Reprintedfrom the Nor'wester
Reprinted fromthe Nor'wester May, 1974
'Mr. Warren' The Honourable W. W. Conolly, Member for Tourism
THE SETTING is the mainstreet of East End, Grand Cayman's easternmost settlement, andthe date is November 22 1972. The General Election is over andthe beat of reggae music fills the air. The crowds in the streetpick up the chant as the man of the moment approaches: "Hailthe man, that's your brother in the street. You can hail the manevery time we meet."
"The man" in question-William Warren Conolly, Elected Member of Executive Council responsiblefor Tourism, Agriculture, Natural Resources, MRCU and Planning-has stayed down there where the grass roots are and by doingso has earned the loyalty of the people he represents. It is acommon sight on a Saturday night to find this key figure in theCayman Islands "Cabinet" casually dressed, the centreof a group discussing anything from politics and the current nationalevents to the latest fishing catch.
Mr. Conollyphotographed in Italy in 1945 during his three years as a seaman.
No special deference isaccorded him because of his position ("After all, we puthim there"). He is expected to argue as loudly and emphaticallyas any other member of the group to get his point across -andno-one is surprised when he does. At the same time, it is to "Mr.Warren" that East Enders turn when they want advice or help,whether it is on how to deal with a recalcitrant youngster orsome legal or business venture. The busy member of the island'sgoverning body never fails to listen in on the problems and needsof the people of his district.
It was here that he wasborn on December 5, 1920, and he still lives there, within a stone'sthrow of his parental home. His father, Austin Burns Conolly,and his mother, born Nina Bodden, had three children Burns, Warrenand Theoline. Elder brother Burns died as a result of enemy actionin 1942 when his ship was torpedoed in the Caribbean Theoline,now Mrs. Harry McCoy, has recently become Education Officer underChief Education Officer Mrs. Islay Conolly, Warren's wife.
His late father, highlyrespected in the district, earned a livelihood building boats,running a small supply store and carrying out jobs for GovernmentHolding a position akin to that of a district commissioner inthose days of no transport and limited communication, he was involvedin the various responsibilities of government in his district.
Mr. and Mrs.Conolly and their children, Burns (15) and Jacqueline (12) bothhome on Easter vacation from Knox College, Kingston.
"My first paying job,"Warren recalls, "was working under my father who had beengiven the job of clearing and supervising the construction ofthe road from Frank Sound to East End. I had worked for a yearin the districts government school after finishing there myself,but they didn't pay me for that." His education obviouslycontinued under his father. "My father was a strict taskmasterand would set the distance he expected you to reach by the endof the day. By noon-time I knew I would never make it and wasready to quit, and told him so. He looked me in the eye and saidthat he had set the goal and while he did not expect me to makeit he did expect to try. 'Everyone has to have a goal to aim foror you wouldn't get anywhere,' he told me."
It was advice that his sonhas had ample opportunity to test in the years since. Those earlyyears were hard. He tried farming, only to watch his produce rotbecause no one needed to buy it. (In retrospect a useful experiencefor the man now responsible for leading the government drive torevive agriculture.) A day's work here and a day's work there,at three shillings a day, was a luxury then. Sometimes he gavehis father a hand with the bookwork involved in his governmentresponsibilities.
"In 1940 I acted forthree months in my father's place as Deputy Registrar, Postmaster,Collector of Taxes for East End and North Side, etc You had toride a horse to North Side in those days to collect the head taxesEach male 21 and over was required to pay eight shillings a year.They didn't pay me for doing that, either."
He had his first taste ofpolitics in 1944 when along with his father he won a seat in oldAssembly of Vestrymen and Justices. At that time he was drivinga taxi for a living East End's only car, it was in great demandat any hour of the day or night. "I mixed cement to buy thetyres for it," he recalls.
THREE YEARS AT SEA
"There was not muchdoing in politics then but I felt I could contribute. This againwas strictly voluntary as there was no allowances made to anyonefor their time." With the war in progress it got more andmore difficult to earn a living in Cayman, and finally in late1945 Warren went to sea.
"I took the boat toBelize and shipped out from there on a banana boat running bananasto Tampa," he said. After six months of that, I joined theAmerican Merchant Marine and shipped out of New Orleans as a NationalMaritime Union man. I spent the winters of 45 and 46 plying acrossthe North Atlantic to Europe. Then I joined a ship called theC W Post which had been chartered to the US Navigation. Operatingunder the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administrationwe ran grain from South America to Europe." He had startedas an able seaman but rising quickly to third mate, he was oftenrequired to navigate the ship.
In 1948, having decidedthe sea was not for him - "I used to get too sea-sick"he recalls with a smile - and having saved the proverbial nest-egg,he returned to Cayman to try his fortune here again. This timehe chose to operate his own grocery store "though we solda little bit of everything" and set up an entertainment centrein East End. A stage for dancing was built next to the store andhaving acquired his own sound system and generating plant ("therewas no electricity then you know"), he was in business. Itis fitting to note that 23 years later, as an Elected Member forthe district, he was instrumental in having the power companyextend their lines to East End.
