Debra Broderick runs for North Side

Born and bred in her district, Debra Bostock has announced her intention to run in the upcoming 14th April General Election.

Ms Broderick, Assistant Clerk in the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, has had extensive experience dealing with parliamentary matters, having spent the past 17 years working in the Parliament, initially as a Hansard Clerk then Senior Hansard Clerk, before moving up to Assistant Clerk. She has since retired from that post to concentrate on her own political career.

Driven by a passion to see her district thrive and prosper, Ms Broderick said her focus as an elected Member would be to ensure that the disenfranchised had a voice and were properly catered to. A lack of empathy for the elderly and also the young was a motivating factor for change, she said.

“In North Side, the elderly have nowhere to go during the day, so I want to see that changed,” she said. “In addition, there is no motivation to ensure that all young Caymanians who have been to university and obtained their degree have a job at the end of their studies. I want that to change as well.”

While acknowledging the importance of work permit holders to any business, Ms Broderick envisages companies having to take on a proportion of newly qualified Caymanians as part and parcel of approval of their work permits. She would also like to establish a committee to ensure all young people have direct assistance in getting a job or onto the first rung of their career ladder.

“I would set up a committee in North Side, but take this island-wide as well,” she confirmed. “Young people need to be taken under the wing of mentors who can assist them with resumé writing, and generally advocating for them. I will fight the battle for all young people. It is essential that we put policies in place so that no young person gets left behind.”

Ms Broderick said her skills as a ‘people person’ learned on the job working as a flight attendant prior to retraining for her career in the Parliament stood her in good stead as a member of Parliament.

“I believe there needs to be far more vigilance and action in our Parliament currently. People seem far too relaxed. The people of North Side desire more and they deserve more,” she said.