CIG fear-mongering over port, says opposition
Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller in the Legislative Assembly
(CNS): The opposition has accused government of using fear as a tool to justify plans to build the controversial and costly cruise berthing facility instead of allowing the public to make an informed decision based on facts. The opposition will be holding a series of public meetings around Grand Cayman, beginning next Tuesday, where they will be taking the cruise pier debate to the people and unveiling their alternative ideas for the future of the cruise sector, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller said today. The aim is to present the research they now have about the proposed project and encourage voters to sign the petition for a national referendum.
Keen to focus on facts which many believe the government has been reluctant to share, Miller said his goal is to set out all of the information, elucidate key concerns and assist members of the Cayman community to arrive at an informed decision about the construction of the multi-million-dollar cruise berthing facility.
“Unlike the government, who have been seeking to influence public opinion on the basis of fear-mongering, we believe that in a controversial project of this nature and magnitude the people should have their say, both in our upcoming meetings and in the people-initiated referendum,” Miller said. “As the opposition, we are unreservedly committed to facilitating that understanding by openly and unreservedly sharing the facts as we know them.”
Disputing government’s position that the piers are needed to ensure the local cruise industry’s continued growth, Miller said the opposition was still keenly aware of the role the cruise sector plays in the Cayman Islands’ economy and the importance to stakeholders.
“We support and will continue to advocate for interventions that contribute to the vibrancy of cruise ship business as a whole,” he said. “But only in so far as those initiatives are in the long-term best interest of the Cayman Islands and its people.”
Miller and the opposition, alongside growing numbers of voters, firmly believe that this issue needs to go to the people and a referendum campaign will enable a “robust debate”, forcing government to engage more with the people. Evidence of that has already begun with government agreeing to hold a public meeting about the subject on Wednesday evening — the first dedicated public meeting in five years.
Miller said that while the move by the opposition to call for the government to initiate the referendum may have failed to collect the necessary votes to pass at the recent Legislative Assembly meeting in Cayman Brac, it succeeded in extracting more information that has revealed some of the more worrying impacts and costs of the project.
“The information we garnered only served to reinforce our position that the cruise berthing project must be carefully considered,” he said. “Putting the project to the test of a national referendum will have the effect of forcing government to disclose more of the well documented evidence, for and against, entering into this project.
“In the interim, at these upcoming meetings we will be sharing what our own research has revealed
so that the people, who will ultimately bear the burden of the outcome, will be properly prepared to come to their own informed conclusions.”
The opposition is keen to hold the meetings, Miller said, because of the sparsity of up-to-date public information for which the public is clamouring and people need to fully understand the consequences of a decision that has been attracting so much economic and environmental disquiet.
“Our people are capable of making up their own minds, and they deserve the respect due to them as concerned citizens,” he said, adding that the opposition’s ultimate goal is to safeguard the continued environmental and economic well-being of the Cayman Islands for present and future generations of Caymanians.
Miller said that he was inviting persons on both sides of the argument to come to the meeting and to share their views.
Category: development, Local News, Politics
Theg building it in barkers wb!
This petition for a referendum needs to include why pay for a high school that is failing its students.
I won’t be signing a referendum asking me to pray for anything.
What a terrible week for democracy when we see the unelected governments of Cayman and the US both try to force thru decisions that are based on self-interest disregard the wishes of the majority.
Cayman should have 4 docks, one in GT, one in the East, South and North. Let this one be a learning experience for the others.
11:34am , think about what said , are you going to pay for all 4 docks , CI government can’t , that’s why they are trying to get someone else to build the one pier in George town .
The first dock will be a succcess and will help pay for the others.
2:16 pm , do you know how many centuries it would be before the second dock is built with your theory .
It could be done in less than a decade if some did not want to unfairly stick their finger in the pie. Give each caymanian an equal share in the project with dividends disbursed transparently. Otherwise it would take centuries from all the mis-trust in who will benefit. That is what is slowing progress.
Environmentalist would agree if you would allow them to devise methods to protect all reefs from the profits of the dock, but everybody knows the profits will goto some greedy bastards who dont need it, hence all the pushback. We could have 4 environmental friendly docks that could be the example for all other countries in the world, but the small minded greedy gollams are mucking up the whole process as they usually do.
How can we get some people from only believing one side of any story ?
How can we open their minds to see right from wrong ? Anyone have any suggestions ?
And is anyone thinking about the long term ramifications for government involvement in this pier ?
Mr Kirkconnell said that the pier will be handed over to the people in 25 to 30 years . In 25 years , whose name will be on the ownership of this pier ? Who will be responsible for repairs and lawsuits if any occurs after the 25 years ? Shouldn’t Moses and Company be answering those questions .
Wrong, there are 18 voting districts in Cayman and each must have their own dock.
If constructed, the particular proposed dock will be an irreversible game-changer for the Cayman Islands.
Not all changes to the game will be positive.
10 people (MLA’s) should not be making this monumental decision.
I am; not paid by Briggs (not even sure who he is), not an Ezzard-follower (never met the gentleman), and not a political hopeful.
Our group consists of bankers, entrepreneurs, tour operators, teachers, chefs, medical doctors, PHD candidates, lawyers, post-grad students, professional divers, artists, etc – essentially, individuals not hurting for money and with otherwise very busy schedules.
We are not in this for “fun”.
Personally, I would not even be a part of this group if certain aspects of the proposed dock were not a reality, e.g. the location.
At the end of the day, this $200m dock will have to close down during bad weather.
The government invited the public resistance and made an initial misstep by limiting the location to Hog Sty Bay.
Most objectors agree and cite location as being their primary concern.
That being said, it brings us back to the original point; this proposal is one of such national importance it should be decided by referendum.
Be it YES or NO – let the people decide. Simple.
Sign the petition for the referendum.
interesting that you mention that ‘your group’ are comprised of people who are not in tourism, not in cruise tourism and who are not dependent on it for their living. This is part of the problem – people hauling up the ladder for those who make a lot less than an investment banker or a lawyer!
Please reread my original post.
It clearly references “tour operators” – and that is plural – as in more than one.
Furthermore, the Minister for Tourism regularly references the “300 taxi drivers” who he is looking out for – however, the vast majority of taxi drivers and TOUR OPERATORS believe, perhaps selfishly but nevertheless, the dock should be built elsewhere – at Spotts, for example.
(The breakdown forwarded by the taxi drivers explains how they ALL make a LOT MORE MONEY from just 2 ships at Spotts compared to when 4 or 5 are docked off George Town.)
Therefore, your conclusion, as well as Mr. Kirkconnell’s, is fatally flawed and could not be more off-target.
Anonymous 12:32pm , you really showed your true colors of being a kirkbot . Where does a professional Diver , and Tour operators work , if not in Tourism ? I think that if you are the best kirkbot , you should shut you mouth up because people like you aren’t helping anything or anyone .
I completely agree with anonymous 10:22am , that this monumental decision shouldn’t be made by 10 politicians, matter of fact is that there’s too much politics involved in this pier . That’s why Mr. Miller is seeing that government is bullying the public on this pier issue . That we should understand what this 200 million dollars pier will mean to us the People . We also need to look for positive results from this 200 million plus investment . We also needs to see the detrimental aspects of this project .
I think that politicians and who is going to benefit from the pier , is not being honest with the people . The people/taxpayers are going to be paying for the pier, so therefore they MUST KNOW every detail of this deal . We can’t sit down and let the politicians and who are going to benefit from the pier, run this over us .
How are we going to make an informed decision on this pier project , when there’s loyal employees , and scared to death residents in the Islands to speak out against the government ???
Ron I can’t see where you coming from? You don’t have a horse in this race. You of all people who were Charter Boat headquarters at the Holiday Inn know what happened to all of us there. You know this is were our bread is buttered. We no longer hardly get any business from the hotels. This is where every west Bayer who owns a stingray snorkel boat makes our business. You don’t think its a good investment? Really? Children are coming out of school, could they not work on their fathers’ boat? This pier don’t belong to any one group. It is for the Cayman Islands.
Anonymous 1:56 pm , yes I am the Ron Ebanks of Charter Boat Headquarters , but not at the Holiday inn . If you are not understanding where I am coming from . I am trying to get get you to understand , that not because the politicians are trying to make you believe that your life will be better if the pier is built . NO it wont because the pier is not being built for YOUR benefits . Unless you have some good money and can buy your concession at the pier when it is finished . Then you will be in the same boat as you were in , not getting no business from the hotels . I care for you ,but not your West Bay representatives .
Look what that One Man One Vote referendum got you.
Dear Government: Do NOT let your agenda be deterred by the politics of obstructionists.
Dear voters, do not let the government run roughshod over your rights. If the dock is really that good, give us all the facts ( not the fear mongering- I mean hard facts) and the voters will decide. The pro dock people will have no issue if they provide good solid facts. However they cannot, because there aren’t any, and they know it. So what do they do? Trump fear tactics. Pathetic.
How can we trust a coalition of losers who are so Hell-bent on keeping their conflicts and normal financial disclosures under wraps that they have not enacted the FCO-mandated law on accountability from four years ago?!? Where are Cayman’s legal, accounting, and compliance community on that?
The bottom line is that if you sign the petition you really in fact are vot My against the dock. The organizers of the referendum are tryin to pull the wool over peoples eyes and pretend they care about a democratic right. That is just a cover up of the real motives to kill the dock.
That is absolutely not true. Signing the petition simply means that you agree that the decision on the port should be made by the people. You can sign the petition and then vote no in the referendum. You are doing exactly what the opposition says the government is doing, you are twisting the facts for your own means.
I for one want the referendum to simply see our country remain a democracy and you should too if you care about what will happen with other dilemmas that will occur in the future of our island.
you can always vote no when the time comes.
what are you afraid of?
Pants on fire
A referendum is simply a means to give people access to their DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO VOTE ON AN ISSUE. Something the pro-port MLA are withholding which is a breach of position. The only wool being pulled down is the wool over pro-porters eyes but then most of them are the few people that will gain directly from this or the sheep that can’t think for themselves and follow blindly. If you believe in democracy then you would sign the petition and then vote yes for the port if you believe in it or no if you don’t. It really is that simple. Voting to support democracy doesn’t mean it is not an automatic no on a certain issue. It means you are supporting a method of governance that is a true and fair representation of the will of the people. Something politicians in Cayman have forgotten.
Caps lock boy at it again! Your handlers must be keeping you in check again. Hulk is mad.
I cant help but point out all caps doesn’t symbolize screaming or shouting it places emphasis on an section of text
There are no italics, and he can’t underline or embolden words so all caps is the only other way to highlight an area
I love you folks though, replies without substance are my favorite type
Those are called general elections. Referendums are used to vote for extra election items OR usually undo election agendas.
What is your reasoning for this statement?
Your kind of li is the worst kind of lie. You scared bro?
Not true – look at the UK with their referendum regarding leaving the UK. Most people thought it would never happen, but they let the people vote and look what a shit show they are in now.
The point of the referendum is to allow the voting public to have their say, whether that be a yes to the port or no. Something of this enormity which could impact Cayman for future generations, should not be left up to a dozen or so people.
If there is a referendum (and I hope there is) you can always check the Yes to the Port box and have your say. If at the end of the referendum, the No’s win, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Government have to follow through, they can still go ahead and build, it just means they will be going against the majority of their people’s wishes.
Please don’t be fooled into thinking that the referendum means the port won’t be build
The more I see it, is the more I think our government should spend monies upgrading and improving the other docks and facilities we have now. Not get ourselves in a huge deal that will only enrich the big names here. I just don’t see it.
People forget that when Berkely Bush was building the first dock he had people saying the same thing. They even had a protest march saying we couldn’t afford it, nor could we pay for it. That is why we elected these people to lead the country. Imagine if they had stopped that dock? Where would we be now? Change is difficult but essential for growth and progress.
Nice strawman manneuver. Go back to high school and take debate
This is the biggest smoke and mirrors I have ever seen. There has been more information given to the public in this project than anything ever before in history of cayman. People against the port and for referendum are all either politically driven or have their own pockets to fill.
Really? More information given to the public? Wow I’ve not must have been looking then in right places. Or maybe my requests for information were denied because all this information was posted everywhere and I was too blind to see it. Or maybe I simply ignored all the information given because the design of the dock changed which invalidates ALL the previous reports? Or maybe you are full of crap and the right amount of information to satisfy YOUR curiosity was given but unfortunately a MLA saying the dock is good for you and me is not enough information to satisfy my curiosity.
why does the design change invalidate all the reports? the environment out there has not changed so we don’t need to spend another few million on another EIA – it will tell us the same thing
Yes because when the design of a project of this scale changes I am sure that absolutely nothing else has changed in regards to the environment
Because that makes sense
And I love this idea that you are being fiscally conservative here: “we don’t need to spend another few million on another EIA”
We can spend/negotiate a contract for $200+ Million but we can’t spend some money to find out the effects of our large expenditure??? Really in what world does that make sense
You are a lying liar.
What about me? I’m against the port and I just don’t want cruise ships blocking the view out of my office window. Nothing to do with my pockets or politics. There are a thousand reasons to oppose the port, only a few to support it, all of which are in serious doubt.
So whats even more interesting is that during such a heated time of this debate on the port, the premier has hauled ass out of the country…. traveling to Barbados & gapping at yachts in Monaco! No surprise here since he knows the heats coming and rather than face it… he takes the easy and convenient way out! Ezzard & the opposition are the only ones that seem to have a voice on the issues in this country while the government is quiet as lambs, spilling propaganda in trying to fool the people or are traveling the world wining and dining! CAYMANIAN PEOPLE OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE & ISSUES! #SIGNTHEPETITION #HAVEAVOICE #TOGETHERWESTAND
Don’t forget his trips to Cuba and Jamaica
I think the man has a right to a holiday
How many holidays is he entitled to???
Working Caymanians are lucky to get a week or two, he is seemingly off to another jurisdiction every other week, get out of here with that bullshit
He spent at least a week and a half in Cuba, and the better part of a week in Jamaica, same for Barbados and now he is in Monaco
Seems like we elected the Premier of the world, and not of Cayman
Easy on the caps lock angry little man. Shouldn’t you be at Hurley’s? Your handlers don’t like you sleeping on the job.
Anyone who believes Ezzard of all people is the shining star in gov surely has their head glued on backwards.
if we don’t get this dock and we can no longer rely on $200 million in our economy every year and the UK/OECD have their way our financial services industry will be heading down the rive, the Premier is absolutely right to be promoting Cayman’s other economic pillars. We are going to need something to stand on!
Read the PY and BIller Paw report and build the dock.
How old are they again???
Remind me
Yes and didn’t the design change like a week or so ago which invalidates these reports?
You keep saying that. What in those reports tells us to do this project?
pwc report, baird report, benthic habitat EIA
Has Dart expressed an opinion?
He’ playing smart and remaining silent, he’s part of the group to develop the dock area. I’m sure he is watching this with great interest while working behind the scenes.
He doesn’t need to do that. What he wants is what will happen. Why are we even discussing this?
Well he already owns all the hotels so why does he care?
