Ideas and oratory versus ‘fridgocracy’
Lite Poll: About 2,500 years ago, the Ancient Greeks developed a radical system of government in which all male citizens voted on the important decisions for their city state. (Slaves and women were not invited.) As democracy progressed, persuasive public speaking became an intrinsic part of politics as men learned, studied and practised the art of oratory.
Governance began with ideas. The men with the ideas had to then persuade other men that those ideas were superior to other ideas.
In modern democracies, giving every voter the right to vote on every decision is considered impractical. Instead, we have elections to elevate political representatives to vote on those decisions for us. So, instead of persuading us that they are right on a particular issue, they must persuade us that they are generally right on all issues.
But the general idea remains: men and (thankfully) women have ideas, not necessarily their own and more likely a broad spectrum of political principles, and must persuade us that those ideas or ideologies are superior to the alternatives. Out of this process, we elect the candidates that we hope will best represent us in the governance of our country.
That is democracy.
But what happens when the electorate is not persuaded by ideas but by who buys their vote?
In the Cayman Islands, there are many voters who take the time to listen to candidates and, on the basis of what those candidates say and do, cast their vote on election day, and hope against hope and years of disappointment that the outcome will be a functioning government that works for the good of the people.
Sadly, in a number of constituencies, the main currency for election success is not ideas and the ability to articulate them, but rather who supplies voters with turkeys, fridges, rounds of drinks in a bar, cash handed out on street corners, utility bills paid, and dodgy promises.
(Side note: “I will create jobs” is a legitimate election promise. “I will create a job for you specifically” is vote buying. “I will improve the economy” is good. “I will make sure you get a government contract” is bad.)
Corruption is too broad a word for this. Let’s call it “fridgocracy”. But a candidate who buys your vote will likely be a politician who is for sale, and at this point, the general level of political corruption appears to be piling up like Mount Trashmore, fridges and all, even as the cumulative IQ in parliament plummets. Because in a fridgocracy, stupid ideas have the same weight as good ones.
Unless all the Cayman Islands governors for the last three or four decades were blind, deaf and dumb, the UK is well aware that what we have here is a fridgocracy, not a democracy, but as long as it doesn’t become embarrassing and they can contain it to this jurisdiction, they seem to be OK with this state of affairs. Thus, because the financial service industry is under the scrutiny of the world, the UK gets involved with that. A sudden influx of domestic appliances every four years isn’t, so they don’t.
The UK, through the governor, also has oversight of the RCIPS, which, although the basic elements of a fridgocracy are illegal, somehow always overlooks them.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will send observers for the elections and say, “Yup, all good here. This is definitely a functioning democracy.” Even though it isn’t.
However, the main problem is that all the candidates in general elections and most of the people voting for them have grown up in a fridgocracy, so unless they have lived for a while in an actual democracy or have taken the time to educate themselves, they think that this is how democracy works.
So, what’s to be done?
Well, firstly, if the UK wants to avoid another quagmire like the Turks and Caicos Islands, where Britain suspended the constitution and imposed direct rule in 2009, which they came close to repeating in the BVI in 2022, it should make sure that at the very least, the election process is democratic. They should also do this because it’s the right thing to do. But hey, ho.
The best way to ensure that we elect our representatives through a real democratic process is to instruct the RCIPS to properly investigate any sign of fridgocratic campaigning. If somebody were actually charged and sentenced for this, it would go a long way to curtail the practice.
Secondly, all those who want a democracy — candidates and voters — should make every effort to educate those who don’t understand that a fridgocracy feels good for a day and then is bad for the next four years. They should explain to them that if they really want their lives to improve, they should vote for the brightest and the best, not the fridgocrats, who are often, though not always, dingbats.
Thirdly, we desperately need bright, capable, honest political candidates who have good ideas and the powers of persuasion to convince the voters that they can improve their lives. It’s understandable that such people may not want to enter the malodorous world of fridgocratic politics, but we live in hope that a few brave souls will step up. We know they’re out there.
It’s also understandable that candidates who want to be good believe that the only way to get elected in a fridgocracy is to play the game. It’s better to sell a little bit of your soul and buy a few fridges so that you can do all the things that you know need to be done, right?
