Cayman loses two long-serving political icons
(CNS): National Hero Sybil Ione McLaughlin (93), the first clerk of the Legislative Assembly following the adoption in 1959 of the first Cayman Islands Constitution, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning. Her colleague, Arley James “AJ” Miller, Cayman’s last surviving Vestryman to serve in the original legislative body before it transitioned to the Legislative Assembly, died Sunday.
Officials said that flags will be flying at half-mast Tuesday through Thursday to commemorate the life of service given by “Miss Sybil”, who spent her entire working life in the Cayman Islands’ political bodies, rising to become the first speaker of the Legislative Assembly in February 1991, a position she held until she retired in 1996.
Miller was one of a small group of Caymanians who oversaw the transition of Cayman into its modern political era. He went on to represent the district of Bodden Town for many years in the Legislative Assembly.
On the news of Miss Sybil’s death, Governor Martyn Roper issued a statement saying he was deeply saddened to hear of her passing.
“She was the Cayman Islands’ first female National Hero,” he said. “She had a long and distinguished civil service career and made significant contributions to the development of Cayman’s parliamentary system. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet her. Her determination broke many barriers for Caymanian women and opened the door for women to progress in the parliamentary field,” he said offering his condolences to her family.
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Category: Local News
I want to know why Mr. Miller isn’t getting the same honors.
11 @ 10:52pm – Perhaps because Mrs. McLaughlin is a National Hero and Mr. Miller isn’t?
I think it is very fitting for the flags to be lowered to honour Ms. Sybil but shouldn’t they also be lowered for Mr. Miller? They both served !
11 @ 8:58 am – You’re correct, kind of… They both “served” the public but only in that context. Mr. Miller served as a public representative (not elected at the time, appointed) but now equivalent to MP. Mrs. McLaughlin’s career was entirely administrative, she was never an elected or appointed representative.
So shouldn’t an elected official person have an official burial? I understand Mrs. McLaughlin is a national hero but I thought elected/appointed officials would have more recognition than he is getting.
I was blessed to know Mrs Sybil personally and it was a real joy to be in her company.
Conversations with her were pure gold as she told so many wonderful stories and shared her knowledge so generously. She was not afraid to stand up for others when necessary and also did what she could to help those in need. Hers was a life well lived – a true hero. Rest In Peace dear Mrs Sybil. You will always be loved and never forgotten.
RIP to both. They served their islands well.
RIP
Those two was when Civil Servants was Civil Servants, with excellent work Ethics. Always on time working hard putting Cayman first foreverything. Thank you two, R I P, God bless