George Town overlooked for Cayman city status award

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands,-The capital of this British Overseas territory – George Town, missed out on being awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands, becoming the first and only British Overseas Territory town to be granted the status.

Stanley is among a record eight winners selected in the city status competition, which is run on jubilee years.

The last competition was held 10 years ago to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

In a statement following the announcement Governor Martyn Roper, expressed his disappointment.

“I know many of you will join me in my disappointment in learning that despite a very strong application George Town has not been successful in achieving City Status,” the Governor said.

“I know an incredible amount of work by the Cayman Islands Government went into the application and we were very close. However, there were a considerable number of applications, 38 bids in total.

“This was also the first time Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies were eligible to bid and only one of each was chosen. Stanley, in the Falklands Islands, has been successful in the year that also marks the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War,” he added.

CMC/