Premier claims activists don’t want vote

| 05/12/2019 | 104 Comments
Cayman News Service
Premier Alden McLaughlin at a public meeting about the cruise port, November 2019

(CNS): The Cruise Port Referendum activists have confirmed their continued commitment to the referendum and to press on with demands that government supply the people with the necessary information needed before they go to the polls. However, Premier Alden McLaughlin has accused the campaigners and the National Trust of not wanting the vote, after the court stayed the vote this week to allow for concerns about the government’s handling of the referendum so far to be aired.

Speaking at a meeting Wednesday with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and the Verdant Isle Port Partners, the consortium picked to build the berthing facility, the premier said the only thing that was certain was the desire of CPR and the National Trust to stop the vote from going ahead.

Clearly frustrated by the delay to the referendum, which is now unlikely to now go ahead before March or April, the premier suggested that there “would come a day soon when the cruise lines walk away” from what he has continually framed as an incredible deal for Cayman.

But McLaughlin took no responsibility for setting the referendum in the way he did and at the time he did, just six days before Christmas, that gave the courts reason to stay the vote.

Instead, the premier focused his attention on CPR and the Trust, repeatedly suggesting that the long-standing conservation NGO and the grassroots campaign both had the objective of preventing the vote for as long as possible. He said his government could be out of office by the time the vote comes around now and the delay was a significant distraction.

“This is costing people an immense amount of money,” the premier added.

But the CPR have stated on numerous occasions their goal is not the indefinite delay of the vote — far from it — but to ensure the vote is fair. “It is unfair to expect the public to support the project without the full information available,” the activists said this week in a press release following the vote delay.

“The goal of CPR Cayman is and has always been to ensure that any decisions made by our government in relation to the proposed port and cruise berthing facility are well-informed, transparent and serve the best interests of the Caymanian people.

CPR said the court ruling guaranteed that voters would have an opportunity to exercise their rights within a truly democratic process.

Shirley Roulstone, a member of the CPR Cayman executive, is now leading the judicial review application in partnership with the National Trust. The decision to move ahead with the court action was driven by the need to champion participatory democracy that is fair and just in process, the activists have stated.

CPR Cayman member Johann Moxam said this week that the group was “encouraged to see concerned citizens exercising their right to stand up for what they believe in, and as a group we will continue to support those that seek to hold our leaders accountable”.

CPR members plan to continue advocating alongside the National Trust for an updated environmental assessment to ensure that the public can make a fully-informed choice. They also want to see the social and cultural impact assessments, short and long-term infrastructure plans for the management of cargo, traffic, sewage and trash, as well as the plans to transform the capital.

An assessment regarding pollution, sedimentation and water clarity are also needed before the vote, CPR said, adding it remained committed to fight for informed decision-making for the people.

CPR organiser Michelle Lockwood said, “Each Caymanian is a stakeholder, a guardian of the Cayman Islands, and needs to be respected and heard – and so we will continue to educate, empower and engage”.

For more information the public can contact cprcayman@gmail.com or visit the CPR Cayman website.


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Category: development, Local News, Politics

Comments (104)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I have been working on commission in GT cruise are retail for decades. It was AMAZING in the 90s. It was really good in the early 2000’s, until 2008/ 2009. Has been awful since then. The quality of the cruise passengers has dropped astonishingly. If you are lucky you can sell them a Pandora charm, or an Alex & Ani bracelet. You have to work your butt off for a $50 sale. The best days to work are no cruise ship days. That is when the hotel people come to town. Not all of them buy, but far and away they spend 10 times more per person, and are not so annoying. Just my 5 cents on the port.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This is so true. I was a business owner in town for many years. Our best days were always Saturday when both locals and hotel guests shopped as the cruise ship passengers were less and the hotel guests would come to town.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What no sane person wanted was a referendum the week before Christmas. What a completely moronic idea. Close the banks, Customs, and all of Govt…and force retailers and restaurants to pay double time wages to everyone on one of the busiest days of the year? And then, to not reverse it? Clearly our politicians are so ensconced in their ivory towers, that they have absolutely no idea what the the average business faces. I guess they don’t have to, they get paid even if they do an abhorrently lame job.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Guess what, Cayman still will vote him as premier next election. So sad…

