Elections’ office tells candidates to play fair

| 26/04/2013

desperate politicians (273x300).jpg(CNS): Elections officials are urging good sportsmanship among all of the candidates during the campaign in the wake of vandalized signs and accusations for defamation on the radio. In a release on Friday warning candidates to “keep the debate clean,” the office didn’t mention the Joey Ebanks show specifically but warned candidates to refrain from using political broadcasts or any other means to engage in scandalous or defamatory statements against others. A complaint against Ebanks has been filled with the office which is understood to be looking at the broadcasts Ebanks has made recently on his drive-time show.

“While healthy debate and dialogue on election issues are an important part of the democratic process, and a manifestation of the right to freedom of expression, officials remind candidates to refrain from using political broadcasts or any other means to engage in scandalous or defamatory statements against others,’ the officials stated, adding that candidates could be fined or jailed if they are not careful about what they say.

“The Elections Law also considers political broadcasts/announcements that are blasphemous, obscene, indecent, profane, or scandalous to be illegal. Candidates who engage in such practices are liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for six months for each illegal practice,” the office warned.
The officials also pointed out that where the rules are not observed candidates are vulnerable to private legal action being taken against them but the Elections Office can also exercise its own powers to investigate such matters under the Elections Law.

Ezzard Miller has filled complaints against his district opponent with the governor, the police, the ICTA management and board as well as the election’s office following a string of allegations that Ebanks has been making about Miller on the radio show and on Facebook. In addition the would-be politician, who is using shock-jock tactics threatening to expose corruption and scandal on the shoe, is also facing a number of civil legal threats including one from the governor and a second from the chair of the judicial services commission.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Politics

About the Author ()

Comments (8)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Anonymous says:

    The Elections Office needs to investigate whether Cline Glidden is eligible to run for office, and service as an MLA.

  2. St Peter says:

    You guys had better listen to the election office and play fair!

  3. Anonymous says:

    Who monitors the overtly conflicted ministers and pastors that have gleefully accepted the dubious NBF cash payments over 6 figures and now promote the party that greased them with giant billboards?  Or will the election and corruption monitors continue to turn a blind eye  to those that clearly accepted enormous grease payments, then subsequently erected gynormous campaign signs honouring their dubious patrons, and pretend that they are politically impartial in sermons to their congregations?  Am I missing something?

    • Anonymous says:

      And the Magority is not even Caymanian they all on work permits and gladly accept Mic Mac donations to further them selves. Oh what a web he weave and we all getting poorer while he become ? u got it 

      They all show up at his meetings an 75% cannot even vote as they are not 1 of us and desire not to be 1 of us, they get a Caymanian sponser for a USA Visa and they are gone, opportunitis   r  they. 

    • Anonymous says:

      The Governor can seek legal advice, but Ezzard's complaint can only be dealt with by VIBE.  What a shame.  Unfairness will forever exist here.   The people in those positions should be tarred and feathered.  When will justice see the light of day?

  4. Anonymous says:

    ??? Do they really need to investigate Joey's radio statements??? Everyone else heard it…it is pretty damn obvious…no go fine him and Ezzard sue his a$$.