Published 28 May 2017
DEPUTY SPEAKER, SENATOR AKILAH BYRON-NISBETT, IN CAYMAN ISLANDS AS PART OF ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TEAM
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 24, 2017 (SKNIS): Deputy Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Senator Akilah Byron-Nisbett, is in the Cayman Islands as part of an Election Observer Mission Team to oversee the country’s Polling Day, which is today, May 24, 2017.
Mrs. Byron-Nisbett is part of a delegation of international officials from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), who is in the British Overseas Territory to observe its first election in more than 50 years under the one man, one vote system. In the country’s earlier multimember voting system, a registered voter could vote for between one and six candidates depending on the district where he or she lived.
The observers arrived on island prior to Polling Day to observe political campaigning, voter registration and accessibility and electoral administration, while on Polling Day they are required to examine the voting process, the counting and tabulation of votes and any post-election complaints.
According to Elections Supervisor, Wesley Howell, 21,212 people are eligible to vote in 19 constituencies. Because of the changes to the Cayman’s electoral system in more than 50 years, independent scrutiny of the process is extremely important.