Panton heading to climate summit in Glasgow

| 29/10/2021 | 147 Comments
Cayman News Service
Premier Wayne Panton

(CNS): Officials have confirmed that Premier Wayne Panton, the Cayman Islands’ first ever minister for climate resiliency, will be travelling to Scotland this weekend to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. Panton will join the UK delegation and have access to the Blue Zone, the United Nations-managed space that hosts the negotiations, his office stated. Access to the zone is restricted primarily to government ministers and officials.

Panton will remain at the event until 3 November, when he will return home because, he said, he is well aware of the need to address the issues here surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and to finalise the PACT Government’s first budget.

But he said he would make Cayman’s voice heard about climate change while in Glasgow.

“Our presence there will afford the Cayman Islands an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with global partners in our collective fight against climate change and the damage it is doing to planet Earth,” said Panton. “The impact of climate change is frightening, especially for small islands states like ours. Our voices need to be heard loud and clear and I intend to add mine to those of our regional colleagues who share the same vulnerabilities and concerns.”

The Caribbean is highly vulnerable to sea level rise and increasing water temperatures and Panton said the rallying cry remains “1.5 to stay alive”, which is the aim to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to prevent the worst of the climate change impacts on our region, including the survival of our coral reefs and marine biodiversity.

“I join with the regional community to strongly advocate closing the emissions gap, and increasing financial support for those nations most vulnerable to climate change impacts,” he said.

Cayman will be well represented, as student activists Dejae Lyons and Isabella Watler and the National Trust’s Environmental Programmes Manager Catherine Childs are also attending. Panton said it was critically that important young people are included in the climate talks. “It is their future that is being discussed and they should be included in the conversation.”


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Category: Climate Change, Policy, Politics, Science & Nature

Comments (147)

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  1. Anon says:

    How is he getting here and will he quarantine when he goes back?!

    • Anonymous says:

      Nah, he like Chuck Norris. If coronavirus meets up with Wayne, the virus goes into quarantine for a month.

  2. Anonymous says:

    No way I will switch to molecular beanless coffee or lab grown meat. I honestly doubt anyone will.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I am so glad to see Cayman represented at the highest level on the world stage for this, the existential crisis of our time. Small island states must stand together. Their voices have been and will be heard.

    • Hubert says:

      As Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motttley said today at COP 26 “a two degree rise in temperature would be a death sentence for island nations, due to rising sea levels and more extreme weather”.

      She gets it and Barbados gets it. The people of the Cayman Islands need to get it too.

      Believe Premier Panton understands this fact.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Now that the beaches from EE to NS don’t have garbage strewn from one end to the other, the dump is fixed and there’s really not much happening around here of any urgency, it’s a good time to jet off to try to lower our atmospheric CO level from .04% to .o399999%.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Too many people on the planet, hence the virus.

    • Anonymous says:

      OK Bill Gates. Why don’t you lead the way on the over population by starting with you and your family? Be a role model instead of a pretentious prick.

      Its such a nonsensical thing to say. If you truly think the world is over populated then what is your suggestion to fix the problem? Start taking out a portion of the global population? On who’s authority? How would you decide which people don’t get to live anymore. Are you willing to do the task yourself or are you going to be like most people and sit behind your walls and ask someone else (government) to save you?

      I don’t even get why people bring this up nowadays. It clearly shows you haven’t thought your own thought through.

      • Anonymous says:

        Ugh, breeder.

      • Anonymous says:

        Population is at the root of almost all problems. Why pretend not?

      • Hubert says:

        Well you certainly don’t cut all the funding for all Planned Parenthood programs in the U.S. and through American aid programs like Donald Trump did.

        The Gates Foundation has been heavily involved with family planning programs in both Africa and South America. He put his money where his mouth is. And you call him “a pretentious prick”.

        Perhaps 8:03 you should look at what the Gates Foundation is doing before name calling.

        You clearly need to do more reading about what is going on in the world and clarifying your own thoughts.

        • Anonymous says:

          You obviously need to do more reading on the background of Planned Parenthood and where it’s activities are targeted.

      • Anonymous says:

        It is our time now on the chopping block and some of us are freaking the hell out. What about letting nature decide.

        • Anonymous says:

          Darwin’s theory is at work on these islands.

          • Anonymous says:

            Believing in Darwin:
            What are the strongest and most desirable characteristics will we need to survive?
            Human reproduction is why we are in this current mess.

      • Anonymous says:

        No need to take anyone out. Every reason to reduce birth rates if we want to secure a safe and healthy planet for future generations. There has been a global population explosion over the last 50 years and if the trend continues there will be severe consequences.

