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Julianna O’Connor-Connolly becomes Premier of the Cayman Islands
New Cayman Islands Premier.,Julianna O’Connor-Connolly
(Reuters) – Julianna O’Connor-Connolly who was Deputy Premier has succeeded McKeeva Bush as the Premier of the Cayman Islands.
Bush was ousted in a no-confidence vote of the legislature on Tuesday, a week after his arrest on suspicion of corruption.
The Cayman Islands are a major financial center, offshore home to more than half of the world’s hedge funds, and a leading global tax haven.
The governor, Duncan Taylor said Bush had asked him to dissolve parliament and call new elections but that “after careful consideration and using my discretion as the Constitution entitles me to do,” he instead appointed O’Connor-Connolly as premier.
General elections are to take place as previously scheduled on May 22 and O’Connor-Connolly planned to meet later today with her newly shuffled Cabinet.
“My colleagues and I are determined to move this country forward in a united fashion with honesty and integrity and in all-inclusive government,” she told Reuters.
O’Connor-Connolly was first elected to the legislature in 1996 and was a founding member of the United Democratic Party.
Bush, a veteran politician who became premier in 2009, has lost his Cabinet post as minister of finance, tourism and development but retains his seat in the legislature at least until the next election.
Police arrested him on December 11 as part of a corruption investigation. He was released on bail until February, pending the possible filing of criminal charges. Authorities declined to give specific details of the investigation but said it included allegations of theft and misuse of a government credit card.