Governor confirms government of ‘National Unity’

| 29/05/2017 | 149 Comments
Cayman News Service

(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.”

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Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics

Comments (149)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    A true leader we need.
    Not the weak-kneed.
    A man who loves his wife
    for all of his life.

    No funny handshakes
    The mark of human snakes.
    No man of hard liquor
    And no city slicker

    Where is this man?
    We have scoured the land.
    Now we weep and mourn
    As we suffer their scorn.

    Tomorrow the sun will rise
    in blue Caymanian skies.
    One day we will all be free,
    Cleansed by the sweet Caribbean Sea.

    (adapted from a dream in 2013)

  2. Anonymous says:

    Just say no to Kenneth Bryan trying to jump on board.

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  3. Sharkey says:

    This Election issue is a perfect example of what is going to get done in the next 4 years .
    I wonder if the Dr has any maturity pills to give these Politicians so they can grow up.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    The electorate does not understand the meaning and function of an Independent. Only Tara and Austin truly understand, for they Independently have formed a coalition government in the best interests of the country and in the best interests of their respective constituencies. Just because you stand and run as an Independent, does it mean all Independents must stick together as a Party in unity. Independents are not bound by any party as they are free agents to do what is best for the country and their constituency. Only Tara and Austin have shown maturity and professionalism without egoes over ruling their representation of the people. All the other Independents can argue amongst themselves for the next four years in total disarray, as this will be their last term in office. Move the Dump east now, for this is where it belongs.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    I hope Alden learned his lesson that by having such large numbers of Independents voted in, he came very close to being put on the back-bench. So please, don’t ride your ego train too long and stop stalling everything an Independent is trying to get approved in the house. Put your ego aside and listen and see what is to the benefit of the entire country, no matter if that motion was brought by an Independent or PPM member.

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    • Sharkey says:

      So then are you telling Alden that if the Independents wants to pass a Law that would be detrimental to the Cayman islands he Alden must go along with them.

      I have always learned that in a conversation , if you can’t say something intelligent , it’s best to keep your mouth shut .

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      • nikolaus foster says:

        did you read that correctly? or are you just speaking out of your emotions? he/she made a very good point.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sharkey, did you really read this comment?

        “Put your ego aside and listen and see what is to the benefit of the entire country, no matter if that motion was brought by an Independent or PPM member.”

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      • Anonymous says:

        you may want to read the comment properly

  6. Anonymous says:

    So in a nutshell, we lost two capable ministers where continuity in those ministries would have been beneficial to the entire Island, and Mac ends up with the biggest paid job in Government just because he has been doing so much good for the country?

    Wow – I hope those who have voted Independents rather best man/woman for the job now understand what PPM has always said because NOTHING has been gained……..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Marco did his job, which was to follow the UK’s rules. He gets a lot of credit for effectively restoring most of our financial independence but the option or opportunity for him to do otherwise was simply not there because the UK tied our hands. It has never been clear to me what he did that was truly exceptional. He was a diligent, humble and effective minister who achieved the primary aim of his administration, and that might be rare around here, but it does not make him some sort of hyper-capable legendary figure. Roy is certain to replace him and while his qualities are different, he will be just as effective, especially if he also has clear goals to focus on.

      As far as Mac being Speaker, he knows the rules better than any other MLA and probably most of the clerks too, wasn’t providing much opposition anyway and was rejected at the polls. The neutral position of speaker where his parliamentary knowledge can be put to use is the right place for him in this term.

      The PPM point has been proven about voting in independents. I won’t miss the constant refrain that if only we had independents the people would really be heard and things would really get done because it has never been true. One thing the past few days have shown is Caymanians don’t have a liking (or the patience) for the smoking room negotiations that took place and would be commonplace in a government of independents anyway. There may be no great affection for the party system but that could change if this administration is successful.

