Cayman mourns loss of Edna
(CNS): The country was in mourning Thursday at the loss of political stalwart and trailblazer Edna Moyle. The former legislator was laid in state at the country’s parliament building ahead of her funeral this Saturday with full honours. Moyle, a founding member of the PPM, the new ruling party, was a four term representative for North Side, where she made a lasting impact. She was also a minister and ultimately a Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Pointing to her many accomplishments, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson described her as an exemplary public servant “with a personality that was impossible to ignore”, as he paid tribute to her passing.
The mortal remains of Edna Moyle lay in state in a Cayman Islands flag-draped coffin in the Legislative Assembly Chambers throughout the day as a steady stream of guests paid their respects. It is the first time that the chambers have been opened up to the public for such a purpose.
In a mark of respect and remembrance for Moyle, all emergency and first responder services across the Cayman Islands observed a minute of full radio silence on the Cayman Islands Government radio network system, along with the lowering of a ceremonial flag.
“This is the first time in our country's history full radio silence was observed,” said Eric Bush, Chief Officer in the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs. He explained that in many countries, radio silence is considered the utmost demonstration of respect and remembrance for a passing of a senior public officer.
Officials said that after the coffin was placed in the House this morning, members of the late speaker’s family led the viewing, followed by the new speaker, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, all of the members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) headed by Premier Alden McLaughlin. Manderson led civil servants past the coffin, guarded by a team from the uniformed services.
Speaking about Moyle’s career as a representative, Manderson said she helped to establish a library, health centre, civic centre, police station and community park in North Side.
“A tireless advocate for the elderly in the district, she also had a strong appreciation for young people,” he said. “Her work also led to positive changes for the wider Cayman Islands. A particular focus for her was on women’s issues. She was responsible for a government motion to make women’s affairs a Cabinet remit. This led eventually to the establishment of a Women's Resource Centre,” Manderson added.
“It is a source of pride to the civil service that a woman of Mrs Moyle’s achievements spent more than a decade as civil servant. During this time she worked as personal secretary to Administrator John A. Cumber, as well as deputy clerk of the LA before returning to the private sector,” the head of the civil service said. “Her consistent readiness to work for the good of others is a characteristic that should define all civil servants and indeed all public servants.
On Saturday, 1 June the official funeral starts with a procession from the Bodden Funeral Home at 11:00am. It will traverse through the central precincts of George Town, before moving to North Side district for funeral services at 3pm at the Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound. Interment follows in the late speaker’s family plot in North Side.
Category: Local News
We truly will miss the Honorable "Ms. Edna Moyle for she was a great and very special Lady. Our prayers are with the family, close friends and all those persons whom she personally touched over the many years..May you rest in PEACE Miss Edna as you new journey begins, The Lemay Family.
And how much is this costing the country? A country that is broke?! "Her consistent readiness to work for the good of others is a characteristicthat should define all civil servants and indeed all public servants" So, pray do tell, is this is setting a precedent that other "greats" in the public and civil service can expect to receive? I hope she rests in peace but this is very interesting in a country that is suffering such huge financial difficulty!
100% agree. We do not have the cash for this sort of thing.
You all fail to realize that people like her gave her life to this island, especially all the women she faught for. So if she fought day after day for us and this country, why can’t we give back to her? Stop being ignorant and look at the bigger picture. She more than deserved this respect.
Have respect for her family who is mourning instead of fining something to complain about. There is a certain protocal the government has to follow. She was such a high level this is what had to be done after her passing. Saying that this should have not been done is like saying our politicians should not fight for our country. They do so much for us they deserve respect. RIP
There are those of us who have respect for her family but also have respect for the economic status of these islands! What the government has done is set a precedent that indeed they must now be followed for other politicians. With respect, she was at no higher level than Sir Vassel Johnson, Mr. Jim Bodden, Mr. Haig Bodden, Mr. Thomas Jefferson and many others who contributed much, much more to the good of these Islands and who were not afforded such an honour. Going forward I just hope that we will be able to afford the same honour to others who are equally deserving.
Um correct me if I am wrong, but both Jim Bodden and Haig Bodden had state funerals….
So did Thomas Jefferson but I don't think any of them had the full 9 yards such as lying in state at the L.A.
Official Funerals dear, NOT state funerals.
