The Cayman Democratic Party, formerly known as the United Democratic Party, was a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

in the

Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory, and the largest by population. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located so ...

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 William McKeeva Bush, (born 20 January 1955) is a Caymanian politician, former Speaker of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands and former Premier of the Cayman Islands. Bush, the former leader of the Cayman Democratic Party, served as the el ...

. The Cayman Democratic Party served as the opposition party in the

Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands The Parliament of the Cayman Islands is the unicameral legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It is composed of 21 members; 19 elected members for a four-year term and two members ''ex officio''. The Governor may ...

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 Progressivism is a left-leaning political philosophy and reform movement that seeks to advance the human condition through social reform. Adherents hold that progressivism has universal application and endeavor to spread this idea to human so ...

, Democratic Party, and independents was announced where

Alden McLaughlin Sir Alden McNee McLaughlin Jr., (born 6 September 1961) is a Caymanian politician, former Premier of the Cayman Islands and former Speaker of Parliament of the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin previously served as leader of the People's Progress ...

of the Progressives would have remained as premier and Democratic leader Bush would have become speaker. 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.

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Before the 2021 election, in December 2020, Democratic leader

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 Martyn Keith Roper (born 8 June 1965) is a British diplomat and civil servant who served as Governor of the Cayman Islands between 29 October 2018 and 29 March 2023. Roper was the second longest-serving governor of the Cayman Islands behind Th ...

to dissolve Parliament on 14 February, triggering early elections instead of having the vote on the motion. In the lead-up to the election, the Democratic Party was described as " ppearingto be defunct" as figures previously of the party (including Bush) instead contested as independents.

List of Cayman Democratic Party leaders

: (November 2001 – February 2021)

Electoral performance

References

Political parties in the Cayman Islands Year of establishment missing Conservative parties in dependent territories of the United Kingdom {{Caymans-stub

History

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List of Cayman Democratic Party leaders

Electoral performance

See also

References