Opposition unaware of surprise port fee hikes
(CNS): The UPM Government did not share with all MPs its plans to increase fees charged by the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) at the start of the New Year. The opposition, like the broader community, was surprised by the fee hikes approved by Cabinet, which Progressives Leader Roy McTaggart has said will impact ordinary people and increase the cost of living to fund the UPM’s spending spree. He said the “unexpected increase” is over and above the $120 million worth of tax hikes to be rolled out over the next two years revealed in the recent budget.
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has argued that the government fee increases would not be inflationary or adversely impact ordinary families. However, the opposition said the rise in port fees “will undoubtedly impact the cost of living”.
McTaggart believes most of the other fee hikes will also ultimately hurt the broader community, and that the government’s skyrocketing spending spree will require increases in duties, fees, and other taxes as they try to balance the books.
“In my experience… l have observed that nearly every tax increase has a tangible effect on people’s wallets in some manner or another,” McTaggart said, echoing his earlier warning in his response to the budget debate. “We wonder how many more surprise tax increases we will learn about in the coming months as the government continues to fund its vast spending spree in the last year of its term. We, in the Progressives Opposition, will be watching,” he added.
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Category: Government Finance, Politics
All I can say to Roy and the PPM is, “da wa you get!”
You Alden and the rest of the PPM gang fought tooth and nail to get Wayne out and now look what you got..Stop complaining, every one of you in the PPM voted for this budget along with Julie and her Bozo’s. You made your bed, now lie in it.
Not really. They tried to form a government with Wayne, but he would have nothing of it. He wanted a clean break. He got it. His primary fault, imo, was allowing Mr. Bush to be a part of it; he should have held out just a little longer, perhaps taken on some of the PPM.
Mr. Bush is toxic to all systems, imo. He cannot be trusted, and his word is not his bond.
Hold on, you are not entitled to make up facts now! it is a matter of public record in the form of a press release issued by the PPM itself that Wayne had approached them about being a part of the Government. It was the PPM that apparently would have nothing of it unless Roy could be Premier. Furthermore, while I agree with you re Bush, the fact is that the first Government formed by Wayne specifically EXCLUDED Bush. It was the PPM as I recall that threw Bush a lifeline and eventually made him relevant by tearing apart the Government before swearing in. Of course,
the irony should not be lost on anyone that it was again the PPM that was manipulated by Bush to help create the hung Parliament that led to Wayne stepping down.
Bow your heads in shame PPM.
Opposition not aware about the hike in port fees but certainly aware of 1500 unnah disgraceful collected from govt coffers to add to unaaah 15 K salaries Absolutely no complaints deh though oooh please spare US the drivel !
Yan still, NONE will give back the unconscionable Mega Raise that the gave themselves as we were coming out of Covid suffering.
Plus they have tied their salary scale to the civil service, so they will also get the forthcoming 12% COLA raise as well.
Win win, Bo Bo
The people of the Cayman Islands have been lied to by Juju and the ruling party. This will directly hit the people at the grocery stores. The government is not capable of running the country. They collectively lack the knowledge, skills, and, understand even the simple things. Elections need to called forthwith.
All they need to do is control the Port Board’s amateurs spending on themselves and political sponsor’s re-election.
Run the Port as a Business ffs not as a device to get Saunders, Kenneth and a couple of yourselves in power.
So, does that mean they are allowed to throw another “60K” on Christmas or any other party now …
with inflation, it’ll be a $70k one next year. Precedent has been set.
#thieves
When you look at the political battles per constituency in 2021 there were very few real challengers and very few incumbents had any real competition:
Alden – Sammy (Horribly self centered and disconnected)
Roy – Cant even remember who ran against him
Joey – Johann (Self destructed when he advocated for persons on PR getting the right to vote)
Barbara – Alrick (Cannot relate to poor people)
David – Pearlina, Ellio and Kenrick (nuff said here, sigh)
Kenneth – Frank Cornwall (bigger sigh)
Austin – Michael Myles and Sab Sab – She only won because Michael took 32% of the vote away from Austin, head to head, Austin likely would have come out on top
Jon Jon – Ossie Bodden (waste of time, the cow cod effect has worn off)
Saunders – Vincent (le sigh)
Suckoo – Panton (We know $$ ran this race but at least it was a tough match up. Raul please stay home next time, you only pull votes from others but cannot win!)
Ezzard – Jay (both had to work and this was a hard won race)
Arden – Isaac (both had to work and this was a hard won race)
Moses – automatic win
Julie – automatic win
Savannah – Wide open no incumbent (heather doesnt stand a chance in 2025)
Capt Eugene – Kathy (both had to work and this was a hard wond race)
Bernie – Rollie (too much baggage and baby mamma drama)
WBS – Wide open, no incumbent
If the people want meaningful change, there needs to be a focus on finding real candidates to challenge incumbents. If not we will have more of the same election after election.
