Premier proposes electoral changes

Premier McKeeva Bush

The referendum sought to address the question of whether voters would support an electoral system of single member constituencies with each elector having one vote.

Despite running a campaign for the no vote and insisting that the current system of multi-member constituencies and multiple votes in some districts was “not broken”, the Premier has now said he wishes to “continue to work for equality and a system that fair.

“As a matter of principle, I would propose we continue the discussions as to whether our present system should be examined… and whether we should consider moving toward a new system of all multi-member constituencies, with eight electoral districts for Grand Cayman of roughly the same number of voters each and each electoral district returning two MLAs and leaving Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as is.

“This would also be in line with the principles of “equality and fairness” for voters in Grand Cayman as advocated by the One Man One Vote Committee but without the dangerous elements of single member constituencies,” the Premier stated.

In last Wednesday’s referendum, five out of six districts voted in favour of a move to single member constituencies and one man, one vote. In West Bay, the yes vote was narrowly defeated by 26 votes.