Alden ‘no show’ against Sammy for radio debate

| 31/03/2021

(CNS): The outgoing premier, Alden McLaughlin, declined an invitation to go up against his challenger, Sammy Jackson, on Wednesday on a radio talk-show, just two weeks out from the general election, where he is fighting to retain his Red Bay seat and hang on to power with another coalition government.

Cayman Crosstalk’s election debate platform allows candidates to rebut each other, which is not the case with the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum, the only occasion so far where Jackson and McLaughlin have appeared together in a head-to-head debate.

Regardless of the outcome of the elections, McLaughlin cannot be premier because he has reached his term limit. However, after handing the leadership of the PPM to Roy McTaggart, he is now the party chairman and spearheading the campaign.

But he left the public platform open to Jackson and representatives from the Red Bay community group to talk about the issues affecting his constituents and what they want done, and Jackson made the most of the opportunity to talk about his vision.

While Polly Pickering and Rachael Costa from the community group challenged Jackson, they also made it clear they want to see change in the district. And McLaughlin missed an opportunity to reassure his constituents that he is taking their concerns about excessive development and the neglect of the environment seriously.

Jackson committed to rolling out a more sustainable model for the development, which he said has lost its way after successive governments have ignored the existing development plan, and said there was a need to stop the “runaway development” that is not taking the environment into consideration.

He also made it clear that, although the PPM appears to have opened the door to any candidate joining their Alliance, if he takes the party’s biggest scalp and wins McLaughlin’s seat, he will not be forming a government that includes the current PPM line-up, and also said he would not serve in a government with McKeeva Bush.

Jackson said that an alternative alliance is emerging and it will be outlined before Election Day in a bid to avoid the horse-trading of the last election.

See the full Crosstalk show here.

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Comments (28)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The new government are as follows: (Starting from the east) Arden McLean…Ezzard Miller…Ozzie Bodden…Chris Saunders…Heather Bodden…Wayne Panton…Michael Myles…Sammy Jackson…Emily DeCou…Kenneth Bryan…Johann Moxam…Alric Lindsay…Katherine Wilks…Rolston Anglin…McKeeva Bush…Andre Ebanks…Pablo and Grisselda. (Was difficult to analyze GTW)

  2. Anonymous says:

    Has Alden or Austin had a meeting in Red Bay or Prospect? I can’t remember hearing of any.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They’re having one in a couple of days. And you already know there’s gonna be some mudslinging.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I hope people in red bay won’t be fooled by this wolf in sheep’s clothing just like his buddy in GT who pretends to be this champion of the people yet all he does is talk down to people vote ppm back in it’s the best choice we have now

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Sammy Jackson is the clear choice for Red Bay!!

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  5. Anonymous says:

    The same Sammy Jackson that is listed in the FIN brochure? So the ‘developers lawyer’ is now going to suddenly turn into the great defender of the environment? Yea right.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You do realize it’s a lawyers job to represent a client if it wasn’t him it would be someone else. Who better to fix planning law than the guy who knows them inside out?

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    • Anonymous says:

      I feel like a stuck record saying this, but since you’re so persistent, when will you realize that one’s personal views and the law are two very different things? Blaming Sammy for FIN is just as stupid as calling a doctor a criminal for saving a criminal’s life. Ever heard of having a job/duty?
      How could Sammy be a “developer’s lawyer” (nice terminology, Alden) if he has also represented clients who opposed large-scale developments?
      This is the last time I respond to such stupidity because it’s so repetitive. Implying that Sammy doesn’t care about the environment as if this current government does? Don’t make me laugh.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s so funny that this is the only hope Alden has left. As a person who has hired Sammy as an objector against a massive development, let me assure you that he represented us with the upmost care and did a fantastic job because he is an exceptional attorney. We would be lucky to have his knowledge and experience in our Parliament.

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    • Anonymous says:

      hey @5:30pm I think as a professional lawyer and patriot, Sammy will be more loyal to the country than the Lodgeman who has to be loyal to his Jamaican brothers. Time for Alden to go, simple, and maybe he could take his Brothers out of the civil service and judiciary as he leaves.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Alden really showing his true colors this time around singing like a drunken idiot. No class, no class at all. Him and Mac really made for each other!!!! Cayman deserves better!

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Austin did not turn up for the Rooster debate today either. Whoever is their campaign manager, should be fired. Incumbent or not, voters deserve the opportunity to make an educated decision as to who they will elect. Thumbs down, Austin.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Red Bay, please vote wisely and elect Sammy Jackson. I’m a Prospect voter struggling between Sabrina and Michael. Red Bay, you have a clear choice.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I would go with Sabrina.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Respectfully no. Sabrina has a bad attitude and doesn’t know how to speak to people. After speaking with Michael, he has my vote.

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    • Anonymous says:

      To 9.40am If you are struggling with those two then I suggest going with Austin.

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      • Anonymous says:

        3:42 you were a couple of hours late but that was the best April fools I heard all day! Hahahaha Austin Hahahaha! Stop!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Love this guy! Seriously!

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    • One of Sammy’s family members says:

      Likewise.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He’s really likable. So easy to talk to, down to earth total opposite of arrogant Alden!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sammy said (right here on CNS) that he sued two of his family members and won a large settlement. Nice guy?

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        • One of Sammy’s family members says:

          Yes, he sued them for defamation and you don’t know the story behind it. And don’t pretend that you care about any of Sammy’s family members when you clearly have no conscience for us.

        • Anonymous says:

          He has some shitty family members I guess. I have them too unfortunately. Family or not some people are assholes.

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  10. An insider says:

    “…an alternative alliance is emerging…” – we hope so. There is no reason why a group of independents cannot agree on the salient national challenges and brainstorm to find visionary, outside-the-box solutions. We do not need expensive new projects or studies; dust off the many that have been shelved after paying millions to commission them, and let’s get working for a better Cayman for everyone. Independents all the way!

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