As part of the aviation celebrations taking place this month, the Cayman Islands Post Office recently released a commemorative stamp issue for the occasion.

The colourful and picturesque aviation stamp issue was officially unveiled by His Excellency The Governor, Mr. Dinwiddy to the public on November 8th. The unveiling took place at the fitting location of the Owen Roberts International Airport and included the hosting of refreshments compliments of aviation partner and event sponsor The Hungry Horse restaurant.

While unveiling the issue The Governor praised the Current Post Master General Mrs. Mona Banks-Jackson for her hard work and dedication to ensuring that her last stamp issue as Post Master General was a truly remarkable one. Ms. Banks-Jackson retires in January.

In his remarks during the ceremony, The Honourable Gilbert McLean, Minister for Aviation stated, "This occasion marks a milestone in our history as Wing Commander Owen Roberts landed his PBY Catalina on this very runway on November 28, 1952. I am proud that the present Civil Aviation Authority has seen fit to celebrate this milestone in our history and have taken the time and worked hand-in-hand with the Post Office to launch a commemorative series of stamps.

"It only seems fitting, as stamp collecting is a globally recognized hobby, whereby the Cayman Islands aviation progression can be recorded and documented on an international scale. I am equally proud that the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are represented and that the progression and growth has been depicted so cleverly and creatively," Mr. McLean concluded.

There are 6 stamps in all in the collection and they include photos of a seaplane loading passengers in the North Sound, the first landing at Owen Roberts Airport, Cayman Brac Airways on the airstrip in Cayman Brac, Cayman Airways in flight, The landing of the Concord in Grand Cayman and Island Air landing on the airstrip in Little Cayman. The stamps are available for purchase at all post offices.