A 25-minute rain delay did not dampen the spirits of those who came out to Heroes Square Monday to celebrate Cayman’s ‘Cultural Artists and Creatives’.
The more than 80 people and groups honoured on National Heroes Day comprised Cherished Classics (Early Pioneers), Cultural Luminary (Pioneers), and Cultural Heritage Groups.
The list of honourees read like a who’s who of arts and culture in Cayman.
Among the people recognised as Cherished Classics were artist ‘Miss Lassie’, Gladwyn Bush; drummer ‘Aunt’ Julia Hydes; and National Song composer Leila Ross-Shier.
Cultural Luminaries included Eziethamae Bodden, wearing a traditional dress, who last year was awarded a Heritage Cross for her lifetime of work in the preservation and celebration of Caymanian cultural heritage; John Broad; Matt Brown; Deborah Chase van der Bol; Leonard Dilbert; Reba Dilbert; Consuelo Ebanks; Deal Ebanks, who earlier in the event blew a pink queen conch shell; Rita Estevanovich; and Rose May Ebanks.
And, finally, the Cultural Heritage Groups included the Cayman Islands Folk Singers, the Native Sons artist collective, North Side Kitchen Band, Swanky Kitchen Band and the heritage committees of Bodden Town, East End, George Town, North Side and West Bay.
Wesley Howell, chief officer in the Ministry of Culture, who was the emcee of the proceedings, in a nod to the weather, noted in his opening remarks that prayers for it not to be too hot on the day had been answered and “we can pray now that the rains will stay away”, after the initial weather delay.
This celebration marked Governor Jane Owen’s first National Heroes Day as she inspected the uniformed services upon her arrival, to the strains of ‘Somewhere My Love’, the theme song for the film ‘Dr. Zhivago’.
As in years past, more than 200 schoolchildren paraded around the square waving Cayman flags, about which Howell commented, “No matter how old I get, I still get goosebumps from seeing the uniformed services and others in their colours marching into Heroes Square and I equally get goosebumps from seeing those schoolchildren from young to older waving those Cayman flags.”
Minister of Culture Dwayne Seymour, in speaking to the special occasion, said, “Today we gather to celebrate and recognise the remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on the cultural and artistic landscape of the Cayman Islands.”
In pointing to the “rich diversity of our cultural heritage”, he said “it was through the artistic expressions of our people that we find the heartbeat of our nation”.
He also spoke of the “torchbearers who have tirelessly worked to elevate our cultural and artistic industries. Their dedication and passion have not only brought recognition to our islands but have also inspired the younger generations to pursue their artistic dreams.”
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who spoke after Seymour, told those gathered it was the “Christian heritage and culture of the Cayman Islands” that was being celebrated.
She said that Cayman “has such a problem in choosing heroes”, that it is usually more than 100, compared to much fewer in other countries. “We did try very hard this time to make it a shorter programme and to ensure that there were persons truly who should be receiving [awards],” she added, thanking everyone involved in the process.
“Who do you see Cayman when you look in the mirror? A proud… Caymanian because of the foundation that our forefathers and mothers gave us,” O’Connor-Connolly said. “We are the beneficiaries of this rich culture and heritage that our ministers can now pick up the torch and carry on… that they will ensure it is an unadulterated culture of the Cayman Islands.”
She finished with, “We don’t have to wait one year to be pronounced a hero. You just have to born, and follow in the footsteps of a good, blue-blooded… Caymanian ready to stand, protect, preserve and defend what is in this country.”
In addition to the culture and heritage heroes honoured, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose led the investiture ceremony for the Order of the Cayman Islands, a society of honour established under the National Honours and Awards Act (2021 revision), whose motto is ‘Determination conquers all’.