United Democratic Party in turmoil

Billy Reid	Berna Thompson Cummins	Gary Rankin	Linford Pierson
Steve Blair	Beulah McField	Donnie Smith	Dr Frank McField

Friday,  November 26, 2004

There are reports of trouble brewing within Cayman’s ruling political party, the United Democratic Party (UDP).

According to reliable reports and investigations by Cayman Net News, a special general meeting of members of the George Town District Committee of the UDP, which was held on Tuesday 23 November at the Westin Casuarina Resort, ended in chaos. 

The meeting, according to a UDP notice, was scheduled to allow candidates to address party members prior to a ‘primary’ election for the adoption of candidates on 29 November. 

However, Member of the Legislative Assembly Dr the Hon Frank McField said he was surprised when a letter was read by the George Town District Chairman Donnie Smith stating that five of the seven members who were scheduled to participate in the presentations will not be contesting the primary election.

The five who declined are Mr Linford Pierson, Mrs Berna Thompson Cummins, Pastor Steve Blair, Mr Billy Reid and Mr Gary Rankin.

Dr McField and his sister, Ms Beulah McField, the two remaining candidates, were then declared duly adopted by Chairman of the UDP’s George Town Committee, Mr Donnie Smith.

Dr McField told Cayman Net News: “I knew something was wrong then, because when I tried to move a motion to have Mr Lloyd Sampson who was present added to the list of candidates I was told it was unconstitutional by the Chairman. It was at that time that Beulah and myself declined to be adopted candidates and decided to wait to present ourselves to the membership at another opportunity.”

He stated that he will be asking for an emergency meeting of the party’s executive of the George Town branch to address what he called the “Donnie Smith situation”. According to him, “He (meaning Mr Smith) is well known as a loyal supporter of Mr Pierson which is a conflict of interest, and I have no doubt that he intends to go along with this group.”

In the meantime Mr Smith said, “I have been a supporter of Mr Pierson for the last 20 years. I was the Chairman of his campaign committee so I don’t know what I am being accused of.

“I am also somewhat disappointed with Dr McField, as it appeared that all the proposed candidates did not want to contest the election on the same ticket with him.”

Mr. Smith confirmed that he would continue to be a loyal member of the party willing to serve anywhere the party sees fit.

Meanwhile, Mr Pierson has given a different version of what transpired. He said, “On Monday 15 November, the main executive of the UDP met and several scenarios surrounding Dr Frank McField were raised. The UDP was unsure as to his (Dr McField’s) reaction if he was not elected as a candidate.”

Mr Pierson added, after taking everything into consideration he and the other four candidates met and decided to decline participation in the primary election, leaving the slate open to Dr McField and his sister Beulah. 

“I really did not want to go on a ticket with someone with whom I do not have a good working relationship.” Mr Pierson averred.

When asked whether he is involved in forming a third political grouping, he said, “Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s just that none of us have the desire to work with Dr Frank. Let him resign from the ticket and leave it vacant then he will see us run on the UDP ticket.”

Mr Pierson confirmed that he and several of his colleagues are considering contesting the George Town seats as independent candidates. 

He stressed however that they would all still be supporting the UDP, since, according to him, “the problem is not with the party.”

Meanwhile, Dr McField continued to be adamant that the action of the five UDP members represents an aggression to the party and its leadership at a time when the Leader of Government Business the Hon McKeeva Bush is out of the country. Mr Bush is on an official visit to the United Kingdom.

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