PPM to fight all 18 seats
(CNS): Full Report — The opposition intends to field 18 candidates in the next election, the new leader of the party has announced. Making his maiden speech as leader of the People’s Progressive Movement at Saturday’s party conference, Alden McLaughlin said the PPM would be putting up members in every constituency in the 2013 poll. Although two years and three months away, the new opposition leader said the election campaign had to start now as he promised to bring the PPM back to the people. He said that while the party was perceived as being on the side of right, it had been labelled as weak against a party seen as “wrong but strong”. McLaughlin said the PPM would become the party that was both “right and strong”.
Despite the various issues concerning the current government that he said were of concern to the people, from the government’s failure to implement a national plan to address crime to unlawful behaviour regarding procurement and freedom of information, McLaughlin said the PPM must not assume it would be returned to office.
“By any standard the government must get a failing grade,” the new opposition leader told the audience of around 250 people but he warned that its failure would not mean an automatic vote for the PPM next time. “The PPM is not the automatic choice of the people as they now say they don’t trust party politics,” he said. However, McLaughlin said, this owed much more to the politics of the parties and not political parties themselves, which, he said, had been around since the 1950s.
The PPM leader said the party had to reconnect with the people and regain its original reputation of being the party of inclusion. He said members had to be prepared to fight harder for what was right and to represent the views of the people, and as an opposition McLaughlin said the PPM would have to prove itself. “We will need to push and shove and agitate for what we want. We can no longer be sidelined as mere observers. We haveto become involved in the action,” McLaughlin said.
He noted that whatever the criticisms of the previous administration, it was clear that its record in office when it came to integrity was impeccable as he noted that, had there been even the remotest hint of any impropriety, the premier would have found it. The fact that after more than two years McKeeva Bush had found nothing was evidence of the PPM’s clean record, he said. “Most people believe we are the good guys. But in the same breath they usually say they don’t believe we are fighters.”
That needed to change, the party leader said. He noted that voters should not have to choose between “wrong and strong” or “right and weak” but said the PPM must become “right and strong” as he called members to action.
“We have allowed other people to define who we are,” he lamented as he pointed to policies associated with the party which were misconceptions. He said it was a myth that the PPM was anti-expat as the rollover policy was a creation of the UDP in response to the 3000 status grants. He said that with an expat chairman the PPM had never pushed anti-expat policies or sentiments. “There is no bigotry in the PPM; the only thing that we are ‘anti’ is poor governance.”
He called on people to join the PPM from all walks of life to help shape the party. McLaughlin said he wanted to start a national conversation in which everyone was invited to the table to express their views — expats and locals, old and young.
While he promised that the core principles of the PPM, as established under the leadership of Kurt Tibbetts, would remain the solid foundation of the party, McLaughlin said the party needed to engage with the politics that affects young people in particular and fight for their needs.
He noted that although the voices of disquiet were increasing and getting louder and many more people had found their voice in recent times, too many people were still suffering in silence. The recession, he said, had brought many issues to the forefront, such as the fundamental structural social problems throughout the community that had to be addressed. Promising to make the PPM the true representatives of the ordinary people, he called on the people to join the party and share the vision.
See more on CNS tomorrow from the PPM party conference.
Category: Headline News
Being a politician is better than having a real job.
Politicians and leaders learn from their mistakes and experiences. I believe there are PPM members and non members who can lead Cayman in the right direction. What we have is a present day and past Government that we can see, hear and touch which is not doing the people’s job. Cayman has out grown Mr. Bush’s politics. Fighting about the two parties is wasting time. A leader has stood up. Let’s listen to what he has learned from the last six years and what he has to say. Do something proactive and get behind change and new leadership.
Really now Lach…We heard the same old crap from the UDP when they took power..What has changed in the PPM? The only thing new is the title. Alden was running the show from the beginning. I am sick and tired of "recyled" and "has been" politicians telling us the are revitalised and rejuventated. From where I sit they are the same old power hungry, mud slinging and money grabbing politicians and worst they are the one government that made history spending us into the ground.
I said before and I will say it again, Lach, the California smog has clouded your thinking and your memory is shot..Show me where they have changed then I might think about believing in them again..Talk is cheap and I am tired of cheap talk at my country’s expense
So, of you’re so tired of politicians being recycled, why don’t you step from the anonymity of these postings and actually make a contribution yourself?Let’s see if people believe you’d be better than the present crop. But then again standing for public office does require a cetain ballsiness…
I have no intention for running for public office, and if I did I would publicly proclaim it. It is my choice to keep my name anonymous which is the same thing you have done, so stop calling the kettle black.
