Roper: Date change won’t impact fair elections
(CNS): Governor Martyn Roper is confident that the change of date for the elections will not prevent Cayman from enjoying a free and fair election, he has stated. The UK representative appears to be content to support an entirely political decision to cut the campaign by six weeks, which is designed to help the current administration.
On Monday, 15 February, Roper re-issued updated writs to the returning officers and their deputies to address the election date change from 26 May to 14 April.
“Despite the earlier than expected election this year, I have full confidence that the returning officers, deputy returning officers as well as the team at the Elections Office will have all the necessary measures and training in place to hold a free and fair election on Wednesday, 14 April,” Roper said in a release announcing the writ change, “The Cayman Islands has a long history of upholding international best practices for elections and this year will be no different,” he added.
Returning officers are responsible for the organisation and conduct of elections in their respective districts. Writs are the documents the governor issues to the returning officers commanding them to conduct an election in accordance with section 28 of the Elections Law (2021 Revision).
These writs will be returned to the Governor following the election with the name of the candidate who has been elected to serve in that electoral district.
The next change to the calendar is the all important nomination day which will take place on Monday, 1 March when candidates will declared their intention to run across all 19 electoral districts.
The remaining election activities are outlined below:
| Action | Date |
| Notice of Nominations | Monday, 22 February 2021 |
| Nomination Day | Monday, 1 March 2021 |
| Election Day | Wednesday, 14 April 2021 |
| Elections returns served on the Governor and return of the writs | Monday, 19 April 2021 |
Returning Officers and the electoral districts:
| Electoral District | Returning Officer |
| West Bay North | Nathania Shakira Sarita Pearson |
| West Bay West | Dale James Ramoon |
| West Bay South | Delano Oliver Solomon |
| West Bay Central | Antoinette Yvette Johnson |
| George Town South | Philip Antoinio Barnes |
| George Town West | Debbie-Ann Lovida Whittaker |
| George Town East | Shirley Lynn Whittaker |
| George Town Central | Tamara Danille Hurlston |
| George Town North | Philip Martin Jackson |
| Red Bay | Ida Jane Ebanks |
| Prospect | Judith Grace Witter |
| Bodden Town East | Lyneth Alynta Monteith |
| Bodden Town West | Haroon Lloyd Pandohie |
| Savannah | Kim Ann Bullings |
| Newlands | Tristaca Lynne Ebanks |
| East End | Melinda Natasha Montemayor |
| North Side | Alice Ann Louise Kirchman |
| Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman | Dave Talbert Tatum |
| Cayman Brac East | Chevala Lawanda Burke |
Category: Election News
Completely disingenuous statement from the Governor of course this change will impact the elections
Moving the election date up 6 weeks that otherwise would have been time for us to get to know candidates giving an advantage to incumbents who have higher name recognition.
That point aside it also serves the dual purpose of having the members of the current government dodge the scrutiny they should be receiving for covering for Mckeeva and also puts candidates who are trying to challenge incumbents at a disadvantage
100% true and he is just as complicit in this as Alden and Mac
And ensures that Mac gets all of the trappings of office.
Title, severance (haha not really coz he ain’t going anywhere) etc…
Did he or Alden ever bother to ask the people of this country if this is what we wanted?
This “johnny come lately” believes he knows whats best for us. From time and memorial, we have never had a snap election. There was never any need for it. We are a quiet, civilized country or at least I thought so until he washed up on our shores.
This makes us look no different to any third world country when the dictator can’t get his way, he just calls for an early election to ensure that his opponents has no chance of getting their voice heard and he can remain in power.
What the Governor did here was a total lack of respect and concern for the people of the island..We are not a banana republic. We need to be in control of our own destiny and not just by the whims of Alden and the Governor.
What!? Not a Banana Republic??
This is jut another nail in the Banana coffin! More proof that we ARE a Banana Republic. It just keeps getting better and better.
WOW!! this dude is a real TOOL yo and is a top contender for the worst governor ever certainly the most ineffective in protecting these islands and its people.
Amen, couldn’t have said it better..and all these fools following him like he is God..When will our people understand that these people are not always looking out for our good..
This one can grin up in your face and stab you in the back at the same time..
Reminds me of Dr. Lee…Wasn’t me..then the Governor slaps a medal on him for doing his job..Let’s see how much we will be sued for this one…and has this Governor said one word about this potential lawsuit or the perjury by Dr. Lee? Nothing, Nada, Zip…it is like he thinks if he ignores it long enough it will go away..
I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him and that ain’t very far..
Time for him and Alden to go so that we can some semblance of law and order back on these islands..
This man right here is the source of many of our problems. He is professional diplomat that knows how to handle gullible and easily led people like our so called politicians.
On Facebook, he made it clear that there was nothing he could do to stop the Premier from calling an early election but in his press statement announcing the snap election, he said that he did it at the request of and in consultation with the Premier…Which was it Governor? This is the double-speak and the diplomatic skill that I am talking about folks..You can’t have it both ways Governor and this time you got caught out..
Using your power and calling it “good governance” or that it is because of the “rule of law” is no more than using euphemisms to make people believe that you are doing the right thing. Most Caymanians are very shy gullible unassuming and they don’t realize when people like this are taking advantage of them. We have been taught to respect our masters particularly those that are sent here from the UK.
My friends, like the old people use to say, just because it come from foreign doesn’t mean it is any good.