Premier heads to London to meet array of VIPs
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin is flying to London today, Friday, for what officials said was a series of very important meetings, including a first visit with Baroness Sugg, the new UK overseas territories minister, as well as the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chief of staff, among others. Issues such as this week’s EU blacklisting, Cayman’s potential involvement in more trade, and keeping up a partnership with the UK government are expected to be on the agenda.
In press release from his office the premier explained why he had arranged the visit.
“These meetings are important because Cayman continues to stand strong in the world and we need to continue to champion good relations with the UK,” he said. “I am also looking forward to meeting Baroness Sugg to ensure we have a close working relationship and continued cooperation with the United Kingdom. Too, I believe it is important that the Cayman Islands and the UK work more closely on trade issues.”
While in London, McLaughlin and his delegation are also expected to meet with UK government ministers and parliamentarians. Outside the political arena, McLaughlin is also going to meet senior officials with the City of London Cooperation.
The meetings, which were organised by the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, are part of the ongoing engagement strategy and partnership with the UK government and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
The premier will be accompanied as usual by Chief Officer Eric Bush and Senior Political Adviser Roy Tatum, as well as by senior members of the financial services industry, including Dan Scott, Alasdair Robertson and Kevin Lloyd.
Officials have not said when the premier is expected to return. The trip comes just a few weeks before a Cayman delegation will be heading to London in any event for the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meeting, which was delayed from the usual end of year slot in November because of the UK election and Brexit. It is understood that it is now set for March.
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Category: Politics
Meanwhile back home crime running rampant US deportees an foreign criminals and members of parliament committing violent crimes scumbag foreign backed developers destroying the environment. one hut set up to houses those who unfortunately get infected with Coronavirus absolutely no preventive measures are put in place at both ports of entry because we need that dollar to pay for these foreign advisors and our local stooges lavish trips overseas. So our dear minister and his idiotic govt advisors are going to wait and see who is the first nationality to bring the virus to these shores! yes all is well in lalala land Eh Alden you tell dem so in London Deh and make sure to mention Domestic wiolence is a local custom and except means of expression if you having mental problems you can beat up who you want so long as you write a letter filled with lies you believe to be true. And just where is our beloved Governor and his trusted sidekick Sancho Forbes no doubt fondling their egos and looking for the next photo op looking busy with the Kman Regiment! Please spare us and do your friggin jobs protecting these islands from threats ,corruption and criminals arriving here from overseas and in govt.
Well said.
Well things are fine back home…left his best man in charge.
Nero fiddlin’ again…
I Have worked in GT jewellery for decades. All the time customers want a a real Island experience, local food, local culture. What can we offer them? Nothing. We got rid of the local flavor in GT, when government sold out the Cardinal craft market. Now tourists cannot even pee anywhere in town. So sad. And govt wants to spend big ass dollars on a port?! The cannot even manage a potty!
Alden, your people are not ready for the modern business world. Better to lead them back to turtle stew and making rope. Maybe this time make it out of hemp. You need to try and balance the future and the past. Give them time to change.
4.41pm We love our turtle stew. Stew u. You bigoted moron.
Yes, the finest aspect of our culinary culture. The Queen does not know what she is missing.
Turtle stew is what makes Cayman great. The cornerstone of our culture.
I love my old time food and old time lifestyle too my friend. Less hate in the old days.
Number one priority . Get rid of Bush.
The people of West Bay love Bush. The best and brightest of West Bay.
Don’t insult us West Bayers!
You guys in West Bay keep voting McKeeva in election after election so don’t tell people they are insulting West Bayers.
If he is the best West Bay has to offer, the rest of us might need to see what the options we have in terms of separation
We might have to take a few ideas from Saudi Arabia i.e. the Salwa Canal (look it up)
All aboard the gravy train. Leaving soon. Space at a premium.
And what a fantastic gravy train it is. I am trying to get on the next train for Monaco at Easter.
Corruption is rife and politician beating wife and girlfriend even bar manager picking up licks round ya shootout central Georgtown jealousy issue Governor he not worry bout a ting Black list nor environment or traffic Lodge Boyz off to London erryting kriss! innah Cayman.
If only they had taken Mac….
Did they at least take Tara?
They may have been summoned to report to the
Mother Land…
The Queen can’t take the colonies anymore with BREXIT so the children are all going to be kicked out of the house. Problems ahead.
Urgent message for Alden. Paging Alden! Could the Premier please report to Northward where he and his government credit card are needed to post bail for a colleague?
