Sir Alden to be nominated speaker at special meeting
(CNS): Parliament is set to meet on Thursday to enable members to nominate and elect a new speaker and steer through an amendment to the pensions law to allow Caymanians in the private sector access to the funds to pay off mortgages or purchase property. An official release about the first meeting called by the new premier and UPM government was issued Wednesday morning and according to the Cayman Compass Sir Alden McLaughlin is expected to be nominated as speaker.
McLaughlin MP (RED) told the paper that he would accept the job. “I have decided to accept the nomination as Speaker for the same reason I entered politics more than 23 years ago, for love of country,” he said.
Constitution Order No.65 requires members to elect a new Speaker by majority vote.
McLaughlin has held every role in parliament from government back-bencher to leader of the opposition before he became premier for the first time in 2013, except that of speaker. He is the only premier since the 2009 constitution was enacted to serve two consecutive terms in the top job and the only premier, so far, to serve a full four year term between 2013 and 2017 as the Cabinet leader.
Since Wayne Panton (NEW) declined the invitation to take up the post earlier this week, a number of names were circulating in the community as possible speakers, including outside nominees former MPs Ezzard Miller, a popular favourite among the people for his extensive knowledge of the procedures, and Arden McLean. Former Speaker Mary Lawrence has also been suggested by some as a potential nominee. But it seems that the current government membership is keen to stick with a member in the chair and given the new premier Juliana O’Conner-Connolly’s comfort with her former PPM Cabinet colleagues it is not surprising that she would support the former premier’s nomination.
After the vote, the parliament with members in their new seats and the government benches led by the new premier will be debating the National Pensions Amendment bill (2023) which grew out of a private members motion brought to the House by Chris Saunders MP (BTW). This will enable Caymanians to take money from their private sector pension to pay towards a mortgage or residential land loan among other changes. MPs are also expected to debate the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Bill, 2023 to help maintain the current momentum of Cayman’s adherence to international financial regulations, standards and expectations following the removal of the jurisdiction from the FATF grey list.
Since this article was posted the parliament has confirmed that another nine amendment bills all related to the financial services sector will also be presented during Thursday’s special meeting.
The public can attend the proceedings which are scheduled to begin at 10am in person or follow on Radio Cayman and CIGTV as well as government’s various social media channels.
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Category: Laws, Local News, Politics
I will point out the obvious for those that have not figured out that Alden has not given up the party he has built over the last 20 years. If the repackaged PACT finds themselves in the same pickle they were in a week ago and the opposition needs him to strengthen their numbers, Alden will simply do the same thing Kathy did and resign from the speaker chair. It’s that simple. He chose to get into the chair, he can chose to leave it. Boom!
Bit of a dictatorship, government control of private sector pension monies, does ‘Caymanians’ include ‘Caymanian Status Holders’ who are not allowed to run for government office or Speaker but are dictated to by the Speaker over their own money?
‘…amendment to the pensions law to allow Caymanians in the private sector access to the funds to pay off mortgages or purchase property’
Very worrying that government has any say in what ‘Caymanians’ in the private sector do with their pensions. Amend the law yes, to say ‘all people in the private sector have access to their pensions…’
Government has nothing to do with people’s money in the private sector, they never offer assistance and don’t care any other time, only the civil servants.
Pensions have lost money over the past few years, cost of living, bills, etc have all risen. How can anyone live on 1,000 per month pension when bills are more than 1,000 per month? If had been allowed to withdraw, could have purchased another property and had rental income. The governnent are creating poverty and robbing many of their own money, earning more interest on that money elsewhere and livlihood.
What is government’s definition of ‘Caymanian’?
Many of us are very proud of the new Speaker! Attorney, MLA, Caninet Minister, Speaker and of course, do not forget Knighthood. How many of you critizing him have done better.? Pardon me while I respond, none of you. Just go sit down and reflect on your lives. Are you satisfied or just jealous?
LOL go sit in your caninet LOL
Majority of us don’t care darlin’, none of them paying our bills, just paying themselves.
Obviously satisfied with your self indulgence and delusional prowess. None of us want you to respond to us, we wouldn’t be able or want to to hear from your childish high chair. Don’t forget where you come from….
2:00pm. looking out for# 1, raising his and other M P’s wages during hard time Covid, while other Countries was cutting theirs.
Can we just have an election please?
United Political maniacs adds a narcissistic maniac to its political circus, now we have a designated driver for their Clown Car that all this foolishness is .No Wayne to bail out the driver when he crash this time though .
For Pete’s sake, this is a sh** show! We need to have a national conversation as to whether our Constitution (which is a living document) is truly serving the people. Pieces get moved around the Parliament chess board with the voters having absolutely no say in it. We need to get back to a national vote; all that this one (donkey)/one vote crap does, is force us to vote for the least crappy of the options per constituency. At lease with a national vote, the one with the highest % gets the premiership. At least, that would limit the ludicrous horse trading.
