André Ebanks, Gary Rutty and members of the new coalition meet HE The Governor Jane Owen following the Election
On Wednesday 30th April an election was held and registered voters elected new representatives to the Cayman Islands Parliament. Nationally, turnout was 74%, higher than many other Western nations however lower than in previous years.
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Members of Parliament
The 19 newly elected MPs who were sworn in on 6th May 2025 are:
- Rolston Anglin (West Bay North, IND)
- Heather Bodden (Savannah, TCCP)
- Kenneth Bryan (George Town Central, PPM)
- Nickolas Da Costa, (Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman, CINP)
- André Ebanks (West Bay South, TCCP)
- Johany ‘Jay’ Ebanks (North Side, IND)
- Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, (West Bay Central, TCCP)
- Joseph ‘Joey’ Hew (George Town North, PPM)
- Julie Hunter (West Bay West, CINP)
- Juliana O’Connor-Connolly (Cayman Brac East, PPM)
- Michael Myles (Prospect, CINP)
- Wayne Panton (Newlands, TCCP)
- Isaac Rankine (East End, IND)
- Gary ‘Peanut’ Rutty (George Town South, CINP)
- Christopher Saunders (Bodden Town West, IND)
- Dwayne ‘John John’ Seymour (Bodden Town East, PPM)
A New Government
In terms of producing a government, the election was inconclusive with seven People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) MPs elected, four Cayman Islands National Party (CINP) and four Caymanian Community Party (TCCP) MPs elected and a further four independent candidates elected. Within 24 hours of the election, negotiations had concluded with The Caymanian Community Party and the Cayman Islands National Party entering into a coalition with three independent members to form a government.
The Caymanian Community Party Leader André Ebanks is the new Premier of the Cayman Islands and Gary Rutty of the Cayman Islands National Party is the new Deputy Premier.
The coalition Government is made up of the following members:
- André Ebanks (West Bay South, TCCP) and Premier of the Cayman Islands. TCCP
- Gary ‘Peanut’ Rutty (George Town South, CINP) and Deputy Premier of the Cayman Islands.
- Heather Bodden (Savannah, TCCP)
- Katherine Ebanks-Wilks (West Bay Central, TCCP)
- Wayne Panton (Newlands, TCCP)
- Nickolas Da Costa (Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman, CINP)
- Julie Hunter (West Bay West, CINP)
- Michael Myles (Prospect, CINP)
- Rolston Anglin (West Bay North, IND)
- Johany ‘Jay’ Ebanks (North Side, IND)
- Isaac Rankine (East End, IND)
Following the announcement of the formation of a new government, Joey Hew of the People’s Progressive Movement denounced the new government as a ‘marriage of convenience’ and claimed that negotiations and not the will of the people had chosen a government, despite such negotiations being a regular feature of Cayman’s post-election politics. The PPM MPs will sit alongside independent MP Christopher Saunders on the Opposition benches with Joey Hew retaining the role of Leader of the Opposition.
Referendum 2025
On the same day as the general election, voters were asked their view on three national issues in non-binding referendums. The public were asked whether they were for or against the introduction of a national lottery, for or against the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of cannabis and for or against the development of cruise berthing facilities.
Voters resoundingly rejected cruise berthing facilities by a margin of almost two to one following a strong campaign by opponents of the port project, no doubt helped by a total absence of information. Voters were being asked to vote on a project that had neither a location, blueprint, impact assessment nor any costings and perhaps unsurprisingly they made their feelings clear.
A majority of voters voted in favour of decriminalising possession of small amounts of cannabis (55%) and introducing a national lottery (51%). The referendums were advisory, and the government is under no obligation to act on these results. Given the state of the public finances and the pressing issues of population growth, immigration reform, traffic and education it seems unlikely that these issues will be at the very top of the next government’s agenda.