Governor claims to be working against corruption
(CNS): Governor Jane Owen has said she is “committed to working every day… to ensure that our jurisdiction operates to the highest international standards”. Owen made the comment in a press release from the Anti-Corruption Commission as it marked the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day on Monday. However, the beleaguered commission continues to struggle with underfunding and staffing issues, and no explanation has ever been offered for the various staffing problems and the human resource investigation that took place with the ACC in 2022.
The officers that now form the small team of investigators, under the leadership of Richard Oliver, continue to face criticism for their tendency to go after lower-ranked government officials involved in low-level bribes. They have had only very limited prosecution success and many believe the team is failing to actually pursue those at the top of the government structure who are widely believed to be engaged in systemic corruption.
The release said that over the past year, the ACC’s work has resulted in the charging of 26 individuals and one arrest.
However, most of these people are linked to the $100 bung case involving one officer at the DVDL who is accused of taking bribes to steer vehicles through the inspection process. The rest of those charged are accused of handing over the $100 in exchange for a vehicle road-worthiness certificate. This case is currently winding its way through the courts, and the first trials are expected to take place in May.
In the release, the governor said that integrity and transparency are the pillars of a just society.
“It is important that we unite to maintain Cayman’s strong reputation in this area. The Anti-Corruption Commission helps us defend against corruption, [and] build a future where honesty prevails, trust thrives, and every action reflects accountability.
“I am committed to working every day through our Government and Parliament, our civil service and public bodies and our independent commissions and authorities to ensure that our jurisdiction operates to the highest international standards. This in turn gives confidence not only to our partners and investors but to every man and woman living and thriving in our islands,” she said.
The ACC said that corruption undermines trust, weakens institutions, and stifles opportunities for all, especially young people.
This year’s theme, “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”, serves as a call to action for young people in the Cayman Islands and beyond to be champions of integrity, to speak out against injustice, and to actively participate in creating a transparent and accountable society, the commission stated.
It also urged every member of the community, young and old alike, to play their part in ensuring that fairness and justice prevail.
For more information about the commission and how to report suspicions of corruption visit www.anticorruptioncommission.ky, email info@anticorruptioncommission.ky or call (345) 244-3685.
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Category: ACC Investigation, Crime
Why don’t we start with fining the PPM for the $38mln settlement to exit the ReGen Award that Dart won outside procurement law, without an actual bid? Permanently sanction the PPM politicians that underwrote that boondoggle, and reframe how we deal with the forever bad faith developer. Count up how much they owe in back fees on the $30mln duty waivers, with interest and penalties. Get them to honor their obligation under the NRA deal, or forfeit/expropriate back the freehold land packages they were gifted, again, under the PPM. This isn’t rocket science.
i am sorry to inform everybody, but this is factually not true.
Until the “Lodge” members are rooted out and tbe people stand up then things will always be the same. Facts do not lie.
This criminal organization seeks to benefit its members only.
From the Judicial (no Lodge member is ever convicted, just look at Mckeeva Bush, Martin selling numbers in the Brac).
Then look at core Govt, Manderson is Lodge, why he there in place so long, no matter how much he messes up.
Then look at the boards, like the Port Authority Board members, again majority are Lodge members, no wonder the make weird decisions.
Again, Tourism Attraction Board, Lodge members.
Planning Board, Lodge members……
The list goes on. Govt has a form to fill in when you start work there. Conflict declarations. The form Does Not Ask about being a member of the “Lodge” and there is no requirement to disclose this information……
Unfortunately our Caymanian Deputy Governor is not part of the Problem he is in fact the real PROBLEM but you see Cayman UK Knighthood awaits for his loyalty and stellar efforts to maintain Status Quo in these blessed islands that Christopher Columbus spotted in 1503.So we must not Tarry because his disciples must see their just rewards for doing his bidding in Government. We prayeth justice will be done against this tyrannical regime and it’s officers. But I doubt we will ever see it in this Lodge gangsta paradise!
The Brits dont fart without a plan. This is all by design!! Wait for it!!
From my own work for the past 50 years plus in Cayman the volume of fraud has increased substantially. it can be divided into three elements, fraud against the government, local Cayman fraud and international fraud.
