Speaker Hoyle of the UK’s House of Commons to Make Official Visit to the Cayman Islands

Historic Visit to Include Special Meeting of the House and Cultural Tour

GEORGE TOWN, 26th July 2024

The Speaker of the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP, will make an official visit to the Cayman Islands from 31^st July to 3^rd August. This visit marks the first occasion that a Speaker of the UK Parliament has made an official visit to Cayman.

Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin, Speaker of the Cayman Islands Parliament and former Premier, will host the visiting Speaker, though the official trip is an inter-departmental effort involving the Office of Her Excellency the Governor and the Office of the Premier.

“My friendship with Sir Lindsay is built on a shared commitment to fostering strong diplomatic ties between our Parliaments,” said Hon. McLaughlin. “This visit is a testament to the deep traditions and duties that connect our Parliaments, and I look forward to showcasing Cayman’s vibrant culture and rich history to my esteemed colleague.”

As a vocal advocate of the British Overseas Territories, Sir Lindsay has a strong interest in seeing the operations of the Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) office, the Cayman Islands Regiment, and Cayman’s marine environment.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons, said: “It is a huge honour to be the first Speaker of the House of Commons to visit and address the Parliament of the Cayman Islands – so I would like to thank Sir Alden for giving me the opportunity. The Cayman Islands, like all of our Overseas Territories, are an important and integral member of the British Family, and I hope my visit – and meetings with key figures and organisations – will further strengthen these bonds of friendship.”

In honour of this historic occasion, a Meeting of the House will be convened on 1^st August at 10:30 a.m. at the House of Parliament in George Town. The meeting will feature addresses by both the visiting and host Speakers, the Premier Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Roy McTaggart.

This special Meeting will highlight the shared values and mutual goals of the UK Parliament and the Parliament of the Cayman Islands, and will provide the dignitaries with the opportunity to formally record their remarks on the significant ceremony.

The Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, MP, commented: “We are very honoured and excited about Speaker Hoyle’s visit to our Islands. It reaffirms the strength of relationship between the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom. Speaker Hoyle has always been a champion and supporter of the Cayman Islands and other Overseas Territories, using every chance to underscore that together we are stronger and more prosperous because of the ties that bind us. We look forward to all our discussions with him on matters of mutual interest, including opportunities for strengthened cooperation.”

During his notable visit, the House of Commons Speaker will also meet with the Hon. Premier, who recently was elected the President of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association. Sir Lindsay will also meet with Her Excellency the Governor to discuss the relationship between the UK and the Cayman Islands.

Her Excellency the Governor Mrs. Jane Owen said: “We are honoured to welcome Sir Lindsay Hoyle to the Cayman Islands. This is the first time a serving Speaker of the UK House of Commons has visited our Islands. The visit provides an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the UK and Cayman’s legislatures and discuss how Cayman is responding to the current national and global context. It also allows us to showcase to Speaker Hoyle these remarkable islands and our community.”

The Cayman Islands Speaker will host the visiting Speaker on a tour across Grand Cayman, including visits to key cultural and historical landmarks such as Pedro St. James, where the first meeting of the Cayman Islands legislature took place in 1831. The itinerary is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage and history of Cayman, providing an opportunity for the visiting Speaker to gain a deeper understanding of the nation’s traditions and advancements.

Following the tour, Hon. McLaughlin will host a formal gala on Friday, 2^nd August for current and former Members, Speakers, and leaders of the Cayman community.

The UK Speaker has been a vocal advocate for strengthening the diplomatic ties between the UK’s Parliament and the Commonwealth nations, particularly the British Overseas Territories. In May 2023, Sir Lindsay unveiled two new stained-glass windows in Speaker’s House at the Palace of Westminster, incorporating all sixteen of the Overseas Territories, which he said represented the importance of the “United Kingdom family”.

Sir Lindsay was originally elected as Speaker on 4 November 2019, following the resignation of Speaker John Bercow. Sir Lindsay was re-elected to the House of Commons during the most recent UK elections on 4^th July, and was re-elected as Speaker of the House of Commons for a second term on 9^th July.

Media Access and Coverage

Media representatives are invited to cover the Meeting during the visit. Members of the public and the media may attend the Meeting of the House on 1^st August at 10:30 a.m. live at the House of Parliament in George Town. The proceedings will also be broadcast live on the Cayman Islands Government’s YouTube channel and on Radio Cayman. The latest information will be made available on the Parliament’s website and social media accounts for the public to stay informed.

Notes:

• About the role of the Speaker: The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates in the Commons chamber. The holder of this office is an MP who has been elected to be Speaker by other Members of Parliament. During debates they keep order and call MPs to speak.
  • As part of the international parliamentary community, the House of Commons’ Speaker plays a key role in leading UK parliamentary diplomacy, often travelling abroad on behalf of the House of Commons, and hosts visiting Speakers in return.
  • Visit: https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/the-speaker/
• About the UK Parliament: The UK Parliament is a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Visit: https://members.parliament.uk/
• Photos: The UK Parliament publishes photos on its official Flickr page, with some rights reserved: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=25334641%40N08&view_all=1&text=hoyle