McTaggart accuses Bryan of breaching ministers’ code

| 11/07/2022 | 258 Comments
Cayman News Service
Kenneth and Michelle in the real estate promo video posted on Facebook

(CNS): Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan’s appearance in a social media video promoting his wife’s real estate business is a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart said in a statement released Monday. The PPM leader said he was greatly troubled by the “shocking video”, which he said was a flagrant breach of the principles of good governance and “egregious conduct”.

According to the video, as well as endorsing and promoting his wife’s business interests directly to his constituents, Bryan delivered leaflets door to door.

McTaggart noted that “this is a business from which Minister Bryan personally benefits. It is his wife’s business… In all my years, I have never seen such a deliberate and flagrant breach of the principles of good governance by a government minister.”

He further said that Bryan, “a member of Parliament and the Cabinet, has sworn an oath to serve the people of the Cayman Islands and to put the country’s interests before his own”, adding that the minister had agreed to the PACT Government’s Ministerial Code of Conduct.

McTaggart pointed to section 19 of the code, which says that a minister should not endorse commercial products or services in any media and that even in speeches it is not appropriate for a minister to explicitly promote an organisation or its products or services.

“The minister should, therefore, know that he should not use his position to benefit a family member or himself financially,” he said. “Minister Bryan may have constituents in a similar line of business and his endorsement could unfairly impact their business.”

He said this was a “serious conflict of interest” because anyone “seeking to gain favour with the minister may feel bound to choose to use the person he has endorsed and may expect to receive a benefit in return”.

In the video, Michele Bryan noted how, after helping Kenneth in his election campaigns, she had recruited him for one day to help with her business, as she sent him off to deliver the flyers. The video was removed from Bryan’s Facebook page on Monday but the video was still on his wife’s Facebook page when this article was published.

McTaggart said that Premier Wayne Panton should also take responsibility, as he has faced several challenges this year regarding the behaviour of some of his ministers, including Bryan.

“Whilst the premier may ignore the minister’s billboards across George Town, which were erected without the necessary planning permission, he cannot ignore the real problem that this latest video presents. There is a growing perception that some ministers in the PACT Government believe that the laws, rules and regulations of the Cayman Islands do not apply to them. And so they increasingly behave with impunity. For this, the premier must bear full responsibility.”

McTaggart said that Panton must demonstrate leadership and ensure that his ministers understand their roles and responsibilities.

“Ministers must conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring their office and the government into disrepute. Minister Bryan must immediately take down the videos, and he and Premier Panton should apologise to his constituents and the country for this most egregious conduct,” the opposition leader added.

CNS has contacted both Minister Bryan and the premier and we are awaiting a response.

See the Ministerial Code of Conduct in the CNS Library.

Watch Kenneth and Michele’s Facebook video here.

The audio from the Facebook video is posted below, as well as a different video made by the Bryans and supplied by the PPM, plus the opposition leader’s video message:


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Category: Business, Politics, Real Estate

Comments (258)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Technically it wasn’t right, but it’s not the worst Kenneth has done.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    I would suggest that a much better advert would be to commit to only charging 2% commission across any property listed. Much better than any video.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    From day one I agreed KB should not be a minister. Nothing personal he is just not qualified on many levels. What kills me tho is the hypocrisy of Roy. Not sure who is the bigger idiot KB or RM.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    No one much cares.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    He should resign from government then sell real estate. Oh wait, he apparently already sells real estate.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Thank God the Cayman Islands has another property expert on hand though!

    What this country really needs, is a person who shows you around a property – helps you identify the purpose of a particular room (like say, a bathroom) – and then charges the owner about 7% of the selling price for those expert services!!!

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  7. Anonymous says:

    So? Everybody is looking out for their own interest includinng Kenneth.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Legge was right. You don’t even think a public official using their position to advance their family interests is even a problem.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wow you must be new, that is the essence of Cayman politics, why else would they run for office?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Doesn’t make it right, and simply supports Legge’s view that Cayman has gotten so used to corruption we don’t even see it anymore.

        • Anonymous says:

          Many run to do good. Not many of those are elected now. There are good and competent people out there.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Still no reporting on this from the Compass.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    The silence from the premier is deafening. Immediate action is necessary both on this and the narcissistic billboards. He lost credibility with me, when he made a deal with the speaker to gain power. This government is not for the people, only their own selfish gains to remain in power.

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  10. Johnny the Wad says:

    Too bad Durty’s isn’t still in business….he could have ran a line for Over/Unders weekly for the amount of comments this Muppet (KB) gets every time he’s mentioned in the press.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    The people are seeing more clearly each day. The people are waking up. The times are dark but after the darkness comes the light.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    I dont understand why the place even has rules. They don’t have consequences anyway. This will be gone by Friday.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    This is not expected? He used to sell drugs and he was voted in. The voters obviously get what they want here. The only problem is the pesky laws.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What about Sabrina, she is still doing Ads for the radio station? Is she being paid for that service? Asking for my granddaughter?

