Cayman’s long-standing, rich spread of district heritage days, held during the Pirates Week Festival, has been scrapped this year.
The series of heritage days across Grand Cayman has been pulled from the line-up, “due to time and budget constraints”, festival organisers said in a press release issued Thursday, adding, they “had to make a tough call”.
Heritage days offered each district an opportunity to celebrate their rich Caymanian culture, and featured traditional crafts, artefacts, rope making, thatch plaiting, old-time games, dance shows, performances, storytelling, and local cuisine from area chefs.
Schools from each district would also organise field trips for students to learn more about the days of old.
“It’s a shame,” Darney Edney McLean, East End community chairman for Pirates Week, told the Compass.
McLean, who has been involved with the festival since its inception, said it was a loss for which residents would suffer, adding, “the only people now that [are] making money out of it is the George Town people, when the float parade comes in town and everything. The rest of the districts don’t make anything.”
He said at least seven food vendors in East End take part when the heritage day is organised, along with others selling arts and crafts.
Other community members have “reacted equally”, McLean said, adding, “I don’t understand why. The hotels would always be full up, the restaurants, everybody makes money.”
Despite the “change in winds”, from cutting the heritage days, the press release said, “let not your spirits be dampened! As there is lots of celebration, camaraderie, and adventure to be had.”
This year’s festival, being held from 3-26 Nov. under the theme ‘Cayman Wildlife’, will maintain a variety of events for “landlubbers” – “from beach clean-ups to family fun days, food festivals, exciting treasure hunts, and Block Party Street Dances”.
“For over 40 years, Pirates Week has united the community for an exciting array of activities and events,” said Bernie Bush, minister of culture and heritage, and former director of the festival. “And I am pleased to see how this tradition has grown and endured over the many years.”
Pirates Week, which was started 46 years ago, was initiated to draw more tourists to the island during what is historically the slow season. It has featured activities such as float parades, costume contests, firework shows, various sporting events and district heritage days.
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“Heritage Days dropped from Pirates Week, seriously?”
When it is so essential these days, particularly for young people, to learn and hold on to their heritage, it gets canceled! The committee could have looked elsewhere to take some funds so heritage could still exist. Again, erasing history?
A very strange decision.
What a shame to loose our district Heritage Days. They were always a fundamental part of Pirates Week and wonderful opportunities for locals and visitors alike to get out to celebrate in the districts and enjoy the uniqueness of each one.
I totally agree Wendy.
I have no idea how Minister Bush can be pleased in any way with the elimination of the District Heritage Days; The festival is going into a tailspin, and it just may not recover in time! It’s time for the government to loosen the purse strings, and start remembering what’s really important to the Caymanian people………their heritage!!!