Julia Almeria Hydes, popularly known as “Aunt” Julia, is the only living member of the traditional Caymanian music fraternity that included icons such as Leighton “Duxie” Ebanks, Boyd Hydes, Radley Gourzong, Cleveland Ebanks, Montgomery Albert and Reid Green. Not only is she still alive, but at 101 she continues in her inimitably joyous manner, to drum and sing at special functions for other senior citizens, and meet with anyone who wishes to draw from her bottomless font of cultural knowledge.

Julia was born the youngest of twelve children, on January 25, 1909, in the district of West Bay, Grand Cayman. She was formally educated until the age of 15 at Ada Cato’s and Miss Redley’s All-age schools in West Bay. After leaving school, she assisted her mother and other relatives in “cutting tops” along the seaside coasts between West Bay and South Sound. She recalls that, although the journeys were long and the work was hard to cut the tops, plait the thatch baskets and make the thatch rope, it was a time of fun, laughter and the discovery of music.

Aunt Julia is an intuitive musician. She remembers the time she was encouraged to play a home-made drum by her cousin, master fiddler, Leighton “Duxie” Ebanks. “When I held the sticks, made of the local guava wood, she said, “I felt a great sense of joy. My love for music has continued ever since. I never had any lessons. I just watched, paid attention and made up my own style of drumming”.

She was soon touring the districts of Cayman with fiddlers and musicians, Duxie, Boyd Hydes, Radley Gourzong, Cleveland Ebanks and others, playing Cayman’s folk music, mainly for kitchen dances, weddings and Christmas celebrations, and enjoying a twirl or two whenever she could get someone to take her place on the drum. These sessions popularized Cayman’s folk music and helped Julia discover a second talent – composing her own songs about everyday events and people.

From early childhood she attended the Wesleyan Holiness Church (formerly the Pilgrim Holiness Church) in West Bay. She states that for many of her adult years she became a “wayward” person but in her mid-70s she was “re-claimed” and again began to attend church regularly. She enjoys singing gospel music, especially ‘choruses’, playing the drum, tambourine, making rhythms using a grater and form or just clapping her hands.

These days you will most likely find her with some of her relatives just singing or “drummin’ a tune” lightly and joyfully with her finger tips. She has received many awards for her contributions to music and culture in the Cayman Islands, including the CNCF Award for pioneering work in cultural heritage, and the Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1996.

Source: Cayman National Cultural Foundation

The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Caribbean. We are situated 480 miles south of Miami, Florida, 150 miles south of Cuba and 180 miles northwest of Jamaica. By jet, the Cayman Islands is only a 70-minute direct flight from Miami.

The main passenger airport in the Cayman Islands, ‘Owen Roberts International Airport’, is located on the largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman. Our sister island of Cayman Brac also has its own airport, ‘Gerrard Smith Airport’. These two airports serve as the Cayman Islands main ports of entry for visitors. Little Cayman is served by daily inter-island flights.

There are more than 55 weekly flights into the Cayman Islands including 28 flights each week between Miami and Grand Cayman with connections to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Direct service from Miami is provided by Cayman Airways and American Airlines.

Inter-island service between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman is provided by Cayman Airways and Cayman Express. Cayman Airways provides daily jet service to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, while Cayman Express provides service four times daily to both islands from Grand Cayman.

The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) oversees the airports’ operations, and maintains and improves them. The Civil Aviation Authority is the regulatory body that controls the aviation industry throughout the Cayman Islands. Their mission is to provide a safe and efficient environment for the movement of aircraft and people in accordance with international and national practices.

Please feel free to contact the Civil Aviation Authority at www.caacayman.com. This site is a very useful tool for current information on Aircraft Registry or the Air Traffic Services.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has a Visitor Information booth in the Customs hall of the Owen Roberts International Airport. The Visitor Information booth is fully stocked with the latest tourist publications, brochures and other information visitors may need during a visit to the Cayman Islands.

Source: Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

To walk into the Old Savannah Schoolhouse is to step back in time. The rows of desks, the bottles of ink and “dip-in” pens, the schoolteacher’s desk and blackboard are all strong reminders of days gone by.

