| The Honourable Kurt Tibbetts OBE |
|
|---|---|
| Leader of Government Business | |
| In office 18 May 2005 – 27 May 2009 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Bruce Dinwiddy Stuart Jack |
| Preceded by | McKeeva Bush |
| Succeeded by | McKeeva Bush |
| In office 8 November 2000 – 8 November 2001 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Peter Smith |
| Preceded by | Truman Bodden |
| Succeeded by | McKeeva Bush |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 27 May 2009 – 21 February 2011 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Stuart Jack Duncan Taylor |
| Preceded by | McKeeva Bush |
| Succeeded by | Alden McLaughlin |
| In office 8 November 2001 – 18 May 2005 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Peter Smith Bruce Dinwiddy |
| Succeeded by | McKeeva Bush |
| Leader of the People's Progressive Movement | |
| In office June 2003 – 12 February 2011 |
|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the District of George Town | |
| In office November 1992 – Present |
|
| Personal details | |
| Political party | People's Progressive Movement (2002 – Present) |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley-Ann Tibbetts |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | Christian |
Darwin Kurt Tibbetts, OBE is a Caymanian politician. Tibbetts served as Leader of Government Business in the Cayman Islands from 2000-2001 and again from 2005-2009. He currently serves as the first elected member for the district of 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.
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Tibbetts, the son of Captain Darwin Tibbetts and Selma Tibbetts, was born in Jamaica 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,[1] which he had owned and managed for over twenty five years.[2]
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.[1] 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.
In 1988 he ran against other George Town 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.[1] 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.
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 Birthday Honours for his success in business, community service and politics. [3]
| Preceded by Truman Bodden |
Leader of Government Business November 2000 – November 2001 |
Succeeded by McKeeva Bush |
| Preceded by McKeeva Bush |
Leader of Government Business May 2005 – May 2009 |
Succeeded by McKeeva Bush |
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