Next thing you know Ezzard will convince them to add independence to the ticket, people have no idea who they are following
1 – Ezzard is not a leader of the petition
2 – No MLA to date has expressed anything but a desire to be prepared for independence when the time comes, none have called for independence and none are pushing for it at this time
You my fri Nd have not been to too many Ezzard Miller speeches then. His favorite topic is independence. You let him have control of government you might as well cut that Union Jack out the corner of our flag.
Oh, looky! The jewellery stores are closed so now all the down-votes appear…. LOL
How many people do you want walking around your islands buying maybe one t shirt and a beer , there’s enough of them already, let’s not loose over night guests because of this
$200 million a year into our economy – this is not just a beer and a t-shirt
You are right – it’s just a made up number.
The idea of a Port is not the issue and anyone could find many ways to justify building it.
What is NOT justified is the “value for money”; which there is none in this project.
KYD$200,000,000 ????
That’ a lot of $$$ and we have bigger problems than not having a Port for cruise ships to dock at….like:
1. Immigration
2. Education
3. Health Care
Just those three to start. There are other areas of need here but let’s start with those key areas….whose with me????
I am so ready for this to be over. I can no longer shop at Hurleys on Saturday’s anymore. I have been harassed by the referendum people in there. One gentleman followed me in he store because I wouldn’t sign and I actually felt threatened because he became angry when I said I was not sure I wanted to sign.
I call bs 4:43.
I agree that is BS. You’d probably feel threatened if a wet paper towel touched you.
LMAO @ the wet paper towel joke.
So true though!
Shopping at Fosters now, tired to being harassed at Hurley’s.
No one harassed me on Saturday. I was left completely unbothered to walk up to the tent myself and ask to sign. I did not see anyone else being harassed either.
#metoo
i have witnessed other people being harrassed as well. It is ugly and agressive and it does not convey the ‘democratic approach’ that the anti-port group keep calling it. it is bullying
Does no one find it funny that literally every member on the opposition and all political hopefuls or former failed candidates are against this very vocally??? It is obvious that they are playing politricks and are opposing to try garner votes and get attention. We can see through their ploys. I hope these same members will admit they were wrong when this project is a major success for the island.
LOL @ “….when this project is a major success for the island”.
WOW.
Please tell us more about this successful initiative!
You obviously know something we don’t.
#staywokecayman. We cannot be held back by some political hopefuls/haters who do not want to see any government that does not include their egotistical self on it. #majorchiponshoulder
Stay woke is right! The couple loudest guys are either politics wannabes or wash up politicians trying to make a stir thats all folks #staywoke
Yeah people, stay woke, think for yourself and vote yes or no when the referendum comes around. That is the best way of staying woke and free thinking.
Even after the votes are counted on this topic do you really think the MLAs will not continue with the project?
How is this a democracy? Please someone tell me.
The opposition certainly are good at criticizing and making noise…but where are their solutions? I have yet to hear a solution from these guys on how to protect the cruise tourism which is vital for so many Caymanian families. If the piers aren’t built then the cruise tourism will slowly continue to decline until the point it cannot sustain our growing population, where will those displaced jobs find a replacement? Where is their magical new industry going to appear from?
Give me a break, this country needs to go forward, not be held back for political reasons or a few environmental crazies. We ne progress, not to be stuck in the Stone Age. This island made its choice to be developed a long time ago and cruise tourism has been vital to its growth. We cannot now decide we want less people on island and to abandon an industry this important.
The solution is simple don won….Don’t build the damn port for that price!
come down by 150,000,000 to start with!
