Corruption & despair
What or who is the driving power the behind this Coalition for Cayman? The speakers at their recent rally did not offer themselves as potential contenders for seats in the 2013 election, neither did they speak of a leader. One is left to assume that T-shirts, food, and drinks were provided as part of an early rush of Christmas Cheer from Santa. I don’t think so. Santa does not practice giving at political rallies.
I have no doubt that those who were promoted as the benefactors for the event are more than capable of the sponsorship, I am just not satisfied with their explanation or lack of a game plan. They say that both parties are the problem. They may be right. However, are all thirteen party members a problem? What about the two Independent members in the House?
Ezzard Miller has been consistent and diligent in his responsibility to his constituents, the only Member of Parliament to have a living breathing working district committee. As chair of the Public Accounts Committee he made progress, getting accounts up to date until the tardiness of members forced him to either resign or to stand watch over what was fast becoming an unproductive committee.
Arden McLean resigned cleanly from the PPM earlier this year. I have not heard any mudslinging from him regarding PPM and I hope he will continue to take the high road. I sincerely wish that some in the UDP could find the moral fortitude to follow his example. His term as minister earned him the nickname “Action Man”, a title he genuinely earned. Arden has been unyielding in Opposition and solid supporter of Ezzard Miller.
Alden McLaughlin did a good job in getting the schools started. It used up all his political capital, but history will be kinder to him than his present day detractors. Public opinion today, saying Alden is in jeopardy as leader, we will have to wait and see.
The UDP has really been a disappointment. The “Better way forward” in reality turned into our worst nightmare – criminal investigations, rumors of corrupt practices, obvious incompetence, and contempt for public opinion, to list the obvious, have become the hallmark of ineptitude.
So in rides C4C, searching for independent candidates, but they want nothing to do with Ezzard or Arden! These two, who fought the OMOV battle with little or no help from big money! The word is that Ezzard is against business (read “for Cayman”) and Arden can’t be led by the nose into a feeding trough.
Is it too far-fetched to visualize a scenario in which colossal capital is apprehensive that a government devoid of kleptocracy could come to power, and prohibit further economic genocide in Cayman?
Category: Viewpoint
Based on what was said at the meeting the C4C is not a party. It aims to be a public awareness and advocacy group with the intention to endorse independent minded candidates who seek to demonstrate loyalty to the people and the country not the parties and the usual rhetoric.
Cayman cannot expect different ideas or persons involved in politics if we continue to make the same mistakes or vote for the type of persons who have failed the country and led us to this point. In cayman the parties are groups who are loyal to the individual leaders or the personalities involved, differences between between the udp and ppm are based on the leadership not based on political ideology.
In a small country like ours most people are ex-supporters of something or someone and the C4C have both ex-UDP and ex-PPM in the group. Perhaps they are brave enough to want something different endorse or support the next wave political hopefuls and those currently elected who want to fix the problemsinstead of continuing to support two parties and two leaders that have offered no solutions but are big on rhetoric. How does the saying go “empty vessels make the most noise”
I would not dispute the general tenor of the viewpoint, but must take issue with the bald statement that Ezzard is the only MLA with a functioning District Committee.
Moses Kirkconnell has and has had such a committee since before he was first elected to the L.A. It functions as a sounding-board and advisory body, just as such a committee is supposed to do. I believe Ezzard's version is somewhat more recent.
Ain’t no party like a H-squared party.
Yup aint no party like a losing one, which is exactly what h squared delivers…aside from that lucky win due to total udp collapse in 2005…
C4C was launched on a Monday evening with significant anti-party rhetoric.
The launch was significant, well attended and organised.
Theories for the large turn out include;
a) Dissatisfaction with the current government.
b) The apparent weakness of the PPM; they are not regarded as an effective opposition or viable alternative mainly due to poor strategy, cold leadership and lack of charisma.
c) The consistent effectiveness of the Independent Mr. Ezzard Miller in raising issues, exposing information, educating the public and offering alternative solutions.
d) Curious onlookers from both parties who are not seeking an alternative.
