People who deface or damage political banners risk being arrested for criminal damage, warned the Elections Office on Friday.
Campaign posters belonging to several political candidates across the political spectrum have been defaced so far in several locations across the islands in what is possibly a sign of growing tensions as Election Day draws near.
In a statement, the Elections Office said, it “is aware of recent reports from political candidates regarding defaced or damaged campaign signs. We take these incidents seriously and remind the public that wilfully damaging property, including election and referendum signage, is a criminal offense under the Cayman Islands Penal Code (2022 Revision).”
Democratic process
The office encouraged anyone who witnesses property damage or vandalism to immediately report it to the police, adding, “Upholding the rights of all candidates to campaign freely is crucial to maintaining the integrity of our democratic process. The Elections Office is committed to ensuring a free and fair electoral process and appreciates the community’s ongoing cooperation and vigilance.”
East End candidate Isaac Rankine told Compass TV, “It’s political mischief and there’s no need for that.”
One of Rankine’s campaign signs has been defaced twice, first with a cross over his face and then with ‘DANGER’ written across the board.
“We don’t have to resort to that kind of vandalism and shenanigans,” he said.
One of Rankine’s rivals for the East End constituency, Gueva Richards, has also had her campaign signs damaged. She told Compass ITV’s Philipp Richter that she had received a call from another candidate letting her know that one of her signs had been broken in pieces. She fixed it and reinforced it, only to find that it was damaged once again.
“For me, it’s important that we respect each other,” she said, saying that she hasn’t been intimated by the action. “It has made me more determined to continue and to speak out more.”
Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell told the Compass that he advises all candidates to report any acts of vandalism to the police, and that any such activity is taken very seriously.
Past election cycles have seen similar acts of vandalism and it seems that this behaviour is continuing into the 2025 election.
George Town North candidate Romellia Welcome said that one of her posters was vandalised several weeks ago and that it was reported to police, but she declined to press charges. Last month, McKeeva Bush contacted police after one of his political posters was removed from a school fence in West Bay.