Mr. Chair, as the Premier, I have a distinct set of responsibilities and duties separate and apart from my role as Minister for Financial Services and Commerce. In my capacity as Premier, the Cabinet Office is the Portfolio assigned to support me in this constitutional role. They are the centralised point of collaboration across the executive branch of Government that bridges the civil service and the political arm, CIG and the relationship with the UK Government, and with other Overseas Territories and key International bodies, and most importantly, the Caymanian people we serve everyday.

The collaborative role that the Cabinet Office plays can be metaphorically likened to a bridge. 

A bridge connects separate points to each other exemplifying the Cabinet Office’s coordination function- joining together various parts of Government and indeed Cayman to the outside world.

Importantly Mr. Chair, bridges require maintenance and so this budget also recognises the need to continue to invest in the key tools, services and people within the Cabinet Office that we as a country have continued to rely upon and who answer the call quietly and faithfully.

Cabinet Office

Finance Committee Statement

The Premier, the Hon. André M. Ebanks MP

Monday, 17 November 2025 | House of Parliament

Introduction: The Cabinet Office- a Bridge to success.

Mr. Chair, as the Premier, I have a distinct set of responsibilities and duties
separate and apart from my role as Minister for Financial Services and
Commerce. In my capacity as Premier, the Cabinet Office is the Portfolio
assigned to support me in this constitutional role. They are the centralised
point of collaboration across the executive branch of Government that
bridges the civil service and the political arm, CIG and the relationship with
the UK Government, and with other Overseas Territories and key
International bodies, and most importantly, the Caymanian people we serve
everyday.

The collaborative role that the Cabinet Office plays can be metaphorically
likened to a bridge.

A bridge connects separate points to each other exemplifying the Cabinet
Office’s coordination function- joining together various parts of Government
and indeed Cayman to the outside world.

Importantly Mr. Chair, bridges require maintenance and so this budget also
recognises the need to continue to invest in the key tools, services and
people within the Cabinet Office that we as a country have continued to rely
upon and who answer the call quietly and faithfully.

Cabinet Office Structure

The Cabinet Office comprises 11 vital departments and units:

The Office of the Premier provides strategic, executive, and administrative
support to the Premier and Government Caucus, maintaining neutrality as
civil servants who capably support the government of the day.

The Cabinet Secretariat supports the Cabinet and National Security
Council by preparing and disseminating Cabinet Agendas, Papers, Minutes
and Decisions. It also issues Tax Exemption Certificates, expected to
generate $10 million in revenue this year, and provides secretarial support
for the Appeals Tribunal and Refugee Protection Appeals Tribunal.

The Department of Communications delivers modern, inclusive, and
informative communications through specialised units covering Public
Relations, Gazettes, Internal Communications, Content and Production, and
Strategic Communications. The Department manages Government’s digital
and traditional channels including CIGTV, GOV.KY, and social media
platforms, ensuring all communications meet the six principles of being
Accurate, Engaging, Timely, Shared, Transparent, and Approved.

The Policy Coordination Unit develops cross-ministerial policy and
provides objective, politically neutral advice to Cabinet and the Premier. The
unit ensures consistency and quality of Cabinet Papers through strategic
analysis prior to submission.

Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) leads the National
Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme, coordinating activities
through the National Emergency Operations Centre. HMCI builds resiliency
through Preparedness training, Response coordination, Communications
campaigns, and Recovery planning.

The Cayman Islands National Weather Service observes, understands,
and predicts our weather and climate while fulfilling international obligations
through valuable monitoring and research.

Radio Cayman provides high-quality educational, cultural, entertainment,
and religious programming across all three Islands. As Radio Cayman
celebrates 50 years of continuous service, we celebrate with them and thank
them for their faithful service—particularly their integral role in emergency
broadcasts during storms, hurricanes, and other disasters.

The Information Rights Unit, though small, supports the entire public sector
by leading on Freedom of Information and Data Protection. As champions
for transparency, accountability, and ethical use of personal data, this unit
helps Government earn the trust of the people we serve.

Protocol Office manages diplomatic visits, administers the Flag Scheme
and honours system, organises ceremonial events, and manages Heroes
Square, among other responsibilities.

Cayman Islands Government Office – United Kingdom (CIGO-UK)
serves as our official representation in the UK, facilitating opportunities for
Government, people, and businesses. CIGO-UK has successfully navigated
the transition from Conservative-led governments to the Labour Government
while building relationships across the political spectrum. Most importantly,
our All-Party Parliamentary Group has been re-established. Cayman’s
reputation remains strong and highly respected in both Westminster and
Whitehall.

The Strategic Innovation Unit drives digital transformation within Cabinet
Office, promoting digital efficiency, policy modernisation, and service agility
through centralised project management.

Contribution to National Outcomes

Mr. Chair, Cabinet Office’s remit is both local and global. Its work contributes
significantly to Broad Outcome 6: Efficient, Effective Public Services and
Broad Outcome 7: Good Governance and Public Safety.

Key Projects for 2026-2027

E-Cabinet (CBO 2)

Within the next two years, Cabinet Office will replace outdated manual
workflows with a secure, paperless digital platform to manage Cabinet and
National Security Council processes.

Since our first Constitution in 1959, Cabinet Papers have been processed
manually—a cumbersome, difficult-to-track system. As the Cayman Islands
has grown, so has the governance structure and the astounding amount of
paper generated weekly.

The e-Cabinet solution will:

• Improve public service delivery through technology
• Reduce costs and environmental impacts of printing volumes of papers
  for weekly Cabinet meetings
• Improve cross-Government communication and collaboration to
  streamline decision-making
• Ensure confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of Cabinet and
  National Security Council documents
  

• Members of Parliament already benefit from increased efficiency and
  convenience through streamlined creation, sharing, reviewing, approving,
  and managing of Cabinet documents.
  
