Suckoo jumps from PPM ship
Alva Suckoo on PPM campaign trail
(CNS): The fourth elected member for Bodden Town, Alva Suckoo, has quit the ruling Progressives party. The rookie MLA, who has been a floating councillor between various ministries, is following in the footsteps of the veteran backbencher, Anthony Eden, a founding member of the party but left last month following disagreements over same-sex unions. While Eden, who is now in his 70’s, is facing retirement from politics, Suckoo has only just started his political career and has therefore made the choice for very different reasons than those of his Bodden Town colleague.
Suckoo pointed to his Christian credentials as his reason for stepping down, but he has found himself at odds with the PPM party line on a number of occasions. While the same-sex marriage issue may be a useful hook to hang his resignation on, it is understood that the reasons for his departure go much deeper. CNS has attempted to reach both Suckoo and Premier Alden McLaughlin for comment but the PPM leader made no more than a passing mention of Suckoo’s resignation in his New Year’s Eve message, which will be posted tomorrow.
Despite the resignation of Eden and Suckoo, the PPM retains a majority in the parliament, albeit a much slimmer one. There are still ten MLAs sitting on the government benches, as well House Speaker Julianna O’Connor-Connolly, who became a member of the PPM immediately following the election. Government lines up against a mixed opposition of three UDP members and now four independents — calling into question McKeeva Bush’s position as the official leader of the opposition now that the collective of independents outweighs his party members.
The premier may have little cause for concern regarding the stability of his government for the remaining 15 months before Nomination Day after Roy McTaggart abandoned his independent position to sign up as a full PPM member, but recent and evident tension between Winston Connolly and the premier could see that rookie George Town member jump from the PPM ship as well before the official start of the election campaign in March 2017. If so, that would begin to narrow the gap and make things considerably more uncomfortable for McLaughlin ahead of the national campaign in the new political landscape.
In a release announcing his decision to leave the PPM to cross the floor and join the opposition benches as an independent in the New Year, Suckoo said it was “not taken lightly”. However, with all signs pointing to a record-breaking early start to the election campaign and the unknown territory of one man, one vote in single member constituencies presenting a whole new political landscape, Suckoo appears to believe he can win it alone or has his sights set on aligning with a new group, party or coalition.
In his release Suckoo said his concerns leading to his resignation from the ruling Progressives ran much deeper “than a simple debate about same-sex marriage”, as he pointed to what he said were the foundations upon which Cayman was built, suggesting these were “now under attack” and that the people’s representatives must take a stand to protect the Christian principles, which he believes have served Cayman in the past.
“Failure to do so will inevitably lead us down a path from where there is no return,” he said, clearly gambling on attracting the Christian vote. “There is no doubt that the Church has played a significant role in the social and cultural development of the Cayman Islands, and the days when the majority of our social and cultural interactions were organised by the Church are still recent memory for many, including myself. I therefore cannot, as a matter of principle, follow a course of action that seeks to further diminish the importance of our Christian heritage and further deteriorate our social development,” he added, in an oblique reference to the PPM government’s plans to review the immigration regulations relating to legally married same-sex spouses.
“This is a difficult decision for me, but I know that I can continue to effectively and successfully represent my people as an Independent member of the Legislative Assembly,” Suckoo said, adding that he would remain fully committed to his constituents.
“I will continue to support any government initiatives that will benefit these islands,” Suckoo stated but added that “resigning from the Progressives at this time is the most honourable course of action and most appropriate option available to me”.
Of the 9 PPM MLAs originally elected in 2013 only seven remain on the govt benches. Assuming that some of those those that voted PPM are disenfranchised and do not like PPM anymore – meaning that only about a third or less of caymaninan voters are behing PPM and about 66% of the country do not support PPM. Time to wake up PPM, you are seriously sinking….
I’m a lesbian trapped in a man’s body! I dare you to watch his clip!
West Wing – Bartlet & the Bible
Just search search for it on YouTube.
Look at what is going on in the world, and people are using their time to quote the bible. Well after you watch this video, nuff said!
Caveman politics appealing to cavemen in the electorate. There are a lot of caves in Bodden Town.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Game of Thrones Season 3, episode 6.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…..Psalm 14:1
The fool has a talking heart? Now that is one hell of a party trick! I’ll book him for entertainment at the next satanist night.
and fools believe in a book, written by men, to prove their god exists. Which is more foolish? The fool or the fool that follows the fool?
Same as the fools who have used books for knowledge education and everything else that his life depends on…all written by MEN. Do you really think you invented what you do today? it all came from books that men wrote, hundreds..some thousands of years ago.
