Stand up now for your country

The letter of 2nd November from the Overseas Minister, Hon. Mark Simmonds, to the Premier must be a matter of grave concern and import to all the people of the Cayman Islands.  Please read the letter and recognize that it uses diplomatic language to condemn:

1.         the Premier’s failure to honour his commitment to put the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility into law,

2.         his disregard for good governance, and

3.         his plan to go ahead with the CHEC cruise-ship project without a proper assessment and procurement process.

When Mr. Simmonds says that this conduct, if continued, will result in “detailed consideration of alternatives”, he is talking about the UK’s overriding powers.   For example, the FFR Law could be imposed on us by Order in Council.  Or it could be much worse than that.  The action which the UK may feel that it is forced to take may well have the unintended consequence of adversely affecting the livelihood and lifestyle of the people of these Islands.  We have only to consider what has happened in the Turks and Caicos Islands to understand what the need for intervention by the UK Government will do to investor confidence in Cayman.  The UK’s suspension of the constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands derailed its financial industry, destroyed small businesses and ruined the quality of life of its residents and citizens.

It is not just that the UK has lost patience with Mr. Bush.  We can all see without help from the UK what Mr. Bush has been doing.  But now his foolishness is drawing the country into a completely unnecessary crisis, with no upside for Cayman, and a very deep downside.  He is playing brinkmanship with the stability and economic fortunes of the country and in doing so he is inciting the UK to take actions which ought not to be necessary.  This is more than merely irresponsible, it borders on treacherous.

It is a desperate last measure by Mr. Bush, who knows how unpopular he has made himself.  He hopes that a fight with the UK will make voters stand behind him and forget his lamentable record of mismanagement, and the stench of corruption.

The Premier’s determination to sign on to the CHEC project in defiance of the obvious principles of good governance set out in the FFR (which he signed last year) is inexplicable and irrational – except on the basis that he has lost his senses altogether, or that there is something in it for him personally.

It cannot be that he sees an advantage for Cayman in having a new China city right where passengers disembark, competing with our existing businesses; it cannot be that he sees an advantage for Cayman in having an army of Chinese workers to construct the facility while thousands of Caymanians remain unemployed.

The Progressives as the Opposition party continues to speak out against the

Premier’s conduct of government business, continues to call on UDP MLAs to throw the Premier out, continues to inform the public about what is happening to our country; but none of it makes any difference to Mr. Bush and those who support him.

It is plain that what is required now is more than just talk.  It will take loud and very public demonstration to stop the madness and over the course of the next few days the Progressives will take steps to call the country to action.

It is time now for all right thinking men and women in this country to stand up and condemn this madness.  Public opinion does have an effect on Mr. Bush and his supporters.  We must act now before it is too late.  Or stay silent and watch our country slide into chaos.

PPM (now verified)