TCI Governor promotes Every day Heroism and “Giraffe Courage” on JAGS Day

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – We need to see ourselves as heroes-in-waiting ready to step up and do the right thing when the opportunity comes; that was His Excellency Nigel Dakin’s addition to the wreath laying ceremony in memory, “Our young people need to know that heroism is alive and well and it is  possible to be a hero right here and right now.”

Governor Dakin put the question to Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents; ‘how do we harness the heroic energy of people like JAGS and apply it today?’

Heroism he said was not about perfection rather it was action defined by at the very least four things:

• An act performed in the service of others who are in need
• An act done voluntarily
• An act performed without the anticipation of a reward
• An act performed with knowledge of possible risks and costs

The Governor maintained that heroism could exist in all areas, in sporting, art, history not just politics and the aim was to cultivate that heroism in everyday life in all Turks and Caicos Islanders.

It seems almost too easy to just check four boxes and designate a hero but that Dakin explains is exactly the point.

“The good news is we have far more potential heroes around us than we can imagine.”

In order to foster that potential heroism H.E. Dakin says our youth must be aware of it. Young and old alike must be able to see themselves as potential heroes and be ready with “Giraffe courage” ready to stick our necks out for the good of everyone.

“Acts of heroism don’t only come from truly exceptional people but from people placed in the right circumstance given the right tools to transform compassion into action…a first step we can take is to say to ourselves that were willing to be a hero in waiting when we see wrong we won’t just look the other way,” said Dakin.

He also encouraged islanders to do a better job of highlighting heroic role models in the everyday setting including, essential workers, in politics, sports, culture, special needs parents, athletes and artists who go above and beyond every day.