Thansk for that..my mind isn't what it used to be..It's been such a long time since Jim Bodden's funeral..I remember there being police officer color guards, flag draped coffin and 21 gun salute and such, at his funeral, as well as for Brother Haig, but I guess you are right..they weren't laid out in the L.A. for people to pass by..
Ummm….I think the policy statement indicates it is reserved for former Speakers, Premiers, Governors and Deputy Governors. The four persons you list occupied none of these offices. It will not apply to all politicians.
Well forgive me but if you are correct and and this honour is reserved for "former Speakers, Premiers, Governors and Deputy Governors" then there shoud be a riot on the streets of this country! Why the hell should a deputy governor be given a "state" funeral and not a Cabinet Minister? You have to be joking. All of the men listed in the post above contributed majorly to these islands, as did other men and women of stature and they certainly deserved to be given the honour. If this is the case then I hope that the new Premier and members of his Cabinet revisit that rediculous policy statement. I am pretty sure who wrote it.
Because a Deputy Governor outranks a Cabinet Minister.
One and the same mi dear, warming seats and collecting big $ for rank.
She is being given the respect she deserves. There are different levels of protocal this is just another part of the package that comes with being a representive of your country. She fought for many people and things for this country. Why would she not deserved this respect in return? People need to stop being so bitter.
This is not about bitterness Sun, 06/02/2013 – 13:10, it is about the reality of the situation we are currently dealing with. It is about minding the purse and cutting costs for the rest of the populace in the land of the living and for future generations. So in effect what you are saying is that this is indeed a part of the package that every representative in these islands can expect at their demise? I think you are right and it is exactly the point I was making! Most will all agree that she and other politicians have fought for things and people they believed in, no one is denying that, but they are all paid handsomely to do that. It is a part of the job! Putting these islands to this kind of extravagant and unnecessary expense every time a represenative dies is ludicrous.
May your soul rest in eternal peace.
FOREVER LOVED !
NORTHSIDER*
Rest
A fitting send off for a fine lady.
R.I.P. Ed Ed.
Jerris
We lose great women. We will remmber here all the time
Yes, many ladies of sature who will never be recognised by the government but who touched and molded lives for positive impact in a far greater way.
I could not agree with you more Sat, 06/01/2013 – 07:59. May Edna RIP but we all know that she did not positively impact as many as some would want us to think. Neither was she the first woman in the district to get a drivers licence or the first college educated woman in the North Side district! Such false claims are unnecessary and in fact rob her memory of good things she did that could have been highlighted. Where that information came from is unknown but several North Siders at the funeral commented about the untruths as it is common knowledge that many North Side ladies of stature qualified with college degrees much before Edna did. Example of these great ladies are Mrs. Mary Miller (nee Powery) and Mrs. Aileen McField (nee Conolly) of precious memory and two who we are blessed to still have with us Mrs. Eunley Miller (nee Conolly) and Mrs Georgene Lazzari (nee McCoy). These ladies were all senior to Edna, held higher qualifications than she did and certainly qualified before she did. They also contributed greatly to these Islands and positively impacted the lives of many people. It was sad to hear the truth stretched at an official funeral that we are paying for.
Sun, 06/02/2013 – 14:55 I too listened in wonderment when these claims were stated at the funeral. At the time I could not remember all of the names that you have listed above but you are very, very right. All of those wonderful North Side ladies acquired excellent qualifications of the highest level available at that time and returned to these Islands to contribute to society, not just to North Side. Indeed they attended Shortwood College, which was of a much higher order than Knox. Also, I am pretty sure that former North Side First Lady Mrs. Louise Ebanks and her sisters had their drivers licenses before Edna did. As you said it was unnecessary to make false claims as Edna did many good things to highlight. May she RIP.
As the elected representative for North Side and who was privileged to share this role with Mrs. Edna Moyle ( Miss Edna to me EDED to most) for the past 28 years I would like to thank the Government for giving Miss Edna a state funeral. She deserved and earned this fitting accolade.
I also want to take the opportunity to congradulate the protocol office, the police, the staff of the LA and all other government agencies involved for a job well done.
Ezzard you have to understand that it is NOT a state funeral. It is an official funeral, dear. Cayman is not yet a state.
May your soul rest in peace, Ms. Edna. I will remember you always!