The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Cayman Islands joined the global enditnow® movement with twin events on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, urging society to stand against violence and abuse, especially toward the elderly. The rallies, organized by the Women’s Ministries Department of the Cayman Islands Conference (CIC), took place August 23, 2025, under the theme: “Honour thy father and thy mother.”
On Grand Cayman, at the Bodden Town Primary School’s football field, members and community supporters gathered for a rally focused on the often-hidden problem of elder abuse. At the end of the rally, organizers distributed 70 (seventy) care packages, primarily canned food items donated by local Adventist congregations, to residents in need.
The Cayman Islands Crisis Centre (CICC) participated in the event with a presentation on identifying forms of elderly abuse. Chrisanne Atkinson, CICC’s Outreach Coordinator, highlighted that elderly abuse is not limited to physical harm.
“Elderly abuse can also carry emotional, financial and social impacts,” Atkinson said. “The same abusive patterns we often see in intimate partner relationships can appear in elderly abuse, where an adult child controls a parent’s finances, belittles them, or engages in any other actions that cause distress or harm to an older person .”
Atkinson added that abuse has a ripple effect throughout society. “Even if you are not the one being abused, you can still be impacted,” she said. “Coworkers may struggle to perform their duties, medical systems can become strained by repeated injuries, and the economy as a whole is affected when people cannot contribute fully to their organizations.”
The Newlands Seventh-day Adventist Church performed a skit showing how neglect and exploitation can appear in daily life. The drama depicted an elderly mother mistreated by her son’s wife, who withheld medication funds and belittled her, illustrating the subtle but harmful nature of abuse.
On Cayman Brac, members staged a march carrying banners that read “Let’s End It Now” and “Stop Abuse.” The march drew attention to the cause as participants moved from the Creek Seventh-day Adventist Church to Watering Place.
Upon arrival at watering place, presenter Bouvia-Ferguson delivered remarks on elder abuse, outlining how families and communities can recognize and prevent mistreatment. Youth participants Daniel Brittany and Kaden Sigourneyalso performed a skit, highlighting different forms of abuse and demonstrating how love and support can counter them.
Corry Chambers, Women’s Ministries Director for CIC, said protecting older citizens is a moral and spiritual duty.
“Our elders carry wisdom and faith that have shaped our communities,” Chambers said. “We must safeguard that legacy by standing against all forms of abuse and cultivating environments where older adults are cherished and protected.”
Globally, elder abuse is a widespread concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in six adults aged 60 and older experience some form of abuse each year. Abuse can take the form of physical, emotional, financial, or neglectful behaviors, often committed by family members or caregivers.
In the Cayman Islands, elder abuse is legally defined under the Older Persons (Amendment) Act, 2024. The law imposes mandatory reporting for people in positions of trust and prescribes penalties of up to 12 years in prison for offenses.
The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) also operates Elderly Services programs aimed at providing protection, care, and support for older citizens across the islands.
Through enditnow®, more than 15 million Seventh-day Adventist members worldwide are engaged in raising awareness and sharing solutions to end violence. For Cayman Adventists, the rallies held are a visible step in building community resilience and support systems for vulnerable populations.
Cayman Islands | Written by: Devarro Whittaker, Editor: Devarro Whittaker | Photo Credit: Devarro Whittaker
