Curfew exceptions ‘not intended to be fair’
(CNS): As frustrations run high among members of the public over what they see as the unfairness of some COVID-19 curfew exemptions over others, Premier Alden McLaughlin said that the system “is not intended to be fair” but is meant to reduce the risk of community transmission of the virus. He said all decisions are based on a risk assessment and how people can access necessary services while minimising all human interactions.
“The more people that are out there… the greater the chances the virus is going to spread,” he said at Monday’s daily COVD-19 press briefing.
Following the news on Monday that there are another five positive results for coronavirus, four of which were local transmissions, the premier, while still relatively optimistic, made it clear that none of the restriction will be relaxed any time soon. Cayman now has 66 positive cases and it is evident that the virus is being spread locally, even if we have not yet reached the point of sustained transmission.
McLaughlin said that this was still happening despite all of the messaging about social distancing and he did not know how long it would continue. But he warned that relaxing social distancing protocols too soon, as some countries had done, could see Cayman face an even worse situation. He said nothing would be relaxed here until government has a much better understanding of where the virus is in the community.
However, until Cayman begins wide-scale testing, isolating and tracing to understand where the virus is, there will be no let up on the current lockdown measures.
Accepting that there is mounting frustration from the public, McLaughlin said that government was receiving increasingly rude correspondence complaining about the infringement on civil liberties. He said that a number of selfish and narcissistic people were writing to government suggesting it did not matter if a few people who were likely to die anyway came down with the virus, which he said was “appalling”.
McLaughlin confirmed that government was sticking to its position that economic and selfish interests would not come before people’s lives. Every life was valuable and important, he said, noting that even those advocating for “survival of the fittest” needed to understand that dead people don’t make good customers.
Until people feel comfortable that the virus is under control, they will not feel confident to return to their normal lives or go out in the community in any event, he pointed out.
Although the premier repeats his message on a daily basis about the need for people to hold on for just a few more seeks, many members of the community remain transfixed on getting their pools cleaned when, for example, their neighbour was seen getting a coffee delivered.
CNS receives hundreds of messages every day from people wanting to do specific things and wanting us to ask why government will not allow one thing when it allows another. But all exemptions for the soft and hard curfews are made by a team of civil servants.
They can be reached at curfewtime@gov.ky and each day they continue to deal with hundreds of requests, many of which are individualized wants and needs, while others are genuine emergencies, and each one is considered on its own merit weighed against the wider public health risk.
See Monday’s full press briefing below on CIGTV:
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Civil liberties are irrelevant in a pandemic. We are essentially on a war footing, and we all need to comply to help the war effort. Listen to some elders who actually went through a war and you will quickly learn we’ve never had it so good.
12.10pm We have a lot of “elders” collecting handsome payouts as veterans, but how many actually fought in a war and when?. The only liberties we experience now are those taken by our decision makers to favour some (cronies) but not others.
I hope CIG is at least exempting industries and not individual companies. I would hope Alden isn’t using this situation to exclusively benefit friend, family or lodge members at the expense of the competition and Cayman consumers. Maybe that’s why he needs the UK military here.
Btw and decision by DPP on beach bar assault case?
Significant new waves of layoff’s and salary cuts underway in the private sector in major organizations. May will be a very big disaster for another wave of people.
NOT Cut: Alden’s salary of course and all government. In fact they will likely get an increase for emotional distress.
Why don’t you announce the job losses at your daily press briefings you arrogant bastards?
Rest assured, The the arrogant elitists in government will feel this come next election. I can promise you that.
And to the cowardly worthless opposition, the same is true for you!
Arrogant tone deaf idiots!
The Government is now beginning to hear moans and groans from a community longing to return to normalcy, people who have gone weeks without a salary, and the hard reality for many who aren’t from here and want to return home that they are stuck.
Perhaps above all else, we are suffering from our success at controlling mass deaths as a result of COVID. COVID-19 does not have a local face, a eulogy we all know, a facebook account that no longer will be responded to as a result of death. This is a good thing, a very good thing. Our care home facilities aren’t contaminated, old people aren’t being wiped out.
We think that means, hey, this isn’t as bad as some say it might be. Let’s get the economy going again, let’s clean our pools. What is it with these pools? Doesn’t help when the Premier says in a dry tone, that the curfew exemption system isn’t made to be fair but to keep numbers of people out and and about down.
Let us not lose sight of the fact that the only thing standing between Cayman and disaster are these heavy curfew measures. Testing only gives you a snapshot of where you are on the day you are tested. It doesn’t mean that after you test, you can whip off your mask and go visit everyone you know because you are negative.
It’s akin to getting a test for HIV, coming out negative and then going around having unprotected sex with every consenting partner. So let’s get off this unhealthy obsession with mass testing.
In the absence of a cure and a vaccine, the control of movement (not testing) is the key to helping COVID come to an end in a closed system. Given our shut borders we have a realistic ability to contain it.
Do not be fooled by the false dawns in Europe, Asia and the folly of the USA. Premature re-openings of your economy is akin to taking off a condom while sleeping with a prostitute. What was the point of putting the protective measures in place if you continue the high risk behaviour.
The reality is, social distancing is here to stay. Cayman does have an opportunity- a really unique possibility. We actually have a real chance of getting rid of it within a reasonable amount of time. My guess is the summer. June or July if we stay still and don’t drive each other crazy in the process.
When it has run its course, we can safely begin to remove the measures and ensure we do not introduce new people into the economy. Its going to be closed shop for awhile.
10.47am Thank you for your paid political discourse, now go back to the cabinet and report all your thumbs up.
Thumbs up or thumbs down have nothing to do with truth.
Truth hurts. Restrictions hurt. Massive deaths hurt more.
What does Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan all have in Common?
They all thought they had Covid defeated and celebrated too early.
Now they are facing wicked second waves Although Hong Kong seems to be climbing out of it again.
It’s a long hard road to getting over this. Maybe we have to accept the fact that it’s 2 waves.
And all of them should have the highest death rates per capita because they didn’t decide to lock everyone down and kill their economies but that’s far far from the case.
This is a reasoned and decent argument in favour of continually keeping businesses closed. The problem is that it is based on a few assumptions that are looking more and more incorrect as more becomes known about this virus.
What are those assumptions?
1. “Let us not lose sight of the fact that the only thing standing between Cayman and disaster are these heavy curfew measures.”