Christ is the light, man doesn’t like the light, he is so deep in sin that the light would expose his sinful deeds, so he prefers to stay in darkness and not let his sins be exposed.
can i ask a question? why do people like you pick on people that believe in Christ and the Bible? we do not hound you of your life you live..leave us be..please!
The answer to your question is simple. As long as you try to impose your backwards Bronze Age fairy stories on non-believers as law we will have a legitimate basis to criticise your insanity and interference. If you want to live your lives guided by a work of fiction that is your look out, and I really would not care. Just don’t force me to live by your craziness.
Blessed are the cheesemakers ….
“He descended from upstairs bearing aloft two Golden foil eggs in each hand. He has been and it is good”
The Easter Bunny
1980
How homosexuality is dealt with will indeed be an issue that will divide this country.
I noticed CNS you say that Suckoo and Anthony left for different reasons. Both left because they did not agree with how it was being handled. So there is no difference just because one is retiring and the other is starting his political career is really not relevant.
Suckoo has stood up for a few matters this term where he went against the PPM. He has shown us to be someone that is above party politics. We voted him in as we believed that he was smart and could tell when the PPM was not thinking about the people they represent.
On this particular matter Suckoo has stuck to his christian believes. The Bible on one hand speaks against homosexuality while on the other hand it speaks about loving all. For the Christian this means loving the individual while hating what they are doing.
That being said this is a human rights issue which goes beyond christian teachings. Not everyone is a christian but they still must be given certain rights. We already have ISIS and their religous beliefs and we also have the early church christian beliefs. Lets learn from those and move forward.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Lord of the Rings, right? I just can’t remember which one. I love those fairy stories.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…..Psalm 14:1
Quoting the Bible to support a quote from the Bible is a touch circular don’t you think?
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…2 Timothy 3:16
Which bit of circular don’t you get? Quoting the Bible to support the provenance of the Bible has a distinct logical flaw.
Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don’t you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you’d never been
But all the things that you’ve seen
Will slowly fade away
Noel Gallagher,
1996
“Ooh … Ah…. Let me see …. Griffindore”
The sorting hat,
Harry Potter
1998
These people don’t think. They are domesticated, like cattle, from birth into believe this nonsense and fear those that question them. One should feel pity for them, but they are so bloody annoying.
Yes, quoting Game of Thrones shows wit and intellect. A more intelligent stance than quoting form the bible. What would Newton and DaVinci know that made them crazy enough to be Christians and reliant on fairy tales from the bible. You make much more sense to me.
Yes, there was a great deal of religious free speech in the early 17th and early 18th centuries.
Tonight.. after everyone in Cayman has rung in the new year with heavy partying (drinking and in some cases drugs)… there will be many households in Cayman with young children who will be woken-up up from their sleep and they will be molested by a family member.
There will be many women who will be violently beaten or assaulted by their baby fathers or husbands, but they won’t report it because of fear, shame or worse… ignorance as to what a healthy loving relationship is.
There will be Caymanian teens and pre-teens hanging out on the street doing things that an a child who is raised by sensible parents who can communicate and provide a loving home environment would never dream of doing.
There will be Caymanian men in positions of power or who have influence in our community, that will have had a romp with their mistress but had made it home in time for 12 o’clock to kiss their wife with the same mouth… or to beat her up.
On Friday, no one will be held accountable for their despicable actions.
It’s a new year in Cayman and the same disgusting sins in this “christian” community will continue. No one will be outraged at the daily horrors of the social issues we have despite being this single perfect example in the Caribbean of Christian values that some would have you believe we are.
Daddy is also my Grandfather. Uncle sneaks in to my room when mummy is sleeping. Daddy hurts mummy for no reason. I woke up and found my cousin on top of me. No body home cares about me so I sleep with lots of guys to get attention. These are just some of the everyday stories that happen in Cayman and NOT ONE OF YOU STINKING POLITICIANS or PASTORS have ever worked on passing bills to put some teeth in to the law to protect children or women, yet you talk about the sanctity of marriage and family life?
… on Sunday all of the above type of persons (politicians, pastors and scum) will go to church and sit and complain about two concenting adults of the same sex wanting to be together in a monogamous and loving relationship.
Signed,
A disgusted-heterosexual-athiest Caymanian.
I’m no atheist, but I agree with everything in your comment.
Caymanian
ha ha ha … I agree with you. I wouldn’t be that fool-fool to say there isn’t a God 🙂
What is surprising is that the God squad never make any effort to give a case for the existence of this “God” chap. I’m an atheist, tell me why I might be wrong.
There is no God. God is a crutch for the weak-minded and those brain washed by parents.
Nicely summed up. I remember when Angelique Howell published guidelines on child abuse back in 2007 and only one media outlet was prepared to publish them in full. Within weeks the whole initiative had been quietly buried.
Going back a bit further we had Derek Haines’ very effective DTF. The problem was he trod on more than a few well-connected toes and look what happened.
There are simply too many false Christians here who use their ‘faith’ as an excuse for the fact that they are simply ignorant bigots. I’m also an atheist but I have no problem with religious beliefs as long as they are genuine but that requires a heck of a lot more than just quoting the bible, praying and going to church on Sundays.
A voice of reason right here! Your comment is like a breath of fresh air!
Well what a way to start the new year…I finally got mentioned in the CNS comment section again….. sure have been missing that. However, Anonymous 11:05 if you care to put me in the limelight – thank you.. I do appreciate it…..but have the guts to sign your name.
H G Nowak
I signed off with my moniker as I referred to yours.
Whatever the case, said reference is but a side-note to what actual matters in this story.
– Whodatis
George don’t count on it. Too coward to sign their names. We have plenty of them now living amongts us. No guts, no glory.
An interesting aspect of CNS sub-culture is that the “I use my name, use yours” post is generally the preserve of the end-of-the-road loser. I suppose it makes sense, they have nothing to lose by expressing views. Many are afraid to identify themselves and instead want to protect their careers so that they can look after their families properly.
The great Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter, Simon Wiesenthal, once said of people beyond the reach of his attempts to bring human rights and justice to this world, “leave them to God’. This also applies to these really horrible, bigoted anti-gay comments from people on CNS.
I myself would support the minor Immigration statute that would result in the conferring of civil union rights to same-sex couples. Why deny a right that is a foundamental tenant of natural justice to two people who; albeit of the same-sex, choice to live as a union. So I would amend the appropriate legislation as a matter of urgency and close the controversial chapter.
I would put the issue of “whole sale” same sex unions to a national PEOPLES referandum.
But what is a more fundamental issue to me is the absolute necesity for the fast tracking of “political maturity” in our country whereby if we are to operate a strict party system of political governance; then there must be a CLEARLY VISABLE PHILOSOPHY (a “what do I stand for”!?) MARKER that separates one political party from another.
Currenly each party is only different by way of its leader.That is a recipe for the kind of confusion that we now are witness to with a constant “dance across the political aisle”. If a political party had stated core values. A philosophy of sorts; we would easily avoid this type of undue drama.
This issue of gay rights and LGBT unions is a most vexing issue that should be addressed rightly by the PEOPLE by way of a “peoples referandum”!
It is said that if one is going thru hell they ought not to stop to take pictures.
The LGBT issue is but a “hell” for us. Let’s move through it; learn from it and don’t stop to take “pictures”.
This too shall pass.
Does the use of quotation marks mean the words are meant to be taken ironically, or is it some kind of spy language?
I know you like to throw this question out there on other posts so I cannot help but ask the same.
Did you pass the English test at immigration?
Whether I passed it or not is of little concern. What is important is that I have a name and there is nothing you can do about me or it.
But whats your name!???
( Now I can better appreciate why the Turks and Caicos attaches the title of “belonger” when they confer any Immigration rights to visitors)….
I’m Spartacus. Nice to meet you.
Living proof that the desire to be in politics should bar the person for life from ever being involved.
Living proof that the standard of education in the Islands is shocking.
Look behind the people who may lead you to Independence one day, you may be a little disappointed.
Hate is Hate, no matter how you dress it or try and present it as your beliefs, human beings are all made differently and thankfully we are ! It is painful to see my fellow Caymanians embracing hate and finding comfort in employing the fear and intimidation hate promotes throughout our communities.
If you have lost your understanding of hate and how distructive it is to our communities being promoted by persons like Al and Tony, look at how our children play together today. Most children never understand or employ hate until an adult exposes them to it or teaches them to hate someone for being different is acceptable.
IT IS NOT …. ACCEPTABLE … TO HATE ….
Just this year as a mixed race Caymanian I was exposed to hate speech delivered by a most unlikely person I was called the “n” word. First it was disbelief, then confusion, then fear. I was never exposed to it growing up in Cayman, it never occurred to me working or traveling the word. But the day hate is leveled in your direction it will change the way you understand hates destructive effects.
Today these two misguided politicians are hating “the gays” tomorrow it maybe you for whatever reason they might not accept that you are DIFFERENT … think about it, we are all different, don’t get caught up on todays label for HATE as it will change tomorrow.
Instead focus on the fact it is unacceptable in any society big or small for its leaders to openly utter, support or encourage the exclusion or HATE of another. Tomorrow it could just be you they determine they have the right to HATE ….
To 9:52 PM
WE are already POOR and CRIME RIDDEN and in some ways worst than Jamaica. Keep following outsiders and we will be worst off in the future!!! We have become prosperous , kind and loving because of our CHRISTIAN heritage. WE are already on the slippery slope of no return because of listening to outsiders.
Too bad Al isn’t sharp enough to realise that Mac is manipulating him; this is all part of a UDP plan and Al is just a pawn. This is the risk of having politically unexperienced MLAs.
2017 I’ll be voting for a more experienced MLA in BT!! Someone who will be loyal to his party and the people who elect him.
Don’t take yourself so seriously Al . Just like Mac you seem to think its all about you instead of doing a days work for your inflated salary.
Thats because Mac is better for Cayman….. RIP PPM
Loyal to his party hey. Well how far do u go with that. How about loyal to the people and the principles you stay for. You are all about party not people.
Cayman is becoming more and more like some backwoods Alabama, Missouri, etc, Tea Party county. All we need now is “open carry” laws.
That would be great. Then I’d be able to protect myself against all the “Christians” who keep attempting to break-in to my home/cars.
Am I the only one who is getting bored to death with the endless Caymanian obsession with homosexuality. Why is so important to you all? Does it really bother you that much what consenting grown ups do in private? And please stop with “the Bible tells us…” nonsense. The Bible has some quite apalling old testament teachings that you woud be too embarassed to read out loud in church. Besides I see little in the Bible to indicate that Jesus was heterosexual. Quite the opposite in fact.
The Bible and Jesus does in fact speck on same sex and marrage in the new testament Romans1:18-32matthew 19:5 so please if u dont know the bible don’t try to use it ad a corrupt instrument
31/12at12:25 pm — I agree, I think we should lay off people’s business. And to all the holy-righteous amongst us, I would rather turn a blind eye to things I may not like than to drive people to suicide or to inflict emotional pain. Compassion, folks, that is what it is all about.
So true. Obsessing over what gay people do in privacy seems…well,…gay!
This is why the parties here make no sense. He goes from being a founding member of the UDP, to PPM, to “independent.” The parties here stand for nothing but a cult of personality, or opposition to individuals of other parties. It’s be nice if they actually had some kind of political foundation and principles so that being a member of a particular party or being independent actually meant something…
I am so saddened by my country, you people have the nerve and energy to judge me AnD deny me my basic human rights, when crime rates are rising, education system failing and this is what majority of caymanians fighting against. Pure ignorance I beg you to read a book and enlighten yourselfs. This is so trivial. I am a gay caymanian and it scares me that kids are being molested, domestic abuse and correupt officials but you care more about some stories your past generations told u, personally i could careless about what any MLA has against or member of the public has to say about the LBGT. I know the day is coming where we will have our rights. But I beg you fellow caymanians please raise your voice towards bigger issues that we have going on!
PS. What’s the worst that is going to happen?
It seems you dont fully understand what “basic human rights” are and you do have that to work to live to eat to spend your money regardless of being gay. We as caymanias have a choice keep to our Christian foundation or allow the world to demolish it fully. Our Island is full of sin but should we allow our very laws to reflect it? Cause if u going change one law to be accepting of sin might as well you change them all and empty northward. Cause the basic laws in place are all biblical and to rewrite one outside of a biblical standpoint is opening us up to change them all.
11:14 when LGBTs Reproduce.
Pay them no mind.
Many of the fake “anti-bigotry” campaigners on this very thread would be the same ones excusing and supporting people like David Legge, Barefoot Man, and Oliver Letwin.
This issue and Suckoo’s decision (which has pleased me very much as I always considered it an ill-fit) goes far beyond the matter of gay marriage.
Unfortunately for some, they are simply unable to view the world beyond their engrained and generationally myopic blinders.
No group, nationality, culture, race, or class holds the monopoly on a (phantom) global standard of acceptable culture and values.
If differing cultures bother some folks so much, then they really should return to their comfort zones and live out their existence in ignorance bliss.
It is really that simple.
(shoulder shrug)
– Whodatis
*Some of the attitudes on display here align perfectly with those of “terroristic” fundamental Islam – just in a less explosive form. However, the ultimate objective is the same.
I looked and looked again to find some kind of relevance to the story in your drivle above. Alas, I found none.
Yes, because a reasonable person would take the time to read, sign-in, and submit a reply to a post that he or she found irrelevant.
Makes perfect sense.
– Whodatis
I realize that there will be a portion of the local Christian community may never be able to fully grasp this, but there is an interesting article on CNN today about Sharia (religious) Law being enforced in Indonesia. An unmarried man and a woman are ordered to be beaten with a cane for being purportedly seen alone in the same room together (see link below). Please people, try and understand why religious laws are different from national or societal laws.
Different countries, different religions, different extremes, but same principle.
I know there will be many who will listen but they won’t hear. Unfortunately here in Cayman, there will be even more that won’t even listen.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/30/asia/indonesia-caning/index.html
Perhaps he should have resigned from politics, not just the PPM. So called leaders like Alva are showing how confused they really are about what they are elected to do. It is so sad to see people like this believing what they are doing is honorable. They are only weakening the already crumbling ground this government is standing on.
Alva”s and Anthony”s position will only last for a few more years. Just like the last hangers-on of those who would not recognize legal marriage after divorce many years ago. Yes, agreed, the Bible denounces it. But our understanding the living word evolves. When Jesus was on earth he tried to teach everyone this. He didn”t change the written law, but he asked everyone to be more accepting and be open to a more full understanding of what it means.
Man and woman. What does that really mean? Some women are more of a man than Alva or Anthony. Some men are more of a woman than Juliana O”Connor or Hillary Clinton. Our country will at some point accept this. It is just sad we have to drag ourselves through this bitterness in order to finally get there.
Alva, Anthony, keep throwing your stones. But just know eventually your arm will get tired, and you may regret the damage you have caused. Stop the hate. Don’t be a modern day Pharisee.
Yes 8:17am its not good enough that you and your foreign interlopers are incharge of everything in this little place and have meddled and keep trying to influenced and interfered with every political outcome and legal process. Now you want to vote too to complete your sick little agenda which is to displace and disenfranchise the local population. It time to go home buddy boy time to go home!
Imagine if the Monster Raving Bigot Party held the balance of power. Cayman might be the new Iran.
How is that any different anon 950am than the current Anti Cayman Secret Alliance G-hadist Group ACSAGG made up of every nationality here and funded and directed by the UK to siphon off the very dignity of the Caymanian people, reducing them to refugees in their own Territory. Rev :345 its Unilever 1928 light and glossy British of course!
Blatant political “manoeuvre-ations” by Alva Suckoo and Roy McTaggart
One wants to keep playing in the Garden of Eden and uses faith as a justification for political survival in BT. The other wants to ride the K Tibbetts Coattail Express into re-election for 2017.
Meanwhile Premier McLaughlin is in his usual state of denial busy with his daily two hour brylcream preparations.
Al, some men are born with more feminine genes, you can clearly see it. And they have indicated that they have an attraction for the same sex. These feelings are embedded in them. Something that heterosexuals won’t be able to ever understand because God didn’t make them that way.
My question to you is – what then are you going to say to these people if there are any in your district? As an MLA what will you say to them when you can’t represent them?
You know there are a percentage of people inclined in them to have attractions for the same-sex, and even born a certain way. And I’m not talking about lustful people who overnight just choose to live a gay lifestyle … no … I’m talking about decent folk who say they can’t help it because God made them that way.
Speaking a relative of Mr. Alva Suckoo, we are both acutely aware of the existence and reality of homosexuals – as we share relatives of this sexual identification.
Furthermore, those relatives are loved and embraced as all others in our extended family.
So please try again.
The one thing we hate more that than Peoples Progressive Movement is the Movement of Progressive People.
SPLITTERS
Yo wha u expect the man to do?? stay on the M/V Brylcream Express which is sinking fast!!
Q. Whatever happened to the Movement of Progressive People?
A. There in Bodden Town
SPLITTERS!
Pandering to the extremist vote. Risky move, that generation is quickly dying out.
Confused? The UK FCO are not pushing this gay agenda from what I’ve read, and would venture an educated guess putting all points together, it was the HRC and law professor with others who want to seek independence in few years who probably want the civil union dependency on work permits,
and maybe Alva is UDP. But smart enough to know politically, going as PPM was best move to get elected and now he can run as independent to get in with new govt in 2017 maybe with Saunders in order to give Mac or linferd their dream to be premier…. My predictions so let’s see what happens next year…. Yup in 15 months or so they’re all out and we have a chance to make real change and sure they will still give in to HRC etc
The expansion of the population is the primary goal. Either for permit revenue or to increase residency for income tax should the financial sector start to contract. Either way, it is coming
If he would now resign from politics altogether that would be excellent for this country.
Ah yes, the political landscape is changing. Thankfully we still have people like Mr. Suckoo who recognize Cayman’s strong Christian heritage. Wonder if the PPM will continue to pander to the extreme minority of people who support “same-sex” rights.
What is next, is it Happy Holidays replacing Merry Christmas???
By the time election comes we will already have a new government – all it is going to take is Mr. Winston and Miss Julie to switch – one has a history of switching allegiances and the other is a rookie MLA who I don’t know.
