Cadet Corps receive a new leader

By Christopher Tobutt

It was an amazing spectacle of color, discipline and military precision as the entire Cayman Islands Cadets regiment with their bright red uniforms and brass buttons glinting in the sunshine, paraded their colors for their new leader, Commandant Errol Braithwaite, at the Truman Bodden Stadium on Sunday 22 October. Attending the handing over ceremony was His Excellency The Governor, Martyn Roper, and Hon Sabrina Turner, MP · Minister for  Home Affairs.

The outgoing Commandant, Lt Col Bobeth O’Garro dedicated twenty years of service to the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps (CICC) and her Country after being seconded to the CICC in 2002 from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service as acting Commandant from March 2008 until her appointment became confirmed five years later in 2013, where she remained until June 8th 2021. She became the first female Commandant in the region and is the first female head of a paramilitary uniform group in the Cayman Islands. During the course of her years of service to the CICC, Lt Col O’Garro has been awarded the Certificate of Honour (Cert. Hon.) Caribbean Cadet Medal (CCM), Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Long Service Medal, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her resolute contribution to the Country and Region.

Ms. O’Garro spoke about the early days of the cadets, when resources were low: “We were even struggling to get volunteers which at times, which required me as the Commandant to fill in by driving the bus and doing pickups, and even roughing it out in the bushes at camp. There were moments of frustration but there were even more joyful moments of leading this organization.” she said. “Watching our young boys and girls develop their skills through participating in the cadet corps has brought me most satisfaction.” Ms. O’Garro finally addressed the volunteers who dedicate their evenings, mornings and weekends to help the Cadets: “You are one of the greatest assets of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps,” she said.

The New Commandant, Errol Braithwaite commented: “There is perhaps no better time to reflect on the path which the CICC has taken, achieving success over its 20 years of existence. First and foremost I’d like to extend my gratitude to the Cayman Islands Government for its continued funding of the cadet corps. Secondly, I’d wish to express heartfelt thanks to the outgoing commandant, Lieutenant colonel Bobeth O’Garro and those who served under her command. “I must admit that when we first met, over 20 years ago, it was her, myself and Col. Philip Hyre who attended the initial training course in Barbados. It was a clear indication for me then that she was destined for success. I saw the commandants attending regional conferences over the years, we plotted along with our regional counterparts a developmental strategy for the regional cadet movement to advance from strength to strength.

Governor Roper inspected all of the Cadets. “I must say that we are extremely proud of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and everything that they do for our islands. You have become an absolutely fundamental part of the fabric of these islands and I want to pay tribute to each and every one of you for what you are doing for our islands thank you,” he said.  I really want to applaud Ms. Turner and this government for really making sure our cadets act as the feed organization for other uniform branches.”