UDP back pedals on dump
(CNS): Despite being a vocal supporter of the proposal to relocate the George Town landfill to the district of Bodden Town, Walling Whittaker has signalled a U-turn on the UDP policy to support that element of the ForCayman Investment Alliance. Confirmed as a United Democratic Party candidate for the district of George Town at the party’s general assembly on Saturday, Whittaker back-pedaled on the controversial dump relocation as he was presenting the campaign platform. Whittaker’s firm had been expected to do the work should the proposal go ahead and he had been the face of the project on behalf of Dart before he signalled a likely change of direction.
The once staunch advocate for a waste management facility in Bodden Town told the UDP party faithful that, if returned to office, the party would tackle the landfill but did not speak of relocation.
“We can’t keep on putting rubbish there for the next forty years,” he declared, referring to the existing dump, and said the UDP would make the tough decisions that would not cost government anything, adding that the party would "let you know how” as it took to the campaign trail.
Although he did not reveal what the UDP had planned, the draft party platform document given to attendees at the conference indicated that the UDP would be returning to the concept of a waste-to-energy solution, an irony that will not be lost on those opposing the Dart proposal.
With all of the PPM already clearly in opposition to the idea of moving the dump and advocating a return to the original government plan to deal with the landfill on site, and the independents running in the district also against it, the former UDP team running in the district is the only group now openly supporting the Dart proposal to swap land with government in Midland Acres and develop phase one of a new landfill site there.
Whittaker made it clear that the UDP were distancing themselves from the Dart dump deal when he said government would tackle the project but made no mention of Dart, a relocation or a land swap and pointed to the possibility of another solution.
The proposal to move the dump to the district remains a significant campaign issue. It was originally announced by Mckeeva Bush at the CBO conference in January 2011 just a few weeks after the Central Tenders Committee had announced that it had given approval for the Department of Environmental Health to begin negotiating with a US firm about a waste-to-energy project on the George Town dump. But the UDP appears to have now abandoned the Dart dump deal.
Mark Scotland, Dwayne Seymour and Richard Christian, the three 'UDP Lite' candidates who will be running under a new, as yet undisclosed, team name with the remaining Cabinet members, are now the only group backing the Dart proposal. This places the project, which forms the second part of the ForCayman Investment Alliance, in jeopardy.
Check back to CNS later for more reports from the UDP general assembly and the PPM party conference on Saturday.
Category: Politics
There could be a bit of a credibility problem here for this bunch. Just how big a fool do they take the Caymanian people for? Obviously a huge one!
Get rid of the UDP! They ran this country down & it’s time they go!
Braca
He & they will soon be back pedling alright! Fix wheel at that with no breaks, down a slop on a wet road.
The dupo is going to Bodden Town unless the CIG can find the money to deal with it in GT, which we all know they do not have, these are all politricking tactics. After the election there will be two choice Bodden Town or Mt Trashmore just keeps growing..
Chris Saunders Jonathan piercy Theresa pictarin all educated and UDP to the core. so to some it up, educated yes but honest hard working social and civic workers? NOT. What have these guys done for their respective communities? NOTHING!
I don’t know much about Rayal so can’t really comment on much about him. Then again how can I vote for someone I don’t know?
Caymanians do you want the same of what we are currently getting come May? Vote right our future depends on it!
Show hands and feet, the people in the B T district who have seen or heard of C.Saunders. The people live in the districts and never contribute nor take and active part in whatever is taking place in them, but find it convenient to show faces when they are hunting down assistance from the general public. Save the day, in May and vote positive for the PEOPLE.
Education, needs commonsense to drive it down the road.
Wally is like a weatherman, he changes with every season. Remember the "nodding dog" analogy he was making the whole time he was running as an independent? (That party members just say "yes, Sir" all the time). Now he has joined a party that wants to put a dump in his district using his company and now he doesn't want the dump in his district. He probably still wants to be given the work but realises that he cannot get elected in BT if it goes there.
I don't blame him for now running with a party because in the last elections, the independents did not even have a chance. Party politics are here to stay in Cayman, whether we like it or not. It maybe disguised as a coalition but its the same concept, same thing.
He ran in GT last election… so clearly he never had any intention of running in BT. Wally has always been a georgetowner
The more and more I read these comments the more I realize that the people who frequent this site simply read the titles, not the story and then post comments. And if you disagree with me you lovely group of intellectuals… please reply to my comment and enlighten me as to the quotes that indicate that this is the UDP back-pedalling on their decision to move the dump from GT. Facts are a beautiful thing…
Dear intellectual, Perhaps you can enlighten us as to where the UDP say they still intend to move the dump to Bodden Town.
So Let me get this straight from all of you. Wally says “We can’t keep on putting rubbish there for the next forty years,” and that's enough for you all to think that he has now done a complete 180 and he wants the dump to stay in GT. talk about twisting someone's words…
Walking are you really so desperate for power that you are going to jump into bed with a man that has 11charges on him ? Come on man!
It seems in our present environment that the only thing to do is follow the money.
I agree, follow the money to Dart's cesspit!
Dart and his UDP and UDP Lite are just stooges for Dart – feeding of the crumbs he gives them to follow his commands.
C4C too they have no anti Dart policies. Not one they are silent on WB Road and the Dump issues.
Oh please! PPM is also in bed with Dart and don't make no mistake about that. Dart didn't just come about under UDP rule, they were wheelin n dealin with anyone with power. PPM has just taken a back seat in their car and are waiting to see the outcome of the elections before they roll out their red carpet for them.
not surprised the udp have flip flopped contantly over the last 4 years….
but I am sick of the spineless cowardice of all candidates as they are alll avoiding the hard questions and solutions……….
mount trashmore is a monument to the incomptence and and failures of caymanian politicians…
the dump issue is quiet simple….cayman has failed to deal with this for generations….dart has now come along and offered a free sensible solution….yet we are going to turn it down because of a few backward boddentown nimbys??????
Sorry, but the Dart proposal for the dump is not a "free solution". He did buy the land (from a UDP supporter) and proposes to dig and line some holes (using a UDP candidate/supporters business to do the work). However, that is all he is going to do. The rest of the work will be paid for by taxpayers, including any type of waste-to-energy plant.
Just sayin'.
OK, so who do you think is going to do it for free?
Someone who has enough money to set up a plasma gasification plant would probably build it.
A modern facility calls for sorted garbage, which the holes in BT cannot accommodate. The Minister said, that sorting will happen in a few years. So, what are we getting in BT? The same, old same old, as is in George Town. Can you see the forest for the trees?
No I can't see the forest for the trees but I do see the fallacies in your argument. If this how you really "see it", then it would only make sense that each district fends for themselves and have their own waste facility. GT has been burdened with garbage from the other districts far too long now and it can no longer continue in the same capacity. It is the tourism mecca and the capital but because of the close-minded they choose for us to display a new tourism attraction being the highest point in GT, Mt. Trashmore. Enough is enough!
Rhere are many ways to deal with Mt Trashmore, than moving it elsewhere. The resaon for the move is to facilitate and carry out the wishes of Dart. Before and after he bought the land adjacent to Mt Trashmore, he knew it was an dump/refuse site. Are you all still being fooled by money machines?
Mount Trashmore NIMBY why don’t you keep the dump in your backyard where you found it when you came to Cayman. Solve the problem in your backyard and stop trying to dump it in mine. NIMBY PR machine.
http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2013/03/25/united-democratic-party-part-1
Here is the UDP's real stance on the dump.
Didn't hear the words "Bodden Town".
According to what Wally said on TV it is still going to be in Bodden Town (listen to Part one from about 3 min 20 ish seconds for the next minute or so.) They are just playing word games. i can't believe that they think the voters in BT will not see right through them.
Changing the color of the ties does change the spots on the beast.
Apparently CNS did not attend the convention because it was never said that the UDP would not support moving the dump. Where are you getting your information from?
CNS: Wendy was most certainly there and reported on both this event and the PPM conference on Saturday. The previous position of the UDP was moving the dump specifically to the Bodden Town location and any change to this would be a u-turn. Their position now appears to be moving it "somewhere", though where that somewhere is has not yet been made clear.
Back pedal again and let us have our two roads in and out of West Bay.
UDP = UNCERTAINTY. Plain and simple.
Why arent UDP being raked over the coals by the C4$$ like how they (C4C) grill the Progressives on their policies?
