Premier’s address on planned protests

Editor’s note: Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush gave the following address Thursday night regarding planned public demonstrations scheduled on Grand Cayman over the next few days:

“I approach this opportunity to address the people of the Cayman Islands with a mixture of sadness and gladness. Sadness, because of the difficult times we are facing; and sadness too, because some of us unfortunately have become all too used to things going well for us, so used to it, that they are now in danger of seeing themselves as victims.

“Perhaps what makes me saddest, though, is that there are those who will not, and do not hesitate, to play with people’s lives,
to shamelessly seek to poison their minds with fear.

“We have a saying, when we set out to do something really worthwhile, but obviously difficult – that we’re going to do it, ‘or die trying’. Well, I certainly don’t want any of us to die before our time; but it’s a telling statement, and I’m glad for it.

“I’m glad also for the American songwriter John Hiatt, who spelled out the nuances of our saying with words that say surely it’s better to die in hope than to live in fear.

“I say to you, the people of the Cayman Islands, in all humility and sincerity, I am glad for those words. I am glad that I live amongst people who have good sense, and who can appreciate hard work. I am glad that I am able to report to you that your government, certainly I myself, are hard at work in your best interests.

“On taking office in May 2009, we found the government in deep deficit – we also found the unemployment rate at an all time high – but I am glad to say that we did not simply wring our hands, and wail and gnash our teeth. We rolled up our sleeves, we put our heads together, we went out in the highways and byways of the marketplace of the world, and we have had some successes.

“Despite the economic decline in the last two years, the outlook for 2011 is more optimistic as we anticipate a modest recovery.

“The forecast for the country’s gross domestic product is a 0.9 percent growth, along with a decline in unemployment to 6.5 percent. This cautiously positive outlook is based on a continued recovery in tourism and financial services, supported by
construction projects which are slated to commence later this year. The inflation rate is forecast to be moderately higher at 1.9 percent as increases in international food and oil prices are expected to continue while local housing rentals stabilize.

“These Islands are being watched every day by the International World and the PPM has now encouraged what they term “civil disobedience”. The Cayman Islands does not need any more negative publicity! Our economy is not good, it’s just beginning to improve but far too many people are unemployed – people can’t rent their apartments, or sell them. This is no time for negative
demonstrations.

“We have not been able, naturally, to turn the global economy around. It seems there is another Party trying to gain your favour, who think we ought to have done exactly that; who act as though we are capable of changing the global economy single-handedly. I’m sorry to say, they are out of touch with reality – but it seems this happens to them when they are tasked with economic
management; looking at the huge $81 million deficit they left behind, one would think so.

“But when people are out to spread a message of fear, to create a climate of doubt and suspicion, you wouldn’t expect them to have anything much to show beyond wild rhetoric.

“What this government is proud to report to the people of the Cayman Islands, is that we reduced $66 million of the $81 million deficit left by the PPM.

“Before we could do that, of course, we also had to bring Cayman’s financial services sector back from the brink of disaster. While the previous government was apparently looking the other way, Cayman had slid onto an international Black List that could have, before too long, demolished one of the pillars of our economy.

“Now that we have really come to grips with government’s financial straits, we have devised a means to bring a little relief to you, to our people, the people we are here to serve. Before long, residential electricity consumers should start to receive the benefits of a rebate passed on from CUC. This will come from a rebate given to them by Government, which in turn will be funded from
part of the proceeds of a small new revenue measure.

“Most of our major initiatives since coming into office have had to be focused on trying to jump-start the economy; trying to bring about investment, and to create jobs. I am very, very sorry to say that some of the people who are in positions of greatest responsibility, who ought to use their position to create a positive influence, are so determined to make this government look bad, to
make out as if we’re up to no good.

“They do not care that since we are not playing that dishonest game, all they are really arguing against, when they try to tear us down, the only target they are really left with, is the work we are doing. In other words, all this noise they are making, is shouting down the good we are trying to do; the jobs we are trying to create, the progress we are trying to generate for the people of these Islands.

