Cayman Islands National Heroes and Symbols

Mr. Jim was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1972, and served two terms as a member of Executive Council. As the minister responsible for tourism and aviation, he was instrumental in establishing Cayman Airways and constructing Owens Roberts International Airport. He was re-elected to the Legislature in 1984 and served as a backbench MLA for the rest of his life. Much loved by all Caymanians, Mr. Jim received the honour of a state funeral. In a moving ceremony in September 1994 a statue bearing his likeness was dedicated to him at Hero’s Circle, now known as Heroes Square, across from the Legislative Assembly.

Mrs. McLaughlin received the country’s highest honour in 1996, in recognition of her contribution to Cayman’s parliamentary development, as well as to community life. 

Among her outstanding achievements was her appointment as the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in February 1991, where her experience and resolve were appreciated until her retirement in 1996. Mrs. McLaughlin entered government service in 1945, and was appointed clerk of the Legislative Assembly in 1959 – the first woman to hold this post in the Commonwealth. She served as secretary of the Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 1965 to 1980. Mrs. McLaughlin also undertook attachments to the House of Commons in London, and Stormont Parliament in Northern Ireland, in 1966, and to the Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago parliaments in 1971.

He was a man of wisdom, persuasiveness and sincerity, especially in matters involving his beloved district of West Bay.

“Mr. Willie,” as he was commonly known, exemplified what Caymanians represent. He became a civil servant in 1921, and until today he remains the longest-serving representative in the Legislative Assembly, having held his seat for 55 years. Mr. Willie was also the first elected member to be responsible for finance.

During the 1940s, he supported the establishment of what is today the John Gray High School. In 1959, he was among the first to be elected to the Executive Council after the first constitution was signed and in 1965, he became the first Caymanian to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the British Empire. 

As a pioneer in the Cayman Islands Government, Mr. Willie led the House in legislation matters and was a founding member of the Christian Democratic Party. He was named ‘Father of the House’ both for his lengthy continuous service and for the wisdom and insight he displayed in matters of public interest. He was also a founding member of Cayman International Airways and played a major role in the development of Cayman’s first airport and in discussions regarding Cayman’s participation in the West Indies Federation.

His name was heard and known in every corner of the Islands because in the truest sense, he was a proud Caymanian, one who played a major role in crafting the Islands into the success it is today. For his accomplishments as a husband, father, Justice of the Peace, Law Agent, church elder and civic leader, he will always be honoured.

Mrs. Hylton became the Islands’ sole probation officer in 1963, going on to serve as the first head of the country’s Probation and Welfare Department until 1982. That was a role for which she was particularly well-suited and she revolutionised her department’s work. Her background and training included years of volunteering with the Jamaican authorities, with whom she maintained a close relationship throughout her tenure. 

By the time of her appointment, she was already lobbying government to rectify a number of inequities that confronted the Islands’ youth. Her zest for championing issues such as the need for a separate court for juveniles continued into her retirement, as did her lengthy service on the Adoption Board. And Mrs. Hylton’s exemplary commitment to young people extended to her private life; among other projects, she helped to develop the scouting movement in the Cayman Islands.

Presenting her with a special award in 1972, the Nor’wester Magazine recognised her numerous contributions to young people. She received the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1968 and was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) ten years later.

Mr. Ormond founded Cayman’s first political party and was the first politician to win an election as party leader. As a member of the National Democratic Party, he was heavily involved in politics and was the youngest delegate to attend the West Indies Federation discussions. His professional skills combined with a relish for helping others assured his success in many local trials.

Mr. Ormond was regarded as an outspoken attorney, one who also achieved many firsts for his country. In 1955 he succeeded in confirming his right to a fair trial – a right now enshrined in Article 14 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He was also lead negotiator between the UK and its Overseas Territories in discussions on independence.

 The first Caymanian attorney to appear before the Privy Council in London, he also introduced a motion to allow Cayman authorities to issue US visa waivers, thereby facilitating merchant marine employment for Caymanians. A member of the Cayman Bar Association, Mr. Ormond also served as a director of Cayman Airways Ltd. between 1980 and 1984. He was also one of the first Chartered Rotarians of Grand Cayman. Honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to society.

His many outstanding qualities ensure that he will forever be honoured for his legal, political and personal contributions to the Cayman Islands. Mr. Ormond married Naomi Bodden in 1942 and they had seven children.

Starting out as a 23-year-old clerk, his almost four- decade career saw him rise through the ranks to become, in 1969, Cayman’s first Treasurer, a title that was constitutionally changed to Financial Secretary. Equally active in the wider community, Mr. Desmond became a Chartered Rotarian of Grand Cayman in 1965 and was a lifetime church elder of the Gun Bay United Church, conducting services throughout all districts. 

He was honoured twice by Queen Elizabeth II, first in 1966 as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and again in 1975 when he became a Commander of that Order. Highly regarded for his soft-spoken demeanour, he became even better-known as a role model regarding standards of civil service integrity. His life remains a sterling example to today’s young people, demonstrating that with hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, it is possible to reach the top of the career ladder. Mr. Desmond was the son of William Conwell Watler and Ursalina Valentina McLaughlin. He married Wilma Ryder in 1948 and had one child.

She was born to Charles and Julietta Wood and was the youngest daughter in a family of six.

Miss Evie, as she was known, was the first woman ever elected to the Cayman Islands Legislature and was also the first to serve on a jury. Those groundbreaking achievements and more were products of her lasting commitment towards addressing the needs of the local community.

With a level of dedication towards others that was evident even at a young age, she was only in her early 20s when she started a small school in her father’s home, serving as its sole teacher. Several years later, after receiving training as a practical nurse, she changed vocations, entering what was then known as “private nursing.” That entailed visiting the homes of new and expectant mothers, in addition to sick persons around Grand Cayman. Her most notable service undoubtedly occurred during the typhoid epidemic of the late 1930s when she provided tireless care.

By 1957 an interest in women’s rights led her to join hundreds of other women in signing the petition for female suffrage of that year, now commemorated in Heroes Square, George Town. After women won the right to vote in 1959, she joined Ormond Panton’s National Democratic Party as treasurer and chair of the Bodden Town Committee. In 1962 she became that district’s Legislative Assembly representative.  Aside  from  her  participation  in social and  political  life,  Miss  Evie  was  also  active  in  the church. Her unstinting service to the community was recognized in 1965, when she received the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour.

Instead, following in his father’s footsteps, he entered government service in 1944 as an elected member from East End, starting an illustrious public service career spanning three decades. World War II put a temporary stop to this new vocation as Mr. Conolly sailed with the American Merchant Marine for three years. Upon his return in 1948, he re-established the family general merchandise store. However, the call to public service remained strong and in 1952, he re-entered politics as one of the elected members for the Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestrymen.

In 1958 he founded the Cayman Vanguard Party, which dissolved not long after. A year later, under the new 1959 Constitution, he was appointed by Jamaican Governor Sir Kenneth Blackburne as one of the nominated members of the Legislative Assembly.

In 1962, Mr. Conolly tried his hand at party politics again, becoming a founding member and deputy-president of the National Democratic Party. A decade later, Mr. Conolly became one of the first members of the Executive Council. He was a founding member of the Cayman Islands Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and in 1965 he became the first Caymanian politician to have the distinct privilege of attending a course on Parliamentary Procedure and Practice at the House of Commons in London. He developed a keen understanding of the Standing Orders and the Constitution and was regarded as an expert on the Cayman Islands Constitution. During his time in government, Mr. Conolly set in motion some of the country’s key legislation, including the bank & trust companies, land adjudication and registered land laws. He was instrumental in creating the Department of Tourism and the crucial Mosquito Control and Natural Resources Department. He also spearheaded the official introduction of Cayman Islands currency in May 1972 and oversaw the completion of the Legislative Assembly building, the Port Authority finger pier and warehouse, the old Government Administration Building and the Courts Building.

After retirement from Government service in 1976, Mr. Conolly re-established his legal practice as a sole practitioner until 1983 when he was joined by his step-son David Ritch. They founded Ritch & Conolly from which he retired in 1997. He also played an active role in the community: He shared in the founding of the Cayman Islands Law Society in 1967, serving on its council for two terms; he was a founding member and served on the Board of the Caribbean Utilities Company for over 34 years, retiring as Director Emeritus in 2000; and he was a founding member of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce.

Even as he was always looking ahead, Mr. Conolly was a strong advocate for controlled development – his political motto was Hasten slowly. His entire political career, like those of his peers, was voluntary with little or no remuneration.

His selfless contribution to the development of his home country was acknowledged in 1974 when he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Other acknowledgements include a 1995 Silver Thatch Award for his contribution to tourism development in the Islands.

At that time, Britain gave the Cayman Islands the choice to move to internal self-government under Jamaica, or to remain as a colony. Totally opposed to aligning with Jamaica, Dr. Roy canvassed the Cayman Islands and received more than 3000 signatures in support of remaining with Britain.

The last son of Frederick S. McTaggart and Antoinette Marie Eden, Dr. Roy attended Presbyterian School in the Cayman Islands, in those days the only school in Grand Cayman, and which his father was instrumental in establishing. He then studied at Morrison’s Collegiate School in Jamaica, followed by colleges in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

Qualifying as a doctor of dental surgery, he graduated at the head of his class at the age of 22, and became the sole dentist in the Cayman Islands at that time.

A legislator for more than 35 years, as the second elected member for George Town Dr. Roy helped bring free education to the Cayman Islands, introducing the Compulsory Free Education Bill, which passed in 1931. He was also the first chairman of the former Cayman Heritage Council.

Dr. Roy started his business career in 1917 when, with his brother Dr. Malcolm “Mallie” McTaggart, he purchased F.N. Lambert & Co, a firm that had vessels in the shipping and turtling industry. He was also the first and only chairman of the Cayman Islands Shipping Company Ltd. that owned and operated the M.V. Cimboco, a vessel that was a lifeline for Caymanians during the Second World War.

In 1947, Dr. Roy ventured into real estate when he built the Sea View Hotel in George Town. He and an American associate later constructed Coral Caymanian, which was the first rental homes development in the Cayman Islands.

He also built the original Barclay’s Bank building in George Town, which was the first four-storey building on the island. In addition, he was a founder and managing director of the Cayman Weekly newspaper which was a forerunner of today’s Cayman Compass.

A generous man, Dr. Roy gave large contributions to the Pines Retirement Home and Prospect Youth Centre, and often performed dental procedures for free.

Dr. Roy was also part of the Caymanian leadership which opposed joining the illfated West Indies Federation in 1957. This move triggered constitutional changes which came into effect in 1959.

His family home was on South Church Street, where Ugland House is now located.

Dr. Roy’s Drive is named in his honour, and there is a plaque on the wall of Elmslie Memorial Church which also bears his name.

She was the foremost writer of Caymanian culture and identified with all things Caymanian, and is remembered for her gift of inspiring and improving literacy and readership amongst those she worked with. She is best immortalised in her lyrical and melodic composition of the National Song "Beloved Isle Cayman", written in 1932.