Wrong. Whatever your initial intent, you simply become part of the problem, and that little bit of your soul that you sold will eat away at the rest of it. We have seen how this plays out.
As we, the voters of the Cayman Islands, prepare for the 2025 General Elections, it’s all too easy to lose hope that ideas and intelligence and competence might this time prevail, to despair that the fridgocrats might change but the system will produce more in the same mould.
We need some sign that something will be different this time.
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Category: 2025 General Elections, Elections, Politics, Viewpoint
I was a junior credit officer at a local retail bank some 30 years ago. During the election at that time, a prominent local businessman was running for office. He came into the bank 3-4 times with people from his constituency and signed as a guarantor on their small loans. The loans were for house repairs, credit card debt, etc. The local businessman did not get elected in that election and inevitably, when some of the borrowers defaulted on their loans, he refused to honor his guarantee.
That’s a true story. I was young and naive and couldn’t see the wider implications then, but I see them now. I think back and I am amazed at how everyone in a management position at that bank knew exactly what was going on and no one batted an eye. We get what we pay for people.
Cayman obviously is the only nation in the world where corruption and ineptitude runs rampant thru its democratic process.
FFS.
Call it as it is – the corrupt politicians didn’t just walk into the Parliament and take their seats, they were voted in by us. We did it. Look in the mirror first.
Most people, all over the world, vote against their better interests when a choice of candidates exists where we don’t like one of them (color/slept with friends wife/looks funny/whatever). Same here. All the time.
It will never, ever get any better. The only option is to slow down the pace of it getting worse by opening the eligibility of those who can stand for election (should be any Caymanian incl ‘paper’ Caymanians, with no requirement for any of them to be here for certain periods, just that its their main residence.
And secondly, anyone with genuine long term interests in residing here should be allowed to vote, and its not arguable that people who’ve been here and obtained PR are genuinely interested in staying.
But no. Instead, the elected cartel will do their best to prevent this happening (because they’ll all be voted out), they’ll play to xenophobia and the masses will fall for it and vote against their better interests….again.
Just take a look around you. Have these elected politicians in the past 30 years made your country better for you? If you like how Cayman is today and where its going, keep re-electing them. Doesn’t matter if its Alden or JuJu or Joey or Sabrina – they’re all friends behind it all, business partners, etc. Its a complete farce. It’s a cartel. And you’re not invited.
But please vote for me – i’ll fix everything i did’nt fix last time!
Or change it by changing the laws and allowing genuine change into the equation. Put it this way – it won’t be any worse than it is.
Don’t worry. Most cartels in the Cayman Islands are not controlled by multi-generational Caymanians (CIREBA, law firms, banks, judiciary).
Now, with respect to wanting to change the constitutional eligibility to stand for a seat in Parliament, your views are unconstitutional and undemocratic, but, at least, you shared your fantasy: having non-multigenerational Caymanians stand for election and allowing non-Caymanian residents to vote. Both are losing propositions and are never going to happen, but keep dreaming.
Can you explain how a desire to change the constitution can be unconstitutional? And if you think you can, that’s another good reason to widen the franchise.
You make an excellent point. A politician that would buy your vote is themselves for sale. How true that is. Sadly those people ho need to realise that don’t read CNS. They don’t read full stop. Here in lies the real issue. It starts in our schools who churn out so many functionally illiterate and innumerate voters.
And supposedly intelligent, classy and “clean hands” Wayne took full advantage of his Financial edge and used it to not only win a seat but to form a Government. Do you all still think he is the best thing since sliced bread? Where is the Loan Agreement between him and Sabrina ?
Our politicians today are slightly, just very slightly, better than those of the seventies and eighties when we had two bus drivers, a terrible singer, a real estate crook, a blowhard who would rant and rave for four hours in the LA about broomsticks and extension cords and various alcoholics and sex pests. There was the wonderful lady member from George Town, though!
We reap what we sow. Corruption runs through the fabric of Cayman. Self serving politicians and civil servants line their pockets, allowing the few to sell Cayman from under Caymanians.
Inept regulatory authorities and anti-corruption units, deliberately dumbed down by being full of incompetent old expats here to make a fast buck and do little work, which suits the powers perfectly fine as it allows them to act with impunity.
