Cayman Islands: Alden McLaughlin remains premier in coalition government

Following a weekend of negotiations – the result of an inconclusive outcome to last week’s general elections in the Cayman Islands, longtime political rivals Alden McLaughlin and McKeeva Bush have agreed to form a coalition to run the country.

A formal swearing-in ceremony will take place on Wednesday, according to a statement on the Cayman Islands government’s website, by the Cayman Islands’ governor, Helen Kilpatrick.
The announcement came on Monday, 3 days after an earlier attempt by both political figures to form a coalition failed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alden McLaughlin would remain premier, with his rival, opposition leader McKeeva Bush, becoming speaker of the house. McLaughlin’s longtime second-in-command, Moses Kirkconnell, would remain deputy premier.

Kilpatrick said in her statement that she had met with elected representatives including McLaughlin, Bush and Kirkconnell, and that McLaughlin had provided her with evidence that he had sufficient support to form a Government of National Unity.