McLaughlin moves election date
(CNS): In a significant and politically strategic move, Premier Alden McLaughlin has moved the date of the election up by six weeks, blaming the controversy surrounding Speaker McKeeva Bush. Ensuring that his team will avoid having to publicly support or condemn the speaker, McLaughlin has instead ended the current parliament. The election will now take place on 14 April and Nomination Day will be on 1 March, a move which McLaughlin said just last week would give his coalition members the upper hand.
Despite telling a Chamber of Commerce audience just one week ago that calling early elections would be wrong as it favoured his party and others in his coalition, he has done just that, blaming the saga over Bush’s position. There is no indication, however, that removing the speaker from office would have necessitated the collapse of the government, as McLaughlin has claimed.
But he has now fired the starting gun early, in what was already destined to be a contentious election battle.
Governor Martyn Roper has also given what is obviously a very political move his backing. In a statement from his office on Wednesday, Roper said, “At the request of, and in consultation with the Premier, I will be issuing a proclamation on Sunday 14 February 2021 dissolving the Parliament, in accordance with Section 84(2) of the Cayman Islands Constitution.”
He said he will proclaim Wednesday, 14 April, as the date for the next General Election. Returning officers will then be issued Writs setting Nominations Day as Monday, 1 March, just over two weeks from the dissolution of the Parliament and cutting the official campaign period to just six weeks.
“I have been assured by the Supervisor of Elections that the Elections Office will be able to deliver a smooth, fair, and transparent General Election on this new date,” Roper stated. “Cayman Islands General Elections have historically had excellent voter turnout, and I encourage all voters to exercise their democratic right and vote in the 14 April 2021 General Election,” he added.
Following the release of the governor’s statement, McLaughlin issued his own, blaming the change on the situation relating to Bush’s assault conviction.
“[I]t is plain that as long as Mr Bush remains as Speaker, the controversy over his recent convictions will not abate,” he said, adding that Bush has refused to resign as speaker and his forcible removal would threaten the stability of the government.
“Were that to occur, it is almost certain that the Governor would be forced to dissolve the Parliament in any event,” he said as he sought to justify his political move.” A rancorous session of Parliament debating the no confidence motion may not end with the removal of Speaker Bush, as some opposition members may decline to vote in favour of the motion, despite having signed a letter calling for a special meeting.
“But it will create rancor in our community and likely amongst members of my Government. Without question it will be a massive distraction from the critically important work we are engaged in, which ranges from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts at reopening the economy while
keeping Cayman safe, to addressing the continued threat of EU blacklisting,” he added.
McLaughlin claimed it was in the best interest of the country for Parliament to be dissolved immediately, as that would mean the speaker would no longer be in the office. The country could then, sooner rather than later, determine who they wish to serve as their representatives, including the people of West Bay West.
McLaughlin’s decision also avoids actually ousting Bush and anyone having to state that they support his continuation in the job, despite the violent conviction, or that they believe he should be forced out because of it. This enables the incumbents on the government benches to continue navigating a difficult political landscape and holding the unity of the coalition members through the campaign.
The move also cuts the time potential candidates have to get themselves organised to be nominated now down to just 18 days and reduces the actual campaign to just six weeks.
See the premier’s full statement in the CNS Library
Category: 2021 General Elections, Elections, Politics
So happy we finally got someone decent to vote for in Red Bay.
Thank you Sammy for coming to our rescue!
Bye Bye Alden!
Go get forth and conquer, Sammy. What Alden doesnāt know will come back to bite him tenfold! Cannot wait to watch the show. Got my popcorn ready to watch the show. This is going to be epic and historic.
Well said.
Include GTC, please vote in someone other than the one there now
He can’t be trusted, he was UDP, PPM, BACK BENCH UNDER MILLER. THEN BACK BENCH UNDER ARDEN, NOW ALONE AGAIN, HE CAN’T WORK WITH ANYONE, GET RID OF HIM, PLEASE. PLEASE. He condone beating women by not trying to do something about it, vote him out
Another bunch of cowards. Got so much to say but does not sign their name.
East End and North Side Voters >>> How much years have you all voted in Arden and Ezzard and all your districts get year in and year out is the same “bla, bla”. No progress MP’s and the voters don’t want any better for their communities. So sad up there..
Carline Berry
9:21 pm
Would you rather voter for druggies or dishonest people, with no character? Iād rather a person who has a name that is untarnished and puts country. Do you really believe that in this day and age we should select uneducated people (as stated by Alden) to run this country? Only a sick, demented, bigot would try to fool the people into believing his words/power grab and vote for a JACKASS whose only contribution is Full Moon madness.
We certainly need the Mental Health facility.
I hope the grin on his face will suddenly change to an emergency call for help to control his historical behaviour. God has a plan and now itās the peopleās chance to dump his ass.
His story four years ago was jobs for every Caymanian, which was just a ploy. What will he put up from this theme? COVID?
I believe the reason why the people are so upset with our Governor, myself included, is that he aided and abetted the Premier to circumvent the removal of a convicted member of the Parliament, who in his own capacity should have resigned upon conviction. Instead, the Premier with the assistance of the Governor, who would make you believe he had no other choice, but to accept the request of the Premier, decided that to protect this one individual that they would disrupt our entire election process and disenfranchise many young voters who would have otherwise, in my opinion, not voted for the status quo.
This is not about personalities or political relationships. It is about doing the right, honest and honorable thing. What kind of example does this set for our young people when they see someone convicted of beating a woman and holding one of the highest offices in the land, protected by the Governor and the Premier? How do you think it makes them feel now that many of them have had their chance of voting in the upcoming election stolen from them? Have you had a chance to read some of the headlines reverberating around the Caribbean and the world regarding this snap election? This has never happened in the history of our country. Cayman has always been known for its political stability and to see this happens strikes at the heart of what Cayman stands for particularly in the Caribbean. We have now lowered ourselves to the same level of some of the “banana republics” around us and for what, so that the Premier who is apparently too afraid to stand up, be counted and do the honorable thing can have his way. This is no different from what Donald Trump did in the States to undermine democracy to keep the power.
The Governor, in my opinion uses his power as it suits him. If we remember just recently, for the LGBTQ community, he stood up and rightly, so for their rights. No disrespect, but they are a minority group on this island and the same fervor and directness that he used to support a minority of the population, he should have used for the masses. We the public, the voters, those disenfranchised of our vote by the Governors decision to support the Premier were given neither voice, consultation or support in this decision. He instead decided that supporting one member who should have done the honorable thing and resigned was the best way to go for the entire population of this country..I call it a serious dereliction of his duty..and that goes for the Premier as well.
8:31 well said!
So true. Why are the powerful being protected? Conspiracy and collusion are everywhere we look, but no action.
Does the Governor protect the guilty and overlook wrongdoing? Does the Premier care about anything or anyone other than himself, power and money?
Does the Unity government care about Caymanians? Why does it hide behind COVID?
With all the scandals that have become public, do the rest now need to be exposed? It would shock everyone to disbelief to know the real truth. More to come.
WAIT, WATCH, LISTEN and LEARN.
If this is what I think it is, this is going to be good. Letās see if they can even try to weather this storm that is coming.
Yah, the Premier and the Governor both pee through the same straw.
Alden has lost respect long ago, holding hands with FCO’s dictator. He really showed his colors, how much he respects our culture! Bye bye Alden
What the bunch of you are going to do when the Orogressives form a government again? Ya going to Venezuela. Idjuts. Truly.
The Orogressives might but I think this may be the last we see of the Progressives and hopefully the CDP as well.
They both need to go…
Bye Bye Alden, you just lost my vote!
Does the new Premier get his old car or they buy a new one?
I hope they sell it..They don’t need one.
9:43pm
A sign of a bigot. Just to pop-off and make a big show. He should hang his head in shame but he is McBeater ll. Remember April 14th, to drain the swamp.
Buy a new one. Bet you new Speaker gets one too.
No open border, no vote.
Fauci said that if you have both series of your vaccine there is no need to quarantine. Stick with just the pretest and the vaccine.
Unless you catch the South African or Kent strains.
Oh stop it.
The one person that is almost guaranteed to get re-elected is McKeeva Bush.
and that is what is so sad…
God has used Mr. Alden and his
Team to lead us through to this point in the pandemic and they’ve been great, which I believe we can all agree on.
I believe God will continue to
Provide good leadership for us all.I encourage everyone, especially those who think that that Government has done a good job, to not get involved in the political rhetoric but allow the Premier and his team to continue their good work.
And remember if you’re not without sin,then take the
plank from your eye then you will see clearly how to remove
the wooden chip from someone else’s eye
May God continue His blessings upon us.
GOD, the creator of COVID-19??
I am not really sure about his leadership skills. OH, I know – he has blessed the Cayman Islands and only let the disease run amok amongst those decadent homosexual loving countries that respect human rights!
