Candidates face growing requests for cash
(CNS): Alric Lindsay, an independent candidate for George Town South, told CNS he is seeing an acceleration in requests from voters for cash as he canvasses in his constituency and is worried that voters don’t understand that selling their vote is against the law because of the legacy of politicians who have been wiling to buy it.
He is one of several candidates who have noted an increase since Nomination Day in voters claiming to have been given cash or goods by their opponents. Against this backdrop, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Elections Office have launched a campaign to meet public demand for more accountability, transparency and for candidates to denounce any form of corruption, they said in a release.
Some candidates believe the vote buying began this election cycle long before the start of the campaign.
Ezzard Miller, a longtime advocate for cleaner politics, said that he was always aware of claims that vote buying and selling was routine in some districts but it had been less common in his constituency of North Side.
Having always refused to give cash directly to voters, he instead chosen to help those in need to address their problems through the government’s official welfare channels. But he said that this year his constituents have been offered and some have been given cash and gifts as a clear inducement to vote by others.
“The difficulty with this type of corruption is that it is always difficult to get the voter who benefits from cash or another gift to report what is essentially vote buying,” he said. “But it seems that this time it is more prevalent. I am told that at Christmas, $100 gift cards for supermarkets as well as cash were circulating in the constituency and tied to voting a certain way.”
He said that these inducements appeared to be continuing, and his own supporters had reported being offered money for their vote.
Johann Moxam
Johann Moxam: Independent candidate for George Town North - Managing Partner of Lainston International Management Ltd. Background and education: Moxam studied at the University of... More, a newcomer to the political race in George Town North, said that he, too, had experienced direct solicitation from voters, which he believes is fuelled by the historical and continuing legacy of vote buying, as politicians seek to take advantage of those who are desperate, often as a result of the very policies of those candidates handing out money. Since Nomination Day, at least twenty people have asked him for money for their vote, he said.
“I have been shocked by the number of voters in George Town North that are clearly leveraging their vote for cash,” he said. “Some have even shown me construction materials they claim they have been given by the incumbent and then ask, ‘so what do you have for me?’ While these are allegations and there is no proof where these materials come from, it is an indictment on the past political leadership that these expectations exist.”
Moxam said it is clear that politicians have historically taken, and continue to take, advantage of those in dire circumstances but who are in that situation because of the mismanagement of past governments. “Inequitable and unfair policies have reduced people to a state of begging and a population dependent on hand outs,” he added.
Lindsay told CNS that he had raised his concerns with the ACC, which had passed him on to the Elections Office, and the supervisor of the elections advised him to read people who ask for money the relevant section of the Elections Law.
He said the number of people who are asking for help since Nomination Day has grown a great deal, and he has done his best to direct those in need to the relevant charities and non-profits that he has worked with over the years. But he added that there is an expectation by some constituents that their vote can be sold, which has been created by his predecessors.
“That has been the practice in the past, and so that is what voters have come to expect,” he said.
In December last year the UK extended the United Nations Convention Against Corruption to the Cayman Islands and this convention focuses on prevention as much as prosecution after the fact. Notoriously difficult to prosecute, there is a growing awareness that the best way to prevent corruption is through enhanced transparency.
The local ACC said this was applicable to the current election season, where the financing of election campaigns and political parties are at the forefront and concerns of corruption abound.
The commission has teamed up with the Elections Office to launch an education campaign, under the tagline of ACT, which stands for Against Corruption Today, to promote voter and candidate integrity, transparency and accountability. The campaign is also encouraging voters and candidates to pledge to stand against corruption by denouncing vote buying or selling.
The pledge is available to download from the Elections Office and the Anti-Corruption Commission websites and people are being encouraged to take a selfie of themselves with the pledge and post on social media in support of this initiative with the hashtag #ACTCayman2021.
Alternatively, pictures can be sent to the Elections Office at office@elections.ky or Anti-Corruption Commission at info@anticorruptioncommission.ky and they will be posted on the Elections Office Facebook page. For the complete election education details, click the graphic below.
Related Viewpoints
Category: Election News
Mr. Miller and Mr. Moxam, have you reported these activities to the police, which you say people told you or you observed were occurring?
If you have not, then you are contributing to the problem as surely as the alleged proponents of these acts. I think it is self-serving of politicians to be talking up corruption and bribery in public to make themselves look clean and imply illegal actions on the part of their opponents, but fail to carry out their civic duty and report the matter to the police. What’s more, if you did not report it to the police, I do not believe a word you say.
What’s the difference when handing out schools bags or school supplies which was done when school started this year.
Every politician in Cayman is asked for money by unprincipled ‘voters’ and the low-life scum gladly accept it from anyone who is stupid enough to part with it.
To the best of my knowledge, the ballot is still secret so there is no way of finding out if the person gave you a vote in return for the favour received.
The problem that I have is with the politicians who use OUR money to give out favours AFTER they have been elected.
Having to pretend that you like some dope-head bum for a few weeks, and using some of your personal money before an election, is but a small punishment. Most politicians deserve to suffer far worse than that.
Blame the Governor, he’s responsible for everything that goes on here, not Caymanians.
Lights, water and food is needed more than once every 4 yr and for some of Us we only see them then after collecting that huge salary and selling out the Island again getting them hands greased under the table.
The easiest way to do it is to take remuneration for simple “tasks” that you carry out for the individual. If is between two consenting individuals then I fail to see the problem. A new candidate has to earn loyalty from me and my fellow voters. Not the other way around…
A suggestion for the ACC for 2025: run a sting candidate. Have someone register in a random district. Have them log who gives them cash and comes to them with cash and reports of goods or cash distributed. Be subtly open about it. Then, about a week before the election, file a nice pile of charges. (And the person abandons their candidacy.)