Based on the initial models, disaster did seem like a real possibility. As more information becomes available, however, the number of people hospitalised and that will consequently die is much much lower than that. The model Dr. Lee shared the other day assumed a death rate of about 1.75% and assumed over 50,000 people infected in a 60 day period. Now that social distancing is in place and it is rapidly becoming apparent is that the death rate is more likely to fall between 0.1% and 0.5%. So reasonable people are looking at those numbers and sensibly realising that the paternalistic approach of the government isn’t necessarily the right one anymore. I don’t think anyone is advocating for the elimination of social distancing. Most people recognise that this is the biggest thing that is keeping this under relative control. That said, there has to be more emphasis on trying to allow for a return to as much commercial activity as possible while at the same time maintaining a reasonable amount of social distancing. This means keeping things like bans on gatherings above a certain number, curfews in the evening, keeping schools, bars and restaurants closed and encouraging people to work at home. It doesn’t mean banning people from earning a living if it’s a reasonably low-risk activity. We should be looking at ways to get people back to work as much as possible. This is what restless people are looking for from the government and they are not getting. That’s why you are noticing moans and groans.
2. “We actually have a real chance of getting rid of it within a reasonable amount of time.”
It’s fairly clear that because there is already limited community transmission, this isn’t going to happen. Antibody testing in several jurisdictions has been showing that a far greater number of people have been infected with Covid19 than people had anticipated. This is good news because it means that there is some buildup of immunity and the virus is not as lethal as initially estimated. That said, soon there won’t be a need to speculate as we will have our own testing here and we see exactly how prevalent the virus is.
Most people are logical and think for themselves. People are willing to accept restrictions on their liberties and will give up their businesses if they think they are saving their own lives or other people’s. The problem is when they start to lose confidence that they making sacrifices for a good reason. The reason people are fixated with pools is not because they’re that important. It’s because it’s obvious to most sensible people that allowing them to be serviced by a single person working alone doesn’t really result in any real risk for anyone. A few fewer “cars on the road” doesn’t accomplish anything for safety. It’s an arbitrary decision which has the double disadvantage of ruining people’s pool water which even if you don’t think is a health hazard, will cost them more money to fix later, and denies them an ability to enjoy themselves while stuck at home.
If there are new generations of community transmissions without travel-tracing, it means there are people walking around either (a) willingly unwell, or (b) asymptomatic. They are in the grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, and sustaining transmission of the virus here locally. The Easter beach fiasco proved how little our public can be trusted to behave “like Sweden”. Sadly, there needs to be a two week hard curfew lock down, starting this Sunday – enough time for everyone to get food for two weeks.
Sweden is now proving to be a failure. So we can stop holding them up as an example.
Each day that passes it becomes crystal clear that we and much of the world has embarked on a completely failed strategy. Eradication was fatally flawed from the beginning. We can’t simply play whack a mole, we will always be two steps behind.
I’m not blaming, global leaders around the world took their information from the experts that did the best they could, but it’s turning out that they were monumentally wrong about most everything with a few exceptions in countries that took different routes.
We’re in a very deep hole, it’s time to stop digging, put the shovel down and start to climb out. Please change course, we are headed in the wrong direction.
So what’s the alternative? It’s nice to criticize and you can fairly criticize where the death and infection rates are out of control.
So what in the strategy is a failure in your view. Clearly it’s not failing here in Cayman.
In fact what do you consider failure?
Is it the number of deaths or the economic impact? It’s clear that you can have very limited success if you try to have your cake and eat it too.
The alternative is to protect vulnerable people, our elderly and those with complicating conditions while the rest of us go to work and practice sane measures for our own safety. Those who are not high risk but do not wish to participate are free to stay in their homes hiding as long as they want. Nobody is forcing you to come out.
Well there’ 1300 civil servants with exemptions to do what they want, presumably because they are actually having to work for their handsome salaries and perks.
What perks? Have you ever worked for government?
If things start to open up despite Alden’s tough language we will all know it’s because Dart said so. We know who really runs this country.
Can Alden please explain why Ropers Store where I buy my garbage bags that are used to protect the DEH workers is not open, but Fosters, Kirks Supermarket Price Right, Cost-u-less are all open to the public. Is it because his campaign contributions were not large enough.
FOOD.
How about the pool companies being allowed to sell pool maintenance chemicals and supplies through the stores that are already open? This would allow people to get the necessary products to maintain their pools whilst maintaining the same level of social exposure. If Cost U Less and Price Right sold these products for the pool companies I think everybody would be happy. I know pools seem like a small problem to have but it really is necessary to keep them maintained during this time to avoid expensive remedial work and potential unsanitary conditions.
I think Alden is absolutely right and he has done a great job so far (and I am not usually a fan) but support is starting to look a bit shaky. More and more people breaking curfew, more and more complaints from idiots who think the lockdown is not needed.
The key to continuing support from the population is information, and a plan. Tell us what conditions need to be fulfilled for restrictions to ease? Is it 14 days without a positive? Tell people so they can start tracking it. Tell people where the community transmissions might have occurred – a supermarket? a gas station? an unlawful gathering? We need to know! Tell people about the pending test results. Why did those people get tested and what is the significance if they are positive? Community or cluster spread? If it’s community, what is the plan for halting that? How do we help?
Alden – which other world leaders are you talking to? What did they say? What’s the FCO guidance? Where are we on antibody testing? What is your best case scenario for exiting lockdown, and the worst?
We are all sitting at home bored as hell and getting restless. You literally cannot provide too much information about this. We don’t expect the government to have all the answers, but the more transparency the more likely it is we will support you and your measures.
Alden has no plan, he has never had a plan.
Keep strong Alden. Don’t let the selfish few ruin the chances of many to open up sooner. We should all be ok with taking the hit now and staying alive. The sooner we get all testing done and trend down or even stopped then we can start again. We are all suffering in one way or another but don’t give up Alden- you are doing an excellent job.
civil servant…
It seems that many of these idle commentators can’t see/read what’s happening elsewhere and get it. Like elsewhere, they won’t really understand until they, or someone they know, are physically touched by the magnitude of this killer virus, and surrounded by active cases. CIG should give people until Friday to stock up, and then go full rice & beans hard curfew lockdown on everything for a 2 week stint. The sooner this difficult choice is made, the sooner we can cross the valley and get something going on again.
Alden needs to give the public something positive. Every day for the last week its been the easing of any restrictions will see hundreds of older people die. There is now an underlying ground swell of the population who have followed the restrictions diligently becoming more and more disillusioned with the projected months long bias towards continued lock downs. Come on Mr. Premier there is a significantly more positive middle ground that can be preached here. Nobody is saying that we should all rush out of homes tomorrow but come on mate!
My God, it turns out we are a nation of geniuses. On every topic you can think of, be it work permits, iguanas, economics, public health it turns out we have 50,000 experts on every subject, most of them posting on here. Listen to yourselves you nutters…leave it to the real experts like Doctor Lee..your opinions don’t matter right now, lives do.
Ok hitler…baahh…baahh
Dr. Lee? He stumbles on everyone of Wendy’s questions and never has the answers. He’s all out of answers now. Seems like nobody has a clue where we’re really headed.
