Opposition leader ‘horrified’
Posted on Thu, 08/23/2012 - 09:49 in Politics
(CNS): The opposition leader said Wednesday that after three and a half years of this administration he thought he could no longer be surprised at the audacity of the premier but McKeeva Bush had managed to do it again with the budget crisis. PPM Leader Alden McLaughlin said he was horrified by what had gone on and the message that this sent to the business community at home and abroad. From the unprecedented step of proposing to introduce income tax to the levels of incompetence, the government had destroyed what confidence was left in the economy and the only hope left for Cayman was for the UDP to go, McLaughlin said.
On Wednesday evening in the Legislative Assembly, in his reply to the premier’s budget presentation, the leader of the opposition pointed to the empty rhetoric of McKeeva Bush’s three hour address on Monday evening and said it reminded him of the soliloquy by Macbeth in Shakespeare's play in which he says, "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” McLaughlin said there was nothing in the budget for anyone in Cayman except Dart and the recipients of the Nation Building Fund.
McLaughlin drew the House’s attention to the comment that Bush made about the “quiet restoration of confidence in Cayman” as a result of the stewardship of the UDP government.
“What is this of which he speaks?” the opposition leader asked rhetorically. “No one I have talked to, regardless of their walk of life, has any confidence … no one has confidence in this government, quiet or otherwise ... I don’t know where the premier has been living but it can’t be here in Cayman,” he added. “On what possible bases can he assert that there is any confidence?” he asked again before listing a catalogue of issues associated with the UDP administration, and in particular the premier.
McLaughlin wondered if the premier believed it was the announcement that Bush was the subject of the first police investigation regarding financial irregularities that had stirred the confidence, or the announcements of the second and then third police investigations that had done it. He asked if it was the series of “pretend budgets” the premier had produced since coming to office and the inability to produce one this year, despite the fact that the 30th June comes around at the same time each year, which was the cause of this confidence. Continuing on the theme, he asked if perhaps it was the “genius idea to introduce a form of income tax” that had restored the confidence in the economy.
McLaughlin also took aim at the way the premier had handled the relationship with the UK and the embarrassment of the budget crisis.
“There is a crisis of confidence of enormous proportions,” McLaughlin said, claiming that was the primary problem. The way government was going about managing the economy was the issue which had undermined confidence and there was no chance of it returning until after the general election next year.
“I have never known a period of such low confidence in Cayman as now,” the opposition leader added. “Nothing ever in recorded history comes close to the circumstances the country now faces.”
McLaughlin said the UDP had failed completely to improve the economy and had only succeeded in making the cost of businesses higher. He noted that after three years Bush could no longer blame the previous administration as the premier had fought and won an election stating that he was the man for the job to handle the economic crisis. “If the PPM made mistakes, you said you were the man for the job and could fix the problems,” McLaughlin said, “but the government has run out of time.”
He said there was not one new proposal or initiative to get the economy going in Bush’s speech on Monday, despite its length. The opposition leader accused the premier of relying on the same list of hoped-for projects that he had been depending on for the last three years, none of which had materialised, not least because of the behaviour and interference of the premier.
The situation regarding the George Town port was offered by the PPM leader as an example of what had been a key pillar in the UDP‘s goals for recovery, but had warranted less than seven sentences in a budget speech that lasted for three hours.
McLaughlin focused heavily on the need for a strategic plan to address the size of the civil service and the fundamental underlying problem facing government, which had been mounting for years. Despite the pressure and need to do so, Bush had simply ignored this critical issue, McLaughlin said, adding that throughout this administration the government had offered only band-aid solutions to a serious problem of the growing public sector, which was now a priority for any future government.
Check back to CNS for more on the budget debate later.
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we need some new people
we need some new people unlike the rubbish we have now! we need them to be able to count beyond 4 lol!
caymanian
Perhaps Alden should take a
Perhaps Alden should take a page out of his former colleagues book and offer some solutions instead of whining constantly with no solutions. Read the Chuckster's ViewPoint Alden ! It just might trigger some thoughts of your own.
Why doesn't the Honorable Mr
Why doesn't the Honorable Mr McLaugin show us a detailed plan on how he would streamline the budget and move the country forward. I have always found that talk is cheap.
Yes, please tell us your
Yes, please tell us your plans, pretty please!?!
Alden, always the dramatist.
Alden, always the dramatist. But the country needs a leader, not a serial grumbler with a propensity towards showing off. Bush and his unfortunate bunch of yes-men need to go, we all know that, but Alden is clearly incapable of an effective leadership role. Or are you all so magnanimous that you are prepared to ignore the balls up of education he made as a minister? Poor you.The PPM, if it is to survive, needs a credible leader, and Alden surely isn't it, let's face it.
