In the wake of the UK’s Overseas Territories Minister, Hon. Mark Simmonds to Cayman Islands Premier, Hon. McKeeva Bush failure to honour his commitment to put the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility into law, his disregard for good governance, and his plan to go ahead with the CHEC cruise-ship project without a proper assessment and procurement process, the opposition is calling for his immediate resignation.

We first received a press release from the People’s Progressive Movement (see release under Letter to Editor) where they say 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.”

They are calling on a public demonstration and we are waiting on them to announce, I expect, a march shouting for Bush’s resignation.

Not unexpectedly, as he has repeatedly done in the past, North Side Independent MLA, Ezzard Miller has joined in.

“If [Bush] stubbornly insists on remaining in office,” he said, “the UDP party machinery must force him to step down in order to save the Cayman Islands from the very real danger of the UK imposing direct rule. The country cannot allow just one man to be the cause of such drastic intervention when most of the country supports the goal of good governance.”

“I’ve never seen such a strongly worded letter when it comes to diplomacy,” Miller said, as he pointed to the use of the word “unacceptable” and the less than veiled threats in the correspondence about the alternatives being examined by the UK.

“Bush is playing politics but dangerously so, as he is hoping to drive the independent and opposition members to vote against his bill by adding these clauses when we all support the agreement, which is about protecting public finances,” he said. “But I can’t support the changes the premier has made.

“Bush must do the country a favour and resign now. If he won’t, I call on Sherri Bodden-Cowan, if she is still the United Democratic Party secretary, to have the members remove him as leader of the party and subsequently the premiership.

“McKeeva Bush cannot be so important that he could be allowed to bring down our democracy and ruin our country. It would take us years and years to recover from such a drastic step. He has to be stopped.”

Strong words. But will the premier listen?

There is some mystery attached to Bush’s letter that was sent on Tuesday (30) to the OT minister Mark Simmonds. It was released to us on Friday and then the premier’s Office through Charles Glidden asked for us to remove it as it was sent in error. Then we received another version that was almost the same, except for a minor addition, on Sunday (4).  If that wasn’t strange enough the governor’s office have confirmed that neither the governor nor the OT minister had ever seen the letter.

Alongside the letter was a short statement from our premier saying he had responded to the overseas territories minister’s letter of 1^st October, a claim contradicted by Mr. Simmonds.

I can only hope and pray that there are some sensible heads around the premier and he sees reason. He cannot win and the longer he threatens and cajoles, the Cayman Islands will suffer.

I am not a great lover of marches as the forces of hot tempers can ignite a peaceful demonstration and I am betting the premier will not resign. He will have to be removed by other means – if it comes to that.

Whatever happens Bush is being well and truly whacked from all sides.

UPDATE:  Since writing this Premier McKeeva Bush has said in his speech to the LA Monday (5):

“I have instructed the legislative drafters and the draft will incorporate the terms as contained in the FFR and agreed with the previous of Minister in the UK, but it will contain two additional provisions which in the government’s opinion are extremely important for the peoples of these Islands. One of the provisions increases the permissible capital expenditure over the lifetime of any specific project from CI$10Million to $25Million.

“The second addition, incorporates a provision that specifies that, in the event that the FCO insist on the Cayman Islands Government taking or agreeing to any action emanating from the FFR, that the United kingdom Government accepts the responsibility for any fiscal or reputational damage which the people suffer as a result of their insistence that the Government act upon their advice. These two provisions can only in my opinion enhance the positive working partnership and the relationship for the benefit of the people of the Cayman Islands, and I am sure the Minister in the United kingdom has had an opportunity to review the provisions and understand the same, and should be able to agree that they are reasonable and in keeping with a positive working partnership. Unfortunately, the Minister’s letter of the 2nd of November does not provide any specific reasoning as to why these provisions may not be acceptable.

“The Minister’s concerns as expressed in his letter in relations to this project appear to have arisen from a lack of correct and factual information being provided to him in a timely manner, despite our best efforts to keep the FCO informed. The instructions to Maples and to KPMG will correct this and will be delivered directly to the Minister. However let me point out to these Honourable House facts that are pertinent: The cruise port facility, including the Spotts pier is seriously needed right now. If we fail to upgrade our cruise ship facilities, we will continue to lose business as the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association has told us in no uncertain terms.

“(1) The CHEC agreement, which is now in the framework stage, is having a “Business Case” carried out by KPMG and a “value for money” exercise will be done by KPMG also, when that point is reached.

“(2) The CHEC group was chosen out of a total of 5 companies after the two other companies which the port choose did not proceed. Decco pulled out and GLF did not show proof of funds. To the contrary of what the Opposition would have you believe, “CHEC did tender a proposal to build the cruise port facility. They were among the five companies that submitted tenders.

“(3) When our lawyers and accountants, MAPLES and KPMG, who specialize in these kinds of complex projects give the go ahead, then the CHEC agreement will go the Central Tenders Committee.

“(4) There is no disregard for good process in this matter. The CHEC project has gone through the same process that was followed by Cabinet and the Port Authority for the other two companies, that is Decco and GLF.

“The difference with the CHEC agreement is that it is going to the Central Tenders Committee while the proposed agreements from other two companies did not.

“The FCO knows all the above. So, what is the problem?”

The whole of the premier’s statement is available on our website in “Breaking news”.