Panton promises to make real changes in 2022

| 04/01/2022 | 82 Comments
Premier Wayne Panton 2022 New Year Message

(CNS): Premier Wayne Panton has committed to making real change in the lives of local people during 2022 after delivering a budget that has made a considerable amount of money available to plug the gaps in society, from free meals for kids in school to investing in farmers to improve food security.

Delivering a New Year message, Panton also promised that sustainability would be the basis of the PACT Government’s overall policy and that it would deliver on the change that the public voted for. He also said that even though COVID-19 remained the primary health challenge, the government was going to ensure everyone has access to equitable healthcare.

Outlining the goals for this year, largely derived from the recent budget, he spoke about the need to deal this year with a fully researched beach renourishment and a ban on certain single-use plastic. Panton said government was grateful to the young activists who have been at the forefront of environmental issues locally and that PACT’s focus would be on sustainability in every area of government.

“Our goal is to ensure that the Cayman Islands is held up as one of the most sustainable countries of the world where all of its citizens thrive,” he said, adding that PACT would assist everyone to live their best life. Delivering a hopeful message, the premier said government would continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19.

However, in his own New Year message, the opposition leader was critical of the PACT government’s management of the pandemic as well as the 2022/23 budget. Roy McTaggart, said the future was being viewed with anxiety because some people do not believe this government truly understands what it takes to run the country.

He said the increased spending and large borrowing were real concerns, though he said that people should remain hopeful. Urging people to get a COVID vaccine booster shot to help Cayman navigate the challenges ahead, especially the recovery of tourism, he urged the government to listen to the tourism sector’s stakeholders.

McTaggart said the opposition had criticised government not just for the sake of it but to get them to take their advice and pursue policies set out by the PPM that they believe people support after they steered the country through the lockdown in 2020.

“We find ourselves in opposition,” said McTaggart, added that the Progressives had achieved much for the country and would continue to promote its policy platform. “We will keep on making the argument for Progressive policy positions.”

See the messages on CIGTV below:


Share your vote!


How do you feel after reading this?
  • Fascinated
  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Angry
  • Bored
  • Afraid

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Tags: , ,

Category: Politics

Comments (82)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    When Wayne got elected I bought a pound of salt. Every time he makes a promise I take it with a teaspoon of that salt. Looks like I will soon need to buy another pound – and I think I will stick with the Morton’s Salt…

  2. Anonymous says:

    Actions speak louder than words, Wayne. So far Wayne’s actions and words fail to pass muster. Don’t tell us, show us.

  3. Go Electric says:

    While we’re at it let’s ban gas powered leaf blowers. They’re noisy and environmental monsters.

    One hour of gas-powered leaf blower use is equivalent in emissions to a vehicle driving 1,100 miles, according to the CA Air Resources Board.

    • Anonymous says:

      Cannot agree more. I recently left the Cayman Islands after many years of work and unfortunately one of my lasting memories is the constant noise pollution from Leaf Blowers, wherever you are on Grand Cayman. Remember the first day when the lockdown ended and how the Leaf Blowers were back in full force. Please do yourself a favour and take the same path as many other countries and ban them.

    • Joseph says:

      I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this is a problem.
      I raised it with my local strata and was told that it received some serious discussion at a board meeting and some proposed solutions will be raised at our upcoming AGM. Most likely we will propose buying a professional grade blower for our landscapers to use.

  4. Anonymous says:

    “Our goal is to ensure that the Cayman Islands is held up as one of the most sustainable countries of the world where all of its citizens thrive”

    Our reality is Cayman is the most expensive place in the world where only rich citizens thrive.

    Your promises don’t comfort this fool.

  5. Anonymous says:

    You wanted PPM out, they were voted out.

    Now you complaining about PACT sheesh

    Newlands people complaining that the Premier doesnt come out to see them AS IF the PREMIER who has a country to run, has his own Ministry and is clearly managing the other MP’s ministries for them must also prance around Newlands and care about your yard flooding?

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe he should ask Suckoo to run his constituency district council for him.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yup. Why we need a two chamber Parliament. 5 Minister Cabinet, elected nationally (they can either choose premier, or premier elected separately nationally) and a 11 Member Parliament elected by districts, with a non-MP Speaker.

  6. Anonymous says:

    No Weed No Vote!

    All unna promised reform to allow Caymanians to produce medical cannabis instead of importing from Canada.

    Even down to Juju supported legal production of cannabis. Was it all talk for wotes as usual?

  7. Anonymous says:

    Stop bringing in foreigners to take jobs from Caymanians! You’re creating a lazy dependent class.

    • Anonymous says:

      You still don’t get it do you?

    • Anonymous says:

      Why do you think businesses hire foreigners? There is already a Lazy dependent class on island. No one would go through the hoops of WORC and the terrible WORC website if you were able to find workers on island. I am a multi generational Caymanian.

      • Anonymous says:

        Businesses hire foreigners because it’s easy to get rid of them if they don’t work out, PLUS work permits are more than cheap for that flexibility: modern day slavery! Caymanians are not necessarily lazy, they are not hired because– due to positive discrimination (PD) — they have an attitude of entitlement and protection, and even if they prove to be totally useless to their employer the Labour Board will (over) protect them in any employment dispute. PD is a disaster for Caymanians — it make them feel entitled and therefore makes them less competitive, i.e., “you got to give me the job, the law says so”. You cannot make up for decades of poor education with PD

      • Anonymous says:

        Does being a ‘multi-generational’ Caymanian make you above single generation Caymanians? Seems a pretty stupid label to me,

      • Anonymous says:

        Really..slave labour is problem.
        We have no career planning..not jobs.. for our own people, but immigrants come with a guaranteed career path.
        Many WORC clients are the new Caymanians who now can’t get jobs as they can’t be abused as before status grant.
        In tourism, in addition to low salaries, the grats of organizations often do not reach line staff.
        Even the labour law was amended years back to prevent managers from skimming grats from the top..but it still happens.
        Regardless, how can you pay someone 4.50/hr..then deduct health and pension fees? Then expect them to work extended hours without overtime, split shifts and other ridiculous conditions.
        Even have pay for own uniforms. I’ve seen all this and more!
        That’s why locals cannot tolerate such abuses and drift away from hospitality industry, which is then relegated to imported cheap labor.
        And then there’s the issue of exported positions.. many permit staff go home on rollover but take their jobs with them..
        Some don’t even return here but continue to collect the pay while remote working!
        Even local lawyers are now appealing over this problem!
        Many issues are being ignored..while locals slip into a welfare frame of mind, unfortunately.

    • Anonymous says:

      You’re not wrong about creating a lazy dependent class, but that is really a problem stemming from their parents, upbringing and the education system.

      Fix the home environment first and the rest will follow…

  8. Anonymous says:

    Band-aid to stop a leak in the Hoover Dam. Does he realise that more hand-outs make people even more lazy?

  9. Anonymous says:

    Single use plastics ban vs. not dealing with toxic garbage mountain.

    Wasting money dumping sand in front of the Marriott instead of making them take the sea wall down and plant some trees.

    This guy is truly a champion of the environment and I’m so glad he’s in charge. Ugh.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Most of SMB, north of Dart cabana, is in the best shape I can recall. Beach south of there, eroded from private property owners who ignored setbacks and guidance and built illegal wave deflection walls should be held responsible via our courts. Neighbouring condo stratas should class action against Marriott, Dart, and others that ruined that section. The public can’t be in the business of offering weather and landscape warranties for terrible private party decisions using our public funds. Not prudent.

    • Anonymous says:

      They might try, proper investigation will confirm that the culprit is by the Smurf houses however.

      • Anonymous says:

        Cannot agree more. I recently left the Cayman Islands after many years of work and unfortunately one of my lasting memories is the constant noise pollution from Leaf Blowers, wherever you are on Grand Cayman. Remember the first day when the lockdown ended and how the Leaf Blowers were back in full force. Please do yourself a favour and take the same path as many other countries and ban them.

    • Anonymous says:

      Except that Marriott didn’t build Marriott. the original developer was a couple of owners ago. So, like getting payments from whatever Michael Ryan’s previous company was called, there’s no one to sue. Sorry. This is our problem and blame doesn’t fix things.

  11. Anonymous says:

    SIPL Law?!?

  12. Anonymous says:

    A little off topic but is anyone else noticing an air of tranquility and soundness with not having Minister Bryan reverbing his nonsense all around the place ? Even Mr Premier seems more canty than usual with his NYear message above but should anyone put any value into my interpretation ? I’ll be the first to recommend not putting too much weight there 🔊

  13. Anonymous says:

    Poor Roy, still trying to be relevant..He should have Roper to get him a knighthood too..

  14. Anonymous says:

    The real change that needs to happen first and foremost is that Panton accepts the fact that at least 3 of his Ministers are above their heads holding Ministerial positions, namely Bush, Bryan and Ebanks (NS one). Let moving them be the first change that you enforce.

    • Anonymous says:

      I count at least 4.

    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t forget the international disgrace who is currently degrading our Speaker’s chair.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why does nobody take issue with “no declared conflicts” Juju being given a $220mln budget to fully-fund construction of PPM schools stalled since early turn of century? Can anyone recall how many times we’ve been billed full ticket price for these? She’s also Lands Minister. Discuss.

    • Anonymous says:

      at least 3 of his Ministers are above their heads

      Giving Andre a bly as first term politician yet to show his true colours, can you really name one Minister who isn’t?