Are you his colleague? Need him to come get you? None of his colleagues from the LA at Northward.
Should be though…
Blah Blah Blah!!!!#!!!!!!!###!#### I could scream so loud that it would wake the Queen up every morning for the next year.
As one wise old Caymanian once said “This is pure rubbish your honour pure rubbish.”
Well, at least we know he wasn’t at Coral Beach last night…..
Can Airmiles Eric enlighten all of us on his credentials in the Finance Sector?.
Bout the same level as his CCTV expertise.
suppose that’s why he has to hire so many consultants.
Doesn’t need to as Tara has everything under full control. LOL
Oh 9.05 so hateful.
And what are they doing about getting us off the blacklist. One of the biggest screw ups ever. Not a word. No apology. No accountability. What a disgrace. Just continue to waste our money while many of us are struggling
No trip to Brussels to outline what action CIG intends to take.
Don’t be so damn smart 12:12. You make to much sense for your own good.
Yeah, one has to be really smart to know where EU policy is made.
Not sure how well Cayman is represented but lodge is well covered.
Antibot. Never has anything positive to add.
10:45, Get help with your lodge problem ASAP.
Another wasted trip on the back of tax payers. What is the point of having a London office? Mr. Ebanks are you not competent enough? If not, the close the London office. I’m surprise no Dart conglomerates on this trip? Wait they would learn of all the money he has and how much taxes the UK government is loosing.
This would be a joke if it wasn’t so sad. #voteno
Tara tagging along?
Does she now have Hollywood in her pocket?
Are any other MLA’s joining him?
We should listen to the” National Vote” request, this is probably the best solution for your Islands. Personally I seen and heard many talented candidates from different districts that I know, can and will, work towards a more transparent government. Don’t be swayed by the current government. They should be ashamed of themselves of bragging about “billion dollar budgets” and not paying attention to world affairs. Overspending yearly and not putting aside to reduce the cost of living. Cayman should have billions in reserve.
Whatever happen to Mr. Archer, Mr. Panton, Mr. Clifford,…..Mr. Saunders seems to be a very smart and respectful representative also that would work with them….the government only tighten the noose around the peoples neck by having OMOV. A National Vote would allow the people to vote for ‘one candidate’, up to ‘nineteen’, from any district ….the best nineteen wins and are held accountable to the people. Thanks.
Stay there!
A meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s chief of staff, Dominic Cummings? That should be interesting because Cummings’ brief is to recruit ‘weirdos’ to sort out the UK’s problems. Gonna be a bit of culture clash there.
Alden McLaughlin and Eric Bush shouldn’t be negotiating with anybody after the EU “Blacklist” debacle they messed it all up and are not respected locally or international.
Thankfully, they did not take Tara Rivers along on this junket to compound Cayman’s embarrassment.
I hear she is out of office, dont be surprised if she tagged along
hush!
“Cayman continues to stand strong in the world”..geez Aldart isn’t even trying to justify his extravagant travel any more. I hope the truth is he is more comfortable going out in pretty much any foreign country than he is in his own country that he is destroying.
What absolute B.S. Work more closely on trade issues? What is he talking about?
They must think we are all very stupid. Maybe we are, but not this Bobo.
4.45pm Antibot.Don’t you ever get tired
Not as long as our politicians keep making decisions out of self interest with complete disregard to the Caymanian people and their futures.
Obviously you would rather they do nothing which suggests you would be an even worse representative of the people
I would sooner they visit Brussels than London. How many trips did they have to London last year? But never one trip to Brussels.
We don’t have our priorities correct.
Don’t you ever get tired of being fed B.S. 9:47? I sure do.
‘Leadership is not rank, privileges, title or money. It is responsibility.’
By management guru Peter Drucker
Our MLAs are puffed up city councilors
The idea that they jet off every couple of months with full fledged delegations for 15 minute chats containing mostly pleasantries with people who we all know have much more important things to be doing is laughable
anything to put on the show of actually being respected right, just like here, the photo op is really all they are concerned about
Alden and co will show up suited up for the groundbreaking ceremony and then absolve themselves of the blame when the project goes tits up
Will anyone notice?
One less car on the road in the morning traffic I guess
We should all be thankful
The PPM is solving the traffic problem, one wasteful and extravagant overseas trip at a time
Well at least two cars as Roy is going too. He and Alden aren’t car pooling – save the combined transport for cycling and overseas trips.
ol Repeating Roy…Aldart tells him the pension isn’t in a deficit and Roy says the pension is healthy cause everyone isn’t retiring today…to hell with his years of accrual based accounting and what those stupid actuaries say.
