What’s PACT without two letters?
101 writes: Praises were heaped on Premier Wayne Panton when he recently did the ‘tough’ thing and suspended Cabinet Minister Bernie Bush for his recent behaviour which breached the code of conduct. But closer inspection of the situation demonstrates that the PACT government, rather than doing anything historical, may be demonstrating an all too familiar (unwanted) style of leadership.
For starters, the minister has been seen all over social media participating in sports events, most notably the CARIFTA games. If this were a sport the minister’s suspension would mean him immediately being pulled from competing in the next game or event, and given the seriousness of his behaviour, it’s unacceptable that he was able to don his suit and parade around at CARIFTA with our youth like nothing had recently occurred.
Any politically neutral observer would look at this and see it as nothing more than a sham. Mr Bush will experience the inconvenience of his suspension after his participation at this event (and who knows what else was taken into account) when it won’t matter too much anyway.
This feels too much like political expediency, not just on the part of Mr Bush but by the entire PACT crew because the party will have the political benefit of these photo ops to use later.
So too is the decision to remove one aspect of Mr Bush’s portfolio (home affairs) instead of stripping him entirely of his post as cabinet minister. The likely reason for this move is to maintain stability of the government, ironically the same reason the previous government allegedly used to give former minister Osborne Bodden a break after his equally unacceptable behavior.
But if we cannot manage members of a political group without compromising ‘stability’, what does that say about the credibility of the group in the first place?
And more to the point, what does that say about the effectiveness of the group’s leadership?
On this occasion, the PACT breached the spirit behind both the letter ‘A’ (Accountability of the Minister) in its acronym and the letter ‘T’ (Transparency of the ‘suspension’, which clearly wasn’t intended to have any real impact). That leaves it quite aptly with only two remaining letters: ‘PC’, which also just happens to be the acronym for Politically Correct.
Accountability and transparency are not conditional. If the government really wants us to see them as a welcome change in political leadership they have to start acting differently. That means doing the politically inconvenient if that’s what is necessary to demonstrate to the people that a year ago the electorate took a step in the right direction.
This government came into power with no previous affiliations, no coherent vision, no standardized policies or framework. They entered the room together with nothing more than a cute acronym: PACT. And many of us still welcomed the new leadership. But do please demonstrate to us that those four letters, if nothing else, have some true purpose behind them.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
In regard to this portion: “So too is the decision to remove one aspect of Mr Bush’s portfolio (home affairs) instead of stripping him entirely of his post as cabinet minister. The likely reason for this move is to maintain stability of the government, ironically the same reason the previous government allegedly used to give former minister Osborne Bodden a break after his equally unacceptable behavior.
But if we cannot manage members of a political group without compromising ‘stability’, what does that say about the credibility of the group in the first place?
And more to the point, what does that say about the effectiveness of the group’s leadership?”
There are a few key issues that people in Cayman need to acknowledge:
1) – Governments in the Cayman Islands are held together not by cohesive ideologies but by pecuniary incentives, namely the additional money an MP receives for being a minister or parliamentary secretary – the only advantage any MP gets for being in a government or government coalition vs being in the opposition is additional money that is a fact – members of the government who vote to discipline or remove their own members are putting the additional money they make via being a member of the government at risk.
– think about it this way, at your job assuming you had a vote would you vote to fire or discipline someone if it also meant that there was a chance that your income would be significantly reduced if they were fired or decided to leave?
2) The ratio of ministers to regular MPs in our parliament is extremely unbalanced there are 8 ministers out of 19 MPs (keeping in mind one of the 19 MPs is usually made Speaker meaning the usual number of votes is 18 not 19) that means almost half of the members of Parliament are ministers and when you take into account parliamentary secretaries the situation worsens. This is NOT how a parliamentary system is meant to function. – The government front benches are meant to be kept in check by their non ministerial MPs (aka the backbenches) this DOES NOT happen in Cayman. In Cayman almost everyone is getting a direct monetary benefit directly tied to the stability of the government that amounts to tens of thousands extra over a 4 year term. – in the UK the ratio of Ministers / Junior Ministers to regular MPs on the government benches MPs is something like 1:2 for every one minister or junior minister there are two normal MPs who would love nothing more that to sweep in to take the place of a minister who needed to be removed
3) As a direct result of “2)”There exists currently in the Cayman Islands no real backbenches – Majorities in parliament are usually single digits meaning that governments cannot risk removing or pissing off even one or two of their members our current government. This is simply the reality of trying to imitate a full sized parliamentary system while only having 19 members – I think the smallest amount of members that could reasonably function as a Parliament with our current number of ministers would be about 30 – assuming 8 are ministers 2-3 are made Parliamentary Secretaries that would be 10 or so Ministers and Junior Ministers with 19 other MPs split between the opposition and the government backbenches – with that ratio there could effectively be an actual Parliament where not every single person is motivated by the direct benefits they get from being paid more as a member of government – the ratio of ministers to MPs is currently about 1:1 we need that number to be closer to 1:2 or 1:3 for a functioning parliamentary system
4) As a direct result of “3)” there is almost no one waiting on the backbenches for a chance to become a minister or a secretary – and by that same measure there is no one to REPLACE a minister who acts out or needs to be removed – any removal of a Minister in Cayman leads to them usually becoming an opponent for the government making the chances higher that all members will lose their pecuniary incentives In Cayman if someone messes up and action needs to be taken there is usually no risk of the minister being replaced – as we saw during the debacle with Mckeeva and his return – in 2020 removing Mckeeva would have precipitated the collapse of the PPM government – and by that fact and that fact alone he was not removed – his return was also facilitated by the fact that any potential government needed his agreement to form or risk collapsing off of a razor edge majority which is the only reason he now enjoys his position and pay as Speaker of the House.