The government and the statutory boards are audited by the OAG and well served by the current AG and her staff. The problem she faces is that the laws surrounding her work are insufficiently strong. That needs to be fixed and quickly.
Local fraud is now a major problem with families stealing from each other, and frauds taking place on Local Companies licences where fronting is the norm.
International fraud is on the increase and in many cases there is no real answer where operations are not subject to local scrutiny under our laws. In this area directors, managers and auditors need beef up their procedures and be more diligent. In particular auditors need change their role as watchdogs. In this day and age they should be bloodhounds. Directors are a different breed as they are largely protected through our antiquanted Companies Act which permits the indemnity of company directors. This needs to be fixed. We are yards behind other jurisdictions in this area of security.
I hope the Governor will take the time to read all of these comments. If she does, she will find that the people of Cayman do not trust the government in any way, shape, or form.
Why should we? Our supposed representatives represent themselves, their friends and families, and significant contributors such as utilities, developers, and landholders.
The Cayman Islands should be setting the standard for honest, representative government. Accurate, fair, and Open Government is one big step in that direction.
“The Cayman Islands should be setting the standard for honest, representative government. Accurate, fair, and Open Government is one big step in that direction.”
LOL – A sad laugh! I believe we are setting the standard for us and other territories to do the opposite! Works for us, why not others (except the drop is deeper than the Cayman Trench!!!).
Working on her pension more like. She doing absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor has decreed internally that any civil servants acting as supergrass whistleblowers or speaking out against the serving corrupt regimes, will be fired. What has Her Excellency done to walk that back, and/or encourage not just continued governance, but “good” governance and “best practice”? Where are these fabled Nolan principles in action?
Speaking out against internal corruption was at the core of the 2022 ACC purge. Those that spoke up were forced out.
Governor Jane Owen “Working” really don’t make laugh . What a loser
You notice the wording Cayman she said “Working” against not fighting against Corruption! Take note Cayman .
Have you seen my glasses?
Thank you CNS ! I needed a good laugh 😂
🤣 The stuff is simply comedy gold through and through.
As pointed out above Cayman’s corruption in ranking has become an issue and will soon come to the nostrils of the bloodhounds of various institutions such as the FATF , the OECD, and this time around it might land us back on the grey list for the FATF and directly to the black list of the OECD as corruption especially when endemic as it has become, heavily influences the risk ranking rankings issued by these institutions.
The ACC, OAG, etc are just emptied out of any enforcement capacity thanks for section 2.4 that opens a breach in the ACC’s capacity to conduct its mission at ministerial and cabinet levels ! That provision alone is a blank check to the executive branch to do as it pleases.
PACT knew full well about this and the PPM sure did not twitch either during the debate as it were otherwise the PPM would have been wiped out down to the
janitor.
2.4 of which piece of legislation?
Yes whilst on her E foil board she passes by Cayman Corruption smiling her life away and when ask about its stench in government and everywhere else. says oh dear I came here and found it so I will continue to maintain status quo in the Cayman islands. A Total waste of space and the Front for those legendary Government and private philanthropist who continue unabated with their corrupt time honor traditions in Cayman. Who are now pushing the baby tram for our ex colonial neighbor and their political and criminal corrupt pariahs and demons who have now become a part of an entrench in our society here now . Some people need to stop telling lies about fighting corruption when it appears to all, they are clearly being seduced by it …
Under targeting, not under funding. They don’t want to bring any focus to the 800lb gorillas in the room, or their developer interests and donor classes. They are not allowed to bite the hand that feeds them, which all on its own should itself be an investigation…
https://caymannewsservice.com/2023/12/macs-back-in-official-role-as-ps-to-two-ministers/
Here she is, the Anti Corruption Queen handing McBeater his PS appointment certificate… you’re a disgrace Madame Governor
The same governor who promised making Cayman a hostile environment for criminal activity, blah blah blah?
Would the Governor care to comment on the World Bank’s assessment of corruption in the Cayman Islands?
https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators/interactive-data-access
The jurisdiction had an index of in the +90s in 2013 and in 2023 the index has dropped to 65 (increasingly more corrupt).