We will be back on the blacklist soon enough and maybe the penny may drop! Probably not!
I’m an old expat.
For over 50 years I have joined in efforts to benefit my community.
I have been in all day meetings rewarded by token stipends on many committees, ranging from $35 to $150 giving my time away from my business . JPs get paid nothing zero zilch for duty at government offices, as well as at home week days and weekends.
I can go on, but ask that you reconsider your cynical disdain for expats who embrace the community which has welcomed us.
You Sir, and there are indeed a number of you, are now in the minority. Too many expats who make no contribution and are often entirely self serving have infected almost every aspect of our society, including the very organs of our governance. We recognize and thank you for standing apart.
And you are totally wrong (I’m being reluctantly, polite.) Look in the mirror. You and your countrymen/women have sold out your country and you have the arrogance to blame those who you took money from. Shame on you. You choose poorly!
Confused 9.27.
Who are you referring to..?
Who is wrong.?
About what.?
Thank you 12.06 for the courtesy of your kind response.
The author steered clear from discussing Apartheid in Cayman. UN defn of Apartheid includes preventing a group of people from running for ANY elected office. [ANY in the definition will not catch USA style elections where one has to a US citizen for a particular elected office.]
lmfao you can already run for office and vote back home and yet you’d do anything not to have to go back, but we’re to believe you’re the solution to our problems here in Cayman? Puh-leaaaaze.
So why not let them run? You don’t have to vote for them. The rules on eligibility to stand are increasing nonsensical, and used solely to protect the incumbents rather than any for any genuine social goal.
Problem is that there are thousands of Jamaicans with status who would be supported by thousands of their countrymen, turning us into the country they have all escaped.
It’s already happening, but at a slower pace , led by Mac, Kenneth and the Bodden town MPs.
Kaboom! 😉
Those Jamaicans can already vote- it doesn’t matter if the politician willing to pander to them is born in West Bay or Westmoreland.
Maybe a Parliament not entirely comprised of people linked by blood, marriage, business, or having gone to school together might be better equipped to resist that pandering.
Mostly a rubbish article. We have an anti corruption commission who is made up of all private sector members. Why haven’t you mentioned this group in the article. Also Northward is home to many persons convicted of corruption ..
Finally why not mention the jury system that just recently let go a private sector board member charged with corruption.
Face the music the island is the best run in terms of enforcement and zero tolerance for corruption.
However what is accurate is that we elect incompetent politicians who appoint there cronies to boards. Nepotism is corruption.
Four seemingly disparate things to consider:
1. Canover Watson
2. Immigration fee schedule
3. Associate partner
4. Salaried partner
It is not hard to join them up. The problems are so deeply baked in we fail to even recognize the blindingly obvious for what it is. Indeed, some things are so insidious that even two decades after being brought to the attention of the relevant authorities to save anyone the hard work of having to connect adjoining dots, NOTHING has been done (other than, seemingly, destroying the livelihoods of brave civil servants who may have taken issue).
It’s all world class, and the crime situation is stable, you see.
That rose tint to your glasses is not sparing Cayman from the inevitable glare. It is destroying us.
You forgot to mention the Lodge.
An anti corruption commission that has a 100% failure rate in convicting anyone other than Canover, and even that looks like its on the rocks given last weeks CNS post!
Drop in the ocean. Tip of the iceberg. Why are they afraid to go after the politicians and senior civil service where we all know most of the rotten apples are?
Bigger corruption issues are (1) Misuse of the Environmental Preservation Fund to buy private property from favoured constituents (previously the EPF was only used as an accounting sleight of hand to satisfy CIG’s cash balance requirements under the UK imposed FFR system) and (2) Misuse of public funds to pave roads and driveways over private land (which also includes paying compensation to landowners in those cases where unnecessary public roads are created to benefit private land owners).
You forgot:
1. Using personal wealth to pay other elected members to join you and form a government (bought loyalty).
2. Using personal wealth to finance an Internet so called news outlets who promote you every chance they get but not disclosing your financial relationship with the “media copany”.
