George Town, Grand Cayman is among 39 places across the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories vying to win city status, as part of an ongoing contest in honour of the Queen’s 2022 Platinum Jubilee.
On Wednesday, the UK government’s Cabinet Office released the names of the places under consideration and it includes, for the first time, places in the British Overseas Territories.
Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are the only other two OTs to be selected in the competition.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay, in the statement, said the announcement of the selected places is “a celebration of the rich and diverse communities which make up not only the United Kingdom, but also our friends further afield in the Falklands, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands”.
“It’s fitting that, as we look towards celebrating the 70 year reign of Her Majesty the Queen, we extend the competition to include those parts of the world which also hold her so dearly,” Barclay added.
Cayman’s UK office, headed by Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, coordinated the bid to apply for status.
The Queen is set to mark the milestone next year and celebrations are expected to be held in the UK and across all territories, including here in Cayman.
A public holiday has been declared for 3 June here in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Governor Martyn Roper, speaking on the Cayman Compass Facebook talkshow The Resh Hour, said plans are underway to host an airshow to mark the occasion.
The ‘Civic Honours’ competition was launched across the UK back in June; winning towns and cities will be granted ‘city status’ and ‘Lord Mayor or Provost status’ for the first time in 10 years.
“City status is not only about local pride, it can deliver real levelling up benefits for businesses and the local area which is clear from the high number of applications. A sincere best of luck to all those who have applied,” Barclay said in the statement.
PANEL
Peter Lee: Director of Constitution at the Cabinet Office
Ben Dean: Director for Sport, Gambling and Ceremonials at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Catherine Francis: Director General, Local Government and Public Services at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Laurence Rocky: Director, Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
Roger Lewis: President of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales)
Kate Mavor: Chief Executive Officer, Heritage England
Lord Neil Mendoza: Commissioner, Cultural Recovery and Renewal
Kathryn Thomson: Chief Executive Officer, National Museums NI
Unlike previous Civic Honours competitions, the statement said, an expert panel will work closely with ministers to make their recommendations, before being approved by Her Majesty The Queen.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries pointed out that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is an “exciting chance for local areas to become cities and level up opportunities for all”.
“As well as fostering local pride and potential, this competition is a great way to mark Her Majesty’s 70 year reign. I wish all entries the best of luck. 2022 is set to be a year of pride, celebration and coming together,” she added.
- Final decision will be taken in spring 2022
- Announcement as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
The UK Cabinet Office has also announced the 12 cities which are vying for Lord Provost or Lord Mayor status, including Newport and Perth who both previously won city status on The Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
The final decision will be taken in spring 2022 and announced shortly afterwards as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The statement noted that applications to the competition have not been affected by the award to Southend-on-Sea, which was made on an exceptional basis and in recognition of Sir David Amess and his longstanding campaign on behalf of Southend.
Amess, 69, was stabbed on 15 October. He was holding a constituency surgery at the time.
Places that have applied for city status
Alcester, Warwickshire
Ballymena, County Antrim
Bangor, County Down
Blackburn, Lancashire
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Boston, Lincolnshire
Bournemouth, Dorset
Coleraine, County Londonderry
Colchester, Essex
Crawley, West Sussex
Crewe, Cheshire
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Dorchester, Dorset
Douglas, Isle of Man
Dudley, West Midlands
Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
Dunfermline, Fife
Elgin, Moray
George Town, Cayman Islands
Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Goole, East Yorkshire
Greenock, Renfrewshire
Guildford, Surrey
Livingston, West Lothian
Marazion, Cornwall
Medway, Kent
Middlesborough, North Yorkshire
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Newport and Carisbrooke, Hampshire
Northampton, Northamptonshire
Oban, Argyll and Bute
Reading, Berkshire
Peel, Isle of Man
St Andrews, Fife
Stanley, Falkland Islands
South Ayrshire, Ayrshire and Arran
Warrington, Cheshire
Warwick, Warwickshire
Wrexham, Clwyd
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It is not clear how many will be awarded “City Status”, is it a fixed number?.