At the time of writing this Editorial there are two storms in our area and both have uncertain directions and wind speeds.

The first is Tropical Storm Ernesto that is due to be near here Monday (6) night and its actual direction and wind speed will then be known for certain.

The second storm is the 10% Expat Tax/Community Enhancement Fee that earlier on Sat. morning had surprisingly blown itself out and was gone. This was also the same time that Ernesto had surprisingly weakened.

For a couple of hours I was deliriously happy but it was then dampened.

A group of local business people [Woody Foster,
 Brigitte Kirkconnell-Shaughness,
 Roy McTaggart,
 Dan Scott,
 Al Thompson,
 Gene Thompson &
Wilbur Thompson] claim they have proposed alternatives to the Community Enhancement Fee which the premier has accepted.

The statement they jointly issued said, “The Premier has committed to making a public statement on Monday night at the Mary Miller Hall agreeing to suggestions – proposed by us and others – and removing the Community Enhancement Fee from further consideration. At this time, he will provide details on the new revenue measures that Government is considering.”

I have to say at first I was in doubt but as all the other media houses reported the same statement I believed and rejoiced.

However, it was not for long.  At 10am Cayman 27 issued a statement from the premier saying, “the fee has not been withdrawn and will only be withdrawn if a solution that can be found that does not affect regular Caymanians.

At roughly the same time on Monday we will know exactly where we stand with both storms.

At present both are having difficulty, one with dry air and the other with extreme heat from nearly all the business associations and the above mentioned business people. Please see all these statements that we have published on iNews Cayman.

Not one is in favour of the Expat Tax and all have made alternative suggestions how to reduce the Budget deficit.

The huge majority of the general public whether Caymanian or non-Caymanian are united as one against this tax.

The only time I have heard anyone say they are for this tax was at the premier’s West Bay party meeting when the pro’s acted like a rabble of hooligans shouting their support and trying to drown out the opponents against it.

I actually choked when I heard Mr. Bush’s lawyer, Steve McField, say the premier deserved some respect after the premier had been earlier outrageously disrespectful of the Cayman Islands governor telling him to “sun his buns”!

We shall have to wait for what happens at The Mary Miller Hall on Monday evening.

Then the paths of both storms will be determined with their wind speeds. We will know which way the wind is blowing and what it will do to us.