3. Using personal wealth to give a loan to a Cabinet colleague but not properly disclosing the details, including the loan agreement, but claiming to be so transparent and honest (bought loyalty).
you forgot politicians in single vehicle collisions being seemingly exempt from breathalyser and blood tests.
You want to talk about misappropriated funds? How long has the Planning Department been collecting infrastructure fees?
We are talking MILLIONS over 20+ years. And instead of them going into an audited account to develop our actual infrastructure – which is now gravely behind the construction and development rate – they simply disappear into general CIG revenue to be spent on God knows what.
It would be interesting to actually get a figure on how many fees have been collected over the past 5, 10, 15, 20 years – minus, of course, what has been siphoned off as concessions to the usual suspect developers.
Here here, I contributed my $100K, where did it go?
There are some good points here, but “corruption” most certainly is not too broad a word; in fact, it is an entirely accurate one.
The first step towards enforcement of the law is for the Islands to acquire the bravery to call this behaviour out for precisely what it is, which is a corrupt effort by the candidate to distort the democratic process. Half-joking references to “fridgocracy”, whilst well meant, serve only to minimise the seriousness of the issue and keep it in the category of things which we accept as part of the system.
The only way that this stops is if a meaningful part of the electorate decide that they are unwilling to accept behaviour of this sort. Likewise the press- when was the last time that anyone asked a local politician a difficult question on this issue?
Until we are each willing to put our own head above the parapet on this, rather than make tutting noises and hope that someone else will sort it out, we get exactly the candidates that we deserve.
The electorate is mainly composed of uneducated imports granted status, who demand that their MP looks after THEM, and not the country.
The rewards of being an MP are such that they now attract unprincipled candidates who have worked out how to retain office, without having to resort to the inconvenience of selfless service or integrity…these are not qualities attractive to West Bay, GTC, BTW and BTE voters.
“What’s in this for ME” is the rule of politics in Cayman.
Pffffft. West Bay is ground zero for corruption in Cayman.
All under a watchful gaze of a Governor (isn’t it all marvelous), a Deputy Governor (it’s all world class), and a Commissioner (the crime situation is stable).
IT IS A SHITSHOW!
“The electorate is mainly composed of uneducated imports granted status”.
So Caymanians are doing eff all to register and vote but complain to the high heavens?
So Caymanians are allowing their representatives / Govt to pander to others but complain to the high heavens?
So Caymanians will still wote them in but complain to the high heavens?
Well composed and thought out. Truthful to the core. Much for voters to consider and wisen up. A vote is the most impactive decision one makes in his/her life. We must educate voters to know the REAL value of their vote. For lack of knowledge do our people suffer. Knowledge, being informed, in layman’s terms, is power.
This is 100% true. But also I fear we’re too far gone down the wrong path. Kenny literally went on our government-owned radio channel (a problem in and of itself) and said that he firmly believes MPs should have the ability to create specific jobs for individuals and have control over CIG hiring.
He said this, and nobody batted an eye. If a politician said that in France there would be riots in the streets.
We have sitting members of government who openly advocate for vote buying and corruption and NOBODY CARES…Kenny will win his district again by a landslide.
Voting Caymanians would rather be bought and enjoy the spoils, then complain about it constantly, than actually have a spine and vote him out. GTC prove me wrong.
Kenny does not appear to be very bright, but he is a good speaker. Just don’t try to parse his word salad it will hurt your brain.
The main problem is that he is intelligent enough to complete some maths, that what he needs to spend in his constituency to get elected is a lot less than he can take out of the system if he is elected.
Never forget he was a semi-successful male model but an unsuccessful drug dealer. I would argue one is harder than the other.
Ain’t nothing but a G-string baby.
G-string Kenny, Mr. Cayman.
Well said could not agree more. However fridgocracy is all around us, look at what’s happening in the USA right now.
Yes we need to vote for the betterment of all 3 Islands, so vote for these 3 Islands and not loud mouth people who have never honestly achieved anything for themselves. They are being financed by people who’s main aim is to exploit us.
Thank you, single-member constituencies! Can we go back to the way it was?? Wasn’t perfect, but it was better.
Don’t forget Chris and his fruitcakes.
I gave mine away.
Where are the credible candidates for BT (west)…. and BT (east) for that matter?