Up until the 1920’s, education in the Cayman Islands was a somewhat informal affair. Mothers originally took most of the responsibility for educating their children. Gradually, the churches began to take on some of that work in each of the communities scattered around the island. There were a few private schools run by minimally trained but dedicated, and sometimes gifted, teachers. It was not until the twentieth century that a more cohesive programme of schooling was developed by Government.

Before the Savannah Schoolhouse was built, local children attended school at Spotts and neighbouring Caswell. The great storm of 1932 destroyed the schoolhouse at Spotts and resulted in the gradual shift of the population towards Newlands, Savannah and Crewe Road. The construction of a local schoolhouse was a major event for the growing community of Savannah.

The building of the one-room schoolhouse was undertaken by local craftsmen, supervised by Will Wallace Bodden, Head Carpenter. Many of the necessary materials were brought from George Town, and sand was transported to the site from Spotts Beach.

Ironwood posts were used to support the building which is constructed with walls of cement which was poured between the posts. Will Wallace remembers it as being quite a challenge: “Sinking the posts was an extremely difficult job. The flint (dolomite) rock was so hard that it took a day’s work to dig half an inch”. The challenge was met, however. By making a fire on the spot intended to hold a post, and leaving it to burn all night, the dolomite rock was softened making it easier for a freshly sharpened crowbar to penetrate. Using this method, two post holes could be completed each day.

The Savannah Schoolhouse first opened its doors to welcome local children on 12th September, 1940. The Education Report for that year describes it as being “adequate in size … an asset to the district … (which) filled a long felt need to this small community, the cost being about 250 pounds”.

Children aged from seven to fourteen years all received their lessons in one airy room. The class teacher would group her pupils according to their age and ability, and work with one group at her desk while the remaining children quietly got on with their reading or the exercises written on the blackboard.

Discipline had to be strict. From their first day, children were made aware of the rewards for bad behaviour. No-one wanted to be shamed in front of their classmates by being made to stand in the corner or, worse, be rapped sharply with the Tamarind switch kept on the teacher’s desk!

Singing was popular, especially when the shutters had to be closed on one side of the schoolroom against driving rain. The noise of the rain on the metal roof was loud, but it did not overcome the sound of young voices raised in the popular round, “Come to School Again”, or any of the other songs well remembered even today by former pupils. They also remember the mosquitoes that followed the rain, and the smoke pans that had to be lit in an attempt to subdue them!

Inter-School Sports Competitions were also favourites with pupils, but the main emphasis of the school was academic. While learning to read, write and do arithmetic, the children also studied history, geography and science. Religious Education was an important part of the curriculum, while Ethics covered the values and ideals of truthfulness, honesty, respect and hard work.

The pupils themselves were responsible for keeping their schoolroom and yard clean and tidy. A quick tidying-up session was held at the end of each day, with a proper clean-up each Friday afternoon. Occasionally, the school- room had to be made ready for a concert or play, which would be held in the evening for everyone’s entertainment.

For many children, the formal education they received at the Savannah School was all that they would get, but it served them well as they moved out into the world. Some older students took the Jamaica Local Exam, and left with a recognized qualification, while a fortunate few were able to go on to further education. This meant leaving the island and traveling to Jamaica, the USA or even Great Britain.

The Old Savannah Schoolhouse served the community for 41 years, but was eventually replaced by the more spacious and modern building now located just behind it. It then became a storeroom for furniture and supplies. Finally, it was decided that its useful days were over, and after some years of neglect, it was scheduled to be demolished. This saddened former pupils, some of them now prominent members of Grand Cayman’s community, and gradually the idea of saving the building for future generations was born. Coincidentally, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands was established in 1987, and the newly formed Savannah District Committee decided that the restoration of the schoolhouse would be a worthy district project. The result of their labours can been seen today.

As it is so close to the new school, the sound of children’s voices still permeates the building. During your visit, sit at one of the desks and take a moment to close your eyes and imagine what it must have been like to have been a pupil in the 1950’s at the Old Savannah Schoolhouse.

Source: National Trust of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is a group of islands located in the western Caribbean, about 480 miles south of Miami, 150 miles south of Cuba, 180 miles northwest of Jamaica and approximately 1,000 miles west of Puerto Rico. The Cayman Islands consist of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

These three islands share the same capital, George Town, which is situated on the western shore of Grand Cayman. The time zone observed in the Cayman Islands is -5 hours GMT. The favorable location, as well as the some of the best water sports and attractions in the Caribbean region, draws large numbers of tourists throughout the year.

