| Post: | Premier of the Cayman Islands |
| Insignia: | Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands.svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Arms of His Majesty's Cayman Islands Government |
| Incumbent: | Juliana O'Connor-Connolly |
| Incumbentsince: | 15 November 2023 |
| Style: | The Honourable |
| Appointer: | Governor of the Cayman Islands |
| Termlength: | At the governor's pleasure |
| Formation: | 8 November 1992 |
| First: | Thomas Jefferson |
| Website: | Office of the Premier |
The Premier of the Cayman Islands is the political leader and head of government. The post of premier in the Cayman Islands is the equivalent to chief minister or prime minister in other British Overseas Territories. It is the highest political level that can be attained within the British overseas territory. Prior to 2009, the position was known as Leader of Government Business.
The premier and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior ministers) are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to King Charles III, to the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate.
The premier earns a salary at Grade A5, the highest, in the Cayman Islands Civil Service Salary Scale,[1] which was CI$234,900 per year (approx. US$290,000) as at 1 January 2021.[2]
The current premier is Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, since 15 November 2023.
Until 2003 the position had no official recognition, but it was formalized by a constitutional amendment in June 2003, as the Leader of Government Business along with the Leader of the Opposition.[3] Further constitutional amendments in 2009 modified the name to Premier.
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Portrait | Name | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| Leaders of Government Business (non-statutory) (1992–2003) | |||||||||
| 1 | Thomas Jefferson | 25 November 1992 | 26 April 1995[4] | Independent | 1992 | ||||
| 2 | Truman Bodden | 26 April 1995 | 15 November 2000 | Independent | 1996 | ||||
| 3 | Kurt Tibbetts | 15 November 2000 | 8 November 2001 | Independent | 2000 | ||||
| 4 | McKeeva Bush | 9 November 2001[5] | 30 June 2003 | Cayman Democratic Party | — | ||||
| Leaders of Government Business (statutory) (2003–2009) | |||||||||
| 1 | McKeeva Bush | 30 June 2003[6] | 18 May 2005 | Cayman Democratic Party | — | ||||
| Kurt Tibbetts | 18 May 2005 | 27 May 2009 | People's Progressive Movement | 2005 | |||||
| McKeeva Bush | 27 May 2009 | 5 November 2009 | Cayman Democratic Party | 2009 | |||||
| Premiers (2009–present) | |||||||||
| 1 | McKeeva Bush | 6 November 2009 | 19 December 2012 | Cayman Democratic Party | — | ||||
| 2 | Julianna O'Connor-Connolly | 19 December 2012 | 29 May 2013 | Independent | — | ||||
| 3 | Alden McLaughlin | 29 May 2013 | 21 April 2021 | People's Progressive Movement | 2013 2017 | ||||
| 4 | Wayne Panton | 21 April 2021 | 15 November 2023 | Independent | 2021 | ||||
| (2) | Julianna O'Connor-Connolly | 15 November 2023 | Incumbent | Independent | — | ||||
Cayman Islands Government Portal: