Online postings from caymannetnews.com

Friday, October 8, 2004

• Number of casualties should be revised
  I agree wholeheartedly with this letter writer, and I suppose if it is true that the Government is not revealing the truth about the death toll from Ivan, is that they have to identify the dead, and then notify their relatives abroad as well as locally. No wonder they don't want people going into East End. They may never know the true figure of the death toll, because many of the victims of Hurricane Ivan may have been swept away to sea.
  At the same time, it angers me to think that McKeeva Bush could be more interested in hiring a "big name" guy from abroad and give him and his cronies a big contract, to tell us what we have done wrong, and what we need to do to correct it.
  I believe that sensible Caymanians know what we did wrong, and one of those things is allowing McKeeva Bush to propel himself into power like Castro and Hitler. We also know what we need to do about it, if only the people in West Bay will stop selling their country down the drain for a few favours from McKeeva Bush. They need to remember what the Bible teaches..."Of what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" Does God have to swat everyone again, or let Satan have his sway, before we can learn? - Saddened Caymanian
  
   
• Not The Kind Of Military Cayman Was Expecting
  What in the world could be so important, that McKeeva Bush, had to travel to New York right after signing that infamous contract with Wesley Clark and his crew? And why did McKeeva Bush have to be accompanied by his Chief Government Information Officer? McKeeva has no doubt broken the record for his multiple trips abroad at the expense of the Caymanian people, and to do it at such a time this when he and the Chief Information Officer should be at their posts in Grand Cayman is truly outrageous.
  Of course he will manage to get himself in the limelight, and whatever he is up to, will come up with excuses for it. But the bottom line is, he should do like Aston Rutty did after the 1932 hurricane… stay with his people, encourage them not to give up, and stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone to re-build Cayman Brac. I'm not a Bracker, but I knew the man, and regardless of any of his other shortcomings, he didn't desert his people, or go Jetting off in a Lear Jet with any millionaire rich guys with questionable ethics after the hurricane. - Angry Caymanian
  
   
• Cayman Net News also affected by Ivan's path of destruction
  Your efforts are most noble and praiseworthy. Your coverage of the health concerns especially needs for vaccines (or not) is to be commended, as is your overall news and editorials - Dr. Joe
  
   
• Time to unite
  I would like to congratulate the government of Cayman, specifically the Immigration Department. What they did was right and this is not the right time to be onion-skinned for those who were not allowed to enter the said island after being hit by Hurricane Ivan. These people will only add to the plight of those people who are already having some predicaments in Cayman brought about by the said catastrophe. Please let us all join hands in rebuilding Cayman and be patient, for the right time will come for all of you to visit and see again the beauty of Cayman. To Mr Manderson, just keep on doing what you have started and may the glory of God be with you. Shalom - Norvin L. Tamisin
  
   
• UK mandates that elections be held in May 2005
  Now isn't that convenient? Can anyone doubt that Satan (Lucifer) was the force behind Ivan the terrible (the hurricane and the man from history)? Can't we open our eyes and see that the corruption that was taking place in the political arena of the UDP and other areas of Government caused God to have to take his hands off Cayman? Still, God protected His people. Now because of all this, the elections had to be postponed, and the UDP is in power longer, and wants to be in power another year.
  I will pray fervently that we can have an election in May or earlier, and I will pray fervently that since the delay has now allowed time for the British subjects who have lived and worked amongst us for many, many years, and many of whom are followers of our Lord Jesus, and people of integrity, will step up to the plate and declare themselves as candidates for our Assembly. If the 3,000 new Status people can vote, then by the Grace of God, so can the British residents run for our Parliament. It is already evident that those in power both in the Parliament, and the Government, plan to continue their greedy and destructive ways - Overwhelmingly Dismayed
  
   
• A reminder of how the Cayman Islands helped Britain in the past
  So we in the UK owe you in Cayman do we? Cayman, basically an ex-parish of Jamaica which declined independence in 1967 because it feared direct Jamaican rule, now uses the UK flag as its trading logo and for the last 15 years wanted little or nothing from the UK, except its own way on every issue.
  This new 'nation', that would not even half fill a UK premiership football stadium, conveniently forgot all the free UK expert technical and financial help it received to set up the community and business infrastructure that made its 'economic miracle' possible. Free to you but paid for by UK taxpayers.
  Or am I missing something, did Cayman just happen to have several centuries track record of being a major, global financial player and be filled with all the technical expertise and capital required to establish a modern economy but just hadn't got round to it because rope making was more fun ?
  Cayman developed a very instrumental attitude to people who helped it develop; once they have exhausted their money, expertise, ideas or utility they are shown the door as soon as possible and a Caymanian takes credit from that point onwards.
  Well you say you built it all up from nothing once - and have 500 heroes to prove it - so you can do it again can't you ?
  You may have to. There are no votes in giving UK taxpayers money to a tax shelter with, as you never tire of telling us, the fifth highest per-capita income in the western hemisphere.
  No dubious New York PR company is going to change these perceptions in the timescale of the upcoming UK elections, predicted for spring 2005. UK taxation is going to be one of the big election issues.
  Your latest, 'hero', Tim Adam has made you few friends in the UK by urging an American takeover of the island at the height of the hurricane crisis - the underlying anti-British sentiment in some quarters of Cayman surfacing there under stress.
  Looks like our money is good enough for you in Cayman although nothing else we have is.
  Okay we owe you half a million for the Falklands - if you meant it as a loan not a gift. And thanks for writing off our WW II war debt - we probably overlooked it while rebuilding our bombed out cities. They were a mess, looked worse than if a hurricane had hit them every day for six months.
  Good job we won though, otherwise the white Caymanians would be speaking German and the darker skinned ones - well maybe they wouldn't be around at all.
  Oh and God bless you all on your wonderful island paradise - 'Tommy Atkins'
  
   
• Survival After Ivan
  I would like to submit my comments after the hurricane. I left the Island on September 21 and went to the UK. I was and am still horrified at the lack of news here about the Cayman Islands. I am not a British citizen but would have thought that the UK government would have at least helped their citizens at this time of need! I would also like to thank Cayman Net News for their terrific coverage. I was always a Compass reader but after seeing what you have managed to do during this time, kudos to you and you have a reader for life. I would also like to mention that the laying off of staff at the Compass also left a very bitter taste in my mouth! - Nadya Isack
  
   
• Weather Channel acted as if Cayman did not exist
  In my home at the time I had two relatives from Grand Cayman and we were very upset at the almost non existent coverage of the storm, had it not been for sporadic cell phones we would have known nothing… shame on the Weather Channel. My last visit to your island was over Easter and hope to return when we here in Florida recover from our last storm. God bless… to all the wonderful people at The Seaview, I’ll see you again for another hug - Geraldine A Ray, Melbourne, Florida
  
   
• Ivan's island-wide carnage
  My wife Nancy and I own a condo on Seven Mile Beach. From the pictures that we received from our complex manager David Couper, it looks like we sustained quite a bit of damage. I feel for those who have to live there as a resident and find that they have lost everything they own. I pray for those who have suffered loss of life and any injuries. Remember the Island will build with the determination of the great Caymanian spirit that we remember and love. God bless Cayman, you’re loved dearly. Your adopted family - The Bruce and Nancy Becker family, Plymouth, Indiana, USA
  
