Premier gives Cayman Islands tribute to National Hero 

Grand Cayman, 23 May 2022 – Touching tributes and remembrances for the late National Hero, Hon. Sybil Mclaughlin, MBE, JP, at the funeral service on Friday, 20 May 2022, expressed how much she was dearly loved and revered in the Cayman Islands.

Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton, JP, MP, gave the Cayman Islands’ tribute to ‘Ms Sybil’ as she was fondly addressed, at the official funeral service at Elmslie Memorial United Church. He shared that she was especially remembered in the districts of East End and George Town but particularly “her beloved South Sound”. 

Significantly, Ms Sybil dedicated a good deal of her 93 years to improving the Cayman Islands, notably the lives of the people, the Premier remarked. Despite her humble career beginnings, joining the civil service when only 18 as a clerk at a time when few women served in the workforce, she was always a positive force. A favourite dictum of hers was: “Whatever you do, do your best. Even if you don’t like what you’re doing, do your best.”

The Premier also emphasised how Ms Sibyl was a pioneer in ways that made her a superb role model for other women in the Cayman Islands and beyond. As early as 1967, Ms Sybil was named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), notably for her organising the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional conference in the Cayman Islands.

“She was fiercely proud of Cayman and the system of government she helped create,” the Premier said. She brought the “calm, assured and steady hand of wisdom, statesmanship and expertise” to the role of Speaker. “Once again as a trailblazer, she set the highest standard as our first Speaker and commanded the respect of all Members, whilst effortlessly quieting any potential detractors as the Cayman Islands entered a new era of parliamentary democracy.”

The Premier noted that Ms Sybil with her customary grace and humility took the honour of being named the first female National Hero in her stride, saying: ‘I can only say that this high honour that has been bestowed upon me is also a high honour for all Caymanians. I should say particularly Caymanian women.’

He added, “She epitomised the values of integrity, selflessness, perseverance; she strove to do her best whatever the task, whatever the role. Ms Sybil did what she did without thought of recognition or reward,” 

(NOTE: The Premier’s full remarks are at tat the end of this story)

Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP shared his fond memories and the positive influence that Ms Sybil had on his life, in his remarks. As well as giving the family tribute, he also shared a poem. 

Additionally, Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. McKeeva Bush reminisced about his experience with Ms Sybil as the House Speaker and sang one of her favourite songs.

Mr. Lemuel Hurlston, CVO, MBE, JP, brought Ms Sybil’s story to life, outlining the cheerful and positive energy that she imparted to all in her family. Granddaughter Miss Natascha McLaughlin gave a tribute from the family.

Former Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Mary Lawrence, MBE, JP, read a poem. Former MP, Mrs. Berna Cummins, MBE, provided scripture reading. Also providing an alternating scripture reading were Rev. Louis Sully and Rev. Godfrey Meghoo. Rev Meghoo also provided the opening remarks and prayer. Rev. Sully gave the sermon and the final benediction.

Closing the service was a saxophone rendition of Amazing Grace by Mr. Roberto Cortes; pianist for the service was Mr. Antonio Sanchez while Mr. Denver Bloomfield played the organ.

Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) and the Cayman Islands Coast Guard provided the Guard of Honour while the Pallbearers were officers from the RCIPS, Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service and the Cayman Islands Fire Service.

END

20-5-22 Sybil McLaughlin Premier tribute from Premier

Cayman Islands tribute to

Hon. Sybil Ione McLaughlin, MBE, JP

Read by Hon. G. Wayne Panton, JP, MP

20 May 2022

“The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.”

We are gathered here today to say our final farewells to a distinguished Caymanian woman who served her God, her country, and its people with compassion, grace, and love. It is an honour and a privilege to pay tribute, on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, and indeed on behalf of all members of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, to National Hero – Hon. Sybil Ione McLaughlin, MBE, JP.

Ms Sybil, as she was most affectionately known, served our Cayman Islands with distinction.  She was respected by everyone within Government, the Legislative Assembly (now Parliament), the Civil Service, and indeed the entire country. 

