Newspaper accused of ‘treason’
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin in the Legislative Assembly
(CNS): An editorial which appeared on Wednesday in the only daily newspaper in Cayman was described as “treasonous” by the premier in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. But the allegations in the opinion piece by the editor and his board about local corruption that upset all legislators as well as the country’s leader may have cost the paper much more than a dressing down, as the Finance Committee voted to stop spending public cash on advertisements with the paper.
The Cayman Compass and its editor, David Legge, were called all manner of names by Alden McLaughlin in a statement delivered in the Chamber ahead of the Finance Committee proceedings. The premier said he believed in a free press and that he expected government to be held accountable by the media but he described the editorial as taking aim not at politicians or the authorities but the Caymanian people as, he said, Legge had implied that every person here and the entire country was corrupt.
Taking aim at the direction the country’s only newspaper has taken since Legge, reportedly alone, bought the paper, McLaughlin recalled a recent racist cartoon that led to a boycott, personal attacks and the general development of anti-Caymanian rhetoric in the editorials but said this time Legge had stepped well over the line.
The premier said Wednesday’s editorial was not about him or even the government but the Caymanian people. Querying what the editor was hoping to gain with the direction he was taking against Cayman and its people, he claimed Legge was on “a crusade against an enemy of his own creation” and that it was a testament to the tolerance of the Caymanian people that he was getting away with the ongoing insults against the country and the people here.
McLaughlin said that while the editor was accusing everyone except himself and his own board of being corrupt, he was not above taking $100,000’s from these corrupt people and entities every year in advertising fees.
Following McLaughlin’s statement, in which he described the editorial as “self-righteous”, “hypocritical” and having a “reckless abandonment of the truth”, as well as being treasonous, the members of the committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of no longer using the publication for any government advertising or promotion, from planning notices to job adverts, threatening the paper’s bottom line.
The premier’s speech received a standing ovation from most members of the House attending Finance Committee, before Arden McLean, the member for East End, proposed the vote to stop spending money with the paper from the public purse, which passed unanimously.
The premier offered support for a free press and pointed to the Bill of Rights and said the local media was “unregulated … and at liberty to say what it wants and promote its own agendas”.
However, he said he would not let the allegations of corruption against the Caymanian people at large go unchallenged. He said Cayman was not perfect — nowhere was — but the editor had deliberately painted the country and everyone living here as a place and a people that are entirely corrupt.
CNS has contacted David Legge and the editorial desk of The Cayman Compass about the allegations and is awaiting a response.
Read in full – Premier’s response to Cayman Compass Editorial of 3 June 2015
Category: Local News, Media
A tactical statement like this is used to bury the Jeff Webb/ canover Watson/ Cayman Islands football association links. Watch this way, not that way world press.
As posted in the CNS ‘New York Times’ story, I repost here.
Some snippets from 2013, how things have changed, my, my.
Him:
“We are delighted to be moving forward and are looking ahead to serving the Islands and the people of Cayman,” Mr. Legge said. “We believe this is good news, not only for us, but for the company and the wider community.”
Her:
“We will remain the authoritative voice of the Cayman Islands. Readers and advertisers can look forward to continuity as well as positive changes in the future,” she said.
Him:
“My wife Vicki and I pledge our talents, our energy and our resources to producing for these Islands not just a great newspaper, but a newspaper that is great by the best of world standards,” Mr. Legge said. “Cayman has a great story to tell and we want to tell it not just to those who live here, but to the wider world as well. More on that in due course …”
/
I guess that course is now due. The Legge’s should have known that we, and I dare say, an overwhelming majority of Caymanians would never allow someone/another to harm them or anyone else living here just because of what was said, whether against the country and/or its locals.
While I/others don’t agree with the Editorial ‘blasting’ about how the Cayman Islands is steeped in corruption, etc, we would certainly not take it to harm those with this type of thinking and/or publishing such untruths that make it look to the wider world that the Cayman Islands is corrupted beyond all and that its natives are as well. That’s how it read folks.
I can assure you, the Caymanians I know would defend against those that might, and I emphasise might, do any harm to someone that intentionally or otherwise say/print overblown, half-truths/untruths about our Cayman Islands just to further his/her/them own agendas. This isn’t South Sudan, we don’t kill/harm people just because we don’t agree with them. It’s part of what makes us who we are, sometimes to our own detriment, unfortunately. But we don’t get violent and that’s what’s still great about my people and those that come and live with us for a better life and prosperity et al. Let’s remember that my fellow Caymanians, the younger generation especially.
In closing, dear Legge’s. As a weekly advertiser who takes out ads in the Cayman Compass, you can count on me no longer and never again spending my *’corrupt’ monies (*as I see it, from your viewpoint at least) with your newspaper. I applaud the Government’s stance and I take my own as well.
Finally, I get to use the below 3 quotes (I’ve been saving them for a raining day)
“The secret of successful journalism is to make your readers so angry they will write half your paper for you.” ~C.E.M. Joad
“They kill good trees to put out bad newspapers.” ~James G. Watt
“Harmony seldom makes a headline.” ~Silas Bent
The fallacy of Alden and many responses on this thread is to equate an allegation that corruption is widespread in the local economy with an allegation that every Caymanian is corrupt. The first proposition is true. The second pseudo-proposition is not. Until and unless wives stop overseeing investigations in their husbands and juries are willing to convict neighbours and relatives on clear evidence then nothing will change.
No, for the record, the editorial depicted Caymanians as “steeped” in corruption and unable to recognise it for what it is if it stared them in the face. That is not the same as” corruption is widespread”. I am also not sure that it is a fact that corruption is “widespread” as you seem to suggest in your argument.
The problem with using factually unsupported vague words is that it gets us nowhere,
Not so sharp after all. A
I don’t care who recognizes me or who doesn’t. All I know is I’m a Caymanian and everybody caught up in this was wrong. Legge has a point, because plenty people around here are all about money, favors and friends, but he was wrong to say those things now – he’s been making Caymanians look like idiots for so long there’s no good feelings for him left among the people who read his foolishness. The premier was wrong to go and call Legge’s words ‘treason.’ Sure it wasn’t nice, but would the government or any of us hang that old man over it? With Cayman’s courts the way they are, could Legge really see any jail time? Not today bobo. I would even say the residents of this island are wrong because if you feel Legge has been insulting you, why read his paper or place ads? Why not walk up and down with signs in your hands? All I know is I’m holding down my little spot on the street, trying to survive in spite of the foolishness around me.
Dear 4:59
You have really articulated the matter precisely. You sound like a Bracker like myself and I second your vote of confidence in our Leader, Mr. Alden McLaughlin and his statements to our people. You have a true understanding of the human condition and have true empathy for us Caymanians.
Like Damocles in the Greek Methology story, none of us would want to sit under the sword of responsibility held by a single horse’s hair if we knew the weight of the office our leaders hold.
Thank you 4:59 for your insight and complimentary statements about our character, integrity and dignity. The fact that our Lady Governor brought several other Governors to our Overseas Territory tells me she is proud to showcase us and entertain dignitaries on our shores. We have come a long way and proudly are islands that are world class destinations.
