By Sarah Bridge
Copyright caymancompass
People and businesses across the Cayman Islands are being encouraged to embrace the colour blue in honour of World Maritime Day on Thursday, 25 Sept.
Merle McGann, who bought the Sea Sunday celebration event to the Cayman Islands, is asking residents, tourists, homeowners and business owners alike to wear and display blue on Thursday to represent the sea and Cayman’s seafaring history.
Yards lit up in blue
McGann hopes that people will not only wear blue, but that people will light up their yards on Thursday night with blue and will venture outside for a walk to come out and look at the displays. In particular, McGann is asking merchants, restaurateurs, dive operators, boats owners, ship tenders and port businesses to light Seafarers Way in George Town in blue.
“The colour blue is important because it represents the sea and our seafaring heritage,” said McGann. “The Cayman Islands was built upon the sea and is on the world stage thanks to its maritime heritage. It’s so much a part of us that it’s in Cayman’s motto “He hath founded it upon the seas.’ ”
World Maritime Day was established in 1978 by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to highlight the importance of shipping and maritime activities and to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.
The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity” to shine a spotlight on the essential role the ocean plays in sustaining life and livelihoods and to encourage governments and organisations to safeguard the future of the oceans.
Once again, the IMO headquarters on the Embankment in London will be lit in blue for the evening and countries around the world including Australia, Saudi Arabia and the Faroe Islands also take part by lighting buildings in blue.
In recognition of the achievements of the Cayman Islands maritime sector, the Government Administration Building on Grand Cayman and the District Administration Building on Cayman Brac will be lit in blue on the night of 25 Sept.
The Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce said that people across Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are encouraged to wear blue on the day, and, if they wish, to light their homes and businesses in blue that evening.
Cayman Cabana restaurant is hosting its regular Farm to Table harvest and seafood event on Thursday evening and will be lit up in blue for the occasion.
“It’s a beautiful night of silence to represent peace throughout the world. No parades, no marches, no loud music – just a very open invitation to Caymanians, residents and tourists to come out and feel the true peaceful spirit of the people of the Cayman Islands,” said McGann.
