Radio Cayman’s building located on Elgin Avenue in George Town was officially renamed the Loxley Banks Broadcasting Centre on Friday, 26 June, at a rededication and renaming ceremony marking 50 years of the station’s service to the Cayman Islands. The renaming honours former Director of Broadcasting Loxley Banks, whose vision, leadership and 60 years of contribution helped shape the station into one of the Islands’ most trusted public institutions.
The event, which forms part of a broader celebration of the station’s 50th anniversary, was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, former Members of Parliament, past and present Radio Cayman employees and a wide cross-section of the community.
Minister for Education and Training, Honourable Rolston Anglin who proposed the renaming of the building stated, “Mr Loxley shaped Radio Cayman and devoted decades of his life to it. He has trained broadcasters, preserved our culture and carried our stories across the airwaves for longer than some people here have been alive. In one of our country's most frightening times, it was his voice that helped keep us calm during Hurricane Ivan, when almost everything else was silent. And in doing all of that, he never made it about himself.”
In his statement, Premier Honourable André Ebanks said, “When Mr Anglin came with the idea to name this building after Mr Loxley, it was a total no brainer. And to get it here while he is still with us, he is a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and now has the recognition of his name on the building is the only thing that we could do that we think is proper to honour him.”
In response to all the tributes to him, Mr Banks noted, “We don't sing our song enough. This is a great breath of fresh air moving through the community, and we just have to do more of it.”
Radio Cayman aired its first test broadcast on 12 April 1976. Mr Banks joined the station as Programme Controller before rising to serve as Director of Broadcasting, a role in which he played an integral part in shaping the station's growth and national relevance. Since his retirement, he has remained a familiar voice to listeners through programmes such as CI Retro on Radio Cayman and Yesteryear Musicale on sister station Breeze FM.
Director of Radio Cayman, Norma McField said the renaming of the building is a tribute and expression of gratitude for a legacy that continues to guide the institution. The station operates as part of the Cayman Islands Government's broadcasting service alongside Breeze FM.