Colin Wilson

The long awaited Progressives Manifesto has been finally unveiled and can be downloaded from their website: www.theprogressives.ky.

The following is the opening address in full and I have outlined some of the key points afterwards.

A Message from the Political Leader, The Progressives

Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP

LEADERSHIP MATTERS MOST

While all General Elections are important, the May22nd General Elections are without doubt the most crucial the Cayman Islands have ever faced. The past four years of the UDP administration has been a period like none this country has ever known and one that we can no longer afford.

It has been a time of grave concern and uncertainty, of a weak economy, of failing businesses, of unemployment and increased crime.   A time when taxes and fees and cost of living increased every year, while the standard of living, opportunities and quality of life for Caymanians and residents have steadily declined.

It has been a time of tense relations with the United Kingdom, of wild schemes and outlandish proposals, of failed projects and broken promises, of corruption and rumours of corruption.

It has been a time during which the former Premier bas been charged with no less than 11 serious criminal offences of misconduct in public office, breach of trust and theft.. It bas been a time when the government has been brought down and the former Premier removed from office as  the result of a  lack of confidence motion in  the Legislative Assembly.

Confidence in government is at an all time low and every  right thinking person In this country is gravely concerned about the future and is anxious for change.

The first and most challenging task of a new administration therefore will be to restore trust  and  confidence in  the government and the Cayman Islands as a whole.  Nothing is possible without that.

Those who wish to invest in Cayman, do business in Cayman or simply live and work here will not do so  unless they arc satisfied that doing so  is not risky business.

We believe The Progressives offers the best hope for the kind of leadership that Cayman needs in these challenging times. There  is  no other  group contesting these elections  capable of forming a government without making some form of deal with another group or with independents. Any new government will need at least 10 seats in the Legislative Assembly. With a team of 15 candidates the Progressives is well placed to  form a  new  government without having to resort to the horse­ trading that blighted the 2001government.  Cayman cannot afford a government that is divided, unstable and prone to collapse.  The challenges ahead require a solid plan, a  dedicated team and unity of purpose.

“The first and most challenging task of a new administration therefore will be to restore trust and confidence in the government and the Cayman Islands as a whole. Nothing is possible without that.”

This  manifesto is  the  pledge of The Progressives team that we will work together – and with the civil service and private sector partners, to bring back pride to Caymanians and residents and all who love this country, to restore confidence in government, to stamp out corruption, to rebuild our economy, to reduce the cost of living and to provide more opportunities and better lives for all of our people.

END

The Progressives action plan to “Getting back On Course” and “A Strong Economy for a Healthy Society includes Strengthening and Stabilising the Economy, Taking Care of the Financial Services Industry, Taking Care of the Tourism Industry, Taking Care of Small Businesses, Encouraging New Pillar Industries, Improving the Immigration and Work Permit Systems, Building the Necessary Infrastructure,

Revitalisation of the George Town City Centre, Creating New Jobs, Cost of Living, Better Management of Government Finances and Our Relationship with DART!

Then we have listed under “Investing In Our People”  – Education & Training, Health & Wellness for All, Housing, Women, Youth, Enhancing the Lives of the Elderly, Providing for Persons with Disabilities, Sport and finally Culture.

Thankfully there is listed Protecting our Environment and a Green Economy but with the emphasis on Energy Efficiency, Waste Management, and “Other Initiatives”.

I was much pleased to read:

“Conservation and development cannot be viewed as conflicting goals. It is an imperative that they must co-exist as that is exactly what sustainable development is about.”

The progressives promise to pass a National Conservation Bill without giving any specifics although they do say under “Other Initiatives” they will “discourage the clearing of land to protect animal habitat and also to maintain rainfall levels.”

As for the Progressives relationship with DART they are very careful with their wording using “we recognise”, [Dart’s] “great assets” tempered with “as well as cause for legitimate concern”. Then we have “SEEK to renegotiate”, [Dart’s agreements] “are not sprung on the public without REASONABLE consultation.

There is an emphatic “NO” to the Bodden Town Dump and even with six of their candidates standing in George Town, they take a big chance there saying the eye sore George Town Mount Trashmore Dump can stay in their back yard! Not a guarantee to win all of the six seats there with that statement!  So, its OK to have the recycling and new technologies for waste-to-energy in the most highly popularized and tourist district but not in Bodden Town?!!

The progressives actually use the word “seek” a lot in the Manifesto without giving real concrete answers where one can say “An excellent idea. Why hasn’t that been thought of before?” Of course they might have these wonderful and imaginative ideas and don’t want to show their opponents their hand. But as the song says “there’s a time when to fold ’em and a time when to show ‘em”.

Of course, Manifestos are for obtaining votes and not even a quarter of the promises in the 2009 UDP Manifesto were kept and I am being generous with even that figure!