Former Premier Wayne Panton, in a statement of ‘gratitude and clarity’ issued after his resignation as government leader Wednesday, said stepping down was the “bravest thing” he could do and was in the best interests of the islands.
His resignation and the swearing in of a new government came the day after a vote of no confidence in him and his PACT administration. Although the motion, which failed to win two-thirds of the members’ votes, did not succeed, it highlighted that Panton’s and PACT’s deadlocked 9-9 position was untenable.
In his statement, he said, “I have always believed that the members that came together as the PACT government represent the best way forward for the people of the Cayman Islands; that belief has not changed.
“In this watershed moment in the history of our three islands, we need steady, experienced, disciplined leadership. Last night, after a grueling day of Parliamentary debates, I met with my Cabinet colleagues to discuss the best way forward in the interest of the country.”
He added, “In times like these, sometimes the bravest thing you can do for your country and for your people is to pass the mantle of leadership to someone else.”
Panton to be nominated as Speaker
According to a government press release issued earlier in the evening announcing the composition of the new United People’s Movement, led by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Panton will be nominated as Speaker of the House, to replace Katherine Ebanks-Wilks. The two are effectively changing places, as Ebanks-Wilks will be taking up Panton’s position as minister of sustainability and climate resiliency.
The Speaker does not usually have a vote in Parliament, unless called on to do so in the event of a tied vote. Ebanks-Wilks, in an address to the House following the debate, called for a constitutional change to make the Speaker’s position autonomous, so future Speakers would not find themselves in a position to be called up to break a voting tie.
Panton said he planned to continue to use his experience and skill “to help guide the Cayman Islands, offering my best advice and wisdom so that the next generation of leadership in this country can do the best for CaymanKind today, tomorrow, and always”.
He added that he believed his colleagues will be able to “offer the kind of leadership needed to complete the work we have started”.
Throughout Tuesday’s debate on the no-confidence motion, brought by Leader of the Opposition Roy McTaggart, several members who supported the motion repeatedly asked Panton to put the interests of the country first and step aside.
In his statement Wednesday, Panton said, “[We] must always remember that pride must never be more important than the interest of our people; and personalities and egos must never be allowed to halt the progress of Caymanians.
“Our people need our help. In the midst of greed and ambition threatening to drown our Islands, Caymanians look to the government to chart a safe and sensible way forward – a way that puts Caymanians at the front of the line of our national policy agenda.”
Panton expressed his “eternal gratitude” to his PACT colleagues, thanking them for “taking a chance with me and for all the good we managed to do”.
He acknowledged that they may have “disagreed at times on what path to take, but we have always agreed on the destination: tending to the best interests of the people of the Cayman Islands”.
Read Wayne Panton’s full statement here.
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