Why are we being held hostage because of a bad flu? This is not a joke. Why are people not questioning what is really happening globally?
There is a type of person who has an answer for everything.
That type of person is a fool.
It is sad that we are at a point where people do not realize that an expert is someone who stops talking when there is not a solid answer, and a fool is one who keeps talking.
An interesting CNN piece on how Singapore, a small island nation that thought that it had virtually eliminated the virus whilst maintaining everyday life, had a massive second wave because they had failed to deal with lack of social distancing (or testing) in the migrant worker community.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/18/asia/singapore-coronavirus-response-intl-hnk/?hpt=ob_blogfooterold
Some scary parallels with Cayman for sure.
9.02am we dont have all our immigrant workers crammed together in a central accomodation block like sardines in a can.
You ain’t been to Swamp, or Dog City or Keturah street eh friend? Pass through Windsor Park and Rock Hole. You will are things you never knew existed.
You get Covid running through those crammed living conditions and Boom! Blow up in Unna face. Nuff people suffering round here in poor and cramped living conditions
I am afraid the Premier is becoming increasingly arrogant. Claiming he doesn’t have to be fair is just an excuse for not being able to give any logical reason for why some exemptions aren’t granted.
Why should a pool maintenance man who has zero contact with the public not be allowed to do his job, instead of having to beg from Govt for support?. Yet a coffee distributor can visit homes and the Premier’s office and cabinet to deliver coffee.
Why are hundreds of work permit holders not allowed to send money home to support their families?. When asked some days ago at a briefing, would the money transfer operations be allowed to reopen he simply said “no”. Now his excuse is that they have not submitted a plan for social distancing as he had requested.. This claim is hardly credible given the immense pressure they are under from their customers to reopen. There is one business for example on Smith Rd that has ample space in the wrap around car park for 100 customers to line up 6 ft apart. Govt could provide security and police to ensure rules are followed just as they do at the supermarkets.
Increasingly this man is transforming us into an authoritarian state where no-one may question his dictates, I can only assume in his quest to learn from other countries as he claims, that he is looking to China and Xi Jinping.
Nobody likes it 08.47, but I for one would prefer to live with it. By the way, I don’t think you have ever been to or visited an authoritarian state, I have, including the one you mention. Getting followed by their state security is not fun. This is nothing, suck it up and stop moaning, we are currently in one of the best places to be in this epidemic, and its people like you who are the problem, not the solution.
Would love your money.
8.58am have visited Beijing long before the current epidemic and spent two weeks there. Your claim of being followed is pure garbage. Try addressing the genuine and proven issues I raised. If our Govt wants co-operation from the long suffering public the Premier needs to do the same.
Agreed. If there was some consistency in the application of his rules AND he is able to explain the logic behind the inconsistencies people might be more receptive to his remarks. The complete disregard for people’s situations and concerns only to be met with him calling the concerns of his people “lunacy” does not bode well. Liquor stores can open because… well that’s just it, because. You can’t tell me that liquor stores are open because you fear the backlash of people if they were closed, but ignore the impending suffering of the economy when more people lose jobs and run out of money. What are the priorities, what is the long term plan? We can close this country off and minimize the risk, but in 3 months when we open do we have to do this all over again when the virus returns, which it will? There is no real plan here and this taste of power they are getting will not end well for the public.
The use of fear to manipulate the masses is a age old tactic.
Old age tactic that still proves to work.
If you think the money transit businesses are going to be allowed to open after the Premier has decided to allow workers to pull out 25% of their fund “to reinflate the local economy” you have another think coming.
9.35am We are talking about the hundreds of workers earning $4 or $5 an hour, how much do you think they have in their pension pot?. I’m sure a lot of their employers have docked their wages for pension contributions and pocketed the money themselves as has been proven in court. You have another think.
Grim Creeper is spot on with both points. Money transfer is pretty much the same as banking. It can be done at the bank for 2x the cost, which is why people use money transfer operations.
And if the pool company is able to send out one man teams, WHAT DOES THAT MATTER?????
People with children would have an additional way to keep them occupied. And those without can use their pools for exercise since the beaches are closed.
Strata pools would still not be allowed to have use but should be allowed to upkeep them.
I do not understand either of these not being allowed to happen.
Someone in these 2 industries must have pissed off an MLA…
I agree with pool maintenance people being allowed to work, and landscape persons. Both have minimal contact with other people. I also agree with the Gov keeping money transfer services closed. Those who normally send money overseas will need that money themselves so that they don’t overburden the government when they can pay their rent or buy food.
So just let their children back home starve? Wonder how you lot keep up this Christian nation BS!
Caymankind
You left your kids behind? Huh?
And where the hell are the huge surplus funds CIG accumulated over the last 7 years by giving work permits to whoever can pay? I mean even the masks that someone else helped pay for he sold and probably recouped CIG’s investment.
Aldart, I suggest consult a real government and design a stimulus package that isn’t merely to taxi drivers or from our pensions, and use the 100s of millions in surplus now.
You people and this obsession with pools. Your entitlement and white privilege first world issues are nauseating.
I was about to give you a thumbs up, and then you bought race into it …
White privileged? So all those black and brown people with pools are what?
Oreo cookies…
You think? This guy is a blistering imbecile and a lose wrecking ball.
Absolutely no clue as to the damage he’s doing or about to do. No clue that these lock-down DON’T WORK. Countries like Germany already supplying empirical data on this. The US realizes this is not sustainable, and already opening. And their economy dwarfs ours. What do you think is going to happen here if this continues? We do not have the means to stay closed!
These people needs to be removed from office fast.
Alden is destroying us! Is he trying to take us all down with his sinking cruise ship government???
Maybe you should have left when you had the chance.
There is a global shortage of PPE.
Used to be
Clearly there are not sufficient N95 masks and visors, which is why millions of people are sewing and making hand-made facsimiles.
Potential solution to staying at home. Since some isles in Kirk Supermarket are empty, why not have Kirk Home Center put some hardware essentials in those isles. And before people tell me food and other items shouldn’t be mixed, please attend a Walmart Supercenter the next time you are abroad. We might not have to get our cars inspected, but with all the time on our hands, none of us would have yellow lights.
Pool chems/testing kits, a/c and drinking water filters for sure.
and poison
While not a bad idea for supermarkets to sell more than groceries, even if only temporarily, don’t let the names of these particular stores fool you. They are owned by different families/different shareholders. They are not the same business.
Aisles….they’re not verdant.
