PlanCayman is a farce, Moxam tells Hew
(CNS): Johann Moxam
Johann Moxam: Independent candidate for George Town North - Managing Partner of Lainston International Management Ltd. Background and education: Moxam studied at the University of... More who is challenging the George Town North incumbent and current planning minister, Joey Hew
Joey Hew (PPM): George Town North MLA, Minister of Commerce, Planning, Infrastructure. Biography: Hew has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 2013, when... More, in the April elections, took him to task over what he said were a multitude of failings over the last four years, including Hew’s claim that he is reviewing the national development plan, which Moxam called a farce when the men appeared on Crosstalk, Thursday.
CNS submitted a question on the need to move back the hard structures on the GTN strip of Seven Mile Beach that has been severely eroded because of walls and pools constructed far too close to the ocean. In response, Hew said a committee had been established and that tackling sea level rise and beach erosion had been included in PlanCayman.
But Moxam took the minister to task, and in an all too rare moment on the campaign trail in Cayman, the incumbent was actually challenged directly on his record in office. Moxam urged voters not to listen to what the minister said but look at his actions, as he challenged the claims made by Hew that they were planning to take on the hard job of getting the landowners on Seven Mile Beach to move the structures.
Hew said that a cross-ministerial committee had been formed and that the Seven Mile Beach section of PlanCayman would be ready for public consultation after the election, as he blamed the COVID pandemic for not getting the work completed beforehand. He said that setbacks and rising sea levels “played a huge part in this review”.
He also claimed that the government was looking at whether they could move some of the properties back and examining the issues other than climate change that have caused the problems. “We are actively working at it,” Hew said. “It is a key initiative for my ministry and myself.”
But Moxam said that, based on the track record, he simply didn’t believe that they were willing to take on the real issue of beach erosion.
“I do not believe the minister when he says they… will remove structures,” he said. “If you are responsible for the granting of hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions, I refuse to believe that you are going to now demand that property owners tear down or be involved in the enforcement of tearing down any one’s… seawalls.”
Moxam pointed out that the reason why we have these problems is because of the inequities in how things have been granted and the inconsistent enforcement of the rules. He called for a full environmental plan because at the moment government “talks pretty” about conservation, “but their actions show different”.
He urged listeners to “judge them by what they do, not what they say, as politicians will say anything in an election… campaign to get elected”.
Hew claimed to be part of the same government that passed the National Conservation Law and the enhanced marine conservation laws and began PlanCayman after more than twenty years since the national development plan was last reviewed.
However, the previous environment minister, Wayne Panton
Wayne Panton: Candidate for Newlands. He was Minister for Financial Services, Commerce and Environment (2013-2017). Biography: Panton successfully ran as a PPM candidate for one... More, only managed to steer the conservation law through parliament after making significant concessions to his Cabinet colleagues. And even then, soon afterwards the premier described the legislation as “ridiculous” and had been on a trajectory to gut the law.
In addition, the marine parks enhancement plan was ready to be implemented when this government took office in 2017. But after trying to water down the provision and remove the port from any protections at all, it took it four years to get to its roll out right before the election.
The PPM has dominated the legislature for the best part of the last 20 years, during which time, as Hew noted, the plan had not been reviewed, though he claims that now, under PlanCayman, it would be consistently reviewed
Moxam said, “PlanCayman is a farce… It is a wish-list for some people that is not comprehensive enough to address the issues.”
The challenger kept up the pressure on the incumbent throughout the debate, especially when asked why no one was prepared to remove 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 from his job as speaker after he was convicted in December last year of assault. He called out Hew for his total silence on the issue, saying that the government Hew was a part of needed Bush more than they needed to do the right thing.
“This is about right and wrong,” Moxam said. “Leadership comes with the responsibility of knowing the difference between right and wrong.”
Hew claimed that he did not support Bush remaining in his job as speaker but said there was no consensus after he had refused to resign. And so the legislators did not go back to Parliament and instead the premier called the early election, he said.
However, this is not correct. Bush pleaded guilty on 3 December to the assault charges and 24 hours later, all of the members celebrated the renaming of Parliament, where they then sat until 18 December dealing with a variety of laws, motions and other work with Bush presiding as speaker. None of the government members, including Hew, raised their objections.
Bush was finally sentenced on 21 December. But he remained in his job running the House of Parliament, where Public Accounts Committee meetings took place and regular back office work continued right up until 10 February, when Premier 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 announced his decision to call the early election, some six weeks after Bush was given a suspended sentence.
Nevertheless, Hew resolutely stood by his position that he had not supported Bush and was one of those who had encouraged him to resign, and because he would not the early elections were called.
But Moxam continued to challenge Hew’s record, pointing out that what he and his colleagues in government have said and continue to say do not often match their actions.
In an appeal to voters in the constituency, Moxam said that if voters weren’t vexed and frustrated by the inequities, they were detached from reality, as he urged them to vote for him to put an end to a government that is not representing Caymanians but other forces.
Hew said his track record stood for itself and pressed his claim that he was active in, and an intrinsic part of, his community of GTN.
Watch the full debate on the Cayman Crosstalk Facebook page.
Category: Election News
Wake Up!!! Cayman, this candidate is the most negative, angry and aggressive candidate who always has a lot to say but never has any solutions. People with good memories can remember when he supported McKeeva Bush and the UDP, His father ran for office on a UDP ticket, and Mr. Moxam supported McKeevas port development plan taking the coral out to the north of the harbour and the private control of all the retail to be built on port property. He and his father travelled overseas to meet the Chinese representing the UDP governments initiative to build the port yet Moxam criticizes Bush who he supported and leads the public obstruction of building the port under the Progressives. This man cannot be trusted running the country and representing the people.
I have one question for Mr. Moxam.
Sir, are you Lodge?
If no, then Cayman has a chance, but if yes, then you will give us the same candy in a different wrapper.
Innocent until proven guilty, but Sir, what say you?
I look forward to seeing that response! Lol!
Maybe he in it deep like the rest of them. Wonder why he won’t answer?
Joey don’t need unnah stupid asses ! He need unnah vote to make it happen for him and his friends!
Dear Johann the PLAN 4 cayman is to get re-elected and that all there is going to be nothing else bro ! MP intends to continue with no change for his elite friends who have him ahead in polls by a tidy margin the poor people on the other hand he can handle .He is so confident that he is now lending support now to Frank against Kenneth in George Town Central !
It is time for all the over 60’s career politicians to retire. The problem I am having is the contestants for these encumbents are just not up to scratch. They have tremendous personal ambitions but they fall short of my expectations.
Their resumes may show a high level of educational qualifications. But look at their record when they had civic responsible positions. They accomplished noting and some made a huge mess into a major national disaster.
I am unfortunately left to accept the elections of encumbents in many constituencies.
Smear campaigns and excessive phrase catching complaints about the encumbents do not impress me or give me any confidence in the challengers.
The word is “incumbent.” They don’t need to be over 60 to go.
I am so sick of these people coming to us every four years and asking us give them four more years to do the things they promised they would do 8-12 years ago. Promises are a comfort to a fool and unfortunately these “incumbents” continue to think we are fools..and to make things worse we believe staying with the status quo is the best thing to which makes us even bigger fools and enables them to continue to take advantage of us.
There should be term limits and a recall vote.
We need to clean house this year particularly of the remnants of the UDP/PPM parties.
Hear Hear!!!! Finally someone called them out for what they are. They have good sound bites and thats it.
7.16 Stop the age discrimination already.
Some of these incumbents have been elected for three terms yet nothing has improved significantly. So why vote for them again? An old crook can be nothing more than an old crook.
Arden Jr. Pissed off at the world, no solutions to his “issues”.
Is that you Joey?
OMG this is the best comment ever….except I really wished whoever created Arden would have broken the mold
I think yiu meant Harden.