We are so caught up in this party system that we cannot see the forest for the trees. This is not about Mckeeva or Alden, personally I would like to see both gone. It is about doing what is right for this country and stopping the same thing from re-occurring each election.
We need men/women of mettle who when they make promises deliver and don’t feed us with the same old crap each time to get our votes at election in order to line their pockets with our hard-earned money. Money and power are the primary reasons these "recycled" politicians hang on. Unfortunately for our sake, they just don’t know anything else. dou you think they build roads and buildings just for our sake, you need to think again. When ego steps in and we have something extravagant like the schools projects, we have to step back and think, really is this just for our children or is this a ploy for this politician to get re-elected? Luckily, most times and in particular this one, our children may benefit but in the end it will be them paying the high costs that come along with it.
You can have your PPM or your UDP, whichever you choose. From my standpoint, I see very little difference in either except personalities and with Alden now in charge, it would appear that not even that will separate the two.
I want to see fresh faces at the next election. People with stamina, courage and proven track record of honesty and integrity who will stand up for love of country, not just for the high paying job they will receive once voted in.
"Into the ground" is right. The PPM put schools and roads and a government building that will all last us for the next 50 years ‘into the ground’ for us. Not bad, I would say. "Talk is cheap" is right. It seems that is exactly the kind that cost McKeeva 1.1 million…Money grabbing politicians??? It really does seem that you can’t see very well at all ‘from where you sit’.
I wonder if we will make it to the next election. I believe Mac and Julie are a lethal destructive combination. If we are going to save any spoils we have to start now.
I agree with a previous writer that we need to address our system of voting and districts. The present system is flawed, as I understand it, when we see an abusive premier having, what appears to be, full power to make a complete mess of public funds.
Finally, we have a party with an educated person at the control.
Congratulations Alden. You have the making of a great Leader. I have read your speach and there is no doubt in my mind that you are aware of the hard work ahead of the reorganisation of your party. With fresh blood comes new ideas, with younger canditates comes more energy and with the current Team comes experience. One Goal each and everyone must have is Passion for serving the people, by listening to the People, keeping them informed Before the fact and Before the making of important decisions unlike a Dictator does. Adressing the crime situation and unemployment cannot wait and must be tackled from now. Becoming a stong Opposition with everyone working hard towards the same goal will be the key to the future success of the PPM. You will then get the respect you and your party of the People when everyones sees the progress one day at the time. A true winner is one who admits that the battle is not won until The Day comes. It’s a good idea to contest all 18 seats; without the expectation to win them all (Expect no less then the best and prepare for the worst). What we all need is a Governmenf with Teamwork for the betterment of our Islands. I will save my energy for when you need me and my sleeves are rolled up. Bring back freedom of speech and do away with intimidation Ican’t wait to see the day when people will not be afraid to sign their names. Yours Sincerely, Michel Lemay
Congratulations to the PPM for once again putting on a classy & enlightening event, unlike the usual combative, rude, ignorant, insulting & gutter level meetings held by the UDP!
The UDP runs the government the same way they run their meetings, DIRTY! Maybe they should take a leaf out of the PPM’s manual & we all would be better off, & more happy.
So Alden wants to attract the expats with his policy of inclusion! Too late my friend. We (and I include PCs with votes) saw your Party’s true colours when you were in power. Hostile, bigoted and pro rollover to help every dead beat unemployable Caymanian who could give you a vote (but didn’t becausethat type of voter in every country is unreliable). You will never make it back with us; we are working for your destruction because at least Mac has learned his lesson and realises Cayman without us is effed. Get rid of Arden, keep Chuckie and his cynical anti expat stuff out of your picture, cut off ties with Ezzard and his anti expat/every Caymanian is a genius stuff and you may stand a chance but you have a long way to come back. Mac is going to win the next election. You are stuffed and still look like a party of the past, despite your overall greater intelligence.
I vote that, in our own best interests, we forget about Mac winning the next election and vote for the guy with the overall greater intelligence. That really doesn’ttake a lot of intelligence now, does it?
I would rather watch paint dry than hear Alden speak; the endless searching for words is sometimes literally unbearable.
I feel sorry for the PPM; it was weak before, and now it will be weak and speechless at the top. The only one that has a lot to say is the empty barrel from East End.
