Government opens first Cayman Islands office in US

The Cayman Islands government’s office in Washington, DC, was officially opened on Thursday, 26 Jan. by the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce.

Government’s representative for the US and Canada, Chris Duggan, hosted 60 guests at a reception at the City Tavern Club in the Georgetown area. They included officials from fellow Caribbean countries, representatives from the British Embassy, former members of  Congress, DC industry stakeholders, and visiting industry members from Cayman.

Governor Martyn Roper and Minister of Financial Services and Commerce André Ebanks spoke at the event.

Highlighting the significance of the opening, the governor noted that the UK fully supports the office and its remit.

Speaking after the event, he said plans for the remaining two locations, to cover the EU and Asia, are progressing well, also with the UK’s support.

Minister Ebanks, himself the former London-based government representative for the UK and Europe, wished Duggan much success. He underscored that the representative’s role affords greater opportunities to provide the true and accurate record of the Cayman Islands to US elected officials, department staff, industry representatives and media.

Like the remit of government’s long-established office in the UK, the representatives in the three new offices will cover all of government.

While Duggan is responsible for the US and Canada, Deborah Bodden is government’s representative for the EU; and Gene DaCosta is government’s representative for financial services in the UK/EU, and in Asia. Government’s representative for the UK is Tasha Ebanks-Garcia.

As part of the DC office opening programme, Duggan, DaCosta and the Ministry’s Chief Officer Dax Basdeo accompanied Minister Ebanks to meetings, including with senior staff of US elected officials and industry stakeholders.

Duggan was appointed to the post in 2021.

After completing the required US protocols, the office was officially launched on 26 Jan., 2023. The office is located at 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC.