Former talk show host joins Official Opposition as admin assistant

(CMR) Former talk show host, businesswoman and realtor, Ruthanna Young, has joined the Office of the Official Opposition as the administrative assistant months ahead of the May 2021 general election.

Young left her Straight Talk hosting gig on Star 92.7 in September to focus on her real estate career she shared at the time. However, well placed sourced shared that she began working with the Opposition three months later in December 2020. At the time of her resignation, Young shared that she wanted to spend more quality time with her young child and partner and focus on her real estate career as her top priorities.

However, there has been much speculation about Young's political ambitions with many thinking she would be running in the district of West Bay in this election. In her current position, her contract would likely run until after the election and could be renewed depending on who compromises the Official Opposition.

Young would be a Constituency Office Administrative Assistants (“COAA”) covered under the newly passed Legislative Assembly Law (2020).

The remuneration for Constituency Office Administrative Assistants is based on Grade “M” of the Civil Service pay scale. The range of grade “M” is currently between CI$43,812- CI$58,910. They also receive a fixed-term contract and civil servant benefits such as a fully paid pension and health insurance. Young is also a real estate agent with Kuavo Cayman.

The Official Office of the Opposition has not had a dedicated administrative assistant since Patricia Ebanks left with MP Ezzard Miller at the time of his resignation in May 2019. Ebanks is now with the Cayman Islands People's Party.

In an interesting twist, on yesterday's The Cold Hard Truth, there was a discussion on constituency offices and how they are funded as well as who actually has an office. Several members of Parliament do not have a constituency office despite receiving CI$5,000 to fund such an office.

Young is a former owner at Rennaissance Salon and Spa. She is also very active in a number of community projects.