Panton $1.6M loan to Turner not connected to election
(CNS): A CI$1.64 million loan made by former premier Wayne Panton to Health Minister Sabrina Turner to enable her to buy a house was not connected to the horsetrading among MPs in the wake of the 2021 election, as the agreement was not made until April of last year. While concerns have been raised that the loan by a sitting premier to a Cabinet colleague appears unethical, it seems that Panton gained nothing beyond the terms of the deal itself since it did not stop the coup that usurped him from the leadership.
Panton said he agreed to the bridging loan when Turner was unable to sell her existing home in time to acquire a new $1.4 million canal-front home she and her family wanted to buy in Patricks Island.
Panton has confirmed that the loan agreement and terms were drawn up by lawyers and the details are on the land registry documents and available for public scrutiny. He said he did not declare making a loan to Turner at the time on the Register of Interests because this is not required under the legislation, even though she was his health minister at the time and he currently holds the charge on her existing home.
Turner listed the loan on her own entry on the Register of Interest but failed to reveal that it was the premier who had lent her the money and held a charge on her home. However, the register is not policed. In a recent unrelated search by CNS, we discovered that missing details by board members, senior civil servants as well as MPs is common.
Opposition MPs, members of Panton’s former Cabinet and former politicians have all raised concerns about the implications of the loan. However, Panton told CNS that it was not connected to the horsetrading following the election that saw Turner join the PACT coalition of independent members rather than the PPM, which she had initially agreed to do.
He maintained that it was a simple loan agreement with no other strings attached, and his decision to make the loan was based purely on his colleague’s need and nothing else. Panton said there were no ulterior motives.
Six months later, it was evident that it did not impact Turner’s political decision-making as she was part of the Cabinet that ousted Panton from office. It is also understood that Turner does not regard the debt she owes Panton as impacting anything other than the money owed, given that she remains in a Cabinet intent on undermining the National Conservation Law — legislation that is intrinsically linked to Panton.
The loan, which was always public but had not drawn any attention, made the headlines last week after Mario Rankin, a local vlogger and political activist, posted the land registry documents relating to the loan and accused the premier of buying political favours.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Politics
When he says not connected to the election is he referring to the same election where one day she was part of his government, then the next she was not, then the next she was again…and then the next became minister?
That election?
And she couldn’t get this loan from a bank because….why?
Asking for the AG and CIMA – for this sizable loan, Wayne should have a business license. He is making money off the deal and is competing against the local banks that are required to pay license fees.
Wayne doesnt give handouts or “loans” to his constituents, only his competition. This is an embarrassment, all of the last 8 years politicians are actually going down in history as the worst in our countries history. It only took 15 years to cement or course to eventual disaster.
LTD Da Unboozler
Having a charge on your own subordinate minister’s home is both a significant asset interest and conflict that should have been declared and investigated. What is SIPLC’s comment? What demented instructions are they giving ministers that leaves them believing this is out of scope?
Let’s blame the civil service for this.
Is the loan still outstanding, or did she clear the debt on sale of house, or other deliverable? Why didn’t she go to a bank if she had collateral?
It is possible that she did not go to a bank because of the time frame involved in getting a loan. It can take many weeks to secure a bank loan. Good deals on good homes in good locations get snapped up quite quickly. Panton approved the loan and wrote the cheque as soon as the attorneys could draw up the documents and the parties signed them and the Lands office registered the charge. What? A week?
I wish I could be an politician with millions in the bank whilst paying imported developing world labour to do our dirty work at the tax payers expense. Must be good.
Proof here ladies and gents that politics is good for business. If that doesn’t inspire young people to get into politics then what will?
Wayne Panton is a retired Lawyer… his wealth did not come from Politics.!
Partner too and still has interest in the land Walkers built on so he’s still getting paid. People are so ignorant and facts don’t matter to them.
He was a millionaire long before politics. He spends more on the community than most out of his own pocket too! Check your facts.
almost half of us live on less than 4K a month, we cant afford homes, hell most of us can barely afford rent but our elected officials can loan each other a cool 1.4 mil?
This is reaching French revolution levels of disparity. My truck hasn’t been licensed in 4 years because i cant afford new suspension and to patch my exhaust to get it passed, I’m putting my bathmats outside when it rains to cut down on my water bill but these people just throw around millions like its monopoly money.
you do realize there’s corruption at all levels government? a small bribe will get your truck passed no problem. save you from having to deal with the officer who is pissed that his side job of burglary didn’t go as planned cause his fam toked too much
If they worked for it in life and got the success the right away I don’t care. What do you want to do about the disparity? Why does it exist? Let’s discuss those issues.
