Election challenge filed
(CNS): The two members for Bodden Town of the newly elected United Democratic Party Government now have 14 days in which to respond to a summons filed in the Grand Court on Tuesday 16 June questioning the validity of the election as a result of their failure to comply with Section 19 (1) g of the Cayman Islands Constitution. Six voters and one candidate are challenging the election of Dwayne Seymour, a backbench MLA, and the new Health Minister, Mark Scotland.
Lawyers Samson McGraw filed the necessary papers in the Grand Court and on the two politicians on behalf of Gordon Solomon, Sandra Catron (an independent candidate in the election in Bodden Town), Ronald Ebanks, Jean Ebanks, Roxanne Basham-Ebanks and Michael McLaughlin. The long anticipated summons asks the court to determine if the two defendants were disqualified, by virtue of section 19 g of the Constitution, from being elected and if their subsequent election is valid or not.
The grounds on which makes the request are based rest on the details of Scotland and Seymour’s failure to declare their government contracts in writing one month before election day on 20 May. It states that the first defendant, Mark Scotland, was at the time of the election a director and had an interest in ARCP, which had government contracts with the Ministry of District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing to construct the parking lot for the new Government Office Accommodation project; the Ministry of Sports to repair and upgrade football fields; the National Roads Authority to reconstruct Dorcy Drive; and was a subcontractor to Royal Construction for the George Town Library. The summons also notes Scotland’s connection with MCM Consulting, which also had contracts with the NRA for the design and paving management of the East-West Arterial.
It then notes that the first defendant did not publish the details of those contracts at least one month before polling day, but 25 days before the date and therefore his purported election is void.
The summons refers to Seymour as the second defendant and notes how he is a director of Airport Professional Services, which has a contract with Cayman Airways, and he too failed to publish the details of the contract one month before polling day, making his purported election void as well.
Scotland told CNS last week that he is prepared for the challenge and maintained his position that the two were never disqualified and as faras he is concerned the issue was a "minor technical thing".
When the issue was first brought to light in April, Seymour stated that as his contract was with Cayman Airways and he had no contracts with the government, despite the fact that Cayman Airways is a nationally (i.e. government) owned airline. “I have a contract with Cayman Airways that I will publicly gazette out of an over abundance of caution.” explained Seymour at the time.
The late gazetting by both men is a clear breach of the Constitution, however; it will now be up to a judge to decide if the two men should be disqualified and the next two candidates duly elected or whether to call a by-election. If the court rules in favour of a by-election for those two seats, the question then would be over the legality of the two candidates running in that by-election if they were declared disqualified by the courts.
Category: Headline News
Well …I made the same observation when watching the UDP rally next to Grand Harbour and I voted for the UDP representatives in my district. I was watching with my helper (who happens to be Jamaican) and I said to her "Ms. XXXXX, all I can see in the crowd is Jamaicans and West Bayers.." to which she smiled and replied "is true". Now we could have very well been incorrect in our assertions but that was the first thought that came to mind..
Anon spare me your senseless drivel. Why are your "opinions" factual??
"I think you have proved my point. You have absorbed the UDP propaganda and are propogating it. So apparently now that the UDP are in charge all the "hate" has suddenly disappeared. Don’t be ridiculous! It was high time someone stood up for Caymanians and Cayman"
What a bunch of crap any unbiased individual could have blatantly told the difference once the PPM came into power. People could have barely contained their glee and based on campaign promises PPM supporters were convinced that the status grants were going to be repealed. The topic of conversations in the supermarkets football games church you name it was that PPM was going to get RID of these foreigners especially the hated Jamaicans…. I told you before stop giving so much power to Mckeeva he is JUST a man. Your idea of spewing hate as a solution for standing up for Caymanians is miguided.
In regards to the comments re the "looks" of the people werent Caymanians. Another one of your senseless comments:
"When you live alongside folk for a long time, you know them. It is a combination of many factors (not merely ethnic) including speech, mannerism etc. "
So you live alongside every Caymanian on these islands eh? You were also able to pick up on all of this from a few quick celebratory shots on the television? Cayman is changing and everyday under both the PPM administration and UDP administration new Caymanians are being introduced to our society. I can guarantee that you do not know what they look like or sound like. From the sounds of it you dont leave your comfort zone much so your idea of a Caymanian will be more than likely very limited and the likes of Adanna and others like her would never fit your idea of a real Caymanian.
Regardless if they were black white indian filipino whatever they are registered Caymanian voters and we must stop alienating these people and spewing this divisiveness.
Get off your high horse and spare me your bigoted tripe.
Goodness!! you merely confirm your own ignorance and lack of understanding. I will not follow a fool according to his folly.
"We can discuss the reasons, but to deny that the 2003 status grants played a significant role in the 2009 UDP victory is to deny reality."
Are you serious?? The SOLE reason the PPM won by such a landslide in the 2005 General Elections is as a direct result of the status grants. That to date is one of Mckeeva’s biggest mistakes. He took his licks and didnt take anything for granted in this years election whereas ego was rampant in PPM’s campaign. The reason PPM lost was because of the significant amount of egos and their inability to make decisions during difficult periods. They forgot about the people who put them in and the ‘swing votes’ were the middle class Caymanian business owners who were directly feeling the negative impacts on their businesses whilst PPM soothed their egos by building monuments to attest to their "greatness".
In addition whilst Captain Crunch & RVD-T make their own "observations" I will make my own. Under the "leadership" of the PPM there was never a more anti Jamaican anti expatriate vibe in the air. The level of hatefulness in this country was at an all time high. The hatefulness even reached the floor of the House and was a topic of debate and was rampant on the talks shows and newspapers for months. This is bad for business!!!! Follow the money people – a few working class Jamaicans who cannot vote did not carry the swing people. Voting Caymanians who were hurting carried the swing.
In addition Mckeeva is NOT God, some of the comments both for and against him is borderline insane stop giving this man so much power. Power unchecked leads to corruption, we as the people need to check him, which thankfully we did in 2005, and hopefully we will do so if he messes up again.
I said to dry this up because I know that once this starts as per usual the issues would no longer be debated but the constant rhetoric that it is everybody’s fault besides our own that things happen in this country. When we as the people bicker over the nonesense the politicians are able to skate by and relish in their power with absolutely no accountability.
Just reading the posts on this website I notice the threads with the most hits are those that promote the PPM vs UDP, Jamaican vs Caymanian, Caymanian vs Expat…….. rhetoric. I personally feel that this reflects poorly on us as a people and we need to really get serious on the issues and let these politicians know that WE are in charge and not them!
"Are you serious?? The SOLE reason the PPM won by such a landslide in the 2005 General Elections is as a direct result of the status grants".
Perfectly serious. And correct.
I agree that was a significant reason the PPM won in 2005 (and rightly so) but by no means was it the only reason. In addition, there were many reasons to suspect corruption in the the UDP Cabinet.
"Under the "leadership" of the PPM there was never a more anti Jamaican anti expatriate vibe in the air. The level of hatefulness in this country was at an all time high. The hatefulness even reached the floor of the House and was a topic of debate and was rampant on the talks shows and newspapers for months. This is bad for business!!!! Follow the money people – a few working class Jamaicans who cannot vote did not carry the swing people. Voting Caymanians who were hurting carried the swing".
I think you have proved my point. You have absorbed the UDP propaganda and are propogating it. So apparently now that the UDP are in charge all the "hate" has suddenly disappeared. Don’t be ridiculous! It was high time someone stood up for Caymanians and Cayman.
Clearly, we are not talking about few people or people who cannot vote. And we are also talking about wealthy Jamaican businessmen as contributors. Follow that money and it will give you a clue as to the policies about to be adopted! You can deny all you like, but we know the truth and the events that will unfold within the next year will prove me correct.
For pete’s sake Captain Crunch – Dry that nonesense up!!!!!!!
What matters are the voters!! Do you seriously believe that of the 1,030 votes and 1,453 votes that Dwayne and Mark received respectively that a majority of those votes were by Jamaicans??? Enough already!! Let me guess the 3000 status grantees all reside in Bodden Town and were all Jamaicans and all happened to be naturalized etc to be elegible to vote in this election? We must really think before we speak people. Lets contribute constructively to debates and leave the school yard antics to our children!!!
BT Register of Electors
No significant variances. Lets stick with the facts people.
What an absolutely divisive and offensive statement.
In defence of Captain Crunch. I don’t think that the good captain was suggesting that all the new status holders were the only ones voting for UDP. He also said that he did not want to start a Jamaica vs Cayman or racial dis-harmony. He only ASKED if anyone else noticed that the Jamaicans overwhelmingly support UDP.
The good captain is not far off-base with his obervations. I think everyone noticed this. I understand (from a third party, so not verified) that the Jamaicans even started out their own UDP motorcade starting out on that one-way road behind the old block factory/Welly’s/ALThompson road. Not that anything is wrong with that. I would support their right to show their support once they keep it within the confines of our laws.
If anyone was listening to the comments from interviews or callers to the radio, there would be no doubt in your mind whatsoever who our Jamaican friends were supporting. They were more overjoyed than the Caymanians, for crying out load.
Also, maybe 3000 voters didn’t all vote in BT. However, I imagine that at least some of them voted in the various districts and I am convinced that their swing votes made a difference in the outcome of this election. Just look at some of the small margins of victory the UDP enjoyed – especially in BT with John John.
I looked at some of the celebration footage and I found it hard to pick out a longtime Caymanian in the crowds. That’s my two cents.
Captain Crunch and RVT-D are both correct. It would be denying the blatantly obvious to suggest that the vast majority of Jamaican-Caymanian voters are not supporters of the UDP. One only had to observe the rallies and motorcade. Why do you think the UDP were given an unprecedented invitation for a Thanksgiving Service/Victory Celebration at a church attended almost exclusively by working class Jamaicans?
The only question is why? Here are some answers. The UDP paints the PPM as anti-Jamaican (which is believed by the majority of Jamaicans) and have given Jamaicans a number of promises. The UDP encourages them to believe the PPM was opposed to the status grants because they were given mostly to Jamaicans. (I don’t know that that is the case, but if it were it would be perfectly legitimate to oppose a grant which is discriminatory against other nationalities).They cite the Jamaican visa requirement as a demonstration of this and promised to remove it. (Well if we do that for Jamaica but not for the other countries which require visas like Honduras does that mean that we are really anti-Honduran?) For example, they were told that if PPM were returned to power all the Jamaicans on work permit would have to go back home. (The irony is that it was in the UDP’s version of rollover that, according to a high-ranking UDP member at the time, was only for the Jamaicans and not the white expats in the financial industry.) A number of the UDP’s large donors are Jamaican businessmen. Their overseas political affiliation is the JLP. The list goes on.
We can discuss the reasons, but to deny that the 2003 status grants played a significant role in the 2009 UDP victory is to deny reality.
"I looked at some of the celebration footage and I found it hard to pick out a longtime Caymanian in the crowds. That’s my two cents."
RVT-D did you take note of the number of caucasian, filipinos and hispanics as well ?
Were you also able to decerne who they were for…..you now… who de mommy is ?
(Because we all know that is the only way to know where someone is coming from.)
Are you able to say what theybelieve in ?
I to would like to add to the support of the persons that are doing the right thing (unlike Mark and John) to right a wrong by challenging the seats. Please my fellow Caymanians, do not make this UDP vs PPM divide us like how other countries are divided….it is very clear from this last election that the next general election will be even more nasty. I don’t want to start a Cayman Vs. Jamaica or racial debate….but, I would like to know if anyone else saw the UDP supporters were most Jamaican and PPM were Caymanians?…,..just wondering if I was the only one that saw this?
" I would like to know if anyone else saw the UDP supporters were most Jamaican and PPM were Caymanians?"
Tell me, how did you know the difference between a Jamaican and a Caymanian? Was it that there were a shade or two darker? Hair texture? What was it? With such as mix of ethnicity in Cayman, it is actually not easy to pick out a "pure Caymanian". Or did you not notice that most of us "Caymanians" are mixed in some way. For example, my mother was born in Cayman and so was I but my father is from Kenya. So I wonder if you saw me if you would think that I am Jamaican?
To get back on track, I dont think it matters what nationality the votes came from. The point is that who ever voted were eligible to do so and it is their right to exercise their democratic right to vote for whom ever they want.
If the previous government wanted only indigenous Caymanians to vote, then they should have passed a law to only allow 4th or 5th generation Caymanians to vote! That would have went along perfect with the accusations of them being discriminatory….
Adanna,
When you live alongside folk for a long time, you know them. It is a combination of many factors (not merely ethnic) including speech, mannerism etc.
You seem to have completely missed the point about the voting, perhaps deliberately. The UDP illegitimately created their own voters who will then be loyal to them. It has nothing to with wanting only 5th and 6th generation Caymanians to vote.
Your premise that the UDP illegitmately created voters was shown to be false a few threads back.
So how does one earn their "Caymanianess" because you have already offended the 1st thru the 3rd generation….not to mention the "others".
Maybe you could organize interviews…after you create a committe to identify the qualitites that are pure…
Please stop going down that road.
Citizen JC, why do you insist on being ignorant? When persons are granted Caymanian status en masse who would not otherwise qualify (e.g. because they have resided here for only 6 months) that is illegitimate. Many are then naturalized and are then entitled to be registered as voters. That is clearly correct. Please stop going down the 1st, 3rd or whatever generations road. That is completely irrelevant to my point. You earn Caymanianness the old-fashioned way – by obtaining it according to the law. No one should be offended by that.
Now we have a premise. and I’m all for not going down the bigot road.
What do you think we should do about those individuals who were "fast tracked" ? or should the
question be…What should we do about those individuals who put them on the "fast track"
Blame game aside …
"When you live alongside folk for a long time, you know them. It is a combination of many factors (not merely ethnic) including speech, mannerism etc. "
I think you have missed the point!!! What does it matter their speech or mannerism? They are eligible voters and they exercised their right like everybody else!! I guess it would have been ok if they all voted PPM…..
Talk about ignorance……take a chill pill and stop playing the expert on every topic!
James, I think you have missed the point. They are not legitimately eligible voters. That point remains regardless of PPM or UDP. Your ignorance is self-evident.
"Legitmate"….
However we may feel about "those" voters… (however many) they are legitimate…the other
checks and balances in the system ensured that….and for that matter so were the actions of the
then ministers who fast tracked them.
It would be more accurate to say that you disagree with their actions( Ministers and New voters)
"the other checks and balances in the system ensured that"
What checks and balances?!! The whole point is that there were NO check and balances and they most certainly were not legitimate. It was an abuse of power and its legality was highly questionable.
This morning a caller attacked Sandra Catron for being one of the 6 persons on the petition. I send these comments to the talk show and I’m not sure if they will be shared on air so I will post them here also:
I would like to lend my support to Sandra Catron who has always stood up for this country, its people and what is right! It’s truly amazing the few that try to tear her down. I was happy to hear Sandra tell all of us that her life does NOT end with losing an election but in fact has been so busy and fulfilling she has not been listening to the talk shows. While a political figure might have opened themselves up to fair comment and criticism on the issues this constant baragging of her personality is not fair and should not be allowed on your show.
I too heard the Ellio exchange over 1 month ago and at no time did Sandra bring up Ellio’s family or handicapp child except to respond to his comments. Joey, thank you for bringing balance to this show and for making those corrective comments to that caller. That is a refreshing change. One thing we must remember "Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it’s cowardice". She has a right and an obligation to defend herself against these extremist that use talk show to hide and attack others.
I support all the persons moving forward with this petition against the BT candidates as it’s the absolute right thing to do. I pray that they are successful.
I dare say the number of posts on all stories relating to this issue – from when it was first disclosed before the election proves that it’s a hot button one and the people are very concerned about this.
Imagine how many people are reading and not even posting. This is aHUGE story with lasting implications for this country on constitutional law.
Can CNS check on the validity that at least one of the petitioners has asked to be removed because of the POSSIBLE legal cost that COULD be incurred should the challenge be overturned and the fact that she did not want to be held finacially liable for any perceived blunder.
I ask this in all respect as I was reliably informed today that this may have actually taken place either yesterday or today>
This query does not mean I oppose nor support the petitioners as they are doing what they are constitutionally given the right to do. It is more out of curiosity than ANYTHING else.
CNS: I checked and this is not true.
I think they should be demonize given the fact that they blatantly lied about this matter on more than one occassion.
Dred, you are my hero. Thank you so much for clearing that up so that everyone understands it’s not the running that is the problem it’s the seating!
People should understand that the constitution is a RULE, if you break a rule there are consequences. The consequences are different based on what rule was broken (eg: a bank robber goes to prison; not declaring government contracts you get contested).
Mark and Dwayne broke the constitution therefore the consequence of their actions was that any seats they assume can be contested.
Yes, had the shoe been on the other foot, UDP would have contested any other member’s eligibilty. No, I am not UDP/PPM supporter.
To everyone: unite and support the constitution as it is there to support and protect EVERYONE who is on these islands. Let the government know that we will no longer sit here and take things just because they say we should. That if we feel like they are not representing us as we want them to, that we will speak out, that we will demand justice. Remember the MLAs were (or should have been) elected to represent US, that means that they work for US! Not the other way around.
I wish there was this amount of interest in other issues such as the torturing and attempted killing for short term gain (or "cultural experience"?) of a Loggerhead turtle in East End by some retard there. It’s sad-106 posts bitching at each other based on UDP versus PPM when no one could identify the differing policies between the two sides, just who they liked better.
I think the turtle story (and kudos to those who intervened) has a longer term significance for us all in the ignorant and destructive way we treat our environment but I know few if any will agree with me. Is it true an MLA said we should give $1 for each parrot shot?
Great job!! Thanks Sandra Catron, Gordon Solomon, Ronald Ebanks, Jean Ebanks, Roxanne Basham-Ebanks and Michael McLaughlin.
YOU ARE MY HERO!
Forgot to mention before…Sir Duckworth is brilliant!
Why did the UDP claim this could not be challenged until after the election?
And as to the one speaking about shutting this site down!!
Huuummm are we becoming like Iran now?
This site is as much PPM as it is UDP. The problem is that the UDP is getting beat up because with them it’s all mindless blabber. While PPM has laws and commonsense on their side.
Now I am not PPM. I voted mix during elections. As I said I voted for Mark but the law is the law my friend no matter what.
To CNS I think you have something really good here. Keep up the good work. FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!! Long live FOS…
I salute you Dread. Couldn’t have said it better!
Mark should be grateful for this "OUT" after allowing McKeeva to set him up to fail by assigning Health Services to him.
There is no way out (perhaps no way in is more appropriate) for Mark and Dwayne in a By Election scenario….they have lost at least 25% of their votes and Chuckie and Ossie will have at least 70% of the votes that went to Tony in the general elections plus approximately 60% of the votes that went to Gilbert and Justin. Will be a very different and interesting result !!!
The result will be superior representation for Bodden Town.
"There is no way out (perhaps
There is no way out (perhaps no way in is more appropriate) for Mark and Dwayne in a By Election scenario….they have lost at least 25% of their votes and Chuckie and Ossie will have at least 70% of the votes that went to Tony in the general elections plus approximately 60% of the votes that went to Gilbert and Justin. Will be a very different and interesting result !!!
The result will be superior representation for Bodden Town."
I am not sure how you come about these numbers to be honest. Imean you could be spot on or way off. I personally think they are presumptious at best because a by-election could surprise us all. Well me for one because I really see a good solid grounds for the Votes Thrown Away scenario. However there are elements of this you might not be taking into account also such as the frustration of the hardcore UDP loyals. There could be some PPM who are frustrated too because it took so long and they wanted PPM Candidates to act faster.
I do believe with all the media airtime this has gotten there is good solid legal grounds for votes thrown away. But there is an arguement there also which in no doubt will be played out in courts.
Dred-
I’ve never wanted you more…
I agree with comments made by ‘Dred’…..and I also agree that the AG and the Governor should be done away with for their inaction in this matter…..anyways, with UPD’s never-ending flow of financial ‘donations’ from the big boys in town some hot shot Lawyers might be making some serious dollars off this one!
They frustrate me too Dred. Me too. Thanks you saved me the typing:)
This matter will be dealt with swiftly because it is in the public’s interest for it to be so that the people of Bodden Town can have some certainty as to who their representatives are.
It is interesting that Sherry Cowan, Deputy Chair of the UDP, and Mr. Michael Alberga are involved as attorneys in this case since they were apparently involved in the decision not to gazette the government contracts in the first place. If this is true perhaps either or both of them may be called as witnesses before the Grand Court !!! They ought to thread very carefully here. There seems to be an ethics question in this.
The UDP stopped the Coe Wood Public Beach Project that Chuckie started !!!
Now that they are facing a possible By Election they are lying about it saying that they are reviewing the project because they are afraid of the political ramifications in the By Election of stopping the project.
Mark and John John will go down in our history books as the two MLAs with the shortest service in the LA (oh that’s right they’re not MLAs !!!)
Time to correct the nightmare>>>>>>>>
Yes the "Votes thrown away principle" could apply and the Grand Court could rule that based on extensive media coverage about this issue prior to the elections, that voters were aware that Scotland and Seymour were likely disqualified but they voted for them anyway and therefore chose to "throw away their votes". The result of this finding by the Grand Court would be that Chuckie and Ossie would be declared the other two elected members for BT as they were just a small number of votes behind Seymour in fourth and fifth place.
The Governor and AG should both be fired for allowing this matter to get this point and costing the taxpayers even more money. They failed us once again by failing to address this issue very early when it was raised.
Can the Court not just determine the eligibility issue and remit the decision as to what to do next if they are ineligible to the Governor?
Expat101 makes a good point. The bitterness / cattiness of the PPM vs. UDP postings on here are incredible given the apparent lack of any clear doctrinal differences between the parties. This is not left v. right battleground. It is more tribal or gang-like. In fact it is more like the partisanship that one sees from sports fans with two teams in one city. The problem is that this is running the country we are talking about not the match on Saturday. It is not good for anyone to have such stark "them and us" mentalities.
Again I say there is still the possibility that the courts will rule that the BT Voters well knew that Mark & John John had failed to meet their commitment under the constitution and continued to vote according and as such did "Throw away their votes".
This outcome is quite real and very likely. The situation with Mr. Jim Bodden was quite different in that they matter seemingly arose after the fact. This meant that people did not know so a votes thrown away could not come into play.uch less this law or way of ruling has only been reinfoced since this incident so premises could have changed and substially.
If this is the case then there would be no need for a By-Election as the next two candidates in line would be appointed. Now I ask you what do you think PPM will be pressing for?
Let’s see By-Election where MAYBE Mark & John John can run OR
No Election and they get the seats gift wrapped for them
Damn that is such a hard decision there!!!
So as I said this is not just about aby-election. It could be quite simpler an end than that.
HAHA,
As I predicted on an earlier thread, MS will be removed and the wonderEzzard will be appointed as Minister of Health (to keep the UDP in power) and “work his magic”, as he did while he had the same job in the 90’s.
So, sorry all H.S.A. employees… good time to update your CV… Pronto!
UDP wants by-election anyway: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/news/item/1844
So the argument about wasting the country’s money is now defunct!
I am confused. I have heard negative things about the PPM
and the UDP and I notice that the supporters are so defensive
and argumentative about everything each supporter says. Being
a supporter is one thing but the behavior displayed since election
is extreme and bizzare! Why is this? Is everything based on personalities alone?
Normally party supporters in other parts of the world debate and agree about the
ideologies of each party and it is normally the ideologies that create supporters
and opponents. But in the Cayman Islands it all seems to be a big cat fight about
who everyone likes the best. The politics here is like a popularity contest or a
beauty contest but without the beauty…..
What exactly are you all cannibalizing each other for??
Good luck CNS is defending yourselves against the threats of Mr. Angry at 21.58. Or MR. ANGRY !! as he prefers to be known. Maybe 10pm is his bedtime. Does he not see the irony in demanding free speech then threatening to shut you down for not saying what he wants?
Don’t you get it "Mr. Angry!!" ? Or is that "??"
"IT IS REFERRED TO AS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND I HAVE MINE, I AM ALSO CAYMANIAN AND A REGISTERED VOTER!!
