Governor Jane Owen is inviting people to apply to serve as election and referendum observers in the upcoming polls on 30 April.
Observers will be responsible for monitoring campaign activities, polling, and vote counting, as well as providing “objective reports that identify both good practices and areas where improvements can be made”, the governor noted in a press release.
The Cayman Islands began the practice of establishing local teams to observe the national elections and referendums in 2009. Those domestic teams work separately from the international observer missions – led by the UK’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – which also oversee the election process on the islands.
“All democratic countries must guard their electoral and referendum processes to ensure that they are free and fair,” Owen said in the release. “On the ground observation is an important tool in maintaining public confidence in those processes. The fact that the Cayman Islands is maintaining two separate observation missions and is seeking to include its own people in the process is a testament to its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the administration of the upcoming general election and referendum.
“This is a valuable chance for residents of the Cayman Islands to contribute to their community and support efforts to ensure that the upcoming general election and referendum are conducted fairly and produce results that the public can trust.”
On 30 April, voters will head to the polls to elect a new government, as well as to decide, in three referendums, whether Cayman should develop cruise berthing infrastructure, if it should decriminalise the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and whether a national lottery should be established.
The governor stated that the election and referendum monitoring team is seeking individuals from a range of backgrounds who bring varied skills and experience.
A committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, will review applications and recommend candidates to the governor.
Public servants are not eligible in order to uphold the principle of political neutrality in public service, the release noted.
To apply, individuals can submit their resume and a short one-page cover letter describing their skills and experience to [email protected] by 24 March.
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