I have no idea if Johann will be any good, but at least he’s a different face. The people in power for past 10/20 years have not done much to help the little man. Maybe Johann will
@8.17am that’s great, put in a new face who has not committed to do anything then expect him to do something for the ‘little man’. Yea right.
Don’t fool yourselves, they are like a pack of wolves which sense weakness. If elected, they will end up doing the same bullshit. Just want a break at the coffers.
I disagree. They will do something different. They WILL make things worse!!!!
Moxam will end up sitting in the corner by himself. A bit like Ezzard.
Does that mean your man Joey will be back in the cleaning business?
You under estimate Johann Moxam at your own peril because you do not know him
I know him plenty. Disagreeable like Ezzard, Arden and Bernie, will achieve nothing.
You just named the only 3 MPs who spoke out against McBeater.
Macbeater is not the only issue facing these islands. Lets talk about some of these. Please
Nahhh, Moxam too ambitious. He’ll jump in bed with Mac who will offer him a ministry,,,just you watch.
true say
Delighted to see and hear Johann taking on the incumbents as a group, not just his opponent. The future politician needs to be prepared to deal with this collective responsibility behind which a lot of these progressives have hidden in debates so far. “We agreed that soemthing needed to be done about… but I was the strongest in speaking within the group!” Really?
Where one can find candidate’s education and education related work experience history?
When a private employer interviews a job seeker for a managerial position, the latter is always asked about his greatest accomplishments at his previous position.
The state of Cayman infrastructure went from very bad to dismal. Public transportation system doesn’t exists in Cayman. Traffic congestion is a nightmare.
So why the person responsible the for dismal state of Cayman infrastructure, traffic and transportation is seeking to be hired again?
Our problems started in the 70/80’s due to no real planning. Those politicians made voters believe that developers could not be refused. Now we are running out of Band Aids.
“El Fuego” definitely lit one under Joey’s a**.
That is exactly what we need in Govt.
We need to get rid of the current bunch of puppets, liars and wastemen/women.
Two Dartians weaving the web of deceit.
Our poor little Territory.
Will we ever get qualified, experienced and HONEST candidates to stand in GTN?
Johann is the man! Joey’s days are numbered.
Don’t wish that on GTN – Johanna is not what you think.
He will lose and GTN will be no further ahead.
At least GTN will not have to put up with his endless blowhard crap.
He find that dog yet though?
On April 14th vote out all the bad apples and liars
are there any good apples?
Certainly not either of the two of these.
Both are already seated at the table of Dart.
Johanne is a masterful blow hard and lazy.
Joey will never get anything done because he is all about the show.
But is not THE DUMP in Minister Hew’s constituency? What has he done the past 4 years about THE DUMP?
Let it burn
10.19 Actually he walked around in his district with Governor Roper when the Governor first arrived he even posted some pictures. Of coure Johan didn’t like that and objected to it accusing Joey of dragging the Governor into politics. Jealous I guess.
Joey’s favorite talking point.
Once I am back in office I will get a cross ministerial committee together to review the dump…
Boy you can hear some shit coming out of his mouth.
If you want something done, never send a committee to do it. He has been there for 8 years, has he even walked around the district and see how people are living, and I am not talking about his buddies in Parkway and Crystal Harbor??
FYI Crystal Harbor is not George Town North, it is West Bay South.
Thank you Mr. Moxam for stepping up and speaking truth to power. They are building a Cayman that not for us the Caymanian people. They have sold us out.
3.23pm Johan is a loud mouth bully who talks a good game and acts as if he is superior to all of us. So far his tactic has been to attack and accuse while offering no solutions. Remember his words “judge them by what they do, not what they say, as politicians will say anything in an election… campaign to get elected”..Remember Johan is now a politician and of course he will say anything to get elected.
I have known Johann all my life and I have never had anyone call him a bully except you a couple times on here. Methinks you are a bit worried lil Joey is going to have to take ball and go home.
No stop talking foolishness about Johann being a bully..Give me one instance and then I might believe you.
Truth. Moxam’s self-righteous ranting has no substance and just looks like old-style bully politics. Sit down.
