Panton pushes for national discussion
(CNS): As the population of the Cayman Islands continues to explode and the community attempts to tackle the legacy of past failures to plan, Premier Wayne Panton has said that Cayman urgently needs to have a conversation about what people want the future to look like. Panton told CNS he wants the government to facilitate this future discussion but for the people to lead it from the grassroots.
Following his speech at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Parliamentary Luncheon on Wednesday, the premier spoke with CNS about the goal of a national conversation about the future of the Cayman Islands. He said that the government should not lead this important conversation but let people tell the CIG what they want. He also wants people who don’t normally engage with such processes to do so this time.
While he accepted that groups of people have been vocal about an end to the runaway development for several years, he said it was time to broaden who is involved in the conversation and find out what everyone wants.
In his address to the Chamber members, Panton said the people of the Cayman Islands must do much more planning. “I want us to go beyond short-term politics and become part of a small but growing number of visionary nations who are actually planning for their countries’ future rather than leaving it to chance,” he said.
He spoke about the dreams and aspirations that could shape the country’s future. “I want to formulate a national dialogue not directed by but supported by the government and led by the people… I want to see a new kind of contract between citizens, stakeholders and government,” the premier told the audience.
He said that sustainability, anticipating risks, and future-proofing Cayman are major policy planks of the PACT administration as Cayman faces what has been described as the new VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. The premier said he believes we now need a shared vision of this country’s future.
“In a proliferation of uncertainty, there are leaps of creativity, and we want to harness the creativity of citizens, business, NGOs and our younger generations to both set and deliver a shared vision for the future,” he added.
There has been significant population growth over the last two years, and Panton revealed that more than 8,000 people moved to the Cayman Islands in the twelve-month period between October 2021 and October 2022. This compares with an overall population increase in the last two years of 16,000.
He said that such an increase is already changing Cayman’s future, but we are not ready for or in control of these changes, which are creating “wicked problems”, from housing shortages to traffic congestion.
“That is a challenge for any country or any government to manage,” the premier said, adding that this level of population growth was a difficult thing for society “to be comfortable with”, and Cayman is not prepared to handle it.
But given the challenges, we cannot be a divided society but should be “united” as “we build a happier, healthier society”, the premier said.
“I want my government to be the one who gives the citizens of the Cayman Islands the chance to tell us what they want to see in the Cayman of tomorrow, tell us their hopes and dreams for themselves both in the short term and long term. We need to hear from individuals and communities across our three islands — understand their fears and concerns, not simply at a constituency level,” he said.
Government must be willing to use all the levers available to enable a future “made up of dreams, not nightmares”, he said.
To start the ball rolling, Panton recently invited Sophie Howe for a brief visit to the Cayman Islands. Howe was the first future generations commissioner for Wales, where she helped to create legislation that holds the government there to account on how their decisions affect the people, not just today but decades from now.
Watch Panton’s address below on CIGTV’s YouTube channel:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Politics
Campaigning again….
Looks like CMR is in lock step with the expat fear politicking.
Their resent post was, look at these foreigners dancing on bar tops at LoneStar. Crying Cringe factor 1000%
Time for a new election, government is a failure.
Let’s have Less discussion, and more leadership.
But we can’t have leadership when each of our MPs has their own self serving agenda.
Next elections… remember this and be very careful who you vote for.
Here’s a quick one. Increase the minimum investment required for residency grant by “independent means”. The $2.5 M hasn’t moved in 13 years. All it has done is driven up property values and changed the composition of rich vs poor on island. Raise this ASAP to $10M. And don’t let Dart tell you otherwise. They just want to sell their condos.
What an idiot. Cayman spends more per capita on state education of caymanians than any developed western nation, but has the lowest skills and ability of school leavers. The economy relies on highly skilled financial industry expats. Until you develop your education system and take responsibility, caymanians will always rely on foreigners for your development and wealth. Without expats cayman would be worse than Sierra Leone.
The gene pool is still quite shallow
Mr Premier, have you considered a career in motivational speeches? Because you really shouldn’t.
People are tired of talking.
You stopped listening two years ago!
You all don’t want public input only elite special interests.
Cayman is down the loo.
