Kirkconnell focuses on unity in the Sister Islands

| 16/04/2009

“Give the other politicians your love and respect, but give Moses your vote,” Elvis McKeever told a large crowd at Spot Bay Wednesday night, the only reference to Moses Kirkconnell’s rivals during the launch of his bid to retain his Sister Islands seat. Also notably missing throughout the meeting was any mention of the UDP, and while he stood in front of a PPM poster, the ruling party was not referred to directly either. In an atmosphere more like a community meeting than a political rally, with no criticism of the opposition or a clear agenda for the next four years, Kirkconnell chose to begin his campaign by emphasising fellowship and unity on Cayman Brac.

After starting the meeting with music and comedy by local performers, Kirkconnell told supporters gathered in the front yard of Roy and Ann Walton that he wanted to highlight the friendship and talent on the island. “Before we talk about anything I want to acknowledge the strong bonds we have as a community,” he said.

Looking back at the experience of the hurricane that hit the island as a category 4 storm in November 2008, Kirkconnell said, “Paloma brought heartache and loss and hard work, but it also gave us the opportunity to bond," and he claimed that the last five months and the next five months would be seen in the future as a “special period of history” for the Sister Islands.

Turning to the last four years, he pointed to “results you can touch”, and catalogued developments on the islands, making special mention of Sports Instructor Mitchum Sanford, the sports programme and the new field. He also noted the Day Care Centre, the Tibbetts Annex of the Kirkconnell Community Care Centre (KCCC), the Ann Tatum Ramp, the hospital upgrade, the affordable housing programme on the Brac, the medical wing of the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, and the efforts of the Beautification Committee. The new MRCU building, which is nearing completion, would have laboratories that would in emergencies back up the mosquito control system in Grand Cayman, he noted.

However, he said the most significant development was the opening of the Brac campus of the University College of the Cayman Islands, where over 150 people attend and classes include vocational courses, electrical training, planning and computer studies. More vocational classes were planned, he said, which would be “a huge huge plus for the Sister Islands”.

Noting the upgrade at the Brac fire station, he said the island needed a new station on higher ground.

Kirkconnell also pointed to the generator upgrade at the civic centre, which was much needed during Paloma. “What would we have done…as the power failed on the island?” he asked, and noted that the medical wing of the centre was still in use by clients of the KCCC. The Day Care was also built to category 5 standard and was used as a hurricane shelter.

The emphasis on rebuilding after the storm had been to restore homes to the same standard and to keep communities intact. Public and private funds had been invested and they had tried to do that in a structured way to get to people who need it most. However, about $10 million more would be needed, he said.

He said the new Alexander Hotel would be finished by May, and noted two other developments under construction – the condos being built by James Ryan and Robert Banks, and Charles Kirkconnell’s development (the new phase of Carib Sands) on the south side.

“We must face the reality of what the world offers us today,” he said. “The global economy is in unchartered waters.” We must understand how to protect ourselves and how to choose the right leaders who will work with what we have, Kirkconnell said.

While Paloma had destroyed tourism, “the leg of the economy that we stand on”, the reconstruction of the Brac after the hurricane had offered the island a chance to retool for the future. The Brac Reef Beach Resort was being built to a new standard and was going to diversify its product, and the new condos would also diversify tourism on the island.

“The country has never faced what we will face in the next couple of years, but we will do quite well together…United we will stand,” said Kirkconnell.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Election 2009

About the Author ()

Comments (40)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    I’m sure if you were in attendance you would know.

    The nature of each of the meetings felt completely different.  I prefer to stick with unity.

  2. Anonymous says:

    There sure is a difference with the way the various meetings are conducted.  One meeting left me feeling negative and upset.  One made me wonder what was going on and then the third one I went to made me feel like we had really accomplished something on the island.  As I look around I see those accomplishments.  Had I only gone to 1 or even 2 of the meetings I would never have believed that so many good things had happened on the Brac in the last few years.  I feel good about the state of the island now and look for more good projects to be completed.

  3. Anonymous says:

    So you would run a business that wouldn’t make you money?  Shut Up!!! Of course there is going to be money in their pockets… that’s why they’re called businessmen!!!

