The Governor of the Cayman Islands, H.E. Duncan Taylor, says the Budget is not done but the Cayman Islands premier, Hon. McKeeva Bush, says the Budget is done.

If Taylor says, “not done,” and Bush says, “is done,” is done, done or not?

Sounds a bit like the old tongue twister, “Ned Nott was shot and Sam Shott was not. Some say Nott was not shot But Shott says he shot Nott etc” and finally asks the question “Was Shott shot or Nott?”

A memo circulating the Internet but intended only for civil servants, signed by Jennifer Ahearn, Acting Deputy Governor, and dated last Thu (26), would indicate that on that date the budget was not finalised. It contains the sentence “the budget for the year has not yet been finalised, as the impacts of the various options are still being considered”.

It is all very well Mr. Bush castigating the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) but all they have asked for is a balanced budget with no borrowing but showing a surplus.

Is that really so unreasonable?

Whilst I am not entirely convinced the FCO haven’t hinted at a form of taxation to be introduced, and their favourite form is Valued Added tax (VAT) that has been introduced in the Turks and Caicos Islands (with much dismay and controversy) there is no written evidence from that department that they have.

However, as it seems Mr. Bush’s desire, he places the blame squarely on the shoulders of everyone else but his government.

I certainly can agree with PPM and Opposition Leader Hon. Alden McLaughlin’s comments regarding Bush’s tax (called by Bush a ‘community enhancement fee’) that this tax is the “thin end of the wedge” and every Caymanian is also at risk.

Mr. Bush has denied this, however, saying in his statement shown on our front page under the heading “Bush replies to Governor”, that:

“The Leader of the Opposition has also come out to mislead the public on this matter. He has suggested a VAT, or Property Tax, and that Payroll Fees can be extended to Caymanians.  Everyone knows that I rejected VAT, income, and Property Tax, and Payroll Taxes across the board in 2009 – I still do! His suggestion is nothing but him trying to gain points from this situation, this financial mess with the FCO in control, that he created.”

With a massive outcry here from both ex-Pats and Caymanians and from nearly all business/financial organisations, over the premier’s announcement of a 10% tax on work permit holders, it is going to take some strong nerves from him to actually implement such an outrageous proposal.

A Facebook page was also created by a local work-permit holder that has accumulated over 9,000 members, who plan to protest at Mr. Bush’s public meeting on Monday (30) evening at Mary Miller Hall, Red Bay next to the Prospect Playhouse.  I will be watching this on local television CITN/Cayman27. **

I can agree with Mr. Bush’s statement that, “A VAT tax would be disastrous for these islands, so would property tax.”  I have to add and “so will his Community Enhancement Fee”.

He must agree with me otherwise he wouldn’t have tried to disguise what it is by calling it something else. A tax is defined as a “burdensome charge” whilst a fee is a “payment for service or for a privilege”. There is a huge difference.

So, is Bush “Shott” of the budget or not?

** This meeting was cancelled by the premier at almost the last hour, citing “disruptive elements” and is now planned in West Bay on Wednesday (Aug1).