Sir John Swan’s “significant contributions in the business arena and the world of politics” befit his designation as the island’s latest national hero, according to Sylvan Richards.

Mr Richards, the Minister of Social Development and Sports, made the remark as he responded to Opposition MPs’ questions on the selection of the former Premier for the accolade.

Mr Richards said the guidelines for choosing a national hero were “not mandatory processes that have to be followed”.

“When I look at all the different years going back to 2009 it was all over the map,” he said.

“Some years public submissions were requested; other years there were none. Some years there were national heroes named; other years there were none.”

Yesterday, Michael Dunkley, the Premier, was grilled by journalists when he announced Sir John as the national hero, after saying that he had been the only person to nominate anyone.

Mr Richards today maintained that submissions could be made at any point during the calendar year, and said the Government was not held to any deadline for submissions.

The minister agreed to a suggestion by Opposition MP Walton Brown that the “archaic” award system merited being enhanced, and said he would be open to reviewing it with him.

Progressive Labour Party MP Wayne Furbert asked if the Premier had used an official nomination form in submitting Sir John’s name, to which Mr Richards said he did not know — repeating that nomination guidelines had not been “the ten commandments” in the history of National Heroes Day.

Acting Opposition leader David Burt pointed out that requirements on the ministry website included deadlines for submissions, to which Mr Richards repeated his commitment to look at the regulations.

Mr Richards invited MPs to attend the induction ceremony of Sir John on June 19, at 4pm on the grounds of Cabinet House.

• To see Mr Richards’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”