Ex-Chamber boss accuses PPM of vote buying
Johann Moxam
(CNS): The former president of the Chamber of Commerce has accused the government of hypocrisy and vote buying over the Christmas clean-up and the emergence of cash for the Ready2Work programme. Johann Moxam said he hoped that after waking up to the problem almost three years into their term in office, the unemployment initiative will be a true partnership but he said it was ironic that it is only happening now as the government starts looking ahead to polling day.
Moxam pointed out that during their time in opposition the PPM criticised the UDP government for its seasonal clean-up programme and accused then premier McKeeva Bush of vote buying. But if it was vote buying then, it was no different this time, he said, regardless of claims by government that this time around there were more controls in place.
“Vote buying is vote buying,” Moxam told Cayman 27’s Tammi Sulliman in an episode of The Panel last week.
He also echoed recent sentiments in the broader community that the clean-up exercise was a missed opportunity to register and profile unemployed locals. It is understood that many of the people who turned up looking for work were manual labourers and construction workers who, despite the number of permits held by construction companies across the island, are struggling to find jobs.
He said that $1.7 million had shown up to now try and address the unemployment problem and, dismissing claims by the premier that this was not a spur of the moment project, he said it was all about electioneering.
Premier Alden McLaughlin recently told CNS that the Ready2Work initiative was a way of removing the risk for employers to take on Caymanians that may not fit the exact requirements of a given vacancy but to give them a chance to learn the ropes. The government is going to pick up the wage tab during a training period with the hope that employers will then take on the trained local to fill the job on a full time basis.
The details of the initiative are expected to be made public over the next week or so, ahead of the latest unemployment figures to be published towards the end of next month, which government thinks will show the local unemployment rate will have dropped after its increase in October to 8%.
4:10pm you are absolutely right about the Thumb War. It has now begun, as a direct result of the recent emergency meetings of ppm political flunkies at the Ppm Turkey Council HQ These places were supposedly set up to help the people, Instead it’s now PPM strategy eating Time because the disciples, minions and sheep now feel threatened in their little politically vulnerable positions and political influenced & financially important anointed jobs in Gov’t, especially those that were doled out to their loyal supporters so they could prop up the regime and make money. Finally the PPM always got the jump on the other political hopefuls by starting the campaign 15 months early Not this time BOBO!!!! someone has betrayed dem??
Speaking of thumb wars, are you the compooter dude or does he just work for you?
UDP, PPM, Independent….it really doesn’t matter who runs the Country as long as they do it with integrity. The big issue is corruption. XXXXXX gave a master class in it and now there’s a whole bunch of young wannabes and a couple of old ones that can’t wait to get their hands into the cookie jar. Kudos to PPM for running a clean Government. If we could only keep it going, the funds for social programs would accumulate nicely.
Well said 8.02 but sadly the subject of your statement does not consider his actions to be corrupt. To him it is the perks of office and those damn Limeys keep spoiling his party.
Wa u talkin bout bruno? my hands is clean, bo bo. ferewa. in mi hart is puer too.
1)Karma
2)What goes around comes around
3)If you spit in the sky it will drop in your eyes…..
Just look at what’s been happening to the PPM over the last couple months.
Yet PPM’s cool aid drinking lunatics out in force defending their sinking ship and its confused captain…..what a bunch of fools.
Who the cap fits, let them wear it. Whatever happens, mckeewa bush is never going to have another shot at destroying this country and our people, including you.
Yes they buy votes wid their favorite bird the TURKEY which has tryptophan which makes their supporters fall asleep. They on the other hand always eat Turtle meat!
Who the cap fits, let them wear it.
Hey, there’s dat dude wid all the compootas again.
Boy Aldon you is a idiot, all now I still laughing…… Lmbao
Hopefully you’ll still be laughing after mckeewa and Johan loses in the next election.
Na ga wuk Moxam. Na today bo bo.
Vote buying cannot help these lot cause Cayman is fed up and the PPM days are numbered. The PPM is Cayman’s worst government ever, PPM, aka, poor people mistake, piss poor management, people picking mangoes and the regressives… Will never ever after 2016 /17 hold power in these blessed Cayman Islands for a long long time. Election day can’t come soon enough, what a rejoicing day that will be.
Blah blah blah all criticism and no solutions. First you say the government is doing nothing about unemployment and now they come up with an innovative way to put hundreds of your own people to work and you call it vote buying.
And the rest of the negative posters if you don’t employ caymanians or intend to sign up caymanians when this programme is rolled out. Shut up.
