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Alden is next CI premier
(CNS): With the PPM taking four seats in both George Town and Bodden Town, and Moses Kirkconnell being returned in the Sister Islands, the PPM will be able to form the next government with Alden McLaughlin at the helm. The UDP were wiped out in the capital, with the C4C taking two George Town seats while Mike Adam, the only UDP candidate with a hope throughout the count, fell at the final hurdle. The George Town count was announced outside the Family Life Centre at around 8:30am Thursday as Cayman could breath a sigh of relief that it had a stable administration and was not facing the prospect of horse-trading or backroom deals, with both Ezzard Miller and Arden McLean willing to back a PPM administration, securing the party a majority in Cayman's new 18-seat parliament.
In George Town the party's patriarch, Kurt Tibbetts, was returned as first elected member with 3,470 votes, while C4C's Roy McTaggart came in second with 2,160 votes and PPM Leader Alden McLaughlin third with 2,145. Marco Archer (PPM) was fourth, Winston Connolly (C4C) fifth and Joey Hew (PPM) held up the rear, pushing out the incumbent Mike Adam to take the sixth seat as the UDP's support disappeared in the capital.
The long wait followed a tense count in West Bay, Bodden Town and George Town, where the result was very close in all three districts. Earlier in the evening Miller and McLean had both achieved comfortable majorities in their constituencies and PPM Deputy leader Moses Kirkconnell soared passed Juliana O'Connor-Connolly to take 75% of the vote in the Brac.
In the critical battle ground of Bodden Town the PPM had a clean sweep but a close race to push out Theresa Pitcairn (UDP) and Charles Clifford (IND). Incumbent PNA candidates Mark Scotland and Dwayne Seymour both lost their seats, and although the UDP candidates fared better than the interim government ministers, they failed to get a single seat for the party.
In West Bay Tara Rivers made history when she rocked the UDP boat and turfed out Velma Hewitt, who came in fifth. The C4C candidate was returned as the second elected member in an emphatic rejection by West Bayers of the straight vote. The PPM did poorly in the district but so did the PNA incumbents Rolston Anglin and Cline Glidden, who also lost their seats despite their focused campaign on the former premier and allegations of more corruption.
The UDP were wiped out in every district except West Bay and will now occupy only three seats on the opposition benches along with the only remaining member of the PNA, Juliana O'Connor-Connolly. It is not clear if the three C4C candidates will join Bush across the chamber or whether they will be seeking to support the PPM government.
How McLaughlin will secure his premiership is not yet clear but he has a number of options, which will likely include offering the speaker's job to Ezzard Miller, who is the most knowledgeable member of the Legislative Assembly when it comes to parliamentary procedures and would be an obvious choice.
With the PPM in government, this is the last time that Cayman will have to go through a full general election under the multi-member system, which is far from user friendly, as the party has committed to introduce one man, one vote and single member constituencies.
See full results here.
Alden is the next premier
(CNS): With the PPM taking 4 seats in both George Town and Bodden Town as well as Moses Kirkconnel being returned in the Sister Islands the PPM should be able to form the next government and Alden McLaughlin will be premier. The UDP were wiped out in the capital with the C4C taking two George Town seats.
Premier optimistic for 2015
(CNS): The country’s leader spoke about “amazing” opportunities for Cayman in his New Year’s message Tuesday. Premier Alden McLaughlin said his government would continue to build on what he described as it accomplishments over the past year. He said that during 2014 the economy had improved and there was a return of public and investor confidence. Admitting there was lots still to be done, he urged employers to take on more local workers in 2015, even if it meant training them, to help government address the ongoing employment problem among Caymanians. He said that much of the growth in the economy and employment expected next year would depend on development projects by both government and the private sector.
McLaughlin said that the PPM government’s negotiations with Dart to amend the terms of the NRA agreement were on the right track, although after some 18 months of talks there was still no deal for the premier to announce in his New Year message.
“Our discussions continue to be meaningful and productive and I am confident that we are now near the end of this saga,” he stated.
In addition to the much anticipated construction projects which the current administration, like the last, sees as the answer to getting Caymanians back to work, the premier said government would continue to grow and support the main economic pillars of tourism and financial services.
