EDITORIAL
Living In Constant Fear
Monday, April 26, 2004
One feature of Cayman society that many newcomers and other observers find
quite astonishing in a place that promotes its friendliness, is the reluctance
of many residents, Caymanians and expatriates alike, to express their opinions
publicly for fear of reprisals from whatever public and private vested
interests that might be offended by reasonable criticism.
It has always been the policy of Cayman Net News not to publish letters to
the editor without including the name of the writer. However, in some
instances, correspondence that is clearly responsible and rational commentary
deserves publication even though the writer may wish to remain anonymous
because of fear for his or her personal and/or financial well-being.
We have, therefore, recently relaxed our policy against anonymous
publication in our new online forum as long as we are provided with a
verifiable way of contacting the writer. Sometimes, these submissions, in
addition to being published online, will also appear in the print edition of
the newspaper.
Nevertheless, merely providing a forum for the expression of valid
criticism does not cure the underlying problem – that of intimidation and
possible retribution – resulting in the suppression of the individual’s right
of full and free expression.
That such fears are real and not just imaginary has been demonstrated on
any number of occasions. Last year Mario Ebanks was dismissed as a Senior
Manager of the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche as a result of letters
written by him and published by another local newspaper, which were highly
critical of the Leader of Government Business, the Hon McKeeva Bush, and of
the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Indeed, a few years earlier, Dr Frank McField, now Minister of Community
Services, Youth, Sport and Gender Affairs, was dismissed from his then lower
level job with Government for writing a letter to the same local newspaper
that did not sit well with the Government of the day.
Cayman Net News has itself been the subject of several attempts at actual
and threatened economic and legal intimidation from both the public and
private sectors for printing the truth, so we can sympathise from our own
first-hand experience with those individuals who are fearful of reprisals
should they dare to voice their opinions.
The people of the Cayman Islands are supposed to enjoy complete freedom of
expression as, for example, provided in the European Convention on Human
Rights:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall
include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and
ideas without interference…”
Of course, an entire section of the population – civil servant – are barred
from speaking out on things even vaguely political by standing orders, which
is unfortunate because these are the people who have direct knowledge of the
workings of Government, and are therefore in a more informed position to
comment on the subject.
This brings us back to the regrettable situation touched upon in recent
days that individuals living in the Cayman Islands have been labouring under
for many years, namely, that having these rights in theory is worthless
without a practical means of enforcing them.
As one of our recent correspondents points out, there is an election coming
up in November, and candidates should be questioned and held accountable in
relation to their commitment to constitutional advancement and the inclusion
of a Bill of Rights.
Only with the establishment of legally enforceable rights will there be any
improvement in the shameful situation that exists in Cayman society where
individuals are afraid to express themselves.
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