Some local events, including the Miss World Cayman Islands pageant, are being postponed or cancelled during the official national mourning period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
In a Frequently Asked Questions document issued by government Friday morning, it was advised that, as a mark of respect, “it may be appropriate to cancel, postpone or modify events which had been planned during this period.”
The national mourning period will last until the day of the Queen’s state funeral, which is expected to be held on Monday, 19 Sept., although that date has not yet been officially confirmed.
The Miss World Cayman Islands pageant, which was due to be held on 17 Sept., will be postponed until 24 Sept., according to organisers. In a statement, the Miss World Cayman Islands Committee apologised “for any inconvenience this has caused and we hope that you understand our reason for postponing the event”.
The committee added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family as we bid farewell to Her late Majesty The Queen, who was the embodiment of dignity and grace, and who lived an enduring life of duty and honor.”
The East End Heritage Day, which was scheduled for Friday, 16 Sept., has been postponed. No new date has been set.
The Lions Club of Grand Cayman has postponed its annual PACCE Delano Hislop Memorial Journey for Life 5k walk/10k run/25k ride event, from Sunday, 18 Sept., to 2 Oct.
An official groundbreaking ceremony for the latest phase of the National Housing Development Trust’s Lighthouse Garden affordable housing scheme in West Bay, which was due to occur on Friday morning, was also postponed until further notice.
A major tourism conference hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Association and the Ministry and Department of Tourism next week, which will be attended by tourism ministers and other delegates from throughout the region, will go ahead as scheduled, on 12-15 Sept. However, social events connected with the conference will be “modified and/or muted”, according to the government FAQ.
Also, Caribbean Aviation Day events, on Wednesday, 14 Sept., hosted by the International Air Transport Association and the Ministry and Department of Tourism, also will go ahead, but with toned-down social engagements.
According to the government FAQs, “It is expected that most sporting events will be postponed until after the period of National Mourning.”
State funeral
It also stated that “particular consideration should be given to any events scheduled for the day of the State Funeral itself. It is unlikely to be appropriate to go ahead with any events on that day.”
Premier Wayne Panton and Governor Martyn Roper will travel to London to attend the state funeral service in Westminster Abbey. They and their wives, as well as the UK Representative Tasha Ebanks Garcia, have also been invited to the lying-in-state at Westminster Hall and the formal signing of the condolence book at Lancaster House.
A special service of commemoration will also be held in Cayman at some time after the Queen’s state funeral in the UK, officials said. Details of this will be announced at a later date.
The day of the funeral will be a public holiday in the UK and throughout its Overseas Territories, including in the Cayman Islands.
The government FAQs stated, “If an event goes ahead [on the day of the funeral], organisers may consider observing a minute’s silence or making a similar gesture.”
The document also noted, “In general, careful consideration should also be given to the types of events being held or promoted during the period of National Mourning. In displaying our collective sense of respect and grief, organisers may wish to reconsider festive or celebratory events. However, smaller private/family events like weddings or children’s birthday parties are appropriate to proceed.”
Premier League postpones games
Although, in the UK, Downing Street has said there is “no requirement, or obligation, to cancel or postpone events or sporting fixtures, or entertainment venues” during the national mourning period, and that it’s up to the discretion of individual organisations, the football associations in England, Scotland and Wales have announced they will postpone all matches and fixtures into next week.
This means that no Premier League or English Football League will be played over the weekend.
UK unions cancel strikes
According to BBC reports, following the Queen’s death, unions representing Royal Mail postal workers and rail staff are cancelling plans for immediate strike action “out of respect for her service to the country and her family”.
The planned strikes by postal workers on Friday, 9 Sept., and RMT rail worker walkouts on 15 and 17 Sept. have been suspended.
The train drivers’ union Aslef has also postponed a strike planned for 15 Sept.
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