Up Front
Governor Addresses New Government
His Excellency, The Governor, Mr. PeterSmith, CBE
Governor of the Cayman Islands, Mr. PeterSmith, CBE has called for open and accountable government, asa new administration is sworn into office. He was speaking atthe first sitting of the Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday, 15thNovember, following general elections a week earlier.
"I don't think anyone of you did not sign up in the campaignto the concept of transparent and open and honest government whichis clearly what the public and the voting public wanted,"the Governor told the newly elected members. "That's musicto my ears and I look forward to working with you all within thatframework."
In proceedings in the House, the 15 elected Members of the LegislativeAssembly voted for five among them to form Executive Council.Those elected are: Mr. D. Kurt Tibbetts, first elected memberfor George Town, who has been designated Leader of GovernmentBusiness, Mr. Linford Pierson, third elected member for GeorgeTown, Mrs. Edna Moyle, elected member for North Side, Mr. McKeevaBush, first elected member for West Bay, who has been named DeputySpeaker and Mr. Roy Bodden, first elected member for Bodden Town.
Captain Mabry Kirkconnell has been returned as Speaker of theHouse, with George Town MLA, Dr. Frank McField named as DeputySpeaker.
In congratulating the new government, the Governor also remindedthem that there are "serious things that need to be doneand addressed very quickly."
"You've all been given extremely heavy responsibilities,and I would merely add that in addition to addressing the issuesthat will confront you in terms of Cayman, please do not losesight also of the importance of Cayman's image internationally,which is at present in good shape, but we need momentum, and noslacking," he told the House.
"I would say in one sense, with a view of history, that youare the people now who have been chosen by the people to man anddrive and direct the ship of state, the good ship Cayman. Thesedays that good ship Cayman is no longer a beautiful catboat sailingin coastal waters. You are a powerful, motorized cruiser goingup and down international highways, and that's how you must seeyourselves at all times," the Governor said.
He also praised the elections administration team for a job welldone. "I have rarely seen in my travels a technical electionprocess so well handled at the centre and I think you're wellserved for the future. As I've said in a letter to the Supervisorof Elections, that you're well served having that competence andthat experience on tap," he said.
He also thanked the electorate for doing its civic duty and fora high voter turnout of approximately 83 percent, that he said"would be the envy of many, many democracies around the world."