Kurt Tibbetts

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 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.

Early life

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]

Participation in the Lions Club of Grand Cayman

In 1976, at just 22 years of age,^{[citation needed]} 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.

Political career

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.

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 Birthday Honours for his success in business, community service and politics. ^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Kurtr Tibbetts: Leadership in Difficult Times, Cayman Net News, 20 November 2001
2. ^ Cayman Islands Government: Kurt Tibbetts
3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59446. p. 24. 12 June 2010.

External links

• “New Cabinet named” by Staff writer, “Caymanian Compass”, Monday 16 May 2005, retrieved June 3, 2006

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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Name	Tibbetts, Kurt
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