Ending of an ‘error’
It's been 3 years and 3 months (who’s counting) since the UDP was elected to office. We now know that there has been next to no improvement in the Cayman Islands economy and it's fair to say that there has been very little improvement in the standard of living for most of the electorate. It’s impossible to give the UDP another term in office based on that simplistic assessment alone. But they have given us a lot more ammunition to make our decision:
1. Three investigations into the country’s political leader (formal charges or court deliberations are irrelevant; no responsible elected official at this level should find him/herself in that position).
2. Many examples of over-riding the proper process for selection of contracts with very damning results.
3. Not a single example of a major economic initiative achieved despite dozens of promises since 2009. Not one off the ground. If the proper process had been followed we would certainly have had at least one of those projects contributing to the economy by now. Unfortunately, many of us have speculated openly and with good reason, that there was a lot more to these delays and switching of the winning bidder than the ‘bureaucratic harassment’ charge put forward.
4. 'Gasboy Gate'. Wasted resources at CINICO. Use of our tax dollars to pave private areas. A very poorly conceived, and managed ‘Nation Builders Fund’. Absolutely reckless and chaotic management of the Port project, the largest infrastructure project to be considered in the country for more than 2 decades.
5. The worse budget crisis in the country's history, characterized by inexcusable failure to deliver the budget on time, damaging "tax on tax off" announcements, accompanied by rants against the UK/Governor unbecoming of the most senior political office in the land.
Instead of owning up to some of the above what we will likely see over the coming months is further political rambling aimed at justifying where we are today, blaming the previous administration, the FCO, red tape and the dog next door.
The most surprising thing of all that the UDP does not seem to understand is that these types of responses are not effective politically, if one pays attention to what people are ‘saying on the street’. The electorate has become more and more sophisticated over time, and expecting that much more from their leaders. Just because you give someone a fridge or a few dollars during one of your walks or their visit to your home (accompanied by the usual political wink for the family votes) does not mean that they don’t have reasonable expectations of their leaders.
And yet the end of an era for the UDP may not be so much due to the failures listed above as it is due to their biggest political failure since 2009; that of simply watching everything topple on their political leader’s every to and fro without even a peep of caution to him or an outcry from any of the other members.
The end of an era for the UDP is not somuch due to the overwhelming influence of one man but the immensely and embarrassing weakness of his fellow elected followers.
They have failed to stand up for what is right as representatives of the people (as opposed to their own political ambitions which they mistakenly see as being tied to the coat tails of the big man). Failed to demonstrate principles and ideals, with a sense of professionalism (some of them even with very high levels of formal education), failed to steer their leader in the right direction, if for nothing else, for their own political survival.
There is not much time left, but one or two of them of them may just be able to rescue themselves if they can prove to the electorate that they are worthy of a second chance. In the meantime, far too many of us can only bemoan the fact that we made a serious error in giving them the privilege to serve us in 2009.
Category: Viewpoint
ok but then what next?
We will be swimming yet again to greener pastures only to find out that things are no better there. im not saying we should stick with the current governemnt because they are terrible. but i cant say i have that much confidence in the other party. last time i voted for members of both parties in george town. and i dont think any of the 3 that got elected has done anything for my country. everyone says that if you vote for independents you will split votes and only help UDP. but is that really true?
i dont know for sure but this time i will not vote for the parties and see what happens. i beleive that if ALL of us vote for the right individuals only andnot neccessarily by party we can get the right result. the split vote cannot beat that in my opinion.
Time up.
Yes its over for them and AMEN.
I am waiting to hear Ellio and Mike speak on a platform in the coming May ellections. I can't belive that the Bubble they live in is so thick that they do not know what the people are saying.
How can they not see the comments and hear remarks on the radio by so many people? Do their wives and family live in the same Bubble? I can only come to one answer, they belive the BS that they and the Pre-mature leader spout. We will all hear the weeping and wailing in May. I will not expect to hear Bush concede defeat, his anger in defeat will something to behold.
What else do we expect? Voters will always vote for personalities and that’s ll that matters. Until our people start looking at what these jokers actually achieve we won’t get any further with this style of politics. I would rather try ppm again than continue with this. But NOT with Alden as leader.
Yes they are definitely done. No amount of barring Cns and trying to intimidate anyone will save them. I also heard big Mac trying to start a new radio show to push Udp propaganda.
The Udp can save itself, not just 1 or 2 as you are trying to say. Once the port starts people will see how good the Udp is when it comes down to jobs. We must pray that their efforts are not atll in vain even though all everyone’s doing is complaining.
That will never help this country. Come on folks lets think about it and try bworking together and support OUR premeier because he represents all of us.
Excellent Viewpoint! I hope come May 2013 the people, especially the West Bayers and Bodden Towners don"t forget what the UDP has done, especially these last 3 years. West Bayers you were sold out to Dart, BTowners beware of Dart and Dynamite. I beg you people to Remember, do not get fooled by 9months of upcoming UDP rhetoric. The DEVIL in disguise. GTowners you too, get rid of motormouth and remember Mike is NO leader. Remember his fiasco at Cayman Airways. Nice guy, nice family, but he should had listened to big brother Billy. He needs to run independently. Randy Merren, please do not put motormouth back on Rooster either, as you will lose listeners. PPM we need you to now reveal your team in FULL and tell us what your Manifesto will be too. You may not have the money like DART/UDP so you have to reveal and start your campaign early. Don't worry about the BIG Billboards, just get your message out early and start revealing your intent. May God Bless our beautiful Cayman Islands.
See what he did to Cns on Friday? That is clear sign he needs to go.
Give the udp a chance. There is no point running over to the other side. An good government needs at least 8 years to be able to execute a plan. You are ll just being played if you think the country will change just by kicking out Mac, in fact whether you realize it now or later he is still the best man fir the job. Thumbs down all you like but that’s just the facts.