Johann keeps it real and is passionate about the issues Cayman faces. He is not a bully.
The PPM is the party of fake smiles and false promises. They act nice and kiss up to people to get what they want. They may even give you a ham or turkey. Now THAT is the style of politics that needs to stop.
Passion does not equal capability. He sure sounds like a bully. All hot air, negative energy and no plan.
7:28 That will be around FOREVER!
At least Johann has been saying the same things to anyone who will listen for years. He spoke out about government board corruption when he was on a board. He was outspoken in trying to right Cayman’s ship as Chamber president. He, along with others, was instrumental in getting the terrible port project delayed long enough for the pandemic to stick a fork in it. Johann might talk a lot and is certainly blustery and irreverent at times, but I never get the sense he’s trying to pull one over on me. I would take him over two-faced Joey and most of the other Progressives any day.
It’s a shame these guys are running against each other, we could do with them both of them instead of some of the clowns getting a free ride in other districts.
Johann Moxam is the best option for GTN. He has my vote.
Joey Hew can go work for dart officially after he is booted out of Parliament.
I’m sorry, but Whoey is no match for Moxam from what I’ve seen and heard so far. The difference in their respective intellects is glaring. That being said, is Moxam lulling us into a false sense of security and if elected, will acquiesce when required? I await with baited breath.
Baited breath? You got ballyhoo in your mouth or what?
Johan is nothing more than a smear campaign. All
he talks about is what he thinks others have not done. This is a poor tactic that is done by those that cannot stand on what they have done or what they believe in. It’s easy for Johan to sit on the outside and say what he would do but he rarely says how he would go about it.
He’s in the race. How is that sitting on the sidelines? He led the cpr group that stopped the port and ppm. Are you on drugs or blinded by hate?
2.42pm What will happen if they elect him is that on the morning after the election GTN voters will be asking..What did he promise again? And the answer’nothing really all he did was convince us that the other guy was bad for us’. He has never been about anything or anyone but himself . When he was president of the Chamber of Commerce he did nothing for Caymanians, but criticize them for not settling for jobs in fast food joints. After CPR got that petition going and gained some momentum he jumped on board as if he cared about the environment; not so.
But here is thing, what has Joey done for us. I live on Watlers Road, Dog City as some people still call it and Joey paved his own road on Marbel Drive and left us here the same way. He still thinks that a couple T-shirts and a few dollars is all he needs for our votes. Nah happening this time BOBO!
You have no clue what you are talking about
Never trust a Chamber president who turns to politics
Joey Hew was also a Chamber President
Joey Hew is also a member of the Lodge, which Johann refused. That alone is a reason I’d vote for Johann if I lived in GTN.
2:42 You are so right!
Joey Hew and the PPM were all exposed and put on notice during that debate. The winds of change are blowing in George Town North.
@ 2.39 You are right. A lot of hot air blowing by Johan, but nothing of substance. Enough about the other guy start presenting your own ideas. So far all you tell us is that Joey is bad for us. Tell us why you are good for us. Tell us about the great things you have done for us, for our community.
Won’t take much there..Johann isn’t elected yet so doesn’t have the power to do much..Look at areas such as Bodden Road, Rock Hole Watler’ Road, Helen Drive and Washington Blvd, and tell me when the last time you saw Joey anywhere near here except right before election when he comes with people handing out t-shirts ..that not doing anything to help me. I have already tried and tested Joey and he hasn’t done a damn thing so time someone else get a chance.
11.34pm Johan had a chance to do something during his time as president of the Chamber of Commerce. Where is it? I believe he did argue for population growth which he now argues against ; not sure if that’s seen as a good thing.
9:26 spot on.
Johann’s behaviour was ridiculous and uncalled for. I think most voters would see the pettiness for what it is – an unseasoned, unprepared blowhard. I think Johann displayed, embarrassing, appalling conduct this morning. I heard very little substance in his responses, and he seemed so focused on belittling his opponent with trite, childlike retorts.
PPM troll on attack mode LOL
Don’t get mad because he embarrassed Joey that was long overdue.
