Mac calls for Arden probe
Posted on Fri, 03/09/2012 - 07:32 in Politics
(CNS): The premier says he has written to the Anti-corruption Commission about the PPM’s former Cabinet minister Arden Mclean, whom he accused of not paying his power bill for over a year during the time he was negotiating a licensing agreement with CUC in the last government. McKeeva Bush told a public meeting in Bodden Town on Thursday night that McLean had admitted on radio recently that he did not pay the bill and if this was true, it meant he had used his office for personal gain. Taking aim at the opposition, who he said was accusing him of corruption and incompetence, he said he had "on his armour now", as he revealed the request for the investigation.
Bush also said that he would be asking for anti-corruption enquiries into the opposition leader, Alden McLaughlin, and another PPM member but gave no details on who or what he believed the others had done.
In an ironic twist, Bush made no mention of the actual ongoing investigation into financial irregularities over his dealings with developer Stan Thomas but suggested that the opposition had the audacity to point the finger of corruption at him and were using it as a red herring in order to get back into office.
The premier said that McLean should explain to the country, if what he admitted to on radio was true, why he did not pay his electrical bill. “Should that be an investigation Mr Arden? So you want an investigation on me giving East End $200,000 for projects – he didn’t have to pay his light bill but you have heavy ones to pay,” he told the audience.
“Can you imagine they talk about corruption and incompetence?” he queried as he told the audience that if the opposition wanted a fight he was ready as he was a hard worker. “I have on my armour now.”
Reading from his letter to the police commissioner, who is chair of the Anti-corruption Commission Bush said he wanted the commissioner to look into the failure of McLean to pay the CUC bill when he was in office and dealing directly with the power firm in his role as minister responsible for utilities.
“After all that has been said in this country about corruption and the use of public office for private gain and conflict, I would ask that this matter be investigated by the Anti-corruption Commission,” he said quoting from the correspondence to David Baines.
“I want to tell at least two more of them that I have two more letters that I want to give to the commissioner but I am just getting the facts,” he added. He later indicated that one of the letters he would be sending to the police commissioner was about Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin.
He queried why there were no investigations into various issues from the PPM administration, such as the money allegedly stolen by the former UCCI president, Hassan Syed, the Matrix scrap metal deal and the expenditure on the schools.
“All kinds of financial infractions and process took place in that contract,” he said about the high school projects, which were awarded to Tom Jones International, which is now embroiled in a legal dispute with government.
In a speech that lasted close to two hours and gave very few updates on government projects and policies but was very heavy on political rhetoric, the premier launched a full scale attack on the opposition, as well as the various activists that are opposing government policy.
Responding to the accusations on Friday morning Arden McLean told CNS the country was in trouble if this was the best the premier could do to “deflect from his own criminal investigation.”
The former PPM minister admitted that he had been in dispute with CUC over power bills but just like everyone else he had to pay. “There is nothing criminal or corrupt about paying your bill late when you are in dispute about the amounts,” McLean stated. "I am sure any investigation into that will be over very quickly as opposed to the criminal investigation into the premier,” he added.
See more on CNS later today from the Bodden Town meeting and the Keep BT Dump Free Coalition demonstration.
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Comments
How dare he call into
How dare he call into question the morals and ethics of such a great corporate citizen as CUC, who operate on a high standard of business ethics and principles.
Mr. Hew, please set him straight.
Is this a JOKE writer of
Is this a JOKE writer of 03/12/2012 - 12:48? For your information, the Premier is loved by all and every ex-pat and foreigners along with 95% of Caymanians. It is only 5% of our jealous natives that hates him.
Now THAT's a JOKE 20:09...
Now THAT's a JOKE 20:09... Good reciprocal comedy there, but I just wanted to make sure that there are no misconceptions here.
FYI - That 95% Caymanians must be discounted by 90% just for me alone. The DESPISE I alone have for that dragon will account for about 95% of the Caymanian population... and that comes from my CRYSTAL CLEAR insight, foresight and thorough understanding of what this Vlad Dracula is all about. Otherwise, if Love means Hate, then yes.
The jealousy part, can't say that might not be close, but let's speak for ourselves bo bo.
