New turn in political horsetrading
(CNS): Roy McTaggart, the new leader of the Progressives, issued a press statement Saturday afternoon claiming he had met with Wayne Panton to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government between the PPM-Alliance and the independents “who are still a part of his group”. McTaggart said negotiations were ongoing and he would say more when there was something to announce. But Panton doesn’t need to join forces with the full PPM-line up merely to secure the support of one or two of its current alliance to form a government of independents.
Panton committed publicly to forming a government of independents on Friday night, and sticking fast to that commitment. After Sabrina Turner’s meeting on Friday evening, Chris Saunders was recorded in conversation stating that invitations had been made to Progressive MPs elect Moses Kirkconnell and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly to enable representation of the Sister Islands in PACT.
Meanwhile, Isaac Rankine’s meeting in East End has been cancelled. Officials implied that this was due to security reasons, with activists across social media coordinating a significant presence to attend the meeting, despite newly elected MP’s desire to speak only to his constituents of East End. In a statement regarding the cancellation that Rankine posted on social media, he said it was cancelled due to safety concerns as a result of various social media posts inciting violence.
“It is rather unfortunate that efforts to inform the residents of East End of the ongoing developments cannot be realized. All East End residents can be assured that every effort will be made to arrange a meeting at a later date to ensure that the input of all East Enders are considered,” he said.
“However, if a meeting is not possible due to these ongoing threats, as the elected official for East End, I will inform all East End residents as soon as reasonably possible of any decisions made,” Rankine added but still did not explain why he had signed both the Panton PACT agreement and the PPM-Alliance deal.
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Category: 2021 General Elections, Elections, Politics
Wayne Panton – Ezzard for Speaker!! Ditch Alric, Kenneth and Jay!! They will taint and embarrass you!! Form a Government with 2-3 of Roy’s PPM – preferably their lightweights!!
Cayman People get a majority Indy Govt + relevant experience form other MPs and a great Speaker who know Parliamentary procedures better than anyone!!
DONE!!
Welcome to politics, Sabrina! Now you (and others who might have thought otherwise) know why leaders have been hawking this country to the money class. It is inducements other than Cabinet posts, as CNS says. They do not serve God’s people but mammon. We elect politicians, but we are governed, not by them, but their handlers. Introduce provisions for recall. It might help – just a little bit.
Expats, Dart, and new Status holders pooping themselves. True Caymanians about to take the country back. Independents!
Absolute Bollocks!
Everyone has their price.
True Caymanian
(I have a piece of paper that says “Right to be Caymanian”)
That would be nice, but I bet you are wrong. Caymanians have been selling out for the last 50 years. The last 20 years it has accelerated. Change now; Too little, too late. The die is cast.
But, I actually hope you are right and I am wrong. A Caymanian renaissance would be welcome.
A Caymanian Renaissance..
Similar to the one offered in Jamaica by Manley in the 1970s
Similar to the one offered in the Bahamas by Pindling in the 1970s/80s
Kinda like the ring of that idea….
Or did I read it wrong 2:13pm?
You should not generalize.there are many voting Status holders who voted for independents. It is simply not true that all status holders are pro POM or pro MacBeater. You would achieve more if you viewed us as potential allies than foes.
“True Caymanian” = statement of a basic racist.
Expats can get on a plane and go away along with the companies they work for. No tourism and no financial industry = no future for Cayman.
@ 9.41 Away ya slavering erse. ‘True’ Caymanians with names like Simpson, Thompson, McLaughlin, Gillespie….A hotpotch brought to the Caribbean by Scottish slave owners. Read a decent history book and find out where you are REALLY from.
Caymanian People and observers…one thing seems to escape the majority of protesters and others who have weighed in. The people of Prospect and East End spoke to elect their chose reps as MPs. Our Constitution does not give the electorate the opportunity/right to select a Government Cabinet!!
