Elections matter, premier tells voters
Premier Alden McLaughlin (file photo)
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin has said that elections matter because whoever forms the government influences the fortunes of the country for “better or worse”. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Lunch last week, the premier made the case for politicians to have a common plan to make government work. With less than six months to go before the official start of the election campaign, he pointed to the integrity and competence of his Progressive administration and took credit for the growth in the local economy and the significant improvements in the public purse.
He said cohesion in his government was fundamental to its success, as he asked for another term.
“Our detractors have said and continue to say lots of uncharitable things about us, but even they have not seriously questioned this government’s competence or integrity,” McLaughlin said, as he spent a considerable amount of his address recapping on the last three and a half years that his team has been at the helm of government.
But the premier said the competence of his Cabinet was not the only reason why the PPM administration had so much to brag about. He said teamwork, hard work and sticking to an agreed plan and principles, despite problems with disagreements and the departure of some members, was behind the PPM’s successful term.
“There is no secret that we have had our share of challenges. The fact that three members of the original team deserted the government benches over the course of the last year posed a serious threat to the stability of the government. But we persevered and weathered the storm. Each of us that remained took on greater responsibility and, indeed, as the record shows, we are delivering on our mandate,” he said.
“The ten of us who currently make up the government are committed to continuing to provide this country with good honest and capable leadership. We understand that politics is both the art of the possible and the art of compromise. To succeed as a government we understand that there has to be give and take; that you must have the maturity to disagree on issues but still be able to continue to work together in the best interest of the country. There is no room for selfish, narrow-minded thinking when you are running a country.”
He spoke of the need for organisation, cooperation and teamwork and having goals and plans and the ability to execute them to have a successful government.
“Our policies and key decisions have worked to improve the economy and have created an environment for businesses to thrive and for everyday people to have opportunities to improve the lives of their families. Make no mistake about it, elections do matter. The people you choose to form your government do make a difference to the fortunes of the country, for better or worse,” he said.
But he admitted there is more work to do. “We have laid a solid foundation for a brighter future for these islands, and we will fight hard for the opportunity to return to office and build on the work of another term,” McLaughlin added.
The premier spoke about the ambitious goals his government started this term with and that there are more to come. “This is a government that does not plan in four-year terms, but for the long term. The key thing is that when we were elected we started on Day One with an agreed plan and goals.”
As he made the case for party politics, he said the PPM had achieved what it had because it had an agreed plan, as he asked voters to bear that in mind, despite the constant backlash in the community about party politics. Talking about next year’s elections, he reminded voters it was not just about constituency issues, as he pointed out that the MLAs people elect will represent them nationally and internationally.
“Elect persons who can point to a plan and the others they say they will support and work with after the election,” he said. “There are those that walk and talk about the need to elect independent candidates, crowing that the party system has failed the country. I am not sure what party they are referring to, but in terms of this government and the outcomes that we have obtained, I think it is true to say that the party system can work.”
McLaughlin said operating as a team with an agreed plan and set of principles must be a better way to run for office, as he called on those planning to run at the next election on independent tickets to be transparent.
“Tell the electorate what you stand for, who you stand with, and what you will do together if elected. Be truthful and say who you will support as premier,” he stated as he used the Chamber platform to tout his own party’s credentials and appeal for a second term.
Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics
Lets be honest. This election does not matter because whoever gets in will not tackle the real problems in our country which I see as
Cronyism
Bullying within government
The marginalising of experts by not renewing contracts when they try to do their jobs
Child abuse
Poor performing head teachers
The continued job creation for Caymanians in the Civil Servce based on nationality not ability
The expansion of the welfare state to middle class Caymanians whilst the poor remain poor
The continued sell off of our land to one organisation namely Dart
I wish it was otherwise but sadly t is all very predictable.
Like hanging, election time certainly does concentrate the mind, in particular for those who (in this instance) fought tooth and nail against OMOV. Should be an interesting outcome, but nevertheless a triumph for our democracy.
Hey Alden, when you have not completed or accomplished any of the campaign promises or goals you and you cohorts were spewing 4yrs ago, then you have not accomplished a damn thing. There have been 2 recent events that the public made such a noise about that you acted; Smith Cove and brining in Cannabis Oil, that is it.
What was ACTUALLY done by this administration? What they are proud of?
1. The Dump. The “new” plan is unacceptable.
2. Education.
3. Public transportation. Look at Bermuda PT and do the same.
4. Mental health facility
5. Sexual abuse of children is rampant.
The biggest threat to democracy is an ill informed voter.
And the next-biggest threat is ill informed leadership.
Or an ignorant and prejudiced electorate deliberately kept so by the leadership
Well well, we are self-congratulating ourselves on the generous integrity of the CPA, the Port Authority and other crony Cabinet Ministries. Ask Chris Johnson, Sue and Paul Williams, or anyone who has built recently for their thoughts on the subject of professionalism, transparency, accountability and integrity in CIG. What’s Alden smoking? Does he think ALL voters are idiots?!?
