A Girls’ Brigade donation that had languished unseen for over four decades is back in the public eye.

Girls’ Brigaders Jennelle McLaughlin and Kayla Powell, accompanied by Ms Olive Miller, President of the Cayman Islands National Council and International Vice Patron, last week presented Speaker, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, with a special case to display a glass memento brought to the Cayman Islands 42 years ago.

The crystal sculpture was brought to the Islands by Sir Cyril Black, a British MP and International Vice President and Treasurer of The Girls’ Brigade. On behalf of the youth of the Cayman Islands, Sir Cyril presented it to the Legislative Assembly (LA) at the opening of its present building on 31 July 1972. The artefact symbolises the purity and aspirations of young people.

Thereafter, the gift sat in the LA back office until it was remembered by Ms Miller, who set in motion a plan to make the sculpture available for public viewing.

First, Clerk of the LA, Ms Zena Merren-Chin, initiated a search within the LA precincts to find the tiny monument. Once located, Ms Miller set about finding a transparent case to enable public display.

When nothing available worked, it was decided to special order a Perspex case to house the sculpture. Her friends Mr. Richard Trull, Ms Jane Ellen Bodden in Florida and Mrs. Helen Hislop pitched in to order the case, take delivery and bring it to the Cayman Islands, all at no cost to the Girls’ Brigade.

During a break in the House sitting on Wednesday, 10 September 2014, the Girls Brigade presented the new case to the speaker, Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, MLA Bernie Bush.

Thanking the Girls’ Brigade for their contribution, the Hon. Juliana O’ Connor-Connolly assured the girls that this time around, the sculpture would be put on public view, thereby fulfilling its original purpose.

Photo captions: Photos by Bina Mani

A case for all time: Girls’ Brigadiers Kayla Powell (left) and Jennelle McLaughlin, present a specially ordered Perspex case to the Speaker Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin (second left) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, MLA Bernie Bush. The presentation was to facilitate public display of a crystal sculpture donated by the Brigade on behalf of Cayman’s youth 42 years ago at the LA building inauguration.

This icy sculpture was donated by Sir Clive Black, representing the Girls’ Brigade.

Girls’ Brigadiers Kayla Powell (at the mike) and Jennelle McLaughlin outlined a bit of the history of the sculpture presented 42 years ago. L-r: Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, the Speaker Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and MLA Bernie Bush (seated right).

Premier Alden McLaughlin with Girls Brigade CI National Council President and International Vice Patron, Ms Olive Miller who was instrumental in bringing the sculpture into public view