PPM refuses to concede power
(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.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: 2021 General Elections, Elections, Politics
At a time when the Cayman Islands has some big decisions to make within the next few weeks and months, this infighting among the political candidates is not a good thing. Right now the country needs real leadership, no matter where it comes from. Lots of businesses are hoping that whichever group of persons forms the next government the issue of reopening our borders to visitors is the number one issue. The other issue is our financial services which are about to be blacklisted. Yes, the issue of unemployment is a factor, but if there are not financial services and no tourism sector, what next? The populist uprising that is taking place or has taken place calling for the removal of the PPM and replacing it with a bunch of well meaning independents is similar to the MAGA crowd that backed Trump in 2016. We need a mix of experience and youth. A coalition of experienced PPM representatives and youth who can articulate the needs of the community.
… experienced PPM representatives have accomplished exactly nothing in 8 years…
As usual Caymanians have gotten just what they deserve. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever will be. You get out what you put in.
The term “premier designate” is not a term found in the Constitution, and there will be no certainty until the constitutional process described in s.49(3) of the Constitution is fully completed. At the moment that is scheduled for Wednesday the 21st and I wish it could be sooner. Until then no signing of any document by any MP on the matter counts for anything.
If this is the case, and our vote is meaningless, just make it a dictatorship and call it a day!
Call another election on a Friday or Monday please so we get a long weekend off.
What a hot mess we’re in.
People…coalition Governments are quite normal all over the world. Look at Israel…it has been run by coalitions for decades. So there is NOTHING wrong with “independents” joining any “side” to enable the formation of a Government FOR THE PEOPLE!
It happens all the time, everywhere.
Please, majority of Cayman electorate, educate yourselves on normal political processes!!
Deals are part of the process!!
Israel is a corrupt police state, riddled with Ashkenazi thugs.
Doesn’t Israel have another general election every other week?
The Netherlands always has a coalition government also. Two or three parties agree to form a govt.
Many, many countries do. Cayman was the same until the National Team won a majority. Then other teams and parties followed.
“Borgen” on Netflix
Sabrina and Isaac you must reconsider what you have just done.It is not too late to get back on board with the Independent PACT.
You promoted yourselves as Independents and recived the Caymanian People’s votes as Independents. You owe your allegiance to protect Cayman and your People. You were given the opportunity to do so.
So, now think thrice, say a prayer for guidance and do what deep down you know is right and what the MAJORITY of YOUR PEOPLE have voted for.
You will be part of a great Government under Wayne Panton. He is an honest man and those that are with him are young, able and capable of governing this land of ours.
Do what is right for your People.
Completely concur. We didn’t vote for Sabrina over Austin PPM Harris for nothing! She can’t already be letting us down in Prospect!
Why all the noise? The Progressive led Alliance campaigned for a coalition Progressive led Gov’t with Roy as the leader and Premier. Every Cabinet Minister was re-elected with some like Roy by a landslide. The people have spoken and the smart independents who really want to do the best for their people and the country will support a stable government that has the support of the business community. That’s it now lets move on and do what’s best for the country and not buy into the nonsense of a fragile government that couldn’t last a week with Saunders and Kenneth fighting for the DP position. Crazy!
“That has the support of the business community, that’s it.”
Well said. However it should be, “The support of the CAYMANIANS, and not the business community.”
However you’re being honest. It’s all about the business people!! And not the CAYMANIANS.
GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.HE SHOWS HIS POWER IN NATURE, BEYOND ANY MANS CONTROL.
We need the best representatives as part of govt. Those with relevant knowledge and experience. Regardless of which affilation.
Please PPM and independents. Get together and do what is best for our country.
these guys like a disease…next thing they give premier to dart…come on man..give wayne and his independents a chance!?
The reason you have toilet paper to wipe your ass is because of people like Dart.
@12:58 – as far as I remember we had toilet paper long before Dart was even a twinkle in his daddy’s eye.
Dart didn’t come with me on my interviews. Caymanians are the reason Dart is wiping his a$$ here.
And styrofoam containers and vups to pollute.
Utter Stupidity. Voting out Ezra, the only person willing to hold corrupt politicians and the CIG accountable. Also, look up under 3rd world status Cayman Islands, Corruption Inc, and What the F have we just done?
Utter Disbelief. The moment you found out that you were not going to be Premier as promised to you.
It appears that Sabrina and Isaac have signed on with the PPM and Roy will be Premiere.
PPM. Clown dogs…
The ugly Cayman politicians are on show, where every MP , every cabinet seat, everything worth monetising is for sale.
Go Sabrina, Isaac and J Ebanks – show us your flip flopping tricks! You bunch of circus clownswith Alden / PPM as the ring master!
Hang your head in shame Sabrina/ Isaac!
What the hell backroom dealings are going on here. Don’t any of these people have principles and actually stand for something? Or is money all they believe in. I assume a nice big pay check and XXXXX is all it takes for any Caymanian to shake off their promises and morals and fall into line with the rest of the XXXX. Shame on them all.
Roy is too old to lead the territory.
Whenever there is a transition of power and the cat is away, the MICE will play :)) lol
I am saddened that three truly great new faces — Mario Ebanks, Sammy Jackson and Johann Moxam could not win. It was closer than ever before showing that just a few more of those new voters who were illegally disenfranchised when Alden illegally moved the vote up almost a full month would have made a difference.
And alric Lindsey. — all of them campaigned for transparency, environment and education. What a loss.
And Justin Ebanks from North Side.
Welcome to politics. 99% of the time, the good people don’t get in.
Perhaps the count is off?
and Myles
What a crock of bullshit 8:07. Trump has really infestated his diseased thinking in Cayman with people like you.
The 16 voters that were ‘disenfranchised’ would not have made a difference. There was only 1 voter from West Bay Central; 3 voters from Red Bay and no voters from George Town North.
To the lawyers:
If you sign your name on the dotted line to form a government and this document is then submitted to the Governor to formalize said government, is this not then a binding document?
If not, why not?
Thanks,
Teddy
It does not appear to a binding agreement, only an intent.
It will bidding when the votes for the members of the New Government are taken in Parliament.
The ppm are completely oblivious to public opinion. The majority of votes were against ppm members. People wanted change. These flip flopping politicians are not reading the will of the people.
In other words, still dysfunctional. Same circus, different clowns. No victory, no defeat, no change.
yup, just more of the same.
Same shit, different day… SMH.
Message for ST: you ran against a literally card-carrying member of the PPM, AH. If we wanted this status quo then we would have voted the same. Now where in this do you think that you were elected as a PPM-Alliance MP? if you could give your word to the coalition and change your word with such hastiness then I’m confident that you will be a one-term MP as your predecessor but I doubt that you will mind because you will be over 1/2 million better off and with a pension among the other frills
No she didn’t.
Well done Sabrina, you have enabled a mature and experienced government to steer us through the remains of Covid and downturn.
God help Cayman if the likes of Kenny Bryan are put in charge of anything.
Just as Jon-Jon learned more about being a politician this last year than he probably did his entire life, so can others.
Full Moon Seymour learned jackshit about being a politician, 12:26.
Sssshhh. I was trying to be polite!
I voted for Sabrina based on her long standing affiliation with the Progressives (that and Austin being a woman beating idiot)
Maybe you wanted simply someone other than Austin??? Ever thought about that?
Very disappointed in Sabrina Turner’s overnight decision.
Had I know that you would turn on the voters, I would have voted for Myles, whom I thought was just as good a candidate.
I doubt that I would vote for you in the next election.
Smart move Sabrina, now we have a Minister representing us in an experienced cabinet. Really proud I voted for you.