MLAs use privilege to deride gay rights
(CNS): The veteran MLA for Savannah, Anthony Eden, led the charge, once again, of politicians using parliamentary privilege to deride the LGBT community and attack marriage equality. As well as making claims that coronavirus, the recent earthquake, AIDS and even global warming are all God’s punishment for the immorality that foreigners are bringing here, Eden called on government to defy the governor and the UK and not allow equal rights for gay people.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, after presenting a private member’s motion calling for protection for pastors and others if they use the Bible to preach against gay rights with freedom from any consequences, he said that last week’s earthquake was a sign of the “end times”.
“We better take warning for what’s going on,” he said, before quoting from parts of the bible.
Earthquakes are, however, geological phenomena that happen every single day around the world, even ones of significant magnitude, as the Earth’s tectonic plates slip against each other. This has been happening since the early days of the planet’s formation, billions of years before the evolution of our species.
Nevertheless, Eden suggested that the consequences of defying Governor Martyn Roper or any instructions from the UK about imposing gay marriage would be far less than what he believes is the punishment likely to befall us from God’s wrath. The now familiar rhetoric from Eden followed a similar pattern, which accused the local LGBT community of debauchery and trying to prevent Christians from speaking out. This appears to be based on the LGBT community’s wish to be respected and enjoy equal protections under the law, just like everyone else.
Using a private member’s motion as a tool to promote his interpretation of Christianity, he called on government to affirm the right to quote scripture. However, the debate focused largely on the controversies of gay marriage and Eden’s own very well documented homophobia. He even took aim at Sesame Street for its introduction of the subject as part of the children’s television show’s aim to be as inclusive as possible and preach tolerance to kids.
The debate took some two hours from a packed parliamentary agenda, although government has still not addressed the actual violation of one gay couple’s long running rights by bringing the necessary legislation to create a framework for same-sex civil unions.
While MLAs found time to talk about gay people as an abomination and make unfounded allegations that the LGBT community is oppressing Christians and their right to cite scripture, not one of them acknowledged the violation of the rights of Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden.
Day and Bodden are a same-sex couple who have been refused the right to marry but not offered any alternatives that could pave the way for them to enjoy the right to a private and family life, even though the Court of Appeal has given directions to the government to do so.
It was not clear whether or not government was expected to act in some way in responce to the motion, given that freedom of expression is protected in the Constitution, but it was supported on the government benches. While the point of the motion was unclear, members seized the opportunity to tout their Christian beliefs. Although not all of them spent time insulting and deriding the LGBT community, the issue remained simmering below the surface throughout the debate, with not one MLA offering support to the LGBT community.
Many of them perpetuated the myth that being gay or transgender is a lifestyle choice that has been brought to Cayman, along with atheism, by foreigners. Even Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly promoted that idea as she rose to support the motion, completely ignoring the significant and increasingly vocal group of Caymanians who are openly members of the LGBT community and a growing section of the population that no longer affiliates with any religion.
Several members of government’s front bench were absent from the debate. As soon as Eden rose to present the motion on what he called freedom of conscience, the premier left the chamber. At the time of the division on the vote he and ministers Moses Kirkconnell, Roy McTaggart and Joey Hew were absent. The former opposition leader, Ezzard Miller, also left the LA before the vote. Although she did not contribute, Minister Tara Rivers did support the motion.
See the proceedings below on CIGTV:
- Fascinated 60%
- Happy 73848%
- Sad 40%
- Angry 75650%
- Bored 131%
- Afraid 70%
Category: Politics
What a hateful man. How does he square that we are ALL made in God likeness?
I see hate is on both sides. And people should not confuse hating the promotion of a sexual lifestyle with hating a “person.” Two different things.
10:07 I feel the same but I would have added Duhwayne Seymour to your list.
i thought it was Doh!wayne?
I think all the things he mentions are really warnings about over-development and greed; not about who you love. Or maybe it is just my late Mom’s way of showing her displeasure about me not eating my veggies. She did warn me she would be on my case about that even from her grave. She always did keep her word.
