I am delighted to announce that five members of our community have been awarded honours by His Majesty the King in the New Year Honours list for outstanding services to the Cayman Islands. The five recipients are:
Robert James RJ BERRY, Director, Financial Reporting Authority, Cayman Islands, is made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) ‘For services to the UK Sanctions Regime and Global Financial Standards in the Cayman Islands’.
Moses KIRKCONNELL III, Member of Parliament for Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, is made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) ‘For services to the Caymanian People, to the Tourism Industry and to District Administration in the Cayman Islands’.
Gina PETRIE, Director, Department of Environment, Cayman Islands, is made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), ‘For services to the Environment and to the Community in the Cayman Islands’.
Sharon MARTIN, Educator (retired), the Government’s Public Education System, Cayman Islands, is made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) ‘For services to Education and to the Community in the Cayman Islands’.
Valerie WOOD, Horticulture volunteer, the Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park, Cayman Islands is awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) ‘For services to the Community in the Cayman Islands’.
I am also delighted to announce two King’s Certificate and Badge of Honour awardees. These are awarded locally by Governors in some Overseas Territories to those who have made outstanding contributions to our Islands.
Melissa Martinez-Ebanks ‘for services to the Cayman Islands Postal Service’
Morgan DaCosta ‘for voluntary service and service to cultural preservation and development’
I send my warmest congratulations to all those receiving awards.