Looking back, moving forward
CPR Cayman writes: With the holidays around the corner and the referendum delayed, CPR Cayman wishes to take this opportunity to ensure that the public understands what has happened and that individuals are aware of what they can do to continue to advocate for transparency and a brighter future for Cayman.
The goal of CPR Cayman is, and has always been, to ensure that any decisions made by our government in relation to the proposed cruise berthing facility are well-informed, transparent and serve the best interests of the Caymanian people.
Throughout the course of 2019 CPR wrote to the premier and his Cabinet with legitimate concerns, requesting the disclosure of critical information regarding the proposed port. Not a single letter was acknowledged and it is this failure that led CPR to continue its call for a referendum.
Once CPR submitted the requisite petition signatures, and the Elections Office completed their verification process, the premier was then forced to call a referendum but it was clear to many that the process was unfair.
Therefore, armed with the facts, an individual citizen and executive member of CPR, Shirley Roulstone, engaged legal counsel to formally ask for a review of whether the referendum was called according to standards that should be championed in a participatory democracy.
Justice Owen granted that a review should be taken on the following four grounds that were presented:
- That Cabinet had pre-determined the question and date before the port referendum legislation had been passed,
- That Cabinet failed to consider important matters, including having “due regard” to protection of the environment, as required by the Constitution,
- That the question Cabinet set for the referendum was neither fair nor neutral, as required by law,
- That the failure to provide any campaign-finance limits frustrated the intent of the Constitution that a free and fair vote should take place.
In anticipation of the new referendum date that will be called in 2020, we will continue to act as advocates for the democratic process. You can too by doing the following:
- Register to vote and/or encourage those you know to register. To be able to vote from 1st April 2020 onwards, you must register before 2nd JANUARY 2020.
- Demand Accountability. It is extremely important that we keep demanding more of our national representatives. Stay informed and keep asking questions. Ask for the disclosure of the updated business case, contracts with Verdant Isle Port Partners, the updated EIA and other critical information.
- Share information with your friends and family over the festive season and encourage them to participate in our first people’s referendum in 2020.
- Follow CPR Cayman and Vote No on Facebook to stay up to date with new articles, facts and figures. Share this information via your social media channels, email and WhatsApp.
- Save the date and join us at the following 2 events:
- 18th DECEMBER: At 6pm, CPR will be hosting a Christmas rally in Savannah, on the eve of the public holiday. We will have a host of presentations together with refreshments and entertainment.
- 19th DECEMBER: At 3pm, join the community in a solidarity swim at Eden Rock.
Each voter is part of history in the making. Civil servants and all Caymanians are encouraged to turn out to vote in record numbers when the referendum happens.
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas season and a prosperous New Year of hope and harmony.
Happy Holidays!
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Category: development, Local News, Politics, Viewpoint
Please lets stop the misinformation..not voting is just that…a failure to vote. It is not added to the yes side or the no side. What happens is this: if you are a NO supporter but fail to vote then your vote can’t be counted as a no vote; neither will it be counted as a yes vote. If you are a YES supporter and fail to vote then your vote can’t be added to the YES or the NO totals.
You didn’t here what Emperor Alden said or what? He told the country not showing up to vote is considered a YES vote.
He encouraged persons to stay home if they supported the project then developed a conscience and changed his tune.
What is said or the misinformation by the Premier and his government is the source of the confusion and frustrations. The irony is they will beg everyone to show up on Election Day 2021 and vote them back in to not represent the views of the people.
You are correct. Not voting is not literally counted as a yes vote. The point is:
A. The government intends to build the port, their default position is a yes.
B. For the referendum result to be binding in either direction then 51% of registered voters must vote in that direction. So if 51% of voters vote “yes” then that result will be binding and government MUST build the port. If 51% of voters vote “no” then the result will be binding and government MUST NOT build the port. If neither option receives 51% of the vote then regardless of what the majority vote for the result is not binding and government is not legally required to continue to build the port or to cease building the port.
C. Because government intends to build the port anyway, a non-binding result means the government can (and will) continue with that plan and build the port.
D. This means that the only outcome that will affect the government’s plans is if 51% vote no. In terms of direct outcome the number of yes voters doesn’t matter because government will proceed to build the port as long as they are not legally prevented from doing so.
E. Therefore:not voting amounts to a yes vote (in terms of practicality and outcome, not in terms of the literal tally of votes) because it is one less vote available to contribute to the 51% of no votes which will force government to change their plans.
This is where the “not voting is counted as a vote for the port” rhetoric comes from.
For yes voters to get their desired outcome they don’t actually “need” to vote. For no voters to get their desired outcome it is imperative that they vote.
for someone not totally decided on my vote three questions
1, where was the cpr suporters when the previous goverment had a worst plan in place and selected a company to build the port? i dont recall hearing much from you.
