Queen’s baton tours Cayman

By Christopher Tobutt

The Queen’s Baton, which will be used to officially open the Commonwealth Games in July, was proudly taken all around Grand Cayman on 12 and 13 of April. The baton arrived at the Government Administration building, amid much ceremonial splendor, before moving on to Heroes square. From there it was taken all around Grand Cayman, stopping briefly at various landmarks, letting people hood it and see it up close. The baton is currently on a 294-day journey to reach all 72 Commonwealth countries, as is part of a long-standing tradition surrounding the games. Its tour was organized by the Cayman Islands Commonwealth Games Association and the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee.

The baton is very special, and contains a tiny camera so that its journey can be recorded, and there is a a platinum strand which spans the length of the baton in recognition of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Year, which marks the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952.

In George Town the baton was escorted to the HSA offices, and from there it went to Miss Lassie’s House in South Sound, before being transported all the way to the Theoline L. McCoy Primary School in Bodden Town. From there it was taken to Bodden Town Beach, where a group from Cayman Islands Cycling Association including Cayman’s national cyclist Nathaniel Forbes, who will be representing Cayman in the games, got to hold it. It was going to be cycled all the way to Health City in East End, but, because things had got a bit behind-schedule, the cyclists were given a little help along the road, before cycling up the Drive to Health City where it was presented to Health City’s Hospital Marketing Director Shomari Scott. “I am also in a privileged position, one being a former National basketball player many moons ago, and also going to the Olympic youth camp in 1996, and so it is a pleasure to be able to get the baton, and carry it from where we are currently situated to the front of the hospital.” Mr. Scott said, before running with it all the way up to the front of the hospital, where health care workers got to hold it and take photos of each other with it. “its important for us to be able to share this with you all,” said Shakeina Bush, Senior Administrative officer at the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association. She praised all the healthcare workers gathered in the hospital entrance, taking photos with the baton. “The baton is actually a camera that is streaming live right now,” she told them, “The strap around it actually contains a GPS monitor as well as a heartbeat monitor, so that everyone who touches the baton actually becomes the pulse of the world.”

The next day, the baton was relayed up to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, where a selection of Cayman’s athletes got to hold it. Tiffany Cole, who is hoping she might be able to go to the commonwealth games, and represent Cayman in the 800 meters for track and field, although she is still not sure, she said. John Lawrus General Manager of the Botanic Park said, “I am very pleased to be able to participate in the Queens Baton passing through. Its very fitting that it stops here on this wondrous occasion,” he said. Some of the young students from the Edna Moyle Primary School started giving ‘Perry’ the Commonwealth Games’ Mascot, high-fives.