Mac: PPM should be ashamed
(CNS): Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush has said that, with the exception of Anthony Eden, the Progressive administration should be ashamed as a result of the position the premier has taken on electoral reform. Alden McLaughlin has claimed that he does not have the full support of his government as the non-Progressive members won’t support 'one man, one vote' in single member constituencies. The premier has said it is unlikely that reform will be dealt with during this administration, despite the election promise. Bush called him a “hypocrite” who never intended to implement the change. And in a move that appears to support Bush’s allegations, the C4C members said they all support OMOV.
Earlier this year the speaker cast the deciding vote to defeat a private member's motion brought to the LA by Arden McLean on the introduction of 'one man, one vote' in single member constituencies after the debate split the government benches. Anthony Eden and Al Suckoo both voted for McLean’s motion in opposition to the instructions from the government front bench, as the premier had implied that the non-PPM members would depart his government if they supported OMOV in SMCs.
During the debate McLaughlin raised the issue of other forms of electoral reform, including the idea of 'at large' candidates, and said there would be a public discussion. However, when several front bench members were absent from the Chamber at the crucial time, the motion came close to winning the day, with six yes votes and six no's and an abstention from the opposition leader. The speaker then made the casting vote to defeat the motion.
Since then, the premier has continued to backtrack on the campaign promise that the only sure way to get OMOV in SMCs was to vote for a Progressive government, by indicating that it is his non-PPM colleagues that are derailing the process.
Speaking to Cayman 27 in an interview this week he made it clear that it was very unlikely he would be pressing ahead.
While it is common knowledge that Speaker Juliana O’Connor Connolly is not in favour of the reform, the C4C members of government have been less clear about their position. However, on Tuesday evening in a joint statement Tara Rivers, Roy McTaggart and Winston Connolly set the record straight. They told CNS that they were behind equality of voting and were looking forward to electoral reform during this administration, flying in the face of claims by the premier.
“As the minority members of the PPM led coalition government, we are and have always been committed to the principle of equality of franchise and to implementing the concept of 'One Man, One Vote' in the Cayman Islands in time for the 2017 General Election,” the three C4C members stated. “We support, encourage and look forward to voting on electoral reform prior to the next General Election and support the premier and the government making this a priority."
But with the premier stating that not only is this not a priority and unlikely to happen at all, the opposition leader, who has always rejected OMOV in SMCs as he believes Cayman is too small, has accused McLaughlin of never backing the voting change and merely riding the coat tails of the campaign during 2012 in response to the referendum.
"It is no surprise that the current premier has backtracked on his campaign promise to implement OMOV,” Bush told CNS Monday. “Everybody knows he is a hypocrite and never had any intention to do so. He never supported OMOV from the beginning. Alden McLaughlin rode the coat tails of the OMOV movement before and during 2012, just like he has always been riding Kurt Tibbetts' coat tails to get elected from day one. The latest statement proves his unreliability and speaks to his character as leader. How can he be trusted?” the opposition leader asked.
Bush said the premier would say and do anything for political power, but he was proving to the world who he really is. “People are seeing the real Alden now,” he added.
Describing the premier as “duplicitous and hypocritical”, he said it was not just McLaughlin who was failing to keep his word to the people but the PPM party as well.
“The whole PPM made this OMOV a major campaign promise to try and derail my efforts in moving the economy forward and get Caymanians employed, while forcing the country to the expense of a referendum in July 2012,” Bush lamented. “Now all of them look to be running for cover by forgetting all the promises made at every opportunity to the country, all of them except Anthony Eden should be ashamed, and the people finally must see them for the lily-white charlatans that they are … Now no OMOV. And still a worsening economy. Why have are all the promoters of OMOV gone quiet?" he queried.
Along with Eden, Al Suckoo also voted with McLean on his motion during the debate in the LA in February and he is still giving his full backing to voting reform. Regardless of what has been said by McLaughlin in an interview, Suckoo said Monday that he was not aware of any decision to not move forward with electoral reform.
“I am operating on the understanding that we will discuss this in caucus and decide on the way forward with SMC, OMOV and at large members,” he said. “I assume the premier is giving his personal opinion and not making an official statement but I have been off island for a week and I am not aware of any discussions that took place in my absence, so I will wait to hear more from Caucus,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ezzard Miller, who seconded McLean’s motion and was, alongside McLean, a leader in the referendum campaign, told CNS that he was not at all surprised by the premier’s comments.
He said, “I am not shocked nor surprised by the premier’s revelation that he has no definitive plans to introduce OMOV in SMCs in time for the next elections,” he said. “I have never been convinced that the PPM really, truly, genuinely supported or wanted OMOV.”
The independent member for North Side said that at every opportunity they found someone to blame for not doing it and he described their election promise as mere sound bites to get elected.
“The premier needs to stop hiding behind this idea that ‘someone is stopping it’. He needs to lead,” Miller said. “He needs to name the people in his government that are so powerful that they can override the manifesto promise.”
Although McLaughlin has signalled his reluctance now to press ahead with any kind of reform, the leader of the country will still have to face the debate on what may become the single most damaging decision of his administration as the pressure for change within as well as outside the PPM remains strong.
McLean, who brought the recent motion and the man who made it clear that he believed that McLaughlin has never supported OMOVs in SMCS during his impassioned debate, has said he will continue on his campaign.
He told CNS, “I will be re submitting the motion that did not receive definitive resolution in January. A definitive conclusion is required to close this chapter in our political life. All will get that opportunity soon,” he added.
Category: Politics
Why all of the surprise about Alden's actions now ??? Arden McLean and Charles Clifford are both former PPM Ministers and they told us duing the last election campaign that the PPM and Alden especially do not support OMOV and SMCs and that we should not believe what Alden was saying in his Manifesto.
Alden will not survive a full term as Premier and the PPM better be careful or it might not be the Goverment for a full term either. Elect new Leadership now PPM !!!!
Is the Premier " more of a liability than asset" familiar phraseology recently said of the UK Minister who was sacked by the Prime Minisyer. It would seem to me that the PPM needs to make a choice soonest in order to ensure that it is not ousted entirely before the end of its term. As it is evident that our beloved Premier does not have the full support of hisGovernment, he ought to do the Honourable thing. Don't let your thoughts evolve to long on this Sir, time is fleeting.
My only problem with McK's comments, not that he would be hypocrictical or anything, is that he was the one that set the bar for passing OMOV so high, that he knew it would be sure to fail.
I think Alden did that when he pushed through the new constituion..McKeeva just used it to his advantage..
You've got it turned around. If McKeeva had used the same hurdle as with the Constitution Referendum OMOV would have passed.
The biggest fight McKeeva Bush ever fought was to fight against OMOV. He is clever, uneducated, but clever. What he is hollering about now, I cannot comprehend. I guess he figures that if he holders loud enough, the country will believe in him. I supported him fully a long time ago, but his battle is for the people to remember him like they remember the old stalwarts of West Bay, but the memory of him is going to be, "Let's cut the canal and install the toll bridge, so when he and his people try to get into the city, we will, at least be able to collect something from them. He can never be the man our Present Premier and Deputy Premier are.
Sorry Mac, hopefully you will retire before we wind up with our rulers stepping back in to try to rectify the damage you have done to our little country. You used to love the country but I guess it is true when they say "money (or the lack thereof) is the root of all evil."
I could not believe what I was reading. When we all we went to the polls to vote on OMOV, who else, but the Big Mac and his small fries agreed on setting the bar so high that the vote failed. Now he is jumping up and hollering in his usual style about Alden. McKeeva, even if came back as the holy 2nd coming, you could never be the man our Premier is.
There is nothing wrong with my memory and McChavez hollered and bellowed against the OMOV. The day of the vote, he threw a big party on Seven Mile Beach. He thinks people are idiots. He fought that in every way he could think, but people are not stupid and we remember. I pray every day that he never becomes our Premier again. The day that happens we will be called McDart Islands.
We'll if The Hon Premiergoes on Rooster to defend his position, you can bet there will be some bleating from those Ventral Pose Badmen,we na forget the first. Gangs. They will be lauding the Premierand offering their vitriolic goodness and mercy of the PPM leadership. Come on Mr. premier if you can't hold. The Government together then show. The people how really really Honourable you are. After all you are only serving asZpremier outa the kindness of ya heart right?
But Mac didn't said he was goin to pass the he said he didn't want it from the start so wa u talking bout lol u must be ppm clown too
But Mac didn't said he was goin to pass the he said he didn't want it from the start so wa u talking bout lol u must be ppm clown too
But Mac didn't said he was goin to pass the he said he didn't want it from the start so wa u talking bout lol u must be ppm clown too
Mr party politics calling the rival kettle black – that's rich! OMOV spells mutual assured destruction to both parties. Be assured that neither are in a rush to quell their gravy trains any time soon!
well, i give up trying to figure out who is better than who when it comes to Politicians. seems like there will always be corruption in Governments worldwide.
