Queen’s Birthday post-event shelved over costs
office to cancel the annual after-party held on the official observance of Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday.
The street parade and public events on the steps of the
Legislative Assembly building in downtown George Town will be held as normal
Saturday morning.
Head of the Governor’s Office Steve Moore said Wednesday
that the lawn party at the governor’s residence could be resurrected in future
years, but it is definitely off for now.
“It’s mainly to do with resources,” Mr. Moore said. “The
governor’s official entertainment budget continues to be under pressure, and
rightly so in this climate. Secondly, over the last few years the numbers of
people attending the Queen’s Birthday event have decreased rather
significantly.
“Given the amount of effort that goes into organising the
event…we decided this year not to hold it.”
Mr. Moore said there will still be a small reception at a
later date for the recipients of the governor’s annual honours.
Other British Overseas Territories have cancelled public
holidays for the Queen’s Birthday, although it is still observed. In Bermuda,
which no longer gives workers a day off on the official observance date, there
were protests over a 2008 government decision to cancel the public holiday for
the event by 2009.
Some countries that were members of the former British
Commonwealth celebrate the Queen’s Birthday as a public holiday, although
Britain does not.
Birthday observance
In Cayman, officials will gather on the Legislative Assembly
steps to officially celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday on
Saturday.
The public is invited to the 9am ceremony, but those who
received official invitations must be seated by 8.30am. In the event of heavy
rain, the celebration will be moved to the adjacent town hall building for a
10am start, with seating by 9.30am.
Twelve people will be honoured by Acting Governor Donovan
Ebanks. Immediately following, the 2011 birthday honours recipients will be
announced by Acting Deputy Governor Franz Manderson.
The customary 21-gun salute and three cheers will be offered
for Her Majesty during the ceremony, along with a prayer by the Reverend Bob
Thompson. The national song Beloved Isle Cayman will be sung by Mr. Rudy Myles,
accompanied by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Band.
Parade participants will comprise detachments from the Royal
Cayman Islands Police Service, the Fire and Prison services, the Girls Brigade,
Scouts, Cub Scouts, veterans and the Cadet Corps.
Queen turns 85
Saturday’s official observance marks the 85th birthday of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was born on 21 April, 1926, in London, the
elder daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, subsequently King George VI and
Queen Elizabeth.
She ascended the Throne on 6 February, 1952, following the
death of her father, and her coronation took place on 2 June, 1953.
This is Her Majesty’s 59th year as Queen.
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I am disappointed to hear that this Cayman tradition is being lost. I’ll be optimistic and hope it will resume next year.
To cancel the Garden Party at Government House for HM The Queen’s Birthday is utterly extraordinary, to put it mildly; and at such short notice, too. It amounts to extreme disrespect to HM. When was the last time the Governor was absent from the Queen’s Birthday Parade?
The statement by the Governor’s Staff Officer is a gem:
-how does one resurrect a Garden Party? Will the Archbishop of Canterbury be asked to advise?
-the budget is under pressure. All the more reason to rationalise and set priorities with better regard to tradition and to respect for HM;
-the number (singular) of people has (not have) decreased;
-given the amount of effort that goes into organising it – isn’t that why the Governor’s Office has more staff now than it has ever had?
This is a very poor show indeed, and I hope we shall be told exactly why this decision was taken, under pressure from whom etc etc.