Recognise national and community heroes

Hon Kurt Tibbetts, Leader of Government Business

Wednesday,  January 25, 2006

In his National Heroes Day 2006 Message, Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts said that the day was about recognising that Cayman has “a lineage of people who have significantly contributed to building (the country’s) national identity.”

He said that Cayman’s National Heroes Law, enacted in1993, provided for the naming of heroes – persons bestowed with the country’s highest honour.

He named the country’s two heroes – Hon James (Jim) Manoah Bodden and the Hon. Sybil Ione McLaughlin, MBE, JP – awarded for their contributions to the “advancement of justice and equality in our society.”

He pointed out that Mr Bodden was posthumously awarded on 28 June 1994. He said as Minister responsible for tourism and aviation, Mr Bodden was instrumental in establishing Cayman Airways and constructing Owen Roberts International Airport. 

“He served as a backbench MLA until his death,” Mr Tibbetts said.

About Mrs. McLaughlin, who received the honour in 1996, Mr Tibbetts said that among her achievements was her appointment as the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (LA) in February 1991, where her experience and resolve were appreciated.”

Mrs. McLaughlin was appointed Clerk of the LA in 1959 – the first woman to hold this post in the Commonwealth, and undertook attachments to the House of Commons in London, Stormont Parliament in Northern Ireland, and to the Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago parliaments.

Mr Tibbetts said that although national heroes are held in high esteem, “we in fact celebrate the heroism in our entire community.”

He made reference to the inaugural Heroes Day in 2003, when the country “paid tribute to 500 nation-builders (on) the Quincentennial Wall of Honour in Heroes Square.”

He encouraged the public, especially the relatives and friends of those whose names are on the Wall, to leave flowers there in tribute to them.

suzanne@caymannetnews.com

    Back...