THE Cayman Islands' United Democratic Party (UDP) has denied that it has links with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and blasted Jamaican politics as the worst and most violent in the Caribbean.

"We do not take advice [on political or party matters] from anyone in Jamaica," UDP chairman Billy Reid told the Caymanian Compass newspaper in an interview conducted last Friday and published this Tuesday.

"Their politics are violent and mean," he said. "We see their politics as the worst in the region, and we want to distance ourselves from that."

Reid was responding to rumours in the Cayman Islands that the UDP chief, McKeeva Bush, who is also the leader of government business, has been conferring with JLP leader Edward Seaga, whose sister, Pam Hart, lives in George Town, Grand Cayman.

Reid told the Caymanian Compass that when his party was formulating its constitution earlier this year, it used the constitution of Bermuda's governing party as a model.

"We don't like to borrow or take advice from Jamaica," he told the newspaper.

On Tuesday, however, Bush, in an interview with the Observer, sought to soften the impact of Reid's comments, saying that there were aspects of Jamaican politics which he found admirable.

"I support anything that is good in any country," Bush said. "The People's National Party (PNP) has done some good things, the JLP has done some good things, Edward Seaga has done some very good things, particularly where he has built a model constituency in terms of culture and community development."

Seaga is the member of parliament for Western Kingston whose most prominent community is Tivoli Gardens, which is often highlighted for its successful social, cultural and educational services.

When asked if he would copy Seaga's model in the under 50,000 populated island, Bush said, "I don't know enough about it, but I've seen things that I believe are good".

He stressed, though, that there was no allegiance between the UDP and the JLP.

"I don't know how anyone can count anything as credible when they talk about rumours, accusing me of affiliating with the JLP. I know Mr Seaga, but we (UDP) have no affiliation from any party. I have never taken advice from anybody, anywhere ... (however) we have friendly relations with both JLP and PNP and that is because I have been in politics for the last five elections," Bush said.

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