PPM Secures More 2004 Candidates

Sandra Catron	Osbourne Bodden	Pastor Steve Blair
George Ebanks	Joey Ebanks	Anthony Eden

Thursday, July 22, 2004

The People’s Progressive Movement’s (PPM) slate of candidates for the 2004 General Elections is nearing completion, as Cayman Net News has learned that three more people have expressed their intentions to seek Legislative Assembly seats through the party. 

Pastor Steve Blair, George Ebanks and Joey Ebanks will all seek a PPM nomination to represent the party in the elections according to reliable sources. 

It is understood that Pastor Blair will seek the nomination in George Town, while the latter two men desire to run in Bodden Town.

Two other men, incumbent MLA Anthony Eden and Osbourne Bodden have already indicated that they will seek the PPM’s Bodden Town nomination. 

In order to run, however, each man would have to have the appropriate PPM district committee nominate him to the party’s Executive, and have that nomination accepted.

Reached overseas for comment, George Ebanks confirmed that he was desirous of running. “I am keenly interested in seeking election in Bodden Town and I am submitting myself to their nomination process.”

George Ebanks said he had already established an exploratory committee to discuss a possible campaign. “I am looking forward to addressing the pertinent issues affecting the Cayman Islands, issues that have been overlooked for far too long.”

Should he be elected, Mr Ebanks said he would do his utmost to serve his constituency.

Joey Ebanks also confirmed that he would seek the PPM’s Bodden Town nomination. Mr Ebanks ran in the three-seat district in the 2000 General Election, placing fifth. 

Joey Ebanks said that he hoped to bring stability to the district if elected. “I think everything is one huge upheaval now with all the changes,” he said, “We need to have some stability and management now.”

Sandra Catron, who has already announced she was running as an independent candidate in Bodden Town, is also a PPM member and could be in the mix when the district committee selects its candidates. 

Sources close to the Bodden Town district committee, however, say that it is leaning toward nominating the incumbent Mr Eden along with Osbourne Bodden and Joey Ebanks. 

Pastor Blair was thought to possibly be running as a UDP candidate, but sources indicated he is firmly in the PPM camp. Only this week he signed up to be a PPM member. 

Although unavailable for comment, Pastor Blair has recently resigned as prison chaplain, a civil service post he could not hold if running for election. 

According to one reliable source, Pastor Blair would complete the George Town PPM team comprising of Leader of the Opposition Hon Kurt Tibbetts, incumbent MLA Alden McLaughlin and Lucille Seymour.

When contacted for comment, the PPM’s General Secretary, MLA Alden McLaughlin said that a directive was to be issued on Wednesday to the party’s district committees advising them that the candidate selection process must be completed by 22 August.

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