A Nation Built: Cayman Honours Its Heroes of Infrastructure
Bridgette Kirkconnell- Kirkconnell Home Center
Burke Omar McLean
Donley Tatum- Cayman Brac- Retire from PWD
Gregg Anderson
Jason Mark P Scotland
Jenny Powery and daughter Shiann Powery accepting for the late Arlon Powery Sr.
Radio Cayman
Scott Development Co Ltd
Uncle Bills
A L Thompson
Albert Anderson for CIAA
Arch & Godfrey
Heroes Square came alive on Monday morning as Cayman gathered to celebrate the people whose work shaped the Islands’ physical landscape. Under the theme “Honouring a Nation Built: The Power of Physical Infrastructure,” National Heroes Day 2026 paid tribute to the builders, planners, engineers, and organisations who laid the foundations of modern Cayman.
The ceremony opened with the deep, resonant call of the conch shell, followed by the proclamation from Speaker Hon. D. Ezzard Miller and the raising of the national flags. Uniformed detachments — from the RCIPS and Coast Guard to the Regiment, Fire Service, Prison Service, Girls Brigade, Scouts, and Cadet Corps — marched into the square with precision, their presence setting a tone of dignity and national pride. The crowd stood for God Save the King, and Pastor Garrett Haylock offered a prayer that grounded the morning in gratitude.
In his printed message, Premier Hon. André Ebanks reflected on the long arc of Cayman’s development and the people who shaped it.
“It reminds us that progress does not happen by chance. It is built, deliberately, by men and women who see needs before they became problems, and opportunities before they became realities.”
He wrote that physical infrastructure forms “the foundations of modern Cayman,” supporting daily life and economic strength, and noted that today’s success “rests firmly and securely on the vision and dedication of those who laid these foundations years, and sometimes decades, ago.” At the ceremony, the Premier echoed these themes, acknowledging the honourees as individuals whose steady work has supported Cayman’s growth across generations.
Governor Jane Owen also addressed the gathering, expressing appreciation for the awardees’ decades of service. She spoke about the foresight required to build a growing nation and noted the pride and unity visible in Heroes Square as families, elders, schoolchildren, and uniformed services stood together to honour those who shaped the Islands’ physical landscape.
One of the most meaningful moments of the morning was the announcement of the late Benson Obadiah Ebanks as the Cayman Islands’ newest National Hero — a recognition that drew warm applause and underscored the day’s spirit of remembrance.
Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage Hon. Isaac Rankine used his printed message to highlight the deeper purpose of infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is more than concrete and steel, it is the backbone of opportunity. It connects our communities, enables commerce, supports education and healthcare, and creates pathways for future generations to thrive.”
This year’s honourees — Landmark Leaders, Infrastructure Innovators, and Builders of Cayman — represented nearly a century of nation building. Early pioneers who helped establish Cayman’s first major roads, ports, and utilities were recognised alongside long serving professionals and companies whose work has shaped the Islands’ civic landscape for more than 30 years.
A poetry reading, the laying of wreaths, and the presentation of the 2026 commemorative insignia added moments of reflection. As the ceremony closed with Beloved Isles Cayman, Heroes Square felt, for a moment, like the meeting point of past and future — a place where Cayman paused to honour the hands that built it, and to imagine the generations who will build what comes next.
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