📢 Cayman Islands Premier to review campaign financing rules

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly of the Cayman Islands has expressed her intention to review campaign financing, a topic she acknowledges as a "very big concern". She aims to find a balance and bring forward reforms before the next election. The current opaque nature of political financing has been a source of worry, with rich donors potentially influencing politicians' decisions. Under the current Elections Act, only donations given in the eight weeks before a general election must be disclosed by candidates. 📜

In the 2021 elections, candidates spent over CI$1.2 million, with many claiming the bulk of their spending was self-funded. However, due to the lack of transparency, it is challenging to verify these claims. The Premier's decision to tackle this issue was discussed during a government retreat, where other issues such as potential referendums on gambling and marijuana, as well as the latest Electoral Boundary Commission Report, were also discussed. The Premier is responsible for dealing with the report and ensuring that any government decisions will be implemented before the next general election, expected in April 2025. 💼