Correction to False Statements by Premier and Deputy Premier on CPR Cayman’s Funding and Backing

CPR Cayman wishes to correct the following false statements made by the Premier and Deputy Premier.

1) As printed in the Cayman Compass on 10 October 2019, Premier Alden McLaughlin stated to the Compass:

‘He said the nature of CPR’s campaign and the amount of advertising it had taken out suggested the group had also spent considerable funds.’

2) On 14th October 2019, on Radio Cayman’s For the Record Program, Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell stated: ‘This campaign is a commercial campaign’

CPR Cayman is a registered non-profit organisation which was formed by citizens concerned by the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed cruise port and is supported by dozens of volunteers who share these concerns and generously commit their time, talent and passion. CPR Cayman is reliant on donations from the community to fund our public education efforts in the referendum campaign. CPR Cayman is not a ‘commercial campaign’ as alleged by the Deputy Premier.

To date we have spent less than CI $12,000 on radio, internet and cinema advertising costs, compared to the Government, who has spent over $157,000 on advertising in the same period ($217,000 less Fountainhead Consultancy payments of 5,000 per month since August 2018).

This significant discrepancy in advertising expenditure highlights the importance of the inclusion of campaign financing provisions in the Referendum Bill, which the Government has regrettably chosen to exclude.

The opportunity for fair and balanced public education on the proposed port facility is imperative, to allow citizens the opportunity to make an informed decision, free from undue influence, in the face of a Government who has already spent almost a 1/4 of a million dollars before the referendum campaign has even begun.

Those wishing to contribute to CPR Cayman’s public education campaign, are encouraged to do so through any of the below methods.

Online transfers can be made to the following account:

Bank: Cayman National Bank

Account number: 011-15894

Account Name: CPR Cayman

Checks can be made payable to: ‘CPR Cayman’

Credit and Debit Card donations: http://www.cprcayman.com/Donate.php

More information can be found on www.cprcayman.com. People can also contact cprcayman@gmail.com or phone 938-5876 for more information.