THE POPULAR PLACE TOGO
"Conolly's Bright Spot"was the place to go! Built with the people of East End in mind,it soon won a popularity which spread to the other districts."I never sold any liquor there," he says, "forI wanted to cater to family entertainment."
His return to his districtalso marked his return to politics. In 1952 he was again electedto the House and served for two consecutive terms. Following thedeath of his father, he was appointed in 1954 as Justice of thePeace.
On June 9, 1956 he was granteda Law Agent's license, and thus added a whole new career to hislife. There was a dearth of lawyers on the island then and mostof the legal work was handled by Law Agents, whose associationwith the House gave them an inside knowledge of the workings oflaw.
The late '50s and early'60s brought about many changes in the constitutional structureof the Cayman Islands. They were to bring marked changes in thelife of East Ends budding politician as well. In 1958 he was instrumentalin the first attempt at introducing a party system in the islands.Getting together with others, they formed the Cayman VanguardParty but this effort fell apart before it really got on the way.
He refrained from seekinga seat at the 1958 General Election, but this year in his lifewas highlighted by changes domestic-wise. On April 12, 1958, hewas married to Islay Bodden-Ritch, then the Headmistress of theEast End Government School. They have a son, Burns (15) and adaughter Jacqueline (12), both at Knox College, Kingston. David,their eldest (Mrs. Conolly's son by her first marriage), is 22and studying law at the Cave Hill campus of UWI. He is expectingto complete his law training at the Inns of Court, London, beforereturning to Cayman to practice.
In 1959, as a result ofthe formation of the Federation of the West Indies the CaymanIslands ceased to be a Dependency of Jamaica, and on July 4 ofthat year was granted its first Constitution. Mr. Conolly wasthe choice of Governor Sir Kenneth Blackburne as one of firstNominated Members of the island's new Legislative Assembly.
2nd TRY AT PARTY SYSTEM
With more possible changesin government pending, he played a leading role in the secondattempt to establish a party system in the islands. Elected thedeputy president of the National Democratic Party he campaignedvigorously for its acceptance by the people. In early 1962, theislands, once more in constitutional throes because of Jamaica'ssecession from the federation chose to remain a Crown Colony ratherthan accept the full internal self-government which its leadershad petitioned for and which was being looked on favourably byLondon. On July 1, 1962, the new Cayman Constitution went intoeffect.
The party system peteredout following the general election of that year. How did he feelabout the self-governing issues at that time? "I stood forconstitutional development. My main ambition was for a measureof constitutional development. I felt that with the economic growth,the lob of governing had become humanly impossible for the QueensRepresentative to carry out alone. I have supported internal self-governmentand I feel we have a measure of it today. I strongly advocatedthis -that elected members should be responsible for the operationsof the various departments of government.
"Some people's viewson this are purely nationalistic. My views have never taken thatroad. I appreciate the assistance we are being given, but I feelproud to see Caymanians having the interest to share in the governingof the country. The ability, I felt, was always there."
During the '60s his politicalcareer took more and more of his time with his business and otherinterests being regulated to second place. In 1965 he became thefirst Caymanian to attend a Parliamentary course in London. Hehad been one of the founding members of the Cayman Islands branchof the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association the previous yearand its first vice-president.
PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN
In 1966 he was a part ofthe official delegation to travel to Jamaica to be presented toHer Majesty the Queen on her visit there.
In 1967 he shared in thefounding of the Cayman Islands Law Society and served on its councilfor two terms.
In 1968 it was drawing nearto Election time again. Mr. Conolly, noted in the House for hisforthright speeches and strong advocacy of any issue he supported,was to be faced with some difficult choices before polling timecame around.
The final meeting of thatHouse was the longest in its history for another controversialissue had crept in --the proposed oil refinery and bunkering stationat North West Point. Mr. Conolly had been sent in 1966 to Freeport,Bahamas, as a representative of the House along with the Membersof ExCo to inspect the bunkering station there. He drew on thisexperience to good effect in the fight which was to follow. OnSeptember 18, 1968, the Bill for a franchise reached the House,which was scheduled for Dissolution that same day. In a heateddebate which lasted until midnight, Mr. Conolly, ably supportedby Miss Annie Bodden and Benson Ebanks, junior representativefrom West Bay and now his colleague in ExCo, was successful indefeating the Bill.
Despite contrary predictionsthat year, he was returned to the House unchallenged, and thepace of his political career quickened with his election to theExecutive Council.
A START WITH TOURISM
The boom which had occurredwhen National Bulk Carriers had begun its recruitment of Caymanseamen in the 1940's had leveled off and government had turneda speculative eye on the tourist market, for which a pre-requisitewas MRCU's campaign against the mosquito. By 1966 tourism hadmade such progress that it was felt that some control would haveto
be exercised over the development of this asset. The Cayman IslandsTourist Board was established, its Members serving on a voluntarybasis, and it was given a meager budget of approximately CI$5800to support and promote its cause. Mr. Conolly a member of theboard that first year, was shortly to become its deputy chairman.
