Cayman Islands

 Cayman Islands
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Location of the Cayman Islands
National AssemblyJamaica
Statistics:
Total Population
 -  UN 2021[1] 68,136
Bahá'í pop.
 -  Bahá'í source  
 -  Non-Bahá'í source 517
History:
Firsts
 -  Local Assembly 1968, Georgetown 
How to contact:
 -  Email See here
Related media
Categories: Cayman Islands • People

The Cayman Islands is a United Kingdom Overseas Territory located in the Caribbean. It consists of three islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman located south of Cuba. It is part of the West Indies, Antilles, and Greater Antilles islands. The islands were governed by Jamaica until 1962 when they became a separate Crown colony. The Cayman Islands enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean and one of the highest in the world.[2]

History[edit]

The Cayman Islands were part of Jamaica until 1962. As such, they are not mentioned specifically in the Goals and reports until 1964. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá did mention Jamaica in the Tablets of the Divine Plans' written in 1916 to 1917. In the Tablet to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada written on April 8, 1916, he states: "Likewise the islands of the West Indies, such as Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the islands of the Lesser Antilles, Bahama Islands, even the small Watling Island, have great importance..."[3] and again in the Tablet to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada written on March 8, 1917 he states: "also in the group of the West Indies islands, such as Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, and the group of islands of the Lesser Antilles, the Islands of Bahama and the Islands of Bermuda..."[4]

Opening the Cayman Islands to the Bahá'í Faith was a goal of the Nine Year Plan assigned to the National Assembly of Jamaica in 1964 with a goal of forming one Assembly and establish two additional localities.[5][6][7] By 1965 ten Cayman locals had converted to the Faith through the efforts of Ivan A. Graham, a Jamaican Bahá'í, and established a group called the Regional Bahá'í Council of the Cayman Islands.[8][9]

Along with Jamaica, the Cayman Islands were assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada until 1948 when the Assembly was split. At that time, the Cayman Islands were assigned to the National Assembly of the United States.[10] In 1951, the National Assembly of Central America, Mexico and the Antilles was elected and Jamaica was included in defined region. In 1953, it became a fully independent National Assembly.[11] In 1957, the National Assembly of Central America, Mexico and the Antilles was split and Jamaica came under the authority of the National Assembly of the Greater Antilles.[12] In 1961, Jamaica formed the National Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica.[13] About a year later in 1962 Jamaica gained its independence from British rule and the Cayman Islands reverted to direct British rule.[14]

In October 1967, Captain and Mrs. Bud Gilman visited the Grand Cayman island on their way home from the Panama Intercontinental Conference. While there they were interviewed by the Caymanian Weekly newspaper and an article appeared in the October 24 issue. The article mentioned the Bahá’í Teachings on the unity of men, countries and religions and how the six conferences were connected by phone during the conference.[15]

In February of 1973, the National Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica established a radio production centre to produce broadcasts to be aired in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.[16] Between Ridván 1973 and Ridván 1974, Mr. Charles Gilman, Mrs. Joann Gilman and Mr. Charles Gilman, Jr. pioneered to the Cayman Islands.[17]

The first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Cayman Islands was formed in Georgetown in 1968 and it was incorporated in 1973.[18][19] Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were opened to the Faith in the 1980's.[20]

In October 1976, three Bahá’ís from Kingston, Dorothy Harris, Irene Hollar, and Shahin Zohoori ,Jamaica visited the Cayman Islands. They obtained a magazine interview with the Norwester magazine and were interviewed for the college's regularly scheduled broadcasts. They were offered a 15 minute weekly slot at 4:30 p.m. every Sunday free of cost. Nahmy Zohoori, who helps prepare a Bahá’í radio program in Jamaica, adjusted six of their programs for use in the Cayman Islands.[21]

From 1977 until at least 1999, the needs for pioneers to the Cayman Islands was regularly advertised in the American Bahá’í. Often, specific job opening were mentioned. Job opening ranged from teachers to medical professionals, to engineers.[22][23][24][25]

