Bryan: Missing opponent doesn’t deserve votes
(CNS): With the failure of Frank Cornwall to show up for the second time to debate him on a public platform during this campaign, Kenneth Bryan managed to score significant points in his challenger’s absence at the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on Monday.
The George Town Central incumbent said the debates were like an interview for the job they have both applied for, and by not showing up Cornwall did not deserve the job and had shown a lack of respect for the voters.
He said this had “become a trade mark of the team that my opponent is a part of”, as he warned voters that this “attitude” was likely to continue if the Alliance was elected.
In an articulate performance, Bryan navigated the forum’s twenty questions competently and he made the most of the opportunity to outline his policy priorities without challenge. This is the second time that the two men running for GTC were suppose to be on the same platform where Cornwall has failed to show up, having also missed a chance to challenge the incumbent on radio talk show, Crosstalk, earlier this month.
Bryan spoke about people in Cayman feeling marginalized in their own community and Caymanians “getting lost in the shuffle” of growth and development. He also noted the need to include the people in future discussions about the country’s development.
But as he navigated both sides of the emerging ‘people versus major developers’ conflict, in some of his responses Bryan was cautious about offering wholehearted support to the reassessment of development that many are now seeking, as he spoke about development in “a Caymanian way”.
Although he gave his backing to registering the beach accesses which are currently being fought for in the courts and to bring the prescriptive rights legislation to the parliament, he also noted the need to balance that with developers’ requirements.
As an example, he pointed to Dart’s Kimpton development and its setbacks, even though that development and others planned for that area, as well as those lost on the West Bay Road because of the tunnel, are seen as some of the most egregious onslaughts against local beach access.
Speaking about where he sees himself in the next government, Bryan, who remains the clear favourite to retain his seat, has made no secret of the fact that he wants a Cabinet seat, too. He said that MPs must work together to find the solutions in a coalition government.
Bryan said he was willing to work with anyone that the voters have elected, but said this did not mean he would be a ‘yes man’ because he wanted to stand by what his people believe in beyond the limits of collective responsibility for ministers.
He declared his interest in the tourism ministry if he finds himself in government, with the additional portfolios of culture, sport or housing.
In another effort to straddle both sides of a sticky issue, Bryan said he was happy that the governor had enacted the Civil Partnership Law, even though he had voted against same-sex union legislation in the Legislative Assembly.
He said it was a very sensitive topic for his community and suggested there had been a lack of consultation on it. “This topic is kinda like a cut; every time we ask a question about it, we don’t give it time to heal,” he said, before adding that he was happy that “all rights are in place”.
Bryan set out his position on various issues, from the cost of living and education to the decriminalisation of ganja, which he said needed a proper conversation and should be a referendum subject. Making his pitch to voters, he said he believed he had proven to voters that he will always put them first and his ability to debate and advocate for people was a strong skillset and that he was a fresh and effective voice.
Bryan is expected to take the GTC seat much more comfortably this time around than his narrow 35 vote victory over Marco Archer in 2017, the then finance minister. This was a major upset for the PPM in a constituency where it had been generally believed before the party’s line-up was announced that he would be running against Alden McLaughlin
Alden McLaughlin (PPM): Red Bay MP, Premier, Minister of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs (MITIAMA). Biography: McLaughlin has been a member of the... More.
But in the first ‘one man, one vote’ election in single member constituencies, there was a last minute reshuffle of candidates, in which McLaughlin swapped constituencies with Archer, who is a resident of Red Bay.
No admissions have ever been made about the last minute switch, but there is the perception that McLaughlin was not prepared to lose to his former political assistant, whom he had fired after he was arrested following his efforts to save a female friend from assault.
The firing of Bryan contrasts sharply with the very different approach that McLaughlin took over his more recent political ally, McKeeva Bush
McKeeva Bush (CDP), West Bay West MLA Speaker of the LA, Leader of the Cayman Democratic Party. Biography: Bush is the longest serving member and... More, following his conviction for a violent assault on female bar manager.
