Honourable Premier, Honourable Speaker, Ministers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

First let me thank the Honourable Speaker for inviting me to this parliamentary prayer breakfast.

Could I thank everyone for the wishes and congratulations I have received since confirming publicly that my appointment as Governor is permanent. My wife Lissie and I are thrilled to be here for the next 4 years. 

It is an enormous privilege and honour to serve you as your Governor. I will do my utmost to enhance our security and prosperity. I will fight your corner as I did 2 weeks ago in New York at financial services events. 

My first impressions of the Cayman Islands are highly favourable. Everyone on these Islands can stand tall and be proud of what has been achieved in recent years.  

Let me pay tribute to the Honourable Speaker for his contribution to supporting our parliamentary democracy. I pay tribute also to the honourable Premier and his Ministers for their strong sense of duty and responsibility and an excellent record of achievement.

I pay tribute too to the Leader of the opposition and his colleagues for the important work they do. Their support to the Premier in London in December during constitutional talks and a unified Cayman Islands position sent a strong signal and helped make progress possible.

Let me thank the civil service, law enforcement agencies, emergency services and out judiciary for the vital and essential work that they do.

I also acknowledge the presence today of so many church leaders and the outstanding contribution they make to the fabric of our communities. 

Mr Speaker, if we step back and survey the international environment, it is more challenging than at any time I can recall. Populism and nationalism are on the march. Internationalism is in decline. The US is sharply divided and its politics toxic. As its power and influence internationally decline, Russia plays the role of spoiler.  China is seeking to undermine the international order established in 1945. And Brexit is testing the UK’s democracy. Overall, governments everywhere find it harder to govern, in the full glare of 24 hour news and social media.

Yet after 3 months here what I see is peace, stability and prosperity. Yes our politics and democracy are lively, noisy and vibrant. But from what I have seen so far, I would say our democracy is in very good health. And in many areas a good example to others regionally and further afield.  

But that needs nurturing. We must protect good governance and the rule of law. We must cherish the democracy that allows us to live in freedom. And as Her Majesty The Queen so wisely said in her Christmas message, treating other people with respect, even when differences are deeply held, is something we must hold on to.

So Mr Speaker, I firmly believe that the Cayman Islands are in great shape and ready to confront the challenges that 2019 will throw at us. I will be by your side in that endeavour.

God bless all the people of these wonderful Islands.