(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 […]
(CNS): The Official Register of Electors has been released with a record number of people eligible to cast a ballot in the 2025 General Election and Referendum on Wednesday, 30 April. There are 25,643 voters on the final list, 2,034 more than in 2021, when there were 23,609. The review over the last few weeks […]
(CNS): Registered voters living overseas were surprised to get unsolicited campaign material in the post after applying for a postal ballot, but the Elections Office says their data has not been compromised. The candidates’ agents are allowed to observe the postal ballot process from start to finish as part of a free and fair election […]
(CNS): Chevala Burke has been appointed as an additional new deputy elections supervisor to assist Wesley Howell, the supervisor, as the clock ticks down to the General Election and Referendum on 30 April. Officials said that Burke brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role that plays a key part in safeguarding the […]
(CNS): Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell has said the concerns and objections relating to the last register of electors before the general election on 30 April will be published on 26 February. The window for objections closed on Wednesday last week. Over the next 21 days, election officials will go through the challenges and ensure that […]
(CNS): All candidates running for office on 30 April must fill in the Register of Interests form declaring all of their assets and potential conflicts before Nomination Day on 3 March. The register enables the public to make informed decisions on polling day about whether or not their candidates have interests that could undermine their […]
(CNS): Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell has confirmed there are no rules in the Referendum Law to prevent anyone from anywhere spending unlimited money to promote any side of the three questions that will be put to voters on 30 April. Deputy Premier Kenneth Bryan successfully steered the bill through the House on Wednesday, which means […]
(CNS): The Cayman Islands revised election register now stands at 25,687 voters after 1858 new people registered to vote between the beginning of October and 15 January. The 7.8% increase from 23,829 on 1 January is one of the largest leaps in the election roll for many years, which Governor Jane Owen described as a […]
(CNS): District registering officers are exercising heightened vigilance in reviewing and verifying voter registration and change of circumstances forms after a number of complaints were made about people intentionally or inadvertently submitting false information. The Elections Office said the complaints were in relation to people attempting to fraudulently register to vote in electoral districts where […]
Creating a better future through better politics in Cayman
Michael Myles writes: Caymanians deserve honest, solutions-driven leadership, not more of the same political games. I understand that in politics, criticism is inevitable. I expected the usual personal attacks, dishonesty, exaggerations, and political interference, especially from paid social media pages and their surrogates, some of whom hide behind anonymous accounts while profiting from the division […]
The case for a national vote for Cabinet leaders
James E. Whittaker writes: One of the most common complaints among the voting populace in the Cayman Islands is the continual lack of positive outcomes on the key issues facing the country: the cost of living, affordable housing, energy, healthcare, education and more. Many of us believe the root cause of this is because our […]
Haven’t we had a referendum on cruise berthing before?
Michelle Lockwood, CPR Cayman, writes: You may be wondering: Why are we having a referendum now? Wasn’t this already decided? The short answer is no. CPR Cayman began a petition for a people-initiated referendum in the summer of 2018. Our petition asked: “Should the cruise berthing facility, a matter of national importance, be decided solely […]
To anyone bashing their MP for going AWOL the past four years
Change writes: Every constituency has the same issue when their MP becomes a minister. It is not that they stop caring about their area, but Cabinet members have no choice but to tackle issues at national level, and that takes budget, meetings, reports, travel, conference calls, sitting with lawyers to streamline bills and laws — all […]
Experienced incumbents vs. patriotic candidates
Cayman Sentinel writes: For decades, Caymanian politics has been dominated by the idea that experience is the most valuable asset a candidate can have. Career politicians tell us that because they have been in office before, they are the only ones qualified to lead. They argue that without their knowledge of government operations, the country […]
Repackaged political convenience
Michael Myles writes: As a citizen of my beloved Cayman Islands, I write this with a deep sense of frustration and disgust at how low and dishonest our political landscape has become. On 1 March, I witnessed politics at its worst — a spectacle of hypocrisy disguised as leadership. The chairman of the PPM stood […]
Cascabel 73 writes: There are a few realities that escape voters in our beloved islands. One: No candidate, even if they become a minister, can “change” anything by simply dictating it. In reality, ministers are very limited in what they can do. Even the bills (future laws) they bring are put together by lawyers who do […]
Frankenstein’s monster of Caymanian politics
Unbought Caymanian writes: It’s official — Cayman’s political merry-go-round has taken yet another spin, and we’re right back where we started. The Progressives (PPM), once seen as a somewhat steady hand, have now thrown caution, credibility, and any remaining standards out the window.
Independents, parties and campaign donors
Political Watchdog writes: Yesterday we watched a political telenovela unfold with the second premier and fourth deputy premier walking into parliament. And some people want to blame this on “independents”. Keen observers of Caymanian politics will know this isn’t about being independent or with a party. It’s about the character of the people running and […]
Ideas and oratory versus ‘fridgocracy’
Lite Poll: About 2,500 years ago, the Ancient Greeks developed a radical system of government in which all male citizens voted on the important decisions for their city state. (Slaves and women were not invited.) As democracy progressed, persuasive public speaking became an intrinsic part of politics as men learned, studied and practised the art […]
