London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 2025

Cayman celebrates National Heroes Day

Cayman celebrates National Heroes Day

In this year’s National Heroes Day celebrations, the focus was split between Cayman’s constitutional progress and the contribution women have made, and continue to make, in local politics.

With its usual pomp and ceremony that saw Union flags strung side by side with Cayman flags on the streets and various uniformed groups parade to and fro with music provided by the police band, the annual event brought out hundreds of spectators.


Constitutional progress

“The 1950s and early 1960s were a time of great change for the Cayman Islands, as well as for the other British Caribbean colonies,” said Premier Alden McLaughlin as he delivered the keynote address to onlookers who attended in their Sunday best.

McLaughlin reflected on the struggles of Cayman, and how, through an initial 1959 order in council, Cayman took its “first steps towards political advancement”. He also spoke of recent constitutional amendments that now prevent the UK from legislating for Cayman without, at minimum, consulting with Cayman first.

This year, more than 50 vestrymen and justices of the peace were recognised for their efforts in leading Cayman over the last several decades. The only surviving 1959 vestryman, Arley James A.J. Miller of Bodden Town, was wheeled onto the stage where all in attendance gave him a standing ovation. Miller was presented with a framed copy of his biography, a commemorative banknote and certificate of recognition.

Cayman has nine national heroes. In late 2019, Heroes Square was transformed, with flora that once complemented the statues being replaced with marble slabs that now serve as the housing of busts of five of the national heroes.

The sounds of trumpets could be heard ringing out as the premier helped unveil the busts of Sybil Ione McLaughlin, Desmond Vere Watler, Sybil Joyce Hylton, Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart and Thomas William Farrington. The additional four busts will not be revealed until next year’s Heroes Day celebrations.


The ‘Phenomenal Four’ who paved the way

In 1958, the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Bill granted women in Cayman a most basic of human rights – the right to vote. The landmark legislation gave women a voice and in the 1959 general elections not only did women vote, they stood as candidates.

The first four women to run for office were Burdell Jackson of West Bay, Ethel Cook-Bodden of George Town, Francine Jackson of Bodden Town, and Laurel Watler of Bodden Town.

Together, they have been dubbed the ‘Phenomenal Four’. Although none of the women was elected in that initial poll, they are credited with blazing the trail for national hero Mary Evelyn Wood to become the first women to be elected to office during the following general election.

Six decades after receiving the right to suffrage, women continue to play an integral role in Cayman’s politics. Currently, there are three women serving as elected officials – Minster Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Minister Tara Rivers and Councillor Barbara Conolly.

During the ceremony, a new $1 note was given to audience members. On each note, the words ‘Celebrate Cayman, 60 Years, Our First Constitution’ is written. The notes are expected to go into circulation in the coming days.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×