No new names will be added to the list of Bermuda’s heroes when the Island celebrates National Heroes Day later this month.

It is the second consecutive year that the Island has failed to recognise any candidates eligible for the honour.

The scheme was set up in 2007 under the former Progressive Labour Party Government, and in 2008 the late Dame Lois Browne Evans became the first recipient of the award.

Government established a committee to review and select further heroes, and in 2010 members of the public were invited to put forward nominees.

However, Dame Lois — who was Bermuda’s first female lawyer, the first black woman elected to Parliament, the first female Attorney General and the first female leader of a political party — remained the only member of the exclusive club until 2011, when Dr Edgar Fitzgerald (Mazumbo) Gordon, Dr Pauulu Kamarakafego (Roosevelt Brown) and Sir Henry James (Jack) Tucker, were honoured.

In 2012, slave and champion of the abolitionist movement, Mary Prince became only the fifth — and to date final — person to be recognised.

Yesterday Government did not state why no new names had been selected for this year’s National Heroes Day holiday, which will be celebrated on Monday, June 16.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs said: “The Minister (Wayne Scott) is planning to make a statement in the House on Friday regarding National Heroes Day 2014 and 2015.

“The Ministry does not want to pre-empt his statement to the House.”

Former PLP MP Dale Butler, who as Minister for Cultural Affairs was responsible for setting up the award, last night criticised Government for failing to celebrate the event.

Mr Butler acknowledged that it was not mandatory to name new heroes every year but said claimed that the One Bermuda Alliance had never fully supported the initiative since its inception.

“I can accept that, from an economic point of view, they could save a bit of money by not having new names this year and I can accept that they have toned it down, but I really don’t appreciate it,” Mr Butler said.

“I don’t think it is really a part of the OBA’s philosophy to celebrate Bermudians. Their hearts are not really in it.”

Mr Butler added that the Island needed to do more to celebrate the lives of its heroes throughout the year.

“I think the sports clubs and schools and other organisations should be doing more to celebrate these individuals — why are we not celebrating them throughout the year, rather than on just one day? I think that’s more important than adding new heroes,” he said.

Bermuda Historical Society president Andy Bermingham noted that there were scores of people throughout Bermuda’s history who qualify for recognition as a national hero.

Mr Bermingham said he did not want to comment on why no new names were selected this year but was able to suggest several historic figures “off the top of my head”, who he said were genuine candidates.

According to Mr Bermingham, slave and pilot James (Jemmy) Darrell deserves recognition after he piloted the Royal Navy’s HMS Resolution safely into St George’s in 1795.

The feat enabled the Royal Navy to establish a foothold on the Island and also earned Darrell his freedom.

John Patton, who won a George Cross for defusing a bomb during the Second World War was another national hero who deserved an honour, according to Mr Bermingham.

Mr Bermingham also suggested that, as 2014 makes the 100th anniversary of the First World War, it would be fitting for all Bermudians who were killed in action during the 1914-1918 conflict to be honoured.