14 facts about Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with Cayman Loop Cayman Islands

Black Immigrant Daily News

Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Thursday, September 8. Here are some facts about Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with the Cayman Islands.

1. The Queen officially opened the Queen’s Highway, a road that connects East End and North Side, in 1983.

2. The Queen opened Grand Cayman’s Botanic Park in 1994.

3. The Queen opened the Ed Bush Sports Complex in West Bay in 1994.

4. The Pines retirement home was formally opened by the Queen in 1983.

5. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Cayman Islands Postal Service created a four-stamp collection that depicted the Queen on her two visits to the Cayman Islands in 1983 and 1994.

6. Both visits that the Queen made to the Cayman Islands were during the month of February (1983 and 1994).

7. During the second visit of Queen Elizabeth II, she knighted former Financial Secretary Vassel Johnson, Cayman’s first knight. He 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. Thirteen men and women received their honours in front of their peers on this memorable occasion.

8. M.V. Kirk Express imported a Rolls-Royce from a Pittsburgh auto dealer for The Queen to make her tours on the occasion of her visit to the Cayman Islands. The vehicle would later become the governor’s official car.

9. During her first visit in 1983, the Queen conferred the prefix “Royal” to the Cayman Islands Police Force, which was a great honour for all officers.

10. On November 19, 2019, Governor Martyn Roper and his wife, Lissie? visited The Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The governor, Martyn Roper and his wife visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019

The governor, Martyn Roper and his wife visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019

11. The Kaibo restaurant first opened in 1983 to welcome Queen Elizabeth II on her tour of Grand Cayman.

12. Captain Eugene Ebanks was Captain of Her Majesty’s Queen Elizabeth II Yacht during her first visit to the Cayman Islands in 1983.

13. More than 5000 people welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip on their first visit to Cayman and more than 3000 welcomed them on their second visit.

14. On the first day of her second visit in 1994, at the opening of the Ed Bush Sports Centre, the Minister for Community Development, Culture, Youth and Sports, McKeeva Bush, referred to Cayman’s loyalty to and love for The Queen, which words were greeted by arousing cheer from the 2000 people present. In 1997, The Queen named McKeeva Bush an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his work in the community and successes in government.

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