9:50, there are less informed / educated voters than there are ill-informed, poor and needy voters, that’s who all these guys play to stay in their positions because they can fool the destitute with promises and BS far more easily and they lap it up like its the word of God.
“Tell the electorate what you stand for, who you stand with, and what you will do together if elected. Be truthful and say who you will support as premier,”
I stand for the Lodge, I stand with the Lodge. Together we will turn the screw even tighter and let’s just all support the honest, forthright man who kept his promises the last time around.
This is a shocking sham and it helps no one except special interests.
I appeal to the Caymanian electorate, “Drain the swamp. This may be your last chance.”
In that case, let me be among the first detractors to question the competence of this government.
Which “policies” is the Premier referring to specifically that have “improved the economy”? I’m having some trouble recalling what those were.
Focused on the long term? Which of your initiatives is designed to pay off in the long term? All the ones you did not start presumably. That’s the problem with people who expect government to solve today’s problems – they’re so short term.
Elect someone with a plan? Great advice! Do you know of anyone??
Your plan for the last four years appears to have been to be in the right place at the right time.
Rather than at the roulette table in Miami
Thank you for a very sobering speach. Elections do matter. My perspective on this election is to see more Caymanians back to work, specially in the tourism industry and HR. We must be involved as a working class to succed in bringing tje Cayman Islands back to where it once was.W e need to be involved. I would like to see a proper percentage of working Caymanians vs work permit holders.We need to re-vamp our Immigration systems and policies. We need a Caymanian Protection Board that will do it’s job and weed out the overstayers and job hoppers. In other words , This is what I will be focusing my listening and choosing my potential candidate and his or her affiliations. Listen carefully to the potential candidates for May 2017 elections.
I am from Northside. There is only one candidate.
What is that for lousy system ?
2.28pm North Side not Northside . Judgin from your spelling I doubt you from up dere.Maybe one of them Ezzard haters that come from someway else. Dont worry I hear Big Mac supporting a young man up there who is very good at parties, dunno if he good in political ones.I hear miss Edna boy runnin to.
Please pay attention to your detractors as they are often your people and they are hurting.. they are not fooled by your surplus achieved by ignoring of the immigration structure which has been developed over years by smarter men/women then you…they understood there are two sides to the immigration issue and you and Marco seem to have chosen the easiest of financial surplus over financial stability for your people…the entitled in Cayman are now the foreign workers. Your people are not fooled by the pathetic reduction of unemployment with temporary low end jobs does not fool anyone. Give a little effort and try to understand the repercussions of your simplistic and naïve economic policies.
De tractor needs fixin’. De voter needs a turkey
Whoever you vote for a politician always wins.
Voters matter, including the ones who are not allowed to vote but contribute hugely to the economy…
You mean contribute to an economy elsewhere?
Correct 4.39, why would we spend it here when we have no rights?
Why dont you stay in your country, where you do have rights? Oh yes, you are just one of the many that come here to make your own and families life better, while berating the very thing that is feeding you….fart.
1.18pm If you are a registered voter no one can interfere with your right to vote.On the other hand if it is simply that you want to vote here just because you work here but are not legally entitled to vote, too bad.Be thankful that you have been allowed in as a guest worker and can therefore provide a comfortable lifestyle for you and yours.End of story.
@12:39 am – What a nasty person you are. Whether you want to admit it or not, Cayman would not be the country that it is today without the contributions of our ex-pats.
There are very few, if any, Caymanians that will:
Clean your house
Look after your child
Pick up your garbage
Fix your car
Mow your lawn
Paint your house
Etc.
So please afford our ex-pats the respect and appreciation that they deserve, otherwise the day may come when you’ll have to scrub your own toilet, wash your own laundry and look after your own child.
Caymanian
God Forbid!
12.39, you amaze me. With all your vitriol have you managed to vote or elect anyone that has confronted Cayman’s real issues in the last 10 years, but insist on sticking your head in the sand (or in your case, your probably large posterior)?No, but you are going to carry on doing the same instead of trying something new, like allowing people who care for Cayman and have a record of running things properly and transparently do just that?
No plans for a mental health facility, no plan for an aging Caymanian population, no plan for the economic welfare for the underprivileged, no timeline to move the dangerous mount trashmore… Tell me again why people are gonna vote these clowns in for a second term? Maybe they can commission a report on it for $400,000 and not release it to the public.
Well if you like instability and miss it so much, dont worry Mac will still be available to you.
yawn…..just more waffle from the ppm….
your inaction and failures on the dump, immigration, civil service reform, port. et al…… will be your true legacy
Mr. Premier why did 3 members leave your government?
Why haven’t you fired the PPM’s chief whip Osborne Bodden for his unprofessionalism and verbal assaults on Jennifer Ahearn and Dorreen Whittaker?
Agreed. That was an absolute disgrace. No leadership at all from these clowns. The dump is still poisoning the Island (they basically lied to get into office about that) and the PR situation will end up costing us millions and having many people automatically granted PR that would not otherwise have got it. Third World.
Election time waffle from the Premier
Thanks, Alden.