by Colin Wilson

You have to hand it down to Cayman’s controversial but most experienced politician.

He turned the Budget debate to his advantage by saying he was not surprised at there being a $100M surplus in government’s kitty at the end of June 2014. It was after all mainly due to him. Much of the $100 million surplus would come from fees that his government had implemented, he claimed.

Even though Premier Alden McLaughlin had criticised Bush and his United Democratic Party in the Premier’s Policy Statement, he (Bush) was willing to let some of the things said go as he put them down to the “euphoria of being elected ” to office.

He still had a go at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office saying they were not going to change.

“No matter what he [McLaughlin] said about his new relations with them,” Bush said, referring to McLaughlin’s position that things had improved between United Kingdom and Cayman. “Him and his grinning are not going to change things.”

He then said he had had enough of the destructive attitude in the House over the last four years, making clear it was the fault of the Opposition but he was not going to do that.

“The opposition can’t be the ‘same old same old’ as it has been,” he said. ““We are one Cayman and we have nowhere to go.”

This was the first of his shots at his West Bay colleague and government Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs, Tara Rivers, problems with having two passports. He made several references he had only one passport and it was a Caymanian one! “I have nowhere to run to,” he said.

He then continued with a statesmanlike attitude: “We must work to build things up and not to tear them down. We are here to offer good ideas and not mash down on whatever is being attempted. My purpose here is to work. I am a worker and if I can’t be given a chance to help, I won’t be a hindrance.”

Did I really hear him say that? I will playback my recording again…… Yes he did.

And this, too:

“I am not here to crucify anyone or be spiteful because there has been enough spite with Duncan Taylor, the former governor.”

He then listed all of the achievements of his government over the four years and this did not take long even though he said, “it was much”.

His government had kept the country afloat he claimed even though no one wanted to acknowledge it. He had gotten Cayman off the OECD Grey List and retained the country’s credit rating. We then had a list of minor achievements and claims from roadside clean ups and especially tourism successes. Wasn’t Bush also Tourism Minister?

And finally ….

“The government has announced some things I am in tune with and that I support. My purpose is to work and I will do my part to help.”

Very clever.  Do you believe him?