Panton makes TCCP commitment to conservation clear

(CNS): Former premier Wayne Panton passionately defended the National Conservation Act and the National Conservation Council when he appeared at the Chamber Candidates Forum Wednesday night alongside his Newlands challengers. The incumbent made it clear that The Cayman Community Party will protect the hard-fought legislation in the face of the continued unjustified attacks.

This contrasts clearly with the likely gutting of the law if a mix of the PPM and the remaining members of the UPM form the next government.

Panton appeared at the Chamber’s fifth forum with Alva Suckoo (PPM) and Raul Gonzalez Jr (IND). When asked if the TCCP would reform the NCC, a key pillar of the legislation, if they formed the next government, Panton put some ‘clear green water’ between himself and the challengers.

He said people only had to look around Grand Cayman and the pace of development to see that neither the council nor the law had hindered it at all. The premise that the NCC has too much power is “completely and wholly inaccurate”, Panton said, noting that the statistics don’t support any conclusion along those lines.

“I would not reform the council’s role at all,” he said. “I think… the council’s role needs to be strengthened a little bit,” he said, adding that while he was in full support of sustainable development, he did not support “rampant development”, which he said had caused a lot of the problems that we face today — “the issues with traffic… the impact on the quality of life, the failure of somebody to take responsibility for stormwater management.”

“If you look at the comments that have come from the council to address some of these issues, they have been ignored.”

He said that they are ignored because of the special interests of the powerful development lobby, who want to have their way and who have come to governments and demanded concessions. He pointed out that when they went to the PPM during previous administrations, they got multiple “significant concessions” year after year at a time when the economy was growing.

“Why was it needed? To grow the profits of certain developers?” he asked. “I want to see Caymanians who are trying to build homes for other Caymanians… given concessions, not these mega developers who feel that they should be able to control everything around them.”

Panton said the minority UPM administration’s recent effort to change the conservation law, which was withdrawn because the PPM did not back the changes, followed by the firing of scientists and technical experts from the NCC, was also driven by these very powerful special interests. “This is an attempt to cater to special interests,” he added.

In contrast to Panton, Gonzalez said he would reform the NCC as he seemed to think that conserving land was at the expense of the people. He also confused the catalogue of issues that have plagued the progress of the East-West Arterial Road extension with the role of the NCC.

The failure of past PPM administrations to begin the necessary EIA work, which they knew was needed for more than a decade, the negotiations over the land acquisition, as well as delays in the National Roads Authority’s necessary hydrology research and reports have all contributed to the delays in developing the proposed highway beyond Hurst Road.

Suckoo hedged his answers, saying that he supported conservation and the law but that the council had too much power because it could direct Cabinet — a point that is completely incorrect. Despite voting for the law in 2013 when it was steered through by Panton, the former MP was wrong when he spoke about the DoE’s powers. He also said that research had to be done to find out what needed to be changed.

Despite the massive public concerns about overdevelopment in Cayman and the loss of natural resources, Panton is one of the few candidates so far at the forums who has been unequivocal about his support for the environment and why.

He also bucked the campaign trend when he made it clear that he and TCCP don’t support a cruise berthing facility. So far, many candidates have either offered their backing to it or have said it is up to the people to decide, with very few outside the TCCP arguing that the project is not necessary.

Panton said his position was consistent with that of his TCCP colleagues, who are not in favour of a cruise berthing facility in George Town. “Obviously, there are tremendous environmental concerns and costs,” he said, adding that the economic benefits were being called into question.

Suckoo wouldn’t say about his position and said he would be guided by the will of the people. However, he admitted that he was concerned about the last project proposed by the PPM (the party he has now joined) in the 2017-2021 administration and had not supported the dredging and the potential damage to the harbour. Meanwhile, Gonzales offered his support for a cruise-cargo port in Breakers, another pet project proposal of special interests.

The candidates were also asked what they would do about public spending, which has increased significantly in the last two decades. Shomari Scott, a member of the Chamber’s panel, said this was because “many Caymanians are now depending on government assistance in virtually every aspect of their lives, from social services to medical care and school lunches”.

However, the money spent on welfare is a tiny percentage of the government’s annual CI$1.1 billion budget. In 2025, it is expected to spend just $25 million on all welfare recipients, including seamen, veterans, the disabled and elderly, as well as those getting temporary help.

The concerns relating to government expenditure outlined in a report by the auditor general relate more to poorly costed capital projects and badly budgeted overall spending on healthcare for all people, not just the unemployed and the elderly.

The candidates were asked about a dozen questions, similar to those asked at earlier forums, on immigration, the cost of living, education, health and pensions. Once again, the questions were open-ended, and the Chamber team did not challenge any incorrect statements or misinformation given by any of the candidates.

The series continues this evening with the five candidates running for the seat vacated by former premier Sir Alden McLaughlin. Roy Tatum (PPM), Natasha Whitelocke (TCCP), Dawn Thomas (CINP) and independent candidates Leon Gould and Phillip Ebanks.

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.

Tags: Alva Suckoo, Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce Forums, Featured, Raul Gonzalez Jr, Wayne Panton

Category: Election News