By Hon. G. Wayne Panton, JP, MP

In what has been a week of profound sadness for the people of the Cayman Islands, we once again bid farewell to another political trailblazer, Mr. Arley James “A.J.” Miller, Cert. Hon., who passed away peacefully on Sunday, 8th May, at his home in Bodden Town.

Mr. A.J. Miller answered the call to public service in 1958 and was elected to represent the people of Bodden Town. He was the last surviving Vestryman from the 1958 Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry, which transitioned into the Legislative Assembly (now House of Parliament) under the new Constitution of 1959. His passing leaves only one surviving Caymanian to have served in the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry.   

Mr. Miller was once again victorious in that pioneering election of 1959 election under the new Constitution, but made the difficult decision to not take up his seat in the new Legislative Assembly. Instead he accepted a call to become a seaman, which offered him the ability to better support his young family.   

He eventually returned to Cayman and in the 1970s. Mr. Miller’s impact on the political landscape of the Cayman Islands became quite profound and well renowned throughout the community. He was widely recognised for his strategy, wealth of knowledge but perhaps he will be most remembered for adding colour and excitement to election campaigns. He was also an entrepreneur involved in several business ventures over the years. 

It is impossible to recount the political history of the Cayman Islands without giving consideration and indeed credit to the contributions of Mr. A.J. Miller. On behalf of the Cabinet and Cayman Islands Government, I wish to extend heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the community of his beloved District of Bodden Town.    

In honour of his passing, all Cayman Islands flags at public buildings will be flown at half-mast on Friday, 13 May, 2022, and again on the day of his funeral, or on the Friday before should that day fall during a weekend. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.  

May his soul rest in eternal peace.