Premier gets CI$86k 2nd-hand Range Rover
The premier exits his new Range Rover
(CNS): The government has recently spent around CI$218,000 on four cars for the premier, the speaker and visiting dignitaries. Premier Alden McLaughlin is now being driven around in a CI$86,000 second-hand Range Rover Autobiography, which officials from the Protocol Office said was purchased overseas at a discount and has less than 5,000 miles on the clock. Meanwhile, Speaker McKeeva Bush has a new 2017 Chevy Tahoe, which was bought locally for CI$36,170.
While the speaker’s car was bought by the Portfolio of the Civil Service, the Protocol Office has also purchased two new Chevy Tahoes at a combined cost of $96,000 to provide transport to local and visiting VIPs when needed. The two older vehicles from the Protocol Office have now been placed in government’s general fleet, officials said.
The new cars have been in use since January and replace cars which officials said “had fully depreciated and were aging” in an effort to avoid rising maintenance cost, provide safer and more efficient services to the leaders and cut the renting costs when visiting dignitaries are on island.
See CIGTV below, starting at 2.33
Category: Government Finance, Politics
Why couldn’t they have bought cars made in Cayman like the Stingray? Oh
that isn’t built in Cayman. Ok how about the Porsche Cayman? That neither?? Or 2018 Blue Iguana? Or the ReefMaster
Nice wagons..hey baby..you look nice
You know what I can stand, the priorites in government sucks. E.g.. The big shots only give bonuses or increases when the have plans they benefit the most from it, it should be the same amount across the board 3.2 of small salaries is nothing but 3.3 if those big salaries damnnnnnn is HUGE its unfair. And mostly look at education budget not enough money to buy text books and paper really…….. get some from protocol budget and give education some of it sick of them reducing that budget.
Aldin, a pompous, anti-social, over paid, ineffective so called premier can buy his own expensive vehicle to be chauffeured around. The future success of the Cayman Islands and the wellfare of the people should be priority, but no! no! It’s more important to appear important and official. Aldin and Mac are both egotistical, power hungry and self-serving leaders.
As for his security, isn’t Aldin safer driving himself to work than being in the local bars with his high flying fraternity brothers and sisters?
This unnecessary expenditure comes at a time when some of his people are desperately awaiting the few extra dollars on their pensions that would make a big difference in their struggle to survive.
Mac, the great speaker of the house, his inflated ego has become so enormous that he needs a few stretched limos joined together to transfer him to his big throne, talk about greed and capitalism.
What is really amazing, these two men boast of their Christian values while their people suffer. Some are loosing their homes, vehicles etc; having to pawn their personal possessions to pay their bills and feed their families. Crime is an all time high, RCIP are useless, our schools are in a mess, young people are jobless and feeling hopeless, and the people remain totally clueless as to what to do.
WHAT A MESS.
Sounds like a big dose of jealousy going on there…
The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Would these vehicles be passed on to next Premier and Speaker of House ? I didn’t read anything about that . I wonder if his private 747 jet is not next .
I think that Taxpayers need to make him understand that this money is not his personal money .
CNS , was there ever a vote in the LA for this purchase of new cars ?
Alden didn’t say “I need a new car” the protocol office decided that the fleet needed updating, that money came from the protocol’s budget, it’s not Alden’s personal vehicle.
Anonymous 9:59 am , can you answer my question to CNS ?
Using common sense yes I can answer that question to cns, the constitution calls for all dignitaries to have an assigned car and driver, the Protocol Office deals with the transportation of said dignitaries, they then decided to upgrade the fleet. Not something that had to be voted on. If you are in fact west bay’s premier try deal with the crazies and beggars you have in west bay.
Anonymous 1:11pm , If that is facts what you’re using in your comment , then these Politicians must have gotten a lot more Constitutional right in the last few years . And i wonder who made sure these rights were put in as constitutional rights. I always knew that when there had to be major purchases for any Government property /vehicles that had to go through LA for approval . But I imagine there’s is all kind of changes made to the Constitution now that we have one man one vote .
I am not trying to do anything in West bay , I am trying to deal with all the crime and corruption in Cayman.
Just to support: it would have been voted on in Finance Committee (LA). Either under Protocol Officer, or under DVES ‘buy cars for others’.
If you constitution requires cars for dignitaries, there’s your problem right there.
Lol. Naive much?
I hope he doesn’t drive down Prospect Drive in his new fancy car, it might fall to bits. FIX THE ROADS ALDEN!!! And not just before the next election.
Cheese Face , it sounds like roads are really bad , and like what this guy said years ago, that when you drove down in some of holes in the road , you had to stop and get out and look to see if another car was coming .
Wha you sayin?? Did you reread that before you posted? Patois your first language or wha?
That particular stretch of Birch Avenue is just fine. Not so great a little further down of course. Two strategically placed deep wells ensure drainage is not an issue as well. He does spend a lot of time down near the sailing club though, those roads could use some patching.
You’re kidding right? Have you seen the new road up there that goes to his buddy’s house just after the sailing club?
Wow!!!! The comments on here shock me, here we have our highest elected officials(Caymanians,our people) like them or not, voted for them or not, they are representing us, there’s nothing wrong with our officials being driven to functions in luxury. I can tell you all that Alden drives his personal car to GAB from home and back home, it’s only on special occasions and official visits that he’s assigned a driver, nothing against Mckeeva but when he was Premier, he had a full time driver, Alden on the other hand has chosen to have drivers (firemen or police) only when needed.
I agree with some of you when you say that money has to be put on education and the garbage trucks, but why can’t we have all of them? We’re the fifth largest financial sector in the world let’s act like it.
Your perspective is totally wrong, while the financial sector enjoys wealth the government is poor by comparison. They need to be frugal as do we all in tougher times. Luxuries are not something the government can afford when peoples houses are being re-possessed.
So you’re suggesting that instead of government buying new cars for ministers, that we bail people out of debt? That’s the problem with caymanians now, always expecting hand outs. And yes I’m caymanian, have three jobs and not expecting anything from government. Why not say Mr premier now that you have this new vehicle can you hire me to drive it so I can have money to pay my mortgage, no you all want the money for nothing. Lazy bunch.
Perhaps you need to take a lesson in English comprehension. There is no suggestion whatsoever in the post. The re-possession is an example of hard times. The government cannot afford to repair roads, so that money could go into a better budget is perhaps what the poster is suggesting.
Alden had lunch at Grand Old House last week. If his driver was a fireman or policeman I have to question their physical fitness tests. Grossly overweight gentleman, whose exercise for the day was to remove the flag from the front of the vehicle after Alden had gone inside for lunch.
Sounds like driver is a good job-fit for him then.
So tell me 8:01a, if Alden is so conscientious, why is he giving McKeeva a full time vehicle and driver? The LA meets 4 times a year, meetings start at 1000a and finish at 430p. He too old to get his licence renewed or what? No; your conscientious Alden will pay any price with our money to be where he wants to be thats why.
Please stop picking on Honorable Speaker Bush. He cares for us Caymanians and along with the Honorable Premier and the Unity Team they are making or Cayman Great again. 4 more years!
10:40 am, I honestly hope that you are being as sarcastic as hell is hot. Otherwise, you must be related to those two or living under a very big rock.
The constitution calls for all dignitaries to have an assigned car and driver. Alden and Moses choose not to have a full time driver. If you don’t know this I have to question why you all vote, these are things you all should know before you all vote. Don’t vote for handouts.
the constitution does what? Where?
You really think the Speaker only has a job when the LA is in session? Like he just shows up, puts on the robe and gets handed stuff to read? Speaker is not just what you see and hear in the news. It’s a full-time job being in charge of all legislative business and staff. That building hums year round. I know because I worked there under Edna Moyle one summer. She was there every day like everybody else, parked right outside the rear entrance to the building. The Speaker’s Office is connected to the Chamber, the Clerk’s Office, and the back hallway by different doors and has its own washroom and a display of all the security cameras in the building. The Speaker has the power to expel anyone from the building, and even the RCIPS have to ask permission to enter except in cases of obvious life-threatening emergency. In short, the Speaker is the ultimate authority there, needs to be around and is around. Look for the Tahoe to be pulling in the gate on a daily basis.
Don’t recall this much outrage when the governor got a brand new custom stretch Jaguar.
She; is not a democratically elected official, is not accountable to a single Cayman – in fact is primarily loyal to the oft combative UK government, costs far more to maintain, is also given a house on one of the most exclusive pieces of real estate in the world – for free.