Mr. McLaughlin, forget about
Mr. McLaughlin, forget about trashing McKeeva. It will do no good as the man will be premier untul May 2013.
If you want to form the next government then start preparing now. If you are elected you have a huge mess to clean up that is the fault of the both the UDP and PPM. It took years and years to dig this hole.
You need to form a shadow government, complete with a shadow cabinet that is made up of current PPM MLAs and individuals who will run for office in May 2013. You and your shadow government must publish your recovery plans.
Start behaving like a Premier in waiting and stop being an opposition nabob of negativism. It is easy to point out what is wrong; it is much harder to come up with workable solutions. Workable solutions will require leadership and statesmanship. Are you up to the task?
If you don't become the Premier in waiting, then independent candidates very well might win the day in May 2013.
Very well said. We need some
Very well said. We need some positive planning and action now. We do not need all this same old bashing and thrashing talk. Let's move on to move forward. The people have had enough from both sides!
Just because Mr. McLaughlin
Just because Mr. McLaughlin is not seen in public, accusing everybody, running off his mouth and wasting money like the current leader, does not a failure he make. From the way I see Alden, he is quite aware of the laws, the situations and the wrong doings. He is a thinker and a very smart man, do not judge him for getting our children decent schools, at lease we can see what he has done. He concentrated on infrastructure, schools, CIG Buildings, Roads, Boxing Gym, Stadiums and more. Yes, the timing was bad and he was over ambitious, but he was NOT a failure as this current leader. The problem we are now facing, has nothing to do with Mr. McLaughlin. What you can blame Mr. McLaughlin and the PPM for is the laws they have put in place to try to corral that wild Stallion from West Bay. We have a Constitution, MOU, Anti Corruption and the PPM tried to cover all loopholes. Maybe 1 or 2 little onesstill incompleted, but it requires checks and balances and McKeeva is not accustom to having to comply to any laws. Thats is why he blames everyone today. Mr. McLaughlin, I know you has learnt your lesson and when you get in, please completely cover those loopholes. Even if you have to buy another helicopter to spy more on McKeeva and his doings. Thank you Mr. McLaughlin for all you have done and I hope you gets in to complete the job. Don't let the naysayers discourage you. They don't want you there, as your policies will interupp their intentions. Continue to remain a good Statesman and do not animate your spirit, as McKeeva and Rolston would like to see you do, remain humble. Learn more from Kurt, he is a great example. Thank you kind sir.
Mr McLaughlin, at some point
Mr McLaughlin, at some point a Budget has to be approved, or Cayman Inc. might as well roll up the carpet and turn out the lights. Assuming that the PPM has, within it's members, sufficient expertise, you must be preparing NOW for what you may inherit in the event that the PPM wins a majority in May 2013. There is every possibility that you could be handed a very seriously " Poisoned Chalice ". Forget about bush's paranoid ramblings, and FOCUS on what the PPM might need to do to stabilize an economy which by then could be in a fatal tail spin. There is no value presently in wasting verbal energy in slanging matches - you are not going to change anything in the dying days of bush's incumbency. Closer to the time, and especially if bush's budget is not living up to his promises, publish your Plan as the core of your Election Manifestlo.
At present, neither you, nor
At present, neither you, nor the PPM , have shown any ability to manage the country any better than the UDP. You have to separate yourselves from the subjective personality issues, and show that you could turn around the country's economy. There is presently a great danger that, should the PPM win a majority next year, it wiould be based on people NOT voting for bush, rather than them voting YES for you and the PPM - that is no basis for taking power as the governing party. You have to convince people that there would be a real, and sustainable, change for the better.
I would never vote for the
I would never vote for the UDP but I have little faith in the PPM with Alden as their leader.
All Alden ever does is to say that he is 'surprised' and 'horrified'. If he is really 'surprised' and 'horrified' at anything said or done by the UDP, he is certainly not the man to lead the PPM into battle in May 2013.
Let us hope that the PPM wins despite the burden of an ineffective leader because Cayman will be wrecked under another 4 years of UDP gowamen.
The PPM wants to regain
The PPM wants to regain power
The UDP wants to retain power
Nietther party is the solution
So vote for the 3rd option
The horrific thing is there
The horrific thing is there isn't one.
This island is too small for party politics, and therefore a independent member will never be premiere
I am still horrified Alden
I am still horrified Alden that we will have two $100 million dollars schools without one penny accounted for to pay to keep them running..
Like McKeeva your time has come!!..Move on and give someone else that has a plan a chance to do something...
PPM will win the next
PPM will win the next election. When it happens, we will need everyone's help. UDP and independents alike. We are all in this together and you will soon see that PPM will be better, smarter and stronger than ever before. Unlike the UDP, we are here for everyone. Just watch and see.
We love you cayman.
Why di rass pot nuh stop cuss
Why di rass pot nuh stop cuss kettle?!? Aeeediot ting dis!
Ok alden. i see you are awake
Ok alden. i see you are awake finally. I'm not completely buying yet but good start. lets see if you can keep this up.
Please dont wake him. Typical
Please dont wake him. Typical couple months before election we stay hearing from GT PPM members.
Please go back to sleep.
The opposition are wasting
The opposition are wasting too much energy on Maceeva - they need to regroup and have a strong plan in place to get us out of this mess ... or they better watch their backsides too - a bunch of Independents soon gonna be running Cayman.
A coalition of Independents would be the best way forward for Cayman anyway
we should be "horrified" that
we should be "horrified" that you Alden and all of the other members of gov't have NOT even made any sort of SUGGESTIONS as to how to make things better. i don't like mac either, but come on, if you gonna criticize at least have a plan!!
The voters to these comments
The voters to these comments baffle me, it is a no brainer that Alden needs more than his ability to be horrified at McKeeva to replace him as Premier. He must be a leader with solutions to be worthy of a vote come 2013. The country must have a leader with common sense solutions and someone who knows how to cut expenses.
Are you that man Alden? Then prove it with some solutions.
What's so funny about all
What's so funny about all this is that, regardless of who has a majority in the LA, the budget 'crisis' probably isn't truly a symptom of the failings of local politics but simply shows a major change in the UK's attitude towards the Cayman Islands.
Prior to Duncan Taylor's arrival in January 2010 the Governor's job was typically little more than a pre-retirement jolly. In addition the Cayman Islands had enjoyed a lengthy 'hands off' relationship with the UK that is probably best illustrated by the fact that Labour's last choice of OT Minister was a man better known for posing in his underpants on a gay dating site. In other words until May 2010 UK involvement had been minimal and the islands pretty much did what they pleased.
However, when Henry Bellingham came on the scene he, backed by the presence of a Governor whose FCO career will not end with his contract here, kicked the whole gravy train off the rails. OK, so it has taken a little while for all this to work through the system but it's here now and all the bleating, moaning and accusations aren't going to turn the clock back.
Whether you like it or not things will change and the impetus for that change will, if you are not careful, come directly from the UK rather than from amongst the ranks of either side in the LA.
This is absolutely true.
This is absolutely true. Prior to DT the postition was always pre-retirement but now the game has changed. XXXXX
One important question that
One important question that REALLY needs asking, in my humble opinion, is:
If the majority of people in Cayman no longer want the current Premier to continue in this role, who do we want? It's funny when you hear people saying they want McKeeva out but when I ask them who they would REALLY envisage as a 'better' Premier the response has been silence. I don't support either political party I'm just following the statements many make through to the inevitable conclusion. If we don't want McKeeva, who can we replace him with that will do a better job. The same people who tell me they want McKeeva gone also have said that Alden lacks spine, Arden is East End's McKeeva, Ezzard is too [insert descrption of your preference here] and every one else is pretty much a hanger on or lackey or useless seat taker upper. So, who do we want? Do we want some fresh representation in the form of Independents? If yes, WHO???????
Arden is a man of high
Arden is a man of high integrity. There is comparison between him and McKeeva. Pretending that there is no one who could do a better job than McKeeva is ridiculous. Alden and Ezzard both have their faults but either would be a change for the better.
Nowhere in my post did I
Nowhere in my post did I intimate no-one could do a better job. I actually support the removal of the current Premier. What I am saying is, if/when he is removed who do we want in his place?
Anybody. It is sure fire
Anybody. It is sure fire stupidity to think about keeping Premier Bush because no one person jumps up as the new Premier. This is the old and tired arguement that always surfaces when the antics of Premier Bush are again and again brought to light.
PPM Leader Alden McLaughlin
PPM Leader Alden McLaughlin said he was horrified
Oh no! Horrified No, Not Horrified!
This whole situation is horrifying.
The way government was going about managing the economy was the issue which had undermined confidence and there was no chance of it returning until after the general election next year.
Sure there is. A Vote of NO CONFIDENCE - and the elected members that DO NOT approve of this INSANITY need to STAND-UP and say so.
Let's see who is REALLY on the side of the people and who REALLY cares about the future of our islands.
THE ELECTED MEMBERS CAN STOP THIS NONSENSE that is unless they have been castrated or approve of the circus show Bush is running.
Where you been living?? The
Where you been living?? The Opposition tried two No Confidence votes and the UDP members just voted it down.
I am referring to ALL ELECTED
I am referring to ALL ELECTED MEMBERS.
I for one would like to hear out of each and every members mouth that they condone or disapprove of what has been transpiring as of late.
There might be political parties but right is right and wrong is wrong.
They can all do the right thing and stop this nonsense.
We have become a laughingstock to the rest of the world - it needs to end and end now.
That was my point! The UDP
That was my point! The UDP have had their chance to make their views known on several occasions, yet the stand with Mac - THAT should tell you everything you need to know.
Round and Round the mulberry
Round and Round the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel.......
So he was not horrified when
So he was not horrified when his spending left us 80 Million in the hole?
Guess there are many degrees of “Horrification”
You are at least benefitting
You are at least benefitting from the 80M every time you use the by pass roads, drop your kids off at new schools or work in the new govt office building.
You can't benefit from yhe UDP's world travels, Cohen Payments, lawsuit settlements or church hand outs..can you...?
and even more degrees of
and even more degrees of stupidity it seems judging by your post...
81 million is not audited, do
81 million is not audited, do you believe every word that comes out of McKeeva's mouth?
To be fair, that $80 Million
To be fair, that $80 Million was unaudited. McKeeva could have picked that number out of the air for crass political reasons.
Just sayin'. But without audited books, how do we know who is correct and who is incorrect?
Read the statement from the
Read the statement from the financial secretary, he confirmed it was $18M
Are you sure about that $80
Are you sure about that $80 Million?
Past news reports estimated it at around $16 to $18 Million. That $80 Million figure is one that Bush announced but never did back it up with any certified audit. Of course, we can all believe Bush. After all, he is an "honourable" man!
Alden every one has seen that
Alden every one has seen that you do not have the slightest idea of what is going on in the country. All you do is read and listen to what Ezzard and Arden say and repeat it. Kirk and Anthony couldn't care less. Give it up.
Bush? Crisis?
Bush? Crisis? Incompetence?
Say it ain't so!
Late on the balla gain
Late on the balla gain Alden...
Honestly no need to point
Honestly no need to point fingies as you all need to be placed in a wheelbarrow and get rolled down a steep hill.
Noooooooooooooooo. We are
Noooooooooooooooo. We are honourable people. We do not throw Granny over the cliff.
What Alden has said is true,
What Alden has said is true, however, that doesn't mean he or the rest of the PPM are better than Mac. They're mostly the same...XXXX don't have the people as priority #1.
A UK takeover is honestly the best option...this is just ridiculous.
Agree here with everything
Agree here with everything Mr. Mclaughlin is saying! Past time for Bush to go!
True the PPM spent huge sums also...but the difference is we can all see the improvements to needed infrasructure (roads and schools) and Mr. Tibbetts releived himself as the PPM Leader. Additionally Mr. Mclaughlin has owned the errors in relation to over run of costs as a result of a lack of proper Project Management...and i beleive learned a valuable lesson there.
Bush on the other hand continues to blame everyone else for his glaring failures.
He can afford to lay blame at
He can afford to lay blame at the foot of whose cross, because, "his heart is pure and his hand s are clean'. What else would idiots wants? Hand outs and promises.
Good points.
Good points.
I don't understand how this
I don't understand how this budget works. Do we not have elected members of Government who are supposed to work on this together? Is it just one man in charge of this thing?
What exactly are we voting for when we vote???
Seriously, the elections can't come soon enough!
And I think all Government employees, Ministers and those that are paid by the Country, anyone who is paid over 60,000.00 dollars should take a 5% pay cut.
A gallon of milk cost the same for us all. The little guy shouldn't have to suffer!
11:12 Milk? What's that?
11:12 Milk? What's that? You mean the sludge I pour out of a can into my coffee? Hey, I get your point, and was just having a little fun. You make a good point, in that in the real world -- the outside world -- those that make upward of $50,000 have to PRODUCE. Now, we should be careful to not paint with a broad brush, as I know a person or two in CS that make good money and also actually produce and make things happen......... however........ I think what you were alluding to was that the system itself is broken, allowing those who do NOT produce to continue to gravitate upward into more pay and still more meaningless beauracracy.
Also firmly agree with your other point -- the Premier seems in charge of everything and there is no semblance of a legislative ASSEMBLY, at least not one that in any way resembled that in the past, where people actually worked together toward the mutual benefit of the country as a whole. Nope. His Honourable Premier decides and thus it is done.
I think the two-party system is far too mature and to large for our country. We should have elected representatives that worked together without a party line, and I also believe that the Premier -- if there is to be such a title -- should be elected, not self-appointed.
But, hey, I'm just another lowly worker bee, hoping to scratch out enough to pay my lofty power bill and fondly remember the days when I could afford milk.
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