prepared. Most of these younger players , dont hear of women included, unfortunately, are clearly not stupid, but the question is can they quickly adapt, learn, strategize and come up with viable solutions for the economic woes we face. Noe of them seem to know the right side of a balance sheet, cannot articulate strategies and only know to cuss the UDP because they have not done it right. Well if you have never done anything in your life that demonstrates the ability to think what less produce, how can it be expected of you to understand economic throughput, budgetary processes, social and financial policy and all that goes with Good Governance.
The best bet for our small island is to elect a mixture of the old with the new, and when you elect them bmake sure they have the capability of contributing not just to get paid but to work, bring motions, be involved with the community, something that most paymn politicos dont entertain for its the largese and the hope thereof that thriils them and the people who support them, at least until now.
Snake oil salesmen.
Snake oil salesmen.
SOS
SOS
Yea.. They seem to be
Yea.. They seem to be stealing Ezzard's idea about centralizing Govt - except they are discussing the idea as if this is their original thinking...
Are they still fighting to
Are they still fighting to get my solar panels to me?
Can't we sell the kitchens at
Can't we sell the kitchens at the new schools? I have heard the taps are made of purest gold and at the basins your hands are washed by little trained bunnies with e softest fur known to man.
The Honourable Premier and
The Honourable Premier and his henchmen did away with quarterly accounting just as the TCI were introducing quarterly accounting and budgets. Last week they published the quarterly accounts to March 31 2012 which I think is reasonably timely but could be improved upon. Cayman needs to follow their lead.
Accounts = accountability =
Accounts = accountability = what Mac fears most.
You mean the Eternally
You mean the Eternally Honorable Premier. (EHP) LOL
Mac also hopes for money
Mac also hopes for money trees, more free apartments in Shanghai and unlimited menabalins
The UK won't stand for
The UK won't stand for bullying, not this time Bobo; not with what they're going through economically. Surely it must finally be dawning on the Premier that even through the Governor is "in his back yard yard now," the Cayman Islands is actually in the UK's back yard!
Mac doesn't worry about
Mac doesn't worry about that.
He knows he is not going to win the next election in WB, so rather than lose he will step down.
But for the next 9 months - he is going to squeeze every last bit he can so he can enjoy the twilight years of his life.
I just hope the Uk do not give him this satisfaction and step in first.
the civil service is an
the civil service is an anchor that is dragging cayman down.......
create a cross party committee that will agree on the nessecary cuts.......
The Chinese arrived in town
The Chinese arrived in town today, so you can be prepared for Bush to be sorting out his personal terms and not bothering about the budget. CNS, you need to ask for some sort of indication as to what they are doing - perhaps they have come to see the auditor to discuss the procurement process???
Dear FCO, Please approve the
Dear FCO,
Please approve the budget on the condition that the people who are putting up the money get to be CITIZENS.
Thanks.
To Anonymous (not verified)
To Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 22:17. Aren't you already citizens or are you like the three "Afghans" who arrived mysteriously and claimed to be Afghans without paperwork?Still remain unconvinced as to their nationality or reason for being here.
We need new educated blood
We need new educated blood for 2013!!
21:53 That is wishful
21:53 That is wishful thinking. What the H. Cayman is going to do with a bunch of New Educated whats it not to run this country. No. We want people of experience in times like these. Cayman is not going to vote you all in, so dont even think of it.
The vampires are coming. I
The vampires are coming. I have seen the movies.
Question(s): What is the
Question(s): What is the actual source of contention in this entire debacle - $6million?
What is the ultimate threat as a result of a failure to meet whatever terms the (almighty, all-knowing, yet broke-a$$) UK deems as suitable - direct rule?
Is it to be understood that the already meagre existence of a democracy that we have been allowed in the Cayman Islands hangs by a $6million thread?
Is the UK prepared to declare to the world that in this greatest ever recession known to man, for which they hold much of the responsibility, they are threatening to suspend the democracy of a vibrant economy arguably capable of generating $650million (absent from borrowing) due to a $6million shortfall?
Is that the long and short of this now ridiculous dance?
No wonder no one takes the UK seriously anymore. Clearly, they have been relegated to bullying tiny island-nations as a last resort to demonstrate their "power" in the world today.
If anything they ought to wish for a Bellingham equivalent over their own economic affairs, because I have just reviewed the latest news and reports concerning the British economy and ... damn!
The financial and economic "experts" within the FCO and related entities really ought to focus their services on their own far more pressing and dire circumstances.
Anyway, kindly excuse me - I have more important things to tend to ... back to my sweet love-making.
Toodles!
Yep, Cammy and Belly are
Yep, Cammy and Belly are enjoying the incredible benefits of an austerity budget during an economic downturn, a double dip recession. They may not have the reading skills to understand economic research but, they are in charge.
(HAHA, I bet I get more thumbs down than you do.)
Your loyalty to fools is
Your loyalty to fools is astonishing. As is your special insight to the UK. Thank you for showing a perspective not many non Caymanians would have come up with by themselves.
Who am I "loyal" to? Never
Its only $6 million if you
Its only $6 million if you believe:
a) that he can raise the $650 million, an all time record for Cayman, including completely untested measures and
b) you believe the costs will be limited to the $580 million,
all of which is against a backdrop of the CIG consistently under achieving on revenue and cost forecasts for each of the last 3 years. $6 million is a made up number -if you believe that i have a bridge between Grand and Cayman Brac I would like to sell you.
Okay ... so, in your opinion,
Okay ... so, in your opinion, what should be the going rate for the democracy of the Cayman Islands in this regard?
Also, what is the going rate of the democracy of Britain and have they surpassed that amount as yet? (If not it must be one astronomical hell of a price.)
Whatever the sources of your
Whatever the sources of your other issues, it is clear that your subconscious wrestling with your half-Caymanian, half-British heritage is a significant driver for much of your anti-British sentiments as part of overcompensation in an attempt to establish what you perceive to be a more defined personal identity. Your deep desire to try and have the last word on everything is consistent with this, as it shows the strong emotional attachment that you have to "winning" arguments on these topics.
"It is clear ..." that you
"It is clear ..." that you are obsessed with Whodatis.
Try to come up with a response other than that tired 'copy and paste' that is way past it use by date.
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