In summary we have designed a system where tiny single digit majorities are the norm due to the small size of our Parliament, where no one in a government has any real incentive to remove or discipline any member of their own government because they risk losing their own pecuniary benefits and where even if they were removed due to egregious behavior there is essentially no one to take their place and it just means the remaining members of government would be incentivised to maintain the government at any costs.
Most governments have no incentive to act, no room for manuvering and no potential to resolve the issue without forcing an election – and I am not sure anyone in Cayman has the appetite for almost annual elections like exists in Israel due to their razor thin governing majorities – the very foundation of our parliamentary system is flawed and the PPM by creating Parliamentary secretaries further entrenched the problem.
Wow, great analysis
I have a question maybe CNS can answer. I am a born Caymanian to foreign parents with status, am I still eligible to run for office? Or would my parents need to be born Caymanians as well?
CNS: See Qualifications for elected membership of the Legislative Assembly
I am more than willing to accept ‘new’ Caymanians to run for elected office, as long as they are willing to renounce their primary citizenship first. It’s only natural to be suspicious of any politician (like some business persons) who can say “this is getting royally screwed-up and I’m better off going back where I came from”, even if they themselves are culpable in the screw-up.
Having said that, it’s also quite obvious that the Caymanian electorate are not always inclined to vote for the brightest and best available. The choices made in the most recent elections are proof of that, and we have a long history of elevating the stupid and morally bankrupt to the highest positions possible.
You have hit the nail on the head.
When someone is willing to say out loud that they are happy to leave this rock if things go downhill for them it shows that they don’t have the country’s interests in high regard.
cayman gets what it deserves when the most qualified, most successfull and most experienced people in its community are prevented from running for office.
welcome to wonderland.
WHAT??? Cayman got no qualified, successfull and experienced people running the government? WOW! No wonder we never got anything right!
No we do not want foreigners running for elections.
Who do we consider as a foreigner? We have those with Cayman Status for 35+ years who cannot run for office. These are folks who really contributed to the success of Cayman.
It’s worse than that! People that were born and raised here, that think of themselves as Caymanian and that everyone believes to be Caymanian, can’t run for office. One of your parents has to be Caymanian at the time of your birth. That rules out way more than 50% of the current “Caymanian” population.
20 @ 5:10 am – So we continue to elect under-educated, inept, corrupt or Lodge-influenced politicians every cycle. Now we have a DP who speaks Jamaican!
There are MANY decent “paper” Caymanians who have more knowledge of Cayman that most of the present gen of politicians, who would be more than suitable.
But I guess they, like their born-Caymanian counterparts (well-educated, well-intentioned, ethically sound), do not wish to enter the shit-show hand-out mecca and swamp that is Cayman’s politics.
Sig. Born-Caymaninan baby-boomer.
Sorry, who are “we”?
The restrictions on who can stand for office do not make sense.
If a majority of electors in a district do not want a foreign-born Caymanian as MP, they won’t be elected! It’s as simple as that. If a majority does want that person to be an MP, they ought to be allowed to stand.
It’s called Democracy. It’s all the rage in the developed world.
The election law was passed by MLAs who had every reason to eliminate their competition and no reason to expand the talent pool. Hence the foolishness about not having spent X number of years overseas out of the last Y years, which smacks of some minister at the time of drafting believing their seat to be threatened by someone specific matching those criteria.
Unfortunately, the law won’t be changed till some brave foreign-born Caymanian brings a case and asserts their constitutional right to stand for office.
Once you’ve lived in Cayman as a status holder for at least 10 years, you should be able to run for office.
With the greatest respect intended, I disagree with your presumptive comment — you’re presuming that the best, brightest and most able to run for office are not multi-generational Caymanians.
Although I understand what you’re getting at or, more accurately, attempting to get at, I adamantly disagree wholeheartedly.
At times Caymanian MPs have not always been the best or brightest that the Cayman Islands has to offer and, more fundamentally, the ones that are brilliant and brave are sometimes lacking integrity (or have a certain element or manifestation of fear) that interferes with achieving success as a true Servant of the People.
So, it’s not that multi-generational Caymanians must be replaced with new Caymanians, who have been “granted Caymanian status” (instead of “Caymanians as of right”).
There have been certain MPs that have done their jobs as servants of the people and those ones need to be given recognition for the positive things that they did for the Cayman Islands.
In any event, the point is not to allow new Caymanian status grantees to run for Parliament, it’s to get the multi-generational Caymanians “as of right” to step up and make our own sacrifice for the greater good of the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people.
We have to pray for our leaders, whether or not we like them or agree with their decisions, because we want God to give them the courage, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment to make decisions and take actions in the best interests of the Cayman Islands.
