Protesting students need ‘steering’, says minister
Students protest outside the Government Administration Building on environmental issues
(CNS): Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour implied that students who protested Friday over government’s failure to act on the climate crisis “needed steering on track”. In ambiguous and confusing comments to CIGTV after addressing the crowd of young people, who are, in contrast, very clear about their concerns, Seymour said government must listen to the students. But he also suggested they were on a track that “just can’t work …and doesn’t lend itself to the Cayman Islands”, and appeared to disagree with the students’ aims, despite his own demonstrated lack of understanding about this area of his ministerial portfolio.
Dozens of young people from several local schools joined millions of students globally when they walked out of school to stage a peaceful protest on the steps of the Government Administration Building last week. The young people were calling for a ban on single-use plastics, curbing Cayman’s excessive coastal development, properly protecting our marine environment and stopping the government’s plans for a port in George Town, among other issues.
Responding to the student protest, Seymour accepted that they were making it clear what kind of country they wanted to live in. If government is not listening to the children, “then who are we building this country for?” he asked.
However, it was not clear that he actually understood what their demonstration was about and appeared to think that what they were demanding could not work here, while also indicating that government needed to help them achieve their goals.
“We have to try to steer them if there’s a track that they are on that just can’t work or doesn’t lend itself for the Cayman Islands, then we have to help steer them, but we need to listen to them and try to help them achieve their goals,” the minister said.
Speaking to CNS after the protest, Billy Adam, a long-time local activist, said the students who came to peacefully demonstrate were disrespected by the premier, who failed to address them, even though many of them are now old enough to vote and have registered to do so.
He said that government must listen to what young people are saying about the environment because the next generation of Caymanians are not prepared to remain silent about poor governance and governments that do not consult.
He also railed against government attempts to gut the National Conservation Law and doing it behind closed doors, and warned that change will only come “when we demand it”.
Adam encouraged the students to continue their demonstrations, repeating the peaceful protests every Friday if necessary until government listens.
See Seymour’s comments on CIGTV
Category: Community, Land Habitat, Local News, Marine Environment, Science & Nature
So CNS, I thought you folks was a reputable News Service… XXXX
CNS: We have always allowed more criticism of politicians and people in power, which is actually in the comment policy if you read all the way to the end. Trashing the motives of children is on a different category.
No, not trashing Children; calling out the Adults who uses them!
He should get a job with the Orange Russian up north. That old turd is hell bent on taking the planet to the fires of hell.
Mr. Seymour should know, if he has any wisdom at all, that anything but an environmentally and socially sustainable track simply cannot work for Cayman.
Maybe we need to reduce the age eligibility to run for office.
Most likely any of these student protesters has more sense that this minister who couldn’t steer a ship if it were on rails.
Corrupt, uneducated and inept. Caymanian people, and these beautiful islands, deserve a better class of politician.
Rise youths RISE. Your time now.
Unfortunately Duane has cheese for a brain. He is totally incapable of multi tasking in his ministry. Unable to fix healthcare or the garbage collection. Duane, just try and collect the garbage!
Go Back to Jerking Chicken, Seymour!
The only time he surprises me is when he says something intelligent. Seymour you don’t belong in Gov you are an embarrassment to these islands.
might as well talk to a light pole than a politician!😢😆
7 21? You are right. Students are brainwashed and manipulated about global warming, environmental issues and other issues that they need to leave to Government to run.
The dock will go in. Cayman is already on a track and you cannot stop progress.
Students need to study so they can read, do math and basic skills to help them cope when they get out into a world full of drugs and evil people teying to trap them in our materialistic world that does not recognize nor honor God.
Waste of time to demonstrate.
@8:10 am are you for real?
Yes I am. I am a “stable genius” like my hero, Donald J. Trump.
You must not have children. If you do you certainly don’t seem to care about them or want to prepare them to be thoughtful and competent adults that can think, reason, and exercise discernment.
By the way, what you call progress is more like a mistake that will be a millstone around our neck. That in itself will rob the country, you included, from dealing with our trash problem that is poisoning us all.
When civil servants intimidated and uneducated and unemployed bribed with fridges and menial jobs, only youth can speak freely. I wouldn’t be surprised if they would try to go after organizers of this event and its young leaders. Expose as soon as you can if this happens.