So putting that aside, if you think about it, if OMOV is established, then Mac would win the elections, cause all his 3000 status grant people and their families who have since attained status as well, they would all vote for Mac.
So, Alden is not foolish by not implementing the OMOV, cause it would give the election win to Mac. That was what all the 3000 status grants were for. To mulitply as time went by with marriages, families, etc, so that Mac (and Dart) would have alot of people on his side.
I don't know how anyone could not see that would be the outcome of OMOV? it's so obvious.
So why would Alden give Mac the win?
But, it would be nice no matter who is voted in or out of power, if someone could implement some foresight to preserve alot of nature and seaside nature reserves for our future instead of heading to a concrete jungle with hardly much reserves of natural land and public seaside spaces. That is my beef, that we are headed to be a concrete jungle, over-populated. That would take away the charm and peace in the island.
Politicians come and Politicians go, but we need to preserve land and seaside land for the public and sanctuary reserves. If we made that our Supreme Goal, everything else would work itself out in a positive manner.
That must be the Supreme Goal. But will it ever be? The true fight is developers greed verses perserving nature reserves and public beach spaces. That will depict what the future of this island will be like. Will it be a concrete business jungle with no more island charm, or a charming island with a little less development?
There needs to be more land reserved and more beach land reserved for us to keep our tranquil peace and sanity. Otherwise, we may as well start building more prisons if it's going to be a concrete business jungle, because we will need alot more prison space.
Greed does not have good foresight for the well-being of humanity. Period. It is blind to humanity.
I'venever read an article that so clearly illustrates why so many voters find all politicians, regardless of their stripe, despicable.
C'mon people! Why would the Premier make OMOV a priority?? He was too busy practising his football moves so he could star in an advertisement for a local company which sponsored the World Cup coverage, wearing their logo no less!! No wait, that was a look-alike. The real Premier could never be allowed to feature in an ad for commercial purposes!! Ethics and policy dictating conduct of public officials would ensure that. Would it not???!!! Some things make you go "Ummmmm??"
PPM in order to survive now you have to kick Alden to the curb..The man is too full of himself and in search of nothing else but power and ensuring his seat in the next election.
Make Marco the Premier as he seems to be the only one of substance in th ewhole party.
Alden & the cowards & liars will pay for this just like keke did! If you’ll want to be elected you’ll better break free & do as your requested by your people=omov! Gt voter
Can't say some of us didn't tell you so. Alden never intended to go through with the OMOV. He only used that as trick to sway the voters. Now we are stuck with a bunch of useless yes men and no one defending us. We need a strong leader to defend Caymanians against what is being done to us by unscrupulous employers and with the help of bad Immigration policies. Alden is done. This govt. is done!
Let's all pause for a moment…..Mckeeva said something accurate…now let's all run outside and see if the sky is falling.
All jokes aside..PPM…how many years you have left? Treasure them….maybe your last. This crap you are speaking…..it does not cut it….It's called LIES….and there will be repercussions we promise you….
I am disappointed in the Premier in not following through on his promise of "One Person One Vote" however I do not see that as a reason to reject the Progresives as a whiole as it was Mc Keeva who sabotaged the chance of the country having OPOV with his referendum. The Progessive/C4C coalition have a number of persons of the highes order and integrity and ability among its makeup,. persons such as Marco Archer, Moses Kirkconell , Anthony Eden Wayne Panton and Roy McTaggart
My friend if we cannot hold someone to their words, if they cannot be trusted then what use are they. I like what the rest are doing but if it means chopping the hand to get the foot people will do it.
All we want is people who say something and then follow it up with actions. That is not asking for miracles is it?
Mayday MAYDAY MAYDAY !!!!!!!!!!!! This is the MV PPM calling !!!!
Well Tara, Roy and Winston can prepare for a Premier that willnot have a word to say to them for at least the next 3 months. Alden is Mac and Mac is Alden. As the older Caymanians would say "they're the same dog puppy" !
Premier Alden McLaughlin is turning McKeeva into a national hero……..sus christ that takes talent ! PPM get rid of McLaughlin quickly before the ship hits the reef…….by the way the reef is in sight !!!!
i can still remember the member from east end telling the newly elected politions on swearing in day and i qote do not let anybody determind your political career. i hope they now know what MR MCLEA was talking about.. DO NOT TRUST ALDEN
One really must wonder why on earth Mac wasn't ashamed of the very same thing when he was in Alden's position. And whether he will be ashamed of the very same thing when the hopefully utterly impossible happens and he finds himself tekkin' Alden's seat again.
For the record, Mccracker was only against OMOV until it dawned on him that the voting public would have happily unseated his royal highness for his stance on the matter, whereabout he performed a very impressive u turn faster than one could say forever honerable. Hopefully some of the comments here will have the same effect on the PPM.
We going back to that again? Stick to the talk at hand, even if we all desliked actions of Mac in the past this is about Premiere Alden and the PPM not standing by thier word.
He never planned to do it anyway, he didn;t show support for it until is meant more votes for him..
Seems like Alden liked all the free time he had when he was leader of the opposition and wants to go back to that role. No OMOC = kiss of death for the PPM as far as I am concerned.
Wow i am in total shock and disbelief,i thought that Alden was the right and perfect choice for Cayman,my goodness,i am in total shock.
Don't worry my friend. We are totally relieved you didn't wote for the UDP.
Party politics is what will or should I say, what has killed the golden goose. Yogi Bear said, "You ain't seen nothing yet".
Here we go again Party Politricks at its best. Cayman had it ever so good without party politricks, prior to organized party politricks we had a good life, truly zero unemployment, a vibrant middle class, no one was homeless or hungry, Caymanians were in control of Cayman yet far too many were blinded by flowery conversations and handouts. We have gotten into bed with the demon call politricks and now we must pay the price. At the launch of the PPM at the BT civic center I will always remember the words of the guest speaker, everday that we suffer under party politics I hope those that were there remember his words and warnings.
Alden likes to pee on people's heads and tell them it rained! Not going to fly come 2017. To the rest of the PPM you would do wise to remember the faith that befolded Mark, Dwyane, Rollie and Cline!
Do the right thing Gents or we will come 2017!
Is there a particular reason why we have to wait until 2017?
well said.
Simply put. Maybe the UK should look at their media 1st….
I find this government totally disgusting. All these politicians are taking care of is themselves and their over inflated egos.
The Writing on the Wall is coming clear.
No electorial reform and No real duty cuts on Fuel.
What next?????
You ask what is next, let me tell you, a mass influx as it is being said that we now need over 100k people to run this economy. Mass problems and the destruction of the Cayman Islands and the traditional ways of Caymanians, that is what is next.
We don't need 100 k people living on this island. We need to slow down, assess the issues and ask our selves, who are we doing these things for and will Caymanians benefit from these? We need quality and stability. Caymanians must be able to enjoy the benefits of anything that is happening here. If not, then we don't need them to happen. Bigger is not always better. Quality is what has brought us this far.
Simply put. Maybe the UK should look at their media 1st….
NOTHING NEW! Who ever didnt know Alden was never gonna implement OMOV didnt wanna know.
Maybe whoever didn't know he wouldn'.t change OMOV were like me,…. either ignorant or uninformed. I won't vote for him ever again.
Shock horror!
I find myself agreeing with Bush! Yes, the PPM have to be ashamed that when the chance arrived, they didnt deliver on the fundamental rights of democracy, one person one vote. But then nor did Bush, however, I suppose he never pretended to embrace a system that would have seen him on the sidelines, and thus paradoxically would have meant that he was never in the position of power that allowed him to do all those things about which HE feels no shame!
I do not refute Mckeeva's comments about the Premier being a hyprocrite concerning OMOV but he XXXXX did not support it either and tried all his tricks to invalidate the Referendum on the vote. He is also XXXXX not acknowledging that Al Suckoo supports OMOV. Al has always been in favour of OMOV. If I remember correctly he was among the group who pushed for the Referendum. I have heard Al on TV and Radio say that he wanted it to happen sooner rather than later but he was willing to give the Premier time to get on with it. The Premier came out on Friday stating that it was unlikely to happen as the C4C members of his government did not want it. which they are also refuting. Mr. Premier please remember that the worse thing you can do is tell lies about any subject because it is very hard to keep a lie together. It has a way of unraveling at the worse opportune time. Exactly how do you think you can fix this mess now?? You rode into office on the wings of OMOV and now you trying to pick out all the wing feathers!! Shame on you.
Mckeeva did not support omov but at least you knew where he stood on the issue.
The difference is that Mac didn't hide his position on this subject – he made it quite clear that he did not support OMOV/SMC's. Why can't we have OMOV with multi-member constituencies?
Can you explain how OMOV is compatible with multi member constituencies?
And whilst explaining, please remember, each person has only one vote, the clue is in the name!
Easy, 6 person district, one man one vote, top six get in.
