PROGRESSIVES PREPARE TO MARCH BACK INTO OFFICE

It was billed as a conference ‘chart a bold path forward’.

The main opposition People’s Progressives Movement (PPM/Progressives) culminated a week of political realignments and started the month of March - and its election campaign - with an event which according to a post-convention statement “energized supporters at its highly anticipated 2025 Party Conference”.

The current main opposition party in the Cayman Parliament said it was about “unveiling a strong, united team and reaffirming its commitment to Proven, Stable Leadership.”

The party is hoping that this momentum will be sustained throughout the campaign for the April 30th election with a revamped, reinforced and reinvigorated slate of candidates.

The PPM/Progressives were forced into opposition in the 2021 election after holding power for two consecutive terms since the 2013 polls.

It hopes that its chances for a return to power have been bolstered with the return to the party fold of especially three senior ministers from the two previous governments - PACT and currently UPM(United People’s Movement) - which formed the administrations since the last elections in 2021.

Back with the PPM/Progressives are heavyweights Juliana O’Connor-Connolly(outgoing UPM Premier and former PACT and PPM Education Minister who had retained her PPM/Progressives membership card according to party leader Joey Hew). Also returning to the Progressives family is current UPM Deputy Premier and  Minister of Tourism Kenneth Bryan, who was also Tourism Minister in the PACT administration of Wanye Panton. Joining him back in the Progressives line-up is Dwayne Seymour, Labour Minister in the current UPM government a portfolio he also held in the PACT government. Mr Seymour was also Health Minister in the previous PPM administration.

“With the venue filled to capacity, the evening’s highlight was the official confirmation of Hon. Joseph “Joey” Hew as PPM Leader ahead of the upcoming general elections, alongside the announcement of Hon. Kenneth Bryan as Deputy Leader, as well as Delmira Bodden and Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly as the newest candidates joining the PPM slate.” the release stated.

“PPM is not any fly-by-night operation or any collection of people dragged together by thoughts of glory or power. Every one of us lives by our motto: ‘For Love of Country’,” said Mr Hew, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

“You will not find a better team in this election. There are familiar faces and new faces; a wonderful blend of youth and experience; lots of what has become of late a bad word among our neighbours to the north – diversity; a multiplicity of skills and boundless talent all driven by a common purpose – to put the interests of the Cayman Islands and Caymanians first.”

Mr Hew addressed the urgent issues facing Caymanians, particularly the rising cost of living:

“Without doubt, the biggest concern of Caymanians is the cost of living. Many of our friends and families are struggling to meet the basic needs of their households. I want to make it clear that this will not be a simple fix. There is no magic bullet.”

He also outlined key policies the PPM plans to implement:

“We have a multi-pronged approach that will include increasing the minimum wage to make things more affordable; provide training and opportunities for better jobs; revisit our immigration laws to ensure proper balance and the protection of jobs for Caymanians; provide incentives for small business to provide more jobs and grow the economy; provide free healthcare for children; reform pensions and increase stipends for veterans, seafarers and long-serving civil service pensioners.”

According to the Progressives leader, “Taken together, these changes will ease the burden on a wide cross-section of people and businesses. In all cases, we have clear timelines which you will find in our manifesto which will be launched shortly.”

In what it calls, the “PPM team for the times”, the party unveiled a slate of 13 candidates (so far) for the 19 seats at stake in the April 30th election.

⦁ George Town South – Craig Frederick

⦁ George Town West – Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden

⦁ George Town East – Roy McTaggart

⦁ Red Bay – Roy Tatum

⦁ Prospect – Crystal Gomez Wilson

⦁ George Town Central – Kenneth Bryan

⦁ George Town North – Joey Hew

⦁ Savannah – Donna Bush

⦁ Newlands – Alva Suckoo

⦁ Bodden Town East – Dwayne “John John” Seymour

⦁ East End – Delmira Bodden

⦁ North Side – Justin Ebanks

⦁ Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - Juliana O’Connor-Connolly

The evening also paid tribute to long-serving members of the PPM, including Sir Alden McLaughlin, Barbara Connolly, David Wight, and Moses Kirkconnell.