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Premier of the Cayman Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Premier of the Cayman Islands
since 15 November 2023
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor of the Cayman Islands
Term lengthAt the governor's pleasure
Formation8 November 1992
First holderThomas Jefferson
as Leader of Government Business
WebsiteOffice of the Premier

The Premier of the Cayman Islands is the political leader and head of government. The post of premier in the Cayman Islands is the equivalent to chief minister or prime minister in other British Overseas Territories. It is the highest political level that can be attained within the British overseas territory. Prior to 2009, the position was known as Leader of Government Business.

The premier and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior ministers) are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to King Charles III, to the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate.

The premier earns a salary at Grade A5, the highest, in the Cayman Islands Civil Service Salary Scale,[1] which was CI$239,604 per year (approx. US$287,641) as at 1 September 2022.[2] The premier also receives an executive allowance of CI$5,000 per month, in addition to the constituency allowance of CI$5,000 paid to every MP. Total compensation for the position is therefore CI$359,604 (approx. US$431,700).

The current premier is Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, since 15 November 2023.

Constitutional background

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Until 2003 the position had no official recognition, but it was formalized by a constitutional amendment in June 2003, as the Leader of Government Business along with the Leader of the Opposition.[3] Further constitutional amendments in 2009 modified the name to Premier.

List

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(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

  Independent   CDP   PPM   UPM
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003)
1 Thomas Jefferson
(1940–2006)
25 November 1992 26 April 1995[4] 2 years, 152 days Independent 1992
2 Truman Bodden
(born 1945)
26 April 1995 15 November 2000 5 years, 203 days Independent 1996
3 Kurt Tibbetts
(born 1954)
15 November 2000 8 November 2001 358 days Independent 2000 First tenure
4 McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
9 November 2001[5] 30 June 2003 1 year, 234 days Cayman Democratic Party First tenure
Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009)
1 McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
30 June 2003[6] 18 May 2005 1 year, 322 days Cayman Democratic Party
(2) Kurt Tibbetts
(born 1954)
18 May 2005 27 May 2009 4 years, 9 days People's Progressive Movement 2005 Second tenure
(1) McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
27 May 2009 5 November 2009 162 days Cayman Democratic Party 2009 Second tenure
Premiers (2009–present)
1 McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
6 November 2009 19 December 2012 3 years, 43 days Cayman Democratic Party
2 Julianna O'Connor-Connolly
(born 1961)
19 December 2012 29 May 2013 161 days Independent First tenure
3 Alden McLaughlin
(born 1961)
29 May 2013 21 April 2021 7 years, 327 days People's Progressive Movement 2013
2017
4 Wayne Panton
(born 1964)
21 April 2021 15 November 2023 2 years, 208 days Independent 2021
(2) Julianna O'Connor-Connolly
(born 1961)
15 November 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 20 days United People's Movement Second tenure

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Parliament (Management) Act (2023 Revision)
  2. ^ "Cayman Islands Government Pay Scale - September 2022". 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ "The Cayman Islands (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2003". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Cayman Islands: Annual Review 1995" (PDF). Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2001 Session" (PDF). Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2003/4 Session" (PDF). p. 438. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

Further reading

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Cayman Islands Government Portal: