Voters grow during extension
(CNS): The additional three week extension to the voters register in view of the general election in May is believed to have boosted the list of voters by several hundred names. Although the numbers for yesterday’s last minute surge are not yet available that combined with a steady stream since the register re-opened for the election and some 90 new voters on Monday alone is expected to see the list reach close to 19,000 names for the May election. Cayman will see the greatest percentage of the adult population being entitled to vote for many years at this forth coming general election after a successful nationwide campaign last year attracted thousands of new voters.
Cayman traditionally has a high turnout at general elections and with 18 seats up for grabs at the 2013 poll at a time of intense political turmoil, economic hardship and significant problems with public finance and public debt the need for more democratic participation is greater than ever.
There are growing expectations too of a record number of candidates likely to be running in the districts of George Town, Bodden Town and West Bay where this election will be focused. With few expectations of change in the representation for the Sister Islands, East End and North Side the would-be future politicians will be focusing on the remaining three districts which is where the greatest number of the more than three thousand new voters who have joined the list since the last election are living.
Check back to CNS later today for more on the new voter’s list figure
Category: Politics
C’mon CNS – have you run out of Mac/Ezzard/Dart stories to tell?? We’re getting bored with all this real news and just want to be entertained!
If you take into account the 2011 census, there should be approximately 20,000 'Caymanian' adults that are qualified to vote. Interestingly it also records a leap in the population of 'Caymanians' against 'non Caymanians' within the years 1999 to 2010.
Now unless fertility rates on this island have found new heights or more Caymanian men are becoming more virile, the sudden leap must be due to the influx of status applicants in to the system.
Sorry boys, but the population growth within 10 years indicates more going onthan just a free for all in the bedroom.
It would seem to me that the increase in voters registering is also linkedto this phenomenon. If so, the outcome could be very good news for these islands as the old guard start to look very vulnerable to the voting intentions of a new electorate and hopefully a new line up of of potential political candidates. Those voters who come from countries with a tradition of democratic and accountable politics will inevitably judge the current line up and their total mishandling of good governance. They will want to see total change and will vote accordingly, possibly strategically to oust those responsible and implement proper accountability across government.
Hopefully, alongside them will be those honest, hardworking generational Caymanians who have had enough of being governed by crooked leaders and who only have their own selfish interests at heart.
Could it be that someone on Northside finally has the authority to stand against the incumbent Ezzard Miller. Could it be that someone finally wants to represent the silent majority who are 'foriegn' property owners and residents, will they seek to clean up the drunks, drug abusers, burglars and muggers that blight our lives and will they stand up for our Marine Parks that are being systematically destroyed by local theives who profit from a national and worldwide asset. Will they acknowledge that although silent and unqualified to vote, they are still constituents of Northside and therefore entitled to protection and support from their MLA. Or will the status quo persist and the arrogant Mr Miller retain his tainted crown. For despite his loud rantings, he has achieved little here in the North for the people he claims to represent
1. The census was taken in 2010.
2. Many among the newly registered voters come from countries where corruption is the norm and can be relied upon to support corrupt candidates here.
3. "Foreign property owners and residents" are already over-represented because of their economic power.
4. Ezzard has only been there for a single term so I am not sure why "finally" is appropriate. He has been an excellent MLA for North Side and for these Islands at a time when itneeded a strong opposition to a government run amok. He was the only MLA to have a properly functioning district council. He organised CCTV for North Side long before the govt. did so for the country as a whole. He is the only entitled to a pension (as well as his MLA salary) who has chosen not to take as a matter of principle. You hate him because he dares to speak out on behalf of Caymanians, and take a stand for the little man. You, and people like you, are the reason why he is necessary.
We got a boat dock at Old Man Bay that's perfect for us expats to go to over the Edge. Also got some chip and spray in Cayman Kai Nothing for my driveway tho.
Do an FOI and find out how many status grants the Immigration Board issued since the lasy election/ Therein lies your answer I am sure. As for Ezzard, I leave him to Karma.
It would be great to know how many of the recent status grants have been naturalized and can vote. From that three thousand ju ju should win the election because she made sure that every one in the Brac got status.
I am sure Ezzard will be content to be left to 'karma'.
To Anon 11:04.
Here is an idea, why don't you step forward to represent North Side, or at least let us know your name to see if you would be any better than Mr. Miller.
I am not a North Side voter, howerer as a Caymanian I am greatfull that Mr. Miller has the fortitude to bring issues to the forefront that other polititians prefer to sweep under the rug. I do not expect that he can cure every issue that he raises, however, he is doing a good job of motivating the people who are in charge of an issue to take action.
The things that baffle me about your post is that in one sentence you complain because you believe that any representative should represent the "silent majority" who are are citizens of another country and in the next sentence you generalose all "locals" as thieves who systematically destroy Marine Parks and local theives who profit from a national and worldwide asset. Or you are saying that all people who destroy Marine Parks and are theives are exclusively "local". You also appear to be of the opinion that ALL voting Caymanians would have the Government be accountable when you make statements such as "accountability voters who come from countries with a tradition of democratic and accountable politics". Would you allow this to take place in your country, where the minority (your words) decide who should be elected because the majority (Caymanians) are not smart enough to do exeecute their voting rights.
And finally, check your facts. Statitistically, North Side has the lowest crime rate of all the districts in Cayman so he must be doing something right
I've grown three inches.
Yes, but not in the wood.
Why, are they bribing their way into political office again, giving away burgers and KFC instead of new refridgerators and tv's this time around? Must be government cuts.