Miller to offer political alternative by 2021
Ezzard Miller
(CNS): As Ezzard Miller prepares to step down as leader of the opposition, a role he has held for the last two years, following an irreconcilable split with other opposition members, he is beginning to focus on shaping the Cayman Islands People’s Alliance (CIPA) in order to offer an organised, policy-based alternative to the current two political parties in 2021. Miller will be hosting the first meeting of this group later this month where, he said, several dozen people who have committed to the creation of the party will begin discussing its policy platform.
Speaking to CNS about this planned third political party, he said he wanted to create a clearly defined agenda to contrast with the coalition government, which includes the People’s Progressive Movement led by Alden McLaughlin, what remains of the Cayman Democratic Party (formerly the UDP) led by McKeeva Bush and the mismatch of independents, who have shown they do not share common goals.
Miller said that for him, the key issue has to be participatory democracy.
The North Side MLA, who has been on and off the political scene in Cayman since the 1980’s, said that the vision for this new alliance was based on integrity, rooting out corruption and promoting opportunities for ordinary Caymanians.
However, at this point there are no policy proposals or ideas set in stone because Miller sees the political agenda emerging through collaboration and agreement among the membership.
Any alternative to the current political status quo “must be more formally organised and it must start at the grass roots of our communities”, he said, as he spelled out a goal of creating CIPA councils in all constituencies and districts that can help shape policies, recruit members and eventually go on to select candidates that will represent the vision of the party.
Miller said his vision of participatory democracy is about electors going to the polls to vote, or even canvassing their MLAs or campaigning for referendums, but also to take part in the process of creating the policy platforms of political movements such as the one he proposes for the CIPA.
“I have seen too many young Caymanians in my own and other constituencies lose hope that they can ever take part in shaping the policies that government follows,” he said. “They don’t see how they can take part in our democracy and shape their own futures.”
Miller added that the party was not going to be created just to then go and sell its soul to the powerful corporate elites.
“Corporate Cayman is well represented in local politics with the current political parties. What we need is a political movement that reflects the aspirations and concerns of ordinary people,” he said, adding that the basic idea of the CIPA was to inspire a political movement that is responsive to the needs of all the people and create a more unified society.
Category: Politics
Participatory Democracy? Sounds good in theory but how practical is it? Everyone sees the world through a different lens and you simply cannot please everyone. North Side has a defunct district council that catered to a few and was in the most part politically appointed. Eventhough the elections were open certain people were encouraged to attend while others did not know about the meeting. Is that participatory democracy? The eastern districts suffer as the incumbents have no forward vision and keep spouting the same old rhetoric to stay in power. Is this love of country or simply love of power? Eastern district voters should ask them one simple question – why do you want to stay in power? Being the voice of opposition serves a purpose but they have not achieved anything meaningful in their districts. They both should be grooming the next generation to represent the people but they hold on to power in the hopes of becoming Premier. What they don’t realize is that this will lead the way to the wrong candidate getting elected. Ezzard promised several in the district that he would groom them to take over but all empty promises to date and this has cost him credibility. Three ran against him the last election and he did not win by much. He will not be so fortunate May 2021 but his Miller arrogance assumes he has it in the bag already.
Dummy Dolly…. stop wasting your time, go home and sit down. Cant even hold opposition together and want people support another party. Come on at least grow some brains.
It would be nice to see at least a few political candidates that have been successful in business. CIG is a big business with a big budget/cookie jar. Most of our current and wannabe politicians have failed at pretty much everything they tried
Arden Mclean just sworn in to become the new Leader of Opposition- what a calamity. You see how things turn out…back-stabbing and cut-throat and undermining to become Leader of Opposition.
4:12 pm, you are right what a calamity, he is only a legend in his own mind, E E are stupid to vote him back in.
Arden is the best MLA in Cayman. He bring the motion against the gays in the LA. Long live Arden
Another political party? I thought the whole point of OMOV was because people like Mr. Miller wanted to get rid of parties in favour of independents. Now, the biggest independent of them all is forming a party??? SMH. Another day in Absurdistan.
Best thing he can do is push for standards in public office and then not run again. Turn over NS to the upcoming, which he has been promising for years and every election is another excuse. The people will take care of Harden and retire him.
Arden planning to run again so he will get back in
caymanians.. house needs sweeping…clear out the same ol same old politicians come 2021….
Watch out what you wish for, you may get it. When we vote for change, I suggest that we owe it to ourselves to have a high degree of confidence that it will be change for the better. I know it makes us feel good to say “Clean Sweep”, “Drain the Swamp” with a great flourish, just make sure that we don’t exchange one set of suspect politicians with even worse. Better the devil know and then take steps to control him than the devil we don’t know as he may turn out to be the real Satan.
And just to be clear, I, the previous poster was not referring to any of our past or present MLA’s as the real “Satan”/Dictator. He/She is yet to come.
Including Ezzard
Cannot come soon enough Ezzard, with you and Wayne and a few others like yourselves to steer the ship in the right direction.
The PPM will form the next Government. Alden and Mac are unbeatable.
Mac will take West again thanfully replacing Bernie. Tara will keep her seat.
GT will again return PPM winners.
I see major change in BT. Possibly a clean sweep with power reverting to PPM.
Ezzard and Arden can both lose if only one good person runs against them.
Brac will stay PPM.
I predict 17 members of the PPM UDP forms the Government with an opposition of 2.
I hearing that Nobee and Roydell Carter running in East End against Arden
Yes because Wayne did such a stellar job before. His ethos on Caymanians is very Truman Boddenish but continue living in delusion.
He did indeed do a great job and there are precious few past or present to compare him to but for sure he is nothing like Truman..
Wayne is a true states-person and continues to help many people deserving of help behind the scenes without seeking or wanting recognition. Can’t say the same of many other politicians worldwide.
He certainly has. Now can we say that about the current MLA who is being led like an ass by another ass.
Oh my word….. Looky yah!
We have it seen and heard it all now 😂😂😂😂😂
Referendum needed!
You obviously don’t know Ezzard
Bring some green strategies Ezzard, and you will catch my interest.
Ezzard we desperately need someone actually anyone to replace Bernie.
Preferably the green that we use for medicine and can grow in the ground yet are prosecuted for. God giveth man all herb bearing seeds..
Very little matters more than enacting Standards in Public Life Law. The public has been waiting in vain for a decade for our MLAs to enact this self-policing good governance law pursuant to the Constitution Order 2009. Miller (or any voter) could easily take full credit for starting a petition which compels the governor to set a time table for its enactment, but that hasn’t happened either.
Ezzard pleeezze seek some good candidates to run in West Bay!!
Unna need them the most
Ask Mac and Bernie …. LOL … nothing changes… 2 years ago Arden was his King, what u think will happen in the future…. #stayawoke
WB had good candidates before but no one would vote for them
Define “good candidate”. The definition varies!
Just imagine, a man who received 201 votes out of 15,500 cast, leading a country of 60,000.
What could possibly go wrong?
And is 201 votes represented only 33% of the votes in his district. Should have been a runoff.
Hate and malice, and smiles up front…. that all we going get from this jealous new group
He did not pay for a single one of his votes. His are more valuable than some received by some of his opponents.
You are entitled to you own opinion and not to you own facts. I suspect you know full well that under systems of government based on the Westminster (British) model that the persons that eventually becomes Premier / Chief Minister / Prime Minister is elected as a member of parliament in one constituency and therefore the number of direct votes for the Leader is a relatively small percentage of the total nationwide vote. This is even more so in OMOV systems, just like the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and yes, now the Cayman Islands. I am not against a run-off system, however I doubt it would have made a difference to the outcome in the case of Red Bay and yes that is just my opinion.
Based on what I know. The CPA will be led by a dictator who refuses to listen to his people and is hell bent on being Premier and nothing else. God help us
There will be an alternative in 2021, in North Side.
Political groups now never report source of funding and how they spend funds to buy votes.
Will this new group report in public all donors and how all funds are spent?
Sick and tired of the corruption.
Next govt will be candidates hand picked and paid for by Dart , who will in effect be our ruler.
Our only hope is if Ezzard and CIPL cannot be bought.
