Saunders won’t join but willing to work with PPM
(CNS): Chris Saunders (BTW) has said he will not be joining the PPM, but out of the three political parties running in the upcoming general election, they are the group he is most inclined to back. He claimed the party has a “social conscience”, despite his past criticisms of the Progressives for the excessive concessions given to wealthy developers during their 2017-21 government.
Saunders also spoke for his friend and parliamentary colleague, Kenneth Bryan, saying he wouldn’t be joining the PPM either.
When he appeared on For the Record on Radio Cayman on Friday, Saunders was asked if he was going to join the PPM, following the party’s very open overtures to Bryan to run with them when he stands for re-election to his seat in George Town Central. Bryan said he would speak with his “people” about their invitation. But Saunders said he had spoken with Bryan, and he wasn’t going to sign up either.
“I am not going to be a PPM member, and I think I can safely speak for Kenneth, based on the last conversation… we are not joining the PPM,” he said. “But out of the three groups out there, I have found the PPM to be the only one with a social conscience,” he said.
Saunders went on to make it clear that he is very likely to join them in forming the next government if he is re-elected and no party has an outright majority on the morning of 1 May. However, he was a harsh critic of the party’s policies when he was in opposition and even in the early days of his own brief stint as finance minister in the PACT government before he was fired.
But with the election only months away and voters looking for more certainty before the polls this time around, Saunders’ compliments for the PPM serve as a clear signal that he believes his political fortunes are likely best served with Joey Hew
Joey Hew (GTN incumbent) is the leader of the PPM (aka Progressives). He served as opposition leader from October 2024 until the dissolution of parliament. More and his team than with either Dan Scott
Dan Scott (CBE candidate) is the leader of the Cayman Islands National Party. He was EY regional manager until his retirement in June 2023. More or André Ebanks
André Ebanks (WBS incumbent) is the leader of The Caymanian Community Party. He has served as financial services minister 2021-2024, and deputy premier 2023-2024. More, or even with McKeeva Bush
McKeeva Bush (WBW incumbent) is the longest-serving member of parliament (the “Father of the House”), having represented West Bay continuously for three decades. More, who had cited Saunders as a potential member of his political non-profit group.
Saunders saved most of his criticisms for Scott’s party of wealthy business owners but made it clear he did not align with the TCCP, which some are criticising for being too left-wing. He was not specific about his criticisms of his former colleagues, though it is understood that Saunders and Wayne Panton had political differences of opinion.
Saunders now appears to be joining the remnants of the UPM, who are all increasingly leaning towards the Progressives without strictly aligning themselves with the party. Nevertheless, they are setting the stage for a likely PPM-UPM-led group that will be trying to secure at least ten seats between them.
Saunders is currently running in a three-way fight in Bodden Town West, with candidates from both the TCCP and the CINP trying to unseat him. However, at this stage, there is no PPM candidate running against him. He was returned to office in 2021 with almost 80% of the vote and 902 votes, the most of any candidate in the election.
Check out the CNS Election Section interactive map to see who is running in each constituency.
See the list of candidates and their party affiliations here.
Category: Election News
Change writes: Every constituency has the same issue when their MP becomes a minister. It is not that they stop caring about their area, but Cabinet members have no choice but to tackle issues at national level, and that takes budget, meetings, reports, travel, conference calls, sitting with lawyers to streamline bills and laws — all […]
Please return from where you were born. You’re not one of us.
PPM- do NOT take this man on your side. His crotch must be sore from all the barb-wire jumping he is doing.If you do, he will join ya, and when he cant have his way like the spolied adult he is, he will tuck his tail between his ;legs and go to the other side. STAY AWAY FROM THIS OFFER PLEASE PPM.
Very wise advice to PPM. Take heed!
At least Saunders is vocalizing up front that if it came down to his vote to form the government he would support PPM. He cited the reasons for this choice.
The PPM technically won all of their seats the last election. It was Jay, Isaac and Sabrina that signed an agreement to form the government with them then turned their back on them.
PPM voters were misled into thinking those 3 were on PPM’s side.
All of this horse trading nonsense is why any independent candidate who is running needs to get off their high horse and pick a side. If they can’t tell you who they are aligned with then vote for the candidate who spells it out!!
Saunders should not be in any position of authority. He shamed the government through his arrogant and disgraceful canceling of a contract properly awarded through established scrutiny in the procurement process.
We cannot afford this loose cannon and his Jamaican style politics of ignoring the rule of law to feed his own self importance .
Some are criticizing the TCCP for being too “left-wing”? After all we have been through 2003 to date, can someone please explain how trying to preserve our culture, curb over-building, reshape education and improve government transparency is left-wing? I am asking seriously; I do not understand the premise.
There is nothing preserving about TCCP. Ossie wants to treat “paper Caymanians” different than “Born Caymanians” which is truly xenophobic and dumb.
Wayne wants to embrace extreeme environmentalism and kill development even if its being done by born Caymanians.
Andre is truly lost in space, and Heather and Kathy are jus talong for the ride and giggles.
Sabrina is paid for and gives good Martin Luthir King imitations.
Sad Sad bunch of failures…
Saunders aka Blunders is a smarter version of Bernie. He needs to join Bernie and get out before he is voted out. The fruit cakes didn’t work.
Smarter..?
More scheming, calculating, and hate filled maybe, but smarter..No.
What a yakkity yak, greedy, ignorant, inept dipstick! Do us all a favour, just disappear along with your other yakkity yak, greedy, ignorant, inept dipsticks! You are all an insult to Cayman!
Little does he know former HSA Chairman Ossie going take him out come April 30! Watch this space…
Let’s hope so..Ozzie has an awkward bedside manner I agree, but he doesn’t have sinister intent.
Or is it that PPM don’t want him – I would say that’s more the case. Saunders is on his way out and the only think he cares about it turning Cayman into Jamaica. Nothing but hat air – hasn’t done a thing. even the UDP got rid of him.
PPM would make a fatal mistake if they take him on board.
He is poison which is why his only hope is rabble rousing anti whites rhetoric to get Jamaican votes.
You want to be useful Saunders ..? start checking the wasteful spending your friend Kenneth is engaged in.
I say take him on board. We do not need PPM led government. So taking Saunders just shows how desperate they are and hopefully show that PPM can’t be trusted.
Please don’t vote for PPM.
Not one soul on this island gives a hoot who you will work with Jamaica Chris but I will warn voters that voting for this inexperience hoard I now see professing change who’s unmistakable ties to certain grand leaders will only once again lead us to the terrible situation or outcome we currently have and once again make them king makers to our entrenched political whores &sluts. This is not an easy choice in this up coming election Cayman but vote wisely not for you but for our children’s future and those that have Cayman interest in mind and not their own.
Just when you thought PPM was scraping the bottom of the barrel with Kenny …
With all of this politicking I have a good mine to not vote.
If you have a good mine, you won’t need a good mind.
Joey will happily provide whatever it takes to secure power and profit so Chris thinks that he is positioning himself for a fat salary in the next government.
Chris, Kenny, Jon Jon, Mac, have all benefited from horse trading so it makes sense that they are counting on the same gigantic flaws in our electoral system to provide them with profits going forward. It also makes sense that they would express preferences for the PPM and its ‘backers’ as that is where the big money is.
All good reasons to vote for other people.
Let’s hope neither get elected
Chris understands that Wayne’s party is just PACT 2.0 with Andre and Wayne dictating exactly what other member will be doing. He also realized that Dan Scott’s party is inexperienced in government, and also full of wealthy business owners who will be putting their business interests before anything else. Also look at what Dan Scott just did to one of his constituents because he didn’t like what she said, had lawyers go after her straight away and they even drafted an apology for her which they recommended she use. Already demonstrating his thin skin and also his ego, using money to try and silence people.
Dan’s party inexperienced..?
Look what Mac, Kenny, Juju, Seymour Heather Bernie and Saunders’ “experience” has done to us. Their experience has been same old same old lining pockets.
Not again thank you.
Saunders, Bryan, Bush, all of them really, will go whichever way the wind blows that best benefits them, and only them. That is the truth of the sorrowful situation in which we are all in.
We are tasked with voting for who we judge to be the least destructive for the environment and the people. What a mess. Can we have a fresh bunch that aren’t already pre-corrupted?
The Adeptus Ridiculous Declares: The Warp Storm of Cayman Politics—Endless Turmoil, Zero Logic!
By the Omnissiah’s sacred circuits, the madness never ends! The Adeptus Ridiculous finds himself once again trapped in a never-ending Warp storm of political absurdity, spinning wildly through contradictions, betrayals, and alliances formed from the very essence of opportunism itself.
Chris Saunders: “I will not join the Progressives… but I am willing to work with them.”
Translation: “I refuse to wear the cult’s official robes, but I will still attend the rituals and make sacrifices at the altar of expediency.”
Emperor preserve us, this is the kind of political maneuvering that makes even the Alpha Legion look like amateurs.
WHAT EVEN IS THIS STRATEGY?
This isn’t independence.
This isn’t loyalty.
This is the political equivalent of refusing to get in the car but still holding onto the bumper as it speeds down the highway.
Why won’t Saunders just join?
• Is he afraid of being fully absorbed into the Genestealer Cult-like embrace of the PPM?
• Does he want the benefits of an alliance without the baggage?
• Or is he just hedging his bets in case the political winds shift?
The answer? Yes. All of the above.
THE POLITICAL WARP STORM: EVERYONE IS SPINNING IN CIRCLES
At this point, Cayman’s political scene is so unstable that one must assume Tzeentch himself has taken an interest.
• UPM is purging conservationists.
• The PPM is so desperate for reinforcements, they’ll take anyone with a pulse.
• Saunders won’t commit but still wants a seat at the table.
• Alliances shift faster than reality in the Warp.
What is governance in Cayman?
It is not leadership.
It is not vision.
It is a game of musical chairs, played during an earthquake, with half the participants blindfolded and the other half on fire.
THE FINAL VERDICT: NO ONE WANTS TO GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP, BUT EVERYONE WANTS A SEAT ON THE BRIDGE
Chris Saunders is playing the long game—but at what cost?
• He doesn’t want full PPM membership, but he also doesn’t want to be left out.
• He is keeping his options open, but eventually, the Warp demands a price for its gifts.
The Adeptus Ridiculous sees only one outcome:
• More backroom deals.
• More shifting allegiances.
• More incoherent governance.
And at the center of it all? A political system so unstable, self-destructive, and opportunistic that even the Ruinstorm of Horus Heresy lore would look at Cayman and say, “That’s a bit much.”
The Adeptus’ mechadendrites are convulsing uncontrollably, the Warp storm rages, and logic remains a distant memory.
Will it ever end?
Of course not.
Welcome to the Cayman Islands.