Vote buying and bullying mars election campaign
(CNS): The Elections Office is investigating unspecified allegations of both vote buying and voter intimidation, as the election campaign appears to be taking a turn for the worse. Elections officials said that so far, the allegations lack details. They are now urging voters who are being harassed or induced to vote in a certain way with the offer of cash or gifts to report these illegal vote-buying efforts to the police on 949-4222.
In light of these reports, Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell is urging all candidates, supporters and voters to uphold the integrity of the electoral process as the allegations imply that some candidates and their supporters are offering gifts, food cards, appliances or even money in exchange for votes, which is illegal under the Elections Act. Offering or accepting any form of inducement intended to influence voting decisions is a serious election offence.
Any voter who, either before or during an election, accepts, agrees to accept or makes a deal to receive money, gifts, loans, jobs, or any other benefit — either for themselves or for someone else — in return for voting, agreeing to vote, not voting, or agreeing not to vote is committing an offence under the Elections Act.
Vote buying allegations are far from uncommon in the Cayman Islands and have been made in almost every election in living memory. However, no candidate has ever been prosecuted as it is notoriously difficult to secure the necessary evidence since the voters who are receiving the gifts are unlikely to want to incriminate themselves.
Howell is raising his concerns about this type of behaviour and how it can undermine the goal of a free and fair election that voters can trust. “These reports are deeply concerning,” he said. “Illegal activities of this nature undermine public confidence in free and fair elections. We take these allegations seriously and will work closely with law enforcement to ensure compliance with election laws.”
Howell was clear that accepting gifts or benefits in return for voting a certain way is against the law. The right to vote is personal and sacred, and every voter should be able to make their decision freely, without coercion or undue influence. Voters deserve an environment where they can access information, critically assess candidates and issues, and engage in public discourse without pressure.
In addition to reports of vote-buying, the Elections Office has received complaints of aggressive canvassing and voter harassment. While voter engagement is an essential part of the democratic process, intimidation or undue pressure has no place in election activities. Voters must be able to make their choices in an atmosphere free from fear, harassment or coercion. Any behaviour that threatens these fundamental freedoms may constitute an offence under the law.
“We all have a role to play in protecting the integrity of our elections,” Howell added. “By working together, we can ensure that the democratic process remains fair, transparent, and free from unlawful influence.”
While the reports received so far lack specific details, the Elections Office is urging people to come forward with information about illegal election activities and to report them to the police without delay.
Reports can also be made confidentially by calling 949-4222 and providing details, such as the nature of the offence, those involved, and when and where it took place.
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Category: Election News
Will Joey Hew, Kenny Bryan, Juju, Jon Jon, Pearlina, Lonny, McKeeva, Ozzy, Johnny and the rest be investigated and charged for buying votes?
vote buying, I get. I’ve never been part of the cool kids, so I’ve never been offered a bribe. Good call, really, because it wouldn’t matter. Bullying???? Bring it on!!! I pity the foo!
Seriously, I would make a huge public deal out of anyone that even hinted at bullying me or mine for our vote. I would contact CNS in a hot minute.
Biggest bully now is the pushy lead pro cruise pier shouter who floods every chat group with endless “vote yes” propaganda .
Sick of it .
My question is: Does anyone really feel obligated to vote for whoever gave them a Foster’s or gas car? (which nowadays helps pretty much everyone, because we are all just trying to make it) When you go into that booth, only you know who you voted for, so you say thank you for the help and still vote for whoever you think is the best candidate.
The 27 votes I control in BTW are very much for sale. Call me.
If what you are saying is true, and not just sarcasm, then you are a true turd, and should be flushed.
And take your BTW candidate with you.
New kid on the block is so desperate to be leader that they are trying to buy their way in. Paying salaries to the other candidates on their team too bad it’s not enough to buy loyalty. $50.00 notes went out in a lot of Christmas cards, retired civil servants being paid $5000.00 per month to be cheerleaders.Truck drivers being given “loans”. All this just in one constituency.
Either West Bay or Cayman Brac
What constituency is this if I may ask?
Cayman Brac??
Mr Howell needs to just be quite as they are only helping people out and not buying no dam votes.
So much English problem
There is no such thing as corruption in the Cayman Islands, this is just fake news at it again.
Judging by spelling, we have a BTE or BTW voter anxious not to lose hand outs AKA Vote buying.
So let me put things into perspective on the Sister Islands candidates and their gift giving (I have lived here all my life – so I have a pretty good idea on what is happening here):
1. Ruth Ann Bodden – never heard much about her giving away stuff
2. James Christian – other than some fruit, nothing else
3. Maxine McCoy-Moore – never heard much about her giving away stuff.
4. Dan Scott – in recent years a Christmas party and supporting of some events. This past Christmas plenty of $25 gift vouchers.
5. Juliana Connor-O’Connolly – has consistently been a gift giver over the years – mothers day, fathers day, Christmas, Halloween, etc
6.Lonny Lee Tibbetts – has record of being charitable.
7. Nickolas Dacosta – never heard of him giving away stuff.
This is just a general overview from one persons perspective.
Please enlighten me and the public with more information
If they can buy your vote, then you are worth less than nothing. My name and character means more to me than a few dollars But most of those people are only concerned about the dollar.
You always come with the same bull
“complaints of aggressive canvassing and voter harassment.” Bah. Smile and say, no thank you and close the door gently.
“Any voter who, either before or during an election, accepts, agrees to accept or makes a deal to receive money, gifts, loans, jobs, or any other benefit — either for themselves or for someone else — in return for voting, agreeing to vote, not voting, or agreeing not to vote is committing an offence under the Elections Act.” Got it. So the onus is on us, the electors, to commit an offense or not, while any candidate who offers such knows, KNOWS, that the odds of them being prosecuted are somewhere between slim and none.
My sentiments exactly. Mr. Howell’s message is clearly for voter whilst he conveniently ignores the blatant vote buying, (beach sand) gifts, inducements, favourable (security) contracts, lucrative (dump) deals, before and after elections by MPs. Yup go for the low hanging fruit … as always.
11:06 am. Howell has much more to address,i he should say who caused the fiasco at time lof nomination. Let the world know the truth and stop dragging peoples names through the mud, like they tried to deceive.
All now I not get my fridge.
Funny isn’t it what we agree is a bribe and what isn’t. I’ve been told for 20+years now that voting for him/her is a vote for a better future, i kept taking that offer.
Still waiting.
I attended the first campaign rally for Justin Ebanks in North Side. There was a group of of people with Jay Ebanks shirts on that were yelling at the guest speakers all night long. It made people uncomfortable. I spotted the Minister Jay Ebanks driving cross several times but he did not stop to address the heckling. One then has to assume that he was aware of it and condoned it.
In addition, a couple of ladies were wearing North Side office shirts asking people for personal data and their views on who they supported. When I asked why they were asking for my birth date etc. they claimed they wanted to update their records. Alot of people were misled into providing personal data for Jay’s office to have a data base of the registered voters. I bet no one is looking into this data breach.
Please don’t come back to my yard and I don’t need your turkey.
Jay the truck driver behaving like Jay the truck driver. No surprises there .
Vote buying.?, Intimidation.? Bullying.?
Hmmmmm seems like 3rd world election culture has arrived.
I have a question, and every time I ask, no one can answer. Why did Ossoie Bodden switch election districts? He always ran against John John and had his cow cod turned on him. Is Wayne telling him he would stand a better chance against Chris? Did he not abandon who he represented before?
11:22am. Do you have co common sense? If so, you must be the only person who doesn’t know that John John
Voters are from ayahd. His office provides them with staples constantly. Who else do you expect them to be loyal to?
Arrived? Originated.
Another Jamaican import.
Jon-Jon giving gas cards and Foster gift cards is so you can drive to vote and also get yourself a snack to eat. Now what is wrong with that?
F*ck all of you — seriously. Every last beggar in this rotten-ass neighbourhood can go straight to hell. I despise living among you sellouts in the heart of BTE, watching you trade away the soul of this country for crumbs — cheap gifts and empty promises like that’s all your dignity is worth. I’m suffocating in this damn garrison, surrounded by ignorance and stupidity, and I swear I’d vanish without a trace if I had the money. But even that’s slipping away — the dream of leaving, of building something better, is dying slow. And the sickest part? It’s you — the same fools who keep putting that parasite back in power — you’re the reason this place is rotting from the inside out.
Import Jamaicans, give them Status and da wa ya get 4.04..
I am truly sad to read your post as it represents the disease that is creeping across all of Cayman.
Thanks Mac Kenneth Dumber than dumb and Saunders.
I absolutely agree with you. God knows I feel your pain. I think you and I are the only two in BTE that feel the same. Everyone else just waiting with their hands out and voting foolishly to keep these islands in the gutter.
Gutter politics adopted free m next door.
One voter somewhere…. stand up for your country… if offered a bribe, get someone to witness you accepting it then immediately report it to the elections office. You & the witness can then hand over the bribe, give statements to the RCIPS and let the legal process take over. By immediately reporting and handing over the bribe I do not see how you can be prosecuted. Having someone get done for attempting to bribe a voter is the only way this is likely to stop.
Report it and just see what happens to you. Best just keep your mouth shut and your eyes closed if you know what is good for you.
Ironic as a party has a convicted bully as their mouth piece…
And another a convicted police assaulter as their deputy leader.
He’s been upgraded from drug dealer..? Or as well as.
In addition to.
As in
He has a big mouth, and he is a piece.