It is dishonest for the Government to present the budget and ask the Parliament to vote on it and to not detail any new revenue measures, in fact… it might even be a breach of standing orders and contempt of Parliament to do so!
What are the consequences? I’ll wait….
When you are uneducated AND unprincipled, it’s not likely you’ll understand , or care, about ‘Standing orders’, or ‘ contempt of parliament’.
Get used to it, this is the UDP government we’re stuck with until the next elections.
Import fees effect everyone, increase in income fees WILL effect everyone. Juliana the creator of “two negatives can also be a positive” is not so smart- she is just SLICK. Being unethical has no place in the realms of the holy, compassionate and trustworthy. Those who falsely call on the Name of the Lord will hear ” depart from me I never knew you” Matt. 7:21
Remove taxes on food import. It’s the right thing to do.
double duty on meat products and full fat sodas…
Who do these idiots think will wind up paying the extra charges? Think CUC, Water company’s, grocery stores, gas stations and so on will just absorb the increases? These will all be passed along to all the consumers. But guess they will just give themselves another cost of living increase.
All government parties fight each other and reform and transform, all to the detriment of the general population.
Rinse and repeat. It will always be so until the voting population — most likely through the instrument of referendum — make a critical change.
Until then, I will continue to try and feed my family and myself and juggle bills and health care and education costs and oh yeah, the family car is on its last legs, but no worries, because all I have to do is come up with $22,000 for a tiny used car from Grand Cayman, or about the same for a new model Japanese car direct from Japan.
My ongoing mantra: Thanks for nothing, CIG. I wish we could cause you to be paid on performance.
what opposition???
the opposition that unanimously approved the budget…but then complained about it a few days later????
this place is a joke….the clowns are in charge of the circus.
Sleepy Roy and Joey Who can’t be trusted to save their party because no one trusts them. They got even less chance to lead the country
Don’t be a fat-boy buffoon Trump with your idle name-calling. At least try to be a bit original.
Take your pills and seek help for your TDS 9:22
Government on the rampage.
Shocking how the Progressives could drop the ball again on these issues but expect to lead these islands
PPM are a bunch of clowns
Alden needs to come back because Joey Hew is not the answer for ppm leadership. He has been exposed for what he really is.
Hew is the Jamaican politician Cayman should fear the most.
No and No!
both can Begone .
Go far. stay long.
There’s Jamaican politicians, then there’s Saunders.
Saunders is who Cayman needs to fear, not Joey Hew.
Joey’s mother is from Cayman Brac not Jamaica.
But they’re Honest clowns who can read and write.
Can read and write (most). It ends there.
Yet Roy McTaggart, Joey Hew as leaders of the Opposition and the rest of the PPM voted to support the budget presented by the Premier O’Connor-Connolly. Now they have nerve to complain. Useless and self serving best describes the lot of them. Waste of money only looking out for the developers that finance the party.
Imagine thinking the opposition even read it. Unless it applies to their tiny sliver of voters directly they just ignored it.
“Is this going to piss off my first generation voters in the slums of bodden town” IF = NO then ignore.
Openness and transparency. . .right!
Well said Mr.McTaggart.
In this case you speak on behalf of all consumers and as an experienced professional accountant.
Setting aside any criticism suggesting this is a political move on your part, it nevertheless serves everybody’s interests to condemn these increases as merely covering the inept management of Port’s business.
Roy needs to retire now. He is Alden’s puppet. He has done nothing for GTE and needs to do the honorable thing and retire.
5pm..
And all of our current government are Mac’s Puppets.
I’d rather have Alden’s run the country, than Mac’s line their pockets.
Tell me which one has done what that truly benefits the country. I’ll wait…
I am so confused. minister McTaggart wasn’t the budget past unanimously in Parliament? In other words, the rape and rob of the poor man budget was approved by the UPM AND PPM.
The PPM having the minority votes can do nothing. Also..Budget presented had no details, therefore hiding details of true intent.
Can’t blame this on PPM.
Dear PPM – do you think any of the UPM really give a sh&* what you or anyone else thinks? They are going to spend on their special projects no matter what the consequences because it will not affect them one bit. But PPM you were hot to get them rolling and now look at what you got – the checkbook is wide open and the sky is the limit!
juju is tearing the cash up quick while we will be the ones paying to replenish the jar. juju is ruining this island very quick.
JuJu has the country going to hell in a hand basket. If she is what Christianity is, then I am happy I stay at home and pray.