Mr. Eden, your continued attack against the LGBT community, and anyone else who doesn’t subscribe to your agenda, along with the supporting vitriol of elected officials and your mindless followers is an insult to this island. Do you not comprehend the damage? Not just residents, but tourists alike are appalled at the continued hate speech. Have you and your like minded electorate actually fixed ANY of the problems that plague this island? Have you? Look around! What has been accomplished, is you and your kind sit on your keesters and make derogatory comments and jokes without accountability, travel and spend without accountability, collect a pay check you are not entitled to and fix NOTHING! In the years I’ve lived here, I am witness to kids graduating from school illiterate and disenfranchised, toxic dump, outrageous insurance premiums for health care, rising crime, cost of surviving (because it’s not cost of living anymore for a LOT of us), homelessness, hunger, zero interest in the environment, traffic congestion- the list is endless. At the same time, you and your associates continue to promote and support your mindless rant under the protection of an over used, burned out “parliamentary privilege ” AND in the name of religion. I wonder, the day that you and your kind need emergency services will you be taking the time to ascertain the “lifestyle” of the EMT, the doctors, nurses and all the support staff at the hospital? Keep your opinions to yourself – that’s all you’re entitled to. The disease you spread is contagious and needs to be eradicated. Cayman doesn’t need this as a legacy. There is little enough love and compassion and kindness in this world. I hope there are some young Caymanians that will stand for election and work to reverse the enormous damage done to this island by you and your kind.
This topic has already gone for Judicial Review, twice. Those are the only opinions here with any relevance. If serving MLAs aren’t going to support and abide the Judicial Review decisions, and their directives, then we’ve got a coup where the UK is obligated to step in and exercise their reserve powers. Governor, Premier, Attorney General, and Speaker aren’t allowed to be complicit on this.
Can you imagine this dinosaur, Anthony Eden is in charge of Counselling Services, Public Health, National Drug Council and Children, Family Services and the Adoption Board?
Huh? He is not a Minister what age are you living in ?
Why did A.E. get reelected in the first place?In actual fact, for a minute, I had forgotten that he actual existed.
The only time he raises his head to utter his two cents is when someone speaks of this matter. Thus, it shows his true importance in the L.A.
A.E. you MUST realise that NO family on earth escapes this matter. Knowingly or unknowlingly, there is at least one gay person in EVERY family. Even yours mister so almighty and judgemental.
Stop with your hate and try to understand that noone is attacking religion here. What is happening here is a cry for EQUALITY. Something that should be given wholeheartedly to a minority of people in our country. Get real please!!!!!!!!!!
Psychologists suggest that such levels of homophobia and hatred usually stem from a man’s own internal and unresolved issues as to his own true sexuality. Medical clinical evidence also suggest that such men are not only homophobes but also misogynists in their own relationships with women.
I am sooooo proud to be a Caymanian until the names Eden, Moses, Tara, Alden, McKeeva, Arden, Alva, Julianna, are mentioned, then I am embarrassed. Eden what you reap you sow. Karma is a bitch. Get ready!!!!
This chap Anthony Eden – he’s got huge brass ones, doesn’t he?! Got to admire his consistency and willingness to say what he believes, even when it’s batsh*t crazy. Unfortunately, he’s causing a lot of harm with his words and that’s not right. And he’s also helping Dart, because there’s no doubt we could have had an equally nutjob belief that Darts tunnels caused the shaking. But oh no, its the gays fault. Of course it is, because Anthony’s 1 god tells him so. But what about the thousands of other gods that dont tell him so? Does Anthony realize that he only thinks his chosen god is the word because he was born into a community that also thought that? If Anthony had been born in India he’d be worshipping cows; and so on, and so on.
Just one question though – who the f*ck keeps voting for these cuckoos?
The great people of Savannah love this guy just like the great people of West Bay love McKeeva. Fact is, we are not a very bright people. Products of our education system and they are our best and brightest. Sad indeed.
No, 3:56, not products of your educational system. Products of your slavish following of the Bible ( mostly the Old Testament) hammered into you by “pastors” who have never entered far less completed a proper academic course in theology. Batshit crazy bible thumpers selling the message of anger and sin and torment and vengeance and hell and damnation which of course is not the New Testament message.