      • Anonymous says:

        Where to start?
        We cannot be killing, and expecting to live. This can be understood. If you do not understand this, you are not human, generally speaking.
        Cayman is the only country being given this opportunity to change.
        We all need to change individually for this to happen.
        Where do you want to start?
        I am trying to state my opinions without sounding too righteous, and most importantly, telling people what to do.
        But it must be done.

  6. Wisest Owl says:

    It’s whimsical and romantic tokenism to try to throw a blanket over the entire mangroves and wetlands and scrub-brush of the Cayman Islands. Our island is incredibly small. There is rapid interest in the development of these islands and in building economic growth. Wayne is taking the children who have no life experience about the World economy around them and is walking them into forum of impractical, idealistic tree huggers and environmental zealots. None of them – not one – will be able to stop the World temperatures from rising. The Chinese will cheat (but deny it) so they can make things and support their billion strong population. The Russians will cheat (but deny it) because they need to export fossil fuels to keep their Oligarchs in super yachts. The Brazilians will cheat (and deny it) because they need farm land for cattle and their cultural food export business. The Saudi’s will cheat (and deny it) because they need to export oil. They will drive teslas at home and claim carbon neutrality but it’s a farce. Weening the world off fossil fuel and stopping climate change will happen naturally over the next 100 years but our government’s actions [and this trip] are completely futile and irrelevant to the outcome. Being too aggressive on climate change here, now, will only make us more desperate later when sea levels meaningfully begin to rise and it becomes harder to attract investment here. We will show up at this conference well-intended and promise to be honorable and save every mangrove and blade of grass and it will not make any difference whatsoever other than slowing the economic growth here that could actually save us. The problem of climate change is bigger than Cayman but the impact of the problem is greater “on” Cayman. We are just 3 little ships (with the sister islands) in a vast ocean. If we really want to win the climate war and save this nation we should be taking in as much investment and promoting as much development as humanly possible right now. If you believe we will lose much of our coastline to climate change (as is happening now around the Marriott) we should now be building as big and as aggressively as possible. Once the structures are here, those who built them will have an incentive to protect what they built and they will help us protect their buildings and “our” coastline. The lowest land here should be exploited. Towers should be built, lnvestment encoutraged, money welcomed. When we share these islands with outsiders we are sharing both our real estate AND our problems. Those people who invest here will help us over time to raise the roads, fill the swamps, protect land. The sea level change will take the low land anyway either way. If we were smart, we would use this window in time and our tax status to attract investment and sell Cayman to the World, those who come will help protect us. If we don’t share the land and welcome development nobody will have any incentive to help save us. The alternative is we freeze all development (just like we kept the borders closed during covid) eep the investors and money away and in future the seas inundate us, there is no reason or resource here to protect what is here and our great grand kids will be living on the Brac. Land there will be 10 million an acre and we will be flying electric drones to visit the ruins of Grand Cayman to snorkel on the former streets and wonder why we didn’t have the resources to save it.

    • Anonymous says:

      what a whole bunch of twaddle 4:33, – Cayman has already been sold to Dart and if that is an example of your salvation we’re getting into a lot more problems than that which could be avoided if there were more like him.

    • Anonymous says:

      yeah right, because idiots like you chase the concept money is everything and unable to entertain the idea it might very well be your demise 🤡

    • Anonymous says:

      I really don’t understand this thought structure, – let’s be the first to destroy our natural environment as quickly as we can with reckless abandonment to entice people with billions here upholding one token whimsical thought; – to give us the best chance to save ourselves; – pure genius

    • Anonymous says:

      Define what constitutes economic growth in the Cayman Islands?

      “…much development as humanly possible?” … building as big and as aggressively as possible? … Towers should be built?

      Have you lost your mind?

    • Anonymous says:

      and so how are you going to decide who is a privileged enough ‘outsider’ to help us, is it purely based on wealth considering the extent of the development you envision The Cayman Islands needs to undertake ? If so you’re adopting a philosophy of creating a society akin to an Aryan master race but based on dollar value, well done

    • Anonymous says:

      Gutierrez just said we are digging our own graves. I suppose it’s only fitting that Cayman buries its dead in concrete sarcophagi.

  7. Anonymous says:

    How many discarded masks have impacted the environment. The irony.

    • Anonymous says:

      People are pigs. All these student groups take noble environmental stances, yet near the schools and you’ll see masks strewn everywhere. Now that’s irony.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who is acting premier. That is the frightening thing.

    • Anonymous says:

      And syringes, and rapid test kits, and polymer gloves…?

    • Anonymous says:

      1) Pollution driven by huge increase in mask sales

      The promotion of mask wearing as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19 has led to an extraordinary increase in the production of disposable masks: the UN trade body, UNCTAD, estimates that global sales will total some $166 billion this year, up from around $800 million in 2019.

