CAYMAN’S SUCCESS NOT BEING SHARED, PROGRESSIVES TELL GOVERNMENT

The National Coalition For Caymanians(NCFC) government’s achievements and plans outlined by Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen in the Throne Speech to open the current session of Parliament have been put under the microscope by the Official Opposition, People’s Progressive Movement(PPM/Progressives).

Delivering his response to the speech, Hon. Leader of the Opposition and Progressive leader Joey Hew was less than impressed.

He claimed that the successes that the government is taking credit for are not filtering down to the public.

“The reality is that government prosperity and the people’s prosperity are not always the same thing. The true measure of success is not how much government collects, but the true measure of success is whether Caymanian families are getting ahead, because every dollar of government revenue comes from…the people of these islands. So, when the government celebrates record revenues, it must also ask whether the people generating those revenues are feeling the benefits.”

FALLING SHORT

According to Mr Hew, a sector-by-sector analysis of the government’s performance, based on responses it received during a recent Listening Tour throughout Cayman, shows that the government is failing to live up to its promises.

“One of the strongest messages we heard during our Listening Tour was that people are tired of hearing about problems; they want solutions . They’re tired of hearing about consultations; they want implementation. They’re tired of hearing about reviews; they want results. They don’t want to hear about plans; they want progress. One year into its term, the government can no longer be judged solely on its intentions. It must now be judged on its outcomes. The first year was for planning, the second year must be for delivery.”

HOUSING

“The issue raised more than anything during our Listening Tour has been housing, not housing policy, not a housing framework, but housing,” he stated. Simply the ability to purchase a home; the ability to remain in the communities where families have lived for generations; the ability for young Caymanians to build a future country that they love. Again, the people in this country do not need another discussion about the housing crisis; they need homes.”

The Opposition Leader said other concerns brought to their attention included the ongoing issues with the landfill, both as an environmental blight and a health risk. The seemingly intractable traffic gridlock plaguing drivers and the wider community was also highlighted.

SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT NEEDED

Calls for support for small businesses were a recurring issue, Mr Hew said, which was not adequately addressed in the Thorne Speech.

“Another theme we heard repeatedly during our Listening Tour was concerns for small businesses. Yet small businesses received very little attention in the Throne Speech. The Minister for Small Businesses is the Hon. Premier himself, and we have not heard anything about small businesses. Small businesses are not simply a part of our economy; they are the backbone of our economy,” Mr Hew declared.

SHARE THE SUCCESS

The Opposition Leader acknowledged Cayman’s success story, but he felt that success is not being shared.

“Perhaps what was brought out to me the most during our Listening Tour was not frustration, it was concern; concern that, despite all of Cayman’s successes, life feels increasingly difficult for many ordinary people. Concern that despite working hard and doing the right things, some families feel they are standing still. Concern that, despite living in one of the most successful countries in the world, the dream of home ownership and financial security feels further away than it ever did.”

He said his critique of the Throne Speech and the Government was not an argument against growth and stressed: “We all want growth, we all want investment, we all want economic success.”

However, the Progressive leader pointed out that economic success must have a purpose and growth must have a meaning.

“How is the average Caymanian doing? Because that is the question by which this government will ultimately be judged.”

Mr Hew closed his response to the Throne Speech with an appeal for Cayman’s success to be shared.

“Caymanians have not lost hope. They still believe in this country; they still believe in hard work; they still believe in opportunity; they still believe that Cayman can remain one of the best places in the world to live, work, and raise a family. They’re asking something of us. They’re asking us to protect what previous generations have built. They’re asking us to ensure that success is shared. They’re asking us to ensure that opportunity remains within reach. They’re asking us to preserve the Caymanian dream..”