Savannah voters still in dark over alignments
(CNS): At the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on Wednesday evening, not one of the candidates running for election in Savannah was prepared to specify who they would form a government with if they win. Heather Bodden
Heather Bodden: Candidate for Savannah. She currently manages Wayne Panton's Savannah/Newlands Community office. Biography: Bodden served as a representative for Bodden Town from 1995 until... More, Malcolm Eden and Jeanna Williams are vying for the empty seat, vacated by Eden’s father Anthony Eden.
But when asked about their alliances, even Bodden, who has been campaigning with her district colleagues, 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 and Osbourne Bodden
Osbourne Bodden: Candidate for Bodden Town East. Biography: Bodden served two terms in government under the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), first as a backbencher (2005-2009)... More, would not identify any potential government line up. Bodden, who resigned from the PPM along with Panton and Bodden after 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 refused 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 the speaker’s job over his assault conviction, said she would work with anyone.
Eden said he knew many of the candidates running but would not indicate who he would align with and dodged the question. Williams also said she was running entirely as an independent, and would therefore have to ask her constituents whether or not she should be part of a government.
The issue of alliances is a key issue for many voters who still feel let down about the closed-door deal that was finally struck to form the Unity government. There is an increasing appetite for voters to know the consequences of voting for a particular candidate and whether that would result in propping up the current coalition, aligning with the opposition or if they are part of other emerging alliances.
There were no surprise questions at the forum or any surprise performances. However, Williams, who at the start of the evening said she was running because God had called her to do so and is considered the underdog in the race, gave her competitors a run for their money and was emphatic in her enthusiasm for a lottery. “Lets do it!” she said.
The candidates all gave predictable answers without actually offering any specific policies, as has largely been the case in most of the forums. Eden spoke in support of more focus on alternative energy, and all three raised concerns about development. Bodden summed up the issue when she said, “There is just too much concrete. We need to slow it down.”
When it came to the Civil Partnership Law, Bodden made it clear she supported the legislation. Williams said that everyone wanted to be treated fairly and, declaring that God is love, she said she was disappointed by the way the religious community had reacted to it.
Eden, whose father has been at the forefront of the rampant anti-gay sentiment among legislators for the last decade, was the least supportive. While he avoided the kind of hate speech that Anthony Eden has indulged in, he suggested it was the law rather than the position of lawmakers that was to blame for the division. But he said he accepted the legislation and that it was time to put aside the hard feelings.
Watch the Savannah debate on the Chamber’s YouTube channel below:
Category: Election News
Miss Heather is a lovely woman who works very hard in the community. However, based on past precedent, she will turn our to be another Barbara Connelly; clueless and useless in the face of the dirty politics behind closed doors.
Jenna is too green so that leaves Malcom the obvious choice.
He is more than capable and will bring a calming influence to any situation.
Malcom you got my vote.
No apologetics needed. Facts don’t care about feelings. Can anyone substantiate just what exactly has “Miss Heather” done for the community and the wider Cayman Islands in the last 25 years? Where is the Social benefit and results for all this purported hard work? What did she accomplish during her last term in the LA?
Continue to vote on personalities and not policies and results, you will deserve what you receive. Remember Voters, Elections have consequences.
Come on Ms Williams, we don’t believe God ask you to run for election, he don’t care who runs for election in Grand Cayman.
i am a first-time voter in Savannah and I am disappointed with my choices. Not one person has even mentioned agriculture. Sav is where the islands agriculture department is located, it should important to everyone. ANyway – No weed, no vote!
Vote for Malcolm Eden.. to represent Savannah
Based on his performance Malcolm is clearly prepared to address the issues we face as an MP. His intellect education and experience is obvious. We can only hope that he will be guided by good Caymanian common sense when he he elected to keep Cayman for Caymanians foremost in his mind, and prevent this physical overdevelopment of the island at the expense of the non development of our people.
@11:17
Hopefully,
He is not guided by his father!
In my opinion Malcolm sounded the most reasoned and well placed for this job. I believe he will make a good MP.
Heather will just continue doing what she was doing before when she was in office being another extension cord for whatever government needs her, kinda like Capt. Eugene. Nice lady but she would be better suited helping Malcolm with community services and building a team effort in Savannah.
This is Jeanna’s first time out and we can easily see the inexperience. Again a nice person but may be she should use this time as a way to get her feet wet and prepare for the next election.
I’m a new voter in Savannah and this time I will vote for Malcolm Eden. Of the three, he wins hands down.
Jeanna seems to be more interested in her social media following than running a true campaign.
Known Malcolm a long time. He is a decent guy and I hold his uncle in the highest regard. If i was looking for new blood this will be it.
Yes he is a decent guy and very intelligent too but his answer about the law being the problem not the position of lawmakers was pathetically weak. But Savannah has a lot of “Christians” still so he has to be careful in what he says.
Malcolm. I should have never judged you by your father. As an atheist, I wasn’t sure if I could bring myself to vote for Anthony Eden’s son, but I’ve changed my mind.
You speak well and you were much more prepared for the questions than the other two. I was honestly surprised. People told me “Malcolm isn’t like his father” but I didn’t believe them. I should have been more open-minded but ironically, that was my reaction to your father not being open-minded. I judged you before I even heard you speak, and I am sorry for that.
Watching this video has secured my vote for you, but please don’t let us down if elected. You are smart and you have the potential to be a great MP. Just don’t let religion get the best of you. If conch stew is okay, then so is being gay.
Malcolm is smart but his dad will be calling the shots. He even included his middle name/dad’s name on his sign. There’s your clue! Who does that?
I still like him the best out of the three. Will he disappoint me? There’s a chance of that. But only one candidate can win so what can I do? Definitely not voting for Jeanna because she doesn’t seem to be taking this thing seriously. I’d be surprised if she gets 3 votes. Heather, who I heard is a really nice lady, is kind of similar to Jeanna, although not nearly as bad.
Sigh. Hard to choose. 😢