I say let the sitting Premier of the Cayman Islands enjoy the luxurious comforts of this Indian-owned automobile.
As far those calling for the political statement of a Tesla or Nissan Leaf – the wisdom of that decision would have been tested during the next rainy season or aftermath of our regular Cat 3 – 5 hurricanes.
This isn’t southern California – this is the Cayman Islands, please think accordingly.
– Who
CNS: FYI – Governor to collect new CI$125k Jag
Don’t recall you mentioning that the Jag cost CIG less than the Range Rover, that wouldn’t suit your modus operandi though, would it?
Which, in this scenario, is what, exactly?
– Who
You think she was the first Governor to try to get a Jaguar 4:01a? She wasn’t trust me. You should ask Mr Donnie about how he had them buy the used Town Car between Stuart Jack leaving and Duncan Taylor coming. The same car they got rid of with less than 40,000mi on it.
Usual – any criticism of a Caymanian or Cayman replied to not by addressing the issue, but by comparison to a greater sin committed else where, preferably In the UK or US where you can trot out your views on those states foreign policy current and historical or your perception of their racism and bias. Why, just for once, don’t you address the actual issue – is it right that the Premier has arranged to be chauffeur driven in a luxury SUV at tax payers expense when his government claims to have inadequate funding for poor relief and educational needs, travel distances and times are minimal and there is no obvious security threat to him? See if you can do that without justifying by comparison to others.
Seeing that 70% of your reply was a personal attack I shall rightly disregard.
😉
– Who
Those with the responsibility to do so decided that the fleet needed upgrading.
Personally, I would have opted for a Toyota LandCruiser or Lexus LX for superior reliability, but that wouldn’t have cost a whole lot less – you have to pay for quality at the end of the day.
Furthermore, it would have likely resulted in outrage for failure to “uphold (now Indian-owned, lol) British manufacturing) blah, blah, blah …
Anyway, what many are failing to understand is this is not Alden’s vehicle, but the official vehicle of the office of Premier of the Cayman Islands.
People need to chill.
– Who
“but the official vehicle of the office of Premier of the Cayman Islands”.
Quite, and the vehicle should befit the nature of the office. A 20yr old spannered Honda should fit the bill. With a window sticker that says “Gas, Grass, or Ass. Nobody rides for free”.
It’s Who’s Specialty
The Supreme commander in Chief of the confirmation bias and any comment directed at him is ‘ad hominem’ or ‘personal attacks’ (even though he does the exact same thing) and he then doesn’t respond because he has no response to valid criticisms contrary ideas or information, it’s all some twisted game of duck, duck, goose (maybe duck, duck, blame all of the UK’s past in this case)
It makes for a good laugh though
He is his own echo chamber, the entire point of discourse is to evolve and exchange your opinion on issues, his idea involves maneuvering around conversations once he has had his unoriginal “Uk did this 200 years ago, UK did that 200 years ago, so Ha”
No point in commenting to have a conversation if you are just going to ignore all contrary information which is precisely the reason why I try my best to refrain from bothering to interact with him
Just save yourself the trouble, it is a waste of time
too far gone as some would say
Ok “Dio”.
– Who
Serve unnah right, Alden should have bought 2 helicopters for him and McKeeva. Unnah keep voting for the two of dem while they like ESSO and Rubis making unnah believe they in some big competition. The only competition they ever been in is to see who can be the biggest star. And like old gangsters, when they didn’t have enuff soldiers to rule the turf, they came together and now in their twilight they just looking out for one another and getting all the trimmings on their plate while unnah still picking up the crumbs.
I say it again – serve unnah right, damn fools.
Yeah well… for a wannabe celebrity Alden would need to appear relevant… so why not spend money for a range rover. What a so call leader we have! Can drive around in a vehicle that cost almost CI 100K but can’t (or won’t) find the time to do a TV or radio interview to talk to the public. So to look important, he drives around in this elaborate vehicle a few times a month maybe?! On a island so small! What a waste of money but then again that’s the PPM lead government. Now this is a what you call a train wreck! Alden got to go down as the worst two term Premier in these islands!
Hey Alden… for someone that claims to be so shy it sure doesn’t show when you need a Range Rover to drive around in. Where is the fiscal responsibility? The accountability? Remember there are many, many more important needs that your range rover. We never had any leader the last four year and we sure don’t have one this next term! #stopwasting money
bit of a non story here…. it is insignificant compared to the hundreds of millions of $ wasted by the civil service every year…..
read miller shaw or e&y reports
You’re right. if we’d not wasted money on the Miller/Shaw& EY reports we could have bought another vehicle and got some real value for money.