Talking about the need to fight crime and “stamp out the scourge of armed robberies”, he pointed to the importance of creating job opportunities and helping people find work as a major goal of the administration.
“I again appeal to employers and business owners, especially as the economy continues to improve, to give more Caymanians employment opportunities, even if that means that you need to train them. Government is doing its part to create the environment that allows businesses to succeed and to provide educational and training opportunities for potential employees. But we do need greater involvement, investment and commitment to hiring Caymanians from the business community if we are to return to full employment,” McLaughlin urged.
Describing himself as an optimist, the premier said he believes the future of the Cayman Islands is bright.
“The sense of certainty and confidence we felt at the beginning of 2014 continues to gain momentum and is taking us into 2015. We are only going to get better and better,” the premier promised.
He took aim at the press, however, for what he described as the “negativity about all things Cayman and Caymanian that has unfortunately become the stock-in-trade of certain media houses” and said Cayman is still one of the best places in the world in which to live.
“There is much to celebrate about this country. My prayer is that in the New Year, the positive things about Cayman and Caymanians, the things which make us unique and attractive to the rest of the world, could be given even half the prominence in the media as is given to the bad news stories. There is much good in these Islands and its people. It would be good to see it in a news story now and again,” he lamented.
“There is much to be done,” the premier acknowledged, adding that the road ahead will not be all smooth but said he was confident government would meet the challenges head on.
See full speech below.
Premier plans to ‘just chill’
(CNS): There was no talk of politics, ministers behaving badly, cabinet reshuffles or any reflection of the recent political turmoil and ups and downs of the past year in the premier’s message on Christmas Eve. Alden McLaughlin said he would, however, be enjoying the opportunity provided by the holiday for quiet reflection and the chance to “just chill” with his family and friends. Urging people to be charitable and not get caught up in the commercial aspects and frantic activity of the season, he asked people to take time to experience the “peace that is Christmas, seek out those who are less fortunate and help them share in some small way in the magic of this time of year”.
See premier’s full message attached.
Premier welcomes new dawn for US and Cuba
(CNS): There were no statements on Thursday from the premier regarding his own internal government relationships as the ‘Ozzigate’ issue rolled on, but Alden McLaughlin did find time to congratulate President Barack Obama for making efforts to restore diplomatic and economic ties between the United States and Cuba. Still coming under increasing pressure to do something about his health minister and long-time PPM colleague and friend on Thursday, the premier’s public attention was on the advantages for local people the complete thawing of the more than fifty year impasse between the two countries would bring.
“The re-establishment of a US embassy on Cuban soil that is being proposed would benefit Caymanians who hold US passports as well as our resident US citizens,” the premier stated. “I expect a further easing of restrictions on US residents traveling to Cuba in the near future. I understand that Cuban President Raul Castro has welcomed the restoration of the relationship with the United States and has said the two countries must live with their differences in a civilized manner. I congratulate both men for beginning to end the chilled relations that have existed between the two countries since 1961,” he added.
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Premier suspends political assistant over charges
(CNS): The premier has suspended his political assistant, Kenneth Bryan, after he was charged in connection with an altercation in a night club car park in October. Bryan, who denied the charges when he spoke to CNS Monday, said he was looking forward to clearing his name and getting back to his job. Alden McLaughlin announced in the Legislative Assembly that he was placing Bryan on required paid leave. In response to questions from the opposition leader regarding why, given that Bryan is a political appointee and not a civil servant, he should have to be placed on leave, the premier said it was best to mirror what happens in the civil service.
Although paid for by the public purse, Bryan, a former political candidate, is one of just three political appointments in the premier’s office on contracts and not strictly subject to the civil service regulations. But the premier said that after discussions with the top civil service management, it was decided this was the best course of action.
“It was determined that the best course and the most obvious and fair course was to mirror what is done to civil servants when there are matters such as this,” he said, adding that he was placed on leave in same way as other civil servants under investigation.
However, there are no questions regarding Bryan's conduct in office; the charges relate to Bryan cursing at an on-duty police officer who was arresting the wrong man.
