MPs to meet but no-confidence vote may fail
(CNS): On Friday, the PPM secured enough signatures from MPs now sitting on the opposition benches to call a special parliamentary meeting for Tuesday in order to hold a no-confidence vote in the government. However, the vote could still fail. On Saturday, there were indications that they still had not locked in the necessary tenth vote.
While rumour and speculation about a potential new government led by the PPM swirled through the community on Saturday — among political pundits and across social media — it was still not clear who would be the tenth vote to bring down PACT.
On documents submitted to House Speaker Kathy Ebanks-Wilks by the opposition, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly’s name was on the letter requesting the meeting of parliament, but she had not signed it.
In a press release, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart said the opposition was satisfied that other members would also be signing. The letter was accepted by the speaker, and the meeting has now been confirmed for 10:00am Tuesday.
“The letter was signed by a sufficient number of elected members to effect a meeting,” McTaggart said. “Those signing included members of the Progressive Opposition and the three independent opposition members. We are satisfied that other members will also be signing the letter.
“As I indicated on Thursday, it is our duty as representatives of our people to act to restore stable and effective government to these Islands,” McTaggart added after the motion of no confidence, seconded by Deputy Opposition Leader Joey Hew, was filed with and accepted by the speaker.
However, McTaggart gave no indication that he expected to become premier if the Progressives succeed in bringing down Panton’s government or if he has had to forego the top job in order to pick off an additional PACT member. There is also no indication at this point what the outcome would be if the PPM cannot tempt the tenth MP to join them in a new line-up.
Whatever happens, Premier Wayne Panton will struggle to cling on as premier, given the numbers he is faced with. But if the divisions that exist, not just among PACT but among all MPs, cannot be resolved, a new line-up may be difficult to secure and could force him to call early elections.
Much of the infighting within PACT has been about development and the clash with the premier’s stated and genuine belief in the need for a sustainable future.
If the baton is passed to a PPM administration, it is almost certain that the current unchecked development is likely to get even worse, despite broad public sentiment that development, especially high-end luxury condos or commercial projects, should be curtailed until the new much-awaited and long-delayed national development plan is rolled out.
There was no mention of any pressure being applied by the development lobby in McTaggart’s motion of no confidence, which focuses on the hung parliament caused by McKeeva Bush’s departure from PACT this past week and what the opposition leader referred to as PACT’s inability to pull together the 2024/25 budget.
See the no-confidence motion and letter below:
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Category: Politics
Firstly thank you to whoever wrote the comment about me; the thought is appreciated and I am now strongly considering running, in George Town for sure.
Then…thank you also to the persons who shared this comment is here.
Oh my what a lot of thumbs downs and bitter comments🙂. I wonder how many of you have sent friend requests on social media and following my pages. Many who cannot even put their names to their comments🙂🤷♀️.
But…I have always been a Caymanian who have advocated for free speech, basic rights and knowing that we as Caymanians and residents have ‘voices’; it is awesome to see those voices being exercised, if only behind anonymity and on social media.
Even if not in my favor🙂.
The saying is that even your haters are still paying attention to your that’s why they know who you are what you are doing”.
We can’t can’t all like everyone🙂💪⚖️.
Interesting that both CNS and Cayman Marl Road
Do not comment on the Premier failing to get his own members to vote for him.
Most of the MPs with which we should have least confidence, have already left or been ejected from PACT.
Exactly
Kenneth , Jay , Juju, Bernie still there… how’s your confidence now..?
Hello people history is something we must recall and refer to from time to time to provide us with insightful data on current events.
Does anyone recall physically seeing the arrangement between Bush and McLaughlin when he was co-opted to form the PPM government previously?
Hmm what if that unseen agreement and it’s content has now been used to draw Bush out to support the ouster of Panton and the PACT government , what if this present Bush move now pays back fully and documents are handed over and/or destroyed and Bush only has to focus on the pending case in court?.
Second time around for Bush being the man behind the Coup that took Tibbetts out as Leader of Govt Business and now Panton as Premier. “ He doesn’t like where the country is going “is all a pile of Dudu and Mac the country knows it . We now know how you operate .
Let us pray for an outcome that inures to the peoples benefit and if it does not happen that way let us go the streets. Time to get ya backs off the wall Caymanians.
This article is missing some important substance. The writer repeats “bringing down the PACT” but doesn’t mention that at the moment, the PACT doesn’t have a quorum to do anything. Nothing. Does the general public understand this could bring the country to a screeching halt?
Also, article states the vote may fail but doesn’t say that this is a constitutional matter where there is a hung government and doesn’t have the majority.
I’m not sure why this is being viewed through the lens of just bringing down a govt. Without a quorum, a budget can’t be passed. We are now in Nov and a budget has to be debated, passed and approved before Dec 31.
This article also states that it may fail but states it in the context of not having enough signatures on a letter but in reality in order for the vote to pass the opposition must have 2/3 votes ie 13 members total must vote yes. Regardless of who signs a letter it comes down to a procedural vote.
Regardless of what side you’re on, this is a major issue for the government and the continued operations of emergency services and many other public services and less to do with taking over a government.
But the speaker could be changed to someone from outside and they would then again have a quorom. Although in my opinion at this point I say just call for early elections and lets see where the voting population stand on all of it.
The speaker is not going to give up her $250,000.ci pay plus benefits.
It will cost her almost three quarters of a million dollars..!
Government wouldn’t come to a halt – it just means that the government may not have an easy majority to pass all bills. opposition would have more of a say in what passes and what doesn’t.
Not if the opposition refused to attend parliament. Then there wouldn’t be a quorum, irrespective of a majority of those attending. Which is exactly what the opposition are hinting at.
Cayman has been on a skidding halt for some time, what have and are Caymanians doing about it, voting in the same ole self serving dinosaurs, then vote in a younger self serving mini dinosaur. The young educated, smart Caymanians do not want to stand to be involved in the xxxx Cayman government. Timing of McKeewa right after Cayman is off the grey list. The self serving never ends.
We need people to run who are educated, experienced, and willing to stand up to the big development lobby. God help Cayman if the developers get their way. PPM seem to be in their pockets. Our beautiful little island will be a thing of the past and McKeeva will have his Singapore of the Caribbean.
Bad news – most MLA’s are either indirectly or directly involved with development. Joey Hew’s kid works at NCB for crying out loud.
Joey Hew is your next leader so better watch your step!
WHew, I sure hope not.
wid u all de way
We ALL work for developers.
How do you think govt gets its income to give you all the (free) services without you having to pay income tax…?
Financial industry and work permit fees stretched to its limits.
Tourism income is being frittered by Kenneth who thinks it’s his personal piggy bank.
The Port lost $1.3 million last year through irresponsible pay and benefits increases.
Thank goodness for development.
Apparently, there really isn’t honour among thieves.
No honour, no heart, no integrity. Certainly nobody doing what is best for the people.
As with nearly everywhere else, they are mostly concerned with being right, rather than doing the right thing.
No honour.
The PPM’s thirst for another round of their past version of governance is regrettable. Voters need to press for changes to the Elections Law (eg. disqualify those with criminal records), effect the Nolan Principles, SIPL, and Framework for Fiscal Responsibility, among other things. It’s the voters that can’t get in gear, not the usual suspects seeking what little we expect from them, again and again.
Making the PPM the subject of your post is just really saying “look at that shiny object over there, and try to ignore what is really happening!”
The fact remains that PACT has never been anything more than a loose alliance, and have always been far more loose than allied. Therein lies our many problems since the elections.
How well did the PPM or UDP do in their first EVER term… or ever for that matter? We’ve been in trouble for more than 2 decades at their hands. Most of the PACT undesirables have left and now stand on the opposite side of the floor who were quick to embrace. What does that tell you?
Other so called media houses sycophantic to the current government are couping so hard. Days / hours are numbered.