When you are impotent, you gotta look impotent.
A 2nd hand BMW 5 series would have been cheaper and more reliable and equally spacious. RRs are notoriously problematic.
Seriously? The purchase of those vehicles were unnecessary. Stop wasting government money to fulfill y’all high expectations & fantasies. Smh!
A big problem here is because the vehicle Range Rover is bought overseas the warranty is now void (warranties are not transferred overseas) and RR vehicles are very expensive to maintain, and require very significant maintenance. Additionally the Tahoe vehicle is now three years old (styling wise) and so will depreciate fairly quickly (at least they will be under warranty though – as bought locally). If the premier needed a new vehicle he would have been better served buying a brand new vehicle (Audi Q7, Mercedez Benz GL, new Expedition / Navigator or similar) with local 5 year warranty.
There is a Land Rover dealership on the islands. If they supplied the vehicle, it will be covered by their warranty.
A Range Rover is quite expensive to maintain, but so is any other premium brand. $86k is a good price for this model, at least they didn’t demand brand new with all the toys, or go for the $300k Armoured version!
Total waste of money. With all the pressing needs in this country this is what we are paying for.
Anyone see what happened to the cow they just passed? One minute it was there, the next minute it disappeared.
In other news, former Uruguayan president, Jose Mujica, a country of about 3.4 million people, used to drive to work (up until 2015 or so) in a beat up 1987 Volkswagen Beetle, to serve his people. He also donated a large part of his salary to the poor. In the meantime, Big Boss Hog and Little Boss Hog are also “serving” their people, strutting around like a bunch of pimped out peacocks. All they’re missing are the huge gold chains around their necks and their pimp Daddy fur coats and hat. Respect.
Does anyone know the names of the people in the Protocol Office? A civil servant tells me it is a place, like the Museum, that you put civil servants who are completely unable to actually function and get anything done elsewhere in the civil service. A dumping ground, in other words.
Its duties are…not demanding. But its members are capable of discharging them.
Put them all in 1995 Nissan Sunnys, and see how eager they are to “serve the public”
Lucky it ain’t Mac, he would have got a private jet by now.
Jet or no jet, we’re just plain lucky it ain’t mac.
Oh dear me – big boys toys for political nonentities
Meanwhile the garbage goes u collected due to unavailable trucks
Priorities right! haha
Garbage is getting collected in a Range Rover and some Tahoes
Poo1 and Poo2
I really think the Premier of our islands, no matter who he or she is, should be chauffeured driven. Not for prestige but for safety. With all the rhetoric and shannigans going on these days we cannot throw caution to the wind.
He’ll be much safer in a car driven by someone else who is also unarmed?
That makes sense
Unless you are suggesting they need 24/7 armed security as well
Should we just slide that onto the people’s tab?
19 members, with 24/7 armed security, that cost would go into the millions very quickly
Let’s not be ridiculous,what risk is there really to their safety
Cayman is tiny everyone knows where these people live, everyone knows their families and what schools their kids go to ect etc
If we are going to start fear-mongering when does it end?
are we going to pay to guard their homes as well? will their kids be guarded at all times with security paid for by the people?
This is not the US or the UK
even in the UK only the most senior government members are subject to extensive protections ( Unfortunate for Jo Cox, but unlike the UK we do not have any actual reason to believe these people are in any danger, we are not yet to that level)
Can we stop holding Cayman up to these international standards in all reality we are little more than a small town in regard to most western societies
Diogenes
Every time they (or us for that matter) venture out to drive we are in danger…horrible accident on the ETH this morning, looks like an SUV crossed the reservation and ended upside down in the ditch on the opposite side of the road. I hope no one was hurt, but how do you do that? Excessive speed on wet roads? Not paying attention? Car malfunction?
This may be so BUT ….. Alden frequents local haunts and he is obviously not worried about his safety at these local watering holes so why should he worry on his way to work or on official jaunts across the Island? Total waste of money. Yes he should have a vehicle but it does not have to be that expensive.
If Alden decided to drive himself to work each day, stuck bumper to bumper in the morning traffic from Prospect in his average Honda or Kia, then I may just have some growing respect for him.