God bless the Cayman Islands and, most importantly, our precious Caymanian people and all residents.
God bless,
Orrie 🙏🏻🇰🇾
With the greatest of respect, nowhere in your comment do I see any reasoned basis to exclude otherwise capable – or indeed brilliant, brave, bright and best – from running for office purely on the basis of who their grandparents were.
For any expat to achieve status they must have committed at least 15 years of their life to this country and decided to make it their home. They must have succeeded in business and contributed to society.
Why then should they not be welcomed for consideration if they wish to offer themselves up to the electorate? Why should we deny ourselves the chance of vioting for candidates who might – but for the accident of birth – be ideal in every respect?
Cayman Islands laws already answer your question. Read our Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Cayman Islands, and other relevant legislation. This is in line with upholding (not subverting) the rule of the of the Cayman Islands.
* Meant to say “…rule of law…”
That’s a complete non sequitur.
I know that’s what the Constitution says the law is. My question was, why should that be the law?
isn’t that the law in most places?
a non-US born person isn’t able to run for president.
CNS: But they can run for a seat in Congress.
To Obvious Reasons – no its not. Most modern democracies allow any citizen to run for office, irrespective of where they were born. The US is an outlier, and as CNS points out, you can run for any other office in the land other than President. And whilst you are educating yourself on the topic, consider how many Cayman MLAs were not actually born in Cayman – so the comparison to the US Presidency is complete BS.
@4:58:
The US president does not have to be born within the United States. To be qualified a presidential candidate must be a natural-born citizen of the USA. In light of the fact that MLA’s select the Premiere from among themselves, and in light of the fact that the Premiere selects Cabinet from among the MLA’s, I would support nothing less than an MLA should be a natural-born Caymanian.
CNS: You win the pretzel argument of the day. Members of the US Congress can be first-generation US citizens. The born US-citizen criterion applies only to the US president and VP. However, this is comparing apples to oranges because we follow the Westminster system of government. Under the Westminster system, all MPs, including the British prime minister, can be an immigrant with UK citizenship.
So, go run for the US Senate or US House of Representatives, which will not require a change to the US Constitution (as it now reads), but understand that you will not get the Cayman Constitution changed in this regard.
@1:03:
It is the law because this is what We the People called for when the new Constitution was being drafted and what we agreed to when we voted to enact the new Constitution.
Facts.
And should we not be able to reconsider laws if they are not working?
Wish the MP’s of the day had also had the guts to define “a Caymanian” as being one born in the Cayman aIslands of at least one Caymanian born parent and one Caymanian born Grandparent.
Ah, so rather than turn to first generation Caymanians who are willing to serve, you would rather elect the corrupt and incompetent, because guess what – all those bright, capable and honest multi generational Caymanians that you say need to “step up” have had multiple opportunities to do that and have singularly failed to do so. Maybe they are too busy making money, maybe they don’t want all the pressure and vitriol that goes with politics, maybe they simply don’t care – it doesn’t really matter; they haven’t stepped up. What are you going to do – force them?
I would love it if we could.
If only it was that easy to determine who is really willing to serve Cayman.
There are too many examples of professionals who come here and say that they can’t wait to build their nest egg and return home and who don’t contribute to local society. This is never truly home for them.
Just having the safety net of knowing you can easily return to life in your home country is a conflicting factor for loyalty to these islands.
@10:18:
What a crock of putrid merd! The most qualified, most successful and most experienced people in our community are certainly not prevented from running for office.
This is exactly why you and your kind are problematic. When Cayman ‘gets what it deserves’ it suggests you will somehow escape any challenges Cayman faces. And that’s clearly foolish and naive. You also betray yourself and reveal who you are – you are incapable of integrating. The system must change to adequately weed out your kind. You’ve come from a place where you are not the most qualified, experienced, most successful etc. Arrived in a, yes, small pond and behaved frankly disgracefully! Sadly, I suspect you’re not prepared to go back home. Too bad. Sad really.
Kudos and appreciation to CNS for running this article!
The sorry way that the Panton-PACTless Clown Car handled Bernie’s misdeeds is certainly newsworthy. CNS, in their articles about the issue, have done a good job of relating facts. The Clown Car handling of the issue deserves more contempt poured on it than is allowed in an article on a news media site accessible by the polite public. I do not have enough raw expletives in my vocabulary (of two languages) to express my contempt for how the Clown Car dealt with the matter.
As the long-serving and now late federal Judge Damon Keith wrote in one of this decisions: “Democracy dies in the dark.” Keep up the good work, CNS! Keep holding their feet to the fire and lighting up their darkness when people in power play politricks.
CNS: For clarity, the viewpoint was not written by CNS. It was submitted by a reader who goes by “101” and has provided us with many thought-provoking VPs over the years.
@CNS/9:32:
Thank you for the clarification. And thank you for publishing the thought provoking Viewpoint! It was a no-holds-barred exposition of the naked truth.
Good stuff “101”!
I do not support hubris and disrespect from anyone and so it goes without saying that I am not in support of Bernie Bush’s indiscretion .
I am though cognizant of the American James Madison’s admonition that “If men were angel’s there would be no need for government”.
The ultimate lesson however comes from the New Testament story of the adulterous woman . Jesus challenged her accusers: “Let he who is innocent cast the first stone”.
