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
