Buzzwords aren’t budgets: it’s time for truth in Cayman politics
Caymanian for Accountability writes: As a concerned Caymanian, I write not in anger but in deep frustration. We are being sold dreams without price tags, promises without plans, and slogans without accountability. In April 2025, the Cayman Islands Government is forecast to run a CI$26.2 million deficit. Next year, the deficit climbs to CI$44 million. And our cash reserves? They’re on track to drop below the legal minimum. Yet, no one seems to be pressing pause.
Let’s take a moment to confront reality.
The only party to publish a manifesto so far, the Progressives (PPM), proposes a series of socially ambitious initiatives:
- Free healthcare for all Caymanian children (CI$10–15 million/year)
- Subsidized housing and rent-to-own schemes (CI$20–30 million/year)
- A new high school in Cayman Brac (CI$45 million capital + recurring costs)
- Increased stipends to veterans, seniors, and daycare providers (CI$22 million/year)
The total estimated new cost? CI$112 to 144.5 million. And yet, they promise not to raise taxes, duties, or fees. So, I ask: Where is the money coming from?
The same individuals who created the current fiscal trajectory are now campaigning on expanding it. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, responsible for Finance, Health, Education, and the largest liabilities in government, now leads under the PPM flag. Kenneth Bryan, now deputy leader of the PPM, oversaw Tourism, Social Development, and a share of capital spending. Are they not accountable for the present state of public finances?
We’re facing down a CI$2.4 billion unfunded post-retirement healthcare liability. Healthcare costs are ballooning. Transfer payments are surging. And revenue? It remains flat, while delayed legislation has already cost us CI$15.3 million in 2025 alone.
This is not about politics. It’s about principles. Caymanians deserve transparency, not financial acrobatics. We need:
- Plans that are costed and phased
- Real discussions about new revenue streams
- Courage to reform systems, not just inflate them
Why is no one talking about legalising marijuana or launching a national lottery, both of which could generate legitimate revenue while eliminating black markets? Why do we ignore the erosion of Seven Mile Beach or the overfishing in our waters?
Why are we still entertaining cruise port PR stunts with no financial disclosures?
This election matters. Let’s hold parties accountable to their manifestos and hold silent parties accountable for their silence. Cayman needs leaders who will uplift the many through opportunity, not handouts; leaders who will make the tough choices today so we aren’t left with impossible ones tomorrow.
We cannot kick the coconut down the beach any longer.
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Category: Viewpoint
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 […]
Get PPM OUT
‘The PPM proposes … a new high school in Cayman Brac’. Actually, in their defence, their manifesto doesn’t say that. They only mention the Brac twice (then twice again in where Hon. Juliana is running) and never in relation to education. Oddly the education section of their manifesto doesn’t have the list of actions that other sections does so its hard to say what they are actually campaigning on for education. For example, their manifesto does say “We will bring forward plans for a new high school to prevent overcrowding at our existing schools.” But they don’t say what/where. And if the Brac school is to alleviate overcrowding they’re going to have to make it a boarding school for kids from Grand. Not a bad idea maybe (education tourism) but it could as easily be read as ‘we will abandon the school of opulence and bring forward new plans for a new high school to prevent the actual overcrowding of our schools on Grand’. So, really, all I’m saying is that we don’t really know what the PPM is going to do about building what schools. Maybe they will finish Brac AND ‘bring forward plans for a new high school where more space is actually needed’. Just saying. In their defence.
I agree with your viewpoint and wish to add that the way the civil service is forced to function like a giant pizza does not help. There is too much duplication of effort; talent is not fully allocated or utilized; inefficient people are reshuffled instead of honest conversations being had with a view to parting ways. All of this results in low morale. People stop suggesting meaningful solutions that could cost us a fraction of international consultancy fees. The civil service is a national asset, but it is stymied by ministers who believe they know best, and a few Chief Officers who get to their role by tenure, not aptitude or skills set.
You’re right to call attention to this. Part of the problem is the fiction that neither CapEx nor movements in unfunded liabilities nor debt interest are included in the calculation of our surplus/deficit. If you look closely at our accounts over the last ten years you’ll see that, factoring in those perenially massive amounts we have scarcely, in reality, been in surplus.
Instead, we are merely in “surplus*”
* ignoring CapEx, debt interest and movements in UFLs
The best evidence for this was provided by Joey Hew last night in the leaders’ debate when he reeled off the many years of surpluses* his government achieved, and yet the relatively paltry reduction in our national debt during the same time. The difference is not cash laying around in huge bundles or siphoned away, it is simply items not counted for the purposes of arriving at the surplus*.
Unfortunately this is how governments the world over report their surpluses and deficits, a fiction upheld by the ubiquitous need for politicians to show the public government finances through the most rose-tinted of lenses.
One solution would be the creation of an independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) under the Governor that would assess the medium and long term fiscal outlook as well as the impact of new policies and projects proposed by the government. This is not the role of the auditor general, who can only opine on what has gone before, not normally what is coming down the track based on ever changing policy whims.
I’m surprised the UK has not pushed for one sooner.
In the meantime, the press could help by drawing attention to the real position whenever they report on government finances rather than blindly printing government press releases bragging about the so-called surplus*.
PACT are responsible for the out financial situation, yet they blame PPM. They initially blew through public funds for 3.5 years before quitting. The UPMs spending was also excessive but how was this able to happen? Due to PACT quitting and leaving them in charge. They need to stop blaming a government that hasn’t had power for 4 years and left our public funds in a healthy state for their wrong doings. Andre, Sabrina, Wayne, Heather, they are ALL responsible for our situation.
Nobody is falling for your foolishness anymore, paid PPM shill. Begone, thot.