If this is her mandate then she is woefully failing.
We are flying down a slippery slope with the things we have become accepting and tolerant of. One just has to look at what is happening at Board level in our many statutory authorities and government companies, it is nothing short of criminal yet none of our watchdog agencies (auditor general, PAC, commission in standards in public life, ACC or indeed the media) are saying a thing. We need to sign some serious light on the way the public is being fleeced by these bodies.
Read the recent General report regarding SAGC formerly TAB now CINAA and the 600K children garden
They’ve been sitting on another report that is much more enlightening, it should have been released from September but no one is holding Cullen and company accountable for timely delivery. The are going to wait until parliament dissolves and there is no one to present it to
tab got all that work done for 600 that is incredible
It was Phase One only
And yet – Dwayne skates on not one but 2 “single driver “ incidents, no one is prosecuting Charles or the former chief medical officer over the Drs Express fiasco despite a Grand Court judge finding that Court had been deliberately misled, and even the Premier says that politicians are being manipulated by commercial interests. And the band plays on.
So right. Yes. I once read that even some judicial authorities are breaking the law, including deleting court records, but no-one if prosecuted. What a bunch of bunk.
Say what one will about topsy-turvy America, especially now with the world holding it’s breath, but public figures are certainly held accountable there! Between the real press and their law enforcement agencies, public figures especially politicians, behaving like our own here would be jailed!
Yet it’s just another day here. What is wrong with us?
Is corruption becoming entrenched, like T&C? Was Legge right? Madame Governor, FCO do something please!!
I beg to differ. If that is true, Trump would have been jailed long time. Just as slippery as ours.
my man… they just elected a convicted felon and confessed R@pist to be president… for a second time.
Their supreme court judges are openly accepting bribes, they have multiple members of congress and the senate who have been charged with crimes, what world are you living in?
To 10 @ 4.11pm and 11@12.19pm. You guys aren’t as sharp as you think you are!
My point is exactly that! The fact that Trump stood trial and was convicted validates my point! The actions of the electorate do not negate those of the legal systems and the media.
Want more proof of my point? Ask Matt Goetz, ex-Sen Menendez, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, et al!
Governor. You know about a Minister having vehicular disputes with inanimate objects? You know about the same Minister having responsibility for labor and border control? You know about the allegations of non compliance by that same Minister’s business with aspects of our labor regimes?
You seen the pictures of our honorable premier driving a steamroller?
You seen any PWD road paving vehicles since you arrived?
You think this is all normal?
Look closer his Chief Officer is Wesley Howell, whose second hat is as kingmaker in the role of Supervisor of Elections. You can’t make this stuff up.
The current Governor Jane Owens is compromised and a puppet for the current premier and deputy governor manderson.
She is spineless and in full vacation mode. Time to move her on immediately and bring in a professional that will call bollocks and address the bloated and inept civil service plus the overt corruption in these islands.
#freeanwar
Anyone in Cayman who is not in a coma might quite reasonably suspect that the function of the ACC is to create a mirage that our governance structures are working to suppress corruption while allowing it to thrive.
The precise reason top level corruption goes unchecked, but a press release for alleged DVDL $100 bribes. They are clearly showing us their priorities. Look at my left hand while the right goes unchecked.
That has been the Caymanian way for 400 years. “Oh no Mr Lloyds, we aren’t leading your cargo vessels onto the reef, but here, let us help you generously salvage that cargo we feel is still good, and don’t mind the pistol aimed at the signing Officer’s head.
And tick a box for the FATF.
Section 2.4 of Cabinet’s ‘Code of Conduct’ only requires a Cabinet Minister to ‘observe’ our laws and then to comply with only those laws that she or he thinks are ‘relevant’ on any given day. The framework for corruption is blindingly obvious in Cayman.
Seriously?
Where is the evidence?
Why was the December 2022 amendment to s.17 of the Anti-Corruption Act that effectively gutted a significant part of that Act assented to if there was any effort to eliminate corruption?
Yes, they made it impossible to prosecute public servants. Even the ones who attached a lawful business Doctors Express, were not prosecuted even if a judge found that they did it intentionally.
High level corruption is obvious.
Obvious corruption is ignored in part because our politicians have created self-serving loopholes utterly inconsistent with good governance.
What other jurisdiction provides politicians with a $5,000 per month stipend for which they do not need to provide receipts that they can use to buy votes??? What about that Your Excellency.
It is all around us. Corruption is not about taking bribes. Just look at the number of luxury vehicles government buys and given to officials to treat as their own personal transport and serve no other purpose.
No ACC investigation there…
Guess that is a statement that is politically correct because she certainly would not want to say that she just sits around all day just waiting for the premier to tell her what to do or say.
Are they going to hold CINAA management and board chair accountable for breaking the procurement law as stated in Auditor Generals report? You cannot have unity against corruption without accountability for “every action” as the Governor has stated.
While they are going after that one, throw in the HSA Board who is abusing their public office and collecting tens of thousands per annum while running the organization into the ground
All talk… Anwar was serious about it and he didn’t last 5 mins.
He didn’t last 5 minutes but yet somehow you have any idea what he was serious about?
I thought Anwar was dismissed as he contracted the Alan Scott syndrome..
https://caymannewsservice.com/2016/08/90s-governor-berates-uk-bosses-in-final-dispatch/
This was a wonderful flash back. Thanks for the reference.
“Beleaguered” is fast becoming CNS’s go-to adjective.
When the shoe fits….
So glad the Governor is on top of things. Was her press release reviewed by the Premiers office?
Written by.
Yes. Gov. Jane Owen is doing more than people realize. Like a skilled sailor she is navigating between reefs waves and shorelines.
As a local I can say: She is sensitive and monitoring the culture and needs, while using her office to inprove lives in meaningful ways.
Just what have you been consuming this morning to write such a low level statement like that? Her ship is floating along aimlessly with her and the premier laying in the deck chairs.
JuJu, is that you? Thought I saw piece of curtain hanging out the side of this comment.
the front page article is about how Ju JU is taking home more in a month than most people make in a year and more than the UK prime minster and the president of the United states.
I don’t know if you are a paid poster or just have your head buried so far in the sand that taste the earths mantle.
Dear Madam Gov. judging just by the optics of your numerous smiley faced photo ops with the likes of our motley fool MPs, and you must know the ones? Be serious, you obviously don’t give two wet teabags about corruption let alone be seen as working against it.
On the contrary you appear to be Cayman’s biggest advocate of corruption.
The Governor is here to keep quiet. As she has done.
BULLSHIT (Your Excellency).
Any semblance of good governance has become a farce.
Routing out corruption? How about an investigation into the cabinet status grants? Does it irk you as to who some of the beneficiaries were?
The hapless Richard Oliver should have been retired from his position decades ago. It’s imperative to investigate how someone with such a long record of failure has been allowed to remain in his role unchecked. The 2022 cover-up was yet another disgraceful episode under his watch. A full public inquiry is not only warranted but overdue.
😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
That cover-up may be coming to light sooner than most expect. What do expect when you cut off your nose to spite your face?
Thank you Canover
Golf buddies in high places. That’s how you get a job in his office……….allegedly. But that may be just supposition, rumour, conjecture, gossip and hearsay.
What a farce! Can anyone point to a single significant investigation conducted by the anti-corruption commission that truly addresses the core corruption issues in the Cayman Islands? Focusing on minor bribes and petty theft of mud simply misses the mark. Nearly every court case has ended in a not guilty. The ACC is clearly not fit for purpose, led by an inept manager and his group of ineffectual sycophants.
Well, they went after Canover so they could tick the box for the FATF. Now that’s our the way back to prosecuting low level functionaries and members of the public. Wouldn’t want to upset anyone and get sent back to Blighty.
Yes, Canover was been relentlessly prosecuted while some who were also involved (and others in other matters) continue to engage in the same activity.
The reason that court cases return not guilty verdicts despite compelling evidence is because of the jury decision – you can draw your own conclusions as to whether ‘12 Good Men and True’ are actually that!!