A very good idea in theory. Right now, Cost-U-Less and Priced Right have unfair competitive advantages because they sell lots of other items (tvs appliances, housewares, etc.) as well as foods. However, it would be up to Kirk Market to implement such a tactic and since the supermarket and home store have different ownership (different branches of the Kirkconnell family) this would be problematic. I think the logical thing to do would be to allow the hardware/home stores to open as well – AL Thompsons, Kirk Home Centre and some of the smaller ones. Perhaps having some home improvement tasks would keep people occupied and from getting so frustrated.This would also have the knock-on effect of reducing the number of people in line at the supermarket. I spent 50 minutes – in the hot sun for part of it – waiting to get into Kirk Market on Saturday,
Not the same Kirkconnell family so whouldn’t work that easily
And get sued by the other hardware stores.
It’s now all about a few people not dying before their time. The economy is not needed. If the Government can not see that a balance must be kept then there will be a hard lesson coming for the Cayman islands. Choosing both means continued prosperity. Choosing one over the other (either one) still means death and destruction. Watch and hopefully learn as Caymanian leadership tries to control the worlds order and balance.
we can distance ourselves…time to stop caging people in our homes since one FACT is true that the disease is spreading in homes and within families…true? All beaches should be open and exercise allowed daily! We have lots of fresh air and it works to minimize contagion!
Precisely. We need to follow Sweden. Now!
Sweden got it wrong. Dead wrong and now lots of people are dying
Perhaps the government should also ban all cars in Cayman. Many people die every year from road fatalities in Cayman. This senseless loss of life can be avoided by banning all cars.
This statement makes as much sense as the continuing the lock-downs. Now knowing that 99% of deaths have been elderly or people with pre-existing conditions and likely untested / diagnosed cases of Covid-19 are much higher then expected, bring the morality rate much closer to the common flu should signal to the government that it’s time to get the economy going again.
People are suffering, unable to put food on their tables, not visiting their family doctors, afraid to visit the hospital. Alcoholism are obscenity rates on on the rise, depression and pure nourishment. Stress related illnesses, the list goes on…
“it did not matter if a few people who were likely to die anyway came down with the virus, which he said was “appalling”.”
No, it’s not “appalling”, it is simply a question of numbers.
We all know that some visitors and residents are going to die in the water, whether from drowning, heart attack, and what have you. Some of the ones who die could be saved by an adequate lifeguard force on the beaches. That would cost money.
For the small number that die in the waters who might otherwise be saved by lifeguards, it is simply not worth the cost. The expense of training and maintaining a lifeguard force is simply not justified by the maybe three or four dead or dying bodies pulled from the water each year.
We accept that, and it is not “appalling”.
It is not “appalling” that driving standards are not enforced, and that it is certain to cause a number of fatalities each year. But we need the economic benefit of low-paid workers in unsafe vehicles with unsafe driving to get to their jobs, so we simply accept the fact that a handful of people are going to die because of it.
We accept statistical risks of death all of the time. It is not “appalling” to make these sorts of tradeoffs.
Now, in the case of this virus, the present tradeoff mitigates toward further attempts to minimize spread. That is fine. But let’s not pretend we do not do an implicit cost benefit analysis trading deaths for economic benefit each and every day – whether it is lifeguards, traffic enforcement, qualification of vessels and crew to take tourists about on the water, how much effort to put into mosquito control, food safety standards, or what-have-you.
Oh dear…this is killing people in their thousands, comparing to other unrelated issues which are mostly 70-80% of time the fault of the people involved just does not work.
Well that is the point…NONE of this is making any Logical Sense anymore so then you have to ASK what is really going on! We are boiling frogs. They Love their newly discovered POWER.m
Thank you. 100% agreed with 915am
Hmmmmm That’s a wild take on whether or not to keep the virus at bay. But I must be honest, I would rather NOT catch it and be sick for who knows how long. Not to mention the ongoing damage it can do to your lungs…
Interesting consider the long-term damage the dump is going to have on all of our lungs anyway.
416pm for premier. Serious talk. I’m in agreeance with you.
Amen. Pretty sure that fire gave us all cancer anyways.
All he wants is for the statistics to say Covid-19 had no local deaths. That can then be published to the world to attract business. He’s not altogether wrong, as no other deaths, will attract a tick mark that will be published world-wide on Johns Hopkins. I’m not being morbid, but for those who are already in the departure lounge (statically, there are always some – hence the funeral homes), please don’t catch Covid-19 and ruin our almost perfect record.
No plan and more insults from Alden. Time to start protesting.
And he thinks others are narcissists. Pot calling kettle black much?
Until we start seeing mass testing…. Then why aren’t we doing it? Why is there no plan presented? Social unrest is coming because they have given no hope to people. No credible plan. No mass testing. 12 days after the test kits arrived, we have not presented the plan to the people. Instead we are worried about beach walkers. Definetly need to move them to West Bay Road since the sidewalks are so huge there.
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin
Sigh… a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Some context (with key elements posted below that show Franklin was actually defending the right of government to legislate in the interests of collective society) https://www.npr.org/2015/03/02/390245038/ben-franklins-famous-liberty-safety-quote-lost-its-context-in-21st-century
WITTES: The exact quotation, which is from a letter that Franklin is believed to have written on behalf of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, reads, those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
SIEGEL: And what was the context of this remark?
WITTES: He was writing about a tax dispute between the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the family of the Penns, the proprietary family of the Pennsylvania colony who ruled it from afar. And the legislature was trying to tax the Penn family lands to pay for frontier defense during the French and Indian War. And the Penn family kept instructing the governor to veto. Franklin felt that this was a great affront to the ability of the legislature to govern. And so he actually meant purchase a little temporary safety very literally. The Penn family was trying to give a lump sum of money in exchange for the General Assembly’s acknowledging that it did not have the authority to tax it.
SIEGEL: So far from being a pro-privacy quotation, if anything, it’s a pro-taxation and pro-defense spending quotation.
WITTES: It is a quotation that defends the authority of a legislature to govern in the interests of collective security. It means, in context, not quite the opposite of what it’s almost always quoted as saying but much closer to the opposite than to the thing that people think it means.
Yeah but we got trump now. Franklin gone bobo.
I know a few people who have a mild cough, and have notified the authorities, only to be told they won’t be tested because their symptoms are mild. What was the point in ordering all of those test kits if we aren’t going to use them??
Because they want to give you a false sense of proactivity. They just wanna keep us locked up for as long as possible to control the masses.
profiting from a crisis…they are selling them to Bermuda, etc.
Everyone knows Government isn’t profiting and are simply selling at cost
So if they don’t want to test sickly people then it is obvious they can’t expect to test healthy people. Waste of resources. Christ we need help in cayman!
As you may have noticed, we live in a place isolated from the continent. Equipment & supplies are logistically complicated to get here on a good day. Therefore it should not come as a surprise that in a time like this scientific supplies that are already in short supply are even more difficult to source, procure and ship here. There are many parts to the testing, analysis, quality assurance processes and cutting any corners with this renders the process null and void. CIG’s communications to the public about this have been clear to most that can understand but many people just don’t understand and may never understand the scope and human resource elements involved. You might want to try in this trying time to at least put some faith in your leaders that they are flat out doing their best.
