International experts to virtually assess General Election

(CMR) At the Governor of the Cayman Islands Martyn Roper's invitation, an independent team of international experts will conduct a virtual Election Expert Mission to the Cayman Islands General Election from April 6-20, 2021.

The Mission, organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR), will assess Cayman Islands’ General Election against international standards, commitments, obligations, and domestic laws.

CPA BIMR first conducted an election observation mission to the Cayman Islands in 2013, followed by the elections in 2017, which resulted in the publication of two respective reports; a 2013 report with 14 recommendations and the 2017 report with 21 recommendations.

As part of its forthcoming Mission, CPA BIMR will also consider whether past recommendations were taken forward.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team of experts will conduct the Mission virtually, using online research and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders utilizing digital meeting platforms. This innovative adaptation of election observation methodology in these unprecedented circumstances has been applied successfully by CPA BIMR when assessing Anguilla and Guernsey's general elections in 2020 and TCI in 2021.

Ahead of election day, the experts will virtually meet key stakeholders, including electoral officials, candidates, voters, and civil society groups, to better understand the electoral process and political context of the election.

About the Mission, CPA BIMR Regional Secretary Jon Davies says:

“We are delighted that the Cayman Islands has invited our team of international experts to assess its election for a third time. Having successfully delivered multiple Election Expert Missions virtually over the past year, the team is looking forward to engaging remotely with stakeholders in the Cayman Islands. CPA BIMR is honored to assist Cayman Islands in support of transparent and open democracy.”

The Mission’s report, including recommendations, will be published within two months of the election.

CPA UK acts as the secretariat to CPA British Islands & Mediterranean Region (BIMR), one of the nine regions of the CPA network, and is committed to strengthening democracy and good governance.

Since 2011, CPA BIMR has organized short-term Election Observer Missions (EOM) across six UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, including Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Guernsey. CPA UK has also overseen Election Assessment Missions (EAM) to the UK General Election in 2010, 2015, and 2017.