Two days later on Rooster the Leader of the Opposition dedicated practically the entire show to deriding and discrediting C4C, obviously viewing them as a threat.
Two weeks later, we still have not heard any statement from the government regarding C4C…obviously they do not regard C4C as athreat the same way the Opposition does.
Noting the visible players in C4C, many of whom were UDP senior party members, could it be possible that C4C is the "independent" arm of UDP?
Beware, dont rush into buying a Trojan Horse.
Mr Wright I to am shaking in my boots over where our little island is headed but I'm not as optimistic as you are about the two independents from east. The only thing that they are good for is to toot their horns.
However I must say that you could be right about your observations on the C4C group. I attended the meeting they had at the Thompson Home Depot and was surprised by the huge crowd. What struct me more than anything else was WHO was in attendence. Two of the speakers that night were UDP disciples and the audience was crowded with EX-UDP officers who abandond ship because they couldn't get what was promised them. I saw the EX-UDP chairman, ex-board members of various government boards, big EX-UDP money supporters and the list goes on. I spoke with many of the EX-UDP supporters who claim they will support a new bread of politicians that have similar ideal to themselves.
With that said let's here what you think! I have my opinion! Remember this, "A Lepord do not change their spots"
Here! Here! Thomas Wright, excellent comments and spot on.
If C4C does not endorse some of the existing MLAs as suitable candidates to represent our country, then they lose all credibility as they too are dividing the country, just like any other political party that polarizes our country. If they do not identify their candidates and declare their endorsement of independents, they can not be taken seriously for it is all just grand standing talk and no committment.
Where? Where?
C$C is just a political ploy by the money group in Cayman that can no longer control Mac. If they truly wanted to back candidates that supported their positions, as any REAL advocacy group would do, then they would declare their position and support candidates such as Ezzard, and Arden as well as candidates of both the UDP and PPM that support the C$C ideals.
But, they are saying they will not support any candidate that is running with PPM or UDP. This clearly means they are not an advocacy group; they are a party, the C$C party. And their goal is to fund a few candidates that do nothing more than split the votes such that UDP goes back in power. The only difference will be that if they get their way then the next UDP government will owe their election to the money bags from C$C, and we all know that means more of the same XXXXXX we've seen over the last 4 years.
We can only hope that the good people that are running as Independents realise they are being used by the C$C money backers. These Independents would better serve our country if they would join the PPM party instead and work to make sure an honest, transparent new government comes into power in 2013.
Ok Alden we hear you.
And what are YOU, that has ALL the answers, doing about what is going on???
Hear this!!!
The only thing a group of independents will do is dilute the playing field allowing Mac to be re-elected. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!!
You folks need to get your ducks in a row or be prepared to rename this once beautiful haven, Dartanian Island or whatever clever derivative of Kenneth Dart's name that you can come up with. Your people are selling their land, businesses and buildings all to one man. And your own government is encouraging this and benefitting from it and that doesn't mean it rolls over to the constituents any further than WB.
The Marl Road is an interesting thing. Sometimes used to enflame and sometimes you should listen. Who now owns Piccadilly Square? Who owns Island Companies, Blackbeard's, most of Barker's and soon to be the longest stretch (over 4000ft) of SMB, not to mention the highly successful cash cow, Caymana Bay and all that it encompasses among so many other pieces of property.
I am shaking in my boots people. You should be too. If not, then you probably have your hand in it waiting for your share of the pie or a free appliance of some kind…
If Dart owns most of Cayman don't blame him blame the greedy Caymanians who did not know need but were all too willing to sell to him and then complain about him owning everything. Most Caymanians have become too greedy for power and money that they will do anything to achieve either. At the end of the day the fate of the American Indians will be much better than Caymanians because their lands were stolen but Cayman's was sold.
Go wonks
What or who is the driving power the behind this Thomas Wright?
Geez, what did C4C do to you? Is there some reason why they can't get together and support whomever they like without you implying they are corrupt?
So….what’s your point?