Also, in my opinion, it seems that Austin and Gilbert's show on Rooster seems to be turning into a C4C free-for-all – C4C candidates are on there morning and night, just saying…
i liked it better when there was diversity on the show, different groups speaking on their side and their views, now its kind of lop-sided and getting boring and i find myself tuning out more now or playing my CDs.
Wally, like all the other folks that are looking for the big payday are saying whatever they think they need to to get the job.
Pretty sure I would as well if I had a chance to triple my salary and cut my work in half.
Listen if you want to talk about big paydays then talk about the politicians who don't have an education. But with people like wally, theresa, chris saunders and even the C4C to say that these educated individuals are in it for money… you yourself are the ones who look ignorant.
Wally was Director of Employment Relations and Director of Environmental Health… Nice paying jobs last time I checked. You guys are funny
You have not seen flip flopping yet…you wait until the 23rd of May…I hope Lime and Digicel have extra circuits ready
You be careful doing fancy bike tricks like that Walling – one slip and that dump all over you.
Did anybody check to see if he had both hands behind his back with the fingers “crossed”.
Walling has more knowledge about that landfill than anyone else. Whatever he proposes for the landfill is good enough for me. We always complain about how we constantly bring in consultants for our various issues and now that we have a Caymanian with the knowledge to tackle an issue we want to bring him down. Crabs in a bucket all over again
Walling has more knowledge of rubbish than the average person.
Yes, Wally has more knowledge about disposiing of garbage.
Look who he associates with Dart and Mac…now he has a full time job trying to dispose and hide all of their garbage.
Even if he proposes that the work goes to his company?
LOL WOW!!! I have never seen someone's words twisted so much in my life. Wally has one quote attributed to him in the entire article…. “We can’t keep on putting rubbish there for the next forty years,” and now that signals a back pedal? Grasping at straws are we CNS?
Who can you trust to stick to their opinions and promises these days? This guy is a perfect UDP candidate and has a fitting track record to go with it! What really speaks volumes is his steadfast allegiance to party and money. My guess is that Malcolm Point has jumped on another seemingly more lucrative bandwagon. For god and country's sake, if you do get elected or awarded the new dump contract make an honest dollar out of it. Don't try and rip off, scam, embezzle or deceive the electorate in any way. Let's see if you can be "transparent" with this one like in your 2009 election campaign interview: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CEEQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqOQCoNzUY-E&ei=9H5QUfqIBImc8gTsooDQDQ&usg=AFQjCNG5BYOzCJq1_nEaVSBf6xNuNoPDEA&sig2=OkOjjSn5xQHvFKVZpm5DNA
The utter neglect of duty to agree and implement a solid waste solution the by all elected members responsible for this portfolio over the last 25 years is appalling to say the least Millions have been spent on studies and the existence of other successful solid waste operations in the region has largely been ignored. Other countries in the region clearly have overtaken Cayman in this area of infrastructure, sure they don’t have a perfect solution but it is far better than what we have now.
Whilst government entered into a strategic partnership over 2 years ago with Dart to provide the first phase of a properly engineered solution none exists to date. Nor does it seem likely that government has the right people in place to broker another solution or now attract another bidder in addition to Dart. No doubt UK will be forcing our hand on this one soon. We have no one to blame but our honourable but irresponsible politicians who had charge over this. Time for someone with honesty and integrity to step up to the the plate as this sitaution is truly shameful.
LOL just curious but what was the reason for including your link? Doesn't sound like he has back tracked on anything he said.
Say what you wantabout the UDP but interesting to see how many well educated people have joined their party. Theresea, Rayal Bodden, Chris Saunders, Wally, Jonathan Piercy all have good education. MAC better watch his back! LOL
Having a good education and having good morals are not necessarily the same thing.
Regrettably some educated people are blind and deaf.
What are you listening to!? Wally said on cayman27 this morning that the UDP will move the dump from GT. Typical CNS spin doctors
Wally clarified on daybreak this morning that the UDP is committed to moving the dump. If you don't believe me go and check their website yourself
This is absolute rubbish. At no time on saturday did he say that he was opposed to moving the dump. What do you think he meant when he said “We can’t keep on putting rubbish there for the next forty years,”?
No UDP.
UDP no.
No. UDP
UDP. No.
However it is written the message is clear.
Flip flop. Dollas dem drop.
Rather than backpedaling this looks like the UDP of old where they say whatever they think will get them elected and then do as they please afterwards.
