(CMR) Mario Ebanks has declared his intention to run for public office against the MP McKeeva Bush in West Bay West in the April general election. Ebanks shares that he decided to throw his hat into the ring earlier in the year after being moved by a devotional scripture reading in January and being encouraged by many island-wide to make himself available to the people.
Not a newcomer to the world of politics he contested a seat in the general election some 16 years ago back in 2005. Now he feels that the time is right to re-enter the area to offer his 30+ years of “servant leadership”. He notes that the current pandemic has provided Cayman with the opportunity to “reset its’ strategic vision and future goals and priorities.”
He also addresses the fact that his most compelling reason for running has been the public outcry over the conduct of his opponent long-serving incumbent MP McKeeva Bush. He observed that Bush’s conduct “gave me and hundreds of other people grave cause for concern.” Bush has been embroiled in a year-long common assault conviction causing many to question his suitability for public office.
Ebanks has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in International Finance and Marketing with a focus in Economics and Public Affairs from the University of Miami. He went on to obtain a Masters in Business Administration and from the University of Tennessee in 2002.
A career in banking and finance and served as the first Caymanian manager of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commer in the late 1980s. He has also served many years as a civil servant including working as the island’s first Director of Labor & Pensions. He was last servicing as the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Cayman Islands Airports Authority.
Ebanks has resided in the North West Point of West Bay for almost 30 years. He has also served as the Chairman of his community’s homeowners association for most of that time. As an eight-generation Caymanian with strong West Bay roots, he is related to the Ebanks, Rivers and Bush families from that district. He is married to Lovenia Ebanks (nee Miller of North Side).
He has been involved in his community through various professional organizations such as serving as a Past President of the Rotary Club Central, Past President of Junior Achievement and a founding member and Past President of the Cayman Islands Overseas Students’ Association. Ebanks has served on various government boards throughout his life.
Ebanks will be joining Cayman Marl Road in the coming weeks to address his various manifesto points.