A legislative motion that sought to implement changes to the Cayman Islands voting system within three months was withdrawn late Friday.
The private members motion, which proposed that government implement “one man, one vote” in the form of single-member constituencies, was filed by East End MLA Arden McLean.
However, prior to the motion’s being heard, a government motion that dealt with the proposed voting changes was approved by a majority of Legislative Assembly members.
“It is in the best interests of this country that I withdraw [my private members] motion … so that we can get on with the provisions of single-member constituencies with 18 [districts],” Mr. McLean said. “I understand, like Kenny Rogers, when to hold them and when to fold them.”
North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, who seconded the “one man, one vote” motion, also agreed to withdraw the private members motion Friday.
The government motion, approved Wednesday, represents the first step toward changing the Cayman Islands voting system for the next general election.
All 12 government members voted in favor of the motion, which requests that Governor Helen Kilpatrick call an Electoral Boundary Commission to redraw voting districts in all three islands with the aim of creating separate single-member constituencies. If lawmakers approve the redistricting effort once the voting map is redrawn, Caymanians will be restricted to casting just one vote in the May 2017 election.
Premier Alden McLaughlin has estimated that it will take at least three or four months for a boundary commission to do its work. After that, the Legislative Assembly must debate the plan and either approve or reject it. Mr. McLaughlin has said the entire process should be completed by mid-2015.
Mr. McLean and Mr. Miller abstained from voting on the government motion, partly because it does not specifically state how many single-member districts would be created by the Electoral Boundary Commission.
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush and West Bay MLA Capt. Eugene Ebanks voted against the government motion.
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