Perhaps we will have a combination of political parties getting together to form a majority coalition – will see.
Happy New Years to all in Cayman, may all of you and your families make memories in 2016 that will be cherished for a lifetime. God Bless You.
Mr Sukoo has aright to his beliefs and he will live and perish by the voters, so I have nothing to say about his opinions. However, speaking as a Citizen and a professong Christian, I have no wish to single out sexual sins as the big bad wolf. These “sins” do far less harm than other immorality manifest in unethical and selfish actions and attitudes. We also have to be aware that these international conventions are there to protect groups that have been horribly abused physically and emotionally. As a Christian I believe that Jesus’ compassion for the least among us behoves us to do the same. For the new year, I hope we will examine ourselves for judgmental, unChristlike attitudes and resolve to love others as ourselves.
As a Christian you are saying sexuality is a lesser sin and has no value,? Wow it think you should reevaluate your Christianity. Because to change and take one Christian aspect of the law might as well u change them all if we go by what toyr saying l. Steal Kill molest all sins of the flesh dont matter its only biblical hmm
I am surprised that such a young man in 2015 would be homophobic. Not a good thing Al, it’s going to make it hard for a lot of people to take you seriously.
@7:12am – you are clearly trying to stir up a conversation uncalled for….
I suppose what you are saying is any better?
Come on….contribute positively or get back to work….then again
How is standing for Christianity somehow Homophobic?
Read your bible. It preaches homophobia
You obviously have not read the Bible…Why use it to say it is homophobic if you haven’t read it…give me one verse that is homophobic..
Anon 712am you obviously taking it quite serious or you would be on here with your drivel Goweh!!
How does standing up for what you believe make you homophobic? At least Messrs. Suckoo and Eden have the cojones to do so and not pander to the vocal minority.
At a time when the foundation on which these Islands were built, is slowly being whittled away for political expediency, in the guise of human rights, we need Arden and Ezzard to step forward. Where are you two guys?
If you really knew as you stated you would know that he does not harbor any hate at all in his heart. If you knew you you would know that he is kind, gentle, honest as well as very brilliant and dependable.
Al who…?
Take a man to stand for what he believe,
Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong.
They must realise.. religion has no place in politics. Keep the fairy tale book’s in the fantasy aisle. christianity is no different. If you want to believe in the invisble man in the sky then that’s your choice. Basing morals on a 2000 year old book that was written by goat herders who thought the earth was flat for thousands of years is illogical. The only reason why we have a christian heritage in these islands can be traced back to slavery. You can thank the slave masters for indoctrinating our island ancestors to christianity through threats and violence. We, the people of cayman, do not need religion. We need strong leaders who know the difference between fantasy and reality.
You obviously have limited knowledge of the origins of the Bible and Christianity in my country and the Caribbean at large.
The Bible taught that the earth was round long before people discovered it. The scriptures were written by respected kings, prophets and ancient scholars. If we can respect writers and philosophers like Shakespare and Aristotle, we can also respect biblical writers, even if we do not agree with them.
Where does the Bible tell us the world is round? I am struggling to reconcile that statement with early scientists being called heretics for suggesting the Earth was not flat.
You will find the answer to your question about the earth being round staring you right in the face if you read the Old Testament book of Isaiah chapter 40, specifically verse 22 included hereunder from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.
21
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
After doing that, you may also find it interesting and enlightening to read the entire chapter 40 from the NIV and/or from the [older] King James Version (KJV) – for your convenience here are the links to both of these versions.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40&version=NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40&version=KJV
Happy New Year to all and may everyone resolve to be more tolerant and respectful of each other during the 366 days of 2016 (yes, it’s a Leap Year) – irrespective of differences – than they may have been during the year just past.
“Around the world, things will start going astray, and those things placed there by their forefathers will be lost for generations even though they were only put there the night before.
And at that time, a man shall lose another man’s hammer …”
Brian
128 AD
About tea tIme
I thought the Bible says up front that Earth was around for about just 4 or 5 days before we discovered it.
I understand that this is your opinion and you are free to express it but don’t mock people’s beliefs. It is very offensive. If you don’t believe in God that is on you, its what you believe. Where people go wrong is mocking other’s religion, beliefs and other things and it is not necessary.
No. Where people go wrong is feeling offended by their mocked belief because of their own insecure faith.
God save the Queen.
G.W. Bush requested God’s blessings on his American troops as he sent them to illegally invade a Muslim nation(s).
Just saying.
– Who
No problem Capn Roy can plug the holes in the ppm ship wid he mouth and fingers while deh 3 drunk power hungry captains fight over the wheel!
Alamighty, by the time the good ole ship gets to shore Capt Roy ga be bigger than Mr. Kurt
Bigotry will always have its supporters… just look at Donald Trump.
