Hundreds attend vigil for East End tragedy victims

Hundreds of mourners filled the streets of East End Wednesday night, 21 Oct., carrying candles at a vigil honouring 65-year-old Elvis Green and a 7-year-old Aaliyah Henry, who died at their shared home on 13 Oct.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain under investigation.

The procession began at East End Primary School, where Aaliyah had been a pupil, and continued to the family’s home on Broadleaf Close, where mourners gathered for prayers and tributes.

Many walked in silence, their candles lighting the way through the district. Others wore tribute T-shirts, while friends and relatives arranged candles in white cups to create a memorial outside the home.

The gathering brought together children, teachers, neighbours, relatives and government officials to remember a girl known for her cheerful personality and a man whose humour and generosity had endeared him to many in East End.

East End MP Isaac Rankine pointed to the turnout as a demonstration of support for the grieving family.

“Take a look around you tonight and you will see that this is East End neighbours, friends, family, and the wider Cayman Islands who came to support you,” he said.

A little girl who was always smiling

East End Primary School principal O’Neil Duncan described Aaliyah as “vivacious, lovely to have around, always a source of encouragement for all of us.”

He recalled the reaction among school staff when they learned of her death.

“Many of our staff members broke down in tears because we could not believe and we refused to believe that this was true,” he said.

Education Minister Rolston Anglin, who visited the school shortly after the tragedy, described the experience as one of the most difficult of his political career.

“In my time in elected office, that was the most difficult morning,” he said.

He recalled teachers breaking down in tears and children crying in their classrooms as counsellors and education officials arrived to provide support.

Anglin also shared an account of Aaliyah’s final day at school, when she had led devotion and told her teacher what she planned to share the following day. By the next morning, the school was grieving her loss.

“Our teachers take our children as their own,” he said, acknowledging the impact of the loss on school staff.

Members of the church community also shared memories of the girl, recalling Sunday school lessons beneath a tree near her home, her many questions and her fascination with the biblical story of Noah. Others remembered her enthusiastically singing hymns on the church bus.

Green brought laughter wherever he went

Tributes to Green brought moments of laughter as friends and relatives recalled his larger-than-life personality.

His nephew, Davin Barrett, described him as a natural entertainer who had missed his calling as a stand-up comedian. He recalled a night-fishing trip when he was about 15, during which his uncle helped him escape from a shark before teasing him about his frightened reaction, joking that he had appeared to walk on water.

Even in frightening situations, Barrett said, his uncle had a gift for making people laugh and putting them at ease.

Deputy Premier Gary Rutty, who had known Green since moving to East End in 1977, remembered him as a skilled craftsman and a man of integrity. He recalled Green carrying out work on his boat, back porch and kitchen as recently as August, saying he trusted him so much that he never felt the need to negotiate a price beforehand.

“He was a man of principle, a man of value,” Rutty said.

Green had also used his upholstery skills during his many years with Cayman Airways, helping maintain the airline’s aircraft interiors.

Rutty said his friend had a way of lifting people’s spirits.

“When you got with Elvis and you left him, you always felt better than when you first showed up,” he said.

Community united in grief

Among the officials attending the vigil were Rutty, Anglin, Rankine and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden.

Following the formal tributes, the microphone was opened to members of the public, allowing others to share their memories and condolences.

The evening also featured hymns and music, with refreshments served as residents stayed to spend time with the family. Several speakers urged those present to be particularly mindful of the surviving children affected by the tragedy.

The deaths followed an emergency response to the Broadleaf Close home early on Tuesday, 13 Oct. Green and the child received CPR before being transported to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Two other young girls who were inside the home were also hospitalised and, according to the latest police update, were believed to be recovering in stable condition. Police investigations are continuing.

Barrett left those gathered with a message about the importance of appreciating loved ones.

“Love your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Because time respects no one,” he said.

Additional reporting by Compass TV’s Philipp Richter.