Cayman we are in 2020 and this old idiot is using his last days to preach hate towards gay people. Not the Taliban, Isis, coronavirus, climate change, murderers, rapists, burglars, the dump, pedophiles, overcrowded island, traffic jams, tourist drowning every week in Cayman, failing schools, high-rise condos, overpriced food. NO SIR, the only thing that gets his chicken neck attention is gay people. I wonder why?
It would be an interesting social study to see this story shared on CNN / Daily Mail. Just for the viewing audience reactions to this joke of an old man.
I’ve been thinking the same thing, but BBC.
I think Eden needs his head checked. So how come God don’t send earthquakes to England? Lots of Gays in England. Maybe he prefers their accent? Just asking for a friend.
Eden is just another brain-washed Christian. People who think for themselves realize there is no God, as there is no Allah nor Spaghetti Monster. All religions are used to control people. Some religious leaders are believers, but most are in it for the money.
I cannot wait for these fossils to die off so our Country and regain some dignity.
Yeah, wait and become fossilize, you joke
See you in hell
Someone needs to take him for a mental assessment because it is obvious he has lost his marbles. As for Tara what do you expect really. She has no backbone she is just another puppet. Not a single one of them had the balls to stand up for their fellow Caymanians especially Chantelle. That would be the Christian thing to do but we all know they are only Christians when it suits them. Pathetic bunch. And where the hell is the Governor? He still on the beach?
Mental? Or, is it, he sees a Tsunami of IMMORALITY coming to this island, an opening of Pandoras box should gays have their way through our courts and UK interference.
Back in your cave idiot!
This statement is not worth while even arguing with. This is why there is Privy Council .
So is Eden also the quote the parts of the Bible that say we should beat our wives, sell people into slavery etc…
Christianity’s a white man’s religion that was forced upon slaves. So nothing in the Bible is the word of God because a white man wrote it. OUR ANCESTORS WERE NOT CHRISTIAN. But no you all will defend a religion that we had no choice but to practice.
Yet it is ok for you to be racist
But our Ancestors feared and respected the Creator
Which they believed to be a great big rock in the middle of a forest.
The same God who told us to love our neighbor is the same one your using as an excuse to curse our neighbor. You sir, are the sinner by using God’s name to curse others.
What’s funny is homophobes say gay people chose to be this way. Yes, they definitely chose to have no rights, be persecuted in some countries and be harassed 24/7.
To be honest, if “we’re such a Christian country”, then ban alcohol, cancel batabano because of its vulgarity, ban sex before marriage.
Unreal.
Should also ban cotton and polyester made clothes. You are all going to hell you heathens!
Go back home if you dont like how the cayman people live. Stand for something or fall for everything.
Sorry, where do you want your fellow Caymanians to go back to?
Like less than 1% with money supporting you from overseas
But it’s gay Caymanians that are fighting for equality, so where are they supposed to go?
Your hate is your God and your choice. Stand strong.
Where do you want us gay Caymanians to go?
You liars. Stop trying to impose your laws on this island !!! And everyone will be happy and at peace. I don’t care if this is your home or not ! Do you see any christian imposing christian laws against gay people !! No you don’t. Edens motion is to prevent you from imposing your gay laws on them. RESPECT THAT !!
Do Me a favor and replace every time you say Gay with block or women and see how that fits into your life and if you would like it. Cayman is a Democracy not a Theocracy. They are not forcing “gay Laws” they are forcing equal rights under the law.
But Eden is imposing his Christian beliefs on them.
Stock response from backward halfwit. Revert to ‘go back home’ if confused.
another maple leaf transplant!
They are home and one is Caymanian, so why don’t you go, if you don’t like change, because it is coming one way or another.
Although Eden is a religious man, I support him in his motion. Because I don’t believe that a group of gays or some foreign minority should impose their lifestyle on the entire population of these islands. If they want to practice their thing in the privacy of their homes, that’s okay. But don’t diss our culture, try to indoctrinate our children, and demand public acceptance of a behavior. That is very VERY VERY disrespectful and undemocratic. There is no equality of rights there.
Some of your children are gay and fighting for their right to equality!
Not my children. If they are that way, they live peaceably with everyone else. Their way of life is their issue. They don’t go to our courts or go public making demands on the populous.
