Turner returns to PACT but horsetrading rolls on
(CNS): By Friday evening Sabrina Turner had returned to the PACT group led by Wayne Panton, succumbing to a different kind of pressure, this time from her own constituents and people across the islands who voted for an independent government. After she had signed a deal with the Progressives, just hours after committing to form a government with PACT, by Friday afternoon the start of new talks among the group saw Turner re-join and Jay Ebanks recommit to the PACT. Meanwhile, Isaac Rankine was still indicating his inclination to go with the PPM-Alliance, and although McKeeva Bush appeared in the mix, no deal had been done with the controversial West Bay veteran MP.
Hundreds of people, not just from Prospect but across the country, attended a meeting in Turner’s constituency Friday night. Most of the members of the PACT group joined the hesitant newcomer on the stage as she faced her voters and made her re-commitment to that group. The independents were greeted with deafening cheers, confirming the public support for a government made up of independent candidates, reflecting the popular national vote count.
But at that point the horsetrading was continuing. Panton was greeted enthusiastically by the crowd at the standing room only meeting, where people were also outside listening in on speakers. However, he and his new team were still in talks with other elected MPs.
On Friday afternoon nine of the independents had confirmed their support for Panton and the PACT, while eight were confirmed for the PPM-Alliance, with Rankine still signed up for both.
McKeeva Bush was still at that point a potential deal maker for either side. But while the PACT was speaking to Bush, no deal had been made by Friday night that included him. None of the independents referred to the inclusion of the former speaker in the talks yesterday but his presence was confirmed. CNS attended the location and spotted a number of Bush’s associates and was able to confirm through other connected sources that he was in the building engaged in discussions with PACT.
Panton urged the crowd to be patient regarding the talks. He said the country deserved a good government that was made up of independents because that was how the country voted. Panton explained that in the early hours of Thursday morning the independents had agreed that they could form a government, demonstrating that independents can come together, contrary to claims made by the PPM-Alliance. He said the group was not breaking apart but had instead been undermined by “misinformation campaigns that kicked into high gear”.
“We will continue to move this forward and we ask for your patience,” he said. “We understand the urgency and the need and desire to have the issue settled. We have to work through this process. The reason we are here is not because of our failure but because of the initiatives that have been made to derail what was already agreed and achieved.”
Turner was supported by the independents, who said that she had made “a mistake”, as they asked the voters to back her decision to return to the PACT. Turner offered an apology to anyone who might doubt her actions but she herself did not admit she had made a mistake, but she told the crowd that she was an independent and asked them to trust her. She did not indicate why she had signed the deal with Panton and then signed the PPM-Alliance deal just hours later but she clearly re-committed to the PACT, which has offered her a ministry.
Several of the independents spoke to the crowd and also urged Rankine to return to the group.
At this point Panton’s letter, which includes Rankine, showing that he can form a government with a working majority and with Alric Lindsay as speaker, is the only one that Governor Martyn Roper is in possession of and the clock is now ticking to Wednesday, when Parliament will be asked to vote for or against Wayne Panton as premier.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: 2021 General Elections, Elections, Politics
To CNS
Under s49(3) the vote is not confined to one nominee. The MPs are to be tasked with finding “the elected member who obtains a majority of the votes of the elected members.”
Enjoy your OMOV!
Jay for God sake do the right thing and go with PPM. We have not been represent since Ms. Moyle days. Time for North Side to shine again or I guess we should have voted Ezzard back in. I voted for you because I thought you wanted change in our district.
We voted you in and God knows we will vote you out.
As an educated expat of over 50years residence, I have voted in most elections during this period. This election with one organised party and a whole bunch of venal independents is a sad situation, but we absolutely get what we vote for, in this case an embarassment where money in the elected’s pockets, not the good of the country, reigns supreme.
That’s why I didn’t vote.
It only makes them think that people actually like and support them.
Such a dumb thing to say.
There is something about being elected an MLA/MP that seems to turn on the genes that control being able to lie with a straight face and abandon any vestige of decency and honesty.
Lol. It is called greed.
Turner has been shouting Jesus and following the devil.
She will end up being publicly humiliated by her own arrogance.
Best thing for the country would be to have new elections. We are only a few days after the elections and people are doing deals that they swore they would never do.
Hear, hear.
A government of independents would be the political equivalent of the Big Brother house.
The only thing that unites the independents is a preference for being in government rather than opposition. They have no coherent policy platform beyond the vaguest of goals and little experience of government outside the leadership.
A disaster in the making.
Sabrina obviously doesn’t care about anything other than who can offer her the best terms. Not a great start to her political career.
I wish each candidate had clearly stated whether they would join a government with McKeeva in it so I could know who was not worthy of a vote.
In the old days a hand shake was your seal and bond, these days with so much corruption, even a signature does NOT mean anything, sad. Very sad indeed.
McKeeva will certainly be in a position to demand whatever he wants. This will be the biggest political comeback ever.
That would be a historical disgrace for the territory.
McKeeva only has leverage until the vote. If he does not take something he is being offered before he has to play his only card, he will get nothing. He cannot name his price at all. He may not even have a choice. Anyone who brings him into their fold with any position or perks is going to get what Sabrina got x10. Don’t even bother forming your government if it has McKeeva in it, you’ll be hounded from beginning to end of term with demands to strip him of the position you just gave him. Sorry guys you will have to form a government of grown-ups without McKeeva. Also the 28 of you who stayed home or voted for McKeeva instead of Mario caused this indirectly because Mario is not for turning, anyone who knows him knows that. Not only would we already have a government ready to be sworn in but the group most likely to take power would have had an experienced and humble “servant leader” as Mario calls himself to take on some difficult and important issues. Instead we have this.
I think we could actually see some civil unrest if anyone offers a senior role to Mac just so they can be in government. That would be giving the middle to voters and abandoning any pretence of acting in the best interests of Cayman.
We ought to have a re-do of the election now that everyone’s true colors have been shown. I will not vote for anyone willing to form a government with a woman beater.
1:29 pm Or a used to be drug dealer, for used to be have could ruined lots of young people for life
Kenneth did that?
Yes caught by undercover cops trying to sell coke.
Kenneth wants to be the minister of tourism…
Unemployable, never worked and wants to run a multi million dollar business…God help Cayman.
We have PACT although transparency has gone out the window with all these backroom deals and competence in unproven and doubtful given the flip-flops
What we needed was IMPACT
Integrity
Morality
People Lead
Accountable
Competent
Transparent
PACT was fine.
Presumptuous
Arrogant
Cocky
Tw@ts
PPM was also appropriate
Purloining
Peoples’
Money.
Screw politics, screw lying politicians, screw corrupt, lying government turd-bags and leave the rest of alone.
#notmygovernment.
Eat it.
That sort of attitude will lead to more disasters and sorrow. Because politians don’t do exactly what you want you would prefer to burn the whole house down? That is one of the primary reasons why some neighbouring territories and countries are in a worse mess today. Lets build a better Cayman Islands together without tearing down everything.
Sabrina, your performance last night was worthy of an Oscar award. Independents, this is someone you think will make it through a four year term?
The fact that these individuals could sign an agreement then back pedal in a matter of hours just highlight how available they are to the highest bidder. Just another new bath of the same breed of politicians.
1:01 pm, you are right, people signing and it was taking to the Governor, then flip flopping,they can’t be trusted. If one signs to sell Land they can’t flip flop and change their minds after it goes to the Lands office.
Poor Panton is more used to hauling in big pelagics. Catching sprats is a whole other game.
1. No more work permits. Send the Foreign home.
2. Restrict jobs to Caymanians only. Real Estate sales, property management, water sports.
3. Property tax for foreign investors and expats.
4. Subsidize Caymanian home ownership from taxes raised
5. Return to the Savannah and live as hunter gatherers.
5. Foreign flight from Cayman
6. Turtles gone…now what?
7. Move to the UK and complain about how their colonialization ruined them.
It is a wonderful thing the UK still has overseas territories or else there would be nowhere for people like you to go and feel superior anymore. You must have missed that the lion is now a tabby cat in the eyes of the world. Being an OT guarantees us nothing anymore as the UK went independent of the continent of which it was part – and we rather liked the stability of the previous arrangement, much as Cayman’s clients like our attachment to the UK. I don’t think you would find many Caymanians seeking a better life there. I know several who have moved home in fact – they can see now that bigger is not always better.
If we want to survive and thrive we have got to allow the rational part of brains to control our talk and other actions (Everyone has it and due credit to “101”). While we may feel threatened this situation will not be improved byu using the fight or flight part of our brains. I am no fan of the British manipulation and personally I would have voted against Brexit given the opportunity. But you have to give due credit, the UK has assisted us and learnt from their mistakes at least as far as the pandemic is concerned. The UK is actually better off today than most of their former EU partners. I wish them all well as I indeed wish the Cayman Isands and the entire world.
8. introduce bounties on woman beaters
12:17 I agree with you!
We need independents so we can take the country back.
The Independents are just that independent. They have no party manifesto. They are all self interested and only won a popularity contest. They have no national plan.
The National Plan is to represent the people of the Cayman Islands, and no one else !
This is why neither my wife or i choose to vote. Its a total shambles
If you are from amongst the 6000 that didn’t vote, what a shame. You have nothing to say. Because of you, this is why we are in this situation.
Elvis. Ffs. Not voting is the absolute dumbest thing. I better not see you comment on anything either because if you don’t vote you have no right to complain.
Quite the opposite, if didn’t vote can complain about all!
Such a sad thing to say. Civic duty is to vote. You’re lucky you even have fair elections as most countries don’t.
There was no one to vote for in my district
Then run yourself
We. Oted the last 8 yrs and same horseshit and money grabbing issues every yime, ill complain all day if i wish u idiot
Dude. You’re too angry. Just vote and stop being a lame duck.
GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER IS COMING ! If they can’t agree to form a government, this could mean dissolving Parliament, and a snap election ! Then it will be a great upset. Because alot of heads will roll. The voters will vote differently.
Any deal with Mac will result in the fall of an attempted government.
Unless it is a PACT government then it is OK
SOME of the country voted for independents, Wayne, not “THE country”.
Same thing with PPM buddy. I’d rather eat dirt than vote anyone PPM in.
I second that.
You both will indeed eat dirt with the likes of Kenneth Bryan as a minister of government.
Literally better than anyone in the PPM, but okay.
She’s already flip flopping. That’s not good for us in prospect who are sick of all the slums we live next to.
11:35, come join us in Bodden Town ( aka Little Jamaica) where you get to live next to slums that did not used to be there and yards with derelict cars and trash filling them up.
Thanks Mac and Saunders for that.
But not John John, because now he’s on your side, right?
Such a shame. Slum lords prevail in both our districts. So gross.