It is not surprising that ex Cayman Islands premier Bush made all the decisions without consulting anyone.

It is not surprising that what he told the public was not exactly the truth.

It is not surprising that he kept much information as he could to himself.

None of this is surprising because he was a typical Dictator without the actual title.

However, what is surprising is that his government colleagues allowed this to happen.

It is surprising that a government cabinet would go along and vote in favour of things that affect the whole country they represent without knowing what they were voting for.

It is surprising that the ex –premier’s cabinet colleagues would sit silent and not ask what these decisions we are saying “yes” to are going to cost the people of the country they represent.

A government cabinet does not consist of one person – the premier.

A government cabinet does not have ministerial responsibilities that pertain to just one person – the premier.

A member of the government back bench is not just a puppet with a talking head and a big hand that makes his or her mouth open and shut and speaks what his master, the premier, voices.

It is therefore astonishing that the members of the current government, who nearly all were cabinet members of the previous government can announce as they shake the blood off their hands, that, while they knew talks with China Harbour Engineering Limited (CHEC) had moved toward a framework agreement, they had no idea their leader an ex-premier, McKeeva Bush, had signed that deal without any legal advice, including the attorney general, nor even discussed it with them.

The ministers said Bush had repeatedly told them when the negotiations were over they would all be privy to all of the details.

AND THEY DID NOT QUERY IT.

The number of times I watched Bush with his then friend and colleague, Rolston Anglin, sitting beside him, all smiles, nodding his head approvingly at everything his master said. WITHOUT QUESTION.

Now we have a leaked copy of the signed framework agreement between the Port Authority, the Cayman government and China Harbour Engineering Limited that is available for all of us to read thanks to CNS.

The present government only saw this document last week when Cline Glidden, the new tourism minister, and his team had set about looking for any and all documentation relating to the cruise berthing facilities project to help with the strategic outline for a competitive tender.

Glidden said at the government press briefing last Thursday (4) that he had to press the Port Authority to give him all the relevant information. So, who is the person who held this information up? What is the name of this Civil Servant?

This wonderful deal that ex-premier Bush repeatedly told us was so good for the country without giving us any details as to how wonderful, has now been revealed as not so wonderful!

Now isn’t that a surprise?

 

DECCO/DART deal – 99 years lease to recoup costs.        CHEC deal – 81 years to recoup costs (49 at first but renewable).

GLF deal – dropped because the ex-premier Bush BELIEVED they did not have the financing.        CHEC deal – financing depended on PASSENGER GUARANTEES.

Even though Glidden was not a cabinet member during Bush’s premiership, he was the man who was at the centre of the negotiations with DECCO/DART and GLF before CHEC came on the scene. He stayed silent. He never asked questions publically. He still backed up his premier. He was a backbencher loyal to his leader but not loyal to the people who voted for him.

As for more surprises…..  Glidden said there was no way to know if there would be any other surprising documents that could have been signed behind closed doors, that could lead to future liabilities for the next administration.

This one is going to cost the Cayman Islands up to US$3.5 million now that the deal has been terminated to cover CHEC’s expenses.

And the wonderful deal that was so good for us guaranteed approx. $16M in fees per year to CHEC

This wonderful deal that promised a full Caymanian workforce but permitted 300 Chinese work permits.

This wonderful deal that gave CHEC up to $10 per passenger from the taxes to be collected from the cruise passengers, plus the tender fee that would have been paid to local operators.

And this wonderful deal that stipulated CHEC had to use the service of local firms and to purchase from local merchants? There was a long list of exceptions that CHEC had no obligation to use local businesses at all.

Now why am I NOT surprised at that?

And what has Ellio Solomon, the ex radio personality and champion rider for the people of the Cayman Islands have to say about all this? He was after all the lead negotiator.

And what is Port Authority Chair John Henry saying about all this?

It will not be surprising if it is …….  ZERO.