Governor Martyn Roper, in his annual Throne Speech, announced an interim replacement for outgoing Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee and two public holidays to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne, and reiterated the UK’s support of Cayman as it continues to battle COVID-19.
When Lee leaves his post in January, infectious disease specialist Dr. Autilia Newton, who until recently was the Overseas Territories advisor for the UK’s Health Security Agency (previously known as Public Health England), will temporarily take up the role.
The governor paid tribute to Lee “for his outstanding service, for which I know he will always be fondly remembered in Cayman”. He added, “His voice of calm and reason was reassuring to many of us during the pandemic, and government has continued to benefit from his advice throughout.”
Newton will serve as interim chief medical officer until a permanent successor can be identified, Roper said, adding that she had visited Cayman in March 2020 “and brings a wealth of experience and expertise”.
Public holiday to mark Queen’s 70th anniversary
With Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her 70th anniversary on the throne in June next year, the governor said Cayman, along with the UK, Commonwealth countries and other Overseas Territories, would mark the historic occasion.
He confirmed that Cabinet had agreed that there would a long weekend to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, with public holidays on Friday, 3 June, and Monday, 6 June.
Among the activities already planned for that weekend, by a committee established by Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, are a concert, fireworks display, various district events, a beacon lighting, an air show and a car show, as well as a Queen’s Birthday Party and parade at the governor’s residence on Seven Mile Beach. There are also plans to run a ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ initiative across the islands involving local schoolchildren, Roper said.
COVID concerns
The governor noted that, in recent weeks, Cayman had been dealing with widespread cases of community transmission of COVID. “My thoughts and prayers are with those in hospital and their families,” he said. “Let me also pay tribute to our brave nurses, doctors and support staff at HSA and Public Health.
“I understand why the spike in cases feels unsettling for our community that had lived for so long in one of the safest bubbles anywhere in the world. Yet the outstandingly high vaccine take-up gives us confidence and is a major achievement of this government. It has enabled significant numbers of people to take not only first and second doses of the vaccine, but also boosters, and, together with implementation of lateral flow policies, will help us all live as normally and safely as possible.”
He added that the government’s decision to reopen Cayman’s border as local cases of the virus spiked was a difficult one, but said it was “the right decision” and a “significant step forward on the road to recovery”.
He also welcomed the government’s plan to test COVID protocols for a one-off cruise ship visit on 28 Dec.
The governor stated that recent news about a new variant of the COVID-19 virus discovered in southern Africa was of “great concern for all of us”, and noted that the UK had already suspended flights from six southern African countries.
“But there is a great deal that we do not yet know, so whilst a matter for great concern, it is not yet a matter for undue alarm,” he said, adding that the UK’s commitment to support Cayman and its other Overseas Territories during the pandemic “remains steadfast”.
He said the UK would continue to provide Cayman with vaccines, as well as with therapeutics and antivirals.
The governor added that boosters would soon be available to all adults on island. Currently only those over age 40 are eligible to receive the booster.
Climate change
In his speech, made immediately before the PACT government revealed its first budget since taking office, the governor commended the attendance of Premier Wayne Panton at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, earlier this month, saying it showed the world Cayman’s commitment to efforts to combat global warming.
He noted that Prince Charles had congratulated the premier on Cayman’s newly established Commonwealth Climate Growth Fund, an investment fund for which Cayman provided seed capital, that will focus on businesses and technologies that deliver climate mitigation and adaptation throughout the 54 member countries of the Commonwealth.
The governor also referred to the UK government’s seabed mapping programme, a £1 million aerial survey of waters in the Overseas Territories, which is currently being carried out across all three of Cayman’s islands. He said information garnered in this mapping exercise would enable policymakers “to ensure that risks to the environment, life and vessels are addressed and to support compliance with international maritime obligations and support development of blue economies”.
He added that the UK will be providing £110,000 in funding to a Cayman-specific climate change risk assessment.
UK commitment
Roper, who visited the UK last week to attend the ninth annual Joint Ministerial Council meeting, said the event celebrated the partnership between the UK and the Overseas Territories and “your place in the UK family”.
At that meeting, he said, Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a pre-recorded address in which he reiterated his commitment to the Overseas Territories. The governor quoted Johnson as saying, “We will stand with you now and through whatever comes our way.”
Another indication of the UK’s support of Overseas Territories, the governor said, was a recent announcement that students from Overseas Territories, including Cayman, are now eligible to apply for loans for tuition fees for UK universities and colleges. Cayman students are already charged the same tuition fees as British students, rather than the more expensive overseas student fees, the governor said.
Roper also announced that the UK would be sending another team of trainers to Cayman to help train new Cayman Islands Regiment recruits next summer, noting that there are currently more than 90 members in the regiment, which he described as a “great asset”.
He said the regiment had proved its worth in crisis response, in the way it had helped distribute food to people in need who were in isolation, in rebuilding the field hospital for COVID patients, and its work in clearing debris following Tropical Storm Grace.
In his speech, the governor also hailed the work of some outgoing public servants, including Prison Service Director Steve Barrett, who is leaving next month, and Ombudsman Sandy Hermiston, who is taking up a new role in Canada in the new year.
In closing, Roper said he welcomed the PACT government’s “unflinching commitment to the framework for fiscal responsibility”, adding that the pandemic “is far from over – prudence and caution are extremely important going forward”.
He said the government had his and the UK’s “full support”.
Read the full Throne Speech here.
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Regarding the article Governors Throne Speech and Queen’s Birthday, I saw no mention that there would be anyone chosen for Queen’s Birthday Honours. These honours for local volunteers who have contributed their time, money and efforts far and above the call of duty seem to have been somehow forgotten the last two or three years. There are many worthy candidates, and without their tremendous contributions to our three Islands, this would not be the same Cayman.