Check your facts. The PPM has publishec election fund raising for at least tbe last 2 election cycles. I know ad my name was on both.
9:30 am: Where published? Please direct.
I can guarantee if Ezzard has anything to do with it, CIPA’s accounts will be published.
Check your facts. Campaign funding rules require donations made to campaigns during the ‘election’ period. But they don’t have to declare funds received just prior to that period. PPM has lots of funding that was not published because it came in earlier but the moneys were for election purposes.
7:18 am: absolutely. and donations will be limited to very small amounts.
Will this new group subscribe to the conditions of the Standards in Public Life Law?
Ohoh here he comes, watch it Alden he is going chew you up, ohoh here he comes!
Now we see what was really going on, I thought when the Independents said Miller was insisting they join his party they were not being truthful but here it is in black and white. Ezzard is just looking power and trying to recycle himself … again. He has failed to do anything good for the country for over 16 years I can’t see him being effective now. No thanks CPA Can’t Possibly Achieve
ha…the ultimate political flip-flop from ezzard….
an independent who, without admitting it, now sees the failures and inability of independent memebers to agree on anything….
so, can we all now agree that indepnedents are a waste of space?
I can agree that Ezzard is
“I have seen too many young Caymanians in my own and other constituencies lose hope that they can ever take part in shaping the policies that government follows,” he said. “They don’t see how they can take part in our democracy and shape their own futures.”
We hang onto the good ole days, and consequently that is why 1960s legislation is stuck in place with no hope of being revamped to better fit our modern society.
We trust that those CIPA meetings include regular Caymanians and aren’t full of CMinAssc lobbyists seeking to control the masses under their doctrine.
As if time waits for any man
Make CMA mix up with CIPA and he’s shooting himself in his own foot if he wants young Caymanians to shape policies for the future.
They’ll keep us in the stone ages as long as we pay our 10%
It is so obvious when someone pays a service to like a comment on a blog. Yes Ezzard we know it can be done they advertise all over the internet. CNS what country it region did most of these likes originate from ? South East Asia again ?
I heard it’s a local WhatsApp group. If they were hiring bots or hacking, every comment on every article could/would look the same.
Ezzard please ensure that Wayne Panton is your candidate for Newlands. Our current representative is AWOL and we need an MLA with cojones.
That’s funny! I saw Mr Suckoo out doing home visits this weekend, haven’t seen Panton since last Election.
Yes Ezzard, please get Wayne to run.
@1:07am, Wayne Panton never close his office even after he was not elected. He has done more for the people in Savannah and Newlands that the combination of Suckoo and Eden and he is not elected.
What has he done ?
1:07 am: Yes, he had advertised that he would be at last going out in the community to add to the two names he had turned in to the referendum campaign about six months ago.
Someone said he was “jumping on the band wagon because he heard that the referendum had more than 5,000.”
An organized group of individuals who will work as a team, based on a set of agreed principles?! Caymanians don’t want that, they like political theater and promises of good days ahead.
I wish Ezzard and his new party all the luck! I will support his teammate, in my ED. Time for a government that’s for all the people!!!
CIPA all the way!!!
EE needs an MLA
You are right 4:15am. It have been quite a while since we have seen our MLA. I guess we can go to Mango Tree and try and meet with him there.
So wha yuh say he now Leader of Mango Tree Opposition 😂😂😂
There are and never have been groups functioning as real political parties.
We will wait to see if this new political group is capable of bringing real change to the political landscape, to establish a real political party.
What we have always had.has been a bunch.of people assembled by the rich and powerful in varying degrees of organisation with the objective of controlling the Cayman Islands for their own greedy interests.
The current “Unity” government reveals how the same rich and powerful people donate to all groups and control all groups.
The “Unity” government consists of the remnants of three failed “parties” and “independents” from various constituencies.
If this new group actually becomes established as set out by MLA Miller then it will be the first real political party.
For our one sake we should wish this group success.
The time is long past for the need to have honest Cayman Islands governance working exclusively for the good of Caymanians
MLA Miller let us now see how many people can earn our trust by pasting the honesty test.
All the best wishes Mr. Miller, God bless.