JOCC says UPM has much work to do in 2024
(CNS): The United People’s Movement “cannot and will not slow our pace, as much yet remains to be done”, Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly said in her New Year’s message to the country. Promising affordable, high-quality healthcare, a world-class education system and ample job opportunities, and ensuring “a sustainable path to hope and prosperity”, the new premier said the government would continue the programmes to assist the most vulnerable Caymanians.
However, as she starts 2024 and the last full year before the 2025 general election, O’Connor-Connolly is already facing criticisms about the size of the spending plan — almost $3 billion — that she has set out for this government over the next two years. Nevertheless, she said the government remained “steadfast and unified in our commitment to addressing the issues that matter most to our people”.
The premier, who has been the education minister since May 2017, said there were plans to strengthen the system at all levels, from early childhood to tertiary education, “investing in our nation’s future workforce and shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders”.
She continued, “We will also focus on community safety and security to make sure that our three islands remain one of the safest and most stable places in the region. Additionally, we will support the operation of the first residential, long-term mental health facility, ensuring our community has access to a comprehensive medical healthcare facility and system.
“Given the challenges posed by the global economy and the rise in the cost of living, we will continue to implement programmes to assist our most vulnerable Caymanians, ensuring that no one is left behind. In tandem with these initiatives, our UPM Government will continue to implement other projects associated with the 2024-2026 Strategic Policy Statement, a road map that outlines our vision for a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Cayman Islands,” she added.
See the full statement here.
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Category: Politics
Like a fat kid in the sweet shop who has been given free run of the shelves but told the shop will close soon.
Added to a total lack of loyalty making early morning deals with Mac to stab Wayne in the back.
That’s Politics I guess, but JuJu it ain’t the act of the Christian you pretend to be.
Bullseye 🎯
With all the spouting of New Year rabble Madam Premier, it’s a shame we’re not celebrating the ‘Lunar New Year’ this time around ‘Year of the Dragon’. 🐲
…and she’ll personally show up to protest any marriages of which she disapproves, whether it is any business of hers or not.
This lady is promising Shangri-La, but as one of the top 10 earning country leaders in the world she well and truly has it already.
caymanians elect these people so you have no-one else to blame but yourselves.
and to make things worse, you also prevent the most qualified and successful people on island from being elected…
welcome to wonderland.
And who else do you suggest we vote for? Who are these most qualified and successful people you speak of? And if you are about to say expats – tell me which country allows persons who are not citizens to be elected.
haha…caymanian electorate proving themselves to be what we all ready knew….poorly educated small town fools….
cut and paste waffle….
when is your first media press conference?????
Premier Julianna still owes the public either legalization or decriminalization of cannabis cultivation, which was promised last election but not delivered in legislation.
I’m sure you realize this, but Elvis was the strongest opponent she’s ever faced – look at the amount of wotes he got for a newcomer running on the cannabis platform!
Obviously the people want it, but obviously those controlling the black market want to keep it illegal to keep it highly profitable. Obviously, she lied about cannabis for a last-second boost across the finish line.
If you knew who the biggest ganja seller in Brac is for the past 2 decades, you’d spit your tea out. I won’t call any names though because he’s a humble guy and served me sometimes – lol.
The US is an interesting test bed for drugs legalisation:
• A May 2023 high quality study confirmed what has been obvious for a while – new genetically modified super strong cannabis is causing incurable mental health conditions in young men who habitually smoke weed: “Association between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia stronger in young males than in females”, Psychol Med, 4 May 2023;1-7. doi: 10.1017/S0033291723000880, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37140715/
• A further study from October 2023: “We analyze the effects of legalizing recreational marijuana on state economic and social outcomes (2000–20) using difference-in-differences estimation robust to staggered timing and heterogeneity of treatment. We find moderate economic gains and accompanied by some social costs. Post-legalization, average state income grew by 3 percent, house prices by 6 percent, and population by 2 percent. However, substance use disorders, chronic homelessness, and arrests increased by 17, 35, and 13 percent, respectively. Although some of our estimates are noisy, our findings suggest that the economic benefits of legalization are broadly distributed, while the social costs may be more concentrated among individuals who use marijuana heavily. States that legalized early experienced similar social costs but larger economic gains, implying a potential first-mover advantage.” https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2023/10/cost-benefit-analysis-of-marijuana-legalization.html
• A more discursive analysis: https://medium.com/@PostLiberalBot/weeding-out-the-cannabis-myths-the-case-against-cannabis-commercialisation-2c223cec9da0
As an expat with status and children of my own, I would pose a final question to those advocating the legalisation of both drugs and gambling: do you think that your proposals would IMPROVE young Caymanians’ ability to survive and thrive in the modern world, particularly the financial service industry upon which these Islands are almost totally reliant? Or would they WORSEN your children’s prospects?*
When answering, please consider reviewing the above studies, and applying them to your analysis.
