Bodden Town Candidates scoreat forum
At the Bodden Town Forum
All ten candidates running in the Districtof Bodden Town participated in a three-hour long forum at theBodden Town Primary School Hall on the night of Saturday October21.
The hall was filled to capacity and beyond, as moderator Val Lichtensteinposed ten questions to the candidates, who were seated in theorder in which their names will appear on the November 8 ballot.The questions had been drafted weeks earlier by the Bodden Towncommittee which organised the event.
Points of agreement heavily outweighed differences of opinionexpressed over the course of night's responses.
Points of agreement included the need for a trade or technical/vocationalschool for non college-bound Caymanian students; the notion thatmore revenue should come from the banking and money transfer sectorswhile the Government should curtail its spending and increasetourism; and that government Ministers should not serve on statutoryor private sector boards. Some candidates felt that the latterpoint should also apply to backbench MLAs as well.
The candidates contended that a Bill of Rights should be entrenchedin Cayman's Constitution; that laws to protect children shouldbe strengthened; and that an enhanced tourism focus in the districtand the relocation of certain government facilities to the BoddenTown area could combine to increase business and employment opportunitiesfor the district's residents.
It was generally agreed that the owners of the Central MangroveWetlands have taken good care of that precious natural resourcefor many generations and that they will certainly continue todo so. It was unanimously agreed also that ICCI qualificationsshould be recognised by the Government when hiring, and that aBodden Town district council or committee would strengthen thebond between the neighborhoods in the district and provide enhancedcommunication between the people and their MLAs.
Some unique, individual responses included proposals from Mr.Roy Bodden that the Government should divest itself of offeringservices that are not profitable and can be better provided bythe private sector. Mr Bodden also proposed that children shouldremain in school until they have reached the age of legal responsibility,which is 18.
Mr. Osbourne Bodden suggested that the three official membersbe removed from the Executive Council and that the Financial Secretaryshould report to an elected Finance Minister. Mr Charles Watlerfelt that Cayman needs a consumer group to look out for outrageousprices, such as the 134 percent markup on milk.
He also suggests that the Speaker of the House should not risefrom the elected MLAs. Mr Arnold Berry, on the other hand, contendedthat there should be term limits on serving in Parliament. Ms.Mary Lawrence said the way to increase goverment revenue is throughthe improved promotion of tourism, adding that more visitors equalsmore money. She was also of the opinion that exciting and rewardingopportunities in tourism could be created in Bodden Town.
One way of lowering the cost of living in the Cayman Islands,according to Mr. Joseph Ebanks, is to change the present governmentand then immediately lower the salaries of the members comingin.
While expressing the view that government ministers should notserve on boards, Mr. Anthony Eden said he is one minister whodoes not serve any board. Mr. Gilbert McLean declared that hehas always supported a Bill of Rights for Cayman, and remindedthe gathering that he was the only member to vote for it in '93.
Ms. Heather Bodden felt that were MLAs to make themselves availableto the Bodden Town public through regular hours of service atthe MLA office, it would help with forming the best possible districtcouncil or committee.
Mr Anthony Scott stressed the importance of making the Pedro Castleattraction work so that it can provide the lucrative opportunitiesfor Bodden Town , adding that it should have been designed todo that all along.
A consistent atmosphere of positive contribution from all candidatesprevailed over the course of the programme, and all participantsagreed at its conclusion that the event had been a successfulopportunity for Bodden Town electors to absorb the views of alltheir candidates.