When is the best time of the year to visit the Cayman Islands?

Tourists flow into the Cayman Islands year round. The islands have two seasons: summer, or the “rainy” season, from mid-May to October; and, winter, or the “dry” season, which starts in November and goes until April. The months of March and April are generally the driest months in the Cayman Islands, while the months of May and October often register the highest amounts of rainfall.

The Cayman Islands are considered a tropical country, not only for their location but for their mild and inviting West Indian climate. The average temperatures in the Cayman Islands are approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit during winter and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. There are also frequent breezes and seasonal trade winds which contribute to the temperate climate.

The Tourism Sector

Tourism contributes as much as 70-75% of the annual gross domestic product of Cayman Islands. Millions of tourists visit the islands every year, with the majority of tourists visiting Grand Cayman. The Cayman Island is often regarded as one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world, owing its renown to its naturally crystal-clear waters and pristine reefs. In Cayman, good diving also makes for good snorkeling as the reefs are so close to shore and close to the surface. Unique in the world, one of the favorite snorkeling sites is a shallow sandbar in the north lagoon where tourists are treated to the remarkable experience of swimming among stingrays.

The Best Spots and Experiences

On the west side of Grand Cayman the main tourist attraction is the world-famous Seven Mile Beach, unarguably one of the best beaches in the world. Another main attraction is the ironshore landscape of Hell, which is a 24-acre marine-themed park. The Boatswain’s Beach houses the Cayman Turtle Farm, and showcases the local production of gourmet sea salt. The Cayman Turtle Farm includes many different species, sizes and ages of turtles, as well as other indigenous animals and birds. Grand Cayman proves to be a haven not only for water lovers but also for nature lovers with the Mastic Trail, a hiking trail that traverses the forest paths down to the center of the island. In addition to the attractions found on Grand Cayman, Little Cayman houses a wide array of wildlife species and is home to the red-footed booby.

Notable Species

The Cayman Islands also boasts an impressive avian fauna, including two sub-species of the Amazona parrots: the Amazona leucocephala hesterna, or Cayman Brac Parrot, which is native only to the Cayman Brac; and, the Amazona leucocephala caymanensis, or Grand Cayman Parrot, which can only be found on Grand Cayman. Other notable faunas on the islands are the endangered species of Blue Iguana, which is found on Grand Cayman; the agouti; and the Red-footed and Brown Boobies, commonly seen on the sister islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Other Activities

Apart from the scuba diving activities, the Cayman Islands is also a popular tourist spot for various water sports, such as snorkeling, jet skis, paddle boards and banana boats. People who are not into swimming or scuba diving can still enjoy underwater views through submarines, semi-submersible boats, and glass-bottom tourist boats.

Source: Cayman Islands iPortal

The Cayman Islands are most well known for its main industry: off-shore banking; but tourists don’t travel to the islands to visit the banks. Instead, the slow pace of life, crystal-clear waters, and hospitable inhabitants is what draws vacationers to the islands.

Geography and Weather

Located halfway between Cuba and Honduras, the Cayman Islands are a group of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located only five miles apart from one another, while Grand Cayman stands 90 miles away from its smaller sisters. Together, the islands have a total area of 262 square miles. The terrain is comprised of low-lying limestone deposits and coral reef.

The Cayman Islands have a tropical climate that consists of warm, rainy summers and cool, dry winters. The average temperatures range from 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 88 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and the islands see about 60 inches of rainfall a year.

Around the Islands

Grand Cayman is the largest and busiest of the island chain, though still more relaxed than most visitors are used to experiencing. Because this is the larger of the islands, shopping opportunities are more prevalent here, and shoppers can spend time and money at Elizabethan Square and Queen’s Court during the day and early evening for discounted designer goods, handmade wares, and locally distilled rum. There are also more chances to sample cuisine at fine restaurants or visit a local night club. Seven Mile Beach, for example, is more than one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean; as the sun goes down, the lights come on at restaurants, bars, and clubs that line the strip.

The ocean and marine life is an important part of Grand Cayman’s tourism industry. Attractions such as Sting Ray City, where snorkelers and divers can pet tame sting rays; the Cayman Turtle Farm, the world’s only green sea turtle farm; and submarine tours of shipwrecks and the surrounding reef only grow more popular by the year. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also great ways to experience colorful underwater world of any of the Cayman Islands.