Don’t forget about the UDP’s empty barrel from West Bay.
Yes, this is so true. The PPM do seem to be wandering around in the wilderness, a fact that so many of their avid supporters appear to be in denial over. I wonder how many general election defeats it will take to clear the air and let reason and common sense prevail. Alden? A caretaker leader at best. Maybe Moses would have been a better choice?d3t9
Speaking of "wandering around in the wilderness", and "being in denial", and "general election defeats" and "letting reason and common sense prevail", and all that…oh well.
Go watch paint dry.
Chuckie took the PPM to victory in 2005 but Kurt refused to finish McKeeva politically.
Now Mac is back ! Chuckie got fed up with PPM’s indecisiveness and resigned from the party.
So the question is who will take the PPM to victory in 2013……or rather is there anyone to take them to victory ????
Big big question.
I am not a proponent of party politics and, when I have had the inclination to vote, I vote for the person most believable. Having said that, it is impossible to vote for the credible person within the present system. There are so many difficulties with party politics it is hard to decide which is the worst. Statements made locally within a riding may change completely according to unforeseen often unspoken party lines. Allowing the candidate an easy way out and a ready excuse to not uphold promises made to constituents. Lost in all the rhetoric, this rhetoric from PPM included is the very dire need for politicians to be held accountable for their statements and their progress. The usual excuse is that they had no idea and certainly no prior knowledge of the state of affairs. Particularly finances.
We hear it time and again. "Gee folks things are worse than we thought. But it wasn’t us."
Well then who is it? And who does have the necessary information? No other job on earth allows this type of shirking of responsibility and non-accountability. And then to ask for our support. On what basis? A wing and a prayer? Voters can’t make informed decisions with this kind of silliness, and without any valid information, it’s just guessing. And unfortunately voting IS guessing. And elections have deteriorated into a faith-based exercise for many voters.
You, I, hell no one else, has this kind of job where no one ever asks.. and aren’t allowed to ask.. where the money’s going. And what value is achieved. A great deal of money can be spent on useless endeavors in four years. Oh yeah. Take the upcoming jaunt to Spain.
What for?? What’s the purpose? Do voters get the opportunity to question this dubious expense? No. Who agreed to this? Was it ever mentioned that travel would be one of the largest expenses? No. The party has decided or higher-ups in the party have decided to do a little more traveling. Barcelona is as good as any. Anyone within "the party" opposed to this won’t be invited on this extra special all expenses paid excursion to sunny Spain or the next one planned to God knows where.
It’s a surprise party. What’s frightening is…Not a peep, not a question, nor a whimper about the optics or the value when so many ordinary people are having a hard time from anyone within the UDP. Because we have been notified after the last election it’s our hard time, the country’s hard time. And certainly no fault of theirs.
Then who’s fault is it? These hard times we’re having? No one will ever find out. Because no one ever, not one of them, is ever held personally… accountable. They can hide within the party and if they’re good enough, well behaved, never question and don’t say anything.. it’s a good bet they will succeed within the party.
If that is the sole purpose, and it often is, just like the trip to Spain, it’s a party we’re not invited to.
My conclusion is party politics obfuscates personal accountability the basis of honesty, and the beginning of good governance. It is designed that way. And that’s the way they may like it, but I’m not sold.
After all it’s their party and Caymanians have been invited to both parties. And it hasn’t been any fun.
I agree! Let’s take a popular people’s poll as to the BEST run businesses in Cayman and simply FORCE these well educated, shrewd businessmen to stand up during the next election and FIX this country….
Too long have we allowed politicians to hoodwink us, lie to us, and then steal from our pockets as they lined their own.
We need leadership and dear friends, it is NOT with either party. Get over it. We will never have leadership, change, and a balanced budget as long as we still listen to the UDP and PPM false promises and ill-thought out spending…..one is red, the other is blue and both deliver the same bad job.
Stop the spending, stop the crime, get world class teachers here and get rid of dead weight administration throughout the entire system!
I do not think you can force those shrewd business men to run for the election but that is what the country needs and it needs them to forget party affiliations for good of country
Some of them are too busy running their own businesses to get involved with politics and many are past the age to be actively involved but there is one in the house at present who is a fairly shrewd businessman and I think the PPM members should have nominated him for leader.
Let’s give Mr. Alden a chance to make his party in his own image. On the other hand The First Premier hasn’t fully implemented his programs. The real question is “Are the parties doing what is best for these Islands”? From what I gather, many people are not satisfied with what his being delivered. A very important question for Mr. Alden is will the PPM continue with the same Health Minister or change course? The parties have been too divisive for most peoples taste and some would like to change direction to a more independent mode. Only time will tell.
Is it just me or does the People Progressive Movement sound like something from Life of Brian…erm..or was that the Movement of Progressive People? That just about sums them up.
My congratulations goes out to Mr. Alden, I for one know he will make an excellent leader. You may call he egotistical, self-centered and a dictator, but one thing for sure you can’t deny that he is a honest, passionate and caring individual. Sure you can call him a spendtrift with the money he put into the schools, but listen people he was thinking long term and, beyond the tip of his nose, the present gov. is only thinking about what they can do for a fast fix. These schools are needed badly, don’t yu prefer it to be spent on our children, than on all the trips this gov. is making, last place to go is Spain to learn more about communications. hello wake up, I wish we could find another 18 men and women like Alden, Kurt, Arden, Mose and Anthony, and don’t forget Chuckie these are men of integerity and foresight. Go PPM, these Cayman Islands need you now more than ever before.
In rereading this post I was wondering if he is pro or con Alden?
FYI: Its a very confused point of view, which resulted in an unfortunate post.
Couldn’t possibly be any clearer to me…
Can’t believe I’m the only person who finds some of these posts amusing. Most revealing!
Good to know that the purpose of THIS post is at least twofold…it reveals the truth while providing amusement for our readers.
This is what Austin and Gilbert spent spent so much time on this morning. How boring and stale is this? Oh sure first changing of the guard in a political party. Really now, Alden was always in charge and Kurt spent most of his time fishing while the funds dwindled. Good Lord, how did people sit through 3 hours of that crap!
Austin and Gilbert, I would recommend you spend more time on your continued bashing of McKeeva and the UDP. Alden and the PPM are certainly not going to get you the same ratings!
What’s going to be the slogan next election? "We need all 18! Couldn’t get it done with all 10 last time!"
After all of the complaints and blame about the May election time not being good with regards to the budget year, Alden should start his leadership role by asking the UDP to hold the elections in November 2012. When they refuse, he must then insist that they be held in November 2013.
6 more months could only help Mac shoot off a few more of his own toes anyhow.
He could start by fixing the disgrace that is the broken down fence at Headquarters on Crewe Road. A little pride would go a long way to securing my vote.
Do you mean take a page out of Mac"s book and build a nice ten foot high eye sore of a fence at the people expense while cutting civiL servants pay?
Come on man, the guy is too busy thinking about his COUNTRY. Speaking of fences…
I’m really sorry. I cannot in good conscience support a group of people who cannot find the time to pick up the phone to call someone to repair their fence.
Cleanliness is next to godliness as far as I am concerned.
The only way that the ppm will gain real ground and legitimacy is if they begin courting some independents to work with them from now. Not to ‘convert’ them or get them to join their party, but to begin the coalition from this point on and start working towards creating solutions for the problems of 2011, not 2013. No, not to campaign and prepare for campaigning which as we all know is a road show. Go recruit some people that are already in the community doing things, get their input, work along side them without the dogma and rhetoric, then see how far you go. There are plenty of young people out there who have no interest in the politricking but are busting their asses doing real work and are fearless in pointing out repeatedly the gaps of the system. Don’t know where to find them? Start by asking your YPs and reading some viewpoints. But get the people with the real backbone who will challenge your ideas and help in taking this country forward- not the mindless sheep who so sadly dominate the representation of the "under 40" political ‘activists’ (if they can be called that) of present.
PPM is our only hope of getting our country back. As I listened to Alden, Arden, Moses and Denise on Saturday night I realised that the PPM is our only realistic chance of getting Cayman back on course. The UDP has hijacked justice in this country and if we give them one more term there is little hope of ever going back to the stability and integrity we’ve always had.
The idea that Independents can win an election was proven to be a fairy tale in the last election. It doesn’t matter if a few independents win, if Mac gets his majority again they will continue their dictatorship rule.
I heard the PPM opening its arms to new members and candidates that share their commitment to a strong and honest government. I hope our best and brightest young people will join them!
What Alden lacks is personality. Kurt may have not been a leader BUT he was and still is a very personable, humble and down to earth gentleman. Alden is pompous and a little self-centred.
