Alden pushing pandemic panic to win votes
(CNS): The idea that a PPM-led coalition is the only group of people experienced enough to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is now forming a major plank in the Progressives’ campaign platform, even though there is no evidence to suggest that any of the other candidates who might form an alternative government would not follow the advice of the public health professionals in the same way the current administration has.
Speaking at a local rally in Windsor Park to promote Barbara Conolly and David Wight’s candidacies, the outgoing 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, said it was too risky for voters in George Town South and GT West not to return the PPM members, as he stirred up panic over the pandemic.
“The pandemic is not over… but all around us the world is still grappling with this issue,” McLaughlin said on the campaign trail Thursday evening, as he pushed fears, which appear to be groundless, that other candidates would rush to open the border and only “the courage and wisdom” of his team could protect voters.
“If you want to continue to be safe, if you don’t want to wind up in a situation where we have to go back in lockdown and wear masks and social distance because some of them who like to travel so much… decide they are going to open the borders before we have enough people vaccinated… vote for members of the Progressives
The People's Progressive Movement (PPM), also known as the Progressives, was founded in 2002 in response to the launch in 2001 of the United Democratic... More,” he said, as he urged backing for the PPM-Alliance candidates.
This is not the first time the issue has been pressed by McLaughlin and other members of the PPM-Alliance team, and it is now apparently becoming the primary policy position. For several weeks a false narrative, based on no evidence, that voting for independent or inexperienced candidates would lead to borders being opened early and the current COVID-19 policy being reversed has become a reoccurring theme.
All the candidates on their campaign platforms, social media accounts and during the various Q&A forums on local radio and online broadcast appearances have offered full support for the current policy, which means that the PPM-Alliance is using a tactic of fear to drum up votes.
In fact, all 50 candidates have stressed the importance of following the public health advice, just as the current administration has done, largely based on advice from local civil servants in the health ministry and from Public Health England. No candidate is campaigning on an ‘open the borders’ platform.
There is no indication that any of the candidates challenging the Unity government plans to open the borders or create policy based on anything other than the scientific advice from technical experts in the public sector.
While the PPM is using Cayman’s successful navigation of the pandemic as a major plank of their campaign platform, allegations that others will open the borders prematurely is completely unfounded.
Category: Viewpoint & Analysis
