Kurt Tibbetts
Encyclopedia
Darwin Kurt Tibbetts, OBE
is a Caymanian
politician. Tibbetts is a former Leader of Government Business
in the Cayman Islands. He currently serves as the First Elected Member for George Town
, serving his fifth term in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands. He has represented the district of George Town continuously since 1992.
for medical reasons. After his birth, he returned to the family home in Cayman Brac
until we was sent away to Jamaica for schooling at age 7, where he attended St. George's College, Jamaica
. At age of 19, he moved to Grand Cayman
and worked in the CIBC
for one year. After this, he worked in a print shop for four years and then started his own printing business, which he had owned and managed for over twenty five years.
politicians and came in fourth behind Truman Bodden
at the time there were only three George Town representatives and he was not elected. In 1992, following the creation of a fourth George Town seat, Tibbetts was elected fourth to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town. In 1996 Tibbetts was elected first to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town and has continuously since. From November 2000 to November 2001 he served as the Leader of Government Business
, as well as serving on Executive Councils (renamed Cabinet in 2003) as Minister for Planning, Communications and Works. From November 2001 until May 2005, Tibbetts served as the Leader of the Opposition
. In 2002 he helped found the People's Progressive Movement
(PPM), and in 2003 was unanimously elected leader of the PPM.
Following the Cayman Islands general election 2005
, Tibbetts served as the Leader of Government Business
and Minister for District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing during the People's Progressive Movement administration from May 2005 to May 2009. He returned to opposition following the Cayman Islands general election, 2009
. Tibbetts also serves as a Justice of the peace
. Over the past years Tibbetts has openly advocated participatory democracy, governmental transparency, and governmental accountability.
On 10 November 2010 Kurt Tibbetts announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People's Progressive Movement opposition front bench.
On 12 February 2011, the People’s Progressive Movement made history when it became the first political party in the Cayman Islands to transfer leadership. Tibbetts stepped down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People’s Progressive Movement and was replaced by Alden McLaughlin
.
Tibbetts was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II
Birthday Honours for his success in business, community service and politics.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a Caymanian
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
politician. Tibbetts is a former Leader of Government Business
Leader of Government Business
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 colonial...
in the Cayman Islands. He currently serves as the First Elected Member for George Town
George Town, Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. The city has a population of 35,600 and is the largest city on Grand Cayman....
, serving his fifth term in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands. He has represented the district of George Town continuously since 1992.
Early life
Tibbetts, the son of Captain Darwin Tibbetts and Selma Tibbetts, was born in JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
for medical reasons. After his birth, he returned to the family home in Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac is an island that is part of the Cayman Islands. It lies in the Caribbean Sea about 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and 5 miles east of Little Cayman. It is about 12 miles long, with an average width of 1 mile...
until we was sent away to Jamaica for schooling at age 7, where he attended St. George's College, Jamaica
St. George's College, Jamaica
St. George's College is a Roman Catholic high school in Kingston, Jamaica.-History:The school was founded on September 2, 1850 by a group of 21 Spanish Jesuits who had been expelled from Colombia because of their religious faith. The Colombian Government gave them approximately 9 hours to leave the...
. At age of 19, he moved to Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
and worked in the CIBC
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is one of Canada's chartered banks, fifth largest by deposits. The bank is headquartered at Commerce Court in Toronto, Ontario. CIBC's Institution Number is 010, and its SWIFT code is CIBCCATT....
for one year. After this, he worked in a print shop for four years and then started his own printing business, which he had owned and managed for over twenty five years.
Participation in the Lions Club of Grand Cayman
In 1976, at just 22 years of age, he joined the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, serving as President in 1988 and 1993-1994. His acumen for fund raising helped the club collect hundreds of thousands of dollars that were ploughed back into the community, mostly to augment government welfare programmes. During his tenure as President for the 1993-94 year was the launching of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters movement. He also helped introduce the Lions’ Benzarama fundraisers that brought country music legends Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, Don Williams and Ben E. King to the Cayman Islands. Tibbetts gratefully acknowledges the influence his Lions Club seniors had on him and emphasises that he is only one among many like-minded members. He values all the club’s accomplishments and particularly the fellowship of its membership. Notably, it was the satisfaction Tibbetts gained from serving others that led to his decision to enter the political arena.Political career
In 1988 he ran against other George TownGeorge Town, Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. The city has a population of 35,600 and is the largest city on Grand Cayman....
politicians and came in fourth behind Truman Bodden
Truman Bodden
Truman Murray Bodden, OBE is a past Caymanian politician. An attorney at law by profession, he served as Leader of Government Business from 1994 to November 2000. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly for George Town...
at the time there were only three George Town representatives and he was not elected. In 1992, following the creation of a fourth George Town seat, Tibbetts was elected fourth to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town. In 1996 Tibbetts was elected first to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town and has continuously since. From November 2000 to November 2001 he served as the Leader of Government Business
Leader of Government Business
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 colonial...
, as well as serving on Executive Councils (renamed Cabinet in 2003) as Minister for Planning, Communications and Works. From November 2001 until May 2005, Tibbetts served as the Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government...
. In 2002 he helped found the People's Progressive Movement
People's Progressive Movement (Cayman Islands)
The People's Progressive Movement is a social-democratic political party in the Cayman Islands currently headed by Alden McLaughlin.The People's Progressive Movement was founded in 2002.General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 11 May 2005...
(PPM), and in 2003 was unanimously elected leader of the PPM.
Following the Cayman Islands general election 2005
Caymanian general election, 2005
General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 11 May 2005.They were won by the People's Progressive Movement, which took 10 of the 15 seats in the Legislative Assembly....
, Tibbetts served as the Leader of Government Business
Leader of Government Business
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 colonial...
and Minister for District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing during the People's Progressive Movement administration from May 2005 to May 2009. He returned to opposition following the Cayman Islands general election, 2009
Caymanian general election, 2009
General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 20 May 2009. A referendum on a draft constitution was held at the same time.The opposition United Democratic Party defeated the incumbent People's Progressive Movement...
. Tibbetts also serves as a Justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Over the past years Tibbetts has openly advocated participatory democracy, governmental transparency, and governmental accountability.
On 10 November 2010 Kurt Tibbetts announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People's Progressive Movement opposition front bench.
On 12 February 2011, the People’s Progressive Movement made history when it became the first political party in the Cayman Islands to transfer leadership. Tibbetts stepped down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People’s Progressive Movement and was replaced by Alden McLaughlin
Alden McLaughlin
Alden McNee McLaughlin Jr., MBE is a Caymanian politician. He also serves as Leader of the Opposition and leader of the People's Progressive Movement in the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin is the Third Elected Member for George Town, serving his third term in the Legislative Assembly...
.
Family and personal life
He married Shirley-Ann Tibbetts in 1984 and they have three children; daughters Jacynth and Janelle, and son Jared.Tibbetts was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
Birthday Honours for his success in business, community service and politics.
External links
- “New Cabinet named” by Staff writer, “Caymanian Compass”, Monday 16 May 2005, retrieved June 3, 2006