Mac is back to attack
Last Thursday (10) he spoke for the first time in the Legislative Assembly (LA) since his removal from office after a no confidence motion at the end of December 2012.
Bush attacked the People’s Progressive Movement’s (PPM) leader, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, questioning whether McLaughlin had the right to be the official leader of the opposition as he only led four members in the same way that Bush now led the four remaining UDP members in the LA.
“I don’t know if he is the leader of the opposition or whether I am, as I have four members?” he said.
Later in debating the issues regarding the amendments to the financial services laws he rudely referred to McLaughlin as “the person purporting to be the opposition leader.”
Speaker of the House, Hon. Mary Lawrence, continued to refer to the PPM leader as “Leader of the Opposition” and said she had received nothing from the governor, whose remit it was to appoint that position, to suggest that the current opposition leader wasn’t in the role constitutionally.
McLaughlin said the issue raised by Bush was a constitutional matter and the proceedings couldn’t go on when a question remained over who was actually the leader of the opposition. Pointing to section 68 of the constitution he pointed out it defines the opposition leader as essentially the person who commanded the most support from a combination of members outside of the government. He invited anyone to read the document, implying he was the person who commanded the most support from a combination of members outside of the government.
It is just another example of Bush’s style to attack and question knowing full well he is talking nonsense. He must surely know the Independent members from East End and North Side, Arden Mclean and Ezzard Miller, would not support him as Opposition Leader!
And, of course, we had another of his cries of pity saying it was not his fault emergency legislation had to be brought to the house regarding the amendments to the financial services laws.
“When it comes to legislation that was needed in this country I followed my advisors,” he shouted.
He had set up the financial services secretariat and financial councils.
“My record in office speaks for itself, as I was the one who had restored confidence to the industry,” he said, “despite everyone running to the governor about everything. My record in office cannot be erased.”
That’s something we can all agree with.
Next came his usual bashing of the opposition when they were in government saying McLaughlin had previously caused Cayman to be on the OECD grey list.
“When I was premier I was forced to travel extensively to get Cayman off it,” he claimed. “I have been criticized, cussed and blamed, as I improved Cayman’s standing in the financial world while my predecessor lost the country’s business.”
He even hinted that the governor was behind the conspiracy against him.
Whatever next?
All this has made me believe he did not write his conciliatory New Year’s Message. I never believed one word of it anyway