LA to tackle OMOV again
(CNS): Given what he says was the lack of a "definitive resolution" after the last debate, the member for East End has filed and been given the nod for another 'one man, one vote' debate in the Legislative Assembly. A private member's motion submitted by Arden McLean is almost identical to the one debated by members earlier this year but this time the independent member is hoping to get the missing government MLAs to be there for the vote. McLean's motion went down to the wire at the vote in the county's parliament in March but was decided by the speaker with her casting vote against. However, four minsters who all said they supported the voting change during the election campaign missed the division.
The East End member is hoping that in the next debate the ministers for education, finance, financial services and health will be in the chamber and will this time be true to their election promises and back his motion.
The premier has stated recently that he will not be dealing with the change to Cayman's voting system during this administration because, he has said, some members of his coalition government do not support the change. While it is common knowledge that Speaker of the House, Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, is opposed to changing the current system, she is only required to vote in the event of a tie.
Premier Alden McLaughlin has implied that the stumbling blocks to the introduction of ‘one man, one vote’ in single member constituencies are the Coalition for Cayman members of his team, but that claim was shaken when the three issued a statement to CNS indicating their support for OMOV.
McLean will be hoping that, given the wide support for the change to the voting system before Cayman goes to the polls in 2017, the outcome of the next debate on the subject will be very different. The East End member described the issue as very "emotive" and said there was a need to bring closure on the matter.
McLean's motion is backed by his independent parliamentary colleague Ezzard Miller, who has seconded the motion. He also has the support of two opposition UDP/CUDP members, Captain Eugene Ebanks and Bernie Bush, but Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush has said he won't make political capital out of the debate by supporting it as he does not believe Cayman should move to single member constituencies.
However, McLean can count on two certain 'yes' votes from the government back benchers as Anthony Eden offered his support and voted in favour during the last debate on the subject. Alva Suckoo will also support McLean as he had made it clear he would bring his own motion on the issue if the back-bencher had not already done so.
The question now will be if McLaughlin continues on the line of stating that he supports OMOV in SMCs but can't do it because his government will fall apart or whether he will clear the whip and the concept of collective responsibility and allow his front benchers to vote with their conscience.
Although the motion has been cleared by the speaker and added to the next meeting's business paper, government has not yet set the date for the next session of the LA. However, it is understood it will take place in September.
Category: Politics
Good for Arden on this. He is doing the right thing in keeping this to the fore. If the others don't vote as promised they should be kicked out of offie at the earliest possible time.
If Alden goes through with OMOV his political carrier is over as he won't be able to ride Kurt's coat tail. If he doesn't he breaks campaign promise and he's done anyways. Gee, what's he gonna do?
What is the benefit of One Man One Vote, is it reduced numbers for people who presently vote for 4, will it bring clearer thinking to the political table. Will it stop politicians from engaging in consultancies for issues that have already been consulted and for which the peoples money has been spent with no accountability or no end product been provided. Will it stop cronyism and paternalism of Ministers appointing their own or near family to Boards etc to ensure that they protect their interests and not the interests of the public. Will it stop the overpayment of civil servants who just do the minimum from 9 to 5 and then go home.
Will OMOV give us a better quality of life, lessen robberies, provide jobs, enhance the educational process, provide for first class Health Services. Will it help to provide jobs, and help people pay their past due mortgages.
if you the people of these Islands feel that OMOV will assist us as a people in the areas mentioned above, I encourage the entire voting population to tell your politicians to vote YES in the upcoming debate.
May God continue to Bless these Cayman Islands
Do the right thing and keep his promise!
West Bay need to get rid of Tara Rivers, What does she really do. What a mistake.
I don't know what Tara does, and I really don't care since my horse isn't hitched to any cart in West Bay. However, judging by what you have endured for the last 30 years, electing a donkey instead of one of McKeeva's anointed candidates would still have been a better choice. I suspect that your disappointment with Tara probably has something to do with the fact that she hasn't handed you $25 since she was elected.
What's the point? Last time you had the opportunity to vote on this, the majority were too lazy to get of the couch and cast a ballot.
OMOV – yes! (But only if with National-Level Voting for Cabinet).
And NO to SMCs – we dont to segregate each little community of every district!
We should also be voting to reduce the number of MLAs – or at least restrict their salaries+pensions to what the average person gets…
Not lifetime pension + health benefits after 1 term in Cabinet-that’s 4 years!!!
Oh no not again, please another holiday for us to vote and put a space in there that says willing to debate it and try again, and again with more and more holidays to vote.
Just do it Cayman, get with the times…
Moses Kurt Wayne Marco Ossie Joey Tara Roy Winston time to put up or shut up
If you vote against this OMOV motion that means you have lied to the people again. We will not forget it and you will pay the price in 2017 so get it done now.
Tare be taking another day off I bet
Hear hear. Time to confirm your ethics or show us if this dangerous drug of politics has hooked you?
Arden Mclean is for OAOV, that is, "One Arden One Vote" for the district of East End all the way!
What a waste of time. Don't you see McKeeva Bush (Opposition) and Alden McLaughlin (Party in power), have agendas and a next election towards their favor? Those two hard heads look at each other and shaking hands now on how much they can bypass this OMOV issue.
I predict Tara will call in sick when the moment to vote on the bill arrives.