It was with much sadness I learnt of Pastor Al’s death last Saturday (19). He had been fighting a brain tumour for some time and there was real hope he would make a full recovery. Sadly, he died around 7pm on Friday evening.He was much loved throughout the Cayman Islands and when I first met him he was selling my wife, Joan, a one-piece jump suit in a clothing store he had on Fort Street!

His real name was Alden A. Ebanks and he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church in 1987. His first congregation was the church known as “The Church on Hospital Road” because that was where it was situated, near the George Town Hospital. It was later to become officially known as the Agape Family Worship Centre in its present location on Fairbanks Road.

Pastor Al served as Chairman of the Cayman Ministers Association from 2001-2006 and was Chairman of the Cayman Islands Constitutional Commission, which is responsible for reviewing Cayman’s governance arrangements with the United Kingdom. He was also Chairman of the Health Services Authority Board from August 2005 until September 2009. He also served at the Marine Institute and the National Youth Commission. He was a recipient of the Certificate and Badge of Honour from the Cayman Islands government.

Following Hurricane Ivan, he led efforts to process applications and identify those most in need of assistance.

Messages of condolences have come from nearly all the various congregations and denominations of the Islands’ Christian Churches and other organisations and individuals including Wil Pineau, Chief Executive of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and Health Minister, Hon. Mark Scotland. Premier, Hon. McKeeva Bush said the country had lost a “good man.” Opposition leader, Hon. Alden McLaughlin said, “I don’t know that there’s any other person in Cayman that has that level of love and respect as Pastor Al.”

The last time I spoke to Pastor Al was when he phoned me in May to ask whether there was any memorabilia left over from the International Soprano Lisa Carlisle concert at The Wharf commemorating the Royal Wedding. He said he wanted something “for my dear wife, Kathy.” Unfortunately everything had been sold. He was a compassionate and loving man. A real example of a “Man of God.”

He is preceded in death by his eldest son and survived by his wife Kathy and two children.

Rev. Nicholas Sykes, speaking on behalf of the Cayman Ministers’ Association said, “We give grateful thanks to the Lord for the gift and privilege of knowing such a good shepherd and guide, having him as our friend and benefiting from his outstanding leadership.”