Tomlinson denies having power over any MLAs
Dr Steve Tomlinson
(CNS): Dr Steve Tomlinson has denied that he has any power to tell the elected candidates what to do, even though he has been widely credited with causing the collapse on Friday of the first deal struck between the soon to be reinstated premier, Alden McLaughlin, and the new speaker, McKeeva Bush. The former hospital boss and surgeon, now a major shareholder in The Cayman Reporter, told that newspaper that since no party got an absolute majority, the government has to be elected on the floor of the House. However, this is not the case, as McLaughlin now has the necessary numbers to secure the government.
Described by McLaughlin on the campaign trail as the man who was trying to become Cayman’s first unelected premier, Tomlinson funded at least ten random independent candidates and supported several more in what appeared to be a concerted attempt to bring down the local party political system. Tomlinson is said to have injected a considerable sum of cash in the elections but there is no clearly apparent aim or purpose for the investment as the candidates he chose to back had no common policy agendas.
Despite his hand in orchestrating nine independent candidates being elected to office, Kenneth Bryan is the only elected candidate who has admitted being part of the Tomlinson stable. Austin Harris, one of two independent MLAs (the other being Tara Rivers) to have accepted a seat on the government benches, was widely believed to be part of that group but he told CNS shortly after Nomination Day that he was not being sponsored by the doctor.
The other elected candidates unaffiliated with either party are the ‘eastern alliance’ candidates (Anthony Eden, Alva Suckoo, Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller), as well as Chris Saunders and Dwayne “John-John” Seymour, who did not have a shared policy platform and neither man has admitted being supported or sponsored by Tomlinson.
The election of so many non-aligned candidates gave rise to the horsetrading over the last five days, as individual wants, needs, personal likes or dislikes and feuds rather than common policy positions dominated the talks. But in the end, the government has been shaped by a deal between McLaughlin and Bush, with Austin Harris, for the moment, agreeing to be part of the line up.
It is not yet clear if Harris will be taking up a Cabinet seat but it is highly likely he has been offered a ministry. If so, regardless of his decision to run as an independent candidate, this will bind him to the collective responsibility of the government front bench and the PPM’s policy agenda.
Category: 2017 General Elections, Elections, Politics
This has all been the most tawdry, classless, underhanded, political PSYOP that I’ve ever had the misfortune to witness in my entire life here in paradise.
We are better than this. We SHOULD be better than this. Other countries have campaign contribution limits and laws. It is my impression and opinion that we saw a single special interest attempt to purchase a government.
In the U.S., there are special-interest lobbies, and when their candidates are elected, they expect the quid pro quo that was AGREED upon when the monies changed hands. I think this is much the same, on a smaller scale, and it sickens me.
These last few days of struggles, and dealing and offers and counter-offers…. HOW do we have any assurance — as voters — that our elected members will not flip, change their colours and agree to the opposite platform for which we voted?
Dr. Tomlinson, I am extremely disappointed in you and your attempted medical coup. You didn’t finance and reach for positive change for The Cayman Islands. You financed and reached for power.
Disrespect.
naaaaaa “Whats up Doc”
Nice teeth
The Classic Case of “Falling from Grace”
A life time of building a great reputation only to lose it all in a month.
Self inflicted and an absolute disgrace as his lust for power, influence and total control over the country was his ultimate downfall. He should now join the CDP with his comrade in his quest for a dictatorship.
And we all know Grace 12.28, very difficult to fall from her but some still manage. Seriously, whole thing sounds very sordid.
The effort of any one, individual or companies who funds candidates in order to determine the final outcome needs to be subject to rules. Rules that prohibit undue influence. Accordingly the Election laws need to be revised and amended so that campaign financing is transparent, i.e. accessible to the public and limited to X amount by donor(s). We must stop being subjected by “anyone” who wants to or “may” and/or could have the desire to exercise due influence on a candidate(s) and thereby on the policies of Government.
This is what we need to do and sooner than later. New Government you have been warned.
How old is that picture, I mean…..
Yeah. I haven’t seen a hat like that since the days of the Kennedey White House.
He’s a legend in his own lunchtime.
Call me crazy, but I’m less inclined to berate the financial backing of a self-made millionaire Caymanian that has served my community for decades than that of an inherited multi-billionaire living off the proceeds of daddy’s invention and profiting via poor Argentines and Greeks.
