A team of seven people and two alternates has been appointed to act as domestic observers in the upcoming general election and referendums.
The local observers, along with a separate international team, led by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from the United Kingdom, will be tasked with carrying out independent and non-partisan monitoring of Cayman’s election and referendum processes on 30 April.
Both will later deliver reports on their findings.
Previous recommendations
Reports by the domestic and international observers from previous elections have highlighted a number of issues that have yet to be addressed, such as concerns about a lack of transparency over financing of campaigns and candidates that take place between nomination day and Election Day. Outside of that campaign period, candidates can spend a limitless amount without having to report it.
Following the 2021 election, the domestic observers mission suggested that a register of political donations could be established. The international observers had called for full online transparency of campaign donations and expenditure, including in-kind donations and expenditure attributed to third parties, as well as extending the regulated campaign finance period.
The domestic observers in 2021 also had recommended the establishment of a ‘political ombudsman’ to investigate election-related complaints and allegations of wrongdoing. They said between elections that the ombudsman could work on developing guidelines “that are politically realistic and more intuitive than elections legislation”, while during election season, its leading role would be to deal with disputes and complaints.
20 apply to be observers
Governor Jane Owen made this year’s domestic appointments following a recent drive that attracted 20 applicants.
The seven-member domestic election and referendum observer mission consists of head of mission Deborah Ebanks, along with Nelva Ebanks, Briony Gallegos, Abraham Mathew, Brittany MacVicar, Marc Thomas and Valerie Ritch. Jessica Anderson and Colleen Stoetzel have been selected as alternate observers.
According to a press release on the appointments, the observers were selected by a committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Other members of the committee were chairman of the Constitutional Commission Lemuel Hurlston, member of the Human Rights Commission Jennifer Hunter, member of the Standards in Public Life Commission Woody Foster, member of the Civil Service Appeals Commission Shomari Scott, and chief project officer in the Office of the Deputy Governor Christen Suckoo.
“In reviewing the twenty expressions of interest received, the committee considered the expertise and work experience of the candidates, experience working in an election, appearance of political neutrality and any other knowledge, expertise and attributes that would be beneficial to the observer role,” the release noted.
While appointed by the governor, it stated, the domestic election and referendum observers will be conducting their work with full independence from the Cayman Islands government.
Terms of reference outlining the roles and responsibilities of the government and the observers were signed on 8 April, the release noted. Those include a commitment by the governor, on behalf of the Cayman Islands government, to respect the observers’ independence as non-partisan observers and not direct or interfere with their work, in keeping with international best practice on local observation missions.
“We are truly grateful to members of the community who have put themselves forward to observe the entire electoral period and all polling stations, including the postal ballot issue, advance voting, election and referendum day counting and any potential recount, post-election and referendum issues,” Owen said.
“Their contribution is an important part of the democratic process. The work that this team will undertake will help reinforce public confidence in the electoral process and promote the rights of participants in the upcoming election and referendum.”
The Cayman Islands first established local teams to observe elections and referendums in 2009.