premier of the Cayman Islands

{{Infobox official post

|post = Premier of the Cayman Islands

|body =

|nativename =

|flag =

|flagsize =

|flagcaption =

|insignia = Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands.svg

|insigniasize =

|insigniacaption = Arms of His Majesty's
Cayman Islands Government

|image = Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Premier (cropped).jpg

|imagesize =

|alt =

|incumbent = Juliana O'Connor-Connolly

|incumbentsince = 15 November 2023

|department =

|style = The Honourable

|member_of =

|reports_to =

|residence =

|seat =

|nominator =

|appointer = Governor of the Cayman Islands

|appointer_qualified =

|termlength = At the governor's pleasure

|termlength_qualified =

|constituting_instrument =

|precursor =

|formation = 8 November 1992

|first = Thomas Jefferson
{{small|as Leader of Government Business}}

|last =

|abolished =

|succession =

|deputy =

|salary =

|website = [http://otp.gov.ky/ 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.

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,[https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2020/2020-0048/ParliamentManagementAct_2023%20Revision.pdf Parliament (Management) Act (2023 Revision)] which was CI$239,604 per year (approx. US$287,641) as at 1 September 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.ky/publication-detail/salary-and-wage-scale---september-2022 | title=Cayman Islands Government Pay Scale - September 2022 | date=1 September 2022 }} 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

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.{{cite web |title=The Cayman Islands (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2003 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1515/made |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=10 August 2020}} Further constitutional amendments in 2009 modified the name to Premier.

List

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="9" \|{{legend2\|{{party color\|Independent politician}}\|Independent\|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2\|{{party color\|Cayman Democratic Party}}\|CDP\|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2\|{{party color\|People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)}}\|PPM\|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2\|{{party color\|United People's Movement (Cayman Islands)}}\|UPM\|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
align=center bgcolor=#ebebeb !rowspan=2\|{{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} !rowspan=2\|Portrait !rowspan=2\|Name {{small\|(Birth–Death)}} !colspan=3\|Term of office !rowspan=2\|Political party !rowspan=2\|Elected !rowspan=2\|Notes
align=center bgcolor=#ebebeb !Took office !Left office !Time in office
colspan="9" \| Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003)
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| 1 \| 80px \| Thomas Jefferson {{small\|(1940–2006)}} \| 25 November 1992 \| 26 April 1995{{cite web \|title=Cayman Islands: Annual Review 1995\|date=2 June 2021 \|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/761879/response/1844618/attach/7/Releasable%20Material%20HWC%20014%201%201996.pdf \|publisher=Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office \|access-date=29 July 2021}} \| {{age in years and days\|1992\|11\|25\|1995\|4\|26}} \| Independent \| 1992 \|
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| 2 \| 80px \| Truman Bodden {{small\|(born 1945)}} \| 26 April 1995 \| 15 November 2000 \| {{age in years and days\|1995\|4\|26\|2000\|11\|15}} \| Independent \| 1996 \|
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| 3 \| 80px \| Kurt Tibbetts {{small\|(born 1954)}} \| 15 November 2000 \| 8 November 2001 \| {{age in years and days\|2000\|11\|15\|2001\|11\|8}} \| Independent \| 2000 \| {{small\|First tenure}}
style="background:{{party color\|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"\| 4 \| 80px \| McKeeva Bush {{small\|(born 1955)}} \| 9 November 2001{{cite web \|title=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2001 Session\|url=http://www.legislativeassembly.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/10774108.PDF \|publisher=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly \|access-date=24 April 2021}} \| 30 June 2003 \| {{Age in years and days\|2001\|11\|8\|2003\|6\|30}} \| Cayman Democratic Party \| — \|\| {{small\|First tenure}}
colspan="9" \| Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009)
style="background:{{party color\|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"\| 1 \| 80px \| McKeeva Bush {{small\|(born 1955)}} \| 30 June 2003{{cite web \|title=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2003/4 Session\|url=http://www.legislativeassembly.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/10776104.PDF#page=465 \|access-date=24 April 2021 \|page=438}} \| 18 May 2005 \| {{Age in years and days\|2003\|6\|30\|2005\|5\|18}} \| Cayman Democratic Party \| — \|
style="background:{{party color\|People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)}}; color:white"\| {{small\|(2)}} \| 80px \| Kurt Tibbetts {{small\|(born 1954)}} \| 18 May 2005 \| 27 May 2009 \| {{Age in years and days\|2005\|5\|18\|2009\|5\|27}} \| People's Progressive Movement \| 2005 \| {{small\|Second tenure}}
style="background:{{party color\|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"\| {{small\|(1)}} \| 80px \| McKeeva Bush {{small\|(born 1955)}} \| 27 May 2009 \| 5 November 2009 \| {{Age in years and days\|2009\|5\|27\|2009\|11\|5}} \| Cayman Democratic Party \| 2009 \| {{small\|Second tenure}}
colspan="9" \| Premiers (2009–present)
style="background:{{party color\|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"\| 1 \| 80px \| McKeeva Bush {{small\|(born 1955)}} \| 6 November 2009 \| 19 December 2012 \| {{Age in years and days\|2009\|11\|6\|2012\|12\|19}} \| Cayman Democratic Party \| — \|
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| 2 \| 80px \| Julianna O'Connor-Connolly {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 19 December 2012 \| 29 May 2013 \| {{Age in years and days\|2012\|12\|19\|2013\|5\|29}} \| Independent \| — \| {{small\|First tenure}}
style="background:{{party color\|People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)}}; color:white"\| 3 \| 80px \| Alden McLaughlin {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 29 May 2013 \| 21 April 2021 \| {{Age in years and days\|2013\|5\|29\|2021\|4\|21}} \| People's Progressive Movement \| 2013 2017 \|
style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}; color:black"\| 4 \| 80px \| Wayne Panton {{small\|(born 1964)}} \| 21 April 2021 \| 15 November 2023 \| {{Age in years and days\|2021\|4\|21\|2023\|11\|15}} \| Independent \| 2021 \|
style="background:{{party color\|United People's Movement (Cayman Islands)}}; color:white"\| {{small\|(2)}} \| 80px \| Julianna O'Connor-Connolly {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 15 November 2023 \| Incumbent \| {{Age in years and days\|2023\|11\|15}} \| United People's Movement \| — \| {{small\|Second tenure}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="9" |{{legend2|{{party color|Independent politician}}|Independent|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|Cayman Democratic Party}}|CDP|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)}}|PPM|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|{{party color|United People's Movement (Cayman Islands)}}|UPM|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

align=center bgcolor=#ebebeb

!rowspan=2|{{Abbr|No.|Number}}

!rowspan=2|Portrait

!rowspan=2|Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}

!colspan=3|Term of office

!rowspan=2|Political party

!rowspan=2|Elected

!rowspan=2|Notes

align=center bgcolor=#ebebeb

!Took office

!Left office

!Time in office

colspan="9" | Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003)

style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}; color:black"| 1

| 80px

| Thomas Jefferson
{{small|(1940–2006)}}

| 25 November 1992

| 26 April 1995{{cite web |title=Cayman Islands: Annual Review 1995|date=2 June 2021 |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/761879/response/1844618/attach/7/Releasable%20Material%20HWC%20014%201%201996.pdf |publisher=Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |access-date=29 July 2021}}

| {{age in years and days|1992|11|25|1995|4|26}}

| Independent

| 1992

|

style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}; color:black"| 2

| 80px

| Truman Bodden
{{small|(born 1945)}}

| 26 April 1995

| 15 November 2000

| {{age in years and days|1995|4|26|2000|11|15}}

| Independent

| 1996

|

style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}}; color:black"| 3

| 80px

| Kurt Tibbetts
{{small|(born 1954)}}

| 15 November 2000

| 8 November 2001

| {{age in years and days|2000|11|15|2001|11|8}}

| Independent

| 2000

| {{small|First tenure}}

style="background:{{party color|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"| 4

| 80px

| McKeeva Bush
{{small|(born 1955)}}

| 9 November 2001{{cite web |title=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2001 Session|url=http://www.legislativeassembly.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/10774108.PDF |publisher=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly |access-date=24 April 2021}}

| 30 June 2003

| {{Age in years and days|2001|11|8|2003|6|30}}

| Cayman Democratic Party

| —

|| {{small|First tenure}}

colspan="9" | Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009)

style="background:{{party color|Cayman Democratic Party}}; color:white"| 1

| 80px

| McKeeva Bush
{{small|(born 1955)}}

| 30 June 2003{{cite web |title=Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Official Hansard Report 2003/4 Session|url=http://www.legislativeassembly.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/10776104.PDF#page=465 |access-date=24 April 2021 |page=438}}

| 18 May 2005

| {{Age in years and days|2003|6|30|2005|5|18}}

| Cayman Democratic Party

| —

|

style="background:{{party color|People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)}}; color:white"| {{small|(2)}}

| 80px

| Kurt Tibbetts
{{small|(born 1954)}}

| 18 May 2005

| 27 May 2009

| {{Age in years and days|2005|5|18|2009|5|27}}

| People's Progressive Movement