Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands

The Legislative Assembly building in George Town

Cayman Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Cayman Islands

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The Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands has 18 members, 15 elected members for a four year term in two-seat constituencies and 3 members ex-officio under the Constitution of 2009.

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 subsequent election on 11 May 2005 and resumed office until May 2009.

Following the Cayman Islands general election 2009 the United Democratic Party took back office and the People's Progressive Movement returned to the opposition.

History

The first-ever meeting of like-minded individuals coming together to discuss the possible legislative future of the Cayman Islands took place on 5 December 1831 at the now beautifully restored great house, Pedro St. James, in the fertile area of Savannah on Grand Cayman. This building is now revered as 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 at present the headquarters of the Cayman Islands National Museum, right in front of Hog Sty Bay and the cruise passenger arrival terminal. The building served as the seat of government, the court house and the legislature in its heyday. Now it is the home of the Cayman Islands National Museum in a fitting tribute to its historic past.

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, we didn’t yet have the modern techniques, so the concrete was mixed on the street and poured pail by pail by a sort of bucket brigade. Note that the cornerstone was laid by Captain Rayal Brazly Bodden, MBE, JP, on 29 September 1971. The building was completed in July 1972. (Source: National Trust Cayman Islands – An Historical Walking Tour - Central George Town)

By 2003, the legislature had outgrown the space and the building was in need of renovating. Repair and refurbishment work on the Legislative Assembly building began in February 2003, not only adding as much more space as possible through reconfiguration of the floor space, but also to renovate and refurbish portions of the interior, including the main chamber itself.

The newly refurbished and expanded building was inaugurated with the opening of the Legislature session on 2 July 2004, a scant two months before Hurricane Ivan — one of the worst hurricanes of the Atlantic season 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.

Current members

Official

• H.E Duncan Taylor, CBE

Governor of the Cayman Islands

• Hon Mary J. Lawrence, MBE, JP

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

• Hon. Franz Manderson, MBE

Deputy Governor; First Official Member Responsible for Internal and External Affairs

• Hon Samuel W. Bulgin, JP, QC

Attorney General; Second Official Member Responsible for Legal Affairs

Government Cabinet

• Hon W. McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP, MLA

Premier; Minister of Financial Services, Tourism and Development, First Elected Member for West Bay

• Hon Juliana Y. O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MLA

Deputy Premier; Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture, Second Elected Member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

• Hon Rolston M. Anglin, JP, MLA

Minister of Education, Training and Employment, Second Elected Member for West Bay

• Hon Michael T. Adam, MBE, JP, MLA

Minister of Community Affairs, Gender and Housing, Second Elected Member for George Town

• Hon Mark Scotland, MLA

Minister of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, First Elected Member for Bodden Town

Government Backbenchers

• Hon Cline A. Glidden, Jr, MLA

Deputy Speaker, Third Elected Member for West Bay

• Capt A. Eugene Ebanks, JP, MLA

Fourth Elected Member for West Bay

• Mr Ellio Solomon, MLA

Fourth Elected Member for George Town

• Mr Dwayne Seymour, MLA

Third Elected Member for Bodden Town

Opposition

• Hon Alden M. McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Leader of the Opposition, Third Elected Member for George Town

• Mr D. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP, MLA

First Elected Member for George Town

• Mr Moses I. Kirkconnell, JP, MLA

First Elected Member for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

• Mr Anthony S. Eden, OBE, JP, MLA

Second Elected Member for Bodden Town

• Mr V. Arden McLean, JP, MLA

Elected Member for East End

Independent

• Mr D. Ezzard Miller, JP, MLA

Elected Member for North Side

Results

 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

• List of Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands

References: