Small crowd urges government to build piers
(CNS): A small number of drivers and retail workers took part in a demonstration outside the House of Parliament in George Town on Monday, ahead of the Cayman Islands Government’s debate on a motion that will set the ball rolling for a question in next year’s referendum asking the people if Cayman should build cruise berthing facilities. Around 40 people gathered with signs calling on the CIG to build a dock as MPs voted to put the question to the people.
People who joined the demonstration, which social media posts by the pro-port lobby described as a poor turnout with few Caymanians, spoke about the need to save their jobs. Although some held confusing signs that said “No Pier No Vote”, others were clear that they wanted to see a pier built as soon as possible. Before the parliament meeting, several MPs mingled with the demonstrators, including opposition members and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan.
Later, inside the House of Parliament, Bryan outlined why the government had decided to put this vote to the people. The minister said the CIG was taking “a supportive stance” but said all those on the government front bench would honour the result, no matter what.
He also made it very clear the CIG would be using its weight to campaign for a ‘yes’ vote, despite claiming that it would present both sides during the campaign since it has access to public money, unlike the Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) activists leading the ‘no’ campaign.
Following the vote to accept the motion, former MP Ellio Solomon, who has been leading the charge for the ‘yes’ vote alongside Tim Adam and Joey Woods, welcomed the clear support from MPs on both sides of the aisle for the referendum and the construction of piers. Solomon, a spokesperson for the Advancement of Cruise Tourism in the Cayman Islands (ACT), said it was encouraging to see the government and the opposition align on this issue.
“ACT will continue its campaign and remain hopeful for the same outcome when the voters have their say. We are optimistic that an overwhelming “Yes, in favour” vote will help secure the future of the cruise tourism industry, which is so vital to our economy,” he added.
Despite social media posts indicating that far fewer pro-port demonstrators showed up than anticipated, with some saying there were plenty of signs but not enough people to hold them, Solomon said it was “a vibrant turnout despite the short notice”.
CNS: This article has been corrected to indicate that Ellio Solomon is in favour of cruise berthing facilities.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
All you have to do is vote out Joey and Kenneth. That Should make it clear to them where we stand. Ya’ll better turn out in full to vote down this cruise port and then to vote out those two. They should all be voted out in my opinion, but these two take the cherry for now. Followed closely by John John who must secretly working for the RCIPS by the way he can avoid arrest.
Oh Lord, what a joy that would be. Come on people, we can do this!
I’m young. I have never voted in an election before, but I will get my voting card asap and I will be voting these suckers out. Gen Z, we need to pick up the slack.
Vote No !
Any jewelry shop owners out marching in the hot sun? Didn’t think so.
Sent their staff
I’m not for the pier given the type of low class tourists that the ships have been dumping on our shores over the last few years. That said and in fairness to PACT, they were elected in majority in 2018 with a promise to build cruise piers clearly spelled out in their manifesto. The anti-port group, well funded by tender business interests, made a lot of anti-port noise for sure, but the only time the Caymanian people have spoken in mass on the subject is when they elected PACT the 2018 elections. Let that sink in.
Huh? Did PACT exist before the election? Maybe go back to sleep for a bit?
Hey can you send me a copy of the PACT manifesto? I think you may have the only one in existence. Cruise Piers were not part of former Premier Pantons platform. Where did you get this so called manifesto for a PACT Government that was created after the election?
Nonsense. The PPM and their DART-dealing cruise manifesto were soundly rejected at the polls. Nobody even knew what PACT was until it was pieced together in the backstabbing aftermath of the election. Coalition governments do not have a mandate to pursue their own agendas, and that’s a good thing. CPR was people-initiated and mostly unpaid volunteers/concerned citizens. Read the room pal.
PACT were not elected, they are a cobbled together bunch of unemployables feeding at the trough.
1) There was no election in 2018
2) PACT formed after the 2021 election
3) I assume that you are either heavily drinking or you were referring to the PPM not PACT – and based on that assumption to the extent that the 2017 PPMs manifesto mentions cruise berthing its about 3 sentences – not one of their key policies and not something they actively ran on and expressed as a priority
4) Not only are you wrong when you assert that ‘anti port group’ and its supporters are just the ‘tender business’ but the CPR petition in 2019 secured more signatures than the PPM had total voters in 2017 and 2021
The CPR group got over 5,300 signatures which were all then verified by the Elections office – in 2017 the PPM got a mere 4,909 votes and in 2021 they got a mere 3,380 votes – not only is what you are asserting wrong, but more popular support has been shown in opposition to the port than ever has been in support of it
Protesters and their proxies are just selfish and shortsighted. So a few risk losing their jobs if no new dock built. No thoughts for the country, only themselves. We would be better off putting these 40 on a lifetime of good welfare than building a new dock.
We have been told that 50% of tourism staff are work permit holders, so there is room for contraction in that segment of the workforce. Kenny is also quick to regurgitate the revenue number at stake. What he has not disclosed is the investment or expense required to protect that revenue. If the ROI is not positive by modest double digits, then I suggest the money is better spent elsewhere.
Kenny just wants to be voted back in… he is otherwise unemployable
Not just voted back in – he can secure that with promises to his constituents on a range of issues other than cruise – but to be rewarded by his backers who have an interest in both cruise and the development of a new port.
So you would be against a new resort prison costing $200M… with NO ROI and employing 90% work permit holders..?… I rest my case.
I just hope my vote no will remain as a no. What guarantees do we get as to trusting the voting process?
Observers from candidates are within line of sight of the ballot box from prior to the start of voting on election day, they check the boxes, and they are there until all votes are counted (yes for the whole day they are usually there in shifts or in groups)
There are alot of fishy things that go in Cayman’s politics especially on the campaign trail – but once the actual votes are being cast the system is secure
So unless you think every candidate, all election officials, and local and international observers are working together to cheat which would be quite the conspiracy I think we can back off on the theories
it’s a valid concern for me. as i exited the poll last election i saw voters from swamp cross eyed and drunk arriving via mini-bus to vote…very clear which box they were being invited to check. don’t forget this govt rejected the electoral changes put forward by the UK observers posted at the last election.
Sign up to be an election (referendum) observer.
It’s crazy that we are to vote for a port in a referendum that we have no plans for or any idea of what it would. This government can shovel anything on this port at this time but note the minister has presented zero plans. The country said no when the PPM presented a plan and the cost why the hell would we say now when it’s just Kenneth’s word and that’s not worth anything as he would doing to remain in power and afford his new lifestyle. Hell his constituents already told him no one this and that’s how he was elected the last time and now he’s completely ignoring them. Make you wonder who he’s listening to now because it’s not the people who elected him.
so 40 people for the pier, guessing everyone else who didn’t show up is against it
And that vote didn’t cost a penny!
Were those demonstrating being paid by their employers?
Half of those people are on work permits and are from 3rd world poverty….they don’t give SHT about Cayman or the environment!
and most of those people were probably um, ‘enticed’ or ‘encouraged’ to be there.
So 40 odd people, 25 or so which are ex-pats, want the country to incur $500 million in debt.
Yup, makes perfect sense!
…$500 m BEFORE they screw it up with change orders, missing recipts, vanity add ons, interference in the design process etc etc…more likely it’ll be:
$1.5 billion when all is said and they are told to stop the counting….
True. Christ they couldn’t even manage construction of a high school.
where you and i see a problem with increase cost, our MP see increase opportunity for their pockets. and this corruption permeates the entire civil service.
They people say NO, the gov says yes, who do they think they work for?
If the referendum is non binding in addition to all the flip flopping that happens with our gov, how can we believe that “All those on the government front bench would honour the result, no matter what”?
They CIG does not have to honour the result and are
too out of touch to accept that the majority of people oppose the piers.
Instead of listening to the people “He also made it very clear the CIG would be using its weight to campaign for a ‘yes’ vote”
Stop wasting our money, the majority have already spoken and the result will remain a resounding NO despite your yes man campaign.
