General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 24 May 2017 for all 19 seats in the Legislative Assembly using a first-past-the-post system..

The 2017 General Election was the first election held using a “one person – one vote” singlemember district electoral system and the fourth elections since the introduction of a political party system in the Cayman Islands. The amendment of the Elections Law in November 2016 increased the number of elected members of the Legislative Assembly from 18 to 19.

Political Parties & Candidates

A record number of 62 candidates ran for election. A total of 15 candidates stood for the ruling Progressives party (PPM), led by Premier Alden McLaughlin; 11 candidates stood for the opposition Cayman Democratic Party (CDP), led by McKeeva Bush, while 36 candidates stood as independents.

Results

The People’s Progressive Movement remained the largest party, winning seven of the 19 seats. However, independents emerged as the largest group in the Legislative Assembly with nine seats

Voter Turnout

Voter turnout was 74.06%.

Post-Election

Initially, a coalition government between the Progressives, Cayman Democratic Party members and independents was announced. Under the arrangement, Alden McLaughlin would have remained as premier and McKeeva Bush would have become speaker. However, an agreement was later reached between the Cayman Democratic Party and all independent members apart from one to form a “government of national unity” in which McKeeva Bush will take office as Premier. In response, Alden McLaughlin suggested the incoming government would be a “train wreck” and that he did not “expect this government to last very long”.

It was then revealed that the deal between the CDP and independent members had failed, and that discussions on government formation were ongoing by all parties.

Eventually, the coalition government originally proposed between the Progressives, Cayman Democratic Partymembers and independent members was agreed upon, and took office with Alden McLaughlin as Premier on 31 May.