With a sitting MLA, Alva Sukoo and an ex-MlA Gilbert McLean both standing for Bodden Town in the May’s election it is going to be a hard fought contest for the Progressives to win.

Suckoo won on the coat tails of the Progressives as he stood with them four years ago. That one of the founding Progressives, Charles Eden, is backing both of them is bad news for the present government. Eden also left the Progressives because he was unshakeable on his stance against the LGBTQ community likening their way of life to the sin of bestiality! He is a sensible and well respected man but I was aghast at his stance and stabbing his colleague, Premier Alden McLean whose hands were tied because we are a Dependent Territory of the UK I lost my respect for him. He crossed the floor and joined the Opposition playing into the hands of their Leader McKeeva Bush.

And that is exactly what Sukoo has done. It seemed a safer bet to try and win your seat when you can canvass on all the popular decisions the party he was a member of and gain credit for whilst distancing yourself from the controversial ones.

I hope everyone in Newlands, where he is standing, will see through this charade.

When tourism was down in the majority of countries in the Caribbean and our Islands depend a lot on tourism, it is gratifying that we were one of the few successes.

Look what we had to deal with.

Public health issues impacting tourist purchase behaviour in the entire Caribbean region due mainly to Zika. Even with government’s attempt to deal with the disease when there wasn’t one case here by the release of Oxitec GM mosquitoes sabotaged by ill informed social media. The delay to the release allowed Zika to start here. Not that anyone is going to own up to that conclusion but me.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Moses Kirkconnell said, “The steady increase in arrivals to the Cayman Islands in 2016, despite global issues impacting visitation to the entire region, is testament to the concerted trade and marketing efforts of the Department of Tourism focused on strengthening brand awareness and desirability. By implementing an integrated marketing strategy for 2017 that is tailored to the distinct needs of today’s traveller, we remain confident in our ability to attract and retain consumer interest in the Cayman Islands for years to come.”

We must not forget that Cayman is now called the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” and the international publicity given to it was wonderful promotion. DOT even hosted an intimate press luncheon for 15 top-tier national travel writers with the acclaimed Chef Eric Ripert in October 2016, and two Cayman-themed media receptions at the New York headquarters of key national lifestyle publications: Travel + Leisure and Elite Daily. That was money well spent.

In 2016, public relations efforts alone generated more than 400 million media impressions for the destination and $11 million in un-paid publicity value with feature articles and mentions in outlets such as AFAR, Shape, USA Today, Outside, Bridal Guide, CondeNastTraveler.com, DuJour, Caribbean Living, The New York Post, Dallas Morning News, among others.

Whether this good reading for the Progressives will turn into votes only time will tell. They are going to need a good PR team in place to try and shore it up.