It won’t stop everything, but it will make a good start.
(And by declaring the investigation and dropping the candidacy a week in advance it will not negatively affect the vote.)
probably need a sting candidate in most districts
Log who gives them cash?
Fosters gift cards, CUC vouchers, Hurleys cards, plywood,.
1.22pm And you earn yourself a room in the Hotel for Crazies up in East End. Don’t you you realize how corrupt that would be. Think about the persons who have voted already by mobile or postal ballots and have wasted their vote due to your evil and corrupt suggestion.
So this is where the Cayman laziness comes from. Instead of no work/home/reliable public transport/island wide sidewalks/thriving public schools no vote, it’s no $100/Christmas turkey dinner/gift cards no vote. Absolute stupidity.
Soon come my Caymanian citizenship so I can take part in this cash bonanza. Maybe I should get all the candidates around to my yard at the same time so I can auction my vote to the highest bidder.
But seriously, Caymanians, you get what you vote for. Vote in corrupt and greedy people and then you cannot wonder why their actions just fill their own pockets and not look after the islands and the people as a whole.
Time to drain the Cayman swamp. Vote the PPM out!
Thank you mr. Moxam mr. Lindsay & mr. Miller for speaking the truth and exposing what is really going on this election season. Cayman need to vote out all the corrupt and shady politicians
So what, we need money to survive and they are getting the big bucks from the developers. Spread it around to us small fish!
And you wonder why Cayman is blacklisted. Corrupt to the core!
It is also likely that those who purchase their offices will make a profit from them when they rule after spending their own money. For, it would be strange if a respectable man who is poor will want to profit but a corrupt man who has spent his own money would be disinclined to do the same.
Be interesting to discover where all the money for these gifts and handouts comes from because you can be sure it’s not coming out of the candidates’ pockets.
Simplest way to stop the problem is to cut off the funding isn’t it?
The money comes from wealthy people and companies that sponsor campaigns, get big contracts and control the politicians. Cayman has a deep state that directs the politicians and looks out for its agenda that helps special interests
Not to mention the drug dealers? I’m thinking about one particular person who succesfully campaigned to get the old Drugs Task Force disbanded and then several others who tried to block the introduction of the helicopter in 2007.
Can’t blame the Cayman voter they have been mind conditioned to believe this an acceptable exchange for their vote those from other Caribbean jurisdictions don’t need conditioning they believe it’s a right! Ain’t that true XXXX? In fact some voting XXXX think it’s a Cayman longtime tradition!
Completely the norm here in Cayman. This is why Caymanians do not recognize corruption. They deny it exists because they do not understand the concept. They DO NOT KNOW what ‘corruption’ means. So they see nothing wrong with it. That and they are all so interconnected/related, they wouldn’t ‘tattle’ on them about it either.
True conditioning behavior for the uneducated and ill-informed. Just keep filling that trough to see who comes to feed at it.
EAT em OUT, DRINK em OUT, then VOTE them OUT!
Completely the norm all over the world
Money running hot in the streets right now they will do whatever it takes for that power and opportunity to continue to sell out Cayman.
Education campaign? No arrests? You are sickening enablers of corruption. Not the robust upholders of the rule of law you purport to be. #Legge was right!
You need to read the article again. CNS explains why this is a problem. You need help and a new drum to beat!
You are very much a part of the problem. Crimes are being committed. Why do those committing them have immunity. (They know exactly what they do).
Have you reported the crimes and provided the evidence? If you have please tell us who you reported it to. This is an open forum and I look forward to reading your response.
Are you suggesting they the police are unable to detect people on doorsteps handing stuff out?
Not sure why I am the problem. If you cannot read what CNS published or if you dont understand the meaning of ‘notoriously difficult to prosecute’ then perhaps you should take on something less challenging- like color by numbers.
It’s very hard to prosecute if no one is ever investigated, let alone arrested.
Legge said you were corrupt.
Still say he’s right?
Legge suggested Cayman was corrupt. It is.
One infamous merchant in Cayman Brac posted a sign in his shop saying
“NO Credit to those who didn’t Vote for me.”
CNS: Before anyone jumps to any unfortunate conclusions, this is a famous story on the Brac about the late Capt. Keith Tibbetts. It happened a very long time ago.
Good luck on stamping this out, this has been going on from time immemorial when candidates gave a pound of sugar or flour to voters.
This is sadly true!
And unfortunately it appears to be one of those crimes that would be difficult to prove in criminal court and investigate to get proper evidence.
This is exactly the challenge the Elections Office has and they are in fact trying to do the right thing. I know the guys that are involved and they are desperately trying to get ahead of this problem. But serious legislative changes would be needed and even then getting the evidence wouldnt be easy…..
Sadly, this is why our elected officials are corrupt. The electorate is corrupt. Not much more can be said.
Let’s sing along, shall we: Yo Ho! A Pirates life for me!
It’s sad that some useless incumbents may keep their seats because their opponents have too much integrity to buy votes.
And because some of our law enforcers seem to have too little integrity to require that the law be followed.
Yeah. Good luck finding evidence to prosecute. The article makes it clear this is a difficult task.
How do you ‘require’ that the law be followed? Pray tell.
You got that right, 8:39pm!
It is also sad that some standing for election has more money than integrity because I have heard that some are offering the money to would be voters to take out the incumbents. I have also heard that some are even stupid enough to finance someone to run merely to garner a few votes to take out someone they don’t like. As they say hearsay cannot stand up in court. This is a good time to have a phone handy.