STUDENT | NEWSPAPER
AUGUST 2019 : ISSUE 3
Join us in a national celebration of our culture, history and community as we commemorate 60 years of our first written Constitution
George Town Town Hall gets a new name You may have driven or walked by the 1919 Peace Memorial Town Hall in George Town lots of times, but you might not have realised how important this little white building is to Cayman’s history. In fact, it is so important that it received a new name in July on Constitution Day, so now it is called Constitution Hall.
Constitution Hall
On 1st July, the Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and Speaker Hon. McKeeva Bush unveiled the shiny new plaque and sign that marked the new name for the building, which was originally designed by ship-builder Captain Rayal Brazley Bodden and first opened in 1926 (maybe when your great-grandparents were alive?). They were joined by His Excellency the Governor Martyn Roper and lots of guests who had come to see the renaming. One very special guest was Mr. Arley James “AJ” Miller. Mr. Miller is the last living 1959 Vestryman. That means he is one of the men who helped to run the country all those years ago. It was men like Mr. Miller who helped the Cayman Islands form its Constitution and he went on to become a member of the first Legislative Assembly for the Cayman Islands. If you are wondering why Constitution Hall got its new name now, in 2019, it’s because it is 60 years ago this year that Cayman’s first written Constitution was signed in this very hall, all the way back on 4th July, 1959, and the Government wanted to celebrate this special anniversary in a way that we would always remember. So, what exactly is Cayman’s Constitution? The Constitution is a law that was passed that set up Cayman’s Gov-
Constitution Hall is named. (Photo credit: GIS)
ernment - that’s the people who are in charge of running the country - and allowed people in Cayman to run the country their way. This first Constitution for Cayman was a very important piece of law because it allowed lots of things to happen in Cayman. For example, it meant Cayman was allowed to make laws about business and
tourism, which helped our economy to develop. We wouldn’t have the fancy hotels, lovely restaurants or fun tourist attractions that we have today without the Constitution. Imagine Cayman without the Cayman Turtle Centre or the Botanic Park! It also allowed women in the country to Continued on page 2 >>
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Hello from the Premier
Hello from the Education Minister
Welcome to this third exciting edition of The Thatch Rope Times in which you have the opportunity to learn all about the first written Constitution of the Cayman Islands. That Constitution came into effect on 4 July, 1959, and was the first step towards political advancement for the Cayman Islands, exempting us from the control of the Jamaican legislature and placing us directly under the authority of the British Governor of Jamaica. Other change in the way the Cayman Islands was governed that came about with the new Constitution was that the Assembly of Justices and Vestrymen was replaced by two new bodies; the Legislative Assembly and the Executive Council, which today is called Cabinet. Many of you will remember that on 1 July we celebrated Constitution Day at the George Town Town Hall and that on that day we renamed that building to Constitution Hall. We made the decision to change the name to help our people – those here now and in the future – remember that the hall is much more than just a building; it was the place that the Caymanian people chose to become a British Crown Colony in our own right,
Dear Future Leaders, The new school term has begun, and I hope you are just as excited as I am for all the amazing new activities of the new school year! First can I dare you to dream with me? I want you to close your eyes and imagine yourself in ten years from now. What do you see? What do you want to be when you grow up? Do you know? What if I told you that you could achieve anything you wanted to just by working extremely hard in everything that you do? Yes, you can. Do you know that you have the potential to be a great leader? Yes, you will. What if I also told you that now more than ever, your school has a fantastic new school curriculum and additional resources that will allow you to unlock your greatest potential? Here are just a few of the new things you can now look forward to: • Learning the subjects of English, math, science, computing, physical education, religious education, social studies, music, art, design and technology, life skills and Spanish; • Free textbooks, practice books and exercise books for each subject; • New learning kits for fun and interactive learning; • Awesome new computer software to help you learn online; • More access to computing and working with robots; • Very qualified teachers and school staff from all over the world. All the items I mentioned above, are just some of the things that are now in place to make sure that you fulfill your future dreams, as a result of receiving a world-class education. Wait, there is so much more…
with our own written Constitution to help guide and shape our future. It was the decision by the Cayman Islands to obtain our own Constitution and to forge our own way as a British Crown Colony that allowed our people to begin making what were fundamental policy decisions to pass the early laws on which we have built our country. The adoption of the 1959 Constitution can rightly be considered the pioneering moment that gave rise to the modern Cayman Islands that we enjoy today. I am glad you have shown interest in our first Constitution and I hope you enjoy reading this edition of The Thatch Rope Times.