Proper regard for the environment is progress. Choosing not to follow the path of our competing jurisdictions, where the impacts on them of big port projects have been very negative, is progress. Demanding information from the government is progress. What you are advocating for is the Stone Age: destroying valuable things to make less valuable things, blindly following conventional thinking already proven wrong, not using the facts. Yes we made the choice to be developed. This one project will tip the scale to ‘overdeveloped’ so many people don’t want it. The impacts on us will be horrendous. GT will become a proper hog sty very quickly, with petty criminals living on the edges of town pickpocketing and scamming the increased number of tourists. The attractions will be ruined because all the people will make it impossible to enjoy them and will probably destroy them. What we will end up with is a $300 million red carpet rolled out to Kirk Freeport’s front door. And even then, because people don’t go on a $10,000 cruise to buy a $50,000 watch at one port of call anymore, the corporate welfare recipients like Kirk Freeport won’t be happy with the small increase in business. They’ll be located in a ruined town that will be abandoned by the people who work in it and live near it. The glory days still won’t be back. Everyone loses. Who in their right mind could possibly want this?
Seems like the pro-port brigade have got themselves together to ‘thumbs down’ any anti-port comment. Very similar number of thumbs down more all anti comments. Bit obvious.
This whole referendum talk is a last ditch effort by the Borden family and Briggs family to retain a monopoly in the tender boat business.
It’s Bodden not Borden, attlee Bodden
Buy a couple tenders and get in the game. The dock is a waste of resources, I’m all for nationalizing the tenders however.
I tried years ago, but found out Attlee and Adrian have it contractually locked up! No one can compete. It is crazy how previous governments gave them everything!
Dude, Attlee and Adrian now using millions they been making on tenders to mess with us little guys make us think we shouldn’t want a dock. We not that stupid man. We don’t need their tenders any more. We need a dock so we can keep the money we been given them because we don’t have a dock.
7:48am, LOL, wh u is.
While we are presenting our theories (of which you conveniently have no proof), there is actual proof that the Kirkconnells by way of Kirk Freeport are involved with and likely financing the pro-port Facebook group “Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future”
The vice president of Kirk Freeport literally spoke for the group in last week’s Friday Compass
https://www.caymancompass.com/2018/09/20/community-groups-battle-for-hearts-and-minds-in-port-debate/
So while you claim (again with no proof), that this group opposing the port is being funding by those involved in tendering, we have actual proof that the pro port lobby is simply made up of Kirk Freeport high ups and employees looking for their cut of the duty free sales
– One only has to look at the public commenting period, in which the vast majority of the support came from persons who self identified as working or being involved in “Kirk Freeport”
https://cnslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/Cruise-port-facility-Response-to-Public-Comments-September-2015.pdf
Anyone real Caymanian who thinks this dock is going to benefit them in their day to day lives is mistaken
Unless your last name is Kirkconnell or unless you are getting a commission from duty free sales, you won’t see a dime from this project
I personally would love to see where the PPM is getting their funding for campaigns and candidates from however
Make no mistake the PPM is trying to line their pockets as well, where do you think they get 500,000 dollars to waste on generic, no name candidates
Support the petition, vote against the port in the referendum, and demand your MLA support putting the Standards in Public Life Law into effect along with supporting serious campaign finance reform
The port and the cruise berth should be in Spotts. GET the PORT OUT of GT!
Agreed.
With how much made up information I hear Ezzard talking on the radio every day his fear mongering is ten times worse than anything the government has been close to.
Has anyone gone to the office of the Ombudsman in regards to the CIG denial of the requests for information of under the FOI?
I have some simple questions:
1) How will the proposed cruise pier accomodate the super ships that are specifically to proved passenders an all inclusive resort-like experience.
2) Why would these passengers get off the ship? Would that be to experience our American like culture? Would it be to enjoy a day of shopping for goods they can find in any city or port in the world?
3) Having travelled the world I find Cayman is OK to visit, but there really isnt anything I can find anywere else at a lower cost. Really think about South Florida all the same things at lesser prices and more of it.
4) Cayman is a wonderful place to live. Expensive as I said above, but with wonderful people from these islands and from around the world, good internatinal shopping and all the comforts of the US. Can’t be beat on that part, but really nothing special for tourists I think.
Well said Rodney.