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  7. Angelica Tatum says:

    my request is as follows ; Any Government who take the house should be for CAYMANIAN FIRST SECOND AND 3RD. should not be any Caymanian with out as job and 26,000 Work Permit. how is that possible. So new Government please work on having Caymanian Employed with that it will be less homes taking from those Caymanian with out work and unable to pay their house LOAN.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Can we agree that Caymanians also need to learn to first try and help themselves and practice a responsible financial budget in the household?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I think you are missing the point. There are plenty well able and educated Caymanians that are not in jobs or working in a job that they cannot progress in due the biasness in the country. I am all for the best person getting the job but when you clearly have a qualified and educated Caymanian there is give the job to , some prefer to offer the less experienced expact. The Caymanian is then either have to trudge along or train that expact in the job.

        I am for all people but there come a time when enough is enough.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with you. The first thing we have to do is fire all of the foreign teachers because we have a lot of high school drop-out drug-heads who can take their jobs. Next we get rid of the foreign doctors. Only Caymanian bush-medicine from now on. This will allow more people to get back into medicine. And all of those helpers have got to go. Caymanians can clean their own….. oh wait, never mind.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That is pretty spiteful. If you had seen Cayman 45 years ago, you would never speak those words. Caymanians have been disadvantaged by their sell-out leaders for many years now.
        45 years ago, there was no unemployment, many Caymanians were well-educated and the few expats were thankful to be here, unlike your ungrateful ass.
        Have a little compassion. It seems that you are gloating over the demise of this nation. This smacks of the white man “helping” the Indians all over again.

        Well, massa, we don’t want your he’p.

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        • Anonymous says:

          10.07, Caymanians have this wonderful habit of blaming everyone and everything else for their ills, instead of looking in the mirror and seeing what they (at least some of them) have become

        • Anonymous says:

          That is because, within 45 years, Globalization has happened. or is that not a factor you recognized exists?

      • Anonymous says:

        No, please carry on. I reckon you’re onto something.

    • Anonymous says:

      Learning to write English properly may assist you in your need for a job.

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    • Just Saying says:

      Am sure all who gave thumbs down are non-Caymanians. Are you dam people for real???? In any country the people of that country should come 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It is people like you that need to be gone.

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      • Anonymous says:

        What is it you expect? Handouts? I have never seen anywhere with as much opportunity for locals as this place. If you cant find a job here now, no government is going to be able to help you out.

      • Renno says:

        No born raised and educated,difference is I was paying attention to the teacher as he/she spoke. P.s notice the proper punctuation,grammar,spelling and lack of anonymity.

    • Anonymous says:

      Educate people so they wont write comments like above…..

  8. United we succeed...divided we fail says:

    “various fractions of independent members elected last Wednesday have refused to serve under McLaughlin.”
    This is okay if they plan to be serious oversight watch dogs and keep the Govt in check.

    If they plan to just criticize everything and do whatever they can to make Alden fail this is of no benefit to anyone.

    If the Government fails, it hurts us all. So to all those Independents who had grandiose ideas of showing up yourselves and skills and running the Government, suck it up for now and move forward.

    Reading some of the comments, people are trying to conflate the OMOV as the reason why Independents are not in power. This is simply not true.
    OMOV is something that ensures equality among the voters and holds politicians accountable to a specific area.

    Voting for an independent in your constituency did not mean you were contributing to independents across the island, it just meant you voted in a single person who had no affiliation to a party.

    Independents​ ran as a party of one for their area, they did not run as a cohesive​ unit,despite many of them having the same benefactor.

    That is where the problem lies. They all had different ideas/solutions, personal ambitions other agendas and in some cases, big egos so they could not actually come together and form the Government.

    Some of them hate Alden/PPM so much they are willing to sit in a corner and sulk, rather than trying to get in there and represent the people who elected them, be a part of the solution and not just create more problems because things didn’t go as planned.

    They somehow think that by joining the Government with Alden, this is betraying the people who elected them but isn’t it better to be on the inside and ensure that your constituents are taken care of, rather than outside sulking and getting nothing because you are so consumed by the outcome.

    When life throws salt at you, get a glass and some tequila and move on.

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    • Anonymous says:

      or perhaps Alden hates some of them so much that he doesn’t want them to be on the inside? I don’t know, but I know there are always 3 sides to a story….

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why do people hate Alden so much? I know he comes across as arrogant but there seems a strong majority that dislike or hate him. How do you get the top job with such a polarizing effect?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I hear the independent candidates sent out a press release and within an hour one of the seven members that they claimed were sticking together had already joined the new coalition government. What a mess those independents are. They fooled me once but that won’t happen twice.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    At least now we can move the dump to Boddentown

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  11. Anonymous says:

    This in one Caymanian that will never VOTE for another so called independent.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Birds of a feather . . . have ultimately flocked together. Caymanians better keep their hand over their head because sh__ will be dropping on it like never before.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Looks like the Independents picked the wrong Dr to hang with!
    I like how the white Jamaican lawyer kept himself out of the picture though. I guess he was busy putting the final touches on Mc’s package.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    The independent candidates are not a party.
    You see how the cdp stuck together, that’s a party.
    You see how the ppm stuck together? That’s a party.
    You see how the independent candidates were running in 9 different directions like chickens with their heads cut off? That’s not a party. Stop pretending g the island voted for them as a group it is a lie.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Both Alden and McKeeva needs to resign. They have no genuine concern for the people and this country. They are power and money hungry, we are all tired of their nonsense just do us all a favor and resign!

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  16. Anonymous says:

    How do people include Arden, Anthony, Ezzard and suckoo in their quest for change? They are the opposite of change, they are has-beens, Lou mouths, dinosaurs. And the other independents were bought and paid for by their master Dr T

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  17. Anonymous says:

    McKeeva came to his senses and came back to save the day. He realized how unstable the fake independents really were. A lot of cowboys seeking power for self interests.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Whether you whether you like PPM or not, this is the best outcome for the island. I think we all learned a lesson about voting independents. They don’t know how to form a team. We also learned a lesson about independents with big money backers, they have to answer to them and are not truly independent.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I am glad you are so confident this arrangement is going to succeed. Stay tuned, you cannot do a deal with the devil then expect a good outcome. Two power-hungry, greedy has-beens have both betrayed the voters’ trust & karma will bite them in their pompous butts and we will all pay the costs. By the way, do not lump all the independents together. Some truly had the country at heart and ran a clean campaign. Sad how that is no longer considered a virtue and somehow motorcades are what gets you elected. We have lost our senses. You included.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Thank you PPM for saving us from the wrecking ball team.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    This just shows that you need a vision, a team to stick together and work together for the betterment of the island. The independents were not actually independent, they had to run everything past Dr T. That’s why they could form a group. They were owned by Dr T and had to obey him.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Arden and his crew in the east and north side were not willing to put the egos away. They could not see past their noses. They don’t care about the island, just power. Thank you PPM.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    We have steered clear of the Dr T paid cronies. PPM has shown they are willing to work with independents the last four years, and they are continuing to do it this time. That deserves a lot of respect.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Thank you alden and PPM. The last four years were smooth and stable. We are in good hands. Thank you for saving us from the circus of Dr T clowns and he East End power grabbers.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Happy Memorial Day!

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Photo credit to the good doctor Tomlinson?

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    • Sharkey says:

      I hope and pray that the People and the Politicians have learned something from this Election debacle .

      To me this is very SCARY stuff , when we have senior Leaders of Government that cannot control and get a New Government formed after an Election , and let one man spend his money and time to get so many elected and continue to interfere in the Election system . All I can say that they better hurry and get this new Government done . Because I looked at my radar this morning and there’s a British war ship 200 miles of south west point .

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      • C says:

        200 miles – that’s good radar! It’s probably the current APT(N) patrol ship (there’s always one in the Caribbean/ North Atlantic). The “warship” is probably a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker/ supply ship on hurricane season duty.

      • Anonymous says:

        Have you actually believed at any point that Government controls anything in these islands? More likely the monopolies, cartels and Lodge…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Can you imagine seeing a cartoon in the daily Cayman Compass or one of the other media outlets, with McKeeva sitting at the bench with a Colonial wig on, waving a gavel in his left hand and a government credit card in the other ?

      That would be……….. Cartoon of the Year !!

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  26. Anonymous says:

    I am all for PPM leading a coalition but no longer have any respect for Alden after reading this article and learning that he has once again joined forces with McKeeva after being double-crossed less than 48 hours before. Please read his statement about Mac late Friday night. These men simply have no integrity, what example are they setting for the young people of this country when they so openly prostitute themselves for power and position.

    Alden – the PPM is bigger than you and you should have stepped aside and allow say Moses to lead and formed a proper coalition. Frankly you are worse than McKeeva and you keep getting outfoxed by him. You have 12 now and if Mac and his 2 pull their support on Wednesday after he is sworn in as speaker you have even more egg on your face which you would deserve. While the populace was repulsed at the prospect of Mac leading the country again and hence the outcry on Saturday, he does seem to command significantly more support than you as the independents a;l supported him as Premier, and the only person you have been able to get support from is Austin. You do not have the support the CDP 3, Bernie and Capt are supporting Mac.

    You are clinging to power but outside of your missteps in the last few weeks – trying to discredit Kenneth Bryan; running Marco in a difficult constituency vs putting him in some place like Prospect where he would have won easily; putting Panton to running against a former PPM and losing when there were other easier ridings where he could have won; disparaging comments about the independents during the campaign(very immature); you have failed on 2 successive occasions as leader of the PPM to gain an outright majority and on that basis it is totally reasonable that you should step aside versus putting your other PPM colleagues and the country at risk.

    I’m not sure how well you understand politics or who is assisting you but have a careful think about the situation and your actions. It is arguable that you should have secured 9 seats plus Tara and have a majority without all this excitement. After failing to do that you should have been able to pick off 2 or more independents within an hour of the final results being announced and formed a government before they had time to meet on Thursday. You had 3 vacant ministerial positions and with little guile should have formed the government on Wednesday night. You have lost alot of credibility.

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    • Anonymous says:

      8:58 you dont have a clue. Thank you Alden you did the best you could for the country under the circumstances. It is obvious that the electorate in Cayman has some more growing up to do. There is a reason advanced democracies all have a party system and it is to avoid a mess like we had.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oh give it a break with your anti Alden nonsense. You don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

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    • Anonymous says:

      @8.58p.Sore loser. You are delusional. I guess your disappointment in the independents has done that to you.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    I ask again, and maybe this time it will get posted. Has Dart signed off on this? We know he has the final word.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    What ever happened to the popular peoples front?

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  29. Anonymous says:

    National Unity is a good name for the party.
    May I suggest the UBF Party?
    Unlikely Bedfellows Party.

    Mac + Alden- didn’t see that marriage coming.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Kenneth better stock up on fidget spinners.

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    • Knot S Smart says:

      Kenneth will accomplish for his nit-wit supporters the same thing that he has accomplished with his life – Nothing! Zilch! Absolute Zero! Nada!

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  31. Anonymous says:

    At the end of the day, the photo-op shows they all go home happy with large salaries, and they now can wait another 4 years before anything gets done as long as they all stick together like family and watch each other back -the true cornerstone of classic politics.

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  32. Eastern Donkey says:

    Im not a fan of Alden’s but let me tell you he’s ten times better than those 2 donkeys from the east!
    I’m glad to see both parties got together and put them in their place and are looking out for the best of Cayman, becuase if the independents had got in we’d be screwed.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Those two (from North Side and East End) is the reason why we do not have an independent led government. Arden is such an ass and so full of himself. He ego and his belief that he should be Premier is all he can think about. I am so glad Dr. T spoke about this egotistical nincompoop on the radio yesterday. Let the Cayman Islands see his true colors. Even the Independants are saying what a jackass he is. Smdh

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  33. Anonymous says:

    IMO They all suck, they all are narcissistic cowards only after as much money as they can Grab. It is sad that no patriots live on this Rock. PPM thinks we are too stupid to see the Ritch report, the masses are so ignorant as to believe the independent’s xenophobic lies and so, no surprise, we are doomed.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This rock doesn’t produce patriots. It’s good at other things…….plus, it has the T-Factor

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  34. Unison says:

