UDP vows jobs and prosperity
(CNS): The United Democratic Party national campaign began last night in the car park of AL Thompson’s where party members each made promises on what a future UDP government would bring. At a meeting where every candidate and the partychair also spoke, the voters had a long wait for Cayman’s longest serving legislative member and party leader McKeeva Bush. Once on the podium Bush promised jobs and prosperity and told people to vote straight as a split vote would benefit the PPM.
He told the audience that they knew he could lead the country to prosperity again. “When we voted him out last time he said the country was broke but we made the money,” said Bush referring to the Kurt Tibbetts the Leader of Government Business. “We can bring back jobs and prosperity for everyone,” he promised.
Although he criticised the current administration Bush also criticised those who were standing as independents and said they should declare who they were for and that the electorate should not trust what they said. He said that voting for independents would only benefit the PPM. However, it was apparent that not all independents are created equal as he told the electorate that Ezzard Miller was willing to work with the UDP and the electorate in North Side should give him their vote. He also advised that East Enders give John McLean Jr. a chance in East End, but above all he said voters needed to vote straight.
During his address Bush continued the night’s theme of making promises to the electorate about what he would do if a UDP government was elected. Focusing on the Tourism sector he said the industry has had a virtual minister. “Our tourism industry is haemorrhaging, and the PPM has no plan,” Bush said. He added that his government would move quickly to set up an interim Tourism Advisory Council to develop and implement tourism repair and recovery plan. He promised a number of initiatives for the industry, including fully integrating Cayman Airways with the department of tourism, putting a permanent director in place and implementing a National Tourism Management Plan that includes appropriate initiatives for the eastern districts to bring the right kind of tourism.
Speaking about the failure to pass the National Conservation Bill he picked upon the recent words of the Director of that department, reported on CNS, who had warned that the window of opportunity to embrace sustainable development will soon be lost. Bush said his government would, “…. take steps to bring the right balanced environmental legislation to the House and get it approved within the first 12-18 months.” He added that sensitivity to the environment is needed but it must not be confused with ‘opposition to development’.
Bush also focused on the problems in the financial services and criticised the government’s failure to act until the last minute regarding G20. He accused the PPM of being like Rip van Winkle who fell asleep and when he woke up his gun was rusty. He said they had failed to follow through on the deals he had made when in office and he was concerned Cayman was still not out of the woods. He said he would elaborate on his plans to save the financial services in West Bay at the next UDP meet on Wednesday night.
Bush however, added that businesses were in a better financial position when he was leader – than they are the under of leadership of Alden McLaughlin and Kurt Tibbetts. “I fought for this country on the international stage and I will continue to fight for our economic interests no matter who is sitting across the table.” he noted.
Throughout the evening’s presentations the other ten candidates made various policy commitments but no one talked of revenue raising measures or cuts in spending to fund the new policies. However, the audience was promised jobs, wealth, vocational training, opportunities, strategies for small business, help for the poor, better health care, better drug counselling services, a transport plan and a resolution to the helicopter fiasco among others.
Two of the West Bay candidates likely to become ministers under a UDP government also made promises regarding education and energy. Rolston Anglin criticised the Minister for Education’s tenure and accused him of rushing the Education Bill through parliament without consulting the people even when there was no provision in the law for a truancy office. He said, “His arrogant styleof leadership has gotten us nowhere,” and he described the PPM as pathologically incapable of accepting responsibility for their failure. He said the voters should give them a failing grade at the polls. He promised a focus on technical vocational training and an education system that would meet the needs of the workforce, as well as better pay for teachers. Cline Glidden spoke about energy and waste management and promised not only to address the infamous ‘Mount Trashmore’ but also to look at new cleaner, cheaper sources of energy. Julianna O’Connor Connolly who is also likely to be a minster once again, under a UDP government, lauded Bush’s continued promise to provide the Sister Islands with Cabinet representation which the PPM had failed to do. She spoke about the need for change and divine providence. She spoke of going into spiritual warfare in the last days of the Legislative Assembly to save the requirement to teach religious education in the new education law.
