MP says she’s acting for people, not profit re road
(CNS): Heather Bodden MP (SAV) has told CNS she was elected to “serve the people and not to profit” following a report that she owns land along a stretch of the proposed East-West Arterial Road extension. The PACT backbench MP said she wasn’t “even thinking about the land” she owns when she spoke during a controversial parliamentary debate in April over the need, or not, for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the whole of the planned road.
Bodden did not mention her land ownership when she voted for the private member’s motion brought by McKeeva Bush MP at the last meeting of parliament, though it is listed on her register of interests. Bodden is one of the owners of a parcel of land which would be dissected by the EWA extension along the stretch up to Lookout Gardens.
Responding to a report in the Cayman Compass on Monday about the potential conflict of interest, she told CNS she was very angry about the news story because her contribution in the House was made on behalf of the people in her constituency who are dealing with traffic congestion every day.
“It was not about the property,” she said when CNS asked for her response to the news article and her potential conflict. “It was never about me. I was elected to serve the people. They are the ones suffering.”
Bodden accepted that she inherited the land, along with her sister, from her father’s estate. But she said she was not involved in a rezoning application, made last November, to allow both commercial and residential development on the large piece of land
If the application had been successful, the rezoning would have likely increased the land’s value once the stretch of road in question was completed, and according to the minutes of the relevant Central Planning Authority meeting, it was motivated by the proposed highway extension. But the application was denied because the CPA said it was “not consistent with the draft National Planning Framework”.
The Department of Environment had also urged the CPA to hold off rezoning any land on either side of this road until the environmental impact assessment for the project is complete.
Bodden is not the only politically connected person who owns land along the route of this controversial road that is likely to benefit if it goes ahead as they will be able to develop the land. But she is the only sitting MP who has revealed her ownership.
The land owned by Bodden and her family, Block 31A, Parcel 29, under the name of Jay’s Heritage Holdings, is situated in the Lower Valley area. The majority of MPs have said that this part of the stretch should not be subject to an EIA and have asked the government to consider starting work on this section immediately.
When she spoke briefly on the bill during the debate, Bodden said that her constituents’ quality of life was being impacted when they set off in the early hours of the morning to take children to school, half-dressed and feeding them breakfast as they sat for hours in traffic on the way to school. She said that she fully supported the motion because of the stress the situation was now causing to so many people, and while the road had to be done properly, it had to be done quickly.
In response to the Compass article, Bodden said that she was angry that people would suggest she was profiting from her work as an MP when she was there only to help people, and her constituents know that. She said the issue was being taken out of context as the land was part of her heritage.
Bodden said she was serving the people when she gets up to speak in parliament and did not believe she was conflicted by taking part in the debate and supporting the motion because all of her interests were declared.
She said that the road should have been done years ago, and she understood people’s frustration when they heard that it would take another year to get the EIA done before work could start. “How much more do the people have to suffer?” Bodden asked, adding that she had no interest in money or the land but only in “my people and my islands”.
See the relevant parliamentary debate below on CIGTV:
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Category: Politics
I wonder how many deep breaths Wayne takes in the mornings before he checks the news.
He too busy on WMR to worry about real news.
What a load of happy horseshit – does she really think that anybody in Cayman believes a word of her pathetic explanation.
Well, they believe, twice I might add, that she would be a great representative! She is a pleasant person but I am much afraid it stops there. Now this debacle!
I just hope heather and family dont try to claim once again for the road going through their property and expect govt to pay them in light of this situation? She wont be getting my Vote again that’s for sure.
Same old, same old for Cayman’s crooked and self-serving politicians. For every one that goes, there will be a new one lined up and ready to fill their faces at the trough.
Community builds country you mean Bypass builds heather and family! omitting the truth exposes MP bodden to be a Big ole Hypocrite! truth makes voters look like idiots
At least we now know the Truth! I no longer have to waste my Vote on her!
She don’t care about unnah she more concern about the malls in Miami and Tampa and shopping and how to maintain that type of lifestyle and 293 acres and 100 million up land development can make that happen for them and build her own country in Savannah .F$#% the environment it’s about the $$$ you stupid voters !
Would the Standards in Public Life Committee care to comment on how they missed this self-interest policy overlap? What action are they going to take now that it is clear there was an admitted breach of the Standards?
This is why the SIPL register needs to be online for media and constituents to have easy access to cross-reference. The registers should also be updated in real time, like any other compliance check in the private sector. That includes all undeclared corporate shareholder interests beneficially owned by the various MP families too. Too many politicians working on their own accounts, and not even apologising when exposed. Heather would be asked to spare the party the embarrassment and step down anywhere else. Little wonder Cayman is on the corruption watchlists. Yet another Exhibit to add to the pile.
The motion should be set aside.
Full stop.
At least we now know that Jon Jon is the most honest to a fault MLA from Bodden Town. Whatever you want to say about Jon Jon, you cannot say he is not honest. Might not agree with Jon Jon often and he might say confusing things sometimes but you really cannot say he’s not an honest man. Confused yes, dishonest no. Just can’t make this stuff up.
Sad but true.
An honest idiot!
On what planet? Alleged curfew breaches…possible DUI crashes and other Premier-coordinated judicial interventions are these the hallmarks of honesty?
“Officer, honestly I was working at the Office until 11pm and just fell asleep at the wheel for a second due to burnout and exhaustion. Just call Wayne if you don’t believe me”
While you’re at it Heather who financed your election bid last time?
Ask the premier. He might know.
While you’re at it ask him who else in PACT he’s paid off loans and expenses for.
@8:40am..That is a low blow and uncalled for..Heather has never needed help from anyone and in fact has helped more people than you could count from her own pocket and this has been for all her adult life whether she was in politics or not..
She doesn’t need the Premier’s money or anyone else’s. Her family has always been very generous to the people in Savannah and Newlands in their donation of property for public use as well. The property across the street from Cayman Islands Baptist comes to mind.
Trying to destroy someone’s personal character without proof is just not right.. If you are going to make these accusations, please bring the proof.
The people of Savannah and Newlands know better about their representatives. Luckily for us, we have two that cannot or don’t need to be bought unlike some other districts.
You do know there are declarations regarding funding that they file and show Wayne paid for some of her campaign costs. It’s not a secret…
A Savannah resident here, and Heather Bodden only looks after privileged Caymanians like herself!
And a certain skin colour too!
If the road served no useful purpose it would add no value to the property. So it seems the complaints are illogical and juvenile as usual.
Fix Hurleys and build the road. Haters gonna..
the dumb get dumber
With this new road and the associated developments planned in the East.
Take action now and put the new landfill in the middle of the Island, in Bodden Town.
This needs to actioned now before it is too late, so lets avoid a costly, lengthy, Enviromental study and just start filling up the quarries.
If we are planning on spending $1 billion for 800 EastEnders, but don’t have the $2 billion for the dump, we can spend a few 100,000 to build better roads to a new Bodden Town dump and save close to a billion.
A rider needs to be attached as a condition in the road being built that new landfills are built in Central and Eastern Cayman with it.
It only makes sense
It could even be placed on Heather Bodden MP’s land.
It is perfect as it splits the road and the new highway will provide a direct link for the garbage trucks.
Plus she would not mind as this would serve the Cayman community and as she is not in it for money she could donate the land.
They are all Politrickans. What do we expect? Declaring a parcel of land has no meaning to the ordinary person unless you say where it is exactly in specific terms and also disclose its relevance to a particular issue. She set out to conceal those vital specifics which point to a possible conflict of interest. If you are for the people demand that things be done the right way however long it might take. Rules and laws are there to establish order. If you can decide to break them as you feel, just close down the Department of Environment because they serve no purpose if they can be bypassed so blatantly. Miss for the people, the people are no longer for you.
Talk to attorney general about pick, choose and refusing which laws and rules to follow. Rules for me but not for thee. As well as for your favorites. Right attorney general?
“My people and my Islands”.
Anyone else noticing this trend and claim?
Well For Comparison, Americans, Canadians, British, say that and alot worse very openly… What is your point ?
This was a really great article, thanks
Strangely how she applied for 84 apartments by Tropical Gardens.
UDPact went squeaky clean , claimed to be holier than PPM before the elections.
“We’re different to that thieving lot PPM”….They said.
What they didn’t tell us was that they’re actually UDP, professionals in the pursuit of deceptive self interest.
And that’s any different than the party that had power for 8 straight years and spent hundreds of millions on high school buildings they couldn’t complete? The regressives are the worst party by far. Ain’t even close.
Community Builds Country?
More like PACT Politicians building their bank accounts!