As if the politicians arent paid off in the UK too…and the PMs are ‘selected’ by certain global elite entities. They are not on any pedestal.
The problem for politicians, whether they are capably equipped like Wayne, Alden, Andre or not, like most of the others, is that this is now what the electorate expects!
It has been that way, in full effect, since the 1976 election campaign. Two generations have lived under those practices and it’s now entrenched. Our votes for your cash and stuff…or else. Buying popularity = office for life.
Honorable people have since been elected and got caught-up in that swamp. Even more recently, in the T. Jefferson/ rise-of-McKeeva-era, political office has been seen as a cash-cow for many of the “calibre” of elected reps we have and have had.
Two generations of potential candidates see that too.
The last Government which was elected on principles and ideals included Norman Bodden and Ezzard Milller. They delivered! Moratorium on SMB that should have been kept in place a bit longer, health insurance requirements, major AIDS awareness and prevention programs,etc., etc. Every Government since has been elected on populism, no substance.
Yes, it needs to change but it will require a whole slate of candidates (team, party) with high ethical and professional standards whose eyes and impulses won’t be dazzled by easy access to public funds to use for their own gains. They’d probably last 1 term, though.
Meanwhile, we wait in hope (or vain?) that our public Education system will turn out enough people to see the light and make a positive difference in the next few decades.
Otherwise are screwed!
That all sounds wonderful but if RCIPS can’t do the basics like breath test Duhwayne after he clobbers a light pole then don’t expect them to do any protracted investigation into fraudulent election practices.
How about a quick investigation into the relationship between cabinet status grant recipients and real estate transactions?
That’s nothing. Ask yourself about Gasboy, or the known numbers dens frequented by members of the uniformed services. This crap is baked in. Deep.
Not just the fridge but also turkeys, hams and chickens to put into the fridge!
Nice thoughts. Not sure if you are aware of it but there’s an old Caymanian expression often heard after one too many promises: “eat them out, drink them out, and vote them out”. But I agree with you in that we always elect far too many promising politicians.
It might be true of some voters in some districts, but it’s clear that vote buying is widespread and effective.
It’s hard to say how effective vote buying is, as the majority of voters who tell politicians they will vote for them in return for $$$ tell that to every politician, and then remind whomever gets elected that they voted for them.
The real problem is the person(s) who give the money to the politicians to buy the votes, and then get the politicians to amend or craft laws in their favour, as well as making exceptions for them under all current laws and regulations.
Exactly. And this saying is alive and well on the Sister Islands.
Not sure who is going to replace the two MP’s over there, as both claim they not running for reelection.
It will be interesting. But lets get real, are you really worried about what someone else will get from system or Corruption/Collusion/Nepotism.
The hands are out dear candidates – pave my driveway, buy me new furniture, need some new shoes give, give and give.
Apparently some hopeful future candidates give out supplies to constituents to prepare for hurricane beryl and other weather systems. Is this vote buying? Or is this generosity:
In truth, it’s technically the former. The latter is not impossible but should be distributed by a proper government program, not personal handouts, especially in the 12 months running up to elections.
Agreed, we have too many politicians
I hope Wayne Panton reads this. Not only did he participate in fridgocracy he then used his money to assemble the nitwits we now call a Government, some before Election Day. Yes he had a hand in some of them actually getting elected!
Well he had Heather as a team mate and Osborne but as afr as I know it was only them. PPM responsible for jon jon, Isaac and Jay and julie and maybe Sabrina. Try dont preten to blame him now he one of the best we have had.
I dont believe Wayne assembled anybody besides Heather Bodden. I seems clear that the PPM supported Jon Jon, Jay, Juliana, Isaac and maybe Sabrina. You cant blame Wayne for them not sticking with the PPM. Politics!
Everything you say is true. The fact that it has all happened in plain sight of the police, civil service, and other organs of state responsible for our good governance is sickening.
Treasonous, even?
Those required for and charged with our protection are appearing increasingly complicit in our destruction.
Settle down.
A nation gets the politicians it deserves. Cayman deserves these clowns because it voted for them.
Who said the poster was talking about politicians? What role do impartial professional civil servants have in this?