The largest donor to a political party or individual candidate reported in this year’s general election was DMS, which donated $200,000 to the People’s Progressive Movement.
According to records and receipts filed by the candidates and parties with the Elections Office, which were viewed by the Compass, the PPM received $487,868 in total donations, which included the single $200,000 donation from DMS.
Under the Elections Act, all parties and candidates are legally required to file details of their campaign-related donations and expenses that occurred in the eight-week period between Nomination Day, on 3 March, and Election Day, on 30 April. While donations can be received and expenses accrued before Nomination Day, those do not have to be reported.
The Elections Office records show that, as well as the DMS donation, the PPM also received $95,404 in individual donations of under $5,000. The names of donors of less than $5,000 do not have to be reported to the Elections Office. The records also show eight other donations from companies and individuals of sums ranging from $59,860 to $6,604.
The Caymanian Community Party received $221,118 in donations, the majority of which –$151,118 – was from donors who gave sums of under $5,000, the records show. Party member and former premier Wayne Panton donated the single largest amount – $50,000 – to TCCP.
In a message on Monday, Premier André Ebanks, who is TCCP party leader, thanked supporters, saying, “We were successful in raising more than $200,000 in revenue, mostly through small donors giving $5,000 or less, our election expense return confirms we ended the campaign with a deficit of approximately KYD$170,000. Almost all of this we owe to small and medium-sized local businesses that stood with us in good faith as we championed change.”
The Cayman Islands National Party received a total of $34,942 in donations, $17,442 of which came from donors giving under $5,000. The remaining $17,500 was given by a single donor.
Advertising expenses
The donation and expenses records also outline how much the parties and candidates spent on advertising, in all kinds of formats – on radio and TV, newspapers and magazines, social media and websites, flyers and billboards, as well as the amounts spent on rallies and meetings.
The CINP spent a total of $367,103 on advertising and rallies. This included $18,480 on radio ads and appearances; $6,625 on newspapers and magazines, including online; and $8,229 on social media, podcasts and other online advertising. The party spent $25,317 on billboards, posters and flyers; $148,676 on rallies and meetings; and $79,777 on marketing and consultancy fees and giveaways, such as T-shirts.
The PPM, whose submission on its donations and spending to the Elections Office included a statement acknowledging its nearly $220,000 overspend on campaign expenses, spent $494,614 on its advertising and rallies. It spent $52,946 on radio spots; $48,035 on newspaper advertising; $2,500 on social media; and $174,032 on signs and posters. The party also paid $216,401 on rallies.
TCCP spent a total of $292,593 on advertising. This included $31,001 on radio spots; $2,400 on newspaper and magazines; $51,192 on social media and online coverage; $80,665 on posters and flyers; $104,685 on rallies and meetings; and $22,650 on live streaming, videos and photography.
The records are available for viewing by the public at the Elections Office.