Political Career
In 1988 he ran against other George Town politicians and came in fourth behind Truman Bodden at the time there were only three George Town representatives and he was not elected. In 1992, following the creation of a fourth George Town seat, Tibbetts was elected fourth to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town. In 1996 Tibbetts was elected first to the Legislative Assembly for the district of George Town and has continuously since. From November 2000 to November 2001 he served as the Leader of Government Business, as well as serving on Executive Councils (renamed Cabinet in 2003) as Minister for Planning, Communications and Works. From November 2001 until May 2005, Tibbetts served as the Leader of the Opposition. In 2002 he helped found the People's Progressive Movement (PPM), and in 2003 was unanimously elected leader of the PPM.
Following the Cayman Islands general election 2005, Tibbetts served as the Leader of Government Business and Minister for District Administration, Planning, Agriculture and Housing during the People's Progressive Movement administration from May 2005 to May 2009. He returned to opposition following the Cayman Islands general election, 2009. Tibbetts also serves as a Justice of the peace. Over the past years Tibbetts has openly advocated participatory democracy, governmental transparency, and governmental accountability.
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.
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. 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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