Rift over presentation in House of draft Policy Paper riles Hon Roy Bodden

Tuesday, August 3, 2004

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Reader comments:

• I am thankful that the Hon. Roy Bodden and Hon. Gilbert McLean stood up against the outlandish actions of the LGB, McKeeva Bush. The LGB is trying to railroad every desire of his warped mind into legislation, so he can acquire those lofty heights that he imagines he has already attained... Chief Minister, Senator, Governor (he wants to push out the governor too), and eventually be the official "Dictator" of the Cayman Islands. He must have contracted "Mad Cow Disease" on one of his expensive trips abroad. Let us return to calling the House, "The Legislative Assembly", and the appointed leaders "Executive Council". Does anyone remember the amusing English Radio Show years ago entitled "The Men from the Ministry"? How they were always making a mess of things?? Well, isn't that what the LGB is doing now? Except none of us are laughing, we are deeply concerned about the future of our beloved Cayman Islands in the hands of such a person as McKeeva Bush - Caymanian Through and Through
  
   
• Roy Bodden and Gilbert McLean make me feel sick to my stomach, because they are merely grandstanding and flexing their political muscles for their constituents, just because it's 15 weeks away from Elections Day.
  
  On the surface, they appear like they are doing something noble and heroic by standing up to McKeeva. The public sees this and applauds them for doing something good. Of course, this act of heroism will be played up big time to the Bodden Town voters. I say, they chose a very late time to take a stand!
  
  I challenge these two ministers to come out and explain to the Cayman public and especially to the Bodden town voters why they chose not to stand up to McKeeva on the status issue, which was the single biggest issue that has faced the Cayman public in this term of office.
  
  Bodden Towners, don't be fooled. This standing up to McKeeva is merely to please the constituents and guarantee them a safe return of their seat. We would be foolish if we re-elect ANY of the Cabinet Ministers in this Elections. They are the ones who had the power to stand up to McKeeva and just allowed themselves to be meekly led. Now we all will suffer because they were too afraid to risk losing their Cabinet seat.
  
  So, while it is good that they are FINALLY taking a stand and having their say on Constitutional Review, I am baffled as to why they could not stand up when McKeeva was giving away the country! What good is a Constitution if you don't have a country? - Direct Current
  
   
• Is it just me, or if you listen closely can you hear a certain part of a certain government leader’s anatomy beginning to pucker?
  
  We’re inside 100 days from an election and certain party members are finally beginning to question the motives and intent of their leader. All I can say is - it’s about time.
  
  It’s about time to find out just how much this person has profited at others’ expense.
  
  How many people lost their jobs and lost pension payments and health insurance when Vetromechanice left the Cayman Islands with not one “affordable” housing development completed?
  
  It’s about time to find out just how consistent his political ideology truly is with his party members, and which party members are simply along for the ride to pick up the crumbs that fall off this man’s table.
  
  It’s about time to find out just how much money has changed hands under the table during the prostitution of Cayman’s environment for commercial and personal gain.
  
  It’s about time to find out just how many non-deserving people have benefited from this “reign of idiocy.”
  
  And finally, it’s about time that everyone wake up and finally realize that this man is not here for the Cayman Islands, but serves only to deify and glorify himself politically and financially. He doesn’t care about the future of Cayman, he cares only about the financial future of his clan. Isn’t it clear?
  
  He is trying, as best he can, to impose his will on the people of the Cayman Islands in the form of a party position paper that even senior members of his party will not abide or endorse. And he’s trying to further centralize and isolate this government in hopes of ensuring himself carte blanche during his next term of office. The bad news is, it’s too late to stop him. The Cayman people, at this stage of the game, have no voice. He WILL be re-elected, and we will all continue to suffer the pain and embarrassment of this man representing us to the world.
  
  He will continue pursuing his self-serving expansionist ideals - endorsing programmes that stretch the financial and political will of his myopic ego far beyond the scope of reality of this country’s capacity and capabilities – and he will continue to do so at the expense of the “little man.”
  
