(Left to Right) Marc Thomas, Christen Suckoo, Brittany MacVicar, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Deborah Ebanks, Governor Jane Owen, Nelva Ebanks, Jessica Anderson, and Abraham Mathew.

Seven persons were officially appointed by Her Excellency the Governor Jane Owen this morning (Tuesday, 8 April) to serve as the 2025 domestic election and referendum observers. They have been tasked to observe in a non-partisan and neutral manner the upcoming general election and referendum, which will be held on 30 April in the Cayman Islands.

The seven-member domestic election and referendum observer mission consists of head of mission Deborah Ebanks, along with Nelva Ebanks, Briony Gallegos, Abraham Mathew, Brittany MacVicar, Marc Thomas and Valerie Ritch. Jessica Anderson and Colleen Stoetzel have been selected as alternate observers.

The observer mission members were selected by a committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Honourable Franz Manderson. Other members of the committee were Chairman of the Constitutional Commission Lemuel Hurlston, member of the Human Rights Commission Jennifer Hunter, member of the Standards in Public Life Commission Woody Foster, member of the Civil Service Appeals Commission Shomari Scott and Chief Project Officer in the Office of the Deputy Governor Christen Suckoo.

In reviewing the twenty expressions of interest received, the committee considered the expertise and work experience of the candidates, experience working in an election, appearance of political neutrality and any other knowledge, expertise and attributes that would be beneficial to the observer role.

Governor Jane Owen (right) and lead election and referendum observer Deborah Ebanks sign the 2025 Domestic Election and Referendum Observer Mission Terms of Reference.

While appointed by the Governor, the domestic election and referendum observers will be conducting their work with full independence from the Cayman Islands Government. 

A Terms of Reference outlining the relative roles and responsibilities of the Cayman Islands Government and the observers was signed on 8 April 2025. Included in the Terms of Reference is a commitment by the Governor, on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, to respect the observers’ independence as non-partisan observers and not direct or interfere with their work.  This is in keeping with international best practice on local observation missions.

In commenting on the appointment, Governor Owen stated, “We are truly grateful to members of the community who have put themselves forward to observe the entire electoral period and all polling stations including the postal ballot issue, advance voting, election and referendum day counting and any potential recount, post-election and referendum issues. Their contribution is an important part of the democratic process. The work that this team will undertake will help reinforce public confidence in the electoral process and promote the rights of participants in the upcoming election and referendum.”

The Cayman Islands began the practice of establishing local teams to observe the national elections and referenda in 2009. The domestic teams work separately from the international observer missions led by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from the United Kingdom.