As I read both the editorial article published on 3 June titled “Corruption: An insidious, creeping crime” and the premier’s response directly to the editorial board as it relates, on 5 June, I am 1) strongly disappointed in Mr. Legge’s accusations and innuendoes and note that hardly a week goes by without some sort of fictitious article appearing in the “Cayman Compass” written by the editorial board instead of sticking to the facts. It appears as though Mr. Legge is willfully seeking to stir our community in a negative way. If someone is guilty, it is the duty of the courts to justly rule accordingly and not for any form of media or any individual to draw conclusions as to deflect from the truth which could be very damaging to ones innocence unless otherwise proven guilty. I remember seeing a picture of you and your wife in the paper and wishing you well not knowing that months later we would be smeared in your newspaper as a corrupt people. I must say that the article was a blow much below the belt of the Caymanian people, an insult to our culture as well as an eye opener to your character and selfish ambitions.
I am proud to say that I am a Caymanian and have lived in these beautiful islands all my life. I can attest that my family and I are hard-working, honest individuals who have worked tirelessly to secure an honest livelihood for us and our children. We have willingly helped many individuals who was/are in need without asking for or accepting anything in return. This was how we were brought up. We are not rich, however we have not altered our morals and Godly standards for personal gain or otherwise. My parents (like their forefathers and so on), taught us not to envy our neighbor or anyone else for material things including financial success. We were to be thankful for what we had and to do our best to work hard to be successful and make an honest living for our families. That we have proudly done!
While I am not delusional that corruption exist, it is not rampant neither is it a “cultural normality” for Caymanians. We are known to call a spade a spade and be outspoken about it as well! It doesn’t matter what nationality, once it impacts us as a people negatively we will speak out!
I applaud the premier for taking the stand he has taken and I completely agree with him. This is not about whether we are of the PPM, UDP parties etc. Instead it has everything to do with standing up for our people because we have been attacked wrongfully and the innuendoes couldn’t be further from the truth. To the premier I say “may God guide you Mr. McLaughlin as you defend our country and may our prayers for help for our islands be from our lips to God’s ears, bringing resolve to this attack quickly.
For what it is worth, Mr. Legge should therefore apologies to Caymanians and those who work and reside here for his fictitious and defamatory article.
The “Cayman Compass” used to be a newspaper that was factual and would respect others of whom it was reporting on, ensuring that they were fair and truthful to what it was reporting on. However, sadly it has now become a paper that irresponsibly writes before doing the needed legwork to ensure that the article remains factual. Mr. Legge apparently wanted attention… well he got it! How would you feel Mr. Legge if the shoe was on the other foot? I know this might be a stretch for you but… Be Honest!!!
He wasn’t bothered about the interests, and reputation of Cayman last week, when his Press Secretary was running around with “pics” of McKeeva sleeping, for the world to see???
Except that has nothing to do with the reputation of Cayman. Nice try though.
First it was Austin Harris, now its David Legge …better watch what you say CNS, you may be next.
The CNS ladies have stood up to all manner of attacks, including threats of lawsuits, from previous administrations and Legge himself. I am sure they will continue to shine the light where it is needed.
I find it ironic that the MLA’s have more to say about the Compass than they do about Jeff Webb and his cronies. The evidence of corruption is there to see week in and week out in various media. Nothing is investigated even when the evidence is printed in the paper. (Stan Thomas letter for example.) very day seems like backwards day in Cayman.
Did you ever think that might be because they are presumed innocent until proven guilty and they have no personal information? If you have some information about “Jeff Webb and his cronies” that you actually know is true I am sure we would all like to hear it. And who told you that the Stan Thomas letter was not investigated? Conducting an investigation does not always result in obtaining all the evidence necessary to prove your case particularly if your would-be star witness might implicate himself.
the compass should take aldens attack as a badge of honour…..it shows they have hit a nerve….. alden is proven fool everytime he musters the courage top open his mouth……remember this is the man who did away with government press conferences because he could not take difficult questions (potshots??)……
if you don’t like the compass…don’t read it….. i for one will will continue to enjoy the way it highlights the ignorance and hypocrisy that runs rampant in cayman….
So the Government plans to put a Caymanian owned business out of business thereby causing a loss of jobs to Caymanians while at the same bemoaning the unemployment of Caymanians. You can’t make this stuff up.
Are you saying this business is unable to make it on its own without taxpayer funding in the form of ads placed by Govt.? Can’t make thus stuff up!
I thought it was owned by Legge who couldn’t possibly be Caymanian since we are so corrupt.
Compass: “Following the comments of Premier McLaughlin on Friday, Mr. Legge and his wife, Mrs. Vicki Legge, who serves as co-publisher of the Compass, were placed under 24-hour protective guard by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and flew to a location in the United States on Saturday.”
April Fool’s is long passed surely…….
This! Exactly. This man used the public purse for his protection and then FLED the island to the United States!! He should not be allowed back. For a person who spends his days sussing out other people’s information and whereabouts, he should disclose where exactly he is in the USA.
Mr. Legge knows that controversy will sell more papers, attract more viewers, and generally enable him to raise advertising rates. By drawing attention to himself he might be able to acquire the job of spokesperson for someone else now that Kernohan is starting to fade into the background.
Did he fly out on Cayman Airways, or did Dart offer him a free flight on his private jet?
That was my reaction as well. It is totally ludicrous.
A couple examples of how they deal with freedom of the press in the “land of the free”:
New York Times: “[the Obama White House is] turning out to be the administration of unprecedented secrecy and of unprecedented attacks on a free press. The ability of the press to report freely on its government is a cornerstone of American democracy. That ability is, by any reasonable assessment, under siege.”
Washington Post: The Obama DOJ is “treat[ing] a reporter as a criminal for doing his job” and is thus “as flagrant an assault on civil liberties as anything done by George W. Bush’s administration, and it uses technology to silence critics in a way Richard Nixon could only have dreamed of.”
These are serious media houses btw. No any faux news outlets.
Alden, address the problem and you won’t have to sound like a deranged lunatic. Take a deep breath and say to yourself ten times over, “there is no conspiracy, there is no conspiracy”.
First of all, have some respect. He is the Premier of these Islands. Do you address the Governor as “Helen”? I thought not. Second, thank God the Premier has had the courage to say what needed to be said some time ago. Right-thinking people (Caymanians and expats) do not think he sounds deranged at all. Third, the Premier’s speech did not allege any conspiracy. Fourth, if it is true, as you seem to think, that Caymanians as a whole and our culture are corrupt, how exactly would the Premier fix that? Your post is just an example of mindless belligerence.
Dear Cass
Let me out myself a little to you. I am no Barbie Doll. I am really a pseudonym. Look it up.
I maintain that the Honourable Alden McLaughlin should uphold our jurisdiction.
We retain our integrity and dignity as responsible and hard working Caymanians.
I do not work for Government and do not patronize them.
Mr. McLaughlin holds the reins of power as a person of authority. We should listen to him. I am old school and believe God has given him to be our leader. You need to sit down, be quiet and respect him. What ever happened to moral obligations and duty.
“God rules and over rules in the affairs of nations”. You see, this tells me that I should humble myself and pray on this whole matter.
I am not without being real flesh and blood and not having convictions and concerns for my own people.
You should hook up with Whodatis. You are well suited to each other.
We should take off one of our sandals, raise it aloft and follow him.
My dear 12:13
No one weilds any power over me in the Cayman Islands. I have only stated the truth as I see it.
I do not even work for the Government so I have no reason to patronize. Oops. That word means try to be nice to someone to get them to like you.
The Premier needs to defend his jurisdiction.
We retain our dignity and integrity as a great people. We are a Psalm 24 country. Check it out. “He hath founded it upon the seas”. It really comes from a Psalm and not the logo on the Cayman Airways jet.
How dare anyone in this forum to trash Ms. Tara Rivers. I have never met her but for her to persevere through all she went through just to get into her current position is nothing short of remarkable.
There are some great blogs in here from thinking folks but 12:13 you need to get a grip on yourself and be thankful for leaders that step forward to help run the Cayman Islands. Are you up for the job? What have you given back to your Country this year so far? President KENNEDY asked the same thing of many. Go take on the day 12:13.
@MISS Cayman Brac – I suggest that you look up the definition of ‘patronize’ because the definition that you have given is incorrect.
And it is spelt with an ‘s’, not a ‘z’.
Premier
Treason? Really? But the Cohen Deal, the Status Grants, Gasboy, what happened to Brian Tomlinson, the Stan Thomas affair, the fact that all our paving equipment is in the Brac, the paving of private land with public funds, etc. is hardly worthy of a mention by you (other than to score a few shallow political points). I am disgusted.
I know bad things happened when good people stand by and do nothing. I do not think you are corrupt, but when are you going to do something other than shoot the messenger?
Mary Hastings, if you are going to play with the big boys use SpellCheck. The word is ” puerile”. What do think will be the global perception of the Premier threatening to use economic sanctions to “punish” a local newspaper. They might see it as rather childish – ” I’m taking my ball and going home – not going play with you anymore “
Interesting turn of phrase in this context, “play with the big boys”. That’s the problem with teaching the natives to read and write. They become very uppity.
I wouldn’t call it corruption if a newspaper refused to accept a news release from any company unless it was accompanied by a paid advertisement, or if the newspaper always wrote feature articles based on the amount of advertising revenue they were able to attract with that feature, but I sure wouldn’t call it journalism either.
There was one No vote, as can be seen from the telecast. So the resolution did not pass unanimously. The question is WHO VOTED NO?
Irrespective of one’s views of Legge and the Compass (and I lost all hope for the publication after it fell down the extreme right wing American political rabbit hole), the canny politician who voted no is the only one in the LA who saw the dangers of nationalistic chest thumping and exercised some grey matter.
Or is allied with Legge in some way. It is not hard to guess who that might be.
let us look at some of the evidence that people in Cayman take corruption for granted.
1) What has been done about the laws that enabled the paving of private driveways as a means to buy votes paid for by us all? nothing
2) We find out the former premier has been gambling away public funds on “government trips”, when is found out hew quickly pays it back 3 years late. We find out there is no law in place in Cayman against this, unlike any other modern society> so the question is has the law now been changed? or is this again business as usual?
3) another politician is found drunk in a crashed car, his female companion run off and he refuses to assist police, again punishable in a normal transparent society. But what happens in Cayman are used to this.
And yet when this is all brought to light, the first thing Cayman does is attack the messenger, be it the compass or the facebook pages blaming FIFA rather than Webb.
2:59 pm:
1. There are no laws that enabled the paving of drive ways. There are not even policies that allow that — formal policies that is.
2. In the case in question, there was and is no law against using a government issued credit card for any legitimate or, obviously, illegitimate purpose — but there is plenty of good old common sense, integrity and general civil service policies and guidelines as to what is in the best interest of the public and what is best practice personally and otherwise. In that particular case, these should have been adequate to protect against the abuse of a government credit card. Since then the civil service has issued formal policies in what should have simply been a dictate of personal honesty and principles of personal and professional integrity.
3. I assure you Caymanians did not take that behaviour lightly and did not support such behaviour. And, by the way, the person involved did ultimately plead guilty in court of the relevant offences.
Our Premier has a statutory duty and a moral obligation to defend the integrity of Cayman and Caymanians in general. Clearly he cannot and likely would not defend criminal activity in any sphere. However he is right in defending the bigoted and “blanket” disparaging of our people as a whole. The manner in which he chose to do that is subject to debate and threatening the media is not the best method – sure to get negative attention locally and internationally. I support his nationalism in defending the general reputation of Cayman and Caymanians but I’m not sure that his attack on the Compass was productive. It may have served to further David Legge’s divisive goals.
However, having said that, Legge and the Compass clearly displayed “rag-mag” tabloid journalism with the tone of its editorial. Legge would be better off trying to elevate the Comapss to respectful and impartial journalism by implementing good investigative journalism practices. Imagine if the Compass had uncovered and broken the local aspect of the FIFA allegations and other impropriety? But alas, Legge and the Compass will always display tabloid-level journalism, perpetuating gossip and benefiting from clearly biased and illegal job advertisements. Any wonder why Legge is no longer at the prestigious Washington Post but is instead publishing some small-island rag – which he doesn’t even own? he clearly couldn’t function and survive in the world of real journalism. Pity he sees himself as some William Randolph Hearst!!
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Well done and all true.
“Any wonder why Legge is no longer at the prestigious Washington Post but is instead publishing some small-island rag – which he doesn’t even own? ”
You have some evidence to back up that claim?
This is far from over. So far Mr. Legge has not responded but the pen is mightier than the sword. Am sure he will come out swinging with his next editorial. He is arrogant and pompous and feels that “freedom of speech” gives him the right to say anything that comes to mind irrespective of others. While I agree with highlighting issues to be addressed to infer that all Caymanians are in some way corrupt is an insult to the people of this island.
When did you figure out they were so corrupt Mr. Legge? Was it before or after your status grant? Why would you want to stay here and raise your family here where everyone is corrupt? Why not go back to the United States because surely they are not corrupt.
People like you and David Marchant who are desperate to make a name for yourselves, we don’t need. We need people who are willing to be part of a solution, not increase the problem.
This is the equivalent of “There are no gangs in Cayman”.
How exactly? The Premier did not say there was no corruption in Cayman. I suggest you go read his speech since you don’t seem to have a clue what the issue is about. Either that or you or of the same ilk as Legge.
I suppose the ban will have little affect on Government advertising as most adverts for Civil Service jobs are only paying lip service as they are already filled in advance using the good old boy nepotistic system that’s been in operation since time immemorial. There’s nothing like “keeping it in the family”!.
I am shocked that anyone would say that an editorial from the only on-island newspaper that suggests, among other things, that Caymanians are incapable of recognizing corruption even when it is in their face because it is steeped in their culture, is not an affront to the many decent, law-abiding citizens is beyond comprehension. I doubt anyone would question an editorial that spoke about corruption and the need to confront it as it threatens all that this country stands for but to suggest that it is so pervasive and tolerated cannot go without a strong rebuttal. I’m an expat and it find it arrogant, speculative and devoid of any real evidence and insutltive. Equally, I think the Premier by his inertia to unequivocally condemn corrutption was a failure of leadership.
Similarly, while Mr. Webb is innocent until proven guilty he could have disassociated the country from his alleged acts that I believe have done substantial long- term damage to these islands.i
A good political adviser would have advised the Preimier better and he needs to act fast in the same manner that he was out of the gate to congratulate PM Cameron on his victory. Arrogance won’t do these islands any good.
