Radio Cayman’s headquarters has been renamed the Loxley Banks Broadcasting Centre in honour of veteran broadcaster Loxley Banks.
The rededication ceremony, held Friday morning at the station’s headquarters on Elgin Avenue, formed part of Radio Cayman’s 50th anniversary celebrations and recognised Banks’ contribution to Caymanian broadcasting over more than five decades.
The event began with Deal Ebanks sounding a traditional conch shell, followed by a welcome from master of ceremonies Jevaughnie Ebanks and opening remarks from Director of Broadcasting Norma McField.
Premier André Ebanks and Minister Rolston Anglin both paid tribute to Banks before unveiling the new commemorative sign bearing the building’s new name.
When he addressed the gathering, Banks characteristically shifted the spotlight away from himself, crediting the many broadcasters, technicians, producers and support staff who helped build Radio Cayman into one of the country’s most trusted public institutions.
His humility has long been one of his defining characteristics.
Earlier this year, after being appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to broadcasting, Banks told the Cayman Compass he was grateful to be recognised “while I am still standing,” adding that he had simply tried to do what he believed was right for the Cayman Islands rather than seeking accolades.
Banks’ legacy
The naming of the building is the latest honour in a remarkable career that stretches back more than half a century.
Banks first advocated for the creation of a Cayman Islands radio station in the early 1960s, 12 years before Radio Cayman finally began broadcasting. When the station aired its first test transmission on 12 April 1976, he joined as programme controller under founding director Roy Dunlop before later becoming director of broadcasting, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. He’s continued offering programming the 20 years since.
Throughout those decades he helped shape Radio Cayman into far more than an entertainment outlet. It became the nation’s voice during elections, national celebrations, emergencies and hurricanes.
His leadership proved especially critical during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and Hurricane Ivan in 2004. During Gilbert, Banks and fellow staff members ventured into dangerous conditions after the station’s roof was damaged to reconnect severed antenna cables, restoring broadcasts while the storm was still battering Grand Cayman. Following Ivan, he worked from an improvised studio inside the Emergency Operations Centre, ensuring residents continued receiving vital emergency information as the country began its recovery.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson recently reflected on that service, describing Radio Cayman as the only station on air during Hurricane Ivan and recalling Banks broadcasting for days while providing updates, safety advice and encouragement to a shaken nation.
Although best known for broadcasting, Banks has also devoted decades to preserving Caymanian heritage. He has been a driving force behind the Cayman Catboat Club, documenting the Islands’ maritime traditions and ensuring younger generations understand the vital role catboats once played in connecting Cayman communities.
He has also continued sharing Caymanian history and music through programmes including CI Retro on Radio Cayman and Yesteryear Musicale on Breeze 105.3 FM.
The honour also recognises Banks’ belief that broadcasting is about preserving identity as much as delivering news. He has consistently encouraged younger Caymanians to learn about their country’s history and cultural traditions, reminding audiences that modern Cayman was built on the sacrifices and achievements of earlier generations.
Government has also confirmed that, at Banks’ own request, the newsroom within the building will eventually be named in honour of the late journalist Doren Miller, ensuring another pioneer of Caymanian broadcasting is remembered alongside the man whose name will now forever stand above the entrance to the nation’s broadcasting home.
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