Rolston Anglin’s big celebration in West Bay

By Christopher Tobutt

Hon. Rolston Anglin, Minister for Finance & Education, MP for West Bay North, held a big celebration of his achievements on 4th July in the Turtle Centre parking lot. There there was a DJ, with music, there was plenty to eat and drink. The music hushed as the MP for West Bay North took to the stage, sharing his vision.

He spoke about recent upgrades at John A. Cumber Primary School, including new spaces designed for behavioural and specialneeds intervention. Anglin explained that around thirty percent of Cayman’s students require additional support — “not because they’re bad,” he said, but because schools need areas where children can settle, be themselves, and reengage with their learning. He emphasised the importance of strengthening public confidence in the education system and thanked his colleagues for backing the Ministry’s efforts.

Anglin shifted to finance, reminding the crowd that the government had produced a “solid, transparent, open budget” within six months of taking office. He said the administration had been able to save enough to deliver costofliving relief measures, including reductions in fuel duty. He hinted at further developments in Boatswain Bay, promising a “surprise announcement” related to improvements in the area.

The Minister devoted a significant portion of his remarks to the longstanding issue facing Caymanians with Isle of Pines heritage. He said the government would be releasing more information in the coming weeks. Anglin told the crowd that the number of families affected was far larger than most people realised. He described how technicalities dating back decades, including the upheaval of the Communist takeover in Cuba, had made it difficult for some families to return home when they wished and reestablish themselves properly as Caymanian citizens. He said the matter would not be left unresolved during the current term. A public announcement, he said, was necessary to “call that out” and move toward a resolution.

MP Jay Ebanks followed with remarks praising Anglin’s leadership. He said the Minister was “doing so much on the education side” and that anyone who had heard him speak about the school system knew how committed he was to improving it and “where he wants to see it go.” Jay then turned to Barkers, noting that the area had been “played as a political football” over the years. He said Anglin supported a major land purchase — estimated at around $12 million — because the people of West Bay and the wider Cayman Islands wanted to protect Barkers. Jay framed this as an example of Anglin’s financial discipline paired with a willingness to invest in heritage and community priorities.

Jay Ebanks also spoke about affordable housing, saying current projects were “not the end of the game” and that the government was continuing to look for additional land in West Bay. He also mentioned hearing from West Bay farmers who wanted agricultural land closer to home, saying he had told Anglin had supported his idea of purchasing good agricultural land in West Bay, to offer a similar scheme to the one that had been begun in East End.  He referenced recent land acquisitions totalling around $21 million and said new land had now been secured in West Bay.

Premier André Ebanks closed the formal portion of the evening with a charismatic address, telling the crowd that the government had been “resolving things that have been outstanding for years.” He said claims that the administration was “not doing anything” were a “smoke screen,” and that such criticism was designed to divide the public. Ebanks said the team was working together and delivering on matters previous governments had not completed, adding that now that “this group has got its act together,” opponents were trying to “fool you.”

After the speeches, the music rose again, families lingered over food and drink to enjoy the party atmosphere and some fellowship together in great West Bay style.