PPM refuses to concede power

| 15/04/2021 | 150 Comments
Finance Minister Roy McTaggart at Wednesday press briefing

(CNS): The Progressives have issued a press statement in which they challenge Wayne Panton’s claim to have formed a majority government and refuse to concede election victory to the independents. In a short statement issued by the party leader, Roy McTaggart, the Progressives claim that they had “arrangements” with Jay Ebanks and Isaac Rankine before the elections and have now offered Cabinet seats to Rankine and Sabrina Turner. The PPM statement claimed that since voters had re-elected front bench MPs, the country had therefore voted for continuity of government.

“It is my belief, and remains my belief, that by re-electing all of the current Ministers, along with two of our Parliamentary Secretaries that the country has voted for continuity of Government,” McTaggart stated.

The effort to undermine Panton’s quick and decisive action to form an independent government last night and this morning was based on claims that the Progressives were “still in discussions with several of the independents or their agents”, and implied that Panton had met with the governor and provided him with a letter signed overnight by ten independent members prematurely.

“We hope these discussions will bear fruit and produce an experienced and competent government capable of continuing to manage the complex issues confronting these Islands. We will make a further announcement as soon as there are other developments,” the release stated.

The situation reflects yet again the problems created in local politics with the absence of policy based parties. Even the PPM-Alliance is not a party but simply a way of retaining power through negotiated individual benefit. McLaughlin’s broad endorsements and sweeping invitations to all those that might enable him to prop up his front bench illustrated the absence of any true ideological platform.

On the other hand, the majority of the independents had been able to agree on specific policies, which was how Panton was able to pull the People driven, Accountable, Competent and Transparent (PACT) government together so quickly and present to the governor the ten signatures required to show he had a majority support of those elected Wednesday.

At this point the PPM’s refusal to concede will only become material if any of the ten independents who signed up for PACT officially withdraw that support. In the meantime, Panton remains premier designate.

See the full PPM statement in the CNS Library.


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Category: 2021 General Elections, Elections, Politics

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I’ve left Prospect now due to Austin Harris not even knowing where it is and the neglect it suffered, but please Sabrina don’t let Prospect down. All the talk at the monthly community meetings, actually turn it in reality. Good luck Prospect, I hope you get what you deserve. #MarinaDriveSpeedBumps

    Ps – messaged the NRA 8 times and not one response about the drains on Rosemary Street being tarmacked over, please but them back before rainy season you buffoons!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    PPM stop mucking about, your credibility will be higher if you accept defeat and spend the next four years building a credible party. Bring in some new young blood mixed with some of your experienced guys and target all ages of the electorate. Surely you can get 19 people to sit for each seat available and then we won’t have all this tossing about trying to form coalition governments. Alden and Roy would make fantastic mentors for younger folk with political aspirations. Inspire the younger folk to want to get involved, it should be an honour to run our Country.

    Implement some 21st century manifesto ideas – cannabis for one, tax/duty it make some money for the Country reinvest it in infrastructure. Technology- cell coverage and wifi is garbage. CUC give them the ability to turn your power on when you go in person and apply rather than having to take your application form back outside with you and post through their own letterbox. It’s like Bridlington in the 1980s here. Sort the traffic out before just granting building permits and building these crappy ikea box developments everywhere.

  3. The Cayman political Synopsis & crisis says:

    A couple of months ago I saw Issac Rankine at the Cimboco restaurant at the Marquee Plaza on west Bay Road having breakfast with Roy’s agent provocateur who went around the previous election deceiving people and pretending he doesn’t support Roy yet turn up as his station Agent at that time this individual who is not a Caymanian but Infact hail from a location where political violence has shaped their country and its politics for decades till today This persons family members have even been involved allegedly in arming political gunmen to commit violence in that jurisdiction This election the very same individual was out and about doing much the same hanging out at a plaza on Smith Road easy dropping on candidates at a certain political hot spot or hangout I say this because I am not surprised at all of Mr Rankine’s indecisiveness and deception or behaviour also taking into account his business partners and their affiliation to this Ppm and certain party members. This not about the people of East End This is about Issac Rankine and friends and the money he stands to gain before and after he becomes a minister of Government. In regards to the other candidate Mrs Turner knowing the vitriol and tactics use by her ppm Alliance opponent during election frankly I am a bit surprised at her actions but what I am not surprised about at is some who have sponsored and funded her and the greedy and two faced very prejudice individuals who run around here with their noses turn up to the common people who simply believed their Shit simply does not stink! Who failed attempts to control and play both sides of the political fence and control political of parties and candidates has led to the same Roy Mctaggart mediocre rise to power, who’s business interest and lifestyles is all about them and their own kind whilst deceiving people that they do so much for Cayman and Caymanians yet their business are fill to the brim with foreign workers!. Their love hate relationship with the ppm is tempered only by what they can get from them and this year it has been quite rewarding with deceased family members immortalized and they recognized for their so called charitable contribution to themselves. Poor you Mrs Turner must be terrible when you find out you are just a puppet on a string and merely still a political employee with a huge political debt that has to repaid with loyalty. Please remember though we the people of Prospect elected you and not them!

