OMOV missing from agenda

| 02/06/2014

(CNS): Two government members and the independent member for North Side have all raised the issue that the elections law is missing from government’s legislative agenda. While the next election is still three years away, in his contribution to the budget debate Thursday Ezzard Miller raised concerns that, with no plans to address it this year, Cayman could still go to the polls in 2017 under the old system. On Friday PPM member Al Suckoo said he would be doing everything he could to lobby for the change and then on Monday Roy McTaggart, the C4C member for George Town, also suggested implementing a newvoting system sooner rather than later.

With no plans to bring the legislative changes this year, Miller was the first to raise concerns that this was a clear signal that the PPM-led government would not usher in the changes, despite the widespread support across the country, in time for the 2017 national vote. He said that if government is waiting until the 2015/16 year to address it by the time any legislation is ready the government will run out of time to implement the changes.

Despite having campaigned on a platform to introduce 'one man, one vote', the PPM leader and premier made a dramatic U-turn on the issue during a the debate on a private members motion brought by the member for East End, Arden McLean, earlier this year. Alden McLaughlin said that he did not have the full support of his entire government and he would not push through voting reform without consensus.

However, back-bench government memberand Bodden Town representative Al Suckoo vowed Friday during his contribution to the budget debate to lobby hard for the introduction of OMOV in single member constituencies, as he said he still believed it was the best option. Suckoo told his colleagues that a lot had been said on the subject and while he recognized there were some different views in government and he would wait for the internal debate to finish, he promised to work hard for the reform during this administration.

Roy McTaggart also raised the issue in his contribution on Monday. He was elected in George Town, where voters had six votes in the 2013 election as a result of the growth in the electors register, which had fuelled the concerns about voter inequity. The C4C member of the government said that he too had noted that the elections law was absent from the agenda. McTaggart said if the government was to achieve a change then the law must be handled in the coming year. The second elected member for George Town said he wanted to see the debate start on how the system could be changed and warned that supporters and the voting public are expecting to see some movement on this subject.

McLaughlin has never said how many of his government members do not support the change in the voting system or which of those members are not backing the move to what most people agree is a more equitable voting system. In the face of the rejection of his private members motion in February, Arden McLean pointed the finger at McLaughlin as being the real stumbling block to OMOV and one of the reasons he resigned from the PPM.

In July 2012 the referendum returned a majority in favour of 'one man, one vote' in single member constituencies, which was still rejected by the UDP government at the time as it was not a majority of the entire electorate but a simple majority of those who voted.

During that campaign, Alden McLaughlin had raised his concerns that the referendum would by hijacked by the UDP government and he had told voters that the only way to ensure that 'one person, one vote' would be introduced in Cayman was to elect a PPM government —
a campaign promise which is looking increasingly likely to be broken.

In the legislative programme for the 2014/15 financial year, which is published in the Annual Plan and Estimated document, there are more than fifty legislative amendments and new laws that the Progressives plan to bring to the LA, but no mention of the elections law.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Politics

About the Author ()

Comments (32)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Peanuts says:

    If 500 George Town voters cast only one vote that will withhold two thousand five hundred votes. That will show the pretender who run things…. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    When weeds grow in the garden of truth, they can expect little mercy from the gardener.

  3. B. Hurlstone says:

    If our Premier does not bring about OMOV he will have lost my support, and probably the support of thousands more.

  4. Dred says:

    It's truly sad and this is why we always have changes every 4 years because parties promise things and don't deliver.

    Alden….our promise to you is this and I hope you read carefully. No OMOV No PPM  2017.

    And…..Unlike you, if you know anything about Cayman politics, we DELIVER on our promises!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Any how u put it there will be no PPM in 2017. If OMOV is passed it gets rid of party politics and if he doesnt pass it then no one votes for PPM. Now you tell me which risk the premier will take first. I think he will stick to not keeping his promise for OMOV as he cant survive with out a party. 

  5. pmilburn says:

    Bunch of windbags so much to get done but no ambition to do it.Prime example the DUMP.How many more meetings and trips overseas to get more information?Why is it that so many Caymanians just sit  back and except this kind of BS from their elected members?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Let me quote from the PPM manifesto:

    "We shall continue to uphold the highest standards of good governance by:

    Amending the Elections Law to establish single member constituencies in good time for the 2017
    elections thereby giving effect to the desires of the majority of Caymanians who participated in the One Man One Vote Referendum."

