Creating jobs is number one priority – Premier
CARICOM News Network
by Calvin G. Brown
New Premier Alden McLaughlin shakes hands with Governor Duncan Taylor during the swearing-in ceremony outside the LA building Wednesday. Photo: Jewel Levy
The new Premier of the Cayman Islands Alden McLaughlin along with the ten members of his new government this morning took the oath of office on the steps of the Legislative Assembly (LA) building in downtown George Town with Governor Duncan Taylor administering.
In addition, the seven members of the Opposition, led by Former Premier McKeeva Bush who was nominated as Leader of the Opposition were also sworn in.
Premier Alden McLaughlin will have 11 people total in his new government. That includes himself, eight Progressives party members and two independents, Tara Rivers and Winston Connolly. Ms O’Connor-Connolly, as speaker, will not get to vote in LA matters,
United Democratic Party Leader McKeeva Bush sat in the customary opposition leader’s chair aside his colleagues Bernie Bush and Capt. Eugene Ebanks.
In the “south-east” corner of the assembly floor, independent member Roy McTaggart fit in between returning incumbent independents Arden McLean and Ezzard Miller.
In his first address as the country’s leader, McLaughlin told the MLAs the Cayman Islands was on a new path with an inclusive government. He said although the Westminster system of government was adversarial in nature, the challenges facing the nation would not be solved by “opposing for opposing’s sake”, “I am not asking for a free pass, and my government will always welcome constructive criticism, but I believe that the experience that resides in this Chamber must be utilized for the benefit of the country at large,” he said.
McLaughlin called on stakeholders within the tourism industry to employ Caymanians and ensure they play an integral role in the industry. “A happy, safe and stable social environment is a prerequisite to a successful tourism industry,” he said, adding that it was in the interest of investors to ensure that Caymanians feel included in the sector which showcases their country and culture.
McLaughlin said in the long term a plan that was agreed to by the UK was needed to bring certainty to the budget process. Having already spoken to the Overseas Territories Minister, the premier said Mark Simmonds had indicated a willingness to work with the government to get the economy back on track.
“Within the next two weeks I will take a delegation including the Minister of Finance to the UK to meet with the British Government to resolve some of our budgetary issues for the upcoming fiscal year,” he added.
New Premier Alden McLaughlin shakes hands with Governor Duncan Taylor during the swearing-in ceremony outside the LA building Wednesday. Photo: Jewel Levy
Pointing to the port and the airport expansion as key projects, he said getting them properly tendered and on stream would be an early priority for the new government. However, creating jobs was priority number one.