If God created it; why are Oxford and others making the vaccine?
Cant He just do that too by sprinkling his fairy dust in the wind and cure us all?
Or did he send Covid-19 to ban gay marriage?
Wow. You and the other commenter – What fools! Blaspheming the ONE that gives you life, and can take it away at any moment?
My mom and dad were the only ones with that power. You people are nuts.
Be a bit more respectful. I don’t blame Caymanians for hating certain expats. You’re the guest who enters someone’s home with their shoes on, puts them up on the dining room table, drinks too much, and carries on like some obnoxious, loutish fool. Have some manners and respect.
My, my…. I am Caymanian and I totally disagree with you! I know many expats and I don’t see a great amount of difference between “them” and “us”. Some folks don’t believe in God…. but that’s O.K. We have freedom of speech and I think freedom of religion is important, too. Some folks worship Christ. Some believe in Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. It’s a BIG world! Let’s let everyone worship whoever they choose.
We’re all going to hell in someone else’s religion / imagination.
Silly Silly M you will regret your words one day. Yes you will. For you never know the day or the hour!
It was a joke
Oh, countries that respect human rights like the USA? (where shooting of unarmed black people by police is a regular occurrence); UK? (where racism in policing exists and required a national inquiry); Italy (where black refugees from war and famine are turned away); other European countries? (where some of which conducted ethnic cleansing a mere 20 years ago and some of which still suppress their citizens’ rights); Australia? (which has practiced a clear form of racism against its native people for centuries including forced separation of families; Canada & USA? (ditto).
Just saying, you of selective observation and memory!!
Well said!
The problem is Alden thinks HE is God. As for good leadership I have seen no such thing by him. We are where we are with covid because we are an island and capable of shutting ourselves off. His teams management of covid was a train wreck to be honest- he let in patient 0 without any regard or preparation despite having months of notice of covid. He caused chaos and runs on the beach and supermarket with his power play fearmongering and failure to provide the people with a proper plan- he played sims with our lives and visibly enjoyed it. His incompetent donkey minister sidekick proved to us all how dangerous it is to elect fools into office and give them charge over ministries. His administration failed to help the most vulnerable by providing health insurance etc to those affected by lockdowns and the loss of tourism. Letās not kid ourselves- being covid free is great but we could have gotten there in a much better way. Covid is but 1 situation. What else has he done for this country? Sold us out at every opportunity!
He also provided us and the world with Jon-Jon and his daily translations…..
Yep; what a stellar job they all did……
He doesn’t think he’s god…he just doesn’t care about you and was stealing and giving away everything before he leaves…POS
Thank Mom
Sorry what exactly did they do apart from close the borders, allow employers to lay off staff for 6 months, reduce some employees wages via removing pension portion by employers and leave the private charities to feed everyone outside of NAU and tourism? Closing the borders with no other plan is the easiest NON plan ever.
L O L
This is why we are stuck with the inept politicians we have. Look no further.
God’s not paying any attention to the self serving bunch of pirates in power right now…thankfully their policy was to follow similar economies and avoid their mistakes by not inventing anything themselves.
Do not make such an ass of yourself. Ridiculous comment.
The smirk in the picture says it all
10:14am. The people of Red Bay should remember his āSurpriseā, and let history be his debt.
Perfect appropriate pic…lol
Harden u win ole fellaš¤Ŗ
We need one big party up at the East End Playing Field to celebrate.
Bonfire on the reef and all.
Mac should have never been allowed to walk back in the door, Period! Will someone please run in GT Central!!!!!! I can’t stand the thought of Bryan getting back in…. Even with his ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth he is useless!!!
Can we please see someone with some integrity run for office this time around?? Talk about about virus, these folks have been sucking the life force out of our souls for far too long……..
Mr Premier, positioning to ācheckā just because you can is the move of a loser, especially considering the fundamental values at stake here, – Roper being a pawn demonstrates the role of āsacrificialā. The winner by default of your swell headed manoeuvring becomes McBeater, and that Ald-king, Mr Roper will be your long lived legacy, – āhe who could but didnāt,ā what a sad stand for the final curtain š
Alden points to election fraud
Cayman News | 20/03/2014
http://archive.caymannewsservice.com/2014/03/20/alden-points-to-election-fraud/
read comments as well to see if anything changed since 2014
Vote Alden out vote Alden out vote Alden vote out save Cayman
Can only āvote him outā if someone runs against him. PLEASE will a bright, honest, trustworthy individual put their name forward for Red Bay.
