For the first time in its near 40-year history, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman is inducting a female president.

By Steven Knipp
steve@caymanentnews.com

More than one hundred members of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman and their special guests gathered for a festive dinner at Papagallo’s Restaurant on Sunday evening, 21 June, to see social history being made.

For the first time in its near 40-year history, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman was inducting a female president. And it was fitting that the service club’s new president, Deborah (‘Debbie’) Ebanks, was born and raised in West Bay, not very far from where the annual ceremony was taking place.

On hand to congratulate her was the Club’s outgoing President, Mr Anthony Ritch, of LIME, and Mr Thomas “Lion Tommy” Hurlston, the man who first introduced the Lions Club to Cayman 37 years ago. Also there to root for their friend were several of Deborah’s classmates from her days at Triple C School.

Ms Ebanks, who is the Head of Currency at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), is the sixth child of Ewart and Edith Ebanks, and has had a long history of service to the community. In 1983, she was one of five recipients who received a Gold Award from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh during the historic visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II. She had served on the Duke of Edinburgh Committee in several capacities, including as a trainer. In 2003, she was awarded the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in recognition of her services to the community.

After graduating from the Community College of the Cayman Islands, Ms Ebanks has enjoyed a distinguished career in banking, accounting, and investment management. Prior to her appointment at CIMA in April, she spent five years as an Assistant Vice-President for Julius Baer Bank and Trust Company Ltd. Prior to this, for five years she was that company’s senior banking administrator/assistant vice president.

From 1987 to 1998 she worked at Royal Bank of Canada, beginning as an administrative officer before steadily moving on to become a trust officer, providing services to a portfolio of trusts, managing companies and custody accounts, representing banks, mutual funds and estates.

Speaking at her induction as Lions Club of Grand Cayman President, Ms Ebanks noted that she was following in the footsteps of 36 men who had guided the club over the past 37 years.

“History is being created here,” she said, “but be assured that I, being the first female president, will not change the Club’s philosophy or wane the fervour of our quest to serve the needy or divert our thrust to develop our young persons nor will the untiring efforts at improving the environment be lessened. I intend to build on the platforms that have been laid by my predecessors.

“Young people are our future, Ms Ebanks concluded, “and we have one of the strongest youth organisations in our country. Our organisation has played a major role in the development of some of today’s leaders.”