Welcome to the third issue of The Thatch Rope Times …a special publication designed for students across the Cayman Islands, created by us, the team from Celebrate Cayman. We know that you all enjoyed our last edition, which featured the very special visit of HRHs Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Cayman Islands. They met hundreds of students in the short time that they spent with us and we loved seeing all your photos from the Royal Couple’s visit – very special memories that we can all treasure. This edition looks at Cayman’s Constitution, because this year we celebrate 60 years since our first Constitution came into being. In this newspaper you can learn about what the Constitution is, and how it shaped the Cayman Islands that we know and love today. Read all about the celebrations that took place to honour this anniversary and, once you have digested all this information, go ahead and take our
Constitution Quiz on page 12. If you have read this newspaper all the way through, you will be an expert on Cayman’s Constitution by the end of it! We look forward to hearing from you soon! Celebrate Cayman is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our country. We invite you to Celebrate Cayman by getting involved in this national celebration and contribute to sparking community connection and engagement throughout the year. There are a variety of opportunities to get involved and use your skills to contribute to the celebration in areas of interest to you. Email us at CelebrateCayman@ gov.ky The Celebrate Cayman Team is Alfonso Wright, Executive Chairman; Marzeta Bodden, Deputy Executive Chairman; Kara Coe, Project Coordinator; and Kristy Watler, Events Manager.
For example, you now have an opportunity to learn everything about what makes you Caymanian in your newly enhanced social studies classes. Your local history, heritage, culture and national identity will all be taught to you, so that you can be proud about your uniqueness in this great world. For example, did you know that this year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of our coat of arms and also the very first written constitution? The Cayman Islands constitution was approved on 13 May 1959, and then became law a few short months later on 4 July 1959. It is the first written document that explains who we are. This very newsletter was created in dedication to our very first written constitution. Reading this Thatch Rope Times will give you a great head start in your quest of discovering more about these three Cayman Islands, our home. I wish you happy reading and hope you will be inspired to be everything your forefathers believed you could be. That is, to become the next generation of God-fearing, hard-working, world-class leaders. May you continue to be blessed in all that you do. Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MLA Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands
Town Hall
>> From page 1 do things they had never been allowed to do before, such as vote or even help to run the country, if they wanted. Now that Constitution Hall has been renamed and there is a shiny new plaque on its wall, we shall always remember the important role this little building played in Cayman’s history.
The new plaque is unveiled. (Photo credit: GIS)
All about the new Constitution Cayman’s first Constitution was approved on 13 May, 1959, and the Cayman Islands made it law on 4th July, 1959. That was a long time ago! So, in 2009 the Government decided it was time to update the Constitution to make it useful for people today. Let’s find out more about what Cayman’s updated Constitution means for us all. It sets out our Bill of Rights. This means, everyone in Cayman should expect to be treated a certain way by the Government (the people that make the rules and run the country). For example:
• You can worship at whatever church you want
• If the Government thinks you have committed a crime, they cannot send you to prison unless they first prove you did it! • You can protest in a group if you disagree with something, so long as your protest is peaceful • The Government must not discriminate against you. This means, they cannot treat you differently because of your race, nationality, religion or whether you are a man or woman. The Bill of Rights also sets out that Government has a duty to protect children and protect our environment. The Constitution sets out the role of our Governor, who is Queen Elizabeth’s representative in the Cayman
Governor Martyn Roper with students and teachers at Cayman Prep's Cayman Day
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Islands. It also sets out the role of the Government, for example who is allowed to make the rules for the country, what the Premier does, who is allowed to be an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (someone who runs the country) and also, who is allowed to vote. It also sets out who works in the Judiciary and what they are allowed to do. These are the people responsible for running the Courts, the place where people go if they have been accused of breaking the law. Finally, the new Constitution recognises two important groups that are in charge of making sure Government does all of these very important things – the Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Standards in Public Life.
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Cayman welcomes its good friends The Cayman Islands has always been very good friends with its neighbour Jamaica. We bet you have lots of family and friends there, so you already know how close Cayman is with Jamaica. When the Cayman Islands Government decided to celebrate its 60th anniversary of its first Constitution, it invited the Prime Minister of Jamaica Most Hon. Andrew Holness, here to join in the celebrations! It also invited a very important person from the United Kingdom, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon. His job is to look after all the British Overseas Territories, like Cayman, as the Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He is also the British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, so he is a very busy man.
Children danced for the VIP guests (Photo credit: GIS)
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Cayman’s Premier Alden McLaughlin (Photo credit: GIS)
Lord Ahmad came all the way from England to be with us (Photo credit: GIS)
Wow, Cayman has some good friends!
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A little bit of history According to the history books, the first two people to come and live in Cayman in the 18th Century, almost 300 years ago, were called Mr. Walter and Mr. Bowden. They were British soldiers who had run away from the army in Jamaica.