What are the terms of the loan Interest rate charged and is Turner paying Wayne the interest on a monthly basis also if this is a short term loan what is the term 1yr 2yr or 5yrs..Wayne you need to tell us the people this information
Ah Savannah-Newlands. Where the gas station openly sells bongs and rolling paper. Just across the road from the community office.
Must be nice to have $1.64 million lying around to give away and must be nice to live beyond your means to live in a $1.4 million house. Meanwhile, in the real world, the minimum wage is a disgusting $6p/h. Hopelessly inadequate to live in one of the worlds most expensive places. Slum landlords are charging exorbitant rents for barely habitable properties. I’ve seen these first hand. There is abject poverty in all parts of the island, again which I’ve seen first hand.
Kenny, Jon-Jon and others scream ‘Cayman for Caymanians’ but do little to help. Never mind, Sabrina can lounge at her pool with a cheeky wee mojito and not have to be near hoi polloi. Shameful doesn’t cover it.
That is an unfair slight on Kenny and Jon-Jon, they work untiringly and unceasingly to do absolutely everything they can to help Caymanians. It is just that the Caymanians they help is strictly limited to themselves.
This reeks of sheer greed and grand-standing, coupled with taking advantage of someone’s kindness. That’s my opinion and I base it on:
1. I bet Wayne Panton didn’t proffer the loan to
Sabrina Turner;
2. Mrs. Turner apparently owned a very nice 5 bedroom
home in Prospect (whether or not mortgage-free, who
knows?);
3. Seems like the purchase of the new canal-front home
in Patrick’s Island materialized after Mrs. Turner
became an elected MP;
4. Seems that new-found “social status” required a move
to a more “stocious” address, near people like the
CJ and others.
Hence, it seems simply like grand-standing and greed, without being able to afford it!! Handy to have a millionaire colleague…eh, “friend”.
It shows the measure of most of those in elected office.
“Stocious” a good word in this situation, but “Hurry come up” would also be an accurate description , and of course to top it all off..”When dog have money, him nyam cheese.”
Hence, it seems simply like grand-standing and greed, without being able to afford it!!
One more term and her pension for life, which we will pay for, will be more than enough for her to afford it.
I hope she’s not banking on another term to pay Wayne back as I don’t think she will be re-elected. I can’t think of one thing she has done except convince the elderly and most vulnerable in our community to take the Vaccine!!! Sad, so sad!!
When we see most MPs such as Sir Alden, Roy McTaggart, Wayne Panton, Moses Kirkconnell, Barbara Comolly living in homes theyve had for over 20-plus years despite their positions or Kenneth Bryan, Jay Ebanks, Chris Saunders, Heather Bodden all living in communities/neighborhoods mostly among working class wondering why owning a 1.6 or 1.4 million canal front home and especially in a electoral district where many of the constituents are experiencing hardships on a regular basis calls to consider who was the MP elected to benefit?! She drives the most expensive private vehicle of all MPs, and now this. Scratch your head.
Sad part is, she’s forgetting that the expenses to maintain this “above her means” lifestyle , will continue, when her bloated salary is no longer there.
Ah – will get a very well paid non job in one of the many government owned entities or civil service departments along with a few directorships. Despite the public show of rivalry, they are all part of the same crony club.
Strike 1 -Campaigned on decency then formed government with Mac. #sheisnotsupported
Strike 2 – Allegedly used his money to entice PACT members to join him
Strike 3 – Voted to support the EW Highway through the wetlands
Strike 4 – Silent on Heathers dredging approval by cabinet which will negatively impact Newlands especially when the King Tides are in effect
Strike 5 – Loans Sabrina over $1M at a time when the Opposition was bringing a no confidence motion against him (which other PACT members got “loans”?
You were out two innings ago buddy, don’t come knocking… sorry don’t send anyone knocking at my door this time!
Meanwhile you did nothing for min wage, housing, traffic, the dump, traffic, poverty while you were in a position to do something. Sit this one out Wayne, take a knee, do the right thing for once. You are nothing but a bully with money.
I’m in Newlands and I’m with you on this!!! Wayne will NEVER get my vote again.
Wayne probably won’t stand again. He’s done enough damage and been rewarded handsomely.
I am sure another crop of yes people has already been identified.
It will be business as usual.
“…Turner was unable to sell her existing home in time to acquire a new $1.4 million canal-front home she and her family wanted to buy in Patricks Island.”
