Older Persons Council mourns member

| By: Marsha Ebanks

It is with profound sadness that the Council of Older Persons (the Council) sadly announces the loss of one of its stalwart Members, Mr. Hermon Howard McFarlane (“Mac”) Conolly. Mr. Conolly was appointed to the Council in November 2020 and served as its representative for the district of East End until his unexpected passing. As a Member of the Council, Mr. Conolly played a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for all older persons in the community.

“The Council is deeply saddened and shocked to learn about the sudden and untimely passing of Mr. Conolly on Monday, 17 July 2023. It is an immense loss for his family, the Council and the community as a whole,” said Ms Lucille Seymour – Council Chairperson.

“Mac, as he was affectionately known, was an integral part of the Council and helped to advocate for and raise awareness to better the lives of our elderly community,” she continued.

The Council is an advisory body comprising of older persons, professionals and experts from the public and private sectors. The general purpose of the Council is to champion the welfare of older persons by advocating for the promotion and development of programmes, projects and legislative measures focused on older persons; and monitoring the Government’s implementation of the Cayman Islands Older Persons Policy 2016-2035.

Mr Conolly, a former Banker, who retired at 53 to follow his calling to help build God’s Kingdom, leaves behind a lasting legacy of successful efforts on the Council and in the wider community. His work on the Council included raising awareness about the importance of vaccinations for the elderly to prevent/reduce the risk of COVID-19 which successfully saw the district of East End reach over 90% of its elderly receiving the vaccine against the coronavirus.

He helped the Council advocate for special accommodations, such as designated parking, customer waiting lines and seating for older persons in businesses and Government buildings, as well as for the necessity to reduce fees for certain Government services on behalf of older persons. Mr Conolly also worked diligently with the Council to bring light to the need for accessible health care and at-home health care for those aged 65 and older.

Mr Connolly will also be remembered for his time as Chair on the Cayman Islands National Conservation Council (NCC), and the Cayman Islands Mission Council of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. He also served as Officer in the General Elections in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Premier and Minister for Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Hon. Wayne Panton said Mr. Conolly was one of the first members appointed to the NCC in 2014 and served continuously as a member until he was appointed Chairman in 2018, a role he held until February 2023.

“Mac represented his beloved district of East End with a deep sense of pride, wisdom and unwavering faith. He was a calm and consistent voice of common sense, intent on doing his part to ensure the Cayman Islands could advance thoughtfully and in harmony with nature, harkening back to the way earlier generations of Caymanians interacted with, depended on and respected their natural environment. He could always be counted on to seek positive resolution through collaboration but he was also willing to speak out and defend his principles when necessary. He gave so generously of his time in each of his community leadership roles – his absence will be greatly felt by all those who knew him. On behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, I would like to extend prayers for God’s presence to comfort and strengthen his beloved wife and family during this difficult time.”