Chief Justice Anthony Smellie is receiving a knighthood in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
In the latest list of honours, announced Wednesday, Cindy Scotland, managing director of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, and former director of the prison service Steven Barrett, will both receive OBEs, and Cayman Islands Red Cross director Jondo Obi is being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).
Governor Martyn Roper announced the awards for the four recipients in a statement, saying, “I am delighted to announce that four members of our community have been awarded honours by Her Majesty the Queen in the Birthday Honours list for outstanding services to the Cayman Islands.”
The statement noted that the chief justice was receiving his knighthood for services to law and justice in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean.
Chief Justice Smellie is due to retire later this year.
“He is recognised for his outstanding service to the Cayman Islands over the last four decades, including over twenty years as Chief Justice. The quality and impact of his legal judgments and his commitment to justice has made an exceptional contribution towards building the Cayman Islands’ strong reputation for good governance as a highly respected legal jurisdiction, underpinning a major financial services centre of great importance to the local economy. His current service on the Court of Appeal of Bermuda and past service as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions for Jamaica are also recognized,” the statement noted.
It said Scotland was receiving her OBE, which stands for ‘Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’, for services to the financial services industry in the Cayman Islands.
“This is well deserved recognition of Cindy Scotland’s successful career and tenure as a highly respected head of CIMA,” the statement read. “The award is also testament to the strong reputation of Cayman Islands’ highly professional financial services industry and its commitment to meeting international standards and regulations.”
Barrett, who served as director of Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service between February 2018 and December 2021, is being awarded his OBE for his services to prison establishments in Scotland, the Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands.
Before taking up his post in Cayman, Barrett was the superintendent of prisons for the Turks and Caicos Islands for two years. Prior to that, he served for more than 30 years in the Scottish Prison Service.
“Steve Barrett is an outstanding public servant who has given many years of dedicated and loyal service in a number of challenging environments,” the statement from the Governor’s Office noted.
Obi’s BEM is being awarded for her services to the community.
She has worked with the Red Cross since 2003.
“Jondo Obi is a highly respected and energetic Director of the Red Cross, which plays a significant and valued role in our community,” the statement said.
About the Queen’s Birthday Honours List
This year, a total of 1,134 people are receiving awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, including 204 at BEM level, 452 at MBE level, and 246 at OBE level, according to the UK government’s official website.
Of those, nearly 60% are individuals who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity.
Recipients are their contributions across all sectors, but in particular for sustained public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement.
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