The alternatives ate no that great so we have a lot of wok to do unfortunately. The economic crisis needs some heavy weights now, not these jokers.
My concerns go beyound the disaster that is the UDP. I am now worried that the alternatives are just another group of disorganised buffons. PPM reps have been excellent at identifying where the UDP has gone wrong but, they present no solutions. Independent members spew idea after idea but, have no clear plan on feasibility or how these plans will be executed. Some independent members also have views that I deem to be extremely devisive and harmful to the nation. Both opposing parties have had more than enough time to observe, identify and plan but, they have failed to do that.
They both give me a feeling that they are not even sure of the whole picture.While nothing in life is easy or certain, I just wish they would get their acts together and create realistic plans that will have the country on the road to rehabilitation.
Elections are some months away, get a solid campaign in order. Take your time and EDUCATE the people on all the issues. Make it clear so that people can understand what is really happening around them. Don't lie or exaggerate. Get the support of the nation and help everyone to recognise that we have to work together to make things better. Use your positions to examine spending and make some plans with the current bozo budget as part of your considerations. You can't pretend that the past 3 years haven't happened so, you have to work with what you have got ahead of you.
Be real, be HONEST, be FAIR, be HUMBLE and put this country before your own needs. Make us believe in you and don't betray our trust.
Yes you are I right . I am still waiting to see these alternatives.
You are asking for a lo from career politicians but I agree with you. There has to be 15 individuals out there willing to do what is right for country not thier pockets.
This viewpoint captures most of the major wrongs of the up. All that’s left is the vicious tracks on the media as they try to maintain their lucrative positions in government.
Excellent excellent excellent viewpoint. This one is right on the money. Did I say it was excellent?
now lets see if memories are short next year. hope not because that is what seems to happen all the time.
Great viewpoint but I think you are letting the voters off a bit too lightly for their role in this travesty we find ourselves in. Politicians are part of the problem … So are the ignorant, lazy voters who sell themselves, their vote and loyalty for hand-outs.
I Agee but how can we change the voter dependency issue? So many voters are in a bad spot and they have to take some of the handouts. That a big part of our problem. The leaders create the dependency culture for that reason and they maintain it.
I would say loud and clear to all voters, especially those that are financially stressed now…take money from whoever offers it to you to vote…and then vote for who is the best to run this country, which may or may not be the people that paid.
1. They should not be able to find out which way you voted
2. Even if they did, what are they going to do about it? They cannot exactly go to the police. They have more to lose by you exposing that they offered cash for votes?
All this country needs is a little reverse psychology occasionally.
i think you are to strong calling voters ignorant and lazy. all they did was participate in democratic proces. just because politican slt them down does not mean the voters are lazy. i think some of them took things but not everyone who votes did it for handouts.
hear hear 101!
Time for them to move on for the sake of the good ship cayman!
folks this is all about leadership. we dont have the right group of leaders. these guys care only about themselves. al we need to do it viote them out. and dont biy into thsi vote straight crap that the parties preached last time. vote for the right person, end of story regardless of which group they are a part of. if we chooose the right individuals they will know how to work together for the betterment of the Cayman Islands. these would be people that actually give a sXXXX about doing the right thing for this country and not line their pockets.
nothing to add. mac must go. rolston must go. ellio must go. dwayne john john whatever must go. cline must go. the captain must go. ms julie must go (but we know she wont because brackers wont alow that). dont know what to say about poor old mike or mark. They both seem "ok" but I guess they must go too!
Brackers need an alternative to Ms. Julie. Most Brackers respect and are behind Mr. Moses. We require somebodywith integrity to step up to the plate — otherwise it will be a rerun of the previous election for the Sister Islands. Ms. Julie's church is powerful on the Brac, however much of that power and influence is from the iron of her support; some are afraid to NOT bow and scrape. Obviously, and shamefully, I fit that description, or otherwise I would at least post my registered screen name.
i know where i stand next year. the case of clear and has been for almost 3 years because from the first few months anyone who was looking could see where this govt was taking things. may 2013 cannot come soon enough trust me.
101 There is actually a lot more than what you have listed if we are getting into judging them properly. think about all the caymanians that are out of a job today. 10% unemployment is very bad. that is excatly the type of thing that causes locals to have resentment. its a lot to do with the government.
Also think about how the financial services companies ahve moved their staff to places like toronto and india. i work in a company that has 16 persons working in south africa and thats just one firm so there must be hundreds like that.
finally there is the turtle farm which is there only to employ voters in west bay. im sorry to say that but aside from the turle farm part of it that entire thing is a waste of public cash.
The finance guys been doing that under ppm as well. But it has got even worse under thes buffoons
i totally agree with this. problem is we cant wait much longer as they will damage the country if we give them anothere 9 months. i wish it could change another way and more quickly seriously i do.
Excellent viewpoint. However, I disagree on letting one or two of them rescue themselves. For them to speak up now is akin to the person who decides to plead guilty after the overwhelming evidence has been placed before the court.
Maybe mike can do something useful. He should have a chat with arden. i think he is just caught up with the wrong group. he obviously didnt listen to his mama!
Then he is not the leader we need if he has allowed himself to follow the wrong crowd this long! A real leader has a backbone and courage of his own conviction.everytimr Mike put on his matching tie and stood up with Mckeeva to condone Macs crap said it all… Weak, puppet, follower
Nope cannot support that. He s well on his way out.
Sorry but he had 3 years to find out he was with the wrong crowd. I say it only proves birds of feather flock together. The man could stand up for what he believes in or do nothing which is what he did.
Too late for mike now. He is a loyal mckeeva lacky.