Transparency at it best…. Very transparent that someone trying to position themselves for the next election. No end of wannabe politicians in Cayman. Problem is each lot turns out to be more useless that the lot before. Pure hypocrisy, when Mr. Moxam was president of the Chamber of Commerce what did he do for Caymanian workers???
The Chamber of Commerce will be forever marred by this former president. This is pure politics and the Chamber continues to be entangled in politics just as it was when he was the President. The Chamber members and its council should ask that they no longer be associated with Moxams statements which are pure politics. Its really disgraceful! His only platform that allows him to continue to spout off is apparently through his post with the Chamber that he held a few years back (which wouldn’t be so bad if it was so politically driven and motivated)…otherwise, I am uncertain with what authority he speaks.
This reads like an upset ex-president that Moxam froze out and put on the sidelines.
He did a lot to upset the traditional special groups that influenced Chamber positions and access by exposing those shenanigans. Moxam was a good president. As a member he gave members hope and made the chamber relevant again no longer just a rubber stamp. He provided clear direction and strong leadership involving the full Council at all times.
But it looks like some former presidents will not be exchanging Christmas cards. LOL
Since I wrote the comment about the Chamber being marred by Mr Moxam, I will respond to this comment. I have no idea who or what it is you are referring to here and what feud Mr Moxam was involved in whilst he was at the Chamber. That is interesting as there seems to have been so many and that is a pity. The comments about what an excellent Chamber president Mr Moxam was, sound at best somewhat ‘self-serving’. How can anyone even at this stage, (even Mr Moxam himself) say that this is right when he continues to use his Chamber hat to throw mud in the political arena. Mr Moxam continues to speak ostensibly for the Chamber. The Chamber should try to correct this impression and should ensure that in the future during the term of any president, that they stay clear of politics or the impression of being politically aligned. There will be many moments of disagreeing with the Government of the day on issues but in Mr Moxams case, it was far too obvious that he was far from impartial. He continues in his personal slagging off of the party he was once a member of and does so under the umbrella of being the former head of the chamber as he has no other platform to speak from. What he should do is declare his intent or desire to run. That would be a fair step towards being be open and transparent.
Johan Moxam speaks for himself and doesn’t need any platform, he never has. To say otherwise proves you do not know the man at all.
He spoke for the Chamber membership when President. In fact Chamber has always been involved in political discussions and commented publicly as those decisions impact its members.
Johan has always spoken out against the lack of accountability, wastefulness and maladminstration of both UDP and PPM before during and after his term in 2014. If you call that slagging off by asking the difficult questions and holding persons accountable that is your choice. I suggest that Cayman needs more person like him who care enough to stand up for the right things.
He has always demonstrated consistentcy with his personal views as he did again on the Panel. Did you watch it? He was not there as a representative of the Chamber nor spoke on its behalf. Also he has never been a member of any party and refers to them as a “cult of personality” but has supported Mr. Tibbetts and Mr. Wright so perhaps you should call him to get your version of facts confirmed.
Hear, hear…
Typical, so small minded. When will we ever just listen? Always shoot the messenger, ignore the facts. Keep talking fat man, you are hurting somebody, is that not obvious.
Man this smells to the high heavens of some politician from West Bay.
You’ve really pissed them off now with the cold hard truth.
Watch the thumb war begin
says small mac.
Mr. Moxam has committed treason for daring to speak the truth.
The Premier and his luddites will be all out for his blood. How dare anybody call it exactly what it is on the verge of his calling for early elections as his ppm government hang on by a piece of string.
Cayman needs more capable people like Mr. Moxam in government.
Too bad as he seems smart except for appearing to be another UDP
Under no circumstances is THAT to be considered smart.
It’s about time somebody called it for what it is VOTE BUYING! Deal with immigration problem and protect Caymanians instead! Idiots!
Johann, your rant at the PPM would have substance if you had shown Yourself to be similarly outraged when Mac and his UDP hangers on were partying at our expense and bought 3000 status grant votes.
Obviously you do not know him. Johan is consistent and a patriot that speaks out against the foolish decisions that will destroy this country.
When he was a supporter of PPM he was considered a great guy. Funny how politics works when you hold people accountable!
Again with the predictable 3000 Status Grant line. That was 13 flippin’ years ago! Excuse-makers are going to have to come up with something more current and relevant.
Facts will always be facts, bozo.
