Former Premier Alden McLaughlin will be adding a new title to his name, that of Sir, after having received a knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as part of her annual New Year Honours list.
McLaughlin, 60, has been appointed as a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George and has become only the second Caymanian to receive a knighthood, the first being Sir Vassel Johnson who received the honour in 1994.
The Cayman Compass has reached out to McLaughlin for comment, we are awaiting a response.
“This is a day of celebration and great pride for all Caymanians as a son of our soil has been bestowed one of the highest honours,” Premier Wayne Panton said in a statement on Friday following the announcement of McLaughlin’s honour.
This recognition by Her Majesty the Queen, he said, “is well deserved, especially for someone who has dedicated the past 21 years of his life to serving our Cayman Islands community in the grand theatre of representational politics”.
Governor Martyn Roper, on Friday evening, announced the knighthood of McLaughlin in a statement, saying, “this is an outstanding personal achievement for former Premier McLaughlin, one of the most important and impactful political leaders in Cayman over the last 21 years. It is a significant moment for our islands. This historic award is only the second ever Knighthood to a Caymanian since the first in the 1990s”.
Panton said, in his statement on behalf of the government, “today marks a new and most unique storyline in the history of the Cayman Islands. In considering the rarity and magnitude of this occasion, this is certainly a unifying moment for our community as the achievements of one our own have been recognised with great distinction by Her Majesty the Queen. This is certainly a most fitting way to begin 2022, the year in which we celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee”.
Panton said he was pleased to see the tireless work of “my friend and former colleague honoured in this manner. While we currently serve our Country on opposite sides in the House of Parliament, we continue to share a passion and love for our Caymanian people as we recognise that to whom much is given, much is required”.
McLaughlin, Cayman’s first premier to serve two consecutive terms, was also instrumental in securing the Island’s Constitution Order in 2009 and also led the charge to make subsequent changes to that Order in 2019. Among the changes was the renaming of the Legislative Assembly to House of Parliament.
Roper also released the full list of honourees being celebrated for their contribution to the Cayman Islands through the annual awards which includes Lucille Seymour (For services to Sport, Education and the people of the Cayman Islands) and Sharon Smith (for services to the former Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands) who received Member of the Order of the British Empires and Natalie Coleman (For services to Arts and Culture in the Cayman Islands and wider region) who received a British Empire Medal from Her Majesty in recognition of their outstanding contributions in their fields.
The Governor said the bestowing of the knighthood on McLaughlin is a “strong signal of the respect in which Cayman is held and a visible demonstration of the progress Cayman has made as a vibrant democracy with strong good governance foundations”.
“The award reflects former Premier McLaughlin’s distinguished Parliamentary and Ministerial career over 21 years with two successful terms as Premier, ushering in a period of stability, economic growth and sound financial management. Former Premier McLaughlin made important contributions to Cayman’s constitutional development, including significant advances in 2019 reinforcing Cayman’s autonomy over domestic affairs,” the Governor added.
Roper pointed out in 2020, McLaughlin “was the pivotal figure leading Cayman’s response to the Covid pandemic,” something many in the community lauded the Red Bay MP for consistently.
McLaughlin, he said, led a step change in Cayman’s representation on the global stage, including robust support for Cayman’s highly successful and dynamic financial services industry.
“He enjoyed constructive relationships with UK Ministers, earning their respect and trust, working tirelessly to do his utmost for the people of Cayman,” Roper said, adding, “I hope that everyone on our islands will put politics to one side today and join with me in recognising that this is an excellent day for Cayman. It is an achievement we can all celebrate”.
Certificate and Badge of Honour awards have also been bestowed on members of the community for outstanding service to the Cayman Islands.
“2021 has been another trying year and so many people on our Islands have delivered exemplary service to our community. The 44 people recognised today for their work during the Covid- 19 pandemic were involved in the early operations of Travel Cayman, played key roles in developing the Government’s Phased Reopening of the Borders Plan and delivered the Public Health response. This list includes people from all three Islands which I believe is a first for Cayman,” Roper said.
Cayman Compass journalist Victoria Wheaton was also among the 44 honourees and is being recognised for services rendered to the media and charitable organisations.
“This honour is very unexpected and I am truly humbled by it,” she said.
“The Cayman Islands has been my family’s home since I was a child. I always felt blessed to be able to grow up here, so to receive this award is frankly, quite overwhelming.”
For meritorious services rendered during the COVID Pandemic:
Programme Board, Programme Management Office and Advisors
1. Mr Albert Anderson, CEO, Cayman Islands Airport Authority
2. Mrs. Mary Rodrigues, Chief Advisor, Office of the Deputy Governor
3. Ms. Cetonya Cacho, Chief Officer, Ministry of Education
4. Mr Stran Bodden, Chief Officer, Ministry of Tourism and Transport
5. Mrs. Christine Rowlands, Head of Governor’s Office
6. Mr Matthew Hylton, Acting Deputy Chief Advisor, Office of the Deputy Governor
7. Ms. Sarah Murphy, Senior Advisor, Office of the Deputy Governor
8. Ms. Kara Coe, Programme Manager, Office of the Deputy Governor
9. Ms. Tiffani Straker, Senior Advisor, Office of the Deputy Governor
10. Mr Jason Webster, Deputy Chief Officer, Cabinet Office
11. Mrs. Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism
12. Mrs. Jondo Obi, Director, Cayman Islands Red Cross
13. Mr Dan Haydon, Business Relationship Manager, Computer Services.
14. Mrs. Nicoela McCoy, Deputy Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority
15. Mrs. Kimberly Bullings, Clerk of the Cabinet
Royal Cayman Islands Police Service
16. Inspector Roje Williams
Customs and Border Control
17. Mr Ezron Anderson, Acting Assistant Director CBC
Government Communications
18. Ms. Gina Matthews, Manager, Public Relations Services, Ministry of Tourism And Transport
19. Ms. Oneisha Richards, Director of Internal Communications
Cayman Islands Airports Authority
20. Ms. Bianca Moore Downey, Chief Commercial Officer
21. Mr Andrew McLaughlin, Chief Safety Management Officer
22. Mr Arvin Haylock, Customer Service Officer
Department of Environmental Health
23. Mr Derrick Williams, Environmental Health Officer
Travel Cayman (Operational Team)
24. Mr Oshane Johnson, Supervisor, Tech Department- Cayman Islands Regiment
25. Ms Paulette Johnson, Manager, Private Flight Specialist, Cayman Airways
26. Ms Dawn Manderson, Manager, Travel Management, Cayman Airways
For legal services rendered to the Cayman Islands Government
27. Ms. Elizabeth Lees, Attorney
Health Services Authority
28. Mr Steven Duval, EMS Manager
29. Mr Jonathan Smellie, Forensic Analyst
30. Ms. Carvell Bailey, Community Health Nurse
31. Ms. Nola Sanderson, Executive Secretary
32. Ms. Carissa Mclaughlin, Business Coordinator
33. Mr Timothy Mclaughlin, Public Health Surveillance Officer
34. Ms. Ralston Dilbert, Support Services Manager, Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac
35. Nurse Charmaine Coore, Little Cayman
36. Nurse Kedine Hyde, Cayman Community Health Nurse, Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac
37. Ms. Barbara Nelson, Appointment Clerk
38. Ms. Suzette Steward, Nurse Manager, Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac
For services rendered to the Government and people of the Cayman Islands
39. Mr B. L. ‘Mark’ Tibbetts Jr, District Commissioner, Cayman Brac
For services rendered to the Public Service Pension Board and the People of the Cayman Islands
40. Mrs. Jewel Evans Lindsey, Chief Executive Officer, Public Service Pensions Board
Financial Services Industry
For services rendered to the Financial Industry
41. Ms. Sheree Ebanks, Chief Executive Officer, Cayman islands Institute of Professional Accountants
42. Mr Jude Scott, Chief Executive Officer, Cayman Finance
Media
For services rendered to broadcasting
43. Ms. Norma McField, Director of Broadcasting, Radio Cayman
For services rendered to the media and charitable organisations
44. Ms. Victoria Wheaton, journalist
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Distinguished Career , Absolutely….Well Done Mr. Alden McLaughlin.