GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, (Reuters) – The Cayman Islands’ governor appointed Deputy Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly as premier of the British Caribbean territory yesterday, refusing a request by the ousted premier to dissolve parliament and call early elections.
O’Connor-Connolly, 51, succeeds McKeeva Bush, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote of the legislature on Tuesday, a week after his arrest on suspicion of corruption. British-appointed Governor Duncan Taylor said he appointed O’Connor-Connolly on the advice of a majority of lawmakers from the ruling United Democratic Party, which holds nine seats in the 15-member Legislative Assembly. “I am satisfied that the Honorable Julianna O’Connor-Connolly can form a stable, functioning government,” Taylor said.
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 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.