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Completely delusional, sounds more like Trump or Johnson every day…

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  5. Anonymous says:

    CNS – perhaps you answered this question already (i have asked it before, but can’t recall the article where i posted so am asking again)…

    Would it be possible for you to do an FOI request to confirm if Gov have used public funds to pay for bots / AI to try and swing the polls on CNS / Cayman Compass / FB etc in their favor?

    CNS: Anyone can do an FOI and you can do so by email anonymously. But they can be quite time consuming and I don’t think we’d take this one on. Using FOI, you have to ask for documents, you can’t just ask random questions. So, for example, you could ask for invoices from the PR company to pinpoint how the funds were allocated and see if it’s listed.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Alden,

    You’re trying to tell us that the CPR activists just decided to walk around for months, going door to door to obtain signatures of some 5,000 people, to make a stand and vote against your bullshit policies and dictatorship tactics … just for a laugh?!

    You would do well as a President in Africa Alden.

    Even old Mugabe is there in his grave saying… “This guy’s good”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cancel the public holiday.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Well said.
      He has admitted he is a stubborn one. “.. I didn’t know what to do. But I was very stubborn, a trait I’d inherited from him.” (Compass,Nov.12,2019)

      P.S. Being stubborn is considered a weakness, even though some may see it as being determined. However, a person determined to reach a goal but inflexible in terms of helping out others is considered to lack teamwork in a professional workplace.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Gov’t are now trying to say that CPR don’t want a vote… If this is your only defense Alden, you must know what is coming for you in the Courts next year.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    ““This is costing people an immense amount of money,” the premier added.”
    Yes, he has spent 9 Million so far…. And he is blaming who!!
    And you wonder why people keep saying Banana Republic and Absurdistan etc.

    Our government makes our people look like imbeciles.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, our government does make our people look like imbeciles, and that same bunch of imbeciles is where our leaders are picked to run the country. Actually, imbeciles are not suited to run the government, as we have all seen. Will there be any change in the coming election? You bet your sweet burro there will!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Those of you that are on the fence should really stop and think about what’s happening here. Even if you want the port it has got to be looked at logically because a government is trying everything to obstruct a Democratic vote. Tells me there’s something more to the story here and it reeks of corruption.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It reeks of the dollar. That’s all that matters here on this island. We could be so much more. How badly do we want it?

  10. Anonymous says:

    I’m on board with the ‘activists’ and I don’t want the vote because I don’t want a new pier! Simple. Not embarrassed to say that out loud.
    Anyone else see the video on FB yesterday of someone filming a cruise staff of dumping trash overboard?? And you wonder why whales wash up on shore with their bellies full of trash???? Just because nobody sees it doesn’t mean it’s not out there. And so far, the cruise lines have gone under the radar on that. People only just now talking about that.
    But it is legal so nothing me can do….except wote no.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is so true. Look at all the trash which washes up on the beaches in Little Cayman. Where does it come from? has to be cruise ships.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, a large amount comes from cruise ships, and tons of trash and garbage comes from Haiti and the Dominican Republic and a lot of it could be stopped.

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, no. Mostly Jamaica and Haiti. Would love to blame the cruise ships though. Will have to be for something else.

  11. No More says:

    Didn’t he see the Compass story “Updated: Court delays port vote” announcing the Court’s grant of leave for the JR had 560 thumbs up and 31 thumbs down? Can he not get it?
    We Eskimos ain’t buying your ice Alden, okay.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    It is quite clear that CPR don’t care about our voice or choice this is to push the port into the next election. plain and simple.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Has anyone inthe CPR group said they want to run for office?..That crap came from McKeeva’s mouth when they had their West Bay meeting. Just because McKeeva says it, doesn’t mean it’s true..

