Mixed record for Unity government one year in
The new Legislative Assembly, 31 May 2017
(CNS) Take the survey below: It is twelve months to the day since the Cayman Islands woke up to a general election result that gave no single party a majority to take the reins of power. After a week of horsetrading, deals, counter-deals and a dose of double-crossing here and there, a coalition began to take shape which eventually emerged as the so-called Government of National Unity. But how unified it really is and what it has achieved in the national good over the first twelve months in office is open to debate.
There have been no massive policy developments throughout the last year, and despite promises for a whole slew of changes, from tightening up on immigration to watering down the National Conservation Law, the first twelve months have been a mixed bag when it comes to success or failure for the Progressive-dominated alliance.
At present, the government is facing a number of very specific challenges to the Cayman Islands’ financial services sector, which have drawn considerable attention over the last few months. But other challenges, such as continuing concerns about crime, people struggling to stay in their homes and a steady drumbeat of administrative scandals, as well as the continued specter of local unemployment as the number of work permits continues to grow, have all served to undermine the administration.
While public finances have remained solid and the tourism sector has continued to reap the benefits of diversions from competing destinations due to last year’s hurricanes as well as successful marketing campaigns, the Unity government does not yet have a great deal to brag about.
As a result of the coalition deal, the government is made up of both seasoned and novice MLAs, but the new faces on the government benches have failed so far to make much of a mark on the political landscape. Over on the opposition benches, their one and only novice MLA, Chris Saunders, is making more of an impact, given his role on the Public Accounts Committee and his willingness to step into debates.
First time MLA Kenneth Brian, who remains the only independent member of the Legislative Assembly sitting on neither the government or the opposition benches, has also done his best in more challenging circumstances to represent his constituents and champion the need to address the emerging homeless crisis in Cayman.
In a short statement on his first year in office, Bryan said he has had the chance to get a grasp of the parliamentary process and the best way to represent George Town Central.
“I have officially gotten my feet wet in the life of a politician. Although I am not in the place I hoped I would be in respect to government, the place where I can better serve you, I am learning quickly ways in which to best represent you within the limited power available to me,” he told his constituents.
“Now that most of the kinks and crinkles of being a newbie politician are behind me, I know there will be much stronger representation on your behalf from me over the next three years,” he added, as he committed to advocating for the unemployed, pushing to diversify the economy and supporting more community-related initiatives.
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Category: Politics
Since this poll was not restricted to the only readers whose opinions are relevant (ie Caymanians ) your poll is USELESS.
As usual the PPM Bloggers are out in force LOL
This Unity government led by McKeeva Bush and Alden McLaughlin has been a complete “$hit $how” detached from the reality of the average person and focused 100% on special interests e.g. the GT Dock project, Dart, immigration reform primarily to aid expatriates.
Caymanians have it harder now than in the last twenty years to find employment opportunities, rising under employment, difficulties the secure financing and keep up with the rising cost of living. Public education is a mess and the quality of the overall product is largely substandard. Two parties have joined as on yet nothing has changed for the better.
Their views of achievement is not the same as publics , they are making progress on their agenda, that is to have their party run the government next election . Every Minister and MLA that is not part of the party is about destroyed .
Anthony Eden! Is he even still alive? just asking for a friend.
I dare you to name 2 things Bernie has done in 5 years.
I am giving it a shot
1. Ruin Caymanians by convincing them they should have jobs they can’t do.
2. Drive Caymanians to hate non Caymanians.
Useless
Nothing new from these groups of politicians who as we have seen with the PPM during their last administration hurriedly pushed through dozens of bills and amendments in the last sitting of the LA
Who wait until the end of their terms to start visible projects such as road works and expansions to then use them to score political points on the campaign trail
Midterms would be a great way to ensure that we have an LA that works for the entire 4 years and not just the last 6 months as we have seen time and time again
Actual oversight (which is clearly lacking presently) and regular meetings scheduled in the LA are also crucial components for reforming our broken system of legislature.
Diogenes
I think you will see that a lot of legislative work was done over the four years and NOT just in the last sitting and certainly what was done even in the last sitting was essential to our future.
Like what? The Conservation law that they pushed through in 2013 that they are going to destroy because of business interests in development without oversight
Whether you want to admit it to yourself both parties have a clear track record and have earned their reputations
Diogenes
I am sorry I can not understand the graphs. Looks like Capitan Hugene is the winner! lol!
3:53pm , he’s hanging on to Mack , and the Premier is got him where he wants him .
the usual from the do-nothing approach from the ppm…..
please tell me what they have done?????
Unusual nonsensical tripe from you
We now have this unpopular, half-baked union that actively defers the introduction of financial and social reality, any semblance of accountability or good governance, and stridently fails at international PR. Little surprise they want to recklessly modify the constitution to abolish term limits, enshrine their power, and to refuse predictably imminent Orders in Counsel on Gay Marriage and UBO Registry. Sending all the wrong messages to the planet. Rhetorical question: would a novice Independent-led coalition gov’t have steered us any worse?
Of course they wouldn’t. Are you a complete idiot? Our politicians, like those of anywhere, have to learn their jobs.
Mixed…what have they achieved that is positive for Caymanians…..Aldart has continued with the give away of PR at devastating scale while allowing the continued abuse of immigration regulations. All he seems to have done is secure his own future with his benefactor. And now the UK has devastated our financial service industry under his mismanagement. This guy is the most dangerous person you have ever had in power.
Like the rest of the media, CNS likes to give Chris extra credit because he makes it easy for them to rewrite the minutes of the PAC meetings not actually because his bluster is well grounded or helpful.
Better than the PPM shill they sent to run in BTW, who didn’t even live in the district
Shill. Cute. I mean you could have just said you didn’t know Maxine rather than assuming something.
Nothing more than an attempt to get a PPM majority in the LA that would follow the orders of the dear leader
None of those PPM MLAs express any actual opinions on issues or vote differently than the majority the one real dispute in the last PPM administration almost led to the dissolution of that government.
Driving through BTW on your way home every day doesn’t give you the right to represent us or put your name on the ballot in our area
and we voted in affirmation to that end.
A personal connection with an candidate shouldn’t be required, we are electing the best candidate not friends and family members.
Diogenes
You all missed your chance to elect the best candidate to represent BTW
@12:13
Also I distinctly remember the Compass piece they wrote about Saunders after his comments on the HSA and it’s administration in the PAC
But you can push whatever narrative you like
Sorry to say, almost a clean sweep for the “useless” category. When are we enacting the Standards in Public Life, or planning to include the true liabilities on our balance sheet? Until then, it’s a corrupt free-for-all, misleading the public, and endangering all of our futures to a depth of two or three generations out.