Online Forum - Website posting from caymannetnews.com

Friday,  November 5, 2004

• Our prayers are with you during your time of recovery. All of us here in Florida had a taste of what you’re going through. If there are specific needs we can help with let us know. The Caymans are very special to us. Good luck and Godspeed in your recovery - Ron Winters
  
   
• I appreciate the quick response in giving information. I have many friends there that I worry about. Thank you - Scott Smith
  
   
• To George and Connie: thanks for enquiring about Paul, Joy and the staff of Spanish Bay Reef we are all doing very well and cleaning up the hotel - Glandeen
  
   
• Post Ivan Issues – Part 1
  If the letter writer “Perplexed in Prospect” is correct in the letter of rebuttal in regard to Mr. Clifford’s article, then I will keep quiet and see if in fact this team can bring in money to re-build Cayman, or if they will just be fattening up their own pockets as well as the pockets of Big Mac.
  I am for anything that is honest and in aid of my fellow Caymanians who have been brought to their knees by Hurricane Ivan. We are fighters, not trouble-makers, but stalwart people who are willing to stand and be counted when our homeland needs protection.
  Therefore, we are fiercely protective of the rights and needs of our people. Our suspicious minds grew that way through seeing so much graft and corruption growing in our leaders and politicians, so forgive us if we are cautious of trusting anyone any more. Nonetheless, it is an old adage that “To get money, you have to have money”, so perhaps if that is the case here, then the $975,000 will be well-spent.
  However, another Caymanian saying is that “The proof is in the pudding”, so we will have to wait and see just what this “Immaculate Saviour”, General Clarke and the Witt Group will actually do for us, and whether or not, they will give the local contractors and heavy equipment operators and owners a chance to earn some money to re-build their homes, and that of their family members - Fed Up With Mac
  
   
• Post Ivan Issues - Part 2
  Perhaps McKeeva would be well advised to swallow his pride and study Mr. Clifford’s very sensible suggestions instead of flying off every couple of days to different parts of the globe (on private jets at that).
  Guess how much that cost the country. Could we not use that money wiser in this time of great need?
  I believe that the politics of today has outgrown many of our older politicians, particularly McKeeva, and they should step aside gracefully and make room for younger, more educated strategic thinkers.
  CAL has postponed its launch of non-stop service to Boston from the end of October until the middle of December so they have already demonstrated that they agree with Mr. Clifford’s suggestion that they do so.
  McKeeva should not consider himself too big to take advice from others even if they are on the other side of the political fence. This is where he has gone wrong so many times before. Now is not the time to play games with the country’s future McKeeva - The Janitor
  
   
• Cayman Survives Four Days With Ivan
  Thanks for the news updates. Virtually no news about the Cayman Islands is available here in the US. We are so sorry for your losses and the personal upheaval of Caymanian families. You are in our hearts. Best of luck in your recovery and reconstruction - Robert Iverson, MD
  
   
• Sympathies to Cayman
  We have vacationed on Cayman for many years and own time at the Reef on East End (at this moment we have no idea of its condition) through which we have made many friends on-island. Throughout the storm we were thinking of everyone we know and hoping that they (as well as all islanders) stayed safe. Unfortunately the media coverage has been very poor in comparison to other, more populated affected areas so we don’t know how bad things are. It is easy to say that homes and businesses can be rebuilt but people cannot and, if everybody is safe, eventually things will be back to some semblance of normality. Best wishes to all - Stephen and Jane, Chesterfield, England
  
   
• Grand Cayman: ‘Devastation beyond imagination’
  God bless you all, you are in our thoughts and prayers. You have lost a lot but with the help of God you will rebuild your beautiful island. We were scheduled to visit form 22 to 26 September, but had to cancel, but we will be visiting as soon as we can. Take care all of you and God bless - Helga Bezuidenhout
   
• Our family is heartsick at the suffering of all of you who are so kind when we visit each year. How can we help? As soon as we can, we will contribute to aid and relief efforts. Know that you are in our hearts - Andrea in Niagara Falls
   
• The people of the Cayman Islands are strong in spirit and determination. It will be a difficult task, but you are survivors for your faith will see you through any challenge - Pat Miller, Houston, Texas
  
   
• Lara and Browne visit sponsor C&W
  It is so uplifting to us Caribbean people when we hear comments like these made by our young people. We are all saddened by these storms that afflicted us recently. I wish the West Indies team all the best in the near future. Keep up the good work, Lara. By the way, is it possible for me to obtain Lara’s e-mail address? Thanks in advance - Fan Mail, Jeannie D
  
   
• Cayman Net News is the only game in town
  I too must congratulate Cayman Net News. I am a Caymanian, but had to leave the Island right after the storm, and I can tell you it is a pleasure to be able to sit at my computer and read the news about Cayman. I cannot wait for my house to be repaired so that I can come back home. There is no place like home. Job well done, Cayman Net News. And also Cayman Airways, there is no other way to fly - Julie
  
   
• Cruise ships return to Grand Cayman on 1 November
  We are so happy! Thank you, thank you, thank you. We will spend all we can, do anything we can to help - Allison Burbank
   
• Cruise ships? How about electricity and water for the districts? How pompous can you get? - Ulysses S Dylan
   
