Coastguards raise Cayman’s colours

By Christopher Tobutt

Every morning at 8 am sharp, the Cayman Islands Coastguards march out onto the parade ground at the coastguard base at the end of Hurst Road, for a centuries-old maritime tradition. “This is called the ‘Raising of the Colours,’” Commander Robert Scotland, Commandant of the Cayman Islands Coastguard said. “It’s a traditional ceremony, and after the flag is raised, honours are given to the flag as the National Anthem is played.”

The coastguards man the base 24/7 in case of a maritime emergency, and they are up all night long, listening into the VHF (Very High Frequency) local radio waves for any kind of distress-calls from vessels, as well as the HF (High Frequency) radio waves of international vessels, making sure that all the people on the waters around Cayman are safe.

The green and yellow-coloured flag is raised, and then taken down again, before the Cayman Islands flag and the official Cayman Islands Coastguards Flag are unfurled. A Special brass bell is rung three times, Then Petty Officer Clarke and Able Bodied Seaman Dixon read out the list of duties for the coastguards under their watch.

“We always encourage people to take safety precautions when they go out on a vessel, such as life vests and flairs a mirror, you can have a VHF radio on board highly encouraged, and if you have a cell phone, make sure you keep it dry and fully charged. You can never be too safe. And above all, don’t drink alcohol and operate a vessel,” Commander Scotland said.