Cayman Gone
OR…you could show some leadership and work on the things that we all know need improving – education, transportation, environmental protection, development management…throwing it “back to the people” is simply a way to delay (again) doing anything.
He merely trying to remain relevant- too late the train left him long ago!
politicians… they all definitely need work!
“This speech was brought to you by your friends at Waffle House”.
What kind, puffy or brittle?
At least Waffle House delivers
more waffle from wayne.
your inaction and failures speak louder than any of your empty words.
Please improve education!
Please read the data report for the academic year 2021-22. We do not need to wait for a national discussion to begin work on education.
Until the religious zealots are removed, the dismal results shall continue.
Amen.
My hope and dream is that Panton gets out of politics. A ten year old can see that increasing a population requires a commensurate increase in infrastructure and transportation. Heavily populated countries like Hong Kong and Singapore have very efficient mass transit systems. You have no need for a car in Hong Kong the mass transit is clean and reliable. But those cities grew with that in mind and their rich economies meant they could afford it. We can’t, and never will, so you have to limit population. A hundred thousand people is not a lot, but for Cayman it is an overload.
Not just infrastructure and transportation, also services! You can get a work permit in Singapore in 2-3 days max and every encounter with police, doctor or other government staff is effective and satisfactory!
And every citizen in Singapore is guaranteed housing and a pension you can live on!
😇 Singapore: Asian levels of marriage, Asian levels of atheism, Asian levels of corruption, Asian levels of educational achievement, Asian work ethic, Asian levels of crime, Asian levels of success.
🤡 Cayman: Caribbean versions of ⬆️…
Formerly expat status holders are however doing a superb job. Replace the natives over a few generations with such high-achieving status holders and you could address all the issues in Cayman. The only question is if the native politicians destroy the place before the status holders can take over.
A Catron led government was always going to be a shitshow. You can’t say you weren’t warned.
I hope Y’all really remember this next time around
Oh come on honey child
government : “Cayman is ill equipped currently to handle the population growth happening”
also government : “we have no intention of slowing down the population growth at the moment”
the people : we need to talk about runaway development and the effect it has
The government : “Lets broaden the conversation to hear ‘everyone'”
So the government is just going to wait until they hear from anyone, what they want to hear in order to continue on the same path they want to.
the power that goverment has is never used for anything else than satisfying the ‘line go up’ mentality. GDP always needs to rise and percentages and numbers are always the focus regardless of what actual effect they have. The numbers always need to appear good.
Then they feed us platitudes, feigning concern about our issues, the issues the regular citizen faces despite them never doing anything to make a change.
When are we going to be tired of this. It doesn’t matter if its PACT, UDP, PPM, Green party, conservatives, Democrats, Labour … its always the same. The rich bribe the ones in power and the regular man and woman suffer because our pockets can’t pay off who we need to.
stop allowing everybody to have the right to live here just because they buy a property. think more about the ones here not the ones coming in, put a limit to permits, and don’t sell our lands to everyone who shows $$$, look at Canada there putting limits and protecting their people.
Canada is taking more immigrants then ever before.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-630-x/11-630-x2016006-eng.htm
2016 36,109,487 296,350
2017 36,545,236 286,480
2018 37,065,084 321,040
2019 37,601,230 341,180
2020 38,007,166 184,370
2021 38,226,498 405,330
2022 39,292,355 437,500
Nice try, please try again or try harder.
The Cayman government will need to reduce its expenditure greatly if it plans to cut back on immigration. GDP and government revenue will drop as a result. Saying they need to reduce immigration without downsizing government will not be sustainable, government will be forced to cut services and lay people off to bring the budget to balance.
We can tell them what we want but will they listen? I think they should learn from the past. Study why past Government’s refused to listen unless it benefits someone’s pocket.
Someone told me yesterday they called Sir Alden’s office for help because the bank was threatened to take their house and he has not even returned the call.
I wonder how we achieve this national discussion? Perhaps if some people came up with some ideas, and then went around and talked to people in the community about them. Then we could all decide which ideas we like the best, and make a choice on maybe a piece of paper. We could then put all those papers into a box and maybe even organize it by district so we can tally up the choices made on the papers to see what everyone wants to do. I wish there was a word for this process…..
This is why parties have platforms and people should vote by the policies in the platform and not by personality, but who am I kidding, this clown show ain’t gonna change.
I’m tired of this clown world too.
My list is very short, resign, dumb Cabinet with you and scadaddle
My list is very short, resign, take your dimmies with you and scadaddle!
This is what the District Councils are supposed to do, but they have never been set up, despite being mandatory per the Constitution.
Mr. Panton, how long have you been in Cayman? Have you not driven the roads? Have you not seen our beaches vanish by erosion and lack of access? Do you not get the reports on the number of applications for permits, status and residency? Do you not see the school grading reports and the school grades? Do you not see the crime statistics and what nationality is responsible? Do you not buy gas for your car or see your CUC bill every month? Do you not hear the cries of the people that housing is TOO expensive and jobs for our younger generation coming back from school are non-existent?
And yet here you are asking the general public what they think after we’ve been screaming it for years? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU DO EVERYDAY? WHY DO YOU PAY THOSE AROUND YOU TO ADVISE YOU WHEN YOU DON’T LISTEN?
Are you not our elected leader?
LISTEN TO THOSE AROUND YOU SHOWING YOU THE PROBLEMS AND MAKE A DECISION FOR WHAT IS BEST TO SOVLE OUR PROBLEMS AND ACT ON IT!
The Hurleys roundabout fiasco can easily be solved but a road bypassing it, connecting to the arterial and connecting to Frank Sound Road. Oh wait, can’t do that, wrong flavor people would be inconvenienced.
The job situation can be easily solved. Have companies actually validate the need to bring in their own people from other branches globally and inspect the ridiculous job requirements used as an excuse to do so. Or better yet, make it so that they have to prove there isn’t a Caymanian competent enough to be trained to perform the job. Oh wait, can’t do that. Wrong flavor people would be inconvenienced.
Enforce the building laws so that our beaches and mangroves are willfully destroyed without repercussion by simply applying for an after the fact application for those who knowingly and criminally destroy it. Oh wait, can’t do that. Wrong flavor people would be inconvenienced.
The 100,000 population dream is a farse and goes hand in hand with the job situation. Put an immediate clamp down on permits and residency applications. Oh wait, can’t do that. Wrong flavor of people would be inconvenienced.
Education could be easily fixed. There are a number of education systems around the world that actually work and produce results. Have you education minister do her job and look into them and see about implementing them here. Oh wait, that would mean she would actually have to do her job that she is paid handsomely for.
Wasteful public spending could easily be fixed. A prime example is the ridiculous road on Printers way that makes 5 roads leading to the same roundabout that just causes a back up at the stop light at Thomas Russell and Shedden. Really? that was the best plan? Like adding more roads to the Hurleys roundabout will solve traffic going East? Can we get an adult to look over these plans before they are implemented?
Caymanians are becoming like the Hawaiians and American Indians, soon to be regulated to live in certain areas of Cayman because of a few socio-economic factors that can EASY be solved if the Government actually had the gonads to do something about it.
Wayne… Grow a set and DO!… YOUR!… JOB!
The truth falls on deaf ears.
Pandering fear. All hyperbole.
“Do you not see the crime statistics and what nationality is responsible?”
Caymanians, just to be clear.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
You killing the narrative!
Ummm, nope. To be clear.
What’s the net change in population from pre-covid to now?
8:48 am JTB – Excellent question. The answer to that question should have been part of Wayne’s speech. It is simply irresponsible to provide year-over-year statistics when we all know that there was a COVID “blip” in practically every sector.
Hey Wayne, fix the damn dump. End of discussion.
How long has he and his rag-tags been ruining things (not a wrong spelling) . If you don’t know you never will. Spare us please.
The future is already set in stone, thanks to the policies of the last decade or two.
It’s going to be a concrete hellscape with gridlock on most workdays. Residents will be suffering from poor diets due to the cost of anything vaguely healthy. Hardcore Christians will still have massive sway over schooling. The prisons will be full. The wealthy will continue to be so, the rest, good luck to them. MPs will continue to be self-serving, lowest common denominator types, with IQs struggling to hit triple digits. Consumers will still be getting screwed over at every opportunity.
Fix the dump.
Fix Hurley’s roundabout.
Enforce the laws already on the books.
Stay in your lane otherwise.
I’ll send you an invoice for my consulting fees.
Regards, Everyday Citizen.
Let the Dart company run the whole island as they are doing such a great job now. Open borders and no more work permits required, if you want to work just work.
Mr. Premier I sincerely hope you and your comrades will read these comments or at least your public relations person will do so and inform you. I believe you, your government and all persons elected and planning to stand for elections in the future should be mindful of the following:
The Opposition, whether elected or not are not your enemies and should not be treated as such,
Do not use your opposition to stand on as you climb up the election ladder because next time around the situation might be reversed,
Do not past on the hate and animosity you hold for the Opposition, whether elected or not, towards that person’s family And in doing so deprive them of gainful employment to be able to feed and take care of themselves and their families. That too could be turned on its head in a short time.
Search your minds, your hearts and your spirits and recognize that Cayman needs all her sons and daughters if we are all to prosper, have safety, freedom and a peaceful society. Compared to most other places on this earth we are still a little 2×4 Rock, we can only accommodate a finite number so it behoves us to be very selective, in who the doors are swung open for so that we can all enjoy a harmonious life. Most “Caymanians” are not wealthy, there is very little left for future generations; it is too late for many and almost too late for the rest of us. Please work with the DOE to help them secure what little is left of Cayman’s fragile environment for Cayman’s sons and daughter. A lot has changed over the years, we are no longer “The Island that Time Forgot” but we can all help in various simple ways by :
Educate our sons and daughters
Showing kindness without being a pushover
Respect the laws and customs
Keep our homeland clean
Last but by no means least – plant a tree!
On those 5 criteria Wayne not doing so well. I think he did plants some trees? Being kind without being a pushover lol – he’s even biting against his own ideas just so he doesn’t offend his Cabinet 😊
Cryin Bryan and Donkey Jon clearly have thier own agendas. Plus how about that education system? Wow.
Weed, Abortion, McBeaters, education, cruise ships, roads, cars
Asking the problem to tell him what the problems are? Same answer every time. Expats, Dart, etc. But never Third world culture. This is a problem that will fix itself in time.
Blame Game undefeated
what people want the future to look like❓❓❓
“I want my government to be the one..”
Isn’t it kind of late? The concrete jungle is already here, SMB is nearly gone and the Dump poisons everyone 24×7 – This IS Cayman’ future and it going to get worse. There’s no reverse gear to turn time back.
Hypocrisy at its best !
The God given Jewel 💎of the Caribbean
is now
The poidoned Cancer ☣️☢️ Capital of the Caribbean
What future is he talking about?
Classic case of “tail wagging the dog”
You want public consultation? Then hold a damn open forum. Stream it online, have it moderated, allow immunity insofar as questions and assertions are reasonable and not vexatious frivolous etc…
stop all the damn talk and start doing…at least something. come on man, it’s the year Fn 2023 and a population that can fit in a single football stadium… FFS.
the alternative is just admit that you either don’t know what you are doing or you don’t really care.
cayman is on the brink as a society. and caymanians despite our generally placid and accepting nature are getting fed up… and included in that batch are some really really really smart ones that know whats happening and what they’re talking about… you can’t keep silencing them!
Say it louder for the people in the back! They wont hold a public forum though because these jackasses know they would be destroyed. Majority have a subpar education as is and wouldn’t be able to effectively answer questions. Wayne himself is a blubbering mess half the time.
There should be a law to protect mangroves and sea grape trees. People shouldn’t be allowed to destroy them and plant invasive species.
There should also be a law to stop people building on the beach, or calling one grain of sand “private”.
Sophie Howe now works for a global PR consultancy.
Let’s not pretend she is anything to do with government or politics any more.
She is another VERY expensive consultant that will come, say nice things, and leave with a good sun tan and a fat wallet.
#WorldClass
Vision 2008, Vision 2013, Tourism Management Plan 1 & 2 maybe even three. Dust off the reports.
There has been significant population growth over the last two years, and Panton revealed that more than 8,000 people moved to the Cayman Islands in the twelve-month period between October 2021 and October 2022. This compares with an overall population increase in the last two years of 16,000.
He said that such an increase is already changing Cayman’s future, but we are not ready for or in control of these changes, which are creating “wicked problems”, from housing shortages to traffic congestion.
These excerpts are stunning, that we have a government, that cannot control the expat population.
“Wicked problems”, as you stated, hasn’t started sir, we are in for the worse yet!!
May I ask, who is in control?
Didn’t quite agree with the reasoning of the Premier.
How many left in 2020?
Not nearly enough 12:39am
Nice. You still aren’t entitled to a job you aren’t qualified for.
That doesn’t answer my question, I want the real data not the shit show.
Yet they want to increase our population to 100k when we are more than ill prepared to manage it. Daily an influx of people are moving here. I literally saw a post this morning of someone saying how they left a year ago but want to come back and need to know the expense of things etc. We cannot handle the amount of people moving here, not saying it is wrong, but Government needs to hand measures in place because our current situation is not working!
Well why not, I suppose the consumer council model is working well for Ofreg.
Mr premier.
Far too many people are here contributing nothing. Looking cash to survive from any means. Somebody somewhere in govt is not doing what they are supposed to be doing. Close the door and begin sending people back who do not work or contribute nothing is the simple solution.Put Caymanians back to work and Caymanians, yes you. Go to work and keep going to work and hold your employment
Elvis…look at how many in Government are not doing anything themselves. Please tell me what Heather Bodden has done/is doing besides self serving her own pockets? That woman is as dumb as a doorknob and makes a fat wad of money every month. First, he needs to send those in CI Government who are contributing NOTHING packing and replace them. Then look at sending others here who are doing nothing back to where they come from, otherwise that’s the pot calling the kettle black.
I’m not Elvis, however I don’t disagree with your statements. Heather Bodden has a Scope of Work, Employee Agreement and Contract. The real question is, why aren’t those variables reworked to do more good for the people. I live on the Sister Islands, and an elderly woman is being forced out of her own home that she owns free and clear to go to the Retirement Home. Staff will take good care of her, but that’s not the point. It would take much LESS staff to care for her in her own home. Why can’t we make this happen for Miss Meredith?
There is almost no unemployment.
just another excuse to do nothing. is there a plan to listen to the people or set up a forum of some sort? I’m tired of hearing talk like this from Panton – same old nonsense. I’m sure some voters buy into this but I’ve heard all this too many times before.
People repeatedly have told the government what they want the CI future to look like: a moratorium on development, affordable housing, a livable minimum wage, environmental protection, education that prepares pupils for the real world, effective law enforcement … and the list goes on.
The problem is that it’s never a productive “national conversation,” in which both parties actually listen and come to solutions together. What we repeatedly get is patronizing platitudes by government, which then turns around and does what it damn well pleases, which is usually in its own best interest.
so very true!
Does anyone remember Vision 2008?
there was an amazing amount of data and suggestions the foresaw much of what we are facing now.
I do. and Vision 2013. Where are they?
On a dusty shelf in the glass house
“… I want to see a new kind of contract between citizens, stakeholders and government,”
You mean one in which government actually represents the people and the long term interests of the islands rather than those of all the vested interests that fund said politicians election campaigns and side hustles? Well ok that would be novel. Mind you, given Wayne can’t even get consensus within his own cabinets I am sure the Cayman merchant a class and the developers aren’t exact concerned about your “conversation “.
5:48 pm – pure gold
“I want to formulate a national dialogue not directed by but supported by the government and led by the people… I want to see a new kind of contract between citizens, stakeholders and government,”
By people did he mean CMR? He should then stop using Cayman Marl Road (a convicted cyberbully) as his messenger and have actual dialogue. Right now its just him talking to her.
Ms. Howe’s politics according to her Manifesto for the Future study, suggests ;
1. Universal basic income. Socialism
Changes The Poverty Line
The universal basic income does not eradicate poverty. In fact, it is likely that the poverty situation worsens because of this scheme. This is because the government gives a basic income to everyone. However, in order to do so, they have to either borrow money or print more money. In both cases, this causes large scale inflation. As a result, the value of the money that has been given out to the recipients reduces. In fact, the amount of the money earned by people also decreases. As a result, the poverty line simply changes to a higher number. Hence, even though the income of the people increases, the number of people in poverty remains the same or even increases.
https://www.managementstudyguide.com/finland-failed-universal-basic-income-experiment.htm#
https://knowledge.insead.edu/economics-finance/universal-basic-income-lessons-failed-experiment
2. Shorter working week. Lazy
3. Green policies, undefined claptrap
2015 political controversy regarding bureaucratic appointment and potential run for office.
Howe took a total of 50 flights during her seven years in the role of Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, totalling 100,000 air miles, according to evidence which emerged from an FOI request by Wales Online.[19] In the words of the newspaper, Howe, “whose role is to hold public bodies and politicians and the long-term impact their decisions have to account”, took trips to Paris, New York, Hamburg, Vienna, Toronto, Oslo, Seoul, Sharm el Sheik in Egypt and Dubai.
In 2023 Howe was appointed to communications agency Lynn Group as its global strategic partner.
Will we be hiring Ms. Howe and Lynn Group to tell us how we need to live and tell us what to do?
Disingenuous. 8000 moved here, how many left?
Nowhere near that number. look at all the new builds fully occupied.
I think you meant how many left during covid.
The premier is scaremongering again and when faced with the facts he has no case. The whole thing is all politicking, and dangerous politicking.
Article says 21 Dec 2020 — 6,895 people left Cayman between 23 March and 31 Aug 2020.
Note that this is not the final number as the restrictions persisted into 2021 could be much higher. Show us real numbers of the total population Mr. Premier.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/12/21/how-the-pandemic-affected-caymans-population/
Additionally, what about government spending? The increase in population is helping to produce more governmental revenue, how do you expect to keep spending more while eroding your tax base?
Doesn’t the government control the number of WP’s? Why does it seem like no one is driving the bus?
Someone is applying for them 60/40 rule shows it most likely caymanians.
Fronting. You should try it. Everyone else is.
Panton making dumb statements again on population. The population is resetting back to normal after Covid exodus. More scaremongering from him.
Politicians who listen to the people. What a great Idea Wayne but you cant do it with the Government you have sorry.
Freeze status grants! And not just for the small man on the street. Do it across the board.
And the what. Give people who actually put thier money into the economy no chance of PR. They will take thier money elsewhere after the grab as much as they can. People here just don’t get it. It’s simple economics.
I’ve been contributing all my money to the local economy and Caymanian landlords for 20 years but no chance of PR because I rent. That’s not cricket either.
Naturalized citizens are entitled to PR by law.
How do you plan to stop a naturalized citizen from getting status?
By following the law?
Better learn to understand it first then.
Panton playing Politics. That’s all this is. By Friday he’ll forget about it. Nothings gonna happen.
Only to fall on deaf ears. The real problem is where to put all the poors once the Hong Kong of the Caribbean is in place.
Maybe Bodden Town. Make that a flyover point on the new road for Eastern development.
No stopping the carnival now with massive foreign investment funding nonstop construction.
You’re next East End. No way the new road will be elevated. Unlocked parcels for developments and a new Audi Q wagon and Chevy Silverado for every land owner!
Cayman Gone? Nope. Cayman is just getting started.
We petitioned for a Referendum on the Port subject and still got nothing from these corrupt windbags. How would he like to be served this feedback?
“…Premier Wayne Panton has said that Cayman urgently needs to have a conversation about what people want the future to look like. Panton told CNS he wants the government to facilitate this future discussion but for the people to lead it from the grassroots.” WT actual F????
We have zero leadership in place. Somebody go find Vision 2008 in the Glass House please. At least that will give G Wayne a starting point and maybe achieve something of note during whatever is left of this term.
Hon Wayne Panton, be decisive. Are you asking the people to tell you what they have been telling successive governments for decades – even before the mass grants? We need a government that believes in the Nike motto – Just Do It!
I thought we elected Mr Panton and his crew with a clear mandate to slow down development but if you look at the agendas and minutes of the Central Planning Authority the condos are still being approved hand over fist for every postage stamp size piece of land, swamp or mangrove area anywhere near town or water. Now he’s asking us to tell him what we want? B.S.