• Re-platforming of GOV.KY (CBO 17)
  Mr. Chair, Oracle’s announcement that it would end its web-based content
  management by December this year forced a major pivot. The Department
  of Communications has been leading the transition of GOV.KY—
  Government’s primary digital ecosystem—to the Liferay platform.
  
• Without this re-platforming, GOV.KY and approximately 60 other
  Government websites would have ceased to function entirely. A system
  failure of this magnitude would have risked losing public trust, exposed
  Government to legal and compliance issues, and interrupted essential
  communications.
  
• But with challenges come opportunities. The new platform delivers improved
  accessibility, search optimisation, and analytics capabilities. The estimated
  cost over two years is $2.3 million, directly supporting Broad Outcome 6.
  
• This project also establishes the foundation for the new Digital Delivery Unit
  within the Department of Communications, responsible for maintaining,
  governing, and expanding the GOV.KY ecosystem.
• 
  Thus far, we have:
• Migrated priority sites and prepared 36 core entities for transition
• Established governance, metadata standards, accessibility
  requirements, and new content models
  
• Conducted content audits, user testing, and technical onboarding for
  multiple ministries and agencies
  

• The public will enjoy a fresh product with modernised navigation, improved
  search functions, and more timely content updates. This Herculean effort is
  projected to be delivered on time and under budget thanks to exceptional
  project management.
• 
  National Weather Service Enhancements (CBO 25)
  This budget includes $1.4 million for completion and fit-out of the National
  Weather Service’s new home, with an expected move-in date before June
  2026—right in time for the next hurricane season. The building will allow
  better quality observations and warnings, especially for aviation, while
  resolving the hazardous situation of having hydrogen tanks and generators
  in the General Aviation Terminal.
  
• The budget also includes $200,000 to establish a Centralised Data
  Integration Platform, bringing together weather sensors in a strategic
  database accessible to key stakeholders, further enhancing public safety.
• 
  Other focus areas include:
• Installing four new Automatic Weather Observing Stations,
• Creating a network of Storm Surge Sensors as part of our Early
  Warning System,
• Launching a strategic partnership with the UK’s Met Office to assess
  our current operations and develop a roadmap for the future,
• A greatly enhanced Weather Service website with improved user
  experience—and Mr. Chair, I have challenged the team to develop an
  app for easier access to information, including views of the newly
  refurbished Kearney Gomez Doppler Radar.
• 
  I’m heartened that under Cabinet Office guidance, the radar has had no
  breakdowns or extensive downtime over the past two years other than
  scheduled maintenance. As hurricane season prayerfully draws to a close,
  the radar, which has reached the end of its lifespan, will be refurbished.
• 
  After a competitive procurement process, Leonardo, the company which
  originally installed the radar, has won the contract to refurbish and modernise
  it. This project commences this weekend, and the radar will be offline for six
  weeks to provide the country with much improved services, data, and
  accuracy. The new radar will cost $622,000 and have an expected lifespan
  of 10 years.
• 
  Mr. Chair, given what we have witnessed with our beloved neighbours, we
  are wise to invest in our local weather service for better forecasts that help
  us manage daily activities and save lives and protect property during adverse
  weather conditions.
• 
  Conclusion
  So Mr. Chair, in the 2026/2027 budget year, the Cabinet Office will continue
  to build bridges of collaboration:
• across civil service, to ensure high quality policy advice, policy
  development and policy training and the effective communication of
  Government’s plans and decisions across all channels to keep the
  public duly informed- and my utilisation of a more effective and efficient
  E-Cabinet;
• also to ensure best practice and governance in areas such as FOI,
  Data Protection and the communities of practice in both the
  Communications and Policy professions;
• between political and civil service by supporting the team within the
  Office of the Premier, refine the process between Caucus and
  Cabinet, support joined up Government as exemplified in this budget
  and the NCFC Coalition Agreement and the public communication of
  a shared vision between each Ministry and Portfolio. The role of the
  Cabinet Office in supporting the principle of collective responsibility
  cannot be understated;
• between the Cayman Islands and the UK- through supporting the lines
  of communication between the Premier and the Governor on
  agreement of Cabinet Agendas and co-Chairing the National Hazard
  Management Executive and cooperation on matters of National
  Security. They also diplomatically guide the CIG’s relationships across
  Whitehall and Westminster, coordinate our preparations for the Joint
  Ministerial Council, and circumnavigating the constitutional
  relationship between the Cayman Islands and the UK. This will also
  include the development of a new strategic partnership between the
  UK’s Meteorological Office and Cayman Islands National Weather;
  Service;
• between the Cayman Islands and other OTs and CARICOM
  Members- through training placements and direct support for other
  OTs, serving as a liaison between Caribbean OTs and other regional
  heads of Government, being an active member of the UK Overseas
  Territories Association, managing our Associate Membership of
  CARICOM, and coordinating regional disaster management support
  and hurricane relief efforts; and
• collaboration through enhanced public communications of our policies
  and priorities, including our beloved Radio Cayman. This requires new
  avenues, channels and approaches to promote feedback from the
  community such as the Public Consultation Hub, support for
  community based Disaster Preparedness Management, and improved
  utilisation of weather tools such as our soon to be refurbished Kearney
  Gomez Doppler Radar, as well as work on a special initiative to ensure
  that the protection and promotion of our Caymanian identity and
  heritage is at the heart of all of our work.
  

In closing, when the Cabinet Office builds strong bridges of collaboration, the
entire Government stands firmly connected, empowering our people with
better services, stronger protection, and greater long-term opportunities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.