On dry land, Grand Cayman’s visitors can take the exploration inland, and hike the two mile Mastic Trail to view the indigenous plants and wild life of Cayman Island’s subtropical forest in the Mastic Reserve. Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is another great nature reserve to visit. The park features two thousand species of plants as well as the Blue Iguana, the world’s more endangered lizard.

The middle island, Cayman Brac, is a tad less busy than Grand Cayman. This island has several great places for snorkeling, but swimming is not as popular due to the rocky coastline. Scuba divers will find several sunken ships off the coast that make for great underwater expeditions. Of the three islands, Cayman Brac is most popular for its natural beauty and lush greenery. Spelunking, hiking, and rock climbing are of particular interest to many tourists who choose to visit this island.

As the name suggests, Little Cayman is geographically the smallest of the three islands. There are only 170 permanent residents, and this island sees fewer tourists than the rest. Those who visit Little Cayman are typically there for one of three reasons: scuba diving, exploring the natural habitat of native wildlife, or to truly get away from it all.

Eat Up!

Food in the Cayman Islands are often called clean and simple. A full meal tends to encompass a lightly seasoned meat (fish is especially common), a starch (yams and breadfruit are popular), and perhaps a vegetable. This is a great island for the less adventurous eater to step out and sample the fare of a foreign country because the dishes are unlikely to shock the palate. Where the Islands really shine, however, is in their slow cooked foods, such as their fish and turtle stews. Read more about the culinary styles by clicking here.

The Cayman Islands vacationers are typically looking for a calm place to enjoy a tropical vacation on the beach, and perhaps get in a little scuba diving and site-seeing. If this sounds like your ideal vacation, choose the Cayman Islands when planning your next Caribbean trip.

Source: caymanislands-guide.info

A vacation in the Caribbean can be fantastic; so many beautiful sights and sounds, so many places to discover and explore. Everyone who goes on holiday in the Caribbean wants to capture those magical moments to be able to remember them for a lifetime and also to share them with friends and family. In this article we provide some tips to help you take good photographs during your vacation in the Caribbean.

Most people will carry their camera when they are going to visit a famous landmark or historic site because they want to record their visit. At other times the individual will often leave their camera in their hotel room or in the car because they may think that they are simply going for a short walk. Sometimes on that short walk, the most fantastic scene appears or unusual event occurs and you do not have your camera to be able to take a picture. The number one tip for taking good vacation pictures therefore is to always carry your camera with you, because you never know when you will encounter a good scene. By always having your camera you avoid missing an unforgettable moment and thus will have a unique photo to share with family and friends.

Allied to always carrying your camera with you is to keep it close at hand. Very often the elements that make a good photo, such as a person in a colourful outfit walking past an old building, pass quickly and if you are searching for your camera you could miss the opportunity for a unique photograph. By having your camera close at hand you give yourself those extra few seconds to properly compose the elements in the photograph and thus take a picture that fully shows all the important elements in the scene.

Individuals on a Caribbean vacation often sleep late. Indeed a vacation is a time for most people to get some much needed rest. As a result persons on a Caribbean holiday often go sightseeing during the midmorning or immediately after lunch. The midday sun in the Caribbean is very bright and there is a lot of reflected glare causing objects in photographs to have sharp angles and harsh shadows. The best time for taking pictures are early mornings and late afternoons. Photos taken at this time usually appear very rich and dramatic. The sunlight is more of a golden colour bringing out the richness of the colours in the scene you are photographing.

Caribbean beaches are a favorite location for vacation photos. Those glorious white sand beaches with a backdrop of sparkling blue water and possibly a pretty yacht sitting on the water, is the type of scene that most people want to capture in a picture as a vacation memory. Yet for many individuals the resulting photo does not seem to capture the beauty of the moment. The culprit is in fact that dazzling white sand and sparkling water. The sand and water reflect that bright Caribbean sun creating glare in the picture. This is especially the case when persons on holiday visit the beach during the middle of the day. Unfortunately for some persons, such as those visiting a Caribbean island on a cruise ship, the middle of the day may be the only time they have for going to a Caribbean beach. One approach for dealing with this problem of excessive sunlight in Caribbean beach photos is to position yourself with your back to the water so that you eliminate the reflected light from the water. Another approach is to change the angle from which you are taking the picture. Instead of aiming directly across the sand and water you can angle yourself so that shooting across the scene. This change in position can reduce the amount of reflected light that appears in your photograph, thus improving the quality of the photo.

Caribbean beaches are also a favorite location for vacation photos because they are the scene of rich tropical sunsets. The golden tones as the sun lights the sky for one final time before it sinks below the horizon is a sight not easily forgotten. There are some beach bars that have become world famous because their location allows romantic tropical sunset photos to be taken. What is important for persons who do not live in the Caribbean to remember is that the time for sunset does not vary by more than two hours throughout the year. During the summer months the sun may stay slightly longer in the sky but by 7.30 in the northern Caribbean (Jamaica and the Bahamas) the sun is setting. As you go further south in the Caribbean the sun set takes place early so that by 6.30pm in the summer the sun is setting in the southern Caribbean. During the winter months, the sunset is earlier, so that by 5.30pm the sun will begin to set in the southern Caribbean. To ensure that you capture the sunset at its richest, you should take note of the approximate times of sun set and then seek to arrive at least 15 minutes early. This is important because the sun does not set at a specific time and there is variability in the moment of sunset. By arriving early you ensure that you are on time to capture the magical moment of sun set. In addition by arriving early you give yourself time to find a good vantage point and to properly set up for taking the picture.

The development of digital cameras means that it is now possible to inexpensively take many pictures while on a Caribbean holiday. To ensure getting good vacation photos you should therefore take many pictures when you see something that you want to photograph. The advantage of taking many photos is that if something unwanted crossed the scene, unknowing to you, it is unlikely to be in all the photos. Although you would have taken many vacation photos, you can easily delete those vacation pictures that you do not like. Although you would have taken many vacation photos, you can easily delete those vacation pictures that you do not like. In addition to taking many vacation photos you should use different angles and different distances to add variety to your photographs.

Finally, before leaving for your Caribbean vacation remember to pack extra batteries and extra media cards. By having these extra items you ensure that you are able to use your camera at all times and avoid having to purchase a cheap camera that may not give you pictures of as good a quality as your own camera.

Source: Caribbean Outdoor Life

While tucked away in the tropical Caymans, many travelers are delighted to discover that they are never too far from the comforts of home. Providing telephone and e-mail access is just another way that the Cayman Islands cater to visitors.

International and Local Calling

Calls placed to the Cayman Islands from other countries should begin with a “1” followed by the international country code of “345.”

Once on the Islands, travelers may call their home countries or any other international destination by dialing ’00’ before the relevant country code. For example, visitors calling England would begin the call by pressing “00” + “44” before dialing the direct telephone number. Surcharges on international calls placed from hotels can be quite high; travelers are advised to inquire about the fees before placing calls.

Of course, local calls require neither an access number nor a country code and can be placed from anywhere in the Cayman Islands. Note that this also includes calls placed from island to island.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phone service in the Cayman Islands may not work with many of the GMS and TDMA network phones that are popular in Europe and North America. Fortunately, cellular telephones can be rented upon arrival in the Islands. Rates and plans are available to fit nearly every budget and vacation. Daily rates should start around $10(USD).

Internet Access

On Grand Cayman, the largest of the islands, many of the hotels and resorts provide Internet service in one form or another. Some have centrally-located business centers while others offer in-room access for guests who opted to bring their own computers and equipment.

Travelers staying at a hotel without Internet service should not despair. Internet cafes are widely available in the Cayman Islands, enabling visitors to send and receive e-mail from almost anywhere their adventures take them. The cost of using these facilities can vary a great deal, but $10(USD) per hour seems to be a fairly average price.

The Cayman Islands are generally well connected to each other and to the wider world. Vacationers should have no trouble staying in touch with friends and loved ones at home.

Source:caymanilands-guide.info

Wherever you decide to hold your Island wedding you’ll want to come up with a unique and individual theme for your wedding that says something about who you are as a couple.

