Update: 5:20pm: Cayman’s new premier, André Ebanks, in his first speech as the leader of the country, immediately thanked God and his family, describing his wife Tiffany as his “wisest counsel and best friend”.
He gave special thanks also to his West Bay South constituents who returned him to office.
Commenting on his government’s choice of Ezzard Miller as speaker of Parliament, he said Miller, a veteran of politics, would make an “experienced, no-nonsense, on-time, competent” speaker.
“This is a serious mind to do a serious job,” he added.
Addressing the PPM opposition, he said he hoped they could have an advocatory, rather than an adversarial relationship in the House, and that both sides could work together.
He also paid special tribute to the late Judiann Myles, the head of anti-money laundering division in the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, who was found dead in a burning car last month. He outlined her work in helping get the Cayman Islands off the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list of jurisdictions.
Calling for people to adopt more old-time values, he mentioned littering, road rage and bullying as examples of behaviour that did not reflect Cayman’s culture and traditions.
He closed with the comment, “For all who say Cayman is doomed, I rebuke that. Cayman is not out of the fight,” adding, “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Update: 4:50pm: Proceedings have now moved outdoors, where a large crowd has gathered under tents in front of the House of Parliament to watch the next steps, which included the appointments of the ministers and members of Cabinet.
The individual ministries have not yet been officially revealed by the new government, though through the swearing-in ceremony, we can see who will hold Cabinet positions.
First up was André Ebanks, who took his oath as Cayman’s premier and the most senior elected member of Cabinet.
In an emphatic reading of his oath, Ebanks declared, “I … do swear that I will well and truly serve His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors, and the people of the Cayman Islands, in the office of this member of Cabinet, so help me, God.”
This was followed by Gary Rutty, who was sworn in as deputy premier.
The rest of Cabinet’s elected members will be made up of Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Rolston Anglin, Nickolas DaCosta, Jay Ebanks, Isaac Rankine and Michael Myles, all of whom were sworn in before the gathered crowd, as was ex-officio members Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Attorney General Samuel Bulgin.
The Compass understands that André Ebanks, as well as being premier, is likely to retain the financial services portfolio he held for most of his time as part of the last administration, and Rutty is expected to take on the tourism and transport ministry.
Rolston Anglin is likely to take over the education and finance ministries, while Ebanks-Wilks is believed to be taking on the Ministry of Sustainability as well as health and wellness, and DaCosta is expected to head up the home affairs and district administration ministries.
Myles is expected to be given responsibility for immigration, while Jay Ebanks seems likely to keep the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructure. Rankine is expected to retain the youth and sports portfolio.
This leaves three government members – Wayne Panton, Heather Bodden and Julie Hunter – without Cabinet positions, though they are expected to serve as ministerial councillors in the new administration.
Update: 3:45pm: It’s official, André Ebanks is Cayman’s new premier, having received 11 votes, and Joey Hew receiving eight, presumably from the seven PPM members and the one independent member on the opposition side, Chris Saunders.
Following that vote, Governor Owen delivered the instruments of office to Ebanks, as well as to Hew, as leader of the opposition, and Kenneth Bryan as deputy leader of the opposition.
Update: 3:35pm: A secret ballot is under way in Parliament, with the People’s Progressive Movement nominating its leader Joey Hew as premier, after the National Coalition For Caymanians government nominated André Ebanks.
The NCFC holds the majority, with 11 members, compared to PPM’s seven, so the outcome of the vote will probably be no surprise.
Update: 3:30pm: In his brief speech to the House, his first in his new role as speaker, Ezzard Miller said he was accepting the role with “profound humility and sincere gratitude”.
Noting that the very nature of the House of Parliament “is one of conflict and advocational debate, I would hope that we can grab this opportunity to follow the theme of this year’s emancipation celebration, unity and strengthening our legacy”.
In his first act as speaker, he oversaw the nomination of deputy speaker, a role given to Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden.
Update: 3:15pm: Ezzard Miller has been elected, unopposed, as speaker of Parliament.
He was nominated by Jay Ebanks, with André Ebanks seconding the vote.
The role of speaker is an important one in Parliament, as that individual is the presiding officer and oversees the proceedings of the House. While many speakers have been elected members, Miller, a former elected representative for North Side, is not an MP.
Update: 3:10pm: Governor Jane Owen, in her address to the House, after the oaths and affirmations were completed, said, “We are gathered here today in this hallowed hall of Cayman’s democracy to welcome and formally confirm the 19 representatives who were successfully returned by our electorate.”
She thanked Wayne Panton and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who both served as premier over the past four years, for their service, and also paid tribute to the Elections Office teams, the candidates who did not win seats, and the voters themselves.
Noting that Cayman had 25,643 registered voters on Election Day, an increase of more than 2,000 on 2021’s figures, and that 73% of the electorate came out to vote, she urged all electors to take part in elections.
Referring to international and domestic election observers’ preliminary reports, the governor said she hoped the incoming government would take steps to address some of the issues highlighted in those reports, including more transparent campaign financing, reviewing constituency boundaries, and developing regulations on social media.
She also touched on the results of the three referendums, on cruise berthing infrastructure, which was rejected, and decriminalisation of possessing small amounts of cannabis and the adoption of a national lottery, both of which were passed.
“These results are clear, though they are not binding,” she said, adding that it was now up to the government to use its discretion on how to move forward on those matters.
She reiterated that the United Kingdom was committed to the Cayman Islands as a British Overseas Territory.
Update: 2:40pm: The swearing-in ceremony for Cayman’s new government is under way.
First to be sworn in were the non-elected members of Parliament – Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Attorney General Samuel Bulgin – with the 19 newly elected MPs following. Each is reading out an oath of allegiance or affirmation, swearing allegiance to King Charles III and the people of the Cayman Islands.
To cheers and applause, André Ebanks, who will later be sworn in as premier, was the third MP to step forward to take his oath of allegiance. After taking their oaths, each member took their assigned seat in the House.
Original story:
André Ebanks is set to be sworn in as premier alongside his National Coalition For Caymanians government this afternoon. The official ceremonies are scheduled to start at 2pm.
The proceedings will begin inside the House of Parliament chamber, with Governor Jane Owen carrying out the administration of oaths and affirmation, during which all 19 elected MPs across the government and opposition benches will be sworn in.
Once those members are in place, an election to appoint a new speaker of the House will be held, with Ezzard Miller being nominated by the new government. Then, the deputy speaker and premier will be elected by the MPs.
When those formalities are completed, the governor will conduct a separate ceremony outside the parliamentary building for the swearing in of the premier, deputy premier, the ministers and members of Cabinet.
The ceremonies typically last about four hours.
We will be bringing you the events live on Compass TV and the Cayman Compass website throughout the day.