But that’s just me …
Poor Argentinians and Greeks? Really? Let me put it simply so you can understand.
Lets say you borrow $100 from me, and over a year we agree in writing that with interest you will pay me back $110.
Then because you cannot control your own finances or get your house in order, you tell me you only want to pay me $40 back in total and I have to suffer the loss myself. And when I say “bollocks” and demand full payment, I am the bad guy, because you cant control yourself?
Very vague argument for a vulture
Vague? How clear do you want it? Would you rather it just jumped up and slapped you round the face a few times, or is that the only way you will get it?
That’s all fine and good (not to mention the totally unnecessary breakdown of the situation), however, one still has the option of where and how to seek (even more) profits.
Personally, I find that a multi-billionaire that opts to do so via a channel that will see innocent, poor and suffering, regular citizens of badly governed countries negatively impacted is beyond despicable.
To each his own. Apparently you and referenced billionaire exist in a universe parallel to mine – thank goodness.
Those poor and so called innocent people you refer to were all part of the scam. Most had full time government jobs that they only turned up the morning for, and then two or three other jobs which neither they nor their employers paid taxes on, whilst still demanding full state pensions and medical. Their suffering was self inflicted due to prior greed…so don’t make people like Dart out to be the big bad uncaring wolf. He has done more for Cayman than you can ever hope too.
I won’t bother to engage in further dialogue with you – not when your spewing such crap.
To suggest the entire population was “in on it” therefore as a collective they all deserved it is evidence of a sick mind.
Of the 2 of your at least Dart had the means to gain financially by his callousness – you on the other hand are relegated to proving yourself a blowhard bystander with nothing to show for it.
Lastly, Dart has done more for HIMSELF than you or I could ever hope to.
foh
But lets say you borrow $100 from me to buy an ipod, and over a year we agree in writing that with interest you will pay me back $110. Or at the end of the year you will sell the ipod and I get the proceeds. At the end of the year, for whatever reason, you tell me you only want to pay me $40 back in total. So the ipod goes up for sale. But it only fetches $90, which you collect. Then I say “bollocks” and demand full payment, and sue you for the remaining $40. – Who is the bad guy?
I think you need to go back to school and learn basic addition and subtraction!
110-90=40?
Not only school needed but a common sense injection
When was the last time Dart tried to set up the government?
Yesterday? Tomorrow? You name it.
Thank you.
(Original Poster)
Loser on many levels.
Tomlinson has shown us all how brilliant he really is NOT, in brokering the deal placing a minority in power by having the CDP and McKeeva Bush back in total power and control running this country. He alone sold out all his Independents and what is worse, his independents stood by and allowed this to happen. It does not say much for any of the independents. Tomlinson in his great wisdom has destroyed the future of his Independent Party before it even got off the ground. The electorate are not fools and we are sure that these independents will now be enjoying their last term in office following this Tomlinson fiasco over the weekend which enraged the country. For all the good Tomlinson did as a doctor, he has now destroyed his reputation and all respect for the man. SAD !
Anonymous 8:32am , I agree and that shows us that he lots of money but no experience in investing it .
I really thinks that Alden and Mack should tell him Doc now to take your lost and go back to being Dr .
Can you not understand that Independents are not in a party. There is no such thing as the Independent Party – they are independent. Look it up in the dictionary if you don’t understand what it means.
I am sure I am not the only one but let me just say this is bull manure. Mr. T you wanted to influence things for a reason and maybe it’s not totally clear to all of us but people don’t invest money for no return.
Cough: Shetty Hospits: Cough:
Dr T was not willing to run, as he knew he would never get elected on his own merits. He was hoping that enough of his stooges would get in, on the understanding that they would then appoint him Speaker of the House – a position of significant influence. Glad to see his plan never came to fruition.
I have little respect for anyone that thinks Kenneth Bryan is a good investment…
Dr. T can now go back to being a General Practice doctor specializing in Pediatrics, Cardiology, OBGYN, Neurology, Orthopedics, ENT, and now Politricks. What a renaissance man we have been blessed with.
Dr. T, please publicly explain why you feel so strongly that certain people are better suited to run the Government than what the past Government achieved, yet you never employed any of those candidate you financially backed in any of your businesses (and I am sure some or them could have used a good paying job)!
Don’t you see how insulting this is?
Knock knock
Whose there
Doctor
Doctor who!
Wait wait wait! It’s CAPTAIN Who.
Lmao whogene e.
And, of course, there is really no way to follow the campaign finance trail. Our politicians consider that an inconvenience and have drafted the rules accordingly.
Tiny electorate, too may seats, this is wha ya get.
Kenneth?! Health minister??!! What a nerve!!! U must be joking…lol
Dr T is crazy if he thinks he can now hide the truth from us. I hope his private schemes and motives come to light and he is fully exposed.
If he had so much influence why didn’t he win?
The T Factor should change it’s group name to the EFF Factor. Biggest EFF UP in Cayman history!!!!
Like the Krapton Fyctor?
Seems the biggest hippocrites here claim to do things in the name of God.
Wait didn’t Dr T. take the Hippocratic Oath? Fine upstanding Caymanian he is. NOT!
While Shetty’s doctors don’t have the same amount of qualifications at least I can trust them.
Dr. T your T Factor screenshots were all over Cayman.
Please don’t pull a “trump” on us denying what our eyes have seen and what our ears have heard. Give it up now. Move on and focus on your small clinic and enjoying your semi retirement. We don’t need puppet mastering and we don’t need you to continue lying to the public. If you bought them out you bought them out. Move on! Stop bursting into meetings and trying to make things go your way. Ughhh so fed up of this mess!
My respect for Dr. T
He is not a layed back Caymanian who just watch things happen. He loves his country. He believes in the development of medical tourism that could become our third economic leg.
Those who are criticizing him, don’t know the man who saved many lives here on this island. Dr. T. may have had some influence on the electorate, but certainly, he did not make you vote for the MLAs we have now!
You can blame yourselves for that!
I agree with you Unison. Its time for Cayman to expand into other areas and DR T is right for bringing in these new industries. Lets hope the new group will come together and move this country forward and get things going. New dock, east- west arteriel roads and the Dump.
Influence that he is now DENYING!
no one would ever dispute what a great doctor and surgeon he is.
was
Saved lives? Well that’s his job now, isn’t it?
He must take us all for fools. The sad part is it almost worked.
We are all indeed fools because both parties are backed by money. Question is, who’s backing them and what is there agenda? Funny how we’re quick to display a crab in the bucket mentality when one of our sons of the soil throws $$ towards candidates yet no one questions when foreign powers do the same.
Thank you Dr. Tomlinson!
You help us to see in our lifetime PPM and CDP joined forces, and we need to see how our MLAs react under pressure.
Kudos✌
Wow DR T has lost a lot of respect from the people on this island. He alone destroyed the true independents chances. Arden had a group so that’s not independents, Dr t had a group and that’s not jndependents. He’s not fooling anyone with his “Christian” remarks on the radio.
If what he did/attempted isn’t illegal it damn well should be!!
He must be full of money and bulls### too , to think that everyone believes that .
Steve listed all of ‘his’ candidates when speaking for Rudi in the Brac. The only one to actually get elected was Kenneth.
Will he now follow the example of Cleveland Dilbert who also ‘sponsored’ Nicolas and Rudi and has since asked for his money back?
Clevland Dilbert with Nickolas? another fool hiding behind a computer and don’t know anything.
I hear there is cheap beachfront in Costa Rica.
All of his billboards and online videos showed that he wanted to develop many different medical fields. I imagine this is where he expected the payback and would expect that his candidates that he owned would return this favour.
This Dr is the most arrogant I have seen through out this entire election. He called his chat group “The T Factor” because he was bragging about his influence on the elections. Everyone can see right through him. He poured loads of money into these candidates and paraded all over with them.
With what they owe him he must have expected a LOT in return.
He influenced the elections and then attempted to form his own government!! Then he plays it off like he’s done nothing!! We know what you’re up to Doc, don’t you worry!
Dr T forgot to tell his “friends” in the T-Factor chat it was confidential and no screenshots were allowed. We’ve all seen it Dr T, we know what you did.
I heard Dr T stormed into the govt administration building demanding a meeting with the governor as Alden and McKeeva were meeting with her!!
Yeahhhh right. He showed his true colors. No one pours millions into an election without a political agenda. I wonder why he was so desperate to get Kenneth as Health minister???