GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands - Premier André Ebanks Tuesday led 19 successful politicians to take their oath as legislators as the new coalition government begins the task of running a government in this British Overseas Territory.
Premier André EbanksEbanks is leading the newly formed Cayman’s National Coalition For Caymanians (NCFC) after no single party emerged victorious following last Wednesday’s general election.
According two official results, the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) won seven seats in Parliament, the most out of all parties, but was three short of a majority.
Two newly-formed parties, the Cayman Islands National Party (CINP), founded by a former manager at Ernst & Young, and the Caymanian Community Party (CCP), established by members of the dissolved United People’s Movement (UPM), won four seats each.
Last Friday, the CCP and the CINP announced that three elected members were joining them – giving them a majority of 11 in the 19-seat Parliament – and had approached the Governor Jane Owen to inform her they were ready to form a government.
The new grouping announced its new name at a public meeting last Saturday, noting that ‘National’ stood for the CINP, ‘Coalition’ for the independents that joined following the election, and ‘Caymanians’ representing the hallmark of The CCP.
“While a broad framework for the new government has been developed, ministerial assignments and portfolio responsibilities will be finalized later this week and official announcement will be done in due course,” the NCFC said in a statement.
Ebanks said the team had decided on the NCFC to represent the merger between his party, the CINP and the independents, but most of all their commitment to serve the population.
Ebanks said the priority policies and projects for the government over the coming months include the state of the government’s finances, given that the budget predictions are now calling for a deficit, a situation that has to be rectified as the CIG begins preparations for the 2026/2027 budgets.
Ebanks said there was “a mountain of work to get through”, but they would get through it as a team.
Following Tuesday’s official swearing-in ceremony, members of the new government will on Wednesday, meet with Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and senior civil service leadership for introductory briefings designed to support a strong, coordinated start to the new administration.
“This is a time for focus, discipline, and collaboration. We are taking care to build a government that is not only stable and effective, but also transparent — one that communicates clearly, involves the people, and earns the trust of the country. That’s what the country deserves, and that’s what we’re committed to delivering,” Ebanks added.
In an address to the ceremony, the Governor pledged to work with the new government “as we protect and promote the safety of the population in all areas of life and work.
‘We are gathered here today in this hallowed hall pf Cayman’s democracy to welcome and formally confirm the 19 representatives who were successfully returned by our electorate,” she said, adding “I look forward to working with you as we plan to deliver for our people over the coming four years of this Parliament”.
