Tribute to former Speaker Hon. Edna Marie Moyle, OBE 1942-2013

By Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson On behalf of the Civil Service

An exemplary public servant, Hon. Edna Marie Moyle had a personality that was impossible to ignore.

Members of the North Side Community, which she represented in the Legislative Assembly for nearly 17 years, will certainly tell you that Mrs. Moyle made a lasting impact on their district.

She helped to establish a library, health centre, civic centre, police station and community park there.

A tireless advocate for the elderly in the district, she also had a strong appreciation for young people.

As a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), her work also led to positive changes for the wider Cayman Islands.  A particular focus for her was on women’s issues. She was responsible for a government motion to make women’s affairs a Cabinet remit. This led eventually to the establishment of a Women’s Resource Centre.

During her time in the Legislative Assembly, Mrs. Moyle served as Cabinet Minister for a year, Deputy Speaker for a year, and Speaker for four.  After her retirement she received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contribution to politics.

It is a source of pride to the Civil Service that a woman of Mrs. Moyle’s achievements spent more than a decade as civil servant. During this time she worked as personal secretary to Administrator John A. Cumber, as well as Deputy Clerk of the LA before returning to the private sector.

Her consistent readiness to work for the good of others is a characteristic that should define all civil servants and indeed all public servants.

The culture of North Side was embedded in her soul; she is enshrined in the hearts of North Siders, but also in those of Civil Service and of the wider Cayman Islands.

Radio Silence for the Hon Edna Moyle

From Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs

In a mark of respect and remembrance for the late speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. Edna Marie Moyle, OBE, JP, all emergency and first responder services across the Cayman Islands observed a minute of full radio silence on the Cayman Islands Government radio network system. The radio silence coincided with the 9am ceremonial flag lowering.

“This is the first time in our country’s history full radio silence was observed” said Mr. Eric Bush, Chief Officer in the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs.   Mr. Bush expressed condolences, on behalf of all public safety personnel, to Mrs. Moyle’s family in recognition of her many years of dedicated service. “Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Moyle’s family during this difficult time” shared Mr. Bush.

Mr. Bush also noted that in many countries, radio silence is considered the utmost demonstration of respect and remembrance for a passing of a senior public officer, and the Department of Public Safety communications are to be commended for initiating the tribute.

Honours for Late Speaker

The mortal remains of the late Hon. Edna Moyle, OBE, JP, who is a former House Speaker, Government Minister and legislator, lay in state in a Cayman Islands flag-draped casket in the Legislative Assembly Chambers today (Thursday, 30 May 2013).

It is the first time that the chambers have been opened up to the public for such a purpose. The lying-in-state took place between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.

After the casket was placed in the House this morning, members of the late Speaker’s family led the viewing, followed by the new House Speaker, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, JP, and the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) headed by the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP.

The Deputy Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon., JP, led civil servants paying their last respects.

The casket received full official honours and was guarded by a two-person team from the uniformed services.

On Saturday (1 June 2013), the official funeral for Mrs. Moyle starts with a procession from the Bodden Funeral Home at 11.00 a.m. It will traverse through the central precincts of George Town, before moving to North Side district for funeral services at 3.00 p.m. at the Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound. Interment follows in the late Speaker’s family plot in North Side.