Hush na, the woman has failed miserably in all her business pursuits, at least lets allow her to vote for the road to be built quickly so that her property value will quadruple!
lies make baby jesus cry.
yawn…. the female equivalent of whogene.
ask her to provide evidence on how this road will improve traffic or commute time for her ‘constituents’
She might not be able to tell but Jon Jon will be more than happy to tell in about two or three different languages.
Disgusting.
Equine faeces.
🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅. If I don’t laugh I will cry the last drop of tears that I have left after bawling these last 3 decades.
Not involved in a rezoning application relating to a large piece of land which she owns?
Hahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Same is possible with Jon Jon. This is a common occurrence in Bodden Town. If anything happens with the authorities they can just call Wayne and he will come right away in his yacht from LC and then dock it and make his way over in his electric car. BT way of life. Watch out for those light poles. They can jump out of nowhere. Same for those rezoning applications. Unknowingly this can all pop out of nowhere. BT way of life.
How would her constituents…living in Savannah….benefit from this road? It’s the people east of Savannah that might….might….benefit. She’s full of it!
Not sure about that.
I sometimes refer to my family as “people” too.
Good one.
You mean for the love of self and not country? If you are doing this for the people and you inherited the property, then donate it to the people. With properties being out of reach to the average Caymanian your generosity would be greatly appreciated.
An awful lot of words but no apology…
I have no idea who this woman is but it
looks like she’s found the feeding trough.
Don’t care how you spin it, there is a conflict and you should not have been allowed to vote. This is just wrong!
Heather I expected this from the new wanna be politicians but this one caught be off guard. This road is quite the opposite of what you try to portray. If the road goes in, it means more development and more traffic which will make it worst both mornings and evenings. You are destroying our natural resources, our natural water lense, our mangroves and all for profits. Without the EIA you are asking for a disaster in waiting.
The Compass reached out to Bodden for a response, via email, phone and WhatsApp, but did not receive a reply.
I guess she angry she got caught. Grifters gonna grift. This PACT is utter crap.
But we not her people, we Kenny people!
Amen. I’m a Kenny Person! (NOT)
Lol.
Only in Cayman can MPs make them self sound even more deranged when voluntarily responding for a request for comment. She has obviously been taking lessons from Kenny as to how to make yourself sound like a total fool.
“But she said she was not involved in a rezoning application, made last November, to allow both commercial and residential development on the large piece of land”
Who did she actually think would believe this?
The honest truth is every Caymanian in politics is conflicted – especailly so with those from large ‘old’ families. Thats what happens when there are 10 or so large families and only Caymanians in politics.
The problem is that they are underhand about it, try to hide it and then make up stupid excuses when they get caught.
#leggewasright
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The Oracle
Who was Legge, please? Thanks!
Google
If she had done what she always does and sat there looking confused, I would give her the benefit of the doubt, but this time she HAD to get up and speak, even though she would be pissing off the Premier. This is totally why our political system has failed and money gets you what you want in the “Caymans”. Such a fine upstanding Christian lady…right ?
She tried to re-zone her land and used the road as the reason, this is borderline criminal!!! or it may have already crossed the border. But nothing will happen as long as people can continue to get those stuffed Christmas cards!!
I am so sick of this place, geez man!
If she had not recently applied for a re-zone of her land in anticipation of this road I would believ her. This stinks, really stinks, I wonder what punishment Weenie will drop on her?
Hang on. There is an MP called heather bodden? First I’ve heard of it.
Where has she been all these years? My god. All that money she earned and she has absolutely no value at all. What the hell does she even stand for? I’ve never heard a bloody peep out of here.
Madness.
Come visit savannah sometime bobo
she is very angry about the news story? WOW. Now way she should have voted on the matter. should have declared her interest and sat out. incredible how she tries to come out and target/blame the compass. Nothing surprises me about this government, they think the people don’t see what they are doing
In all fairness, if Ms. Bodden and her sister inherited the land from her father’s Estate, she certainly cannot be criticized for that — that was outside of her direct control.
Also, in all fairness, if Ms. Bodden formally declared this in the register of interests for Parliamentarians, then she certainly cannot be criticized for that either — that was properly declared.
If Ms. Bodden had already declared her interests on the register of interests, it cannot be that she is not able to vote in Parliament on this issue that affects her constituents.
Cayman is a small place and, if her interests were declared, it’s hard to see what the issue is, as she is also an elected Member of Parliament.
How many other MPs have voted on her matters in the House that they did not declare interests?
How many other MPs acted on information, which was not in the public domain, that they used to make a profit?
How many sitting and passed MPs bought up land, when they knew a road was going through or that zoning was going to be changed, when the general public was not aware and made a profit?
How many MPs (both passed and present), as well as other public officials, bought up land adjacent to other land was going to be compulsory purchased and plans to put a road through, before the the general public did?
I really don’t think that Ms. Bodden was trying to hide anything and, although it might have been better advised to declare it during her speech in Parliament, it was not really something being hidden, if it was declared on the register of interests.
If you think other MPs and other public officials have not benefited from undeclared things that were voted on, check start having a look at the land registers and history of ownership at the Land Registry. You might be surprised what you find.
Deflection 101.
is that you Heather?
Day you Wayne? Try so go back fishing, bout “transparent” and “accountable”
So your closing argument is that other politicians have done similar so why penalise Heather. You are one of the people that believes this type conflict of interest is normal and above board. Furthermore, Heather was fully in control of her vote on the motion to quash the need for an EIA. Any wonder why corruption is endemic, because people such as you see it as the norm and acceptable.
I resemble this comment
Would have better if Heather had mentioned her ownership in the land in her debate and then refrain from voting.
Methinks you doth protest too much. Two, or three or even four wrongs don’t make a right. If you know better then do better.
Would have we. better if Heather had mentioned her ownership in the land in her debate and then refrain from voting.
In all fairness…Ms Bodden is a director of the company and is fool hardy to say she was not involved in this here rezoning application. Me thinks she angry she has been exposed. A road for you and a commercial plot for me…nice handshake for who?
She’s not the brightest light on the Christmas tree. How accountable can you hold her? If it was Jon Jon then how accountable could you hold him? Bodden Town is not represented by geniuses.
The part is incorrect:
“If Ms. Bodden had already declared her interests on the register of interests, it cannot be that she is not able to vote in Parliament on this issue that affects her constituents”
You can’t vote on this issue she has interest in it. At least this is how it works in the real world.
I doubt that those MP who have “passed” have committed anything such. However those “past” probably have.
Use proper English please and do not display your lack of knowing it!
You’d be believable if you made full disclosure of your personal interests BEFORE voting on it.
Now, you’re saying trust me I’m doing this for others which is not credible and allows for your character to be maligned.
So it was declared in the register of interests? Wayne, care to comment?
Ps. The other parcel to the north owned by same stands to benefit as well.
When are the voters going to wake up and realise that everyone they vote in over and over again are only there to line their own pockets at the expense of the public.
This should not be ‘revealed’ or found out. It should be declared up front and everyone should be aware of it. Same for all of the other land in this area.
It should be posted publicly who owns it, and where it is a corporation, those who benefit from that corporation or are in some way associated with it should be declared, along with how they are related to any of our elected representatives.
Anything else is corruption.
It is normal to cut up your “heritage” for profit as an elected official?
Odd
Wow, I’m not believing your absolute BS Heather. You are a disgrace, and this is the first I’ve heard a peep out of you in Parliament. You as many of your fellow ministers have failed your constituents and failed the people of Cayman. You are essentially a ghost minister, a crooked one at that and do not deserve to be in office.
This Cabinet is a total disaster, by far the worst and most contemptible I’ve ever seen in my 30 years. Moronic Cabinet ministers like Heather are all out for their own pockets, manipulating the system for their own gain and are brazen about it.
Heather if you or your gofers show up in hopes of securing my vote again in the next election you’ll live to regret it.
Her excellency Gov. Owen will most likely overlook this blatant conflict of interest as past governors have. “Good governance”, is just an enigma in Cayman, it’s actually just the contrary. Corruption is truly endemic and Cabinet ministers unchecked abhorrent behaviour is a prime example.
Not even close to the most corrupt. Can you say $100 million plus cost for a high school?
Insulting someone under Anonymous cover is cowardice.
Why didn’t you post your name then?
if that is so, do this Ms Bodden MP. post the value of the property before and after the road is built. then donate the excess to a charity of the public’s polling.
as they say, put your money where your mouth is.
Madam governor? Good governance you say?
Oh, please…can you do anything YOURSELF??? YOU elect them, not Madam Governor.
Says Anonymous 😀
Direct rule Governor. Corruption is totally rampant on these 3 islands.
Bovine excrement.
Bullsh!t!