Editorial by Joan Evangeline (Watler) Wilson

When I was living in England in 1959 a popular British television series was running called “The Four Just Men” based on a novel by crime novelist Edgar Wallace.

The opening voiceover ran like this:

“Throughout time there have been men to whom justice has been more important than life itself. From these ranks come four men prepared to fight valiantly on the side of justice, wherever the need may be. Joined together in this cause they are – THE FOUR JUST MEN.”

I can remember Judi Dench appearing in one of the episodes and one of the leads was the late great British actor, Jack Hawkins.

I am a grassroots Caymanian. Both sides of my family go back to the very first settlers here, the Boddens and Watlers.

My late father, Joseph “Roddy” Watler, fought for justice on my three beloved Islands. He was the Chief of Police here for 33 years amongst other duties.

I am proud of my father and I was proud of my country. I love my country very much.

I have chosen to write this Editorial today, and not my husband Colin, because every bone in my body, every flesh on my body and every pint of blood running through my body is CAYMANIAN! No paper and no import Caymanian.

This Editorial is published as our lead story too, because I want everyone to read it. Above all, I hope all of the eight UDP Government members read it, because it is addressed to you in particular. I want you to note that the other lead stories on iNews Cayman today are sadly from the foreign press. They have been purposely re-published there to illustrate the rest of this damning Editorial.

To:

Hon Juliana Y. O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MLA, Hon Rolston M. Anglin, JP, MLA, Hon Michael T. Adam, MBE, JP, MLA, Hon Mark Scotland, MLA, Hon Cline A. Glidden, Jr, MLA, Capt A. Eugene Ebanks, JP, MLA, Mr Ellio Solomon, MLA and Mr Dwayne Seymour, MLA

The Cayman Islands reputation has become the source of much bad publicity including derision and ridicule over the last three and a half years ever since Mr. McKeeva Bush was elected as my country’s very first premier.

I was once actually proud of Mr. Bush. I watched him rise from a bank-teller, with only an average education, to a politician who has not been afraid to ‘tell it how it is’. I have watched him hold his own and even better his political opponents with twice his academic achievements. I have often not agreed with him but that has not stopped me recognizing him as a man who had a brain sharp enough to outwit all comers.

I agreed with my husband, Colin, that Mr. Bush has been the only professional politician we have had.

I applauded Bush’s decision to resign when the First Cayman Bank scandal got attached to him and I was pleased he was exonerated. He resigned, at that time, from continuing as a member of the government because he was under investigation. It was the right thing for him to have done.

However, I have seen a very unwelcome change since his appointment as the PREMIER OF OUR COUNTRY.

The old adage, “Power Corrupts”, has been labeled on his door. Most certainly, power has gone to his head. Most importantly he seems to have no sense or idea of the meaning of two words – “diplomacy” and “politeness”. He shows absolutely no respect for persons who have reached positions in higher authority than himself, especially those that have the nerve to disagree with him or he feels uncomfortable with. Like it or not they are his masters and taking orders is something alien to him now he is the top dog of a small country that belongs to the CROWN!

Yes, it is a fact, no matter how unpleasant that may be for some of the persons living here, but the Cayman Islands are a CROWN dependency. It is a fact that, because we stayed with the CROWN and did not go with Jamaica when they sought and got Independence, we got prosperity, we got investment, and everyone’s standard of living here rose tenfold!

The CROWN did not stand in our way then. The CROWN was not against us then. The CROWN did not plot, play games, tried to interfere, nor instigated any WITCH HUNT against any politician in this country then. And substitute the word “then” for “ever”. And “ever” means “ever” – it includes NOW!

No Governor sent here has EVER been “jealous” nor “vindictive” against any politician in this country.

And if anyone here, who does not know me, thinks I have no knowledge of politics in this country, you are wrong. I have been actively involved in politics in this country since my return to Cayman with my first husband, in 1968 after spending twelve years with him in England. It was in England I matured, learnt, watched, and admired their way “of doing things”. I noted how their country was run.

I campaigned for many of the politicians back here, when they were truly “Independent”. Yes, the word that has suddenly been the flavour of the month and shouted by the Coalition For Cayman(C4C).

I was Campaign Manager for the great statesman and leader of this country, Norman Bodden, when he first got elected.

I spoke on the platform of many of our past leaders and the ones I didn’t, I still respected. Most are cousins of mine and we have a very happy relationship. If you don’t believe me ask Truman Bodden and/or John McLean whom I actually campaigned against.

Just because we don’t agree it doesn’t mean we are against that person. It doesn’t mean we have no respect for them. It doesn’t mean it gives us the right to be rude and make personal and untrue statements against them. It doesn’t mean we will go and engage “dark” forces to bring that person or persons down.

There were lots of times my dear friend, Benson Ebanks, who also was once ‘Father of the House’ (as Bush is now), fought many “bitter” battles with my dear cousin Truman (“Tru Tru”)  in the Legislative Assembly, and only a few hours later they would drive off together in the same car!

From the very day, Mr. Bush entered the LA, on the shirt coats of Benson, there came a change. Name calling, personal attacks started, and when Bush didn’t get his own way, he crossed over to the other benches.

So much for the ideals of loyalty that Bush demands from his UDP colleagues. But, of course, the UDP is a party, and when the leader speaks thou shalt obey at all times and without question.

