GOVERNOR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CAYMAN

By Staff Writer

 “The great thing about Cayman is that there are numerous opportunities…and you could look at this in terms of visitors for example, in terms of developing the beautiful environment that we have, in terms of our businesses…”

Those observations by Her Excellency Governor Janet Owen paint a picture of possibilities for the Cayman Islands going forward as she enters the second year of her posting in the jurisdiction.

The Governor was the first guest for the New Year in the 2024 series of the Caymanian Times podcast, Cayman Conversations with Ralph Lewis.

Her optimistic outlook for 2024 builds on her initial impressions of Cayman when she took up her appointment here last April.

It’s a busy year ahead for Her Excellency by her own admission with a series of formal and informal engagements in addition to the daily demands of her office and its oversight and supportive role.

Among the main issues Governor Owen sees facing Cayman in the year just started - in addition to the growth possibilities - are: relations with the United Kingdom as the administering authority and matters of security.

The Governor in the short time she has been assigned to Cayman has already seen a change of Premier, an effective change of government without an election, and will shortly oversee the democratic process of a general election as the life of the current parliament winds down over the coming months.

“I’ve really, really enjoyed working with both Premiers whom I had the great privilege and pleasure to work with; firstly with Wayne Panton and obviously with the change of government now with the Honourable Julianna O’Connor-Connolly. That was very significant in that we were able to look at that transition as part of our democracy and it all went very smoothly and calmly. And I think that’s really a testament to the way in which processes and structures work here in Cayman in our Government and Parliament.”

With the recent publication by the British Government of a proposed new formula for its relations with Cayman and other Overseas Territories, Governor Owen anticipates wide-ranging consultations for the new ‘ bilateral compact’ agreement which will form the basis for a new arrangement.

“I think that it’s very significant particularly for me and my role to ensure that I’m supporting that in every way possible.”

SECURITY

“We need to ensure that Cayman remains very safe and stable,” Governor Owen said while crediting the work being done by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service including the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Control,  along with the Cayman Islands Regiment.

Looking at that issue in Cayman through a global lens, the Governor added, “A lot of the challenges we are feeling are expanding and emerging, whether you are looking at financial, cyber or AI, certainly the traffic of guns, drugs and unfortunate people.”

Protecting Cayman’s maritime boundaries is also a high-priority issue that’s being tackled by developing partnerships with neighbouring countries.

With concerns over crime in Cayman itself, Governor Owen offered words of reassurance.

“I think most people who look at the Cayman Islands including the tourists still say ‘Wow, this place is beautiful and it is safe, relatively’. And so, our challenge is really to keep it that way.”

In this regard, she spoke of the effort by the RCIPS in deploying human and strategic resources to tackle the problem, while working alongside government and community agencies to address any underlying social issues which might be contributing factors.

OPPORTUNITIES

From tourism to the environment and business overall, the outlook as the Governor sees it is quite encouraging.

“It’s very interesting that we are doing so well in financial services and that includes coming off the ‘grey list’ (set by the European Union of countries whose oversight of the sector was deemed not rigid enough).

Governor Owen said she was also impressed with Cayman’s technology sector.

“I was very struck by the number of tech entrepreneurs who appear to want to come to Cayman and make it their home. That’s very exciting because it’s the next big industrial revolution. We need to absolutely be in the top 20 places in the world.”

GOVERNANCE

Ultimately responsible for how the jurisdiction is administered, the Governor, who has had wide diplomatic experience with postings in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway before being assigned to Cayman, offered this assessment of what she has been observing.

“The important thing to me is that the Government are clear about their priorities, which I think they are, and that they are working hard to achieve them. And I’m constantly impressed by how much time all of our politicians…work really hard with a really strong sense of serving their community and their people. That’s what it’s all about.”

CULTURE

Another sector highlighted by Governor Owen is that of culture which she feels is still not getting its deserved recognition.

“I think a lot of people regard Cayman culture as being a bit forgotten and neglected in some circles in the past,” she noted drawing on conversations she’s had. “I know a lot of people including former minister (Bernie) Bush was very keen to see more of a renaissance of culture,” she said while putting in a plug for the upcoming Heroes Day events where she expects to see “a lot of local culture on display”.

The full interview will be broadcast on Caymanian Times Facebook and YouTube pages on Thursday January 25, at 7.30 am.