Former party official urges people to vote on merit
(CNS): Independent candidate Stefan Baraud is urging people in the capital to vote on merit and not party lines. The former UDP official, who has turned his back on party politics and elected to run on his own platform in George Town, said he was frustrated with the path political parties have led the country down. He urged his supporters to consider "all candidates on their individual merits and make an informed decision based on their qualifications, experience, policies and suggested ideas for moving our country forward,” when it comes to their other five votes on 22 May. Baraud, like many others running alone has not said which group or party he would prefer to support into government but that he would work with any LA member.
“My support will be based on issues and policies and what is in the best interest of our country and my George Town constituents,” he told CNS this week.
Convinced that the way out of the country’s economic woes is through education and training, he said that the country could reduce the number of work permits until the local workforce could fill those jobs.
“This is why education, training and retraining of Caymanians is high on my agenda,”Baraud stated. “We need to put in place a long term plan that matches our human capital to the needs of the economy, improves the quantity of Caymanians graduating from high school, and puts in place a first class technical and vocational program for students wishing to pursue technical careers,” he added.
Wanting to see Caymanians achieve a higher average level of education with a clear path to pursue technical and vocational careers if they want, in a recent press release he endorsed the programme run by Superior Autos, where six students have passed through the twelve month mechanic apprentice programme and have gone on to careers in the local automotive industry.
As a young Caymanian entrepreneur, Baraud told CNS he wanted to see the development of local talent and warned there needed to be clarity regarding the types of investments government encourages so that they will have the most positive impact on local economy and the creation of jobs, while having the least impact on our environment.
The would-be independent MLA said every country needed inward investment for its economy to thrive but that investment must benefit local businesses and generate employment for Caymanians as much as possible.
Talking about the ForCayman Investment Alliance, Baraud said the closure of West Bay Road was a fait accompli but there was still an opportunity to review the remaining aspects of the FCIA agreement, such as the George Town landfill.
A leading figure in the early cruise port negotiations as the former chair of the Port Authority Board, Baraud said he would use his first private members motion to get the project on track if it was not underway.
“I strongly support the creation of a new port with cruise berthing facilities but the selection of the developer follows strict procurement standards. These facilities will greatly add to our tourism product and have a positive impact on the economy,” he said.
Baraud also stated that he did not support increasing taxes to pay for Cayman’s ever-burgeoning government but pointed to what he described as “smart spending cuts”, many of which were set out in the Miller Shaw Report.
“We can implement the changes proposed by the Civil Service Reviews,” he said. “Privatization of organization such as the Cayman Turtle Farm, Cayman Airways and the Water Authority is another area for potential savings for the government,” Baraud added.
Category: Politics
stefan you go boy dont let them try bring you down! just a bunch of UDP and PPM supporters who can clearly see that they're going down! it is time for change!!! i am sick and tired of voting for the same party who always tends to fail not just the people but the country at that. I would take my chance with an independent candidate!!! Vote # 3!!! STEFAN BARAUD ALL THE WAY BABY!!!!! oh and by the way Stefan! you have such a very intriguing voice! the way your voice sounds just makes me want to melt……
Crikey! Now he's got groupies! lol.
so what if he has "groupies" as you "claim"! that shouldnt be a bother to you now is it? cause it sure seems so. Any how, dont hate on the man. Just relax your self and calm yourself now, on serious note though, you and everyone else on this island know we need a change, and a big one too. We will never know what this young handsome man is capable of if we do not allow to hear him and out and see if elected what he is capable of doing for the island, come on now it is time for change!!!
STEFAN #3!!!!!
Stefan Baruad seems to be a very caring and indepent candidate, i strangly believe that he is not in it for the money like the majority of them that is running. I support Mr. Baraud 100% as he seems to show interest in our young people in the community.
Vote # 3
11:19 what crap are you talking about failed business!? do you know about Stefan's other business dealings, namely property development?
You are clearly a bitter UDP supporter. Might I remind you how your leader FAILED on running the country! Stop drinking the Coolaid and start thinking for yourself 11:19
Stefan – Young educated, well informed and experienced candidate!
Are we goingto continue to elect the UDP, PPM or PNA can we really afford to take that chance? We all know what these parties offer – NOTHING!
Experienced? In what exactly? How to fail in business? How not to complete cruise pier negotiations? He does not have any relevant experience to being a good MLA.
Stefan, when you sleep with the UDP dogs you get UDP flees. You supported them for years and I am sorry to inform you that you will have to wear a flee collar for years before people may forget your alliances and support for XXXX politicians. You were honoured by the UDP to be appointed the Chairman of the Port Authority with no maritime or shipping qualifications for the position and your ethics in this job were disgraceful as you followed the UDP line under the directions from your handlers. Tell the public the truth and why McKeeva intervened and took over from you and Mr. Glidden.
Impressivd marketing I would vote for this man as he shows he got the skills to run with the big boys. I say give him an X just one and your 5 others he couls teach how ro maeket cayman
Soery typing on a phone
He is not ready for leadership!
He is ready. Unfortunately, as with many others seeking office, he is not capable.
If he gets in, maybe he will finally get his gas station in the South Sound/ Red Bay area he has been pushing for.
Go Stefan Go!! wishing you ALL the best to succeeding in being elected! Our Country will benefit with people like you leading us!! Go Stefan!! God Bless! Hope Roy McTaggart makes it in too and cleans up the whole accounting of the Government! We need accountability, integrity, wisdom, honesty, transparency and a properly run accounting system in Government! Go Stefan! Go Roy!
Ask him to explain the line that forms at his campaign office every evening, Im sure campaign flyers are not such a hot item!
Stefan unfortunately you got mixed up with the UDP. you are a nice young chap but you dont have what it takes to be a leader. you are not quite ready yet. We need to see the value for money this dock is gong to bring Caymanians. Also an environmental impact study on whether this dock isn’t going to wash SMB away in the next northwester or hurricane?
Foe the first time in my live I seen Stefan in our area. Where you been, who you fa and which school you attend..
Failed business? Please consider his business opened around Ivan…and was operating in the midst of a global recession. At leaset he was selling tacos and not ecstasy-like a certain candidate.
So now we know he can't help us out of a recession.zzzzzz.
Wow Stefan, you are desperate !
Deflection won't help. The point is not whether he is the worst candidate but whether he should be elected on the basis of merit as he appears to claim. The point is he has no track record of success. If could not manage his own business in a recession why would we think he can manage thegovt's finances or the country's economy.
Yes, failed business. Giving excuses/reasons for why his business failed does not mean that it did not fail. He has nothing to offer. Period.
“I strongly support the creation of a new port with cruise berthing facilities but the selection of the developer follows strict procurement standards. These facilities will greatly add to our tourism product and have a positive impact on the economy,” he said.
When did he change his mind? As Chairman of the Port Authority he supported McKeeva's "substance over process" and was quite happy to bypass the Central Tenders Committee and have all of the proposals sent directly to him.
I don't vote in GT nor am I saying I would vote for Stefan but I like to stick by facts.
To the best of my knowledge and memory what you are stating are factually incorrect. Almost every member of the board less 1 either resigned or were removed because THEY WOULD NOT SIGN ON TO THE CHEC DEAL. Stefan was one of them.
This is not to say he is a great candidate only stating that NO he was not accepting the CHEC deal as you are reporting. If I recall correctly he resigned in the face of pressure from Big Mac to push this down the countries throat.
This is my recollection of the events.
It's the PNA who have held on to the bitter end.
I was not talking about the CHEC DEAL. I am talking about when McKeeva first took office in 2009. Stefan was made Chairman of the Board, and he put a big ad in Desmond's paper saying that all interest in the cruise ship pier should be sent directly to HIM.
He was happy to go along with McKeeva to bypass the Central Tenders Committee. That is how the whole mess started. First it was Dart, then GLF, and afterwards CHEC. At no stage was Central Tenders Committee involved until the Auditor General stepped in.
Go Stefan!
Sorry Stefan, too little too late. You were part of the mechanism which kept Mac in place for many years. This GT voter will not vote for you or any other UDP or former UDP member.
If people vote on merit then you won't get elected, Stephan. What is your claim to fame – a failed business? Belatedly leaving the UDP?
He resigned from the UDP years ago. Not recently when the ship was sinking like all the others did. Check your facts buddy.
Resigning fro the UDP any time since 2005 is belated since we could clearly see what they were all about then.
The funny thing is we heard nothing about this resignation until recently when he decided to run. And he is still not saying what he found wrong with the UDP which leads me to believe he would join with them again if he got elected.
This young man has shown great courage in the past. He refused to jump on the CHEC bus when Mac and others were busy dumping Cayman for a 'Better" deal from CHEC.
He also resigned from the UDP, he has what Mike Adam and Ellio Solomon do not have, PRINCIPLE and COURAGE.
I hope he is sucessful.
Yes, I remember a few years ago thinking it was good to see two people show some backbone when Mac were trying to force CHEC on the port board. The two people who left the UDP then were Woody and Stefan. No one else.
A few years? As I recall the whole GLF fiasco happened almost exactly 2 years ago and Stephan was removed from the board by McKeeva.
Imagine if Mac had stuck with the GLF deal, he would have saved us millions for breach of contract, but best of all, we would have a dock for the crusie ships.
RUBBISH! I for one want nothing to do with any past, present, or remotely possible future member, affiliate or friend of hte UDP!! Dump 'em all I say!