An Electoral Boundary Commission will sit this year, the Governor’s Office has confirmed.
The news came after the opposition People’s Progressive Movement asked the coalition government in a private member’s motion for a constitutional amendment to preserve parliamentary seats in each of Grand Cayman’s traditional districts, even if there were large-scale population changes.
The Governor’s Office said, “A private member’s motion filed in Parliament is a matter for the elected government to consider through the established parliamentary process.
“However, the questions of representation and electoral boundaries are vitally important matters that go to the heart of our democratic arrangements.
“The governor will be appointing a new Electoral Boundary Commission in 2026 to conduct a comprehensive review.”
Premier André Ebanks signalled last October that he would ask Owen for a new examination of constituency boundaries, to be appointed in early 2026.
Opposition motion
The private member’s motion, filed in Parliament on 5 Jan. by Deputy Opposition Leader Kenneth Bryan, asked for five districts to be guaranteed at least one MP, in line with provisions for Cayman and Little Cayman to ensure they have two seats.
Bryan said at the time, “Our constitution must reflect the heart of our communities, not just a spreadsheet of numbers.
“By securing this amendment now, we can protect the unique cultural and historic identity of our traditional districts for generations to come.”
The opposition People’s Progressive Movement wants West Bay, George Town, Bodden Town, North Side and East End to be protected against amalgamations because of population shifts that would abolish historic constituencies.
The 2023 Electoral Boundary Commission report highlighted the risk of constituencies being redrawn on strict population-based lines and force smaller ones, such as East End and North Side, to merge with other seats.
The 2023 recommendations for redrawing Cayman’s constituencies were rejected twice by the previous government.
Reasons included a low level of public engagement in the process, potential confusion among voters and a lack of specific terms of reference, as well as its closeness to the April 2025 election.
2023 review rejected
The government rejected the commission’s recommendations in July 2024, and again in February 2025, less than three months before the general election.
The PPM request said a precedent was established in 2019 for “minor or uncontroversial” constitutional amendments and appealed for bipartisan support for the change so it could be fast-tracked to Stephen Doughty the UK’s overseas territories minister.
The premier’s office was asked this week if he would regard the proposals as “minor or uncontroversial”. It has not yet responded.
But Ebanks said in early January, “Private members’ motions are matters for Parliament.
“Rather than comment on any single private member’s motion, I prefer to take a holistic approach to all of the recently filed private members’ motions.
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