He does drive himself to work. This car is used by the Premier for Official functions only.
could have bought an asian equivalent for half the money that will last twice as long….
could also likely give a happy finish.
Like it or not, the premier is the head of the 5th largest financial center in the world. If you want to sell that (and we need it more than ever now), you have to give the impression that Cayman is the place to thrive. Can you imagine him meeting T.Rump or Troudeau in a Nissan Micra? That would not look good.
The government is poor and cannot afford it. And the likes of Trump et al would never meet him, they would meet the heads of the UK above him.
Who of any importance is coming here to meet Alden (Maybe Will Smith?), our government is not even technically responsible for foreign relations that is the Governor and the FCO/UK
And to assert that somehow Alden is the head of our financial services somehow, a government minister representing private interests on the world stage? Really?
While the minister of financial services is responsible for government policy in relation to the said area it is a far cry from what you are implying (that person would be Tara Rivers anyway not Alden)
He is not some big time diplomat he is a man who won 400 odd votes in something smaller than most city council elections stop making him a President
There are actually important areas of foreign affairs that have been delegated to relevant ministers.
From the Compass on 19 March 2014:
“Premier Alden McLaughlin has been assigned responsibility for the Caribbean Community, the Association of Caribbean States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or any other Caribbean regional organization or institution; other Caribbean regional affairs relating specifically to issues that are of interest to or affect the Cayman Islands; and European Union matters directly affecting the Cayman Islands.
Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell has been given responsibility for external affairs involving tourism-related matters; Finance Minister Marco Archer will take on affairs related to taxation; and Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton will have responsibility for those external affairs regarding the regulation of finance and financial services.”
Given the makeup of our economy is pretty well encapsulated in those delegated areas, that doesn’t leave much actual foreign affairs work for the Governor to do. Not on Cayman’s behalf anyway.
Statement 1: “The two older vehicles from the Protocol Office have now been placed in government’s general fleet”
Statement 2: “The new cars … replace cars which officials said “had fully depreciated and were aging” in an effort to avoid rising maintenance cost”, etc.
There is a disconnect between the two statements since if the old cars are passed on to other agencies then there is no saving on maintenance cost since DVES will still be having to maintain these two ‘aging’ vehicles. (Yes, I saw the other, ‘etc.’, claims for why they needed to change the cars but the illogicality still stands. If they’re always in for repairs, etc., those ‘costs’ have not been cut but merely shifted to another Govt. agency. who get stuck with ‘aging’ vehicles instead of the reliable vehicles they need.)
For a couple more thousand, they could have brought a new Tesla or just brought 4 leafs, but of course not, this government doesn’t believe in our environment.
Why do they need these massive vehicles and gas guzzlers? Oh, we must look like they are big people. Such BS and smaller minded people.
Because they’re the LODGE
You think DVS can fix those when they break and these is no dealer on island for Tesla or Nissan.
Yes! Why DO these people need those gas-guzzlers? And one more question: What happened to the vehicles they were using? Were they traded in? I doubt it. Were they given to friends and relatives? Does anyone other than myself give a hoot? You should……. it’s our money!
Read The Article! ‘the old vehicles were given to other Govt. agencies’. The old vehicles were Govt. They are still Govt. And when govt. eventually gives up on them they go to auction or the dump.
Would that be Nissan “Leaves”?
Anyway, I never voted for the EssoBee and he is not the BossoMee.
My next t-shirt will read..
AMG
NODDA
BOSSOMEE
So glad to see the press call out this POS.
This is a jurisdiction run by and for conservatives let that sink in
what are conservatives (at least in the US) known for in relation to climate science?
He needs the Range Roveer to tow his boat
This is so wonderful that our Honorable Premier and the Unity team have been able to dave this money. Just shows how diligent they are to help the Cayman people. So happy for honorable Bush also. Please get 4 more years.
Dave. Quite definitely Dave. We should blame him.
Already said my piece regarding this issue
in short
waste of government money for a jurisdiction akin to a small town
what’s next secret service agents?
Government jets?
Bunkers and safehouses?
Convoys and police escorts shutting down roads and protecting him as a political target?
Imagine the title, nice salary, office, staff, and vote (nice ride too) all for less than 500 votes and people wonder why so many are political hopefuls around here
They should have all gotten Hondas so that when parts are needed it wouldn’t be so hard on the Taxpayers pocket .