      2) A Toxic problems

      most of these masks contain plastics or other derivatives of plastics.
      it can be expected that around 75 per cent of the used masks, as well as other pandemic-related waste, will end up in landfills, or floating in the seas. Aside from the environmental damage, the financial cost, in areas such as tourism and fisheries, is estimated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at around $40 billion.

  8. Anonymous says:

    “Global warming is part of natural cycle and there’s nothing we can actually do to stop these cycles. The world is now facing spending a vast amount of money in tax to try to solve a problem that doesn’t actually exist”
    David Bellamy

    • Solar Climate Forcing, whaaaat? says:

      You can’t say that, for one it’s not PC, it doesn’t make liberals feel good, it paints the “green washers in a bad light” and lastly it hurts green products industries. Can’t say that on YouTube either, they’ll ban you. Some have become so arrogant and ignorant to understand that our star rules our little rock and every other rock that orbits it.

    • Anonymous says:

      3.07 Exactly , it started with the end of the ice age. receding ice, fancy word for melting, and it has continued ever since.
      Wayne going to a climate meeting is a laughable waste of badly needed funds, and at a time we have much bigger fish to fry.

    • Anonymous says:

      The vast majority of scientists disagree with you. I know I know… it’s all a conspiracy, right?

    • Anonymous says:

      The right wing science denier chimes in

      • Anonymous says:

        Science is a bunch of crap. I believe in magical sky fairies that look like old white men instead. And of course, our saviour, Donald Trump.

    • Anonymous says:

      He also said “that glaciers were advancing not retreating” which “was shown to be based on false evidence and he subsequently withdrew the claim”

    • Hubert says:

      As Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motttley said today at COP 26 “a two degree rise in temperature would be a death sentence for island nations, due to rising sea levels and more extreme weather”.

      She gets it and Barbados gets it. The people of the Cayman Islands need to get it too.

      Believe Premier Panton understands this fact.

  9. Anonymous says:

    What a hypocrite. If Panton and the GOP26 posse really cared and this was so urgent, this conference would have taken place over a zoom call. Not fly in from gas guzzling planes. Or have copious amount of cars specifically flown in from USA just for the occasion for Biden. It’s a complete joke and all for optics. We all care about the environment but let’s not pretend these hypocrites do, it’s insulting to everyones intelligence. Time for Greta the puppet and these charlatans to move on and realise no one is buying their BS anymore.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Let’s apply Wayne’s thought process for COVID to climate change:

    Climate change is already here, so we should learn to live with it.

    We must all take personal responsibility. When it’s hot wear sunscreen. When the sea levels rise, but a boat.

    Let’s all learn to live with natural disasters with Wayne leading the way.

    He’s got this… apparently.

  11. Anonymous says:

    So how many people will we be paying for to take this trip?

  12. Anonymous says:

    There is absolutely nothing Wayne will learn at COP26 that will make one ounce of difference here. The conference is important, but unless the US and China get on board with serious reductions of using fossil fuels, it’s pretty much a waste of time for everyone. Cayman would be better served sending engineers to Venice and seeing what they are doing/have done to keep the city from being submerged. In the meantime, Wayne has abandoned the country during a crisis of fear. Even if you believe that fear is irrational, you can’t deny what is going on right now and how many people are feeling is probably going to get worse in the coming days.

  13. Anonymous says:

    And the pointless travel begins.

  14. Who owns outer Space? says:

    Land, oceans, air and low orbit are polluted by us, humans, beyond the point of no return in my opinion, unless humans cease to exist. But how does Space privatization affects climate change on 🌍Earth? Are today’s very few super rich jeopardize our existence through changing chemical composition of atmosphere thus affecting climate on Earth on much larger scale than hitherto?

    Elon Mack says he is our savior, his goal is to move polluting industries to Mars. Meantime Starlink already has FCC approval to launch 12,000 Starlink spacecraft, and it has filed paperwork with the ITU for up to 30,000 more. FCC largely ignored environmental obvious problems.

    Dead satellites reentering Earth’s atmosphere daily.
    “With the first generation of Starlink, we can expect about 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) of dead satellites reentering Earth’s atmosphere daily. But meteoroids are mostly rock, which is made of oxygen, magnesium and silicon. These satellites are mostly aluminum, which the meteoroids contain only in a very small amount, about 1%.” “… as the alumina sinks into the stratosphere, it will cause chemical reactions, which, based on existing knowledge, will likely trigger ozone destruction.”

