UDP hammered in Cayman

The United Democratic Party in the Cayman Islands has been trounced in an election likely to see a People’s Progressive Movement-led coalition take power.

The UDP, whose former Premier McKeeva Bush is facing corruption charges, retained only three seats after the poll — but PPM leader Aiden McLaughlin, whose party took a total of nine seats in the Legislative Assembly, remains one short of a majority.

But — with the election of five independents and one member of the People’s National Alliance (PNA) elected — a government is expected to be formed within the next few days.

The PPM said before the election that they were prepared to work with Independents Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller to form a government.

Mr McLaughlin told the Caymanian Compass newspaper: “We have got nine seats, so we have to go now and talk to everybody in the piece about their willingness to work with us.

“The country does not need any more division.”

Bush was removed as Premier of the Caribbean British territory in December last year by Governor Duncan Taylor after Mr Bush lost a vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly. The country was governed by a group of former party members until the poll.

The final election tally was:

PPM: Nine seats

UDP: Three seats

PNA: One seat

Independents (endorsed by the Coalition for Cayman): Three seats

Independents: Two seats