See the Chamber forum for GTC below:
Category: Election News
Vote ppm it’s the best choice we got we need stability not uncertainty
Lol technically, wouldn’t KB be “stability” since he’s the incumbent?
Soon as he joins Mac to make him premier(God forbid) then you’ll understand instability.
David and Alden busy with these comments. Kenneth was the only one who has actually tried to stop a woman getting beaten instead of the alternative of many MPs. He is the only MP including those on the opposition who not only wanted McKeeva to be held accountable table for actions but all those coming behind him. PPM prevented that happening by calling an early election. You lot are soo foolish to think that the PPM aren’t planning on making a gov with McKeeva. Fools fools fools. Kenneth will call them out all day long which is why they won’t run with him. He won’t roll over and say yes to sell his people out. He didn’t play the game and he will continue not to play the game. If you want change vote independent, any vote for PPM or alliance is a vote for Alden’s same ole same ole dictatorship politics, for the rich and woman beaters. Alden refused to fire McKeeva no one else.
Where is Frank Cornwall? I haven’t seen him anywhere … How does he expect us to vote for him
He do not know us and we do not know him..
I am a George Town Central voter.. who lives in the Crewe Road/ Palm Dale/ Tropical Gardens area-
Frank been round a couple times. The only choice in GTC!
♬ ‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off ♫
I suppose you’ve lived a life of sheer perfection huh? I congratulate Kenneth on overcoming his demons and making something positive of his life despite his f*@% up with selling drugs. I will never understand why people harp on the negatives when the individual is clearly trying to do better. His life lessons can actually be passed on to other young people going down the same bad path he was on. Try uplifting and encouraging for a change. If you are Caymanian, this mindset is so typical against our own. We gotta do better!
I have never sold crack. Not even once.
I see my point went right over your head! You may not have sold crack but you’ve certainly had other f*@k ups you don’t want to be constantly reminded of when/if you are trying to do better. So many keyboard judges on here. Sad.
12:29 pm, what about the young people that got ruined for life from drug pushers, i bet if it was one of your children you would sing different song
I guess he thought wiping off breadfruit or poo off an opponents sign would change my mind to vote for him?
NOPE. When he was the cause of not getting Mac out, he changed the landscape forever.
Kenneth will help Mac become premier for the selfish sake of a minister position.
Can’t trust him and fear 4 years of backroom deals with Mac to enrich themselves.
Kenny cleaning up his own dirt, gaining positive publicity. Taking us for fools. Young mac bush.
I don’t even know who Frank Cornwall is. Same for anyone else?
I haven’t even met him, much less vote for him.
Whoever Cornwall is, he’s NOT Kenneth..and therefore worth voting for, to keep MAC from being premier with Kenny’s help.
I hope he learned a lesson; loyalty should be earned and some people do not deserve it.
McKeeva Jr. need to go sit down
Convicted crack dealer doesn’t deserve votes.
He’s a felon. How can he even be in government?
I hope you know that the Caribbean islands are not part of the US. Go vote there they have their own messes.
Electorate: Enabler of violence against women doesn’t deserve votes
Agreed 100 %
@ And you don’t even vote in his district.
I tell you this, if I was getting beaten in the street by a man I would hope It was Kenneth who walks by and not Frank or Alden, cos I already know that Kenneth would assist me, I can’t say I’m too confident either of the other two would.
Will still never forgive him when he had a chance to oust Mckeeva
He was involved in drugs. End of story. Who is he to tell to the electorate what to do.
We want our kids off drugs.
So if your kids are on drugs. I’m sure they have supplied their friends socially, even if not for financial gain. Are you now saying that they should be refused the opportunity to run for politics? I am not condoning what Keneth did, but there are people in government that facilitated in money laundering and drug trafficking and it is well documented in a book. What Kenneth did is kindergarten level to what some of these current politicians have done that hasn’t come to light.
If you stupid enough to get caught…