Making a good life wherever we are

David Guilfoyle, a Jamaican in Cayman doing business
for more than two decades.

Wednesday,  August 24, 2005

Proudly declaring that on 28 August he will celebrate 40 years of marriage to his wife, David Guilfoyle has been living here for almost a quarter century contributing to society here as well as maintaining connections to his native country.

As a Jamaican in Cayman who has contributed significantly to the commercial and social fabric of this society, what is also important is that Mr Guilfoyle and his family have spent more than half of that number of years living here in Cayman, but he still keeps an eye on what happens in Jamaican and above all what happens to Jamaicans wherever they are.

Unlike others Mr Guilfoyle makes no claim to having had any relatives here before making the move to relocate.

“I am Jamaican, born and bred, as they say,” said Mr Guilfoyle. “My father was born in Lucy, in the parish of Hanover and my mother was from Port Antonio in the parish of St. Mary. Even though I was born in Kingston, I was able to enjoy all facets of Jamaican life, the country parts, or city life, as well.”

At sixty-three years of age, Mr Guilfoyle owns and runs Marble Craft Limited here in Cayman – the longest running business venture of his life as a businessman.

Describing the years leading up to the creation of Marble Craft, Mr Guilfoyle said:

“After leaving Calabar and Kingston Technical High Schools in Jamaica I went straight into the working world. I started out in Real Estate Development with a company called EALAI Corporation. Many Jamaicans here would probably remember names of housing schemes such as Hollandale, near Havendale; Cardiff Hall in Runaway Bay; Horizon Park in Portmore and others, all of which were done by that company.

“In 1971 I opened my own Real Estate Development company in Jamaica but by 1974 I decided I had to leave.”

He explained how he moved to Canada where he lived for six years before going on to Florida.

“It was there, in Orlando that Marble Craft was first established,” added Mr Guilfoyle.

“Not long after opening up we got the contract to do the work for Treasure Island Hotel here. Prior to that, however, we supplied the tops for the condominiums.

“So, 1981 was my first time here on a long-term basis and the intention at that time was to stay for six months only, which was the duration of the contract.

“However, the Builder for the hotel went bankrupt. That had a domino effect on my financial position and therefore I decided to stay on here to try to work myself out of that situation. I can’t quite say at which point the decision was made to settle here, but we are still here twenty-four years later.

“My wife has been in the business with me for many years. However, recently she has been working with our son-in-law, Noel March in his businesses.”

This Jamaican, who is known to read Jamaica’s national dailies, the Gleaner and The Jamaica Observer, online every morning, is also well known for his philanthropic work in the Cayman Islands his adopted home.

Among his many activities his work as a member of a team that lends assistance to the Jamaican Consulate here in Cayman, is well known.

“I, in no way, make any more significant a contribution than the entire team of us that Robert Hamaty, the Honorary Jamaican Consul can call on at any time when he is in need of assistance with matters there,” he said.

“I am involved there because of my continued interest in Jamaica and in Jamaicans being able to make a good life for themselves wherever they are.”

Mr Guilfoyle is one Jamaican who is constantly thinking of making a contribution to his home, anywhere he is.

He said, “What I miss most about Jamaica are mountains, and yes, the people. There is a kind of energy about us, any part of the Jamaican country parts that I travel.

At sixty-three years old Mr Guilfoyle said, “I have so many more things in mind that I want to do, here, and elsewhere.”

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