To Mr. Legge, you owe the peoples of this country an apology or at least clarify your abysmal failure to contextualize corruption not based on what you and your palls talk about in privacy or your advertisers and your shareholder(s) need to tell you that you cannot isolate a significant part of the spending public from the newspaper.
As I did with the defunct CaymanNetNews I won’t purchase the Cayman Compass again or read your free magazine. Maybe you should let your wife run the newspaper as she seems to be an intelligent reasonable person and you stick to taking pictures. I’m sure you don’t hate these people that much and the country otherwise you would have left. You the Premier should take a beer summit and agree to disagree but agree to work hand in hand to keep this place an attractive place to live, conduct business and visit.
By the way, no need for the security guard, Caymanians, despite the few loud mouths and expat haters (and some are both married to expats, which should tell you something) is a peace-loving, tolerant people, that’s why I am proud to call this home and my adopted country.
Thank you for your comments 8:35: fair and constructive throughout. Wish there were more like you.
It is my understanding that the Premier has been written to about the unethical behaviour in Operation Tempura. He has turned a bling eye. The selective challenging of unethical behaviour will never stand the test of time. You cannot just talk the talk, sometimes painful and difficult decisions have to be made by governments, after all if you lift the stone you might not find what you like. What you cannot do is then try and put the stone back. Tempura will not go away until someone shows some clear leadership unaffected by political expediency and the continual efforts that continue to be made for the inappropriate behaviour of others involved in the investigation.
I feel McLaughlin needs to watch very carefully as to the impact of hid decisions. As someone else. has already commented you reap what you sow.
Perhaps Bridger will write a book as he is the one who knows all the answers. Perhaps he could do a serialisation of TEmpura in the Compass……..Now that would really get McLaughlin jumping.
Pathetic bullying behaviour in an obvious attempt to silence the press. Alden is becoming more like Mac every day.
CaymanKind!!! smh
CaymanKind!!! smh
To the terrible grammatical and lazy writing individual that wrote:
“Kirk cranking out a inguaral edition”
Guess you forgot he is our PPM, Curt Tibbetts. One very brainy, Jamaican educated gentleman.
A word starting with I needs an before it because there are these things called vowels.
Were you day dreaming that day in school when that lesson was taught?
Now inguaral? Did you mean inaugural?
Computers now have spell checks too in case you are terrible at words.
Get with the program people. Start reading and thinking! So, when was the last time you read a book? C. S. Lewis, Billy Graham, a Bible. I must really get back to my reading and let you think on constructing your next properly put together sentences. I will leave you with homework. What is an adverb? Did you know that pronouns used to be called adnouns because they describe nouns.
We Brackers really do know a few things and that is why we really run Grand Cayman. Look at our one High School scores and it speaks for itself.
Miss cayman brac, “curt” is spelt with a ‘k’. Kurt.
It’s “Kurt”! Are you really a Bracker??
Someone please register a thumbs down for me….I’ve already used mine
@7:07pm, You’re so petty. Maybe we should all send our posts for you to proof. Moron.
Tell me again how these politicians are so Honourable with their pension double-dip impunity, $1Billion dollars missing from CIG, unreasonably expensive cost of living due to monopolies given by government, schools unfinished, roads flooding out with a little rain, Mt. Trashmore, Caymanian unemployment, lack of vocational schools, paving parking-lots for friends, gambling on government credit-cards, Cayman Airways/Turtle Farm money drain, cronies and contracts, no election reform and on and on and on….
Alden get off your high horse and look at unnah selves about “treason”. Nah nobody more treasonous than the bunch of you all over paid, out of touch, sell out Caymanian politicians.
Boycott? Yeah right. Compass will still be bought and read. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kirk cranking out a inguaral edition of PPM’s own newspaper next week. Like the revamped rooster it’s all about them looking good at all times.
Mr Premier, not a week now goes by without one scandal or an other hitting the news. and one thing that’s very noticeable is that in every case it’s a Caymanian leader of some kind involved.
If you don’t want to receive criticism of your country then do something about the failure of your senior public figures to uphold the high standards expected by their people.
In the meantime stop burying your head in the sand and get the best people from around the world to do the job instead of following a blind belief that somewhere there is a Caymanian who is qualified and capable of doing the same.
It is clear that your failure to sanction the recruitment of overseas expertise is also failing your country and making it look amateur to the entire world. It is also a potential disaster waiting to happen, especially when dealing with the emergency services as experience, expertise and leadership isn’t something you can pull out of a bag.
Employ the best there is, not the best of what you have.
And by the way, it isn’t treason to criticise a people or government, it called freedom of speech in a free press. By making such ridiculous claims you belittle your own office by using rhetoric best left to tin pot dictators in Africa. You may not like the content, it may be offensive, but that’s the price you pay for freedom. If you don’t like the newspaper, don’t buy it, but don’t make it a martyr by trying to silence it. All you’ve managed to do here is demonstrate the juvenile style of politics that Cayman is famous for. And your colleagues, by facilitating Ardens childish vote, have demonstrated that they aren’t up to the job of running a country and look like the small town councillors that everyone knows they are in reality.
This spectacular tantrum of yours has only confirmed in many people’s minds that Cayman has something to hide. If that’s not true, then show true leadership and prove to the world that Cayman will have nothing to do with tax avoidance and other forms of corruption.
A good start would be by checking out every property acquisition to establish exactly where the money came from and sharing that information with foreign tax authorities.
Tin Pot….An American tourist whipped out his phone whilst on business after travelling the length of Great Britain. He said to his boss, “Sir, I will be back Thursday morning and Frank you should see this place it really is a little tin pot country”. The Englishman who was listening in on the conversation heart fell to the floor. The comment whilst inappropriate was what he knew to be true and he was forced to accept that what Britain has become over the last 70 years is a shadow of a once great country.
Indeed, a new generation of Britons are waking up to that reality evidenced by a wanting to be out of EU and by their shrinking military size. Now, a small UK or even England alone as it may be soon is a good thing (for England) much like a waking up the next morning with a bad hangover; sick but not delirious with “power”. England then can gradually improve itself and stop worrying about its mysterious burden of playing a global leadership role and leave that task to its former colonies that like children have grown to adults guided in the good steps by their mother.
What that means for tiny Cayman will be interesting as the focus turns inward for the tiny country of England. As for the article, we have underlying issues and different perspectives best described as a journey for control and power. We have the elected government and we have a newspaper with a (Minority view?) which amongst ‘exposing corruption’ also insinuates that it knows the best structure of government in the Cayman Islands.
Now, I take the view that several things can be done to improve accountability at the personal level in the Cayman Islands. I often question why the government wishes to control it people by taking away choice such as the choice/responsibility to invest their own pension funds and own their retire whilst providing incentives to do so properly instead of a forced approach. However, that is for the greater people and whilst I can raise the issue I cannot keep pounding down the doors demanding a restructuring. The Cayman Compass has taken the approach in addition to what is alleged as treason as being a policy tool of the unknown pressing for changes on a body that is tasked to do the same. For me, I am glad that that body has just reminded the Compass that it will not be corrupted by pressure of the minority trying to effect policy in the incorrect method e.g not at the polls. To that Mr. Legge must bow to the people and the people “the government” has just given its clearest indication that in Cayman we have a process and it is called democracy where policy is decided by the elected not the press. I applaud the Premier and LA for reminding the press of the position and role it plays in society.