      What difference would it make anyway, it will be the people to decide who they vote for..is this what the government is worried about?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wish people who care about the environment and all the other problems in Cayman would run for office and actually do something about all the crap going on. What a difference that would make.

      • Anonymous says:

        I hope we do get some new good people running in the next election after the mess they have made of this port issue, especially not listening to their constituents . Time for change. #voteno

    • Anonymous says:

      I think it would be wonderful if this decision were pushed to the next election. Then I would encourage the candidates in favor of building cruise piers to say so loud and clear, and we could then vote accordingly. The beauty being that the standard to get elected (or un-elected in my example) in the general election is so much lower than what the CIG were pushing to require on the referendum. Some sitting in government were elected by a margin of 17 votes in the last election, yet the government are currently requiring over 10,000 votes to pass in the referendum.

  13. Caymanians, what did we expect?? says:

    Caymanians, what did you expect when you voted for this bunch? WE put Joey and Jon Jon and Austin (!!) and Eugene and Moses in charge of running our country! WE did it! What qualifications do ANY of this bunch have to run a nation? Of course Alden is going to support this bunch of Yes Men who aren’t intelligent enough or moral enough or courageous enough to challenge him! WE have to do BETTER when we put our support behind people running for office. We can no longer support someone, simply because he/she is popular, or you “know who he/she mama is”. It is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANYMORE!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Last election, the PPM lost the government, and CDP were almost terminally annihilated at the polls. The clearest message from the last election was that nobody voted for the Unity Alliance and most of the Cayman Islands wanted something different than the transparency-phobic, crony-friendly, debate-negating, private caucus tactics that this regime calls a “mandate”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree. Look at their background, education, success in running a company or business, moral compass, honesty…… We deserve better. We need so much better. The next generation deserves better. #voteno

      • Anonymous says:

        4:53 Bluntly, if you took the collective qualifications (and I’m talking about the real ones not those that were gifted to them because of family connections) of the entire LA they’d be pushed to get jobs cleaning public restrooms. Have you ever read any of the c*** they churn out – it’s third world!

  14. Anonymous says:

    PPM UDP and the rest give Cayman an early Christmas present and get the hell out! We are truly done. None of you are fit to be involved in running a country. Bye Felicias

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Imagine blaming his own people. Shameful

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Then you should have done your job properly Mr. Premier! The delay is your fault – if there were not the grounds to support a Judicial Review, the Court would not have granted leave to hear SR/Nat. Trust.

    You were warned about the concerns but you did not even respond to the letters before action. Your arrogance (and ignorance) is sublime but merely reflects the same attitude of all Legislative Assembly members who are not qualified to run a country; and changing the name to “Parliament’ is a joke!!!

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  17. Anonymous says:

    I see Alden has 2 single use plastic bottles in front of him. Can’t even pretend to support sustainability or #plasticfreecayman

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Alden, you do realise McKeeva and the CDP are just sitting back and laughing at you and the PPM right?

    The only thing PPM had over UDP was that PPM were trusted to do things right or better and be more transparent. But now, what we are seeing is that your leadership is just as bad as McKeeva’s, and this PPM-led gowment is just as bad as the last UDP-led gowment or the purple PNA gowment.

    Remember that the Peoples National Alliance, led by Julie and Dwayne when Julie, Dwayne, Mark Scotland, Rolston and Cline Glidden Jr., stabbed their then-leader McKeeva in the back and joined PPM Members in a coup to disgrace West Bay’s finest specimen.