   
• Rumours or the Truth?
  What is REALLY going on? I just visited the BBC News website and a certain reporter claimed that he was "refused permission to visit" Cayman. So it's his word against the Caymanian Government. Frankly and regretfully, I'm more inclined to believe the "foreigners" now.
  If we are trying to save face, then the effects of this storm haven't changed some of the government officials one bit. From what I can understand, Cayman is not fit for receiving tourists anytime in the near future, so why don't we just count our financial losses and concentrate on more important and immediate issues like the morale of the citizens. The foreign press, which the government is allegedly ignoring, is making a mockery of the Cayman government's idealism.
  As a born and bred Caymanian I appreciate what the tourism and banking industries do for the local economy. But who wants to vacation on an island with scant infrastructure, eroded beaches and wasteland-esque scenery? If residents are so appalled by the damage and skeptical of the promised speedy recovery, do we expect anything different from the tourists?
  I believe in optimism, but it must be coupled with realism! I believe in the resilience and fortitude of my Caymanian people. I just don't know if I believe in or understand the interests of my government - Teresa
  
   
• Setting the aftermath of Ivan straight
  As regular visitors to Grand Cayman over a period of ten years, and having been on the island when Mitch was threatening, we were grossly disappointed in the coverage given to your disaster in the UK. We know people on the island and wanted to know if they were okay and how parts of the island we knew had fared. One report on BBC simply wasn't enough. Caymans are part of the U.K! There are lots of people here that would like to have known. Via reports such as yours one Caymanian lady contacted me via e-mail and we shared any knowledge we had, including how to contribute to any relief efforts.
  We know Caymanians to be proud and resilient people who are truly welcoming to visitors and wish you all the very best in rebuilding your lovely islands. Never having visited the other islands we can only be grateful that (according to reports) they and their residents survived. With all best wishes, and thanks to you for updating us with as much information as was possible - Vivienne and Veronica
  
   
• Disappointed in the American news and weather coverage
  I too have traveled to the Caymans and I'm concerned about my friends who live there. Also, I'm very disappointed in the lack of US news coverage regarding these Islands. I've not seen one picture of what has happened there but we continue to see coverage of Cuba and Haiti. I've yet to make contact with my Caymanian friends but will continue trying to reach them. Thanks for your web site. It's been my only way of feeling some connection with the Islands and the Caymanian people - K. Frederick
  
   
• The loving and steadfast people of Cayman will rebuild
  I am a close personal friend of the late Hurley Merren. I have been told that the Hurley's Supermarkets have been providing the bulk of all food for the citizens of Grand Cayman, which is an enormous challenge. I have yet to read anything about the efforts that they are putting forth to ensure that every Caymanian is fed. Hurley would have wanted nothing less than the best for his people even in times of hardship - John Felder
  
  Editor’s note: Please see our article entitled “Hurley’s rallied to feed the people” in our Friday, October 1, 2004 issue
  
   
• Grand Cayman: 'Devastation beyond imagination'
  We are living in squalor trying to help the less fortunate. Working for the future of Grand Cayman. This is a grim process. The future is without much brightness. I have tried apartment hunting only to find slovenly places to live, overpriced with no power or water. Is this where we are headed? I have been emotionally drained of energy to support the battle anymore. What is next? - Valery Hanst RN CEN
  
   
• Overseas electric crews assist CUC
  I'm glad to see a story about our guys from Newfoundland. Ed Penell and Dave White (the two guys in your story) work with my husband Adrian who is also from Newfoundland, Canada - Bonnie Whelan
  
   
• Boston Trio Recounts Ivan's Wrath
  I am so annoyed after reading the report in the Boston Channel from Bob Cullity who stated that bandits had moved in and were robbing people and taking their food after Hurricane Ivan. Mr. Cullity, you should get a life! People may have been desperate but they were far from being "bandits". We don't need people of your calibre here. There may have been looters but not of the magnitude that you have presented to the outside world. And, for your information, there was a lot more than "peanut butter and crackers" to eat.
  American media did a poor job reporting this storm, considering we are so close to their mainland. Why didn't they send some of their reporters here to report during the storm, as they did for Jamaica and Grenada? Anyway, I don't even know why I bothered to clarify this report because I'm sure there will be many such reports in the foreign press!! But, I can assure you that Caymanians are strong people and we will rebuild this Island, with or without the help of people like you. - Caren Thompson

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