Following his election toExCo in 1969 he was appointed Member associated with Tourism andAgriculture and in the cause of the former, he has fought an uphillbattle. Like most members of the Legislature he had been dubiousabout the need of wisdom of having a Tourist Board, but once convinced,he became its champion fighter.
By 1968 the annual tourist total was up to 14,160. The pace hadaccelerated with a hard-won increase in the allowance from government,enabling the board to set up an office in Miami The trend in theislands was slowly changing as the bankers and investors beganto turn their eyes in this direction. The Tourist Board Law gavethe chairman actual responsibility for the running of the board.Mr. Connolly's new appointment gave him the supervision of iton government's behalf. Traveling around to the other Caribbeanislands, sitting in on the various conferences abroad, he tookcareful note of the assets and debits of such an industry, filingthem away in a capacious memory for future use. At the same timehe promoted the fledgling industry every chance he got.
C.A.L 'A GREATASSET'
When problems with the airlinessupplying the islands cropped up he strongly supported government'sventure with LACSA to form Cayman Airways Limited." It wasthe only way to ensure our own guaranteed air service," hesays. How does he feel about the airlines now? "I look forwardwith interest to seeing the expansion of Cayman Airways. I feelthis is really an asset to our country."
A new Constitutional Committeehad been set up to consider an advanced constitution for the Islands.At the death of its chairman [Clifton A. Hunter] in 1972 Mr. Conollywas elected to the position. The life of the House had been extendedfor a year so that the issue could be settled before the generalelection. Mr. Conolly was instrumental in finalizing the controversialissues.
Tourism brought more problems.With the influx of people coming to work in Grand Cayman, Assemblymembers thought it was necessary to introduce a law that wouldprotect the rights of Caymanians. Mr. Conolly's able support ofthe Caymanian Protection Law is well known.
In late 1972, with the Dissolutionof the House, Mr. Conolly was on the political platform again.This time the issues were much greater, Caymanians were askingquestions and demanding answers of political aspirants, on majorpolicies and issues His role in Executive Council had broughtpublic criticism. Many felt that it was impossible for him toperform the role of district representative effectively if hewas also associated with the governing body of the islands. Patientlyhe explained to his people "If I am helping the islands,then I must be helping you as well."
BACK ON ExCo
Returned by another landslidevictory to the Legislature, he was promptly elected to ExecutiveCouncil again. With the introduction of the new Constitution,the whole face of government had changed. Now there were fourelected Members on Executive Council and these in turn were chargedwith the full responsibility for various government departments.
Mr. Conolly acquired hiselaborate title and promptly went to work again. At the recentBudget Session he fought for and got the sum $370,890 for the1974 operation of the Tourism Department.
What does he think of theislands now? "We are going a bit fast," he says, "butnevertheless I think we can continue to regulate its growth. Mostof the problems are due to the influence of money. I foresee governmentattempting moderate steps in the near future to regulate the speedof development. We have an ideal setting here. We should spreadit out over as many years as possible. I am wary about side influences.I like to weigh things I don't like to make hasty decisions."
How does he view his strugglesin the House to increase the tourism budget? "It has beenan annual fight at every Budget Session to get approval of theHouse on what I consider, even now, to be a very meager budgetfor Tourism." It is obvious to an observer though, that likea true politician, Mr. Conolly relishes these battles.
"Members of the House,"he says, "have difficulty appreciating the value of tourismand voting for its development. They have found difficulty overthe years in viewing it as an investment rather than expenditure.It has been proven that these investments were very wise though.Tourism is now the greatest revenue earner, directly and indirectly,and it is the major contributor to the island's economy."
What is Government's policyon tourism? "Government's policy is one of controlled growth,"Mr. Conolly says. "We believe that tourism can continue tobe the greatest revenue earner for this country provided we controlthe growth so as to provide jobs for as many as possible. At thesame time we must allow those people from the outside who comehere to work, to integrate properly into our society."
What kind of tourist isthe Government seeking to encourage? "I feel personally thatthe Cayman Islands are not for everyone.
For example, we are notinterested in the clientele that wants gambling or greater night-lifeactivity. I feel that if we can keep the islands attractive, peoplewill continue to come. If we can preserve the natural resourcespeople will come here for what we are and enjoy it."
Why does he think it necessaryto have control? "If there is no control, then labour becomesa problem," he said. "We will have to bring in too manypeople from the outside which sooner or later will have an effecton our society."
What does he plan to donow that the Tourism Department has been safely launched? "Agriculture".Criticised for his neglect of this in the past, he is now lookingforward with interest to this battle. "Agriculture is goingto cost money to launch just like tourism did --probably evenmore. I am working on a policy now," he said.