PPM set to make history
(CNS): The People’s Progressive Movement is set to make history on Saturday evening when it becomes the first political party in the Cayman Islands to transfer leadership. The current leader of the opposition and founder of the PPM, Kurt Tibbetts, will be stepping down at the extraordinary conference, which is open to all, and passing on the party’s top job to Alden McLaughlin, who has been nominated by the party and stands unopposed. The PPM is opening the doors of the conference to everyone and not just its membership or party faithful as it says goodbye to Tibbetts. The new leader to be says as “the government in waiting", the opposition has a message for the whole country and not just its long-time supporters. (Photo Dennie WarrenJr)
McLaughlin says that the change in leadership is not about changing the core principles on which Tibbetts foundedthe party, but he said he would be spelling out a new vision in the wake of the 2009 election loss and expectations for the 2013 vote.
“While the core principles on which the party was founded remain sound, the PPM needs a new approach and we have to regain the reputation for being a party of vision and inclusion,” the George Town MLA said on the eve of being crowned opposition leader.
He explained that he needed to spell out the relevance of the party and of party politics, which he said was not new to Cayman as at almost every election since the 1950s candidates had run in alliances or teams of some kind. “It’s not party politics that people have had enough of but the politics of the parties,” he said, adding that was the issue that needed to be addressed. McLaughlin said the conference would reveal how the party would regain the people’s support.
Most people in Cayman, McLaughlin said, outside of the UDP’s direct patronage were worse off today than they were two years ago. Having said that, however, the heir apparent to the opposition leadership said that did not mean the country would automatically switch to the PPM at the next election.
Despite the failure of the government to kick start the economy and the concerns about the government ignoring the rule of law, he said there was a still considerable amount of work to do to look at where the PPM had gone wrong and what it had to do going forward to be in a position to take office at the next election.
He said the party conference was an opportunity for the country to see democracy in action and political process as it should be. “Change was an important part of stability,” he added, as he called on everyone to come and see for themselves how the PPM would be moving forward and changing some of the perceptions people have about the opposition party’s position on a number of issues.
The national extraordinary conference will take place on Saturday evening at 6pm at the Mary Miller Hall and is open to all. Everyone is invited and people do not need to be party members or voters to attend.
Category: Headline News
Is it a constitutional requirement that only the truly unimpressive run for the LA?
Oooh you UDP Critics!!! SHUT UP!!! and please stop hating the PPM. You guys are just jealous that your party cannot accomplish anything and the PPM has accomplished so much in their 3-4 years and they are such intelligent humble and true Statesmen than anyone in the UDP. That deficit you are ALL talking about, what PROOF do you have of that. That was a UDP propaganda to get your votes, as todate those books were NEVER done to prove that. Enjoy your new CIG Building, the new Elgin Ave, the new Licensing Dept., the new Truman Bodden Track, the Boxing Gym, the new Playing fields, the new Cricket field, the new Esterley Tibbets Highway, the new East West Artieral roads and the list go on and on. What has UDP got to show???? Answer that question. Oil Refinery? Shetty Hospital? Losing the whole of West Bay Road to Dart? Giving away status??? What has the UDP done? NOTHING!!! We need PPM in control of the house, because they know what they are doing and yes they are doing it for the Caymanians not the foreigners. Put that in your pipes and smoke it UDP. ALDEN Congratulations!!!!
One of the biggest things the UDP have done is to avoid direct taxation in the form of income and or property tax after the PPM spending spree.
This was no small feat given the spending of the previous government.
Obviously you are a big spender yourself based upon your posting.
THANK YOU KURT
for the many years of service you have given to the PPM and the country. You have sacificed allot for public life and your honesty, integrity, and selflessness towards serving your people deserves the respect love and admiration you receive from the majority of our population.
The founding values, principles, ethics and manifesto of the PPM come from you and the other founding members and you are to be congratulated and admired as they are the true Caymanian values that this country has been built on.
Those amongst us who have voted and supported the alternative well knowing the self interest, corruption and amassed wealth of those they have voted for are actually making a statement about themselves that this is all OK and they condone and therefore agree with the behaviour, ethics, values and principles of the representatives they have voted for to run our country.
IT IS VERY SAD that so many Caymanians have lost their way and have lost the real values that were instilled in them from their parents and past generations.
Those of our population who placed the present government in control of their country should be ashamed of themselves for selling us all down the road of self interest, corruption, crime and a country owned and run by wealthy foreign developers.
Caymanians wake up !!!! claim back your birth rights, and your future, by arresting your country back from a secretive dictatorial regime of corruption and self interest. Support those who have high ethics, and good principles and morals which will ensure a good future for our children and survival as a nation. Kurt’s team represented all of that including a level playing field and a true democracy for our country.
