In Her Excellency the Governor Mrs Helen Kilpatrick’s Throne Speech delivered last Friday (15) to the Legislative Assembly she has commended Premier Alden McLaughlin and his government for the “excellent work” they have done “In keeping public finances on course over the past year”.

“The Government has steered the Islands’ economy towards a sound annual growth rate of just over two percent, and overseen increased employment,” she said. “On this basis of sound public finances, our jurisdiction will remain attractive to international investors, and Caymanians and residents alike will continue to enjoy a high standard of living. “

Even if you are not an ardent PPM “Progressives” supporter you must, if you have any intelligence at all, support that statement.

It was also with a big sigh of relief I gave to the news the Conservatives had won the UK election. It would have been very bad for this country with a Socialist party dumping the New Labour policies to go back to the socialist ills of Old Labour that stifles financial growth and enterprise. Our financial industry would have been decimated and bad for all of us living here. Even Leader of the Opposition, McKeeva Bush, would agree with that!

Where I am poles apart with the government is the ridiculous proposal to combine the offices of the Complaints Commissioner and the Information Commissioner under an Ombudsman. This goes against the advice of the only people who know the past and current heads of these offices. That the creation of an ombudsman’s office is “under consideration” and has been especially mentioned in the Throne Speech means it is more than just “under consideration”. There is no doubt in my mind government, civil servants, and the governors office (read Foreign and Commonwealth Office) do not like an efficient Complaints and Information office! You only have to see the stalling that goes on by the public servants. The money being saved by moving the two offices together will be infinitesimal. Unfortunately this one will be railroaded through with the word “Super” placed in front of Ombudsman. It looks OK on paper and many are easily fooled by that. I am not one of them.

I can find no fault with the minimum wage BUT the additional cost to the employer will be passed down or a bigger load will be added to the employees that remain. It will not make for job growth – especially at first. The timing of implementing the minimum wage is crucial and I am not convinced government have got this right.

I cannot see how the proposal to replace the George Town Police Station is going to make policing more efficient. The emphasis should have been on better training and quality of personnel. A building does not solve crimes – it’s people that do that.

I wonder what the “series of traffic calming” measures on the West Bay Road is going to be? Only today when I was travelling down the West Bay Road approaching Treasure Island and Comforts Suites doing 40mph two vehicles were flying past me using the turning lane as an overtaking lane. There was no calming about their driving nor the fact of the terrible toll of accidents we have had this year had made no pennyworth of difference to them.

Whilst we have a 5 year strategic plan – key to the running of the civil service – there is no clear indication of what happens to government workers who underperform. Placing them on leave with full pay is not the answer.

I have to finish as I have begun. I believe the government has done well especially what they had been given, despite McKeeva Bush saying they had built on his administration’s foundation. A sinkhole is not a good foundation.

There is more good than bad and whoever said any of us is perfect?