Governor gets to unpack after securing 4-year post

| 24/01/2019 | 37 Comments
Cayman News Service

Shortly after his arrival, Governor Martyn Roper and his wife are greeted at the LA by (L-R) Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Premier Alden McLaughlin and House Speaker McKeeva Bush

(CNS): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has confirmed that Martyn Roper has been officially appointed as the governor of the Cayman Islands and will now serve a four-year term. Officials said that Roper had completed a competitive recruitment process, though no details were given of that process. Roper said that he and his wife were thrilled his post had been confirmed and that he was finally “able to unpack properly”.

He was originally appointed on a temporary basis following the removal of the previous governor, Anwar Choudhury, after just a few weeks in the job. The removal was due to bullying allegations, which led to a lengthy inquiry and a re-posting of Choudhury to London.

Following news of the confirmation, Roper said that over the next four years he planned to continue the work strengthening ties between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom and helping to ensure that the territory continues to flourish.

“The UK/Cayman relationship remains strong and close collaboration across a range of areas is showing real results. Local talent and knowledge combined with areas of UK expertise is a powerful combination,” he said. “There is much that I hope to achieve as governor. I have listened carefully and learnt a lot about the successes of the islands and the many concerns people have on a range of issues. I would like to thank everyone for their patience and support during these last few months of uncertainty over my position.”

The governor said he would remain as accessible and open as possible and use social media to show what he and his staff were doing on behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands.

“Being appointed governor creates a unique and special bond with the people of these islands. I will do my utmost to support our prosperity and security, defending the Cayman Islands’ interests and ensuring its views are fully understood and explained to the UK Government,” he added.

Roper pointed to a list of areas he will be working on in the coming years, including the joint work between Cayman and the UK to bring a new helicopter for search and rescue, disaster relief and law enforcement operations.

He spoke of moving forward trade opportunities overseas, including the planned opening of a new Cayman Islands office in Hong Kong, as well as supporting the financial services industry. The governor’s office is also coordinating new UK involvement in several policy areas, such as customs and border control, the training of the members of the new Asylum Appeals Tribunal, child safeguarding, work to combat sham marriages and support for the new coastguard.

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Comments (37)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I can’t look at that picture, without Curly, Mo and Shep

  2. Anonymous says:

    Roper has done more for Caymanians in his 3 months than Anwar talked about doing in his 3 mths. One talked one performed. One got 3 months the other got 4 years. Bam!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      What exactly has he done, I for one would love to be made aware of his long list of accomplishments

  3. Anonymous says:

    Unpacking his Vacation attire?

  4. Anonymous says:

    can the press please use another picture of Big Mac. That wig is a bit stale and ugly now.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    He has the approval of the UKaymanians so he will be allowed to stay on. Choudury was too pro Caymanian and the UK/Caymanians had him recalled.

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  6. Figure Head says:

    Say gentlemen, what shall I do so that I can live on your beautiful 7 Mile Beach for the next 4 years with all expenses paid and a tax-free salary of over $1/4M? Trust me I will do anything you ask, as long as I don’t have to get Britain’s permission to do it.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    He knows his place. He can stay.

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    • OLD Caymanian Captain says:

      Appointed by the Queen and got to be approved by Aden and Franz and Mackeva the controllers. That could make it more obvious to what happened to the previous Governor.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Old Cap your comments cleary shows that you are in the dark ages. May I suggest you post about ships or something you can speak about with intellect. You really sound like Bernie.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    4 words Mr. Roper.. Standards in Public Life… Get it enacted and the roosters will scatter to hide behind the hens.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Come on was anyone expecting anything else? The picture sums it all up as the bosses approve of this gentleman. Foir years of doing nothing and getting paid, what a deal!

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    • Cess Pita says:

      7.44am You make him sound like a civil servant but they are not limited to 4 years and rarely get “removed”.

  10. Anonymous says:

    met with Matthew’s approval, I see…Welcome Governor!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Who cares…. He will be like all the other Governors… no support for Caymanians

    We will still need to struggle to make a living in our own Island so to me this is no News

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    • Anonymous says:

      What pathetic self-pity. Nowhere in the world is it easy for the average to earn a fortune simply because of where they are born. The utterly mediocre can achieve the average. And those that struggle are truly ineffective, lazy or stupid.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    They have there new puppet – sorry there new man! That picture is worth millions!

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Mac, please keep this UK minder in check. We trust you to represent West Bay proudly!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Baaaaaaa Baaaaaaaaaaa

      f’n sheep

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      • Anonymous says:

        Mac has done more for us then the other three in that photo. #WestBaysupportsprogress!

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        • Boris says:

          Mac has done more for himself! He has definitely contributed more than anyone else to the destruction of these Islands. Yet followers still BLIND AND INCAPABLE TO EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MAN HAS DONE.

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        • Anonymous says:

          True.. Basically nothing is a little more than absolutely nothing.

          Be real…. Mac doesn’t do anything for anyone other than himself.

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        • Anonymous says:

          ” #WestBaysupportsprogress!” ???? You wan’t progress? Get and keep that pompous embarrassment to our country and the position of Speaker OUT of government. His time is done. It’s time for West Bay to “progress” in way of leadership.

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        • Cess Pita says:

          He has certainly done a lot for his loyal voters in West Bay that’s the only conceivable reason why they keep voting for him.

    • Anonymous says:

      There is no K in CHEC.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    CNS, were the allegations of bullying substantiated or unsubstantiated?
    You occupy a very important place in our society.
    We hold you to the truth.
    Can you please clarify?
    Substantiated or unsubstantiated?

    CNS: The results of the investigation done by the FCO were not made public. There is no point in doing an FOI request as it would come under personal information and therefore be exempt, and I think the possibility of anyone actually involved talking is about zero. If we get anything solid we’ll let you know. Sorry that’s not more positive.

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  15. Red Tape says:

    I hope the overwhelming need to reduce bureaucracy won’t get forgotten

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Yawn!!!

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Poor bastard.

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