Government today announced it will not rename Bermuda Day as National Heroes Day.

Dame Lois Browne Evans was to be the first person honoured under plans announced last year to change the name of the May 24 holiday.

But Minister of Culture Dale Butler said today: “I can confirm, and you will be very happy to know, that May 24 will continue to be known as Bermuda Day out of respect for this long standing Bermudian tradition and public support for this tradition to continue.

“It will not be renamed National Heroes Day. The holiday itself this year will be celebrated on Monday May 26 in keeping with the provisions of the Public Holidays Act 1947, as amended.”

The renaming of the May 24 holiday was officially announced by Government last September. At the time Premier Ewart Brown said: “This is a great day for our country. Our country's matriarch is getting her just due. We collectively mourned when Dame Lois passed and now we can truly begin the process of celebrating her life.”

* Full story and reaction in tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.