Topic: Progressives
Conolly, Barbara
Barbara Conolly is a Progressives candidate for George Town South.
Orrett, Daphne
Daphne Orrett is a Progressives candidate for West Bay West.
O’Connor-Connolly, Juliana
Juliana O'Connor-Connolly is a Progressives candidate for Cayman Brac East.
McTaggart, Roy
Roy McTaggart is a Progressives candidate for George Town East.
Bodden, Heather
Heather Bodden is a Progessives candidate for Savannah.
Wight, David Charles
David Charles Wight is a Progressives candidate for George Town West.
Bodden Robinson, Maxine
Maxine Bodden Robinson is a Progressives candidate for Bodden Town West.
AS IT HAPPENED: This is how nomination day played out
Returning officers will hear candidate nominations between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. today. Cayman Compass reporters will submit updates on location from the country's 19 nominating locations as they develop. — Ed.
Election: Tibbetts, Connolly out, Eden back in
One long Cayman Islands political career came to an end Monday night, while another lengthy one continued and a fledgling career was seemingly cut short, as candidate nomination day loomed for general election candidates.
$4 million spent on land claims for highway widening
More than $4 million has been spent during the last two government budgets on land purchases related to the Linford Pierson Highway widening project.
Progressives founder Kurt Tibbetts quits politics
Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed that Mr. Tibbetts will not seek re-election in the upcoming May 24 vote.
Former PPM leader’s brother on opposition party team
The opposition Democratic Party will field at least 10 party candidates, in addition to supporting some independents for the upcoming election. One of those CDP candidates is Denniston Tibbetts, the older brother of Progressives party founder and former leader, Kurt Tibbetts.
EDITORIAL – Fuel price regulation: It may be good politics, but it’s bad policy
The Progressives’ proposal to lower the price of gasoline may look good on a bumper sticker, or sound good on the campaign trail, but as a piece of legislation, it’s bad policy and bad precedent.
Bill seeks fuel sector regulation; no immediate price controls
The Cayman Islands may eventually enact control over petrol prices, but only if the government finds no evidence of competition in the market, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said Monday.
Minister: Bill seeks to guarantee Caymanian control of local law firms
A bill regulating the operation of Cayman Islands law firms and lawyers was approved unanimously Friday afternoon following an acrimonious week of debate.
Bush: Stop blaming party system
McKeeva Bush criticized repeated attacks on the territory’s two-party political system Friday, warning that individuals or groups outside the Legislative Assembly could end up controlling the government following the May 24 general election, rather than the candidates voters choose.
Lawmakers try again on lawyers bill compromise
For the second time this week, Cayman Islands lawmakers suspended the public meeting of the Legislative Assembly to commence a private parliamentary session in attempts to “reach consensus” on the Legal Practitioners Bill.
EDITORIAL – Legal Practitioners Bill: One complex law (plus 200 amendments)
“When you have the votes, vote. When you don’t have the votes, talk.”That’s a political axiom which applies neatly to the situation facing Cayman Islands legislators in relation to the Legal Practitioners Bill.
Lawyers bill compromise flops; debate continues
A Cayman Islands government minister signaled Tuesday that some changes to a controversial proposal seeking to further regulate the practice of law in the islands would have to be made before the bill is approved.
Crowded field facing off in Bodden Town
Cars jammed the sides of the main road from the public library to Cox Lumber as passing motorists honked their horns and shouted encouragement in the direction of two separate, competing events – announcing the political candidacies of election hopefuls Dwayne Seymour and Robert Bodden.
MLA: ‘Commission of inquiry’ needed for lawyers’ concerns
George Town MLA Winston Connolly asked Monday for a full commission of inquiry into allegations made by a number of Caymanian attorneys concerning the lack of enforcement of local Immigration Law and “discrimination” within the legal profession.
Gov’t pushes Legal Practitioners Bill forward
In a surprise move Wednesday afternoon, the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly began debate on the latest draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill.
Legislature may go until last day
Government is running out of time to consider a long list of potential laws, including the Legal Practitioners Bill, the elimination of independent FOI and complaints commissioner’s offices and the establishment of local fuel market regulations, as lawmakers face the final three weeks of their current term.
EDITORIAL – The Progressives meet in the LA for a ‘cram session’
You know the scenario: It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and there’s one lonely student in the school library, his furrowed brow visible in the faint glow of his computer monitor. He is concentrating furiously, surrounded by stacks of flash cards, towers of textbooks and reams of scribbled-on note pads.
20 bills set for final legislative meeting
The final Legislative Assembly meeting of the Progressives-led government’s term in office will consider about 20 pieces of legislation covering issues, including public lands, crime and punishment, financial services and the protection of older residents.
EDITORIAL – John Gray gym: Going through hoops to hide the cost
Pardon us if our enthusiasm seems somewhat subdued. We certainly are not opposed to sports or even new gymnasia, but first things first. Our priority is, and will always be, excellence in our classrooms. Everything else is second.
Seymour, Lucille
Lucille Seymour is a Progressives candidate for Prospect.
Archer, Marco
Marco Archer is a Progressives candidate for George Town Central.
Hew, Joey
Joey Hew is a Progressives candidate for George Town North.
McLaughlin, Alden
Alden McLaughlin is a Progressives candidate for Red Bay.
Panton, Wayne
Wayne Panton is a Progressives candidate for Newlands.
Bodden, Osbourne
Osbourne Bodden is a Progressives candidate for Bodden Town East.
Chisholm, Edward Owen
Edward Chisholm is a Progressives candidate for North Side.
Political coalitions forming ahead of May 2017 election
At least four, and potentially five political coalitions or political parties are readying to contest the Cayman Islands general election on May 24. Both major political parties, the Progressives and the Cayman Democratic Party, intend to field a slate of candidates.