I cannot believe the amount
I cannot believe the amount of hatred people have for our good, God-fearing, decent Premier, the leader of the Cayman Islands. If gambling were not a sin I would bet that most of the comments here come from godless ex-pats and foreigners. Support our Premier! He knows what is best for the people of the Cayman Islands!
You are very good at parody.
You are very good at parody. You should join the Rundown cast.
LOL. Did you really say
LOL. Did you really say "good, God-fearing, decent Premier"?
The Hon. Arden McLean is one
The Hon. Arden McLean is one of the very few politicians in Cayman who cares about his people and his country. He is well educated but has not forgotten where he came from. I wish we had one of him in each new "one man one vote" district. No I'm not an Eastender, nor a real Caymanian, just a paper Caymanian with enough common sense to see who is who and what is what.
Well educated you say?????
Well educated you say????? Where and with what?????? Enlighten us please
Not sure who "us" is but
Not sure who "us" is but 'you' could certainly use some enlightenment.
Come on UK. Time to step in
Come on UK. Time to step in and do your duty to the Cayman islands. Take the power from the todlers and let the parents clean up the house and take out the trash. While your at it how about enforceing at least some of the basic rules of a functional society? I'm all for starting out with small steps and letting the kids learn by failures but there should be some successes along the way to show the way. Don't you think? All of this never ending crying, fighting, and incompetence should be enough proof that Cayman has too much growing up to do to let them have the cars keys yet. Or have you given up on them?
Way to go, Brother Mac.
Way to go, Brother Mac. Praise the Lord. You just show them how to treat Mr. McLean like a real brother. Don't you people understand that the Good Lord is $2 million richer because of our dearly beloved Brother Mac? What's WRONG with you devil worshippers anyway? You really want to see our brother Mac replaced by that criminal from East End? You bunch of heathens you? Brother Mac only wants to see all his friends blessed with all the same things he has earned for himself in life, you know, criminal investigations, off the charts terrible reputations, record breaking failures and screw ups at everything he touches, that sort of thing. You blasphemers should be proud we have such a wonderful brother so willing to share his blessings in life. Shame on you god-forsaken bunch. Repent and be baptised before it is too late all ye worthless sinners.
THERE YOU GO! That's how
THERE YOU GO! That's how giving money to churches guarantees you votes!
JESUS SAVES
He can on the money given to him by Bush, but he couldn't on my salary and with the CUC bill I get every month!
Tit-for-tat BS, while the
Tit-for-tat BS, while the country sinks into the Caribbean Sea. The two of them should be ashamed of themselves. They're like children scrapping in the playground. Pathetic! What an embarassment to the country!
For all the theologists out
For all the theologists out there, note that tit-for-tat, eye-for-an-eye thinking goes totally against Christian doctrine. It's certainly not behavior fit for an aspiring "national hero".
Mac's action is clearly tit
Mac's action is clearly tit for tat. However, I don't see that the criminal investigation into apparent corruption by Bush initiated by a Grand Court judge and ordered by the Governor has anything to do with tit for tat. There is no equation between the two.
The question remains is why
The question remains is why did a Grand Court judge have to initiate. These types of allegations and evidence have been openly discussed for many many years. Attorney General, Governor, Police?
I am nost sure why you think
I am nost sure why you think that is relevant. The fact is he did, and rightly so. What is your point?
Only person worried about a
Only person worried about a thief is another thief......
Joke of the MILLENNIUM. Right
Joke of the MILLENNIUM. Right up there with harry skippin Cayman on the most farsicle of trips. Who needs it?
We wouldn't be having all of
We wouldn't be having all of this trouble with McKeeva and his puppets today if former Governor Stuart Jack had called a Commisssion of Inquiry into the alleged corruption which Charles Clifford exposed instead of calling the Commission of Inquiry into the exposure of that corruption.
We need to investigate why Governor Jack chose to call that Commission of Inquiry into the exposure of the corruption instead of into the alleged corruption itself !
If we can get to the bottom of that question then perhaps we can figure out why we have heard no more about the current investigation !!!
YOU ARE CORRECT 17:51!!
YOU ARE CORRECT 17:51!! Leaves you scratching your head doesn't it??
Nothing to figure out here though. It has been established that it's all chalked up to 'Money', 'People in High Places' and the magnetic connectivity that occurs at those levels.
