In the wake of the shock resignations of four government members on Thursday, the opposition Progressives party says it is “carefully considering its options”, but “stands ready to provide the leadership the Cayman Islands needs”.
The Progressives held an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon at party chairman Sir Alden McLaughlin’s Prospect home, following the announcement that Deputy Premier André Ebanks, Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Health Minister Sabrina Turner and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden had parted ways with the UPM administration with immediate effect.
The party, through a brief statement, said the resignations highlight “an urgent crisis” in the government, one that threatens Cayman’s “stability and unity”.
“We must act with urgency, resolve, and a relentless commitment to the future of our islands. We must restore unity and stability to the business of government. Cayman deserves nothing less,” the party said in a written statement.
Opposition Leader Joey Hew did not stop as he left McLaughlin’s home only waving as he passed the Cayman Compass.
George Town West MP David Wight, who also exited McLaughlin’s home a short while after, declined to comment only saying “nothing has been agreed to yet”.
He said more discussions are to be held.
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly did not respond to various Compass approaches for comment.
Governor Jane Owen, through a statement following the resignations, said she was advised of the departure of the four government members and was “in discussions” with O’Connor-Connolly.
She said she will provide a further update “as soon as possible”.
“In the meantime, our public service continues to discharge their duties to ensure continuity of service to the public,” Owen said through the statement.
The Progressives, however, said with key government figures stepping down, “the Cayman Islands faces a defining moment that demands swift and decisive action to restore confidence and chart a secure path forward.”
It said that “for years” it had warned of the “critical need for a stable, transparent, and unified government dedicated to serving all Caymanians. Today’s events have brought these concerns to a breaking point, underscoring the dangers that an unchecked, disorganised government poses to the future of our Islands”.
The party, which held the reins of power for two consecutive terms before losing the government in 2021, said, “now, more than ever, we must act without delay to protect the interests of our people. A credible, organised, and unified government must be established to ensure that the country is placed back on a steady course”.
Business community calls for ‘clear and steadfast leadership’
Describing Thursday’s resignations as “seismic political shift” Joanne Lawson, president of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, expressed strong concern about the implications for business stability and international partnerships in the wake of the resignations.
“This moment demands clear and steadfast leadership. As our country faces critical decisions on matters such as funding major projects, the upcoming referendum, and sustaining our international reputation, stability is paramount,” Lawson said.
She said the business community and its international partners are watching closely.
“We cannot afford to let uncertainty damage confidence in the Cayman Islands,” she said.
The Chamber boss, in the statement, said the abrupt move, accompanied by statements highlighting “dysfunction, disorganisation, and lack of professionalism” within the government, has triggered “grave concerns” as the nation faces an uncertain political landscape just months before the general elections.
This period of uncertainty, Lawson said, “poses risks for our entire community, threatening to slow progress on crucial issues and diminish the confidence of local and international stakeholders alike”.
The Chamber president pointed out that the resigning members cited “self-interest above country interest” and an atmosphere that “does not foster objective analysis” or a “forum for a respectful exchange of differing views,” particularly concerning the treatment of women in the Caucus.
West Bay West MP McKeeva Bush, in a short comment to the Compass on the situation, said, he believes various issues prompted the move.
Bush said “pushing the country into an early election does not speak well for a stable country”.
Opposition Bodden Town West MP Chris Saunders and Parliamentary Secretary Bernie Bush, both of whom are in Australia on official business, declined to comment on the resignation or their next steps.
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