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, which was CI$239,604 per year (approx. US$287,641) as at 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 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. 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" |
|- align=center bgcolor=#ebebeb
!rowspan=2|
!rowspan=2|Portrait
!rowspan=2|Name<br />
!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:; color:black"| 1
| 80px
| Thomas Jefferson<br />
| 25 November 1992
| 26 April 1995
|
| Independent
| 1992
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"| 2
| 80px
| Truman Bodden<br />
| 26 April 1995
| 15 November 2000
|
| Independent
| 1996
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"| 3
| 80px
| Kurt Tibbetts<br />
| 15 November 2000
| 8 November 2001
|
| Independent
| 2000
|
|-
! style="background:; color:white"| 4
| 80px
| McKeeva Bush<br />
| 9 November 2001
| 30 June 2003
|
| Cayman Democratic Party
| —
||
|-
! colspan="9" | Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009)
|-
! style="background:; color:white"| 1
| 80px
| McKeeva Bush<br />
| 30 June 2003
| 18 May 2005
|
| Cayman Democratic Party
| —
|
|-
! style="background:; color:white"|
| 80px
| Kurt Tibbetts<br />
| 18 May 2005
| 27 May 2009
|
| People's Progressive Movement
| 2005
|
|-
! style="background:; color:white"|
| 80px
| McKeeva Bush<br />
| 27 May 2009
| 5 November 2009
|
| Cayman Democratic Party
| 2009
|
|-
! colspan="9" | Premiers (2009–present)
|-
! style="background:; color:white"| 1
| 80px
| McKeeva Bush<br />
| 6 November 2009
| 19 December 2012
|
| Cayman Democratic Party
| —
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"| 2
| 80px
| Julianna O'Connor-Connolly<br />
| 19 December 2012
| 29 May 2013
|
| Independent
| —
|
|-
! style="background:; color:white"| 3
| 80px
| Alden McLaughlin<br />
| 29 May 2013
| 21 April 2021
|
| People's Progressive Movement
| 2013<br />2017
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"| 4
| 80px
| Wayne Panton<br />
| 21 April 2021
| 15 November 2023
|
| Independent
| 2021
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"|
| 80px
| Julianna O'Connor-Connolly<br />
| 15 November 2023
| 6 May 2025
|
| Independent
| —
|
|-
! style="background:; color:black"| 5
| 80px
| André Ebanks
| 6 May 2025
| Incumbent
|
| Caymanian Community Party
| 2025
|}
Timeline
See also
- List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies
- Politics of the Cayman Islands
- Governor of the Cayman Islands
References
Further reading
Cayman Islands Government Portal:
- "Message from the LoGB - The National Hurricane Plan"
- "Members of the Legislature (MLAs)"
- Election Office