HIGH STAKES FOR WEST BAY NORTH HOPEFULS

The West Bay North constituency is another that will have a new MP coming out of the April 30th general election. With the retirement of the incumbent Bernie Bush, the seat will be taken over by one of the four hopefuls.

Voters will choose from Jordan Rivers of the Cayman Islands National Party(CINP) and independent candidates Rolston Anglin (a former legislator and minister), Shakeina Bush and Jermaine Ebanks-Hurlston.

The four made their pitches for the position in the Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum for West Bay North, giving their perspectives on a range of district and national issues.

Education, immigration and housing top the list of Rolston Anglin(IND) who takes a hard line on immigration. “Anyone who has read my manifesto will see that I’ve clearly articulated a comprehensive set of immigration policies that begin with a seven-year rollover policy ensuring that we have a 24-month moratorium on the granting of permanent residents and Caymanian status immediately after the election.”

The former education minister is also keen on technical and vocational studies.

“Everyone will know I introduced the Cayman Islands Further Education Center,” he reminded, “However, nothing has been done for the last 12 years in regard to building that centre into the national trade school as it was envisioned when I demitted office. I plan to complete that.” Mr Anglin also proposes raising the school leaving age to 18.

On housing, one of his objectives is to “eliminate the 1% on all mortgage documents” as part of measures to make homeownership more affordable.

Unemployment, cost of living, and immigration reform are priority matters for Jermaine Ebanks-Hurlston (IND), who linked immigration reform and unemployment. “Unemployment is a big factor here, the reason being we never had a true succession plan for our children…I also agree with immigration reform, and that needs to be done ASAP because at the moment, we are completely inflated and our children are having a difficult time transitioning into jobs that should be for them.” Sourcing food imports from regional suppliers, especially South America and Central America, would significantly offset the cost of living, he said.

Candidate Shakeina Bush also ranked education, cost of living and immigration reform in her top three, referring to what she called the spider web effect of the latter. “I do strongly believe that immigration or immigration issues start from the day persons land on our borders, on our doors. It is a spider web effect that is touching every single sector of our country, and we’re feeling the impacts of that in every single area.”

For Jordan Rivers(CINP) it’s agriculture, the environment, and tourism.

Touching on tourism, he stated: “I think we need to get back to that product that needs to be an industry that is secured exclusively for Caymanians in this country, because we built it, and we need to maintain it because no one knows that product better than our people,” he stated.

Mr Rivers also has strong concerns about environmental degradation in the pursuit of development. “Environment is super crucial because if...we continue this unbridled development that we are currently facing in this country without a proper, comprehensive and fit-for-purpose national development plan, we will continue to suffer as a country.”

A question on waste management saw a sharp contrast in how best to resolve the current impasse over the future of the landfill. Candidate Bush called for the project to be reviewed, especially over the costs incurred to date. There was an emerging view for a system of shipping garbage off-island, shared by Rivers and Anglin. On the other hand, Ebanks-Hurlston proposed “new thinking” based on the philosophy that one person’s trash is another one’s treasure. Rather than exporting garbage as a solution, he suggested local investment to exploit opportunities in waste management, such as recycling old tyres for other uses.

All expressed concern over crime with different views on how to tackle the scourge, ranging from preventive programs for at-risk youth, to improving community policing, and more support for the RCIPS.

Other topics discussed included; the future of the Cayman Turtle Centre located in West Bay, healthcare delivery and insurance, consideration of another high school for the West Bay area, merging the departments of Education and Labour, and retaining entry-level roles in the financial sector for Caymanian school leavers.