I note the suggestion that some “aliens” as Andrew Morris Gerrard described such persons are drooling to sit in Parliament . Fortunately for Caymanians the Constitution and what I ,as a cultural historian refer to as “ancestral privileges have determined who should sit in Parliament.
Penultimately , Mr. Bush has publicly stated his apology and expressed his regret.
Finally, let us be reminded that “To err is human but to forgive is divine”.
Maybe I’m deluded, but I’d like the opportunity to vote for parliamentary candidates on the basis of their own individual qualities, rather than on the basis of who their grandparents were.
Do you have a problem with Caymanian grandparents and forefathers?
Their blood, sweat and tears are responsible for eligible Caymanians to run for Parliament.
I don’t have a problem with them no. I just don’t see them as being a useful guide to someone’s ability to perform well in government.
This comment just about sums up Cayman. Ancestral privilege?? How about becoming a 21st Century democracy where newcomers who can add value and expertise are welcomed and embraced? In any event, every single “Caymanian” is descended from a foreigner at some point in their lineage, which makes a mockery of this whole argument. I can only assume that this comment was posted in order to antagonise the driftwood among the CNS readership.
Multi-generational Caymanians are who can run for elections for Parliament, which is inline with our Constitution.
If you don’t like this, you’re entitled to run from office where you originally came from (but not in the Cayman Islands).
What rubbish.
Firstly, the restriction prevents Caymanian voters from electing who they wish – it is inherently undemoncratic.
Secondly, the idea that someone who was born here and lived here their entire life is less deserving of the right to run for office than someone who has grown up in Jamaica, but happens to have some minor familial connection to the Island is moronic on its face.
Ultimately, it’s Cayman that suffers from this narrow conception of who can and who can’t run for office here.
They call this apartheid. No other Commonwealth country has this. FCO needs to look into this
You know what, you are absolutely right. I could leave anytime I like, even though i have status, and take my business and even my pension with me. Unlike you. So the question is why aren’t YOU more upset about the restrictions on the electoral pool? For me, its sad that Caymanians would apparently rather have idiots and the corrupt run their government than allow first generation Caymanians to even run (they still have to get elected you know – no one is stealing your vote). But i guess your “if you dont like it here go back where you came from” response indicates the extent of the problem.
Let go of that anger.
My friend, I can assure you that based on the knowledge of how most people acquire their wealth and so called success, to turn the reigns of government over to the expat would simply mean a more well heeled and more clever form of corruption.
Your nationality is not a virtue. Nor is your success a greater qualification to stand for election.
In which country is any newcomer allowed to run for office?
I agree that the pool of desirable candidates is limited, but for obvious reasons, newly arrived persons aren’t allowed to slip in and start dictating the affairs of their newly adopted place of residence.
At what stage does an expat’s loyalty and desire to assist their new country of residence frow larger than their loyalty to their country of origin?
Any other suggestions on how to cure this potential problem are welcome.
Disagree with post. All countries except Cayman allow citizens to run for some form of elected office. Any UK citizen can run for office as an MP.
Here’s some information on that:
*CNS: I’m adding my note here to point out that the UK and all Commonwealth countries, including the Cayman Islands, do not have a president. We have an unelected monarchy so citizenship is not the issue. You can stand for election as an MP or county council member in the UK if you are a citizen of the UK, a Commonwealth nation, or Ireland. First-generation citizens are treated the same as people who can trace their ancestry back to the Norman conquest. In the US, first-generation citizens can stand for any elected position other than president and VP.
According to Article II of the U.S. Constitution, the president must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.
Source: https://www.usa.gov/presidents#item-37462
Mexico:
Presidential candidates must be at least thirty-five years old on election day and must be not only Mexican citizens by birth but also the offspring of Mexican citizens by birth.
Source: http://countrystudies.us/mexico/82.htm
Brazil:
The Constitution of Brazil requires that a president be a native-born citizen of Brazil, at least 35 years of age, a resident of Brazil, in full exercise of their electoral rights, a registered voter, and a member of a political party (write-in or independent candidates are prohibited).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Brazil
I could go on but I think I’ve made my point – Cayman is far from the only country with this type of requirement.
New comer? I would hardly call someone who had to spend a minimum of 15 years here to qualify for status, and along the way pass the the requirements to hold PR, a “newcomer”. Whereas in your view only their adult children should qualify? What century are you living in? That’s why you have people like Dwayne and Sabrina in office – hope you are proud.
Not proud of Dwayne Seymour.
You do know that thousands do not go the PR + 15 year route. They simply find a fool to marry get the Right to work and Status in two toots. Then they bring in their overseas baby mama and kids who then acquire same rights. Therein lies the problem.
The fact that this woefully inaccurate comment has so many upvotes highlights the issue.
A person born here and who has and will never live elsewhere and who would potentially be elected by Caymanian citizens cannot do so because of ancestral privilege, and the argument in favour is some wrongheaded idea that this is the way most countries behave. It is simply not.
But if you need to hold on to this absurdly undemocratic idea to make yourself feel more authentic or boost your self-esteem, be my guest. Just know that it’s Caymanians that you are hurting by artificially limiting the pool of potential public servants.
