PPM targets four political heavyweights

Hon Linford Pierson of the PDA	Osbourne Bodden of the PPM
Charles Clifford of the PPM	Hon Roy Bodden of the UDP

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

The People’s Progressive Movement, (PPM) has said it needs to gain four more seats if it is to take control of the Legislative Assembly, oust the United Democratic Party (UDP) and replace Hon McKeeva Bush as the Leader of Government Business. 

The seats targeted by the party include two additional seats for the District of George Town and two additional seats for the District of Bodden Town to add to the seats already held by PPM stalwarts Edna Moyle in North Side, Arden McLean in East End, Kurt Tibbetts and Alden McLaughlin in George Town as well as Anthony Eden in Bodden Town.

The PPM however has avoided naming a candidate to go up against seat holders in the UDP stronghold of West Bay. 

As well, the party has already declared its intention to work with the candidates that gain the popular vote in this election in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, as they have said they see a strong possibility of a win by independent candidates with whom they foresee the possibility of political convergence.

Consequently, the PPM has lined up its men and women who will do battle with the UDP incumbents in both the George Town and Bodden Town districts where they plan to launch their attack.

Lucille Seymour, a candidate who already had a whiff of victory in the last general election, lost her bid in 2000 only marginally. This time around, the party sees her offensive as removing the hold that Linford Pierson has on that seat in George Town.

Mr Pierson, however, has a long history of leadership in the Cayman Islands from as far back as the 1960’s. Having held the reins in many government ministries, Mr Pierson was most recently Speaker of the House. He however recently resigned this post to take up the leadership of the People’s Democratic Alliance – a new grouping vying to oust the incumbent UDP.

Newcomer Alphonso Wright is set to contest the elections for the first time, specifically assigned to edge Dr. Frank McField at the finish line come 11 May. Dr McField has been in the limelight in the past couple of years in relation to the efficacy of housing solutions and the PPM said Mr Wright’s work in that field will present strong opposition for this seat.

In Bodden Town, another newcomer to the general election’s course on the PPM’s behalf is Osbourne Bodden. According to party sources Mr Bodden has emerged the favoured candidate over UDP incumbent member of the Legislative Assembly, Gilbert McLean.

Mr McLean, along with fellow LA incumbent and district representative, Roy Bodden, launched a high profile campaign just prior to Hurricane Ivan in 2004 to restate their candidacies and introduce UDP newcomer, Mark Scotland as the candidate with whom they would run as a team. 

With this, the threesome declared their target to gain full control of all seats in that district and oust PPM’s incumbent Anthony Eden.

However, the PPM sees new recruit, and former Permanent Secretary for Tourism under the McKeeva Bush UDP administration, Charles Clifford as that district’s natural choice.

The Charles Clifford-Roy Bodden battle is one the PPM sees as an easy victory for their new candidate.

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