In a surprise move Tuesday, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders resigned from the PACT government, citing differences with Premier Wayne Panton which he says prevent him from working with the Newlands MP.
This move has prompted a Cabinet reshuffle in which Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has been elevated to deputy premier.
Saunders, in a WhatsApp message to constituents, wrote, “Earlier today, I held a brief meeting with Premier Panton. It is clear from that meeting that the Premier and I have differences that are material to us working together, and as such, I have resigned as a Minister of Cabinet and a member of PACT effective immediately.”
Panton, in a statement Tuesday afternoon, did not address whether Saunders had resigned, saying only that he “will no longer serve in Cabinet”.
He thanked the Bodden Town West MP for his service and contributions to government.
He said there have been “several changes to the Ministers of Cabinet in order to create better synergies and improve delivery of results in the PACT Government’s stated priority areas”.
The Governor’s Office has declined comment on this latest development.
Saunders: Resignation ‘rightful thing to do’
Though the former deputy premier’s decision to part ways with the PACT administration Tuesday took some by surprise, he says it had been on his mind “for quite some time”.
Saunders, in a telephone interview with the Cayman Compass Tuesday afternoon, said he believed his resignation was the ‘rightful thing to do’ as his and Premier Wayne Panton’s ideologies were too different to make working together possible.
“Ultimately it is a premier’s government so his ideas would always trump mine and the best thing to do for all, where you have differences, [is] don’t stay there and cause strife or any instability in the country. You just do the rightful thing and… step down,” he said.
He declined to elaborate as to what prompted Tuesday’s action.
“We need to maintain investor confidence in our jurisdiction at all times and at the end of the day the challenges that this country is facing [are] bigger than whatever differences [we have]. We’re still in the business of making people’s lives better and I will continue to contribute to that process as best as I can,” he said.
He added he will continue to push the government on the 5% Cost of Living Allowance increase for civil servants.
Saunders said he has spoken to Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart, who he had “great respect” for, but he is remaining independent.
Opposition: ‘Cracks’ and ‘factions’
McTaggart, in a statement on the situation Tuesday afternoon, said it “hardly comes as a surprise”.
“The cracks within the PACT Government have been apparent from the earliest days of their term, and nothing has happened over the last two years to overcome these internal differences. The task of effective government is not made easier with three or four different factions in the same Cabinet,” McTaggart said in the statement.
The announcement of the new minister and reshuffling of ministerial roles, he said, “may help with this”.
“Perhaps this reshuffle will also help the Government regroup so that it can now focus on delivering solutions to the challenges the country is facing rather than its own internal divisions. We realise that with the resignation of Mr Saunders from PACT, Premier Panton now has the slimmest of majorities in Parliament. We do hope that he will be able to hold his Government together despite this,” McTaggart said.
Rumblings of discord happening for some time
It appears the PACT administration, mere days away from its mid-term milestone, has been dealt its biggest blow following the recent arrest of West Bay West MP McKeeva Bush.
There has been no word on Bush’s position with the government at this time, though the Cayman Compass has made numerous requests for comment.
This latest portfolio change comes nearly one year after the removal of West Bay North MP Bernie Bush as Minister of Home Affairs in April.
The West Bay North MP was stripped of the Home Affairs ministry and sent on two weeks leave without pay after comments about the Fire Service which violated the Constitution and Ministerial Code of Conduct.
For months, there have been rumblings on the political landscape of clashes amongst the PACT team.
Though Saunders did not go into the “differences” between him and the premier, the Bodden Town West MP said, “in the best interest of our beloved Cayman Islands it is best that those differences remain between the Premier and me. The political stability and the international reputation of the Cayman Islands are more important than those differences.”
Saunders said he wished his former colleagues in the PACT government “all the best and look forward to working with them on the opposite side of the aisle in Parliament”.
“In the past, I would remind my colleagues that M.P. means more to me than D.P. and I look forward to continuing my role as an Independent Member of Parliament representing the good, decent, and hardworking people of my home district of Bodden Town West,” he said.
Changes to portfolios
The resulting changes to Cabinet will see Panton assume responsibility for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, with O’Connor-Connolly appointed deputy premier while retaining her two current ministries of Education, and District Administration and Lands.
Bodden Town East MP Dwayne Seymour has been elevated to Cabinet, responsible for the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, and relinquishes his roles as Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary, Panton said.
Other changes announced include moving the responsibility for public transport to Minister Jay Ebanks, whose remit already includes the National Roads Authority and traffic management.
“Consolidating all traffic related matters under the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure will allow that Ministry to bring forth comprehensive solutions to deal with traffic issues. Minister Hon. Kenneth Bryan retains responsibility for Tourism and Ports. All other Ministerial assignments will remain the same,” he said.
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