Cayman Islands Governor Meets George Town Constituents

H.E. Martyn Roper toured George Town North, South, East and West with the respective constituency MLAs on Friday, 21 June 2019.

·         Governor was invited into constituents’ homes to learn more about uniqueness of Cayman Islands.

GRAND CAYMAN (GIS) – H.E. Governor Martyn Roper, OBE, was escorted around George Town North, South, East and West by the constituencies’ MLAs on a visit full of the unique history and character of the Cayman Islands.

            In between stops at the constituency offices, Mr. Roper met with Caymanians who call the wider George Town area home.

            In George Town West, Councillor David Wight, JP, brought Mr. Roper to the Godfreys’ home, where he was taught to dance by Mr. Godfrey, before being presented with freshly-baked cake and swanky.

            At Mr. Brainard Watler’s home, His Excellency was shown artefacts from the Watler family’s long history in the Cayman Islands, including historical navigation equipment and a play written and presented to the Queen,

            The Governor went on to meet Ms Viola Brown and then did a television interview about the trip with Councillor Wight.

            En route to the George Town North constituencies, accompanied by Hon. Joey Hew, the Governor’s party stopped in on Christmas McGowan, before they met Peggy and Esmie Bodden in the shade of their garden.

            The last stop before lunch was to call upon Ms Alvernie Watson in Rock Hole. Ms. Watson was dressed in a fabulous hat and greeted all four MLAs and the Governor enthusiastically. She also took some time to show the Governor how to dance, while regaling him with stories of her eleven children and countless grandchildren.

            After lunch, the Governor was brought to George Town South by Councillor Barbara Conolly, JP. The first stop on the tour was noted local seaman and historian Captain Paul Hurlston, a living embodiment of the days when Caymanian men spent decades at sea earning the hard currency that kept the country afloat.

Next door to Captain Paul, Mr Roper visited the first Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, National Hero Sybil McLaughlin, where he learnt more about her career in the Cayman Islands public sector and the Commonwealth.

He then called in at Mind’s Eye, where he toured Miss Lassie’s House, the lifelong home of the late visionary intuitive artist, and watched a video about her life.

The Governor and accompanying MLAs ended their time in the constituency singing songs with Mrs Elisabeth Hurlston, soon to be 105, one of the oldest residents in the Cayman Islands.

Hon. Roy McTaggart then led the party to George Town East, where Ms Carol Jackson and His Excellency exchanged pleasantries about their families and strolled around her garden, viewing breadkind and ground provision. They also talked about the medicinal properties of her herbs with her mother Ms Madonna Williams.

Ms Toy Ryan of Ryan’s Retreat welcomed H.E. and his party into her home. As well as chatting with Ms Ryan and her daughter Karen about Ms Toy’s formative days as a childminder, they spoke about Ms Ryan’s granddaughter who is currently studying construction management overseas.

The tour ended at the Progressives’ Headquarters where H.E. met members of the Party.

The visit took place on Friday, 21 June 2019.