It is understood that the former TV reporter and PPM party member was assisting an off-duty police officer, who was being harassed and threatened by a former boyfriend and came to Bryan for assistance.
In the course of the arguments other people became involved, and when the police arrived they appeared to jump to the wrong conclusions. Bryan attempted to set the record straight, and although he was not involved inany violence, because he swore at an officer he was arrested and subsequently charged with assault.
Bryan is expected to make his first court appearance in January.
Premier dodges CoP issue
(CNS): The country’s leader dodged the issue relating to the police commissioner Monday when he made his first public comment about David Baines presiding over the recruitment of a Jamaican police officer charged with murder. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Premier Alden McLaughlin said that he and the government were “very conscious of the concerns” relating to the commissioner’s performance and the callsby for him to be removed from office but called on his political colleagues to “exercise restraint”. The premier made no comment onwhether he believed the police boss should resign but admitted the revelation was shocking.
McLaughlin said the police commissioner is appointed by the governor and since she is away for another week following the trip to London for the Joint Ministerial Council, he asked the parliament to wait for him to talk with her about the issue and give her the chance to address the concerns.
In a short statement he referred to Bernie Bush’s proposal to bring a private member's motion calling for a declaration of no confidence in the commissioner from the Legislative Assembly. The premier said he had grave doubts about the constitutionality of such a motion but acknowledged it was an example of the strength of feeling in relation to Commissioner Baines.
“Despite the emotive nature of this matter, I urge all members of the House to exercise restraint in what is said and done in relation to this issue and to not act pre-emptively. If we act in haste we are likely to repent at our own expense,” he said, falling short of offering the commissioner his continued support. He did, however, acknowledge that the news that a now convicted murderer had been working in the RCIPS was “shocking”.
“The commissioner is appointed by the governor and does not fall under the remit of the elected government. Her Excellency is currently out of office and will not return until next Monday. I ask all members of this House to exercise patience to enable me to discuss this matter with Her Excellency the Governor and to give her the opportunity to address the concerns raised,” he added.
In a further statement to the Legislative Assembly, the premier, who is responsible for home affairs, pointed to several other uncomfortable issues in his ministry this week, including the suspension of the chief immigration officer, Linda Evans, and the director of immigration boards, Kimberly Davis. He also noted the revelation and resignation of an officer who was recruited to the prison service with an undeclared criminal record.
As well as the suspension of the two senior immigration officials, he noted that a third was facing charges in the court this summer. Although he did not name anyone, it is understood he was referring to Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Gary Wong, who is facing a drinking and driving charge.
“While I do not want to get into specifics, it has been noted that two top immigration department officials are on paid suspension and a third faces charges before our court system next year,” the premier said in his first public discussion of some of the issues facing his ministry.
He also noted that his own political assistant had been placed on required leave as a result of charges in the court. Although Kenneth Bryan is not a civil servant, the premier told the LA that he was following the example laid out by the civil service as there is no formal protocol for political appointees.
Despite what he described as his great concern over the issues, he said that he was “satisfied that the appropriate actions have been taken in each instance” and said he expected thorough and efficient investigations.
McLaughlin said he wanted to assure the country that the Progressives-led Administration was doing all that it could to continue to restore and maintain the good name of the Cayman Islands.
“In so doing will dig deep when allegations are made of wrongdoing,” he said. ”Placing our employees on administrative leave in no way implies their guilt of any accusation. It is a formality to protect them and the integrity of each investigation. This government will continue to take seriously and investigate any and all reports of maladministration and misconduct. If we cannot restore the faith of all in the Cayman Islands, then we have failed to do what was mandated of us in the polls in May 2013.”
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Premier happy with trend in public accounts
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin has said that some local pundits are increasingly “liberal with their criticisms but careful with their praise” when it comes to government, and despite what he said were real improvements in the public accounts situation, he expected some would still not be happy about it. However, speaking in the Legislative Assembly last week before 16 financial reports from government were tabled, he said he was happy with the trend and happy with the work of civil servants to turn things around. “Despite the naysayers, this government is doing its job and doing it well,” he said.
McLaughlin said that the announcement about the improvements in government accounting by him last month was greeted with cynicism but he said he believed there were genuine improvements and there was more good news coming. Of the 16 reports tabled in the LA last Thursday 75% were unqualified 18% had qualified opinions and just one late report from 2012 had a disclaimer.
The reports he said for 2013/ 2014 were looking very good and the expectation was that this could be the first year where government would not receive any disclaimers across the financial reporting entities.
“Just this week the auditor general’s office advised my office that a total of 24 out of 42 entities have been signed off by his office and 16 are unqualified and eight are qualified and two waiting a resolution of matters,” he said.
He admitted that not everything is well and government was still striving for improvement. But he said the auditor general had said he is happy with the improved position and happy with the trend that he is seeing.
“I am also happy with this as is my government,” he said. “I believe the country as a whole can be happy that the position and trend are improving. They will see further improvements…But I have been around long enough to know that no matter how well we do there will be some who will find no pleasure in this announcement and complain. There is an increasing tendency for the pundits to be liberal with their criticisms and careful with their praise but that is par for the course.”
Commending the civil servants he said they had worked long and hard to ensure the country was improving its accounting practices and he said he believed that government had now established a good working relationship with the auditor general’s office.
Premier welcomes Scottish referendum result
(CNS): While the issue of Cayman’s own road to independence remains a contentious issue the premier welcomed the results of last week’s referendum in Scotland which will see the country remain part of the United Kingdom for a while longer but, if campaign promises are filled, will see Scotland enjoy even more devolved powers. Alden McLaughlin said a strong United Kingdom, including Scotland, is better for the Cayman Islands and other OTs than an alternative that may have created more uncertainty in an already uncertain world.
Congratulating the people of Scotland he said he wished them well “in their goals to attain a greater degree of autonomy while maintaining the historic, economic and familial link,” with the UK.
Pointing to the 84.5 per cent turnout he said the democratic process works and while democracy prevailed he pointed out that Scotland the United Kingdom must continue talking about the devolution of important powers.
“The UK will now be looking to provide the Scottish parliament, and by extension the Scottish people, with more devolved powers and authority over their own affairs while maintaining the benefits of being part of a stronger and bigger United Kingdom,” he said dropping hints about his own position on Cayman’s relationship with the UK and the need for more autonomy while remaining connected to the mother country.
Premier: OMOV in SMCs will secure party-politics
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin has said the introduction of one man, one vote in single member constituencies will secure the future of party politics in Cayman. Although some believe that by having one vote in a constituency with a single representative, independent candidates will have a better chance at the polls, the premier said that would not be the case. During the Legislative Assembly debate last week on the government motion regarding electoral reform McLaughlin said party politics would still dominate the political landscape, as he pointed to the cost of campaigning and advised the independent members to join one or set up a new party.
“I have heard many people say SMCs will somehow break the party system and make it easier for independents to get elected,” he said. However, the premier said this was unlikely and the system was more likely to entrench the party system and favour the dominant parties.
McLaughlin said that OMOV in SMCs still favoured the party politics, which he supported because it was a far better system as people knew when they voted for a party, group or team who the leaders would be and what, if that party formed the government, they could expect from the administration.
McLaughlin said that rather than being afraid of OMOV in SMCs, as has been implied, he embraced it because experience had taught him that organized politics was essential in the modern era and without it “chaos ensues”. He said independents could not expect to get elected on separate platforms where they have nothing in common and then lead the country as a cohesive government when they are thrown together and unable to agree on policy.
Ironically, McLaughlin said that any independents that still managed to get elected would find themselves on the side lines getting nothing done. The comments came, however, in the debate on a motion that he had earlier admitted government brought to the House not least because of the pressure the independent members, Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller, had applied to get this issue on government’s agenda sooner rather than later.
Nevertheless, despite their work pressuring government on OMOV and other issues, such as championing the minimum wage and a fair trade commission, McLaughlin advised his former party colleague McLean and Miller, who was a founding member of the UDP, to pick a party to join or start their own.
He said this was not just a matter of cohesive politics but costs because it would get harder and harder for those funding their own campaigns as the cost of fighting an election continued to escalate. He described the costs as astonishing and said independents would struggle without the benefit of the party machinery.