…..
I WILL GET YOU SHUT DOWN, I PROMISE YOU!!"
This makes no sense. It is logically incoherent. We read this and we laugh at you Mr. Angry. We laugh quite loudly.
PS Sorry if Mr. Angry is a Mrs. Angry but I am assuming this kind of gibberish is more likely to come from a man than a woman.
Threatening to shut down this site is typical UDP behavior and antics. We can expect this and much much more.
Funny – because many of media sources – all of them in fact – have covered this story. Sounds to me that although the UDP won the election they are still sore winners! They can only manipulate and dictate and threathen other people.
Freedom of speech is important but has to be exercised carefully.
Chuckie told you fools that the UDP was going to stop the Bodden Town projects if you elected them. The proof is in the pudding and the UDP has now stopped the Coe Wood public beach project just as Chuckie told you all they would. Now just because they’re facing a possible By Election they are saying that they are reviewing the project to try once again to fool the Bodden Town people…..well I can’t blame them as they seemvery easy to fool.
If I were Chuckie I wouldn’t even offer to represent these people again. They are too ungrateful. Let them suffer under the UDP for the next 4 yrs !!!
CNS: The rest of the post has been deleted for the same reasons as the earlier post ……. but an interesting opener.
IT IS REFERRED TO AS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND I HAVE MINE, I AM ALSO CAYMANIAN AND A REGISTERED VOTER!!
THIS SITE IS PPM AND THAT IS WHY YOU DON’T HAVE THE GUTS AND BALLS TO POST MY COMMENT!!
YOU ARE ALWAYS SO EAGER TO POST PPM NEWS, BUT NOT UDP!!
THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT I SIT AND TYPE AND SEND A COMMENT!!
I WILL GET YOU SHUT DOWN, I PROMISE YOU!!
t it is referred to as freedom of speech-Funny how you think the site is a PPM site and here I was thinking it was a UDP site cause many of my comments about UDP is never posted.
So in view of this I think we can safely say this site is neither UDP or PPM this is just a site that only post what they think the people want to hear.
CNS: How about a site that is balanced but, given that we allow people to post anonymously, has rules about comments. See CNS Comment Policy
I agree that Chuckie should be re-elected in the By-Election. He has done so much for Bodden Town in his 4 yrs as Minister of Tourism……the evidence is there to see in terms of projects and programmes.
One thing I know that the PPM has effectively done, and that was to practically ruin us financially. You know things are bad when Gov does not have enough funds to even pay salaries. Another four years of PPM reckless spending could possibly have eventually led to a forensic audit of Gov’s financials by the auditor general and someone being charge criminally. Of course the spending would have gone on since they did’nt have a clue about responsible handling of tax payer’s dollars. A vote for a PPM candidate is a vote for all that is ailing this country right now, a stagnant economy, a broke government, jobless rate higher than it has ever been, and the list goes on and on.
We are all FREE to vote for who we want to in the event of a by-election. However, everyone should keep in mind that a by-election is NOT necessarily a given. We are assuming that is what the court would decide but there is more than 1 possibility.
Chuckie and Ossie did not lose by a huge margin – so be very careful. With the independents gone there could very well be a different result. They only lost my less than 40 votes in one instance and less than 100 in the next.
Anything is possible. So UDP should not feel so secured. I honestly do not believe that they shoudl gain from this situation since they did not even fight for the right thing. However, the people of BT will ultimately make that decision.
It take a lot of backbone to go up against the UDP propoganda machine and trust me when I say we need a proper opposition in the LA. The PPM has all but dissappeared. Only God knows where they are. So I’m not convinced they are up for the job. Say what you will about Sandra Catron and despite her not getting a whole lot of votes she still shows a tenacity that we need in this country. A real champion for the issues irrespective of who is in office. I believe her day will come.
I think this is just another example of PPM members who are unable to accept the results of the election. UDP won, so lets just leave it at that!! Instead of Osbourne, chuckie and anthony, whose lead by kurt to contest this…. why don’t you all put your minds together and think of realistic solutions to the problems of this country!!!! Instead of wasting cayman money & time… as we have so many other crucial issues facing the people of the country!!
P.S …. Power to UDP as they have to clean up the mess that kurt tibbetts and the PPM left behind!!!
Regards… A CONCERNED CAYMANIAN!!!!!!!!!!!
To: I think this is just another….. Can you truthfully say that if the situation was reversed and PPM candidates had not complied with the constitution that the UDP would not support a challenge? Be honest now…
Excuse me for being uninformed and please correct me if I am wrong! I am sure someone will whether I am or not!!!!
I think some people are missing the point of a by-election (spelled correctly I hope).
If the 2 candidates from Bodden Town are disqualified, I don’t believe they will be allowed to run as candidates in the by-election. If they are allowed to run again, what is the purpose of another election.
As far as I know and I don’t declare to know anything about the constitution or the legal implications of such a breach, but I do know that "DISQUALIFICATION" means you are out of the race/election/by-election/game (whatever you call it).
I am surprised that Mark would comment that "it is a minor technicality". I thought better than that of him. While I don’t think either he or Dwane deliberately set out to breach any laws and were really mis-understood as they stated, they made a mistake and we all know that there are consequences to pay when mistakes are made. Just face up to the facts and step-down and not appear so power hungry.
CNS, please advise (if you know) that if a candidate is disqualified whether he would be allowed to run in the by-election if one was called or if he had to wait for the nest general election?
"CNS, please advise (if you know) that if a candidate is disqualified whether he would be allowed to run in the by-election if one was called or if he had to wait for the nest general election?"
I stand to be corrected on this but I believe that the Supervisor of Elections has already addressed this point. My understanding was that basically a by-election would be considered a new election and both candidates would be eligible to run.
Someone else posed the question here as to whether or not it makes sense to challenge them if they will be allowed to run again for re-election, however, that I think is a separate matter and those who have made the challenge are correct to exercse their legal rights. When this is over I believe that the two candidates and this country will be the better for it.
Dear CNS,based on history I believe these two would be allowed to contest a by-election.Mr James Bodden was elected in an election in Bodden Town (in the early seventies)but later disqualified because he had dual US and Caymanian citizenship.He later renounced his US citizenship and entered and won the by-election.
Dear 17:26
You former minister of education PPM Alden said in one meeting last month quote
"That caymanians will vote for a broomstick if you put the PPM T-Shirt on"
Who can blame the UDP!!!
Dear Surprise Surprise,
Do you people actually believe what you post here or you just post it to confuse the no so smart people?
"Do you people actually believe what you post here or you just post it to confuse the no so smart people?"
He/she seemed to be in on something that no one else is. I scrolled through the various posts to see whatit connected to in vain. May be it is peculiar to his world.
Surprise Surprise !!!!! Things getting clearer now…..That why the governor,attorney general or election office didn’t challenge it…Uhmmm
Why did the PPM lawyers never tell them(PPM members) about this special consideration…Case Dismissed ….So glad that was only 200 Dollars waste.
Next time sore losers!!!!!
Cannot wait for the final decision to be made! I will once again go to the polls and vote 8&9 (Mark & Dwayne). It has nothing to do with UDP or PPM but who i strongly feel are best suited for the job and best represented in Bodden Town, and from the history of both of these young men they are fine exemplary of what more Caymanian men need to be! i.e. Hardworking, Smart, Humble and Ambitious
"It has nothing to do with UDP or PPM but who i strongly feel are best suited for the job and best represented in Bodden Town"
You know perfectly well that the only reason to vote for Dwayne is if you are strictly UDP. Plenty good candidates in BT including the independents. Without the UDP Dwayne would have been somewhere between Gilbert and Vincent. Being officially on the UDP ticket would have put Theresa in. So cut the cr*p!
If PPM had filed the challenged then people would be saying that their vindictive. I believe these 2 should not be eligible for them to participate in a by-election… they should wait to 2013.. On the deficit of course its record high because it’s the first time this country has actually had improvements… roads schools. housing…more scholarships.. in 25 years what have Mckeeva done to account for the money?
A partial quote in a local newspaper from Section 19 1 (g) of the 1972 Constitution omitted the words highlighted below.