    I was a very active supporter of the PPM in the last election and did so because the promised OMOV as we voted on.

    I think the PPM is doing a very good job in many areas. But let me be perfectly clear!  If they fail to fulfill on this promise I will not vote for them again.

    This is the matter that they got elected on. They need to understand that I can work just as hard against them next election as I could for them.  OMOV will be my deciding factor!

  7. Anonymous says:

    they better deal with it because people don’t forget and it may cost a lot, & alot of them may not be reelected! bracka

  8. Anonymous says:

    Let us be honest, Cayman voters are like voters the world around. They vote for who they believe will give them the most with the least amount of effort.

  9. Anonymous says:

    So are Al and Roy going to threaten to resign to force the issue or are they full of crap?

    • Anonymous says:

      Neither. They realise there is still time for to happen in the next 3 years.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why would Al and Roy resign?  What purpose would that serve?  Some of you are just plain imbeciles. They will work with the Government  to get the best outcome. There is still time. I am glad that neither of those gentlemen have your mind set.

      • Anonymous says:

        They should indicate an intention to cross the floor.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think the reference was to resigning from government not from the LA, so I suspect by jumping to a wrong conclusion, you are the imbecile.

  10. Anonymous says:

    We all know that Ezzard is using OMOV as a vehicle to break the power of party politics to be able to form a government with himself as the Premier and then to push for Independence.

    Let us not be naive. You must read between the lines to know what modivates these politicians.

  11. And Another Ting says:

    London Bridge is falling down, falling down falling down, London bridge is falling down my fair Lady. Send for the Doctor to take him out he seat, outa he seat outa he seat, send fe the doctor to take away he seat my fair lady. Chop. Chop chop off goes OMOV.

  12. Anonymous says:

    More proof that the UDP and PPM are exactly the same. All they do is point fingers, pat themselves on the back and switch places every four years. If we want change we have to stand up and make it happen. They only want to maintain the status quo. 

    OMOV would allow us to have an elected official at the real community grassroots level. It would foster change from the bottom up. It would empower the vulnerable. OMOV would give the country back to the people of these islands. 

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Most of candidates do not want OMOV because they do not have what it takes to be a politician. They depend on the coat tail effect  where they will get accepted.

       They campaign in their groups  and we are told,  vote for the 6. Most of them are useless, never as much as bring a motion to the house, wheather government or back bench.

      Caymanian voters, we are the only one to put a stop to this. Patiently listen to each canditate, listen  to what he or she has to offer, what ammendment he or she will persue to bring this country back to where we as Caymanians can be in control of our destiny. Isnt that what you want?

      Dont vote for 2,3,4,5 or 6 vote for one where you can hold him or her accountable. this way they cant hide behind each other and say, it's not my responsiblity. Cant you all by now, see the incompetence in most of these candidates???they are useless!! vote OMOV.

       

  13. Hopeful says:

    It will be a big mistake if the Premier does not bring about the change after promising OMOV in his last champagne. However, if he decides not to make the change, I can assure your that I will only be marking ONE  X.   I am sure many others will be doing the same.  Please Mr. Premier keep your promise.

    • Anonymous says:

      Dont be fooled by any Primeir. It is your civil rights to vote only for one candidate, thats what i will be doing next election. Im not joining no chain gang. Politicians in this country are crooked each day. They are  getting harder to be trusted. Vote for one!

    • Anonymous says:

      "champagne"? LOL.

    • Anonymous says:

      You should never taken what anyone says seriously if they are sipping champagne at the time.

  14. Peanuts says:

    I do not need the government to amend the legislation, I have made up my mind, I will only cast One vote in George Town. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Lets all follow  19;33

      Lets show them they cant keep fooling us any longer. I will be voting for one and thats not my friend either. Friend f@@@ friend!

    • Anonymous says:

      The problem is finding one candidate deserving of a vote.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Don't be surprised.

    Politicians only car for themselves and their businesses.

    Don't be naive and stay home with the next election. THAT will make a change.