Opposition begins slating gov’t before taking seats
Alva Suckoo in the LA March 2017
(CNS): The independent candidates who are now resigned to sitting on the opposition benches have made a number of allegations against members of the government, even before they are sworn in. Setting the tone for what may be an acrimonious parliament after the CDP and PPM cut a deal to form a government with independent members, Alva Suckoo circulated a press release Monday night saying the Friday night deal with McKeeva Bush fell apart over his lawsuits and claimed members of the PPM delegation had said McLaughlin’s leadership was “untenable”.
CNS understand that the statement, which raises a number of questions, is not supported by all of the Independents who could be on the opposition benches after the Swearing In Ceremony Wednesday. But the release, which appears to be largely supported by the ‘eastern alliance’ MLAs, suggested that the deal they struck with Bush, in which he would have been the next premier, fell apart because of concern over the lawsuits he has filed against government, even though all parties involved were well aware of the suits before the agreement was made.
The statement does not include any explanation as to why PPM members were not included in those talks, given that they formed the largest group and the Independent members claimed they “made ever [sic] best effort to form a government that reflected the will of the people”.
CNS has asked a number of questions regarding the allegations made by the Independents, particularly about the PPM delegation, comprising Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and Moses Kirkconnell. The statement claims that they went to speak with the Independent group and accepted that “McLaughlin’s ability to lead was untenable following the election results where 3 of 5 PPM Cabinet members on the ballot lost their seats”.
The release from the Independents who are choosing to stay in opposition also claims the PPM delegation believed that the election results “were a rejection of the PPM leadership”.
The Independents have not responded to any of our questions about their release and who supports the claims it makes, but representatives from the PPM told CNS that the allegations regarding alleged comments by the PPM delegation are absurd.
The release is critical of the parties and Austin Harris for his decision to “break ranks” and negotiate with the PPM alone. However, since the press release was disseminated, Dwayne Seymour has joined the new government and CNS learned Tuesday morning that Kenneth Bryan has also now offered to serve in the coalition government. CNS has been unable to confirm the position of Chris Saunders, as it is understood the door is still open to him to join the coalition.
The Independents left to from the opposition, then, may be confined to the four eastern alliance MLAs — Ezzard Miller, Arden McLean, Anthony Eden and Alva Suckoo.
The press release nevertheless blames the parties for the five days of horsetrading and double-crossing and for forming a government they claim does not reflect the will of the people. The statement further implies that more allegations will follow, as it raised the law suit question again.
“It is clear now that neither the PPM nor the CDP negotiated in good faith and the questions surrounding the outstanding lawsuits remain unanswered. Further details of the five days of negotiation will be revealed later in the appropriate arena, ” the statement reads.
In response to the allegations made in the statement, Premier Alden McLaughlin told CNS on Monday evening that it was neither the CDP nor the PPM that had caused the trouble.
“The Independents who issued the statement should accept that their inability to agree amongst themselves and the obvious unsuitability of any of their number to hold the office of premier are the real reasons why they will sit in the opposition,” he said. “At this stage there is no point in making desperate and unsubstantiated allegations. We who have been elected need to work together and do as each of us pledged, to take this country forward. I commend Mr Austin Harris for his maturity and sense of responsibility in joining our Government of National Unity and agreeing to work with us for the benefit of these beloved islands of ours.”
Press Release from the Independents on the formation of the new government, 29 May 2017
Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics
Why is it Alva wanted to be Deputy Premier or hold a Ministerial position but don’t have fortitude to be the Leader of the Opposition?
Seems he got himself into a real mess with them washed up power hungry politicians like Ezzard, Arden and Anthony.
Alva you are a real disappointing to this country and your constituents! Please consider doing the right thing – step down!!!!!
If not the people will send you to early retirement with your fellow colleagues in 4 years.
@CNS. The eastern alliance of independents have not responded to your queries because they are not completely true. They are forced to decide ‘how’ to retract a lie/partial truth. Did you listen to AH & KB on Star 92.7 yesterday? There was no mention of all 8 independents attending a meeting with MK & JOC. Wonder why, when they both were so forthcoming with everything else? Maybe it’s because it didn’t occur quite like the “now opposition” is explaining it??
Those two are so full of it. They are so blinded by power that they did not care about anything else.
Well dats you all vote that pompous ass in. He claim he having a meeting on Monday to tell his side of the story. I wonder how he going to embellish his untruths. East End people should demand that he step down.