Why don’t many (most?) people understand that? Perhaps passions over sense? The MPs we elected have the duty to now SELECT the best Government for the PEOPLE that they believe they can. The People’s voice ended on April 14, up to the level of ELECTING MPs. Now, all the horse-trading, dealing, flip and flopping is allowed …if MPs feel it’s necessary to make the best Govt..
Wayne Panton’s proposed Cabinet, filled with alleged drug dealers, ex-drug dealers/crackheads, people who owe gobs of money around the island and newly-elected novices CANNOT be the BEST Government for the Cayman Islands.
The Constitution allows BIPARTISANSHIP, and IT SHOULD be utilized for the BEST interests of the People.
If Wayne Panton is too inexperienced, proud or easily led by others to fail to see, understand and implement that approach, then he doesn’t deserve to be Premier!!
Please, politicians, electorate and perhaps some “media” personnel – GET IT!!
As miuch as I detedt the
If you prefer the last four years of ruthless destroying of our country – both the nature and ethics:
(protecting/retaining a known woman-beater in office! Ignorantly re-electing him!!!!!!!!! Supporting a health minister that preaches 800 year old mythology; and other MP’s who ignore passed law. Yes I could go on for many more instances of how uneducated our electorate is…),
Well, that is the future of Cayman.
Yes, in our political system coalitions need to be made when no majority is elected. So we now have the stupid, dealing with the ignorant, paid off by the educated expat money who are readily accepted by the lazy who want the ‘deals.’
A perfect storm for how to lose control of paradise; sell it for hollow promises with a very dark backside that the ignorant are blind to see and realize.
Have you re-read your post 9:28 ? I’m reading a complete contradiction in terms 🤷🏻♀️
Attn.: Heather Bodden
Please go and form the Government with PPM. You would be a wonderful counselor in community affairs. You ran as an independent. That does not preclude you from forming the Government with PPM. It says you can and are allowed to think independently. I know you cannot approve of this style of politics that is playing out on our streets today. That is now how you operate or conduct yourselves. You did not have an issue with PPM until this time last year so you must have thought they were doing a good job and in the last year, save for the McKeeva issue, the Government did a stellar job. So what would stop you from forming with them?? You don’t have to like everything the PPM has ever done but I am sure you will agree you align better with them than the majority of the independents. So if Mac was the only issue, and Wayne is having to speak to Mac also, the Mac-consideration goes out the window.
Heather – please do this now rather than in a years time when that group of independents can’t get their ideas straight or flip-flop again.
And Heather you have integrity DO NOT form a government with Mac your people will never forgive you.
She honestly isn’t integral to anything. Those that voted her in are gonna know this first.
Anonymous 9:03 am; Mind your own effing business! Who do you think you are??? Have you been appointed to tell our representatives what to do or say? You can peddle your tricycle wherever you want. but leave other people alone!
If PACT have cut a deal with McKeeva … heroes to zeros in 24 hours.
Not necessarily, according to a Compass approval poll the PPM is significantly behind PACT for the choice to form a new Govt. It would be shrewd for Roy to accept PACT’s offer of the PPM having a voice in a PACT elected Govt foregoing any McBeater association. At the moment if PPM maintains its ego forcing PACTS hand they lose on the daily dbl. They’ll also become the party that could have prevented it. What’s really needed is someone with understanding and integrity to step away from the PPM
With all that is happening in this country, no wonder the young potential voters are so lacks in voting.
It is obvious that once elected, manifestos go out the window, and self-interest and greed prevail from the get-go.
MPs, fail not to remember, you were elected by the people who entrusted you to fulfill your promises from the get-go.
People first!!! Then let’s see that. Actions always speak louder than words.
Caymanians are hurting – economically, mentally, socially, and even spiritually.
People are fed up with how Cayman has been governed in the past few terms and people are at a breaking point.
For the love of God, please put your self-interest, greedy and egocentric minds together and form a government that will be for the benefit of all Caymanians first and foremost and then others.
If not, remember the future generations, which no doubt will include your families, will suffer the consequences of poor governance that these islands have now reached a breaking point of enduring.
