Fellow countrymen, once again, we gather here today, at the National Heroes Memorial of the Hon. James Alexander George Smith McCartney. Along with my family, permit me to lead in our celebration of this year’s National Heroes Day. Each year, we gather to remember also the greatness of all Turks and Caicos Islanders who through their sweat, blood and very lives have also lead us forward by attaining the liberty we as a people today enjoy.
But today is not solely for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice of life for democracy. Today we also commemorate those who are still with us, having faithfully served our flag, whether recognized or not by history, and have continued to do so with dignity and patriotism for the sake of this and future generations. We celebrate together, as we have done over the last 30 years, with national pride, overflowing joy and the unity of purpose.
We venerate our hero and those who have made significant contributions and yet to be recognized, because they are the exemplars of love and devotion to our beautiful by nature islands. May we learn from them how to overcome the obstacles to a better future. My people, many a struggle lies before us and our work to build this nation has only just begun. Let us never hesitate to stand up and overcome ingrained practices that inhibit progress. Let us together aspire to a prosperous life, and be resolute in our purpose until this dream is realized for all Turks and Caicos Islanders. Let us remember that it is our duty as citizens to contribute, in whatever way we can, to achieve the attainment of the common goals of nationhood through economic prosperity and social reform. My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, our current time calls for our cooperation and selfless service to our fellowmen without expecting anything in return but the rewards of a rich legacy for our children and thier children. In the coming year the National Honours and Awards Committee will enable the recognition of Turks and Caicos Islanders who have distinguished themselves by selfless contribution and dedication to the development of this country, bestowing upon them Our National Honours
I rise on this platform, on this day, not only in the recognition of our past but also to pledge my commitment to you my people, to build this nation, to launch a campaign of nationhood, a campaign to protect our culture and promote national pride for our country, our symbols and our people. There are many nations and many cultures living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. While we welcome and embrace all, we must not permit our culture and our symbols to be overshadowed by any other culture. Those of you who came to live among us in search of a better way of life, or to make this place your home, you too must display your patriotism for this country and love our people and everything Turks and Caicos as you seek to be apart of us. If this country is your future you too must raise our flag and raise our people as we grow this great nation.
Today I am filled with pride as a Turks and Caicos Islander as I witnessed the partiotism displayed by many Turks and Caicos Islanders, who in recognition of the honour of the day, are proudly flying our national colours. Today I declare that this symbol of our people and our nation must not wait until National Heroes Day to be displayed, but that our flag should be flown in front of every Government building, every school and every medical facility as a national symbol. To this end, I have recently tabled a paper to Cabinet to enact a policy making it mandatory for all public buildings, schools and institutions to fly on a daily basis, the flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands as the ultimate symbol our nation’s pride.
I call on His Excellency the Governor and the Leader of the Opposition to join with me in building this nation of ours. I extended an invitation to all Turks and Caicos Islanders, in their individual capacities, to the private sector, civil society organizations, non-Governmental organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, the youth and the elderly to join and support this campaign and the enhancement of the sense of nationhood and national pride in all our citizens. In the variant words of Mahatma Gandhi ” Be the change that you wish to see….in the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
On this occasion, let us all be encouraged to always cherish the virtues of selflessness and service to the nation, that were demonstrated by our hero and those yet to be recognized , a love and vision for our country that was exemplified by JAGS McCartney.
Today we also take this opportunity to honour a woman who has provided selfless service to the Community of the Turks and Caicos Islands and who has been the rock behind our National Hero, Hon. JAGS McCartney, behind every great man there is a great women, and too holds true in the case of Mrs McCartney. The recently established National Honours and Awards Committee under the auspices of the Office of the Premier, hereby honour her with the bestowal of National Honours Award of the Order of Excellence. We also honour her with the establishment of a scholarship in her name in the area of Clothing and Textiles, which is to be administered by the Ministry of Education to be awarded to the best performing student in Clothing and Textiles.
May we as a people continue to serve our beloved country selflessly with dignity and pride and may God bless our Turks and Caicos Islands.
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