Someone has stepped up to run there! Sammy Jackson.
Who?
Yes, but only one per seat against each incumbent. We don’t want to split the vote for change.
Alden had to dissolve his government.
It collapsed from inside out.
Arden wins hand-down.
HāArden wuz always de smartest outta dem 2 Couzins!
I see you Alden showing your true colors. You are a disgrace.
He’s running scared
Why all of the hype…the quicker we get this bunch out…the sooner we get Wayne, Heather, Ozzie and Sammy in
and Michael!
I respect Michael and what he’s done/continuing to do, but politics is nowhere for him – he’s too good for Cayman politics, it will suck him in and make him just like them!!!
Michael, you are more value on the outside!!
To finish ruining things
If you think those floozies are any better you are out of your mind and a part of the problem in Cayman. Voting out idiots to vote in more idiots who only look out for themselves. Wayne, Heather, and Ozzie have all been part of the political scene already and havenāt done squat for the people of this country.
10:49am
Pray tell the world what has Jon-Jon done since he has been warming the seat? Trying to speak languages and talking about Full Moon and sex. He cannot answer a
Question. Are we ashamed of his inability to speak on pertinent topics?
Oh right; Ozzie – that paragon of decency.
Sammy who? Heather who? Wayne who? Ozzie?
Maybe Sammy and Wayne…Heather and Ozzie..Meh!
2:14 Wayne didnāt do shit either except collect a pay check and show his face around Newlands around election time, handing out life vests. The likes of his does not need to get back in either. All of them are wash outs and need to keep going. These islands need new, trustworthy, honest, and intelligent people to step forward and run.
Well Played Premier. Well played.
It has been 32 years since I voted for someone who was elected as an MLA/MP. From where I sit, I do not see me voting this year for any of the candidates that are in the lead position of my constit.
But I. must say this was not a bad Government.
I can only pray we get some new MP’s, hopefully some females especially in West Bay, Bodden Town and George Town. But be careful who you think is a hero and who you consider a villian. These politicians are masters a deception
Females who stand & support womenās rights please. Not one of the female incumbents showed support for the victim of Macs assault. I am disgusted with you all.
My only question is … Will May 26th still be a public holiday ??? Expats don’t business in Cayman Politricks !!!
All Policiations that didn’t speak out against violence, condone it, another words think it’s ok to beat up on women. Deal in drugs,etc, etc, they are part of the problem, and NOT part of the solution. They should all be voted out, especially K Bryan, hope GTC, have enough sense to NOT vote for him again.
The public holiday will be moved to the new election day as far as I know.
They want to move the date up so Mac doesnāt get addressed and so they can open the borders and Alden not get blamed for this next wave.
Please, please please…
Vote these fu%^ers out
Voters can only vote in. There is no mechanism to vote out, or the LA would have been emptied years ago.
Alden has done a very smart political move. Here you have the opposition standing on chairs grandstanding. Alden just come and kick the chair. Now the opposition has nowhere to turn but to the people and they know that is an uphill battle. I love it. Politics man. You have to love this move
Or maybe he’s just a self interested pig who is full?
We all see it was a great chess move, but what is more important for the country as a whole?
Winning the battle or the war? Short-sighted decisions like this always fall short in some way.
Is it too much to ask for leadership that looks three moves ahead? They are some of the most handsomely paid leaders in the world, make them actually earn it please.
‘A very smart political move’ or, as I prefer to put it ‘A cynical, contemptuous attempt to avoid accountability and scrutiny’
It’s really a very simple question: Should McKeeva Bush remain in office as either an MP or as Speaker?
Why is Alden so desperate not to answer it?
Everyone thought Alden gave Mac the Speakers chair because he needed him to get a majority. Yet the math on the government being able to surviive Mac losing the chair and turning on Alden shows that is not the case. So what was it- because itās the same reason that Alden has ensured that Mac avoids an entry in the history as the first Speaker and the first to be removed for misconduct. What can it – must be something pretty damn impressive.
Get some worthy candidates on the ballots! Beg and plead with educated, decent people to get them to run…especially in critical races like WBW, BTE and Savannah. Ideally, weād get a suitable challenger for EVERY seat!!
Bring McKeeva back. Only he can save us.
Please include BTW in this plea!!!!
Yeah come on smart Caymanians with integrity…4-8 years will look amazing on your CV and in your memoirs!
WBS please! Help!
Raul isnāt McKeevaās friend anymore. Vote Tara out.