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  14. Anonymous says:

    as dissapointed as i am…i’m still keeping kenny on speed-dial

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  15. Anonymous says:

    “In all my years, I have never seen such a deliberate and flagrant breach of the principles of good governance by a government minister.”

    I disagree with Kenneth Bryan here as well but I find the above quote incredibly difficult to believe.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Class A buffoon.

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  17. Frustrated Caymanian says:

    It is what it is , a code of conduct has been established. If it is not adhered to in this instance then the whole thing is awash and utterly disappointing. Weekly KB is making headlines like this…pickney plain and simple. No thought whatsoever on reactions to his actions. Step Down…one last billboard saying goodbye.

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    • Anonymous says:

      And Big Wayne says nothing…
      Whilst Kenneth may not follow the comments on here, fairly certain his wife will do.
      XXX The saddest part is he could well be a future Premier. #sponsoredbybigmac

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    • Anonymous says:

      @8:55am..Well at least PACT has a code of conduct to break..PPM was there 12 years and had none, nor did they want any XXXX.

  18. Anonymous says:

    …and what does that have to do with the issue??

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Say what you want about Alden, while some of it may be true, he would have responded to that and deal with it like he did in the past with this same minister.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Wonder if Mrs. Bryan was prompted by or will benefit from banks’ re-possessing properties!

    Wha’ ya say Kenny?

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  21. Anonymous says:

    The problem is less that they (public officials) don’t care but more that they don’t even know! They don’t realize “corruption” in any form.

    Legge was right! OT Minister keep an eye on Cayman!

    Sig. Old School Caymanian who remembers public ethics.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Does his wife own the Real Estate Business or does she work for one?

    According to Roy she owns the business..Is that correct?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep, more and more like Mac.
      Totally unprincipled uneducated and shameless.
      Perhaps his wife can explain those things to him.

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      • Anonymous says:

        She was part of the video and will benefit from their poor decision, so clearly she’s just as foolish

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    • Anonymous says:

      Most real estate agents work as independent contractors but are affiliated with one of the Real Estate Companys.

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    • Anonymous says:

      @7:44am I think Roy knows better but this is more for effect….She works for Century 21. I seriously doubt Kel has sold her any shares in that company and last time I checked he still owned it.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Resume

    1. Push illegal Drugs
    2. Push Vaccines
    3 Push Mortgage Debt

    The Cayman Politicians Circle of Life

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Why aren’t you “Shocked” when McKeeeva beats up women, or John John makes his gay slurs in the House?

    Why are you schooled at the sad state of education, the government is failing its children, why aren’t you “shocked” at the sexual child abuse, domestic violence, abuse against women, why aren’t you “Shocked” that STILL, nothing has been done about the dump, why aren’t you “Shocked” at the daily irreversible environmental damage that is committed on a daily basis by developers, why aren’t you “shocked” that in 2022 we don’t have equal rights for everyone, why aren’t you “shocked” that in 2022 abortion is considered a “sin” and not what it actually is healthcare.

    Seems like you’re shocked at the things that don’t really matter.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Look! Whataboutism!!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      And that’s where we fail as a country. these things DO and SHOULD matter. If I was at work and started contravening the staff manual or handbook, I’d expect to be disciplined at best and fired at worst. And I’m not representing my country.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    I would like to know of just one politician who has not profited from their time in government. Just one.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You are probably correct for most MPs, including in the PPM leadership, who are not even a party, they are trying to find relevance for the opposition.

      But does that make it right? NO, both are wrong.

      All too often that type of attitude causes the downfall of a country.

      If it is wrong for one then is is wrong for all, it shold be called out and punished.

      Yes, there is much law breaking by MPs and the public needs to speak out about it.

      Yes, PPM are very guilty of giving business to their own.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Have a word with Winston.

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    • Anonymous says:

      12 @ 5:01 am – Roy Bodden? Ezzard Miller?

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    • Anonymous says:

      What about Foolio and Dr. Frank? At least whatever profits they received are longgone.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    It’s part of Kenny’s plan for dealing with banks. OK, if you have to foreclose then send a list of foreclosures to my wife, sorry I mean my Chief Officer, so we can give these people some assistance.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Panton,

    I need to get off this Marl Road ride, as it is full of pot holes. Wait a minute, I see a bend, is this the end?

    Sir in all due respect, you have to demonstrate leadership on this and respond accordingly. Your silence is deafening.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly. I know he has COVID but a press release should have been issued already. Cayman voters are waiting.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Now what about the former Premier Sir Alden getting free public relations mileage in the run up to the last election, when he was on the government’s television CIGTV actively promoting his own farm for many months? What about the optics of that Mr. Mctaggart? Your opinion on this is urgently required.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Wayne ‘the ministers flunky’

    Mr Panton this joker has already breached ‘the code’ without repercussions when lying with his scare tactic about stopping the stipend and now this ? Be a man Mr Premier but if you can’t at least do the honourable thing; ditch the code and take away the distinction of being accorded honourable. 🗑🕺🏻

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  30. Anonymous says:

    She will soon have exclusive property listings pouring in. Same thing Mac did. Ritz Carlton condos…all for Mac’s real estate company. Legal way of taking bribes.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    Cayman gets what it deserves….when you prevent the best educated and most successful in your community from running for office

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    • Anonymous says:

      You are wrong. Caymanian status grantees will never be able to run for office. Your grandchild might.

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      • Anonymous says:

        What should be and what will occur are two different things.

        As a result of Mac’s 2003 grant of Caymanian Status to over 3,000 people, over 10,000 people connected to those 3,000 how have Caymanian Status.

        You are probably a Generational Caymanian and you will never support Paper Caymanians being elected to Parliament, but Generational Caymanians are NOT the majority of electors.

        Additionally the UK has been pushing for all residents to have the right to vote, based on past actions by this Governor and the attitude of the UK, like it or not in the not too distant future non-Caymanian Status holders will have the right to vote and they will elect their own. The people that control some MPs will soon instruct the MPs promote this change.

        This is the result of the greed of Caymanians and their short term thinking of what their MP will do for them today.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Not currently, but Elections Law can/should be amended anyway to change some of the whacky criteria – eg. disqualifying convicted criminals, might be a good idea, if trying to sell a convincing pass at good governance!

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        • Anonymous says:

          8.43am You’re correct but it needs to be done via an Order in Council by the Governor as the MP’s will never pass all the changes needed.

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          • Anonymous says:

            The Governor would be overreaching. This would go against principles of devolution, which would breach self-autonomy principles.

            Cayman is not so out-of-control that UK needs to intervene — analogously BVI did not even go into direct rule.

    • Anonymous says:

      Most educated and successful? What a joke.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, what a joke. New grantees will never be able to run for office. They are free to run back to where they came from. Run for the hills, just not public office.

    • Fed up Caymanian says:

      We have enough trouble with our own and their secret interests we don’t need to contend with those who only reside here for their own benefit and if you’re honest that’s the only reason many hold status here. This is already expat island and your voice already holds way more weight with CIG’s decision making than it should.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Any applicant that has successfully navigated the legitimate 15 year process to apply for Caymanian Status, met all the pedantic criteria four or more times, and has convincingly demonstrated and attested with evidence at each level, medical/historical knowledge tests, property, public service, and Caymanian references to a significant lifetime commitment to these islands. We should realise that speaks to greater conviction than many born Caymanians demonstrate when they fail to apply for Continuance at age 18. I know who I’d rather have standing for (more) public SERVICE. We can no longer pretend that the shallow pool of self-dealing, nest-feathering suspect candidates can competently govern to the standard that is required for 2022+. We need to pick from a de-biased roster that includes service-minded candidates with intact reputations, no convictions (obviously), and no money/retirement/Royal Gong motive.

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        • Anon says:

          Yeah. You mean like the US & UK, such shining examples of all that is incorruptible and just? pfft.

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  32. Anonymous says:

    The uneducated (Kenny Bryan voters) will see nothing wrong with this.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Kenny Bryan voters and CMR followers.

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      • Anonymous says:

        🤣 glad you mentioned the CMR reader🤣🤣🤣

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are so correct.

        It is all very predictable – ignorance and greed leads.

        Pave a road, give me some money, fix a roof, anything, just anything and you have my vote.

        Mac began doing this in West Bay and it has spread like an epidemic to all districts. This is the Jamaican style politics in Cayman, just listen to some of the kiss up calls and comments.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Kenny help me and the rest of us poor people so you foreigners need to leave him alone. You probably mad cause you not get a free trip to Hollywood.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes this is them people who always down on poor people. shipped more of them shipped in rich people – shame on them!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The spin zone is at full throttle on Facebook.

      “He’s supporting his wife, as all should” is the spin.

      Chef’s kiss

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  33. anon1 says:

    There it is. How corruption slowly and surely creeps in with a bit of power. Doesn’t surprise in the least. These ministers have been doing similar for years. They also do the same for their corrupt cronies, putting them in positions of power that reflect the ultimate of conflicts. Yet, those in the know, bury their head into proverbial sand and allow corruption to flourish on our main island.