Can you imagine an Independent Cayman Islands with types of Stooges! The poor confused voters in BTW and other districts were duped. How the hell can you ask for your neighbors votes with no National Manifesto and a possible Leader of your group?
THIS IS A PROMISE; Anyone come within the boundaries of my house and claim to be “Independent”; Will be severely whipped with the Cow Cod now patiently waiting. You deceivers and liars…
Alva you have to accept the blunders you and the other Independents made. Putting politics aside for a minute, the total nine of you trying to form a government would have been beyond the capabilities of the group to run a country. A mixed bag of inexperience compounded by jostling for positions would have been a catastrophe. Investor confidence would have gone down.
Trying to form a Government with CDP would also have its share of problems as its only MAC who have the political experience but then there are issues that are attached to him. So for you guys to run on that side and to fall flat demonstrates the lack of judgement and leadership.
You guys should have swallowed and join PPM to put our country first and to learn the ropes to better stand on your own the next round.
You have to accept accountability for what happened. I haven’t heard you said that.
You are on the opposition side now. Not a good place to be but hopefully you guys will learn from your mistakes.
The decisions taken to form a CDP and Independents coalition on Friday night set the stage to inform the electorate that not one independent was willing to stand against this decision to place McKeeva and the CDP back in control of the country with only 1472 West Bay votes.
It speaks volumes for the lack of character, professionalism and maturity of them all as they play their games and strategies which are not in the best interests of the country at all. Shame on you all for accepting and not being willing to stand up to McKeeva and Tomlinson dictating to you. None of you deserve to be representing the people of this country.
The mistake the Independents made was not realizing that if they don’t win the majority of the seats, it will be next to impossible to form a Government. This was discussed at length during the campaigning days.
The second mistake they made is that they ran to CDP to form a Government instead of admitting to themselves that the majority of the people did NOT want CDP as was shown with the election outcome of CDP only winning three seats, all due to voting in one district.
So no Al, you all can’t put the blame on everyone else. You all also did not heed to wishes of the electorate and screwed up when you ran to CDP. I assume egos got in the way.
I knew this one man one vote business would be difficult to manage. This choosing independents was such a distraction to the main coarse. And the people did not see it coming. Now its pure confusion. What is working for the country leave it alone. To many back stabbing and deals happening behind the scenes.
Can you use “CDP” and “negotiated in good faith” in the same sentence?
Not logically, anyway. Pretty much an oxymoron.
Alva need to go and sit down on the opposition bench, and take a chill pill with the rest of the not-so Independents MLA. He had the opportunity to do the right thing along with the rest of the not-so Independents, to help formed a coalition government with the PPM, but you all blew it and now have to live with the consequences for your actions. If you all weren’t so greedy and had humble your all selves, we would have had a PPM-IND government formed. So there’s no one else to blame than yourself, Arden and Ezzard. So Alva, don’t blame the government when your constituency doesn’t get anything done, due to not having any representation on the government bench, and I hope they hold you to account when 2021 elections comes around.
Now that it is fully clear that Arden, Ezzard and Alva Suckoo are the reason there was so much turmoil and they and their egos alone caused the talks to break down the voters will remember this in 4 years. All business owner will be for sure funding alternatives to unseat them. They all won their seats by 20 votes or less.
I have a new book coming out within two months. It’s called How To Be A Premier for Dummies. Please be on the look ? out in the local bookstores.
Oh by the way Alva, I hope you learn the lesson this time. Cut away from the clutter and reflect how best to serve your constituents and country instead of listening to expired or soon to expire Independents.
Now let’s get on with the people’s business. Shall we?
I still think that it’s a shame Nickolas does not yet meet the criteria for running. Intelligent, educated and well meaning would be nice….
What I find most amusing and downright stupid is the fact that due to nature of Caymans voting system is the people clearly vote for candidates who win and still end up in opposition.
No matter what you think of the candidates such as Alva, Ezzard, Arden etc how on earth can this be right?
I wish the people would boo both Ezzard and Arden at the swearing in tomorrow.
Take several seats, Alva!
You all had a chance to vote in a decent guy who I genuinely believe has Cayman interest at heart in Ed Chisholm . But you chose to stick with the same xenophobic self serving dinosaur you always go for. Good luck with that. Look forward to hearing all the bitching about east end and north side being left behind ….
What we caymanians need to do is stop fight down our own to suit imported friends . When the money is all gone and there is nothing left. See who will be left .
