Juliana resigned from UDP
(CNS): The Cayman Islands premier has confirmed that she too, like her Cabinet colleagues, has resigned from the United Democratic Party. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said Tuesday that, even though she did not face any threat of disciplinary action from her own political committee, who were, she said, delighted to have a Brac MLA as premier, she had nevertheless formally resigned from the political party. The former right hand woman to the UDP leader McKeeva Bush said letters had been written last week to the necessary people and the entire Cabinet were no longer party members.
Speaking at the second of the new Cabinet’s televised press briefings, O’Connor-Connolly noted that her colleagues had already all resigned following notice from the various district committees that if they had not there would have been disciplinary action. She said she had nothing against any of the members of the UDP and explained that her committee on Cayman Brac was not as formally entrenched, being on a separate island, as those on Grand Cayman. She was not ousted, she said, but voluntarily withdrew.
Welcoming the last minute surge of voter registration last week and the jump in the electorate to more than 18,000 voters, the premier said she was excited to see democracy was alive and well and that so many people would be afforded the opportunity to have their say in forming their government.
“I was especially elated to see the great rush at very end,” she said describing it as "the audacity of hope and a new breeze blowing”. She said she was looking forward to the elections and hoped to see 100% of voters come out to the polls, not because they would be forced to do so but because they are excited to do so and want to be part of the democratic process.
O’Connor-Connolly confirmed that she and her colleagues had every intention of running for re-election in May but she would not be drawn on the details of how that would happen. The premier indicated that the Cabinet saw themselves as a solid group. She said they were viewing the road to the election one day at a time but were strategizing among themselves about what do.
She said the job ahead for the new Cabinet, which she described as transitional with a holding status, was to ensure that Cayman remained a jurisdiction of choice with an open and transparent government.
Hoping to convene the Legislative Assembly before the end of this week, she said there was some legislation that need to be addressed shortly and she would be consulting with the opposition and independent members, as she had promised, before bringing anything on to the floor of the chamber. With a LA Business Committee arranged for tomorrow, she said, the deputy premier needed to bring some important legislation regarding the financial services sector.
“As everyone knows, it is no secret that there are only five of us and it takes eight to pass legislation,” she said. “We have an understanding with the opposition and independent members to consult with them so we can reach consensus on laws and I will be loath to take any new laws to parliament without that consensus before the dissolution of the LA.”
The premier also revealed that a Cabinet delegation would be going to London shortly to meet the overseas territories minister. She stated that the agenda was currently in the works and, as a result, more information would be revealed at the next briefing.
The new premier also noted that the next Cabinet meeting would take place in her home constituency of Cayman Brac, which was not solely as a result of her appointment as Cabinet has met on the Sister Island in the past. O’Connor-Connolly said she believed Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are an integral part of the Cayman Islands and the people should have opportunity to meet Cabinet members, including the governor. She confirmed that the ministers would be making a number of scheduled visits to public institutions while they were there.
She also confirmed that the new Cabinet intended to continue regular press briefings but they would move to the regular time slot of 10am on Thursday mornings.
Category: Politics
My goodness I just listened to a bit of the talk show this friday morning and my God what a way Politrics makes strange bed partners. Anything to be in there for a big fat check. I will be voting for the one who campaigns to have their salaries reduced to 50%, or better yet even less. You all should have to stretch your pennies like us too and live with a headache.
It is good to see them acting so much more civil, courteous and professional than the former UDP that they were a part of. This is how the government should act in the execution of its functions. Thanks too to H.E. The Governor for restoring order to a runaway train. Why these five members never intervened a long time ago to control one bully behooves me. Julie would have made a better Premier from the start and with that responsibility I don't think she would have travelled so much. I think she would have been more prudent than that.
Please get your self a new pair of glasses, and wake up from your sleep.
Wendy, are they being more respectful to you and CNS now?….were you invited to this press briefing? I recall Mac refused to invite you to press briefing believeing you were not the "legitimate" press……I hope that BS has now ended?
These things that Mack did was supported by all of them. She is just trying to be smart now seeing that there is not much time left. I know that she is happy for the break as she is wise and realized that UDPwas weak and that poor Mack was getting all the blame, but everything that he approved was supported by them, so she is no better. I only hope that her investigation is on the way too. We all know that that we are in the same position only some fools are blinded by the hate that they hold for poor Mack.