Thank you
Wow I hope the Premier can stand aside and let the man named all the corruption I guess he will be brought legal law suits sad we need people like Mr. Legge to tell us Caymanians who is the bad people sad. oops hold on did we not gave him papers to stay here so deal with it, Please Mr. Premier let the those bad corrupted people who are living amounts us be shed to light we are tired of being minority in this Islands compass print let them find all those hidden in the closet it will come a time names will be called we all will be surprise this country has too many hate we need to stick together stop blaming others for our mistakes .
Dear Fellow Caymanians,
I read all of the blogs on here and as an articulate, very well educated Caymanian let me weigh in for a second please.
Remember our Premier stated that we do have freedom of the press and he has every right to address comments. He is doing the right thing.
Maybe he will have a “beer summit” with Mr. Legg and they can mend fences?
(President Obama had several of these face to face get togethers which is a good thing).
To the Jamaican writer in this forum that wrote the longest and most positive report of us Caymanians, I am of the same mind.
Let us stress good Caymanian and Jamaican values. Many of us Caymanians are proud graduates of places of higher learning in the great Country of Jamaica. Further, let us strive to be uniting our country. It is true that we have been a tolerant people.
For those of you that disagree with Honorable McLaughlin, remember that we are to pray for the King. That was not meant to sound sarcastic. Let’s get out “unna” Bibles because it is truly in there.
Now, Sammi Blue? You get the Comedian award of the day for your cute pun about, “Peg Legg payroll”. We get it.
We are not perfect but we pay no property taxes, on and on. You start your own list about the good things about the Cayman Islands and I bet the list is really long.
You had all be thankful for England as she has sent and given us good educational values, good police systems and tremendous other good values. No law, no civilization. Listen to your Premier all of Cayman and keep communications going with each other.
I can’t remember the last time there were accolades in here for our first female Governor. Remember she “waited in the hot sun” until the police came to write up her fender bender. She sets a good example of being one of us and she did the right thing.
Are you thinking out there? The Honorable Tara Rivers, a learned lawyer is giving her valuable time to Government. Again, no law, no civilization.
So, I don’t want the comedian award this time readers. I want the attitude of gratitude award as a thinking Caymanian.
Keep up the good work Mr. Premier. We all stand with you and support your professionalism.
MISS Cayman Brac… not sure show to ‘take’ your post, it’s satire meant to kiss up to those wielding power over you perhaps? lol
Miss cayman brac is exactly what they want her to be, a Barbie doll. She is not experienced or versed to hold a substantive debate on such matters. She has no idea what is going on, please educate yourself child, and that goes way outside of cayman. From one native to another.
Tara is Irish for “self-obsessed ineffective waste of space”. Not a lot of people know that.
I’m having some doubts about you being a Bracka, but I have less doubt about you being educated and articulate. However, I suppose the old maxim of “In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king” holds true for you and your clique.
Wow and they were the ones who called Mac a dictator trying to suppress the media??? OMG how things change when the shoe is on the other foot”
His comments express his opinion, and many others. He never in his speech alluded to interfering with freedom of the press.
The vote to suspend advertising was not called for in his comments. It was put forward by one if the independent members of the MLA it was not put forward by the current government. The vote was unanimous not along party lines.
I am sure the “editorial board” is trying to find a way to tie this to the failure to accept Darts offer on the dump.
So carried along on a wave of righteous indignation they all fell straight into the Independents’ hastily assembled trap?
You got that right!
I’m not even going to read this story. Just get your act together and see if you can get your people able to function in today’s world!
You read it, didn’t you?
When Legge bought the CAYMANIAN COMPASS from Uzzell, the first thing he did was change the name to CAYMAN Compass… He didn’t even like the word “Caymanian” on any his publications. That and the anti-Caymanian theme of the paper spoke volumes to me.
In other countries editors lose much more than money for such
Comments!
When the late Billy Bodden broke away from the Caymanian Weekly back in the 1970s, he founded a new newspaper and called it “The Cayman Compass”. Some years later it was renamed “The Caymanian Compass”. Mr. Legge has changed it back to “The Cayman Compass”
Your problem being?
Changing the name was an unnecessary rebrand. Also, the word “Cayman” is synonymous with referring to Grand Cayman only. The word “Caymanian” is inclusive of the people of all three islands.
No, actually it’s inclusive of only a portion of the people of these three islands, namely the citizens. It was exclusive of all the residents, who make up about half the population. Interestingly, considering that even many Caymanians these days weren’t born with that nationality, it was actually exclusive of a majority of the residents of this country. It is Cayman’s absolute right to disenfranchise most of its population, but since a newspaper is for everyone, I think Cayman Compass, rather than Caymanian Compass, is actually more appropriate.
It would likely be more inclusive if the language hadn’t been changed from English, to American English, seems like a snub that they don’t want to use the official language of the Cayman Islands.
Neither do most Caymanians.
My problem being that changing it from “Caymanian” to “Cayman” seems rather pointed. It makes you wonder why he would go to all the trouble to rebrand away from association with the name “Caymanian”. It conveys a message.
When it was named the “Caymanian” Compass, I was constantly correcting people, Caymanians and expats alike, for referring to it as the “Cayman” Compass. Legge simply adopted the the popular name. Get a life and stop inventing insults.
I have just read the Compass editorial for the third time, and I can’t imagine why David Legge did not include “abuse of government credit card” in his long list of activities that point to corruption.
David Legge’s mission is to make the current government look bad, a task they don’t always need help with, so that his bosses can get whatever they want if/when their favoured politician next grasps the reins of power.
They remind me of Jeff Webb, decrying the thing that they are actively involved in themselves.
If one alleges that there is rampant and systemic corruption in a country and one lives and thrives in that country, doesn’t it follow that your success was a direct result of your participating in that corruption otherwise you would not have succeeded? Now which newspaper was the only newspaper to succeed in such a corrupt Cayman where all others failed? Now I am not saying that the Compass is corrupt, but if one applies the Editor’s statement to his paper’s success and sole survival, well one would have to draw a certain conclusion even though that conclusion may not be right? So Mr. Legge, hold your paper up to the light. Just as you can see right through it, so can we. I thank Alden for standing up and telling you where to get off at. I for one, will never buy another Compass newspaper as long as I live and I hope the people of Cayman do likewise and show Mr. Legge that those sort of “stories” don’t attract buyers, it runs them away.
Utterly, totally and spectacularly delusional.
‘I believe in free speech but … um … we’re going to try to put those who exercise it out of business by hurting them financially.’
‘We have zero tolerance for corruption but … um … we allow it to happen without taking any action’.
Dear me … the rage shown by Alden McLaughlin shows how much the truth really hurts. If he didn’t know (deep down) it was true, he wouldn’t be so offended.
I wonder who the next Cayman Premier will be? Now, what’s the name of that bastion of integrity who’s never committed a single corrupt act in his life? OK, his name has just come to me but I can’t publish it because non-corrupt Cayman has a libel law that deters journalists from exposing corruption.
WOW. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33025225
Garfield, I saw this, too; in fact, the lead into it was entitled something like:”FIFA Corruption: Spotlight Shines on the Cayman Islands”.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-33034191
The thing is, unless I am going batty, I find nothing about the Cayman Islands , other than the old news opening paragraph on the Jeffrey Webb link.
I guess they were not impressed with the “evidence” unearthed by our venerable daily.
Not suggesting we don’t have a share of the problem and not suggesting we should not shine a light to expose, but essentially all we had here was a headline — noting the obvious. Same for the Compass editorials in question — let us have some real news and some real substance.
Reread Prime Minister Cameron’s statement and you will clearly see that his statements are in perfect harmony with the Compass editorial on corruption. Of course, the PM does not name the Cayman Islands by name but the inference is there to not only this state but many others. That is why the BBC article is relevant to Cayman.
Garfield, why would you post this in defense of the Cayman Compass?, it says nothing about Cayman. Did you think no one would take the time to read the article or are you just being mischievous? There is no reference nor inference to Cayman and corruption, instead it talks about African and other third world countries.
What is far more telling in this story is that Cameron, nor Legge at the Compass, takes any issue with the first world countries and their citizens, who routinely pay whatever bribe they require, in order to get whatever they want.
Here is an assignment for the crack Compass investigative reporters…… Do am expose on the crooks who use corruption and bribery to get their pet projects through Government and expose the corrupter and briber as well as the ones taking the bribes and help your friend COP Baines but boththeir asses in jail and stop smearing ME, a Caymanian, who has NEVER taken a bribe nor bribed an official, with the same brush as South Africa who paid $10M to get the world Cup. Whoever paid that bribe should share the same cell as Jack Warner; likewise the American firm that bribed Jeff Webb should be held equally accountable.
But then again Legge, I would not expect you nor the Compass to ever expose who bribed who to get 2 extra floors for the Kempton Hotel, or perhaps bribed certain officials to get the NRA Deal and 50% of tourism tax . If the conglomerate concerned reacted to that the way the Govt. reacted and pulled all their advertising you would really be up s*it creek.
Of course it is NEVER corruption nor bribery when an editor picks and chooses who he will expose and who he will protect.
Of course it is NEVER corruption when a certain editor friend of the COP gets 24 hour protection from a police force who is so strained and short of staff that they cannot afford police to protect the honest citizens of East End and North Side.
I am sure I am just being a paranoid Caymanian asking all these questions ……..so forgive me…….
I really thought Alden was smarter than this. Not only are his comments more divisive internally than anything the Compass ever wrote, but they are sure to invite derision from international media outlets… such as yours, David. Cayman likes to think of itself as a sophisticated, first world financial centre and then some nitwit third world politician goes and does something so incredibly stupid as this. We reap what we sow.
He’s not.
Dear David, quite a bit of hyperbole in your comment:
1. Using the word “rage” to describe The Premier’s tone is over the top. I know media like to use sensationalist words, but that is part of the problem.
2. To suggest the only reason the Premier is offended is because he knows the allegations are true, is purile as best. Did it ever occur to you there might be some legitimate cause for offence and examine the details, or are you simply going to close ranks regardless of the facts?
3. As to Individuals who may or may not be corrupt — no one here is holding that we do not have our share of problems, just don’t try to imply that all Caymanians are corrupt. We have our good, bad and indifferent, just like very other country. I believe that the Premier said as much.
4. The truth is that the Compass has failed at any semblance of investigative journalism — and substitutes purile, vague, gossip for actual evidence. Read the editorial: the evidence for corruption is cars with tinted windows, ramshackle shacks, brand new appliances pre-elections, illegitimately securing vehicle inspection stickers, and illegal exemption to development regulations. Some of these examples border on the laughable; most are generated by the gossip mill and the Compass has no real proof. Some of these may be true. Regardless, the profession requires objective reporting to support allegations. Otherwise, the newspaper becomes a mere conduit for the rumour mill.
In a small place like this, gossip is unabated. In fact, the Compass is itself the object of a lot of gossip — for example, it has long been rumored that a certain developer is the main shareholder of the Compass. We have all heard that so many times, that many have begun to believe it. That is the way the runour machine works. Reporters at the Compass do hear a lot of runours, I am sure, but I doubt they have done any real investigation to prove or disprove, yet they use their publication to enshrine them as facts.
You do realize that this is the only daily newspaper? You do realize that the constant barrage shapes our national and international image? That is the power of the press. That is why you do the job you do. You have influence. And that influence can be positive or it can be destructive.
You do realise as well that this constant unsubstantiated carping reduces its advertisement power? When they diminish their brand in this way, they reduced their usefulness to advertisers.
These are some of the issues and some of the concerns.
What I hope will come out of all of this is that Compass will not be muzzled — but will raise its journalistic standards. The people of the Cayman Islands deserve that.
Cayman’s former Auditor General, Dan Duguay, spoke about ‘Corruption in OFCs: How Big is The Problem & What Is Its Impact On International Business?’ at the 2013 OffshoreAlert Conference and, form memory, part of his input was that corruption was a way of life for many Caymanians, which was the gist of the Compass editorial. You can jump up and down all you like in indignation but that it is a view shared by many based on facts. XXXXX Finally, to suggest that the Compass is being ‘destructive’ by pointing out the obvious is seriously misguided. It’s the people who bury their heads in the sand who are misguided and, ultimately, are keeping or dragging Cayman down.
One more point: Forget about Caymanians being offended by a bit of truth, what about the far more numerous people outside the island who are offended by the antics of your ‘father of the house’, a prominent lawyer who provided me with a fraudulent copy of a share register to protect a US fraudster going unpunished, the fact that a fair trial for certain people is an impossibility in Cayman, etc., etc. – the list is endless. Burying one’s head in the sand is what is destroying Cayman, not an editorial in the Compass addressing the elephant in the room.
David, again, no one is suggesting an absence of corruption. You pretty much here speak of individual cases — and it is a given that there are, indeed, problems in this area.
By the way, one of your examples was That of a lawyer showing you a fraudulent document. Did you ask him if he had gone to the appropriate authority? Surely a lawyer above all persons should know how to go about exposing crime. And what is this about this allegation that a “fair trial for some people is an impossibility in Cayman.” Sounds like a spurious opinion to me.
Opinions are just that — opinions. When I studied argument, the first thing I learned was to distinguish the difference between fact and opinion. That is crucial — and sometimes it was not as simple as it sounded. The way we were taught to distinguish them was to determine if there was credible documented evidence somewhere to support the positions. Do you think you could really find credible documented evidence to make a credible case for the allegation that a fair trial is an impossibility for some people in Cayman.
Go ahead Mr. Marchand, make your case.
Bobo, methinks you think of yourself as too clever. One law degree does not an intelligent person make. Lay off the Samuel Smith before it further impairs your senses.
I worked with Dan Duguay though I was not in his Audit Office. Prior to his non renewal of contract, he did NOT have the view that “corruption was a way of life for many Caymanians” though he certainly knew as we all did/do that it exists. Where does it not? Do you read Private Eye, Mr Marchant? Its Rotten Boroughs section in every issue details the corruption across the UK as do many other articles but one would surely not say that corruption was a way of life for many Britons (unless a loose view is taken of the word “many”). Or for many Americans or many Canadians, even though both countries acknowledge its existence. Dan became somewhat bitter and disenchanted with Cayman (which he initially liked very much so he always said) when his contract was not renewed – understandably so, it’s a hard pill to swallow to leave a place you really enjoy living in. Happily, we have an even more competent and fearless Auditor-General who succeeded him who is ferretting out-yes- some corruption but, even more, loads of inefficiencies. Hopefully, we will keep plodding on and root out both. However, notwithstanding my differing views on Dan’s pronouncements at your conference, I do agree that Alden’s (an educated man, alas) comments and those of his fellow legislators (some poorly educated, alas) plus their pathetic resolve to stick their thumbs in their mouths, sulk and not give the Compass advertising, are simply disgraceful and counterproductive and demonstrate we still have a lot of growing up to do.