    • Anonymous says:

      Wonderfully said with words that spell out the rot. Puppet masters and puppeteers running amock.
      Cayman is overtaken by special ineterests and PPM is easy fodder for these gunslingers from the ‘developed’world. Poor Sabrina, Isaac, J ebanks, Andre etc – feel sorry for you to wake up on 15th April and realise how deep this rabbit hole is.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Don’t write Big Macca off yet, he’s lurking somewhere in the background. He’s formed a new group – The Woman Attacker Team or TW@T for short.

    • Anonymous says:

      McKeeva coming back as Premier or Speaker again. The God of West Bay will arise again.

      Can never be beaten. Invincible and unbeatable.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I’ve lost all respect for Roy Bacon McTaggart. Not my Premier!

    • Anonymous says:

      Even if he was, it would still be Alden just as it is Obama in the US.

      • Anonymous says:

        HUH? Obama has nothing to do with the current administration in the US. But Alden already said he will be as close to Roy as possible if he is premier.

    • Anonymous says:

      Except he WILL be your Premier (if the coalition holds), whether you like it or not. And it is his rules regarding opening up, quarantine, etc, that you will be required to follow, like it or not.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I bet them EE and NS will they had Arden and Ezzard now when they wake up to this news

  7. Anonymous says:

    This bloke thought he was a shoe-in.
    I am so glad that he won’t be Alden’s proxy for the next few years.
    These people are so drunk with power, it is shocking.
    Whatever happened to the “servant” in civil servant?

  8. Anonymous says:

    Power at any cost = PPM

    • Hubert says:

      Developers rule with the PPM and damn the environment.

      Developers will not give up their power so they are fully behind Roy, Alden and Joey.

      He who pays the piper calls the tune.

      You are seeing raw power at any cost underway. Sad for the future of the Cayman Islands.

  9. Get Real says:

    Is this a Donald Trump’s mentality, Let’s get with it for the love of God!

    • Anonymous says:

      This has absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump. Stop projecting your shit into places it does not belong.
      Trump is Trump, love him hate him or indifferent. I am indifferent. You obviously suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome.
      FFS, walk away.

      • Anonymous says:

        Just another case of the PPM contesting the wish of Caymanians…like the port and Trump contesting the elections.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Eight years Alden to sort out the dump, eight years … and you finally addressed it two months before an election. Pathetic.
    And Roy … you sold out, four years ago you said you wanted to be independent, but what did you do …you jumped into bed with the PPM. And when Cayman needed your financial guidance and prudence, you wanted to push ahead with the port project which would have bankrupted the nation. How can we trust you?

  11. 345 To Da Worl says:

    i think u all dont follow day to day moments and just follow what others post. When alden was at isaac yard, following that isaac stated that he will work with any government because he wants to have a power in government and not sit down on the opposition like the past MP who sat for years and could not get anything done.

    Northside and East End winners both stated before elections they are open to working with whoever the country elect.

    Can someone tell me what is wrong if they choose a side u dont like and form a government.

    Also on another not can u tell me what the past government or ppm led government has done that make them a bad government??

    Last time i check Cayman Islands has been managing pandemics and day to day operations in full effect !!

    and before u all try it……i was never a ppm supporter and still not but respect due so respect should be given

    • Anonymous says:

      True. Who knows what Wayne Panton’s PACT will do to our country. He is already talking about opening up our borders. At least with PPM we know them a bit.THIS ISLAND IS COVID FREE BECAUSE OF THEM. They have been tested. I think we would be taking a risk accepting a Panton/Saunders’s government.

  12. Anonymous says:

    This is all very Trumpish. IF PACT live up to their values the future is bright. I hope they get in and follow through. If nothing else this election has shown that the people is woke. Hopefully less likely to be so complacent or be “bought” any more. Now can we separate church and state? 😁

    • Anonymous says:

      You are naive if you think the PACT group can’t be bought. Other than Wayne, none of the group has ever had money. They are a bunch of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Just wait and see what happens when they get access to our $800M/yr budget.