Oh they will very soon, as they are all tired of being kept silent, get ready for loud angry queens coming for you.
It’s not a lifestyle, and “being gay” is not illegal or being imposed on anyone. We are talking about Human and Civil Rights for which superior court legal precedent, judicial review, and Constitutional obligations require us to accommodate the oppressed Caymanians expeditiously – to afford them space, liberty, and protection to live in peace. Rights are not pie. Providing these rights doesn’t affect you in any way! Denying them or suppressing them is fascism. Nobody has the right to be a fascist.
My dear, the one’s who can understand that already do. The ones who can not will never get these simple facts. No matter what. Or simply out of spite and bad mind. This is why the laws are in place and equality is coming.
You have to be blind to say gay rights won’t affect us.
Only if you are gay.
Perhaps the worst thing being created here is the false narrative that this is an issue of Civil Rights vs. The Holy Bible. This issue doesn’t involve religion. This is NOT LGBT against religion. This is those who don’t believe in equal rights for all vs. those that do.
It does a disservice to link you support of civil rights to a disbelief in God; that leads others to believe that civil rights are supported primarily by “the Godless” (their words). My spirituality — and yours and/or lack of it — should not govern the enforcement of civil rights laws.
” is the false narrative that this is an issue of Civil Rights vs. The Holy Bible.”
Bang on.
Problem is that they need a book from God to explain that to them.
Ironically, the gays would do a much better job at running this country.
Don’t tell the Irish that!
9:57 Judging by the thumbs down I think that comment may have gone over peoples’ heads. Maybe they should try googling ‘Leo Varadkar’
I’m the original commenter. I googled the name but don’t see anything correlating between him being gay and whatever point you’re trying to make.
Please elaborate. And also explain how he is worse than who we have in our government now.
Or Derek Mackay? That’s getting to be a big can of worms.
Buttegieg 2020! MAGA!
Freedom of expression and parliamentary privileges do not confer the authority to actively subvert the rights of those you seek to oppress outside that Chamber, nor do they suspend and/or restrict their access to timely judicial protections. There are many in the House and Judiciary that have far exceeded their position. Pastors are private theologians and do not get special powers to stoke hate against oppressed minorities. Once again it seems we have an inert presiding Governor sleeping in a heavy cake pan drum coma.
People are entitled to say and believe what they want. All the other rights don’t mean much otherwise.
If God hates the gays, why did he send the Coronavirus to start in China – where they still persecute the gays?
If God hates the gays, why did he have the earthquake near Cayman and Jamaica – two of the most homophobic nations on earth?
If God hates the gays, why did he cause global warming to melt the ice caps – I’ve never met a gay glacier?
If God does exist then they probably sent disasters to those places because all the homophobic people are using his name to justify their own insecurities. However, the Bible is a fairytale and natural disasters are just part of life in the real world.
And thats all you got from his speech, but to use the opportunity to bash the idea divine judgement.
Religions are both fuel and shield for the worst among us. Belief in a god and a crazy immoral ancient book provides perfect motivation and cover for people filled with fear and hate for their neighbors and eager to act on it.
Sensible, decent people may condemn Eden and those who think like him, but every day the vast majority of children in the Cayman Islands are indoctrinated into the same belief system that produced him. We are creating future Anthony Edens in our homes and schools every day.
Some might dispute this by pointing out that many Christians are not as ignorant and mean toward others. True, and good for them, but Christianity is not a pure and positive religion, no matter how it’s spun and bedazzled.. Anyone who actually reads the Bible and learns the history of the religion will see that being nice and fair to all is a radical departure from the real, traditional Christianity. So these children raised to be “loving Christians” still carry a potential bomb of hate within them. All they have to do is one day read all of the Bible or hook up with one of many hate-preaching pastors and they can easily trade the love for hate. Happens all the time.
And so ……. we must have homosexual laws enforced to relieve you of your Christian problem.
Do what you do at home, and stay home !!
So Tony is blaming the virus, earthquakes and other disasters on Caymanian families?
Quick, somebody please find them before they cause any more trouble
Anthony Eden – how would Jesus treat the LGBT community? What would He say to them?
