Mac: SMCs threaten economy
Posted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 09:39 in Local Business
(CNS Business): The premier has said that replacing the current voting system with single member constituencies (SMC) could threaten the economic prosperity of the Cayman Islands as it may make the islands look unstable. In a radio and television broadcast on Thursday in which he pushed government’s position to support the status quo and campaigned against the introduction of one man, one vote and single member constituencies, McKeeva Bush said voters must think of how it looks to those who make Cayman prosperous because it could make Cayman look like a banana republic and put them off coming here.
He said competition between financial centres is fierce and voting for change would be shooting “ourselves in the foot” before the battle to win new investment had even started.
“That is why I called this referendum now; we could not afford the uncertainty a moment longer,” he said, stating that the idea needed to be dismissed so attention could be turned back to the important projects that would build future prosperity. “We must focus unwaveringly on the things that will make Cayman successful and wealthy, and our people being able to take care of your families financially,” Bush added, as he warned of the impact on business.
“Businesses and tourists come here not only because of the traditional warm Caymanian welcome and hospitality, but because we have a stable political and legal system. No one can predict the outcome of future elections under a changed system, so outsiders have to take this into account,” he said, adding that it could be the deciding factor for a business looking to bring their headquarters here, or send them to Nassau or the British Virgin Islands.
The premier said he believed the new system that has been proposed is open to abuse and manipulation. “We could end up being run by 18 family bosses rather than a shining Caribbean example of English democracy,” he said. “We need to promise investors a stable and secure place to live and do business, not a risky, chaotic banana republic.”
In his address Bush said the country needed stability to focus on the projects “such as an attractive port and an expanded airport bringing in tourists,” as well as investors contributing to revenues and creating jobs. Before Cayman could focus on these things it needed to put the “uncertainty and risk of tinkering with our democracy behind us.”
He said he meant to ensure Cayman was attractive to new enterprises and innovation. “As premier, I intend to deliver a new found focus on these drivers of our future prosperity, pushing forward key government projects and supporting the critically important private sector projects that contribute to this success,” he stated as he asked people to vote ‘no’ to the proposal for single member constituencies and stick to what he called the tried and tested system.
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A threat to "economic prosperity"????
A strange invention indeed from Mr. Bush, especially considering that teh Chamber of Commerce, which represents most businesses in Cayman released a position paper in February clearly confirming its support for "One Person, One Vote". While Mr. Bush may well consider himself more qualified than the Chamber to discuss what might threaten business investment in the Cayman Islands, I feel that his expertise is much more limited. His qualifications seem much more in the field of how to lead a bank into bankruptcy, how to grant duty credit of millions to a hotel which will never repay it, how to squander the peoples' money in many other areas, and how to ignore due process and the law.
The Premier is the sole
The Premier is the sole reason why Cayman looks like a banana republic. He just does not get it, for it is undemocratic and corrupt practices that have placed Cayman together with all the African and Central American failed states. He is unwiling to embrace democracy because he is afraid of losing his dictatorial control over the country.
Corruption
The corruption activities of the TCI politicians is finally at hand. It recommenced today when a reporter ignored the judge regarding recording of court proceedings and promptly finished up in hand cuffs. They are dead serious over there and there is no doubt that heads will roll.
Whilst this may have nothing to do with one man one vote argument, if I was MacMisick would be looking at Venezuela as a future home.
Love the comments
You guys comments are so funny! Reading this is almost as comical as it comes.
SMC may cost more but we can't afford the alternative any longer!
Keep the comments coming you guys just won't let this guy forget..Director of a Failed Bank Hahaha!
Too funny
TCI Islanders don't think
TCI Islanders don't think investigations into corruption are funny at all.
TCI ISLANDERS
That's because a lot of them were worried that THEIR ass might be arrested......
That is because of the
That is because of the devastating effect it has had on their country. Don't get me wrong I am all for thorough investigations. My point is that it is no laughing matter.
"...new system that has been
"...new system that has been proposed is open to abuse and manipulation."
Mr. Premier, this applies to the current voting system as well.
Also, get real, investors do not care how you get elected. They come here in spite of people like you, not becasue of people like you. They really do not care about you, they only come here because we have a British governor who, in theory, keeps people like you in check.
No Mr. Bush a democratic
No Mr. Bush a democratic process won't make investors see Cayman differently. But what could make investors leery is a government that signs MOU's and then ignores them, changes them and then gets sued. It is also bad optics for the government to give duty concessions to a fast talking developer who XXXXX shortly after his election stopped making payments. It could also give a bad impression to have the leader of the country under investigation for possible corruption.