In France government is afraid of people, in Cayman people are afraid of government. But even Rome fell. And holy place is never empty.
STUDENTS: Teachers are supposed to help you to think for yourselves. You are not being taught, you are being indoctrinated.
Co2, does NOT cause Global Warming: https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/10/07/scientist-carbon-dioxide-doesnt-cause-global-warming
Co2 Does NOT cause global warming. Repeat after me, CO2 DOES NOT CAUSE GLOBAL WARMING –
Climate Scientist – PhD : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3biTbgx_l3c
(Yes the leftists will use Ad Hominem attacks on any of these videos, please listen and make up your own minds. The man has a PhD in Climatology, and not funded by the billions in climate research)
Here is more: Co2 levels lag warming by 200-800 years: http://joannenova.com.au/2009/12/carbon-rises-800-years-after-temperatures/
(First the globe warms, THEN Co2 rises, you are being lied to)
Don’t just swallow this climate change hysterics.
Whether or not humans contribute to changes in the climate, the real issues are – humans are responsible for the total pollution of EVERY aspect of the environment we require for living a healthy life.
So, in order to reverse the negative effects of climate change, we must get rid of humans? I like the way you think.
Yeh. Don’t go with the 99% of climate scientists. Go with the 1%.
Less than 1%
Leftist indoctrination in full force unfortunately has arrived in the Cayman education systems. It’s downhill from here folks, now these students will be driven by emotions and good intentions and rewarded for participation.. Actual achievements and results only get in the way from here.
Do you think a single one of these students actually studied ANY climate sciences? Of course not. It’s much easier to regurgitate the leftist bullshit and be applauded for it.
They come to this world wired differently from those who was born in the last century. Nature’s way to save this planet.
… and where exactly did you study climate science? The school of Fox News?
@6:55 – could you please explain what the “leftist indoctrination” actually is? I keep hearing that phrase being thrown around but no one actually gives any details as to what it is? I get the general idea, but specifics would be helpful.
Many thanks!
he heard it on youtube!
Anything inconvenient to the truth for these fox news idiots is “leftist indoctrination” meanwhile they are the ones brainwashing kids by telling them they will burn in hell for all eternity if they don’t submit to their “One true God”
and crying fake news at just about anything
History proves we are on the winning side, mass hysteria in the end is always revealed for what it is
They are completely correct on one time use plastics.
He too busy paying lights bills in Bodden Town he cant steer anything
What does CNS article on ALS awareness says between lines and in comments?
It says that prevalence of the devastating neurological disease in the Cayman Islands is 11 times higher than in the US and 37 times higher than in the UK.
Mr.Seymour, can you explain that please? On what track health of the cayman residents is? Looks like an epidemic to me that requires thorough investigation.
https://cnslocallife.com/2019/05/charity-lou-gehrigs-disease-cayman/#comments
Sit down Seymour, here you’re outclassed, outschooled and out of a seat come next election.
sack this idiot. now. his abysmal performance to date speaks for itself…
Politics is one of the few places, if not the only, where stupidity is not a handicap.
Politicians don’t care.
How about steering me to some proof that the water here is safe or that the air we breathe is not polluted? How about steering in the direction of mandatory emissions testing for all vehicles and putting a limit on those imported? We need progressive leadership in Cayman. We are better than this. It is not a capitalist utopia, although Dart might disagree, it’s also a place to live and vacation – and we could be doing a lot better than where we are. Time to switch over to sustainability before it’s too late. Maybe we are the next Maya Bay….won’t even test water and air for pollution because they know both are extremely toxic and cancer causing (don’t tell tourists). Proud of the kids who have the GUTS to actually do SOMETHING, why the hell are we not all standing beside them?
Calm down, you’re hysterical
This!
You are obviously one of those people who want to regulate everybody and everything: go and live in Switzerland!
Amazing how uninformed, underqualified and absolutely not fit for the job Mr.Seymour is.
Compare Seymour’s comments now to his comments when students first met with him a couple of years ago. Alden is in Seymour’s head telling what to say but Seymour is having difficulty tuning into the radio frequency.
Hah, Hah, Hah! Bad news come from where you least expect it Mr. Seymour! You even lost your ability to speak coherently! Good job kids!
Imbecile comments are a baseline reflexive self-preservation mechanism from a serial-bully minister who can’t read, let alone put sentences together.