This was our very first link with Jamaica and Britain! The 1959 Constitution was the first step in political advancement. We were specifically exempted from the control of the Jamaica legislature and placed directly under
the authority of the Governor of Jamaica. That changed when Jamaica decided to go independent in 1962 and the Cayman Islands became a British Crown Colony and today is a British Overseas Territory. But Jamaica is still important to Cayman be-
cause Caymanians used to visit Jamaica for business, to go to hospital, to work, to go to school and to visit family and friends there. Caymanians even used to go to Jamaica to get married, as there wasn’t anyone to marry people in Cayman all those years ago.
Quick quiz The Cayman Islands is not the only British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, there are six of us in total. The six Caribbean British Overseas Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos.
Can you match the six Caribbean British Overseas Territories to their flag? We’ve also included Jamaica and Great Britain, to test you even more! Answers are at the foot of the page.
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1. Bermuda 2. Jamaica 3. Great Britain 4. Anguilla 5. Cayman Islands 6. Montserrat 7. BVI 8. Turks and Caicos
Answers
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We got the power! The first Constitution gave us new powers that we never had before. The first Constitution allowed us to make laws for the Cayman Islands that helped us to build our business and tourism industries. Today, our business and tourism industries are mega successful, thanks to those laws that were passed after our Constitution came into being, in 1959.
The Kimpton Seafire might not have been built if we didn’t have the Constitution (Photo credit The Kimpton)
Big business We might not have a Cayman Turtle Centre without the Constitution
Does your mum, dad, big brother or sister work for Walkers, Butterfield, KPMG or PwC? Do you hope to be an accountant, lawyer, banker or some other kind of business person? The Cayman Islands is super successful at business because people were smart enough in the 1960s to pass laws that helped these types of businesses to be in Cayman. If you want to work in business, then you need to be really smart! That means lots of studying, staying in school and working hard to get your qualifications.
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Tops for tourism People come to Cayman for a vacation because we are a Caribbean island, a top holiday destination. People dream of sunny weather, sandy beaches and warm water, as well as colourful marine life that’s so exciting to explore for divers, and we have it all naturally! But they also come here because we have amazing hotels, great restaurants, lots of fun things to do and lots of airplanes to get them here – the things that Cayman has built up over time, thanks to the laws that were passed once we had our first written Constitution.
Cayman’s capital, George Town
Without the Constitution we might not have such great tourist attractions as this one, the Oasis Aqua Park
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The women who are true Imagine a world where men were thought of as more important than women. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Men and women are equally smart, equally hard-working and equally important, but years ago, it was only men who were allowed to vote for who ran the Cayman Islands, and the only people allowed to run the Cayman Islands were men! That all changed thanks to some particularly smart and brave Caymanian women, some of whom will be your great grandmothers and great-aunties! It all started in 1948 when 24 women wrote what is called a petition to the Governor saying they deserved the right to vote. But they were refused that right and told they weren’t smart enough! But the women did not give up. In 1957 they got together with women from all different parts of Grand Cayman, which was very difficult because they had no telephones, no Internet, no buses or taxis and very few cars! But they didn’t give up, this time getting the women to again write more petitions to the Governor. In all, there were seven petitions delivered to the Ms Francine Jackson's great grand-children, Emma, Sophia, Kaz and Kieran at the Aspiration monument, which celebrates the brave Caymanian women who Governor, from George fought for their right to vote Town, Bodden Town, East End, North Side, Crewe Road, Gun Bay give up. They tried again, this time with did not give up. They said that women right to vote and on 4th July, 1959, the and West Bay. the help from some men in the communi- in the United Kingdom and Jamaica were Constitution confirmed this was possible. 358 women signed the petitions in ty. In 1958 the men said they would like allowed to vote, so they should be able to Hooray! Caymanian women were fitotal! That’s a lot of names! to vote for a woman to run the country. as well! nally able to have a say in who ran the Things were put on hold for a whole Here name was Ena Watler. But their reFinally, a law was passed at the end of country. They could even run the counyear but again the women did not quest was rejected. Again, the women 8 December, 1958, allowing women the try themselves!
Caymanian HEROES!
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Cayman’s Female Politicians In 1959 Ms Sybil McLaughlin, MPE, JP was the first Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. She is a National Hero! In 1962, the first woman elected in Cayman was Miss Evelyn Wood Cert. Hon., a midwife and church member. She is a National Hero! She served until 1965. In 1962 Miss Annie Huldah Bodden, OBE was selected as one of the first Members of the Legislative Assembly. She served until 1984. Mrs. Esterleen L. Ebanks, West Bay served from 1976 to 1980 Mrs. Daphne L. Orrett, West Bay served from 1984 to 1988 Mrs. Berna L. Thompson-Cummins, MBE, from George Town served from 1992 to 1996 Hon. Edna M Moyle, JP, was a Caymanian politician who served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the district of North Side from 1992 to 2009. She was also the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from May 2005 until May 2009.
