Radio Cayman Headquarters named in Honour of Loxley Banks

It was a proud and emotional day for the Radio Cayman family, with Parliament confirming that the national broadcaster’s home will be renamed in honour of one of its pioneers, Loxley Banks.

Premier Andre Ebanks told MPs the government caucus has agreed to rename the Radio Cayman building as The Loxley Banks Building, recognizing Mr. Banks’ pivotal role in the station’s establishment, development and growth over the past five decades. He framed the move as part of a broader effort to honour Caymanian trailblazers while they are still with us and to highlight Radio Cayman’s contribution to national life.

Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, who also serves as Head of the Civil Service, reflected on Mr. Banks’ service during some of Cayman’s darkest hours, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. He said he judges performance “not in times of comfort, but in times of discomfort,” recalling how Radio Cayman was the only station on air, with Mr. Banks sounding as though he “lived there for days and weeks,” providing updates, safety tips and inspiration as the community navigated the storm’s havoc.

Soon after the announcement, Mr. Banks toured the “renovations in progress” at the station and described hearing the news from the floor of Parliament as a deeply unexpected honour. He noted that when he first began advocating for a radio station for Cayman in 1964, it took about 12 years of effort before Radio Cayman finally came to life in the mid‑1970s. Over roughly 50 years since, he has “walked these floors,” helping to build and sustain the service that now bears his name.

Despite the personal recognition, Mr. Banks remained characteristically humble and used the moment to underline Radio Cayman’s continuing role. He said the station was created to serve the community “in any way that it could” and urged younger Caymanians to pay closer attention to programming that focuses on local history, culture and identity. Today’s Cayman, he stressed, “didn’t just spring up here” but rests on foundations laid by earlier generations — foundations the next generation must understand and maintain if Cayman’s cultural and heritage values are to endure.

The Premier also confirmed plans for an official naming ceremony for The Loxley Banks Broadcasting Centre once refurbishment work is complete. At Mr. Banks’ own request, the newsroom will also be renamed to honour a fellow Caymanian media figure, the late journalist Doren Miller, ensuring that multiple pioneers of local broadcasting are recognised under the same roof.