Members of Parliament have approved legislation to create a selection committee to determine future national heroes.

Kim Swan, the Junior Minister of Tourism, Sport and Culture, said the National Heroes Act 2024 was intended to solidify the selection of national heroes and suggest how they could be honoured.

Mr Swan said the distinction was intended to be a “rare honour” bestowed on those of outstanding character who made a significant and lasting contribution to the island.

He told the House of Assembly on Friday: “This Bill seeks to codify the nomination process into legislation to ensure that the selection of a National Hero is driven by established standards and attributes rather than being influenced by any set of current events or political circumstances that may not stand the test of time.

“Public confidence in the National Hero selection process is essential to successfully maintaining the order of the heroes as a symbol of exceptional excellence, selected for the purpose of engendering national pride.”

Under the Bill, a Naming and Recognition Committee would be established to investigate potential recipients and ways to celebrate them through “tokens of recognition”.

“Tokens” mentioned in the legislation include renaming parks, buildings or places, as well as the commissioning of statues, monuments or plaques.

The seven-member committee would include a committee head, three members recommended by the minister, one member recommended by the Opposition Leader and two members of the general public recommended by the head of the committee.

The nomination process would begin with an announcement from the minister on or before October 1 this year and every ten years thereafter.

The amendments would only allow posthumous nominations for the honour, which would mean Sir John Swan became the first and last living national hero.

They would further allow the honour to be revoked if it was determined that someone named a national hero had engaged in a manner that would bring the honour into disrepute.

Ben Smith, the Deputy Opposition Leader, said that the One Bermuda Alliance supported the legislation and added that it was important for the island to recognise people who had made a positive impact on the island.

Derrick Burgess, the Deputy Speaker, said candidates should not be limited to those whose names are featured in the newspaper on a daily basis, urging the selection committee to look at “common men” who sacrificed for others.

“A hero doesn’t have to be anyone of prominence,” he noted.

“He could be anyone who does a deed, who saves a drowning child or something like that.”