UDP no longer ‘united’
(CNS): The United Democratic Party (UDP) will be no more when the opposition party ratifies a change in its name at a planned party conference in the New Year, party officials said. The new Cayman Islands Democratic Party (CDP) has been registered under the Elections Law (2013 revision) as a political party and it will replace the UDP, which was formed in 2001 by the opposition leader and former premier, McKeeva Bush, when the infamous coup overturned Kurt Tibbett’s government and introduced the era of party politics. However, officials said Wednesday that the re-naming of the party was in response to public encouragement to modernize.
The UDP had a rough ride in 2013, starting the year with a cloud hanging over its future following the party split after Bush was arrested and charged on allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct. A no confidence motion after his arrest in the LA saw the fall of the UDP government but five former UDP members retained the Cabinet under the People’s National Alliance banner until the general elections in May, sending Bush and three of his remaining UDP members to the crowded opposition benches.
The split did neither party any favours at the election, with Juliana O’Connor Connolly, who had served as a short term premier, being the only PNA candidate returned. After the election she joined the PPM when it won the majority of seats and accepted the offer from party leader, Alden McLaughlin, of the speaker of the House position.
The United Democratic Party was unable to win any seats outside of its stronghold base of West Bay and even lost one of the four seats there to Tara Rivers, who had run on the Coalition for Cayman platform but also joined the government and Cabinet.
Though she has not yet formerly joined the PPM, she has already made an appearance at the party conference.
Although the party has just three members, Bush is still the opposition leader with members Eugene Ebanks and party deputy leader, Bernie Bush, who share the opposition benches with the two independent members from the eastern districts, Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller.
With the party rebrand, McKeeva Bush will remain as leader of the CDP and leader of the opposition, while Bernie Bush also retains the deputy leadership of the new party.
Tessa Bodden remains as chair of the new party and Dr Joe Marzouca as deputy chairman, despite his position as the honorary consul for Jamaica. Renard Moxam has also been confirmed as the second deputy chair of the re-named party.
Bodden said the party has also renewed its constitution. That and the amended name were viewed as necessary by the party's General Council in response to overwhelming public encouragement to modernize and move forward.
Following the announcement, McKeeva Bush said he welcomed the opportunity for the party to continue the process of growing and addressing the needs of the people of the Cayman Islands.
Category: Politics
Mac wants another feather in his cap; to be the first person named as leader of six different political parties.
…IT'S the Cayman way…get into trouble, form a new company….but the're still gonna get you Mac.
OK, lets see:
Onward, let's progress together!
How about we call it "Trash Talk Wednesday"!!!
It think the Cayman United National Topical Society would be a good name for Mac's party.
Can we make that Un-united please?
………………………..or get rid of "you know who" and call it "untied"!
Woosh………
Cayman does not need parties what is needed are good policies for all Caymanians and a way forward for the young.
I will fight for my right to party.
UDP or CDP…its still McKeeva!! We don't need any party. Look how smoothly the the current Government is now working together as a team. Its no longer a one man show. Not that much pigs at the through, anymore. The CIG Money, the people's money is not being dished out to lazy people, anymore. This Government is now teaching their people to fish, create and produce.
Can Da Premier?
I guess they realized there is no such thing as UNITY. But how in the world would they replace UNITY for CAYMAN ISLANDS. Did they really stood up for average Caymanians whilst in was in power?
"Did they really stood up" … great command of the English Language!! I like!
There goes another million.
Makes since, it worked for the PPM oh I mean the PROGRESSIVES!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, you finally got the name of your Government right. Very important since they are going to be your leaders for the next fifty years.
PPM did not change their name, they simply re-branded as the Progressives. http://www.theprogressives.ky/ UDP have changed their name.
UH Please explain the difference ?
The difference is the Progressives got elected, while the CDP most certainly wont.
The UDP's last chance at abuse of power in this country went out the door with their second pathetic and failed attempt to override the authority and wishes of their constituents under the scapegoat of one disgruntled individual. If that didn't work changing their name isn't going to.
Obviously this is too much for your poor little UDP brain so lets just move on. The difference between the UDP and the PPM is night and day and this argument is not worth having. Please find some other issue to flap your lips at.
Thanks,
The difference between changing your name and not changing your name? If you are that clueless there is no point in explaining anything to you.
A turd by any other name is still a turd.
Unless it's a turder.
… but it's fun to watch Mac try to polish it.
Mac seems to have left out the "I" in CDP. Any particular reason CNS placed this story in the crime section?
CNS: It was an error, now corrected.
That would have made it sound too much like CIPD.
An Herror eh CNS Cha!
Looking at the thumbs, we have a lone voice crying in the wilderness here folks. If it ain't mac it must be foolio.
where is foolio???
He's hiding from Alden.
I heard Mac on Rooster Wednesday morning ranting and raving about the bio-metric passport issue saying that Caymanians were not fools that there was some other ulterior motive by the British behind the passport changes. I then waited for him to explain how he keeps getting elected but it didn't happen, XXXXX
It's a fridggin secret, my friend.
He is hiding with Waldo.
'modernize'…..cayman style……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
It is time now for the PPM to pass OMOV as promised. Lets do it now and get it done. The people voted overwhelmingly for it. Just do it.
Rather unfortunate for the law firm of Conyers Dill & Pearman!!!!
Nah, Mac's group are actually the CIDP.
They were never United, and more Despotic than Democratic, so the only thing that goes on is the Party.
Would somebody please tell mac the party's over?
The electorate being what it is, past history tells us to expect a 180deg flip in a few years.
Democracy sometimes bites. Usually every four years.
Sorry to disappoint you GeeTee but na ga happen this time Bo Bo.
…..and you can't fix stupid!
mckeeva's kind of democracy bites with rabies.
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Why change the name unless you’re trying to hide a bad name?
The PPM did the same thing when they changed their name from the People Progressive Movement to The Progressives in preparation for the election. Were they trying to hide a bad name..?
Absolutely not. They were being progressive.
They did not change their name. They re-branded as the Progressives but retained the name. http://www.theprogressives.ky/
PPM did it and won he last election you hypocrite
You really shouldn't be calling poor mac a hypocrite. He would NEVER jack your utility bill into the cosmos if he didn't need the money for travel and donating to his church.
And lawsuits,,,and committment fees…and through the roof scholarships.
That certainly does not mean mekeewa is going to win the next election you hypocrite. Maybe he should stop trying to walk in the Progressives footsteps…
PPM did not change its name. It only re-branded.
You're an idiot if you actually think there's any difference..
You are an idiot because you don't understand the difference between changing your name and not changing your name.
What you UDP idiots don't understand is that the PPM did not win because it re-branded as the Progressives but rather because it brought on boardcredible, able new people to chart a new course. So long as McKeeva is the leader of the UDP/CIDP/XYP or whatever it will stink to high heaven.
The difference is the PPM got re-elected.
Leopards can't change their spots.
Party politics has been the ruin of this country! Just like it's nefarious history throughout the Caribbean, 2 party politics have done nothing but feed greed and corruption while offering empty promises and keeping the Caribbean people undereducated and dependent on blowhard politicians.
WHY Cayman has joined this dangerous downward path baffles me. In the end, the generations suffer. However, it takes a strong mind to step away from the favors and the sheep herd. Be sheep no more! UDP or XYZ following a party will only bring more of the same.
World class top-notch education for our 5,000 students will change our destiny. Do not gamble (ha ha Mac) with our children's future any longer! The only way to defeat politicians is to have a better educated populous. (They know this too and it is why you get favors and civil servant paychecks instead of better literacy) Education will solve all our problems (unemployment, permits, industry, growth) but we need to make a plan that is not party dependent.
You said a mouthfull….Agree 100%
Cayman had parties decades ago.
I think everyone would agree that the party needs to modernize and move forward. However, I don't think a name change was what the people had in mind. Getting rid of Big Mac and his cronnies would have been a more sensible option. People want to see real change, not a white washing.
"A Rat by any other name is still a Rat"
CNS boy we really see you have it in for Kiki eh. Mind ya what goes 0 in politics comes 0 .
Peace be unto You CNS.
smae old scummy supporters too i see
Yep, still drinking that green Kool Aid.
You mean that turd flavored green Kool Aid?
The UDP by any other name is still the UDP
Renaming the party will not make any difference as long as it has the same leadership.
"…modernize and move forward…"
A mere name change does nothing to modernize and move the party forward.
Modernization and forward motion requires vision, intelligence, and competence.
Since the same people are at the helm, it looks like the name change is mere political positioning. It puts distance between themselves and their past transgressions.
PPM were supposed to have introduced OMOV, relegating all this party alligience nonsense to the scrap heap.
It won't get rid of parties but it might get rid of the cronies riding the boss's coattails.
Rumor has it they have now shelved this proposal due to internal disagreement.
How what? Whete do you get your news you must be a reporter. And Another Ting.
Why is that a surprise, expect them to about face on a lot of promises now that they got what they wanted…..POWER..
Controversial Name Proposal?
Dear Citizen OMOV does not change the Party system, rather it provides for equanimity in voting. and Another Ting.
The skunk can change its name, but it's still a skunk.
Go ahead, peal off the new wrapper and you will find the same old destructive force that has plagued us for many years.
A rose by any other name is still a rose…. Politics at its best!, you can change your name or the color of your hair but the content of your character is another matter.
"Maybe they'll forget everything I did if I re-name my Party.." said the man who thinks we're as gullible as goldfish.
Goldfish are gullible? I have never had much success myself in convincing them of anything. I must try a more bullying attitude!
Sadly, there is, given Cayman's political history, a reasonable probability that McKeeva Bush will be the premier again after the next election.
This is the product of extremely short term political memory and a political party's name change.
Unless he is convicted of any dishonesty charge and cannot run for election, in West Bay anything can happen.
LOL. There is that small thing of a criminal trial in about 9 months time.
Nope, never happen again, he has been a disgrace before but he managed to top all the other stupid things he did in the past in one go. mac done and done for good, just a big mouth in west bay and a criminal trial on the way
Ha Ha A leopard dont change his spots. If youl put perfume and lipstick on a pig its still a Pig.
PPM rebrand to Progressives now UDP rebrand to Cayman Democratic Party they both still the same collection of yes men. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Same Dog different Fleas
They could rebrand themselves: LIME
Lousy In My Estimation
Still waiting for Fast Furious Fiber which I applied for several months ago and still have had no indication of when it might be installed. Appalling customer service. This applies to their constant changing of cell phone charges without warning after they have sold you a package.
Cayman Dictator's Party
Cayman Disgrace Party.
Crush Dem Progressives
Can't touch dis.
I t'ought I saw a Leopard! I did! I did!
Mac: Why don't you just call it the Cayman Independence Party and done with it?
UDP no longer 'united'?
As if they ever were to begin with?
Neither united or, more significantly, democratic. Autocratic would have been much more accurate.
"West Bay United" would have been more appropriate……..
17.52, oh no, that is too close to West Ham United, which some would argue is of similar relevance to UPD/ whatever they will be called, but at least they fight hard and try to win for all their fans.
More like Millwall – "no one likes us, we don't care"
Winning for the fans and giving away money to them are two very different things.