Sri Lanka has had its Chinese funded seaport and 15,000 acres seized for 99 years after defaulting on a $1 billion dollar loan after the port failed to perform as expected. The Zambia has lost control of its main international airport and looks like loosing control of its power company for the same reason. Ghana is having troubles, Zimbabwe and many other countries are being systematically destroyed for mineral deposits.
And now Jamaica is getting in deep with the Chinese to fund highways and other infrastructure projects they can’t possibly afford.
How do you think this will all end and why does CIG think matters will be different if the Chinese exert their considerable financial influence here?
The Chinese also screwed the Bahamians with the help of a local resident Who is now trying to get in with the Chinese here.
It’s funny how they can find $300,000,000 for a new dock we may or may not need but they can’t find that money for new and better equipped school for the children of these islands to grow a better tomorrow.
Keep the masses stupid and dull, makes them more malleable to conform with whatever you desire.
Well you certainly don’t seem to understand where the money for schools come from. The government does not have 300mil sitting around. Otherwise hey would build the port themselves and make all the profit. However, they have to seek a public/private partnership to fund it so that government does not have to borrow money and increase our debt load. The port is one of the government’s lifelines as a revenue generating operation. The money they make from cruise ships and cargo are how the schools/roads/police/etc are funded. The schools would not exist without government revenues from operations like the port.
Couple of problems with your analysis. First, because government isn’t borrowing to build it the developer will get all the revenues in order to recover the cost of building it and their profit. So the revenue you say is so essentially needed is going to disappear for 25 years. Second, if you think the port authority makes money you need your head examined – look at their financials. The auditor has said that without ongoing support by the government they will go bust. The majority of governments income comes from the financial services sector, work permits and import duty. And the last doesn’t depend on a new port – it depends on local consumption which has zero to do with a new pier or port.
Thank you Jotnar!
I find it disgraceful and scheming that the CIG will hold a pro-port meeting the same time as the memorial for Mark. It was obviously a tactic to put those against the port elsewhere at the same time. More proof the CIG has no soul or care or respect for the people of these islands.
Who is mark?
By far, the most alarming aspect of this, and most Cayman Islands infrastructure projects, is the complete lack of visibility into the financial accounts of those determined to rush them to completion behind closed doors, in their due-process-be-damned manner. We need to end this “business as usual” template of the PPM and CDP. Immediate retroactive enactment of the Standards in Public Life Law has to be a part of this discussion. The ACC needs to have the authority to scrutinize the accounts (past and present) of every PEP/MLA member and their families, screening every transaction for conflicts.
Here here and start with West Bay.
I question the wisdom of having a referendum until you can be satisfied that you have all the facts and that voters have heard and understood them. The refenerdum on the constitutional advance was a joke. The public had heard only what the sitting government wanted them to hear. There was no meaningful public education and a large percentage of voters went into the booths still asking questions of the other voters and observers. In this case the public has a chance to hear both sides and I do hope they will inform themselves and vote for the long term interest of all Cayman and Caymanians.
You will never have all the facts on this because the government is withholding the facts. We need people to vote no at the referendum so that the facts can be brought to light. THEN if it is deemed, based on ALL the facts that the port is good then yes build it but till then, blindly allowing this project to continue is reckless and negligent on behalf of the government.
10,563
Good Luck with that Ezzard and Chris! ????
Btw, is freedom of speech illegal in the Cayman Islands? No!
So when we say supporting your referendum will mean “voting no” to the cruise berthing facility, that is our free speech and press, not yours!
This comment displays why civics and basic legal principles need to be taught in Cayman, this is clearly someone who has watched one or two episodes of “Law and Order”, “CSI : *Insert city here*” or “Suits” and thinks they have a law degree or some understanding of legal freedoms and principles
Your speech isn’t as free as you think it is especially here but more importantly sure, you can say “supporting your referendum will mean “voting no” to the cruise berthing facility” but other people who use their brains and know what they are talking about can also point out the inherent lie in that statement
Fearmongering, lying and being disingenuous aren’t the most effective ways to win the public to your side in a debate
Even if the referendum doesn’t reach 10k voters in affirmation or opposition, the CIG will be pressured to follow whatever the result is, look at the Brexit vote, or the OMOV referendum here at home for instance
In the case of Brexit an extremely thin majority in the vote is still being viewed as a mandate even though the referendum was not binding (51.9-48.1%)
The referendum for OMOV only got 5,600 votes in favor of OMOV out of 15,000 registered voters (and 8,677 total participants in the referendum)
But as you can see we are now using OMOV despite resistance from the government of the day, and it not being a binding referendum
In the case of OMOV the threshold of half of registered voters being in favor was not met but the PPM still recognized it would be political suicide to blatantly oppose the will of the people
and some could argue that opposing OMOV (along with Mckeeva’s arrest led to the collapse of the UDP in the 2013 general election)
Thankfully OMOV also bit the PPM in the ass as well, leading to them losing 3 ministers in areas where they would have previously won due to the multi-member constituencies allowing them to pool votes and win seats
Once this issue goes to referendum, the government may not be forced to go with the results but the vulnerable members of the LA will think twice about their votes, it will give the Opposition legitimacy, and it could endanger the PPM coalition
People like Austin, Jon Jon, and the CDP members cant afford to piss off Caymanians if they ignore the will of the people in the same way the PPM and their mindless voters think
No one mentioned anything about it being illegal
One question that needs to be repeated over and over and over again is, “Why are none of the big cruise lines getting involved in this?” Right now all we have are rumours and vague claims that if the dock isn’t built the cruise ships might stop coming but nothing more than that. I’ve worked in the shipping industry and it’s one of the most publicity conscious businesses on this planet – if they’re keeping quiet that should raise more than a few warning flags.
Personally, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if in the near future the cruise lines dumped Grand Cayman as an unprofitable backwater regardless of whether or not the dock is built. If they aren’t willing to put any money into this project they’re sending out a simple message that it’s not important to them.
And if anyone is planning to post claims about the cruise lines intentions make sure you can back them up because I’m sick and tired of seeing this aspect of the debate being trolled.
Tell ‘um Ezzard!
#EzzardForPremier!
#LongOverDue
Dr. Hortor
Simple:
If you feel the GOVERNMENT should decide the cruise dock –
DON’T SIGN THE REFERENDUM !
If you feel the PEOPLE should decide the cruise dock –
SIGN THE REFERENDUM !
Folks, you have 1 week left. So rally your family members, coworkers, and friends to sign if you want a PEOPLE-intiated referendum!
DO NOT DELAY!
1 week left?
There is no deadline for the petition, they can collect signatures for as long as it takes to reach 5,300 persons
Wow this is some serious abuse of the capslock button. Seems like a very angry fellow.
where will they be this weekend? Anyone at Cost U Less or Fosters Strand?
Pot, meet kettle. The opposition talk about fear mongering, then get on the radio and spout out lies that seven mile beach will be destroyed yet every single report over the last 40 years has stated otherwise that the seven mile beach system is not connected to the GT harbour system.
“In the interim, at these upcoming meetings we will be sharing what our own research has revealed”
If anyone listened to the debate in the Brac, I hope this time your “own research” is more scientific than when you said you stood on shore with a stopwatch and timed the tender boats. You failed to mention and time with your stopwatch the multi story line people have to wait on to get on the tender boats, along with the massive line out in the hot sun or pouring rain. If you time how long it takes to get from the back of the line to get to shore, then you can start to realize how inefficient the process is compared to walking freely off and on a pier.
Fear-mongering because they know if it goes to referendum they will lose!!
My lord ,I never. Though I’d see the day that cayman is becoming nothing but a concrete jungle …….. See hou God works it , I though those shredded tires were going east ,,,but they went south , adding to the expensive board walk people and have taken away our lil camping spots ,,,,,what a mess , they catch fire .
I am trying so hard to understand what you are talking about…