You KNOW it would be something pleasant, welcoming and inclusive. Even a tired old fossil like you knows that.
And you call yourself a Christian…………..?
He would be loving.. and in His love He would say “I do not judge you, now go and sin no more”. The fact is all sexual immorality is sin. That includes the practice of homosexuality. In the case of most of the others the Church and the secular world are aligned so there is less need to stand on the word of God and speak the truth on those matters. Adultery is one that most agree is wrong, no matter what their moral base is. However, the Church, the true Church, has no choice but to believe the loving Word of God. The living Word is very clear that homosexuality is a sin and therefore should not be done. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But that does not mean that we should license everyone else’s sin because we struggle in a different area. We should seek to eliminate sin as much as possible in our lives, and we should never legitimize or legalize any sin, even the sin of homosexuality.
Then why is adultery legal?
It is a sin to worship other gods. Why is it legal for people to practice Hinduism or Buddhism in Cayman? Why are you allowing Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims to practice their religions in Cayman, and forcing everyone else to tolerate them?
You don’t get it. Caymanians don’t want your LGBTQ policies push on us. If you don’t like our Christianity, keep it to yourself. We do you no wrong / you do us no wrong. Simple
I will not allow anyone to restrict me from citing the bible.
“Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and equitable but also to those who are perverse.” 1 Peter 2:18
“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again.”
Exodus 21: 7-8
“You may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. ”
Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT
Who so many dislikes? Can’t a man cite the Bible and use it as a reference to support his argument.
This is a Christian nation and we demand slavery be reintegrated into our society.
All this controversy over some god no one can prove exist.
Or prove doesn’t exist
Disprove? The burden is on the believer making the claim. No one has disproved the existence of Zeus, so does that mean you believe in him, too?
“There’s a floating spaghetti monster in the sky.”
I see no monster. I hear no monster. There’s no empirical evidence of said monster. We’ve scanned the sky and found no abnormalities. Therefore, it can be logically concluded that there’s no monster.
Without evidence of a deity, the burden lies on the believer to prove the existence, not the atheist. Thinking that the universe is so complex that something must have made it is NOT evidence, nor is a storybook written by man.
The burden of proof lies with the prosecution, in this case, the indoctrinated.
people who don’t believe aren’t making the claim. The burden of proof is on those claiming to know it as fact. Of course, the cyclical reasoning of “the bible is proof” is childish and ridiculous. Glad to know that the people making big decisions that affects 10’s of thousands of people believe in a magical man in the sky, talking snakes and whatever other ridiculous mystical garbage they read from a book.
Yet in order to believe much that the scientific community presents as fact, one can only arrive at the conclusion through faith. Much of science is theoretical but presented as fact. Over time new observations reveal ‘evidence’ that doesn’t line up with what has been accepted as the most probable situation, but presented as fact. Then panels are convened and decisions are made as to whether or not to accept the new evidence as changing the previous ‘fact’. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. But the fact is, science has up to this point, not presented any real indisputable answer to any of the big questions of the universe. Fact.
He only proves himself to those who are worthy.
I know you didn’t just assume Gods gender?
You couldn’t make it up could you ? This dinosaur keeps spouting divisive bile and should be hounded out of all political office. The flat earth policy of the religious right has no place in the modern world. No wonder the rest of the world refers to us as a backward nation.
Not backward. Just ignorant.
Yall just rude, know your history these islands were built on the strong Christian faith just understand to respect that. Everyone has what they all believe in etc. But dont try to change what we know is right, the ground we all stand on each day is upheld by the very mercies of the Lord if it crumbles I’m sure everyone will close their eyes and pray for mercy. Yes to our “imaginary friend in the sky” (just rude) So yall some confused/ rude set of people but go ahead and believe what yall want and face it dont be rude to the faithful Christians that are constantly praying for these islands. And oh SHAME ON YOU TARA!!! You know better than to go for such foolishness! Can you imagine that something as beautiful as a rainbow will simply cloud the minds of millions of kids to come trapping them from young and INTRODUCING them to such fresh nonsense.
“Y’all” isn’t even part of Caymanian culture, that’s American, and gay marriage is legal there.
To say gay marriage is against the bible and is wrong.. fine whatever, then let them have civil unions. Civil unions occurs everywhere else in the non-christian world since according to them the bible created marriage.