Every Caymanian is an expat. It’s just a question of time.
It’s a waste of time and effort to respond to your ridiculous comment. However, at least for myself and many other multi-generational Caymanians, we’re over 250+ years here.
So, if you believe it’s “just a question of time”, you do the math and get back to me on the disproportionality compared to yourself.
Most that came here (to the Cayman Islands) and found success were predominantly failures in your (or their) own home countries.
Go find success in your own homeland before getting so cocky in the Cayman Islands. Your only going to make it worse for yourself and your countrymen with that attitude in the future.
How do we know you’re “multi generational”? You could be making it up.
So I guess the Māori aren’t indigenous to New Zealand since they only arrived there just 400 years before our ancestors settled this island? What makes them indigenous but not us?
Yes, but not generational…lol. Love that argument. And the response if you don’t like it go back to where you come from.. highly intelligent and thought provoking. Must come from the highly successful public school system that spends more per child than anywhere else in the world
Nice try at a witty analogy from Scripture. And, it was sort of clever of you working Jesus and the Bible into contemporary politricks. Methinks you know a few Bible stories but if you want to bring Jesus into the mix, here is what I can tell you in case you missed this “ultimate lesson” in your quickie Bible reads: I somehow, kinda, think that, perhaps, just maybe, Jesus did not reward those who sinned. In case you missed the “sanction” that was imposed by the Clown Car Chief Driver, Bernie was rewarded with a significantly lighter work load but will carry home the same pay…same pay, less work. Some punishment. In answering the “WWJD?” question, I fail to be able to imagine that rewarding the sinner is how the Lord would have handled the transgression. Forgiveness is one thing, but abject stupidity and Jesus playing politricks is not what the Bible is all about. And another thing…! Jesus admonished the adulterous woman with these words: “Go and sin no more”. I have a problem with the Panton-PACTless Clown Car returning to self-serving craftiness and doing wrong, over and over and over again. The Panton-PACTless Government was conceived in sin and embracing the evildoers. Since you got me in Scripture mode now, a passage comes to mind that fittingly describes the Clown Car: Proverbs 26:11–
“As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly”. Amen.
Read everyone’s post. What bothers me most of all, how could two individuals, namely Bernie Bush and Brevon Elliot, concoct such an uncoordinated plan to slip him into the director of the port position. Its either that these individuals are the biggest buffoons that ever walked the planet, or…there were others involved. As far as i am concerned, Brevon should have some form of disciplinary action against him also.
What why Brevon?
Brevon had nothing to do with what Bernie said that he didn’t actually do. He can’t control what another man says. Bernie ran his mouth is all, lied about doing something stupid but didn’t actually do it because he couldn’t. It’s a nonsense, all that is happening is peoples names being pulled through the mud because there is nothing better to talk about.
Cannot remove Hon Sabrina cause she still reinterating the community as large.
In English please.
8:34 am You will have to ask Hon Sabrina for the proper English meaning of “reinterating” because it was her invented word! lol While you are at it you can also ask her what she meant by “the community as large”. Sorry I cannot be of more help luv.
You mean reinfecting?
8:51 That too! LMAO
Lmao
I am Caymanian and this is embarrassing. Spellcheck messes us up and human errors plays a part, but that is a very embarrassing grammar. Looking like something that Jon Jon Seymour would type.
Anyone who would align himself with Cayman Marl Road to get elected and as basically his mouthpiece has zero decency, integrity or anything else.
the only that can save cayman is to allow paper new caymanians run for office.
The arrogance in your post explains why we will never allow it. Our constitution is clear on the issue and how it works. If you want to run for office go back to your country of origin where you may qualify to run. It is that simple.
ok…well then don’t start complaining about why the dump is still not sorted after the next 15 years of ‘negotiations’.
We are not the ones complaining
Yeah, its only expats complaining about the dump. Right. And about the traffic. And the school system. And the cost of living. And the mask mandates. And the wholesale destruction of our environment aided and abetted by the CPA appointed by our government. Because we Caymanians are just fine with the way the idiots we elect run the country.
God forbid that people who have invested at least 15 years of their lives in this country should be allowed to participate in government…
They can participate by becoming eligible to vote and voting.
The appeal to emotion by saying that these expats “invested” the years spent here is a two-way street: They certainly received a suitable return on their “investment” or they would not have remained here. If they did not receive a fitting return on the “investment”, they are fools for staying and certainly not qualified to be members of our government. Why stay here if it a losing “investment”?
OK, for ‘investment’ read commitment.
Why shut out people who demonstrated a binding commitment ?
It’s not as if there’s a surfeit of home-grown talent, now is it?
Wrong. You’re a fool. You’re wishful thinking is going to get you nowhere. Let me break this down for you.
If your children’s children are still around, that’s minimally getting to where it’s fair and right to allow you run for office.
Don’t get status and think your going to become an MP. Even worse, you’re insulting local (home-grown) talent.
People that came to Cayman keep seeking more benefits that your entitled to and want more and more and more.
You going to get a lot less than you expect to get. I promise you that. This is coming from someone who knows what’s coming down the pipeline in due course.
Keep making it worse for yourselves. You’re really not hurting me and real Caymanians one bit. Watch what happens.
