When Caymanian businessman Garth Arch got the call that he had been awarded an MBE, his first reaction was one of disbelief and utter surprise.
“It was unexpected. It’s been an honour to serve in the community over many years. I’ve served as chairman of the Trading Business Licensing Board for 13 and a half years, and I’ve served as chairman of the Chairman Youth Services Foundation Board… this year will be 12 years,” he said.
Arch and long-time civil servant James Watler were recently named as the newest Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles III’s first King’s Birthday Honours list.
They will receive their award at next year’s celebrations.
The Cayman Compass recently sat down with both men as they shared what the accolade meant to them.
Father-of-three Arch said he did not know he had even been nominated and having been selected for the accolade he has been left “very humbled to receive the honour”.
Arch, a founding director of the board of the YMCA of the Cayman Islands and its current chairman, said he has always been community minded and this was something ingrained in his DNA coming from a family that was also service oriented.
“It is just who I am. It’s in my heart and spirit to serve. I’ve always been service minded ever since even as a boy in high school [when] I was serving on in various clubs and organisations then. I’ve continued through my professional life,” he said.
Arch said it was also rewarding to join the MBE ranks following a foundation of service laid by his father, Heber G. Arch, who was awarded an MBE 25 years ago by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to the community and the construction industry.
Arch said his father called him when his MBE was announced and said, “Son, I’m very proud of you, and it’s well-deserved.”
As a qualified civil and structured engineer, Arch has worked in the local development industry for 20 years and now he has taken the reins as managing director at the family firm.
No better feeling than community service
Though that job is demanding, Arch said, with the support of his wife Dana, he has been able to successfully manage his professional responsibilities and his community commitments.
“Time is always very precious and it’s hard sometimes to manage time, but I’ve become very good at it. I think I’m a very skilled time manager and I also would like to give a lot of credit to my wife, who always supports me in everything that I’m doing… we are a team,” he said.
Looking back at his career in service, Arch said there were many highlights, but being able to build the Bonaventure home for boys solely from community donations was a watershed moment for him.
“We identified a need to have a separate home for the boys in care and protection and we were able to achieve that working with the private sector. In addition, one of the things that we also achieved was developing the Phoenix House, and this is located at the Bonaventure home site in West Bay,” he said.
The Phoenix House was designed for children that needed secure accommodation under the Children’s Law, he explained, and at the time the law took effect the secure accommodation component was not there.
“So again, I was able to spearhead a fundraising initiative and we raised funds and were able to create a secure home, and that facility has really served us very well because we’ve used it for emergency care. During the pandemic, we had to isolate residents and staff who had COVID 19. We also have used it for special wrap-around service for the children who need special care,” he added.
He said community-changing moments have spurred him to continue to serve and he appealed for others in Cayman to do the same.
“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and serve. It’s very rewarding and it can be challenging at times, as well. But the ultimate goal is to make our community and these beloved isles Cayman a better place,” he said.
In his message to the younger generation specifically, Arch said that there will always be opportunities to serve the community, so “seek out where your talents and skills can be utilised and serve with excellence”.
Arch said he was grateful the community for the calls and messages since his award was announced and to the nine Cabinet ministers he served under during his various roles.
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