And for the next election- no party will get enough seats to form a Government. The electorate will be leaning to independents and it will no doubt be a coalition government. We will just have to wait to see how the persoanlities play out to see who gets into cabinet.
Both parties are in their demise stage.
forget about 2013 for the time being…how about try and do your job as an effective opposition party…..we haven’t had one for 2 years!
We haven’t had an effective GOVERNMENT for two years either, Alden. Go for 2013 for the time being with everything you’ve got Sir. Your country NEEDS you.
Mr. Alden is calling on work permit holders to join the PPM..is this a joke; the work permit application asks “have you been actively involved in politics outside of the Cayman Islands”, and if the answer is “yes” you will not be granted a work permit. Now we have the new leader of the Opposition wanting work permit holders to join a political party in the Cayman Islands, where they have no say or no vote; if you cant be involved in politics in your own country where you have a vote, then how in the name of Jesus you should be involved in a country where you cant even complained if does wrong, but the this “bright” leader want them to get involve in Cayman. If this is the brightest bulb in the case; PPM future is very dark.
Since it’s inception the PPM’s constitution has allowed for any non-Caymanian with 5+ years of residency to participate. This is not new. If or when that person may qualify for residency/citizenship they would feel more at home having had input into discussions & decisions. Some persons may wish to be involved and contribute even if they have no intention of pursuing citizenship. Not everyone is selfish. I also think that you will find that political involvement in their country of orgin does not prevent someone from obtaining a GOL.
Ho Hum…. boring….. boring!
Sounds like the UDP needs to come up with some more waysto make you a little more bankrupt.
Refocused,Revitalised and Ready……….to cause poor people more POVERTY,PAIN and MISERY………..Almighty Father help us all,protect us and never leave us alone.Amen.
We noticed you say ‘MORE’ POVERTY, PAIN and MISERY. Are you suggesting somebody might ALREADY be causing us that? Our Almighty Father says ‘before you have called I have answered’. Trust in Him, maybe Alden is the answer to your prayers. Amen.
I8 seats in the house, no opposition, …now that is true dictatorship..what a way to start a new leadership position!
Alden, this is what the anti-UDP’ers are preaching against and it appears as if they were preaching to the choir.
Alden or Mckeeva, who is the lesser of the evils or will someone rise up and make a positive change?
PPM or UDP …same sh#t..different day…
Agreed 08:25, nothing changes. These guys run around calling McKeeva a dictator and their leader in his first speech gets up and says he wants the entire government for him and his party.
Same old political rhetoric and pardon me for being pessimistic but as far as I am concerned Kurt didn’t speak without Alden holding on to his coat tails, so in essence, Alden was in charge anyway.
These guys would have done better to put someone in charge that was less divisive and more inclusive. How can you say you want to be inclusive and then speak out of the other side of your mouth saying you want all 18 seats in the house.. I know that includes everyone in your party but what about the rest of us that don’t believe in either the UDP or PPM.
i am not sure whether it is another party we need but we sure need some fresh thinking and less political posturing.
Coming from a former PPM supporter, it’s going to take more than this for me to even think about them again. i got caught up in the whole party thing with all their promises and all I was left with was a country down on it’s luck and my people more divided than ever.
So Alden, sing another tune please, that one has been sung too many times before.
I disagree. We have a one man government now. The two party system is not working for us right now. Personally I would rather have 18 people working for the country and a cabinet making collective decisions. To get out of the mess the country is in a lame duck opposition will male no difference.
"18 seats for the people".
Really now Lach…We had the PPM in charge and they spent every dime we had. Alden, in my opinion, was the leader not Kurt and was spending the most. Do you honestly believe putting a total of 18 PPM’emers in charge is going to be the best thing for our country. Sorry my memory isn’t that short..and in case you want to throw the Mckeeva/UDP crap in my face, I haven’t forgotten about them either.
I think the California smog has clouded your thinking…and quite possibly your memory.
16:31…No worries whoever you are?. Actually I live in a place which has ZERO, NADA smog. There is a bigger picture here IMHO. Its not what the PPM or the UDP did or did not do. Its about that the two party plus the premier system which is severely failing Cayman. Cayman cannot survive another 4 years of a 2 person Government. Decide what you want and what to do. I want better for the country.
Time for change.
Spent every dime we have… then McKeever shouldn’t have any money to go galavanting all over the world.
