Tara bows out of politics

| 24/02/2021
Cayman News Service
Minister Tara Rivers at Thursday’s press conference

(CNS): Tara Rivers, the current financial services minister and MP for West Bay South, has confirmed recent speculation that she is bowing out of politics and will not be seeking re-election on 14 April. In a live streamed social media event, she said she had never intended to be a career politician. However, she declined to say what was next, including whether or not she was joining Walkers or taking up the now vacant government position in London.

Although Rivers had campaigned and been elected as an independent in 2013 and again in 2017, she became a firm supporter of the PPM coalition. So much so that she remained silent over the last few months about Speaker McKeeva Bush retaining his job after his conviction for a violent assault on a woman.

She has faced heavy criticism for that silence, especially as she had campaigned against Bush vigorously in 2013, and had also promised she would do the right thing and not slavishly adhere to party politics. Rivers was also gender affairs minister.

Responding to questions from CNS about her silence, she still failed to condemn the actions of the speaker and hedged around the issue. Saying that there were times to remain silent, she maintained that her track record spoke for itself and she did not condone violence against women. But facing criticisms that she was elected to challenge the status quo but had ended up being part of it, she said she had learned many lessons and accepted there would always be critics.

Advising any new, young, independent female candidates who are seeking election this time around, as Rivers herself had been in 2013, she advised those who are elected to serve not to be afraid to do the right thing.

Rivers’ decision not to run deprives what Premier Alden McLaughlin said had been a certain seat for the coalition, according to polling. While noting his disappointment that Rivers is not running, he refused to confirm whether or not Andre Ebanks, who resigned early this year from his position as the government’s ‘man in the UK’ will be the ‘coalition’s man in WBS’.

Ebanks is expected to formally declare his intention to contest the seat in the next few days but it is not clear if he is going to run openly and directly on the Progressives’ ticket or as an independent who is willing to be part of the coalition campaign.

McLaughlin said that the PPM was talking to several people and stated that Rivers’ public announcement may trigger more talks.

Press Release – Rivers decides not to contest the 2021 Elections

See the announcement on Facebook here

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Category: Election News

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