To some, the truth is also ridiculous.
It’s hard to be polite with them when they’re so full of it.
You are one of those voters in the GTN constituency that Mr. Moxam mentioned…..”if voters weren’t vexed and frustrated by the inequities, they were detached from reality” so my dear child, you are definitely detached and become derailed! Wake up my dear child and smell the new Cocoplums and view the new HORIZON after 14th April when the PPM’ers are drained from the HofP.
Thanks Alden.
2:28 completely correct
Johann was like Adam Sandler in The Waterboy – it took out a can of whoopass on him. Poor Joey didn’t know what hit him?
Today was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Just like joeys dump.
Wow! Johann took a strip off of Joey. dats man!
GTN we finally got someone that we can vote for..Can’t wait for his Launch meeting tonight!
2:24 this is the precise voter that people like Moxam pander to…..their hateful rhetoric impresses you, but their vindictiveness and lack of substance will get this country nowhere. Joey is the man.
Joey is dart’s puppet on a string
Johanne is a Dart puppeteer on the string as well.
Both useless
Johann is in bed with Dart in a different and more natural way than Joey!
Joey has serious shortcomings. He’s not “the man.”
That was a proper ass whooping Johan put on Joey
Finally someone that will stand up against this PPM crap.
It amazes how much everyone of the PPM blames covid for everything they couldn’t get done..what the hell were they doing for the other 7 years that they have been there?
I am tired of hearing about plans, promises and committees. These are political talking points to make people believe that they are doing something.
Johann you are a breath of fresh air and I am glad you took Joey to task. Just being honest and not skirting the issues like Joey did makes you the winner of this debate, hands down.
It will not be easy this time for Joey to just brush off the real issues or try to kick the ball down the road.
I’m in GTN and I am so happy that we finally have a candidate that I can get behind.
Has he told anyone yet why he only paved Marbel Drive(his street and man of the wealthier voters) and left the poor people Helen and Slate drives without even an upgrade of chip and spray. And let’s not talk about Watler’s road, as long as he can come and hand out T-shirts and act like he cares two or three times in and entire term is not what the people want..
Joey Hew needs to go and the rest of the PPM should follow him.
Roy McTaggart should try to form a coalition with Moxam and that group because Joey is done in the north.
Wish Moxam had someone willing to team with him in WBS.
as a WBS voter I agree
WBS candidates (and voters) are smarter than that.
This is a great idea. It would be a good way of burying both the PPM and the UDP in just one election.
The time has come Cayman. We need new blood. We need change. It has to be about us Caymanians once again.
Enfuego destroyed poor Joey in the debate and exposed the lies. Joey got crushed by a man that we can finally trust
2:17 you’re delusional
If you saw that “debate” any way except Johann completely shredding Joey Who, then you’re the one that’s delusional!
12:36 after the SHREDDING
What solution did he promised you!
Johan was long on catchy one liners but short on actual solutions. His response to almost every question was to tell us what the present would or wouldn’t do. eg when asked if he would work to reduce the size of the civil service he replied that there was not a simple solution and stopped there and launched into a long rant about what this government wouldn’t do. He did not offer one solution to that question. And that was the theme of his performance all night..Catchy one liners and rants or accusations against the present Government or his opponent personally. He was rude and crude but apparently that pleases most of the commenters on here. They don’t care that he didn’t answer the questions, they were content that he spent his time being a loudmouth bully. He didn’t beat down Joey who refused to descend into the gutter with him, rather he beat you all down by refusing to give the answers that you needed and getting you to believe that he did a good job. That was the real beatdown.
I will never waste my vote again on Joey Hew
No pretense with Mr. Moxam he is educated, articulate, honest and a natural born leader. You have the votes of my family.
Moxam is the man that will fight for his people.
2:14 You will know that four years from now!
He did not lead CPR group he just jumped on the bandwagon after people like Mario, Michelle, Linda and others did the heavy lifting.
I was there I know better. Johan was key and involved from day one. He has earned our respect and vote.