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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.
| Premier of the Cayman Islands | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor of the Cayman Islands |
| Term length | At the governor's pleasure |
| Formation | 8 November 1992 |
| First holder | Thomas Jefferson as Leader of Government Business |
| Website | Office of the Premier |
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 Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, since 15 November 2023.
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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.
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Independent CDP PPM UPM | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Elected | Notes | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003) | ||||||||
| 1 |  |
Thomas Jefferson (1940–2006) |
25 November 1992 | 26 April 1995[4] | 2 years, 152 days | Independent | 1992 | |
| 2 | |
Truman Bodden (born 1945) |
26 April 1995 | 15 November 2000 | 5 years, 203 days | Independent | 1996 | |
| 3 | |
Kurt Tibbetts (born 1954) |
15 November 2000 | 8 November 2001 | 358 days | Independent | 2000 | First tenure |
| 4 |  |
McKeeva Bush (born 1955) |
9 November 2001[5] | 30 June 2003 | 1 year, 234 days | Cayman Democratic Party | — | First tenure |
| Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009) | ||||||||
| 1 | |
McKeeva Bush (born 1955) |
30 June 2003[6] | 18 May 2005 | 1 year, 322 days | Cayman Democratic Party | — | |
| (2) | |
Kurt Tibbetts (born 1954) |
18 May 2005 | 27 May 2009 | 4 years, 9 days | People's Progressive Movement | 2005 | Second tenure |
| (1) | |
McKeeva Bush (born 1955) |
27 May 2009 | 5 November 2009 | 162 days | Cayman Democratic Party | 2009 | Second tenure |
| Premiers (2009–present) | ||||||||
| 1 | |
McKeeva Bush (born 1955) |
6 November 2009 | 19 December 2012 | 3 years, 43 days | Cayman Democratic Party | — | |
| 2 | .jpg) |
Julianna O'Connor-Connolly (born 1961) |
19 December 2012 | 29 May 2013 | 161 days | Independent | — | First tenure |
| 3 |  |
Alden McLaughlin (born 1961) |
29 May 2013 | 21 April 2021 | 7 years, 327 days | People's Progressive Movement | 2013 2017 |
|
| 4 | .jpg) |
Wayne Panton (born 1964) |
21 April 2021 | 15 November 2023 | 2 years, 208 days | Independent | 2021 | |
| (2) | |
Julianna O'Connor-Connolly (born 1961) |
15 November 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 43 days | United People's Movement | — | Second tenure |
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