Michael Gore served as governor of the Cayman Islands from 1992 to 1995. The following is a letter sent to the UK’s then-Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, following the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to Cayman in February 1994.
It was the second of two trips the Queen made to the jurisdiction during her reign.
The letter, which was made public with one redaction following an open records request, is reproduced here as part of the Compass coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
The Rt Hon Douglas Hurd CBE MP
LONDON
15 March 1994
Sir
VISIT OF HM THE QUEEN AND HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
1. I have the honour to report that Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness
The Duke of Edinburgh paid a most successful visit to the Cayman Islands from 26-27
February 1994.
2. The visit came eleven years almost to the day since their first visit to the territory.
That visit is still remembered by the Cayman Islanders and this second visit will
undoubtedly remain in their memories for as long. It was a most happy occasion; the
programme went like clockwork and it was clear that both The Queen and The Duke
enjoyed visiting one of the remaining Dependent Territories where everything works
and where they were truly welcome.
3. I estimate that there were more than 3000 people gathered on the main street
overlooking George Town harbour to welcome the Royal couple when they landed by
barge from the Royal Yacht Britannia which had sailed into view shortly after 8 a m
on Saturday 26 February escorted by the frigate HMS Lancaster. After the usual
formalities and presentations the motorcade proceeded to the Legislative Assembly,
The Queen and The Duke riding in the Rolls Royce which was purchased by the
Cayman Islands Government for this occasion subsequently to become the Governor’s
official car. After inspecting a Guard of Honour drawn up by the Royal Cayman
Islands Police, the Royal Party entered the Assembly where Her Majesty read the
Speech from the Throne All members of the Legislative Assembly and their spouses
were presented in the Speaker’s Room and we then proceeded to what I consider to be
the highlight of the visit: a public investiture on the steps of the Assembly when
Cayman’s first knight, Sir Vassel Johnson, Kt., CBE, was formally dubbed in front of a
large crowd. When he turned after having spoken a few words with The Queen he
bowed to the crowd and a roar of approval went up. His honour was Cayman’s
honour. It was a moving moment. Thirteen men and women received their honours in
front of their peers on this memorable occasion
4. There followed the first of several walkabouts when Her Majesty and The Duke
were able to talk to ordinary people with minimum security. Here and everywhere else
during the visit the crowds behaved impeccably and the Queen clearly enjoyed meeting
the people who made no secret of the fact that they adored her. From the main square
the motorcade proceeded to the National Museum to view an exhibition
commemorating the “Wreck of the Ten Sails”, Cayman’s most dramatic wreck when
nine British merchant ships, one of them the Britannia, and an escorting frigate, HMS
Convert, went aground on the reef off the east end of the island exactly 200 years ago.
It was here that The Duke is reported to have remarked that “most Caymanians are
descended from pirates” though neither I nor anyone I have spoken to actually heard
him say it. Thence to Government House where 700 guests were waiting on the lawns
for an official reception; this was followed by luncheon for 40 leaders of Cayman’s
financial industry and which allowed Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to hear at
first hand about the tremendous developments which have taken place, particularly in
the eleven years since their last visit.
5. In the afternoon the Royal Party went to West Bay where the Queen opened the Ed
Bush Sports Centre which boasts a grandstand and facilities of a standard acceptable
to the international football authorities so that Cayman can now host international
football matches. In a moving speech the Minister for Community Development,
Culture, Youth and Sports, the Hon McKeeva Bush, referred to Cayman’s loyalty to
and love for The Queen which words were greeted by a rousing cheer from the 2000
people present. And back to Britannia along streets lined by waving people. That
evening the band of the Royal Marines beat retreat in the main square before a crowd
of over 2000 people, followed by a fireworks display sponsored by local traders and a
banquet for 50 guests on board the yacht; a further 200 people were invited on board
for a reception on deck following the banquet. These two events on board Britannia
plus the three at Government House meant that over 1000 people were entertained at
functions either given or attended by Her Majesty.
6. The second day’s programme began with a service at the Elmslie Memorial Church,
a short walk from the quayside which was again lined by a large crowd to welcome the
Royal couple when they stepped ashore. His Royal Highness read the lesson and
immediately after the service the motorcade set off on a tour of the island which
enabled Her Majesty to have a walk-about in each major township. First stop was the
formal opening by Her Majesty of the Queen Elizabeth II National Botanic Park, a fine
example of eco-tourism and which has been three years in the planning. The opening of
the park demonstrated to The Queen and The Duke that Cayman has far more to offer
than the clear seas and fine beaches for which it is world famous. In his welcoming
speech the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Planning, the Hon Thomas
Jefferson, emphasised Cayman’s commitment to preserve the environment, both marine
and terrestrial, and outlined the efforts which were being made in this respect. The
party divided at this point and His Royal Highness toured the Park, visiting the iguana
breeding project which has been funded by the Worldwide Fund for Nature to
replenish stocks of the endangered Grand Cayman Rock Iguana of which less than 200
remain in the wild. The Duke then returned to George Town to meet those involved
with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and to present gold awards to six young
people. While en route he stopped briefly at a bird sanctuary which I have established
with funds raised by my Governor’s Fund for Nature and which the National Trust has
honoured me by naming “The Governor Michael Gore Bird Sanctuary”. Her Majesty
continued her tour of the island stopping to meet the people of North Side, East End
(where she also viewed the site of the Wreck of the Ten Sails, now a National Historic
Park) and Bodden Town. A farewell lunch at Government House attended by those
most directly involved with the visit and as the Royal Party set off for the final parade
and handshakes the heavens opened so the departure was a wet and hurried affair
without the usual formalities.
7. The Hon Mark Lennox-Boyd, who accompanied The Queen as Minister-in-Attendance, has reported to you, Sir, on the “rapturous welcome that was extended to
Her Majesty”. He also commented that the visit made one conscious of a wider
consideration: “There is no-one in any position of authority who wants independence.
They have managed their economy and other affairs very successfully indeed, and they
believe that their future and continuing success will be best secured by remaining a
dependent territory. This attitude will not change in the foreseeable future.” I fully
concur with these views. In the margins of the visit Mr Lennox-Boyd also held useful
meetings with Executive Council, during which he discussed a wide range of subjects
of mutual interest, and also visited the Turtle Farm and gained a better understanding
of Cayman’s position under CITES.
8. I had expected the older people to rejoice in the visit but for the younger people to
be somewhat indifferent. This was not the case. Everyone was clearly delighted that
their Queen had decided to revisit the Islands; no-one raised any contentious issues and Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were welcomed enthusiastically but politely wherever they went. [The next sentence is redacted].
9. The efforts which the Cayman Islands Civil Service, the Royal Cayman Islands
Police and the politicians, not to mention the hundreds of ordinary people, put into
ensuring the success of the visit was commendable. I believe I can be forgiven for
blowing Cayman’s trumpet when I addressed the people shortly after Britannia sailed. I
said: “The people of the Cayman Islands have joined together over the past several
months to ensure that the welcome given to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
would be a true Caymanian welcome. It proved to be just this. A great deal of effort
went into the preparations for the visit. Caymanians were determined to show that
though the population of the Islands is small, we are equal to any nation in welcoming
our sovereign. Indeed now that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have departed
and all the arrangements went like clockwork we can, I believe, be forgiven for
thinking that we do it rather better then most. . . The obvious signs of the people’s
loyalty to The Queen and our love for perhaps the most remarkable lady of our time,
was evident to all. We will remember the warmth of her smile, her genuine interest in
the people with whom she had a chance to speak. And all against a background of
minimum security on this beautiful island so that both Her Majesty and His Royal
Highness were able to mingle freely with the people.”
10. Coverage in the local press was ecstatic; in the UK and foreign press minimal.
Sadly the old pressman’s edict “good news is no news” remains true. The only
international coverage focussed on the Duke of Edinburgh’s reported remark about
Caymanians being descended from pirates. But this caused no offence locally because,
just as Australians prefer to be descended from convicts rather than warders,
Caymanians are not averse to being labelled as descendants of pirates. And I often pull
their legs that the Wreck of the Ten Sails came about as a result of Caymanians having
learnt from their Cornish forefathers! Cayman was very much a “welcome home, you
are amongst friends” visit and did not have the same political significance as the visits
to Guyana, Belize and Jamaica, between which Cayman was sandwiched and on which
the press focussed rather more. It is therefore sad to conclude that Cayman will derive
little in the way of publicity from this visit within the UK and Europe at a time when
we are seeking to stimulate the economy through foreign investment.
11. Cayman was honoured by two CVO’s, which were awarded to the Chief Secretary
and myself, and two MVO’s, to my Staff Officer and the Senior Information Officer,
and a generous allocation of gifts and signed photographs, more than might be
expected for a community of 30,000. This was, I believe because it was obvious from
the time the recce team visited from Buckingham Palace last November that the visit
would be a resounding success. I congratulate my staff and the Caymanian people for
making it so.
12. I attach a copy of the programme for the visit.
13. I am copying this despatch to Her Majesty’s Representatives in Georgetown,
Belmopan, Kingston, Nassau, Washington, Head of DTRS Bridgetown and to
Governors in Hamilton, Anguilla, Tortola, Grand Turk and Montserrat.
I am, Sir,
Yours faithfully
M E J Gore
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