Bodden Town residents rolled out the welcome mat last Thursday (21 January) for His Excellency the Governor Mr. Duncan Taylor, CBE and his family.
Following a tour of Northward Prison, the Governor was joined by his wife Beatrice-Marie and son Max for the trip to Grand Cayman’s most historic district.
The Taylors were escorted by Bodden Town MLA and Minister for Health the Hon. Mark Scotland and wife Cindy, as well as MLAs Dwayne Seymour and Anthony Eden. They were later joined by House Speaker the Hon. Mary Lawrence, JP.
The group visited the homes of a number of senior residents including Frank Scotland, Vernice Ebanks and Carolee Jervis (MLA Seymour’s grandmother), before rounding off the visit with a reception at the Bodden Town Civic Centre.
Ninety-two-year-old Frank Scotland, the grandfather of MLA Mark Scotland is widely known as a ham radio operations pioneer and as the first person to introduce electricity to Bodden Town.
He regaled the Governor with stories of early ham radio communications in Cayman, reminisced about old-time island life, and offered insights on a range of issues including contemporary society and the loss of some treasured traditions. Before the Governor’s departure, Mr. Scotland also presented him with a DVD of a favourite movie.
At the civic centre the Taylors met several prominent Bodden Town women including Ellen Eden, wife of MLA Anthony Eden, and Nurse Josie Solomon.
The governor and his family also viewed an exhibit featuring locally-made crafts, as well as artefacts and other memorabilia depicting historic Bodden Town.
Expressing pleasure at the Governor’s visit, Mrs. Lawrence added that the exhibition featured a variety of items, from 200-year-old glassware, antique furniture and household items from yesteryear, to doll collections and old photographs, many of which were donated by district residents. Some of the craft items were made by the district’s senior citizens.
Caymanian artist Twyla Vargas and her children Che and Chantay Andrews presented the Taylors with one of her art pieces and decorative bottles. Tahiti Seymour, daughter of MLA Dwayne Seymour, also presented a bouquet to the Governor’s wife. During the tour, the visitors sampled local tamarind juice, cassava cake and banana bread.
The Governor said it was a pleasure to meet the MLAs, visit the district, and some of its residents, and learn details of Bodden Town history.
“I enjoyed the extraordinary craft display and having a chance to meet some very interesting people, including Madam Speaker and the grandparents of two of our MLAs,” he said.
Responding on behalf of all the MLAs Mr. Scotland said “We were happy to host the Governor to our district, and very proud of the warm welcome extended by our residents.” He added: “We hope to have him back so that he can meet even more.”