Many countries have and are doing much worse than us, you could have been somewhere else and much worse off so count your blessings.
It is absolutely ridiculous that CIG hasn’t taken the simple precaution and ordered face masks or coverings to be worn by everyone in public places! Other countries did this weeks ago. Medical experts determined that properly worn masks , while it doesn’t protect you from contracting the virus, it helps prevent the spread of COVID by asymptomatic people…protecting others from respiratory droplet sprayed when breathing, talking, etc. Or are we afraid of what masked people might do?
Contact your MLA (if you can) – apparently Dwayne thought it best to give the public’s PPE to the least community aware people on the island.
Quit with the mask bullshit already. You and Jon Jon need to find a new thing to get aroused by.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344
Getting food and medicines is essential. Getting pool cleaner, a new haircut, or a couple of tins of white gloss paint is not.
It’s not that hard to understand unless you are selfish and/or ignorant.
4.15am What is the risk with pool maintenance -zero, but there are a number of serious problems without it. I am not selfish or ignorant but I do have a brain.
Theyre going to ignore the risks of unmaintained pools until people get sick. People cant necessarily see or smell the increase of bacteria, algae and chloromines in their pools so continuing to use them.
When the ear and respiratory infections start, we will suddenly remember why pools fall under Dept of Health public SAFETY and HEALTH regulations just like garbage collection and pest control.
Waiting for the first, inevitable and ignorant comment to “drain your pool” coming from idiots who dont know the $1000s it will cost all these pool owners to remove and redo Diamonbrite!
The risk is not zero though, is it. It puts someone on the road, who will use gas pumps, touch lots of other surfaces and then visit the homes of many people. It may be the simple act of signing a receipt for work done and handling a pen. Boom.
It’s about minimizing a risk. You can drop products in your pool yourself. If not, and the consequences are ‘serious’, turn the pumps off, drain the pool.
9.48am These people are already using gas pumps, touching lots of other surfaces when they go out shopping. There is no signing involved the homeowner doesn’t even see the maintenance man, so there is no additional risk to the population. It’s not just a question of “dropping” products in the pool and the consequences are even more serious if the pool is left empty in the hot sun.
Is the work on the airport runway essential? All other construction is halted yet for some reason the airport work carries on. Is this really essential or just something government wants?
Excellent time to do this essential work.
there is a balance
Condescending tone of Premier’s statements is frightening. He is conducting a dangerous experiment on the very people he claims to be saving.
Don’t be such a drama queen. Two thirds of the world population, something like 5-6 billion people, are on lockdown and you think its all just Alden experimenting on us? Even before you couldn’t get out, I suspect you did not get out much anyway, right?
11.57am But they don’t have Alden in charge trying to be the only country in the world not to have a single local death, and succeeding in the process of setting back the economy 100 years.
Shouldn’t even count the single local death. Or even call it that!
Didn’t he come of a cruise ship!?
Sick already?
What is this nonsense that theh are playing at???? This is our lives and children’s loves being fondled!
Treating people as caged guinea pigs is selfish and narcissistic, to say the least.
Failing, as usual, to accomplish the task of testing, then saying “..there will not be let up” “.. until Cayman begins wide-scale testing”? It is not the people’s fault that CIG screwed up again!
It’s starting to look like dictatorship.
You are either ignorant or exactly the kind of selfish and narcissistic person the premier was talking about. Dictatorship? You really don’t know what the word means in practice because we aren’t seeing that at all.
Are you paid to troll for the government?
Tell the truth.
You can’t have heard immunity when everyone is in isolation let the virus run it’s course isolation the people at high risk keep the economy going or the fall out will be far worse than the virus, follow Sweden if you need a role model
I know the conspiracy theorists don’t like science (who needs science when you have Alex Jones and Sean Hannity!) but read this about your “heard” immunity: https://www.sciencealert.com/why-herd-immunity-will-not-save-us-from-the-covid-19-pandemic
Sweden is actually failing. Their scandi-brilliance is proving to be a false dawn. Their numbers are rising and now they are rethinking their approach.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/19/anger-in-sweden-as-elderly-pay-price-for-coronavirus-strategy
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-coronavirus-deaths-lockdown-social-distancing-denmark-finland-norway-a9470771.html
Your sources are the guardian and independent? Oh boy.
Sweden is doing well. You need to consider the population to appreciate the facts.
10 million people. 1,700 deaths.
Also…
common flu ranges from 5 million cases globally annually, and kills up to 650,000 people annually. That’s a fact.
Exactly. Sweden is doing superb!
We need to start mass testing now!!!..It is stupid to continue to make excuses everyday. I am sick and tired of turning on the tv to hear Dr. Lee say that we tested 12 more today and 5 of them were positive and 100 excuses as to why we are not testing more…Foolishness and frustrating..We need to start mass testing otherwise then we will need to open up the domestic economy and take our chances..
We have to eat and although Alden might get the pension law done we know those greedy pension companies won’t give that to us for at least a few months…
They are selling them as we know to other caribbean countries! Did dart really want to help with his rich buds, or did he see an opportunity to profit a little in a crisis?
You’re an idiot.
Yes, it was just Dart who sorted the kits arriving. Any excuse for a Dart-bashing, huh?
Exactly as i have been saying in multiple comments. The Health Authorities have mismanaged the Epidemic from day Zero. And realizing that our politicians have not a clue, they are misleading them. Have you folks have observed the back and forward of statement during press conferences?
They are denying where is the real fault of our Emergency Landing in this Pandemic, let me refresh their minds: To avoid this streess and distress the written in the wall should be seen on Jan 2020 and not being entertaining WHO ill advised ADVICES and CARPHA 3rd world guidelines. Look at the ants, they know about their limitations (in term of real power) and ants always -proactively- procure and prepare before the storm hit. We -fee payers- pay from the public purse expensive wages plus allowance to Public Health Officers to be on Alert and steps in advance. What happened then? They did not see red flags when the Epidemic spread out of China in Asia and then whent it crossed in Jan to our Hemisphere. Why here they are always reactive? Dr. Lee had repeatedly issued contradictory statement and is back and forward at the public press briegings, saying one thing one day and a different one the next.
Pls look at South Korea, they ignored the advice of WHO and Tadros, results? They have done pretty well. Then we are R what we S.
And worse is coming, behold. Are we there yet? No.
Where can the public get copies of these risk assessments that the Premier is talking about? It is very possible that the wrong people are conducting the assessments as I see no reason why the exemptions can’t be fair and reasonable. If liquor stores can be exempt I see no reason why other activities can’t be allowed within specific parameters that would reduce the risk of community transmission of the virus.
