A packed ceremony saw infrastructure innovators and builders receive awards while the late statesman, Benson Obadiah Ebanks, was named a national hero.
The lively event, which took place Monday 26 Jan. in George Town, began with a parade from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Cayman Islands Coast Guard, the Cayman Islands Regiment, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, His Majesty’s Prison Service, Girls Brigade, Scouts and Cub Scouts, and Cadet Corps. Governor Jane Owen inspected the units before joining the stage to sit alongside Caymanian political leaders that included Premier André Ebanks and Leader of the Opposition Joey Hew.
Amid the pomp and prestige there were heartwarming signs of Caymanian community. School children paraded and waved flags while the array of Girl Guides toiled tirelessly in the heat, handing out water to the crowd.
Addressing the attendees, most of whom were decked out in formal attire and finery, Ebanks said “Heroes Day is about people who took on projects bigger than themselves.” Referencing Cayman’s past conditions – “the swamp, the marl, the mosquitos and the heat” – the premier paid tribute to the infrastructure builders “that took us from the land that time forgot to being on the world stage today”.
New national hero
The climax of the premier’s speech came when he announced that a new national hero would be named at the ceremony. Until National Heroes Day 2026, only 14 Caymanians had received that honour for their exceptional services to the islands.
13 of those national heroes have passed away and were remembered in a touching wreath-laying service. The only surviving national hero, Francine Eldona Jackson – who was one of the first women to stand for public office in Cayman – attended the ceremony and was warmly applauded by the crowd.
The 15th, and latest national hero, announced the premier, is Benson Obadiah Ebanks (1935 to 2022).
Ebanks served as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1965 to 1976, and again from 1980 to 1992. Among the laws that were passed under his guidance were the Caymanian Protection Law and the Local Companies (Control) Law – put in place to protect Caymanians at a time when economic progress in the islands was leading to an influx of foreign labour and influence.
But Ebanks, who worked in banking before entering politics, also helped to develop Cayman’s business community. He was the first president of the newly formed Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and served in that role from 1965 to 1967. He also pushed for the adoption of a Caymanian currency that was valued more than the US dollar.
Building a better Cayman
The premier was keen to stress that away from financial services, the late Ebanks was also a builder in his own right. “He was involved in the building of a new port, legislative assembly building, courthouse, six primary schools and roadworks from West Bay to Bodden Town.”
The theme of the awards was building a better Cayman and 44 ‘Infrastructure Innovators’ were honoured. These are individuals who pioneered infrastructure development in the Cayman Islands and were warmly applauded as they received their recognition.
The final gong of the ceremony was a group award – ‘Builders of Cayman’ – given to the representatives of 24 private companies, statutory authorities and government companies that have improved Cayman’s built environment.
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