Darwin Kurt Tibbetts, OBE was born on 2 March 1954 and is a Caymanian politician and former Leader of Government Business in the Cayman Islands.
20 Facts About Kurt Tibbetts
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Kurt Tibbetts served as an elected member for the district of George Town, serving six terms in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands.
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The Kurt Tibbetts family originated in Cayman Brac and even though Kurt Tibbetts has spent much of his life in Grand Cayman, he identifies strongly with the Sister Islands.
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Kurt Tibbetts helped introduce the Lions' Benzarama fundraisers that brought country music legends Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, Don Williams and Ben E King to the Cayman Islands.
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Kurt Tibbetts gratefully acknowledges the influence his Lions Club seniors had on him and emphasises that he is only one among many like-minded members.
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Notably, it was the satisfaction Kurt Tibbetts gained from serving others that led to his decision to enter the political arena.
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Kurt Tibbetts won the seat with a large majority and has ably and endearingly represented the people of George Town and the Cayman Islands ever since.
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In 1992, following the creation of a fourth George Town seat, Kurt Tibbetts was elected fourth to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town.
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In November 1996 Kurt Tibbetts was elected first to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town and has continuously since.
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Kurt Tibbetts was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1998.
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Kurt Tibbetts said during debate on the motion that he had no choice but to accept the result of the vote, but said the islands should restructure the system so that the leadership cannot be so easily removed.
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From November 2001 until May 2005, Kurt Tibbetts served as the Leader of the Opposition.
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Kurt Tibbetts returned to opposition following the Cayman Islands general election, 2009.
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On 10 November 2010 Kurt Tibbetts announced that he would be stepping down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People's Progressive Movement opposition front bench and on 12 February 2011, the People's Progressive Movement made history when it became the first political party in the Cayman Islands to transfer leadership.
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Kurt Tibbetts stepped down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the People's Progressive Movement and was replaced by Alden McLaughlin.
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Kurt Tibbetts, was returned as first elected member for the district of George Town for the fifth consecutive time.
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Premier Alden McLaughlin appointed Kurt Tibbetts to serve in cabinet as Minister responsible for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure in the 2013 - 2017 People's Progressive Movement Administration.
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In March 2017 Kurt Tibbetts announced that after six terms and 25 years in office he would not seek re-election and his retirement from politics in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands prior to the 2017 general elections.
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Kurt Tibbetts married Shirley-Ann Tibbetts in 1984 and they have three children: daughters Jacynth and Janelle, and son Jared.
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Kurt Tibbetts was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honours for his contributions to politics, his success in business and his community service.