     Fact:  Julianna now UDP has been in office since 1992 and was minister for 3 1/2 years and did nothing. 

    Fact: Lyndon and Julie can’t work together as witnessed just last night.

    Fact: In an exam do you get credit for starting a problem or getting the answer correct?

    PPM has finished what the UDP started out to do and so much more.

    Don’t be fooled by their lies again.  Julianna was proven to be wrong through media.  Lyndon was proven to be wrong through the courts.  All of a sudden people are going to beleive they are truthful?

    YOU DON’T BE FOOLED!!!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians fail to remember a time when all of our so called hero politicians were businessmen and all of the business conducted were in their favour. If you made a dollar you could bet your pretty little ass they were pocketing $5. It is no different today and the Brac should seriouly look into that one. No one does anything for free. So please don’t be fooled.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Fact: The PPM has followed throught on all of the plans already put in  place by the UDP government. They just had to finish the job. Who do we give credit to for the vision? The UDP.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      The UDP could’nt even keep their own party together. They  abandoned several of their old members, I wonder why.  In Cayman Brac their two members (oh wait one is a not so independent now) could not even cooperate on simple scheulding and had competing meetings at the same time only 1/4 mile apart. Are you  sure this sounds like a group that is good at working together and getting things done???

    • Anonymous says:

      "The PPM has followed throught on all of the plans already put in  place by the UDP government. They just had to finish the job. Who do we give credit to for the vision? The UDP".

      You’ve lost me. You give credit to a govt. for NOT completing jobs but not the one that completed them?! I guess this is UDP logic but everyone else sees it for the nonsense it is. Anyone can dream dreams, When you execute you prove your ability to deliver. The UDP is all talk.    

  6. Anonymous says:

    Wants or needs?  Hitting the nail on the head says that you take a risk in maybe hitting your finger nail but if you don’t take that risk you will never get the house built.  PPM has taken the hamer and built the house.  It is now up to us to fill the house with tourism, banking, and any other industry we can think of.  Why can’t other brackers come out of their shells and be risk takers.  Moses is for all of us.  Due to the fact that he has so much interest in the island it will of course benefit him too but if you use your money wisely it can benefit everyone.  I stand behind him because he has allowed us to see things on this island that other politicians could only promise… and a promise is a comfort to a fool!!!

  7. Anonymous says:

    BLAH BLAH BLAH RESPONDS

    Play Field – bought land from Julianna and made her so rich UDP couldn’t finish it.  MOSES FINISHED IT!  (Ask DC and Dep DC who they called to get the job done).

    College – Started by who?   That is a flat out LIE.  UDP had nothing to do with it!!!  Fact is PPM saw the need and did something about it once again, through Moses.

    Nursing Home – Linton Tibbetts met with Moses to find out how to spend his money on the Brac.  Moses led the way through the directors of the nursing home.  FACT!!!

    Hotel – Linton Tibbetts – Hasn’t built a hotel in over 20 years.

    Hotel – Cleveland Dilbert – Came to Moses with ideas on what to do in the Brac.  Check the papers.  Who was at the ground breaking?

    Condo’s – Charles Kirkconnell (I wonder if he is family to Moses?) FACT…. Moses is of course involved with it.

    Condo’s – Robert Banks/James Ryan – Correct but started during PPM administration.

    UDP, once again will try to lay claim to anything that is good.  Of course why dn’t they claim the 3000 status holders that will be voting this go around.  Why don’t they admit that they havegiven our island away.  Julianna led the way.  Lyndon was right beside her.  In my opinion… neither of them should be allowed to run again for that!!!

    So… BLAH BLAH BLAH is all I still hear because you have no facts and yet I do.  It’s great being right!!!

     

  8. Anonymous says:

    Tell me now if Moses K is only for himself, how many kids of his will go to the Day Care? Will his kids play on the playfied of the high school hall? Does encouraging the new hotel help him? After all it will out class his own condo/hotel property! Will his kids attend UCCI? The truth is that while not perfect he has done a good job. Just because you may not like a fact it does not make it untrue.
    Get your facts straight! The UDP forgot the playfield and the young people for 5 years. UCCI was started by the UDP in Grand Cayman but again Cayman Brac youth were left out.
    Linton has not built a hotel in Cayman Brac for more than 20 years.
    Who was in-charge of the resthome project for Linton????
    Who is Charles Kirkconnell’s business partner in the condos???
    It about making the climate right for growth, that is why you find others investing in Cayman Brac now.
    You have not been honest in your remarks but again thats what the UDP is best known for.