Time to take back our little place from this evil menace that is upon us! The only hatred and contempt I see around here is for us and anything Caymanian. The PPM and its puppet leadership are a dogone disgrace. SUCKOO for premier!
So happy for you Alva..Stand up for what you believe in..Alden has no cajones and will sell us all to the highest bidder as long as he remains in power…
“There are none so deaf as those that will not hear. None so blind as those that will not see.”
Yes, this is the truth. However, when the general public are ignorant to what really goes on behind closed doors here in these Cayman Islands, they remain ignorant to the truth.
The politicians are playing psychological warfare with the voters, and they win every single time. The voters should stay home 2017. Talk to their neighbors, come together as a people of all nationalities, see what “Government” really has done for all of us….what they have done to this Country.
For way of information and to see where I am going with this, Google the definition of “Government”. Tell me what you think after you read the definition.
Peace.
Alden is losing all his support because of arrogance and poor leadership. There is now officially a crisis at PPM HQ no matter how much lip stick they put on this pig.
Pure Bollocks! It’s called political expediency. Christian heritage my arse more than half of elected members either beat women, have been in rehab due to drink or drugs and openly cheat on their spouses. Or are those acceptable sins for the PPM faithful and voters to admire as leadership?
If not, is it criteria for membership to the PPM and elected office in the Caymans? The hypocrisy and charade of Christian principles they all claim is enough to choke an elephant. Your leaders are morally bankrupt and there is no difference between PPM or UDP or the ‘Independents’ who haven’t the foggiest clue what the term means. They spout hateful rhetoric because they failed in their professional careers and call it representing the people.
Well said my friend.
The thumbs up on the O’Really Factor comment should tell our glorious leaders something!
Hear hear OReally!!!
This 2 party farce is copied off Eastern Caribbean corruption politics to retain power and simply fail the people. Their rhetoric is poison plain and simple yet we still swallow it like children, a real shame.
Let’s get real folks??? With only 60,000 population we do not NEED these fools, we only need decent public management and even better auditing.
If we had true leadership, CUC would not be allowed guaranteed profits, solar energy would soar, education would finally be a real first priority (including paid university) we would have zero unemployment and corrupt fat-cat cronies would be run out of town! Planning dept is undeniably conflicted and concrete construction should not be our economic crutch. We need a better plan than what is in our pockets for the next 5 years- a future plan??
Our best export should be university educated Caymanians and our biggest import should be Enviromental well-heeled tourism not cruise ships.
I truly wish all politicians were all independent (and independent thinkers and doers!!) so we could focus on what the people need instead of party greed and party power.
Let’s face it, the average joe voter feels loyal to these parties because they have been “promised” that loyalty will give them lifestyles… Until Joe voter wakes up no progress will be made.
The 2 party system has failed us and only helped our pathetic career politicians- shame on them all. Shame on them all for their greed and power.
Will the real leaders please stand up?
Mr. Suckoo, as a Caymanian, please let me say I am truly disappointed. I think the path you and Mr. Eden have started Cayman on now now is much more dangerous than the alternative you had. Picture it: Next Election, McKeeva gets in with a mix of UDP members and independents, they continue to oppose the UK’s request for same-sex equality, eventually Cayman has to make the decision to comply or go independent, Cayman goes independent, shortly within a few years we look exactly like Jamaica, poor and crime-ridden. This, all because you and Mr. Eden could not see yourselves in a community where Christians and LGBT persons (several who are Caymanian Christians by the way) could co-exist, not very differently than they do somewhat right now albeit while LGBT persons endure much abuse.
If there are any other PPM members who are contemplating following in Mr. Eden’s and Mr. Suckoo’s steps, I would ask that you first consider the impulsivity of this action, and the narrow-minded and either-or type of thinking that this is. Each PPM member has had so much to offer Cayman, please don’t throw that all away, along with the country, on one single issue.
Sincerely,
A PPM Constituent
The UK has said that they will not interfere in the whole “same-sex” issue and it is up to us, don’t you get it yet? There is more to this than you know! Alva and Tony were inside and knew what was going on obviously they saw or heard something and it was enough to make them move!
Go sit down please, why couldn’t we be like Barbados instead of Jamaica, sick of people saying we could end up like Jamaica if we gain independence.
Barbados is turning into Jamaica. Cayman will get there much faster as unlike Barbados, the majority of our population are ultimately from_______?
Cause Barbados is a shiny example of a wonderful economic success?
Why the hell would anyone aspire to be like Barbados? Switzerland or Singapore, perhaps, but Barbados? God, I hope not!