• Thank God Mckeeva didn’t listen to people who were against cruise ships. Because where would we be without them? Thank God he didn’t listen to them about the dock. At least people can’t deny the fact that category 5 didn’t do much to the new dock. Obviously the recovery effort of dock versus the many hotels and condos that need repair is a much higher cost. In money and time and government resources. One can finally be thankful that we have cruise ships.
  Now for the North Sound - how can anyone deny what they saw? Everyone on Seven Mile Beach on the North Sound got flooded! Everyone on South Side got flooded if they were on lower than 8 ft above sea level on average. What difference does it make if there were large docking facilities in the North Sound now?
  I’ll tell you recovery times would be a lot faster! Your building materials would have been here already. Your cars, poles, water, generators, etc. But all some people could say was, “Mangroves will save us from hurricanes.” What a load of rubbish.
  The only things that saved us were concrete buildings that were 2 stories tall not too close to the sea. Did everybody see once and for all what happens to wood? We need proper laws to sue contractors who don’t build according to code. Building code. We think these insurance companies are helping us now, wait till you get the new premium. For house and car.
  Well I’ve been holding this back too long. But how about condemning Spotts in the area of Mariners Cove and Ocean Club? Maybe a public area in all other areas in Cayman where there was that much damage. Remember we weren’t hit directly by Hurricane Ivan. We need to build on higher ground and have drainage like Grand Harbour. Thanks I feel better - David
  
   
• To underinsure is a gamble
  Boy, does Mr. Ignatius Reilly have a surprise coming… unless he is rich enough that he didn’t need insurance in the first place. It is not as simple as he thinks... you don’t get the same percentage on your loss as the percentage that you insured your home or property for.
  Furthermore the payment for your loss is not figured on the value of the property at the time you insured it, and the insurance company never gives you any evidence of how they arrived at their estimation of the value of what you lost, so you can never fully insure your home and contents.
  If he has filed a claim and gotten a fair percentage of the amount he insured his home for, then I repeat, he didn’t need insurance in the first place, or has a foot in the door.
  The cost of replacing is always more than when you first bought the item, we understand that, however the insurance companies almost never replace the item for you, so when they tell you, you are under-insured, it means “We will give you as little as possible, of what you should really receive, for the money you invested in the coverage.” - A Victim of Insurance Company
  
   
• Waiting for ...the Buds?
  Cheer up Barrie - it could be worse - your insurer could be an unregulated offshore scam artist hiding behind secrecy laws on some Caribbean island who has no intention of ever honouring your claim - Mr Git
  
   
• Bodden Town picks up the pieces
  I would like to respectfully suggest that all new buildings which will replace those lost in the hurricane should be built in a Caribbean style… no more “Florida modern” for Cayman! Tourists can see American style buildings all the time, and will be happy to see the island with a real Caribbean character and style - Marion
  
   
• Former NDC Head Arrested In Canada
  Mr Shoniker has recently entered treatment for addiction to crack cocaine… I guess he really was an expert in narcotics - Schlitzey Mcghooghans
  
   
• Cayman Islands suffer ‘catastrophic damage’
  Thanks for keeping us informed as much as you can, we have many friends in Cayman - Mrs. Philip Schaper
   
• On behalf of all the people abroad with loving relatives and friends in the Cayman Islands, would like to thank you for keeping us informed since CNN stations have been totally neglectful. Great work and thanks again. I sincerely hope that “we will rise upon the seas.” - Chamaleon
  
   
• Thinking of you Cayman
  At this time, I want to tell you that you are in our thought and prayers. I used to live in Grand Cayman from 81 to 97 and my family and I have a lot of friends. I hope everybody is all right and I wish you all a speedy recovery - Max Briceno, Toronto, Canada
  
   
• Reply to I have observed some Jamaican nationals
  I thought it was very rude of the person who wrote that article to try and pinpoint Jamaicans like they are the only ones rejoicing over Hurricane Ivan.
  First of all, anybody who rejoices over Hurricane Ivan, shame on you because nobody should be rejoicing over something as devastating as Ivan. But as for the person’s comments on Jamaicans I personally have heard some Caymanians rejoicing over Hurricane Ivan saying it was needed to wash away the sins from Cayman.
  I do believe everything happens for a reason but should people be rejoicing over this natural disaster that caused such destruction? No way. Is it just Jamaicans? No. Caymanians? No. I’m sure people of many different nationalities living in Cayman have said the same thing, and in all cases it is wrong.
  I am a Caymanian and I have this to say to you, how many well-educated Jamaican teachers do we have teaching our children in Cayman? Many. How many well-respected Jamaican business owners do we have in Cayman? Many. Who does a lot of the hard labor in Cayman and builds many of our homes because many of us Caymanians feel we are too good to get down and dirty? Jamaicans.
  Who takes care of our children (they took care of me as a young child)? Jamaicans. Who sent supplies and aid after Hurricane Ivan? Jamaica. And who cooks a lot of that food that you will gladly sit down and fill your belly with if you get lunch or dinner in town? Many times I’m sure it is a Jamaican.
  I know many Caymanians aren’t as narrow minded as you but I am sick of hearing some of my fellow Caymanians look at Jamaicans like they are all bad. I swear many Caymanians if you black, and they don’t who you are, the first thing they will think is that you are a Jamaican.
  For the people that think that for your information Jamaica is an extremely diverse country.
  You have white (and I mean blond and blue eyed) Jamaicans, black Jamaicans, Indian Jamaicans, Spanish Jamaicans, Arab Jamaicans and Chinese Jamaicans just to name a few. And my final comment to the person who wrote this article is every country has their good and bad people, so get over it - Anonymous
  
   
• Chickens
  It seems that not to long ago ya’ll were worried and pondering the fact that you didn’t know what to do with all those wild chickens roaming the island. Did Ivan take care of that little problem that seemed so big way back when? - Diana
  • Editor’s note: The chickens survived - it seems they were neither drowned, eaten nor blown away. In fact, if anything there are more of them.

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