EDITORIAL – The Progressives’ cruise dock plans: Dead in the water
Last week’s announcement by Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell was, in reality, more of an admission: The Progressives government, led by Premier Alden McLaughlin, has failed to carry out what would have been one of its signature projects, the George Town cruise berthing facility.
EDITORIAL – Ensuring our elections are transparent and corruption-free
The election season is now well under way in the Cayman Islands, and so is the quadrennial whisper campaign about unseemly quid pro quo arrangements between candidates and residents, trading cash, favors or goods for votes.
Next battle brews in lawyers bill debate
Progressives-led administration officials have confirmed the government still intends to bring a revised draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill to the Legislative Assembly at its next meeting.
Opposition MLAs question boxing ticket giveaway
Complimentary tickets for Saturday’s Island Rumble – attended by Philippines boxing legend Manny Pacquiao – were being handed out Friday at the Progressives Bodden Town MLA office, according to text messages sent around last week.
Three defections leave bare bones ruling government
Although the story began to unfold in late 2015, it was not until early 2016 that the full extent of political defections from the ruling Progressives party were realized. As 2015 drew to a close, two Bodden Town MLAs, Anthony Eden and Alva Suckoo, announced they were leaving the government coalition.
EDITORIAL — New Year’s list: Our editorial agenda for 2017
Obviously, the predominant item on our agenda, at least for the first half of 2017, is the run-up to Election Day, May 27. Once our country’s population emerges from our winter holiday slumber next week, the “real” political campaign season will begin.
EDITORIAL — Year in review
Today we are featuring excerpts from some of the most interesting, compelling and entertaining editorials that have appeared in the Cayman Compass in 2016, on some of the most important issues facing our country.
FOI Commissioner turns to court to obtain ‘Ritch Report’
The Cayman Islands Information Commissioner’s Office can now be added to the list of those taking legal action against government over various issues related to the granting of permanent resident status.
EDITORIAL – Permanent residence: The premier’s deepening quagmire
Premier Alden McLaughlin and his Progressives government spent $312,000 of taxpayers’ money to commission a report on a subject — the Cayman Islands’ permanent residence system — that affects every person living in, or thinking about moving to, this country. And he does not want you to read a word of it.
Linford Pierson Highway widening faces significant delays
The widening of the Linford Pierson Highway into George Town faces significant delays due to various legal issues and will not be completed before the next general election in May, Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts confirmed last week.
Government approves Smith Cove purchase; Pageant Beach eyed
The Cayman Islands Cabinet has approved the purchase of property adjacent to Smith Cove public beach for US$5.4 million (CI$4.4 million), Planning Minister Kurt Tibbetts said Wednesday. The price is about US$1.2 million more than a private developer bought the same parcel of land for in 2015.
Lawmakers’ debate turns into political fight
A Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly debate this week over changes to the public bidding rules turned into a political fight ahead of the May 2017 general election. The Progressives-led government brought forward a long-recommended Procurement Bill, which was approved by lawmakers late Monday after some debate over what amounted to “political interference” in the public sector bidding process.
Last-minute meeting called over lawyers bill
A snap public meeting has been called for Thursday night over the controversial Legal Practitioners Bill, just days before the legislation was expected to come before parliament for a vote. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton said the Progressives-led government still expects to bring the amendment bill for a vote during the current meeting of the Legislative Assembly.
EDITORIAL – Premier McLaughlin muddies the waters of ‘Alden Pond’
On Thursday, Premier Alden McLaughlin purported to “correct” a Cayman Compass editorial that stated his Progressives government had squandered an opportunity to obtain land adjoining Smith Cove from the Dart Group. Premier McLaughlin then proceeded to lay out, in detail, how accurate the Compass’s observations were.
Bill to legalize cannabis oil introduced
Legislation that would legalize cannabis oil for medicinal purposes in the Cayman Islands was introduced Friday afternoon, but Legislative Assembly debate on the measure was held until Monday. Premier Alden McLaughlin said he agreed to bring forward proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs Law.
UPDATED: Bid for referendum on gay marriage fails
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin indicated Thursday that his ruling Progressives party-led government would block any attempt to hold a referendum on whether Cayman should change its law to accept same-sex marriages.
EDITORIAL – When having ‘stacks of bills’ isn’t desirable
We can’t help but empathize with the anxiety expressed by several elected members in today’s newspaper over the sheer quantity of legislation the Progressives administration has crammed into the agenda of the new parliamentary session.
Attempt to regulate nonprofits a ‘disaster,’ MLA says
Legislation that would require any charitable organization taking in more than $250,000 per year to register with the government will be a “disaster,” local residents were told during a public meeting in East End district Monday night.
Bush says government fundraiser ’questionable’
Cayman Islands Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush said it was “absolutely poor and questionable” for the premier to present details of the upcoming government budget to a $200-a-plate political party fundraiser at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Tuesday night, before the official release of the spending plan in the Legislative Assembly next week.
EDITORIAL – The Progressives’ unfinished business
The clock is ticking on the Progressives administration. In the coming months, our elected government will be subject to intensified scrutiny as to what it has done — and what it hasn’t.
‘No requirement’ for bills to go to political caucus
A long-awaited effort to reform government’s statutory authorities and companies is expected to go to the Progressives-led government’s political caucus in April, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said Wednesday.
Against an early election
An early election will hurt Cayman and may delay single-member constituencies for four years.
Bare-bones government weighs options
With just nine members on the ruling government bench, the Progressives-led coalition was left to consider this week whether it would seek to muddle through the next 14 months via the slimmest of majorities or call for elections ahead of the usual May 2017 date.
Government caught off guard by MLA’s departure
The ruling Progressives government coalition has been left with a bare majority of nine MLAs on its side of the Legislative Assembly, not counting...
