Historic Visit to Include Special Meeting of the House and Cultural Tour

GEORGE TOWN, 26th July 2024

Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP

The Speaker of the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP, will
make an official visit to the Cayman Islands from 31st July to 3rd August. This visit marks the first
occasion that a Speaker of the UK Parliament has made an official visit to Cayman.

Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin, Speaker of the Cayman Islands Parliament and former Premier, will
host the visiting Speaker, though the official trip is an inter-departmental effort involving the
Office of Her Excellency the Governor and the Office of the Premier.

“My friendship with Sir Lindsay is built on a shared commitment to fostering strong diplomatic
ties between our Parliaments,” said Hon. McLaughlin. “This visit is a testament to the deep
traditions and duties that connect our Parliaments, and I look forward to showcasing Cayman’s
vibrant culture and rich history to my esteemed colleague.

As a vocal advocate of the British Overseas Territories, Sir Lindsay has a strong interest in seeing
the operations of the Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) office, the Cayman Islands
Regiment, and Cayman’s marine environment.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons, said: “It is a huge honour to be the
first Speaker of the House of Commons to visit and address the Parliament of the Cayman Islands
– so I would like to thank Sir Alden for giving me the opportunity. The Cayman Islands, like all of
our Overseas Territories, are an important and integral member of the British Family, and I hope
my visit – and meetings with key figures and organisations – will further strengthen these bonds
of friendship.”

In honour of this historic occasion, a Meeting of the House will be convened on 1st August at
10:30 a.m. at the House of Parliament in George Town. The meeting will feature addresses by
both the visiting and host Speakers, the Premier Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, and the Leader
of the Opposition, Hon. Roy McTaggart.

This special Meeting will highlight the shared values and mutual goals of the UK Parliament and
the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, and will provide the dignitaries with the opportunity to
formally record their remarks on the significant ceremony.

The Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MP, commented: “We are very honoured and
excited about Speaker Hoyle’s visit to our Islands. It reaffirms the strength of relationship
between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom. Speaker Hoyle has always been a
champion and supporter of the Cayman Islands and other Overseas Territories, using every
chance to underscore that together we are stronger and more prosperous because of the ties
that bind us. We look forward to all our discussions with him on matters of mutual interest,
including opportunities for strengthened cooperation.”

During his notable visit, the House of Commons Speaker will also meet with the Hon. Premier,
who recently was elected the President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association.
Sir Lindsay will also meet with Her Excellency the Governor to discuss the relationship between
the UK and the Cayman Islands.

Her Excellency the Governor Mrs. Jane Owen said: “We are honoured to welcome Sir Lindsay
Hoyle to the Cayman Islands. This is the first time a serving Speaker of the UK House of Commons
has visited our Islands. The visit provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the
UK and Cayman’s legislatures and discuss how Cayman is responding to the current national and
global context. It also allows us to showcase to Speaker Hoyle these remarkable islands and our
community.”

The Cayman Islands Speaker will host the visiting Speaker on a tour across Grand Cayman,
including visits to key cultural and historical landmarks such as Pedro St. James, where the first
meeting of the Cayman Islands legislature took place in 1831. The itinerary is designed to
showcase the rich cultural heritage and history of Cayman, providing an opportunity for the
visiting Speaker to gain a deeper understanding of the nation’s traditions and advancements.

Following the tour, Hon. McLaughlin will host a formal gala on Friday, 2nd August for current and
former Members, Speakers, and leaders of the Cayman community.

The UK Speaker has been a vocal advocate for strengthening the diplomatic ties between the
UK’s Parliament and the Commonwealth nations, particularly the British Overseas Territories. In
May 2023, Sir Lindsay unveiled two new stained-glass windows in Speaker’s House at the Palace
of Westminster, incorporating all sixteen of the Overseas Territories, which he said represented
the importance of the “United Kingdom family”.

Sir Lindsay was originally elected as Speaker on 4 November 2019, following the resignation of
Speaker John Bercow. Sir Lindsay was re-elected to the House of Commons during the most
recent UK elections on 4th July, and was re-elected as Speaker of the House of Commons for a
second term on 9th July.