‘We have a political mess’ says Rolly

| 24/03/2021
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service

(CNS): Rolston Anglin, who is challenging Bernie Bush for the West Bay North seat after eight years on the political sidelines, distanced himself from any alliances, including those of his West Bay candidate colleagues, as he answered questions at the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum on Tuesday. Anglin described the current election campaign situation as a “political mess.”

He said the circumstances were not unlike those in 2000, when he was elected in for the first time, and suggested that just like 2000 and again in 2017, the next government would be the result of negotiation. He said that whoever gets elected in other districts will have been put there by the will of the people, and so he was keeping all of his options open.

In contrast to the unequivocal support for the current coalition given by his former UDP colleague and West Bay running mate, Capt. Eugene Ebanks, when he appeared on the same platform on Monday night, Anglin criticised the Unity government on several issues, such as education and housing, and distanced himself even from his own West Bay team, which includes Ebanks and McKeever Bush, saying that he would work with whoever was elected and had no group preference.

“I don’t believe that there is any grouping that I can identify and look at and say there is a preferred group,” said Anglin, who was education minister in the UDP 2009-2013 administration. “At the end of the day, it will be the will of the people that decide who occupies all of those seats. The fact of the matter is, to ensure that we have the best government, what we all should be doing is running campaigns based on facts, not fiction, campaigns based on real public policies and ensure when you get elected, you march into Parliament and Cabinet and roll up your sleeves to work.”

Anglin, who lost his West Bay seat in 2013, when he ran on the short-lived PNA ticket after splitting with Bush, said he was “work ready and ready to work”.

The incumbent, Bernie Bush, said he had made it clear which group he was working with as they had all been on his campaign platform. And while he was aware that they would also need to align with others the day after the election, the most important thing was that people shared his principles and he was not willing to work with those who did not share his views.

“I will not sit with certain people who do not have the same principles that I do,” he said. “I have certain principles that I stand for and under no circumstances will I bend my principles.”

Bush and Anglin both focused on policy, offering clear and sometime different positions on a number of important issues, enabling voters to identify which candidate would support what type of solutions to problems such as over-development, affordable housing and the cost of living.

There were no fireworks or angry exchanges between the men, although Anglin managed a dig when he pointed out that loving Cayman or caring about the people wasn’t enough to qualify a candidate because there wasn’t one that didn’t believe that, and government needed people capable of solving complex problems.

Anglin said he was worried about the lack of talent and vision over the last eight years in government and he had returned to politics to put Caymanians on a pathway to success. He also spoke about a direct equity packages policy to address the barriers of home ownership for locals among other initiatives, and reserving affordable homes for the rental markets.

Bush pressed his concerns and policy positions to address the worsening poverty in Cayman, the cost of living and healthcare costs. He also noted the pressing need to protect the country’s dwindling natural resources from development. In WBN, he said, the threat to Barkers was of significant concern for his constituents, many of whom had raised their fears about its future with him while he has been on the campaign trail.

Although McKeeva Bush and his challenger for West Bay West, Mario Ebanks, were scheduled to appear at the Chamber forum on Wednesday evening, at the close of Tuesday’s broadcast. Chamber President Mike Gibbs announced that only Ebanks would be there.

See the Chamber forum for WBN below:


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Category: Election News

Comments (34)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Yes Rolly but you and Who-gene are a part of the reason.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Please, for years DUI Rolly was one of the contributing patsies to the mess he’s anxious to return to.

  3. Secret West bay Ninja says:

    Yes rolston and that is exactly why we don’t need YOU to add to that mess! You have had your time. NO Vote 4 the Cutthroat! No Vote 4 the Cutthroat No Vote 4 the Cutthroat!

  4. Anonymous says:

    And quite reflective of this and all other societies in this little world.

    Politicians reflect societies as they should, voters relate to persons that are like them, so unna shut up!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Ona listen ya let’s talk sense here. Bernie Bush has no real grasp of politics and got elected under Mckeeva’s frock.. that’s a fact after running independent several times he finally kissed bush’s ring ( figure of speech Bernie).

      Bernie you really think ya can fool the people do you. You know the real reason why you never took the Speakers position, citing ya convictions, boy don’t know how lightning didn’t strike you ( again Bernie just a saying) you know ya na got good learning and all a dem standing order and processes was too hard for you to comprehend and you didn’t couldn’t embarrass ya self could you.

      Now Bernie we know ya is grass roots and people call you and tell you sus and you have a way of helping some people and you really good with talking to the average person, but Breda let’s face it you have not contributed anything I mean nothing of substance during your tenor in the Legislature or even outside. You have had your chance at playing politician your life long dream, you got it, now go back to being good old Bernie and use your “other” talents to advocate for sports and perhaps if you really mean well to ya self and the country you love go back to school study political science and graduate and come back revitalized and ready to seriously contribute. Not trying to,put you down old fella but simply telling you the truth which eventually will set you free.

