Nine months after the Electoral Boundary Commission’s report was delivered to government, there is still no word on whether the recommended changes to constituency lines have been accepted or will be implemented.
The report recommended the creation of a new constituency in Bodden Town and the redrawing of lines in 15 others to make the electors’ numbers more in line with international standards.
Compiled by commission chair Lisa Handley and members Steve McField and Adriannie E Webb, the document was delivered in August 2023.
However, the deafening silence on the report to date worries Leader of the Opposition Roy McTaggart as the 2025 general election approaches.
“It is deeply concerning that a report of such significance was handed to the Government nine months ago without any action,” McTaggart told the Cayman Compass following queries on the delay.
The projected general election date is 16 April 2025, based on the Election Office’s proposal shared with the Compass.
The pressure is on to get the report to Parliament for debate and then to the Elections Office for implementation, if that is the consensus among government members.
However, McTaggart warned there might not be enough time to apply the changes.
“I fear that it may be getting too close to the election to implement last-minute changes. I certainly would not want to see the potential confusion that any last-minute changes to electoral boundaries would cause the electorate and the Elections Office,” McTaggart said.
Government position unclear
Despite repeated attempts by the Compass to confirm the status of the report, it remains unclear whether Cabinet has accepted the recommended changes.
McTaggart said the government will need to explain the reason for the hold-up.
Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell, responding to Compass queries, said the timing of the presentation of the boundary report to Parliament is determined by the premier and other elected officials.
“Regarding the proposed changes by the Boundary Commission, the Elections Office team are prepared to undertake the necessary measures to inform registered voters of the proposed changes to their electoral districts, per the 2023 Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) recommendations,” he said.
In McTaggart’s view, however, the delay appears to be more than just a dragging of feet.
“I suspect they cannot reach an agreement in their Caucus on it. Even if they can, it will still need to come to Parliament for debate and consideration. How long it may take to get to Parliament is a good question,” he said.
Either way, Howell said that the senior team at the Elections Office has already begun preparing for the 2025 general election.
“We are already working to ensure that all logistical and administrative frameworks are in place to facilitate a smooth and fair electoral process,” Howell said.
Though there is no precedent for making major changes to legislation ahead of local polls, the boundary process for the Elections Office would be similar to the approach adopted in 2016/2017 when the creation of 19 single-member constituencies “was effectively executed”, Howell said.
In that case, however, the changes to boundaries were implemented well in advance of the general election.
But Howell suggested that the modifications, if accepted, would not require as much adjustment as the switch to single-member constituencies.
“It is important to note that the proposed boundary changes, if approved by the Parliament, would result in significantly fewer number of voters that will see changes to their electoral districts than the adjustments made in 2017,” he said.
What the report says
The report, which was completed after public consultations last year, offered one set of proposed adjustments to constituency boundaries in West Bay, George Town, North Side, East End, and the Sister Islands.
It also offered two sets of adjustments to Bodden Town – one map with four constituencies and a second map with five constituencies.
Specifications for the boundary lines were also provided.
With the changes, the commission also recommended constituency names be switched to numerical designations to more accurately reflect the communities where the new lines will fall, such as George Town 1 and George Town 2.
Related Videos
