PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Monday, May 25th, 2009 – “My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, today we celebrate the life and legacy of our sole National Hero, James Alexander George Smith McCartney. JAGS McCartney as leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) party was elected as the first Chief Minister of our country. He fought for constitutional reform and democracy, which is the foundation on which our country has been built.
Today, as we reflect on the contributions and significance of our National Hero to our rights and privileges, let us be mindful that we now have to focus our energies on working together to ensure that the very freedoms JAGS fought for many years ago are not taken away from us by our “colonial masters”.
Thanks to the determination and commitment to country that JAGS and many other heroic men before us displayed, we have seen our country grow from colonial rule and grant and aid to self-sufficiency.
We have together built this Country on the foundation laid by our National Hero and together we can continue to develop our Country and its people and one day achieve the goal that JAGS McCartney had when he started this journey, a journey to Nationhood. JAGS believed that we are the molders of our destiny and we will be responsible for the good governance of our Country and its resources.
My Government along with the Opposition has already established the National Heroes Committee in the House of Assembly. This Committee will be responsible for reviewing and deciding on honourable men and women who should be named national heroes of the Turks and Caicos Islands. There are many persons who have made significant contributions to our country’s development politically and socially and they should be honoured for their commitment to country.
This National Heroes Day as we reflect on the journey our country has taken thus far, let us all commit ourselves to uniting as one people working towards one common goal, paving our way to brotherhood and nationhood. Let us commit to putting country above self, commit to laying aside political, socio-economic and personal differences in order to maintain our democracy, restore good governance and fiscal stability to our beloved country.
It is my wish that you have a peaceful and memorable National Heroes Day. May God bless us and guide us and may He continue to bless our beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Hon. Galmo Williams
Premier and Minister for Development and Commerce
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