    Dont think that you cant be replaced Alden. Right now they just laughing at you, but when they stop laughing they will replace you.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    I really don’t know what more information people need, lets just get on with the vote. Why delay this more and ask government to spend hundreds of thousands more to consultants to provide more info? They ask for a vote, got a vote, and now they want to delay it?!? A complete waste of time if you ask me

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Take some advice Alden and Moses. Its over. You should jump ship now because the storm you are about to face in January will blow you away.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    “When is the next day we can pick a referendum date to distort the democratic process and skew the outcome to suit our friends with all the money?”

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Laws regulating cruise ship pollution as well as increased awareness of its detrimental effects on marine environment could potentially force the industry out of business for it could become economically impracticable to comply.

    Many other events and circumstances could bring the industry to a halt. Even Rome fell.

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    • Courtney Platt says:

      And nobody has even talked about the 50 year life span of the piers and what costs will come after that. Or destroying an ancient reef structure that provides us with $23-$26M/yr in goods and services in exchange for slightly enhancing an industry that depends upon something as volitile as the price of oil. War, disaster or the eventual exhaustion of the resource can and it is reasonable to predict, someday will drive the price of passage out of reach overnight. The reef can feed us and attract visitors for thousands of generations to come if we protect it. With our own population and stay-over on the rapid rise, why intentionally cram in more cheap seats? This plan anticipates adding 1M-2M more cruisers per year within the next two decades. What will the rest of the population be in two decades? Stay-over? Government is encouraging rapid growth in all sectors at once without priority. We saw the first stop light go up in ’83 and this traffic is FAR from done increasing. Even a blind person could see that! If you are registered, you must vote or you’ll automatically be counted as a yes due to the unusual way this is structured. The bar is so high that every vote counts and YOURS can actually BE the “plus one”. Our legacy will be decided come Referendum Day. Which future will you leave in your wake?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Thank you Courtney.

        Even for Third World commercial mine proposals, that often concern moonscape high desert landscapes with minimal apparent ecology and biodiversity, responsible operators must conform to a risk management framework called the “Equatorial Principles” (now EP4), which outline, in strict terms, the schedules, timetables, obligations of parties, and the total lifetime project costs, as well as decommissioning and remediation plans, and the posting of suitable performance bonds for all stages in advance of permitting for commencement of works. From the RFP bid stage, they are published for scrutiny, and updated regularly from the RFP bid award, and beyond. The winning and competing bid documents are published (usually online). Media, NGOs and interested public from around the world read these documents. There are chapters for EIA, spectral imaging, geological assessment surveys, a Corporate Social Responsibility chapter, etc.

        Not here. In this award-winning biodiverse ancient “protected” marine park, we are now talking about some guy with a modified backhoe excavating 460,000 cu yards of material from a surface barge (presumably with the expectation to be dried and sold-on as fill, to someone’s further greed). No cutter suction dredge as would be the norm at these depths. No stabilized platform as would be normal. Nobody is talking at all about concerns for the sponge belt off the wall from 150-400ft in depth that would be the first to receive the sand conveyor submarine avalanches.

        Our “negotiators” have admitted that they aren’t even looking beyond the very initial construction costs, and are already looking to cut corners on some of that. No detail on who owns the Cayman shellco Verdant Isle, or their proportionate interests. No calculation of total project costs, or risks of unintended impacts. No performance bond of any kind posted to secure any outcome. No Standards in Public Life Law to ensure any of them aren’t being prepaid or promised comp for an certain outcome. No bid proposal terms published to assuage these concerns.

        It is absolutely appalling for the reputationally-sensitive Financial Services Industry to ignore all of these red flags about the Territory’s governance problems, and not awaken to the realization that they are all linked to the reputation of the Cayman Islands and the future business prospects for the primary pillar of the economy.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Can someone tell me if the proposed piers would have survived a Hurricane Ivan type storm? Does anyone know?

  23. Anonymous says:

    classic shambolic performance from ppm/cig/civil service.
    they had 8 years to get this right…..

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  24. Anonymous says:

    do-nothing ppm have failed everybody especially their die-hard supporters.
    rip ppm.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    so he hasn’t resignedyet?….classic ppm….zzzzzzzz

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Are we supposed to feel sorry for him?

