Mac accuses auditors of ‘rotten’ agenda
McKeeva Bush, Cayman Islands Opposition Leader
(CNS): Following the recent meetings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush has once again hit out at the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) and accused them of telling a “bellyful of lies” because of their own “rotten” agenda. Bush has denied that politicians were the architects of the original Dart agreement and insisted that technocrats were involved, as he accused both the audit office and PAC of misleading the public now that he has been removed from the committee.
Hitting out with an angry Facebook post Bush also told CNS that he believed that on too many occasions the OAG was ”wilfully and vindictively” writing what they want, even when corrected by civil service management, and said the office was giving the wrong information to the public.
“They do not interview those they are writing about and smearing,” Bush said. “Then in my case they move me out of the PAC and the chair and those members who wish to agree refuse to call us as a witness then put out their version of what took place.”
Bush’s role in the controversial Nation Building Fund and the Dart negotiations were criticised by the OAG in some of the most recently published reports and but the auditors stressed that the issue is about the lack of processes and the failure of governance framework to ensure transparency and accountability when it comes to dealing with major projects or handing out money.
Bush agreed that there was room for improvement when it came to frameworks in government.
“Most things in life can be improved on. Certainly systems can be … and the audit office at times are right,” he admitted but said what the audit office was releasing at present was not “justice nor correct in any shape or form”.
In his Facebook posting Bush admitted that he was involved in the Dart deal but said the negotiations were based on the advice of the technocrats.
“All of our agreements had the technical input and advice of civil servants, including the legal advice of the government’s chief legal adviser, to make sure that the agreement was not unlawful. As politicians we could not and did not do that kind of legal work. Policy is what we are elected to do and we set the policy,” the opposition leader maintained. However, he doubted that this kind of agreement could be negotiated in any open public setting, saying, “This is not a board meeting.”
During this month’s PAC hearings, the OAG had once again raised concerns that the Dart talks were still not being conducted properly and that the deals should not be agreed and signed off by politicians at all but should come to the Legislative Assembly before they are finalised.
Bush took direct aim again at the audit office and implied they were the ones in the wrong because of their own agenda.
“The public of this country is constantly being fed a bellyful of lies from auditors who have their own rotten agenda,” he said, as he accused them of spending government money “in all kinds of ways” and “hiring their friends” from overseas. He said even when civil servants show them the evidence of why their findings are wrong, they do nothing. He said Martin Rubens, the director of performance audits, was running the office from behind the scenes and described him as the “most despicable of them all”.
“But since they took me off the committee, politicians there who have their own bitter political agenda can continue to smear without balanced information, which the committee should have,” he said. “But what they get is the will of the chair (Ezzard Miller), who by condoning these shenanigans is carrying out his version of good governance.”
The opposition leader said, however, that he believed the majority of people would see through it and stop it in the democratic way when the premier calls the election.
PAC returns to the LA for further scrutiny of the audit reports Wednesday but the chair already stated that he will not be calling as witnesses to the committee either Bush or the Speaker, Juliana O’Connor Connolly, who was also accused of having mismanaged public funds.
CNS contacted OAG but it declined to comment on the opposition leader’s allegations.
Category: Government oversight, Politics
The Cayman we know is slipping away to the footnotes of history. Time to move on, accept responsibility for our part in being the architects or enablers of the old pirate nation and look forward to a new cayman for new times.
The gambling rambling man. 1/4 million dollars at least of his own money down the toilet and he would like us to gamble with him and independence. Why does he just not shaddup!
Cayman needs to seriously consider moving in the direction of full internal self government. We need to decide our destiny without the masters ruling over us as though we are slaves.
So you suggest that we hand over the Country and its monies to a compulsive raging gambler and his cronies? Put down the pipe, kool aid and whatever else is affecting your last remaining brain cells.
Oh dear me – Mr Johnson’s comments seem to have produced a response equivalent to someone trying to shove mustard on a red hot poker, up a wildcat’s ass.
Latest Report
MB: Does not play well with others
Everyday I believe more and more that cayman is run on facebook
Cns what you need to cosider is not the hateful ignorant dirty 30 or 40 bloggers that are set up to wait to see what I say then start their usual crap. What the good people who might read their hate can see is that yes maybe something is wrong, but it is not mckeeva it is those who will sit back and keep saying and seems like believing the lies about 18hrs on a machine. Or give hypothetical foolishness which people like chris johnson write about people who are not family members of politicians.
land that was bought in west bay was for a good reason(the ppm stopped it abd we suffer for it today) it had a house on it. It was a familys life investment. The ppm’s port board.knocked it down. When it could have been put to good use.