Civil unions are just a sneaky way to legalize gay marriage so the fake Christians can feel good about themselves. It’s the same thing
Mikey, I’m confused. I got from the first part of your paragraph that we should respect Christian faith but then you say shame on Tara for supporting the motion? Make up your mind. Rude.
LOL, ‘strong Christian faith’! The only faith being practiced by many of the so-called ‘Christians’ on these islands is the one that preaches, ‘If I go to the right church and pray with the right people on Sunday all the sins I’m committing and the laws I’m breaking during the rest of week will conveniently be ignored.’
People post comments on here attacking the Freemasons for their alleged corrupt activities but the churches are not only just as bad – they do it openly.
All the intelligent people left the building. Interesting.
Maybe they were busy fixing the damn dump !
You can’t make this stuff up, our country is literally ran by people that believe in fairy tales.
Yup! The imaginary friend in the sky!!!
Caymanians, ask yourselves why Eden and other useless MLAs are wasting our taxpayer dollars preaching in the LA? Why are they putting on a show for their base, when everyday Caymanians LIKE YOU are struggling with fighting with ENDLESS morning traffic, just to get your kids to ridiculously poor public education, in one of the wealthiest nations on Earth?? He is wasting time taking about people that do not hurt you, that do not have ANY effect on your life AT ALL, rather than doing his damn job by making life better for your children! I mean how dare he waste the people’s time and money this way? Your MLA’s should be developing ways to fix public education, fixing the dump, fixing the traffic situation, improving health care for your aging parents, making YOUR lives better!
I truly hope that the recent increase in young Caymanian voters will DEMAND change and stop voting these FOSSILS back into public SERVICE again and again.
WAKE UP CAYMANIANS!
And stay woke.
Do you even know what woke means? I don’t think its particularly applicable here to be honest.
What’s the deal with Tara? She not from prehistoric times like Eden. She should know better. How can she support this?
Because Chuckles the Clown is just another part of the circus.
Think how sad and unnecessary all of this is. We have some Caymanians determined to be mean and unfair to gay people in hopes of appeasing a nonexistent god.
#lame
The same God who told them to love their neighbor. And gives them free will to do as they please but will cast them into a fiery pit for eternity if His will isn’t done.
You just can’t make this sh_t up.
Mr. Eden is entitled to his opinion and beliefs. And we have a democratic right to elect Leaders to represent us. BUT our Leaders and Candidates need to be transparent and vocal in their policies. If Mr. Eden runs for political office to represent ALL his Constituents and the population of the Cayman Islands (of which a large percentage support the right to have relationships and marriages of their choice) he should announce publicly that he DOES NOT want the Votes of those that do not share his beliefs. Simple. That’s democratic. BUT, he can’t have it both ways. He can’t run to represent ALL the residents of his area in Bodden Town and “forget to tell them” that his representation does NOT include those that have a sexual orientation that he does not believe in. HE SHOULD INCLUDE THAT IN HIS CAMPAIGN MESSAGE. And be brave and honest and say so, as LYING is also a SIN. And the greed and pursuit of the MLA pay cheque, with no serious or meaningful contribution to the Cayman Islands is fraud. So Mr, Eden needs to decide as OUR God is watching him too!
Thank God for people like Mr. Eden who will cry out against this plague of same sex marriage. This is far worst than the plagues down in Egypt. Cayman is on a slippery slope and the Premier needs to do the right thing and help save our country, whatever is still worth saving. Our forefathers would roll over in their graves, as the saying goes, if they only knew how far our country has drifted from God. We are living in perilous times.
Our country drifted from God long before the gay marriage issue rose. How about the love of money, isn’t money the root of all evil? How about the corruption? The adultery? The abuse? The pedophilia? None of that is due to the LGBT community and all of that was here, obvious and swept under the rug for decades so with all due respect? Stuff that “drifting from God” crap somewhere dark and smelly. Christians here only see what they want to see especially if it has something to do with their families. I am gay Christian, I love my God dearly and my actions are between me and him and I am sick of the hypocrisy of people like @11:07. Clean your own house first before you comment on mine for I assure you, mine is cleaner than yours or Mr. Edens.
