Mary Prince

A Bermudian National Holiday tomorrow. The government decided to turn their back on the Diamond Jubilee, and a couple of years ago ditched the Queen’s Birthday holiday for a National Heroes Day instead. You know what, a day off work is a day off work in my book.

For the first three years the same national hero was chosen, Dame Lois Browne, Bermuda’s first female barrister and first female Attorney General. A perplexing decision and reasons only known to ‘The Naming and Recognition Committee in conjunction with the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.’ Oh yes an island of 65,000 inhabitants can have bureaucracy too!

Last year, not like there was a need to play catch up or anything, three heroes were honoured and this year despite my clamour for Shaun Goater, the government, with one eye on this year’s election the cynical would say, chose a woman called Mary Prince, who is considered to be Bermuda’s most famous slave. She was the first black woman to publish a book about the brutality of slavery and the book published in 1831 was significant because it was instrumental in helping to dismantle slavery in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

I have to say a far more honourable Bermudian hero than there has been in the past. Ok, I can see some of you yawning at the back. We will use the day to go swimming and of course ponder the new Championship season’s fixtures, which are announced at 9am GMT.