LA dissolution 300 days away
(CNS): The current administration has only 300 days left to carry out its programme before the Legislative Assembly is dissolved ahead of the 2013 General Election. Although the country does not yet know whether or not it will be going to the polls under the more equitable and democratic system of one man, one vote (OMOV) in single member constituencies, it will be voting for the next government on 22 May. The governor has now approved the order for next year’s election and the Elections Office has laid out the timetable for the nationwide vote. Registered voters will, for the first time, be electing an 18 strong parliament but how those members will be elected will not be known until after July’s OMOV referendum.
If the summer ballot results in a ‘yes’ vote, which despite the odds being tipped against it by government is still a distinct possibility, the 2013 election will see all Caymanians with equal democratic power on election day going to the polls to elect one person to represent a smaller constituency. If not, it is likely that George Town voters will be able to vote for six members — one third of the country’s legislature — while those in Bodden Town and West Bay will have four votes. Electors in North Side and East End will retain their single vote and those in the Sister Islands two.
Government will need to amend the election law before next year’s poll to accommodate the increase in members of the Legislative Assembly provided for in the new constitution. The increase from the current 15 members to 18 is to allow for an extra Cabinet minister. In order to ensure a balance of power between the government executive and parliamentary members, the ministerial post triggered the need for two more non-Cabinet members of the House to maintain a democratic check on the government.
Regardless of the mode of voting in the 2013 poll, candidates who will be putting themselves up for one of the eighteen seats must declared their intentions on 19 March, a week ahead of the official nomination day on 27 March. That date, which is the day after the dissolution of the parliament, traditionally signals the start of the full-on political campaign.
Anyone who is entitled to vote in the general elections but is not already a registered voter must register before 1 January 2013 to make the electoral roll and be able to take part.
Previously, Caymanians had to be naturalized before being able to vote; however, under the new constitution that is no longer a requirement and anyone who is Caymanian or has Caymanian status can register to vote.
See election timetable below.
Category: Politics
It feels like 3000 days away
Mck still asleep at the wheel…………puttin the brain on pause……..
299 beers on the wall.
We will need something stronger than beer to wait out this group.
Whisky, Vodka, Rum are all good but I would rather use Michael Jackson's sleep aid to hibernate for another 298 days.
Would have been better if the Governor had come down on the side of EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS, and HUMAN RIGHTS for all our citizens by pushing for Single MEMBER CONSTITUENCES and ONE MAN ONE VOTE. But while he dillies, fearless leader dallies and continues to hold our people down and back. We have our champions fighting the just fight to free us from opression. People that know how to stand up for what's right and be counted at the right moment and we will never forget.
I knew the usual comments would be the norm here but at some point in time I look forward to the Opposition and Independent to put forth solutions to the economic problems and overbloated civil service in the country.
Certainly the intelligent voters will want to know what is being proposed.
the opposition ain't got the stones…….
If you count all the double dipping that goes on in there, it really adds up to 600 days. Pay days anyways……….
"F" for fail.
Get ready for a barrage of new projects being announced or 'started' and the old line that "we needs anotha term as yur gowament to complete da job and get unna back to wuk".
"Although the country does not yet know whether or not it will be going to the polls under the more equitable and democratic system of one man, one vote (OMOV) in single member constituencies"
Well I guess unbiased reporting on the process is out of the question now.
Not too labour too much of a point but as far as I can tell, one side wants to keep the same system because they believe it benefits them, whilst the other side wants to change the system as they believe it would be to their benefit.
If either party wanted it to be a fair and democratic system surely they would debate the other systems used around the world and their merits. What about proportional representation? Surely that would be a more democratic method for Cayman.
We are taking Bodden Town back this time. The Chuckster and crew are on the move. Its time to retire ole timers, road engineers and "sacred vessels". Lets bring back intelligence and experience to Bodden Town politics.
"A Chuckster Voter"
The Chuckster was a disgrace as the Minister of Tourism. Agreed, most of the present lot are worthless too. Is there a better answer?
I wish we could just loose the two zeros out of the title. Can't eait to see this group of clowns leave.
Even that is too long for Cayman's sake!
300 days? DAMN! That is way too long. Can we survive?
Not a lot of time left to get things done. This government will have to step it up or else go down in history as being the most "promising" government ever!
and of those 300, they'll only "actually" meet, 3 times. tsk tsk
So we will have Discovery Day on May 20th, 2013 then go back to work on Tuesday before getting another day off on the Wednesday. Do we expect a high voter turnout or do we expect an exodus of people for a 5 day long weekend?
The voter turnout will be far less than needed, if EVERYBODY, voted for the OMOV. The Premier may be a lot of not nice things but he is the smartest politician around. And when it is all over he will say, I did what the people wanted and they voted!
That means there's only about 3 working days left for them!
How much more damage can they do?
Get ready for a year of expat-bashing
"Some" expats bash Caymanians (and others from anywhere other than "their own) every year/month/week/day.
"Some" expats and Caymanians/others live harmoniously without throwing out negative generalizations.
So hush fore yeh trip up n pop yeh mout.
4 years JTB….
Get ready for……
Less bypassing good governance
Government that follows proper processes
Less hairbrained schemes (ie Refinery, East End Mega Quarry, etc)
Less wastage of CIG funds (ie Cohen & Cohen, GLF, etc)
Less Government officials in court (ie Sacred Vessel and Overfilled Vessel into ditch)
Should I continue???