I nominate Joseph Berkley McLean for the category of Pioneer because I am extremely proud of the sacrifice that he made for his family and for his country during a time when there was very little in the Cayman Islands. He not only left Cayman at the tender age of 16 for a better life, but he excelled as a seaman and sailed for over 13 years, providing for his family and building up the Cayman Islands from afar. At the age of 13, Joseph McLean (affectionately known as Junior) became fatherless when his father Joseph McLean Senior passed away. At the age of 16, he left his beloved isle and joined National Bulk Carriers to provide a better life for his younger brother John and his mother Vella. Following his father's example, he sailed the high seas for the next 13 plus years. This sacrifice afforded his younger brother the opportunity to gain a solid education that allowed him to become a prominent and long tenured politician in the Cayman Islands. Junior excelled in every position he held starting as mess man and - through hard work, dedication and study ' later achieved the rank of third Engineer. During this time, he sailed to places such as the USA, the Middle East, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Ireland to name a few. He sailed on some of the largest ships of this era such as the Universe Kuwait, the Universe Ireland, and others within the National Bulk Carriers fleet. His career at sea firmly set the foundation for many within these islands and I believe that he is very worthy of this honor.

I nominate Joseph Berkley McLean for the category of Pioneer because I am extremely proud of the sacrifice that he made for his family and for his country during a time when there was very little in the Cayman Islands. He not only left Cayman at the tender age of 16 for a better life, but he excelled as a seaman and sailed for over 13 years, providing for his family and building up the Cayman Islands from afar. At the age of 13, Joseph McLean (affectionately known as Junior) became fatherless when his father Joseph McLean Senior passed away. At the age of 16, he left his beloved isle and joined National Bulk Carriers to provide a better life for his younger brother John and his mother Vella. Following his father's example, he sailed the high seas for the next 13 plus years. This sacrifice afforded his younger brother the opportunity to gain a solid education that allowed him to become a prominent and long tenured politician in the Cayman Islands. Junior excelled in every position he held starting as mess man and - through hard work, dedication and study ' later achieved the rank of third Engineer. During this time, he sailed to places such as the USA, the Middle East, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Ireland to name a few. He sailed on some of the largest ships of this era such as the Universe Kuwait, the Universe Ireland, and others within the National Bulk Carriers fleet. His career at sea firmly set the foundation for many within these islands and I believe that he is very worthy of this honor.