It appears that Sir Alden McLaughlin has finally come to the realization that the end of the PPM is near after multiple failed attempts to regain the government. These failures including the inability after the 2021 General elections to form the new government and two failed motions of no confidence against PACT.
It is clear no one in politics or the majority of the voting public is clamoring to join the PPM and the majority of the voting public do not trust them to lead the country again given their track record with Sir Alden in the role of Premier over eight years.
His actions by jumping ship to the speakers chair is largely about having the plausible deniability for any role in the failures mentioned while preserving his ability to assign the blame squarely at the feet of Roy McTaggart and the deputy leader Joey Hew for the many missteps of the party. The party is dying because of poor leadership, poor decisions and poor leadership options to move the party forward. The move to the Speakers position further weakens the party as they fall into a political coma.
However, in his new role we must ask key questions that have to be answered:
1. How can Sir Alden objectively perform the functions of Speaker of Parliament whilst he is the chairman of the PPM?
No decision in the PPM over the last twenty years has been made without his input and final confirmation.
Roy McTaggart may hold the title but has never been the leader of the party. That role is still held by Sir Alden. Joey Hew is unqualified and no where near the political leader or respected and personable as the previous political leaders Kurt Tibbetts and Sir Alden McLaughlin.
2. Sir Alden McLaughlin and his mentor Kurt Tibbetts are the architects of the PPM.
It is in their blood and who they are as politicians and now political operators. Every decision over the last twenty years has been to benefit the party, finance the party and to assist their supporters. How can the new Speaker shed this mindset and behavior that now defines him given his track record?
The PPM were arguably the most organized political organization in Cayman’s history but it appears all things must come to an end.
By accepting the Speakers position, this is arguably Sir Alden’s final act of capitulation as he sees the writing on the wall.
Let this be a lesson to all that succession planning for any organization must have competent, educated, honest, qualified, respected and trust worthy candidates in the succession planning model. Persons that understand the business and people they serve because credibility cannot be bought as easily as people, positions and things.
9.28 repeat your final paragraph to the new UDP in sheep’s clothing.
Please do not let people raid their pensions again! What will they do when they retire?!
What if already forced to retire because of the nonsense ageism that still exists and cannot access pension, do you live on 1,000 a month?
This is true. I never had problems finding work and worked all my life. But when I tried to get work again after COVID and turning 55, it suddenly seems impossible?
wow this is like a full show of monkeys at a circuise. this is unreal and sickening. you all have no morals or nothing. why do you people…why are you people our goverment. you dont do anything!!
Huh? What seems to be the problem ?
They are our government because the nominee pool is tragically limited by not allowing Status holders to run for office.
8.51 Of course what you are really saying is that Caymanians are dumb and only expats (Brits) are capable enough to run Cayman properly.
Hence the constant calls for direct rule. And God help Caymanians if that happens.
Your last sentence said it all LOL
Go independent!
and go to the dogs, great idea!
US population 330 million.
UK population 66 million.
What are the choices when the people go to the polls? Baked sh!t or fried sh!t.
What a time him and his old “personal assistant”, KB going to have.
Kenny B already got Alden’s bathrobe adorned with Official Kenny B Endorsed Yellow stripes. Not disturbing the hair with a wig though.
This crap gets stupider & stupider as the days go bye. What will be next? Seymour as our first astronaut?
Why not – he is always working to a full moon so now he can go see up close. Who knows he may get to chat to some alien beings!
Correct, Jon Jon is great with languages, ET will really dig him, perhaps they can go out drinking together.
LOL The rocket is ready just say when.
Tell me what you do for Red Bay again?
Never seen you since the last election
No where to try & meet him (no office in the constituency) & doing nothing about the traffic at Grand Harbour. No public park in the district or public beach. What does Red Bay get with AM as our representative ?
He sends a PPM calendar and a Christmas card!
Paid for by those lowly peasants.
Really?! I’ve never received that & yes I am a registered voter!!
Country and Western Bar is always a good bet to find him.
South Coast
That’s when he be at the farrrrm.
Is he meant to be impartial? We all know he loves some development.
This is a bit surprising as this weakens the current PPM opposition. Sir Alden’s contribution as an MP was important for the PPM. Who knows what goes on in the political minds of those elected.
Sir Alden has served a long time so if he wants to end his political career as speaker then no one should have a problem with that decision.
The only point I can’t agree with is that it is being done for love of country as there are retired or ousted MP’s that could have served.
Sir Alden will serve well as speaker and it signals the start of a new PPM party.
I think ‘for love of country’ is a misprint. It should be ‘for love of country and western bar’
😂 And don’t forget love of thyself.
No actually for love of South Coast.
probably was asked to step in to keep this shit show from falling completely apart, and the entire world thinking we are a bunch of morons trying to play adult games.
They already think that.
8.53 Jealousy can make you think a lot of crap, doesn’t mean it is true.
Can’t WAIT to see Sir Alden wearing the wig.
