HEROES DAY
Speech by Minister for Agriculture Hon. D. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP
January 2016

Salutations,
Good morning, and welcome to all – especially honourees and their families.
I am most pleased to be with you in Heroes Square on this beautiful day, to share in this august occasion.
The musical performances and the commemoration presented by the Youth Parliament members have been especially enjoyable. The involvement of our young people adds a special lustre to events like this, which celebrates our nation’s heritage.
It is a particular joy to see the honour of National Hero finally bestowed on Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart, the Cayman Islands’ ninth and newest national hero.
As the Premier has noted, Dr. Roy was a leader in areas ranging from medicine, education, shipping and the tourism industry, real estate, the media, culture, and services to youth and the elderly.
I congratulate his family on this well-deserved honour, posthumously bestowed on their great relative.
I also encourage everyone, from students to new residents, to get to know the contributions of this outstanding character from the history of our Islands.
Of course, agriculture is the theme of this Heroes Day celebration and our agricultural community stalwarts are equally worthy of mention.
My personal appreciation of our farmers is well-known. Their labours of love have brought us here today to celebrate their achievements, and we still have much to look forward to from this growing sector. I can only encourage our young people to follow in their footsteps – with what are sure to be rewarding results.
I would like to briefly reflect on our comparatively recent journey into agricultural production. Even as the rest of the world progressed into the 20th century, our three Islands were just emerging into the modern world.
When I was a child, a subsistence lifestyle was still the norm, with residents catching, growing, gathering, and making whatever we could to sustain life, and to forge ahead.
Agrarian societies have existed for thousands of years, and indeed, the wealth of many countries was founded on the success of their agricultural production systems.
Here in the Cayman Islands, the combination of our natural ingenuity and prowess on the seas, in addition to the impelling forces of the wartime era, resulted in us bridging a long gap, with God’s grace. We emerged, as we are today, major players in first-world finance and economics, as well as in hospitality services.
I must note that, even as we developed rapidly, we have somewhat side-stepped the industrialisation phase. That is the phase between agrarian life and the technology-focused industries of today.
I say this as, while we have largely adapted well, our people have not experienced many of the transformative processes and conditioning that have benefited our counterparts from around the world. This has shaped us somewhat uniquely.
It is also reflected in our agricultural community where our farmers’ unique approach to life combines applying a common-sense approach to the tasks at hand, while also embracing the benefits of science and technology.
While the methods and environment are quite different today than those of early settlers, the requisite effort and ingenuity remain the same for modern-day growers.
Inside the offices, conference rooms and research labs there is a dynamic collaborative process taking place. The Agricultural Society, the Department of Agriculture, as well as private agencies and universities strive to combine science, demographics and economic formulas to guide decisions on what animals and crops are best-suited to our environment.
The outcome of all of this data and hard work has filtered through to our daily lives, and has even influenced events such as the Taste of Cayman and Cayman Cookout. Fresh local produce is not only sought after in supermarkets, it is featured in event advertising, helping to attract world-class chefs and dedicated ‘foodies’.
Of course, ultimately it is the “needs and wants” at the dinner table, whether commercial or private, that inform the growth of the sector. After decades of planting various types of crops, and raising animals and poultry, our farmers are adept at knowing what works and what doesn’t.
But while efforts to guide and assist farmers will continue far into the future, we are far from becoming self-sufficient in the supply of local foods.
To stimulate growth in this area, Government, the Agricultural Society and the wider farming community continue to support venues such as the Market at Camana Bay and the Market at the Grounds; which is now supplemented by the recently opened Market at the Cricket Grounds. I would not be surprised if this also soon becomes a tourist attraction as visitors are keen to sample local foods as well as see arts and crafts portraying our heritage and culture.
That brings me to these pioneers who stand before us, and those who have passed on. Through the generations they have remained steadfast in their work. Government’s current focus on nutritional awareness and culinary-tourism has been made possible by their commitment to cultivation, animal husbandry, and to the health and safety of our food sources.
Their names reflect a broad scope of undertakings and careers, with one common denominator – a passion for harvesting fresh, bountiful crops for our enjoyment and sustenance. For this, we owe them a lasting debt of gratitude.
To cap off today’s celebrations, I invite you, at the conclusion of the ceremony, to sample a delightful menu. Traditional Caymanian dishes, prepared from fresh local produce, are waiting for you behind the library. I am sure you will also appreciate the accompanying entertainment and informative displays.
I trust that you will enjoy the remainder of our Heroes Day holiday. I look forward to seeing you and your families at the upcoming Agriculture shows which will be held in Grand Cayman on February 10th, in Cayman Brac on February 27th and in Little Cayman on March 19th.
Of course, this important day could not have taken place without the organising team led by the Protocol Office. Thank you everybody for all your hard work to make today such a memorable occasion.
Thank you for joining us today as we pay tribute to our heroes. May God Bless you and I wish you all a wonderful day.