Cayman's deputy premier and three legislators quit ruling coalition
Published:Thursday | October 31, 2024 | 2:59 PM
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC – The Cayman Islands government is on the brink of collapse as three Cabinet ministers and a parliamentary secretary quit, leaving the ruling coalition without a working majority.
On Thursday, Deputy Premier André Ebanks, Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Health Minister Sabrina Turner and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden announced that they were all resigning from the United People's Movement with immediate effect.
In a press release issued following the announcement, the former Deputy Premier pointed to four factors behind the decision.
“In recent months in particular, the level of dysfunction and disorganisation, and a lack of professionalism, places the country at risk of erroneous decision making and reputational damage which could have long term adverse consequences,” the release noted.
The four criticised a lack of parity between ministers, who are “not afforded the same level of transparency and involvement to make informed decisions in the best interests of the people and the country as a whole which is leading to the erosion of due process.”
Critiquing “unchecked disrespect, particularly towards women in Caucus,” the departing government members said the atmosphere in meetings failed to “foster objective analysis or provide a forum for a respectful exchange of differing views.”
Denouncing “increasingly, self-interest above country interest,” they lambasted the administration's decision-making process, which they said “diverts funding, time and efforts from addressing national priorities and hinders equitable resolution of constituency needs”.
The decision leaves the ruling party – the United People's (UPM), with just seven members, three short of the majority needed to govern.
This is the second time in the current four-year-cycle that the coalition government has collapsed.
Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.