Well now, ain’t it the Lap of Luxury struggles we wish we all had. Let’s try to live within our means, shall we. Because I’m betting Turner will for sure vote for a “Health Minister” pay raise soon. Just so she can try to afford the bigger, more luxurious ticket items.💅🏿🤑
Sabrina, take this quote below to heart –
“There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.”-Sophia Amoruso
She can’t string a sensible sentence together but she got a house way above her means. Wayne and his handlers pretending he is so honourable and “meek”. Looks like desperation to me. Premier at any cost even if it includes dignity and common sense. The good book says ” a fool and his money will be parted”.
While children have to cover their heads with their school bags on rainy days to catch the bus. What happened to the “community
rescue team”, where is the composting facility?? where is anything from Wayne’s and Heather’s manifesto??? Not surprised..
it is high time that the people of Newlands give Raul Gonzales the opportunity to represent them.
Remember when the Newlands candidates was asked the question “if elected, would they form a government with McKeeva Bush”? It was suppose to be a yes or no question, Raul answered no, and Wayne and Alva said “preferably not”.
Please God ..not Raul. The man can barely string a sentence togeher as evidenced at the Chamber Forum. Newlands should have never voted Alva out. We woudl have been much further ahead.
Yep? Hindsight is 20/20 vision.
Raul will be just another mumbling bumbling seat warmer without the cash. We do not need another unintelligent, inarticulate uneducated person elected again! We cannot fix a bad decision with a worse decision. Newlands deserve better.
Family history suggest that he’d get on well with Kenny at least.
Preferrably not is the correct answer. There are 19 seats and nobody knew who would get elected. You have to work with what the people elect, thats called democracy. Who is a member to refuse to work with one of the duly elected 19 ? That would be a refusal to accept the will of the people.
Anyway Raul is a moron, he thinks maintaining one Park and flying the Cayman flag in his yard makes him the perfect choice. He needs to sit this one out and stop pulling the usual 120 votes because he is only helping Wayne when he does that!
I noticed Wayne has stil not come out against Heathers development in the North Sound (Newlands) I wonder if he loaned her the development $$$?
Lol he won’t. I see right through that man while many are fooled.
Dredging builds country.
The CWL was granted by Cabinet of which Wayne is not a member. He can say all he wants he has no power to stop it.
He is paid to open his damn mouth for every “wrong” decison made by Government. He doesnt get to opt out because its Feather cough cough I mean Heather.
Zeen?
His silence tells us all we need to know.
If MP’s can’t go to the bank and get a decent loan for whatever reason to purchase a piece of property how do they expect the average Caymanian to? They themselves know personal loans are more cost effective than going to a bank so what hope is there for us??? Wayne will NOT be getting my vote next election.
This is the question that I have!! They make more money per month than the average Caymanian makes in five months. This doesn’t look good from any angle. Shame!! Shame on both of you!!!
First it was appointing McKeeva Speaker after having resigned because of the latter’s woman beating ways all in a desperate bid to be Premier.
Now this!
Anyone notice a pattern here.
Sabrina, if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.
Independence in fact and independence in appearance are two aspects of professional independence that are equally important for establishing objectivity and integrity.
Question for Wayne: If Alden gave Mac a loan and put a charge on his property, would you be ok with it ? or would you cry bloody murder?
Are they not in laws? why not?
Illegal, no.
Unethical, yes.
Maybe nothing illegal about it, but it is ethically wrong on more than one level.
It is actually of concern that a Minister is willing to take on this level of debt.
When she is removed from office, how will she maintain her repayment schedule.?
Of greater concern is the fact that if our leaders are not able to protect their own cash flow future, how can we expect they can protect ours.?
So does that mean that the informer is no longer cozying up to the former premier?
That informer is always looking for attention
CNS, wasn’t it Sabrina who got up in the Parliament and said she was not going to remove Wayne ? She went to great pains to express her support for him didn’t she ? Wasn’t that around the same time this “loan” was made? Should she have declared a conflict ? Abstained? Not contribute to the debate?
IF Wayne is so transparent, can he deny that any members of the PACT Government received financial gifts to join him paid through 3rd parties ?
Mario is not often right. On this occasion however, he is. Not a good look any way you try to slice it.
Understandable why this loan has caused people to raise questions. It’s not enough to avoid corruption and conflicts of interest when in a public office, you have to avoid the possibility of the perception that something could be perceived as a conflict which in this instance it appears Panton and Turner failed to do.
6.1 and 7.1 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct that Panton steered through and put in place covers conflicts of interest and pecuniary interests including perceived conflicts so this is something I am sure he is well aware of.
