Miller offers thanks to CPR for port campaign

| 20/04/2020 | 16 Comments
MLA Ezzard Miller on a panel at a Cruise Port Referendum meeting

(CNS): North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, a long time opponent of government’s proposed cruise berthing project, offered his thanks to the members of the Cruise Port Referendum group and their successful campaign, which has now seen the current administration completely shelve the project in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller said the deferral will enable a future government to properly reconsider the project and engage the public.

“On behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands, I offer my warmest congratulations to all members of the CPR group on their achievements so far towards the goal of overturning the current cruise port project,” Miller said as he expressed his gratitude to them for all their hard work and dedication.

He said the need for this cruise port proposal had never been demonstrated, and that the total negative effects on the islands’ pristine environment were still unknown.

“It is my earnest hope that this latest development will lead to the ultimate rejection of the project as currently proposed,” Miller said, adding that any future solution had to be environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Miller said that the CPR group’s unwavering efforts had not just bought time for a better idea regarding the future of the cruise sector here and the environment, but also demonstrated the importance of people power. The success of the campaign showed what an empowered and galvanized community can achieve.

“This is what true participatory democracy is about,” he said, adding that this was the mission of the new political party he is working to establish. Public involvement in decision making will be at the heart of the Cayman Islands People’s Party he said.

Given the situation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis, Miller said the work of the CPR was even more significant.

“I shudder to imagine that, were it not for the interventions of the CPR group, the government would have signed the contract and the people of the Cayman Islands would have been saddled with an additional economic burden and other consequences of a stalled construction project at these difficult times,” he said, noting that if the timeline had not been derailed, the work could have started before the lockdown.

George Town Harbour would have been “in a real mess and would remain so for a long time, given all the current local and international conditions over which we have no control”.

Miller welcomed the ruling by Justice Tim Owen QC, which found that government needs to establish a framework law for referendums initiated by a people’s petition, and said that this was another important gain from the work of the CPR group.

Encouraging them to stay active and continue their work to protect the interests of these islands, he said he looked forward to working with them in future.

Meanwhile, despite his political differences with the current administration, Miller offered his continued support for its policy regarding the management of the coronavirus pandemic and the ‘shelter in place’ arrangements. He encouraged everyone to take the virus seriously and to continue to protect loved ones, friends and ourselves.

“I appeal to everyone to stay home. If you must go out, please do wear a mask and remain within the bounds of safe social distance. I do understand that as social beings we may be anxious to get together with friends and family, but let us stay the course — this too shall pass,” he added.


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Category: Politics

Comments (16)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I wish Ezzard was sitting in Jon Jon’s seat at the press briefings.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Thanks to the National Trust too

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  3. Anonymous says:

    12:51: Miller has always agonized and fought “ill-conceived oppression” of the people. I fail to see what your point is.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    For those still interested in the cruise industry the following article in this weekend’s Guardian newspaper: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/apr/19/is-the-cruise-industry-finally-out-of-its-depth
    Of particular interest is the reference to the future of Venice: The issue is not just about the filth and damage that ships emit into Venetian air and water, but of the superficial interaction that cruise ships generate between passengers and their host city. Eleonora Sovrani, of the local campaign group We Are Here Venice, argues that the cruises’ “guests” – on their brief visits, following itineraries proposed by the ships, visiting outlets suggested by them – never leave the cruise “bubble”. The city is forced “to change its aspect to answer expectations of the cruise companies,” she says, in what is a form of “cultural appropriation”…………and then the million dollar question …….What can Venice do to change this? It appears that among the complications in finding a solution is the fact that Carnival, Royal Caribbean and other big cruise companies are shareholders of the company that owns Venice’s maritime port.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That would have been us if the cruise ship port contract had been signed. Shame on you Moses, Alden and PPM for pushing so hard to make this happen. Thanking God daily it did not .

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    • Anonymous says:

      Again!!!!! they refer to their bible of all information from the UK Guardian the provider of all references. All references and facts seem to come from the Guardian and the British expat readers living in Cayman and who believe everything that the fake news press write to attract readers.

  5. George Towner says:

    Rather, it was God that overturned the current cruise port project ~ not the people! The Corona virus did it. If it wasn’t for this virus locking down our borders, I am sure the government would have still went ahead. So I believe Opposition should be very thankful to God that from something bad, the good always comes out of it. 🙂 peace & love

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    • Anonymous says:

      Aldart and Mo$e$ led disaster averted – will be interesting to see if the naysayers vote them out next year – but am sure they both will come up with something other than Covid-19 relief to spend money on.

      And hey CNS, whatever happened to the Verdant Isle people?

      Peace, love and prayers

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  6. Anonymous says:

    “Miller said the deferral will enable a future government to properly reconsider the project and engage the public.”

    Interesting

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Does Ezzard realize the Cruise Port Referendum is not the subject of the ongoing Cabinet appeal of the judicial review? It’s a quantum more important and unsettling than that.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    I think even Alden himself is happy that this turned out the way it did..It would have been a sure loss for the remnants of the PPM in the next election…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Alden is happy,I’m sure, himself his legacy is not the debt this project would have been to this country if a contract had been signed. God was certainly smiling on these beloved Islands when this did not happen. Thank you CPR.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    God is good!!!

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard, man you finally wake up. Hope you and the family are safe and all in good health.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    The tide has turned Ezzard, there is no longer support for the ill-conceived oppression of the people. If you want any votes, you’d better figure that out pretty quickly.

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