Governor confirms government of ‘National Unity’
(L-R) Moses Kirkconnell (PPM), Alden McLaughlin (PPM), McKeeva Bush (CDP), Roy Tatum (PPM official), Austin Harris (IND), Dr Joseph Marzouca (CDP official), Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Governor Helen Kilpatrick and Eugene Ebanks (CDP)
(CNS): Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick has confirmed that Alden McLaughlin, the leader of Progressives, has enough support to form a government with him at the helm and the former opposition leader, McKeeva Bush, as speaker after the two political leaders went to meet with her Monday. There are no further details yet about who will be in Cabinet and on the government backbench or who will lead the opposition benches, as there has been no official word from the politicians involved, but Swearing In Day is now set for Wednesday.
As they say, a week is a long time in politics and the week since the election is not over yet, so anything can happen, but as it stands at present the government benches will only include two independents because others who were offered seats at the government table from the various fractions of independent members elected last Wednesday have refused to serve under McLaughlin.
Nevertheless, with seven PPM members returned to the LA and supported by Tara Rivers, McLaughlin has the largest solid group and has been able to pull together a coalition.
Following the meeting with the politicians, Kilpatrick said in a release that Monday afternoon she met with elected representatives Alden McLaughlin, McKeeva Bush, Moses Kirkconnell, Austin Harris and Captain Eugene Ebanks. “Mr McLaughlin provided me with evidence that he had sufficient support to form a ‘Government of National Unity’.”
She added, “Accordingly, I have signed the proclamation to a call a session of the Legislative Assembly for 10:00am Wednesday, 31st May 2017 for the purposes of swearing in all newly elected and appointed members of the Legislative Assembly, voting for a premier pursuant to section 49 (3) of the Constitution of the Cayman Islands, and other attendant matters. Mr McLaughlin has indicated that he will be seeking election to the position of premier and Mr Bush to speaker of the House.”
Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics
Folks need to wake up! You can’t run a country by a group Independents who don’t have the same goals!
Either you need to form a Party, or join one!
Tell me something, who ever told Arden that he is Premier material? Or did he convince himself based on his obvious M.O.? We the public now need to know,becuz we need a statesman who level headed in the top political job. Such a person needs to be approachable, while also caring for people in general and is not a sell out to special interests.Diplomatic qualities are what makes the day.
Hope Alden remembered to call “no backsies” this time.
Kudos to John John! Instead of using his “constituents” as an excuse to justify whatever it was he wanted to do anyway, he actually held a meeting and invited their input and consent. He has come up in the world of politics. Proud of you buddy! You are looking like a leader after all.
Enjoy your one man one vote. Most idiotic policy passed. Now anyone can get in there, some fewer than 400 votes. Experience, achievement and knowledge need not be relevant, Ridiculous.
Now Dr. T is trying to plant Kenneth as a disruptive force on the front bench. Resist at all costs.
Dr T cant understand that a cohesive plan that comes with a defined party is needed for modern Cayman. His way of 25 years ago when he was a one term MLA is no longer suitable.
THey couldnt even decide on who would become leader!
What a pity the independents couldn’t seem to get it together. It’s the same old same old bunch, but now combined. God help us. Will we ever be rid of them?
Look Cayman is the ultimate winner of this deal. Why? We have a coalition government which makes passing laws much harder. In addition, MAC will be retiring after this term and Alden can no longer be Premier as he will serve two consecutive terms (Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 Section 49.4). Best news ever for these Islands
The bit about Mr.Bush retiring. Could we get that in writing, please? Thank you. (Hang on, scrub that, wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on!)
Even if it is writing, one could not reply on it if it emanated from Mr. McKeeva Bush.
I am excited about the proposed government. Our elected officials are now forced to cooperate with each other an hopefully this will lead to more honest government working for the people not the party. What I am most hopeful for is that we can now take back control of the future of the country from Dart, et. al and we the people can determine our destiny not the moneyed developers. I am not confident this will happen but I pray that it does for the sake of our children.
While I share your sentiments I am pessimistic about them putting the country’s best interests ahead of their own., particularly as it relates to catering to moneyed developers. Both parties have a history of giving these entities whatever they desire in the name of “development” with little to no thought of any impact culturally or environmentally.. I pray that Dart is never given the green light to dig up the shoreline but it wouldn’t surprise me if he is. The risk of destroying SMB is real, folks. Let’s not play Russian roulette with Mother Nature, please!.
10:33am, stop selling property to money hungry nvestors.