2. Which side is telling the truth about the cruise industry – CIG says it is valuable, cpr says not? strange as i remember after Hurricane Ivan our leader was praised for opening our island for cruise ships even though the country was severely damaged.
3. If the cpr is so confident in the vote why the legal action?
Sound like you have already made up your mind…
Dear Pete
You clearly don’t read enough and seem to have mad up your mind or maybe you are just a troll.
Perhaps you should read the View Point again or visit the CPR website
http://www.cprcayman.com
Pete they dont want a port.They just want to keep badmouthing Government and keep doing that until the next election where they will try to handpick their own Govénment.
I keep seeing a pro port ad from that guy at Paradise in George Town. I definitely know why he’s for it. Place never has anyone there unless a cruise ship is on island. And that’s not a reason to vote yes for this monstrosity of a bad idea.
Thank you CPR for all your efforts in supporting our democracy. Myself, my wife and both of my fourth generation Caymanian adult children will all be voting “No”.
I am leaning to vote “no” over here on Cayman Brac, but if you show up at the voting station people here are automatically thinking that you are showing up to vote “No” and are against the two elected representatives over here in our extremely small community.
Before a vote is held a simple rule change needs to be made – whichever side has the majority of votes wins the vote period.
Staying home and be counted as a yes vote is not democratic, it is not fair and it goes against good governance.
I hope that Miss Roulstone and the National Trust push this issue.
While I am leaning to “No” I do want to hear ALL OF THE INFORMATION
FROM GOVERNMENT, VERDANT ISLES, THE CRUISE PEOPLE AND THE GRASSROOTS PEOPLE.
@1:09 PM Please don’t let other people’s scrutiny keep you from the polls!! This island is in the mess that it is in particularly because of our fear of being “outed” for our views! Some of our shady politicians DEPEND on our refusal to speak up and speak out! That is what has made CPR so incredibly refreshing. Caymanians speaking up when they see injustice. What is so wrong with that?
This is democratic society. You as a Caymanian in the Brac have a RIGHT to vote. Please exercise that right when the referendum vote is eventually held!
Unfortunately that’s want they want you to do. I was one of those Caymanians who was the same way, worried about what so and so would say..This situation really changed my thinking..Never let anyone intimidate you. I encourage every Bracker to put aside political allegiances and go out and vote even if it is yes, it is your right and no one should make you feel ashamed. This is about our future and our youth and not who is in the house or any political party..
Stand up, be counted and proud of yourself and please take one more Bracker with you when you go to the polls.
So let me see if I got this straight. I recently saw an advertisement outlining how much money Government is going to take in for various fees associated with Cruise Ship visitors.
It appears that if our Country goes from 1.9million to 2.5 million Cruise Ship visitors per year that we will only get an additional 1.2 million dollars. Okay now do the math 2.5 million minus 1.9 million = .6 million. 1.2 Million dollars divided by .6 million = $2 per person.
Now follow the logic – we allow an additional 600,000 (.6 million) persons onto our island for the day and we get $2 per person. And this money is going to offset all of the expenditure that must be done to support our infrastructure??
If we get an increase of .6 million that is somewhere around a 31.58 % increase in Cruise Ship visitors – which in any business case should result in the minimum same amount of net increase in revenue.
Can one of the Unity Government minions/bloggers please explain to me why there is such a meager increase in revenue.
I am an undecided voter who wants more information from both sides of the issue before voting.
Thank you.
Imagine you have a string in this shape ~
Imagine you lengthen it to this shape __
First scenario is currently where we have highs and lows of cruise passenger counts.
The pier will result in the second scenario due to obligations on the cruise line’s part. More passengers per year but on a daily average there will be lower peak amounts, reducing infrastructure/attraction strain. Slow periods will get more, resulting in steadier work.
…but there are no obligations or passenger commitments from Verdant Isle, which is the contracted party. On the contrary, it is the public of Cayman that has provisionally committed to Verdant Isle to make up the difference. Verdant Isle is a disposal Cayman Islands shell co – down the road when things turn south, we’ll ask: why don’t we sue them for non-performance? Oh wait, because it hasn’t been funded with capital, or posted any kind of performance bond or commitment. That’s how bad this is, and how dumb our negotiators are. Vote No.
So it would be appropriate for the cruise companies to agree on a cap per day on the number of guests to spread the load. To get to their 2.5 million that would be a cap of 10,000 per day over say, 250 cruise days.
Of course, Caribbean cruise numbers are much lower in the summer, so the string will not be straight. Likely not going to change much. Try another story!
In Fort Lauderdale many businesses close in the summer when cruise numbers are down. Many ships get repositioned to the Med, Alaska, etc.
Boy they got you hooked, line and sinker..Moses with this foolishness about more cruise ships coming in the off season…Why don’t they come in the summer now if this is as he proposes and how can the summer be high season if they move their ships to other destinations in the summer…
I ain’t buying anything these people are selling..
