Topic: Progressives
Largest reported campaign donation: $200,000 from DMS to Progressives
The largest donor to a political party or individual candidate in this year's general election was DMS, which donated $200,000 to the People's Progressive Movement.
PPM responds to election campaign overspending after matter referred to police
The People's Progressive Movement party spent almost $700,000 on its election campaign – nearly $220,000 more than legally allowed on election expenses, the Elections Office has reported.
PPM fights back on finances and immigration
Former finance minister Roy McTaggart has dismissed suggestions that the PPM is to blame for the state of the country’s finances and urged his rivals to accept responsibility and 'take the heat'.
PPM endorses independent candidate Lonny Tibbetts
Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman independent candidate Lonny Tibbetts donned the Progressives red shirt at a rally on the Brac on Friday night, but says he has not joined the party.
O’Connor-Connolly returns to fold as PPM confirms Kenneth Bryan as deputy leader
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has parked plans to retire and will instead seek re-election on a PPM ticket, she confirmed via voice message at the party’s convention Saturday night.
Dwayne Seymour to run with Progressives
Dwayne 'John John' Seymour will be running with the People’s Progressive Movement in the upcoming general election, the party announced Tuesday morning.
New alliances and rivalries emerge amid departure of political heavyweights
With the departure of some of the faces that defined Cayman politics for the last two decades came clear signals of the shape of things to come.
In Cayman’s house of cards, who has the winning hand?
The race is on for Cayman's general election 2025 with former EY partner Dan Scott's nascent political party one of several emerging groups seeking to offer a fresh direction as the island's politicians turn their back on the era of independents.
Cayman headed for minority government until next election
The opposition has agreed to provide temporary, conditional support to allow the beleaguered government coalition to continue to run the country until an election is called.
Premier insists government functioning as talks remain ongoing
The future of Cayman's government remained in limbo on Friday, even as Premier Juliana O'Connor-Connolly sought to reassure Cayman that "a constitutionally viable elected Government remains in place".
Progressives rally troops as business community urges stability
In the wake of the shock resignations of four government members on Thursday, the opposition Progressives party says it is "carefully considering its options", but "stands ready to provide the leadership the Cayman Islands needs".
Government plan for $150M loan raises questions
Government is moving ahead with its plans to secure a $150 million loan facility which has raised concerns among Opposition lawmakers.
Hew outlines hopes to lead Progressives back to government
In the first kick-off of Cayman's election season Joey Hew made his debut as the newly anointed Progressives Leader on Saturday night vowing to deliver an administration that will offer the unity and stability the country needs.
Joey Hew announced as new Progressives leader for next election
Progressives leader Roy McTaggart will be handing over the reins to his deputy Joey Hew, who will lead the party into the next election.
Scrapped landfill deal would ‘not provide value for money’, says leaked report
A plan to replace Cayman’s unsightly landfill with a waste-to-energy facility would not have provided value for money, according to a scathing report from the auditor general.
Opposition calls on government to tackle rising unemployment rate
The opposition Progressives party has called on government to take stronger action to tackle growing unemployment in Cayman, describing a return to pre-pandemic numbers of Caymanians out of work as "disappointing".
Seniors feted on final day of 2023
Senior citizens from around Grand Cayman marked the end of 2023 with an afternoon of comradery on Sunday, as they gathered for the Progressives annual seniors' luncheon in Prospect.
McTaggart insists premier must go
Wayne Panton and his PACT government have "run out of road", Progressives leader Roy McTaggart insisted as he called for disaffected government members to help oust the premier from office.
Opposition seeks stipend boost for seafarers and veterans
Opposition leader Roy McTaggart has asked the government to increase stipends for former seafarers and military veterans in its next budget.
Progressives prepping to contest majority of seats
Amid ongoing political tension and after the turmoil of the 2021 elections, Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart says the Progressives party is readying itself to contest a minimum of 15 constituencies at the polls.
Progressives: Add cruise to ‘flawed’ cargo port plans
The Progressives opposition says the PACT government's plans to expand or move the cargo port must take the cruise industry into account to help pay for the multi-million dollar proposal.
Opposition claims Premier offered alliance to form new government
Premier Wayne Panton made overtures to the Progressives about a plan to abandon the PACT coalition and form a new government with them the Opposition claimed Friday.
Opposition files no-confidence motion in PACT government
The controversy surrounding House Speaker McKeeva Bush took another turn Wednesday afternoon as the Opposition filed a no-confidence motion in the PACT government.
Progressives admit being ‘blindsided’ by PACT
Former Premier Alden McLaughlin, speaking at a press conference at which the Progressives announced the make-up of its shadow Cabinet today (13 May), said his party had "blindsided" by independents who joined the PACT government after apparently giving undertakings to form an alliance government with the Progressives.
