Cayman faces hurricane and political storm

The Cayman Islands has found itself being threatened by dual storms this week.

A late season hurricane called Rafael is threatening the island and is expected to pass by or over the islands tonight or tomorrow. 

That has put on hold a political storm sparked last week when four members of the ruling coalition government, including the deputy premier, resigned. 

The Cayman Compass reported Governor Jane Owen, in an audio message on Monday night, said the Island can expect the main impact to be during the course of today and into the night.

“As Governor, I want to reassure all of you that the preservation of life, avoiding injuries and protecting property are the top priorities for our Government. We are grateful for the ongoing efforts and commitment of all our emergency services, including the National Weather Service, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, our Police, our Regiment and those responsible for our national infrastructure,” Owen said in her audio message.

She said residents still have some hours Monday evening, “which is a gift for preparation which we should all try to use wisely. Stay safe everyone and God bless.”

The hurricane is then expected to pass over western Cuba as a hurricane before weakening over the Gulf of Mexico. However, it could still make landfall in southwestern Louisiana. 

  The Caymanian government will then have to turn its attention back to politics where a coalition government made up of independents and members of the United People’s government, which was formed last year. 

The opposition Progressives have stated that they will not form a coalition with the minority government vu also would not stand in its way in the short term. 

That announcement seemed to make it likely that the island will face early elections. A date must be decided between Governor Owen and Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, The Cayman Compass reported. 

Progressives leader Joey Hews’s statement “effectively brings to an end a period of uncertainty, allowing government to continue to function, and puts the ball in the court of Governor Jane Owen, who has responsibility for setting an election date in consultation with the premier”, the newspaper said. 

Hew said the opposition would not block the minority government from calling sessions of Parliament or passing essential legislation.

But he added, “We will not agree to move forward on any contentious issues.”

Hew insisted the situation, with the premier and her coalition numbering seven out of 19 total MPs, was unsustainable in the long term and has called for elections “at the earliest possible date”.

The approach of a hurricane this week diverted attention from the political chaos with most MPs focusing on readying their constituents for severe weather on Tuesday.

“But while a well-oiled machine of civil servants and emergency services personnel clicks swiftly into gear during a storm, there remained three Cabinet posts empty as Rafael approached Monday,” the newspaper reported. 

Crucially, Home Affairs, previously handled by Sabrina Turner, which covers the police and ambulance services, and the Ministry of Sustainability, preciously led by Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, which has responsibility for the environment, were without clear political leadership Monday.

Emphasising that the Progressives would not support any contentious legislation, Hew said there were necessary financial services bills and other uncontroversial matters that would require Parliament to meet.

“We will not hinder the government from bringing important business to Parliament until the Governor determines the timeframe for the general elections,” Hew said.

“This approach will provide the confidence the Caymanian people and the international business community need and will assist in a fair elections process. It will also allow our people to consider all options for Cayman’s best path forward.”

Hew said the recent resignations have “left a void in our country’s leadership, shaking the confidence of our people, the business sector, and our standing in the international community.”

He said the opposition’s actions were intended to ensure stability through this time.

The departures of former Deputy Premier André Ebanks, former Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, former Health Minister Sabrina Turner and former Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden was driven by a series contentious Cabinet decisions as well as concerns over the way in which key decisions were being reached. 

Monday’s identical Facebook and LinkedIn posts from all four MPs read: “We resigned as Ministers because we could not be effective within Cabinet. When it came to matters of right and wrong, we constantly found ourselves in the minority.

“As Cabinet Ministers bound by the rules of collective responsibility, once a decision was made, BY LAW we would not be allowed to criticise or say we “did not support” a Cabinet decision regardless of our vote or personal beliefs.

“Cabinet was pushing through bad decisions that we could not support and did not want to be associated with.

“Enough is enough.”

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