BODDEN TOWN EAST ON THE LINE

By Staff Writer

The two-horse race for Bodden Town East pits three-time incumbent Dwayne Seymour now running as a candidate for the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM/Progressives) against real estate businessman Robert Anthony Bodden representing The Cayman Community Party (TCCP).

Both cited cost of living matters, housing and immigration/border control as their top three priorities, albeit from slightly different perspectives.

“We need to find creative ways and think outside the box to find solutions,” suggested Seymour, who has had ministerial roles since 2017.

One area where he feels the cost of living could be reduced is the national fuel supply contract. ”The PACT government missed an opportunity to renegotiate the fuel contract with CUC(Caribbean Utilities Company),” he said referring to the government of which he was a Cabinet member but had a dramatic falling out in 2023.

Now running with the Progressives with whom he served as health minister up to 2021, Mr Seymour feels that there might still be a chance to review that contract and get a better deal from CUC. He also proposes a government discount store on products which are already duty-free.

The cost of fuel is also a prime target for his opponent, Robert Anthony Bodden(TCCP), along with housing, immigration and border control.

“We need to change the way we collect duty on fuel from volume to invoiced costs,” he stated pointing out that this could reduce consumers’ utility bills “almost immediately.” Mr Bodden said he would also review how Cayman sources its food imparts rather than the current over-reliance on the United States and would consider removing the import duty on fruit, vegetables and eggs. A consumer protection agency is seen by the Bodden Town East challenger as a necessity.

The two candidates committed to steps for alleviating the traffic density in and through the Bodden Town East constituency with better traffic management systems. They also presented ideas for bringing more business to the area both based on tourism-related concepts.

On the broader national scale, both Seymour (PPM/Progressives and  Bodden(TCCP) agreed on economic diversification with the incumbent looking at expanding medical tourism and his challenger targeting sports tourism.

A range of opinions ensued in response to a question about asking if the current concessions are adequate to enable Caymanians to get on the housing ladder and how to offset the loss of stamp duty income to government if they were extended.

The two candidates brought their respective perspectives to the matter; Mr Seymour as a former minister for lands and Mr Bodden from a background in real estate.

PPM’s Seymour said while the government needs to find new revenue streams, Caymanians should own as much land as possible. ”I don’t think that a one-time land concession is enough, he stated, adding that his former PACT Premier Wayne Panton didn’t follow through on his idea to extend the concession.

Mr Seymour also said that his track record in making land available for Caymanians shows his commitment. “I’ve bought more land than any minister” he stated, adding that if re-elected he will continue that policy.

On that issue, Mr Bodden(TCCP) brought his real estate experience to bear. “We need a new development with rezoning and smaller lot sizes. We need to build vertical. We need single-family lots that people can afford. We are not growing any more land.”

He also suggested that in exchange for concessions developers of luxury properties should provide concessions for local housing either monetary or housing inventory.

Mr Bodden said the cost of land was out of reach for many Caymanians for which he said he held Mr Seymour (as minister) responsible for “not increasing wages so that young people can qualify to purchase a plot of land.

Pathways into guaranteed employment for Caymanian graduates on government scholarships, and the much-discussed immigration white paper were among other issues addressed during the Bodden Town East candidates forum.