What makes you readers think that people in Cayman Brac aren't as outraged as you seem to be? Most people here have been very angered about her spending, too. Come over to the Brac for a week-end and see how expesnive everything is and you will understand how resentful people have become that she wastes so much money. Our leader attends a postal conference in the Middle East wasting thousands of dollars and we in the Brac are struggling to put gas in our cars. We all didnt vote for her.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And when election come…you all will put her right back in again. And after she makes her victory speach, you all head home to the dismalreality that is your.
No thats correct , and she was only the second elected at that thats why we could hear her crying over the radio. But crying time is coming soon again for all the money wasting and vindictiveness.
We are going to give her a race for her money this time. Even if liquor is sent over to the Brac for the campaign it wont help. Mckeeve you was stabbed in your back, we all knew it was coming but we did not know how it would happen. We also knew that Rolston was very close to PPM and the INDEPENDENT. Some people cuts on every side.
I have no faith in this woman. If she is any better than McKeeva it's probably only because she saw what happened to him. Has she even addressed the issue of excessive travelling that the entire country is angry about? Or is she going to carry on the same? Has she ever said anything about the illegal paving? Are we not owed an explanation?
Leave her alone! She is paving the way to democracy.
She is not paving her way to democracy but her way to heaven..
All she wants is a statue of her on Cayman Brac so people will know her forever. She is pretty low maintenance really.
….the audacity….
If she stays on Island and don't use our credit cards again we all will be happy.
CNS can you please get confirmation of when Cabinet will be on the Brac, when the "Public Meetings" will be and who will be invited to the discussion. Normally they only invite their supporters to doil out the back pats and swooning and the majority of Brackers who have something to say are excluded. Modus operandi of any current Cabinet or UDP member = shut your critics up by not giving them any opportunity to have their say and right now the Brac needs to have a collective voice for real change.
CNS Note: Story soon come but its next Tuesday and they will be at Aston Rutty
For once the Compass report on this is actually better:
"“My four colleagues resigned almost at the same time and I did later on, I think it was one day last week actually,” Ms O’Connor-Connolly said.
Members of the United Democratic Party said late Tuesday that they were unaware the premier had resigned, but were checking into the matter before making any formal comment".
You are taking the momentous decision to resign from a party of which you have been integral part for 11 years and you cannot recall precisely which date you resigned although it was only last week? Obviously she is being deliberately vague as if this was a casual matter. The UDP were not aware you had resigned? Very fishy. Ms. Julie obviously decided that it was politically expedient to resign late in the day. Her remaining credibility is crumbling.
Nothing will crumble! She never had any credibility.
Bluff, bluff and more bluff!!! The previous 'Honourable' Premier crosses the house with a couple of cohorts in tow, leaving the current 'Premier' in charge with a few more cohorts in tow. The previous Premier screams backstabbing and forgiveness etc. Interesting cohort moves and although resigned from the UDP party, still believe they are 'cohorts' together. Keep a grip UK!!
juju…the queen of waffle….
Same old same, more travelling again. Chips off the old block.
Lets hope our third Premier is better than the first two!
We certainly are not off to the best start…
"…audacity of hope…" ???
Does she even know what that word means?
And this one actually graduated from school and even law-school!!! Mac must have brainwashed her into using his idiotic vocabulary!!
That is the title of Barack Obama's book which I guess she threw in to suggest she has read it.
Doing law and not practicing law is no good. To work in a law Firm for a few months thats no experience. Qualifying as a PE Teacher is no big thing. In Cayman there are lots of well educated men and women who can wrap CLEAN circles around Julie.
Perhaps 'paucity' of hope with the current bunch is bringing voters out.
Over all the years the UDP was in power, why did Ju Ju not stop big Mac? The reason was because she was too busy paving driveways and wasting the public's money on lavish vacations. What a disgrace in my opinion. The country deserves better than this.
She was along for the free ride just like the rest of the party… only she got off when the (not-so) good ship started to sink to save her own bacon, along with the other 4. The entire UDP and ex UDP are a waste of space… but then again so are all the other contenders… particularly C4C.
It was very refeshing to see the local Government of the Cayman Islands return to holding regular press briefings. Thank you!
Nice to know the cayman islands is in utter turmoil….
A Cabinet DELEGATION !? to the UK???????!!!!!!!
So how many makes a delegation?
Please tell me we are not going to see 3 (or more) of the Famous Five hopping off on a jaunt to London at our expense before they ahve truly established any legitimacy whatsoever. With her track record Ju-Ju should be very careful of this sort of thing!
Nevermind who is going, my question is who will be left to hold the fort?? Jon Jon – the new Minister of All Tings (sorry Chris J. for taking your line).
