Like many people in this country, I was troubled
to learn of the recent resignation of MLA Ezzard Miller as the Leader
of the Opposition.

In any democracy, the Leader of the Opposition is
a serious role. In the Cayman Islands, not only is the Leader of the
Opposition an important constitutional office, required under
Section 68 of the Constitution, but the Leader of the Opposition
plays several key roles, including serving as a member of the
National Security Council and as Chair of the Public Accounts
Committee. And of course the Leader of the Opposition serves a
significant role in leading and speaking for Opposition members
inside and outside of the Legislative Assembly.

British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli wrote,
“No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition.”

For that reason, it is not so much the resignation
of Mr. Miller that concerns me, but more the political infighting and
personal ambition riddling the current opposition group. This, I
believe, does not serve well the long term interests of our country.

To better explain, let me review what has
transpired.

In giving notice of his resignation Mr. Miller
commented that:

“Effectively performing this role demands
dedication on the part of a committed team. It has become
increasingly clear that the level of cohesion, industry and
commitment necessary for any opposition to serve in the best interest
of all the people of these Islands is not possible given the current
slate of independent members who made up the group.”

Mr. Miller’s resignation follows a letter to him
in April from other members of his Opposition team who advised that
they were content for him to remain as opposition leader but asked
that “where the general public is concerned, we are requesting
that you do not speak on our behalf…. We believe that this request
is necessary to maintain our independence and the political platform
we are all elected on.”

In the media reports Mr. Miller outlined his
challenge coping with a “steep learning curve navigating among
some very strong personalities” and he went on to speak of
leadership struggles on the Opposition Benches. And of course
shortly following these comments MLA Alva Suckoo resigned as Deputy
Leader of the Opposition.

In effect the country is witnessing first hand why
it is not practical for a group of Independent candidates to get
elected and then seek to come together in the country’s interest.
They are too busy pursuing their own individual agendas to even try
to develop a shared view. By their own admission, the preference of
the opposition members is to “maintain our independence and the
political platform we are all elected on’.

Previously, these members have tried to paint
themselves as a government in waiting. But if they cannot maintain
any coherence in opposition, what chance is there that they could
form an effective government? Disunity, disorganization and dark
deeds fuelled by personal, political ambition are not what this
country needs to take us forward.

So as Premier I do hope that the country as well
as the members of the opposition learn from the lessons that the
opposition members themselves are providing – it takes a committed
team to govern – one that, to borrow somewhat from Mr. Miller, has
the level of cohesion, industry and commitment necessary to serve in
the best interest of all the people of these Islands.

Certainly this is the way that I and the team that
I lead have operated in our Caucus, in Cabinet and in the Legislative
Assembly. We promised to come together as a government of national
unity and we have governed with our collective responsibility to do
the right thing for the country as our guiding principle. Because of
this we have been able to provide a stable and progressive
government, and despite some challenges, the country as a whole is
doing remarkably well. I am certainly proud of the team that I lead.
Despite comprising various political factions, we have striven to
find more in common than we had differences. We are stronger because
of this approach and the country is the better for it.

I wish Mr. Miller well and thank him for his
leadership in the Opposition in working with me over the past two
years, particularly with regards to on-going constitutional reform.

I along with the rest of the country anxiously
await the decision of the Opposition as to who will become their new
leader, and to know soonest who will comprise the membership of the
official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.