News

Some 150 cadets and officers of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, from six detachments across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, came together for the first time, for a Christmas dinner on Saturday, 5 December 2020.

The event which took place at the Grand Cayman Marriott paid tribute to volunteers, cadets, and officers in the various detachments for their achievements throughout the year.

The six cadet corps’ detachments are

 

Band detachment

CHHS detachment

JGHS detachment

LSHS detachment

Marine detachment

Triple C detachment

 

Individuals recognised for their achievement included:

 

CHHS Runner- up Cadet of the Year             Cdt Sauntie Kelly

JGHS Runner-up Cadet of the Year              Cdt Junay Jackson

LSHS Runner-up Cadet of the Year               Cdt Vashti Moodie

Marine Runner-up cadet of the Year             Cdt Yohance Garraway

 

CHHS Cadet of the Year                                Cdt Adorre James

JGHS Cadet of the Year                                 LCpl Marrissa Wright

LSHS Cadet of the Year                                 Cdt Jaheem Hayles

Marine Cadet of the Year                               Cdt Taylan Dehaney

 

CHHS Runner- up NCO of the Year              Cpl Michaiah Thompson

CHHS NCO of the Year                                  Cpl Jonathan Henny

 

LSHS Runner-up NCO of the Year                Cpl Naomi Carter

LSHS NCO of the Year                                  Cpl Aliyah Williams

 

JGHS Runner-up NCO of the Year                Sgt Teejhan Hansraj

JGHS NCO of the Year                                  Sgt Okezie Eleweayna

 

Marine NCO of the Year                                 AB Dru McLaughlin

 

Appreciation Award for work and dedication  2Lt Michael Savage

Appreciation Award for work and dedication  2Lt Dennis Williams

Appreciation Award for work and dedication  Midshipman Davor Bonilla

 

Appreciation Award for 12 years of service   Lt Cmd Robert Sutherland

Appreciation Award for 10 years of service   Lt Icilma Cornelius

Appreciation Award for 12 years of service   WO1 Mario Garraway

 

Commenting at the dinner CICC Commandant Lt Colonel Bobeth O’Garro noted the particular impact of COVID-19 on the work of the corps as well as its community service initiatives.

Everyone, she said, had persevered and found ways to accomplish training targets, including virtual classes and testing and other innovative forms of service delivery such as social media.  “You rose to the occasion and did your part. We are extremely proud of you. Well done.”

Cadets also engaged in a number of community service projects supporting the National Emergency Operations Centre Communication Centre as well as residential management of Government’s mandatory isolation facilities.

The youth development organisation, whose members are male and female high school students between the ages of 12 and 17, also created the well-received “Sweet Cayman Kind” song to support and motivate the Cayman Islands community.

Cadets likewise provided entertainment throughout the evening, including the Layman Scott High School detachment singing ‘Feliz Navidad’, and individual cadets performing on the harp and steel pan.

Special guest speaker, retired Marine Master Sergeant Andrew McLaughlin, the President of the Cayman Islands Veterans Society (CIVS) attended the event his wife Shadden, also a Marine veteran, and a retired Marine Private First Class. He spoke on the theme “perseverance despite the challenges”, a fitting theme for 2020.

More information about the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and the opportunities that it makes available to young people is available from www.cicadetcorps.ky, and the organisation’s Facebook and Instagram pages.