      Oh by the way this is not Rollie, just someone on the street who thinks you have some potential but you haven’t been true to ya self and less to ya people. Enjoy the severance put it to good use.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately West Bay does have great candidates that could run but they choose not to as they aren’t interested in throwing their hats into the circus ring that occurs with our Politicians. If genuine people actually ran (I can count maybe 4 on my hand that are running) then you might see highly educated, smart and honest people run; not only in West Bay but throughout the island. The only thing I can say is to PLEASE stop voting for Mac and his crew, stop the madness they are not for the little people or CAYMANIANS!! For once understand that I will do my part in my area of WB to vote for a new face because this person is educated and has common sense. Let’s make an island wide change.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Rollie is a hot mess yet still the best choice

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Rolly is right. It is a mess. And somethink that Johan and crew are the answer but listen to this Johan is willing to say or do anything to get elected. Today he is against growing the population to increase consumers but in 2014 as president of the Chamber of Commerce he said something different. “In his address at the luncheon Moxam advocated for population growth, as he said that to thrive the private sector needed to serve more, not fewer, customers.” (CNS 14 Oct.,2014 ). In his debate on Cayman Crosstalk Moxam said that ” politicians will say or do anything to get elected” Well he is a politician now and living up to his own words saying anything to get elected.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Johann is the new Dart mouthpiece, don’t fall for the smooth talk do nothing Johann.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Convicted drug dealers. Homophobic women beaters. Repeat drink drivers. Religious maniacs. What a fantastic array of candidates we have here.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Can some young, intelligent Caymanians PLEASE step forward at the next election. Please!!!!!

    I can only see 4 more years of sexism, racism, homophobia and ignorance.

    Is it too much to ask to have some candidates who are not out to line their own pockets?

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  10. Brenda Bush says:

    Rolston needs to go to AA XXXX!

    Parading around trying to fool the public, and Mckeeva going along for the show! XXXX

    I believe at last count the WBN constituency numbers were about 1300, XXXX

    Bernie, crossed the floor, stood in the trenches, and well deserving of another term

    Respectable and respectful!

    Rolston Anglin is neither, hes proven that over and often, not just in his private life, but also his public life.

    He is where he belongs running his own business!

    APRIL 14, VOTE FOR BERNIE BUSH!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      You every been to a meeting at a local recovery house? Rolly may have been there. Research your own “facts” before you cast stones! Don’t underestimate our recovery community!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Wasn’t he convicted TWICE? I can’t believe anyone is listening to this convict.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Political mess? A mess your fellow West Bayer created and we’re now mired in. Both you and Eugene need to step aside and let competent heads try and fix the mess. Don’t make this mess any worse than it already is.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Ellio and Rolston did implement great policies and if more support was given, would have made real changes.

    Do hope they get back in, with Wayne, Saunders, Sammy and Ezzard. We need a mix of experienced strong persons who must put Caymanians first and stop their quest for power by showing respect for their fellow Caymanians who have much potential.

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    • Anonymous says:

      “…experienced strong persons who must put Caymanians first ..”

      are you kidding?

      He pleaded guilty, twice, to being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. And he tried to use sleep apnea excuse. Did he even have a sleep study?

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    • Anonymous says:

      You forgot Kenneth. He is Wayne’s new bff

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    • No integrity says:

      Ellio took credit for someone else’s idea and took it to the LA as a Motion 😠
      Vote for him? Never!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Like your mix, with the exception of Rolston, who had 12 years in the house and has now become bush’s puppet. They are both alcoholics with no moral compass and we can not allow that type of person back in our Honourable House.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Is he the best you have Cayman? Don’t become The Dumbest Fools Islands.

    2015:
    “Former minister pleads guilty to being in charge of vehicle while intoxicated”

    “The magistrate was advised that Anglin had a previous conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. For that offense, which occurred in May 2012, he had been fined $500 and disqualified for 12 months – from March 26, 2013 to March 26, 2014.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah with Rollie helping Mac become the next premier, you’ll see what a Ploitical Mess looks like.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    I must say that the forum with the WBN candidates was by far one of the best I have seen in 2021. Both had salient points that resonated with me and it is commendable that they both showed respect to each other.

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    • Anonymous says:

      2:33 I agree with you. Cayman needs both of these men in our political process. They are intelligent, articulate and have carefully thought about solutions to the myriad of issues facing these islands. Oth can’t win a seat, but would encourage them both to find a way to work together for the overall good of these islands.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Keke still hiding out I see. What a wuss! Beat a woman’s ass in public but can’t show up to debate against another man smdh. I don’t know about Bernie as he’s done a whole lot of nothing since he’s been elected, and Rolston’s history with DUI’s etc. is very sketchy. Of the two, Rolston is more qualified on paper but Bernie appears more genuine. Rock and a hard place on this one.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Meme don’t need to debate.
      Thanks to Rose, Eugene, and a bunch of new recruits he will be the next Premier….God help Cayman.
      Vote progressive to prevent this disaster.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If only one of the PPM members ran against McKeeva or any of his allies in West Bay, then the bullcrap that you spew might actually be plausible.

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        • Anonymous says:

          What about Sammy? He’s from west bay and a staunch critic yet he’s afraid of unseating mac.

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          • Anonymous says:

            He’s not afraid of unseating Mac lol, but no one else had the balls to challenge Alden. Sammy and many others knew that Mario Ebanks would run against McKeeva, long before most people discovered the news on CNS, CMR, or whatever.

  17. Anonymous says:

    did rolly bring his driver?

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