Who cares – well buster we do. The country is being sold out left & right. There are no morals or ethics, only baloney thrown around while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The chickens are now coming home to roost from all these smart moves. Crime up, homelessness up, mental issues up, the native people are very unsettled; how much more or how much longer can it continue? This is the wild, wild west and keep it going to satisfy the few. Check your history, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
Well done Al Suckoo, a man of principle and Christian values. I am even prouder of you today. Time and 2017 will prove that you are man enough and more than capable of representing your constituency in Bodden Town. Indeed a man who is willing to listen to the people who elected him to represent them.
If only that spineless Roy McTaggart was half the man I thought he was and he did not feel that he had to suckle to the teat of the PPM. If he was indeed an independent thinker, as he told me before the last election in order to get my vote, imagine how much different 2016 could have been.
Had Roy stayed independent, there would have been 5 independent backbenchers making up the official Government Opposition instead of that embarrassment called McKeeva Bush acting in that official capacity. To say nothing of the fact that PPM would have been 2 members shorter and may have stopped acting that they rule the world and can do whatever they feel like doing.
McKeeva cannot oppose anything that Alden brings to the house like the $300million dock, giving away future impost duty revenues to rich developers, giving away future tourism tax revenue, spending tens of millions on the Turtle Farm, spending tens of millions on Cayman Airways, making deals with the private sector to get roads that the country should be spending the money earmarked for the dock to provide, not finishing the schools and improving the education system……………..simply because those were the same policies and modus operandi he had when he was Premier.
My wish for the new year is that Winston, who I know is an independent thinker, is next. A Government Opposition that indeed will oppose the runaway policies of the PPM.
Again Alva Suckoo………….congrats my man. Stand tall.
mac, kurt, ozzie, ezzard, whogene, arden, juju….etc…
cayman, the whole world is laughing at you…
I’m surprised he took this long. Will soon be an abandoned ship
And where exactly are you from oh enlightened one?
Yes, the world is laughing at our politicians…… at least the people who have heard of the Cayman Islands. People just have a tendency to laugh at clowns.
The world need to laugh at the Caymanian people that vote these idiots in!
who cares….just another backward politician that has done nothing except collect a huge pay cheque each month…..
time to allow expats full voting rights and be allowed to be elected…..
trust me everybody will be better off….
If you want to vote to determine the direction of your own country, it is simple. Go home.
Not today, tomorrow, never Bobo!
Lived in many countries and I never had the right to vote. So no different here.
Huge paycheck? They don’t get paid nearly as much as they earned in the private sector and there isn’t as much stress. People always use that huge paycheck excuse without doing any real research. The money is in the private sector NOT public service. You are talking about ex-KPMG, ex-Maples, ex-Walkers people…the paycheck they earn now is laughable compared to what they earned in the private sector. Have you any idea the pay out Wayne Panton got? You’ve shown your ignorance with that one.
Homophobia is the FEAR of homosexuality…..no one is saying they fear it, they are saying they do not wish to recognize same sex marriages in our legislation. We will always disagree with someone else’s position but at least respect the fact that some of them are taking a position on anything at all instead of cowering in indecision. People have a right to advocate for same sex marriage and people have a right to advocate against it. My opinion, put it to a referendum. This would represent a huge change to our culture in terms of the legislative overhaul and societal impact – let the people decide what they want.
As an expat I have absolutely zero interest in voting here (or PR, or even vacationing here).
All I know is, Al Suckoo is a man with the best interest of Caymanians at heart.
End of story.
– Whodatis
once again Al does what he thinks will bring him votes
“All I know is……”
Glad to see Who has finally admitted he knows nothing else.
Lol!
That’s actually a good one poster :-p
– Who
Unless they are LGBT.
Well done Al. True independent thinker.
You surely mean a True Independent Flip-Flopper. Thinker? Now that’s a stretch.
I’ve known this man for a long time and I am overwhelmingly shocked and saddened to find out that he could have such hatred in his heart.
hatred. what hatred he’s only standing up for what he believes in and what has been taught since birth.
Pathetic skewed comment designed to slur a man who has the courage of his convictions.
What’s inside must come out
Very strange the Media knew before the PPM knew what he was doing. I think the Secretary off the island too.
Minus ONE VOTE for SUCKOO.
Hey there @7:32 pm
Question: To take a position equates to hatred in a persons heart? If I’ve known you for a long time and you decided not to join me on a position, I really can’t fathom how that translates to you being hateful.
If that’s how you arrive at conclusions not in your favour, I’m guessing you (a) either have not friends or family and just run wild with no sense of direction and say crap (b) just a bully expecting others not to think independently or (c) all of the above
If you have nothing to say….say nothing at all!!!
Bless up!