(CNS)): Jane Owen (59), a career diplomat, has been appointed as the Cayman Islands’ next governor when Martyn Roper leaves next year. Owen, who will be Cayman’s second woman in the job, will be coming from her current post as the British ambassador for Switzerland and the non-resident ambassador to the neighbouring principality of Liechtenstein. Owen began her civil service career with the Foreign Office in 1987 as the desk officer for the Central America Department.

Since then, she has served in Japan, Vietnam, India and Norway as well as Switzerland, with stints also working for the department of trade and the FCO in London.

According to a release from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Owen said she was delighted with the appointment, which she will take up in April. “I look forward to developing a close partnership with the elected government and I will do my utmost to support the people of all three Islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,” she said.

She may also become the first Cayman governor who will not reside on Seven Mile Beach for her full tenure, as Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has announced that government is considering moving the governor’s residence, Government House, and taking it over to create a bigger attraction at Governor’s Beach for local people and tourists, given the lack of access elsewhere along the famous stretch.

Speaking in parliament this week, Bryan repeated the idea he spoke about last month, and said it had the backing of his Cabinet colleagues. He said that the next incoming governor should be told that they might be moved during their time here.