And bozos will always be bozos
13 years? 113 years from now we’ll still be feeling the effects of all of the poverty that was imported as a result of the 2003 status grants. Why do you think the NAU is bursting at the seams? Newly naturalized Caymanians brought in their 10-20 unemployed dependants from overseas and applied for welfare.
Bo bo why do you think caymanians are unemployed right now? Idiot!
Ok that means all their kids are now teenagers and we have to find 9000 places for them in schools before getting ready to support most of them through social services. Thanks Mac were their wotes really worth screwing up your country over..?
It is incredibly current and relevant. It is the direct cause of many of the worst issues we are dealing with today, from unemployment, to collapse of the education system, to social services budget explosion, to the rise in crime. Wake up!
Wow … talk about a reach!
Yeah Moxam, whey’ u was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, blood?!
LOL!
(Pay them no mind.)
– Who
🙂
P.S. Hope you finally pull the trigger in 2017. Stop pussyfooting around! :-p
Oops, I think you just pulled the trigger, Moxam.
Not sure if I am reading you accurately, but in case that was your suggestion, allow me to clarify I am not Johann.
For some odd reason many people seem to think so. The collection of social media inbox queries and accusations to that effect is quite amusing.
– Who
Who dat say who dat.
CNS: where can we verify data/source of this 8% unemployment October figure? ESO still showing 5.6% as at Sept 2015. This is a substantial disparity.
Please stop focusing on the poor people. Look at how many others who should have waited their turn were just handed Caymanian Status as a political favour.
The Caymanian public is very well aware of who the wote buyers are here. and it sure as heck is NOT the PPM.
LOL PPM bloggers KirkBots on the attack!!!!
In working with the NWDA before in trying to hire local workers for service industry I have 4 out of 10 lined up for interviews actually show up. When they do, 2 of those 4 would just want me to sign the paper saying they showed up so they could get Govt assistance still. 2 would interview and tell me they can’t work nights or weekends as they want to be able to still go out. In 6 years, I hired 3 out of countless people who showed up. 1 lasted more than 3 months….
My wife is due to open her business next month and wants to hire Caymanians and train them over hiring and paying for work permit employees.
However, to date her efforts have been futile, namely because of the following;
1. CV’s provided have no contact details;
2. If they do have contact details, its normally an email address such as “Igethigheveryday@hotmail.com”;
3. Those given times for interviews, don’t even show up, or they turn up 1/2hr late at a minimum;
4. They turn up to get a signature, so they can get government assistance as it pays more than that of their salary;
5. They are so behind that even when getting them to answer some of your questions you are better off trying to squeeze blood from a stone.
So at the end of the day, what choice do most business owners have, none, they must hire an expat.
And now Government wants to force people to hire these very characters mentioned above? On yer bike.
A fairly sick attempt at being funny.
It’s actually the sad truth, and highlights the very problems out there that business owners have to deal with in trying to meet and obey our laws. But now Govt. thinks they can force these people on businesses as employees, and that is not funny at all, because it doesn’t take Captain Obvious to spell out what the outcome will be.
The NWDA is a total waste of time. There is one member of staff there who has been supposedly helping Caymanians from 15 year ago, and I can bet my measly paycheck that she can’t name 100 people that she has assisted. It is time for the NWDA to be held accountable and produce statistics that can be verified to see how mush work is truly being done. This office DEFINATELY is not customer service oriented and is more so not user friendly. As far as I can see, from what I know, and what I read…the NWDA is basically a rubber stamp to get GOLs approved as 95% of those referred have no interest in working.
I think that the Premier need to come down from the hypocratic horse he is on and stop playing one issue against the the other.. How many companies are going to participate in READY2 WORK program? And who are the companies? If you cared about unemployed caymanian , why don’t you start at Government buildings , where all you have to do is hire them , and that $1.7 million can be spent wisely and honestly .
What the f…! Perhaps Moxam would have preferred that his fellow Caymanians NOT be given this work. Better soend your time thanking God your own belly is obviously keeping more than full Moxam. Incredible!
Hope you spent your donation well. If you cannot see this for what it was then I am not surprised you are not in work.
You are an idiot. I was not involved in the cleanup and therefore did not recieve what you so stupidly refer to as a ‘donation’, and I do in fact have a full time job. Please THINK before you open your septic.
ROFLOL so you have a full time job and they still included you in the xmas clean up giveaway program. You can’t make this up
You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought.
Hey buddy, when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. OK?
David Legge was right. Corruption is institutionalized here. Pointing out the double standards of the politicians is a sin in Cayman which Moxam has done. Truth hurts!
