Hon Sabrina Turner

Today, September 11, is a day held in memoriam for two life changing events. The first being the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the United States Pentagon on September 11, 2001 that claimed thousands of lives and changed millions more. The world stood in horrified awe as we watched two global landmarks become reduced to rubble. 

A short three years later, on September 11 and 12, 2004, our own country experienced unforeseen disaster – Hurricane Ivan. The Category 5 storm tore through Grand Cayman and our entire infrastructure was taken to its limits, leaving many of us to start from scratch. 

These two events, though different in time, circumstance and location, highlighted a common and certain truth – the uniformed and public safety services, no matter where they are, are the heart of any society during both good and difficult times.

As your Minister for Home Affairs, I am proud to represent the brave men and women of His Majesty’s Prisons Service, Cayman Islands Regiment, Cayman Islands Fire Service, Department of Community Rehabilitation, Cadet Corps and the Department of Public Safety Communications, who all collectively work to keep our country safe. 

My Ministry also partners with other agencies like the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, Customs and Border Control, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and the Emergency Medical Services to protect our people and borders.

Today seems like a perfect time to express my deepest and sincerest gratitude to these agencies for being emblems of heroism, preparedness and reliability. Thank you – as your Minister and MP, as a Caymanian citizen, as a mother, as a wife. 

Your work gives us true peace of mind as we conduct our daily lives.

I now turn to my young people – your country needs you! As we grow as a nation, we will need more strong, intelligent men and women to join the ranks of our uniformed and public safety services. Whether you are just beginning to choose your subject options for high school or want to change career paths – there are many worthwhile and progressive opportunities right here on our shores for you. 

I would like to personally invite you to attend the Ministry’s Public Safety Careers Fair on at the Sir Vassel Johnson Multipurpose Hall on the UCCI campus on Friday, September 22nd from 8:30 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m.

You will hear first-hand about the rewarding careers available in public safety. I look forward to seeing and meeting you there. I hope that you will take the time to thank a uniformed or public safety professional for their service as you see them today. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy our paradise home without their selfless contributions. 

Thank you and God bless these Cayman Islands.