But like so many cases in these Islands. the elitist believe if govt money is to be spent it must only have value if it comes from them or through one of their companies or through one of their connections!!! Thats why some can have houses on the beach after coming here with only a minimoke a white shirt and a pair of keds.
You can call me ignorant if you want. What you cant do anything about is that I know you, what you had what you got and how you got it. Too bad your cohorts on the blogs dont seem to know.
Why not write about the really obvious cronism going on today with certain family members on all kinds of boards,if he want to say anything.
People like chris johnson will say anything without thinking that a good amount of caymanians know him and certainly dont need to give hypothetical scenerios about all like him. We know him and about him!!!!
The truth is the truth and what I have said is the truth.good people appreciate it. Not the rotten stinking vitriolic blogs. One of these fine days chris johnson will see me face to face.
Well at least you admit to being at the slot machines with your government credit card, whether it was 18hrs or not.
Thank you Mr. Bush for so eloquently setting out the case for term limits.
We could also do with some basic qualification and intellectual testing as a prerequisite for contesting a political office.
With you as our example, we must surely get there in the end.
#hypotheticalfoolishness
I actually feel sorry for Mac as his feelings seem to have been hurt by negative comments.
But as a man of limited education and demonstrated lack of integrity, he fails to realise that he is now reaping the rewards of years of his vindictive and self serving rule, back room deals and highly inappropriate behavior as a leader.
Mac you is what you is, maybe you can live with it, but don’t expect any thinking person to accept it.
Any man who states he sees nothing wrong in using his government credit card to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars to fund his all night gamling orgies loses all credibility.
Stay classy Cayman!
Can someone translate this please.
The atrocious grammar and spelling used in this blog (Mckeeva bush15.03.16 @ 4.42 p.m.)was authored by our first premier? If it was Mac, you need help and not a little help, I mean a lot of help. Please find a tutor that can help you before posting any more comments, it reflects on all of us, not just you.
…. Or just get Michael Ryan to write it.
Mr Bush. Clearly you do not know Chris Johnson. He is fearless and takes no enemies. Montgomery was a brilliant general and that is why he beat Rommel. Know your enemy before you embark on confrontation. Chris is not mindful of position nor influence. Above all he hates corruption. Beware my friend.
But did he or did he not drive a Mini Moke? That is the question.
Sorry no Mini-Moke. Just an old Ford which I drove wearing two white shirts, with long sleeves naturally.
Every time mckeewa opens his forever honerable mouth he digs his own grave deeper. A very good thing indeed for Cayman.
Okay, thanks. You are ignorant.
McKeewa, still waiting for you to follow through with your stated intention to leave politics. Until then, you have lost my vote.
I am certain someone from the Republic would offer you a job, and likely one without regular audits.
Thank you for these pearls of wisdom Mr Bush. I feel that I should just add a few points about myself to clarify matters.
I arrived from Jamaica where I had been working with Peat Marwick Mitchell in 1968 and joined the local firm. Contrary to rumour I arrived in a suit, with a shirt on my back and a pair of leather shoes. My firm provided me with a new Ford Escort rather than a Mini Moke as mooted. Of course at that time you would have been at school and confused by the various types of motor vehicles on Cayman roads at that time.
There is reference as to how I made my money that needs to be answered. I was simply a partner in an accounting firm for many years. Is that a crine?
As to cronyism [ note the spelling Mr Bush] I know all about it. I sat on a government board for 16 years until your incoming government replaced me because you needed to reward your friends who voted for you in the elections.
I have met you face to face on several occasions. On the last occasion following a funeral you were very rude and to save you further embarrassment I walked away.
In conclusion I quote from Sun Tzu:
‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. if you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer defeat. if you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle’.
Carpe Diem
The question, mckeewa bush, as you surely cannot be simple enough to not understand, is NOT whether the land was bought for good reason, but whether it was bought at reasonable value. Can you please explain, sir.
Unna do unnastand it wa da dam PPM fault? Why unna do go ask dem?
Mr Bush do not tell us who Chris Johnson is. He is the same person that brought to our attention on CNS the fraud involved in the Newlands football stadium. We do not care about his mini moke, his flip flops or where he lives. He brings to our attention all the fraud that takes place here that no one seems to care about. Please leave him alone although I rather suspect he can take care of himself. As an aside he is really quite witty and his remarks are refreshing.
I am sorry. I simply don’t think its credible to suggest that Chris Johnson ever wore a white shirt – or drove a mini moke for that matter!
