McTaggart returns as chair to key House Committee
(CNS): Roy McTaggart (GTE) was elected as chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday when the new parliament met to create some of the key parliamentary committees. McTaggart, the finance minister from 2017 to 2021 and who presided over the critical committee during the 2021-2025 administration, was nominated by the opposition in what appeared to be a pre-agreed line-up across the aisle, which stuck with the tradition of the opposition chairing PAC.
The other five members are two government members, Julie Hunter (WBW) and Wayne Panton (NEW), two more official opposition members, Kenneth Bryan (GTC) and Roy Tatum (RED), and independent member Christopher Saunders (BTE).
All MPs will serve on the Standing Select Committee of Privileges. Five members — Katherine Ebanks-Wilks (WBC), Nickolas DaCosta (CBWLC), Heather Bodden (SAV), Tatum and Opposition Leader Joey Hew (GTN) — have been selected for the Standing House Committee, which deals with the business of the House.
Five members were also selected for the Standing Select Committee to Oversee the Performance of the Office of the Ombudsman, which met in public for the first time last year. They are Jay Ebanks (NS), Gary Rutty (GTS) and Julie Hunter (WBW) from the government benches, official opposition member Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden (GTW), and Saunders.
These last three committees will choose a chair at their first meeting.
Following the elections, Speaker of the House Ezzard Miller allowed all MPs to address parliament for three minutes during the adjournment debate. The members took the time to thank their families, campaign teams and voters for their support during the 2025 General Election, and congratulated Miller on his return to parliament as the speaker. Many also committed to working in the best interest of the Caymanian people.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson thanked the civil service for their late nights during the transition, as they now help shape the new ministerial portfolios. Attorney General Sam Bulgin congratulated all and thanked the supervisor and election staff. He said he was looking forward to working with the members to deliver for the people.
“And… to do so in a way that is transparent, is open and understandable,” Bulgin said.
See the full session of parliament on CIGTV below:
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Category: Politics
The office does an excellent job with hardly any space, staff or resources. Need to big up all the team who work 12 hour days sometimes including team of guys who set-up
up/break-down & drive the buses who stay up 3 days straight to accomplish their duties.
Jay on the committee to oversee the Ombudsman??? Who made that happen? The same Minister whose entire portfolio hasn’t completed audits in 2 years. PAC will have a field day whenever they get finished.
I wouldn’t want to be the Government with Saunders and Bryan in opposition for the next four years. I wouldn’t want to be a Civil Servant either (especially during the Finance Committee). I suspect they will be merciless, so I hope this group develops some thick skin quickly.
The AG needs to retire and someone else appointed asap!
I lost a lot of respect for Roy McTaggart when he did not step away from the PPM ahead of the last general elections. Roy McTaggart spent a lot of time over the past few years bashing Kenneth Bryan. Election time rolls around and the same Roy McTaggart is happy being a part of a political party where the person (Kenneth Bryan) that he bashed mercilessly is the deputy leader. You can’t make this stuff up. The right thing at this stage, in my option, would be for Roy McTaggart to step away from representational politics.
cross the aisle Roy! until then, we appreciate the check and balance. good luck.
Just thank whoever appointed Roy to this very important post.
An honest professional in the right place. Good luck Roy.
Sorry, come again? This same Roy McTaggart?
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/12/minister-has-no-data-on-impact-of-concessions/
The sharpest tool from a sorry set.
Barely the sharpest tool in a sorry set
Roy is a good person but with Kenneth & Chrus on the PAC nothing will be accomplished as they will make nothing but trouble and Roy will be unable to do the job properly.
thankfull for a smooth transition of power.
I commend the DG and AG for always ensuring our democracy is strong.
You’re too caught up in the US BS. In democratic countries, there is always a peaceful transition of power unless the democracy itself has become shambolic. In the US, for example, which is slipping towards autocracy, the peaceful transition has become questionable.
If you’re going to thank anyone, thank Wesley Howell and his election staff for their professionalism, the observers, and the knowledge that the UK would step in if there was any funny business.
The DG and AG have little to do with it and it’s a little suspicious that you would make out that they do. Troll much?
Wesley Howell? This is one of the worst run elections Cayman has ever seen. One constituencies broken list was missing over 40 voters and the only reason it didn’t to come to a complete standstill is because agents had their own lists to work from. Don’t talk on what you aren’t aware of. There were many, many failings during Election Day.
This post makes zero sense.
12:58
Your message signals your misunderstanding on how our government works. Sad but true.
Yep,thank Howell for allowing the RAMPANT vote buying, for the corruption that occured and for allowing persons who DID report corruption to be ridiculed and abused..
Howell did a great job at BULLSHITTING that this election was Fair and Honest… HE is a disgrace to the Cayman Islands….
yeah lots of vote buying also in the Brac, that the blind could see and the deaf could hear if they wanted to.