Many civilizations in history were destroyed by greed, self-serving egos, and betrayal. This too can happen to Cayman. I am much afraid, if MPs fail to govern for the love of the country and all of its people, then these destructive human qualities which are obviously prevalent among our MPs will be the downfall of these precious little specs of the world that we call the Cayman Islands.
As a former PPM member, I want to speak directly to the elected members of the PPM.
I know that all of you are bound by duty to the party and I respect that but it is a party that now it is clear the people are no longer happy with, at least for now.
I know all of you and I know you are good people and want to do what is right for the country but what is happening right now is wrong. The country is divided and getting more every day.
I ask each of you to step up to the plate and do one of two things, either meet with Mr. Panton and flesh out some kind of deal to include some of you in the new cabinet. You can’t go to him with demands of being Premier and speaker etc. His mandate is to form a government to be led by the independents and they have chosen him as your leader just like you did with Kurt and Alden. You cannot try to usurp his leadership role as you will only fail in your attempts as the people will not stand for it.
Secondly, if you can’t do that, can I ask that at least one or two of you do what is right for the country and step away from your loyalty to the party and ask for a cabinet seat in the new government so that we can get our government back to work. Moses, I know you well and you are very diplomatic and inclusive and could make this work plus it would give Cayman Brac and Little Cayman a seat at the table. Roy, you have a good grasp on the Country’s finances. Forget about the premier position and ask for your job back. Having both of you back will show inclusivity and I think it is something that can be accepted by the majority of the people.
Please folks this is not going to end well if you as elected officials continue to try to force your power on the people. We need to employ cool heads now and think about what is best for the country and not the Party. The party can regroup and come back stronger for the next election. I have been there and I have seen you guys work but I need some or all of you to put party aside and become statesmen for the better interest of these beloved Cayman Islands.
Thanks for listening and I hope my words are met with the same sincerity that I have written by all of you.
Amen! They are the two worth keeping. Roy for the books and Moses with tourism (using a different approach)
You all should just try and remember that we are rule by England.if a person run and change there mind what is wrong with that you all tell your wife or husband lies.just stop trying to be like usa,jamaica and the rest of the world and just keep out of east end you all call us crazy mad and nobody.so miss sandra and all the rest just leave we alone. I grow up and live there friend fight friend or family but just don’t try and get in it or fight that person because we will defend and fiht for that person because that is who we are a true east stander and caymanian we are one.
It was your (EE) MP that said he wants to be Premier. Premier means Cayman Islands, not just EE
Moses looks really happy…lol.
I would like to see a message from PACT telling its supporters to back off their reported threats against Mr. Rankine’s attempt to hold a meeting in his constituency.
Violence is not part of Cayman’s political tradition and it is one of the things that caused many of us to not support Mr. Ormond Panton who wanted Cayman to remain part of Jamaica and to be controlled by Jamaican style politics.
WHAT THREATS?!!!!
ALL NOW THEY ARE YET TO SHOW ANY PROOF OF SAID THREATS.
It’s just lies at this point. Foolishness. Sabrina didn’t receive any threats. There was no violence at her meeting. So why would the people now want to threaten Mr Rankine?
People Power!!!!!!!! That’s what they are afraid of. They didn’t expect this one bit.
Mr Rankine is surrounded with PPM supporters from the inside out – including members of his own committee- that’s why he is under so much pressure!!!!!! What his committee wants isn’t what the PEOPLE OF EAST END NOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WANT!!!!!!! 🇰🇾
We the people have spoken! Take it or resign!!!
There was no violence at Sabrina’s meeting because she did what you all wanted…..out of fear. She even looked too afraid to talk properly. If she had ever said she thought it was in the best interest of the people to remain with PPM then what would have happened?
8:49: You totally missed the point. Do you remember what Tara did when she was offered the Ministry of Education? She ASKED all of Cayman (not just WB) for guidance. People from NS, GT, EE spoke up and said Yes! Take it. And there was peace. Sabrina won by saying she would always ask Prospect our opinion, and then turned around and took such a major decision without asking?! No. Things no longer go so. That is what this is about. Ask the people BEFORE decisions are made.
There has been no violence. The people are sick of being complicit so speaking out is now in your mind such an escalation to doing nothing, that you consider it violent?
The people have a right to speak. What you want is submissiveness and no accountability. You clearly didnt get the memo. We’re done with those.
7:24 pm, what violence do you see demonstrated. I have seen peaceful demonstrations so far!!
Mr Rankine, you campaigned on promises and allegiances. You were elected based on that. It is now time to honor your word. NO backtracking on your word – or that will be your legacy: A lier, coward and one who sells out his constituent for, well, good question. What exactly were you promised Mr. Rankine?
Does anyone have a list of probable PACT Cabinet positions if they manage to cut a deal with MAC? I have heard lots of conflicting rumors but nothing concrete.
You will know when they know!
What Roy needs to do is offer that everybody that joins his Alliance can be Co-Deputy Premier and have a Cabinet position. That extra money and prestige would cause most of the ‘ItDepends-ants’ scampering to his side.
Mockery! Tina Turner and Super Mario are political clowns. How can Cayman allow this foolishness? This should be against the law. Deceptive fockery!
Not one of these elected people or their hangers-on is interested in ensuring that the best qualified people serve in each elected role in government. This is all about egos and wallets and nothing else.
I am rapidly losing any sense that any of these polytricks people have anybody’s interests at heart other than their own. As soon as any of them get elected no matter whether they are PPM or PACT or anything else it is me me and mine.
Roy or Julie should join new IND govt, better yet Julie should join to complete record of being in every govt ‘party/coalition’ and Brac & LC would be good to have a rep otherwise having Roy with Wayne & Saunders for Financial Services & Finance would be good start
Wayne has confirmed in an email sent this afternoon to his supporters that he had a short meeting with Roy
PPM should form the government with McKeewa as Speaker on the condition that McKeewa steps down as Speaker as soon as 2 PACT women cross the aisle to become Alliance members.
‘Panton doesn’t need to join forces with the full PPM-line up merely to secure the support of one or two of its current alliance to form a government of independents.’
Also true:
McTaggart doesn’t need to join forces with the full PACT line up merely to secure the support of one or two of its current alliance to form a coalition government.
Roy’s statements are just manipulation. Don’t believe anything anymore until it actually happens. If Wayne says he’s talking to Roy then Roy is talking to Wayne. Otherwise nothing has changed.
Wayne and Roy are both politicians who want power – everything they say at this stage is manipulative even if true.
From the two press releases it seems like Wayne and Roy were talking, but neither of them was listening.
There are a lot of egos and patronage debts on both sides that will make a coalition difficult – even though it is undoubtedly the best thing for Cayman
If anyone is wondering why PPM simply will not accept the hard reality, they owe the big interests too much; same as the mafia: pay up or else …
Please – the election is over and that false narrative is getting old. There is as much fact in your statement as there would be in a suggestion that Putin secretly manipulated the Cayman election to give Wayne a result.
It was actually the Chinese and North Koreans doing the manipulation. Everyone knows this.
If you think that is a false narrative, go speak to Al’T. He is worried sick right now.
This is what the people voted for
If we took the best of the PPM and the best of the PACT we could end up with a half decent government – but that would leave a bunch of mini-McKeewas on the sidelines.
If they’re on the sidelines, that’s a good place for ‘em. They can look and learn.
A coalition would probably offer the best hope for having a Cabinet that does not include convicted felons.
Only two worth keeping from PPM are Roy for the numbers and Moses for tourism – Alden can keep the rest.
The only two people worth keeping from the PACT are Wayne and —— give me a few minutes to get back to you.
The only people fit to govern in my opinion:
Wayne Panton
Roy McTaggart
Andre Ebanks
I don’t really have an issue with Heather Bodden or Chris Saunders, who have both spent time in the LA previously.
At least Bernie has shown us he has a spine.
Might as well give Katherine a chance.
Kenneth is a convicted criminal but at least he seems to care for and stay connected with his people.