Wrong Roy dude
What are Roys credentials to be a political advisor? He worked at a big bank here before his appointment.
Knows some stuff they’d prefer he didn’t…
I think he has many more pressing issues here……….of course he and his buddies are going on a trip. Register to Vote people.
aka Boondoggle!
Does Deputy Governor still publish Government travel expenses on the Government website? Officials ought to be open about their spending for these trips.
No confidence.
Just think how better these meetings might have been if we weren’t on the blacklist. Thanks Alden.
@2.50pm Antibot
I understand the other issues, but what do we have to trade with the UK? What do the UK want from us?
Rum cakes.
Turtle Stew and conch shells
No turtle stew is not allowed for export. A national treasure. Yum, yum.
And one time he brough a keg of Caybrew…they took him seriously after that!
They love our rum cakes.
They need us to move out!!!!
Just askin…The answer is…. employment. We have provided them with job opportunity after job opportunity.
He would be smarter going to Brussels to do some lobbying regarding the financial services sector. He seems to take a lot of trips to London and Monaco but when has he ever visited Brussels?
We have an office in London that should already be doing this stuff. That’s the whole point of staffing that office!
If the financial services issue with the EU is a big issue, which we know it is, he should go to Brussels to lobby not just send bureaucrats in London to go there. Monaco is obviously far more important than the EU. So don’t wonder why we are on the EU blacklist.
Staffed by the son of Ezzard….one of the employees…
Remind us again why he was exiled there.
What expertise does Ezzard’s son have in financial services?
Low level bureaucrats in London knowing nothing about the financial services sector will get us nowhere in Brussels. We need some big guns lobbying for us there.
Can’t CIG hire Wayne Panton on contract and have him negotiate on our behalf?
We need Caymanians with expertise lobbying for us in Brussels.
No point going to Brussels.
Probably right. All the damage is already done.
There is something called damage control.
Why not go to Brussels? Far more important right now to the Cayman economy than visiting London and Monaco.
Why not go to Brussels? Why not? But sending Bozo the Clown would be just as effective……… and a lot cheaper!
Hat in hand.
Yeah, that’s what you do when you don’t meet EU deadlines when everybody else meets them.
This would be a good time for the Baroness to remind the Premiere of his obligation to pass legislation on equality for marriage/civil unions. Only a few weeks overdue.
Obsessed about that gay marriage stuff eh 2.35pm
They are going to inquire about those civil unions. And we will say?
I hope they understand that he doesn’t represent a large number of us!
He does if you elected him and supported his party.
Both PPM and CDP lost their mandate last election. The majority of Cayman voted for Independents, that sadly squabbled so long and hard, that they couldn’t put forth a government. That’s why we are in this jam. PPM do not have a mandate or even popular support, which is why they spend millions on suppression campaigns using international media influencers.
Ask Ezzard and Arden why it didn’t happen. Crabs in a barrel – they both wanted to be Premier so they picked up their marbles and went to their corners and refused to answer their phones.
The lord works in mysterious ways.
And also mischievous ways!
3.05pm You are wrong. Independents did not get the majority of the votes.Independents received 6492 out of a total of 15721. Even if we include Tara with the independents the total is 7026 out of 15721.That means that the 2 parties received 8695 votes without Tara, or 9229 with Tara. Now we know Tara was never truly independent but rather she was not a party member but aligned with PPM. If we want to go by seats won then CDP won 3 seats, PPM won 7 seats which equals 10 seats for Parties and 9 for independents. But since Tara was always aligned with PPM that gave parties control of 11 seats out of 19. So no the majority of voters did not support independents. You might not like it but thats the fact of the matter. Just the facts
CDP – 3
PPM – 7
INDEPENDANTs – 9
9 is bigger than 7 or 3. Only by ganging up like schoolyard bullies did the combined parties get in.
I never understood the illogical argument that Caymanians voted in independents last time and the PPM and CDP grabbed power. After every election every member elected have the obligation to not only form a government but form one that will last for four years. This is more easily accomplished with a party structure and more difficult with independents. We have seen this after 2017. And since then we have seen Alden maintain the coalition government and in doing so has provided stability to Cayman.
Excellent comment 4.18am. Because some are unhappy that independents did not form t They never miss a chance to dump on Alden and the rest of his team.he Govt they have engaged in a campaign of negativity towards the current Admin.
2.10 He doesn’t if you are one of those obsessing on gay marriage