Election trends: Progressives ‘may have an edge’
With the 14 April general election now mere days away, keen political observers like Livingston Smith are taking the public’s pulse on who may likely lead the next government.
Alva Suckoo formally joins Progressives alliance
Independent candidate Alva Suckoo has joined the Progressives alliance team, bringing to 12 the number of nominees running as part of the group in the 14 April general election.
McLaughlin announces 11 alliance candidates
Premier Alden McLaughlin on Thursday night announced the official line-up of the alliance that is running with the Progressives party in the 14 April general election.
McTaggart welcomes premier’s endorsement
Finance Minister and George Town East MLA Roy McTaggart has said he was taken by surprise when Premier Alden McLaughlin announced this week that he was endorsing him as the next leader of the Progressives party.
Panton, Bodden ditch Progressives
Former PPM ministers Wayne Panton and Osbourne Bodden have resigned from the People’s Progressive Party.
MLA Austin Harris: I have not joined Progressives
Prospect MLA Austin Harris said Monday that he has not joined the Progressives political party, despite taking up the position as that party’s “whip” in Cayman’s government of national unity.
2017 editorials: The Compass’s voice on significant issues
Today we feature highlights from some of what we consider to be the most compelling and important editorials that appeared in the Cayman Compass in 2017, dealing with some of the most pressing matters facing our country.
Election puts Progressives back in power
May 24, 2017 might have been Cayman’s “independents’ day,” but by May 29 a group of independent candidates – with a couple of exceptions – found themselves on the outside looking in at a second term for Premier Alden McLaughlin and his Progressives-led coalition.
Man charged in ruckus outside May political event
Half a dozen traffic offenses have been levied against a driver who witnesses said attempted to disrupt a Progressives party political event in early May.
Constitutional Commission renews call for Advisory District Councils
Cayman’s three-member Constitutional Commission on Thursday called for creation of Advisory District Councils as part of efforts marking the annual “Day of Democracy” on Sept. 15.
Ministers’ plan splits law enforcement roles
The Progressives-led coalition government has divided responsibilities for law enforcement agencies among government ministries, one led by the premier and the other by Minister Tara Rivers.
NEW: Ministry assignments announced
The new ministerial assignments have been announced.
Premier McLaughlin to lead 13-member coalition government
A coalition of 13 elected members of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly was sworn in Wednesday in downtown George Town, bringing an end to the political scramble that followed the territory’s May 24 general election.
Rebuffed by Progressives, Bryan vows to hold government accountable
Kenneth Bryan has vowed to be a vocal member of the opposition after his offer to be part of the government was rebuffed by the Progressives leadership.
Independent legislators look to join new ‘unity’ government
The Cayman Islands new coalition government will have at least 13 members, possibly as many as 15, by the time it is sworn in Wednesday morning.
EDITORIAL – One Man, One Vote: Cayman’s stormy political seas
You could call it chaos, confusion and turmoil. We call it "Cayman Islands democracy in action."
BREAKING: PPM-CDP coalition forms … again
It’s Premier Alden McLaughlin and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush … again.
EARLIER: Elected members struggle to form new gov’t and name premier
Discussions over the future of the government remained mired in uncertainty Sunday afternoon following a weekend in which Alden McLaughlin and then McKeeva Bush declared themselves premier, only for the deals to fall apart.
Bush strikes deal with independents to become premier
McKeeva Bush is set to become premier of the Cayman Islands, striking a deal with a group of independents, and reversing an announcement made hours earlier with the Progressives.
Election over, scramble for gov’t begins
The Cayman Islands voters have had their say. Now it’s time for the 19 people they elected to decide who will run the government for the next four years.
Mixed reviews for first run of ‘one man, one vote’ system
As voters made their way to the polls Wednesday, candidates expressed mixed feelings about the new “one man, one vote” electoral system.
EDITORIAL – One Man, One Vote: Lessons learned from the election
Instead of making Cayman’s districts smaller, more numerous and more inward-facing, officials should have done the opposite: Make the entirety of the Cayman Islands one single district, and allow residents to vote on the same slate of candidates.
Independents’ day: Coalition government looms
A disparate group of independent candidates triumphed in Wednesday’s general election, but they did not manage to win a 10-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly.
Upset losses oust three sitting ministers
An eventful Election Day in Cayman yielded three surprising losses for reigning incumbents and ministers in the former administration.
Candidates make last bid for votes
At least three rival rallies will take place across Grand Cayman Tuesday night as the independent candidates, the Cayman Democratic Party and the Progressives make their final pitch to voters before the midnight deadline for all campaigning to stop.
Criminal damage complaint made after motorcade
Police are investigating a complaint of criminal damage in connection with a vehicle that was scratched as the Progressives motorcade was intercepted Saturday by supporters of independent candidate Dwayne “John John” Seymour.
EDITORIAL – The government’s callous approach to expats (and pensions)
The Progressives government’s attitude toward expatriates too often can be approximated in a half-dozen words: “If you don’t like it – Leave.”
Education: Candidates seek new solutions to familiar problems
“Every effort must be made to make our educational facilities and teaching staffs second to none. All children deserve and must have a full and complete education.” Those words, from a November 1965 post-election editorial in the old Tradewinds publication about the need to prepare Cayman’s students for the demands of a growing offshore finance center, could just have easily been written in 2017.
Rowdy biker crashes outside political meeting
A man who was reported to be revving a motorcycle and shouting obscenities outside a George Town political meeting Tuesday night ended up crashing the motorbike into a car, injuring the driver.
Candidates face off in GT North forum
Sharp differences in policy regarding waste management and the proposed cruise ship berthing facility punctuated the George Town North candidate forum on Tuesday night.
EDITORIAL – The quality of Cayman crime: (Not good enough!)
The Cayman Islands is one of the world’s foremost offshore financial centers, home to complex multibillion-dollar corporate structures. Accordingly, you would think that the crimes committed here would tend to be really smart. Not so.
Permanent residence delays ‘classic case of mismanagement’
Two Newlands independent political candidates alleged Friday that the Progressives government’s mismanagement led to delays in hearing hundreds of permanent residence applications, delays the candidates said were “playing with people’s lives.”
Candidates bemoan debate no-shows
Two political hopefuls for the district of George Town West bemoaned poor attendance during recent candidate debates, not by audience members, but by the candidates themselves.
Candidates clash over work permits, education at debate
Five candidates discussed work permits, employment and education, among other topics, at another in a series of national debates Monday night at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay.
EDITORIAL – $1.7 billion health debt: The public sector crisis everyone saw coming
Hear that train whistle off in the distance? A $1.7 billion locomotive – representing the Cayman Islands government’s healthcare liability – is approaching, slowly but inexorably.
EDITORIAL – The Ritch Report: The parting of the Red Bay candidates
Elections are about choices. Choices are about contrast. And in this election – where candidates’ views tend to overlap on the vast majority of issues, here is a topic where, between two candidates, there could not be a greater contrast.
Education, employment hot topics at Bodden Town West forum
Education and employment were hot topics Friday at the James Manoah Bodden Civic Center for candidates running in Bodden Town West.
Independents blast ‘career politicians’
Three of five candidates running for election in George Town South debated healthcare, traffic congestion and a cruise berthing facility, at the South Sound Civic Center on Thursday evening.
Premier: Progressives will bring more PR changes if elected
If re-elected, Premier Alden McLaughlin said, his Progressives government in its first year will make more “significant” changes again to the system that awards permanent residence to non-Caymanians.
Bush: Give principals control over schools
Principals should be given control over school budgets and the hiring and firing of teachers, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said Friday.
Savannah candidates debate crime, education
Two of the three election candidates for the Savannah constituency tackled questions about crime, education and immigration at a forum last week hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.
Prospect election candidates face off in Chamber debate
Petty crime, traffic and jobs for Caymanians were among the big talking points as the three Prospect candidates faced off in the latest pre-election debate.
dms chief: Stop fighting ‘fake wars’
In a rare appearance on the political speech-making circuit over the weekend, dms company founder Don Seymour urged Caymanian voters to reject the wave of populism sweeping a number of nations and instead seek to unite the small territory on May 24.
Premier comes out swinging
In a Saturday night event that was partly a campaign launch and partly a fond farewell to a former Progressives party leader, Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin took aim at two political opponents.
EDITORIAL – Permanent residence: The Progressives’ explosive legacy
When the Progressives passed their Immigration Law in fall 2013, they handed the Cayman Islands a ticking time bomb of uncertainty and legal liability.
More independents, more women in 2017 general election
The 2017 general election has brought out more independent candidates and more female candidates than its predecessor in 2013, according to figures reviewed by the Cayman Compass.
EDITORIAL – ‘Where’s Alden?’: Different approaches to political chess
There’s a truism in political circles that goes, “Before voters ever choose their candidates – candidates have already chosen their voters.” That’s certainly what happened yesterday – Nomination Day – particularly with the Progressives.
Record-setting Nomination Day: 63 hopefuls compete for 19 seats
A record 63 candidates will contest the Cayman Islands general election on May 24 after a frantic day of nominations across the country generated some surprises.
