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No new National Heroes this year

National hero: Dame Lois Browne-Evans

There will be no new inductees into the National Heroes Hall of Fame this year, Government has announced.Instead, Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Scott said it was decided that “we should focus on the ‘Proud to be Bermudian’ theme, whilst also acknowledging past National Heroes”.The annual day of celebration always falls in June during the Queen’s Birthday holiday, which this year will take place next Monday.The initiative was first launched in 2008 when former Progressive Labour Party leader Dame Lois Browne-Evans became Bermuda’s first official national hero a year after her death.But no new heroes were announced in 2009 or 2010 amid rows over who should sit on the selection committee. Dr EF Gordon, Lauulu Kamarakafego and Sir Henry Tucker were selected in 2011 and last year Mary Prince was honoured.Explaining Government’s decision, Mr Scott yesterday said: “It was never intended that National Heroes be selected every year. For this year it was determined that we should focus on the ‘Proud to be Bermudian’ theme, whilst also acknowledging past National Heroes, as we push on with our social recovery.“Thus there will not be a new National Hero for 2013. We will take this year to reflect on the five National Heroes thus far, and newspaper notices acknowledging our National Heroes are already on display.”Banners celebrating the five national heroes have been placed at the following locations; Dame Lois Browne Evans at the Magistrates’ Court and Police Station; Pauulu Kamarakafego at Global House; Sir Henry Tucker at the Government Administration Building; Dr. EF Gordon at Bermuda Industrial Union Headquarters Building, and Mary Prince at the Fire Station. The banners will remain until June 21.