At the invitation of the Governor of the Cayman Islands Martyn Roper OBE, an independent team of international experts conducted a virtual Election Expert Mission to the Cayman Islands General Election from 6 - 20 April 2021.

The Mission assessed Cayman Islands’ General Election against international standards, commitments and obligations as well as domestic laws. It was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). 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 most recent Mission, CPA BIMR also considered whether these recommendations were taken forward.

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

Ahead of election day in Cayman, the experts virtually met key stakeholders including electoral officials, candidates, voters and civil society groups to gain a better understanding of the electoral process and political context of the election.

Prior to the Mission, CPA BIMR Regional Secretary Jon Davies said:

“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 honoured 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.

Election Observation Missions

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 organised 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.

Further information:

• CPA BIMR is a signatory to the Declaration of Principles of International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers
• The reports by the CPA BIMR Election Observation Missions to the Cayman Islands in 2013 and 2017 are available on CPA UK’s website: https://www.uk-cpa.org/media/2162/ci_eom_final-report.pdf and https://www.uk-cpa.org/media/1681/eom_cayman-islands_2017_finalv2-report.pdf

For further information, please contact the Mission at electionobserversci@gmail.com, or tweet at @CPA _BIMR & #CaymanIslandsEEM2021