Soon Come Roy and his funky bunch kissing Mackewwa @$$ to regain power.WOW. This speaker needs to be replace immediately just another clone of the west bay Godfather! Who says “We don’t need another election just a coalition run by Alldon and govern by him and his entourage “ We need and Election Now Cayman !
And vote in who?
They may as well encourage early election and encourage among some others Ms. Patricia (Bryan) to become a candidate. She seems to have more brains and courage even wanting to help her people than many of the PACT members! Going as far as a talk show to keep us woke! More than many of the PACT or Opposition has done. She educated, has common sense, and intelligent (more than what we can say for many presently sitting), and pretty too. We need more women anyway.
Is she Kenneth’s sister? If so we really do not need two of them in the LA? She might have differing views but “blood is thicker than water”
We REALLY do not need one of them.
God help us
@11:52 a.m. Wouldn’t that be interesting to watch/listen to😉🙂?
“Blood” being “thicker than water” yet, YET doing what ELECTED to do…have “differing views”(if need be?)? Seems a no brainer of what I would be expected to do by my constituents and the people of the Cayman Islands…if successful🙂😉🤗.
What are you babbling about: ‘even wanting to help her people’, besides tryung to help herself with her recent proclamations. ‘pretty too’…what the heck does that have to do with anything? LOL
I hope McKeeva will be the next Premier. Biden is still running. Bush can run for the next 10 years while training Kenneth Bryan to take over
…trolling…
Do they have a big enough meeting room for cabinet in Northward?
Catron back trying to rile up her uneducated sheep again, desperate to save her government, making up shit as she goes along.
Oh Old Roy you are our hero!
I have absolutely NO CONFIDENCE in Any of our Politicians to do the right by Cayman. When are we the people going to have the right to remove them from office ??
“When are we the people going to have the right to remove them from office ??”
Hopefully sooner rather than later at a general election. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath on either 1) that actually happening anytime soon, as they’ll try and avoid an election for as long as possible, and 2) the electorate having the good common sense to elect candidates actually capable of running this country properly.
Don’t forget that in recent elections too many supported and voted for those who could hand them the most cash. Until voters get serious and start caring about the homeland instead of how they can get topsoil, airline ticket and hotel accommodation to Disney, a few bags of groceries etc. the same types of inept politicians will be elected. Instead voters should pay attention to the abilities, the integrity, the education, character, leadership qualities and honesty of those standing up for election we will have the same results. We the people need to set higher standards if we want higher results.
We need people to run who are educated, experienced, and willing to stand up to the big development lobby. God help Cayman if the developers get their way. PPM seem to be in their pockets. Our beautiful little island will be a thing of the past and McKeeva will have his Singapore of the Caribbean.
Not Singapore, more like Haiti!
It’s called an election. Happens every 4 years – or earlier given the way things are going.
You will have the right and the opportunity when the next election comes around.
Let us vote now before we get saddled with the PPM gang once again
They will do anything to prevent a snap election. Many of them know they won’t be voted in again including Panton.
Hopefully this is a lesson that greedy uneducated unemployables will only use their positions to enrich themselves.
They have no other means of employment and the UDP “what’s in this for me” mantra will rule their decisions… with OUR money.
You talk about UDP negatively but omit the FAR worse Progressives which I call the Regressives because of their wasteful crony spending patterns.
When the Big Mack McKeeva was premier there was less crime and birds were chirping people seemed marry and the children sang in the streets. How has all of this changed? Could the return of the Mack happen? This sure is a pickle of a story Bobo. Behooved with wonder indeed.
When Mac was premier he planted the seeds of our destruction, and since then the beautiful flower Cayman has wilted.
Powerful imagery with the seeds analogy but alas I find myself yearning for return of the Big Mack to get this island on the right track. A better analogy than seeds is the Lion King ending with Simba mighty roar on the rock has the animals cheer Simba as Hope and Change green grass will grow once again.
More like the Hyenas.
Well played LOL
You been smoking bro. I have been in West Bay for over 40 years. No birds, no children. They want to avoid the crime and gunshots which were certainly around in the Bush days.
West Bay Bodden please tell us you a joking.
Mac is the one who supports development and wants Darts 50 storey towers on SMB.
I know Ezzard Miller and Arden McLean must be having a “field day.” Please allow either one these men to be Speaker of the House. At least they would bring back decorum to the house. Please please stick to your rules re Status Holder running for Elections. Help the few indigenous Caymanians that are left along with the pensioners. Cayman badly needs a Rent Control Board. Past and present government promise to put it to effect, all empty promises.Look on the statistics on crime that is happening. At least the COP took the initiative to go into different districts to identify any lurking problems and to effect changes. He explicitly stated the he’s worried about the insatiable appetite for firearms in Cayman. This is very frightening and odious. Please don’t let our beloved Cayman Islands be known as “crime ridden” to the international world. This has to be a top priority for the existing or new Govt. May God continue to bless our beloved Cayman Islands and return us as still being the Jewel of the Caribbean.
Ezzard and Arden in the same sentence as decorum? You’ve lost the plot. Both have rightly been put out to pasture.
11.23 agreed that neither has a charming bedside manner, but Both have an honest concern for the well being of Cayman and Caymanians.
Ezzard would be better for this.
Both would be better than most of the current mob . That is a fact.
There are some good people but on both sides of Parliament. The trick is to get them to work together.Failing that we need a whole new bunch.
The real “ bad guys” we know so they just have to go including the burning Bush. Mario be prepared West Bay needs you. You and Andre would be a formidable team in West Bay.
Wasn’t the same sentence, actually.
Not Arden please. Ezzard, yes, he has a touch…a touch…of class.
I vote for Ezzard as well. He has more patience and he will certainly need a good supply to keep the unruly under control
Really? Arden bring decorum to the House? Am I in the Twilight zone? Are our standards so low? No wonder we are in trouble.
The national pastime of “what’s in it for me” is in full flow in parliament. Don’t expect any help for Joe public from this horse trading. So long as there’s a closed shop on who can be an MP, we’ll get a continuation of incompetence.
Sadly the alternative to “closed shop” is Jamaican candidates elected by Jamaican voters.
End result, we will be living in Jamaica wether we want to or not.
Sadly this is the typical Caymanian focus which is primarily on race and not on the true hindrance to Caymanian growth and them achieving a piece of the pie. Take a look at the private schools, our financial institutions, law firms, gated communities, hotel’s restaurants et al that have become ultra exclusive and out of reach for the regular Caymanian. Are these ran by Jamaicans, is your boss at work in the places Jamaican? Take a look at the bigger picture we are so busy fighting amongst the few of us that we have lost total control of our product and everything about who we are. As per usual throughout history the “slaves” are fighting amongst themselves to get the scraps from the Master. We need to wake up and focus on the right things!
Our politicians will be Jamaicans, we will be administered by Jamaicans.
Our police and chief and planning board and tourist board and every taxi driver …..will be Jamaican.
Well that’s the case now and we are the top destination for the Caribbean…….😏. So their contributions are actually a positive for us but back to the original writers point what/who are the actual hindrance to Caymanians being able to truly progress and reap the benefits of the major wealth in circulation in our country? Stunt your prejudice and focus on the glaring disparity that’s get’s worse day to day.
Well said.
Take a look at the population and work permit statistics.
So tired of the same clowns running the same circus. Truly wish we had some fresh caymanian faces in the mix at the top. Roy is and will always be Alden’s Lackey; Wayne knew he was on the blades edge with the group he was in with. Maybe time for a little revolution to get the right folks in the spotlight.
They’re all ridiculous, vain, fools.
The article is wrong. Under section 51 of the Constitution, you need 2/3 of elected members for a motion of no confidence in the government to succeed. So they need 13 members. Don’t confuse with section 49 which requires a simple majority to form a government after an election.
Be careful…already these guys are lying. Private members motion no. 10….paragraph 4.
There are plenty more people dissatisfied with the current government that have nothing to do with this convenient “developer lobby.” Even some of us who applaud seeing value and time being given to recognizing our natural environment.
But this government has lacked any coherent mission since Day 1. It really is a PACT of individuals who agreed that as long as they could pursue their personal ambitions, they would vote for each other’s pet projects (at least until those projects started clashing for funding, as well as directly in purpose).
Other than Andre, who has made meaningful contributions in areas of social welfare and financial services, what has been truly accomplished by other members of this government?
The Parliament has barely met (and we’ve been out of our pandemic crisis well long enough that there’s no excuse to be held for the past two years with that). Very little has been legislated by this government. Critical projects remain in limbo, with numerous self-declared deadlines well in our rear view mirror and costs spiraling upward.
Here’s what has been done. Kenny has spent and promised a lot of money in areas that have dubious business cases and likely no real net-value proposition. Sabrina hasn’t done a whole lot other than mistreat her ministerial team. Bernie got in trouble for political interference when Wayne could afford to have principles, but not when he behaved in a manner that would have been an offense under a piece of legislation this very government is purportedly trying to pass. Chris bullied his ministerial staff and tried to make the CIG as successful as HSBC was. Jay and John John consistently acted against Wayne’s preferred approach to the EW Arterial project. Under Chris and now Isaac, PR and status activities have ground to a halt and the government is increasing its legal exposure by the day (mind that no actual reform has been undertaken, other than an illegal billboard calling for it posted by a different member of the government). Juju continues to run roughshod over whatever anyone else says by just publicly promising expenditure (teachers’ salaries, new schools, etc). Katherine has no idea how to be Speaker. PACT made Mac Speaker, despite Wayne leaving the PPM over disagreements specifically related to this very person. PACT then continues to maintain him in their backbench and caucus because they can’t afford to lose a vote (clearly, look at where we are now once they did). Yaya has gone missing, I think. Hard to tell, you never hear anything from or about her. She might have been missing from the outset.
The above is not a price I am personally happy to pay when I strongly suspect that there was a deal on the table in 2021 where Wayne could have been Minister of Environment/Climate and potentially even Deputy Premier alongside a far more competent and coherent Cabinet. I actually think he might have gotten even more done in that role because he would have likely held more soft power to threaten to break from that government were any policies too contrary to his purported values. Instead, he has wielded very little actual power and influence while his role has mainly been trying to lessen the harms being caused by his very own team. Well, that and failed as Finance Minister to bring a budget in a timely manner as required by our Constitution and now we’re so close to the wire we may actually see government shut down in January irrespective of whether he keep this government together or not.
Great work, Wayne. Pride cometh before the fall and all that.
Agree with everything EXCEPT your final para. Wayne’s failure may well be that he is too much of a professional and a gentle man. You need a bully to rabble this rowdy lot into line and lets not forget the entitled civil servants sitting on bloated salaries hanging on to every cent and more.
Okay, so he’s an ineffective leader with good intentions, and shouldn’t have been Premier on that basic premise. Because he’s in the exact position that requires leading a group toward a common vision, which he’s failed to do.
For all their other faults, those historical leaders (here or elsewhere) that have made a difference always knew how to use a stick instead of just carrots.
So Wayne may well be a gentleman in your opinion, but he’s a poor Premier.
Correct. He is gentleman (most of the time), but turned out to be an ineffective leader. Not the worst person in the world, but, at the end of the day, he is a fellow Caymanian. We, as Caymanians, need to try to do our best.
well the PACT government has sure made party politics attrative
Here comes a Kakistocracy!
Wayne Panton – failed Premier
Julianna – been in more governments than anyone in history with little to both to show for it
Chris Saunders – failed Deputy Premier
Alden McLaughlin – ruthless narcissistic sociopath
Moses Kirkconnell – well, read Leigh Ritch’s book
Roy McTaggart – power hungry politician with a withering career
Joseph Hew – calm as Valium and short in stature
McKeeva Bush – big daddy dog has his day and gets to now tell Wayne it’s your turn to resign big fella
At this rate Jon Jon Seymour and David Wight might as well be Premier and Deputy Premier. It can’t get much worse than it already has this term.
Just one change, it is “Sir” Alden, other than that it is spot on.
This is ridiculous. The entire lot are unfit. It has nothing to do with the state of the country and everything to do with desperate claps for power.
Imagine Roy or lord help us Joey Who being premier?!? We r so broken
Election now
Cost of living is high. People facing homelessness due to a non -existent of a rent control board. The $950 pensioners badly need an upliftment to survive. I was made to understand the motion was passed for the $950 to be uplifted to $1500. When I contact the Pension Board they don’t know nothing . Christmas is around corner help us we pray. Is the Pact Govt sleeping?
the $950 is now $1,250 and PPM is pressuring PACT to increase to $1,500 and PACT saying they have no issue with that but NAU has loafers on it list.
NAU has people on the list that family members are working the construction jobs for “cash” with no pension or health insurance so they can double dip. Top it off with all the “buy a permit” people on these job sites, but not a thing will be done because that will affect the developers getting cheaper labor.
Because that increase was not on pension but on the ex-gratia payments. I don’t believe the pension office pays that.
You can COUNT ON the PPM if you want runaway development, +20 storey buildings, more inequality and a cruise port in George Town!
Just SAY NO.
What a silly Alarmist comment 1.07…The sky is falling, the sky is falling.
Alarmist 6 – Anonymous 0
the #haveyoursay CPR group proved that the PPM are out of touch with what the people want and no amount of posturing or vote buying change that next election
#staywoke
Not alarmist at all. Realistic and speaking from experience.
Juju will be Premier by the end of next week. Roy will be Deputy and Minister of Finance.
Heard it here first.
🤮
Deals will be done. Lines will be crossed. Rat guards will be jumped.
Ju Ju & Jay have been assured top cabinet spots so they will go, They are only waiting for Sir Alden to approve Kenny and then the deal is settled.
Jay can hardly read and write ffs…
Kenny again..? Dear God we are doomed.
No one cares as PPM only wants the support/vote.
Kenny toast.
Hope deals are made that result in a government that does NOT include, Mac, Kenneth, Saunders , Seymour , Bernie and Jay….Juju gone would be a bonus.
If they would stop fussing with each other like children and get the business of the country done. So many pressing issues to deal with. Runaway population growth and development needs attention right now.
And how has PACT addressed any of those issues ? This motion of no co ride de should have been passed a long time ago. PACT has done nothing for the people since taking power and two more years of this collection of desperate incompetents will set this country back 20 years. We need new leadership now! Please remove Wayne Panton!!!!
I’m sorry but you sound as hypocritical as Roy. Almost all of the 20 years damage you speak of was already done long before PACT were conceived.
PACT may not have given you a fridge or a Turkey, but they have gotten us off the Grey list. I’d say the done something not nothing.
It was Andre and the team behind him that did that.
The rest of them, apart from Wayne, wouldn’t understand the issue, the documents or the process involved.
Please please Cayman, vote for educated candidates .
Which ones are the educated ones? I didn’t see them in my ballot last time I voted.
Let’s be honest here, we all know Wayne wants to implement radical “sustainable” changes and needs lots of money to do that. He should prioritize local issues before bending the knee to international UN standards.
You realise that UN standards actually HELPS local issues and opens up big funding for social projects and affordable housing- get educated. These standards are also required for the first pillar of our economy or we will be toast!
Anon.@7:50 pm is exactly what is wrong with some of us. The majority of the PACT don’t have an understanding of the benefits “sustainable” changes to benefit the world. Whatever is done here in Cayman will benefit us as well as what the UN does benefits us. Everyone will win or lose depending on what we do or don’t do. If we show some initiative them the wider communities like the UN will notice and will feel confident in assisting us and any small island jurisdictions that do likewise. Wayne understands that better than any other local politician. I will give him that.
Preach!!
Pensioners are not $1250 now get the facts straight