NCFC Signs History Making Governance Agreement

By: OTP Media

All 11 members of the National Coalition For Caymanians (NCFC) Government on Thursday signed a history-making coalition agreement that demonstrates to the Caymanian people how this Government of three political groupings shall cooperate as well as its shared values and decision-making processes, and standards of conduct.

The NCFC Coalition Agreement makes public the team’s:

• core values;

• decision-making process;

• conflict resolution framework;

• mediation process;

• commitment to the Ministerial Code of Conduct; and

• commitment to enact an enforceable Parliamentary Code of Conduct.

“This has never happened in this manner in our Islands – an agreement among the members that comprise a coalition Government, which expressly sets out to the public how we will come together to resolve longstanding problems, unify our people and create a stronger, fairer Cayman,” acknowledged the Premier, the Hon. André M Ebanks MP.

“Publishing this agreement demonstrates responsible, transparent leadership and unity in service to the people of the Cayman Islands,” said the Deputy Premier the Hon. Gary Rutty MP. “The public should be able to trust its elected leaders because of our integrity.”

Independent Minister the Hon. Rolston Anglin MP highlighted the coalition’s practical focus: “Good governance requires steady hands, clear communication, and a shared vision. The NCFC brings together our different experiences to work as one for Cayman.”

NCFC Members signed the agreement on 16 October – the same date the Cayman Islands Sex Disqualification (Removal) Bill was introduced in 1958 in the then-Legislative Assembly (now Parliament), which resulted in women being allowed to vote. Like that law, Members said the agreement is a public demonstration of faith and commitment by each coalition member in a shared vision.

It is also significant that this Coalition Agreement has been signed and published after the NCFC Government has had time to govern, rather than immediately following the General Election on 30 April 2025.

“Having worked together on the Strategic Policy Statement for 2026-2028, and budget documents for 2026-2027; and on several pressing areas of reform, our bonds of fellowship and working relationship as well as knowledge of the current state of public affairs have all deepened,” the Premier said. “This provided us, among other things, the ability to express our coalition agreement with a higher degree of specificity and certainty than would have been possible at the outset.”

“The people of these Islands deserve more than rhetoric,” Minister Rutty said. “They deserve utmost confidence that this Government will provide long-term stability, coherence, and unity. These qualities are not optional; they are the foundation upon which responsible governance and national advancement must rest.”

Other countries, including the UK, Canada and Germany, have elected coalition governments that have entered into similar agreements. Research again shows that the NCFC Coalition Agreement is on par, or more robust in certain cases, by comparison.

“Because this NCFC Government is committed to delivering on its promises, we have created a strong accountability framework that reinforces values-based leadership and asks the Caymanian people to hold us to the highest standards,” Minister Anglin said.

The coalition comprises:

• The Caymanian Community Party (TCCP): Ms Heather Bodden, Hon. André Ebanks, Hon. Kathy Ebanks-Wilks, and Hon. Wayne Panton.

• Cayman Islands National Party (CINP): Hon. Nickolas DaCosta, Mrs Julie Hunter, Hon. Michael Myles and Hon. Gary “Peanut” Rutty.

• Independent Members: Hon. Rolston “Rollie” Anglin, Hon. Johany “Jay” Ebanks and Hon. Isaac Rankine.