You can count the number of Caymanians out there on one hand (and you likely only need all 5 fingers if you include Joey “Who?” taking advantage of the photo op to try to get people to forget he’s been absent from his duties for the last decade plus.)
dont worry theyve all been busy in real estate
Poor Caymanians in taxi and tours are being riled up and used by ACT and their politicians.
Why doesn’t ACT and Ministry of Tourism use their credibility if any with the cruise companies to support tour operators and demand the cruise lines give an improved share of profits to Cayman operators from passengers on their ships?
Tour operators are making $10-13 per passenger while the cruise lines nets easily $90-100 per passenger in profit booked thru the cruise lines but carry zero risks for the service and attraction.
This right here is perfect and makes too much sense
Solomon, who has been leading the charge for the ‘no’ vote …. You sure about that CNS? Sounds like he is supporting yes.
CNS: You’re right. I’ve corrected it.
If Joey Hew and PPM supports cruise piers without sharing any plans with the public then it’s going to be an expensive mess for this country and fail at the polls.
There is no such thing as a free ride. Nothing has changed since the last time when PPM spread their lies and misinformation pushing for a cruise berthing facility in 2018-2019 telling us it would cost Cayman nothing according to Alden, Moses and Joey.
Alas, still no Referendum Bill, required by the Constitution, that might seek to define the legal framework, to develop referendum questions, provide required oversight, to call and hold any Referendums, on anything. Our legislators still won’t legislate unless it serves themselves or their benefactors. It’s notable that there were no legislators astute enough to oppose the calling of a Referendum without the corresponding gazetted Law in place. Just 4 years after this was tested in court, everyone forgets why.
Funny to witness all the Philpino, Indian and Jamaican employees on work permit forced to participate with signs hiding their face but the owners of the businesses that are pro port were too good to turn up
Its illegal to protest politically when on permit. let that sink in.
I’m not the OP but I’m a work permit holder and attended several protests in the past, EE port, WB Road, GT piers, etc. Never knew WP holders had no freedom of speech. Where in the law or immigration regulations does it say this?
10:27, So their employers forced them to commit illegal acts on their behalf?
Foolio Solomon will say and do anything in his desperation to get elected again. He needs to understand GTE does not trust him or want him so take everything he can get from them to continue to ACT the fool
Please tell Foolio to F Off Cayman doesn’t need shills like him and Joey Who pretending to represent the best interests of Cayman. Both are political hacks in the game for the easy money and celebrity status. None would be employed in the private sector that did not have family connections.
Foolio………..hahahahahahha. This has got to be the best name ever made up to describe a person. Especially as it describes this person to a Tee.
Foolio!!! Love it…….just Love it.
Train the 40 to have basic literacy skills, and they won’t need to work minimum wage, unskilled jobs.
There is definitely enough money in play to have all the usual political class pigs coming to the trough. The people here are the pawns, being told to hang out with their ridiculous signage.
I thought the “People of Cayman” voted “NO” a few years ago on this topic. Why is it now up again? What a waste of Money. Seems like the Government is acting against the citizens wishes in trying to push a Yes Vote.
There was no referendum, because Alden smugly argued there was no Referendum Law. He was correct of course, but no MP since (last 4 years) has proposed to sponsor the necessary missing Draft Legislation which is required by Constitution. It’s maladministration for legislators to now pretend this finished Gazetted Law exists, when there isn’t even a draft Bill to review. That’s the problem with electing self-interested boneheads as legislators.
But you don’t understand, Kenny is trying to keep his job.
Bryan is wearing the MAGA team colours and paying shills to pretend to be protesting. It’s not even creative.
Stop cruise ships completely. The associated workers earn mimimum wage with just a few Caymanian cartel families making money they don’t need. Retrain and hire the Caymanians that lose their jobs in financial services.
These islands are the most vulnerable in the world to global warming and extreme weather. Cruise ships are some of the most toxic pollutants known to man.
Kaboom! 100% facts.
Get rid of the higglers from the beach..
“40 people gathered”.
Why do we need a referendum? Isn’t this indicative enough?
Train the 40 in some other field or perhaps towards plying their trade with stay-over visitors?