Former Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce in the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) government, and the first prominent member to leave the party, sent the media a press release entitled “Solutions vs. Politics.” – See separate story

Mr. Clifford gives an opening background and reasons for his decision to leave the PPM citing the mistake of the party embracing “the Caribbean model of party politics. He goes on further to make the comparison of our downturn in economy commencing in 2001 and the same year we embraced the party system.

“When there were no political parties,” he says, “governments were traditionally given two terms to implement their agenda. Since party politics came into being good governance and effective policy making have taken a nosedive and voter frustration has grown exponentially which has resulted in each government being given one term only.”

He makes the claim that, “Our society has become more divided and the unity between Caymanians and Expatriates, which was hitherto the cornerstone of our success as a country, has all but disappeared.”

He offers this solution to our country’s problems: “to vote in the 2013 general elections to elect a coalition government consisting of a good mixture of candidates and begin the process of disbanding political parties.”

He blames not just the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) but the PPM, the party he was a government minister of, for our present woes. Is this a first for a minister to own up for his part in it? He also puts some of the blame on all of us.

“As citizens we must also acknowledge some responsibility as our demands on government for services and favours are very hard for the party in power to resist. It is important that we all acknowledge that nothing is for free and every service and favour provided by government must ultimately be paid for by all of us. Government does not automatically generate money by its mere existence. So nothing is free and we must all pay, one way or the other, directly or indirectly, for government to operate.”

He says the government’s current budget proposals are a “band aid approach” and will do nothing to solve our problems “in the medium term”.

He admits that the civil service must be reduced but this can only be “done over time and on a phased basis through collaboration with the private sector but planning and execution must commence now.”

“The aim should be to reduce government’s expenditure on salaries by $10M annually over 5 years which would represent a total reduction of $50M in expenditure. On the basis of an average annual salary of $39,000 this equates to the migration of approximately 256 civil servants to the private sector annually over a 5 year period for a total reduction of 1,280 civil servants. With an average of 19,000 work permits in existence annually, this is easily achievable.”

Then Clifford gives a comprehensive list of additional actions that could reduce expenditures. He names Cayman Turtle Farm Island Wildlife Encounter, Tourism Attractions Board, Cayman Airways, The Nation Building Fund, Government Administration Building, and Health Services Authority, where this can be achieved.

He also says, “I am advised that if sufficient resources were deployed to enforce the Proceeds of Crime Law, $60M – $70M could be deposited into the government’s treasury in this financial year alone.” He asks the question, “why is this being ignored?”

He claims, “My recommendations, if pursued, could potentially save the government $41.4M annually and much more over time. Revenue in this 2012/13 financial year could improve by $60M – $70M.”

He finally calls on Premier McKeeva Bush to resign pending the outcome of the three police investigations that “must be addressed decisively.”

Clifford’s press recommendations are very detailed and at first sight I am personally very impressed. There is much there for people to tear down as they will but there is also a whole lot of sense, too.

This is similar to what I have been waiting so very long for Hon. Alden McLaughlin, leader of the PPM to come up with, instead of the “No” “No” policy with precious little solutions he cries with much wind and bluster at everything the premier proposes.

McLaughlin should take a very hard and in depth look at Clifford’s “Solutions vs. Politics” and produce something on similar lines and better. He best do this quickly before he has a mass exodus from his party that is looking less like an alternative government as every day passes.

When I asked Clifford if he would be standing as an independent in the 2013 election he replied, “I have not yet decided if I will be running as I am now setting up my legal practice and that is a handful.”

However he tempered that with, “Having said that, I honestly don’t think that I can be at peace with all the madness that government is going on with given the very dangerous implications of their actions.”

“With each passing day I grow more and more concerned that if an alternative doesn’t emerge by the end of this year, McKeeva and the UDP, as unpopular as they are at the moment, could win again by default.”

Sobering words Mr. Clifford.