Yeah but then they would get stolen all the time..
Dark Cars dark suits dark agendas speaks volumes Cayman??
Best of luck with this. Based on my experience with them, that Range Rover will spend more time in the workshop than on the road.
You foolish Caymanians are to blame, remember who vote them in .
Just Another Day in Absurdistan
Couldn’t we have gone for a Nissan Leaf or something a little more easy on fuel/maintenance? A Toyota Prius would have been another good option.
How about a Loaf for Cayman’s first and worst.
These vehicles would be a blessing to the Immigration Department to help eradicate our unwanted, and eliminating some of the countries fears.
I’m glad we upgraded the vehicle of our head of government at such a comparatively reasonably cost. This is a very respectable official car for a head of government anywhere in the world. Cayman’s economic success, international profile and the maturation of our democracy shown by our voting for a more advanced constitution, implementing single-member constituencies and OMOV, and with our first two-term Premier, are all commensurate with an official car like this. We as a society have earned it, he just rides in it. I hope at least some people see it this way and don’t start with the envy politics.
What’s next? Air Force One for Cayman? This place is a medium sized town, not comparable to large countries. Sorry but it’s excessive. Even Boss Hogg drove himself on Dukes of Hazard…
It has the same population as a medium sized town. And several hundred million dollars a year more in revenue. It is also not part of a county which is part of a state which is part of a country; it is THE government of this territory, this land, with a constitutional arrangement where the only level above it (the UK and Governor) has specific, limited responsibilities. It’s not excessive any more than it is for the Governor, who has very little to do, to be riding around in a Jaguar. Caymanians can’t look up to that – that’s the UK appointee. Our leader – the highest a Caymanian can get – should have a decent and dare I say nice car. How we outfit him is a reflection of us. If we put him in a piece of junk, that’s what we think of self-government. Granted, there is a limit, and if this had been a luxury full-size sedan costing 100k+, charges of self-aggrandisement would be properly brought. But as it stands, there is no problem with this at all.
Of course, by virtue of being a Caymanian who got 400 odd votes he is above reproach and is entitled to “all that and a bag of chips”
Look at this in context Cayman is a tiny jurisdiction, collected fees and duties aside, he should not be entitled to this because we have a little cash to throw around, when every basic need of our people is met maybe then we will allow the Premier to splurge, until then I think not
If the CIGs response to anything mandatory or necessary for our peopl is “we cannot afford that at this time” such as the courthouse or badly needed new school facilities and resources then I better not see the leader of the country on the evening news flaunting his new Range Rover. It is a very simple and respectable position
If he wants to take some of his almost 200 thousand dollars per year salary and arrange for private transportation for himself he can feel free, but spending government money like this will not go un-criticized while I live and breathe
Comprende?
Diogenes
I understand that you don’t like it, and you’re entitled to that opinion. I do like it, but then I tend to like these kinds of things. Status matters and we delineate status with symbols. The Range Rover marks the Premier out as our elected head of government, above his Cabinet colleagues but below the Governor with her Jag. What is the problem? You know how little $86k buys a government? This, people can actually SEE and has meaning. And they should cheer for their country developing. Have you never achieved a milestone in your life and rewarded yourself with something that maaaybe you could have done without but wanted to have? Well, Cayman wanted its two-time elected head of government to have a better ride. There’s just nothing wrong with it. $86k doesn’t pay for one mid-level civil servant’s annual salary and benefits. You might see that as a point against buying the car but I see it as a perfect example of why the car is much ado about nothing.
Magical economic theory called saving for things you can’t yet afford but need
Question: when you need something in your personal life, and you don’t have the full amount to buy it do you spend all that money on something else (something frivolous) or do you save what you have so that you can get your necessity?
The same principle should apply to government but
Apparently our government thinks spending frivolously and then saying we can’t afford the necessities is acceptable
I think not
(look at the cruise berthing that will primarily benefit Waterfront merchants and no one else)
Buying a Ranger rover doesn’t further these islands at all
it should be the last thing on the agenda
Look at the budget yourself instead of being a government apologist excusing everything they do
and then talk to me about a man making almost 200 thousand dollars a year having “a better ride” paid for by the government purse
Come on, hold your government accountable because if you give an inch they will take a mile when you aren’t looking
Diogenes
11:14, are you being sarcastic…..I hope you are!