(* There is a third option: those advocating legalisation of drugs and gambling simply don’t care about the impact on Caymanian children, and in fact represent rich so-called multigenerational Caymanian exclusively focussed on exploiting the their less fortunate brethren. Much like the status quo, and all the politicians, in fact [except Andre – he seems to be the only decent one]).
Do you support recreational sales of alcohol?
If so, throw that wall of text out the window or slap “hypocrite” onto your forehead.
Actually gonna check back to see if you reply.
Obviously unable to read
She and her Ministers spew off more methane gas than the GT landfill. What a bunch or egotistical and self serving donkeys.
Bring back English exams as an option in our schools. However unfair, no-one (globally) considers the Caribbean an excellent education standard. International Baccalaureate is also ideal for the brightest students – if we (and they) are to truly meet our potential.
Anon @7:31.pm I couldn’t agree with you more. We need well trained, compassionate , kind teachers in our class rooms. We need teachers who will build up our students instead of putting them down. Those doing that know who they are so at this time I will not call anyone out by name. Some in The ministry and the Chief Education Officer are aware but they all accept it so they are complicit. Better vetting needs to be carried out before a job is offered. It is about more than the pay cheque.
How about the new free buffet at the CIG building so the workers don’t cause traffic jams during lunch?
The first ten people there would clear it out with their tupperware containers and everyone else would have to go out anyway
10?? More like the first 5
Has Julianna O’Connor-Connolly resigned from the PPM political party yet? This question keeps going unanswered.
Why should she because if they get power back she will just suck right on up to them like before.
True. But isn’t the UPM just recycled PACT (minus MP Panton) with leadership by a PPM Premier and a PPM Speaker?
Looks so to me. Check out the actual facts: they are hiding in plain sight!
Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly said in her New Year’s message to the country. Promising affordable, high-quality healthcare, a world-class education system…..
I’m not sure if a world-class education system is necessary. If we consider that Kenneth, Isaac, Jay, and Jon Jon have been elevated to Ministerial posts with little to no education whatsoever, and several other ministers (both current and past) have dubious qualifications that wouldn’t get them a job interview anywhere else.
Let’s put the money into a trade school, or focus on the pre-schools, because for most of them their lack of learning was evident at a very early age.
Yeah but the country doesn’t run because of those fools you mention. They might “run” the government but the reality is that smart people keep this place going…IN SPITE OF those fools, not because of them.
There are already schools that teach trades. No need for another just expand and support those in existence.
If a world-class education system was high on her agenda we would have had it by now. Hasn’t she been minister for education for 3 – 4 election cycles? If not, she’s definitely been part of the government side and would have been directly and indirectly able to influence change for the better, but we still have what we have – a poor education system. Sad! They are more concerned with themselves than the citizens of the country.
A chicken in every pot and a car in every drive. Hoover – the year before the Great Depression.
Give us affordable health insurance! Especially for seniors. And not just “basic” coverage. We need quality health insurance.
Wasn’t this high on Chris’ agenda? That and pension reform. What happened to those plans?
Madam Premier, can you address why the Scholarship Secretariat is not disbursing funds to receipants as per Scholarship agreement. Why are they short changing students.
They had no problem giving a scholarship to the child of recent status Jamaican millionaires tho..!
Better for the country.
@ 7.09pm “Better for the country.”
In the same way spending beyond your means is?
Government Scholarships are supposed to be means tested. There is a, admittedly all on a trust basis, declaration in the application as to total household income. If what you say is true then that is appalling.
Not surprised however.
9.49. Appalling indeed .
Pushy family taking advantage of their welcoming host country…no shame.
A true visionary Madame Premier, please push your plans thru! We have lots of money and lots of rich people here. Use this money to help us poor Caymanians who are struggling.
Get off your a** and go get a job. Most of you lot is overly worried about money that other people have. Also, tell your kids to pay attention in school
NO ! You must pay to play yellow crayon For all the advantages and privileges you enjoy around here.We are sick and tired of the scraps when we own the table and chairs you sit your complaining F@t @$$. on ! Our kids are fully aware of the BS you and yours are getting away with here too.
Looool “pay to play”. The world knows that Expats built this country, we have been working hard in order to “pay to play”. While most of you lot sit on your high horses because you don’t want to get your hands dirty. Also, funny you should assume most of us hard working folks have time to play.
Some of you work very hard but like people all over some don’t give a full days’s work for a full day’s pay. Laziness has no borders.
Name them Yellow crayon and please leave out all those who were deported or run out of the Bahamas after prime minister Pindling got tired on they bull$#@! Seamen Built this place Starr! Please leave out the money launders Fraudsters and Drug traffickers who merely turn up here and became pioneers who’s money now legitimizes their criminality here today!
I thought the official version iwas Vassal Johnson built the financial services industry, but of course he doesn’t get national hero status because he was born in Jamaica. Better than the fly in lawyers from the Bahamas, but not quite good enough to make the cut, eh. One thing for sure tho, the FS industry which is the biggest component of our economy and pays the most towards Ju Jus lavish spending sure as shoot wasn’t built by merchant seamen. We were a subsistence economy until that got going, and brave and hard working those men may have been, they didn’t create an economic miracle.
Vassal Johnson did NOT build the financial services community.
Canadian attorneys Jim McDonald and Bill Walker were primarily responsible for the laws written at the time.
Vassal Johnson was a book keeper in Jamaica who came to get a job with government , and cannot in any way be considered to have been responsible for our financial services industry.
Vassal Johnson…?
Don’t make me laugh.
Bahamas financial services shut down when they went independent… all the banks and trust companies moved out .would you trust an unregulated bunch of politicians with your money..?
That’s why lawyers from the Bahamas were available.
Well said 11.41.
Check out the fake “official version” Vassel Johnson story tho.
Why, Jon Jon said its OK.
02 @ 3:37pm – “Help” as in hand outs, you mean – cash for this bill, cash for that fridge, cash, cash, cash!
Keep riding the gravy train off the rails!!
That is what the gravy train is their for mate!
There…mate,!
Stop stealing the peoples money JuJu your “god” is watching!
All politicians are known to repeat the same agenda of what is needed for the betterment of Cayman and i suppose Caymanians as well from the time i can remember, and i am in my 50’s Go figure
A lot of work spending unnecessary money.
And borrowed money to boot.
All she’s doing is trying to buy the votes she needs to continue feeding from the trough.
Don’t you get it? Julie doesn’t need to buy votes. She has them already.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I believe she is the best for the system in which we currently reside. Understand, I think the system is completely screwed up, but within context of what we have, I think she will do good.
Certainly her goals aren’t the same as mine, but her goals are consistent with that which should do the best for Caymanians.
Until we overhaul the system and the electoral process, we are going to continue to allow business owners to sole-source minimum wage expats to the detriment of our poorer Caymanians, high school graduates, and elderly, who might wish for some of those low income jobs.
I understand a large number of her constituents are related to her.
She’s not alone in vote buying.
All of them know they wouldn’t have jobs outside politics so they’ll do anything now to prolong their lives as parasites.
“cannot and will not slow our pace, as much yet remains to be done”, remains to be done? Blah, blah, blah for 2024.
much remains to be done because they havent done anything
Obviously didn’t understand 2.03pm’s post.