It's a bad thing when you are
It's a bad thing when you are uneducated; you talk a lot of nonsense and you are proud of what you have said. I have heard a lot of BS and ignorance in the last three years, but this one caps it off. The referendum and next election can't come soon enough! Trust me.
waaa waaa whine whine b!tch
waaa waaa whine whine b!tch cry complain stomp feet pout and sulk "well i na going play wid yu no more den!!"
McKeeve got all dis mouth now but ran from an actual debate
worst Premier ever...oh never mind!
SMC will not "make Cayman
SMC will not "make Cayman look like a Banana Republic". This antiquated multi-party voting system is backward and retarded.
What makes Cayman a backward 'banana republic' are:
...shall I continue?
what scares investors is having an uneducated, unqualified in charge of the place.
exactly why we need SMC -- so McKeeva can stop dragging 3 puppets along with him through elections and the rest of us have to suffer for West Bayers to get fridges.
SMC will not make cayman
Hear, hear. well said.
The Speaker's attempts to
The Speaker's attempts to silence free speech in the LA has been a disgrace.
And the monkey show that he
And the monkey show that he is putting on doesn't make us look like a banana republic?
I mean some people, just wow!!!!!!!!
Seriously, when is the next
Seriously, when is the next oipen mic comedy night. This is hysterical.
Voters of Cayman, if you believe this argument believe me you are too stupid to vote.
Talk about Banana Republic.
Talk about Banana Republic. How about one whose leader is under investigation for possible corruption.
BUSH v SMC 's
The World will see us as a " Banana Republic " ?? This from a man who attended formal meetings in London a few years ago in a green academic gown that made him look like an overweight Hamid Karzai, and then appeared at the Royal Wedding dressed like a wine waiter at the Lord Mayor's Banquet - and he thinks people will START to see us as a Banana Republic !!
Bush fears that no one will be able to predict the outcome of future elections under a changed system. Well, if anybody was capable of predicting the outcome of any election, under ANY system, he would be an incredibly wealthy man, and the bookmakers would be out of business.
Does nobody vet his scripts before he opens his mouth.
Banana republic
"It could make Cayman look like a banana republic".
I can't decide if the author was having a LMAO moment, of if stupidity runs deeper than anyone imagined.
Elections in general cause
Elections in general cause investor insecurity. I propose that we do away with elections and create the position of Chief Cleptocrat which would entitle the office holder to run everything and would be a life long post which can then be sold on to the next person who wants the title.
Banana Republic definitions
Banana Republic is tinkering with the regulation of mutual funds so voters can have their CUC bills discounted. Banana Republic is having your senior political adviser circulate a memo on a so-called "meeting" that was held to discuss proposed amendments to the Legal Practioners Bill under the pretense of actually attempting to listen to the concerns of the legal profession despite the fact that these concerns have been made known for a number of years. The premier refuses to accept that his actions have brought us to this point.
What Bush is really saying to
What Bush is really saying to those who are gullible and cannot think for themselves is that the one Man One vote is a threat to him! and therefore he will not be able to continue destroying the livelihood of the people disenfranchising them as they are now. Te Referendum will indeed " take the wind out of his sail" as he would no longer be able to put DEVELOPERS BEFORE THE PEOPLE! He will finally have to deliver to the people their wishes!
Trust me on this one,
This is McKeeva Bush's greatest nightmare, it is also confirmation that because he is so scared of this new system of democracy it can only mean one thing for the people of the Cayman Islands
We all have a chance of a lifetime now to write the orbituary of the UDP party!
GET THOSE 10,000 SIGNATURES !
Your very life depends on it.
Good job Mr. Bush, with your
Good job Mr. Bush, with your "Banana Republic" comments you have not only insulted we Caymanians(who you seem to have forgotten that you work for), you have also just insulted pretty much all of the investors and tourists that come here as Single Member Constituencies is the voting system used by most(if not all) of the countries that our investors and tourists come from.
" it could make Cayman look
" it could make Cayman look like a banana republic"
Eh, Mac you are doing a fine job at that yourself.
"No one can predict the outcome of future elections"
Well done Sherlock.
What is this man smoking?
It Could Make Cayman Look
BULLSEYE ,,,,,
"(SMCs) could make Cayman
"(SMCs) could make Cayman look like a banana republic and put (investors) off coming here".
Now I have heard it all. No, Mr. Bush, full democracy will not cause investors to think we are a banana republic. However, unresolved investigations into apparent corruption by the country's premier and other party members, threats against freedom of speech and efforts to curtail FOI by the premier, public rants by the premier against devil worshipper bloggers who are conspiring against him, a premier who has only a grade school education but who also holds the position of minister of finance (and have no relevant qualifications or experience other than being a director of a failed bank), minister of tourism and minister of development, not allowing proper notice for parliamentary scrutiny of bills, and reckless decisions taken by a one-man government will.
In short, sir, your entire administration has made us look like a banana republic.
Damn right!! Well said!!
Damn right!! Well said!!
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