This just shows how unreliable the Cayman Island Government currently is, you cannot take anything they say for its word. Investors will realize that it is too risky to get involved with the CIG because they change their minds way to much especially around election time. Already the PMM is looking to say they intent to reverse the West Bay road closer if they are put in office without even saying how this can even be done being that property has already been transferred to Dart. Just the mention of this means that no one can be sure that one government will honor a deal made by the previous government which is reason enough for investors to run the other way. It’s also funny to hear them on the campaign saying that they will remove duty increases implemented over the past few years with an explanation of they will pay the bills without them. I guess they plan on planting more Money Trees.
They are going to say whatever they think people want to hear just to get into office. And the funny thing about it is that people are going to fall for it. Politicians are masters of illusion, all of them..
What a set of hypocrits. Who can we trust? Don't be blinded, think, understand and always be mindful of changes in the atmosphere.
Agreed!
I don't trust Walling Whittaker any further than I could throw Mac.
Hope Wally gets his money back running in GT this time. Dont worry Wally, we clearly know where you stand, and you will also know the morning after
It doesn't matter what Walling thinks. When it comes to the UDP the only opinion that matters is Mac's
GOD FOR A DAY
So, what shall we do for Grand Cayman.
Hmmm, theres a really nice stretch of sand beach on the west side. That will be a nice place for people to vacation. Oh, and the deep water off George Town will be perfect for cruise ship landing.
Okay….. so where shall I put the dump?????
Let me think for a minute…….. Shall I put away from the main tourist area away in an area where we can recycle much of what is thrown away. Creating jobs and keeping Cayman clean. Shall we find an area that is able to support the entire island so we don't need multiple locations?
Or should I put it right in the middle of the main tourist area and stink up the whole place and blight everything around it ??
What Would God DO ????
No need to put the dump anywhere else and contaminate a new site. The problem can clearly be fixed where it is, at little or no cost to the public purse. Mt Trashmore can be eliminated and the GT dump properly managed. This has been and continues to be the responsibility of our government, and it's high time that new government assumes this responsibility — fixing the problem where it is, following the advice of our Central Tenders Committee and of many experts and engineers, and not trying to "sweep the dump problem under the carpet" by hiding it in BT and cxreating a new heap of trash. Only Dart can benefit from moving the dump by enhancing the value of its Camana Bay project, with disastrous consequences for BT and for the entire island..
Or maybe neither of those things because both are outdated ecologically unsound ways of dealing with a problem. You should be installing modern waste disposal units that produce energy as a by product and deal with the waste in an ecologically sound way. But that would require investment, whereas simply moving the mountain doesn’t!
Unlike you, GOD would know that there is no place away from the main tourist area away in an area where we can recycle much of what is thrown away. Creating jobs and keeping Cayman clean. GOD (and the UDP) know that the UDP have earmarked one place away from the main tourist area, (without considering whether anywhere else on-island is suitable) to dump the same lined dump without any recycling or waste management facilities whatsoever. Perhaps the garbage men and dump truck drivers will get jobs transporting all that garbage from GT and WB to BT, and then back to GT for shipping out?
Stop talking out your backside and start talking about facts. We are not getting a waste management facilitity we are just getting more of the same – another dump. So rather than have the same problem in two places, and add to vehicluar traffic and pollution, I think GOD would probably try to keep the problem contained in the one place already affected. So would I for that matter.
So, Anon-10:51, we should create more expense for Gov't with longer distance of WM vehicles traveling further when majority of WM is in GT and WB which will add to the environmental challenges on this little Island? The Dart deal was to build th WM facility, not operate it. Who will be operating it? Tourists visit here, we have to live here including yourself. Let's try smart solutions that will balance all needs and not just Dart and visitors.. Yes i am very aware of the importance of tourism to our economy! Sing a different song!
UDP cannot be trusted.
HA! That's the understatement of this century!!!
They only back down now until elections are over. People do not be fooled by these tactics. UDP is on a downward spin and they need to try and gain back some credibility with the people. I'ts the same old tactic…back down until election over and hope to get back in, then you will see that they are right back to their old ways. Did they not say the deal was already sign and it's binding…Good try UDP but we not biting.
No one can trust the UDP.
Tick-tock, flip-flop! Who can you trust? No one! How do you tell if a polititian is lying?
(Hint: His lips are moving!)