Sybil McLaughlin, MPE, JP was the first Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. She is a National Hero! Here she is in 1962 with HRH Duke of Edinburgh and Administrator Jack Rose. (Photo credit: The Cayman Islands National Archive Photographic Collection)
Miss Heather D. Bodden, from Bodden Town served from 1995 to 2000 Your very own Education and Youth Minister is a woman! She is Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MLA and was the first woman Minister and served as the Minister of Community Affairs, Sports, Women, Youth and Culture. Mrs. O’Connor-Connolly has been elected to the Legislative Assembly since 1996; she is the first woman to represent the Sister Islands. She is also the first woman to become Deputy Premier and Premier of the Cayman Islands. Miss Lucille D. Seymour, BEM, JP, MLA, George Town, served from 2005 to 2009 Hon Tara Rivers, MLA is the Minister of Financial Services and Home Affairs. She became the first female Cabinet Minister appointed for the district of West Bay. She hopes to continue to inspire young people and women in the Cayman Islands. Ms. Barbara Conolly, MLA is a Councillor in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands.
Ms Francine Jackson signed one of the seven petitions in 1959. She is a true Caymanian heroine!
Ms Francine Jackson’s great grandsons, Kaz and Kieran at the newly named Constitution Hall
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Reds beat Blues in all-star football match Football fans enjoyed an exciting night of sport at the end of June when a very special line-up of football players battled it out at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The match was organised to mark the 60th anniversary of Cayman’s Constitution, and the Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Most Hon. Andrew Holness were in the crowd to cheer on the teams. And best of all, all the money raised from the match was given to a special charity called the Hope for Today Foundation, which helps people addicted to drugs or alcohol get better and fit back into the community. Along with some of Cayman’s favourite players, there were some top players maybe from your favourite football teams! Trinidadian goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, Ricardo Gardner and Darren Moore of England, Sean Davis of England, and Pascal Chimbonda of France were there. Jamaican legends Onadi Lowe and Walter Boyd were there too, alongside Cayman Islands National Team greats Gillie Seymour, Lee Ramoon and Antonio Smith.
Jamaican football legend Ornandi Lowe (Photo credit GIS)
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Most Hon. Andrew Holness, greeted each of the players before the match (Photo credit GIS)
Football legends Charles Parchment and Lee Ramoon (Photo credit GIS)
Michael Belfoure known as Big Bird (Photo credit GIS)
Cayman connection Former Jamaica National team player Onandi Lowe was very happy to be one of the players. He said: “Today is a very important day for Caymanians and they decided to put on an event, and we Jamaicans decided to come and take part in it. We’re a neighbouring island, and our fore-parents are from Jamaican and Cayman descent, and so it’s a privilege to be here.” The Cayman Islands Government’s Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose was also there. He explained why the football match was so special.
Goal! (Photo credit GIS)
“We’re celebrating our connection between Jamaica and Cayman through sport. We are celebrating the 60th anniversary of our first Constitution, so we have a number of international master footballer retirees playing alongside our Caymanian master footballers. So, it’s a fun night for charity and we are celebrating our connection with Jamaica and the world, and hopefully raise some money for the Hope for Today Foundation.” The first half did not see any goals, but the second half was full of excitement, with the Blues scoring three and the Reds eventually scoring four to win the match.
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Cayman Constitution Quiz OK, clever clogs, so you have read this newspaper from cover to cover – let’s now see just how much you know about Cayman’s Constitution! Take our quiz and maybe you will win a prize! 1. What is a Constitution? 2. What is the Governor’s role in our Constitution? 3. When did we get our first written Constitution? 4. Why was it important for us to have a Constitution? 5. Why was it so important for women? 6. In 1957, how many women signed the seven petitions that were given to Government, requesting women’s right to vote? 7. What else did the first Constitution allow us to do? 8. When do we celebrate Constitution Day? 9. Why did we have to amend the Constitution in 2009?
Cayman celebrated its first Constitution with a football match. (Photo credit GIS)
Our competition winner Tatiana Quinland receives her winning commemorative coin from the Celebrate Cayman team, with her family
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Most Hon. Andrew Holness came to Cayman to celebrate our first Constitution with our Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin (Photo credit GIS)
Cayman has always had a close relationship with our neighbour Jamaica. It’s a fun place to visit! (Photo Jamaica Tourist Board)
Please enter your details: Name: Age: School: Email address: Cayman’s Governor Martyn Roper celebrated Constitution Day
Scan this page with your answers and email it to CelebrateCayman@gov.ky Entrants with all questions correctly answered will be placed in a draw. The first entry to be pulled from the draw will win a prize!