The Cayman Islands government is on the brink of collapse today after three Cabinet ministers and a parliamentary secretary quit, plunging Parliament into new chaos and leaving the ruling coalition without a working majority.
Deputy Premier André Ebanks, Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Health Minister Sabrina Turner and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden announced they are all resigning from the United People’s Movement with immediate effect.
The move raises the prospect of an early general election, with Ebanks suggesting the people should now decide the way forward. Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and Governor Jane Owen met Thursday afternoon to discuss options.
Calling their ongoing positions “untenable” in a press release issued after the announcement, the former deputy premier cited four factors behind the decision.
“In recent months in particular, the level of dysfunction and disorganisation, and a lack of professionalism, places the country at risk of erroneous decision making and reputational damage which could have long term adverse consequences,” it stated.
The four criticised a lack of parity between ministers, who are “not afforded the same level of transparency and involvement to make informed decisions in the best interests of the people and the country as a whole which is leading to the erosion of due process”.
Critiquing “unchecked disrespect, particularly towards women in caucus,” the departing government members hit out at the atmosphere in meetings, for failing to “foster objective analysis or provide a forum for a respectful exchange of differing views”.
Denouncing “increasingly, self-interest above country interest,” they lambasted the administration’s decision-making process, which it said “diverts funding, time and efforts from addressing national priorities and hinders equitable resolution of constituency needs”.
The decision leaves the UPM with just seven members, three short of the majority needed to govern.
That means that without the cooperation of the opposition, the disparate coalition cannot continue to govern the territory.
It is possible that the UPM could stagger on towards the next election as a minority government, but their ability to pass legislation would depend on support from across the floor. The governor would need to sign off on that arrangement.
O’Connor-Connolly’s position as premier is also in jeopardy. The Compass has approached the UPM leader for comment on the latest developments.
The Cayman Brac East MP was meeting with remaining Cabinet ministers on Thursday afternoon, as Acting Deputy Governor Dax Basdeo urged public servants to avoid engaging in speculation about what may transpire next.
Ebanks, who is the spokesman for the breakaway group, indicated a preference for going to the polls.
“My view is the country deserves and needs a change, and given that we are near to a general election in any case, the time would seem right to let the people decide,” he said.
He said the foursome had committed to run together and were united on policy goals and, “more importantly”, shared principles. He said they would talk to other groups and candidates in an effort to form an organised group that could run for the government on a shared platform.
Asked why they had chosen to act now, Ebanks said continuing on in the current dynamic represented a risk of “professional and reputational damage.”
Fault lines in the tenuous coalition have emerged in recent months over the National Conservation Law, as well as the landfill project and government spending.
“Notwithstanding the gravity of this determination, we owe a higher duty to the country and its people. We cannot compromise our professional integrity and our responsibility to uphold the highest standard of good governance, accountability, due process and objectivity,” Ebanks said.
This is the second time in the current four-year cycle that the coalition government has collapsed.
The independent coalition has been riven by conflict and division from the start. It was only a year ago that the UPM emerged from the embers of Wayne Panton’s PACT administration, after he was ousted from the top job.
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Andre Ebanks would make a fantastic Premier. I hope an election is called and he can form a government with a “new group of principled leaders”
Where will he find a group of “principled leaders”?.
I applauded your reasons for resigning and for the betterment of country and people. It is way overdue!! However, what took you so long?