In the aftermath of a fiercely contested general election in the Cayman Islands, various political parties are in a race to build coalitions after no single party emerged with a clear majority. The election results reveal a challenging task ahead for these parties to garner the numbers needed for governance.
The People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) managed to capture seven seats within Parliament, securing them as the party with the highest number of parliamentary seats. However, these results left them three seats shy of the majority required to independently establish governance. The landscape of the political arena further complicated with the presence of two newly-formed parties vying for influence in the government. These two are the Cayman Islands National Party, created by an ex-manager from the global firm Ernst & Young, and the Caymanian Community Party, originating from the defunct United People’s Movement. Each of these emerging parties secured four parliamentary seats in the recent election.
In addition to these party-based gains, three independent candidates have successfully acquired seats, further diversifying the composition of the Parliament. The battle for power now sees political parties likely to engage with these independent figures to craft a workable coalition capable of establishing governance. To claim the position of the premier, the leader of a party needs the attainment of at least 10 out of the 19 seats allocated through election, leaving room for strategic alliances. The two remaining parliamentary seats are assigned through appointments.
Adding to the unfolding political saga was the surprising election outcome in which Julie Hunter, an independent candidate, secured a seat, thereby ending the lengthy tenure of McKeeva Bush, a notable figure in Cayman politics for four decades. This victory, in what has been described as a major political upset, was particularly significant due to Bush’s history; a former premier now overshadowed by allegations of corruption, which he has consistently denied. His legal troubles persisted with further accusations, and he faced court action regarding allegations of improper conduct, to which he pled not guilty. In 2022, Bush vacated the post of Speaker in light of separate accusations of misconduct.
Alongside the election, the citizens of the Cayman Islands participated in a nonbinding referendum, reflecting their stance on various pertinent issues. They largely favored the decriminalization of certain amounts of marijuana and lent their support to the establishment of a national lottery; however, they opposed the proposal aimed at building cruise berthing infrastructure due to widespread environmental concerns. This decision indicates the populace’s priorities and the environmental considerations influencing regional policy discussions.