    “ Chemicals released as defunct satellites burn in the atmosphere could damage Earth’s protective ozone layer if plans to build megaconstellations of tens of thousands of satellites, such as SpaceX’s Starlink, go ahead as foreseen, scientists warn”

    “Researchers also caution that the poorly understood atmospheric processes triggered by those chemicals could lead to an uncontrolled geoengineering experiment, the consequences of which are unknown.”

    “The problem is that there are now plans to launch about 55,000 satellites,” . “Starlink second generation could consist of up to 30,000 satellites, then you have Starnet, which is China’s response to Starlink, Amazon’s Kuiper, OneWeb. That could lead to unprecedented changes to the Earth’s upper atmosphere.”

    Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0
    https://www.space.com/starlink-satellite-reentry-ozone-depletion-atmosphere

    What is Space Junk and How Does It Affect the Environment?
    https://earth.org/space-junk-what-is-it-what-can-we-do-about-it/

    What if Space Junk and Climate Change Become the Same Problem?
    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/science/space-junk-climate-change.html

    FCC defends Starlink approval as Viasat, Dish urge court to block SpaceX license
    https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/10/dont-let-viasat-and-dish-block-spacex-starlink-approval-fcc-tells-court/

    Then, there’s upcoming Space “exploration” on a much larger scale: China’s Space Mining Industry Is Prepping For Launch.

    Then there is Space Tourism. “The rise of space tourism could affect Earth’s climate in unforeseen ways, scientists worry”. https://www.space.com/environmental-impact-space-tourism-flights

    Does The Global Climate Action Agenda even include Space pollution and its effect on Earth’s climate topic?

    I am not even discussing here highly controversial “EMF and climate change” topic for many, myself including, simply unable to grasp even basics. But I doubt anyone would disagree with this:

    “WWII brought us microwave radar for warfare. In 1947, Bell Telephone set up the first microwave phone relay between towers in Boston and NYC. The same year, TV was born and they also used microwaves for transmission. The 1980’s brought cellular communications. What has happened since 1990 is astounding for the planet and life. The first mile above the Earth is now filled with 2 million times the amount of EMF that we faced in 1900. We can not truly know the problem largeness because the EPA was forced to stop measuring EMF over US in 1979. In the USA, in 1979 there was no tech boom yet, but today there is. Today, the US leads the world in technology productivity and it is all based upon the quantum effects of electrons over a silicon wafer. . The results of its explosion however are going to be your new inconvenient truth. We have not had one survey of EMF since this time in this country. We are awash in an ocean of electromagnetic energies that life has never before had to deal with before, ever.
    Humans have altered their electromagnetic background more than any other aspect of their environment. It is estimated that in 2012, the radio waves that surround our planet today is one billion times the amount that naturally reaches us from our sun! Since we have added superconducting cables and light cables using photons, these have added the EMF field strength around them by factor of 50 to 100 in the last 15 years.”

    These are the facts. How (if) they affect human’s health and 🌎 climate is too controversial to discuss today. But even simple mind would agree that there are got to be consequences.

    Are our attempts to address climate change will end up being futile if we potentially missing the elephant in the room- atmosphere change due to space privatization, militarization, etc. and ever increasing man made electromagnetic energies surrounding our planet?

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      This is a well thought out post, complete with supporting citation from credible sources. Regardless of whether I or anyone else agrees with every point, it provides a basis for discussion.

      It has been so long since I read such a well-formed offering that is absent the usual rancor and insults, I hardly recognised it. Well done and thank you!

      I’m certain I would enjoy discussing the issues with you.

      • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

        C’mon Big Beau. You are smarter than this. Electromagnetic fields causing health problems is absolute nonsense. Studies have already been done on this in the 2 countries which have the most electromagnetic / 5G in the world, Finland and Sweden. Coincidentally, those 2 countries are in the top 5 in the world for life expectancy.

        Don’t get caught going down rabbit holes and discussing gobblegook.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Jesus Christ, what a waste of time. They just can’t help themselves, can they?

    Instead of taking action to reduce pollution the Premier jets half way round the world to yap about it.

    What exactly does he hope to achieve there out of interest?

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s a jolly where he gets to feel like a big shot. I normally wouldn’t care, but given what’s going on here with Covid because of his decisions (and previous indecision) it’s a terrible decision to go.

    • Anonymous says:

      Meanwhile back in Newlands… litter, derelict cars, people burning their trash in their backyards…..it all starts at home !

    • Anonymous says:

      Pollution reduction starts with you and me. We can stop buy disposable over packaged items for starter. We don’t need Mr.Panton for that.

  16. Anonymous says:

    He needs to get off island more often to see things are quite normal everywhere else but Australia and NZ.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Hope he is on the BA flight and takes note when it lands in Nassau as the BA crew announce that all single use plastics are banned on the island and subject to heavy fines.

