The message coming from two of Cayman Islands backbenchers last Wednesday (May 31) is of a divided Cayman Islands. The initial results certainly seem to point that way but I am more optimistic about the future.

Arden McLean was very pessimistic about the future of our country in his speech and portrayed our country as being “at war” and we have a “system of violence and hatred”.

He blamed politicians (maybe himself?) saying it was their failure to make hard decisions that has resulted by persons at the bottom of the ladder becoming weakened by the greed of “some”.

I wish he was right that the blame laid only with the politicians. The problem would be much more easy to correct!!

I was pleased he pointed out the “special interest” regarding the campaign financing and I am sure he was referring to Dr. Tomlinson’s role in this. Just like me he found it “nauseating”. He called for reform.

He is also correct the social service programmes are underfunded and understaffed. He pointed to the the elderly as being especially vulnerable.

He also singled out the areas where the previous government had fallen short. Immigration was a “shambles”, and the education system was still failing its students.

It is a pity, though, he didn’t come up with any solutions to the problems he outlined and what he would have done different if he had been in charge over the past four years.

Alva Suckoo also pointed to the great divide in the country and gave an illustration as his own narrow win in Newlands. I don’t, however, see that as a great illustration as I have already voiced my opinion as to the reason he won and it had nothing to do with division.

He also pointed to the inadequate education system and, of course, labour, even though that had improved over the last four years. Perception is believed more than the actual facts.

I was, however, pleased he was going to put forward “constructive policies”. To criticize is very easy.

Both he and McLean referred to the “horse-trading” that had gone on during the “tense” negotiations. Neither gave any specifics where the blame lay. McLean said it would eventually come out. Suckoo said “it was all being us” and the focus must now be on “bringing people back together”.

I can 100% agree with him on that.

Therefore I have taken that as a good sign and I am not as pessimistic about it as McLean.

United we stand but divided is harder to conquer.