EDITORIAL

Giving Visitors A Taste Of Local Flavour

Friday, June 4, 2004

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Reader comments:

• I have visited the Cayman Island numerous times between October of 1999 and September of 2002 and have followed this debate with much interest about what is regarded as the "Caymanian Culture". Most of the arguments as to what this "Caymanian Culture" seem somewhat unsure in pointing at what exactly is the make up of your culture. If this is confusing to local people then how do Caymanians expect tourists to identify the Caymanian culture? When I visited the George Town area there was very little local craft on display that is uniquely Caymanian. Imported craft from China and Thailand as far as I am concerned is not unique. They can be bought at gift stores in North America.
  
  Countries that are successful at tourism have distinctive symbols that are somewhat unique in their own right to that particular region or country. Jamaica, Bahamas and St. Lucia were used as examples in your article. These countries have an important cultural component that makes them unique and appealing to tourist. Food is one such example. Jamaica for example is known for their Jerk spice and the Government and the private sector work together in using this to their advantage. Very few restaurants in Cayman are uniquely "Caymanian". Instead West Bay road looks like a street in downtown Miami with all the fast food restaurant or those that are not North American fast food franchise try to fit into this mould as closely as possible.
  
  Cayman need to identify and improve on aspects of their overall "Caymanian behaviour and symbols" of its citizens, improve on them and market these features. That way North Americans can identify these symbols and say Cayman. Just as Carnival is to Trinidad or Reggae is to Jamaica - Pernell
  
   
• I enjoyed this article very much. I too agree that the island has lost a lot of its local culture and flavour.
  
  I was born and raised in the States, but my mother was a Caymanian. Because of this, I was surrounded by an extensive Caymanian community. I enjoyed the dances, food, and the gatherings at the holidays and throughout the year.
  
  When I first came to Cayman it was during Pirate's Week. Again, there was the wonderful culture and history of the island. I was able to purchase products by locals, wonderful lamps made from wood, woven basket's, hammocks, local artwork, wonderful coconut cookies, and last but not least my favorite paradise plum candies. When I come back now, I am hard pressed to find such things. Advancement is fine. Please do not lose this island’s culture and rich history for the name of progress.
  
  On my last visit, I enjoyed seeing the Monument in town for the sailors and looked to see if I could find my grandfather’s name there.
  
  I think that when we are progressing that we should look and see what made us who we are - Cindy
  
   
• Caymanians have been lamenting over the lack of promotion of Caymanian heritage for decades. My ancestors never went diving, snorkeling or jet-skiing - although, these activities ARE beneficial to our islands' tourism industry. While our culture is constantly evolving with the influx of nationalities, our heritage remains unchanged - let's exercise active pride in it. Intermittent heritage week or quincentennial-esque celebrations are insufficient and ineffective for promoting and sustaining Caymanian heritage. Therefore, I implore the government to listen attentively to this particularly urgent cry from the public. We need to rediscover our heritage, re-teach it our children, and react quickly to its waning influence - Teresa Edie
  
   
• There is nothing confusing about Caymanian culture. We who were born here know what our background is, however in the last 20 years we have allowed a lot of aliens to highjack or influence every aspect of our society. We have been trying to accommodate every Tom, Dick and Harry's needs when they arrive on Cayman soil. For example, the proposed addition of a dolphin park in Cayman - we Caymanians don't have any relationship with these animals, but that won’t stop other people from presenting it as a Caymanian attraction.
  
  We have been selling our souls for a few $$$, then we ask why is our culture no longer known. What’s bothersome about the whole thing is the uniqueness of past Cayman, which is what tourists were attracted to, is now being destroyed for a generic falsification of what Cayman represents today. We are dying slowly and it's probably too late to be reversed. We are headed for the same fate as Hawaii, where they have to take DNA tests to prove their Hawaiian heritage. If they want to claim any ancestral properties, they have to check and prove their bloodlines - 1%, 10%... etc.
  
  Today 50% of residents of these islands are foreign with more rights than natives. Even now there are expatriates who believe they should run for the very highest elected positions in this country, even though they have only been here briefly. The bad part is that we have these stupid Caymanians that think this is okay.
  
  We better start recognizing certain facts about our dilemma and take appropriate action, such as foreigners can only whole certain positions in this country, like in England, America... etc. - Derrick Powell

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