Doctor denies ulterior motives over candidates
One of the signs sponsored by Dr Steve Tomlinson
(CNS Elections): Dr Steve Tomlinson says people are misunderstanding his motivation for financing a group of candidates in the forthcoming general election. Tomlinson, who has given money to at least ten candidates who are running as independents in the national poll next month, told CNS he has “no hidden agenda” and “no ulterior motives whatsoever”, and that time will show that he has nothing to hide. He said that all of the candidates that he is supporting have been encouraged to expose him publicly if he ever requests any favours from them if they are elected.
“It may be difficult to believe but I am doing what I am doing for the future good of the Cayman Islands, plain and simple, nothing more and nothing less,” he said in response to the criticisms following the revelations on CNS that several of the independent candidates nominated for the election last week had named him as a sponsor for their campaigns.
He said it was “understandable that persons who would not be generous enough to do what I am doing, unless there was an ulterior motive, to misunderstand my motives for financially assisting some independent candidates”.
Dr Tomlinson, who received some $30 million when he sold the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital and has since invested in the local newspaper, The Cayman Reporter, said he was “fortunate to have a few dollars and I sincerely believe that an investment to enhance the political culture in the Cayman Islands is a worthwhile cause”.
He is mostly supporting younger novice candidates who, with the exception of Ellio Solomon, have not served in political office before. But he said the Independents he is supporting “have brilliant plans which will increase the inflow of foreign exchange and improve the living conditions of all”.
Tomlinson said his group, which has not been registered with the Elections Office as a party, would be releasing their National Strategic Agenda in advance of the May election setting out their aims. “I know that things will be clearer then and many of you will change your mind,” he said, noting that he would not be “supporting foolishness”.
“The Cayman Islands will be much better off when an elected government cares for all constituents,” he said. “Many Caymanians, including myself, yearn for the day when our leaders stop wasting time on personal attacks and rhetoric.”
Suggesting that the focus should be on the pressing problems that urgently need to be addressed, he said there were strong forces at work to divide the community as he urged people to vote for independent candidates with a plan.
Defending the “Stop the Bickering” signs that some people have criticised, Tomlinson said that according to his feedback, many voters like them.
Answering allegations that he has an agenda against the Shetty hospital, he said there was no need for people to be concerned. He added that doctors there “saved the life of my brother when he had his heart attack last year. I have never been against having the hospital here.”
However, Tomlinson added, “I only wish that both the UDP and the CDP had given me the laundry list of concessions that they gave them and I may not have sold Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial, but what do you expect, I am Caymanian and they know that I do not support either party because they are more or less one of a kind.”
Category: Election News
Anyone know when Dr. T is coming out with his manifesto? We need to know what he expects from his candidates.
NOTHING but a better Cayman for CAYMANIANS
Sorry but if that was indeed the case then Dr. T would have been more discriminating with who he supported.
Sorry Stephenson just seeing the candidates that Dr. T has chose to support makes your statement doubtful. World wide it is normal for politicians & political parties to have donors. It is extremely unusual and troublesome for a large group of politicians to have a single majority donor. In fact in many countries it is illegal.
Who appointed Dr. Tomlinson to decide what is a better Cayman? Is a better Cayman only realized when Dr. Tomlinson calls the final shot?
I think Dr T needs to check the people he is supporting. How many other bad apples are in the bunch!
Quite a few bad apples if you include some of the advisers to these candidates.
Dr. T only wants what’s good for his country and wants to see a better Cayman. So what if he wants to sponsor a set of candidates (someone had to), you should be thanking him instead of tearing him down, be happy its one of your own and not an outsider who only wants to have a foot in cayman for their own benefit. Dr. T is a man of intergrity and has done nothing but good towars everyone he comes across. Not everyone does things in order to get back from it or has an ulterior motive, then again yes, he wants to see a better Cayman. Stop the bickering and make Cayman great again , as his posters so says. Im sure everyone wants to see a better Cayman.
True!