When deciding upon a theme, keep these theme ideas in mind for a Caribbean accent to add to your wedding:

Ocean

With turquoise blue waters all around the islands of the Caribbean what could be more fitting than having an ocean theme to your wedding. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Add swags of turquoise tulle to your head table
• Decorate your bridal arch in ocean coloured ribbons
• Offer guests ocean inspired favours wrapped up in blue tulle
• Decorate tables with glass bowls with sea water arrangements inside them
• Use fish inspired logos for invitations, save a date cards and thank you notes
• Consider a nautical touch with the use of ropes to make candle arrangements for table centrepieces

Tropical

The tropical foliage of the Caribbean can provide a lush and colourful backdrop to your wedding.

• Use Bougainvillea to decorate arches, and the head table
• Buy tropical flowers by the stem from local florists to make your own table arrangements based in vases weighted with sand
• Incorporate palms into your wedding decor
• Consider having a tiki hut erected as an outside bar
• Offer tropical drinks after your ceremony
• Offer tropical fruits in your desert cart
• Serve a tropical fruit Caribbean wedding cake
• Incorporate seafood items typical in The Caribbean to your menu ie. Conch salad, grouper, lobster

Beach

The Beach can provide a great theme to your wedding and a million ideas for décor:

• Have a conch shell aisle in the sand
• Use tiki lights to light pathways in evening receptions
• Incorporate the beach into invitations using shells, message in a bottle, or scrolled invites – see “Favours” feature
• Have an ice sculpture on your buffet table to house shrimp or salad in the shape of a shell or a dolphin

Nature

The tropical animal kingdom can provide an eco sensitive slant to your wedding, consider the following:

• Use animal logo’s on all wedding stationary: parrots, iguanas, dolphins
• Use local natural landmarks as a focal point of your wedding ie. Volcano sites in Montserrat, jungle, or beach
• Musical
• Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Steel Drum Bands are all music styles that are intrinsically tied to the Caribbean…why not incorporate music from your locale into your wedding.

Source: islandbrides.com

In 1993, the Legislative Assembly passed the National Heroes Law, providing for the declaration of persons who have rendered exceptional service as national heroes.

The first national hero, the late Executive Council member Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden, was named in 1994. In 1996, the second hero, Mrs. Sybil Ione McLaughlin, first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, was named.

In 2003 the country celebrated its Quincentennial and the fourth Monday in January became a new public holiday, National Heroes Day. On the holiday’s first celebration, a Wall of Honour was dedicated in Quincentennial Square in central George Town. The Wall bears the names of 500 men and women who made significant contributions to the Islands’ development.

On National Heroes Day 2011 (24 January), five more Caymanians were declared national heroes.

Our first National Hero, the Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden, was given this honour on 28th June 1994. Though Mr. Jim, as he was known to the community, passed away in 1988, he was regarded by his contemporaries as a visionary who helped to politically lead Cayman into an era of progress through modernization.

Mr. Jim was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1972, and served two terms as a member of Executive Council. As minister responsible for tourism and aviation, he was instrumental in establishing Cayman Airways and constructing Owens Roberts International Airport. He was re-elected to the Legislature in 1984 and served as a backbench MLA for the rest of his life.

Much loved by all Caymanians, Mr. Jim received the honour of a state funeral. In a moving ceremony in September 1994 a statue bearing his likeness was dedicated to him at Hero’s Circle, now known as Heroes Square, across from the Legislative Assembly.

Our second national hero is Mrs. Sybil Ione McLaughlin, MBE, JP, who continues to be an active member of society and a living example of the noble qualities towards which Caymanians, especially our young women, can aspire.

Mrs. McLaughlin received the country’s highest honour in 1996, in recognition of her contribution to Cayman’s parliamentary development, as well as to community life.

Among her outstanding achievements was her appointment as the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in February 1991, where her experience and resolve were appreciated until her retirement in 1996.

Mrs. McLaughlin entered government service in 1945, and was appointed clerk of the Legislative Assembly in 1959 – the first woman to hold this post in the Commonwealth. She served as secretary of the Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 1965 to 1980. Mrs. McLaughlin also undertook attachments to the House of Commons in London, and Stormont Parliament in Northern Ireland, in 1966, and to the Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago parliaments in 1971.

The following five Caymanians were declared national heroes in 2011.

Named as a “Former Legislator and Father of the House”, Mr. Thomas William Farrington, CBE, JP (1900 to 1978) was a great contributor to the Cayman Islands community. Born in June 1900 to William Farrington and Elizabeth M. Parsons, he became one of Cayman’s most outstanding citizens. He was a man of wisdom, persuasiveness and sincerity, especially in matters involving his beloved district of West Bay.

