More than 90 years ago, Leila Ross-Shier (nee McTaggart) wrote the lyrics for and composed the music to ‘Beloved Isle Cayman’, which went on to become the national song of the Cayman Islands.
On Monday, 24 Jan., her life and her work were honoured as part of Cayman’s National Heroes Day celebrations, with Premier Wayne Panton, along with representatives of her family, unveiling a bronze bust of Ross-Shier in Heroes Square in George Town.
Monday’s event was a pared-down version of previous ceremonies, in light of COVID crowd-size restrictions that prevented the presentation of citations and awards to the approximately 500 recipients who had been selected to be honoured in this year’s celebration, which recognised the efforts of Cayman’s uniformed services.
Honouring Cayman’s newest national hero
At last year’s National Heroes Day, Ross-Shier, who passed away in 1968, was announced as Cayman’s 10th and newest national hero.
Speaking at Monday’s ceremony, her great-grand-nephew, Leader of the Opposition Roy McTaggart, described her many facets and talents, calling her a “gifted librarian, prolific writer, composer, accomplished musician, imaginative poet, songstress, incomparable storyteller, community historian and cultural icon”.
While working as the librarian at the old library in George Town, she “often took on the role as teacher, helping many to master literacy”, and also widely shared her knowledge and love of music. She was also the registrar of lands and births, he said.
At the end of Monday’s ceremony, Lisa Scott took to the stage to sing the famous song her great-grandmother had created, and that is known by every schoolchild in Cayman today. Scott’s singing was accompanied by music recorded by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in Seattle, Washington, in 2016. Lisa Scott and her husband Dan, who commissioned the orchestra to record ‘Beloved Isle Cayman’, also in 2018 produced a 19-minute documentary on the life of Ross-Shier (click video link above), which premiered on the anniversary of her death.
‘Beloved Isle Cayman’, written in 1932, was the unofficial anthem of Cayman for decades, before being officially adopted as the national song in 1993.
Cayman’s nine other national heroes were also remembered at Monday’s ceremony. Zereh Allen and Zanai Bush from the Cayman Islands Girls’ Brigade read brief biographies and listed the many accomplishments of these six men and three women – James Manoah Bodden, William Warren Conolly, Thomas William Farrington, Sybil Joyce Hylton, Sybil Ione McLaughlin, Dr. Roy Edison McTaggart, Ormond Lauder Panton, Desmond Vere Watler and Mary Evelyn Wood.
Officials, relatives and other members of the public laid wreaths at the busts of each of the national heroes, and at the black granite Wall of Honour memorial emblazoned with the names of seafarers, soldiers and the many others who have contributed to Cayman over the years.
Each wreath was made by artist Carmen Conolly, of East End, with sustainable materials, like silver thatch rope, leaves, flowers and seashells.
Teen hero feted for saving elderly man from fire
Also honoured on Monday was 15-year-old Trevor Carmola Jr. – a Clifton Hunter High School student and Cadet Corps member – who, on his way home from school, risked his life in April last year by rushing into a burning house in Bodden Town to save an elderly man.
To rousing applause, Panton, along with Youth and Culture Minister Bernie Bush and the ministry’s Chief Officer Teresa Echenique, presented Trevor with a bravery citation, which is awarded to those who have shown “exceptional courage in keeping the Cayman Islands community safe for all residents”.
Echenique said Trevor credited Cadet Corps for the training and confidence that allowed him to remain calm during the rescue.
“His heroic efforts have received accolades from across our three islands and beyond, leaving many in awe of the courage and skills within this young hero, aged 14 at the time,” she said.
Trevor’s heroism had earlier been recognised by Sarah, Duchess of York, and the Department of Children and Family Services when he was named Child Month 2021 (High Schools) awardee.
Recognising the work of Cayman’s uniformed services
Although the hundreds of individuals – past and present members of Cayman’s uniformed services – due to receive accolades for their contributions could not be present on Monday, as outdoor public gatherings are restricted to a maximum of 250 people – they were not forgotten.
Representatives of each of Cayman’s uniformed branches took part in the official parade at Heroes Square, and the work of each of these services – Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Fire Service, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Customs and Border Control, the Coast Guard, the Cayman Islands Regiment and the Cadet Corps – was outlined in a video presentation in the middle of the ceremony. The Girls’ Brigade, Scouts and Cub Scouts also took part in the parade.
Bush, making the opening remarks at the ceremony, said the Cayman Islands owed a great debt of gratitude to the men and women of the uniformed services.
“Collectively, we have all been tested by the events of recent months,” he said. “From severe-storm relief to being drafted to provide cohesive COVID support, we rely on our uniformed services to maintain the many vital functions that underpin the very fabric of our society.”
He told the uniformed services, “We rely on you. The giving of your time, talents, and, potentially, your lives is remarkable and we appreciate and acknowledge such a tremendous sacrifice.”
The premier also paid tribute to Cayman’s uniformed services, saying they were true heroes who “see us at our best, and our worst, and are expected to be our first and our last line of defence and protection for all of us”.
Panton said the early pioneers who answered a call to public service, to protect and safeguard their community, had enhanced Cayman’s reputation for safety and security, and their passion and commitment had inspired generations after them to don uniforms and follow in their footsteps.
“Many of our law enforcement officers can speak of positive experiences and interactions with a member of the uniformed services having sparked their own interest in serving,” he said.
He added, “Your impact on this country has been immeasurable, and your light has shone brightest throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Panton said that the uniformed services individuals who have been chosen as National Heroes Day honourees will be presented with their accolades at a later date when larger public gatherings can be held.
Watch the full ceremony on CIGTV.
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