Who do you think? Hon. Mac of course!
You mean Honourable Mackeral?? Things around him smell fishy all the time!
I am voting for the PPM and will do so proudly. I am an ex UDP supporter, and to be honest I was supporting them up until Mac was arrested. In really simple terms, we had a Premier who could not even hold his job for 4 years and he was supported by the rest of his party past and present and they are all involved in whatever it was he is accused of until they are all cleared or convicted. I am disgusted to see the desperate attempts being made by the old and new UDP to try to come across as being concerned with the future of our people.
They say the PPM over spent on school but I have done my own research and I am convinced that we got value for money by building the 3 schools in Frank Sound. Those buildings are multipurpose and give our kids the best environment to succeed. The Gov Admin building was another good move, because Government was actually paying more in rent than they are currently paying in loan payments.
What has the UDP done? Are we better off or worse off 3 1/2 years better? Have they actually done anything for us ? Or did they spend all that time helping themselves?
I see the PPM stepping forward with Tony, Wayne, Alva, Ossie, Alden, Kurt, Lucille, Marco, Joey, Kenneth, Woody, Ray, Moses and I cannot find a single allegation of corruption among them. By my calculations there are 7 Bachelor Degrees and two Masters Degrees among those candidates, and their range of experience covers, Finance, Economics, Sociology, Technology, Business Admin, Accounting, Law, Trust, Sports, Culture. These guys fit the bill perfectly and I am encouraging our voters to support them, not as a party but as individuals who have worked tirelessly and honestly to achieve what they have. These individuals are honest, family oriented, loyal, charismatic, educated, experienced, and not corrupted.
If I had to make the choice today I would vote for any of them, and come May I am going to encourage everyone I know to support them.
Cayman deserves the best and these proud Caymanians are the cream of our working class, they are not living on the outside, they live among us and they care about us because they came from us.
PPM God speed, we need you now!
Yea right, ex-UDP supporter my a**
Honestly, with such eloquent support of your favorite boys, you should not be afraid to provide your full mane aka HOnesty.
She doesn’t remember exactly when she resigned from a political Party of which she has been an integral part for years – don’t make me laugh She and bush are joinedcat the hip. She is just his ventriloquist’s dummy, but the act is so pathetic that when she speaks, you can see his lips moving.
At least she can read and speak properly, unlike the undeducated fool that preceded her. That's just about the only props I can give her right now. I'll give her more props if she really does accede to the UK's requests for good governance, transparency, the FFR and proper tendering procedures. And I'll give her huge props if she does something to stop all of these MLAs from personally profiting from government procurement contracts, give everybody else a chance instead.
Mack might not have the certificates but he is self educated and no one can argue on that. God help the likes such as Julie if he did . The one thing you cant say about him and that is his appearance, he is always well dressed and because of his good looks when he steps out you cant know the difference that he did not attend Harwood University. He certainly dont embarass us with his appearance as he is ALWAYS well groomed. I have never yet seen him travelling with his suit and a pair of flip flops.
How shallow. Who cares who dandy he looks? No one is fooled once he opens his mouth particularly if it is unscripted.
He is not educated at all.
My my my, the little things that keep the brac people so happy. Listening on the radio, you would swear they suffering over there. Cant be because they seem so content with what they got.
We dont any choice. Why dont PPM or the Independent be smart as to put a good candidate in Cayman Brac to run? It wouldnt take much of a Candidate to make a change.
Banana Republic……….Don't Stop Da Carnival, Mon!
The reason for the increase in voters is because of the UDP and people who represent that party like you Juju. It is laughable that you "welcome this new breeze of democracy" as it is you and the actions of your party that was on the verge of a dictatorship until the UK put you all in your place.
Please follow up your resignation in the membership of the UDP with your resignation as premier, you are a disgrace and the road paving, hurricane hilton fiascos and lavish spending on vacations withour government credit card have to be investigated.
This woman never cease to amaze me with her twist a turns. If having her as Premier is enough to keep Cayman Brac happy, then by God they are in a worst mental state beyond Grand Cayman.
Someone once said this about a no good politician "Some are slippery like a eel covered in crisco, you just can't grab them and hold them down to the truth or anything. They will slip through any and every crack. Wiggling themselves free from bad associations just in time to fool the people once more on the promise of change".
And boy oh boy, who knew that eels could grow so BIG!
Agreed….
Why was her resignation "last week"?
And not when the others made theirs.
Real power with control, thank you Ms. Julie.
More power to give awaymore, including free trips to Cayman for any occasion. One vote in the Brac certainly costs…….
Just do as the FCO tells you to and be quiet
How much is this going to cost the public purse, to hold cabinet in the Brac….! , what a waste of time and money. THEY SHOULD HAVE ELECTIONS NOW…….. and get rid of these spending fools.
Dont you see that smile on her face? She was to glad to get in that spending seat. Cabinet having meeting in the Brac is only a good holiday and to spend more money. We are still looking to our good ole Cayman Brac girl Virginia Castillo to run for Cayman Brac. After all shes got what is required of a Politician. Personality, honesty, comes from a good back ground, not a vindictive person, truthful, wise in spending, a good business woman and not to mention well groomed and educated. If you are looking for a true christian you have one too.
I give you thumbs up, but who is Virginia Castillo, I seen her name mention on CNS comments for sometime now, please highlight me and other bloggers, who might be asking that same question. And furthermore, did this individual showed any indication of running for Election? Thanks.
Once again, how exactly did we get here! Whilst it may well be that there is basis to the allegations made against Mac and the country was in the unenviable position of having its Premier arrested, I do not understand how we are now placed in the even more intolerable situation of having a minority government ruling the country with a group of 5 appointing Julianna as premier! That can neither be right constitutionally or otherwise. Surely the right thing to do was to call for a snap election! If not at least give the public a reasonable explanation of how and why it is better to have a minority government running the country.
I disagree. It was far more intolerable to have McKeeva continue as premier. To have called early elections would have allowed him to continue as premier until those elections were held and allowed him to remain in the position where he could interfere with the investigations with the possibility that elections could have been held before he is charged. Having a minority govt. is no big deal. Each group acts as a check on the other. Isn't that what the people say they want? The Governor took the right approach. You are very shortsighted.
How do you know that Mack will be charged? I am sorry for our Governor, who in my opinion is such a good man but Caymanians are going to make the poor man sick. By the time that he get to know the real ju ju it will be too late. We are hoping that he will hold her accountable for all the FREE paving that was done. Is it true that CI Government just built on an addition to her house? If so how wrong. When she is not premier is she going to let the new premiers body guard use that room for free. I have never heard anything so wrong. Four more months of her will completely ruin Cayman.
Do you understand the words "with the possibility"?
If he is not charged we will have a massive law suit on our hands.
Really, well at least he was democratically elected and Premier as per the constitution. Now what we have is a minority government running the country and no one seems to want Julianna as Premier except for the 4 others of the minority government. We should have had a dissolution of the LA and an election as soon as practical thereafter, but this current situation cannot be right. This is not a government of the people.
McKeeva was not elected premier by the people. He was appointed premier because his party held the majority of the seats in the House and he could command their support. Juliana was appointed premier because she could command the support of the majority of the majority party at the time. Both were appointed premier as per the Constitution.
There is nothing wrong with the current situation. Calling early elections would have meant McKeeva would have continued to be premier until the elections. In light of the ongoing investigations that was unacceptable.
You are not correct. McKeeva was appointed Premier by the majority in the party and in the LA. It is not true that "juliana was appointed premier because she could command the support of the majority of the majority party at the time"! The majority in the house agreed that Mac should be removed, but that did not mean that the majority in the house approved Julianna as Premier only the minority of 4 others with the Governors blessing, and certainly the UDP dont seem to want her and judging by the comments here i am not sure the Counrty does either! We are as of now in a position of having a minority government appointed premier as well as a minority government ruling the masses, which was the inevitable conclusion and that cannot therefore be correct as per the constitution. Whether or not at one nano second in time it was correct i cannot say, but where we stand now it is an intolerable position under our constitution. The proof is in the pudding. We will see how they are treated by the UDP in the house and by the opposition and just what it means to have a minority government run your country.
I suggest you have someone explain s. 49 of the Constitution to you before you try to debate this issue.
"(2) Where a political party gains a majority of the seats of elected members of the Legislative Assembly, the Governor shall appoint as Premier the elected member of the Assembly recommended by a majority of the elected members who are members of that party".
The Constitution has no regard to which person the majority of the non-elected UDP support. Obviously the UDP's 9 seats was a majority of the 15 seats, and obviously the Fab 5 were a majority of 9. Nothing is wrong with having a minority govt. for a few months. It means they can get up to less mischief.
Leadership by bafflement
First contender for “Quote of the 2013” – thank you!