The new manifesto was also handed out to those who attended which sets out seventeen areas which the UDP says it will address, as well as message from the leader and the party’s vision for the future.
Category: Election 2009
Go right a head and vote PPM and they will say we can live on .50KYD cents a day. LOL VOTE UDP and you will see the difference. My felliow young people vote for our future.
"Go right a head and vote PPM andthey will say we can live on .50KYD cents a day. LOL VOTE UDP and you will see the difference. My felliow young people vote for our future".
That is nonsense propaganda invented by the UDP to fool the simple-minded.
Vote UDP and we will indeed see the difference – we will go the way of Turks & Caicos.
In reply to "Go Ellio Solomon-your heart….." THANKS MOM! Love, Ellio
People are so cruel, but Mr. Solomon is not deserving of this mockery – and no I am not his mother, but of his church group and I am the voice of many older persons in this community – he does have a good heart. I vote Ellio in GT. Good luck on May 20th and may this country be truly blessed with someone who truly, genuinely has the people of GT and this country at heart. God be with you.
First of all I want to say there is no comparison between Mrs. Lucille Seymour and that Paulina whatever her name is… Mrs. Lucille is a Lady there is a big difference between them. I have seen on facebook where Paulina you UDP ppl want in power prancing around in night clubs half naked check out facebook I speak no more to that..
There is nothing that NO OTHER could have done better than PPM. The world is in a economic mess do not blame PPM. We are actually lucky to be in the position that we are in we need to be thankful we are probably one of the very few countries that are doing so well.. Thanks to PPM.
There have been expenditures that were out of PPM’s control like the investigation which was ordered by The Governor. That helped with the 29 million deficit.
A 29 million deficit is just money that will be replaced what Mckeeva did with the granting of the status will affect Cayman forever it will affect now and our children and grand children of the future, Something so precious as being Caymanian meant nothing to him and he gave that away that can never be undone I’m sure we will get over the deficit but will never recover from Mckeeva actions. You can’t say that’s in the past I DONT THINK SO that’s affecting us no and will for the rest of our lives thoes status holders have gave the RIGHT TO BE CAYMANIAN to their dependants and we can’t do nothing about that… Thats another seat in school that Government is now required to have for a non Caymanian child. He is not for the people of Cayman.. Sherri Bodden should be ashamed of her self for condoning with UDP for thoes status grants.I bow my head in shame.
Notice the difference between the meetings UDP meeting had tons of Jamacians especially because the Jamacians know that they can get anything they want from him. At PPM meeting last night that’s where you saw pure beautiful Caymanian’s because PPM is for Caymanians!!!
I’msure they made mistakes as they are humans but they have done nothing worse than giving our country away to people who dont deserve to be called Caymanian.
Mr. Alden is a Star he represented Cayman beautifully when he was abroad recently and with his continued hard work I know we will make it onto the White list.. How much agreements have Mckeeva signed can we have some numbers please? Great work with the buliding of the new schools.
The ACTION MAN!!!! say no more I could go on and on. I am in awe all of the candidates last night gave a great speech and I know they will deliver again.
What a wonderful team we have I’m voting str8 for GT !! PPM!!
I am PPM all the way…… Heck NO TO UDP !!!!!!
"I heard two little girls in GT yesterday………"
Good grief! If Mac is paying someone to write these comments this is clearly the low budget end of his campaign.
"What about the startling and disconcerting statement made by the UDP member from CB with respect to the minister of education trying to deceitfully remove the right to religion in the schools from the education bill……."
