(CMR) The Premier, Alden McLaughlin, spent most of his time today addressing the firestorm that ensured yesterday afternoon after Minister of Health, Dwayne Seymour appeared to have attacked Wendy Ledger from Cayman News Service. He said that Seymour is “doing an amazing job” and the people should not underestimate the role that he's playing as Minister of Health at this time.
McLaughlin indicated that the purpose of the press conference was to
“address the national emergency that we are addressing and we need to focus on what is important and what is critical and not what is exciting. I am not suggesting members of my government should not be held accountable. However, what is the minister guilty of? What is the minister being accused of?”
He went on to say that he like the minister cannot be held accountable for his wife or any member of his household including his children and that Wendy's comment implied he was guilty. McLaughlin felt the accusations were somehow playing politics. McLaughlin defended his nonsensical and threatening response to Ledger's response because his wife was called a Jackass on CMR.
The Premier denied the wife was in breach of the provisions. However, Minister Seymour did not address that point at all. For his part, Seymour barely muttered an apology. Others in the public live stream shared that the alleged workout took place at the Bodden Town School playfield.
One WhatsApp commentator familiar with the premier shared:
“I am f**** astounded by Alden's bullshit commentary! The politics of convenience being employed to attack a journalist for a perfectly reasonable question!”
A local manager shared:
“I’ve now lost so much respect for the Premier too. His response was totally shameful.”
Others supported the government's position stating the minister had nothing to apologize for.
However, there have been numerous examples of others around the world apologizing and stepping down because of breaching stay at home orders. In Scotland, the Chief Medical officer, Dr. Catherine Calderwood, apologized and stepped down from her position after visiting her second home during the coronavirus lockdown.
In Illinois, the mayor of that Alton apologized after his wife was found to be breaching curfew provisions and was arrested at a party. The mayor said in his statement that he was embarrassed by his wife's actions.
“My wife is an adult capable of making her own decisions, and in this instance, she exhibited a stunning lack of judgment, She now faces the same consequences for her ill-advised decision as the other individuals who chose to violate the ‘Stay At Home' order during this incident.”
“I am embarrassed by this incident and apologize to the citizens of Alton for any embarrassment this incident may cause our City,” he added.
Police issued a criminal complaint for reckless conduct — a class A misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine of $2,500 — to everyone who had gathered at the bar.
There were three new positive cases today.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid