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National Security Council

The National Security Council (NSC) functions as an advisor to the Governor on matters relating to internal security, with the exception of operational and staffing matters, and the Governor is obliged to act in accordance with the advice of the Council, unless he or she considers that giving effect to the advice would adversely affect Her Majesty’s interest (whether in respect of the United Kingdom or the Cayman Islands); and where the Governor has acted otherwise than in accordance with the advice of the Council, he or she shall report to the Council at its next meeting.

NSC Post Meeting Summaries

In line with the recent agreement to publish details of Cabinet decisions to enhance transparency and accountability, HE the Governor, the Premier and members of the National Security Council have agreed to publish a summary of the monthly National Security Council meeting.

NSC Post Meeting Summary 25 February 2025

28 February 2025 | Post-Meeting Summary

Notes:

The National Security Council is established under section 58 of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order (as amended).
Post meeting summaries will be published by the Cabinet Office following a meeting of the National Security Council.
Only a summary of the decisions will be published.
National Security Council discussions will not be disclosed.
Summaries of decisions of a sensitive nature, matters of national security, those where publication breaches regional or international conventions and those relating to personal privacy will not be disclosed.
Post meeting summaries will be available on gov.ky and the Cayman Islands Government’s digital channels

To view NSC Post Meeting Summaries before February 2024, please visit the CIG Archives.

Go to CIG Archives

Functions of the Council

While previously the Governor had sole executive responsibility over the police and national security in the Cayman Islands, the new Constitution has proffered a mechanism to facilitate local contributions to national security matters, known as the National Security Council (NSC). A group of elected ministers, senior civil servants and civil society members are now vested with responsibility for making policy recommendations to the Governor concerning internal security in the islands.

This is because both the United Kingdom Government and the Cayman Government believe that effectively dealing with matters of internal security are best achieved through greater local participation. Members of the NSC receive regular briefings from the Police Commissioner and meet at the request of the Governor or Premier.

The Governor chairs the Council, however; the new Constitution requires the Governor to act in accordance with the advice of the Council unless he feels such actions will adversely affect Her Majesty’s interest. In such cases he must then report to the Council at its next meeting.

Membership

Chairman:

Her Excellency Mrs. Jane Owen, Governor of the Cayman Islands

Ex-Officio Members:

Hon. André Ebanks, MP, Premier
Hon. Joseph Hew, JP, MP. Leader of the Opposition
Hon. Franz I. Manderson, MBE, Cert. Hon., JP, Deputy Governor
Hon. Samuel Bulgin, KC, JP, Attorney General
Mr. Kurt Walton, Commissioner of Police