    What an arrogant man he is.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Im very sad to be a Caymanian right about now……smh. I feel you pain Alden.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Every day that goes by I hate this man more and more, nothing but contempt for anyone who dares to question his narcissistic autocratic urges

    The sooner he is far removed from the levers of power the better off we will all be

    Mckeeva is bad, but at least he is an ass and even he knows it

    Alden always acts like he is the humble servant of the people, doing the right thing even as thousands of Caymanians clearly display they are not interested in this project

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  29. Johann Moxam says:

    It would be helpful if the could Premier would avoid deflecting blame to concerned citizens and explain why he refused to acknowledge or respond to eight letters sent to his attention from CPR Cayman?

    CPR has been respectful and transparent during every stage of the referendum process. Wanting this done fairly and the right way was confirmed by the Grand Court’s order and stay. Let’s do things properly with this being Cayman’s first People’s Initiated Referendum as per S.70 of the Cayman Islands Constitutional Order 2009.

    To date we have held 5 meetings with Governor Roper and 3 with Elections Supervisor Mr. Wesley Howell. The failure by the Premier to be professional, demonstrate leadership and respect for the Office of Premier as a representative of all people has led to the current legal situation delayed the referendum.

    See letters sent to the Premier on the CPR website:

    https://cprcayman.com/Latest-news.php

    Regards

    Johann Moxam

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    • Anonymous says:

      It would be helpful if CPR could explain how it has bank accounts opens in its name if it’s not a registered entity. No one in their right mind would respond to something without knowing where and whom it came from.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s called an unincorporated association and bank accounts are available to such organisations per routine banking practices. Your suggestion that the letters have been coming from a non-entity is asinine. CPR is a pressure group; every country in the world has them and many do work all across the globe.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Alden has lost the plot and is getting so desperate now that I am starting to worry about him..Is it really worth it AL?

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  31. Anonymous says:

    Finally he was able to grasp what was the goal all along.

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  32. Anonymous says:

    How could he possibly claim to know what the public, he’s never consulted, would want? Nobody voted for the Unity government. Nobody voted for the CDP or PPM. The Public, at last official check, wanted something completely new, and different…

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Cpr calls for information and then dismiss any information shared as propaganda. Seems to me they don’t want any solutions, just a soap box to shout from.

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    • Anonymous says:

      There are no solutions to the irreversible destruction that comes from this terrible idea and non-existent deal. Orion aren’t even proposing to use a proper cutter suction dredge now, just a modified backhoe on a barge – probably so that they can try to sell the 850,000 cu yards of fill. You can’t even make this stuff up. It would be funny, if it weren’t so sad and predictable. A redactive career-sneaky government that REFUSES to enact the Constitutional requirement for a Standards in Public Life Law. Do we actually have to file for Judicial Review on that too?!? Where does it end?

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    • Anonymous says:

      You obviously don’t read well

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because the information shared is just conjecture, hopes and assurances, outdated documents, statements that get contradicted by scientists or the cruise lines, etc. It’s not ‘here is exactly what will happen to the harbour and the island if we build this exact port’. That’s what we’re looking for. The government sought to get around our desire to have this information (and ensure the cruise lines could tailor everything to their liking) by putting out an RFP for a “design, build, finance, and maintain” project, so they could say ‘we’ve given you all the information we have because the thing hasn’t been designed yet; we only have sketches and ideas so far’. But as they are now finding out, that’s not an answer to the legitimate need of the public to know what is actually being voted upon. The problem with all of this is a major project with huge ramifications across all areas of life being put through the same commercial-confidential procurement process as a few new photocopiers. They’re being asked for information they don’t have and looking up each other’s asses for things to tell us, hence it doesn’t pass the smell test.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The information shared seems to be promises from cruise line execs and a scientist whose colleagues raise concerns about his methods rather than fact based info or legally binding assurances

      So of course we should be skeptical

      The PPM has a long track record of over-inflating the benefits of projects and understating the risks

      The Airport went millions over-budget and more than a year late

      Clifton Hunter costed almost twice what was projected and the other school projects are still yet to be completed more than a decade after they were initiated

      Anyone who takes a promise from the PPM at face value deserves to be conned

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      • Anonymous says:

        ‘The PPM has a long track record of over-inflating the benefits of projects and understating the risks.’ Not just the PPM, it’s the way all politicians work. Look at the BS piling up in the UK as they go to the polls next week. As just one example – Labour has promised to give every home and business in the UK free full-fibre broadband by 2030, if it wins the general election. The only problem is there are areas of the UK (I come from one) that can’t even have proper cell phone connections let alone broadband.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t care how they stop this stupid dock. Just so they get it done!

  34. Kathleen Bodden-Harris says:

    He’s truly losing his mind!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      What kind of idiot would put a referendum in high season?!?! And then make it a gd public holiday!? And then cancel it. And then still make us pay because they are not capable of walking and chewing gum.

      What a bunch of obtuse tools! I wish they had to work one f-Ing day real world. Non of them could cut it. I dare any MLA to work as hard as I do! And now I must pay for your idiocy. Great.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman’s Political Megalomania might well be contagious. All MLAs should immediately take care to wash their hands with lots of soapy hot water after touching doorknobs and faucet handles.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Power corrupts to put it succinctly

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  35. Anonymous says:

    He is the one spending our money not us…I can’t believe the gall of this man.

    We want a fair vote and we will VOTE NO..

    Carnival doesn’t have enough money to buy us all…and in any case we don’t want their tainted money..

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  36. Anonymous says:

    What happened to ol “oh go ahead and vote NO then you..you…stupids” sniff sniff

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  37. Anonymous says:

    Who trusts the gov’t…thumbs up

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  38. Anonymous says:

    muppet

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  39. Kurt Christian says:

    Register To Vote

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  40. Anonymous says:

    Bring back Wayne Panton

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    • Anonymous says:

      At least he has integrity.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Wayne Panton for our next Premier. Time for integrity in the office.

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      • ppm Distress Signal says:

        I agree anything is better than Alden Moses Joey Tara Juliana Dwayne Roy Arden and McKeeva as the next premier. However Wayne’s Panton is the biggest contributor to the ppm and still a member.
        A man of integrity he would revoke ppm membership and publicly denounce the actions of his friends and the Premier.

        There are no saviors in politics only better options.

  41. Anonymous says:

    It is fantastic to see the truth come out about these rascal polticians. Do you remember when the PPM were all out posing in their red ties promising wonderful things for the people of Cayman?
    They have achieved nothing of note except a disenfranchised people, unbridalled and ill-considered immigration policies and the icing on the cake is that none of them seem to be any poorer, unlike the rest of us.
    Yes, Alden, Moses and McKeeva. Your day will come. The people are waking up to your mismanagement of the Paradise you claim to love.
    You love yourselves and your own gain. You are not fit to lead this people and you should all resign immediately.

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Go stuff it Alden! We tyad ah you now! You knew exactly what you were doing when you set the date for Dec 19th, you knew it was an inconvenient time and that’s WHY you chose that date. Now it’s backfired on you! The trust and CPR aren’t stupid, as well as us the people!

    VOTE NO!

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  43. Anonymous says:

    Alden. Cha man! It is arrogance that is costing so many people so much money. You are fighting your own people and then blaming them for the expenses incurred in defending themselves.

    Government took our tax money and spent it on adverts saying there would be no dredging in Hogsty Bay. That is plainly misleading and was when I realized that you were no longer adhering to your promises of transparency and fairness.

    You are not going to get your dock. That is not the fault of the National Trust or any of the patriots who have had to take you on.

