CIG names another National Hero
Dr Roy McTaggart and Prince Philip in Jamaica, 1960s
(CNS): The PPM administration has named the late Dr Roy Edison McTaggart as the country’s ninth official National Hero 32 years after his death. McTaggart was described by government officials as a “pioneering politician, businessman, dentist, cultural guardian and philanthropist”, best remembered for retaining Cayman’s position as a British colony when Jamaica became independent in 1962.
“At that time, Britain gave the Cayman Islands the choice to move to internal self-government under Jamaica or to remain as a colony,” officials said. “Opposed to aligning with Jamaica, Dr Roy canvassed the Cayman Islands and received more than 3,000 signatures in support of remaining with Britain. He was the only one of 18 members of the Legislative Assembly who favoured this route, but after he made a passionate speech, the House voted unanimously for these islands to remain a colony.”
Dr Roy Edison McTaggart
A legislator for more than 35 years, as the second elected member for George Town McTaggart is also credited with ushering in free education to the country with the Compulsory Free Education Bill in 1931. As well as being a dentist and a politician, he made money in shipping and development, building hotels, apartments and banks. He also founded The Cayman Weekly newspaper, a forerunner to The Cayman Compass.
Announcing the decision to name another national hero, Premier Alden McLaughlin said it was fitting to have chosen one of the builders of the modern Cayman Islands as its newest hero. “We have all benefitted from his many good deeds undertaken during a long life spent serving this country with diligence and dedication,” he said.
McTaggart joins a list which includes William Warren Conolly, James (Jim) Bodden, Thomas William Farrington, Sybil Joyce Hylton, Ormond L. Panton, Desmond V. Watler, Mary Evelyn Wood and Sybil McLaughlin, the only living hero.
Category: Local News
expats are the real heroes of caymans history…….
We are all expats, no such thing as indigenous here…
so why are some expats discrimanated against….?
Caymanians and expats discriminate against each other ..there is no one blameless here
So now that this Govt has named all their family members as heroes is there anybody left? I recall one year Alden had his entire family named! And they accuse others of nepotism and cronyism? Everything they accused others of doing thy have done themselves! The voters were seriously duped and the country is back in a bad state because if native Caymanians are the only ones out of work then the PPM has failed miserably! 2017 can’t come fast enough!
The cycle starts again, only this time round, people become super heroes
How about all you lot become “National Hero’s” and put this money into your educational system for your children and stop show boating for yourselves with this ridicules holiday. Your educational system could be holding many more Hero’s’ with a better insight into what Cayman needs; they just have to have the platform to stage them for success. And not financial success but the ability to make calculated and conscious decisions for Cayman future success
Indeed- a well made point. Education is riducules here.
a noble spirit embiggens the smallest man….
Now if only the current MLA could even aspire to such correct thinking…sadly lacking in all respects. When the mediocre don’t realize that they are only mediocre at best, you have a problem
Thanks to him and mr Ormond we are not a part of Jamaica…thankfully Mac was. Not around when that decision was being made.
You do not know what you are talking about, Mr Ormond Panton was pro Jamaican, read your history book
I’m still thankful for ANY time Mac was not around.
Certainly no revisionist heroes could ever hope to be gleaned from the modern political era. History will record this as a dark period for personal integrity and national service. The last couple decades have all been about personal enrichment, double-dipping, seeking re-election, not upsetting apple cart, and keeping mouth shut. If a by-election were to be called in the coming months, it seems unlikely my household would be able to cast any of our several district ballots in good conscience.
What about Sir John Cumber?? His vision in 1965 put us on track for success – until Jim Bodden and cohorts ruined it with greed 1976 -1984!! Their legacy continues!
John Cumber – National Hero!
Not after that BBC show…
Cayman’s next national hero should be Long Celia the young Caymanian female slave who in 1820 tried to get other Caymanian slaves to uprise against Buckras and their inhumane treatment of our ancestors.
How did it turn out?
Free at last, thank God we are free at last
I am not sure it is appropriate to celebrate someone who interfered with property rights. That is what communists do.
Nanny from Jamaica interfered with property rights and human rights and she is a national hero today..
So if that is what communists do then we have a lot of those around. For example all of the people blocking us from using the beach in certain areas.
If only excluding the masses from the beach at certain points was properly allowed.
She wasn’t a Caymanian.. the masters she was encouraging violence against were, and were the men who sentenced her.
What the hell you mean she wasn’t Caymanian?
The concept of a “Caymanian” did not exist until the late 60s.
She was Caymanian straight outta BT
Nine National Heroes!! Wow! Compared to, say Jamaica, by population size and historical significance, this has become a farce! At least one should never have been included though – the very first person to be declared “National Hero” – more like National Pirate!
Hide behind your cloak of anonimity and pass your disrespectful sly remarks. You said: ” At least one should never have been included though – the very first person to be declared “National Hero” – more like National Pirate!” Now although your remarks are invalid and you must be uneducated about Cayman’s history, nonetheless you are disrespectful also. Jim Bodden like any other person made mistakes as he was only a human being but he was a visionary who saw the potential Cayman had and brought us far to become what we are today. Not only him but countless others, either national heros or unrecognised heros. Go ahead and call him a “National Pirate” because he founded Pirate’s Week (along with Mr.Mike Lockwood) and 30+ years later it is still a festival much celebrated! But your opinion will never destroy his legacy! And unlike yourself, I will not hide and pass my remarks.
Sincerely,
N.S.Trumbach
Great-grandson of our FIRST National Hero .
PS: In regards to your comparison, maybe our population has more heros among us than the country you compared us to…
Jim Bodden’s nomination was for setting the standards for corrupt politicians for generations to come. That is his legacy.
And if Dr. Roy was alive today, to see what Cayman has become.
He is rolling in his grave.
Yes! High grade I hope.
Yes Dearest Premier could you please tell us how we are free from Jamaica or anywhere else as a matter of fact when foreign nationals outnumber Caymanians 5 to 1 and all under the direction and control of the same colonial power you upholding to be so righteous?? I am absolute sure Dr Roy did not take those steps to see our government which is totally under the control of foreign nationals?
Ah there you are Mac—yes the ratio of Caymanians (30,000) to Furreners (25,000), yes spot on, 5 to 1. Jolly good show. Glad you got that extra math schooling. See how education pays off?
Pointless exercise.