2021 General Elections
OAG finds pre-election abuse of public cash
(CNS): The Office of the Auditor General noted an “unusual spike” in spending by the National Roads Authority during the two months before the 2021 General Election. More than $11 million was spent between the announcement of the early election and the day of the vote, Auditor General Sue Winspear and her team found during […]
Cayman needs constituency boundary review
(CNS): Among the many recommendations made by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR), which conducted a ‘virtual’ mission to observe the Cayman Islands General Election 2021, the experts said the difference in voter numbers across Grand Cayman’s constituencies is too great and the boundaries should be reviewed.
Election returns reveal few political donors
(CNS): The candidates’ financial returns only reveal a snapshot of who gave what to whom during the recent election campaign. The ‘Alliance’, a combination of the Progressives and four independent candidates, reported the most income from larger donors but only cash payments of $5,000 or more have to be declared. The returns show that the […]
Political financing ready for reform
(CNS): The team of domestic observers has now published the full report on the 2021 General Elections and has made a list of recommendations, one of which is the need for “comprehensive reform” of campaign financing. The local team was appointed because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented independent overseas observers from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association being […]
PPM spent $480k on lost election campaign
(CNS): The Progressives and their Alliance members spent just a few dollars short of the absolute maximum spending allowed under the law on their election campaign, and more than half of it appears to have come out of their own pockets. According to figures released by the Elections Office on the election expense returns by […]
Panton outlines a new direction for country
(CNS): The Cayman Islands’ new premier, Wayne Panton, set the tone for a new direction in government when he gave his debut address in his new job Wednesday, shortly after he and his new Cabinet were sworn into office. Panton spoke about a people-focused, transparent government in which the environment and creating a more sustainable […]
Panton made premier without vote
(CNS): The Progressive opposition members failed to nominate Roy McTaggart or any other member of the new House of Parliament in opposition to Wayne Panton on Wednesday. Following his nomination for the post by Heather Bodden, his running mate in the elections, and seconded by Kenneth Bryan, who became an early backer of Panton on […]
Roy forces PACT to embrace Mac as speaker
(CNS): Roy McTaggart and Joey Hew made their first strategic move towards undermining Panton’s PACT when they nominated Barbara Conolly for speaker on Wednesday, following the nomination by Jay Ebanks and Katherine Ebanks-Wilks for McKeeva Bush. The move forced the newly formed PACT to vote for Bush, despite the viable alternative, because of the risk […]
Rankine follows Juliana, rejoins PACT
(CNS): Isaac Rankine has returned to the independent PACT group after effectively causing more than five days of uncertainty about the next Cayman Islands government. Following the move by Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, whose decision to join Panton sealed PACT’s majority, Rankine also seems to have seen the writing on the wall, though his part in creating […]
Juliana jumps from PPM-Alliance ship
(CNS): Juliana O’Connor-Connolly waited until the eleventh hour, but as a result of the wishes of her constituents the MP elect for Cayman Brac East has now jumped from the PPM-Alliance political ship and sailed across to the PACT. Premier Designate Wayne Panton confirmed that O’Connor-Connolly had agreed to support his government and the invitation […]
Parliament to meet after Panton confirms new PACT
(CNS) Premier Designate Wayne Panton submitted a revised letter of support to Governor Martyn Roper on Tuesday, triggering a proclamation for Parliament to meet on Wednesday at 3pm. The governor’s proclamation has been gazetted outlining the meeting where all 19 members elect will be sworn in. The vote for premier, speaker and deputy speaker will […]
