Remarks
on the 60th anniversary of the First General Election held after the
Cayman Islands received its first written constitution in 1959

By
Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA

Just
a few short months ago we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the
first written Constitution for the Cayman Islands.

I
said then that there would be many other observances and events over
this two year celebration that has recognised the anniversaries of
both our Coat of Arms and our Constitution.

Today
is another one of those days as we recognise the 60th anniversary of
the first General Election held on 23 September, 1959, after the
adoption of our first written Constitution on 4 July, 1959.

But
before the election on 23 September, 1959, could be held, candidates
had to be nominated. On 16 September, 1959, the Office of
Administrator Alan H. Donald advised the public that the nomination
process was completed with 26 candidates nominated to run in the
election.

What
I find most interesting on that list of candidates is that four women
were on the ballot – Mrs. Birdell Jackson for West Bay; Mrs. Ethel
Cook-Bodden for George Town; and Mrs. Francine Jackson and Mrs.
Laurel Watler, both for Bodden Town. These patriotic and brave ladies
were the first to ever be nominated and to appear on a ballot for
election in the Cayman Islands, all due to the dedication and
boldness of the women, including my grandmother Ethel McLaughlin, who
fought long and hard for women’s suffrage and the right to run for
office. They helped to usher in the Sex Disqualification (Removal)
bill that was passed into law on 8 December, 1958.

While
none of the women were elected, the mere fact that they were on the
ballot is a testament to their temerity.

Those
elections in 1959 were a turning point for our elections process
because women finally had a voice and were able to run for elections
and hold office. Those elections also ushered in our modern
Legislative Assembly.

The
important role that women have played, and continue to play, in
creating a modern Cayman is significant. This is why when I was
Minister for Education,
Training, Employment, Youth, Sports and
Culture in 2009, I and the Government I was a part of dedicated the
monument “Aspiration” in Heroes Square as
part of the 2009 Heroes Day observances, which focused on the
contribution of women to the development and history of the Cayman
Islands.

Again,
the main purpose of this day is to recognise
the 60th anniversary of the First General Election held after the
adoption of our first written Constitution on 4 July, 1959. Below you
will see the listing of candidates – including my own grandfather
William Allen McLaughlin - on that original ballot that included men
and women, both the victors and those who lost in the 23
September, 1959, election:

Elected
members

Arthur
H. Ebanks - West Bay;

J.
Cadian Ebanks – West Bay;

T.
William Farrington – West Bay;

Roy
E. McTaggart – George Town;

E.
Ducan Merren – George Town;

A.
Colin Panton – George Town;

Noland
B. Foster – Sister Islands;

Keith
P. Tibbetts – Sister Islands;

Malcolm
Eden – Bodden Town;

James
A. Miller – Bodden Town (resigned before swearing in);

William Allen McLaughlin – East
End;

Craddock
Ebanks – North Side.

Those
who had been nominated but did not win were:
Spurgeon
A. Ebanks – West Bay;

Mrs.
Birdell Jackson – West Bay;

Prentice
J. Powell – West Bay;

John
S. Smith – West Bay;

William
Wallace Bodden – George Town;

Malcolm
H. Coe – George Town;

Mrs.
Ethel Cook-Bodden – George Town;

Arnold
Foster – Sister Islands;

Orin
O. Jackson – Sister Islands;

Mrs.
Francis Jackson – Bodden Town;

Mrs.
Laurel Water – Bodden Town;

Samuel
A. Powery – North Side.