Kurt Tibbetts

Darwin Kurt Tibbetts, OBE (born 2 March 1954) is a Caymanian politician and former Leader of Government Business in the Cayman Islands. Tibbetts served as leader of the People's Progressive Movement party from August 2002 – February 2011. Tibbetts served as an elected member for the district of George Town, serving six terms in the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands.

Early life Tibbetts was born in Jamaica for medical reasons. After his birth, he returned to the family home in Cayman Brac until he was sent away to Jamaica for schooling at age 7, where he attended St. George's College, Jamaica. At age of 19, he moved to Grand Cayman and worked in the CIBC for one year. After this, he worked in a print shop for four years and then started his own printing business, which he had owned and managed for over twenty five years. The Tibbetts family originated in Cayman Brac and even though Tibbetts has spent much of his life in Grand Cayman, he also identifies strongly with the Sister Islands.

Participation in the community In 1976, at just 22 years of age, he joined the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, serving as President in 1988, 1993 and 1994. His acumen for fund raising helped the club collect hundreds of thousands of dollars that were ploughed back into the community, mostly to augment government welfare programmes. During his tenure as President for the 1993–94 year was the launching of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters movement. He also 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. Tibbetts also serves as a justice of the peace.