It i$n’t about “ri$k”, it$ about money. Money talk$, bull$hit walk$. Who get$ the money? You tell me. You don’t know? Make a gue$$.
I want you for premier. Now.
A new study by USC adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that statistics being used by this government, to deny people their basic civil liberties and to curtail the ability of many to earn a living wage (through their God-given right to work) are based on a demonstrably faulty premise. New evidence suggests their modelling is more laughable than it is accurate. Statistics have been selectively used and manipulated to justify these unreasonable curfews and to shut down the economy, decisions that continue to lay waste to people’s life savings, destroy their businesses and ravage the economy at large – all while the Premier and his panel collect full salaries with benefits. If there was a law firm willing to consider launching a civil action/lawsuit, once this is settled, I’m quite certain there would be wide support for it. The building body of evidence that this government is being potentially negligent In their duty also suggests that they should be held jointly and severally to account, if negligence can in fact be demonstrated. If so, those harmed by unfair government and police actions should be compensated in full for damages. The Premier himself has stated he doesn’t care to be ‘fair’ with his citizens. That is however his duty under the Constitution and principles of natural law. Every attempt to engage this panel has been answered with public insults and daily shaming, by calling people ‘narcissistic’ ‘rude’ and categorizing any possible compromise as pure ‘lunacy’ which is a sign of myopathy and zealotry rather than good responsible government.
I’m interested to knnow what possible rationale there could be for the government to intentionally and maliciously destroy the economy of Cayman?
Not maliciously, and to save lives. Good enough reason for me.
Ugh. It’s not even covid that will kill you.
Power and tightening controls! We are Boiling Frogs now! And they see we are accepting of it…same with Lib governors adding in controls that have nothing to do with China flu! Alden too! Govt always want MORE power…it is easier! Just think China control and ask why do you think they would not prefer that!
Wow, is your tin foil hat making your head hot in this heat?
The “tin foil” response is so lame. People not willing to think for themselves and believe everything they see and read in mainstream news. Please. Read the person’s comments and issue an informed rebuttal. Don’t be so small-minded.
Agreed with 335pm
Here’s conspiracy theory for you. Who has the financial resources to ride this out for however long it takes? Who is already the largest real estate and business owner in this country? Who has a history of taking advantage of countries in distress to their financial benefit? Who will be in a position to buy up distressed real estate and businesses? Who already has gotten some very attractive deals from CIG? Here’s a clue, his name rhymes with Fart. Discuss.
This was supposed to flatten the curve….and should not be used to punish people!
Flattening the curve only happens with full cooperation of the public!
Flattened my bank account!
This is ridiculous! People need to be out and exercising and living their lives! And to say that it is wrong and selfish that some saying some might die is twisting the facts for fear! Some people are going to die as they do with flu every year! I will take my chance with my life but I reserve the right to make my own decisions! The government is not my caretaker….I AM!
Fine that you take a chance with your own life, but what about the lives of others?
Because we are giving up our lives for govt control. there is a balance and you are too frightened to see that this has nothing to do with Covid!
As the mother of an immunocompromised child, I am more frightened of my child’s premature death because some idiot couldn’t stay in their house and follow some rules than of anything else. Bloody fool
Overstated in my opinion.
You are responding in fear! not sense because fresh air fights china flu not spreading it in prisons or hospitals or cruise ships.
Stay home.
This is basically the Daily Muppet Show, except people are getting financially devastated by the thousands.
yes it would be funny…if people and families were not being destroyed financially
Who are these trolls. You’ll blame him when a family members dies after he let’s you off the leash.
Maybe you wear a leash and think people are meant to, like a Alden the Terrible, but I assure you I’m nobody’s dog.
What I don’t understand about your type of responses is that you show no attempt to understand what the other side is saying. I’m sure all of us are aware of the difficult choice in this time, however the choice is being made for us. the economic pitfall from this lock down has the potential to be just as devastating if the disease were wide spread, but someone else has chosen for us that we will sit down and wait in our houses. It’s about the right to choose.
If you do not want to take that risk of going back out into the public, that’s completely fine but do not use your fear to guilt trip others. When others have lost everything because there is no work, no money flowing in to take of necessities, I hope you’re fine with the blame being pointed at you.
Then we invite you to stay locked in your home forever. This is no life to live if in the end we all get it and die anyway. By the way, most of us won’t. I might as well enjoy it before it was over. This is not going away anytime soon so you can hide all you want but you’re gonna have a terrible life in the meantime.
More “recovered” cases would be more uplifting rather than saying we are all going to die. It’s been 4 weeks of lock down with only 7 recovered cases??? I don’t watch the press conferences any longer, we are always doomed with no plans!
Maybe because they haven’t clinically recovered? “Recovered” in this sense is a very subjective word, since recovery can take much longer beyond simply retesting negative. A friend of mine, young and fit, contracted COVID overseas in early March. She had one of these so-called “mild cases” with sustained high fever of 102-3’F barely suppressed with max daily dose extra strength tylenol. She threw up, fouled her bed, physically couldn’t move, no appetite, and could barely breath. It nearly killed her. She is now somewhat improved, retesting negative, but still has pneumonia-breathing symptoms, scar tissue, and part of her face is skewed to one side, possibly from a mini-stroke incurred somewhere along the line. Applying a dismissive “flu” metric to this virus is exactly the mistake that has occurred internationally. It’s easy to be dismissive when you’ve had no firsthand experience with it.
Sorry about your friend. I wish her to get well soon.
Why was it mild if it clearly was severe? I ask my friend, an ICU nurse, this question often. She works in a private hospital where essential oils, acupuncture and red light therapy (among others) are part of the treatments during recovery process.
She says that every patient is different. Young doesn’t mean healthy anymore.
If you pay attention you should have noticed how many young people have autoimmune diseases this days Especially those living in large cities.
I”ll let you arrive to your own conclusion why this is happening today. And it not food or diet.
Caymanians are blessed to live by the sea. They don’t have to spend thousands for 2 weeks under the sun to recharge the batteries.
Yet, one can be arrested today for trying to reach the healing gifts of nature.
I would not call that mild
So what happens when the internet crashes Alden?
What then? Hope you folks in charge have a plan for that. Please don’t neglect this point. It is imperative to plan effectively for the near future and the looming implications of the drastic measures taken to “stay home” cayman.
If it crashes it will Island wide not just in your home, smart 1
Well obviously it would be island wide. The point is, that people are completely dependent on the internet not just for work but personally. Look at us right now, we’re talking on a social media platform to each other…which requires the internet.
People are keeping it together because they have internet access.
Instagram.
Facebook.
Twitter.
WhatsApp.
Facetime.
Zoom.