“The question to be asked is this – can anyone who deals in casting doubt instead of creating clarity; who seeks to thrive in proportion to how much fear they create around them – can such a person be trusted? If such a person claims the right to lead, is it the kind of person you will want to follow? Is he likely to take you somewhere you want to be; is he likely to make your life better, or more bitter?

“Such a person will be breathing fire in favour of a Rollover policy one day; the next day he will be throwing ice-water on it. His voice will join the chorus of ‘too many cruise ships; why are all these people on our streets, what are we getting out of it’; and before you know it, just when the market gets a bit slack, and the numbers drop, his is the loudest voice, saying ‘where are the
tourists? What are we doing to bring them? Where are the ships?’

“Such a person will continue to sow confusion by challenging the provision of proper cruise facilities, even though the cruise lines are known to have said themselves, that Cayman must get such facilities if we want to continue to get their business. And get good facilities we will; we will get them, and we will bring them into operation in a manner which creates the least burden on government’s capital expenses.

“We will find opportunities for the people of the Cayman Islands to benefit, to participate, to realize the full range of possibilities that a small country ought to see, from the development of such infrastructure. We will see this benefit because we understand how to deal with investors; we are attuned to the needs of the community as a whole, which has to be based on a model of
development with more depth, with a human face, with a Caymanian face.

“I say to the sowers of doubt and confusion, do not charge the government with responsibility for the debate over the East End port facility. This is a proposal which the proposed developer has had the good sense to open up to public scrutiny; it is a proposal which would be subject to the full rigours of scrutiny with respect to the impacts it would have, the resources it would require, and
the benefits it might bring.

“The Port is not being built by government, the property in question is not owned by the government, it has not been approved
by government.

“If those who are stirring up so much wished to do something of lasting benefit, they would be working with their communities, not just to stoke their fears over the proposal, but to facilitate those communities, indeed the whole Cayman Islands, in more in-depth understanding of the various factors involved;how to research these things, how to weigh and measure the impacts against
the benefits, in a real-life context, and how to find alternative investment and growth sources to bring possible choices into the scenario.

“Instead of being the conductors of a chorus of doom, why aren’t the Representatives leading their constituents to find new songs to sing, songs that will uplift and inspire them?

“My fellow Caymanians, beating up on the government is one of the world’s oldest sports; and some of our so-called leaders are in the Olympic class when it comes to that. But there’s no gold medal in this sport; there’s no gold at all.

“This is behaviour, when seen in the context of Cayman’s current vulnerable state, when we need all hands on deck, this is behaviour that wouldn’t earn a Primary school star. I can say to you, each and every one who hears or reads what I have to say today, I can say to you hand on heart, that this government has worked, and continues to work, we work night and day, to make things better for Cayman, for all the people of the Cayman Islands. The things we do, and some things we have to undo, are based on this, and grow out of this objective.

“We work for you!!! We are not deaf to criticism, nor do we stop our ears when constructive suggestions are brought forward.
We are working for you, for all of us, and for all our children, and we implore you to judge our efforts objectively, but governed by a spirit of faith and hope, not one of suspicion and fear of accusation about corruption.

“When you have done this, I am confident you will see, as we see, the possibilities still within our reach, to make of our beloved Cayman Islands, the kind of place we are happy and proud to belong to; and to make of ourselves, the kind of people who carry into the world about them a spark of courage, a flame of hope, a burning desire for making things better than what they found.

“We believe that is the kind of people we have in the Cayman Islands; that that is the sort of measure we ought to test ourselves by, as we apply ourselves to the honourable and noble undertaking of good governance, of the people, by the people, and for the people.

“The Dart proposal is good, the oil refinery is good, the projects that the China Harbour Company offers are good – they will create opportunity and a better economy for all. May God bless us as we seek to do this good work.”