The many tributes, remembrances and reflections of her life that have been already shared and will be shared here today are proof that she was immensely loved and revered by the community, especially in the districts of East End and George Town, and in particular her beloved South Sound.

Ms Sybil had the Lord’s blessing of 93 years, and a great deal of those years were dedicated to improving the Cayman Islands and the lives of our people. She was only 18 years old when she joined the civil service, beginning her career in an era when women were few and far between in the Civil Service. No doubt, the odds were against her and she obviously endured beyond the struggles to remain in the Service.  

However, Ms. Sybil chose to speak of her humble career beginnings with positive, encouraging words; rarely dwelling on the struggles. There is a video of her, recorded in 2008, a salute to her on her 80^th birthday in which she says “Whatever you do, do your best. Even if you don’t like what you’re doing, do your best.”

Whatever you do, do your best. 

At 21, Ms Sybil became a clerk-typist in the Commissioner’s office.  It should be noted that the Commissioner in those days was Her Majesty’s Representative in the Cayman Islands, and the forerunner to the Governor today. Her duties included typing bills for the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry under the leadership of the Clerk, the late Ernest O. Panton, ISO, MBE, JP.

In 1959 when the Cayman Islands received its first written constitution, Ms Sybil was appointed the first clerk of that body. She also served as clerk of the Executive Council, which we know today as Cabinet. 

Through further constitutional changes, Ms Sybil eventually became the first female full-time Clerk of the Legislative Assembly; a trailblazing first, not only for the Cayman Islands, but incredibly for the entire Commonwealth. Becoming the first female Clerk of the Legislative Assembly shattered a glass ceiling for women around the world, paving the way for women living in countries and territories with much larger populations where the Westminster parliamentary system was established.  As Clerk, she was sent to London where she served a six-month attachment to the House of Commons. Her clerkship also took her to attachments in the Northern Ireland Parliament in Stormont, to Granada, Spain as well as to Trinidad and Tobago.

As Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Sybil was afforded many opportunities and perhaps because she was diligent about always doing her best, she went on to earn a number of other notable achievements. She became the first secretary to the Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 1965 to 1984; and in that role she travelled extensively to attend conferences within and outside the Caribbean.

In 1967, she was awarded and named a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for organising the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional conference held in the Cayman Islands.

As clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Sybil chaired a special committee in 1981 that formulated plans to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of representative government in the Cayman Islands, which was celebrated in 1982.

In the foreword to the 1982 publication “150 Years of Parliamentary Government” Ms Sybil wrote, and I quote, “At a time in the world’s history when many people in other lands are forced to live under the yoke of foreign and oppressive rule and yearn hungrily for the right to be free and govern themselves, the people of the Cayman Islands have every right to be fiercely proud of the remarkable heritage compiled for them by their forebears in the field of representative government”.

She was fiercely proud of Cayman and the system of government she helped create.

In 1984, Ms Sybil retired from her role as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. Her time there allowed her to witness the development of and improvements to the Cayman Islands Constitution.

Ms Sybil truly dedicated herself to doing her best for herself and others, and the list of her achievements reflects a woman who was attentive to detail, organized, thorough and hardworking.  

That principle of doing her best, every day, for decades didn’t go unnoticed. 

She was appointed to be the first Caymanian and first female Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on 15 February 1991 stepping into a role which hitherto was held by the Governor. It was a landmark decision by the Legislative Assembly to appoint an independent Speaker.

In reflecting on this major shift in the political construct of the Cayman Islands, it is interesting to consider that the controversy and political furor which accompanied this decision was juxtaposed against the calm, assured and steady hand of wisdom, statesmanship and expertise which Ms. Sybil brought to the role as Speaker.  Once again as a trailblazer, she set the highest standard as our first Speaker and commanded the respect of all Members, whilst effortlessly quieting any potential detractors as the Cayman Islands entered a new era of parliamentary democracy. 

She served in that role of first Caymanian speaker until she retired – well, retired “again” – in 1996.