You are right. All the expats on here telling you your pool of eligible politicians suck are not hurting you at all. The people you elect are doing that. Tell me I am wrong. Point to all the wonderful things government have achieved for the average person. lets start with the state of the education system, the roads, the environment and the cost of living. But you would rather shoot the messenger.
You sounded kind of intelligent until that last snide remark. If your comment is representative of the mindset of expats with a “binding commitment” to these islands, I feel very safe in excluding them from holding office. You did not do your case a favour, you do realise that? Or are you just one of the cretins who come here to troll?
Thank you for seeing beyond the emotional blackmail and bs. When times get really hard we will see who cares for Cayman and Caymanians and stays to protect their him. Most Economic migrants that live in a bubble are in denial and the most entitled people in Cayman. None are guaranteed a work permit or job and promotions yet feel they are because it is too easy to get a work permit, permanent residency and status.
Caymanians who moved to your country would not be eligible for office.
CNS: To be eligible to stand as an MP in the UK a person must be a citizen of the UK, a Commonwealth nation (such as the Cayman Islands), or Ireland. Note that you don’t have to be born as one of those; you only have to gain citizenship. In the USA, you must be a born citizen to be president or VP but there are a number of immigrant members of Congress.
This is interesting reading – Pathways to Power: The Political Representation of Citizens of Immigrant Origin in Eight European Democracies
I think the fear for born-Caymanians is that they would be further sidelined in their own country. This is a justifiable fear and one that needs discussion. One point to mull is just how royally screwed they have been by born-Caymanian politicians over the years.
CNS: Thanks for your comments, which are fair enough.
Yes. I would agree. Caymanian-born politicians like Wayne Panton and Alden McLaughling have done the Cayman Islands a disservice.
Next election will be different, because certain Caymanians are going to take it into their own hands to not let these power-hungry idiots destroy the Cayman Islands anymore.
Your comment means nothing without some facts
Lack of substance. Cry me a river.
Believe that when I see it. The talent pool is so shallow, you’d barely get the soles of your feet wet. The old guard have a stranglehold because young, talented and progressive Caymanians have moved with the times into the 21st century. Why would they bother getting tangled up in politrix now?
Yeah. that’s what we thought last election, and see how that worked out.
Uk government would be better. No room for conflicts. Remember that other gate?
@10:17 – the paper Caymanians are too smart to want to run for office here.
Paper Caymanians are lucky to be here and should be grateful for being welcomed into the Cayman Islands. Looks like we need to really revamp our immigration policy.
pact/ppm pretty much as incompetent as each other….
direct rule please.
Direct rule ina ya own house check out what’s going on there you’ll be surprised how much you don’t know!
I think PACT done the right in suspended Bernie, however as the Minister of Health, I think Sabrina should also be suspended for not wearing a mask in Public, it doesn’t matter how tired she was or how late it was she should be setting an example and breaking the law, that is forced on everyone else!!
Sabrina needs to also be suspended for her actions!!
Reality is I cannot go into Fosters and receive service without a mask regardless of how early or late, the mask is a requirement for service.
She needs to Live by her own rules!!
It’s very true that laws should apply equally to all, in particular those who impose them on the rest of us.
It’s also true that the mask law is illogical, unjustifiable, unconstitutional and should be scrapped forthwith.
You’re welcome to leave. No one is stopping you.
Her suggestion that masks aren’t required indoors is contrary to law, and a lie. She should voluntarily pay a $10,000 fine, or be put on 2 week holiday, and in the meantime, those portfolios can keep moving around the circle. That we still don’t have a permanent CMO after Dr Lee’s scheduled departure is frankly, astounding.
This incompetence is also seen in our Police Force. They have all these rules that they want to penalize others for but can’t even follow the law themselves. No indicator, parking wherever they want, not patrolling when they’re supposed to. The list goes on and on. Will this ever change?
Suspended? What TF? Is Cabinet like a preschool where unruly children get a time out? A time out is a reward for a busy person. She would get a nice leave and someone else assumes her duties. Time to hit the malls in Miami! Lovely.
Oh, shoot…why not…? Bernie was rewarded by getting a lovely leave and as punishment he received a lighter work load at the same lavish salary.
I wish my teachers would have been so free with their reward for bad behaviour. “Ok, boy, you are to be punished! Firstly, you will get two weeks off and another top student will fill in and do your class work for you. As a further punishment, you will be stripped of the responsibility to do homework for the rest of your time in this class. But there is more! To set you out as an example of what we do to those who get out of line, you will receive no reduction in your grade for the missed homework.” (Oh, the horror!)
Bush is only suspended Ian paper. He was already planning to be off island for Carissa, and he would need to give up his role while off island. All smoke and mirrors
The so-called “sanctions” imposed on Bernie Bush for his political infractions are a pathetic joke at best and a slap in face to the good people of the Cayman Islands. This farce is the stupidity of the Panton-PACTless Clown Car coming out in full Spring bloom.
By Panton’s own admission, “Minister Bush’s conduct and comments in relation to the staffing of the Fire Service are infringements of Section 55 of the Constitution and breach Section 2.4 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. Furthermore, other comments he made as a Minister contravene Section 2.6.3 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct”.
These are serious infractions that are at the very core of political impropriety: a politician misusing his power.