Way to expose yourself? Self praise is no praise.
Smh… im a commentor
I bet you like your own posts on social media
If Dr T really wanted what was good for the country he would have vetted the people he is supporting. What he really wants are weak people that he can control for his benefit.
Dr. T is only thinking about his country and wants to see a better Cayman. So what if he finances a set of candidates (someone had to do it) atleast its one of their own and not an outsider who only wants to get his foot in cayman to come and reap for their own benefit. Why aren’t you questioning where the other parties get their funding? Dr. T. Is a reputable person and does only good for everyone he comes in contact with, stop tearing the man down and applaude him for his generosity not everyone has a hidden agender.
K.C.
Tomlinson is just doing what any ordinary wealthy person would do – try to financially influence elections and political outcomes. I mean who wouldn’t??? I am sure not only Tomlinson has an interest on who wins the LA house. I bet Dart, Joe, Fosters, Hurleys, Banks … and other renown names will be … shall I say using their dollars :)))
This is all too funny to me. Now for one thing. If all these independents that Dr. T is supporting is elected into office I can assure you transparency you will get. XXXX
“No ulterior motives” smh is all i can do. Imagine having the minister of health, minister of finance and the minister of community affairs just to name a few in ur back pocket.
Dr. T is an excellent surgeon but not the greatest business man. So if these independents are getting ideas from him on how to improve our country they better start coming up with their.
As the old saying goes, stick to what you know.
The mere fact that Dr T thinks these are good candidates says enough about him.
The man comes out and gives an answer, he is transparent in his giving which is much more than anyone else and Caymankind just goes for him again…and if he didn’t reply he would get some more Caymankind…Stay Classy Cayman, lest anyone ever suggest you are a duplicitous or twisted in any way…
There must be a reason why so many of the candidates prefer to run as independents. Tony, Alva, Arden and Kenneth have good reasons why they are no longer with the PPM. Don’t know why Ellio left Mac, always thought he and Mac were inseparable, Wish the good doctor had run. What a bam bam that would be.
There must also be a reason why Dr. T decided to support the not so “independents” that he has chosen to support.
The country is crumbling and will shortly implode, taking us all down if this election is allowed to continue. We need to stop and re-evaluate this whole mess and organize National elections before it is too late. Helen, help us, please give me 19 votes so I can choose the best 19 out of the 63 that are running.
If the ballot paper was brought to my house and someone helped me hold the pencil I wouldn’t mark an X for none of the candidates running in my area.
I agree with the idea of national elections. Was that even considered when the switch was made to “one person one vote”?
I agree. We should have 19 votes. This foolishness that we have before will not get us anyway. People gave their input on national elections but those in charge would not listen. Now we are stuck with this mess.
With this crappy set up the candidate with the biggest family will win in many districts.
No ulterior motives apart from controlling the government that is.
Is it really any different than the many other corporate party donors…like Hurleys that fed 600+ seniors and give away Turkeys and bags of groceries at the thinly-veiled annual UDP/CDP glad-handing Senior’s Social? Plausible deniability? http://www.radiocayman.gov.ky/west-bay-senior-citizens-annual-christmas-social&h=1
Unna want transparency and when Dr. T provides it you tear your own Caymanian down.
Take the plank out of your eyes!
The real question is who is in the shadows putting money behind CDP and PPM. You may be surprized how many “outside forces” are putting money into their campaigns. In many countries this is illegal!
The last paragraph of this article hit the nail on the head. At least Mr. T came out on top anyway, with a cool $30 mil.
If you want concessions, offer something (e.g., a new service or sector like medical tourism) and then ask for them. Nobody’s going to go around offering something for nothing, especially if you don’t ask.
You think Health City has created a medical tourism sector in the economy? Rubbish. It has failed as medical tourism facility, which is why it’s “dabbling” in the local market in all sorts of specialties; which is why the extraordinary extent of the concessions they received sticks in many people’s throat.
As a strong supporter of Health City’s purpose and vision, I find it difficult to disagree with you right now.
The cost of care may be affordable, but maybe the strength of our dollar compared to other countries is what makes foreigners needing care think twice. Accommodation, food, transportation for the entire family or spouse while they wait for their loved one to recover would be expensive in Cayman compared to India, or even Barbados or Cuba.
I drove there 2 weekends ago and the large sign at the entrance showing the accommodation that was going to be built soon was fading in colour. I’d really like to know what they are doing in regards to Phase 2 of the project. Because they said a year or more ago that ground would be broken very soon for that. Very soon has passed.
Sorry Doc, you lost me at Ellio Solomon.
I’m still waiting to hear where the two parties get their funding from?
Oooh you will never hear that…..I suspect Dart has some funding going on and then our rich elites…..who funds who is the question…..I suspect the Kirk’s people don’t take to Mac anymore since he wanted to cut them out by the GT Doc idea….They may fear he will return with that in mind….but Dart I would think maybe a part funder of CDP since CDP gave them such a honeypot of a deal….
Based on the cast of characters he is supporting, it is hard to believe this support is only for the love of Country. Can’t wait to see the “brilliant plans” coming from this bunch.
It is common for parties and independents to have supporters and donors
BUT to have one person in the private sector put forward/main sponsor of a team,
especially of the questionable calibre for office/leadership some seem to have, is the issue.
If Dr T was hoping to have a Rothschild influence maybe he should have ran for office.
Dr. T – thank you for supporting Mr. Dixon for the Cayman Brac East seat. Am awaiting the Cayman Brac Mafia’s tearing down of Mr. Dixon – seems to be their style . . . and Mr. Dixon is a serious alternate choice to the other person running in the district who has not cast a vote for/against anything in our community for nearly four years.
Mr. Dixon I trust that you will keep your campaign on the issues, but, as you have experienced, you certainly cannot trust what comes out of the mouth of your opponent (seems like it was not so long ago that whenever you walked into a certain shoppe in Cotton Tree Bay, that one particular person would be waiting at the door to fill you with all the negatives about the lady – now they wearing the some colour political shirt).
All they all sang – cumbaya my Lord, cumbaya (:
I for one would have voted for Mr. Dixon if he was not being financed by “Dr. T”. From what I’ve heard Mr. Dixon seems well qualified. It is most unfortunate that he is not running as a true independent.
Being a true independent means that MLA’s work for the public, not a party or any one group or person. Dr. Tomlinson said that he is not doing what he is doing for favours in return. Have always found him to be a straight shooter and a man to his word, so, I will vote for Rudolph Dixon as in my opinion he is the best choice.
No one invests many thousands of dollars in anything without expecting a return. As I see it two bad choices.
Retirement plan
Dr. T should have run.
He is just a donor and is anti-party/pro-independent but can tell us that his lackies will be releasing a ‘National Strategic Agenda’ before the election. What a crock of sh$t!!
If the feedback was so positive he wouldn’t have had to come out with this defense. Nuff said.
If the system was so democratic, why didn’t you sign your name to your statement. Stop being a coward, support the movement for a better Cayman, we surely need it. Why not be as transparent as our Cayman doctor?
Agree, transparency is good because I’m glad to know this group would be together if elected.
When you defend his choices though, you indirectly defend those candidates, with their good and bad.
But he’s not God or a god and because a person declares they’re sponsoring them doesn’t mean we the public are satisfied.
There are many great candidates running so he should have waited and supported based on the candidates and not a select few from start?
well I guess the benefit of adding names to posts is to identify bias – such as yours. You might need uncle T to tell you what is good for Cayman but let the rest of us think for ourselves…..anonymously…..if we so wish.
Thank goodness for Dr T and his ideas. Why must we follow Alden & McKeeva and there lackey gang of do nothings.
At least Alden and McKeeva were both MLAs leading a party, not outsiders who selected a group that many find questionable on their own merits anyway
Dr. Steve for premier
Don’t make me laugh
He who laughs last lasts best. so you stay there….