Cayman rep lays wreath at the Cenotaph

Last Sunday, Cayman Islands representative to the UK and Europe, Dr Tasha Ebanks Garcia, participated in the UK’s annual tradition of honouring service men and women at the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall. The event takes place on Remembrance Sunday and is part of the UK’s National Service of Remembrance. Dr Ebanks Garcia joined other Commonwealth representatives at the ceremony, which is usually attended by Her Majesty, the Queen, however due to ill health the monarch was not present and instead was represented by Prince Charles and other members of the Royal Family.

Dr Ebanks Garcia laid a wreath to remember the valiant contribution of citizens of the Cayman Islands, who fought and died for the British Crown in both World Wars and later conflicts.

Dr Ebanks Garcia said: “It was such a privilege and an honour to represent the people and Government of the Cayman Islands at the national Remembrance Day ceremony held in London at the Cenotaph on Whitehall. The opportunity to participate in this ceremony of remembrance will certainly be a highlight of my time of service in the UK. To those who served and gave their life, we pay tribute to you today.”

The ceremony honoured the service of the UK Armed Forces community, British and Commonwealth veterans, the Allies that fought alongside the UK, and the civilian personnel involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts, to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect freedom.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has historically laid a wreath on behalf of all the British Overseas Territories. However, since 2001 there has been a campaign by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association for the right to lay a wreath themselves. In 2008 the Labour Government agreed that one wreath could be laid for all Territories by the Chairman of the Association.

This year was only the second time in the history of the National Service of Remembrance that British Overseas Territories Representatives have been invited to lay wreaths for citizens of their respective Territories, in their own right, a significant step in recognising the Overseas Territories’ efforts and sacrifices for the United Kingdom.