If Julianna had bothered to actually read the national curriculum, which is posted on the Ministry’s website, or followed the fundamental shift in direction of education, she would see that religion was never removed from the curriculum or the schools. This is just stupid posturing on the part of the UDP and has nothing to do with the education or well-being of our children. I really worry that if Julianna gets her hands on the Education Ministry she will turn this country’s children into replicas of herself – religious freaks who love to flap and squawk but with no real idea of Christian principles … let’s start with truthfulness and integrity …………… Education is the most important issue for me and is the reason why I will be voting PPM. The UDP only managed to make things much much worse. What I find "startling" is the courage that Alden showed right from the beginning of this administration in trying to turn things around. It won’t happen overnight and we shouldn’t expect it to, but if we want Caymanian children to take their rightful place in this societywe have to follow through on the changes that have been started and not get distracted by this stupid self-serving lip-flapping nonsense.
….Mac with his Jamaican masters will turn Cayman into another Jamaica. Mac has three faces. Good, Bad and ugly. Put him back in and he will continue to over build our country, allow more foreigners in, money changers will flood our country with bad money and storms will hit us like never before. That’s the wicked Mac and his puppets…..
This sound like the PPM’s hysterics again. Is there any head doctors in the house this one needs a check please or something stronger – LIKE A BASH OVER THE HEAD.
I heard two little girls in GT yesterday, could not be more than 3 or 4 years old and they were singing " who got the power, UDP, who got the power, UDP" it was the cutest little thing – and the greatest book ever written states " and the little ones shall lead them". They know who has taken the food from their plates and who has broken their backs before they even had a chance. SAVE THE CHILDREN OF OUR NATION – VOTE UDP!
Big Mac will fixed the mess that Mr Eden leave his ministries…..he is a nice guy but Enough is Enough PPM has to go!!!!!!
Mac with his Jamaican masters will turn Cayman into another Jamaica. Mac has three faces. Good, Bad and ugly.Put him back in and he will continue to over build our country, allow more foreigners in, money changers will flood our country with bad money and storms will hit us like never before. That’s the wicked Mac and his puppets.
What has the PPM done to stimulate this economy? Nothing! Mac is one of the best politicians in the history of this country and he will find a way to lead us on a road to recovery. I’m PPM, and even I have to admit it. The PPM has failed us bobo! Let’s cut our losses and vote UDP.
PPM has one change in their slate and UDP have many, it is no longer the same old UDP! GO UDP. We are with you all the way. VOTE the PPM out.
PPM has one change now that ‘s STABILITY
Get as many new indians as you like, same CHIEF same army.
"PPM has one change in their slate and UDP have many, it is no longer the same old UDP! GO UDP. We are with you all the way. VOTE the PPM out."
Unlike UDP who had to ditch their candidates, PPM didn’t need to change their slate because they are all excellent. No criminal offences there. No "substantial reasons to suspect corruption". Two points: (1) that UDP had to ditch so many candidates shows that your party’s judgement was poor in the first place to have them; (2) it doesn’t matter how many new candidates you have because it is the same old BOSS and what the BOSS says goes! To quote a former UDP Minister the UDP is not party, "it is a personality cult"
Watched this meeting not TV, saw nothing to convince me that they should or even can run the Country. Same old UDP! No substance!……
I hear that Dr Campbell has some excellent glasses in stock and the ear, nose and throat speciliest is down for a vist. Better get yourself checked out AND FAST, you do not want to miss the UDP train.
I hear that Dr Campbell has some excellent glasses…….
Well I got the glasses, and the hearing aids, went to the PPM meeting and still voting straight PPM in GT, there is no other choice.
He fought for the country by giving away how many Cayman Statuses? And now he wants to bring back jobs? Why did he then give them away to begin with? Let’s do the math. If he wouldn’t have given away all the Statuses which means that these people now do no longer need to apply for work permits………do you see where I am going? What about their children, aunts, sisters etc. Hmmmmmmm. How quickly one forgets…….And all of the sudden it is all about the evil, evil expatriate again.
For all I care, they are all just running their mouth. They all have ideas. Great. I have ideas too! The tricky part is what are the action plans to implement them?
Vote for independents in GT = PPM government for another 4 years.
4 more years of "Don’t Stop The Borrowing!" is what their slogan should really say.
