[L-R] Wayne Panton MP, Katherine Ebanks-Wilks MP, Heather Bodden MP, Andre Ebanks MP, Em DeCou, Sabrina Turner MP, Osbourne Bodden

George Town, Cayman Islands (15 Jan 2025) — The Caymanian Community Party (TCCP) publicly launched today, Wednesday 15 January with former Deputy Premier Andre Ebanks as the party leader and an initial slate of seven candidates all committed to putting Caymanians first. The new party is founded on an ideology of Caymanians and community, first, and insists that Government must be held accountable by promoting the engagement of its people in all that it does. 

The formation of The Caymanian Community Party will bring together experienced leaders and fresh voices, who hold the view that a new approach to Government is required, one which puts the needs of the people, the economy and our environment on strong equal and a sustainable footing.  

Former Deputy Premier Andre Ebanks, MP and Former Premier Wayne Panton, MP filed the political party registration documents with the Supervisor of Elections on Monday 13 January. 

TCCP announced its initial slate of candidates for the April 2025 General Election, reflecting a mix of experienced policymakers and emerging talent. The candidates include:

·         Heather Bodden, MP

·         Osbourne Bodden, Former Minister

·         Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, MP

·         Andre Ebanks, MP

·         Em DeCou, Former Candidate

·         Sabrina Turner, MP 

·         Wayne Panton, MP 

The TCCP slate of candidates brings significant collective experience in private sector and in government – individuals who have stepped forward at critical moments to serve their communities with a focus on people-first solutions, guided by their commitment to good governance and accountability. 

“Our people are struggling to find their place in rapidly changing Cayman with soaring costs and fewer and fewer opportunities,” said Andre Ebanks, who has been selected by the Party’s founding members as its Leader.  “Enough is enough. We must restore sound decision making, stability, and fairness so that every Caymanian can live with pride and dignity in their own homeland.”

“The Caymanian Community Party is something different – it is built on the principles of listening to the voices of our people. We will build our community from the grassroots up; we will not be the Party where leaders are dictating from the top,” Ebanks added.

Former Premier Wayne Panton emphasised the importance of leadership grounded in community values and integrity. “The Community Party represents a collective commitment to putting Caymanians first,” he said. “This is a movement of Caymanians, by Caymanians, for Caymanians. Together, we will create a future that celebrates our culture, strengthens our economy and our community and ensures transparency in governance.”

The Caymanian Community Party outlined a platform built on 14 themes:

1.      Governance and Constitutional Rights

2.    Leadership

3.    Quality of life

4.    Immigration

5.    Sustainability

6.    The Economy

7.    Education

8.    The Environment

9.    Technology

10.  International Relations

11.  Inclusion

12.  Disaster preparedness

13.  Safety and security

14.  Elections

TCCP emphasised that its priorities are firmly based on serving the community and addressing the real needs of the people. “Caymanians deserve a government that works for them, not against them,” said Ebanks.

Wayne Panton highlighted the minority government’s legislative approach “Recent decisions have demonstrated a lack of transparency and accountability,” he said. “The proposed erosion of environmental protections and public consultation is deeply concerning. TCCP will prioritise good governance to rebuild trust and ensure Cayman’s future is safeguarded.”

The Caymanian Community Party believes that as a party with a shared vision and a cohesive strategy is better positioned to deliver meaningful change, because they can offer a structured platform and collective accountability. TCCP Constitution provides for Constituency Associations which give people an active role in participatory democracy throughout a 4-year administration rather than once every four years at general election time.

The party also announced plans to unveil additional candidates in the coming weeks as part of its campaign leading up to the 30 April elections. 

For more information or to join The Caymanian Community Party, visit votetccp.ky or contact [email protected]

For video click HERE