“Corruption is a way of life for many”. This is true for many in the US — arguably the most corrupt country in the world, from which emanates a lot of the problems impinging on small island states. But you don’t see US media black balling every American. You have the good, the bad, the is different in America. The same is true for Russia, as another example, but it would be ludicrous to suggest all Russians are corrupt or even that it is a way of Life for Russians. Closer to home for us, take the UK — lots of problems there — yea, much corruption brewing all the time, but you don’t see the BBC lambasting British society. Anytime an argument seeks to come close to labelling even most — not even all — in a population pool, that argument is likely yo be a fallacy.
By the way, I would not hold up Dan Duguay as the most objective, impartial, even the most informed on Cayman. I suspect his insight into what constitutes a way of life for Caymanians is very limited.
Far be it from us to bury our heads in the sand, however. What we want is evidence — give us the data on court cases, and not cherry picking of individual cases and rumour-mongering. And try not to generalize to everyone who lives here — in argument those unfair and unpersuasive tactics are referred to as logical fallacies.
We are after all not here to win an argument by any means, but we are in a search for truth to strengthen understandings and promote positive change. That Is what most of us Caymanians want.
End the comparing to other countries.. Cayman has excessive corruption. ..Case and point was made..
If you genuinely believe the US is “arguably the most corrupt country in the world”, you’re an idiot. Best post such nonsense anonymously so we don’t know who to laugh at..
Marchant’s at 11:26 pm: actually, I was thinking of the criminality rate ( which includes corruption but, of course, is not limited to corruption). My bad. But just for general information,the U.S. incarceration rate is estimated (according to Wikipedia) at 707 per 100,000 population, second only to the Seychelles, which has a whopping 868. (What in the world is happening there in the Seychelles? Doesn’t sound right).
Not surprising with that very high incarceration rate, the U.S. Indeed has its share of corruption: on a widely recognised corruption perception scale, it ranks around 19th, with a score of 71 out of 100, with 100 being the score for the cleanest country.
But none of us label the ordinary American or claim that Americans are “culturally steeped” and have become so immune from its routine practice that don’t know it when they see it!
And, by the way, David Marchant, do you really think you understand enough about who Caymanians really are to be so involved in commenting? Don’t you think it is time that you back off?
We’ve just made the entire ‘Corruption in OFCs’ session available for free on YouTube. You can view it at https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEI-RyEZrPQ
It’s a bit of a damp squib, David, (I refer to Dan’s part) but thanks anyway. I would like to read Offshore Alert but it is far too expensive.
No Cayman has a libel law that is the same as England and in England journalists with integrity, sources and a commitment to public interest expose corruption all the time. Rather some journalists use libel laws as an excuse for cowering inside the US.
I believe 3:36 pm is correct — I think the libel laws are an excuse — I don’t these laws hamstring serious professional journalists. But it means you can’t tar people’s names without verifying that you actually have the truth and not lies and gossip.
Yes and British libel law is universally considered to be repugnant. If you get sued, a person of average means is likely to be bankrupted. You are living in ‘La La Land’ if you think it encourages responsible journalism. British libel law (and by extension Cayman) is a reprobate’s best friend
You won’t get bankrupted as long you don’t commit libel. That is the beauty of loser pays.
What tosh. A person of average financial means will run out money long before an action is determined on its merits and, therefore, is more likely to publish a grovelling apology to the crook and publish a correction just to get out of an action. And even if you do take an action to trial and win (despite overwhelming odds), crooks are not in the habit of paying their bills. Your post is extremely naive.
Is that why you sell subscriptions to your commercial enterprises to offshore residents but don’t come and defend the allegations you make against people who live in those countries? That seems to be that you are happy to take the benefit and avoid any responsibility. If a journalist has the proper basis to make allegations he has nothing to fear from the common law justice.
OK then, why not underwrite his unrecoverable costs if he gets sued and wins? You either understand nothing about how litigation works, or you are disingenuous.
So the $350,000 I spent on my own legal fees defending a libel complaint brought by Michael Ryan at the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands was clearly a figment of my imagination. If the case had gone to trial and an appeal, my fees and costs would have been $1 million-plus, none of which would have been easily collectable.
My London barrister required an up-front £100,000 briefing fee and the first words out of her mouth after it had been paid was that she would need a junior barrister and his briefing fee was £50,000. What a system!
By the way, a US charity lost $220 m on the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman project, all of which was loaned/invested after OffshoreAlert exposed the project.
You really ought to educate yourself before posting nonsense. All of this has been widely reported. There’s a difference between living on a rock and living under a rock.
The irony of someone accusing me of ‘cowardice’ while hiding behind anonymity might be lost on you but not on me.
Oh sweetie-pie, did that poster touch such a nerve that you had to post twice?
Probably someone with a reputation they consider worth protecting. As the pathetic actions of the Premier show, exercising free speech in Cayman can lead to very serious negative consequences.
As opposed to politicians using the floor of the house to make comments which would otherwise be subject to the same libel laws
None of us should be surprised by the track record of the Compass. The publisher’s Cayman history is bound in glossy magazines, pretty pictures, and nice sounding words based on his dance with the well heeled, many of whom were/are clients of his PR company, sister to the Compass.
First thing he did when he took over the Compass was to hire a high-powered wordsmith to produce more nice sounding words, and moved the editorial to the prime position on CayCompass.com. (Editorials usually take second place in prominence to objective news reporting — and editorials essentially allow the Compass to say whatever it wants without the constraints of journalism rules).
His having been here for so many years, surely he has not just stumbled on the endemic “corruption”? Knowing what he did, would he not have put his emphasis on investigative journalism? Bring in some heavy duty investigative journalists, and create the relationships with the local population to build trust to empower their reporting?
If that were done and some real contribution was being made to cleaning up the perceived corruption, the publication would have had the support of most of the population.
Right now, the Compass is going to have to do a lot of turning around to garner any substantial public support. Right now, we are lined up behind the Premier. By and large, the Cayman public does not appreciate the weak journalism that has resulted from the David Legge publishing culture.
For a start, discontinue the practice of using the publication to varnish the image of the clients of the sister PR company. This practice is viewed with disdain among serious practitioners of journalism and can actually be viewed as a form of corruption — money changing hands for favoured positioning and resulting benefits.
I encourage Finance committee to look into instances where government agencies may be clients of Pinnacle Media PR outfit and cut the funding of this potential corrupt practice.
For someone who writes with a commendable literary accuracy, your views are startlingly weak -and I am being charitable. For the record, we do not all agree with Mr Marchant’s views wholeheartedly (he needs to keep his income flowing with his offshore attacks, after all), but nor do we all agree with “the Cayman public does not appreciate the weak journalism that has resulted from the David Legge publishing culture”. I know, I know, the Compass was warm and fuzzy under Brian Uzzell who wisely did not annoy any government that was in power, but really, we need to move on from the days when the politicians regularly threatened journalists and Uzzell to keep them on message. Remember Haig Bodden’s famous description of the Nor’wester magazine (before Desmond became a Jim Bodden supporter)?? -it was, he said, “a wicious and wenomous publication”. Do we really want to go back to those days?