So genius, r u suggesting that the PPM should contest only 10 seats for instance? U clearly understand litttle about the electoral process. Alden, an experienced politican knows it is unlikely that any party is going to win all seats. He is only signalling an intention to contest all 18. How is that dictatorial? Geez! give the man a break!
Now the UDP is really worried. Alden thinks faster than anyone they have and he is honest to the core. Better days ahead.
I agree with poster 11:50. On election day the train pulls in to the station, changes engineers and conductors, and a different set of passengers hop on. Those riding the train are blind to who is driving and conducting; neither can they see where it is going.
There WILL be a group if independents folks so don’t jump on the PPM bandwagon just yet. I am one of them!
rather revert back to the the days of independents than dictators
The day of independents is over, or didn’t you notice? Parties are now constitutionally enshrined.
Yes so ? Independents are as well…or did I miss the part where you have to run with a party?
You missed the part where if you don’t run with a party you will definitely not be in govt. and probably will not be elected. Got it?
Mr. Ego has spoken!
What will it be this time? 5 Sporting centers larger than the Roman Colosseum sold under the pretense that those will develop the best athletes in the world? And the architect coming to a radio station near you to make that case I’m sure.
Keep up the good fight Alden.
But please drop the "Politics is the art of the posible" mantra.
Many people in the sixties thought that what Martin Luther King and others helped USA to accomplish. was imposible…and many also thought the same of the people of Egypt only 30 days ago.
With respect for self and others….almost anything is posible.
My main question about the PPM and Alden specifically is, "Have they learned their lesson about over spending?"
Until this question is seriously addressed and answered voting them back into power will be a risk.
I’m sure everyone has learned a lot over the past 5 years. I know one thing for certain Cayman voters cannot play politricks for the next 2 years. The people need to make change, demand a manifesto that works for them and support those individuals because without change it will only get worse.
The serious question about financial responsibility and management was not answered in these responses.
Being sure lessons were learned is an assumption that I do not believe can be made. I would prefer a clarification of lessons learned made by the leader.
Unlike many I consider the avoidance of direct taxation by the current government to be a major accomplishment of the current government.
Perhaps the PPM will bring in direct taxation and that is a given for the future of Cayman. It would certainly create a money trail for ferreting out corruption.
Property taxation will probably be introduced before income taxation.
I seriously doubt it could possibly be a bigger risk than the one we have at present.
But wait am I missing something here? Here we go again,fickle people. You never learn, first you had UDP so you changed parties, then you had PPM you changed parties, now you have UDP but next time you want PPM??? Now I understandwhy this country is in such a mess!! Both parties had a hand in the mess this country is in now or have you forgotten that already????
The problem with the party system is that members who have been elected on the fringe will (generally say nothing and) feel obliged to vote the party line.
In this case a democracy rapidly descends into a dictatorship.
Please bring back the independent candidates and stipulate one person, one vote. That way, an elected member is free to vote his/her conscience which may be as a result of consulting the voters who elected him/her. Welcome back, Democracy. Dream on.
Alden is bright enough, capable and has always been the leader of the PPM. But to win the confidence of the people it will have to be more than just the world according to alden. he will need to humble himself, accept past failures and prove that PPM is about new ideas cuase what they did last time didnt work and the country cant afford more mistakes 2013.
PPM will need an injection of new blood, new ideas and the best thing they can do is stay away from the advisors who thought the last campaign in 2008 was sensible or would win.
Finally, I see a light at the end of the tunne that is not the Mckeeva trainb
My opinion for what it is worth is this is the only way to save Cayman. "All 18 seats". 1) Mr. Bush has manipulated the district voting system so that the minority can put him in power. 2) The 2 party system is failing Cayman. The 2nd party are lame ducks and the UDP or Mr. Bush control. 3) Our first exposure to the system of having a Premier and deputy Premier is also failing us. 4) The power of The Premier is being abused. 5) The cabinet has no real say and Mr. Bush controls them. 6) Our system of voting and districts will not change before the next election and Cayman will not survive another 4 years of inactive negative leadership. Be honest with yourself. The country is worse off today than it was 15years ago. The majority of residents in Cayman are worse off than they were 15 years ago. I don’t need to list all the problems Cayman has which are not being addressed, you know the list well.
Alden is right. We needa "complete" government. We need 18 elected members all working together for the people and the country. We need a cabinet making decisions together for the country. This "one man ruling" Government is ruining a wonderful country and hurting its people.