“Mr. Willie” as he was commonly known, exemplified what Caymanians represent. He became a civil servant in 1921, and until today he remains the longest-serving representative in the Legislative Assembly, having held his seat for 55 years. Mr. Willie was also the first elected member to be responsible for finance.

During the 1940s, he supported the establishment of what is today the John Gray High School. In 1959, he was among the first to be elected to the Executive Council after the first constitution was signed and in 1965, he became the first Caymanian to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the British Empire.

As a pioneer in the Cayman Islands Government, Mr. Willie led the House in legislation matters and was a founding member of the Christian Democratic Party. He was named ‘Father of the House’ both for his lengthy continuous service and for the wisdom and insight he displayed in matters of public interest. He was also a founding member of Cayman International Airways and played a major role in the development of Cayman’s first airport and in discussions regarding Cayman’s participation in the West Indies Federation.

His name was heard and known in every corner of the Islands because in the truest sense, he was a proud Caymanian, one who played a major role in crafting the Islands into the success it is today. For his accomplishments as a husband, father, Justice of the Peace, Law Agent, church elder and civic leader, he will always be honoured.

Remembered for “An outstanding commitment to youth”, Mrs. Sybil Joyce Hylton, MBE (1913 to 2006), the daughter of Edward and Jane Russell and wife of Wilfred Augustus “Conrad” Hylton, was Cayman’s first probation and welfare officer and a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged young people.

Mrs. Hylton became the Islands’ sole probation officer in 1963, going on to serve as the first head of the country’s Probation and Welfare Department until 1982. That was a role for which she was particularly well-suited and she revolutionised her department’s work. Her background and training included years of volunteering with the Jamaican authorities, with whom she maintained a close relationship throughout her tenure.

By the time of her appointment, she was already lobbying government to rectify a number of inequities that confronted the Islands’ youth. Her zest for championing issues such as the need for a separate court for juveniles continued into her retirement, as did her lengthy service on the Adoption Board.

And Mrs. Hylton’s exemplary commitment to young people extended to her private life; among other projects, she helped to develop the scouting movement in the Cayman Islands. Presenting her with a special award in 1972, the Nor’wester Magazine recognised her numerous contributions to young people.

She received the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1968 and was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) ten years later.

“A very special son of Cayman”, Mr. Ormond L. Panton, OBE (1920 to 1992) was one of the most prominent political figures in Cayman’s history. Mr. Ormond founded Cayman’s first political party and was the first politician to win an election as party leader.

As a member of the National Democratic Party, he was heavily involved in politics and was the youngest delegate to attend the West Indies Federation discussions.

His professional skills combined with a relish for helping others assured his success in many local trials. Mr. Ormond was regarded as an outspoken attorney, one who also achieved many firsts for his country.

In 1955 he succeeded in confirming his right to a fair trial – a right now enshrined in Article 14 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He was also lead negotiator between the UK and its Overseas Territories in discussions on independence. The first Caymanian attorney to appear before the Privy Council in London, he also introduced a motion to allow Cayman authorities to issue US visa waivers, thereby facilitating merchant marine employment for Caymanians.

A member of the Cayman Bar Association, Mr. Ormond also served as a director of Cayman Airways Ltd. between 1980 and 1984. He was also one of the first Chartered Rotarians of Grand Cayman. Honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to society.

His many outstanding qualities ensure that he will forever be honoured for his legal, political and personal contributions to the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Ormond married Naomi Bodden in 1942 and they had seven children.

“His life stands as a sterling example” is the tribute paid to Mr. Desmond Vere Watler, CBE (1914 to 1994) — an exemplary citizen and exceptional civil servant. Starting out as a 23-year-old clerk, his almost four-decade career saw him rise through the ranks to become, in 1969, Cayman’s first Treasurer, a title that was constitutionally changed to Financial Secretary.

Mr. Desmond became the first Chief Secretary of the Cayman Islands in 1972. He served in the Legislative Assembly for 32 years and was the First Official Member and Chairman of the Executive Council. He served in every area of parliamentary administration in the legislature and regarded the provision of proper communications and the writing of tax haven legislation as being key factors in the progress of the Cayman Islands.

