Cayman_Democratic_Party
Cayman Democratic Party
Political party in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Democratic Party, formerly known as the United Democratic Party, was a political party in the Cayman Islands formed in late 2001 and collapsed in February 2021.
Cayman Democratic Party | |
|---|---|
| Leader | McKeeva Bush |
| Chairman | Tessa Johnson Bodden |
| Founder | McKeeva Bush |
| Founded | November 2001 |
| Dissolved | February 2021 |
| Ideology | Fiscal conservatism[1] Classical liberalism[2] Neoliberalism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Colours | Green Blue |
In the elections of 8 November 2000, with a turnout of 80%, only non-partisans were elected. After the election members of parliament formed the United Democratic Party, currently headed by McKeeva Bush.
The Cayman Democratic Party served as the opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands from 2013 to 2017. The party also previously served as opposition from May 2005-May 2009.
After the 2017 election, a coalition government between the Progressives, Democratic Party, and independents was announced where Alden McLaughlin of the Progressives would have remained as premier and Democratic leader Bush would have become speaker.[3] However, a coalition agreement was later reached between the Democratic Party and all independent members apart from one to form a Bush-led “government of national unity;” this Democratic Party-Independent deal later fell through and the initial Progressive-Democratic-Independent deal was re-agreed to.[4]
Collapse
Before the 2021 election, in December 2020, Democratic leader McKeeva Bush received a two-month suspended jail sentence for assaulting a woman in February 2020 leading to a no-confidence motion against him. Premier McLaughlin asked Governor Martyn Roper to dissolve Parliament on 14 February, triggering early elections instead of having the vote on the motion.[5] In the lead-up to the election, the Democratic Party was described as "[appearing] to be defunct" as figures previously of the party (including Bush) instead contested as independents.[6][7]
- McKeeva Bush: (November 2001 – February 2021)
| Year | Leader | No. of votes | Share of votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | McKeeva Bush | 6,062 | 30.86% | 5 / 15 |
| 2009 | 17,299 | 44.2% | 9 / 15 | |
| 2013 | 16,816 | 27.8% | 3 / 18 | |
| 2017 | 3,786 | 24.08% | 3 / 19 | |
- "Cayman abandons Expat Levy Proposals". Archived from the original on 2018-05-25.
- EARLIER: McLaughlin, Bush announced agreement to form new government Cayman Compass, 26 May 2017
- Smooth swearing-in for Progressives-led national unity government Archived 2017-06-25 at the Wayback Machine Cayman 27, 31 May 2017
- "McLaughlin moves election date". Cayman News Service. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "Election 101: your guide to the 14 April vote". Cayman Compass. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "No parties, only independents and alliances running in West Bay". Cayman Compass. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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