CAYMAN’S COMING ELECTION: The race is on…but who will run?

As Cayman takes a break for the Christmas holidays, amidst the mix of relaxation and celebration lurks the politics.

There’s really no escaping it. And with elections looming - on schedule but in the aftermath of yet another political crisis - the outlook for the New Year looks uncertain.

That uncertainty though is less about the viability of Cayman as an economy and society. It’s really more about the state of our politics, especially who will lead the next government.

And there will be a new and different government in May (no maybe about that!) following the general election on April 30th 2025.

And therein lies the question that will no doubt be occupying after-Christmas-dinner conversations and seasonal leisure time throughout the land.

Who will be the next leader of Cayman?

It’s all but confirmed that the current leader, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly shoehorned into position in the wake of the PACT coalition collapse, is stepping down. Not just from the position but politics in general.

She is reported to have stated her intention to November’s gathering in London of UK and Overseas Territories leaders at the annual JMC (Joint Ministerial Conference).

That at least two OT leaders in attendance have wished her well in her coming ‘retirement’ attests to that.

With her own hastily assembled UPM (United People’s Movement) coalition of independents almost coming apart following the equally hasty dismantling of the equally hastily assembled predecessor PACT of Wayne Panton - of which she was a part, who’s next for Cayman’s leadership is more of a statement than a question.

Admittedly that sentence and what it detailed is a bit to chew on. But so also in many respects was the Panton PACT coalition of independents, including the name - People-driven, Accountable, Competent and Transparent.

The main opposition PPM/Progressives (People’s Progressive Movement) under the new leadership of Joey Hew, seems set to present a parade of new faces - and some returnees - to the political scene.

But in the politics of Cayman, numbers matter, especially having a full slate of winnable candidates.

With many of the tried and proven PPM stalwarts stepping down, new party leader Hew, has his work cut out for him (pun intended).

A new scoping group publicly announced by current UPM Parliamentary Secretary and former Premier and Speaker, McKeeva Bush, might be doing candidate screenings privately but so far no public presentations have been made.

Mr Bush, himself an independent, just barely held on to his long-held West Bay West seat in the 2021 election. Early indications are that he could face an even tougher fight in 2025.

The breakaway faction of ministers and a Parliamentary Secretary who came close to collapsing Premier O’Connor-Connolly’s UPM independents coalition have so far been speaking with one voice.

While mainly defending their reasons for quitting, whether it could be said that they are currently or will eventually campaign as a unit, is still to be seen…and heard.

Also not clear and not known is if they will form a party or are just following the fashion of being another political marriage of convenience by independents. And who might their leader be?

That brings us to the remaining independents.

Former PACT finance minister Chris Saunders remains on the opposition benches as an independent (whether he jumped before he was pushed or vice versa remains a matter of political lore).

So too is former PACT coalition leader Wayne Panton - who had a role in Saunders’s defenestration or abseil. He now also sits as an independent joining his former finance minister together in opposition but yet apart as independents (similar to how they were in Caucus and Cabinet?)

With only four months to Election Day 2025 the one thing that’s certain is that there will be much discussion and speculation.

Until a clearer picture gradually - or abruptly - emerges in the New Year, all we can do is wait...and speculate.

The race is on…but who will run?

The game is on…but who exactly are the players?