Remarks by Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, MLA 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 16 August Truman Bodden Sports Complex

Your
Excellency, other honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, I think it
is rather odd for me to be making a speech with the audience behind
me and especially men and women of the Cayman Islands Regiment.

Thank
you for joining me in recognizing and welcoming the first official
members of the Cayman Islands Regiment.

I
am proud – indeed we should all be proud – of these 51 women and
men who comprise the very first Cayman Islands Regiment.

I
have thought about this moment for almost sixteen years now. It
was in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan that members of the Bermuda
Regiment came to help us recover after Ivan had done its worst. They
were disciplined and hardworking and provided great assistance to our
people in a difficult time. They made a most lasting impression
on all of us. And so when I first became a Minister in 2005,
along with the then-Leader of Government Business Hon. Kurt Tibbetts,
OBE, we approached the United Kingdom Government regarding starting
our very own regiment. 

But
at that time the UK Government was not willing to accommodate the
request. But fast forward 15 years and on a visit here late last
year by the then-UK Minister for the Armed services Brigadier Mark
Lancaster the idea of the Regiment was discussed again. I am,
and the country should be, most grateful for His Excellency Martyn
Roper for his – not just support – but his enthusiasm and his
drive in persuading the UK Government on that occasion to support the
formation of a Regiment and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Well,
perhaps not quite history yet for today is the beginning and indeed
marks the culmination of many months of hard work and training to get
us here. 

Your
Excellency I thank you and your office along with the Government of
the United Kingdom for recognising the benefit to us in Cayman and
those beyond our shores of our very own Cayman Islands Regiment. We
announced only 10 months ago that we would be forming this Regiment
and despite the impact of COVID-19 we are here today; an incredible
achievement indeed.

As
I look at this group of fine men and women I see promise of a great
future. Not only your individual futures as you carry out your duty
to serve our Islands in this great new institution, but I also see
the promise of a great future for our Regiment. Undoubtedly every one
of you can hardly believe you made it through those rigors of
training; whether here at home under the watchful eyes of Major Alex
MacDougall and his team or in Bermuda or at Sandhurst in the United
Kingdom. 

As
you go forward remember what you have gained from that training and
use it for the benefit of our Islands and our Regiment. The future
success and growth of the Cayman Islands Regiment rests largely in
your hands; you as its first members. It will be in what you do and
how you deport yourself that will help define the Regiment in the
eyes and hearts of Caymanians and give it whatever reputation it
earns. This is an awesome and important responsibility. Regardless
of your rank each one of you has a part to play in the success of
this regiment. 

Hold
fast to your motto “In Arduis Paratus - Prepared in Adversity”. 
Always be prepared to do your duty and to aid your fellow Caymanians
and residents when disaster strikes - whether hurricanes or a virus.
 

Undoubtedly
the Cayman Regiment will, over time, have a positive impact and play
an important role in youth development and leadership in our Islands
as future young Caymanians and residents join up and follow your
footsteps under the leadership of Leftenant Theo Kelly, Leftenant
Gabe Rabess, Leftenant Shanice Kelly, Leftenant Jonassi Swaby and
Leftenant Halston Farley.

I
commend Commanding
Officer
Leftenant
Colonel Simon Watson, Operations Adviser
Leftenant
Colonel Simon Spiers, Major Andre Mon Desir and the Regimental Sgt.
Major David Shelton for their leadership and all of their hard work
in helping us realise this dream.

Members
of the Cayman Islands Regiment - I salute you and wish for each of
you a great future.  May God Bless the Cayman Islands Regiment
and may He continue to bless these beloved Isles Cayman.

Thank
you.