In December 1982, the National Assembly of Jamaica made their first formal visit to the Cayman Islands. Auxiliary Board member Beverly March hosted a social gathering for the Assembly with both Bahá’í communities in attendance. During their visit, a Bahá’í delegation presented Peter Lloyd, governor of the Cayman Islands with a copy of the book A Cry from the Heart by Hand of the Cause William Sears. Members of the National Assembly later held separate meetings with members of the Bahá’í communities of Bodden Town and George Town. The also visited children's classes in Bodden Town for a group of children who are for the most part not Bahá’ís.[26]

In 1984, the United States was given the goal of sending two pioneers to the Cayman Islands.[27]

In 1985 the Governor of the Cayman Islands, Peter Lloyd, was presented with The Promise of World Peace by representatives from the Cayman and Jamaican Bahá'í communities.[28] In 1989 the Cayman Islands first Bahá'í Summer School was held and attended by participants from across the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada.[29]

From June 30 to July 3 1989, the first summer school was held in the Cayman Islands. Some of the topics studied were The Majesty of the Faith, The Covenant, Living the Life, Consultation, and Marriage.[30]

In 2002, the Universal House of Justice issued a letter addressed to the world's religious leaders calling for a greater understanding of unity among religions. In the Cayman Islands the Director of the Institute of Theological Leadership and Development invited the Bahá’ís to send speakers to a class on comparative religion. The entirety of the message was published in the Caymanian Compass, the only daily newspaper in the Cayman Islands.[31][32][33]

The Cayman Islands continue to be assigned to the National Assembly of Jamaica at this time.[34]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Cayman Islands". Wikipedia.
  3. ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1991). Tablets of the Divine Plan (Paperback ed.). Bahá'í Publishing Trust. p. 10. ISBN 0877432333.
  4. ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1991). Tablets of the Divine Plan (Paperback ed.). Bahá'í Publishing Trust. p. 30. ISBN 0877432333.
  5. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 110. View as PDF.
  6. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 128. View as PDF.
  7. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1974). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 14 (1963-1968), Pg(s) 155. View as PDF.
  8. ↑ https://www.caymancompass.com/2017/10/20/bahai-community-plans-celebration-to-mark-founders-200th-birthday/
  9. ↑ A Basic Baha'i Chronology, p 369: https://bahai-library.com/pdf/c/cameron_momen_bahai_chronology_original.pdf
  10. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 856. View as PDF.
  11. ↑ Baha'i News (1951). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 240, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
  12. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1970). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 13 (1954-1963), Pg(s) 257. View as PDF.
  13. ↑ Baha'i News (1966). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 419, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
  14. ↑ "Cayman Islands". Wikipedia.
  15. ↑ Baha'i News (1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 443, Pg(s) 16. View as PDF.
  16. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1981). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 17 (1976-1979), Pg(s) 220. View as PDF.
  17. ↑ The American Bahá’í (1974). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 5, Issue 6, pg(s) 9. View as PDF.
  18. ↑ A Basic Baha'i Chronology, p 376: https://bahai-library.com/pdf/c/cameron_momen_bahai_chronology_original.pdf
  19. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1976). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 15 (1968-1973), Pg(s) 218. View as PDF.
  20. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1994). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 19 (1983-1986), Pg(s) 68. View as PDF.
  21. ↑ Baha'i News (1976). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 549, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  22. ↑ The American Bahá’í (1977). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 8, Issue 12, pg(s) 8. View as PDF.
  23. ↑ The American Bahá’í (1984). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 15, Issue 7, pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  24. ↑ The American Bahá’í (1986). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 17, Issue 6, pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  25. ↑ The American Bahá’í (2000). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 31, Issue 1, pg(s) 39. View as PDF.
  26. ↑ Baha'i News (1983). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 628, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  27. ↑ The American Bahá’í (1984). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Volume 15, Issue 5, pg(s) 6. View as PDF.
  28. ↑ Baha'i News (1988). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 683, Pg(s) 5. View as PDF.
  29. ↑ Baha'i News (1988). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 683, Pg(s) 3. View as PDF.
  30. ↑ Baha'i News (1989). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 702, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
  31. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2004). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 31 (2002-2003), Pg(s) 79. View as PDF.
  32. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2004). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 31 (2002-2003), Pg(s) 85. View as PDF.
  33. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2004). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 31 (2002-2003), Pg(s) 87. View as PDF.
  34. ↑ Baha'i News (1983). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 628, Pg(s) 15. View as PDF.
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