  9. Anonymous says:

    The point is Moses has helped move the islands forward. So what if the ramp went “thru” his land? It has benefited everyone, I don’t think that he had a problem selling land before getting elected and I sure that he will sell land just as well even if he was not an MLA.

  10. Anonymous says:

    What you are doing addmiting is that the UDP was not able to complete projects. Thank God that the PPM came after them and did finish projects. You have to wonder why the UDP did’nt finish projects. Was their real goal only to benifit themselves in the short term? Yes the PPM has spent money but at least they have real acclompishments that will benefit all of Cayman.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Moses will go with whatever party is in power, doesn’t matter if it is PPM, UPD or any other.  In order for Moses to make money selling land and developing he personally needs the support of the Government of the day – otherwise he wouldn’t get the ramp thru yhis land finished and he wouldn’t have got access provided at government expense for other private projects.

    You heard it hear first, if PPM is not the majority, Moses will jump ship!

  12. Anonymous says:

    You have hit the nail on the head.  UDP wants to say they started everything.  Sure they talked about it… why didn’t they do it.  PPM through Moses has done it.  Nuff Said!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      To hit the nail on the head – UDP started and were not given the chance to finish so no one government can lay claim to what has been done.

      Maybe one of the reasons also that it was not done is that the UDP also had the forsight to not run the country BROKE. Like I said before its all very well and good to have wants but lets make sure our country can afford these wants.

    • Anonymous says:

      Moses K is for Moses K and if he gets anything done for the Brac he makes damn sure that it is benefiting him – like roads to open up his property etc. etc.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Question??, How many projects are the PPM laying claim to

    Afordable homes started by the UDP

    Playfield on the Bluff Started by the UDP

    Ann Tatum Road UDP

    Ritz Carlton Mckeever Bush

    PPm are claim jumper, think about it

    Last but the most important, can this Country, afford four more years of the PPM, wake up for the love of your Country, we drowning in debt

  14. Amazed says:

    I am amazed at the total rubbish in this post! Nothing but tribal nonsense.

    PPM this and UDP that..come on Caymanians, do not go down the road that most Caribbean countries have done…violent, tribal politics blindly following some charismatic “Leader”.

    We are a small country and we need everyone to work towards making it better. This type of posting and diatribe does not help anything. It only sets the furtile ground for violence.

    Wake Up now. Please.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Moses K. my ONLY choice for MLA

    I was at this meeting and it was the best campaign kickoff I’veever seen.  It was all about us and our island and not about self-serving politics and politicians. 

    The unity Mr. Moses was talking about was the bond between us Brackers (not the politicians).  Through Paloma we have become an even closer knit community helping each other through this crisis and he encouraged us to preserve that bond and not let an election divide us.  We all know that in the past politicians have tried to do that only to serve their own purposes to get elected.

    I agree with Mr. Moses all of us Brackers need to stick together and stay united, just look at how much we accomplisehed with him as our MLA during the last 4 years together and that included having to deal with the worst hurricane since 1932!

    We can’t waste time arguing amongst ourselves we need to put all of our efforts toward improving our islands for ALL of us.  We proved we can do that during the Paloma recovery.  I’m with you, Mr. Moses, continue all the great work you’ve been doing on our behalf and we’ll be here for you.

    Moses K my ONLY choice for MLA

  16. Anonymous says:

    BLAH BLAH BLAH… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… you get what you pay for!!! UDP paid for nothing GOT NOTHING.  PPM paid for things and just look at the benefits!!!!  College, playfield, day care, mrcu, nursing home, condo and hotel projects, twin otter planes. 
    I’d rather have to find some money and have tangible results than to sit there with a piggy bank and have nothing!!!!  What are you gonna do with the moeny… take it with you when you’re dead?

    • Anonymous says:

      To BLAH BLAH BLAH

      Playing field – Started by UDP

      College – Started by UDP

      Nursing Home – Linton Tibbetts

      Hotel – Linton Tibbetts

      Hotel – Cleveland Dilbert

      Condo’s – Charles Kirkconnell

      Condo’s – Robert Banks/James Ryan

      I DONT SEE MOSES KIRKCONNELL OR THE PPM in the above list. Get your facts straight and stop giving credit where credit is not due.

       

  17. Anonymous says:

    Look at what the head of the UDP said.  Mr. Kirkconnell will get regardless of who is in charge.  We need to vote him 1st elected.  We can’t do anything about whether UDP or PPM get in other than in our distrcit but we can make sure we don’t hold Mr. Kirkconnell back from really bringing prosperity to our islands.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Done nothing for 3 1/2 years?  Truly you have been living in an alternate world.  My child didn’t have to leave for Grand Cayman to get her tertiary education.  I am more that happy with the results I can see.  I can’t wait to see how many more developments can work for the betterment of our country.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Wow!!! CPA’s are all over the place now a days. 

    Explain to me please how a government can be broke?  They may have a budget shortfall but all they have to do is print more money. 

    Unity… why is it that the first elected never wanted to come around when the second elected was there.  I suspect she will do that, or has done that, with whoever is elected, hopefully she wont be.

    "The world economy has nothing to do with Cayman…"  That has got to be the biggest joke out there.  Who else do you think controls so much of the money?  The Cayman Islands are the fifth largest financial center IN THE WORLD.  So it could only be an uneducated person that would say such a thing.  Thanks for not knowing how the world financial markets work!  Maybe you should run for elections too.

    The world is in for a tough few years but with someone who understand finances then we will weather the storm just fine. 

    It’s sad to see your friend has lost their job.  That, unfortunately happens all the time.  I could tell you of a friend that lost their job back in 2002 but it would be irrelevant.  These things happen.  Cheer up and look for the next thing out there.

    We need to work together and get over this.  Put aside whatever personal issues you have and look at what is best for the country.  Moses is willing to do this.  Why can’t you!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Moses ran as an independent in 2005. He kept his promise to work with whoever was elected. PPM won the last election and he joined with them. Because of this Cayman Brac enjoyed 3 plus years of growth even before Paloma. When we remember the UDP years there were many great plans but few real  acclompishments. While the PPM has been far from perfect it is very unfair to blame them for the world’s current economic situation. The islands are in for a tough year or two regardless of who you vote for.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      It has nothing to do with the "worlds economic situation" but everything to do with irresponsible spending. Yes we can say we have got many material things under the present PPM government – but if they are not paid for we have not got nothing but a huge debt and no way of paying for it. The government is BROKE when are you all going to understand what the PPM government has done to country financially. I pity any government that gets in May 20th for they sure have a huge financial mess to clean up. An yes civil servants should be worried if they will get paid or have jobs. The government is BROKE because of an irresponsible and fincancially incompentent government.

  21. annony says:

    4 MORE YEARS of Moses may be, but  I hope to God its not 4 more years of PPM cause unna all will be dead. 

    The boom is on now because of paloma, but so was the boom on in cayman after ivan, and what happen, that done, and people are barely surviving, many people are now surviving on one meal a day.  I have friends who are unable to make it because what money they are making can only pay their rent, and utilities after which there’s no money to buy food, so friends gives them food to eat.

    There are people who have lost thier jobs (no fault of their own) who can’t pay their mortgages, and have kids to feed. It may seem all rosy in the Brac right now (when it come to the boom)  but the rest of the country is in bad shape. Government has said plainly that they have a shortfall to meet the budget, (yet they are not broke) so aren’t civil servants the least bit worried that maybe they will not get paid at some point this fiscal year.

    I you want to vote for Moses go right a head but for God sake shut up about voting back PPM.  I say vote independent. They can’t do no worse, cause the country has hit rock bottom forthe majority.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Its very difficult to unite with someone when that person was MIA for 3 1/2 years and did nothing during that time. The first elected only re-appeared after Paloma. There is two parts to unity. One is to be willing to work with whoever is elected in Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. Two is to unifiy the voters with leadership and a shared vision.

    • Anonymous says:

      Its good to talk the talk but even better if you walk the walk. Moses is good at talking the talk but he did not walk the walk in unity for the past 31/2 years and now you feel he deserves a second chance at that. Nice words when the PPM is failing.

  23. Grouper says:

    Its so funny they,re talking about the addition of the fire station but go and look at the fire station, the old part and the new, it has the same ice and water sheild that was put on by fire officers from Grand Cayman and the Brac two days after paloma ,THANKS guys!!! But i guess if you all want shingles or metal youre gonna have to do it yourselves, as you can see its been five months plus and its the same.SAD SAD. 

  24. Anonymous says:

    Ahhh some people are still blinded by the lies.  Seems like the education law isn’t the only lie that has been told. 

    How would you know?  Have you asked either member if they only sat together because they were forced to? 

    Your first comment on nerve proves you have none.  We as an island must unite.  If you want to keep up the seperation … move to Little Cayman Brac by yourself and talk to yourself.

    Once again, you are not living in Cayman Brac because you would see how things have changed here in the last few years.  Isn’t it interesting that you say the things have been done were started by the UDP.  But isn’t it also interesting that the UDP can never finish anything except for making sure the toilet blocks are taken care of.

    Proving you are not a real bracker is the point where you speak of politicians not finding favour… blah blah blah.  My people get things done.  We don’t waste time talking about what we want to do.  Brackers are going to get things done whether the entire Government was in opposition or not.  Let me ask you something… when both our politicians found favor in the governments eyes (Julie and Lyndon) what did we get?  Toilet blocks and all kinds of promises that couldn’t get finished. 

    Let us all agree with you now though… the UDP must go and the PPM must Stay!!!!!

     

    • Anonymous says:

      BLAH BLAH BLAH to you too. We got lots doneunder the previous UDP government – and most importantly they did not break the piggy bank and leave the country broke. Brackas and Caymanians in general have to remember that you can want all you want but the country MUST be able to afford it. At least the UDP did not run us broke like the PPM. I say go UDP go UDP go UDP. ………..and by the way I AM A BRACKA

  25. Anonymous says:

    The difference is evident.  Moses doesn’t tear others down only states the facts.  First elected is a must.  We have to rally together and make this happen.  Call all your Brac friends and relatives.  Tell them the 4 more years of unity is needed and that together we can put the Brac on the map.  Vote Moses K on the 20th of May!

    • Anonymous says:

      Being first elected or 2nd elected for Cayman Brac makes no difference – this is evidenced by the fact that our first elected for the past four years could get nothing done because she was UDP and the so called UNIFYER Mr. Kirkconnell and his PPM government shared nothing with her. If the UDP get in this go round and Mr. Kirkconnell is first elected member over Julianna then he too will get nothing UNLESS of course if he jumps ship or what have they been saying "comes over to the other side".

  26. Anonymous says:

    What a nerve at this stage to be focusing on UNITY. He had the past four year to unite with the first elected member and did not. As a matter of fact he did everything in his power to exempt her from any attempt by her to assist with providing for the Brac. He did not unite with her during the Paloma recovery – he only works/sits with her if he is forced to. Alot of what the PPM and Moses did in the last four years had already been started by the UDP and the PPM were just fortunate to get in and take off with the UDP projects. Dont fool yourself either if our Brac politicians do not find favour with the current government then the Brac gets nothing. If our elected members would unite and not be so egotistical then imagine what the Brac could get. The PPM has us broke and if some form of government does not get in a sort out our financial problems I can assure you the Brac certainly will not take priority – we contribute nothing to the economy and percentage wise have very large wish lists. GO UDP GO UDP GO UDP

  27. Anonymous says:

    Hope  he is First Elected member on May 20th! Come on brackers! Don’t stop the Progress!

  28. Anonymous says:

    How many other MLAs can list so many acclompishments in only 4 years? 

  29. Anonymous says:

    i like this guy but he has not been able to truly shine under the PPM.

    • Anonymous says:

      PPM Moses Kirkconnell is great.  FYI,  PPM members all shine, because they are not puppets on  strings they are FREE to speak for themselves.   GO PPM GO PPM