Premier, opposition agree on need for unity

The Cayman Islands premier and the opposition leader both struck more positive notes in their New Year’s addresses than has been typical in recent political debates.

Premier Alden McLaughlin said he was left with a feeling that “the worst is behind us” following the close of the 2013 Legislative Assembly session.

“All members of the Legislative Assembly were able to come together, despite differences of opinion, and vote unanimously to pass the National Conservation Law,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “This was indeed a triumph of our democratic process and a testament to what I hope is a new spirit of cooperation and compromise among members of the House.”

Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, as previously promised, said he would not oppose the National Conservation Law or any other piece of legislation simply for opposition’s sake. “We must be unified, not divided, to get through the great work that is before us,” Mr. Bush said in his New Year’s Day address. “I have said, as opposition leader, I will not be, as I had to endure. The country could have been much further ahead today, were it not for the previous governor who was able to divide and conquer.”

This is not to say the two political party leaders have suddenly decided to agree on everything. Both addresses on Wednesday, Jan. 1, revealed significant policy differences between the Progressives-led government and the now-Cayman Islands Democratic Party opposition.

On the development of Cayman’s financial services industry, Mr. McLaughlin lauded recent tax exchange agreements with three countries, including the United Kingdom, and the final agreement on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act with the United States.

“We have continued to protect and promote our financial services industry,” he said.

For Mr. Bush, those developments are not seen as positives.

“With the recent tax agreements signed with the USA and the U.K., we are now put in a weaker position,” he said.

Regarding another controversial topic – immigration issues – Mr. McLaughlin trumpeted the passage of major changes to the Cayman Islands Immigration Law toward the end of 2013. The premier said the amendments, which, among other things, eliminate the seven-year term limit on foreign workers’ residency, “have had the effect of making Cayman a more attractive and competitive jurisdiction.”

While not specifically referencing immigration, Mr. Bush noted that Cayman must strive to maintain its reputation as a “welcoming” community.

“We can’t push business away,” Mr. Bush said. “There are many islands out there which are looking [at] business as we are. We must be a welcoming community – one that is shrewd and able to negotiate the best deal for the country.”

The opposition leader, in particular, is concerned about “social deterioration.”

“Are we talking, teaching and leading by example, our young ones whose tender and elastic minds are absorbing everything on electronic media,” he said. “Do we know what they are watching on TV, or on the computer? Do we track who they are talking to, or what subjects they are reading on the Internet?”

Both men sought to highlight various infrastructure projects during their speeches. Premier McLaughlin said his government would focus on the proposed new cruise berthing project in George Town and expanding airports in all three islands.

In addition, a number of private sector developments are being plotted, the premier said, including the Dart hotel on Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Enterprise City and the expected completion of Health City Cayman Islands hospital in East End by February.

“There has been a great deal of interest in Cayman by investors since the elections and there are exciting prospects for the commencement of a number of new projects in 2014,” Mr. McLaughlin said, referencing three “new hotels” and a new golf course-golfing community project proposal in Breakers.

Mr. Bush took credit for a number of the developing projects that were announced during his government’s time in office, particularly Cayman Enterprise City, the Dart hotel and Health City.

“We must look to the future and create industries that make it possible for our people to have a career, not just a job,” the opposition leader said. He continued, “As an added plus to our surplus, and reduction in government expenditure, after signing over 30 TIEAs with G20 countries, we retained our top credit rating. That’s a good sanction to our prudent financial management. This aspect of our four-year management, coupled with the many development projects (with ‘live’ investors) announced and under way, demonstrates that investors felt that their investments were safe in Cayman.”