Nineteen returning officers gen up on election job

Delano Solomon, trainer for returning officers

(CNS): In the runup to Cayman’s first ever election under the system of ‘one man, one vote’ in single member constituencies, nineteen returning officers and their deputies began training with the Elections Office this month. From registering the candidates that are nominated in each of the new constituencies to announcing the single winner in each district after the polls, the elections office has had to significantly expand the team for 2017 to accommodate the new political landscape.

The training on Monday, 2 May, and Thursday, 12 May, was part of the Elections Office’s ongoing preparatory work. It was moved forward to May 2016 from the traditional date of January/February 2017 to ensure that the returning officers and deputies are able to mobilise in the event of an early election, officials said. Training for officers on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman is scheduled to take place in the near future on the Brac.

Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell, Deputy Supervisor Sheena Glasgow, former deputy supervisor Orrett Connor and experienced Returning Officer, and now trainer, Delano Solomon, provided an introduction to the roles, tasks and responsibilities for the officers, who are responsible for the conduct of the elections in their respective constituencies.

Additionally, they also received a presentation from Deputy Postmaster General Melissa Martinez-Ebanks about the Postal Service’s Express Mail Service (EMS) that will replace registered mail for the sending and receipt of postal ballots for the first time during General Elections in the Cayman Islands.

The returning officers are responsible for the conduct of the elections in the 19 electoral constituencies in which they are appointed by the governor for the coming elections, the trainees learnt.

“This is a very responsible position and entails a considerable amount of preparation, including the provision of vast amounts of paraphernalia as well as thousands of hours of planning and implementation, involving hundreds of officers,” Supervisor Howell emphasised.

All their responsibilities are outlined in the Elections Law, which is awaiting the LA’s approval for proposed significant amendments because of the change from 6 Electoral Districts to 19 Single Member Constituencies.

Mainly, the officers are accountable for all Nominations Day proceedings including receipt of all nominations, for issuing, receiving and the count of postal ballots as well as for the conduct of the elections on 24 May 2017 until the end when the candidates are declared as winners in each constituency.

The returning officers for the historic 2017 election are as follows:

Omar McLean
Dale Ramoon
McFarlane Conolly
Haroon Pandohie
Richard Smith
Tristan Hydes
Tamara Hurlston
Kim Bullings
Michael Nixon
Annikki Brown
Philip Barnes
Ann Kirchman
Antoinette Johnson
Lynne Whittaker
Ronnie Dunn
Philip Jackson
Melinda Montemayor
Tamara Ebanks
Lyneth Monteith
Jane Ebanks
Salome Henry
Judith Witter
Mark Tibbetts
Dave Tatum.

For all details about the coming elections including the responsibilities and role of returning officers, visit the Elections Office website.