Prince Edward, the youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will be in Little Cayman Tuesday to officially launch the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s new coral fund, which seeks to raise almost $3 million to develop the facility.
The prince’s visit comes 20 years after he attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the opening of CCMI’s current headquarters. A long-time patron of the marine research centre, he will also meet with government leaders to discuss climate change and sustainability during the trip.
Premier Wayne Panton, who will host a lunch for the prince on Little Cayman, said he would be briefing him on the islands’ ‘climate resiliency framework’.
The first stop for Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, will be a meeting and welcome reception at Government House in Grand Cayman with Premier Panton and Governor Martyn Roper.
Prince Edward is then scheduled to fly to Little Cayman to visit CCMI.
The trip coincides with the official launch of CCMI’s ‘coral fund’ which seeks to raise US$2.9 million to expand and develop the institute. The aim is to build a new accommodation and educational facility and redevelop lab, study and office facilities at the existing location.
Governor Roper said in a statement, “I am pleased that His Royal Highness will spend time on Little Cayman as well as Grand Cayman, supporting CCMI and also hearing about the Cayman Government’s sustainability and climate resiliency plans.”
During the trip, the prince will also spend time with the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, observing their maritime capabilities, inspect a guard of honour from the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, and see the Cayman Islands Regiment demonstrate their disaster resilience response.
The Countess of Wessex, as global ambassador of local charity 100 Women in Finance, will support its causes during the visit. She will attend an education event for 100 Women in Finance members and special guests, meet local 100WF Angel members at a luncheon and participate in the inaugural Cayman First Impressions Dinner.
GirlForce100 mentees, ages 13-25, will also join the countess at the Governor’s Residence for an intimate meeting, with the opportunity for each to ask her a career-related question of their choice.
This will be the second time the countess will be joining the 100 Women in Finance Cayman Islands location in her role as global ambassador.
“When HRH The Countess of Wessex visited the Cayman Islands in 2016, our 100WF pre-career initiatives had just launched and, since then, her continued service has provided vital publicity for the important work we do around the world. In particular, her visit will shine a light on GirlForce100 and the important impact the programme is having on the next generation of Caymanian leaders,” 100 Women in Finance board member Christina Bodden said.
The countess is scheduled to visit the YMCA Field of Dreams in George Town on Tuesday, at 2pm, to meet children attending the mid-term break camp.
On Ash Wednesday, 22 Feb., the countess will open the Agriculture Show at 10:30am, after which she will take a tour of the showgrounds, accompanied by the premier.
Prince Edward is the brother of King Charles III and the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
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