    #1 – Alden McLaughlin: Will go down as the best party Negotiator ever. He has managed to join forces with his Opponent, never seen before

    #2 – McKeeva Bush: The longest serving MLA and veteran MLA, survivor of court cases and accusations, will rescind in an honorable chair. Never a leader rule so long like him

    #3 – Doctor Steve Tomlinson: Is by far the most political and influencial business man that everybody is talking about. Despite others, he is brave to go public

    #4 – Tara Rivers: By far is the most flexible, easy-going lady in the arena of poli-tricks

    #5 – Arden Mclean & Ezzard Miller: The fiercest watchdogs and Non-compromisers yet … Anticipating they may start their own party

    #6 – Anthony Eden: Is Cayman’s greatest Christian Conservative. The second longest serving MLA, and most hated by atheists

    #7 – Between Kenneth Bryan & Dwayne Seymour, I would say they made best comeback during this election, and come as victors. Kenneth a rookie

    Oh ? and #8 – Auston Harris … no comment about him as yet …

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    • Anonymous says:

      And you the biggest suck-up and writer of alternative history. Its a good thing videos for future historians are putting your kind out of business sooner rather than later.

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    • Unison says:

      I meant to add Eden “most hated by atheists and expats” … And Harris, a man of ideas …

      ?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Harris-woman beater and Eden a bigot. I’m not an atheist or an expat. I’m a Caymanian with sense who doesn’t like my country looking like backwards people.

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    • Anonymous says:

      #1. Can’t wait to see him use the negotiation powers when mac double crosses him… in about 3 weeks.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    On thing we should all be able to agree on “Build a wall on the north border of WBS”

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    • Mr. Bigly says:

      The wall location has been moved to Frank Sound. It’s slowly pushing towards town but construction shall commence at the junction.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    OMOV sucks. Let’s make it like the U.S. and let everyone vote for the positions appropriately. Island wide voting, none of this east, west, north, south crap. Obviously it doesn’t work.

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    • Unison says:

      What?! No electoral districts means the minority will have no say! And always the MLAs will come from the George Town and West Bay area!

      It will be mob rule! ?

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    • Anonymous says:

      h yeah then the premier can install all his buddies in the top positions.
      Great system.

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    • Paul says:

      So…not like the US at all then…

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    • Live Free.... says:

      Knock, Knock, the USA does practice a form of OMOV, it’s obvious you don’t watch when America have their Congress and Senate Elections. Only one person can for example, represent” let’s say Miami Dade, that would be considered a District.
      And please stop blaming the outcome of the Election on OMOV, why won’t you accept that the people of Cayman voted for a Coalition Government headed by the Progressives. That’s why you all end up with 3 CDP, 7 Progressives + Tara and 8 Independents​, which is considered split voting. The people are saying they want a Party led Government, but must include some Independents​ that’s why you all are in this situation, the majority of voters, voted for a party led Government instead of independents​ led. Look at the statistics, 11 Candidate’s​ between the two parties and 8 Independents​, I didn’t add Tara Rivers to the Independents​ because she is more affiliated with the Progressives.

      So to end, one man one vote had nothing to do with the difficulties the 19 elected members had in forming a Government, a lot of Horse-trading happen because of the independents, which is very common all over the world, because they don’t know how to form a Government, that’s why the majority of Countries in the world have parties Governing or ruling over them.

      Live Free….

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  37. Anonymous says:

    Whos the dude on the right closest to the camera?

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  38. Anonymous says:

    WTF is the Jamaican Consul doing there? Cayman should be very concerned.

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  39. Knot S Smart says:

    There is a lot of crap going around about the majority voted for independents but the reality is that 40% voted for PPM 31% voted for CDP and 29% voted for Independents – clearly not a majority for Independents. The government that has just been formed therefore represents 78% of the votes when Tara 3% and Austin 4% are added to the mix. Additionally another 11% (Ezzard+Arden+ Suckoo+Anthony) voted for incumbents. The remaining 11% voted for change…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Knot quite right in your maths but the result still follows
      24.08% CDP
      31.23% PPM
      44.69% Ind

      from the elections office web site

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      • Anonymous says:

        The problem with their math is that parties by def will only have one candidate per constituency whereas “independents” can be any number.

