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Cayman Islands elections postponed following Hurricane Ivan

Thursday, September 30, 2004

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: As a result of the devastation caused to the Cayman islands by Hurricane Ivan, the general elections that were due to be held on November 17, 2004 have been postponed until next year.

At a meeting between all 15 elected members of the legislative assembly and the Governor Mr Bruce Dinwiddy on Tuesday, a consensus was reached that the general elections will now be held on 17 May. 2005.

It is not yet clear whether or not the electoral roll will be closed as of the list in force on the original election date of 17 November 2004. Registration of new voters usually takes place every three months, and it is therefore possible that 3,000 recipients of Caymanian status (belongership) in September 2003 may be eligible to register and vote in the postponed election. This would swell the list from 13,000 or so to over 15,000 potential voters.

It is understood that the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) had a preference for a November 2005 election, while the UK government suggested the May date. According to a spokesperson for the opposition Peoples Progressive Movement, the PPM’s preference was for an earlier date.

In the event, legislators have now agreed on a new date and one reason for holding the elections earlier rather than later was reportedly to ensure the process was over before the beginning of the new fiscal year in July.

Still to be determined is whether or not modernisation of the constitution will take place prior to what is now the 2005 general election.

Among the proposed changes in the new constitution is the appointment of a chief minister, an additional two elected seats for the assembly and provision for single member constituencies. The time now presented by the postponement of the election could very well provide an opportunity to establish the boundaries for single member constituencies.

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