While Governor Jane Owen says there has been no detailed discussion on moving her out of her home in Government House on Seven Mile Beach, she will accept whatever decision is made when it comes to the official residence.
Over the years, there have been calls for alternative accommodations to be found for the governor and for Government House to be returned for public use because of its historical value to the Caymanian community.
The issue was once again raised in Finance Committee last week when Opposition MP Chris Saunders suggested that the residence be turned into a place where “Caymanian excellence can be celebrated” and for it to be used as an open space for government and the public.
Owen, speaking on the Cayman Compass talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’ Wednesday afternoon, said any decision on moving her out of Government House will have to be one taken together with the United Kingdom.
“It would be a very big… political decision to change the governor’s residence that’s been there for so long. I feel very, very privileged to be in it and I regard it as really, really important that it is an entity that is there to be used… to the benefit of our government, of our different organisations, [and] of the people,” she said.
Owen said, as with her official residences at her previous postings, she has been working very hard to ensure she is making the best use of Government House, and that it is offering the “best value for money and the most open and effective use”.
“That’s one of the things that I will definitely continue to do and I hope that people who have come to the residence on Seven Mile Beach will find that it’s a welcoming place,” she said. “It’s a beautiful place. It’s quite a special place and I think it’s a great asset for Cayman to be able to have and to keep. It’s very, very different from all of the other assets that we have on Seven Mile Beach,” she said.
Though she enjoys living in Government House, Owen said if there were to be a change in residence, “I would accept that and go along with it.”
Budget within fiscal framework rules
Owen, addressing expenditure and borrowing concerns over the recently passed budget, assured that the $2 billion fiscal package is within the parameters of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.
That UK-drafted framework sets out a range of measures to strengthen public financial management in the Cayman Islands and has been in place since 2012.
The governor said though the new budget was not within her direct remit, she works closely with government, “particularly with an eye” on the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.
“I have been making sure that the budget, in the way it’s currently constructed, is fully within the boundaries of that framework, which I’m very pleased about,” she said.
Former Premier Wayne Panton had previously indicated that he wanted to look at discussing changes to the FFR with the UK.
However, Owen said she has not had any discussion on this in great detail, either with Panton or current Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
“If we thought it was necessary to have that sort of conversation, we certainly would do. Cayman has a really strong reputation for prudent and good budget management, so I think if there were to be any changes, that would be done in a very careful and considered way,” she said.
She added that, with the budget that Cayman has for the next two years, government is planning to remain within the boundaries of the financial framework, “so, at the moment, it is not a conversation to have”.
Focus on crime
Owen, who has direct responsibility for national security, said while the rise in gun-related crime in Cayman has been been concerning, there is an all-round effort from all arms of law enforcement to keep the islands safe.
“I think we need to look at it from all of the different stages. We need to look at the import of firearms, both through the airport and the port, and also just illegally on small boats, for example. … We need to make sure we’ve the right security systems… within all these places,” she said.
She said upgrades to the security systems were under way, but added Cayman’s “very good forensics” was helping deal with the aftermath of gun crimes.
“We have a really effective forensics and ballistics lab and that is incredibly helpful to us at the moment,” she said.
Owen said the community plays an important role in the fight against crime.
“We are actually so lucky that our environment is relatively so safe and it is recognised around the the region,” she added. “We need to work very, very hard all together to keep it that way because it protects our lives and our wellbeing. It protects our mental health, it gives us more opportunities for jobs and economic development. It protects our tourism industry. It protects our children, for goodness sake.”
Owen said she is pleased with Police Commissioner Kurt Walton’s efforts to keep the islands safe and called on the community to work with the police to keep guns off the streets.
She also urged everyone to exercise caution on the roads during the holiday season and make use of a designated driver if consuming alcohol.
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Would the current Governor’s House be used for public purposes? Or to build a hotel or condos? This is a very valuable stretch of beach.
It would be sad to see the Governor’s House destroyed and replaced with a condo or hotel.
This residence is a signature of Grand Cayman and should remain a home for the governor.
I’m sure living on the most beautiful section of seven mile beach is an attractive feature of the assignment as governor of Cayman. Please allow this home to survive any political pressure for a change.
Marcia L.
Mr Saunders needs to be more specific in his reasoning for evicting the Governor from the property that our forebears decided in their wisdom should be home for the King’s representative effectively whilst we remain a colony. It is not at all clear to me what he means by “a place where Caymanian excellence can be celebrated and used as an open space for Government and the public”. I trust he takes heed of the comments from the Governor which directly address the some of the concerns he appears to have.
I believe that Government House is already a place where “Caymanian excellence can be celebrated”. Governors and staff have long hosted celebrations at Government House to honour Caymanians and residents who continually contribute to the well being of The Cayman Islands.
I am nervous about the statement “used as an open space for Government and the public”.
As an example, when the Dart Park, a beautiful open space, was handed over to Government it has over the years not been well maintained.
I do hope all concerned in making decisions about the future of Government House will be practical and not let emotions stand in the way of sensible decisions.
Leave this, the Governor’s Residence, AS IS!!
I agree.
What’s wrong with our Governors being housed in the mansion we proudly and honourably provide for them as our guest of honour protectorate sent from our Sovereign and mother country which adores us as if we were Britain outside of the UK in the Caribbean? We the people of the Cayman Islands proudly erected that mansion which was bought and paid for by the British Government, and constructed by a very notable generational Caymanian architect, builder and Government contractor. What will it be if changed? Its already a proud symbol for our Caymanians, status holders, foreign guests, tourists and friends of our nation. It is, and has always been a model of Caymanian ‘Excellence’ and for their Excellencies which has been celebrated since the day it was completed and opened as the Cayman Islands Government House. If security is an issue (or what politics is attempting to draw on); make special designated official security and police personnel on the property, and add better updated technology and security systems to the compound. According to Cayman Governments current budget, they have more than enough money to do so. Do not get politics involved in an attempt to undo our rich cultural ties and heritage with the UK as a British Overseas Territory and Commonwealth nation. We also were never a ‘colony’ in the true sense. We have and hopefully will always be a member nation of the United Kingdom and the UK as our parent nation.
I totally agree with Kaymanjoe. An excellent response.
Chris Saunders has suggested that the residence be turned into a place where “Caymanian excellence can be celebrated” and for it to be used as an open space for government and the public.
What EXACTLY is he suggesting? That the house be demolished to extend the existing Governors Beach? That it be a place fom MPs to hold parties for constituents? That it be rented out to residents?
The UPM’s raid on the Environmental Protection fund was a major political blunder.
Relocating the Governor’s House would also be a mistake.
It should be declared a heritage site and left untouched.
This Government is going down a path which will have long term negative impacts on the People of the Cayman Islands and the environment.