Jeesh…
And I just dreamed last night that Mac and Alden were out in the center of Heroes Square having a big row and an old time Caymanian brawl…
Mac was accusing Alden of being a hyprocrite and a big spender, and Alden was accusing Mac of being a big spender and a hypocrite…
No, No, No,
They were having a quadrille dance – interpret your dreams correctly before posting on CNS.
C4C proved Alden out to be a liar. No excuses now ppm get errrrr done!!!!!!!
Marco Archer, Wayne Panton, Moses Kirkonnell, Kurt Tibbetts, Osbourne Bodden, Joseph Hew, please tell us you do not agree with Alden McLaughlin's view on OMOV.
Please tell us that you will all keep your word to voters. Anthony Eden and Alva Suckoo have shown you all the way forward and what having integrity looks like in office. If you fail the people how can you expect our support next election? Do not be sheep led to the slaughter by a Premier who has lost the plot, save yourselves or suffer the consequences.
You have been warned!
Nothing new Alden never intended to do it just wanted the votes and ppl fell for it. As my mother says you get the government you wanted.
PPM is doomed by OMOV – if they implement OMOV then all the coat- tail MLAs like Alden and Joey are out. If they do not do OMOV then they are still out next time because they broke their biggest promise and therefore committed fraud.
So what Alden – cunning as a fox- will try to do 'at- large ' MLA and such rubbish. …. try to redifine electoral boundries and still loose. If Alden had a sincere bone in him he would not have to be so cynical …. deceitful. Truly shame on you PPM!! Mac is the messenger of what all of us feel…. and I voted for 2 PPM MLA from GT so do not start with UDP supporter etc.
CNS doesn't seem to understand that One Man One Vote and Single Member Constituencies are not interchangable as most in Cayman seem to believe. You may have One Man one Vote with Multi Member Consituencies and using the First Past The Post method. THE C4C members support OMOV but would like to retain the current Multi Member Constituencies instead of moving to Single Member Consituencies.
Well said. The C4C folks need to tell the public what form of OMOV they really support.
Alden has always been and continues to be the greatest liability to the PPM.
(For the record, I am not a supporter of any "political party", however, if one is a PPM / Progressive member, I trust you understand that you have a major problem on your hands.)
According to these reports, not only is Alden a hypocrite, but is he also a liar? Sounds like the perfect politician actually.
Hopefully we will see a motion for a vote of no confidence if what has been reported is accurate. I have nothing against Alden personally, but no single man (or woman) is greater than the progress and democratic standing of my beloved Cayman Islands.
Honestly, I fail to see any significant fallout if Alden McLaughlin is removed as Premier of the country. It is difficult to explain how he even secured the position in the first place without referencing many external factors and frictions leading up to the last election.
Cayman needs better leadership and quite frankly, I am tired of seeing and listening to the same heads that brought about our most unfortunate circumstances parading themselves as the solution to getting out – and that applies to both sides of the political party fence.
At the end of the day it is up to the voting public to finally wake up and see the light. If we are constantly switching between the lesser of 2 devils, similar to the USA and UK, then let us implement the changes that will minimize or eliminate this ridiculous game of switch-back. As I see it, OMOV is a good first step in that direction. Yes, the business leaders and influential superpowers that float above the heads of the electorate will not be pleased – but such is life.
They are the minority. We the Caymanian people are the majority.
Let democracy rule and the majority have the final say. There will be some teething problems, but I envision us reflecting on a switch to OMOV as the turning point towards better representation in the future of the country.
*A comprehensive national development plan MUST be implemented prior to any major changes to our system of (local) democracy.
All democracies fail. They fail because the voters will vote for whichever politician promises them the most. Eventually the country will not have enough money to pay for all the "benefits" from .the government. C'est la vie.
Good post and intelligent observations…
PPM House of cards starting to fall down. They gots no one to blame besides themselves LMAO
You can't blame the PPM. It's the voters to blame. We had a great slate to chose from and what did we do? F' ed up again
PPM is a one term government
Pi$$ Poor Management again on display
WOW Ezzard, McKeeva and C4C all agree on one thing so Alden and PPM better realize that unless they keep this OMOV promise among the many other promises made they are finished in 2017
Something I never thought I would ever say "I agree with Mac".
Ye, but I knew you ALL would come around, AND in just 1 year of being under the current "People's Progressive Movement" administration; otherwise known as the "PPM."
The saying goes: "Call a spade, a spade."
We as Caymanians need to realise the agenda for the PPM. Only then will we see them for what they are and it ain't pretty.
Very true. I do hope that this way of thinking also applies to the 'wonderful' UDP government/members as well. 2 eggs, same pan.