Cayman cultural icon passes away at GT hospital
(CNS): One of the country’s fiercest defenders of local culture and a keeper of Caymanian history has died. Anna ‘Consuelo’ Ebanks passed away at lunchtime on Tuesday 7 May at the George Town hospital after she collapsed on Monday. Miss Consuelo, who was widely loved in the community, made an immeasurable contribution to local arts and was a staunch advocate of Caymanian identity. In the wake of her passing Tuesday afternoon, her much loved friend Billy Adam said she was "a true defender and protector of things Caymanian”, adding that many will not know much of what she did or that it was her who “sparked the consciousness of the need to fight to protect” those things.
“In her humble, unassuming way, that is how she would have it be,” Adam said. “It was not about her, it was always about what is best for the future of the Cayman Islands. Many, many times in the wilderness of greed that has enveloped us, she was the lone voice crying out love, protect and preserve for future generations the paradise God freely gave us. She understood that bigger is not necessarily better. Now in memory of Consuelo let us each ask ourselves what am I committing to do to love, protect and preserve Beautiful Isles Cayman?
"May God's comforting spirit be with her family at this time,” her friend said as he paid tribute to her unique and vibrant character.
Among her many achievements was the compilation of the book "The Southwell Years: Recollections of Caymanian Seamen and Those Who Served At Home".
Category: Local News
We will miss you "Cousin Redshank". What a unique person you were. Caymanian to the bone. May your soul rest in peace.
What a loss. To all of us. Unique. Outspoken. Captivating. Unforgettable. To her children: your mother was a true Caymanian Hero. Not just someone whose name is on a plaque, but one from the very heart and soil of Cayman.
Dear lord bless Miss Consuelo you know she struggled in her life. But she never forgot our culture , history she was always there to fight. She will be remembered at pedro st james as she was the narrator. She had a beautiful voice. She spoke with such eloquence. Lord when I want to hear her voice I will go there and pretend we are talking and that she is relating another story.
It was always a pleasure to pick her up and take her home. Dear Lord please keep our good friend and citizen near you Lord . For she was one of the good ones from the Cayman Islands. Amen
PS:
Maybe Gov't or the people from Cayman could make a statue of Consuelo at Pedro St James in remembrance of all her tireless work??
Agreed, a statue at least…R.I.P Consuelo
Rest in Peace! Run Down is not the same without you
My sympathies to the family. We all share in your immeasurable loss.
So long my dear friend. You fought the good fight. Rest now. No more troubles, only peace.
Her wit and dedication to causes will be missed, but a bet ona forgat where she lived and never inquired or cared about her health. So we human beings stay, immortalize when we dead, but when we are living and suffering nobody knows you. Try and do better people life is short . LOve one another. Jah
So sorry to read this. Like others, I’m grateful for the fond memories gained from simply giving her a ride somewhere – home, her beach at South Sound, the Harquail, etc. She could serve you an ironwood chip of knowledge and inspiration and a refreshing sip of humor that left you feeling wiser, stronger and happier for simply having rode with her for 10 or 15 minutes. The fact that she no longer drove herself was a real blessing of opportunity for those who so willingly took her where she wanted to go.
Cayman has lost another of the genuine souls who truly lived the creed of ‘country before self’.
As we go forward, may we all strive to honour her legacy by ensuring that we discharge our responsibilities as Caymanians and custodians of these lovely islands in a way that would not offend her. We simply need to ask ourselves: “What would Consuelo have to say, and what would she do, if she were still here?” If in our own actions, we can maintain a passing grade on those two questions, Cayman will be a better place for us and our children.
My sincere condolences to her family. We share your loss.
Donnie
Rest in peace 'Suelo.
Condolences to her family.
Rest in peace Consuelo, you were a true warrior and protector of all things Caymanian. Cant even think who will fill your shoes, it was a honour and a pleasuere to have known you, you were a star of Cayman, and will shine on in our memories and laughter forever, miss you already, rest in peace, as you fought the good fight for these islands, may god grace be with your family at this sad time
I think the way Cayman abuses its environment caused her real suffering over the years. Almost all environmental protection initiatives have come from non-governmental organizations and private donors. Perhaps Consuelo's life and death will help the new government focus its attention on the glaring environmental issues that face Cayuman and have been studiously ignored for so many decades. You were a real champion Consuelo, and the example or your passionate life will bring positive changes for Cayman, I know it.
I cannot express just how sad I am to know that we have lost Miss Consuelo. She was one of the hardest working members of the One Man One Vote Group and never failed to show up and do her part, even when she was not well. She was also involved in many other noble causes including the protest against the East End Seaport, the West Bay Road Closure and the destruction of the mangroves in South Sound. Miss Consuelo was a true believer in protecting our environment andpreserving our heritage. I learned a great deal from her and will never forget the many shared experiences. She was a tough lady and someone we should seek to honour for her undying love for all things Caymanian. My sincere condolences to her family, may she now rest in peace.
Alva Suckoo
As with the other comments I too am saddened by the passing of Consuelo.
I met her years ago by giving her a ride somewhere and would help her with rides whenever I saw her.
She was an opinionated woman who was totally no nonsense and I suspect she made some uncomfortable with her style. Whenever she called the radio I knew she had something to say.
The last time I saw her it was obvious her health was declining and we had a nice conversation. She sure didn't sugar coat what she thought and I really respect her for that personality trait.
She was part of an "old school" style of person that made the world a better place, what you see is what you got she didn't talk out of both sides of her mouth.
God bless her,
Jack
A true legend of Cayman. May she rest in peace.
Never got tired of talking to her….and she would always start with, "Boy, lemme tell you someting nuh…"
RIP.
I am sad but not sad at the same time She didnt die with out fighting for what was right and what she believed in. If Miss Consuelo showed us anything she should us that our voices should be heard and we should never be afraid to stand out. There are bigger things in life than ones self… She lived a life for her country and fought for her country and lived a life many of us should (when it comes to Country First) I had many great history talks with her. She taught me many many things about our past and her thoughts on our futrue… She may have been crazy but it was a good kind of crazy! I will miss her, that is for sure… Every story I will tell will end with a laugh – she was just that kind of person… RIP you have had a true impact on my life and I am thankful…
A true National Hero!
It's so sad that she has passed. I always would see her and speak to her at the South Sound community beach in which she herself kept clean, tidy, planted tree's, and arrange the rocks to artsy patterns. She truly loved and cherished cayman culture along with the environment, and would fight to protect the smaller and import natural things this island has. I can only hope other Caymanians will do the same, because I will.
Consuelo fought endlessly to preserve the tiny South Sound Community Centre beach, near where she grew up and Ithink we should honour her amazing life, by naming it after her: "Consuelo Beach"
I second that motion! If not that location then some other. Miss Consuelo ought to be memorialized in some significant manner. May she rest in peace.
Rest in peace Consuelo You will always be remembered for your contribution to Caymans heritage.Your star shines bright in the heavens above us.
Could it be that the halo around the sun that appeared today was in honour of Consuelos passing?I hope that is so.Again my condolences to her family and know that she is in a better place and will be forever remembered by us all.RIP
Oh my dear Consuelo, may your soul continue on your journey. You fought the fight. Well done! One of the few ‘real’ South Sounders and Caymanian warrior left has departed this earth. Shine on! My Condolences to her family.
I am sadden by this news, because as Billy Adam's has stated, Consuelo was a true beleiver in preserving the island for the future generation. Over the years that I've lived in Caymans myself and my wife have given Consuelos rides here and there, but the most memorable conversation was just two weeks ago at the South Sound Public Park,which she loved.