Just seems like a very strange position for Wayne Panton to have put himself in given his claims about transparency. Personally I think he is many things, but I don’t think dumb is one of them. By all accounts this transaction was documented as required by law and declared to the limited extent required of politicians. Further Turner has one vote out of 19, I don’t recall a single issue before Parliament that was decided on a one vote margin since the last election, even in Cabinet she is 1 vote of 8 so I am not sure it makes sense as some desperate ploy to secure votes. There are also plenty of ways for one to do political favours to win votes that do not have to be declared. It looks strange and was an entirely avoidable situation to end up in but as far as I can tell just seems to be poor foresight on the part of Panton. The real issue as far as I can see is much like our Campaign Finance laws, the rules and public disclosure in this area seem to be inadequate to ensure that these sorts of issues are avoided and or properly overseen when required.
If you actually care about conflicts of interest and corruption then we should be encouraging MPs to strengthen those rules to ensure that there is proper oversight on politicians and restrictions on the sort of actions they can undertake and be involved in while holding office. So far, the Commission for Standards in Public Life has said nothing in relation to this arrangement and the public concern surrounding it which is inexcusable and further evidence the regime we have in place is not fit for purpose.
But while we are on the topic of strange sums of money and politicians and the total failure of our laws to provide transparency. Personally, I am far more interested in the 1.3 million the PPM received and spent between 2013 and 2021. I would love to figure out who is donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to a party that hasn’t outright won a majority in Parliament since 2005 and what those donors/businesses or candidates got in return for that money. For instance, could Waterfront businesses (or their owners) be major donors to the PPM which might explain their consistent fervent support for a cruise port despite its unpopularity?
Seeing as we approaching another election it would be the perfect time to start asking questions about where they get that money and what they promise or offer in exchange for it.
They are likely gearing up to add between 300-500k to the total in expenditure as we approach the upcoming election and there are basically no rules on expenditure or reporting when it it is done prior to nomination per the Elections law.
It is already too late for us to get details on the election’s expenses for 2013 as by law they were destroyed after the 2021 election, after the upcoming election the 2017 returns will have been destroyed as well. I doubt we are going to get campaign finance reform before the next election I only hope it is done at some point.
“Personally, I am far more interested in the 1.3 million the PPM received and spent between 2013 and 2021”.
Of which Panton was a member.
You think that fact changes my opinion on the matter? Because It doesn’t.
I specifically mentioned ‘what those donors/businesses or candidates got in return for that money’ That wording was included for a reason – I am well aware of the purported role Wayne had during his years in the PPM, its also why I question his seriousness about transparency as he had the opportunity to reform our elections laws and did not make any moves to do so.
This loan news coming to light just further points to an unserious and fleeting principle unfortunately.
Its baffling that someone who pushed for the Ministerial code would have done something that is so clearly at the very least teetering on the edge of breaching it.
Its not just the impropriety of the matter, its the fact that this illustrates how disconnected our elected officials are from the rest of us.
These people have enough wealth that they can loan each other over 1million dollars. let that sink in, enough liquidity on hand to just hand over 1.4 mil and be fine. If i got a bill tomorrow for 1.4K i would be homeless, I haven’t had a valid vehicle registration in 4 years because i cant afford to fix the things on it to get it passed, I cant afford a loan for new car and thanks to the ban on vehicle over 7 years old i cant even afford a used truck on Ecay.
I expect corruption at this point, it doesn’t surprise me. But this really shined a light on the fact that these people just cannot understand what we are dealing with in the country because they are just so far removed from it.
Chicken or Goat…Spell “CURRY FAVOR”!!
that excuse is pure BULL. Obviousy yall think we’re stoopid.
If my boss financed my house Id be REALLYYY Indebted to him.
but.. we’ll burn that BRIDGE when we cross it ..at the Polls.
Like everything else in Cayman the price of loyalty has gone through the roof ! Current price is 1.6 million!
I don’t know whether or not Wayne’s story is true but i that was a lot of money to lend someone just willy nilly. He must desperately wanted to “help his country ” . He probably gave away more money than he was able to gain in salary, I guess being rolling in the dough is nice. I guess easy come easy go!
Not connected is right but is obligated and Loyal to her loan officer Wayne Panton what’s the difference? Sabrina has just raised the price on Caribbean politicians.
I’m a little surprised that Sabrina Turner can afford a $14 million property. Family money?
CNS: Sorry! That was a typo. $1.4 million.
I wonder what it feels like to be personally for sale. I hope I never stoop to the place where I have to know. I would like to think that if millions were dangled in front of my face, I would have the integrity to remain true to myself and my rules.