Me too.
Hopefully he’ll discontinue the wig and gown spectacle.
Was glad to hear The Gov say this morning how happy she is that they no longer have to wear white suits with a big hat and feather
Better Alden in a wig than Juju in one of her ridiculous clown hats.
You missed it, he did wear a wig plus gown in his previous career as an attorney. Google images will show you him in full courtroom regalia.
Good then he can save a couple dollars on those keratin treatments.
I think Alden refused the wig as it could not be completely disinfected after months of contamination following McBeater’s use .
Sir Lockdown should not apply his brand of thinking to be the referee of anything.
@ 3:36 PM
Mr.Trump, did you mean to say, “Sir Save Lives”?
Another TDS sufferer in the Cayman Islands with three low IQ supporters supporting himself.
Didn’t Sir Alden promise to retire and grow tomatoes? What happened to that manifesto?
The lure of power and all the ‘benefits’ beats sweating growing veg
His suit is too small, just saying. Making it tighter does not make it better fitting.
Boy these politicians are mocking these Islands and paid big bucks to do it.
explain please?
You explain.
You don’t have eyes to see?
A wise choice indeed. We all know that Erskin May is Sir Alden’s second favourite bedtime reading. Right after Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.
You mean Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? If so, it’s a philosophical narrative about the meaning of truth and quality. Can’t imagine Sir Alden being a fan.
Erskin May, of course, should be required reading. I wonder if there is a Caymanian addendum which outlines the myriad of ways in which Cabinet routinely diverges from those hallowed principles.
Well at least I won’t have to hear him speak! Although he hasn’t said too much in this latest term. Actually could you put forward McTaggart I’m tired of hearing him complain about everything PACT/UDM does.
He is probably the most effective speaker in the parliament, his voice on the issues will be missed
And round and round we go, the never ending circle of these babblers and their babble!
Congratulations Alden
You have the experience and knowledge of legislative procedure to hold and execute this position.
I will be proud and elated to see you nominated as Speaker
Our Parliament is TOO SMALL to have an MP as Speaker. It should be enshrined to always have an outside Speaker.
We should have a national election for Speaker as well as for Premier, in addition to the vote for our constituency MP.
Take horse trading among MPs out of the equation for Speaker and for Premier, and let the entire electorate democratically decide both key positions.
Orrie I am surprised that a trained and experienced lawyer would make this comment. That is not a feature of the Westminster political system. Are you suggesting that we adopt a new Political system similar to the USA? The implications of that are wide and varied and would have to be carefully considered. We do not want to jump from the pan to the fire. Remember just as parties can be influenced so can a singly elected Premier.
But, please consider the impact on the country of electing a majority party that is led by a Premier who is an independent or worse a member of the minority party; that would be an absolute disaster of proportions similar to the recent fiasco with Wayne Panton who could not even lead his group of “independents”.
We have to consider that a great deal of thought went into the design of the Westminster system and tinkering with it to appease the voters who seem to not understand that we have a (minimum) two party system is inherrently dangerous.
to me it does not make sense to introduce even more uncertainty and risk just because we currently have some questionable individuals who have been elected. We cannot make these decisions based on personality and character and whims.
Elect the Premier directly and you will get what you just got; a Premier with no loyalty from the Ministers he appointed.
Completely agree. Then, Mr. Orrie, our vote might actually count for something again.
Do not think a better job would be done electing Speaker judging from the MPs voted in.
The real winners will be the people of Cayman, the Speakership will drastically limit his ability to grandstand and pontificate
Sir Alden McLaughlin *KC* to you, Wendy 🙂
Don’t mean a thing to most,🤑to you too.
Why not put your name if you are addressing Wendy personally – typical cowardice.
Kentucky Chicken🙂
Respect is earned….
Once again PPM grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory. For love of country a politician would stay in their seat representing their district and the Parliament would get an outside speaker. But I guess parliamentarians are people too and, I submit Mr Speaker, that people like plaudits.
What a short sighted response.
Shush! Good job Sir Alden! To paraphrase the TV ad, surely you are doing your part. I am sure your constituents will be well looked after. Do this, write your memoirs then enjoy your farm and your family. Some of us out here graciously thanks you. Blessings always.
Representing their District? Sir Alden is the worst at representing Red Bay. Completely absent from the District, spends all of his time on the farm and only responds to the odd query on Prospect community group chat.
He has no constituency office, despite collecting funds from the public purse every month to pay for an office AND for staff to run it. (Why hasn’t the Auditor General investigated this blatent misuse of public funds?)
He claims we have to go to his home to see him, except he’s never there, always at the farm.
Alden is a total disaster and disappointment as a district representative.
you mean at south coast bar!
The George Town PPM mostly all are located at the PPM headquarters on Crewe Road. Go there and make an appopintment.
LOL patronising any?
Love of salary and benefits more like.
And hair product
Brylcreem.
Don’t be so common LOL