LONDON– The Premier, Hon Alden McLaughlin and the Cayman delegation in the United Kingdom including Minister of Financial Services and Home Affairs Hon. Tara Rivers; Minister of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure Hon. Joseph Hew; Attorney General Hon. Sam Bulgin; Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller; and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Alva Suckoo gathered with over 200 friends and associates at the Institute of Directors in London for the Annual Premier’s dinner on Thursday. 

The event is an opportunity to network and thank business and political partners, associates and friends who have taken an interest in, or have worked with, the Cayman Islands Government in the UK throughout the year. It is also a valuable opportunity for the Premier to update an engaged audience about the current state of affairs in the Cayman Islands and the recent JMC meetings with the UK Government. 

“This was the largest networking reception and dinner that we have hosted in London with a turnout of 215 people,” said Premier McLaughlin. “We are delighted to have been able to share Cayman news and update our friends and associates. The dinner also serves as a vital time to thank and keep close ties with political and business partners.”

Also in attendance were Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon; His Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Roper; Former Governors John Owen, Duncan Taylor and Bruce Dinwiddy; Director of the Overseas Territories Directorate of the Foreign Office, and Cayman APPG members Lord Naseby, Sir Graham Brady and others.

Alsoin attendance were business partners including members of Friends of Cayman and the Nth Degree dining club as well as persons from cultural partnerships, Caymanians living in the UK and Caymanian students studying in the UK who are members of the network Cayman Connection UK (CCUK). 

Cayman Islands Representative in the UK, Eric Bush commented, “It was an honour to organise the largest event of its kind for Cayman in the UK and a fitting time to say my regards and farewells to those I have worked so closely with over the last two and a half years. It is extremely important for the Cayman Islands Government in the UK to develop and retain relations with a cross section of public, private and political partners, and this is our opportunity to harness and foster these relationships.”

IMAGES:

 Thursday’s annual Friends Dinner attracted more than 200 guests.

 Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin,centre, included as his dinner guests, from left, former Governors Duncan Taylor and John Owen and Bruce Dinwiddy, far right. Also at the dinner was current Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper, to the Premier’s immediate left.