On Monday, November 29, 2021, the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman bestowed the gift of a splendid Christmas tree on the people of the Cayman Islands. The lighting of the tree occurred just after sundown at Heroes Square in George Town. His excellency the Governor Martyn Roper and Mrs. Elisabeth Roper were in attendance, as was the Honorable Premier Wayne Panton, along with honorable ministers and members of parliament. Mrs. Elisabeth Roper honored the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman by lighting the tree, thereby making a gesture of good will that the Honorable Premier interpreted in his remarks as the inauguration of the Christmas season. It was the 56th year that the gift of a Christmas tree was given to the public by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman.
In order to protect the community from the spread of COVID-19, attendance was limited. By the same precautionary measure, the children's choirs that would usually sing in celebration of the tree were unable to do so. Nonetheless, a group of spirited Rotarians sang carols to the public in their stead.
Special thanks are due to his excellency the Governor Martyn Roper, Mrs. Elisabeth Roper, the honorable Premier Wayne Panton, the honorable ministers and members of parliament who attended and participated in the ceremony, President Ben Webster, President Elect Jim Ehman, Past President Alan Roffey, who emceed the event, Marc Dixon and Vinton Chinsee, who head up the Community Service Committee, Rotarian Betty Baraud, who was instrumental in making the event possible, James Tibbetts for providing excellent photographs and video clips, and all of the Rotarians who so generously spent their time collaborating to set up and decorate the tree, to help organize the lighting ceremony, and for singing Christmas carols.
Merry Christmas!