Premier of the Cayman Islands

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Premier of the Cayman Islands
Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands.svg
Andre Ebanks 2021.jpg
Incumbent
André Ebanks
since 6 May 2025
Style The Honourable
Appointer Governor of the Cayman Islands
Term length At the governor's pleasure
Formation8 November 1992
First holder Thomas Jefferson
as Leader of Government Business
Website Office 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.

Contents

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 André Ebanks, since 6 May 2025.

Constitutional background

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

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

   Independent    CDP    PPM    TCCP
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyElectedNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003)
1 No image.png Thomas Jefferson
(1940–2006)
25 November 199226 April 1995 [4] 2 years, 152 days Independent 1992
2 No image.png Truman Bodden
(born 1945)
26 April 199515 November 20005 years, 203 days Independent 1996
3 No image.png Kurt Tibbetts
(born 1954)
15 November 20008 November 2001358 days Independent 2000 First tenure
4 William McKeeva Bush.jpg McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
9 November 2001 [5] 30 June 20031 year, 234 days Cayman Democratic Party First tenure
Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009)
1 William McKeeva Bush.jpg McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
30 June 2003 [6] 18 May 20051 year, 322 days Cayman Democratic Party
(2) No image.png Kurt Tibbetts
(born 1954)
18 May 200527 May 20094 years, 9 days People's Progressive Movement 2005 Second tenure
(1) William McKeeva Bush.jpg McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
27 May 20095 November 2009162 days Cayman Democratic Party 2009 Second tenure
Premiers (2009–present)
1 William McKeeva Bush.jpg McKeeva Bush
(born 1955)
6 November 200919 December 20123 years, 43 days Cayman Democratic Party
2 Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, Premier (cropped).jpg Julianna O'Connor-Connolly
(born 1961)
19 December 201229 May 2013161 days Independent First tenure
3 Alden McLaughlin, Premier, Cayman Islands.jpg Alden McLaughlin
(born 1961)
29 May 201321 April 20217 years, 327 days People's Progressive Movement 2013
2017
4 G Wayne Panton (cropped).jpg Wayne Panton
(born 1964)
21 April 202115 November 20232 years, 208 days Independent 2021
(2) Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, Premier (cropped).jpg Julianna O'Connor-Connolly
(born 1961)
15 November 20236 May 20251 year, 172 days Independent Second tenure
5 Andre Ebanks 2021.jpg André Ebanks 6 May 2025Incumbent1 day Caymanian Community Party 2025

See also

References

  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

Cayman Islands Government Portal: