Second West Bay C4C candidate out of the gate

| 22/02/2013

Tara Rivers (229x300).jpg(CNS): The second candidate who will be running on the Coalition for Cayman (C4C) platform in West Bay has declared her intention to run. Tara Rivers will be joining Mervin Smith on the C4C ticket in the district race, which is wide open after the UDP split in the wake of McKeeva Bush’s arrest last December. With the former premier’s stranglehold on the district weakened and the UDP vote now split, the independents are hoping they, and not the opposition candidates, can capitalize on the window of opportunity. Rivers, a local lawyer who previously tried her hand in the political arena in 2000, grew up in Mount Pleasant and says she is deeply concerned about the social and economic decline in the district.

Saying it is now time for a new generation of leaders to step forward, she said change requires action. Rivers said education would be an area of focus for her if she is elected.

“Everyone deserves a good education and adequate training. A strong economy requires a balanced and prepared workforce. We need qualified mechanics, doctors, trust officers, hotel managers and mental health professionals, to name a few,” she said. “In order for the country to thrive, all of our people should be able to make a positive contribution, therefore vocational training and special needs education must also be a priority."

Rivers is the first candidate to raise the issue of mental health in Cayman, which, despite being one of the country’s leading health problems, is neglected. As a former board member of Cayman Against Substance Abuse and the Cayman Islands Branch of the British Red Cross, she believes that there is a link between mental health and the country’s social decline.

“For too long, mental health concerns have been on the back burner and our people are suffering as a result. If we look at the social decline of our islands—the high level of recidivism of our young males, drug addiction and the abuse of our children— how can we possibly ignore the mental health needs of our people and hope that they will make a positive contribution to the economy and to society as whole?” she asked.

Rivers said Cayman deserves better representation with accountable and visionary leaders who will lead with integrity.

Currently the Chair of the United World Colleges (Cayman Islands) National Foundation, Rivers was one of the youngest recipients of the UWC scholarship at the age of 15. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University, Rivers joined the Ministry of Youth in 1997, where she formed a 28-member National Youth Policy Task Force, which she led to develop the National Youth Policy for the Cayman Islands (2000). Later that year, at the age of 25, Rivers contested the 2000 elections as the youngest candidate that year and narrowly missed winning a seat.

A qualified lawyer, Rivers currently works with Conyers Dill & Pearman (Cayman) Limited.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Woody needs to break away from PPM now and he will win along with the other independent in West Bay..He is a geat guy with a lot of common sense and would be good fro the country but with PPM, not a chance…Get out now Woody, do West Bay a favor and we will elect you as one of our representatives!

    • anonymous says:

      Take heed, Woody, you and anyone else aligning themselves with a political party – well, it's shooting yourself in the foot, basically. West Bayers are looking for a change and it is most certainly NOT by way of casting a vote for the PPM. To believe otherwise shows such a lack of understanding of the mood of the people.

  2. The Big Question says:

    Dear Ms. Rivers,

    What salary will you draw as an MLA?  What benefits will you take?

    TBG

    • Anonymous says:

      A lot less thaN she is making now. She is taking a huge cut to help her country. This is the type leadership we need.

    • Anonymous says:

      What a stupid question…whatever her salary I can bet you  she will cost us a thousand times less than greedy Mac and his UDP hangers on.

    • Pain-n-Plane says:

      I would ask that if you took a job, and that job paid $4000/mo.  Would you not expect to get paid $4000/mo.  What exactly is your point?  I personally expect any MLA to accept exactly what the renumberation package for that position is.  What I demand is that they give the people of the Cayman Islands a high return on the investment the people of Cayman are making.  I expect value for money! 

    • Diogenes says:

      If she is a lawyer for Conyers, probably less than she already makes.

    • Anonymous says:

      What does salary matter??? 

      Actually, she and a lot more will be taking a BIG PAY CUT if elected. So it goes to show that they are not there for Govt money, which isnt there either!!!

      You go girl!!!!  Show them what you are made of!

       

    • Rorschach says:

      It isn't about WHAT salary she or any other MLA will take or what benefits they will get…what matters is VALUE FOR MONEY.  If a person makes $100,000 a year and work and EARNS that money, then they deserve it.  If they lollygag and drag their feet and sit down and do nothing then they DON'T.   Plain and Simple…

  3. Anonymous says:

    Good to see some real new candidates for West Bay. It will be a positive for our future if the old guard is “retired”.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Wb she’s your only hope to save your district & country! You have an opportunity to correct your mistakes in history by voting in Tara Rivers! She was never born with a silver or a gold spoon in her mouth & she feels & see your hurting & she not a person to sell your country out! Unlike the rest of choices you’ll had!

    Caymanian

  5. Anonymous says:

    I was loosing hope in wb and their candidates, but they are light in the end of the tunnel after all! We have finally found a patriot & pure hearted Caymanian! I am proud to be a 8 generation Braca after seeing Tara Rivers step up & save wb sinking ship!

    Braca

  6. Anonymous says:

    Tara is the best & smartest choice in wb! She’s a honest & hard worker & mostly,she have the country at heart! Unlike the UDP in WB!

    Braca

    • Anonymous says:

      Election is a few months and I'm yet to see any real campaign. Other parts of the world and its at least 1 to 2 years of promoting, knocking on doors, town hall meetings etc

      How can anyone have Cayman at heart by waking up a few months before election to declare? Everyday someone new. All a joke. Hoping to get in by who you know?

      • Anonymous says:

        Nonsense. Only America carries on wasting billions of dollars on 2 years of campaigning.

  7. Anonymous says:

    I must say, she looks much nicer than any of our current politicians.  Since you never know how they'll do until they get in, she'll get my vote just for that sassy little look of hers!

    • Anonymous says:

      The endless repugnant male commentaries are really a tiresome disgrace on these forums.  It's not charming.  It's embarressing for you and the men of Cayman.  Grow up please.

      • Anonymous says:

        The kinds of things you women say to your girlfriends are 10 times worse than that comment above! Get off your high moral ground and enjoy life. Are you suggesting Tara isn't attractive, regardless of whether she is suitable for the job?

      • Anonymous says:

        Poor pluralisation is a tiresome disgrace on these fora.  It can be quite embarrassing. 

        • AntiDick says:

          If you live in the stone age… The English plural forums is preferred to the Latin plural fora in normal English usage.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Don't know her personally, but on paper, a successful professional woman with BA(High Honours), MBA, LLB…this is the sort of candidate the district deserves, and the kind of background this nation requires to make the capital project decisions that will effect us for next 20-50 years. 

  9. CayStudent says:

    Out with the old, in with the new. I like the ring that has! And the meaning of it … 🙂

  10. Batman says:

    Great news for West Bay! OUT WITH ALL THE DEAD HEADS AND GREEDY GUTS!

  11. Anonymous says:

    These new politicians are all a joke. They all claim to have solutions and we as fools hang on to every word they say when we want change. Imagine a picture of Joey Hew in GT fish dock posing with local fisherman – I still cant stop laughing – if he was not running for elections he would not have been caught dead hanging out with the local fishermen. OMG I am pi……ing with laughter. And………… fools are not going to see through this and vote for them.

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm not sure what relevance you comments have here.  Politicians are not all a joke and Joey Hew is not yet a politiican anyway.  Tara Rivers is certainly no joke but again she is not yet a politician. What she is, is an educated, capable and honest potential candidate for the upcoming elections.  Stop the negativity and stop the diversion.  This is probably the first election in years that we have candidates with integrity, real vision and leadership skills.

      • Anonymous says:

        You've got that right. Those who support corrupt politicians find honest, capable candidates unpalatable.   

  12. Kim says:

    Glad to see you stepping up and out Tara! You are the kind we need. I can’t vote West but will talk to those who do! GOOD LUCK GURL!

  13. Anonymous says:

    thank god! now west bay has 3 canditates that we can elect , mervin Tara. dwene .and give c.g a chance with some fresh blood, get rid of drunken rolston and under investigation mckeeva. oh i almost forgot Eugene who does F all he should have been long gone.

    • Anonymous says:

      Give CG a chance??? He had plenty of them when he was running around with Big Mac!

  14. A Jackson says:

    This is WONDERFUL news of your candidacy.  Your main issues of Education (anticipation for the issues to include education for those with learning disabilities and Autism to name a few) and Mental Health (anticipation for the issues to include affordable mental health care with implementing support groups and awareness campaigns) and Unemployment are admirable and are in urgent need of reviving in these islands.  Wishing you nothing but success in your endeavors and I sincerely hope the malice and personal attacks that unfortunately come out during these times do not get you down.   Hope to see both you and Mervin in on May 22nd!

  15. Anonymous says:

    West bay now we have some canadiates to choose from let’s make that change! we need to show the rest of the island we can make a smart move when needed, this is the perfect election for fresh blood and bright minds , given a chance i think we will have a better cayman, so let’s get rid of the two teams playing tit for tat with the country’s affairs.

    • Kmanlady says:

      Great news Tara…I  cannot vote in West Bay but I have a large family from there that I will have to ask them to support you and Mervin…Congrates to both of you…

      Go girl…woman must run this country with a little help from the people.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Fantastic!

    Another quality candidate as well as much needed strong female representation!

    Excellent! Excellent!

    • peter milburn says:

      Tara so happy that have decided to put yourself up for election once more.I had the pleasure of working with her and a couple of others maybe 8 years ago and back then she showed much promise in her grasping of the current affairs of this country and her ideas about getting things done for a better Cayman.I urge as many of you as possible to vote for her  and also for Mervyn as we NEED some younger better minded forward thinking people representing this country.Out with the old and in with the new Anyone in doubt give these bright minds that chance to speak and to listen to what they foresee for a MUCH better Cayman than what we have now.

  17. Anon says:

    Congrats Tara – You're made for this.