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    • Anonymous says:

      He already spent $9M of our money and didn’t tell us and spent even more to fight us and then say we are costing the country money…He is the one that is costing the country money…and I could go back to Clifton Hunter but let’s say that is a reminder of how he operates…

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are not counting the ridiculous expenses incurred by his stooges in verifying the petition, which plainly didn’t need any of that.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He’s “running wit it” spending all the money like they did in 2005-2009

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  44. Anonymous says:

    Shut it Alden you disgrace of a Caymanian. We want a vote, we just want it to be fair. I.E shame on you for trying to push it through when people were away for Christmas, where some 200+ new voters couldn’t have a say and when we don’t know the full facts of the change in construction plan. When the vote happens, and it will happen vote NO!

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  45. Give Alden and Verdant Isle have now gotten Coal for Christmas, and we are still going to vote no! says:

    This man really only has one or two responses to any interaction or outcome he doesn’t like:

    Arrogance;
    and
    Acting as if Caymanians are idiots who cannot trust their lying eyes and ears

    Keep in mind:

    — Alden Mclaughlin and his government voted AGAINST having this referendum in the summer of 2018 ( this vote could have been over already)
    The Government would have then had full control of the date and question, and would not have been accountable to CPR in the way that they are in regards to a PIR

    — Alden Mclaughlin authorised the spending of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last year trying to convince people to not sign the petition, despite claiming his government would not interfere in the process (which was his original justification for not voting for the referendum in the LA when he had the chance)

    — Keep in mind Alden Mclaughlin now seems to be in a rush but was perfectly happy to take 2 and a half months to have the Elections office go door to door verifying the petition when he thought he would be able to avoid the vote by having people unverify, which was entirely unnecessary, verification is almost never done in the method that Cabinet demanded.

    — If he had not set up this process in an blatant attempt to abuse his position and put his finger on the scales, Mrs Roulstone would not have a valid case, no one forced him to try to play political games with the process, if he had followed standard procedure, including enforcing campaign finance limits, and prohibiting the sale of liquor during polling hours the courts would have probably dismissed this challenge but instead he is trying to singlehandedly rewrite the way we do elections in this country to suit his needs

    And we all know what he is REALLY upset about, the fact that his grand plans to reduce voter turnout by scheduling the vote during the holiday season and prevent 200 Caymanians from voting have now fallen through regardless of whether Ms Roulsone wins her case or not

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    • John says:

      I agree that government had the opportunity to administer this referendum and failed to do so.
      Leaders may have a mandate by their election by the majority, but every attempt should be made to include as many citizens in the decision making for projects of such magnitude and cost. As for some of the commenters using such disparaging terms please stop. If cayman is anything we are civil.

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      • Anonymous says:

        John, the people are civil. This government, not so much. They are not representative of the people of Cayman.

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      • Anonymous says:

        and that there is our problem…always telling us to keep quiet and stay in your corner..we know what’s best for you…Sorry folks that ain’t happening anymore…

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  46. Anonymous says:

    “This is costing people an immense amount of money,” and whose $(#$&! fault is that Mr. Premier?

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    • Anonymous says:

      CPR obviously

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      • Anonymous says:

        “OBVIOUSLY”….. LOL! —> bots on overdrive at the moment.

        Actually it is the Unity Government’s fault.

        And to think of it, you, the paid troll, are not making things better for anyone in this country.

        Use your own brain for once and realize that these MLA’s don’t give two sh!ts about you (unless of course you’re a member of the lodge or part of the extended family).

        Vote them all out in 2021.

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  47. Anonymous says:

    Oh Alden, here here… take a couple more straws to grasp on.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Alden is now clearly grasping straws of desperation to hold on to. What is of concern is that who-ever his advisors are in the CIG who are supposed to be giving advice on how one should comment & conduct themselves in such topics , are silent ? Showing he is just firing comments off without any supervision. Damn the torpedoes.

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