Homophobes are a plague and I can’t wait till you boomers are dead and gone, then we can finally move on!
Calm down there Milly
Disgraceful! Kick him out! Kick him out! (Repreat)
When Rivers globe-trots round North America and Europe in her increasingly confused and futile attempts to appease regulators worldwide, she needs to beware of being targeted personally by LGBTQ campaigners. I guess they just haven’t cottoned on to her yet; when they do, the principal representative of our supposedly modern and sophisticated financial system, and thus our industry itself, could well become a prime target for demonstrations, no-platforming or even a boycott. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already.
Rivers can’t have it both ways. Diversity and LGBTQ rights are of huge importance in the leading world economies, and she’s stupid enough not to realise that she’s playing into our detractors’ hands. Supporting Eden’s bigotry might save her precious political skin, but it’s doing Cayman no favors.
Tara Rivers is a complete fraud and a huge disappointment as minister. She has become the younger version of Juliana O’Connor-Connolly. She will do anything for a vote and use up the privilege of public office including selling her soul and services that helps her retain power. As an intelligent woman she has taken her constituents for fools. Her time is up in 2021 because she is a big part of Cayman’s problems because of her self serving agenda and poor judgement.
She has failed to canvas, understand, and represent the mindset of the voters of WBS. This is the nail in her career there. She’d have to switch districts for next time and spin the wheel there.
When will these dinosaurs go extinct? or just go away…..
Poor Anthony is looking like a sick tired old man these days, eaten from inside by the cancer of his fundamentalist views about certain parts of the Old Testament on homosexuality but conveniently ignoring those others on slavery, wife beating, types of clothing and so on. Is this the best you can do in the 21st century, Savannah?
I love how the title of the video of Eden’s speech is “Legislative Ass…” (“…embly” is cut off.) How fitting!
Mr Eden, weak people will deride you, but in my humble opinion you are in the position of strength and truth.
I really wonder what everyone will have to say when they stand before God on Judgement Day.
I for one am not afraid to stand in unison with you, sir.
I know your message will be misconstrued as being hateful, but warning others can hardly be so.
God bless you Mr. Eden as you stand up for what is right in the eyes of God.
Thank you, Mr. Shibli and Mr. Eden! Thousands of native Caymanians stand beside you.
Christian beliefs? This sounds more like the hard line Taliban doctrine!
Sounds like? Then you do not know much. Warning people is not a crime. Ignoring a warning is a risk.
Perhaps post this article on US travel websites, so that visitors to Cayman are aware that our Government spend their money promoting homophobic, religious and cultural hatred and see if it influences tourism numbers.
The world is watching. UK too.
He is entitled to his opinions. What he’s not entitled to do is use the floor of the LA to make comments that seem deliberately intended to bring these islands into disrepute. If he wants to go round howling at the moon he should quit politics and do it as a private individual.
Leave that to the voters. Opps, I just remember, you guys believe on imposing things on voters through the courts!
Lol.
Now please explain to us how is our elected representative, Anthony Eden bringing these islands into disrepute?
8:27 By talking complete and utter b****ocks? Worse, he’s spouting exactly the kind of retarded rhetoric that the international media love to latch onto and attack these islands with.
“…retarded rhetoric that the international media love to latch onto and attack these islands with.”
Exactly.
Yes, all politicians are entitled to use the floor of the LA for any reason..Parliamentary privilege.
The privilege enjoyed has finite application and limits. LA members aren’t Sheriffs in the olde west that can pass their house immunity on to Deputies, in this instance, local pastors, to propagate hate out in the field beyond that room. It doesn’t work that way. This should have been a good time to go over the rules of the House, seeing as nobody has read them, least of which, the presiding “doctorate” Speaker.
These goons don’t understand that MLAs (lawmakers) have to know how to read, debate, and understand that the product of judicial review and higher court decisions. At least Alden had the wherewithal to leave the chamber. Tara has ended her career in politics – at least in WBS.