Our daily press briefings are brought to you via internet access.
The point is you don’t know how bad it will be without it. It will be really bad.
So the message is clear, be prepared!
That is why military help is next!
“Premier Alden McLaughlin said that the system “is not intended to be fair”. Ponder that for a minute folks…..
The virus does not care about fairness
Al Catraz Maybe you should have an armed guard outside your home to ensure you stay there 24/7 that way the virus won’t care about you and you can live up to your name.
Ponder also that it is intended to save your life….
The Ministry of Education has developed a new model of governance for the education system of the Cayman Islands.
The new governance model is expected to be phased in by 1 July 2007, and operational for the start of the new school year in September 2007.
Education Minister Alden McLaughlin tabled a document in the Legislative Assembly that detailed the new model of governance.
‘The governance model… meets the needs of the education system in the Cayman Islands, adopting a philosophy of serving the student by placing them at the very centre of the model,’ he said when introducing the document.
Mr. McLaughlin said that the people and businesses of the Cayman Islands had called for change in the education system after the National Education Conference revealed that the system is not producing sufficiently qualified graduates in adequate numbers to meet the growing demands of the national economy.
Protect your immune system with this powerful trio
The task force that was established to develop the model researched considerably the models used in other jurisdictions, the Vision 2008 report and the Millett Report among others.
The new model places the student at the centre of the organisational chart.
‘Picture a model where the components of the education system are represented by concentric circles, with the student at the very centre – at the core of the model,’ Mr. McLaughlin said.
‘The student is encapsulated by the school, which is planned to promote achievement, equity and access.’
Another significant change presented by the new model is formation of Learning Communities, which are groupings of schools that exist to support teaching and learning.
The new model divides the Cayman Islands into four geographic Learning Community groups: West Bay and to the north of George Town; George Town to Prospect; Savannah, Bodden Town, East End and North Side; and Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Mr. McLaughlin said the Learning Communities will not only support the new model’s focus on meeting the needs of students, but will also introduce accountability for students’ achievement at every level.
‘To this end, the Learning Communities will facilitate the decentralisation of the necessary services and resources to schools and students, as these provisions will be readily available within the community, and within easy access of those who require them,’ he said.
In addition, Mr. McLaughlin said the Learning Communities will provide clusters of schools that will support and challenge each other in the pursuit of continual improvement of educational standards.
At the top of the Learning Community model is the Director of Education Services, to whom the Learning Community Leader will report. The schools – which will have a core focus of teaching, learning and communication – will in turn report to the Learning Community Leader.
‘In this new model, schools will enjoy direct access to educational services within the community, including guidance and counselling; student support services; financial support; ICT support; registration, attendance and truancy; facilities management; and after-hours programming.
‘In this model, all members of the learning community will be accountable for the achievements of students in their school,’ Mr. McLaughlin said.
The introduction of Learning Communities will bring with it increased utilisation of school facilities, including some activities that will take place outside of normal school hours, Mr. McLaughlin said
‘An After Hours Coordinator will take over the principal’s responsibilities for operations outside of school hours, and will report for duty before the principal leaves the site to ensure a smooth handover of operational matters for the day,’ he said.
‘By extending the hours that schools are in use, government meets the needs of the community, whilst also increasing efficiencies in the usage of assets.’
The Learning Communities will each use the matrix structure as their functional model, Mr. McLaughlin said.
‘The matrix structure provides for direct lines of reporting and communication between the Learning Communities and all of the principal elements and services of the Department of Educational Services,’ he said.
All of the aspects of the new governance model will fall within the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.
‘For the Department of Education Services to achieve its objectives successfully, it must have the requisite support of the Ministry,’ Mr. McLaughlin said.
‘I am referring to high quality advice and direction on policy as well as regular consultation with Ministry leaders.
Mr. McLaughlin said the Department of Education Services will be clear about the expectations of the Ministry with regard to its performance goals and the mechanisms by which progress will be assessed.
In January 2007, staff will commence the new roles outlined by the governance model and training will commence. In the meantime, the human resource department has commenced discussions with the personnel affected.
‘Starting the process now, we will ensure that staff hit the ground running, ready for start of the new school year in September 2007,’ Mr. McLaughlin said.
In advance of the implementation date, the Government will make the necessary legislative changes to underpin and give authority and effect to the new governance model, he said.
Mr. McLaughlin said there would be an additional $1.3 million of funding for recurrent costs associated with the new governance model. That amount, however, does not include the cost of additional staff needed once the new high schools in Frank Sound and West Bay are built and open.
The point of the post is that we should not forget that when Alden makes up his mind, he holds on steadfastly. So hunker down.
What in the actual f*ck is that model concentric circle plan about? Are we now the sheep at the center of the 3 ring plan? We’re doomed
Thank you for summing it up nicely.
You and your crew are doing a magnificent job, Alden. Keep up the good work. The silent majority is clearly behind you. You got to ignore comments as to those above. It is so true that empty barrels make the most noise. Steer the course, Alden.
Winston Mc Dermot
The Governor lost what little support he had left today, hitching his wagon to the failing Civil Service.
don’t worry alden,, the public’s response won’t fair either.
they more you lock us down the more people will flout the laws purely out of frustration
I personally don’t see why we can’t just take precautions and just open up for business. I can’t see people not taking this seriously in the work place. Why can’t we have police checking in on businesses on how they are obeying social distancing and create a plan for running businesses temporarily through the crisis. Everyone is aloud in the grocery stores. What’s the difference from any other business? I know it’s less exposure to people but poverty kills people to. There needs to be some sensible solution for everyone to work. I know it’s a lot of policing, but the economy can’t fail because we aren’t smarter than a virus. Unless they don’t have faith in the people in the community to be smart about this.
NO
Agreed. Think Sweden has a great model. They have struck the appropriate balance.
People look at Sweden’s death count and genuinely, or out of fear, don’t understand why Sweden’s model is successful. The point is, according to the experts, Sweden’s death rate should resemble original forcasting models. Equating that to Cayman, 1,000 people were never going to die. The models are pathetically flawed. Not one model, world wide, has come close. I don’t want anyone to die of this disease but I’ve lived long enough to know we cannot prevent death. While saving lives is admirable, we read global headlines such as Landlords soliciting sex for rent. Children being left behind in schooling. Teachers calling in to students only to hear domestic abuse and or child abuse in the background. We are letting out prisoners and bringing troops. Where is the balance?
Well said.
We are not Swedes.
8.47am I agree- definitely more like turnips.
Correct, the Swedes have a reputation for having greater social consideration and cohesiveness
Wish we were.
Their fish are terrible though
I am very quiet in the grocery store.
Shoulda bought a liquor store Bobo.