I believe Mr. McLaughlin here over anything these “independents” have to say!
Mr. Alden, please remember that there were a lot of people in North Side and East End, that didn’t vote for Ezzard, or Arden.
So please do let politics stop you from considering those two districts when allocating fu ding for initiatives.
We need the bypass done, we need proper policing. Please don’t spite us, because an ill informed majority!!!
Alden and his team won’t forget East End like the current MLA has
Suckoo and Bryan should both step down and in the best interests of the country allow Marco Archer and Wayne Panton to return to office because the country needs them far more than the two independents who have nothing to offer this country.
We sure lost two amazing representatives and we got two wannabes in their place.
We did not. We lost one i.e. Marco.
Keep your opinion to yourself. Obviously the electorate don’t agree with you!
This will all be forgotten by next election and voters will be voting in the same ole sour grapes come 2021.
It’s nothing short of comical listening to the so-called independents whine about being left out of government. What the f#&k did you expect? Independence doesn’t work in the parliamentary system. For the government to do anything you have to lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I hope the country has learned its lesson from this debacle. The problem isn’t parties per se, it is the useless parties we have had for the last 15 years.
Awesome comments. So much better than the uneducated on facebook!
Every Election East Enders say Arden won’t be re-elected. I have to wonder who’s voting him in? It has to be some ghosts or something as I can’t believe its the same people saying they’re voting him out. See what unna get!!! Nothing for your district for another four years. Btw same thing for North Side.
We had two ministers in BT last four years. Please let me know what you think BT, Savannah, Newlands got out of it?
Arden is the root of the problem. Too much ego and stubbornness. This is his last term for sure.
He’s the only politician in this country that cannot be corrupted. That’s why the news and big corps hate him so much! Arden, you are the only decent person in that house!
Sit down Alva, be a good doggy.
I’m getting confused about the definition of independent? Is it actually a group? Is a group not a few independents together? Or is an independent someone who is by them self?
Don’t feel bad, even most of the “Independents” are also confused about the meaning! ?
I know, I keep seeing folks complain that the independent guys can’t get together as if they were a party, and every time I see it, I think “herding cats.”
To have the most capable and proven candidate (Marco archer) not elected again, makes me wonder about the ability of the people to vote. To have McKeiva reelected so many times given his past performance and scandals leads me to the same conclusion. To have HARRIS and Bryan elected with no experience and their past police records indicates same.
For the same reason we do not allow children and criminals to vote, we need to ensure that those charged with voting are capable of doing so. What policies are in place to ensure the voters have adequate IQ and ability to analyze candidates and form an intelligent opinion on their voting choices?
If people cannot read and write, should they be allowed to vote and similarly should they be allowed to run? Why are people with alleged criminal behaviors allowed to run and vote?
We test foreigners in English ability before we grant a work permit, should we do the same with the candidates?
Should there be minimum education standards for people running in the elections or should someone with just grade 5 education be allowed to lead our country?
The problem as I see it is that both the voting block and many candidates do not have the skills to perform their duties.
In total agreement! Like my mom said, some of them can’t even spell politics! Lol Crazy that any ole fool can throw their hat in the ring! Marco, like you said, is one of the few who is qualified but too many voting who have no clue, or who got paid for votes!
Remember you just can’t be educated you also have to be a people person it’s no good to have a great education and you’re not among your people they’re the first step of you being elected that’s what killed some of our candidates. It’s not good to let people start thinking your better than they are especially in the political environment it has a way of back fired on you
I certainly don’t find Marco to have have any airs/ego about him. He does not have a “superiority complex”. It seems like some of the voters in our district might have a “inferiority complex” and try to push that on him.
Voting for someone just because they’re “among your people” as opposed to choosing the most qualified candidate is like burning your own house down just because your neighbor has a nicer house. Stupid!!!!! Thanks to that idiotic mentality, now we’re stuck with a dud of a representative in GTC instead of a smart, finance-savvy gentleman.
Are you suggesting that because a person can’t read or write they shouldn’t have a democratic right, aren’t they still human beings that have to live in this country and don’t they still have human rights. Many of our older folks who bust this country from nothing , didn’t have the luxury of going to school because they had to work , hence some can’t read and write, are you suggesting that we now take away their democratic rights ???
ok – so let’s make it anyone under 50 who is illiterate.
Yes, clear enough?