Maturation of our democracy was really spearheaded and headlined by the younger members of our communities some of whom were subsequently elected and re elected. Can’t really speak on the cars selection but hope it will be value for money in the long run.
Yes we had some fresh blood at that time. But who got the MBE for doing more than anyone else to get the constitution? Our Premier, who is riding in this car.
He should be forced to take the bus…
Would be the quickest way to get an improved bus or taxi service if these people actually had to use it themselves
Yes the Real Gangsta,s of this island mimicking their colonial masters how ironic isn’t it??? All employees looks like their eating well too don’t they??? Why not spend that money you just gave millions away to the Police yet again you deserve it Don Dada Mclaughlin
I recall the Premier attacking Bush for being driven around and I believe it was reported in this publication that he drove himself to work. Why on earth do these pretentious politicians spend public money so wastefully, when this money could be better used to serve the people. What a bunch of hypocrites!! Buying and expensive used car for 86k is still expensive!
Double standard uk junk
The country has new vehicles. Not the persons. Let’s see who is “driven around” in them the most. Use for official engagements is one thing, but use for church or social purposes is another (waste).
Lol throwing it away, they should have bought them kia picantos!
The Chevy’s have their steering wheels on the wrong side and present an unnecessary danger to occupants and other motorists if they need to be driven aggressively for any reason. Same problem exists for our police vehicles.
As for the Range Rover – fair enough – but can the Chief Village Councillor not open his own damned door and save us a bunch of money in the process. The trumped up and increasing self-importance is embarrassing…and can the flag pole please be tall enough? .
For your information, the person who opened the door is his political assistant. His job is not to open the door but an element of his job is to be a helpful aide.
Yes that might be his assistant but the driver was coming to open the door for him. You can tell he waiting for the door to be opened.
So the Emperor is too important to open his own door? He needs someone of the standing of Roy to open it for him? That does not make him a leader. That makes him an arrogant …..
Emperor Alden’s massive ego needed a Range Rover used by British Prime Minister and Cabinet members. Looks just like the one purchased in London by his protégée and former CO Eric Bush
Besides the gambling addiction can anybody explain to us again how the Premier is any different from Big Mac? Whilst we ponder that rhetorical question did the Speaker of the House and Deputy Premier really need new SUV’s to satisfy their ego’s as well? To quote Mr. Ambassador it’s really “just another day in absurdistan” which is filled with wannabe tinpot dictators who hang out at sleazy bars drinking away their sorrows. SMH
One Range Rover for Premier and three Chevrolet Tahoes for the Speaker and Dignitaries, that not very much respect/class for the others . They should all had Hondas to keep it simple and have them all stolen. Or went Cadillac Escalades all the way .
Isn’t there something wrong with the pricing. If the Speaker’s Tahoe was CI$36,170 then two additional protocol Tahoes should be CI$72,340 not $96,000 or did they buy McDaddy a cheaper Tahoe (doubt it). I’m sure there has to be a good explanation for the additional CI$24,000 that was spent but can we have it please.
Maybe the hoped no one would notice
Really? Funny how the premier can roll around in a range rover yet, the premier expects the children to attend public schools with terrible infrastructure – while the new high school had been put on pause due to ‘insufficient funds’. Although it has been ‘resumed’, you will soon hear there is insufficient funds again.
They attend schools in busses driven by lunatics who have no road sense and the kids are not even strapped in, yet it is illegal for an adult and kids to be in a car without a seat belt.
Just to add my two cents worth to the school bus lack of seat belts situation I am very surprised that this has not been changed yet as surely the lives of our young people need to be protected.We have to wear seat belts when driving our vehicles so why not the kids in school buses?.This should be a no brainer but I have seen somewhere that is expensive to add seat belts to the buses according to some but at what cost to a childs life if not added?Go figure.
To add to that peter ,,they are times when each bus are taking fifty plus each day . And the red bay barns bus with over sixty .
School buses are actually designed to be some of the safest vehicles on the road, the only real dangers are if they flip hence all of the emergency exits (sometimes including on the roof/ceiling) In the case of a bus flipping it would actually be more dangerous to have seat-belts as there could be dozens of trapped children inside that would need to be rescued individually. Another potential danger is kids doing what they are not meant to be doing, standing, walking while the bus is moving etc not sure if they still do ( I would assume so) but when I was in the public school system as a kid the buses had those “wardens” that helped kids cross the roads and kept them in line, made sure they weren’t doing anything they weren’t meant to be doing, and I would assume those positions still exist..