      • Anonymous says:

        We know that they can’t be bought because they haven’t been bought. If they could be bought they would be standing with the PPM right now. You are just recklessly speculating.

        • Anonymous says:

          Apparently a couple of them have been bought now and Wayne & Chris have been sold.

          I just hope we can keep voting some more of the dinosaurs out over time.

          McKeeva can go next time and hopefully a few of the other permanent politicians.

          I don’t know what everyone is worked up about. The parties don’t mean anything here and we always end up with the same SH!T just in a different Pile or maybe PACT…

      • Anonymous says:

        Well is better hoping they won’t be bought than knowing the other party is already bought, and who bought them.

      • Anonymous says:

        You are not talking about Andre – stop telling lies.

  13. Anonymous says:

    We elected candidates to represent us, not themselves. Whoever signed the PACT agreement and then reneges has no honour and should not be allowed to be sworn in. If they can’t be trusted at the start, they can’t be trusted at all.
    Please, don’t waste our time and money on your self-interests, that’s not why we elected you.
    Honour the commitment you made or resign. It’s the right thing to do.
    Right is better than might.

  14. Anonymous says:

    After Alden’s shameful behaviour with respect to the referendum and his failure to condemn McKeeva Bush’s criminal behaviour, it is very clear that democracy is not safe in the hands of the PPM/Progressives. Panton and the independents deserve their opportunity and more importantly, Cayman deserves an an independent government.

    • Anonymous says:

      I would have no respect for any party associated with him. We need to be demanding better standards and behavior by elected representatives.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Turncoat C4C “Independent” Roy, now leader of his vilified party, seeking to greedily feather his own retirement nest, dares to lecture us on pre-game etiquette, and the sanctity of personal integrity…puhlease.

  16. Anonymous says:

    You dissolve the gov’t out of cowardice to avoid dealing with a dire situation and it is your belief that because you were voted back in, “the country has voted for continuity of Government”.
    How absurd and delusional is this?
    So you will hold the country hostage? Take it by force? Clearly this is not the will of the people and though voters in a select few constituencies are mind-bogglingly asinine, others are desperate for change. You are not wanted by “the country”, go to the back bench!

  17. Happy says:

    The interesting observation on the drama we now see before us is; the PPM campaigned on having a direction and a mandate all ready to be rolled out once they were re-elected, and that it was a waste of time to vote for independents who did not have a plan and that it would take forever and a day to form a government. It seems that is now the opposite of what we are seeing. The independents have managed in one day (to form a government body) and the PPM are left struggling to get themselves together. Not very impressive is it. They should have looked across to their Caribbean neighbors elections for the past months and noted that Government’s were being toppled everywhere and should have had all of their plans (a. And plan b.) in place before they decided to desolate the government and call an early election. But that is the PPM way ALWAYS a government of re-action.

  18. Cayman Sanction says:

    Any member who takes their contractors Dirty money for aligning themselves with them needs his name submitted to the UK Transparency international website and the international corruption unit Cayman do not waste your time here Cayman with this governor nor this ombudsman office go online and submit their names and current position and political office in this overseas Territory that should get the ball rolling and highlight the inaction of our so called law enforcement arm we paying so much for here.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Alden and Roy: If you cannot produce a letter or show that the letter signed by the ten Pantonites is a forgery, then you are beat. Suck it up and move on – to the opposition benches! In law (not that we need to go that far) you cannot add to, vary or contradict a written document. Does’nt the former lawyer Alden understand that?

    • Anonymous says:

      FYI that so called contract is not worth the paper it is written on. Why? Because the appointment of the Premier does not happen until Wednesday when a secret ballot will be held to determine the wishes of the members. If a member other than Mr Panton receives at least 10 votes then that member will be appointed Premiér and not Panton.

    • North Side voter says:

      Did you mean to write that a contract can’t be varied? It certainly can if all parties agree to the changes. The PACT document isn’t a contract though, it’s a letter. Letters are varied all the time.

      • Anonymous says:

        Sure, draft form letters and contracts can evolve, up until the point where the content has been agreed, signature attesting agreement applied, sealing of envelope, and hand delivery to the overseeing recipient. I’ve never heard of anyone asking for their letter back to make significant new alterations to affirmations signed off in the previous pledge. Try that in real life and see what happens.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Need that recall option, then maybe we could send few MPs back home in less than one month!

    PPM you’re not the majority plain and simple, humble yourselves and be out servants as you claimed you wanted to do.

  21. Anonymous says:

    An expressed willingness to work with whoever later forms a govt is not a blood pact with the PPM. They are truly delusional thugs. Publish the deals Roy!

  22. Anonymous says:

    direct rule please.

    • Anonymous says:

      The governor may have to force the issue ie. take the helm if the PPM don’t capitulate and we find ourselves rudderless. Alden and his kindergarten buddies need to grow up and concede, it’s clear that the people do not want continuity of XXXX that’s why so many Independents were elected. The Independents have it and the PPM are the opposition plain and simple.

    • Anonymous says:

      Direct rule is the only answer. We are children who have still not grown up.

  23. Anonymous says:

    8:26 – Get a grip of yourself. Remember Wayne, Heather and Ozzie is a Party. So select your words wisely.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Congrats to Jay and Isaac for not jumping on the PPM bandwagon. It shows that the PPM didn’t have a strangle hold over you.

    Alden you are willing to sell cabinet seats to hold on to power. Whish of you was planning to give up your seats to let Iaaac and Sabrina get those seats..You all are full of shit and will do anything to hold on to power. Cabinet seats are also given to keep the collective responsibility going and the only how to go against something that you know is wrong is to give up that seat. Don’t sell your sold guys!

    Alden and PPM give it up and take a seat on the other side of the house.

    It is so good to see some of these young Caymanians getting the opportunity to make a difference and not set up for failure with the PPM gang…Remember pompous Austin..Forgot about his people and today he is in mothballs because of Alden.

  25. Anonymous says:

    I would guess that Big Mac is rubbing his hands together with glee, and working his contacts feverishly, at the chance to be king-maker once again.

    He only needs to convince one person to defect from PACT, and a Ministerial post might prove hard to turn down, and then it becomes PPM Alliance 9, PACT 9, and Big Mac’s one vote decides the government.

    I truly hope that whatever group that gets sworn in as a majority serves the entire four years, and serves the country to the best of their ability, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of different governing formations over the next four years.

    • Anonymous says:

      Well look at it this way, EE and NS voted out two MP’s who opposed the PPM which to me indicates that they support Alden and his party. Just saying so if Issac and/or Jay joins the Progressives then it shouldn’t be an issue. Idk

      • Disagree with you says:

        To 10:41pm They voted them out because they wanted younger representatives with fresh ideas. If, in addition, they are part of a clean new government, why would EE and NS want their MPs in bed with the group that has held them from growing over 8 or more years?

        • I'll See You Anon says:

          Because NS and EE abandoned their ‘opposition until death’ representatives and have voted for candidates that will get the government dollar spend for their constituencies from the government they have pledged to align themselves with- whatever that government may be at the end of the day (Wednesday?)

      • Anonymous says:

        North Side’s national hero was a PPM founding member.

        • Anonymous says:

          And she would appalled at what her party has become. So many people have left. It’s less of a political party and more of an Alden/Kurt personality cult.

  26. True colours showing already!! says:

    Jay Ebanks sat in people’s yards and claimed that he was not aligned with PPM. He stated that he does not know why Alden was endorsing him because he had no intentions of joining PPM. Well, low and behold… it didn’t take long for his true colors to show. What a disappointment he will be if he backtracks.

    • Anonymous says:

      His true colours to show? Based on what? Roy McTaggart saying that he had some unspecified arrangement and then no longer offering him a cabinet seat? You make no sense.

      • Anon says:

        The point of the comment above is that Jay is now in talks with PPM. There should not even be a need to negotiate with PPM if he claimed to not have any intentions whatsoever in aligning or joining PPM. Yet, it seems he is considering by meeting with them tonight. That’s hypocritical. So, yes, his true colours are showing already!!!

    • I'll See You Anon says:

      No, he said he would ‘work with government’- whatever that government turns out to be

  27. Anonymous says:

    Signed the letter…saw how disgustingly deluded and incompetent you are…chenged my mind…too bad Roy so sad.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Well there we go Roy….you no longer have even a glimmer of integrity….one accountant to another….it’s time for some rehab buddy.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Here’s what I read…..”oink oink…no severance…oink oink…give me ministerial power…oink..oink”

  30. Ra says:

    They must be punished with banishment to the back benches
    forever. AMEN The people have shouted!

    • Anonymous says:

      But we haven’t really shouted as much as murmured….now the majority of the Caymanian people have shouted they support the beatng of young women..either directly or through our silence…

  31. Anonymous says:

    If the PACT believed in transparency they would let us see the clawing at the trough as each tries to secure a deal with the biggest paycheck.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Any independent that signed that letter and now backs out admits they are for sale.