  15. Anonymous says:

    wayne…some free advice from the future:
    your free school meals will achieve nothing
    your farming scheme is just another handout to political friends and will achieve nothing
    your plans are just populist window dressing….the shadow of the dump will keep stalking you.

  16. Anonymous says:

    one question wayne:
    who is the speaker of the house and who put him there?
    till you answer that…save us the populist waffle…your record of spineless flip-flopping over the past 7 months speaks for itself.

  17. Anonymous says:

    A government that lied about the reopening date
    A government that lied about the stipend
    A government that lied about cruise ships being banned until 2022

    Regardless of what anyone thinks of the above, a lie is a lie

    How can they be trusted?

  18. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    I’m willing to be hopeful.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Not focusing on educating, or job placing, etc…simply hand-outs by other names! To paraphrase James Brown, “I don’t want nobody to give me nothing, just open the door I’ll get it myself”..(don’t try to untwine, just dig it). Definitely not PACT’s approach!

    Hon. Leader of the Opposition is right when he doubts that PACT doesn’t understand how to run Cayman, nor are they experienced! Their concept is keeping their voters happy with favour$$! The same trainwreck that Jim Bodden started, with Mac at the controls again!

    Bye Cayman, figuratively. Sadly I have nowhere else to go but in your soil when that time comes. Glad I’m a boomer!

    • Anonymous says:

      Stop blaming Jim Bodden for today’s woes. He was for education – especially vocational education, housing, developing new industries, and providing a hand-up and not a hand-out. It was the government’s post 1984 that created the mess we are in now. Not him. Besides – it was an entire government – not just one man. Go read the Hansards from his days in the LA if you want his true policy positions. Don’t rely on either second hand gossip or your own spite.

      • Anonymous says:

        05 @ 11:12 am – please note, as I said, I’m a boomer. Therefore I don’t have to rely on Hansards or “second hand gossip” to know about Jim Bodden. I lived it. I recall his hateful rhetoric against Brits (“Limeys” he called them) and Jamaicans taking Caymanian jobs, his preaching Caymanian entitlement, his introduction of Lodge and corruption to Government, his calling and directing Govt officials to hire or fire at his will (depending on who was a supporter), his “gifting” of people for their support by “providing a hand-up” and ALL the “J.M. Bodden and Son Realty” signs lining a pristine Seven Mile Beach!!

        Where were you? And yes, he had henchmen like Truman Bodden in Education. Where are those vocational programs and new industries , you say? Oh yes, instead of a few real estate agencies in those days there are now dozens – all dominated by guest workers. Quite a nice “industry”!

        The 1984/88 Govt was the only one we’ve had with any integrity since! Yes, I blame Jim Bodden because he introduced a corrupt pattern which has been followed by the majority of our “leaders” since, and this MacPACT is no different!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Instead of teaching our people how to fish, you simply want to just give them food and in several years when you are down the road we will be left to pick up the pieces and start all over again.

  21. Anonymous says:

    Make a real change and remove yourself ASAP.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Do you know what Wayne, I’ll state my ignorance at the outset saying I haven’t even read the article, but at this point going off of the headline, yeah sure.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Help persons learn to fend for themelves. Not lean on govt. Get them to understand that is the only way. Short term help to get to that point is fine. Start from primary and keep it going. I fully believe persons prefer to be self reliant they just meed help getting there.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Wow McTaggart might really believe the PPM ran the country well….they gave away our futures and tried to force an incredibly expensive port project through for personal financial gain……he used to be kind of smart but seems to be on the dumb pills since he got into politics.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Good luck Wayne, everyone will ignore your Government and do what the hell they like with no accountability – as normal.

  26. Anonymous says:

    Well you can start with your very woeful Planning Department.
    What a joke from the Minister to the Director – need some change at the top level.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes I can agree with you on that. I am building a house on Cayman Brac and the person who works at the Planning Office over here cannot even tell me when the Building Inspector is coming over here.
      I ask the contractor why they are not working and they said they are waiting for an inspection.
      So let me get this straight, here it the year 2022, an island nation wants investment – well they don’t even have an on island Building Inspector????

      And yet they have a full time person working at the Museum, at the Heritage House, another promoting Art, a tourism office at West End Park, tourism people at Admin.

      So not sure the Planning Minister or Director really get it when it comes to planning. You got your local employee working in a broom closet and there is hardly anything that person can do to help with the process.

      Yes Cayman Brac, I love this peaceful island, but it sure seems like the bureaucrats in Grand Cayman have truly forgotten you

  27. Anonymous says:

    I wonder if Caymanians are the unhealthiest people, in terms of physical and mental health. NOT A WORD about this HUGE problem.

  28. anon says:

    The simplest way to provide every Caymanian with equitable health care is to have them join the Civil Service and be part of a World Class organisation.

  29. Anonymous says:

    The Progressives, the anti-progressives.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Handout capital of the world.

Leave a Reply to Anonymous Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.