Every part of the modern school bus’ design has been scrutinized and optimized for maximum safety, which is why there is something like a international standard for buses (at least in the western world), the color of the buses, the seat shape and composition, the frequent exits and large amounts of room etc etc are all made specifically to keep kids safe
There is no need to worry about kids in a school bus, contrary to what most parents think they are probably safer in the bus than in a personal vehicle
It is a similar situation to the statistic with planes you are more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the airport than die in a plane crash
Fear not parents, this is one area that is fairly well dealt with in the modern world
Same reason trains don’t have seat belts. They are big enough .
Trains are controlled traffic. Notwithstanding that people still die in train collisions. Comparing a school bus with a train is hardly a cogent argument.
Illegal, as it should be, but rarely if ever enforced.
Not so fast. May I add this research:
‘On the rare occasion that there is a collision involving a school bus, the question is always raised as to whether there is a need for seat belts in school buses.
School buses have an enviable safety record. They are already one of the safest methods of transportation. It is 16 times safer than travelling in a family car per passenger/kilometre of travel.
School buses are not passenger vehicles. They are built to rely on safety not on seat belts, and are designed and constructed differently from passenger cars. They are bigger, heavier, and higher so they have a body-on-frame design. Newer systems, such as an anti-lock braking system would be more beneficial.
School buses protect passengers through “compartmentalization,” a design that includes:
1. Seats with high backs.
2. Seats filled with energy-absorbing material.
3. Seats placed close together to form compartments.
4. Strong seat anchorages.’
More here:
https://canadasafetycouncil.org/is-there-a-need-for-seat-belts-on-school-buses/
Newtons 3 law of motion works whether a bus or car.
Now, now. No one said anything about the laws of physics being changed or modified just because my argument is valid and has merit.
Nice straw man attempt though, but just too obvious otherwise. :/
True dat. And Mr. Einstein said that school bus beat car in game of physics like rock beat scissors in dat oder game.
School buses are not passenger vehicles? Are you a moron? What are our children then? Objects of no importance that be propelled from the seats (with strong anchorages) into high back seats or perhaps if that doesn’t kill them perhaps flying through one of the multiple glass windows. Link all the internet links you want but safety is not to be trivialized.
Passenger vehicles; meaning an average/smaller vehicle that can accommodate a limited X amount of people/passengers.
A bus on the other hand, is a commercial vehicle or private transportation vehicle. It carries more people/passengers and therefore has stricter safety regulations because of this increase in people/passengers.
Get the difference?
I’m assuming my Internet linking (one from a known safety council) isn’t good enough because you don’t agree with the message in this case, but when same or like council puts something out regarding safety and children or any such notices and try to make roads or other areas of travel safer for humanity, you’ll be in agreement then, correct?
In the end, tell me how many deaths or serious injuries have occurred on Cayman Islands roads involving a School Bus.? Then inquire same stats from around the world. After, compare those stats to smaller, less capacity and less regulated vehicles. Perhaps you’ll understand better, due to stricter safety requirements, large passenger buses/vehicles are safer and have a much, much better record and less life loss than other forms of road transport.
Lastly, it’s always been the fear of people about seat belts on buses, especially school buses. Water = drowning, fire = burning. Both of these fears come from thinking, ‘what if the seat belt gets stuck or jammed…?!’ – this is a concern top for the safety regulators/councils/law makers, etc.
So, yes, it is a concern regarding seat belts in larger passenger vehicles like a school bus, both from the fears above and from the unknown. Those are legit fears for sure, but let us not ignore the safety record of school buses and the stricter safety regulations for building, maintaining and operating them and laws on how the public interacts around a school bus as it travels on the roadways.
Additionally, the buckles and belts make handy weapons should the students engage in an altercation.
Is the tint on the Range Rover legal?
Yes. Alden says so.
Wow, Social Welfare handouts are really good in Cayman….
RCIPS……The window tint is illegal
Dummy the Rcips works for them they don’t care you don’t get it awa
Why the super dark tints? is this not illegal?
Only for some…that’s leading by example.
… so is Teresa May’s.
– Who