GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, CMC – Premier Wayne Panton has named Isaac Rankine as the new Labour Minister in the Cayman Islands, replacing Dwayne Seymour, who abruptly resigned from the People-driven, Accountable, Competent and Transparent (PACT) government last Friday.
Seymour had read his resignation from government in Parliament, which he had sent to Governor Jane Owen, saying he had never experienced such “disorganization” and “lackluster leadership.”
But a statement issued by the Premier’s Office late on Tuesday said that Rankine, who had resigned his position as deputy speaker earlier in the day, had been appointed by Acting Governor Franz Manderson to the new place.
Rankine has been replaced by Heather Bodden, who was elected unopposed as the deputy speaker.
Premier Panton said Rankine had joined the rest of the Cabinet and that his administration remains determined to work together for the greater good of the people and the country.
Rankine said he was “honored and grateful to take on the responsibility,” thanking the government for its confidence in him.
“I look forward to taking on this challenge and serving the people of the Cayman Islands to the best of my ability.”
Panton said that with Rankine’s appointment, PACT would continue with its agenda “because the people of this nation need relief and solutions.
“Let me remind you that this government truly cares for Caymanians. We will continue to offer solutions to the families and people of this country. That will not change,” he added.
But he did not refer to the accusation made by Seymour regarding his leadership.
Seymour, who had crossed the floor from the opposition in November 2021 to join the PACT government to help and offer his experience and to give the country some assurances, said the “premier’s failure to engage and empower the civil service adequately, his inability to keep his PACT group cohesive and focused, his inability to get the 2024/25 budget completed in a timely and consultative manner, his inability to listen and his inability to show fairness to all of his caucus are untenable”.
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