2017 Cayman Islands celebrates heroes of tourism

Georgina Wilcox

On Monday (23) at Heroes Square in George Town over a thousand people were present to see the Islands’ tourism pioneers be recognised as heroes.

To start the occasion off there was a procession comprising members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police, the police service band, the prison service, the fire service, the Girls’ Brigade, Pathfinders, Scouts, and the Cadet Corps. There was also a march pass by over 300 preschool and primary school students who waved flags.

Officials present included The Governor, Helen Kilpatrick (who inspected the Guard of Honour), the Speaker Juliana O’Connor (who read the proclamation), the Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne, the Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, the Premier Alden McLaughlin (who did the Opening Remarks), the Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush, the Deputy Governor Franz Manderson (who did a Bravery Citation along with MLA Arden McLean, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell (who also spoke) plus MLA’s. Presenters of awards and layers of wreaths included Stran Bodden, Roy McTaggert, Joseph Hew and Samuel Rose.

Click on each photo to enlarge.

The Master of Ceremonies was Kenneth Hydes, the National Anthem was sung by Grenda Daniels-Soloman and the National Song – “Beloved Isle Cayman” – by James Greary.

Rudy Myles was awarded the Cayman Islands Badge of Honour for his commitment to the arts and their was a special presentation made to Gary Nathan Andrei Rankin for responding to a distress call by two women kayaking off shore on June 13, 2016. At the time of this brave endeavour he was only 14.

Prayers were performed by Rev. Mary Graham Rector of St George’s Anglican Church and Rev John D. Jefferson.

The awards presented were for Early Pioneers, Pioneers, Emerging Pioneers, Memorial Scroll.and the biggest category Long Service Awards.

The sun stayed out most of the day (there were two passing short showers of rain) and the wind kept things relatively cool.