Latest news with #CaymanIslandsNationalParty
Washington Post
02-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Cayman Islands will be led by a new coalition government after a close election race
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Cayman Islands will be led by a new coalition government after no single party clinched a majority following a general election this week . André Ebanks will be the new premier of the wealthy British territory, according to a government statement late Thursday. He'll lead a coalition of three independent candidates and two new political parties — the Cayman Islands National Party, founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and The Caymanian Community Party, established by Ebanks and other members of the dissolved United People's Movement. The two parties won four seats each in Wednesday's parliamentary election. Meanwhile, the People's Progressive Movement won seven seats, but was three short of a majority. The territory's Parliament has a total of 21 seats, two of which are appointed. Ebanks has pledged to stabilize the territory's finances and address what he described as a cost of living crisis. During the election, voters also approved in a referendum decriminalizing the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana and creating a national lottery. But they rejected a proposal to develop cruise berthing infrastructure, which environmentalists have opposed.
Winnipeg Free Press
02-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cayman Islands will be led by a new coalition government after a close election race
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The Cayman Islands will be led by a new coalition government after no single party clinched a majority following a general election this week. André Ebanks will be the new premier of the wealthy British territory, according to a government statement late Thursday. He'll lead a coalition of three independent candidates and two new political parties — the Cayman Islands National Party, founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and The Caymanian Community Party, established by Ebanks and other members of the dissolved United People's Movement. The two parties won four seats each in Wednesday's parliamentary election. Meanwhile, the People's Progressive Movement won seven seats, but was three short of a majority. The territory's Parliament has a total of 21 seats, two of which are appointed. Ebanks has pledged to stabilize the territory's finances and address what he described as a cost of living crisis. During the election, voters also approved in a referendum decriminalizing the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana and creating a national lottery. But they rejected a proposal to develop cruise berthing infrastructure, which environmentalists have opposed.
01-05-2025
- Politics
No party wins majority in Cayman Islands election
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Political parties in the Cayman Islands scrambled to form coalitions on Thursday after no single party clinched a majority following a tight general election. The People's Progressive Movement won seven seats in Parliament, the most out of all parties, but was three short of a majority, according to preliminary results. Meanwhile, two newly-formed parties — the Cayman Islands National Party, founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and the Caymanian Community Party, established by members of the dissolved United People's Movement — won four seats each. Three independent candidates also won seats in Parliament, and parties are expected to court them and form a coalition. The leader of the party that wins at least 10 of the 19 elected seats in Parliament would have become the new premier. Two other Parliament seats are appointed. Meanwhile, in one of the biggest political upsets in the recent history of the wealthy British overseas territory, an independent candidate, Julie Hunter, won the seat held by veteran politician McKeeva Bush for 40 years. Local media reported they were cousins. Bush was a former premier of the Cayman Islands but was ousted following corruption accusations that he denied. His run-ins with the law continued, and in a separate case, he pled not guilty to charges that he groped a female employee at a casino. In October 2022, Bush resigned as the speaker of Parliament following other allegations of sexual harassment. Voters on Monday also participated in a nonbinding referendum. They voted in favor of decriminalizing the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana and of creating a national lottery. But they rejected a proposal to develop cruise berthing infrastructure, which environmentalists had opposed.
30-04-2025
- Politics
Cayman Islands votes for Parliament seats and holds a referendum on possessing marijuana
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The Cayman Islands are holding general elections on Wednesday, with voters choosing candidates from a record three parties vying for seats in Parliament. Two parties were created ahead of the elections: the Cayman Islands National Party, founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and the Caymanian Community Party, established by members of the former United People's Movement, which was recently dissolved. It had been the party of the current premier. Both parties face competition from the People's Progressive Movement and several independent candidates. The leader of the party that wins a majority of the 19 seats is expected to become the new premier. Two other seats in Parliament are appointed. The wealthy British overseas territory of more than 66,000 inhabitants is also holding a nonbinding referendum that asks voters whether the government should create a national lottery, develop cruise berthing infrastructure and decriminalize the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana. The government has not said where a potential berthing facility would be located. Environmentalists oppose the proposal, saying it would destroy nearly two dozen acres of marine habitat.
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Cayman Islands votes for Parliament seats and holds a referendum on possessing marijuana
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The Cayman Islands are holding general elections on Wednesday, with voters choosing candidates from a record three parties vying for seats in Parliament. Two parties were created ahead of the elections: the Cayman Islands National Party, founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and the Caymanian Community Party, established by members of the former United People's Movement, which was recently dissolved. It had been the party of the current premier. Both parties face competition from the People's Progressive Movement and several independent candidates. The leader of the party that wins a majority of the 19 seats is expected to become the new premier. Two other seats in Parliament are appointed. The wealthy British overseas territory of more than 66,000 inhabitants is also holding a nonbinding referendum that asks voters whether the government should create a national lottery, develop cruise berthing infrastructure and decriminalize the possession and consumption of small amounts of marijuana. The government has not said where a potential berthing facility would be located. Environmentalists oppose the proposal, saying it would destroy nearly two dozen acres of marine habitat.