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  34. JJ says:

    Marl Road will post about others BUT fail to post about their FAVORITE PACT government. Disgusting behavior. Shows how they operate and not to mention the talk about privileged! SHAME on Bryan! Yup next election he ain’t getting in for sure.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Never been a better time to resign.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Wayne should resign.

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      • Anonymous says:

        While you are not wrong in so much that he has no control over his appointed cabinet members, consider the alternatives.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Wayne will do fine as a placeholder as Premier, who keeps the PPM out of power. However, in 2025, we need real change.

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    • Anonymous says:

      lmao we have bigger issues than this… lol they let mckeeva stay in have years of beating women and taking government money lol
      the outcry about this is laughable. LMAO “resign”

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      • Anonymous says:

        This very same group welcomed Mac with open arms. Kenny blocked his removal prior to the election. Your point?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Lol I’m pretty sure you missed the point. Lol
          It’s not about where Mac is now and with who. It’s the fact that he IS THERE in any party and while in power as premier and after he did heaps of BS.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @8:56pm Your memory is short, Alden called a new election because he was afraid to let McKeeva go as it would have been the end of his party. Rather than doing the right thing he plunged the country into unnecessary early election..He had the upper hand so no use complaining now.

  36. Anonymous says:

    No accountability. No repercussions. No sanctions. No integrity. No humility. No social awareness. No clue. No chance Wayne will say a word about it. No real surprise. No future for Cayman.

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  37. Anonymous says:

    There are no more than 20 properties on Tropicana Crescent, most of them rentals.

    Must have been a real fruitful exercise.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The value of the exercise is not the tenants in Tropicana. It’s getting the message out that the ministers wife is a real estate agent looking for commissions, with the obvious inference. That’s the problem – not what work she will or will not pick up by door knocking.

  38. Elvis says:

    You honestly expect anything better Cayman?

    I mean he is who he is

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    • Anonymous says:

      Elvis, you never cease to amaze me, your observations are spot on every time, your perception of truth vs crookedness in action is correct.

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  39. Anonymous says:

    I was wondering if i was the only person to find this as a blatant abuse of power. The damage has already been done and they knew exactly what they were doing!

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  40. Anonymous says:

    One day he’s crying because of real estate in a video the next day he’s promoting it … ya cyan’t make this up!

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  41. Anonymous says:

    Cringe.

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Two scandals in one day?!

    Just a case of the Mondays, right?

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  43. Anonymous says:

    Wayne Panton ?? He is too busy burying his head in the fridge trying to come up with more ingredients to make the biggest sandwich in the world. He cares as much about what Kenny is doing as he knows the price of gas !

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  44. Anonymous says:

    Everyone should watch the video before commenting. Shilling for personal household gain as a government official is quite an ethical dilemma.

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  45. Anonymous says:

    Oh. Are Govt officials exempt?
    Like bids for security guard and video contracts?

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  46. Anonymous says:

    Illegal billboards and he post on his Facebook about illegal cars and such.

    What a dip!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Enablers on Facebook defending this too.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You hypocrite! First, remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If I don’t openly use my position to solicit revenue for myself or my family and don’t have any criminal convictions, can I remove the note from Kenny’s eye?

  47. Anonymous says:

    It’s interesting that Marl Road isn’t reporting on this… cannot believe this is the current governments preferred media outlet (a generous term, I know)

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  48. Anonymous says:

    I wonder does Kenny understand the role realtors have in getting people into serious debt and foreclosure situations?….’always a good time to buy kenny’?
    Anyway u can always cry in Ur next viral video sensation….it’s a win-win again!

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    • Anonymous says:

      If he really wanna help that lady he cryin about, he could hire her to deliver pamphlets. He got enough money to do it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Realtors and banks create an environment for mortgage manipulation. Straddling Caymanians with debt traps.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You are an idiot. How do you think people buy homes? All cash? Serious bunch of ignorant folk commenting on this.

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      • Fed up Caymanian says:

        Not that you’re far off but the problem in Cayman is that most Caymanians can’t compete with the expats and foreigners who are buying unrestricted. The demand by them is high and the main reason prices are increasing so fast. You can’t tie property ownership to status grants or let whoever buy however much and wherever they want in any price point they want.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t think all realtors should be generalized because of this one. Buying my first home using my realtor was most rewarding and she helped me find my dream home. My realtor had nothing to do with my financing that was entirely between me and my bank. I gave her my budget and she respected it. If anything we should be on the banks to offer better rates and lower deposits..They are the true vultures..

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  49. Anonymous says:

    Try so go deliver that crap down Washington Boulevard.

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