In that same year, Ms Sybil’s commitment to excellence was recognised when she received the country’s highest honour of National Hero for her decades of service and outstanding contributions to Cayman’s parliamentary development and community life. She was the second recipient of the award and the first woman to be so recognised. 

She responded to this recognition with her customary grace and humility, saying “I can only say that this high honour that has been bestowed upon me is also a high honour for all Caymanians. I should also say particularly Caymanian women.”  

In that response, we see the thoughtfulness and the purposefulness of the legendary Ms. Sybil. 

There was no honour too great for Ms. Sybil.  She epitomised the values of integrity, selflessness, perseverance; she strove to do her best whatever the task, whatever the role. Ms Sybil did what she did without thought of recognition or reward.

She was confident, dignified and always conducted herself in a way which remained true to her faith and principles. It was as if she knew that the eyes of God, and the people of the Cayman Islands, especially our women, were always watching. Time and again, like a true hero, she rose to the occasion, breaking gender-based barriers in the process. She served with purpose, dignity, and class, whether in public or civic duty.  

Her deep love for these islands and all Caymanians went far beyond the civil service and the legislature. Ms. Sybil was remarkably organized, she balanced an impressive career while raising two sons, and still making time for church and community service. She was a founding member and former president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. She served as organist at the South Sound and North Side United churches as well as the Moravian Church, and at various times she taught adult Sunday school. She cultivated a happy family life centred on the church. 

Generous of her time, Ms. Sybil thought that she could not do enough for her children and for the young people that she had been involved with in her life. 

To Gordon, Christopher, and your families – we are eternally grateful for you sharing your beloved mother with our community and country through each stage of your lives, and even now in this most personal and moving moment of her passing. 

It is an honour and a privilege to have known Ms Sybil. Many of us here today and in the wider community will dearly miss her friendship and wise council.

In her life – a life centred around God, family, career and community – a woman determined to always do her best, whether she liked the job at hand or not – we see a role model of Caymanian excellence.  She will remain a role model for this and future generations.

On May 10^th, 2022 the Cayman Islands lost 

• a National Hero, 
• a phenomenal Caymanian woman, 
• a stalwart believer in democracy, 
• a trailblazing woman who helped to better the country and transform its governance, 
• loving mother who exemplified a life well lived and most of all, 
• a true friend.

In the words of George Elliot, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them”.

And it was the playwright Thornton Wilder who said “The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.” 

I am quite certain that Ms Sybil will never be forgotten. She will live on in the minds and in the hearts of the Caymanian people, forever grateful to have her as our first female National Hero. 

We can honour her by always doing our best, whatever the task, whatever the role, whether we like it or not. 

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Cayman Islands, I extend sincere condolences to Ms Sybil’s children, grandchildren, her surviving brother, extended relatives, and many, many friends.

May she sleep in eternal peace.

END

Captions

Photos by Bina Mani, GIS

1.  Premier, Hon. Wayne Panton gives the Cayman Islands’ tribute to Ms Sybil at the official funeral service at Elmslie Memorial United Church on Friday, 20 May 2022.

2. Speaker, Hon. McKeeva Bush, JP, MP, reminisces about Ms Sybil as the first Speaker, and presented a song that she loved.

3. Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MP, gives his remarks and family tribute about Ms Sybil.

4. Former Speaker, Hon. Mary Lawrence, MBE, JP, reads a poem cherished by Ms Sybil.

5. Former Chief Secretary and family member, Mr. Lemuel Hurlston, CVO, MBE, JP, presents Ms Sybil’s life story. 

6. Granddaughter Miss Natascha McLaughlin gives a tribute to Ms Sybil.

7. Mrs. Berna Cummins, MBE, presents scripture reading.

8. Rev. Louis Sully provided scripture reading, giving the sermon and the final benediction.

9. Rev. Godfrey Meghoo gave scripture reading, opening remarks and offers a prayer.

10. Singers from the Cayman Islands National Choir sang hymns, songs and the National Song.