Caymanian Proud: Uniform Services

Members of the Cayman Islands uniform services shared rare insights into their on-the-job experiences at Caymanian Proud: Uniform Services - The Legacy Continues on Thursday, 22 September.

Caymanian Proud, a televised series of panel discussions hosted by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage (MYSCH), showcases culturally significant persons and institutions past and present.

The all-day event held at the Marriott was attended by His Excellency, The Acting Governor, Franz Manderson and the Acting Premier, Hon. Christopher Saunders; Ministers Bernie Bush, Kenneth Bryan, Sabrina Turner and Parliamentary Secretaries Heather Bodden, Katherine Wilks-Ebanks and Isaac Rankine. They were joined by MYSCH Chief Officer Teresa Echenique, Ministry of Home Affairs (Acting) Chief Officer Julian Lewis, and audience members.

The event opened with a colourful display of each Uniform Service's flag bearer walking in, followed by remarks by the Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage, Hon. Bernie Bush, Minister for Home Affairs Hon. Sabrina Turner and Police Commissioner Derek Byrne.

Members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, His Majesty's Cayman Islands Prison Service, Cayman Islands Fire Service, Customs & Border Control (Legacy Depts Customs and Immigration), Cayman Islands Regiment, Cayman Islands Coastguard and the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps each gave illuminating, insider accounts of their work. Following this year's (2022) National Heroes Day celebrations 'Honouring Uniform Services', the event gave panelists the unique opportunity to offer context as to why the agencies are so key to safeguarding Cayman.

The conversational format, fielded by questions from the event's moderator, broadcaster Chanda Glidden, also gave each agency a voice and a national platform. Panelists talked about the early years of each service and advances made over time. Several shared their reason for joining and gave interesting anecdotes concerning their jobs, including the challenges and the higher sense of purpose gained, which provided a deeper understanding of their work. Panelists also spoke about former mentors, the close bond colleagues share due to the nature of their duties, and the strongly collaborative and inter-agency nature of their roles.

Several of the agencies set up information booths at the event.