"(g) is a party to, or a partner in a firm or a director or manager of a
company which is a party to, anycontract with the Government of the
Islands for or on account of the public service and has not, in the case
of a contested election, caused to be published, at least one month
before the day of the poll, a Government Notice setting out the nature
of such contract and his interest, or the interest of any such firm or
company, therein; "
In considering the election challenge, the Judge will also have to decide if the contracts in question are for or on account of the public service, taking into account the meaning of "public service’
Interpretation. 50. (1) In this Constitution unless it is otherwise provided or required by the context –
“the public service” means the service of the Crown in a civil capacity in
respect of the government of the Islands;
Let the Challenge go through, we as Caymanians have been abusedso much lately by everyone form the Judicary System right down to the Schools. We are not only now seen as Tax Evasions assisters, but we are being seen as a corrupt and if you have broken the law it is ok Islands. Is this what we what to protray tio the World?
I wished and prayed on May 20th that when placed my 3 X’s in Bodden that the election results was a split LA, with a little bit of UDP a little bit of PPM and Little bit of Independants. The wish nor pray came through.
I am not a PPM or UDP supporter as matter of fact I hate politics. We did not need the likes of Mckeeva nor Kurt back as Leader of Government Business, but who else would be ready for that seat non of the other Elected Officials. What a shame.
I Give my dues to Mark Scotland I think he will Make a great Minister and Politician, Dwayne will be another Eguene for McKeeva to manipulate. If there is a negative ruling for Bodden Town and there is a re-election I have no hamperhensions for Mark to be re-elected, but do we need to have another do as I say UDP bystander like our dear old friend Captain Eugene. I do not know Dwayne but from what I saw from his campaign speeches, my other Fellow Bodden Towners should have voted differently.
I say re-election and show our people and the world we are making a come back by abiding to our laws.
The claim is that this challenge is about defending the constitution. A document that has to be updated from time to time. The specific breach refers to a period of time, not an omission, but a period of time. And the obvious reason for this time ,”30 days” was to make sure that all citizens were aware of which candidates had government contracts. Well it’s obvious now that majority of citizens of these islands know they had contracts. The media had gotten the word out a lot faster than posting it and allowing 30 days for it be viewed.
During the campaigning it was featured, discussed and debated. The majority Bodden Town voters knew and they made the reasonable call.
I don’t claim to be a lawyer, but I do claim to be a citizen, and the decision to file was definitely not about defending the constitution. It was just about being unreasonable.
Citizen JC, upholding the Constitution is never unreasonable. The issue is important not simply for its own sake but because of the precedent it sets.
Your point about the facts constitution their disqualification being well-publicised and yet the candidates were elected could actually work to their disadvantage since it may mean thatthose voters voluntarily chose to throw away their votes which in turn could mean that there is no by-election but the next candidates in line step up.
It’s funny indiviudals are using the revered consitution as a scapegoat. It’s intention is to protect it’s citizens and it allows it’s citizens to make reasonable judgements about what is in the best interest of the citizens and ultimately these Islands. No lawyerly agruement.. just an unbiased assessment of what transpired and an opportunity..no the obligation to put the country first. I feel reason will prevail…because most of us love this country.
So here is my not so secret agenda…Country first every thing else is a distraction.
If mark and dwayne had not won the election in BT, i can assure you no one would have challenged their "qualifications" to run for office. This really has nothing to do with the Constitution – as the spriit and intent of the provision has been complied with, which was to make sure people knew of canddiates interests, whichthey certainly knew before they voted.
God help us if Sir Anton Duckworth is ever made Chief Justice.
"If mark and dwayne had not
If mark and dwayne had not won the election in BT, i can assure you no one would have challenged their "qualifications" to run for office. This really has nothing to do with the Constitution – as the spriit and intent of the provision has been complied with, which was to make sure people knew of canddiates interests, which they certainly knew before they voted.
God help us if Sir Anton Duckworth is ever made Chief Justice."
WOW. You people never cease to amaze me with you shallow UDP/PPM mindset.
Look you are right. No Challenge would have been made if they did not win. Do you not read what the challenge states? It is a challenge to hold a seat not a challenge to run. The constitution says they can not hold a seat. I think we clearly established this a millenium ago that they could run.
Again, for those who are slow at understanding this.
THEY BROKE THE CONSTITUTION – The constitution has to deal with WINNING not RUNNING!!!!
Get, got it GOOD!!!
Now get your mind out of the UDP/PPM thing and focus on ourmain issue.
Do you want someone before he even steps into our LA to be breaking our most sacred laws? What then can we expect of him once he is in office? What precidence would it set later?
Come on people stop getting hung up on teh fact that it was UDP or PPM. I see you saying about putting aside the parties and coming together for the country but where is the coming together for our laws? Why isn’t there outrage that the AG broke his oath to office on this matter? Forget parties suppose the shoe was on the other foot then. Wouldn’t you be upset? COME ON PEOPLE!!!
Sometimes when I read these comments I feel disheartened about being one kin with you. Your blatant silliness just because you are a UDP supporter scares me and shows me how close you are to the craziness that happens in places like Jamaica.
In everything we do in life we must first ask the question of what is right and just. They broke the law, point blank. They broke the law. I voted for Mark but I can see past my vote. Why in the world can’t you? It’s our LAWS!! Do you not care about the laws of your land? Are you a caymanian who does not care about your country? Are you Caymanian by birth but paper by mentality?
Tell me this. Do you think someone who holds up a bank in broad daylights and runs away with the money only to return it four days later should not stand trial for robbery? Do you think that returning the money absolves them from the initial crime? This answer should amaze us all!!
God you guys frustrate me!!!
Dread – if they were qualified to run then they should be qualified to sit. At least you had the decency to admit that if they had not won then there would be need to challenge. all that does is confirm to me it really wasnt the principle of upholding the constition afterall. thanks for that.
"Dread – if they were
Dread – if they were qualified to run then they should be qualified to sit. At least you had the decency to admit that if they had not won then there would be need to challenge. all that does is confirm to me it really wasnt the principle of upholding the constition afterall. thanks for that."
Ooh My God!!!
You speaky English??
Let’s break it down so a 5year old can understand….
There are two laws dealing with elections. One ascertains your ability to run in the elections (but nothing else). This is called the Elections law.
The next is the constitution. It ascertains whether once elected if you are eligible to be seated in the house of the LA.
While JJ & MS passed the Elections laws and were okay to "run" they failed the constitution and were therefore ineligible to be "seated" in the LA. AND DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!! That’s why the challenge is based on the constitution and does not have to abide by the elections laws 21 day challenge.
So again for DEEP SEATED CLARITY. The challenge is about being seated by way of the constitution. That’s the whole chabang right there. So get running out of your mind cause it ain’t about that.
Now I will note the whole thing is messed up if you ask me because the Elections Law should state emphatically back to the constitution thereby cross qualifying a candidate PRIOR to elections. In short you should have to abide by both to even be on the ballots. I think the way it is written OR dealt with is sheer stupidity.
Now let’s deal with the AG. His stupidity happened not before but after the elections. I am not sure he could do anything prior because no laws were broken until the election results were in. But he should have stepped in the following day and called for the courts to resolve the matter as there was clear undisputable data indicating a breach of the constitution. HE FAILED US AND SHOULD BE CANNED LIKE TOMATOES!!
So in short YOU ARE WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG. STOP thinking about running because of how the laws are framed they are two completely separate events within the whole elections process.
Let’s clarify again the won part and challenging. You can not challenge something that is not wrong. When the event became wrong is upon winning not prior to. The contitution is not about running it’s only about winning. It speaks about the person to be seated not about someone wanting to be seated. So my admission as you term it is only framing how the law is actually set out. More people should try it. You tend to understand and appreciate this process better.
Please stop comparing this specific breach of the consitution to robbing a bank. That is blatantly attempt to demonize men who are not demons. Their contracts were ligitmate and I’m sure dutifully executed.
"Please stop comparing this
Please stop comparing this specific breach of the consitution to robbing a bank. That is blatantly attempt to demonize men who are not demons. Their contracts were ligitmate and I’m sure dutifully executed."
Dear Mr. Citizen JC I believe it is quite fair actually. No one is saying his contracts were not valid or illegal we were saying what he did by accepting the seat was. I think again you are confussed like so many I have come across lately. To be honest this crime can be considered much higher and much more dangerous because of the powers that could be granted to someone in that position.
No one is demonizing him but I had to bring across that the constitution is not just some "simple technical thing" like he has termed it. It in fact makes it possible for people to like you and me to be able to seat people like him. It sets out our entire system of government.
I can not begin to explain the emotions that flow through me when I see this document belittled. Why then did we find it so critical to have one if obeying it is such a "small technical thing"? Why would England want us to invest in this? We spend thousands no hundreds of thousands of dollars getting this done.?
The consitution is not the issue, it has never been the issue.The arguement that the consitution can only be defended by filing an objection is using the consitution as a scapegoat.
No one seems be calling these men criminals… at least not out right. The real issue is, what is the reasonble consequence of filing their interest late. The consitution left it to the citizens of this country to decide.
I believe the facts speak for themselves and also I also believe that reason will prevail. So if not all the citizens of this country can be relied upon to be reasonable then the courts I’m sure will.
Country first personal interest last.
"If mark and dwayne had not won the election in BT, i can assure you no one would have challenged their "qualifications" to run for office".
Obviously. The challenge is about whether they were validly elected as members of the legislative assembly.
"God help us if Sir Anton Duckworth is ever made Chief Justice".
Not sure what that means. He clearly has a brilliant legal mind.
In response to ‘I am amazed at the thought..’ and others with similar postings….you really need to get a life and come out from whatever haze of cluelessness you are living in. The point to this challenge is NOT to have a chance at winning seats in BT….it is to uphold the Constitution – obviously you haveno idea how important this is though….no wonder UDP are in power in this Country if this is the majority mentality of voters!
I agree it’s about upholding the Law of the Lands, the Constitution. But if it was to come to a bi-election then would you want to vote for the candidates that have already broken the law??
First of all – kudos to Sandra Catron for at least having the balls to sign her name to the petition. The two ppm boys from bt who lost obviously do not. They rather call people all over BT asking them to sign the peition so they wouldn’t have to. Joey (the other losing ppm candidate) said on tv last night that the ppm did not sign challenge because they did not want to be branded sore losers. what a joke. They are!
There is but one thing bigger than the Constitution. what is it? The PEOPLE. and they spoke loud and clear knowing full well the details of the situation. I suspect they were the only contracts and register interests that the voters can or did in fact know or remembered.
"There is but one thing bigger than the Constitution. what is it? The PEOPLE".
Only in the sense that the people will be able to vote in a referendum for a change in the Constitution. Subject to that, EVERYONE – the People included – is bound by it.
Kudos, you are right Sandra has the balls to sign, Now my question is why is she putting her self up as a front for them, we all beleive that she is being a pawn in this, as you said they PPm loosers are calling people to sign up, but they do not have the balls to come out and do so as a team any more as they know that the people will again vote against them, as "piss poor management" and Joey, what a joke, no wonder north side didnt vote for you, if you had the kahoonas as a ppm member you would not have said that your party do not want to be seen as loosers, admit it, that is exactly what you all are and hiding behind that lame excuse. Bodden Town, we know that they say its about the constitution, ok, it was broken, after all is done and we get a bi-election, vote 8 & 9 again.
Dear The electorate chose their preferred candidate,
How many people believed Dwayne and Mark when they said that they were in full compliance? You have no idea – therefore, you don’t know really how many people full understand.
Most will not fully believe or understand the TRUTH until a judge declares it to be so. UDP supported the inquiry against Chuckie. I don’t see the difference here – it’s a matter of principle and that is what people are fighting for – the principle of respecting the constitution.
The country spent an immense amount of money on that and that actually the country’s funds. In this case, the people of Cayman are not paying for this court case.
Also, the by-election – will happen ANYWAY – if the UDP get’s their way so they can add more ministers. So what additional money would be spent?
I don’t care if Mark gets in with 100% of the votes – but he would have learned a very valuable lesson and the people of Cayman will also know that not even them can ignore the constitution. You are free to vote and you are not free to IGNORE the rules.
You PPM supporters amaze me!
Your leaders don’t have what it takes to challenge Mark and Dwayne and now you think that Chuckie and Ozzie deserve to be re-elected in a by-election, when someone else has done the dirty/expensive work for them? And for the record I’m all for upholding the constitution and I believe this challenged needed to happen to finally put this issue to bed. And to the UDP supporters that are soooo upset about this challenge you should take your complaints to Mark and Dwayne because if they followed the rules/constitution in the first place we wouldn’t be put in this situation.
That being said I hope that if there is a by-election that my people of Bodden Town know NOT to vote Ozzie or Chuckie back in. The less PPM members we have in the LA the better!!! Why would we want any remnants of the most incompetent government that our country has ever seen? If you don’t believe then simply look at the facts. The two worst economic periods in the history of the Cayman Islands has been under the leadership of Kurt Tibbets and the PPM. A $74Mil deficit is not acceptable! But of course the PPM won’t take the blame for this (that’s not they’re style) they’ll blame the financial secretary for false reporting.
Regarding the possible by-election, Mark will be re-elected but I hope that they won’t re-elect ‘Joke Joke’ I mean Dwayne Seymour. Mark my words; Dwayne will contribute NOTHING over a 4 year period. He is to the UDP what Alfonso was for the PPM. A seat filler and a yes man! We always wonder why our leaders fail us every term; well voting straight is the answer.
When you vote straight you end up voting for incompetent people like Dwayne, Alfonso, Lucille, Ozzie, Capt. Eugene, Ellio, Anthony. These people have no expertise in any field of significance but we expect them to fix our country. Until our country elects educated, qualified and competent politicians then our country will never move forward.
‘Yes, I think Chuckie deserves to be voted back in. Why: because while he was the Minister of Tourism a lot was done in Bodden Town by that ministry. The people of Bodden Town that took the time to see what was going on and attending functions within the district would have had to opportunity to hear and see.
I Agree, Anonomous 10:47
Mark and Dwayne should foot this bill. Any attempt by them to side-step paying the costs incurred by their idiocy undermines the welfare of the island. Let’s see if they attempt to make it right.
Men running the country that belive the law is only a "minor technicality" will only lead to a lawless country! Are these people who we really want in leadership our our country? May God give the people the wisdom to do what is best for these islands.
Someone need to also look into the GT UDP candidates that were accused of handing out voters cards right before they reached the voters booth. They should be at the least fined and/or imprisoned as that is the law.
CNS has there been any updates on this issue?
CNS: No. We have been, and will continue, asking the police for updates periodically.
"Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 06/17/2009 – 10:53.
Someone need to also look into the GT UDP candidates that were accused of handing out voters cards right before they reached the voters booth. They should be at the least fined and/or imprisoned as that is the law.
CNS has there been any updates on this issue?
CNS: No. We have been, and will continue, asking the police for updates periodically."
Trust me when I say this. This will die a slow painful but quiet death. It will be dragged until no one remembers about it then simply dropped.
The reason? simple. Look at BT. If they took the next 2 highest votes (a very likely outcome) then you would have a split government with 1 not so independent independent. Now what happens in GT has HUGE ramifications. For this reason it will die. No one wants to be in that seat trust me.
If you don’t know. If they are found to have created undue influence over the elections process the possibilities goes way up from fines to possible disqualification also. If you consider who would stand to benefit it would be the whole UDP team hence all DQ’d?? not sure there but the outcome would probably be By-Election in GT with outcome more than likely being PPM back in there which means PPM government. Would you want to be holding that hot potato?
It really don’t take that much anyhow because Police are looking into it.
Mark and Dwayne both have several contracts with the Government in the millions, they should foot this bill.
The electorate chose their preferred candidate the first time and they were all aware of the situation. It’s only a sad few losers with sour grapes that want to waste more of the taxpayers money fighting a losing battle against a minor discrepancy in some timelines?
What a bunch of cretins, we’ll end up with the taxpayers fundung an expensive trial and then a couple of appeals and counter suits etc, and what will the result be? Either nothing will be done, or at the most a re-run of the BT election, in which case the same guys will win again but by a bigger margin because the taxpayers of Bodden town will make a stand against those losers that have cost them so much money and put their livelihoods at risk by bleeding governemnt funds dry.
Utter nonsense and I’m not a voter and don’t care who won, they are going to be as bad as each other anyway, so they should just get over the whole affair and let the government focus on the real issues like pulling the country out of the toilet, getting rid of the gangsters and wannabes and working out a realistic immigration system that stops those who bleed the country dry but offers companies the opportunity to employ the best, competent and qualified staff for their jobs regardless of race/nationality.
I am amazed at the thought process of these ‘sore losers" of the PPM party.Do they actually think by doing this and causing a by-election that Chuckie and Ossie are going to get back in. Do they actually believe that all the people who voted for Anthony and split their votes would now go back and give the "sore losers" their support. This is the most ridiculous and illogical thing I ever heard. if the people didn’t want them in the first place the sure won’t want them now.
The PPM and its cronies will stop at nothing to get seats in the house. | ouldn’t be surprised when this is over and Mark and Dwayne are returned that they won’t try something again.
As far as Sandra goes I think she needs to find another district to run in because this Bodden towner and many others are sick and tired of her lack of professionalism and "cry cry" attitude. If you really cared about your fellow Bodden Towners you would respect their wishes.
Fellow Bodden Towners I implore you to continue to support Mark and Dwayne. We have had enough of the divisiveness of the PPM party. It is time to breathe life into this country again. We cannot afford to have them sqaunder the people’s money again!
"I am amazed at the thought process of these ‘sore losers" of the PPM party".
Apparently this is going to be the standard retort of the UDP for the next four years. Any criticism can be rebutted by the words "sore losers". It seems it does not matter that the challengers are not members of the PPM and that Sandra in particular is an independent. It is a dangerous thing to consider politicians above criticism. In the eyes of UDP supporters at least this will give Mr. Bush and his govt. carte blanche to do anything they would like.
Contrary to popular thinking it is by no means a foregone conclusion that a successful challenge would result in a by-election (although that is a possibility), and it is by no means certain that the same candidates would be returned in the event of a by-election. Perhaps that is why the UDP are so bent out of shape – they fear that the challenge will be successful and their candidates will not be returned.
If there is one aspect of the UDP that I have always been turned off by it is the approach of seeking to demonize/destroy/intimidate whoever disagrees with them. When you couple that with political power you really need an effective opposition to keep them in check.
Mark Scotland-
The "minor technical thing" to which you refer is the difference between where someone wishes to retire and third world banana republic.
What is truly shameful is how these UDP members have lied and misconstrued the truth in this situation.
Now that a court of law will expose them I wonder how they will twist this decision?
The PPM may not have had the balls to do anything but I think these people who are standing up should be applauded.
…1 billion dollars Public Debt and counting that is the worst Government in The Cayman Islands history….and we are waiting when the jugde throw that case out the door….And hopefully the PPM can help his Supporters pay the court fees……PPM MAKES THE HISTORY BOOKS!!!!
Talk about history, you forgot to mention that Big Mac has already made history within his one month employment, by publicly saying that he will change the "Pirate Week" name. This is a big part of our HISTORY my friend.
Mark and Dwayne both have several contracts with the Government, oh my sorry with us the people of the these Islands as we are the payee. I hope the Honourable Chief Justice make them both pay the court fees.
Thank you Gordon Solomon, Sandra Catron, Ronald Ebanks, Jean Ebanks, Roxanne Basham-Ebanks and Michael McLaughlin , you are all true Caymanian.
All those involved in this challenge deserve our thanks for standing up for the constitution and the rule of law in the Cayman Islands.
It is easy to talk or write here under anonymous but these people put themselves on the line and have my sincere respect.
The politicians of both parties can do much to insure that this does not become a party issue as it is not a party issue it is a constitutional issue.
Well done…
Will the Honourable Chief Justice do the right thing in the case. Lets see if he will for the people of these Islands.
Already we have people sleeping in cars and yet the PPM chose to ignore all this. Wake up all those who might be sleeping – we can’t stand another moment of PPM reign.
Who are sleeping in cars?? Are you talking about Caymanian sleeping in cars?
I don’t think so, Caymanain don’t even want to walk on the streets less sleep in cars. They are too proud to do that.
Can someone from the Social Services please confirm if this is really true…..
Many thanks
BT Voter
I am sure that jobs are out there, even if it means being a cashier in a super market.
most likely the judge will rule on a by-election for B T, i think thats the correct thing to do.PPM supporters is hoping that Mark And Dwayne will be disqualified for this one, but i think that would be a terrible thing to do as B T and the rest of the Cayman Islands would catch that deadly flu thats currently infecting the Islamic Republic Of Iran…………………….
If Seymour and Scotland are so confident that this challenge will fail why have they not provided their reasons for this, rather than waste everyone’s time and money, and clog up the Court’s when they are backlogged as it is.
They have never given any credible reason why they are not ineligible – "It is just a minor technical thing" will not get passed the Chief Justice. I am not PPM or UDP biased, but the lack of class these two showed by just refusing to accept they have done wrong it atrocious. They should be made to personally pay the costs of the Court case and by-election when they lose.
And while CNS message boards is not a spelling bee contest, can we stop talking about bi-elections? (Unless it is a referendum on gay rights perhaps). There is no such word as bi-election. It is by-election, or the less frequently, used bye-election.
The PPM leaders couldn’t do it themselves and had to depend on their party members to do it lead by a former PPM’er and "sore loser" Sandra Catron. Again its shows lack of leadership by the PPM and now you expect us to beleive that we would be better of bringing the "sore losers" back.
I will say this much there is no way under God’s green earth that I will be voting for Chuckie, Ossie or Sandra who may not even get her deposit back this time. So try as you will, this Bodden Towner has spoken and will speak again if I have to.
It is shameful that these people knowing what they have done to our country financially still want to continue waste our money under the guise of the Constitution. If this was coming from someone neutral other than these sore losers, it would have some credibility and you could believe it was because of the Constitution.
Shame on all of you!!! When this country needs unity, your party still spits out division and hatred. It is too late now but maybe when this over, you can understand that you can’t win every game and you will take your marbles and go home!
Good Luck Dwayne and Mark. hold your heads high. Hopefully, after this, "the sore loser" party will accept their loss and wait until next election for their next loss!
To The PPM Leaders couldn’t do- You still have not gotten have you this is not about PPM, UDP or independent this is about the breaching of the constitution. Have you really sat down and thought about this? With not fixing this breach we are opening the door to becomeing a Lawless Island and we will all be sore losers- no foreign investers etc. etc. etc. We do need unity but not at the price of breaching of the Constitution.
To Gordon, Sandra and others I say well done. I have no doubt that Mark and Dwayne will come back and win again, however it will be without having the constitution breach over their head.
So come on if you are a true Caymanian you know we are all Law Abiding People whether we are PPM Supporters, UDP Supporters (AS I Am) and not Sore Losers just Caymanians who want to see the right thing done.
Should be interesting if a bi-election is called which is most likely going to be the case ,2815 people voted on May 20th in BT and if only 4 Candidates run and no more to split votes and with no need for Mr Eden to run again as he was legally elected and his supporters giving there votes to the other PPM Candidates we may be in for a very different out come.
Thank you M. Western you understand……
Fed-UP CAYMANIAN,
Where in the constitution does it speak of 21 days? You and your UDP croonies are so easily confused. Do you know share a complete brain between you? Read it and show us where the deadline is.
Better yet, leave the technicalities up to the lawyers! Suffice it to say; the courts papers have no such deadline for filining.
You, people can’t be REAL!!!
If Mark refers to the constitution as a ‘minor technical thing’ God up us if we do not get him out now.
This about the constitution of the Cayman Islands, it is not about PPM or UDP, it is about the COUNTRY as a whole regardless of color, race, sex, UPD or PPM!
"You definetily is a bias media….shame on you CNS!!!!!!!Hopefully Mckeeva Banned youfor reporting PPM news …."
Oh whatever!! Have you ever read the Caymanian Compass??? That is surely a UDP paper. Look at the overdramatic headlines they put on articles critisizing the PPM administration. You will never see Compass publish articles bad mouthing UDP. And Compass, insists you have your name to make comments on its website – that’s so UDP can track you down should you bad mout them. On CNS we can beat up on UDP, PPM or each other and not have to worry about being hunted down.
As for your "hopefully McKeeva" comment – it’s good to see his own supporters confirming his vindictive nature!
If I were you I would grow some tough skin otherwise you are going to have a long 4 years defending the UDP!
You have to be MAD if you want the PPM(POOR PEOPLE MONEY) Back in the Government.
…1 billion dollars Public Debt andcounting that is the worst Government in The Cayman Islands history….and we are waiting when the jugde throw that case out the door….And hopefully the PPM can help his Supporters pay the court fees……PPM MAKES THE HISTORY BOOKS!!!!
We need to FIRST wait and see if the Honourable Chief Justice will overturn their election. And what happened to the twenty (21) days to file this petition. Did that not expire on Friday June 12, 2009? I smell some legal issues with this petition- in the sense of its legality and wonder if it has truly been filed within time.
In any event, the BT electorate will return Mark and Dwayne with a louder and more emphatic win, SHOULD their election be overturned. To Mark and Dwayne- this is ONLY bing perpetrated by the PPM and THEIR sore losers. Had either of you been elected- but in the minority, the PPM and its supporters would have had NOTHING to say about this issue.
Shame on the PPM and its supporters, especially those of you who have filed this complaint. Has money been mysteriously found XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
But, if the country wants to go further in debt and become impoverished like our neighbors in the Caribbean- then I say- go ahead and put the PPM back in power. Save your paint pans and cut down trees because we will be going back to smoke pans and cabooses.
Dear Fed Up, many of us are fed up with hearing your partisan rhetoric. A challenge in order to uohold the Constitution is a perfectly legitimate and honourable thing to do. Why are you getting so bent out of shape?
Since the UDP can count on Mr. Miller’s support they will form the Govt. no matter the outcome of the challenge. However, what the country needs is an effective opposition to hold the new govt. accountable. Let’s face it, the only reason Dwayne got elected in the first place was because he was on the UDP ticket and not because of any personal merit. BT and the country do not need a couple more ‘yes men’; it needs educated people with relevant experience.
Well done Sandra, Gordon and the others!
CNS: You need to spell-check "clear breech (breach) of the constitution however; it will now be up to a judge to decide if the two men should be disqualified and the next two candidates duly elected or whether to call a bi-election (by-election or bye-election).
7 heroes are among us. Upholding the Constitution is critical to having a responsible government and to ensuring the preservation of law and order in Cayman – irrespective of whatever party or group is in power. The fact that these 7 individuals have sufficient love for their country to take this on is a testiment to their chararacter. May God bless all 7and may those of us who are able offer whatever resources we have to assisting them. Hopefully CNS will publish information on how we can contribute.
"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link", and I shudder to think what lies ahead for these dear Islands, if we don’t change our ways. I thank God for our ancestors who settled here -they had their faults, but were generally people of character that could be counted on to do the right thing, no matter what the repercussions. Thank God that we still have some of those types of people around today! "If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything." What good is a rule or regulation if those responsible for upholding it turn a blind eye? What good is an organization or office within a government if they do not ethically and legally perform the tasks they are put there to do? I see too many people getting hurt because of everyone making their own rules, with no regard for established law or ethics. I don’t have a problem with who gets in – I can work with just about anyone. However, I need to know that our leaders and fellow-citizensare men and women of character. Let’s stop looking out for "number one " and return to the practice of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. This can’t be accomplished by talking about God and saying prayers – it can only be done by establishing and maintaining a personal relationship with the Almighty. Let’s do it Cayman. I want better days ahead, don’t you??? Remember… An action, once taken or willingly ignored, sets a precedent which is often quite difficult, or even impossible, to retract!!! Every action has a consequence!
Good Lord – I shudder to think that we could have a PPM government. Cayman, don’t tell me you have not read all the recent news about our $74M deficit and $500M debt. Give the PPM another term and we will all to run to Jamaica for shelter, that’s if they will have us. That’s how bad off we will be. Already we have people sleeping in cars and yet the PPM chose to ignore all this. Wake up all those who might be sleeping – we can’t stand another moment of PPM reign.
Bodden Towners will go to the polls again in the next couple of months once the Grand Court has made the only decision it can make in the circumstances which is that both Scotland and Seymour are disqualified and are therefore not MLAs.
The dynamics of this race will be completely different from the general election. A race for 2 seats instead of 3; less candidates in the race; votes for previous candidates being re-distributed among the new less crowded slate of candidates; and voters voting differently from before having understood clearly that if they don’t vote straight they might get a government they don’t want. So Chuckie and Ossie will regain their seats under this scenario and the score will be UDP 7 and the PPM 7 and Ezzard. Interesting isnt it !!!
The really big question is what will happen after the By Election. With a 7-7-1 mix could we have a coalition Government already ???Yes we could !!! ……………To: McKeeva – Goodbye !!!
Grateful, please mind what your being greatfull for. Bodden Towenrs have already spoken and we will speak again. We are proud of who we chose and we will stand behind them.
Let us all move along and leave it to the Courts to decide. Mark and Dwaybe hold your heads high cause we right behind you. WE do not want the PPM back in Bodden Town, ALL other districts are free to have them.
You should be kissing McKeeva foot, cause if Kurt was in control after Ivan, trust me we would not be here now.. He couldn’t even turn around Cayman Brac and it’s now been 7 months. Think of where Cayman would have been 7 months after Ivan??????????? Trust you me we wouldn’t be fighthing expats today, we would be on our knees asking them for food to eat.
So Bodden Towners please keep in mind what your voting for AGAIN. We did it the first time and we can do it again. Please don’t make the people fool you. MARK AND DWAYNE are way better than OSSIE or CHUCKIE.
VOTE MARK AND DWAYNE AGAIN……
PROUND TO BE UDP – ALL THE WAY
why would Bodden Town want UDP when they are stopping to dock and launching ramp…… Bodden Town wanted this for many years and were only promised but PPM put it in action!!!
I agree 100% with Grateful. If that is what the results are then that would be excellent thing in the LA would be even and UDP wouldn’t be able to do what they want.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of upholding the constitution, no part of which is a "minor technical thing." Either way this turns out, I’ll sleep better knowing the situation is legally resolved.
Thank you all for protecting the Constitution of the Cayman Islands!
You definetily is a bias media….shame on you CNS!!!!!!!Hopefully Mckeeva Banned youfor reporting PPM news ….
"You definetily is a bias media….shame on you CNS!!!!!!!Hopefully Mckeeva Banned youfor reporting PPM news …."
It is precisely this mentality of the UDP and its supporters that worries me. Unless you see things their way you are an enemy and you should be banned! Where is this – Soviet Russia?! Communist Cuba?!
Finally some understands the importance of the Constitution. It is not about UDP or PPM but the Cayman Islands
All I can say is YESSSSS!!!!!! Finally!!!! Thank you Gordon Solomon, Sandra Catron, Ronald Ebanks, Jean Ebanks, Roxanne Basham-Ebanks, Michael McLaughlin!!! You are people of real mettle! Thank you for doing what the Governor, and the Attorney General would not, uphold the constitution (their job).
I wish I was able to challenge this with you, unfortunatly I vote in another district.
All I can say is how much of the money is fronted by the PPM, Boy we people cant seem to think for our selves, bodden towners " YOU ALL " need to do what is right and stop talking bunk, vote straight??? that would be another disaster as they didnt do what they were supposed to do in the first place, now they want the courts to assist them, it isnt the constitution you know, it is that they lost. Never trust a born looser. Never mind PPM got plenty money
"and the next two candidates duly elected"…
I would not want to be the Judge that issues that edict unless I were to issue it and run to safety overseas. Caymanians-some- have said they want this challenged on constitutional grounds. Fair enough. But a new election would be the only acceptible court decision, otherwise there will be blood.
By the way, are we going to have constant challenges of the Constitution when the new one comes in? Right now, we happily discriminate against people by saying they can’t bring their families etc. This is obviously one for…..CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS……………….to sort out.
Thank you, now plese provide CNS with the account number/ deails, so we can assist you all.