The two-year corruption investigation by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service into the jurisdiction’s Premier, McKeeva Bush, is turning into the sort of incompetent, expensive fiasco that the Cayman Islands and its mother country, the United Kingdom, are known for. For specific details about the latest all-too-predictable buffoonery in Cayman, see an article published recently by Cayman News Service. In a nutshell, it seems like Cayman’s Police Commissioner, David Baines, is laying the groundwork for a future announcement that no criminal charges will be brought against Bush, notwithstanding compelling evidence against him (and that’s just what’s in the hands of OffshoreAlert).
Baines’ words of gloom remind me of the equally pathetic corruption investigation several years ago in Bermuda into that jurisdiction’s then-Premier Ewart Brown and some of his cronies concerning an agency known as the Bermuda Housing Corporation. The investigation ended with no criminal charges being brought against Brown et al but, instead, an official statement that their actions had been “unethical, but not illegal”, with the lack of prosecution blamed on out-of-date corruption legislation.
This type of infuriating, unhealthy nonsense is the norm in UK-based offshore jurisdictions and, indeed, in the UK itself. What can go wrong will go wrong and it is rare that criminal investigations are conducted smoothly, competently or, it has to be said, honestly. Authorities take the public for fools and suspension of disbelief is often required when following criminal investigations.
In a blog four months ago, I cast doubt that a bona fide investigation would be conducted into Bush in Cayman and stated that: “A viable alternative is to pass on the investigation to the U. S. Department of Justice on the basis that Stanley Thomas – a property developer who was allegedly extorted by Bush – is a United States national residing in Atlanta and part or all of the US$375,000 in alleged bribes paid by Thomas to Bush took place or originated in the U. S.”
I repeat that call for the U.S. to take action. If any prosecutors, politicians or others in positions of power in the U.S. read this blog, I urge you to take over this investigation from Cayman’s Keystone Cops. The evidence is strong and a conviction would be publicized all over the world. It represents a great opportunity to send out a strong message that bribery and corruption of foreign officials will not be tolerated (at least by the U.S.). A welcome side-effect is that you would be doing a favor for Cayman’s jaded public.
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