NO! That is not how it works. The most powerful woman in the world, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, was removed by members of her own party. Her colleagues. It was the just and right thing to do

Just because it is a party you have joined it does not mean you don’t have a voice. Your country comes FIRST. Justice is second. Obeying your leader is a very distant third.  Standing behind him in tough times when it is honourable and just is very commendable. Can you honestly with hand over heart say this is the present case?

From the very first public speech Mr. Bush made, on meeting H.E. Governor Taylor, he opened with “You are on my turf now.”

In his second, at his inauguration as premier, Mr. Bush pointed at the Caymanian flag, saying something to the affect how he would be a very happy man when that “Union Jack” was taken off it.

That set the tone for more and more rudeness and disrespect from Bush. And all of it was disgraceful. On May 10^th this year I personally wrote a public letter to Governor Taylor apologising to him for our premier’s use of the words that he (governor Taylor) “has stealthily and insidiously undermined” what he (Bush) has been trying to do to get “our economy off the ground”.

I apologised once again when Bush rudely told the governor at a public meeting “to sun his buns”.

I apologised because Caymanian people have never before been labeled as being rude. I have never ever heard anyone of you publically being rude. Politeness was the first rule I learnt as a child. And, like Mr. Bush, I did all my education here in Cayman.

This rudeness is NOT due to Mr. Bush’s “average” education. I had an “average” education at first. It is due to Bush’s complete lack of manners and it is unbecoming of any person who is supposed to be a role model in our society. It is most definitely NOT the behavior of a country’s premier.

Doesn’t he care what portrayal his atrocious rudeness is showing to the rest of the world? I can answer for him. NO HE DOESN’T!

BUT I CARE AND SO SHOULD EVERONE OF YOU!!

iNews Cayman’s Editor-in-Chief wrote last Friday (14) in his Editorial that even though we are deemed “innocent until proven guilty [but] Bush MUST step down”.

I agree with every word he said. I agree with every word Opposition leader Alden McLaughlin said, as reported on iNews also last Friday, that the Premier must be removed.

For almost two years the premier has been under investigation and “rode” the shock waves that caused. It is a tsunami wave now!

On Tuesday morning (11) Bush was arrested by the Royal Cayman Islands Police on suspicion of:

1) Theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the misuse of a government credit card;

2) Breach of Trust, Abuse of Office and Conflict of Interest, contrary to Sections 13, 19 and 17 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008, respectively in connection with the alleged importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.

McLaughlin absolutely correctly said, “the arrest of the Premier has been a hugely damaging body blow to the reputation of these islands and to confidence in our government. The story has gone viral and has appeared in the news around the world. I have personally had talks with a number of local developers who have related to me the serious concerns of foreign investors over the Premier’s arrest.  There is no question but that this situation has already done immense harm to our credibility as an international business centre and a place to work and do business.

“But the worst is yet to come.  The Premier’s announcement earlier today that he will not resign and will continue in office as though nothing has happened will do irreparable damage to the reputation of the government and to the Cayman Islands as a whole.

“Mr. Bush is plainly treating the matter of his arrest with utter impunity and is determined to return to business as usual. Indeed, this morning he left for Jamaica as previously arranged to attend commencement services at the University College of the Caribbean at which it was previously announced that he will be awarded an honorary doctorate and that he would be delivering an address entitled: “Integrity, the Language of Leadership”.

And, “Accepted international best practice and the conventions of the Westminster system of government provide clear guidance as to the course of action that ought now to be followed by Mr. Bush and his Cabinet and supporting backbench MLAs.  Mr. Bush must step down as Premier and a minister of the Cabinet.

“It is important to understand that Mr. Bush continues as Premier and a minister of the Cabinet only because he has the support of his colleagues in the Cabinet and the government back-bench.”

Note there was not one piece of rudeness in any of the above, nor in the rest of Mr. McLaughlin’s statement.

For me to hear over the weekend that Bush delivered another tirade against the Governor, with the whole world listening and reporting it, has gotten my blood to boiling that I am ready to eat nails!

Bush was at the University College of the Caribbean in Kingston, Jamaica to deliver a commencement address during which he called Governor Taylor a “jealous governor” responsible for a “vindictive and a petty tirade” against him. This was the last straw and has prompted me to write this Editorial addressed to you UDP MLAs. To insist the police investigations are “a political witch hunt” as he has also publicly stated as result of his standing up to the UK is almost the ravings of a mad man.

Steve Moore, who runs the governor’s office in George Town, said Governor Taylor had noted Bush’s remarks and “there is absolutely no foundation to the allegations that the premier has made.”

This county I love with all my heart is losing all credibility. I know our Hon Deputy Premier, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly, may not wish to be classified as one of the “men” it is not meant to be disrespectful. We Caymanian women were often the “men” when the ’real’ men went to sea and I hope she can accept that definition.

The only JUST course of action for you all is to persuade Mr. Bush to resign as Premier and a Member of the Cabinet. If he won’t do so, it is your JUST course of action to remove him by vote.

I know all of you love your country and that MUST come first.

I beg you to be “THE JUST EIGHT MEN” and not just “men”.

May God Bless our Cayman Islands.

I am Joan.