    Is it really that difficult to start here by banning all plastic bags at supermarkets

    • Anon says:

      Before Covid we brought re-usable shopping bags with us on holiday, and took them back to the U.K. when we left. We also spent at least half a day collecting rubbish from the north and eastern beaches in recent years!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile a single mother with a Covid positive child has been evicted from her rental home and is now homeless

    • Anonymous says:

      To evict a person court order must be obtained by landlord. That is the Law, even in the Cayman Islands. If you were simply locked out of your rental property without court order, make a police report and see an attorney. I assume you have a written rental agreement. If agreement was verbal, still consult at attorney. Some might help pro bono..

  19. C'Mon Now! says:

    Realistically he has nothing to add to this conference and his presence is not needed nor would he be missed if he attended virtually as many people including the Queen are.

    But he should be needed at home given the Covid-19 outbreak where on Monday morning we will still likely have the highest per capital case count in the World.

    But then again we have been in a leadership vacuum with no plan so maybe his absence won’t matter.

  20. Anonymous says:

    I hope he and Mr Bryan can address this when he returns.
    I understand that there’s a huge surge of work permits submitted for the hospitality industry for rush approval to meet the 20th November border reopening deadline! meanwhile, yet with so many people unemployed, there’s still no local job drives happening.
    Why is this.
    Are we heading back to the same old same old??

    • Anonymous says:

      You can’t force people to take a job. Jobs are being adverised with WORC and no responses this include tourism. So hence what are people to do. Do you really think anything has changed. Before the Pandemic thats all that worked in the housekeeping and restaurant industry, even the dive shops and boats…so why complain about it now…the only difference is we are now in 2021 and almost a 2 year closure…nothing has changed. The worse part of this in which i hope the tourism industry is thinking, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET PLANE LOADS OF PEOPLE. So when you get a trickle of 50 a week, how are you going to pay your staff???? No plans in place at all…Panton goes overseas for something he could have just zOomed. Is he gonna get a pass that he doesn’t have to quarantine. He doesn’t wear a mask her (don’t see him when he does his talks), what will make him wear them in the UK where covid is rising there too…..see guys the grass wasn’t greener on the other side. At least you knew what you had

      • Anonymous says:

        Have you tried using the worc jobs database lately ? Lucky if you can even login

      • Anonymous says:

        Importing cheap labor is the status quo. You can’t force change with a pencil. Whoever told you different is selling you something.

  21. Anonymous says:

    Well. Where to start? Planning needs to do a better job at preserving our environment (such as the eroding Seven Mule Beach).

    Has anyone walked the entirety of Seven Mile Beach (from both sides South and North)? I have (both at low tide and at high tide).

    It’s absolutely disgraceful what we (the Cayman Islands) has allowed to happen. We have to do better.

    Stay tuned, more to come. We’re working on addressing things, because the government is not.

    Hope this trip by the Premier is productive.

  22. Anonymous says:

    See here Jimmy

  23. Anonymous says:

    Wayne….Lets lead the way and get rid of our diesel power plants.

    A small submarine or Aircraft Carrier nuclear reactor would serve us well.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Surely Mr Premier Sir you were aware of the mockery Ted Cruz endured when leaving Texas for Cancun, so surely you’re ready to endure similar with this little jaunt your taking when your Govt is looking more & more like play skool as ‘the plan’ disintegrates

    Pact plan, Pact up & leave for Glasgow Plane Panton ✈️

  25. Anonymous says:

    Time for a Glasgow joke (other than Panton’s arrival).

    What is the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney?

    Bing sings, but Walt Disney.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Maybe he will hear something about sea walls while he is there.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Biggest joker in Cayman. As we are experiencing a surge in cases and have 4 hospitalize plus many having to go to the hospital for a few hours at a time…Wayne thinks this is a good time to go? Smh. Can we have a vote of no confidence when he leaves?

  28. Anonymous says:

    Excellent wayne..u doing great job! My daughter is attending glasgow university…i will let her know you in town as you know each other…

  29. Anonymous says:

    I am incredulous that Panton, in the face of a rapidly rising Covid crisis, has chosen to leave the islands for non-essential travel! And to a Conference that has significant Covid-spreader potential. Panton and his Government are an outstanding mockery of what true leadership is all about. We have: staggeringly rising Covid numbers; no plan for reopening in less than one month; and yet our so-called “leader” up and leaves. Just when you think Panton cannot get any more pathetic, he rises to the occasion and surprises us yet again. I shudder to think how he will top this one. [But we know he will. It’s how he rolls.]

    • Anonymous says:

      Give the man a break. Yes we have rising case numbers but we are also one of the most vaccinated countries on earth! We have a total of 4 people in hospital related to Covid and 2 of them are there because they have recovered from Covid but have additional health issues. The only crisis we are in, is the one in your head.
      If it was up to me I would force all current MP’s (government and opposition) to go and spend a week or two in the US or UK. It quickly makes you realise that the constant fear and negativity being generated around Covid here is completely out of proportion to the actual risks we face and that we rapidly need to move on to more important things.
      Climate change is a real problem and the reality that almost all of our electricity is generated by diesel generation shows we desperately need a different approach. This is in addition to other sustainability issues which are rapidly becoming more evident like the lack of real recycling here as well as general environmental damage to our sensitive areas. I think it is good that he is going and representing the Cayman Islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      Geez as long as people not lined up at the hospital and on death beds we really dont have a crisis here. No one is dead or about to folks. Please lets stop this bull.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hardly a crisis and nothing he is needed physically in cayman for

    • Anonymous says:

      Obviously this site is infested with arm chair wanna be politicians and sore ppm losers. The world still exists outside of this bubble and life needs to start carrying on as usual. The general public cannot be privy to the private details and deeper reasons why government does what it does. If Cayman did not participate in this summit you would be squawking about that. Get a life or at least an education or some common sense.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep great time to leave, just when the pandemic is at an all time high and cases are increasing…this is when the second man in charge should be going not you…but as stated by the majority of the people, you are just doing a bang up great job…(joke) nothing in place…bad enough community spread wait till we get tourists, but chances of them swarming in is little or nothing

  30. Professor Yaffle says:

    Please don’t come back and tell us that we need to keep burning diesel as our primary energy supply. If as an island gravely threatened by global heating we cannot lead the way ourselves in renewables then how can we expect others to.

    • Anonymous says:

      Nobody gives a rat’s ass what we do. Nobody asks, and, even if we told them, nobody would care.

      How many TIMES does this have to said?!

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe he’s going to propose that we all burn heavy fuel oil to block out the sun and stem the warming?

      • Anonymous says:

        Even sluggers reduction in solar energy from sun can have unknown and unforeseen consequences for every living thing on Earth.

  31. Anonymous says:

    As we launch aggressively into our first wave, knowing what could happen: optically, not great timing Wayne.

  32. STX says:

    Gonna fly burning all dat jet fuel to make rules and regulations so you can’t. Rules for thee but not for me.

    I would think he has bigger fish to fry in his own backyard than to run off to Scotland at the moment. Or maybe this is just his way of social distancing.

    • Politricks at work says:

      Yes, bigger fish like keeping Mac from starting another Coup. His first one was twenty years ago -that was the last time a group of Independents formed a government. Wayne will be away and then in Isolation till mid November. Plenty time for Mac to fry up lots of political fish

    • Anonymous says:

      He’s just running away from a burning house.

  33. Anonymous says:

    COVID infections at an all time high

    PACT halts its press conferences

    And Wayne goes to Glasgow to listen about global climate change whilst we don’t even enforce setbacks in Cayman

    Cayman is truly one special little place

    • Anonymous says:

      Might be his one and only chance. He might not be Premier at Christmas. In my view Wayne has decided he cannot manage Covid and is going where he is most comfortable. With rich people talking about the environment. Meanwhle he leaves Chris in charge. A friend said to me that Wayne should stay but God help us if Chris is Premier.

  34. Prolonged doom says:

    Unless we collectively start building underwater to create another Atlantis the only other option would be to blow the Sun up.

    You have to already truly believe we all are sitting ducks in a pot of water slowly increasing in tempature every year until it’ll inevitably boil over.

    With that being a fact of life I ask the reader, what is the point?

    • Anonymous says:

      The world regulates itself in cycles. We (as humans) need to responsible and wise stewards of our environment.

      Is climate change (global warming) a real thing? Yes, I believe it is.

      Is it as bad as some might say it is? I cannot be certain for sure.

      We need to respect our environment and do our best to coexistence peacefully and respectfully with other humans.

      Whatever happens, which we cannot control, is outside of our hands and ability to control; but, what we can do, we need to step up and do our part.

      Alden is a QC now and Wayne was global managing partner Walkers. Maybe they both could (if they are still or now again licensed to practice law in Cayman) write us a legal opinion with their genius (I am being sarcastic) legal minds.

      • Anonymous says:

        On the Brac one can see about 7 or 8 ft from the ground the side of the Bluff where the water level beat like a hollow thousand years ago, in a thousand years or less the water level will be back in that position.

    • Anonymous says:

      The point is we can stop it if we stop adding greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. This is achieved by switching to renewable energy and not burning fossil fuels. The sun has been around for 5000 million years its not the sun that is the problem, it is the ignorance of humans.

      • What's the point says:

        Really? So the Sun doesn’t contribute to the heat here on earth?

        Switching to renewable sure… does that remove the already abundant green house gases trapped inside our atmosphere? No? Ok… whats the point?

        Switching to renewable is a start I won’t lie but tell me, what about the damage that has already been done?

        You all are hoping for a miracle to save earth well.. it would be a solution for eliminating/absorbing the green houses gases that are contibuting to locking heat on the planet which in turn, is accelerating global warming.

        Any bright ideas?

  35. Anonymous says:

    Please hurry back. We need ACCOUNTABILITY.
    The COVID-19 Pandemic still has the Cayman Islands borders closed, until November 20.
    U.S. borders officially open to Int’l Traveller’s on November 8. Many Locals are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with their U.S. Families, enjoying Winter Vacations, and/or Shopping for the Christmas Holidays.
    It’s now time to open the borders for, at minimum, the fully vaccinated folks.
    PS> Looking forward to hearing about Global Climate Initiatives that are much needed & that Cayman could undoubtedly benefit from.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your comment about US Borders is BS….The USA has been always been open to most of the world for the past 18 months.

      • Anonymous says:

        The so called U.S. “repatriation” flights are always full and some people have been placed on a waiting list for months, now. I guess we must be “sanctioned” or part of a “no fly” list. Cayman can’t stop U.S. Citizens from travelling to U.S., but there is a considerable number of U.S. Persons that haven’t left the Islands or are unable to reserve a seat on local air carrier because of flights being booked.
        November 8th 2021 will give a clearer picture of what’s happening with the traveling public amid the COVID-19 Pandemic & its related restrictions.

    • Anonymous says:

      Accountability? Accountability is releasing the covid numbers and not high tailing it off to Scotland. That’s non-essential travel. The Cayman Islands is a grain of sand in a sea compared to China, USA, India and other big countries with loads of pollution. Cayman little bit contributes does not contribute enough to make a difference.

    • Anonymous says:

      Despite being sunny 99.99% of the time, your great leaders burn oil to produce electricity.

      “Climate change”

      Compete morons

      • Anonymous says:

        …because there’s some “High-Rollers” in the Cayman Islands that control and profit handsomely from that industry. It’s been monopolized for the local wealthy families; so, it’s not going anywhere for a long time. Solar Energy is merely a farce project that seeks to dismiss the middle class & poor segments of the population. Yet, Cayman operates an entire Solar Farm that the entire Island pays for, including those people who don’t have the benefit of solar electricity to their family dwellings/properties.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Wonder how many of his hangers on will accompany him.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Good luck Wayne

  38. Anonymous says:

    Please stay their and help the world on climate change; let Premier Alden, Honorable Seymour and assistant Premier Roy take over as the Covid is ruining our homeland

    • Anonymous says:

      PPM can never be trusted in power again. Roy is a competent, who I (kinda) respect personally still, but he is a poor leader.

      Alden the Terrible can never be trust with anything more than his East End farm.

      Former Health Minister, who I think means well subjectively is a big idiot and was a national embarrassment when originally devasted the world, can hardly be trusted with crayons (because he could eat them or something silly like that).

      I hate to say it but, ironically Big Mac might be better at leading the country than PPM.

      Unfortunately, the Cayman Islands has been run by Freemasons (Alden and Wayne) for over the last decade.

      We need competent persons as elected leaders, who are not controlled or heavily influenced by Mason or Mechanics Lodges.

      Truman Bodden was the last leader (well Leader of Government Business), who could not be bought or was not in the Lodge.

      The Cayman Islands (like other countries) has a duopoly (minimally), where it appears there is a choice, but whatever that choice is, it’s always the Masonic or Mechanics Lodge or Eastern Star.

      We’re going to change that narrative next election. Clean sweep and getting rid of all the trash littering Parliament on both sides of the aisle.

      At least Jon Jon can claim ignorance to a lot of things, given his severe challenges and limitations. But, please, please, please, let Jon Jon keep speaking in Parliament, because it’s some of the only comic relief that we get.

  39. Anonymous says:

    The territory is in the biggest crisis in its history and he goes on a drinking jolly.

  40. Anonymous says:

    Leaving for the COP26 climate conference when the country is in the middle of a crisis will not be looked at favorably by many voters. Many people think that the government is starving for competent leadership so the Premier leaving at this time is not a good look.

    • Anonymous says:

      There is always the possibility that with Panton absent, the competence of the government may actually improve?

    • Anonymous says:

      If the comments on this site are any indication many voters are idiots that think they are both experts in infectious disease and climate science *shrug*

      The lack of humility in a lot of these comments would be hilarious if it wasn’t downright scary. It seems like the vast majority of the time it’s ignorant idiots that are the loudest while the people with sense generally avoid being mistaken for an idiot by arguing with one.

      With all these arm chair experts it’s a wonder we haven’t solved all the issues that these islands face. 🙄

      • Anonymous says:

        The Cayman People have every right to be critical of their elected government

        And of course for those Cayman residents who don’t get a vote, it is quite correct for them to express their opinions on these politicians, who appear to be from the very dregs of Caymanians – a wretched assortment of morons, convicts, liars, failures and grifters.

  41. Anonymous says:

    Don’t go Wayne . Your boys will vote you out when are away

  42. Anonymous says:

    So, during the biggest crisis this country has faced since Ivan, Windbag Panton heads off on a nice little jolly to jockland.

    Stick a kilt on him and call him wee jock panton mcplop. He has nothing to say, nothing to do, leaves us with the rest of the unqualified incompetents running the show.

  43. Anonymous says:

    What a joke. You can’t make this sh*t up. We have a raging spread of covid. People are out of work for 20 months. Crime is bad. The reopening plan isn’t even a plan. And fancy pants is jetting off to a climate change conference. I’m sickened to think I supported this joker.

  44. Anonymous says:

    Yep. Cayman is definitely needed to fix the climate at this time, please let us instruct them how to adjust the climate at the correct and appropriate temperature.

    Please factor in the last 4.6 Billion years in your equations and proposed measures.

    (Critical thinking is dead)

  45. Anonymous says:

    Carbon fund to help buy and protect our mangroves and sea grass beds?
    Declare a marine park out to 200NM?
    Research facilities?
    Good luck Wayne. This stuff is all so important. We are not facing the consequences yet. You know that.

  46. Anonymous says:

    Priorities???

    We need leadership here and now.

    Going away for a week (plus quarantine) is not leading from the front. And not even a press briefing after the lft policy was released?

    Even the Queen is attending this conference remotely. I’m not impressed!

  47. Anonymous says:

    Giant waste of time. Is he going to talk China into putting up the dough? I guess he hopes to sign up for it somehow.

  48. Anonymous says:

    The sea level has risen 9 inches in 150 years what a stupid waste of time and money.

    ” In 2014, global sea level was 2.6 inches above the 1993 average—the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present). Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one-eighth of an inch per year.”

    Oh noooo the horror!

    https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sealevel.html

  49. Anonymous says:

    There is nothing more important than for him to remain in Cayman while we have the worst outbreak of covid. This is just running away from the problem. This is not leadership.

    • Anonymous says:

      Covid is like a magician’s assistant. It has distracted you from the real existential threat to Cayman. Wayne should absolutely go. He is trying to prevent 27 feet of water from appearing in your bedroom.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yeh our representative who drives several gas guzzling vehicles and a boat that burns more gas with a trip to little Cayman than the average joe burns in a year. If he was serious about carbon pollution he should start doing it himself. If you are going to argue sea level rise, at least be factual instead of just making up numbers as a scaremongering technique. You really believe Panton can stop it anyway?

      • Anonymous says:

        27 feet of water??!! Is he going to jump in the pool or something?

      • Anonymous says:

        You really think he is going to stop Global warming ???!

      • Act now... says:

        Agreed. Well said. Please understand everyone, that our islands will be uninhabitable within the lives of our grandchildren. Everyone and everything will be gone. Just think about that. Stop…think, and really think about that again.
        Maybe even within your lifetime.
        Can you imagine the number of refugees that will be refused entry as country after country says we can’t take them, we have our own problems. We have a limited time left to save the planet from catastrophe. Every government accepts this, it is an indisputable fact as evidenced by the fact that Glasgow is full of world leaders. This is a serious threat. Covid will not wipe Cayman off the map. This actually will.

        • Robert Mugabe IV says:

          Except the dump. That will be 250 ft above Sea Level.

        • Anonymous says:

          10:10 am. What are you smoking?. Got to be something extra strong. These Islands will be uninhabitable in our Grand children time. Ha ha. Come on man it will be a mininium of 500 for that to happen. Then another 500 for the Brac to get to that state.

      • Anonymous says:

        And his physical presence at the conference will achieve exactly what?

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe the real reason for his trip…is to seek help with the unslaught of local COVID-19 positive cases/spread, and to secure future funding of the government. Who knows…? Although climate matters are on the table, there may be other pressing issues to be discussed, in Scottland. Hey, I’m just hazarding a guess 🤷

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