Do you not see how many people aren’t taking this seriously now? And the logistics involved in operating business are impossible, much less expecting the police to ensure everyone is taking precautions. It just won’t work.
What a idiot
Your last line answered your own question
Once things open up, I’m still not going to be spending anytime with anyone in public or privately, so my disposible income won’t be spent in any shops or restaurants for a very long time.
7.38am Why not move to the cave on the Bluff and become a hermit?.
Does the constitution not require all acts of government to be fair?
Are you asking us or telling us? If the former, then this is a dangerous and manipulative way of asking the question. If the latter, then say so in a declarative statement to avoid misinterpretation.
Yes.
No
It requires all acts to be lawful, rational, proportionate and procedurally fair.
🙄
I remember at the beginning of the curfew the Premier complaining about not being able to get a hair cut. Now after a few weeks both he and Minster Seymore still appear to be well groomed! Must be a special exception for a Cabinet barber. And we must not forget that although the beachs are closed cycling which I understand is at least one cabinet members form of exercise is still very much allowed. Thought we were trying to keep people off the roads?
“I understand” = rumour. “Still appear to me = It looks like it but I can’t be sure and also sidesteps completely the possibility that their wives are doing this with clippers at home (which, by the way, is happening quite a bit). Buyer beware.
I am they want to be careful and not have the Gestapo arrive on their doorstep.
Alden can’t get his hair cut at home. He gets the same treatment I do, from the same stylist. Both of us went the week before the lockdown. When Alden’s hair starts looking better than mine, I’ll be sure to let everybody know.
8.24pm and he has his coffee supplies delivered to the briefing, his office and the Cabinet, but this is by his rules as it does not have to be fair.
Two months into this and no mass testing….Come on Dr. Lee, I am starting to lose face isn you..
Just be honest with us and tell us what you need and what you don’t have and CIG needs to get for you.. We have 65,000 people here and in two months we have only been able to test 778 of them. It’s ridiculous, we have 200,000 test kits, let’s get more machines or allow the other hospitals to get on with it. At this rate we will never get back to any sense of normalcy..
I am so sick and tired of hearing excuses and every day coming in with these small quantities makes me furious..I want to hear we have 800 results tomorrow not 12. It’s just ridiculous..pathetic even!
Don’t lose face Facey McFaceter.
You can’t force people to get tested.
To be honest, I’m amazed at what has been achieved so far. This place is like a large village or small town. To have a lab or two that can handle testing is great for the size of the island. Yes, the numbers are small but they’ll increase soon
We punch above our weight. Quit being impatient.
Even if the Cayman Islands had more than the 5000 PCR sample extraction tools on hand (with more coming on BA next week), it would take 3.5 months of round-the-clock max capacity testing without break to test “everyone” to see “if they had it” at that moment. That testing would deliver a clinical snapshot, days later, of that person on that date and at that time, which would be a somewhat meaningless historical result unless it was also paired with an extended isolation for that tested person. We still wouldn’t be able to reopen to travel and visitors. PCR also doesn’t tell if you are developing immunity IgM or have already developed any IgG antibodies to COVID-19. The “miracle” finger-prick instant result test that people want to envision in their screenplay doesn’t yet exist, and neither does an approved vaccine (expected to be widely available by the end of 2021).
That’s why the planet is locked down. Get comfortable.
Don’t worry Alden. The people will sort this out. Lawsuits are in the works.
The wheels are falling off McLaughlin’s “unfair” government. Lawsuits are indeed in the works. Several of my competitors have already been deemed essential and somehow I am not, although identical products and services are provided.
His staff take days to answer their emails if at all.
At best, it is a shocking display of incompetence; at worst, a criminal act of cronyism.
The truth will come out.
Yes, lawsuits are in the works. I cannot wait for him to use the police to enforce his selective application of his new, made-up, undemocratic laws.
we are boiling frogs if we do not push back! i appreciate safety is key but McLaughlin could have controlled this without locking people in their homes! this is not a police state…not yet.
What a wonderfully cowardly, passive/aggressive anonymous little post that was! “The people” and “lawsuits” indeed! Wooo, scary!
Look at the pot calling the kettle black. What a circus this clown is running us through. I bet none of cabinet own shares in any pool companies, hence no exemptions. I’m tired of being run around like a fool while you guys sit there acting grand and not testing anyone and continuing to drive the cattle further into the pen- that’s exactly what happens here. No confidence in any of these men.
Isn’t there a pool company in the Hew family group of businesses?
Yes, and they have continued to service my pool regularly. They told me they have a letter.
Please tell us who it is they will be “swamped” with business but I need my pool serviced.
WHAT?! If this is true then CNS should bring it up next. Please get a copy of this letter.
Omg. That’s so unfair. What about the other companies and their employees. No way.
I don’t believe you. You are a shit stirrer. There are so many of those up in here.
If it smells like shit it’s probably shit. To be fair.
The governor thinks the premier & Jon-Jon are doing a fantastic job!
Very much doubt that but what else is he going to say in front of cameras. This isn’t days of our lives! Lots of hard discussions are probably going on behind close doors so that these men can show unity in front of the cameras.
In fact one of them has a beef with the owner of a pool company. I’ll let you guess which one.
7.11am Dead right, the pool guy stole his cow.
This pool cleaning argument is so OLD can we please just stop it.
No.
No because it represents the idiocy that is leading us
The idiocy is, making clean pools priority over lives!
No, because justice is more important than the Premier’s “fairness”.
Actually there is a cabinet member with a pool company. Do just a bit of research and you will find out!
What is the criteria being used to determine?
Is transparent to the public?
Or is it who you know?
Release the names and occupations?
8.17pm Listen to the press briefings , you might learn something.
All we learn from the press briefings;
1/ Premier – curfew in place for another two weeks + the usual statistical scare tactics
2/ Governor- thank you so much Alden you are a brilliant leader & civil servants are wonderful & working so hard
3/ Police Commissioner – the next civil liberty he fancies closing down ( makes policing so much easier if the plebs stay in their houses 24 hrs a day)
4/ Jon- Jon – words cannot express…………..
Muppet show. I tuned out weeks ago
8.32am Remember the Police Commissioner is acting on orders from Alden, a convenient way for the Premier to sidestep the blame for his increasingly dictatorial behaviour e.g closing the beaches.
I betcha many of the financial services industry CEO’s, Partners, and friends of those issuing the exemptions all have them!
FOI
4.34am Only if they are Caymanians.
Exactly! You hit the nail on the head. They can’t release the names of businesses that have been granted exemptions “because there are too many of them”. Anyone in CIG ever heard of the print function? No manual labor required. Just print and post on website for transparency. Or CNS is that information subject to FOI? We need transparency!
CNS: You could try making an FOI to the premier’s ministry. A warning from experience, these things can take a while.
It’s all about who HE knows.