But the rest of them. NO SAH!
JuJu and John John need to go back to Sunday school.
Isaac and Sabrina are clearly sellouts.
Jay just seems like a straight up idiot after watching the Chamber debates.
Joey and Alden are owned by lodge.
David and Barbara are the biggest waste of space in the LA.
All Moses cares about are his and his family’s business interests.
And let’s not forget the woman beater himself.
It is quite concerning that this is the group of 19 we got. How many of them have university degrees? How many even graduated high school? How do we have convicted criminals in the mix?
We need a national election as well as a more extensive set of qualifications a candidate must possess in order to be eligible to run.
The ones with the degrees would have been terrific. Sammy, Johann, Mario, but they were against the most powerful
Perfect summation. Thank you.
The Governor and the FCO really need to undertake a formal investigation into all these supposed offers of cash etc being made to certain MPs to switch sides by ‘big business’. This is not democracy… it is corruption.
Right – I doubt that the Governor and the FCO are interested in unsubstantiated rubbish published by anonymous sources on social media.
Was
Jump ship Roy!
The best reason to “jump ship” would be to save Cayman from Chris Saunders belief that he can be a minister of finance.
Moses should go to save us from Kenneth Bryan as minister of tourism.
Big thanks to the High Ranking, Rankine and the head Turner. Big greedy mess up
Wow! Game of chess will be over with this move as it will neutralize the gamesmanship of the independents. Panton can’t trust any of them so go with PPM and Independents will soil their pants.. Next move over to you.
We all know Joo Joo has no loyalty and will skip to whomever can offer her a ministry…
Don’t blame her for that either hope she accepts a seat and leave Alden right there wish Joy would too
true dat – but do not underestimate the greed of Mo$e$, who will financially suffer if he is in the opposition party.
If Joo Joo or Moses truly care about Brac/Little Cayman-they have been offered a spot by Premier-designate and would be fool if they don’t accept it.
If keeping the political label of PPM is more important than that, well the 2,000 of so of us who live over here will suffer because of your personal pride.
I noticed that not one person associated with PPM is criticising the qualifications or character of Wayne Panton. Hence, no matter what government is formed he should be Premier – sorry Roy, but Wayne he just as much or more qualified to lead the country in a non-partisan political manner.
You think that Moses needs the government to make a living? I think you mush have confused him with several of the other MPs. He was born a millionaire and has increased the family fortune significantly.
We know just how he did it too..
Then I wish he would look out for the interest of others that are not a part of his interest group or connected to him or his family.
Self-interest and greed rampant.
The PPM and their supporters spent the entire campaign smearing the Independents as inexperienced and unreliable and now Roy is trying to form a coalition with them to preserve power as usual
The PPM are desperate and know they have no choice but to do whatever it takes to stay in government so that they can maintain the commitments they’ve made behind closed doors to their financial backers and business interests
I for one can’t wait to see the candidate expense reports that should be released in a few weeks to see how much money they blew this cycle
I hope that Wayne and Chris know better than to get in bed with those charlatans
Desperate and charlatan is perhaps more applicable to those calling meetings with McKeewa and his handlers last Friday in a bid to get power at all costs.
so you think Wayne got to McKeeva before Alden? Alden talked to Mac the very night he got elected..Wayne wasn’t that quick. Alden will sell his soul for power and if that means sucking it up with McKeeva again, don’t worry, he will.
Cayman needs Roy AND Wayne… and Alden and Andre. These guys need to shake hands and do what is best for Cayman!
Roy can jump ship, but screw the rest of them
And Mr Moses and Mr Hew and Ms Barbara and Ms Heather and Ms Julie and Mr Wight ….
Agreed 4.27 and anything anyone can do to make sure Mac is kept completely out of everything.
Wayne can jump ship but leave the rest of them.
Every last PPM member can bun.
Is it only about finances? Surely not. Yes finances and financial services need to be looked after but what’s it worth if education, housing, planning and the environment are left untouched. Please, we also need MPs who are people and community minded.