The Heroes Day celebrations last Monday (25) were a great affair. The turnout from the public to watch the event in Heroes Square was one of the biggest I believe.

It might have had something to do with the weather, as it was not hot. In fact the temperature was perfect.

No one in the parades I believe passed out but it was notable again that it appeared not one of the police officers taking part was from the cold United Kingdom.

I raised this question in an Editorial I wrote on February 25 last year titled “Why were UK police officers excluded from Remembrance Day Parade?” It would seem they were excluded from this year’s Heroes Day Parade too.

Apparently parades are “considered to be one of the more arduous tasks assigned to a police officer requiring training sessions and long periods in the hot Caribbean sun.”

Take a look at the photograph we have showing on our top slider of the RCIPS parade officers and see if you can spot a UK face?

My one moan and echoed vehemently by my wife, Joan, was the singing of the Cayman National Song “Beloved Isle Cayman” by Rudy Myles and Lisa Scott when the word “Carib-bean” was sung as the incorrect US way as “Carr-ibean”. If the US pronunciation is correct the spelling would be that – Carribean! Even the Americans have spelt the word correctly even if they don’t know how to pronounce it.

Apparently the writer of the song Leila Ross-Shier (originally a McTaggart) prefers the US pronunciation and that was why her great-granddaughter Lisa chose to have it sung it that way.

Even so it annoyed the heck out of both of us.

And it was so nice to have recognition at last given to one of the greatest Caymanians that ever lived, the late Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart. He joins the eminent ranks of eight other national heroes, including the only living recipient, Hon. Sybil McLaughlin MBE, JP.

The Cayman Islands’ other national heroes are Hon. James (Jim) Manoah Bodden; Hon. Thomas William Farrington, CBE, JP; Hon. Sybil Joyce Hylton, MBE; Hon. Ormond L. Panton, OBE, Hon. Desmond V. Watler, CBE; Hon. Mary Evelyn Wood, Cert. Hon. and Hon. William Warren Connolly, OBE, JP.

The main focus of the event, however, was on our farmers.

More than 300 farmers received awards, some posthumously, for their contributions to farming in the categories of early pioneer, pioneer, emerging pioneer, memorial scroll and long service award.

There were 142 long-service certificates, 109 placed on the memorial scroll, 38 in the Pioneer, and 19 in the Early Pioneer categories.

“Their labours of love are the reason we are here today to celebrate their achievements,” said Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, OBE, JP. “My personal appreciation of our farmers is well-known, and we still have many things to look forward to from this sector. I can only encourage our young people to follow in their footsteps – with what are sure to be equally rewarding results.”

And one of the farmers recognised was Joan’s late father Major “Roddy” Watler, the island’s most decorated Caymanian who was Chief of Police amongst many other duties he performed, including Captain of the Home Guard during the war years.

Perhaps he may be finally given the recognition he has long deserved as a Hero? He is another that is long overdue.

And maybe if he is the RCIPS parade contingent might include UK officers?