I sat down with her and we looked at the waves; she said to me: one thing that wont change in Cayman is that these wave will alway break here. Rest In Peace Consuelo
Your friends Ash & Suzie
It with much sadness that I learnt of the passing of my dear friend Consequelo via my friend Billy Adam who was her true compatriot to the end. I have known her my entire, life but over the past year while working on the onemanonevote committee we spent considerable time together. I was always amazed of how much time and effort she gave to that exercise despite her physical difficulties; sitting on the sidewalks of George Town recruiting signatures and encouraging folks to vote for what was right.
As recently as a couple weeks ago I gave her a ride home from Hurleys when she explained very passionately her desire to see change in the upcoming elections. She was always on the side of "what’s right" and not necessarily what was popular. Consequelo was one of Cayman's staunchest champions of Cayman's heritage, environmental protection and preservation for future generations.
The basis of courage is individual initiative. If we cannot act alone, we cannot act together. This was Consequelo.
My deepest sympathies to her familly. May her soul rest in peace and her memories live on in our hearts.
your friend,
Bo Miller
A dear lady, tough but compassionate, a true Caymanian, may she rest in peace.
Very sad news. An inspiration to all who listened.
Rest in Peace Consuelo. Thank you for your unselfish fight for the betterment of all things Caymanian.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi
So sad to hear. Especially during rundown, which I was hoping to see her in. She was a true Caymanian star and I look forward to seeing the tributes deserving of her. Cayman should truly mourn her passing. We lost another great soul. God keep her.
Will be sadly missed, always loved to hear her on Rooster, hope she did not suffer and is watching over Cayman from above.
RIP Consuelo, you were one of the last true Caymanian defenders. God speed!!
Consuelo, missing will be your voice but you will forever live on in many of our hearts … as Ted Kennedy said "the dream continues". I will miss you friend, your wealth of knowledge, sense of humour, passion for Cayman and the environment. Cayman will forever be grateful to you for so many unselfish things that you have done, such as naming of "The Iron Wood Forest", "Run Down" and later when Miss Lassie's house was on the verge of being sold you quietly sounded the alarm and as we know the rest is history. I know that you will now keep watch over your beloved Mecca "South Sound" and I promise to do my part in any little way. Thank you so much for your contributions, I will forever miss you but may your soul rest in peace. May you forever watch over your beloved Ghost Orchids so sorry that I did not get the opportunity to see it but your description of such majestic beauty is enough.
My condolences to her sons, Don and Rodney. Rest in peace Miss Consuelo. Your strong voice on Caymanian identity and things Caymanian will be missed.
How old was she?
She will be missed, never knew her, only knew of her, yet she leaves a lasting memory.
So sad to hear of Miss Consuelo’s passing. I was just talking about her this weekend with some friends and saying how they don’t make many like her any more. She was smart, and had such a great sense of humor. Cayman will be less like Cayman without her. Will miss hearing her call in to Rooster.
She was a wonderful lady which I knew growing up as a child. You will always have a place in my heart.
May your soul rest in peace.
Consuelo we will all miss you.
Jerris
May she rest in peace. Cayman is a better place because of her call-to-arms to protect our environment. Let us all remember. this valuable message
"Was a staunch advocate of Caymanian identity". "True defender and protector of things Caymanian". Both these quotes are 100% true. As a long time resident with Status, what always impressed me about Consuelo ( and I had quite a bit to deal with her at one time) was that she did not slam expats the way certain political people (who will make sure they are very visible at her funera)l do all the time. She related well to all who she felt had Cayman at heart, including expats. In her prime, she would have told some of these big bellied and bitter MLAs from outside George Town what she thought of them. She was unique.
Please do not try to make this a political thing!!. Consuelo would not appreciate it. Most of us remember her for her environmental concern and I agree but I also remember working with her on the John Gray High School and Middle School PTAs many years ago. She was hard working and when ever she got involved with the PTA affairs, be it at Sports Day or the School Fair you better believe it had to be done to perfection. She sure was a National Treasure and my children and I will always remember her. Blessings to all her family and close friends.