Cayman Democratic Party

The Cayman Democratic Party, formerly known as the United Democratic Party, was a political party in the Cayman Islands formed in late 2001 and collapsed in February 2021.

History

In the elections of 8 November 2000, with a turnout of 80%, only non-partisans were elected. After the election members of parliament formed the United Democratic Party, currently headed by McKeeva Bush.

The Cayman Democratic Party served as the opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands from 2013 to 2017. The party also previously served as opposition from May 2005-May 2009.

After the 2017 election, a coalition government between the Progressives, Democratic Party, and independents was announced where Alden McLaughlin of the Progressives would have remained as premier and Democratic leader Bush would have become speaker.<ref>EARLIER: McLaughlin, Bush announced agreement to form new government Cayman Compass, 26 May 2017</ref> However, a coalition agreement was later reached between the Democratic Party and all independent members apart from one to form a Bush-led “government of national unity;” this Democratic Party-Independent deal later fell through and the initial Progressive-Democratic-Independent deal was re-agreed to.<ref>Smooth swearing-in for Progressives-led national unity government Template:Webarchive Cayman 27, 31 May 2017</ref>

Collapse

Before the 2021 election, in December 2020, Democratic leader McKeeva Bush received a two-month suspended jail sentence for assaulting a woman in February 2020 leading to a no-confidence motion against him. Premier McLaughlin asked Governor Martyn Roper to dissolve Parliament on 14 February, triggering early elections instead of having the vote on the motion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the lead-up to the election, the Democratic Party was described as "[appearing] to be defunct" as figures previously of the party (including Bush) instead contested as independents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

List of Cayman Democratic Party leaders

• McKeeva Bush: (November 2001 – February 2021)

Electoral performance

Year	Leader	No. of votes	Share of votes	Seats
2005	McKeeva Bush	6,062	30.86%	Template:Composition bar
2009		17,299	44.2%	Template:Composition bar
2013		16,816	27.8%	Template:Composition bar
2017		3,786	24.08%	Template:Composition bar

See also

• Category:Cayman Democratic Party politicians

References

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