    • Anonymous says:

      You new or wha? Its politricks Cayman style. The ‘independents’ that cut a deal for a Ministerial or Councillors salary with the PACT that they would not get without experience as part of the PPM Alliance were always for sale. Each went to the highest bidder. Do you actually believe that they are fundamentally different than the politicians in the PPM?

    • Anonymous says:

      Or saw an opportunity where they could do more for their people or the country.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sold out. We are the Caymanians who owned the land and we sold it out.. Now it’s PPM fault that the land is being sold left and right by us.

  33. Anonymous says:

    Having 8 former Ministers including 3 former premiers ( Bush Julie Alden) and 2 former speakers (Bush Julie) will translate into the most powerful opposition in our history.

  34. Anonymous says:

    amazing!!! corrupt to the end! “the Progressives claim that they had “arrangements” with Jay Ebanks and Isaac Rankine.”

    Are these arrangements allowed and did the voters know they were really voting for the PPM if this is the case.

  35. This may not age well... says:

    “On the other hand, the majority of the independents had been able to agree on specific policies, which was how Panton was able to pull the People driven, Accountable, Competent and Transparent (PACT) government together so quickly and present to the governor the ten signatures required to show he had a majority support of those elected Wednesday.”

    This “coalition of the willing” is not written in stone. We have a long history of horse trading here. While I’m impressed with what is a legitimately impressive power play by Mr. Panton, looking at the coalition it would not surprise me if it broke down even before the weekend.

    The Progressives will look to hold onto power and a couple of Independents may still be convinced to side with the Progressives.

    I’m waiting for a fat lady to sing and that may not happen for a while.

  36. Sick of PPM says:

    🙄 For crying out loud. You had since 2008 to change things for the better and you sold us out instead. Shut up and sit on the side we put you all with our votes yesterday.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Yes, PPM give us Caymanians a break and take the backbench.

  38. Anonymous says:

    Isaac Rankine what happened to your values and the East End bond of “Your word in your bond”?

    We vote you in and we look forward on voting you out. 4 years isn’t long.

  39. Anonymous says:

    Poor Alden. He must be drowning his sorrows at Southcoast right now.

  40. Anonymous says:

    Lookya! You are now opposition, face it. Do your work and do it well; hold our Ministers accountable and come up with ways to REALLY help the common people. Independents, ignore this siren song. No more selling us out. Get WORC up and running; overhaul the healthcare law, revise that pathetic minimum wage. Call us, and on us, who voted you in. We are ready to work with you.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah…they’re gonna do their work well now…in power it was all about their bank accounts….this is kind of cool…they effectively lost control but don’t get the severance….oink oink

  41. Anonymous says:

    Premier Alden please take control as these people do not know how to run a country like you & John John!
    Get those donkeys saddled up boys!

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes the fuhrer is the only one who can lead us! Only the party can be allowed to hold power!

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes please Alden, please use all your weasely ways to get what you want, just like your gerrymandering of the referendum.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Well, let them vote. Then we will see. Aldens group got a whopping 25% of the votes so it’s a little hard to claim a mandate at this point.

  43. Anonymous says:

    The PPM, the Pant Pissing Muppets.

  44. Anonymous says:

    You are now opposition. Do your work and do it well. Hold our Ministers accountable; come up with ways to REALLY help people. Independents, ignore this siren song. No more selling us out! Independents, please get WORC up and running; overhaul the healthcare law, revise that pathetic minimum wage. Call us and on us who voted you in. We are ready to work with you.

  45. Anonymous says:

    Shows their true colours. PPM will not give up power and will do anything to retain their seats.

    Independents, stick together.

  46. Anonomous says:

    Yes all the PPM need to and Mckeeva need to be back bench. CONGRATS WAYNE PANTON

  47. BeaumontZodecloun says:

    Give it up, guys and gals. You have been bested. You have free reign to try again in a few years. This one belongs to the perseverant and the new hope.

  48. Anonymous says:

    I hope the independents thinking of any double dealing read these comments and realise most people are fed up with the recent government and the cronyism.

  49. Anonymous says:

    Exactly, the PPM is never a party in power in the first place. And Roy? He’ll flip and flop to anyone who’ll give him a title.

    Oh, poor old Alden..completely outmanouevered again.

    An inexperienced Govt? Better than an overtly corrupt one

  50. Anonymous says:

    Go find your seats on the backbench!!! We want an uncorrupted government who cares about working class Caymanians.

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