How does Panton punish Mr. Bush? His punishment was to take away a significant part of Bernie’s Ministry but keep him as a member of Cabinet with the remainder of his portfolio intact. In other words, Panton’s moronic idea of sanctions and punishment is to reduce Bush’s workload but leave him in Cabinet at the same sumptuous salary.
What the hell kind of punishment is that? Give Bush less work and fewer responsibilities for the same pay? Wow. Just wow. I cannot even begin to fathom the sheer idiocy of that brainiac idea.
I can hear Panton now: “Ok, Bernie, you messed up big time! I hate to do this but we have to make an example of you to deter anyone from breaking the rules like you did. You might want to sit down before I break it to you. Your punishment is that we are going to make your workload lighter for the same pay! I know it’s tough, I know it’s hard, but you did some serious chit, dude. Chin up, you will make it through this.”
That’s not a freaking punishment, that is a reward in any world outside of the Clown Car realm. In my dearest dreams I wish I could do something that would result in me receiving the same pay for less work. This, folks, is quite illustrative of the mindless and impotent leadership manifested by our Clown Car government.
I can imagine that at the end of Panton telling Bernie of his “punishment, that they both tweaked each other’s red plastic noses (Beep! Beep! Beep!) screeched silly shrill laughs, bobbled their heads and pranced off arm-in-arm, giggling.
u ok bro? Sounds kinda personal
@8:23:
I and all Caymanians should take such damn clown foolishness very personally as government funds pay their salaries and all of us are governed by these clowns. Rewarding a minister for serious infractions is something none of us should be “ok” with, “bro”.
Bernie is guilty of embarrassing Cabinet by exposing Uk expat club and pulling back the curtain on abusive overtime billing for what is required training for Caymanians. Whereas we have a Health Minister caught patrolling Little Cayman Health Clinic maskless during a pandemic where she has ordered the public to do the opposite, even while wearing aviators – and an abusive recidivist still occupying the Speaker’s chair. Both benefiting from Bernie’s sanction. The Health Minister should be fined and Speaker should be removed for violating his own plea deal. Let’s focus the morality critiques on things that are actually offensive.
Seems that the Premier is selective with corrective action. Me wonders whether Bernie is being discriminated against? Double standards?
They are all corrupt, change my mind.
Sorry. I cannot.
The hearsay and rumour, jealousy, zealousness for negativity feeds this type of news. This is not news, this is not a well written piece of anything, it’s a grownup whinging and complaining about something that is not very important and has no real impact. Why not go out there and promote your islands with positivity.
The comments are pure nonsense, fed by Chinese whispers and marl road gossip. People please get a life and fight for something worthwhile.
Wow.. did you actually read the article? Anyway I’ll go back in my cave and I’m sure I’ll find you there..
Fight for something worthwhile – like government ministers obeying the law, perhaps?
The hope of positive change embodied by Mr. Panton was nullified by the signing of a PACT with Mr. MacKeeva who is the antithesis of positive change. Essentially the “good” signed a PACT with evil or more appropriately the devil.
Corruption is accepted norm in Cayman and is evident in all levels of our society. Once a previously honest person is tempted by the prospect of illicit financial, political or social gain the disease spreads. Others see the opportunity as there are seemingly no consequences and is socially acceptable.
Those who are employed by government, government run entities, private companies, and charities whose culture allows corruption to proliferate are guilty by association. For most it’s hard to blow the whistle especially if their work permit or livelihood is on the line. Those that have the moral fortitude and the breath to sound off are still in the minority. However more are realising the corrupt need to be the minority or we all suffer, Cayman suffers, the future will be less predictable.
Sad thing is Wayne blew his credibility, reputation and morals all to become Premier and now we see he sucks at the damn job, what a waste. He needs to go back to playing lawyer.
Even then he wasn’t any good.
2:31 pm Well put. The only thing you seem to overlook is that history shows those who dare to stand against corruption are attacked, lied on and defamed. Corruption runs the gamut in the Cayman Islands and is very organised, from the very top.
Incredibly observant and accurate opinion.
Very well said 101. Same old story with this new bunch ..
Every word of this article seems trudeau to me.
Roots!!
Firstly, I am not a Bernie supporter and do not agree with what occured. However, Bernie has done more for the youth and sports than any other minister. His attendence at these events and supporting the Caymanian youth is nothing new. It is the blood that flow through his veins. Any Caymanian who participated and represented the Cayman Islands under the age of 40/45 can attest to this. He would have attended regardless of being a MLA as he has done for donkey years. Why change that now? We need to appauld him for his relentless involvement with Caymanian youth. Stop the crab in bucket mentality.
Except this isn’t a crab in a bucket thing. Wrong is just wrong and we can’t giving these politicians a lil break
Somebody had to control the civil service elite. Neither the governor nor his deputy do anything, so there’w no one else to do it. Your system is f’d up.
5:15 The Deputy is the biggest part of the problem.
Franz Manderson needs to resign or retire ASAP. His poor leadership and double standards are ar the root of problems within the civil service. The fish rots from the head.
What are you talking about? The “crab in a bucket mentality” was manifest when Bernie broke the rules and, among other things, worked to undermine the position of CFO Paul Walker. Seems that crab Bernie tried to drag Walker down with both claws.
Wasn’t Ken also sorta demoted?!
Don’t be stupid!
Bernie has to stay in cabinet or else Saunders willfight for Jon Jon in cabinet to support ousting Wayne. Wayne has to know this.
Wayne Panton is a decent, honest, man of integrity.
I don’t think that I could say the same for some others.
As for Saunders—while he may have some ability, I worry about his remaining true to principles. Way too much of a pragmatist. Whatever suits his survival instincts at any given time.
You lost me at Wayne is “honest”, did you see how he quit the PPM over Mack and then made a deal with Mac to become Premier? You all haven’t realized that you were fooled yet? How much environmental protection has he pushed for ? “Great savior of the mangroves my ass”, anyone with a 72ft diesel guzzler of a boat that he owns isn’t fooling me with the sustainability double talk.
He was honest. Then he compromised his principles to get power. That’s a one way track, as he now discovers when he cant rein in Jay or sanction Sabrina.
Oh my, Saunders and Seymour in the lead! Please Sir Alden come to our rescue!!!
Alden again as Premier?
This is the political equivalent of a dog eating its vomit!
My mother always said “stick to the evil you know”. The devil we get might just be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Anti-PACT brigade in attack mode. This country has much bigger issues than Bernie at CARIFTA
you mean.. Bernie in Cabinet ? That pretty bad too!
@11:17: The issue is not “Bernie at CARIFTA; the issue is Bernie in Cabinet. The issue is integrity and and Bush being rewarded rather than punished for his malfeasance. Political corruption is a pretty big issue to most people of integrity. A great many of the issues we have are a result of our politicians’ lacking integrity. The Panton-PACTless Clown care rides down a dark path and has from day one when the Clown Car drivers sold out to the devil to get in power.
The first devil PACT and Wayne signed with was Sandra. Mac was second.
A very well written commentary. Clearly it demonstrates that our Premier is hanging on to that position by the skin of his teeth as he could not afford the complete loss of Bernie. If Bernie had been completely taken out you can bet your boots that McBeater was right there ready to pounce. Chris Saunders, who is becoming more and more visible, would have become Premier with dear Kenny as his Deputy. The Puppet Master, McBeater would remain in his cushy position and enjoy all the privileges thereof.
What a mess this Country has gotten itself into. All because of the egotistical and self-centred behaviour of greedy and insatiable politicians.
Good help us!
PACT was formed to keep PPM out of power. If we have to endure this until 2025, then so be it. I am aware of young Caymanians who are going step up to the plate next election. Until that time, the same old beat around the bush politricks is likely to continue.
Young caymanians who will listen to older more experienced politicians and who will be influenced by the likes of Chris and Kenneth and be used for power and control. Imagine two of the least educated and experienced and ethical politicians having access to your younger generations. God help us
Some of us have a short memory. PPM moved former minister Osbourne Bodden from the ministry of health after “driftwood gate” involving his chief officer Ms. Ahearn. He kept his other subjects and no one seemed upset. Why are you upset now? Bernie Bush has been sanctioned and the code of code for Cabinet has been enforced. McKeeva Bush has been convicted of Assault and still serves as Speaker of Parliament.
Ironically, from the civil service Chief Officer Eric Bush has been found by the Auditor General in her recent report to breaking laws including the Constitution, Public Service Management Law and the Public Service Finance Law whilst his boss the Deputy Governor who also acts as his judge in the disciplinary matters is conflicted yet seeks to have him fully exonerated. Why? How is this acceptable if we are expected to trust the system?
The silence from the Governor a office is deafening as he is perceived to be complicit due to his omission to prevent contracts being signed and established protocols being broken in some of the alleged actions committed by Eric Bush as the civil service is his responsibility.
Where is the view point that highlights the lack of accountability and transparency for a chief officer with a track record of failure, incompetence and now alleged breach of laws?
The rules in Cayman seem to change subject to the individual that has broken the rules and then excuses are made because the fox is watching the hen house and Freemasons are never held accountable in the Cayman Islands.
Whatever happens to Chief Officer Bush in the coming weeks is an indictment on the entire system and the sham that accountability, transparency and good governance exists that the public demands. It will show the public that the sanctioning of Minister Bush is all about who you know, teaching a lesson as he exposed too much about a broken system given his uncouth style and lack of professionalism versus the protection offered to a special class of senior civil servant, lodge man and Caymanian that is deemed to be “special” given family bloodlines.
In Cayman “all animals are equal but some are MORE equal than others” and the goal posts shifts depending on where you are from and who ya daddy is?
Wow I couldn’t have said it any better
Well written opinion I agree, but I take exception to “no previous affiliations”.
Like it or not we have a UDP government as demonstrated by the appointments of all board members.
Mac remains in the background as puppet master, tolerating Panton as a convenience to do it’s bidding.
PPM was all unified and look how they did.
10.46am Yes left the country in a great financial position even after Covid struck. PACT has squandered and borrowed in one year.
That is factually incorrect did you go to the Joey Who school of management?
The government is a joke. Between Bush being sort of “suspended “ but still there at caricature for the glory, and the health minister thinking that Covid doesn’t happen if the clinic is closed just shows the inability of the leadership group. Both Ministers should be removed.