6:26 pm: a lead of “your views are startling weak” requires some supporting analysis to enable one to benefit from your comment.
6:26 pm: i am not a fan of the either or arguments: you don’t like the current incarnation of the Compass so the earlier version must be your ideal. How about both flawed?
But I tell you what, I can put up with a multitude of sins if you have a little soul. Somehow this cold, clinical spouting of words just feels empty and a little bit wanting.
Does anyone know how much Government’s advertising budget will be cut by eliminating the Compass?
In lean times, advertising budgets are usually cut anyway. When I went to university, that institution had in the 1980s completely cut its advertising course and reinvent it to focus more on marketing strategies that did not attract costs.
This will allow government to ply some of these savings into much needed social programmes — to prevent the insidious creeping corruption the Compass speaks about.
It is all good. All good!
Utterly, totally and spectularly what was required. I read this speech again and it is nothing short of masterful.
David, give it a rest and get real. You know that to tackle corruption we have to get evidence and prosecute people through the courts. No other way to do this.
in the meantime, the Compass can become more effective and government can funnel some of the savings into effective preventive social and educational programmes.
Re. “You know that to tackle corruption we have to get evidence and prosecute people through the courts.”
That’s not true. The reality is that it’s virtually impossible to secure a corruption conviction in Cayman. Unless you do away with your jury system, it will always be thus.
Let the Compass disclose who, what, when ,where — that is its role. Let the Police carry out its role.
We are still a country of laws and no one is blocking prosecutions. If the Compass knows that the Premier is preventing arrests and prosecutions, it must speak out immediately. The whole country will support you.
Pinnacle Media — name and nature, unfortunately. You can’t run a newspaper by standing at the top of a pinnacle looking down at the people. I am afraid you will have to get down into the trenches — and do it respectively, at that.
Sorry, that should have been “do it respectfully, at that”.
I think that Mr Premier could learn a lot from just reading these comment’s.
I think that the Compass could learn a lot from reading these comments.
We are all for exposing corruption and hopefully stamping it out so gives us the proof not innuendos and vague general statements accusing everyone of being caught corrupt. I worked hard for everything I have and have always gone through the proper channels for whatever goods and services I have procured so when you or Mr. Leggett witness corruption, by all means expose it but don’t assume that every Caymanian is corrupt. That is why the Premier is upset not because Mr. Leggett was supposedly exposing corruption.
i have noticed comments on the change of name from “Caymanian” to “Cayman” Compass, and I think that that is a fair observation to make in the context of this story and the concern that people have about the Compass’ identity with and respect for the local population. When you steer away from the name of the people, you signal exactly that — we do not identify with you as a people. So whether that was the real reason or not, it is certainly something that the publisher should have considered — how will such a move be viewed by the people? If he didn’t or if he did but discounted its perception that speaks volumes.
And I think that is what is at the heart of the concerns of Caymanians — we have a newspaper that is out of touch with the local population and does not seem to have the will to build the bonds and bridges.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-33034191
The above link will take you to a story by the BBC that is an example of investigative journalism. We have not seen this from the Compass to support the many times fallacious and emotive arguments it employs in editorial content.
England and Cayman share similar libel laws, but the BBC Has been able to do its job anyway. Those strategies are well know to you, David, I am sure.
We would like to see the Compass doing this type of reporting to underpin its editorials rather than so cowardly hiding behind its global editorializing about an unknown amorphous entire population group, a posture that actually makes no sense. To suggest that a whole population of people is so worthy of condemnation smacks of racism.
The only effective journalistic posture that distinguishes a rag from a respected media is editorials backed up by good investigative work.
Being it on!
All we are asking is some decent journalism, rather than sitting in your offices and stringing nice sounding words into sentences that are not making any significant inroads into exposing wrong doing. Tell us who, what, when, where, why, and how.
We genuinely want you to do that, Compass. According to your own PR, you come with the legacy of Woodruff and Bernstein. Let’s get some real action rather than just talk.
Otherwise, you appear to be essentially a PR outlet for your clients to make money, rather than a serious media. Your priorities are definitely showing.
I stopped buying the Cayman Compass a long time ago as I view it as a wipe rag for special interests, with little or no serious investigative journalism at it’s core.
Not surprisingly, many have raised the issue of freedom of the press, as they should. I am pretty sure we will see the compass take this position in Monday’s edition.
However, I maintain that freedom of the press comes with responsibilities and accountability. The press must be fair and professional, otherwise it becomes a terribly destructive force, particularly in a small place such as Cayman.
When the principles of responsible media behaviour are violated as egregiously as they have in this case, as in any business, market forces begin to exert an impact.
I believe that this is what is happening in this case.
With all the corruption that “everyone knows” exists in Britain, I would imagine no less than a revolt, yea led by David Cameron himself, were the BBC to opine tomorrow that the British people have “normalized” corruption to the point that they “attribute it to a cultural differences” and “don’t know it when they see it” because “they have been culturally steeped in it.” Especially were the BBC to depart from its well established traditions of professionalism in the way it reports corruption — in the form of proper investigative journalism.
BBC and professionalism? Really.. ask the people of Scotland about that
They wouldn’t understand unless it was printed on the bottom of a beer glass.
As all freedom of speech/press issues are, this is a complicated situation: I respect the right of the Compass to say what it wishes. It is their publication and no one is stopping them. At the same time, I respect the Premier’s, your and my right to have equal say. That is democracy at work.
The central question surrounds the advertising budget which goes into the sustainability of the Compass no doubt. I see that angle as well. The question for me as a citizen is whether I think the Compass is doing a good enough job for me to keep reading it. Right now, a lot of people are turned off — and so am I. Why? I see the Compass deteriorating into a tab mag as someone described it. No investigative journalism on whop ice to base editorials that are essentially repetition of rumpus we have all heard — or the passing on of some new ones.
Does it make good business sense to keep funding a publication that is divisive at best? Will advertisers get the most value for their advertising dollar if part of the population is angry, the other part apathetic? We have long know that the paper circulation has hit rock bottom.
And the answer for me is that as a citizen I feel there is so much more that governemnt could be doing with those resources to making Cayman a better place for all of us.
My suggestion to the Compass, for what it is worth, is rid yourself of the high-salaried Washington wordsmith you brought in for the editorials and use that to add a smart, experienced investigative journalist. It will take time to build bonds of trust, but the right person will be able to benefit from that after a while.
And Cayman will benefit by getting the facts — not the rumpirs swirling around — but the stories with documented facts on the “insidious corruption” the Compass describes.
As a Caymanian, I want to see corruption stamped out and I want to see the newspaper do its part.
Until the Compass gets its act together, by continuing to financially support the current rag mag it is, we actually join the Compass in failing to do anything meaningful to curb corruption.
Ask yourself — what did the editorial filled with its broad brush accusations achieve? Nothing at all to enable law enforcement to act; nothing there to reveal official wrong doing to require a call for anyone to step down.
What it did achieve is more of the same divisiveness that has been growing in leaps and bounds since Legge took control of the Compass.
I do not want my hard earned money to go to further that.