Government has dropped renaming Bermuda Day 'National Heroes Day' after a public "outcry".

The country however, could still get a public holiday dedicated to prominent historical figures if business leaders agree. Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler is to consult with key stakeholders to either rename an existing holiday or add an extra day to the calendar.

Mr. Butler announced the Government U-turn yesterday, saying Bermuda Day would remain as it is.

He said Government had backed down on the strength of public feeling over May 24.

The Minister told The Royal Gazette: "There was a lot of public outcry because Bermudians have now internalised the whole concept of Bermuda Day, and feel that more than any other holiday it is their day.

"There was a lot of noise in the newspapers and on the talkshows that it was 'our day'. People even stopped me in the street to talk about it.

"Having heard the outcry, we listened carefully and decided 'no', we would look at another day."

Mr. Butler said in a statement yesterday: "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."

Government originally announced the renaming of Bermuda's national holiday 'National Heroes Day' five months ago. Dame Lois Browne Evans was the first person to be honoured.

It followed a pledge by Premier Dr. Ewart Brown to a PLP rally in July that Government would dedicate a public holiday to the trailblazing politician.

Dr. Brown told the rally at West Pembroke School Field: "We don't want leaders who will not acknowledge that we need a holiday to memorialise the passing of Dame Lois, because she mattered so much to us as a leader.

"What we want is a leader who can say yes, there should be a permanent recognition of Dame Lois's life. Under the next PLP Government there will be a permanent recognition of Dame Lois's life. She deserves nothing less."

Following Government's announcement on September 18 that Dame Lois would be honoured as Bermuda's first 'national hero' on May 24, 2008, the Premier 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.

"Dame Lois long believed there was a need to instill national pride in our people. I share that belief, and in a very strong way this Government has made Dame Lois's wish come true. She would have never chosen herself for this sort of adulation; I'm proud we could do it for her because she did so much for all of Bermuda.

"By establishing a publicly known standard for heroes we can create a culture of national pride where young people know Bermudian legends by name and are aware of their historical significance."

Last night the Premier and relatives of Dame Lois were unavailable for comment, but Mr. Butler said: "I think the country is ready to celebrate National Heroes' Day. The intention was once we chose the day, Dame Lois would be the first national hero — that is what we are still hoping."

Dame Lois died on May 29, 2007, aged 79. She was Bermuda's first female barrister, first female Attorney General and the first woman Opposition Leader in a British Commonwealth country, serving as PLP Leader from 1968-1972 and from 1976-1985.

Mr. Butler said last night: "I will be having meetings with the business community and others to determine another day as National Heroes' Day. We will spend three or four weeks meeting with various stakeholders in the community to get their views.

"The first thing we are going to do is see if any of the holidays we currently have can be modified in any way, and then come back to the stakeholders to see if that is an option. We will have to determine whether we can add, subtract or amend an existing holiday."

He said any changes would have to be made under the Public Holidays Act of 1947.