Equally active in the wider community, Mr. Desmond became a Chartered Rotarian of Grand Cayman in 1965 and was a lifetime church elder of the Gun Bay United Church, conducting services throughout all districts. He was honoured twice by Queen Elizabeth II, first in 1966 as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and again in 1975 when he became a Commander of that Order.

Highly regarded for his soft-spoken demeanor, he became even better-known as a role model regarding standards of civil service integrity. His life remains a sterling example to today’s young people, demonstrating that with hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, it is possible to reach the top of the career ladder.

Mr. Desmond was the son of William Conwell Watler and Ursalina Valentina McLaughlin. He married Wilma Ryder in 1948 and had one child.

“Dedication and selfless service” is how Ms Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon. (1900 to 1978) is remembered.

A true pioneer, Mary Evelyn Wood dedicated her life to bringing change to these Islands, for the benefit of the Caymanian people. She was born to Charles and Julietta Wood and was the youngest daughter in a family of six.

Miss Evie, as she was known, was the first woman ever elected to the Cayman Islands Legislature and was also the first to serve on a jury. Those groundbreaking achievements and more were products of her lasting commitment towards addressing the needs of the local community.

With a level of dedication towards others that was evident even at a young age, she was only in her early 20s when she started a small school in her father’s home, serving as its sole teacher. Several years later, after receiving training as a practical nurse, she changed vocations, entering what was then known as “private nursing.” That entailed visiting the homes of new and expectant mothers, in addition to sick persons around Grand Cayman. Her most notable service undoubtedly occurred during the typhoid epidemic of the late 1930s when she provided tireless care.

By 1957 an interest in women’s rights led her to join hundreds of other women in signing the petition for female suffrage of that year, now commemorated in Heroes Square, George Town. After women won the right to vote in 1959, she joined Ormond Panton’s National Democratic Party as treasurer and chair of the Bodden Town Committee. In 1962 she became that district’s Legislative Assembly representative.

Aside from her participation in social and political life, Miss Evie was also active in the church. Her unstinting service to the community was recognized in 1965, when she received the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour.

Source: Cayman Islands Government

Shopping in the Cayman Islands could be considered a tourist attraction all on its own. Duty free prices, a range of goods catering to a range of budgets, and stores and malls scattered across the island make shopping for a souvenir or special gift an easy and enjoyable experience.

The small downtown area of George Town is the heart of Cayman shopping. Here you will find store after store of luxury and mid-range goods in current styles and trends. Boutique stores specializing in a particular designer sit next to mega stores carrying a complete selection of the world’s choicest items. Upstairs, downstairs, on the water, down the block – the storefronts are all wide open and waiting for you to step inside. Experienced sales staff can help you select your purchase.

Shops are also located in numerous shopping centres and malls along Seven Mile Beach. Small independently owned gift shops mix with the island’s premier vendors in locations such as The Strand, Camana Bay, Seven Mile Shops, the Galleria and West Shore Centre.

Shopping is also available in the further reaches of Bodden Town, East End and Rum Point. Small, locally owned craft stores are a good bet for hand-made items unique to Cayman. Larger vendors are also set up at the resorts along these beaches for a wide selection of items popular with tourists.

Jewelry is perhaps the best buy with deeply discounted prices on offer. Diamonds, Tanzanite, emeralds, rubies, topaz, sapphire and amethyst are just the beginning of what’s on offer at the island’s fine jewellers. A full range of fine and semi-precious gemstones can be found in Cayman with knowledgeable gemmologists available to assist you. Fun and funky jewelry for the younger fashionista is also on sale. And be sure to check out the pieces made of Caymanite, an endemic semi-precious stone with layers of browns and golds.

Watches are a popular purchase in Cayman. From the iconic Rolex to the more accessible Swatch brand, there are watch choices for men and women in every price range and style.

Luxury goods such as Lalique and Lladro figurines, Wedgwood china, Cartier accessories, Waterford crystal, Fendi leather goods, and a wide range of cosmetics and fragrances fill large and small stores.

Souvenirs, too, are widely available. From colourful magnets to stuffed turtles and stingrays (two of Cayman’s mascot figures), from tee-shirts to coffee mugs, from pirate themes to palm trees and fish, souvenirs make an affordable and memorable gift for yourself or friends and family at home.

No matter how long you visit or where you stay in Cayman, you will find shopping options to fill out your tropical vacation.

Source: cayman.com