Although ten candidates in the May general elections failed to comply with the law and did not submit their accounts to the Elections Office by the 28 June deadline, they will not face sanctions.

The new Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Howell, said there were no sanctions in the law regarding candidates who do not submit returns if they do not win. All of the candidates who were returned submitted their expenses but none of the ten who missed the submission deadline were returned.

The Elections Office published the accounts this week and it is attached.

It shows 46 candidates spending collectively nearly $1M averaging out at just under $22,000 each. Independent candidates are allowed to spend $35,000 each whilst party members the limit per head is $30,000.

Therefore a coalition of independent candidates could, in theory, be better off in the spending stakes than party candidates.

Joey Ebanks, the controversial North Side candidate, spent the lowest amount of $5,119.52, and it all came from his own pocket.

 

The Progressives (PPM) raised the most money ($318,352) and spent the most ($336,808). This was well ahead of the United Democratic Party (UDP) who raised $186,102.43 and spent $225,326.

A very interesting statistic is from the Peoples National Alliance (PNA) team. The only member of the team who got elected was Juliana O’Connor Connolly and she spent the less money. She raised $14,195.00 and spent $14,223.30. Her four colleagues, though, averaged out as spending $27,000 each.

The Coalition for Cayman (C4C) candidates did not raise anything like the money they paid out. Losing candidates Jackie Haynes had a shortfall of $20,134; Jude Scott had a shortfall of $23,000; and Sharon Roulstone a shortfall of $13,785.

The best fundraiser was Stefan Baraud who raised $60,718 and spent only $34,376. Presumably he will give the surplus back. He still failed to get elected.

The ten candidates who did not provide an expense return were Matthew Leslie, Frank McField, David Bodden, Maxine Moore, John McLean Jr., Arnold Berry, Charles Clifford, Vincent Frederick, Dwene Ebanks and Andrea Christian.