Radio host to take on leader of TCCP in WBS
(CNS): Well-known radio host Sterling Dwayne Ebanks, who has been hosting the lunchtime phone-in show, Talk Today, on Radio Cayman for many years, has thrown his hat into the political ring to go up against André Ebanks
André Ebanks (WBS incumbent) is the leader of The Caymanian Community Party. He has served as financial services minister 2021-2024, and deputy premier 2023-2024. More in a head-to-head race for the Cayman Islands constituency with the largest number of voters. Sterling Ebanks announced his candidacy on his own show on the government station last week, but did not say where in West Bay he would be running.
But on Nomination Day, despite speculation that he was eyeing up a run against McKeeva Bush
McKeeva Bush (WBW incumbent) is the longest-serving member of parliament (the “Father of the House”), having represented West Bay continuously for three decades. More in West Bay West, instead he opted to take on the leader of The Cayman Community Party.
Speaking to CNS on Monday, Ebanks said that he had chosen GTS because of the size of the constituency, as he firmly believes that the Caymanian electorate should be voting on a national slate for their government leaders, and one of the primary reasons he had decided to run for office was to start that discussion.
He noted that currently, there are some constituencies with many candidates to choose from, whereas some have no choice. If he had not decided to stand in WBS, then the TCCP leader would have been automatically elected.
He also said that running as an independent this time around is not just about the issue of independent thought but because the likely outcome of this election will be a coalition government. He believes that over the years he has earned the respect of most of the existing parliamentarians and candidates and could find a place among them as a voice of reason and a voice of integrity.
Sterling Ebanks, who maintained he had the “utmost respect” for the incumbent, said that they would be debating on the issues and avoiding divisions to help pave the way for a national vote. He said the change towards more participatory undivided politics needs to start with the introduction of district councils, a fundamental part of his campaign platform.
Check out the CNS Election Section interactive map to see who is running in each constituency.
See the list of candidates and their party affiliations here.
Category: Election News
Sterling is exactly who we need in Parliament, but I think he picked the wrong guy to go up against. Big mistake.
Yea Andre might have been Minister of Financial Services and got Cayman off the grey list but what did he actually get accomplished for the constituents of WBS? He could start by trying to live in the area and actually experience some of the issues the people are facing and being available to the people.
And lets not forget that, as much as Andre likes to take the credit, the work to get Cayman off the FATF Grey List was actually done during the previous Govt administration, where 60 of the 63 FATF action items were addressed in record time. The remaining items – evidence of money laundering prosecutions and regulatory administrative fines – took time to demonstrate. It was only a matter of time that Cayman would be removed, so Andre was in the right place at the right time to accept the praise.
Andre does not deserve to get a free ride! Sterling has my vote and everyone in my household. I suspect those who are tired of this person who misled them last election will also be voting Sterling all the way. Ask people in Government and they will tell you how full of himself Andre is – and not a team player – he was too busy patting himself on the back. The quitters thought they could walk and would bring down the government. Wrong!
Yet another “media personality” running for office. Haven’t we learned from Elio, Austin and Kenny that just having the gift of gab is no qualification for actually governing? I don’t dislike Sterling Dwayne and I find him entertaining in a quirky kind of way, but really… what is he going to offer to Parliament?
He sure likes to talk tho..sometimes it’s like he doesn’t have a guest in the studio.
It’s hard to imagine a worse district of the 19 possible to declare in. There are very few voting residents in the WBS and GTN communities with the spare recreational listening time to tune in to morning crab-in-the-bucket radio shows, to even know who this guy is, let alone recognize him out of a police lineup. He is going to get trounced by the high composition of paper-Caymanian voters in the district of WBS that have proudly never heard of him because they have to do serious work every morning.
Is it telling, or ironic, that Sterling’s show was not on in the morning?
To 10:26 am: Nothing against him, but I certainly cannot see him securing anything but a back bench seat. The days when just being a Caymanian was enough to legislate are over. You need to bring it and keep bringing it.
As is evident by Duh-wayne, Kenneth Bribean [sic], permanently-AFK Joey “Who?!”, etc etc etc.
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Or no seat, running against André
Thank you Sterling! We need someone to advocate for national elections as our current system is a train wreck that allows people to get elected by buying a handful of votes in some districts.
The District Council Law came out in 2011, but all now successive administrations have not pushed to enact it because government has to fund them.
The reason we don’t have District councils is because the people we have elected since 2011 don’t want to hear from us between elections. They only want to hear from the special interests until a few weeks before the next election.
Similarly, why there is no Voter Initiated Petition mechanism or Referendum Law…despite being required to have these per the Constitution.
Sterling has had a national audience with his show, and should have run against the GTN incumbent and PPM party leader Hew to get him out. His constituents constantly complain about his inaction and lack of meetings for the past three terms. It is clear he is for the big developers.
Yup. All 7 regular listeners would certainly ensure the end of Joey.
Seriously?
A sterling effort but alas, to no avail.
Makes no difference. Going to be a shit show any way you cut it
CINP – 6 seats
PPM – 5 seats
The Cayman Catron Party- 5 seats
“Independents” – 3 seats
Of course the independents will all demand cabinet seats in order to come on board so remain the kingmakers. Someone of those deals will already be in place depending on how the chips fall, so hang on to your hats and buckle up for 4 more years of horseshit.
You get what you vote for.
Not cruise piers hopefully.