Julie Hunter – West Bay West – CINP
One of the biggest shocks of election night came from West Bay West, when Julie Hunter beat long-time incumbent McKeeva Bush by just 19 votes.
“It was definitely a hard-fought race, but it was time, and we feel good,” she said on election night, thanking her supporters for their love and prayers.
During the Chamber forum, which her rival (and cousin) Bush failed to attend, she outlined the cost of living, education reform and immigration reform as her top three campaign issues and said she would work hard to ensure that Caymanian youth have a future in which they can thrive.
With 40 years experience in the banking and legal sector, Hunter retired last year from Cayman National Bank. She is president of non-profit organisation Circle of Love and was recognised in the 2023 National Hero Day awards for her outstanding achievements in volunteerism and charitable services.
Nickolas DaCosta – Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman
DaCosta’s rival in Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman had the support of outgoing MP Moses Kirkconnell, but that wasn’t enough to prevent CINP’s DaCosta from winning the seat taking 55.3% of the vote.
During the Chamber forums, DaCosta said his three top issues were employment and workforce development, cost of living and housing, saying that the nation needs to look at social housing for those people who can’t afford a mortgage.
On the topic of employment and workforce development, he suggested establishing a national workforce development plan, having himself taken two-and-a-half years after receiving a government scholarship and graduating to find employment.
DaCosta has 15 years experience in working in the public and private sectors, working as caucus secretary and communications coordinator in the office of the premier, and as customer relations supervisor at Water Authority – Cayman.
Gary ‘Peanut’ Rutty – George Town South – CINP
Businessman Gary Rutty, former owner of Comfort Suites and Burger King, was in ebullient mood on election night, wining 50.6% of the vote to see off rivals Alric Lindsay and Craig Frederick and declaring “we are going to be forming part of the next government and Cayman is going to breathe a sigh of relief.”
In a social media post on Thursday, Rutty said, “This process has impacted me deeply. It has reaffirmed that service to community is one of the highest callings, and I do not take your support lightly.”
Rutty has over 35 years of business experience in hospitality and has worked on the Work Permit Board, the Central Tenders Committee, and as a past Director of the Cayman Islands Merchant Association. He was an outspoken critic of a cruise berth in the Chamber debates, saying the focus had to be on a better tourism product and smaller ships.
Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden – George Town West – PPM
It was a case of fourth time lucky for political hopeful Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden. Her perseverance finally paid off as 51.4% of votes cast in George Town West were in her favour, ensuring she prevailed against a strong challenge from her nearest rival, CINP’s Craig Merren.
During the campaign she had called her decision to run for office “the most difficult decision of my life,” but her decision to run was vindicated by her victory in the early hours of Thursday morning.
She told of how, while canvassing in the constituency, she met an elderly man who had just received a bill following surgery, and “that hit home. I don’t understand, as a thriving society, how we’re not taking care of the elderly, and so that instilled and invoked in me the reason why I was running for George Town West…I’m here to be a voice for the people that don’t have a voice.”
Roy Tatum – Red Bay – PPM
He might be a Parliamentary newcomer, but Roy Tatum is a long-time member of the PPM with years of political experience, who is stepping into the spotlight as the new MP for Red Bay. He replaced incumbent MP Sir Alden McLaughlin, who he worked alongside as head of the office of the premier.
With four other candidates competing for the Red Bay seat, it turned out to be a close-run affair, with Tatum securing 31.9% of the vote ahead of TCCP’s Natasha Whitelocke on 28.8% and Dawn Thomas for the CINP on 25.5%.
Tatum is a financial services professional with 33 years of experience in the retail and corporate banking sector and campaigned on a variety of issues, including healthcare, education, and cleaner and safer neighbourhoods.
Michael Myles – Prospect – CINP
The Prospect constituency provided another of the election night’s memorable moments when CINP’s Michael Myles defeated sitting MP and former government minister Sabrina Turner by just 16, netting 35.9% of the vote.
Former national footballer and community advocate Myles is known for setting up and running the trade school Inspire Cayman to bridge gaps in technical vocational education.
Keen sportsman Myles won a four-year football scholarship to Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky and represented the Cayman Islands at football since the age of 10. With 35 years of experience working with families and youth, Michael began as a social worker intern at the Department of Social Services and advanced to leadership roles at the Cayman Islands Marine Institute, Bonaventure Boys Home and at-risk youth coordinator at the Ministry of Education.
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