You are foolish if you think PAYING people to hire you is good! No way! Enforce the immigration laws and protect Caymanians!
PPM has consistently shown that they engage in exactly the same practices that they criticized UDP for – from dealing with Dart to Christmas cleanup. In fact, in additions to activities which could fairly be criticized, they have simply followed UDP plans and intentions for advancing other initiatives. PPM has no substance and less leadership. Marco Archer is the only Cabinet Minister who is laudable.
Main thing is, I and most of CI are sick of both PPM and UDP!!.
The PPM is a weak government and have bo ideas of their own, thanks to the UDP for the Christmas cleanup and linking with Dart. UDP, years ahead of these current jokers.
Will someone please tell me what Johan has actually done – what programs or initiatives has he initiated to tackle the problems faced in Cayman. Having headed up the Chamber of Commerce what did actually do (what results did he achieve) related to the unemployment problem. All I ever hear him do is point fingers and complain about what every one else says or does. I am so tired of hearing him whine and moan but cannot point to ONE solution he has come up with. So annoying. We are done voting for empty barrels, you won’t get elected if your track record for action is zero. Go away.
A carbon copy of Mac, with all the arrogance and confrontational attitude.What has he done to counter unemployment over the past 3 years? Nothing,but I guess it is nearing election season so he suddenly sees something wrong.The problem for Johan is that he is trying to play poilitics ,while not wanting to be seen as political..Not to worry Johan ,Caymanians can see right through your act.
I wonder if Johan can tell us who is implementing a minimum wage for Caymanians ,is it himself or is it the PPM? One thing we do know ,Johan did not get it for us when he had a chance as head of the Chamber of Commerce.
Minimum wage will help the unskilled expatriate labor force not Caymanians. PPM are guaranteeing that more money leaves the country. Caymanians cannot survive on $6.00 per hour.
Why didn’t the ppm start dealing with this problem from day 1 elections must be around the corner. LOL
Mel would be proud of you.
AMEN Johan
Cancel work permits if they want do something.
Apprenticeships is for school leavers. Tell me what is PPM and Tara Rivers doing to help experienced and qualified Caymanians that cannot get a job? The NWDA is a waste of time all the politicians do is make excuses. They need to get voted out!
Great idea 10.55! Cancel them all now and with immediate effect. Then the government will lose around 70% of its income, 2500 Caymanian jobs in FS will go, countless supermarket jobs will go, restaurants shut, houses reposed by the hundreds and…well CIG will have no money to spend for its annual clear up vote buying exercise. Einstein you is!!
Something has to be done but not vote buying this way! Who will get funds I wonder?
Not sure where your logic lies. Can the banks and other financial services institutions really just pack up and leave overnight if we decide to change things for the benefit of “Cayman” instead of helping to line their pockets? I doubt it. I went into a store today that was 100% staffed by expats from the same country (no diversity plan). It’s a retail store so anyone with people skills or the ability to count to 10 is qualified. How did they acquire so many work permits? Do the owners care about hiring Caymanians? I doubt it.
There is no such thing as irony in politics
Finally somebody is brave enough to say what we all think about the recent announcements of this government. It is a clear attempt after three years of waffle to sway voters. Does the Premier think that the chamber are the only ones to see this deliberate attempt at using public funds to win favor in the run up to early elections?
Thank you for speaking the truth Mr. Moxam
well said johan….we need you in the la!
Ok Moxam.
UDP did stuff. PPM did stuff. The poison of politics anywhere around the world. Without support for any party or Independent, name me one politician who has not positioned themselves, via community projects, press release etc.
The question I am asking you now, is based on your current status, what is it in for you mentioning this at this time near polling day?
Are you positioning yourself for polling day by bringing this up? I suspect you setting yourself up to run, just as you are accusing the Government of setting themselves up for polling day. Good luck!!
Wait….. What in the world are you on about? First of all, the road clean up just happened last month, hence the reason Moxam just brought it up. Secondly, even if Moxam is trying to position himself for polling day, public funds did not have to be used for him to say what he said publicly. Thirdly, it has been our current Government’s responsibility to address the unemployment issue and they have not. All Moxam has done is to call it how he and many other people see it.
Thank you for your response sir which has a lot of merit, however I am of the belief that it is all political posturing. I am not saying that you are right and I am wrong or vice versa. Lets just watch the space and see if he is going to run for elections. I believe he is and is taking the opportunity to slowly raise his hands.