MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
ANNEX 4
JOB DESCRIPTION
GOVERNOR, CAYMAN ISLANDS
THE TERRITORY
Background (Constitutional and Political Position)
The Cayman Islands cover some 100 square miles and have a population of about 14,000.
1.
2. The Territory is a desirable piece of real estate one hour's flying time from Miami and has already established itself as an area for property and selective tourist development and as a fully-fledged tax haven.
3. A firm and universal resolve to remain a British Dependent Territory has retarded constitutional advance in the Cayman Islands, to the extent that the present Member system, established in 1972 as a short precursor to the introduction of ministerial government, has lasted seven years. The Islands have a Legislative Assembly consisting of three official members and twelve members elected by adult suffrage with the Governor acting as Speaker. The Executive Council consists of the Governor as President, three official members (Chief Secretary, Attorney General and Financial Secretary) and four Members selected by the elected members of the Assembly. The four elected members of the Executive Council are each responsible for a range of subjects. The last General Election took place in November 1976.
4.
Politics along political party lines do not exist as such but are based upon personalities and shared interest. The present Government comprises a mutually supporting group of persons who secured eleven out of the twelve seats in the Legislature, thereby ousting the four elected Members of the previous Executive Council from active politics. As it is a non-ministerial form of government there is no Chief Minister or constitutionally recognised leader to this political group.
5. The present Government reflects the robust entrepreneurial spirit of the very independent minded yet intensely loyal Cayman Islanders. Possibly stemming from its pirate origins, the territory is redolent of Edwardian laissez-faire capitalism. Over the past few years Caymanians have displayed a remarkable and cohesive talent for managing their extremely limited resources to their best economic advantage, at the same time maintaining governance over their own territory and its affairs, without losing control to the overseas investors. Much of this success can be attributed in recent years to the unobtrusive but highly effective leadership of the present Governor, who, by securing the trust and confidence of his elected Members and Civil Service, has managed to guide his strong-willed, ebullient and often intractable politicians into the ways of good government. In his efforts the Governor has been
MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE
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