With sincere thanks and appreciation to Kurt for all the years of selfless public service for his people.
I wish we had another party out therethat at least would be a third option. To this date, I don’t know what PPM or UDP stand for. They expect the public to vote for them without standing on any platform of political persuasion. To me, that is dangerous, because how can there be accountability and the voter know the type of person they are electing.
Why don’t you go read Anton Duckworth’s viewpoint? The PPM has outlined it’s principles, go read um!
Why don’t you go read Anton Duckworth’s viewpoint? The PPM has outlined it’s principles, go read um!
wow… I count only 20 to 30 comments…most of them negative… this should tell you of the interest people have for PPM. I expected this article exceeding 100 comments.
What an awesome night!! I think PPM just started their 2013 campaign!!! I am very excited!
The two party system in such a small population just does not work!!! Everyone knows their representative from their family-ties, business, or their youth and favors are asked, begged, and granted.
Our elected leaders only work on promises to friends, contracts to buddies, and greed in their own pocket. It is a popularity contest decided by voters and then the promises much be kept after election. The fat cats have aligned themselves with both sides and will wait for new greed to be dished out every four years. The only voting pool is the bloated civil service, yet they have not organized and demanded what really counts, better education! Accountability and frugal management need to be implemented….We are a small country and need to get away from Plutocracy!
Nah. You are describing how the UDP operates.
Too right. Basically the UDP has two kinds of supporters: the greedy and the gullible.
ANY OF THEM COULD LEAD THAT PARTY… but guess what , why you think kirk did not step long ago. he stayed on until he could lobby the members and supporters to vote for alden. that is why arden , moses, never enter the rase,they found out the lobbying the kirk did. ig he had been gone from yesterday the CHUSTER would still be there to help this team,he too saw the selfishness that was going on. rem,ember kiek and alden are members the same social club
as bad as mackeeva is, i am even more dissapointed at the total failure of kurt as the leader of the so called ‘opposition’….
i hope things change under alden……
with the almost daily blunders and gaffes by the udp, it is an ideal time for an opposition leader to make a name for himself….
Daily blunders and gaffs, yes. How we wish that McKeeva had the balls to be as much of a "total failure"(real man) as Kurt has been.
Sadly The Chuckster won’t be there to pump up the audience like only he can do.
Hopefully Harden Arden will save the show.
Set to make history…….oh please…….tell me something interesting.
Alden has always been the “Leader” so maybe he will try in the first month or so to establish his own identity and it might appear different initially but the human creature is a creature of habbit.
In short order that Kurt/Alden inseparable identity will clearly emerge for everyone to see to to everyone’s disappointment.
Luckily by that point the third political option will have emerged !!!
I am not excited. The little support I see. I am also wary about Alden Mclaughlin and his views.
ppm already made history…by running the largest deficit in the history of the cayman islands!
RIP PPM !!!
Ah, the core principles of the PPM.
I would hazard a guess that no 2 contributors to this forum can list the top 5 core principles of the PPM.
Here is a hint on the first 3: truth, justice and the Caymanian way.
Given the initial interest of other PPM politicians for the leadership, the back room dealing must have been interesting. Isn’t transparency a wonderful thing.
Shouldn’t the headline be
"Incompetent local politician forced to stand down as leader after disastrous term in office and electoral humiliation"?
Wake up Star!
Your suggested headline should have been the headline in 2005.
But that would never happen when you have a Dictator running YOUR party!
You know, someone who wants power and then more power, will never step down, nah tru Star!
We take it you are referring to the 2013 headlines for McKeeva?
Congratulations to Kurt, Alden and to all of the Leaders and Members in the PPM. Now is the time for the PPM to welcome new blood and new ideas within the frame work of core principles of democracy. Equally important now is the time for Caymanians to get involved and stop being arm chair citizens. If you don’t agree with something, get involved and change it! Don’t expect others to do it for you.
Great piece of satire and humor. Needed that at end of long week. Thanks CNS.
As a non party voter, I am most disappointed at the lacklustre process by which the PPM has "elected" a new party leader. You mean to tell me they didn’t have in excess of ONE person within their elected ranks they consider could lead the country? That’s a joke, man. What does that say about who would fill the cabinet posts, were the PPM to trounce the UDP in the next election? Doesn’t exactly inspire me with confidence – do you get my point you PPM thinkers? If you’d had any sense you’d have put on a (truth be told) sham election to at least give the impression that there was a pool of talent – where is your strategy?? All this does not speak well for the next election. I note the same people who are speaking with confidence about unseating the UPP next election are the same voices that predicted a two term PPM government ("without question") before. Please, PPM,. give me a reason for voting PPM next election, beginning with a proper party leadership selection. Is Alden the very best you can offer? Personally I want a premier who is a darn sight less "visionary" and more down to earth, but then that’s my opinion. Nevertheless, I have a vote waiting to be cast, so maybe change the bait?
Anon 2/12/2011 – 00:42
Your comment shows your knowledge when it comes to politics and house the Assembly operates.
The opposition leader can only be elected from the elected members of the opposition so how can the PPM out on a shame election if the other 3 elected PPM members did not want to run.
Oh I see, thats how you UDP people do things, by putting on a shame election so the Dictator can continue the Dictatorship.
Typical UDP!
All I got to say… If PPM should ever win the next election and oust UDP, GOD HELP US!!! The same Captain Alden that sailed the ship into turbulent economic lows, is the same one that MAY JUST do it again!!! I am sorry, don’t like UDP, but I would prefer UDP/Dart over PPM any day! AND GOD PLEASE DON’T LET ME VOTE UDP AGAIN! ARISE A NEW PARTY WITH NEW FACES THAT PUT THE PEOPLE’S ECONOMY FIRST!
Hopefully Antony Duckworth goes too! Go Alden!
The last sentence sounds eerily like a Caymanian Compass cheerleader cry from a few years back, surely. Funny how the Compass went silent after a bit as I recall. Wonder why?
When Kurt announced he was stepping down he said that at this extraordinary conference which is being held tomorrow, 12th February, a new leader, deputy leader and general secretary would be elected.
Did you all notice that they good quiet on the deputy leader post again? Suggest turmoil in the ranks once again !
What a mess……a party without candidates. Whats going to happen in Bodden Town, West Bay and North Side ?
In Bodden Town Chuckie has left the PPM (good move), Ossie been whipping himself outta luck and Tony is clearly on his way out.
In North Side the big question is will The Ez join the PPM ? Probably not…….and there is no one else ! Yes Joey is not an option !
In West Bay…..o well…..we’ll see.
And oh there is East End….will Arden still be with the PPM at the end of this year ?
And oh there is also George Town…..will Alden actually win a seat….oh my !
2013 will indeed be an interesting year !
I see many new faces in the LA……..would you like to see my crystal ball ?
Only if it shows the LA filled to capacity with serious politicians not fixated with self – and we have a number there already, for sure. Thanks for your post, most refreshing!
Why do you people persist and insist on deluding yourselves that this is a proper country with a proper government and proper politicians. In any other country, these idiots would not make the level of school council, never mind country leadership. Your steaming pile is of your own making Cayman, enjoy.
For the record would you mind stating not necessarily your name but the name of your own ‘proper country’ with ‘proper government’ and ‘proper politicians’ so we can perhaps follow their ‘proper’ example? Quite frankly we believe you either had to flee from your own ‘proper’ country to find refuge in Cayman, or in your own interest you should be fleeing to a ‘proper’ country as a matter of utmost priority. Especially since you obviously don’t have anything ‘proper’ to contribute here.
Mhmmmmm!! Actually many new faces in the LA would be a good thing…… depending on whether they have more common sense, business sense and the courage and will to turn this country around cause it’s not going to happen with the people with have now!!!!!
Just look at the recent statement made the Premier. Burgularies, home evasions, the beating of the elderly couple are just a few…….. it only gets his attention when the tourists are robbed on the beach????????
I will be there God’s willing. I can’t wait for 2013 . I am so proud of Alden and his entire party, and have good faith they will do an excellent job in taking these Islands forward. A bit of advice Alden please try and consult local people, instead of gallawanting all over the world, the last place now is Spain to get advice on the lates style cell phones government should have, this is a blantant waste of money for 5 people to travel for this meeting, I am going to request FOI to give us how much this is costing us the people. So far the UDP government have spent more money travelling than the PPM did in the 4 years they were in. Let’s hope we can all survive and pull through till 2013.
The big questionis : Will The Chairman, Antony Duckworth, be stepping down ?
If the answer to that question is no then nothing will change.
You see folks this is nothing more than a ceremonial transfer of power to Alden who has lead Kurt all along. Who do you all think was and is leading Alden ? Mr. Duckworth of course.
If he stays nothing changes and if he goes the same will probably be true because Alden will take counsel from him anyway and obey the master.
I dont think that Mr Duckworth is going to advise Alden to spend all the peoples monies on travelling. Remember folks that these sight seeing and holiday trips is the Public funds monies. I dont think that there is any Country left to be seen. "May I ask is it necessary for the Deputy to have a body guard travel on these trips"?
By all accounts the only master Alden has is a rapacious yearning for fame and glory, let’s be honest here for even the briefest of moments all you PPM advocates.
Surely you are confusing Alden with McKeeva?
Whats wrong with Anton? Does his intelligence intimidate you or would you prefer that he spoke with another accent.