It does not pass the sniff test. It might be high cruise season if you talk globally, but it is low season for Caribbean cruises. They would be here already if the CIG BS was true. Not to mention we have hurricanes which is likely a reason for lower summer and fall volume. Plus other locations can only really operate during the Caribbean low season. I would not want to have a vacation in Alaska or the Med in winter, but I also would not want to vacation anywhere at any time of year on a large liner. A small one or a river cruise possibly.
12.52pm River cruises? There are quite a number of Rivers in West Bay.
Lol!
I also saw the ad and wondered if the dollar amounts were misprinted. It does seem to be a very low return on investment – hopefully the business case will be released for the public to review in time for the vote.
I too am undecided and want to get all the facts before casting my vote
CPR needs to be extremely careful now with its expansion especially in leadership members as there is a plan or operation afoot now to undermine all concerned intact everything it stands for, be careful CPR with all those now who come toting gifts and support yet preaching and warning destabilization of the government!Any movement that galvanize our small population poses a serious and significant threat to our status quo ruling and political pariahs who neither care about us nor our precious environment. Look around and be aware CPR at those amongst you now with hidden agendas and weak arguments and friends who are owned and funding by the very system and individuals you are merely opposing and confronting now in our economic and political arena. Many many decent persons have been destroyed economically mentally and physically before you! CPR now represents more than a port referendum and is only as strong as its weakest links.
CPR are a threat to the arrogant leadership and nepotism that exists to serve the elite in the Caymans Keep up the amazing job you are all history makers.
@828 becaue they want to take it from Caymanians and give it to the new elite which is not really about true Caymanians.
To whom at CPR do us small business owners send the bill for this public holiday?
Send the bill to Premier Alden McLaughlin
https://caymannewsservice.com/2019/12/premier-failure-engage-delayed-vote/
Firstly, don’t believe everything you read on CNS. Secondly, y’all wanted the referendum, then didn’t want want it. So the bill is coming to you.
The Grand Court confirmed the concerns expressed by CPR were valid on all grounds represented from day 1 of the Referendum bill.
It is the failure of the Premier and his government which led to the legal proceedings. Eight letters presented to the Premier with no response to date. The arrogance and petulance of the government led to the matter before the Grand Court.
If you do not understand the facts just say so instead of making up bollocks to mask your ignorance.
You can send your bill to the Cayman Islands Government and to the attention of Mr. Alden McLaughlin.
Send it to Alden Mclaughlin and Cabinet
The man who tried manipulating the process for this vote to win because he knows that he does not have the people on his side
If he had not manipulated the process CPR would not have been successful in laying a case with merit before the courts
This entire issue could have been resolved in 2018 before there even was a petition if the CIG had held the vote when the motion was in the LA for them to do so
They refused to hold the vote and here we are
You lazy a$$ small business that always looking for a handout. You never work on weekends, try getting you after 5pm .. good luck. Do yourself a favour, walk around Cayman on Thursday and see which companies are open for business and for how long. Those are the companies that will survive into 2020, to you methinks you will not make it.
Thank you CPR! You are all heroes voicing national concerns while inspiring a generation of Caymanians.
Caymanians! As a former partner of watersport company want to ask not be fooled by Cruise Lines Companies especially Carnival who treat you like prostitutes for a few of dollars using all island facilities and squeezing businesses. They treat you as aboriginals on a banana paradise with unlimited nature given flora and marina life.
You let them get in and they get just another mark in a business plan.
Glad to hear CPR has a great direction to save Island from capitalist expropriation .
With full support and respects for whom who understand s and resist!
To 8.49.”They treat you as aboriginals on a banana paradise” This is not limited to Cruise lines, a lot of newcomers act the same way.
If govt. Had went by what certain people wanted it Cayman would not had a big Airport or cargo dock, an would still be in the dark ages,some peoples goes against progress just for the hell of it
the first thing you need is English language lessons!
Progress would mean they would have invested in educating or people and would really have helped you to string a few sentences together that were grammatically correct..
We have an airport that is not fit for purpose at a cost overrun of some $25M and is already at capacity and bursting at the seams.
We have a cargo dock that has been left in disrepair to try to prove to us that we need a “cruise ship pier.” The cargo dock extension was an afterthought.
We have a school that cost twice the amount as budgeted, some $200M and doesn’t even have walls to divide the classrooms. Dart built his entire school for $20M on time and on budget and guess what every classroom has walls.
We have an unfinished high school that was started years ago and left in ruin because we didn’t have the funds to finish..I would love to heat what the total cost to finish that one will be..
You might call this progress, I call it a woeful waste of the people’s money..Their track record shows that we shouldn’t trust them with our money.
Maybe Coral Jesus Vaughn can work some of his miracles and change this but I have no faith in him either…