Cayman governor appoints new leader after premier ousted in shakeup on British territory

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Britain-appointed governor of the Cayman Islands has named Julia O'Connor-Connolly as the islands' new premier.

Gov. Duncan Taylor announced Wednesday that O'Connor-Connolly is backed by a majority of lawmakers and he is satisfied she can form a "stable, functioning government."

O'Connor-Connolly was deputy premier under McKeeva Bush, who was ousted Tuesday by a parliamentary vote a week after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct.

She joined in the 11-3 no-confidence vote that effectively ended Bush's role as head of government.

O'Connor-Connolly was House speaker from 2001 to 2003 and has represented the islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman in the Legislative Assembly since 1996.

She was an attorney before becoming a politician.