Yeah UDP will take G/town look at the polls in Bodden Town Mark is on top the rest are Dead beat politicians who will do absolutely nothing, But yet some will get the nice man vote or the Sympathy Vote what a sorry state we are in when people vote for candidates based on SYMPATHY as for the females who are seeking political office to EVEN Da Score with people who have cross dem. Putting all jokes aside Mr Gilbert Mclean is probably the most level headed candidate without a hidden agenda or not owned by powerful interest. And he wouldn’t tell you his Hands are Tied yet he he is behind The Rogue Gallery of useless politicians. Go UDP GO
Go Ellio Solomon – your heart is certainly with the Caymanian people. I wil be campinging for you. You certainly do the George Towners proud. Good Luck on May 20th.
In reply to "Go Ellio Solomon-your heart….." THANKS MOM! Love, Ellio
Lots of Promises
Did he mention how he was to pay for all of these promises he made to make the attendees "feel good about their country"? He complains about the PPM’s handling of the finances in this country and the debt we are in. What will happen under his rule.
I see he is still criticizing anyone that holds a differing view than his. What a "Christian" he is. Anyone who thinks that a Democracy will exist in this country under his leadership needs to re-examine the evidence.
Good to see solutions…
so far so good UDP…
EXCELLENT MEETING UDP!!
As for the poster UDP gimme a break! Dog eat ya…You are one arrogant Caymanian. If you give PPM one more term, you will not even be able to buy your breakfast what you think about your supper!
PPM is our only choice for continued success and prosperity…which success are you referring or do you mean the 30 million deficit?????
We Caymanians will not be able to afford a lot with the high cost of living, can’t take care of our families with all the monthly living expenses and pay our mortgages….and we will become the "homeless people of the Cayman Islands" pushing our carts (which we will snatch from one of the supermarkets to put our belongings in).
CAYMANIANS VOTE STRAIGHT FOR UDP – McKeeva Bush, Rolston Anglin, Eugene Ebanks, Cline Glidden, Elio Solomon, Mike Adams, Perlina McGaw, Jonathan Piercy, Julianna O’Connor, Mark Scotland and Dwayne Seymour…IT’S TIME FOR A BETTER WAY FORWARD!! FOR WEST BAY VOTE 1 3 6 8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE U D P!!
Don’t care what the UDP has to say…I’m still voting for the PPM!
As a Caymanian what he’s saying is the true I will be voting for the UDP Team.. The only thing that get too me i hope the people in Bodden Town do the right thing . For my ears and eyes people votes in Family and friend because what their are doing for them, Please People ofthe Cayman Islands do the right thing on May 20 ..
Excellent meeting last night – Saw you there Wendy getting your photos:) On a more serious note it wasan excellent meeting, thoroughly enjoyed the energy brought from the candidates and thesupporting audience. Mr. Solomon is definably an outstanding candidate. I wish him all the luck. I will be giving him my vote come May 20th. All in all I walked away a bit more optimistic for this country.
Watched this meeting not TV, saw nothing to convince me that they should or even can run the Country. Same old UDP! No substance!
What about the startling and disconcerting statement made by the UDP member from CB with respect to the minister of education trying to deceitfully remove the right to religion in the schools from the education bill. What a dude ! And what arrogance he exhibited when confronted about the removal of the section (27). He must be a monster to work with. Talk about Mac, but this guy beats them all.
Thought this kind of thing only happened in the USA; wonder what the minister’s association think about that? Is this what the PPM calls progress?? The day we remove religion from our government schools, then Cayman, dog eat ya suppa!!
More Party Nonsence!
Vote Straight!! yea..straight INDEPENDENTS!
UDP gimme a break! Dog eat ya supper if you ever see the day McKeeva in control of this Country again! PPM is our only choice for continued success and prosperity…no doubt about it.
Bush said:
"..Bush also criticised those who were standing as independents and said they should declare who they were for and that the electorate should not trust what they said…"
Apparently Mr. Bush believes it is more important to be "for" the UDP than being "for" the Cayman Islands….