Yes if a person’s intelligence can be manipulated by an object like a fridge, yes. Their vote should not count in my opinion. I am not being discriminatory, it is the same reason 2 year olds can’t vote. We are not taking the democratic right away from kids, we conclude that they cannot make informed decisions at early ages to vote.
If an adult has the intelligence of a 6 year old such that a fridge or some other gifted object influences their decisions, then we should treat the adult as a 6 year old and not allow him or her to vote.
Clear now?
Hum people who cannot read or write should not vote ? Why not say only a person of a certain inflated ego should ? What about rednecks ? Any preference im color while your at it ! What an idiotic comment. Let me guess from …
Education is not enough you gotta also be a people person and watch the words that’s coming out of your mouth ? especially in this political environment this has a way of backfiring on you in politics you have to be everything to be a well rounded politician. Can’t let people get the empression your better than they are it will come back an haunt you. There is a lot of that that goes on in cayman politics
On Monday evening Alden told CNS that it was not CDP nor PPM that caused the trouble . So then I wonder who could have caused the trouble ? I think that it’s impossible for all of the Independents to think alike . This is the kind of results that can be expected from the DR INVOLVEMENT going forward .
Huh?
Someone should explain to Alva what “independent” means. His statement on Austin Harris’ decision to “break ranks” is an oxymoron. If they are truly Independents, each needs to do as they see fit.
I know he’s ticked that his dream of being Deputy Premier slipped through his fingertips but it’s time for him to shut up and get to work.
Newsflash Alva, Dog nyam yuh suppa!
Perhaps he is referring to Harris prior agreement to work with the independents and for the Government together and then flying off to secure a Govt seat for himself
Alva Suckoo needs to resign himself to the fact that he’s not going to be the Deputy Premier working side-by-side with Mr. Bush. Sending out sour grapes press releases only showcases his political immaturity.
Alva, is Arden and Ezzard’s puppet!
Wrong, he’s Dr Ts puppet as most of the other independents.
All about the cash for them.
I am sorry but I am going to call it as I see it and I might be a little leaning towards PPM.
Can we agree on one FACT!!!
The PPM won the most seats as a group loose or not. What we had in the Independents were essentially 4 batches.
Tara who was leaning PPM
Eastern Alliance with 4 – Alva, Ezzard, Arden and Anthony
Mr. T’s Boys – Austin and Kenneth
Independents – Chris and John John
So what Arden et al was trying to do was to negotiation on behalf of 9, really 8, for the sake of their 4. They want to try to use their 4 solid posts and the other 4 loose post against a solid 8 post PPM group.
They simply overplayed their hand. Alden sent them a shot across their bow with the initial signing with CDP and they did not get the message.
I am sure if they came in a reasonable manner and requested the Deputy Premier along with say 2 or 3 cabinet seats and the rest of Councillor seats we would have a PPM/Ind coalition government today not PPM/CDP because I am fairly certain PPM would love that over CDP would they can’t trust.
Alva, Ezzard, Arden and Anthony this is all on you. Greediness choke puppy now it’s time to choke.
This is the best deal that the country could have gotten. Who in the hell want Arden to be Premier except Arden and his North Side crony? I understand that he, Arden was livid, and fit to be tied on Sunday night when he could not get his way. Now we in East End have to suffer for another 4 years because of his selfishness.
You in East End voted for him. Your fault, not anyone else’s.
I can see that this is the last term of their political career. Mr. Ezzard and Mr. Arden need to go and rest and leave and allow the new freshly young individuals to run for their districts . When people want to work for the people they unite for the cause . Any position given in Government its a contribution to the Cayman Islands !!!
I beg your pardon 2:54pm, but isn’t both Chis & John John aligned with the CDP?
As far as I know they were previously. Didn’t Chis run with them back when they were called UDP & John John wasn’t he an actual member of the UDP Government?
Anybody else tired as rassss of politics!?!?!
Independents had alot of time before the General Election to come together and start a New Party. But noooo … UNITY and keeping voters in the dark as to who will fill the cabinet portfolios, was not in their vocabulary!
So they must deal with the consequences. How can you run a democracy and have no unified plan??? ?
Why cant we all just get along…
The word is that the parties were not the issue, it was the chest beating and table pounding of the Eastern Alliance members that shattered the group into pieces. Mac was courted and dragged away from the PPM agreement by them not the other way around so the thought of them having concerns over his lawsuits is ridiculous.
You are absolutely right! What the East End people need to now do is demand that he resign. He is a disgrace.