Alden is a cowardly lion
As a non-Caymanian I must say that if this was any other country in the world and there would be riots and people calling for his resignation. Funny people can protest 2 women standing up for their rights to happiness but no-one so much as kicks a leaf for the removal of this bigot and the others in your MLA. Cayman and all you arm chair quarterbacks, If you sit there and just complain on a blog then ‘m sorry but you deserve what you get. Stop bitching and take action. Referendum #2 perhaps?
Our WBS household will never again vote for Tara Rivers or invite her to one of our business events. What an appalling position to take.
But mine will
We run several companies on the island and we will NOT be supporting her bigotry.
There is that money talking. You voted for her you didn’t purchase her. Slavery is now illegal too fyi
This is the local mentality. They really believe this stuff. If an idiot driver crashes into you it’s because God thinks you deserved it. That is why they don’t believe in law enforcement.
Born and raised Caymanian, please don’t speak for me.
Keep up the good fight Mr. Eden!
Ask Mr Eden what he thinks of the many priests vicars and pastors , all God’s representatives, who are openly gay and some married to their same sex partner.
are we blissfully ignoring the ones that rape little boys?
We have so many serious issues we need to tackle yet this is what they want to focus on. More hate, derision and division. I really don’t like this. It’s high time these dinosaurs were out, for good. Let people be and crawl back into your caves.
Any update on the scheduled opening of the new mental health facility?
6.13 Worried you won’t get a room?.
Gonna fill up quick
No. Just worried that there might not be enough room.
It is already – it’s called the LA.
Disgusting. Tara, seriously?
The best and the brightest from West Bay, Tara Rivers and McKeeva Bush, and Anthony Eden. Caymanian people are so bright.
People get what they deserve on this island. Just keep voting these brilliant people in.
The man doth protest too much…. just saying….
I am a born and raised heterosexual Caymanian who was once Christian. I left the church and religion. because of this same hypocrisy. I was once a homophobe in high school, now I support my fellow homosexual Caymanians in their persuit for equality. Being a Christian IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO BE CAYMANIAN. It’s also legal to have gay sex – hypocrites!
Those two fossils, Eden in particular, need to retire so they can spend more time talking to themselves with their eyes closed to their imaginary friend in the sky.
I ask you why you think God did not allow the earth to swallow up any building, cars or humans? This country is a God fearing country and we are protected and blessed by our Savior Jesus Christ. Why do you think everywhere else in the world is struggling with ill fate, disease, war and so on? The life you want to lead is the destruction of man kind. I shake my head at your comments and ask you to please remember what happened to the Bahamas. I remind you of what is happening to Puerto Rico. Jesus came to earth to save mankind yet the non believers and nay sayers then said to crucify him and that they did. Thousands of years later, we still have those non believers and nay sayers. I pray God continue to protect and bless this island.
Not sure if trolling or not -.-… but why didn’t God help starving kids that die each day? Why does God not help those kids born with terminal diseases? Are they suffering because God wants them to? God seems to be picky with who he saves, but those blinded by their faith will carve out any excuse they can. Any reason they can come up with will be spouted, and when they are stuck, their response will be “God works in mysterious ways”.
People who believe in the bible as their truth severely lack critical thinking skills, which is evident by the nonsense they say. I use my good man Mr. Eden as proof.
Whether they believe in God is irrelevant. God will have the last word. The very same rainbow that they have hijacked for their purpose was created by our God after the flood to warn us that he would never again destroy “the entire world” by water. All through the ages they are those who would try to get rid of God because they know within themselves that God is a real presence in this world and conscientiously they also know that they cannot live as they so desire with complete peace apart from acknowledging that God exist. In the end each knee will bow and each tongue will confess that God is real.
So the earthquake/tsunami thing was just a really bad bluff? Not a very clever god this one.
Exactly God gives the last word. He gives the final judgement. That’s his job NOT YOURS.
And the beast shall be huge and black and the eyes thereof red with the blood of living creatures, and the whore of Babylon shall ride forth on a three-headed serpent, and throughout the lands they’ll be a great rubbing of parts…
Get help. You’re sick.
He needs to go back to school and learn a bit of science. It sounds like he just defrosted from the 9th century.
Pardon me but so far science says there is no gay gene and no scientific reason why some claim to be gay!!
And yet I am very gay. Not by choice, just to cut out that part of this never ending debate…