On Sunday we laid to rest one of the greatest statesmen of the Cayman Islands.
On Wednesday another of his ilk passed away.
Gone from the Cayman Islands are Mr. Warren Conolly and Sir Vassel Johnson.
Both men were instrumental in the development of the Cayman Islands.
And both will be sorely missed.
Caymanians who had the opportunity to learn from these men are indeed blessed.
Mr. Conolly learned an early lesson from his father – ‘Everyone has to have a goal to aim for or you wouldn’t get anywhere.’
It was a lesson he took to heart.
While he made many significant contributions to the Cayman Islands, Mr. Conolly can be credited for building up the industry that helps keep this country alive – tourism.
He was also at the helm when Jamaica pulled away from Britain in 1962 and helped with the formation of Cayman’s constitution.
As National Bulk Carriers began weaning itself of Caymanian seamen government turned its eye to tourism and the pesky mosquito.
Mr. Conolly and others in government knew that if this country was going to lure foreigners to our shores to leave their money in our coffers, we would have to do something about mosquito control.
As a member of the Tourism Board and Executive Council (now Cabinet), Mr. Conolly fought many uphill battles to get our tourism industry to the successful place it is today.
Mr. Conolly was 87 when he left us on 22 October.
Mr. Johnson was 86 when he passed last Wednesday.
Sir Vassel was to our financial industry what Mr. Conolly was to tourism.
While both men had been presented to the Queen, it was Sir Vassel who was knighted in 1994; the only Caymanian ever to receive this distinguished title.
Tourism is the second leading industry in these Islands; finance is the first and much of its success can be placed on the shoulders of Sir Vassel.
‘Without his input, Cayman might well have remained the islands that time forgot,’ Governor Stuart Jack said in a press release last week.
How true.
While Sir Vassel was born in Jamaica, he was a true Caymanian.
He was one of the founding fathers of the financial service sector in the Cayman Islands and set the groundwork for the financial success of this country today.
We do indeed owe him a great deal of gratitude.
Both Mr. Conolly and Sir Vassel served this country well.
Young people interested in seeking a life in politics and the shaping of this country’s future would do well to learn all they can about these two men and emulate them at every chance.
Today we mourn the passing of two Cayman Islands legends. Without them we would not be in the truly enviable position in the tourism and financial world we are in today.
Our condolences are with their families and friends.
We appreciate and applaud their temerity and hard work for these Islands.
These two great men are gone, but they will never be forgotten.
God speed.
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