Does that mean that using
Does that mean that using your political position to require the public purse to pay the electrical bills for you private property and causing the public purse to pay for your personal servants is corruption too? How about voting to allow yourself to double dip on salary plus pension?
Dog gonna eat yah suppah! How
Dog gonna eat yah suppah! How about using the same agreement with the US government to investigate and detail all US bank accounts held by all Cayman politicians or companies they own, and the sources of those funds? Preferably BEFORE the next elections!
Fearless Leader never misses
Fearless Leader never misses an opportunity to make himself look ridiculous. I do not mind him doing this except does he really have to be our leader to continually remind us how uneducated he truly is? It’s so embarrassing.
Mac had better be careful
Mac had better be careful that he is not setting the bar for 'corruption' at a level that he himself cannot hope to pass. This could come back to back bite him in the a$$.
Double Dipping. One of the
Double Dipping. One of the posters castigated the Premier for double dipping, but is it not true that the ex leader of the opposition and the incumbent third elected member from Bowden town and PPMmember were involved in this dipping scenarios. Come on now they all have skeletons it seems, so don't be one sided.
Personally I think double
Personally I think double dipping is reprehensible. But it is not corruption.
Remember: There is still no
Remember: There is still no evidence of personal gain found on the Premier. He is criminally being investigated by the Commissioner of Police. Evidence is needed for corruption. If they had the evidence, they would have the case pending so long... but they don't have it. Meanwhile, the Premier is initiating an investigation against Arden Mclean, which there could just be evidence to pin corruption on him and the PPM party. I laugh to myself, because "How the Table Turns"... if there is evidence to pin on Arden Mclean and nothing is found dirty on the Premier's side, Arden is screwed, and all of these allegations against the Premier he is so vehemently declaring, will look like he is hiding something. So let us not be so quick in calling the Premier's allegations, a make-up story. We have to judge each candidate on their own merit.
Shame the Premiser's personal
Shame the Premiser's personal banks accounts are not subject to FOI!
I wonder which sand your head
I wonder which sand your head burried in; Boggy Sands?
Lin, LIN must be a code name
Lin, LIN must be a code name for Linked to bush or a genetic term for UDP members, or the United Destruction Party. A literate person who has read the letter/invoice asking for three hundred plus dollars knows what it is. As an example walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a DUCK is a freaking DUCK. OK.
...Three hundred THOUSAND
...Three hundred THOUSAND plus dollars to be more accurate, but we get your point and we agree with you too.
We all know that there are
We all know that there are problems getting an immunity arrangement for a key witness.
That is hilarious. To
That is hilarious. To everyone except the most blind party supporter can see this for what it is - a desparate attempt to deflect and keep the heat off himself. If Mac had really believed that this was corruption he would not have waited for 3 years to ask for an investigation. I predict that what will happen is that the Commissioner will find that there is nothing that would even remotely come within the scope of corruption as contrasting to say extorting money for the performance of your public duties.
The difference is that Arden has offered himself up to be questioned by the Commissioner of Police while Mac is still hiding behind "it was a real estate bill" and offering no real explanation.
I can't wait for 2013
I can't wait for 2013 election to place my vote in West Bay and vote them all out. We really need new young blood running this country, i have had enough.
Sadly too many of your
Sadly too many of your neighbours will not change their voting patterns.
You are a smart west bayer
You are a smart west bayer that wants new blood in the west!!!!
I don't think anyone in West
I don't think anyone in West Bay is capable of running this country....it is the people from West Bay who did this to our country by voting who they did in....Just take a good look...you are paying salaries to people in West Bay, Ugene???? OMG his name only comes out when elections are around to name one...if you people are really tired of it THROW THEM OUT BEFORE 2013, even though we don't have that many rights in the cayman islands YOU STILL VOTED THEM IN, YOU CAN VOTE THEM OUT!!!! But again that would take back bone...and it doesn't look like the people have any of that...look what happened in Bodden Town......
07:59 You must be from East
07:59 You must be from East End or North Side because you could never be from West Bay and talking such nonsence. We are Voting the Premier back in so keep quiet if you cannot find something better to say.
Don't forget to claim your
Don't forget to claim your free refrigerator first!