    • Anonymous says:

      Amen. But those with the medical agenda keep trying to pretend differently.

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  40. Anonymous says:

    Sharon Roulstone as Speaker would be welcome (or anyone other than McKeeva). McKeeva shouldn’t be anywhere near the levers of power with his party winning a laughable 3 seats.

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  41. Anonymous says:

    This is extremely disappointing and a terrible upset to democracy…… Where were Arden, Ezzard and Anthony during the meeting of the two political parties with Mrs. Kilpatrick? There was no point in voting Independent if we don’t have a voice. I am so saddened……

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Austin will benefit from working with Joey, Moses and Roy all of whom won their seats by wide margins and this will position him well for reelection in 4 years.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Is Austin allowed to beat wives.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He without sin cast the first stone!
        I presume you’re without ANY SIN??? Drop it and move on. The country needs to focus on the issues at hand like getting a new government formed.

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      • Unison says:

        Austin is a man of positive ideas. It is your choice to look at the negatives.

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  43. Anonymous says:

    Congrats Premier you have shown us your leadership skills and proved that independents simply can’t be trusted to form a government. Can’t imagine that we voted out Archer and Panton.

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  44. Anonymous says:

    “various fractions of independent members elected last Wednesday have refused to serve under McLaughlin”. No sh*t. Holy wakamoly. These guys seriously had plans to take over.Try again in four years fellas. I seriously doubt the voting public will be so generous now that the entire world knows what you had up your sleeves, unless they remain stupid enough to be bought out again that is.By the way,give us all a very good laugh and tell us who you intended to replace our Premier will you please? .

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  45. Anonymous says:

    best of some very bad and scary options…..
    the last 5 days have been a very poor reflection on mac whose incompetence appears never ending….

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  46. Anonymous says:

    Anyone who had anything to do with promoting OMOV should not be allowed anywhere near our Government. This has been a complete disaster and brought out the worst in our already dodgy politicians. We’ve been forced to chose and vote out of persons who don’t live in our neighborhoods in some instances and there was no clear indication as to why these were the persons some of us were forced to chose from. We’ve seen those who were elected by only a few ( in relation to some other elected members who were voted for by many) become aggressive in trying to forge a Government and vying to be premier. And let’s not forget those that we didn’t elect also aggressively trying to put together our Government. We sat back in dismay and saw backstabbing, horse trading, threats and reneging of signed written agreements. This is what our country and our politicians were reduced to. This is what has now forged our new government. A hodgepodge of fractured parties and independents who in reality have no respect for or resent each other …..but will sell out to make a Government if only for a short while (just look at the players at the table…..by the way is that the Jamaican Consulate at the table?). It’s been disgraceful.

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  47. Anonymous says:

    Glad to see these long time opponents get together for the good of the country.

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  48. Anonymous says:

    It’s not all set in stone. She’s just called the meeting as expected. Speaker, Premier, deputy and Cabinet are still to be confirmed. Horse-trading continues for next 48 hrs.

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  49. Anonymous says:

    Congrats here all! Sorry to see those older and more experienced from the East are still not willing to do the right thing for Country but I’m also not surprised as their egos are so undeservedly over-sized!

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  50. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations;
    Please to see Austin finally saw the light and his future, however Tara has shown her loyalty, integrity and her honour and should be looked after with the cabinet position of her choice. She is to be admired and respected throughout this process not to be caught up amongst all the male egoes in the Independent Party controlled by President Tomlinson.

    All we need now is one or two more mature and professional Independent without egoes to join with the PPM in this coalition for the best interests of the country.

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    • REB says:

      The real President Doctor is in the background in the photo but we prefer to be controlled by non-caymanians then by caymanians. We are so brainwashed.

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    • Fred says:

      Well Alden doesn’t need them. He has his seven, Tara, 3 CPD (or at least Mac and Eugene), and Harris. That’s either 11 or 12 and in either case a majority. Be interesting to see what posts if any Eugene and Harris get.

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