  This man is so out of touch that he doesn’t realize that the chasm between the haves and the have-nots has tripled in size (much like his waistline) since he has been in office.
  
  He doesn’t understand that we all aren’t as rich as he and his cronies are, so economic policy that is good for them isn’t necessarily good for those of us who work and sweat for a living just to pay rent, buy food, put expensive fuel in our cars and pay for expensive utility service.
  
  We all can’t fly first class and drink champagne – but it’s been so long since he’s flown coach, he doesn’t know this.
  
  He has allowed this government to stifle free speech and human rights, all the while espousing just the opposite of what he practices. Secrecy and subterfuge reign supreme in Cayman. There is no transparency – even the windows on the Glass House are tinted to allow our government to look out but to prevent anyone from seeing in.
  
  I’m an ex-pat and proud of it. But I’m at least fond enough of the Cayman Islands to (anonymously for fear of retribution) stand up and say “enough is enough.”
  
  If the UK and US can teach us anything it’s this: if you truly believe in a better way to do things, then stand up and be counted. Develop a platform, deliver your message and run for office – otherwise, be quiet and take your medicine.
  
  There’s an old saying that goes, “You get the government you deserve.”
  
  Don’t blame ex-pats or overseas governments’ foreign and economic policies for the woes of Cayman; the root of your problems is right here.
  
  Slag off the US and UK for their domestic and international political and economic policy – but at least George W. Bush and Tony Blair will kiss you first - One of Many
  
   
• The truth is that both Roy and Gilbert want the type of radical constitutional reform that McKeeva is advocating. This has been their life long ambition but they are now feeling the heat from their constituents and they are trying to conveniently jump off the sinking boat. I say to them jump if you would like but from the perspective of Bodden Towners it is simply too late. You will have to take your licks whether you jump ship or not. Either way the water is going to be very deep and lonely for both of you. I am not a member of the PPM yet but they are shaping up nicely in Bodden Town. If they can organise their slate in Bodden Town to include Tony, Chuckie and Ossie they would certainly be on their way to your retirement party. Now JUMP! - A Democratic Caymanian
  
   
• Tony, Ossie and Chuckie, invite all Bodden Towners to the retirement party of the not-so-Honourable Roy Bodden and not-so-Honourable Gilbert McLean.
  
  Please excuse these gentlemen for appearing at the party in wet clothes… they are wet because they jumped ship. However, they jumped ship too late and missed the shore, so they fell into the lonely dark waters. Not a single UDP member cared enough to throw them a rope or a life vest.
  
  Bodden Town is the birth place of democracy in the Cayman Islands. Under Jim Bodden and Haig Bodden, the Bodden Town vote helped shape these Islands. In recent times, even with two Ministers in Cabinet, Bodden Town has played a very insignificant role in the politics of the Cayman Islands because our representatives were spineless and had no vision for this country and they definitely didn't have any vision for Bodden Town. We, the Bodden Towners, who pride ourselves on having so much input in Cayman's political arena over the years are now poised to take our rightful place on the Cayman Islands' political landscape once again. We are ready to stand and to be counted for something in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands once again.
  In Elections 2004, hear Bodden Town ROAR!
  
  Go Tony, Go Ossie, Go Chuckie!
  
  Somebody bring a towel for Roy & Gilbert! And bring the rosemary brooms! - Juice
  
   
• The recent rift with Roy, Gilbert and the Hon. Leader of Government Business is just a smoke screen. If Roy and Gilbert were sincere with standing up against the LOB then why did they not stand up during the recent status grants fiasco? The hard cold facts are that Roy and Gilbert have seen the writing on the wall and panic is taking its toll. These two Bodden Town gentlemen had their chance and did what they had to do. The Bodden Town people will soon have their chance to do the right thing and send a clear message that enough is enough - Concerned

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