This complaint raises serious
This complaint raises serious issues and should be investigated. It was infamous that Jim Bodden arranged a truck of gravel dumped on the driveway of an attorney that tried to collect payment on his long unpaid electricity bill. If that culture has continued it has to be stopped.
However is the investigation also going to look at the attitude of CUC in enforcing the electricity bills of politicians? This too is a serious issue.
Obviously Mac and his
Obviously Mac and his supporters are trying to hype it into a serious issue. We understand the political game: the best form of defence is attack. If this was such a serious issue why did it take the Premier 4+ years to ask for an investigation?
What does having a dispute with CUC over your bill and it remaining unpaid until the dispute is settled have to do with having gravel dumped on the driveway of an attorney?
How about we investigate politicians who avoid having to pay their own CUC bills by causing taxpayers to pay it? Is that an abuse of office?
Friday 08:47. Please, you
Friday 08:47. Please, you should avoid stereotypical and disparaging views and remarks like "the Caymanian representative to the world telling everyone what Caymanians are all about". I'm sure that wherever you're from there are unsavory politicians and all manner of social misfits including, crooks, criminals, perverts, etc. Does that mean that you're any one of the above?? If you insist on cutting all Caymanians from one cloth then, although you're Anonymous, don't be offended when I say you could well be a crooked, criminal pervert yourself.
Caymanian politics has
Caymanian politics has created a sad paradox. There needs to be fresh blood across the board - and I don't just mean new puppets like the Fourth Elected Member from GT. In order to revamp the warped system inrouduced with the 1976 elections and which has never been completely departed from since, we need people who have the integrity and ability to rise above the cronyism and favour-based politcs and remain true to that resolve. In my opinion there have been few politicians of significance in all that time whose integrity never wavered. One was the former EXCO Member for Tourism in the 1984-88 Govt. but he alone could not make a difference.
The paradox I speak of is that while acknowledging the above premise, no one of integrity wants to be associated with politics here because it has become a dirty word. And that is why it's sad. Unless enough people like that throw their hat into the ring, there will be no significant difference but people like that don't want to tarnish their reputation. So they stay on the side and are comfortable to be armchair politicians so like many of us.
I applaud some of those types of people who have bit that bullet, stood up and in fact been elected, but sadly they have been too few to make a difference.
Remember the old adage; 'a
Remember the old adage; 'a people gets the Government it deserves"
Unfortunately, Citizens that would be willing to stand for election and work in the ineterest of the country cannot 'win" the popularity contest that elections have become! The voting public of Cayman has become to accustomed to american style campaigning with flashy soundbites and rethoric over substance.
Most people confuse "good governance" to mean making decisions that favor their special interest!
Imagine if I stood for elction with the slogan " If I am elected, I will work toward introducing fiscal legislation that prohibits deficit spending except in the case of a national Emergency! the majority of Voters would yawn and say "booring"!
because of all of that, I don't really expect any real change!
da-wa-u-get
This is laugher, the Premier
This is laugher, the Premier asking for an investigation on the Action Man. This man has no class or shame in how he just makes himself look like a fool daily. I know people that go 4 to 5 months without payment to CUC, but eventaully they have to pay.
If any probe should be done it should focus on Mckeeva's numerous missteps Cohen, GLF, the Dump and DART funds to name a few.
Just do not let them take
Just do not let them take away my status. I know I did't live in Cayman when Mac gave it to me but I may want to move back and open a large taxi service. I have found a lot of Indians willing to act as drivers for a dollar an hour. I will apply for permits for all of them and thus grow the population. Of course if any qualified Caymanians with a minimum of 10 years experience want to apply for these one dollar an hour positions I will gladly hire them and thus generate local employment.
Give me a call. I can get you
Give me a call. I can get you some Chinese for 50 cents per hour, and all have clean Filipino licenses.
McKeeva apparently either
McKeeva apparently either doesn't have a clue or doesn't give a hoot about the fact that this kind of behaviour only and simply serves to highlight the disgrace of his own criminal investigation, or the mystery of why this has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the Cayman public.
You are so right. THAT
You are so right. THAT "mystery" should be the subject of another criminal investigation, NOT Mr. McLean's personal utility bill.
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