Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands

Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands
Type
Type
Leadership
Helen Kilpatrick
Structure
Seats 18 (elected)
2 (ex officio)
Elections
Last election
 22 May 2013
Meeting place
Legislature Assembly Building
George Town
Website
www.gov.ky
Cayman Islands
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Cayman Islands

The Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands is the unicameral legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It is composed of 20 members; 18 elected members for a four-year term and two members ex officio under the Constitution of 2009.[1]

The Governor may at any time, by Proclamation, prorogue or dissolve the Assembly. The Governor shall dissolve the Assembly at the expiration of four years from the date when the Assembly first meets after any general election unless it has been sooner dissolved. There shall be a general election at such time within two months after every dissolution of the Assembly as the Governor shall, by Proclamation, appoint. The first meeting of every session of the House shall, by Proclamation, be held on such day as the Governor shall appoint. A session usually consists of four meetings. A Meeting comprises several sittings.

In the elections of 8 November 2000, with a turnout of 80% only non-partisans were elected. After the election, conservative members of parliament formed the United Democratic Party. The social democratic People's Progressive Movement formed in response and won the subsequent election.

In the most recent election, the Progressives won a plurality of seats and formed a majority government with the support of independent members of the assembly.

History

The first meeting to discuss the possible legislative future of the Cayman Islands took place on 5 December 1831 at Pedro St. James, a great house in the fertile area of Savannah on Grand Cayman. This building is the seat of parliamentary beginnings in the Cayman Islands.

By 1909 what got established as the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry was meeting in the Court House on the waterfront in what is now the headquarters of the Cayman Islands National Museum, in front of Hog Sty Bay and the cruise passenger arrival terminal. The building served as the seat of government, the court hozxuse and the legislature. Now it is the home of the Cayman Islands National Museum.

The present Legislative Assembly building was built on the site of the former Princess Royal Park. The building design was the subject of some controversy when selected as the winner of an international architectural competition. Being the first poured concrete public building in Cayman, modern techniques were not yet in use, so the concrete was mixed on the street and poured pail by pail by a bucket brigade. The cornerstone was laid by Captain Rayal Brazly Bodden, MBE, JP, on 29 September 1971. The building was completed in July 1972.[2]

By 2003, the legislature had outgrown the space and the building was in need of renovating. Repair and refurbishment work on the building began in February 2003, which added more space through reconfiguration, and renovated and refurbished portions of the interior, including the main chamber.

The newly refurbished and expanded building was inaugurated with the opening of the Legislature session on 2 July 2004, two months before Hurricane Ivan, which almost completely devastated Grand Cayman over a two-day period (11–12 September 2004). The LA building withstood the storm with minor damage to its roof.

Following a constitutional amendment in 2009, the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands has 20 members, 18 elected and 2 appointed, up from 18 members, 15 elected and 3 appointed.

The elected members represent the Islands' six districts. The district of George Town returns six members, four each come from Bodden Town and West Bay, two from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and one each from North Side and East End.

The two ex officio (appointed) members are appointed by the Governor. They are the Deputy Governor and the Attorney-General.

Official Members

Deputy Governor; First Official Member, Responsible for External Affairs

Attorney General; Second Official Member, Responsible for Legal Affairs

Elected Members

Party key People's Progressive Movement
United Democratic Party
Independents

Speaker

Member Roles
Hon. Juliana O'Connor-Connolly Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Second Elected Member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

Government

Cabinet

Member Roles District
Hon. Alden McLaughlin Premier of the Cayman Islands; Minister of Home and Community Affairs Third Elected Member for George Town
Hon. Moses Kirkconnell Deputy Premier; Minister with responsibility for District Administration, Tourism and Transport First Elected Member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
Hon. Kurt Tibbetts Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure First Elected Member for George Town
Hon. Osbourne Bodden Minister of Health, Sports, Youth and Culture Second Elected Member for Bodden Town
Hon. Marco Archer Minister of Finance and Economic Development Fourth Elected Member for George Town
Hon. Wayne Panton Minister of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment Third Elected Member for Bodden Town
Hon. Tara Rivers Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs Second Elected Member for West Bay

Backbenchers

Member Roles District
Hon. Anthony Eden Deputy Speaker; First Elected Member for Bodden Town
Mr. Roy McTaggart Councillor for Financial Services, Finance and Economic Development; Chairman of Public Accounts Second Elected Member for George Town
Mr. Winston Connolly Councillor for Education and Employment Fifth Elected Member for George Town
Mr. Joseph Hew Councillor for Tourism Sixth Elected Member for George Town
Mr. Alva Suckoo Councillor for Computer Services, eGovernment, Sports, Youth and Culture Fourth Elected Member for Bodden Town

Opposition

Official Opposition

Member Roles District
Hon. McKeeva Bush Leader of the Opposition First Elected Member for West Bay
Hon. Bernie Bush Deputy Leader of the Opposition Third Elected Member for West Bay
Capt. Eugene Ebanks Fourth Elected Member for West Bay

Independents

Member Roles District
Mr. Ezzard Miller Elected Member for North Side
Mr. Arden McLean Elected Member for East End

Results

 Summary of the 22 May 2013 Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly election results
Party Votes % Seats +/–
People's Progressive Movement21,85936.19+4
United Democratic Party16,81627.83–6
Coalition for Cayman11,27518.63New
People's National Alliance3,4365.71New
Independents7,21211.92+1
Total votes cast60,59810018+3
Total voters14,760–––
Registered voters/turnout18,49279.82––
 Summary of the 20 May 2009 Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly election results
Parties Seats
United Democratic Party 9
People's Progressive Movement 5
Independents 1
Total (turnout 80.25%) 15
Source: Elections Office
 Summary of the 11 May 2005 Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly election results
Parties Seats
People's Progressive Movement 9
United Democratic Party 5
West Bay Alliance -
People's Democratic Alliance -
Independents 1
Total (turnout 80.25%) 15
Source: Elections Office

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/1379/pdfs/uksi_20091379_en.pdf
  2. ↑ National Trust Cayman Islands – An Historical Walking Tour - Central George Town
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