Grand Cayman – Wednesday, 14 December 2022 – Pirates Fest (14 October – 27 November, 2022) formally closed with an awards ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage (MYSCH) at Cayman Cabana on Monday, 5 December.

 The Cayman Islands’ national festival, featuring more than 40 events across all three islands returned after two years. This year’s festivities saw a significant number of events in an effort to build on previous years’ successes, increase cultural awareness and community involvement.

In remarks at Cayman Cabana for the closing events and Awards Ceremony, Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, Hon. Bernie Bush thanked MYSCH staff, Pirates Fest Committee volunteers, sponsors and participants for making the six-week festival memorable and well-attended. Highlighting Pirates Fest’s newer events, including the Harbour ½ Mile Sea Swim hosted by the Flowers Group and the CI Aquatics Association (CIASA), Minister Bush, a former Pirates Week Director, said the invaluable insights gained while organising this year’s event, would be built upon, to ensure the success of future Pirates Fest events.

Minister Bush said: “Pirates Fest reintroduced some of the best elements of its forerunner Pirates Week over a longer period of time, allowing more residents and overseas visitors to take part, while showcasing our local culture through many avenues. We are certainly looking forward to next year’s events.”

“We are pleased that this year’s Pirates Fest events were all executed safely and without any major crime incident,” Commissioner of Police Mr. Derek Bryne said.

  We can all take pride in the fact that our various agencies are able to consistently work together to provide national events for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy safely. We expect that next year’s Pirates Fest will build on this year’s successes, while any necessary adjustments and improvements are made in acknowledgment of lessons learned from the event de-brief,” he added.

Pirates Fest wrapped up with an awards presentation for a number of competitions held over the weeks.

Awards were given in the following categories:

National Song Competition: (1^st) Brent McLean, (2^nd) Michael Williams, and (3^rd) Nicholas Blake; District Heritage Costume Competition: (1^st) Kadie McFarlane, (2^nd) Trevina Williams, and (3^rd) Shantina Barnes; Cayman Airways Cardboard Boat Regatta: (1^st) Cayman Mechanical Company (Mechanical Division), (2^nd) Alba Services Ltd., and (3^rd) Cayman Mechanical Company (Plumbing Division);  Cassava Cake Competition: (1^st) Lisa Gager, (2^nd) Sarah Larsen, and (3^rd tie) Jasmine Williams and Renda Cornwall; Conch Fritter Competition:(1^st) Lisa Gager, (2^nd) Dane White, and (3^rd) Marie Rivers; Harbour ½ Mile Sea Swim: (1^st) Team Obese Cats, (2^nd) Team Numbers (3^rd) Team Rum & Coak, Male – (1^st) Lev Fahy (2^nd) Paolo Burns, and (3^rd) Wayne Hannum, Female – (1^st) Veronica Fankina, (2^nd) Sarah Trott, and (3^rd) Amanda Goodwin; Corporate – Team Flowers. 

A two thousand dollar cheque from funds raised by the Harbour ½ Mile Sea Swim was donated by MYSCH, Flowers Group, and CIASA to the newly-formed John Gray Swim Team. The team reciprocated with tokens of appreciation for Minister Bush and Flowers Group’s Chief Executive Frank Flowers Sr.

 CIASA President Stephen Broadbelt congratulated the 107 swimmers who had taken part in the 800m sea swim which he said had been a challenging and exhilarating course.

District Heritage Day: (Winner) East End, (1^st runner up) North Side and (2^nd) runner up) Bodden Town. District Float Competition: (Winner) Bodden Town, (1^st runner up) East End, and (2^ndRunner up) North Side.

(MYSCH)