The Parliament of the Cayman Islands is the unicameral legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands. It is composed of 21 members; 19 elected members for a four-year term and two members ex officio.The Nineteen Single Member Electoral Districts Boundaries Order, 2015

The Governor may at any time, by Proclamation, prorogue or dissolve the Parliament. The Governor shall dissolve the Parliament at the expiration of four years from the date when the Parliament first meets after any general election unless it has been sooner dissolved. There shall be a general election at such time within two months after every dissolution of the Parliament as the Governor shall, by Proclamation, appoint. The first meeting of every session of the House shall, by Proclamation, be held on such day as the Governor shall appoint. A session usually consists of four meetings. A Meeting comprises several sittings.

In the elections of 8 November 2000, with a turnout of 80% only non-partisans were elected. After the election, conservative members of parliament formed the United Democratic Party. The conservative social democratic People's Progressive Movement formed in response and won the subsequent election. The United Democratic Party has since collapsed, with former members either exiting politics or becoming independents.

On 31 October 2024 Deputy Premier André Ebanks, Ministers Ebanks-Wilks and Turner, and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden resigned from the Government effective immediately. This move raises the prospect of an early general election and questions the ability for the current Government to pass legislation. Such legislation would require support from Elected Members from different parties. Furthermore, the governor would need to sign off on that arrangement.

History The first meeting to discuss the possible legislative future of the Cayman Islands took place on 5 December 1831 at Pedro St. James Castle, a great house in the fertile area of Savannah on Grand Cayman. This building is the seat of parliamentary beginnings in the Cayman Islands.

By 1909 what got established as the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry was meeting in the Court House on the waterfront in what is now the headquarters of the Cayman Islands National Museum, in front of Hog Sty Bay and the cruise passenger arrival terminal. The building served as the seat of government, the court house and the legislature. Now it is the home of the Cayman Islands National Museum.

The present Parliament building was built on the site of the former Princess Royal Park. The building design was the subject of some controversy when selected as the winner of an international architectural competition. Being the first poured concrete public building in Cayman, modern techniques were not yet in use, so the concrete was mixed on the street and poured pail by pail by a bucket brigade. The cornerstone was laid by Captain Rayal Brazly Bodden, MBE, JP, on 29 September 1971. The building was completed in July 1972.National Trust Cayman Islands – An Historical Walking Tour - Central George Town

By 2003, the legislature had outgrown the space and the building was in need of renovating. Repair and refurbishment work on the building began in February 2003, which added more space through reconfiguration, and renovated and refurbished portions of the interior, including the main chamber.

The newly refurbished and expanded building was inaugurated with the opening of the Legislature session on 2 July 2004, two months before Hurricane Ivan, which almost completely devastated Grand Cayman over a two-day period (11–12 September 2004). The LA building withstood the storm with minor damage to its roof.

Nineteen members (Members of the Parliament, MPs) are currently elected on a "one person, one vote" basis, following a Constitution Order in 2015. This replaced the electoral system from the 2009 constitutional amendment (where 18 members were elected from five multi- and two single-member constituencies).The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 The two ex officio (appointed) members, the Deputy Governor and the Attorney-General, are appointed by the Governor of the Cayman Islands.

On 3 December 2020, the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands was renamed the Parliament of the Cayman Islands by the Cayman Islands Constitution (Amendment) Order 2020.

Official Members Hon. Franz Manderson, MBE: Deputy Governor; First Official Member, Responsible for External Affairs Hon. Samuel Bulgin, JP, KC: Attorney General; Second Official Member, Responsible for Legal Affairs

Elected members Party keyIndependentPeople's Progressive MovementCaymanian Community PartyCayman Islands National Party

Speaker of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands Member Roles DistrictHon. Ezzard MillerSpeaker of the Parliament

Cabinet Ministers Member Roles DistrictHon. André EbanksPremier of the Cayman Islands; Minister for Financial Services and CommerceElected Member for West Bay SouthHon. Gary RuttyDeputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade DevelopmentElected Member for George Town SouthHon. Katherine Ebanks-WilksMinister for Health, Environment and SustainabilityElected Member for West Bay CentralHon. Rolston AnglinMinister for Finance and Economic Development and Minister for Education and TrainingElected Member for West Bay NorthHon. Johany EbanksMinister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and InfrastructureElected Member for North SideHon. Isaac RankineMinister for Social Development and Innovation and Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and HeritageElected Member for East EndHon. Nickolas DaCostaMinister for District Administration and Home AffairsElected Member for Cayman Brac West & Little CaymanHon. Michael MylesMinister for Caymanian Employment and ImmigrationElected Member for Prospect

Backbenchers Member Roles DistrictHon. Julie HunterParliamentary Secretary responsible for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure; Education and Training; Culture and HeritageElected Member for West Bay WestHon. Heather BoddenParliamentary Secretary responsible for Social Development; Education and Training; TourismElected Member for SavannahHon. Wayne PantonParliamentary Secretary responsible for Caymanian Employment and Immigration; Infrastructure; Health, Environment and Sustainability; Financial Services and CommerceElected Member for Newlands

Opposition

Official Opposition Members Member Roles DistrictHon. Joseph HewLeader of the OppositionElected Member for George Town NorthHon. Kenneth BryanDeputy Leader of the OppositionElected Member for George Town CentralHon. Pearlina McGaw-LumsdenDeputy SpeakerElected Member for George Town WestHon. Juliana O'Connor-ConnollyElected Member for Cayman Brac EastMr. Roy TatumElected Member for Red BayMr. Roy McTaggartElected Member for George Town EastMr. Dwayne SeymourElected Member for Bodden Town EastMr. Christopher SaundersElected Member for Bodden Town West

Results

2021 Cayman Islands general election

See also List of speakers of the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands

References

External links