If a Caymanian politician can and chooses to live in a $14 million dollar “home”, that is their business. I can’t think of a one of them that I think deserves it, unless they made their wealth themselves, and not on the ‘backs’ of their influence and power, and promises.
Meanwhile, minimum wage is stuck at $6.00/hour. Do you feel represented? Do you want four more years of the same?
CNS: Sorry! That was a typo. The price of the house was $1.4 million.
If the property was indeed purchased to be flipped as has been stated, they are both complicit in driving up property prices and placing them even further out of reach of their constituents who they have vowed to serve.
1.6 million could sure help a lot of struggling families in the Newlands area instead those who say they care use it to help those who want to live in gated communities driving range rovers and big time gowerment jobs running they mouth comparing themselves to their Jamaican lifestyle.
When Mario Rankin accuses anyone of anything, it’s probably projection. I’m surprised he hasn’t been elected yet – he’d fit right in with the current bunch.
Criminal record and thankfully not eligible to run for politics
Doesn’t stop Kenny.
and McKeeva
Kenny wasn’t convicted of fraud.
Correct, he was twice found guilty of far worse.
Selling coke to an undercover cop at a club, and a brawl outside same club years later.
He’s an anomaly to me, can’t figure him out exactly, but there’s something I don’t trust with him even though I agree with a lot of his talking points.
Especially with him saying he’s against over development, against corruption, against nepotism, ag2special dealing and wheeling. And he says he’s for better education, and says No to a new port, etc, etc, etc of good, sensible and ethical humanity.
But if you follow our history, you’ll know he has in the past benefited from and did a complete 360 of what he says he’s “against”, because he’s got “principals” – but 💵 sure can $teer those principles in another, opposite direction! Mario has benefited from/been accused of cronyism, influence peddling and graft. He’s a McKeeva supporter, so there’s the mould, the clout he rides on.
Which means his style of politics is ‘every accusation is a confession’.
I believe Mario is a subterfuge master!
Just a fool who makes a lot of noise, no more, no less.
Him and Jon-Jon could exchange DUI stories during LA sessions.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck…
Not buying this for even a second, especially with a “gent” like Wayne.
He has some people fooled with his “green washing”/community love slogans but the real Wayne is not somebody I would ever vote for. He can buy out CMR all he wants, we know who he is and what he stands for and it’s more of a “me, myself and I” storyline.
True, this may all technically be legal and above board. That said, transactions like these should be avoided by high-ranking civil servants to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
This was careless on the part of Panton and Turner and even though legal, brings their judgement into question.
Say wha!! So she could not afford to get a deposit down payment for it but buys a home for 14 million . Wonder what the mortgage is on that now considering her age and salary ?
CNS: That was a typo. The price of the house was $1.4 million.
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.
Nothingburger. Can we focus on real issues and conflicts of interest that impact on actual Caymanians?
This seems to be a completely legitimate transaction which people should take the time to read and understand before commenting. HOWEVER, the point that should be being made is that, if an MP who likely earns in the top 2.5 percentile needs to take a loan out like this to cater to their financial goals and needs, what hope does the general public on an average wage have? Also, I live close the house she is selling and is not worth $1.3million, so I hope Wayne is not banking in this sale for repayment.
Life has not been easy for me. My [premier]/[father] gave me a small loan of a million dollars.
Wayne’s source is “trust me, bro”.
The obvious question is WHY??? Wayne Panton Why so she can live in a 14 million house really Wayne? Whilst those in you constituency and supporters are struggling to make ends meet.
CNS: That was a typo. $1.4 million.
Is that $14 million a typo? please say it is.
CNS: Yes, it’s a typo. Sorry!
I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale if you believe Wayne.
We don’t need no conservation law but we should be independent Jamaican style!
Yeah right…. Independent from prosperity.
Turner has no business being an MP, sitting there doing nothing except pruning herself. She needs to be ousted and see how she pays her ‘big wanted’ house when not on her ‘big wanted’ salary paid by those who do not have the money to subsidise her pruning. Get rid of this one and on to the next one to be ousted!
Pruning, will come with age as it does with most older people.
Preening is what you mean I think .
Definitely pruning!
Pruning!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/gardening/gardening-expert-says-two-plants-33625895
This contains an hilarious malapropism. “Preening” not “pruning”. Though the house cost an arm and a leg.
Definitely pruning!
Well, I hope this put to an end that constant whining of people who say young Caymanians cannot afford to buy a house in Cayman.