Very well done mac. You now hold the record for disapproving thumbs on a single comment on CNS. Perhaps you should have spelled your own last name with an upper case B.
While Mr. Bush skirts around the issue, the shenanigans of the past and maybe the present are well known in immigration circles.
Chris Johnson is a man of high integrity and honesty
Funny how an AG’s results in “black and white” are rotten lies, yet he relies on the very same thing when it comes to using his credit cards at casinos for 18hrs+?
The last few weeks of Maweeva and his latest glove puppet, Bernie (which reminds me of a movie – he was about as much use in that as well), just sounds like one long shout of “Look at me, look at me, I’m still here”.
Thing is everyone else but some woters in the Republic are so so tired and bored of it all, it truly has no effect. But dem wotes will come in handy at da next election.
Yawn.
I didn’t even know Bernie was still alive until then!
CNS, do you really have to publish all the worthless nonsense that this ignorant individual utters?
Ya Ma!!!!!!!
Bush should go live in a place like Nigeria where he could live out all his dreams, unfettered by the inconveniences of audits and such.
@9:46 unfortunately the plan seems to be to foster the the anti-UK sentiment to such an extent the people will buy that up and yes we WILL THEN become just like one of those former British colonies ran by our own dictators, with no accountability. But we encourage the blaming and vindictive behaviour of these politicians and we all will suffer.
Please stop blaming people for doing their jobs or sharing their views, it’s nothing personal, people are different and have different codes for their conduct and not everyone will agree, but rules and laws must be applied to all.
Everyone in Cayman knows who to believe, Mr Bush, and it isn’t you.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Just because he’s paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get him.
What goes around…
Was it the technocrats or McKeeva who received a very public “thank you” kiss on TV for the Dart deal?
Isn’t it about time someone started digging into the original Ritz-Carlton deal?
Is it true that almost everyone involved miraculously became Caymanian? How did that happen?
Most curious one apparently being a member of the Bahamian tourist board….who had never even been to Cayman.
There we go. Mac bringing a commotion again. I guess he’s not getting old.
Yet another vitriolic attack on the Auditor General by a person who just does not understand these wonderful people.
We all know that auditors are inherently boring and if you ever wonder why they crossed the road it is because they checked the previous years file and saw that is what they did before.
On a more serious note auditors are highly qualified people blessed with skills others do not have. There are over 1000 in the Cayman Islands so the odds are that you know a few of them. However you may not know any of the Government audit team or any of the previous AGs that I did know and whom I hold in high respect.
Amongst their attitudes is one of skepticism or professional skepticism as it is widely known.. An auditor should be skeptical at all times during an audit and be ready to challenge management on complex and subjective matters. He must critically assess audit evidence and be alert for contradictory evidence that may undermine the sufficiency and appropriateness of evidence obtained.
For example if a piece of land is acquired in West Bay the auditor should compare the sales price with similar parcels of land. He should also establish that the seller is not related to any government politicians and as to whether any interests have been declared .He should also visit the land to ensure it exists and is not under water.
Another example is the use of Government issued credit cards and their use. If they are used for gambling then has the Government won any money. Has a government mathematician been employed to advise the user on the odds. Are monthly reports filed showing the wins and losses and is the user fully indemnified for any losses. Above all, have all winnings been submitted to the Government Treasurer.
Auditors are wonderful people albeit skeptical and you should spend some time with them to fully understand the complexities of their lives.
Mac paid $840,000 ci dollars with our money for a piece of land in West Bay, currently valued at $75,000.
Boy do we ever need oversight whenever Mac is involved.
and don’t forget to note the seller, whoever that lucky person is
My hans is clean, bo bo.
That explains precisely what he means by “rotten agenda”
So THATS why yhey call him the gambler.
In a sane world the entire Cayman public would be informed of the names of ALL the parties involved in scamming their hard earned money.
Was the land paid for by a government credit card and if so whose card was it.
Chris Thanks for having the balls to take this guy on and be so funny at the same time. You were a pioneer here who has become a legend. Keep up your blogs.
Oh my god!! Did anyone notice. Little mac seems to have progressed from a 10 year old school yard baby to a 10 1/2 schoolyard baby. Congrats, but I’m 62 so will never get to see him all growd up 🙁
God told me to tell Mckeeva Bush to Shut Up!
Why didn’t the Chairman of PAC call every single civil servant that had anything to do with either one of those two items and hear directly from them as to the Opposition Leader involvement? I urge the Chairman to do that and it will remove all doubts from the people mind as to exactly what took place.