A call to remove some of the controls surrounding use of the Cayman flag was heard in the Legislative Assembly last week following Government Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Alfonso Wright’s question about why the country’s flag was, he believed, rarely flown.
Mr Wright complained that he had been to, “so many events where the national anthem was being performed and at ninety-five per cent of these events there was no display of the flag.”
He asked what were the formal regulations and protocol regarding the sale of the Cayman Islands flag and the Chief Secretary, Hon George McCarthy, extolled the benefits of having the National Museum alone being responsible for the flag.
Mr Wright said the flag should be seen more as increased visibility would result in higher levels of national pride.
“The Cayman Islands National Museum is responsible for the sale of Cayman Islands flags,” said Mr McCarthy.
“The flags are sold in various sizes and include the blue ensign, the land flag, and the red ensign, the marine flag. The Government recognises the Cayman Islands flag as a symbol of sovereignty. As such, a single official point of sale was designated for the Cayman Islands flag and the Coat of Arms.”
He explained that the single point of sale means that Government exercises quality control over the design, reproduction and sale of the National Flag.
Mr Wright said that Sovereignty was important but so was national pride.
“The flag is an important part of what we are about and we need to see the flag more often,” he said.
“Can the museum look to having the flag distributed throughout the Island? Has the museum made any efforts to encourage any other points of sale?” Mr Wright asked the Chief Secretary – under whose portfolio the matter falls.
Mr McCarthy articulated his reservations about not being to control the display and presentation of the flag, once the number of venues for sale increased, saying that he would rather not see the flag, at whatever size, lumped, without special care, with other artefacts at other outlets.
“I don’t think the flag should be grouped as a bulk item, amongst other items, where it is being sold,” he said adding that, for example, he would not want to see the flag sold in supermarkets.
Pressed by Mr Wright to explore the possibility of increasing the distribution options for the flag, Mr McCarthy said he would ensure that this is done, but, he would also ensure that “wherever the flag is displayed it is done with the appropriate dignity.”
