Candidates line up for a mixed race

(L to R) Mario Ebanks; Leonard N Ebanks, JP; Dalkeith E
Bothwell; Thomas C Jefferson, OBE, JP

Sandra Catron on Nomination Day in Bodden Town

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Although political alliances are not necessarily new to Cayman’s elections, Election 2005 is in essence the first time official political parties as well as groups and alliances will be doing battle alongside Independent candidates to secure seats in the Legislative Assembly.

The concept of political party or alliance was clearly in evidence on Nomination Day last week when a number of candidates went along for nomination in their various districts within their party group or alliance.
Although official party politics is adding a new mixed dimension to the forth-coming elections, there is still a strong showing of Independents.
Of the 45 candidates running in Election 2005, fourteen of them are still standing unaffiliated.

Either option has advantages and disadvantages but according to Mario Ebanks, a member of the West Bay Alliance (WBA) and a long time veteran of Cayman politics, there are distinct advantages to being in a group not just for the sake of the campaign, but for the business of Government.

“After the 2000 elections with people running as Independents, once the assembly was formed it was a matter of horse trading in order to put together a government,” said Mr Ebanks. 

“Members didn’t necessarily share the same platform, ideas or personalities but made marriages of convenience so it is no wonder the Government fell apart a year later.

“Forming a group or alliance with people who agree on plans and projects beforehand means we can hit the ground running after 11 May. There is a lot of work to be done and we don’t have the luxury of time to try and make deals after an election. 

“The driving force for me has been the need to work through issues before the Election. To then tell the public what we stand for so we can get on with the business of government right away as the plans have already been agreed and formed,” added Mr Ebanks.

Other candidates however still see independence as the key to political success.

“One major advantage is not having to sell the idea of the party system to the electorate, as many are still not in favour of it,” said Sandra Catron who is standing as an Independent in Bodden Town and who believes that party systems have still not been mandated by the people and was created by politicians not the electorate.

“Another problem with groups and alliances is the time it takes to reach decisions and get things done. As an Independent I can campaign on the issues that matter without having to check with other members before I say what I want to say.

‘I am not tied to party lines and have no obligation to agree with any other party members to certain issues that I may not agree with.

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