  18. okay says:

    With Tara and the likes of Marco Archer, Joey Hew, Wayne Panton, Alva Suckoo, Woody DaCosta the future looks much brighter. I am voting for the best people not the best party. The PPM has some solid new candidates and C4C appears to be following with some of their own. I will vote for the ones who are educated, honest, committed to Cayman and not simply seeking power and riches. Sorry though, I cant support any of the UDP past and present and this includes C4C people who previously supported Macs rise to power so

    sorry Winston and Johann you are both disqualified

    I do have certain standards to live by.

    • Gaby says:

      Stop throwing out names when you have no evidence to support such claims. I find it amusing how Johann Moxam was attacked the other day on the Panel for being a PPM supporter in the past by the UDP, yet others call him a Bush lover. Simply because his father is a UDP candidate and is close to McKeeva, that doesn’t automatically mean he supports McKeeva in any form or fashion. With your so called standards, maybe it would be wise to think before you make such damning accusations.

      • biker says:

         

         

        So, supporting "McKeeva" is a "damning accusation"? Interesting…….

      • REAL TALK says:

        Lets be clear, as I understand it, the accusation you refer to was not that he supports McKeeva (although if true that would be damning in itself), rather the accusation is that certain untrue assertions have been circulated by Mr. Moxam to the effect that the PPM has a secret deal with Dart when but for a lawsuit which is now in the public domain, we would not have known that there was in fact a deal between Dart and a company (called Material Imports) in which Mr Moxam is a director and shareholder to provide Dart with the fill to build the new road which will justify the closing of the WBR. Because Mr Moxam, along with many others including the PPM has expressed concerns about the closure of the WBR those facts do leave him open to a charge of hypocrisy and that is hardly country first.

        • Anonymous says:

          So based on your logic and the sometimes objection of FCIA by ppm, Moses Kirkonnell PPM Deputy and Joey Hew both have contractual and business relationships with DART are also hypocrites is that correct?

        • Anonymous says:

          REAL TALK Is it Moxam jr or Moxam sr a candidate in the election? Why are ppm and Alden seemingly obsessed with attacking a businessman who is not a candidate? It is very childish and immature is how it looks. Does the ppm not have other priorities like focusing on a plan to fix the country

          • Anonymous says:

            I think they are saying that Moxam, Jr. is attacking them and being a hypocrite about because of his close business connections with the UDP inner circle. They every right to answer back.  

            • Anonymous says:

              That’s not an answer.

              Answer the question and stop trying to deflect.

              Private citizen and business people are not being paid to be political opposition: PPM is –

              And their only explanation/ defense is “well, you’re a hypocrite, too”??

              Rubbish.

              That proves what he saying bout the opposition being useless, dumbass

              • Anonymous says:

                The question of why they are attacking him HAS been answered. He started this.  

        • Anonymous says:

          The irony of that statement by the pro-ppm blogger is that ppm party leader is one of the biggest mud slingers out there proven to be like McKeeva when it comes to dirty tricks and hypocracy. Get your house in order if you want voters to take ppm serious

      • uhmmm says:

        Check out the Material Imports case thats coming up and you will understand how Johann is linked to the UDP. He and Mario Rankin are in business selling fill to DART on the road project. Johann you can squeal all you want but we are not fools. You are using your UDP connections to make Cash 

        C$C = Ca$h in the bank

      • Anonymous says:

        Johan Moxam is not running for office.  His personal issues do not belong in this forum.  Let's stay focused on this bright independent candidate who will bring much vision and leadership to office if elected.  Mud slinging is not going to get Cayman out of the economic mess, it's not going to provide jobs for the unemployed and it is certainly not adding value to this forum.

    • Caymanian by status and VOTING says:

      I am pleased to see Tara running.  An educated attorney who will give up their fat salaries to help the country.  

      **And I put Winston into this good catagory too! (He is good to his word and never missed a board meeting for an educational board he sits on)

      Bring on more lawyers, accountants (Hallelujah! for Roy Taggart) and I'm sorry, but PPM is still a party and I am voting for all independents.  I think intelligent businessmen and women will work together.

      Speaking of PPM…boy seeing some of those OLD ugly faces just makes me Angry.  It is not your turn to come back and spend again….

      I say ALL NEW MLAS – period.  That will send a message that we no longer want wasteful politicians, but a balanced budget and better education.  

  19. Anonymous says:

    More bright female politicians needed! Congrats Tara!

  20. anonymous says:

    Tara, I am so happy that you have decided to step forward!  West Bay and the entire Cayman Islands needs your leadership now more than ever.  With a capable, qualified, and honest candidate like you running in West Bay, I can finally have some faith again. 

  21. Anonymous says:

    hmmm, sounds like a smart chick, too bad she has chosen to chart the waters flying the C4C flag, probably would have better fortunes flying the flag of the Jolly Roger.

  22. CayStudent says:

    This woman is the reason I have a drive for education and I salute to her. If she hadn't encouraged me to apply for UWC, I would not still have the same determination to climb higher with my education. All the best, despite what the rest may say. 

    • Gaby says:

      As an UWC alumni I fully agree! I cannot vote in WB but it would be great if someone like Tara got in.