I really believe that those politicians should be removed from office for disrespecting the children like that , They should do a petition asking that they all step down .
I really think that all of these politicians are too damn arrogant and should be removed from office , disrespecting like that . I hope those children do a petition to have them step down .
This Dwayne Seymour chap seems a bit thick to me. You Caymanians really know how to pick ’em!
now you Brits really know how to pick em right!
Here’s a thought. The kids and the Honorable Member take an IQ test. Whoever scores highest get to tell the other what they should be doing. I’ll take the kids all day long.
A battle of wits against an unarmed opponent!
we didn’t pick him, the Premier did. He wanted people who would follow him like stupid sheep saying ah, ah,ah instead of baa, baa, baa. Now he is besides himself with the lot of them. He should have to carry all of them around on his back until the next election. He said that succession planning keeps him up at nights, well all I have to say to that is birds of a feather flock together. Too bad for our Beloved Isle Cayman.
As do the Brits, Boris Johnson, Reece Mog, Gove and the rest of the idiots that soon could be getting their wish.
I am saddened and confused. Those kids did not walk out of their classrooms, they were given permission to do so by their Principals and parents. I stood there with my child on those steps feeling proud and was extremely happy to hear the Minister address the kids and pledge his support. He promised to make sure his Government did their part to make the Cayman environment free of plastics and safe for our future generationd. What happened? Did he go back upstairs and get a slap on the wrist from our Premier and had a hange of heart. To say that our kids are steering in the wron way is so far from the truth. But them what can we expect from a Politician, thay dont do well with the truth. These are the same kids that went out on Earth Day and helped to clean our Islands. Keep up the good work Kids. Keep up je fight to save our planet.
This reminds me of the war-torn Middle East where children are used as human shields!
Yea, I mean, doesn’t really surprise me when you look at the source. Bright, or even slightly bright, would not be the adjectives that come to mind… Consistently befuddled, yes. Slow on the uptake…yes.
If you have nothing, or never worked for anything you have, it’s easy to be persuaded that those who take entrepreneurial risk, are evil, greedy money dogs.
Come again?
Sorry, what do you mean? What does your comment have to do with mine?
Nothing to do with anything you all said, just a comment on how those with no drive to succeed or life experiencenice always criticize those who create and innovate.
Okay, thanks, fair enough. Was it the name that I chose to post under that triggered the comment, or was it the fact that I criticized Seymour? I guess what I’m asking, is it Seymour who is a creator or an innovator? Don’t mean to be difficult, just trying to understand. Thanks.
Given that the illustrious minister couldn’t manage his way out of a paper bag, I don’t hold much hope for him providing any “steering” that would be of any use to anybody. He really is way out of his league, and should just do us all a favour and drift away into obscurity.
2:23 what is cruise cartel
Ooohhh. Big scary signs. Hide me!
This from the rubbish Minister who never met a project he did not like, even if he bothered to read the DOE recommendation
he can read?
When I feel hopeless about the future, young people like those from, for example, Parkland High School in Florida and here in this small territory, fill me with hope for the future. I thought that all they cared about was playing e-games and social media but they are more socially and politically astute than I was at their age and sad to say, those in political office.
We deserve to hand them a planet with clean air, sustainable development that protects the environment, including an effective waste management system, and a voice in their future.
I would be proud to the parent of any of these kids!
Young people of the Cayman Islands, form a Green Party and organize to throw idiots such as Minister Seymour out of office. He is a disgrace to his Ministry and the Caymanian environment. Only young people can save these islands, as the old political generation has sold you out.
“Steering”, as in brainwashing!?! Hopefully a small amount of those students will run for public office – sooner rather than later!!
Not eligible
Seymour should really just stay quiet and collect his inflated salary.
It’s a sad, sad day in the Cayman Islands. Getting worse by the moment, I’m afraid.
Yep sounds about right for Cayman
Premier is a couple floors up doing f### all and could come down for 5 minutes to speak or even to simply listen and leave
Anyone who voted for PPM clowns deserve every piece of destruction these imbeciles will bring on these islands
Sad when these aged kids are more with it that the politicians
Would Minister Seymour even be qualified to even pick up garbage in most Western countries?
They did not “walk out of school”. They had signed permission slips and were driven out of school by their teachers.