Have Mouth Will Travel

 

 Premier Bush loves "his" island so much that he spend half his time off it.

The half he spends on it he presides over the ripping up the roots of its mangroves and its democracy.

Whilst assuring us (and the world) that the country's coffers were empty there is a widely held suspicion that his presidential travels don't conform to this supposed financial reality, being excessive, extravagant and engineered to reward his UDP posse with all expenses paid jaunts to desirable events and destinations.
 
The Freedom of Information request put in by Cayman News Services to put some flesh on the bones of all this travel ignited the Great Man's wrath in a very public manner.

Waxing indignant Bush accuses CNS of friviolity (doubtless no frivolity occurs on any of his jaunts). Of course he has to travel in the course of his presidential activities he says, getting business, putting the case for Cayman, representing it and guarding its reputation in an uncaring world.

Question is how many go with him, for what purpose and at what cost?

Fortunately for Bu$h the government's accounts are so screwed officials can answer with a straight face that they have no idea what all this "essential" travel costs.

Bush, making policy off the cuff as ever stated, “.. those businesses, blogs and such, are going to have to pay a good, good fee,” and proposed a media operating license of $100,000 and three months in jail if the media owner fails to pay the fee. Ironic Bush should be most transparent with figures while being the least democratic, attempting to muzzle journalists making FOI requests.

So jail me.  What bullshit.   Blogs can operate offshore and behind secrecy just like Finance. Hell (West Bay) will freeze over before the blogging stops.


Part-Time Patriot, Bush, accuses CNS and "the blogs" of undermining the country and  having no real love of Cayman. I expect he will tell us next that, if you placed a dot on every location he's travelled to and joined them up, it spells "I Love Cayman".

But it seems to me that Bush increasingly loves Cayman like a pimp loves his whore - it's a business thing.

Bush gets new Houseboy

Along with a personal chef and a personal housekeeper a new houseboy, name of Taylor, has been added to the Bush entourage; his prime task is to keep the flag looking neat and tidy until it's put away for good.

I expect Taylor to pursue the same policy of opportunistic reformism the FCO has applied to shake free of Cayman since the late 80's, which is, Do not to put any barriers in the way of independence and do not miss any opportunity to nudge it along.

Caymanians can be contrary, the quickest way to get them to do something is to tell them not to do it.  If they sense that the UK wants Cayman to go independent they'll vote against  it. Paint on the smile and fawn if you have to Mr Taylor, but please get off your knees. Friendly is one thing cowed is another and Bush will ride you like a mule if you let him.

Anyway, there won't be any strong play for independence until Dart has been milked dry and the moment is ripe to take over his land (as well as all that 7 mile beach Crown land). Dart may have deep pockets but Bush intends, eventually, to have everyone who matters in his.

I'd say Mr Dart needs to drop in on Mr Taylor and have a chat about their respective futures when the Boss ain't around, which is often these days.