Get behind Alden voters. Put pressure on the Government now to stop wasteful spending and foolish projects from two elected members. Lets get to the next election and elect 18 people for the people.
"All 18 seats".
Who’s willing to bet that there won’t be 18 candidates that will gravitate to the PPM with Alden at the helm and Anton Duckworth in the Chair steering Alden.
The PPM better be prepared to form a coalition with another group otherwise they will remain on the opposition bench for the 2013 -2017 government. Alden too will have to step down following the PPM’s election defeat in 2013 (assuming he actually wins his GT seat).
So the big question is : who will lead the PPM after Alden is gone……or will it finally die ?
You’re sounding pretty desperate there, my friend.
Alden is a good man, there is now a chance that I could vote PPM in the next elections, I am going to watching him over the next two years.
There is no chance of getting my vote and the votes of many of my colleges and associates. I must say Alden and the PPM have jumped the starting gun long before time. Now that Alden has no one, e.g. Kurt to rein him in when his ego gets the best of him, it is quite evident he will cause irreparable damage to himself and everyone around him. Can you imagine the trophies he will want to build/achieve for himself if he achieves the position of Premier? For example, the High Schools, well need but overdone and extravagant.
I pray the rest of you UDP’ers are LISTENING…
I was impressed by Denise, who seems to have been bringing a new life to the party since she’s been involved.
I think PPM just might be back. I listened to all of them there last night and I was particulary impressed by Alden, he really spoke to me with what he was saying. He was so right about the perception that people have about them looking weak and right, it’s time for them to be strong and right.
And not only a party that is “wrong and weak,” but a party that brought us into serious debt! But hopefully you will have so many folk suffering from amnesia and memory loss, they will get another term to do more damage.
For the record every party or group has created problems or debt at some time. We just close our eyes when our boys are in. We can only hope that they learnt the lesson and if they get back in power preform better.
The worse thing that could happen to this country is to only have 1 party. Best to have none.
"But hopefully you will have so many folk suffering from amnesia and memory loss, they will get another term to do more damage."
Well, you didn’t have any problem forgetting McKeever-First Cayman Bank, Turtle Farm, and so may others it would take me all day to add. Let’s not forget how selective your amnesia was about the last time in office, we were all anonymous and now we are back to that again.
We’re in a recession and if we weren’t, we wouldn’t be broke. Although, how broke could we possibly be with all the trips MLA’s are making?
Give me PPM and give me freedom of speech.
I second that my friend. People don’t know Alden the person, i.e. Self-centered and Egotistical. He will be the detriment to the PPM party now that he is the leader, followed by the detriment to the country if elected to government next election to continue what he started during his last term in government. Remember Alden is a lawyer with exceptional rhetorical skills what we Caymanians term as ‘sweet talk’.
Could it possibly by any chance be that you don’t consider McKEEVA to be self-centered and egotistical?! At least, as you yourself admit Alden, is a lawyer with SOME KIND of exceptional skills.
You mean more damage than MAC is doing?? I seriously doubt people will be forgetting THAT for a long time.
Does anyone know if Antony Duckworth was replaced or removed as Chairman? I really hope so! Go Alden and the PPM!
Hmmm…It’s going to take a long time to convince me that the PPM will be any better.
08:58 I have to agree with you. Claiming 18 seats is not the way to go Mr Alden, because any house that does not have an opposition is no house at all. Suppose that everything the husband says the wife and all the children agree with even if he is not right. I am sure there wont be 4 PPM seats in Bodden Town.
I am sure there won’t be one UDP seat in Bodden Town come next election!
You are so politically ignorant that it is inexcusable for you to even attempt to write on a subject that you apparently know so little about! Of course the party MUST contest all 18 seats if they are really serious about taking back this country. Have you ever heard of the Republicans or the Democrats in the United States? Of course they contest every state but does any party win all of the seats? – never!!
There will always be an opposition – not to worry; but the party must make a strong effort to get as many seats, in as many districts as possible. Even in the Republic of West Bay.
One thing I am ‘sure’ of is that YOU are only one person in Bodden Town.
Alden is hoping to claim all 18 seats in the next election, this is the strategy of the individual that wants total control and possibly to be a dictator, perfect strategy if you asked me. Does everyone recall the many times Alden, the PPM and their cohorts claimed McKeeva was trying or wanted to be a dictator? Pay attention to the mind of the man named Alden.
Not to worry my friend. Mac is really trying very hard at that and I am sure come 2013 we will ALL be convinced.