Online Forum - Website posting from caymannetnews.com

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

• In the rush to come back as a fully functional financial and business sector as well as a sought after tourist destination there could be an added burden to the brave if not heavy hearts of many people. That extra burden being severe personal hardships as many struggle to make lives and homes along with rebuilding the commercial sectors of the Islands with the deadlines that are being set by the government and private sectors.
  We have lived for many years in Cayman with a high standard of living that we have attained in a relatively short period of time in relation to our neighboring Caribbean islands. We are one of the only locations in this part of the Caribbean that has been able to bring our water and power online immediately after a category 5 hurricane after its direct hit to the island.
  Many who have never experienced this kind of devastation in their lives or even heard of it in the lives of their grandparents are quick to criticize about our government and their slow services but we need to realize that those people who make up our government body have had losses too and are putting the clearing of roads and placing of light poles above their own personal losses.
  We should not just be realistic about the timeline in which we want to accomplish goals, but we need to see that losses in business, in tourism, in finance, and personal wealth is something that might be permanent in a lot of people’s lives as well as the country on a whole, and that is something that many will never be able to recover from and will take the country time to be able to offer its wide rang of services and attractions.
  There are people who will leave and may never return, investors who will seek other islands, and Caymanians that will seek to rebuild somewhere other than Cayman. We are racing against a global market, and we will fall behind while we get back on our feet.
  We need to take these losses as part of the affects of a natural disaster and not that of a lack in funding or services by the government. These are things that do happen in the wake of a disaster. Survival can make monsters out of the kindest of hearts, and people will disappoint us.
  I do agree with many who have written already that trying to open the Island to tourism too early may do more harm than good, and tourists do need transportation, food and a place to rest. But as much as we need the gains from the tourist season before the end of the year, our people need money to rebuild their homes and our children need to be in school. I would love to see a healthy bustling George Town, but many people still have no roof and can’t afford to put gas in their cars or have money to cook a meal for their family every day.
  There are many people who hardly have clothes to wear on a daily basis and who still keep buckets of water to bath in the morning, and wash their families’ clothes with the two hands God gave them, and not every one can afford to have a generator so they keep the good old candles burning at dusk.
  There are people who are broken- hearted and, like me, cry when the trials of just living and getting by each day weigh heavy on over-worked backs.
  Who sleep at nights in the blistering heat and cook over coals. Yes there are many who are living as many people do in less developed parts of the Caribbean. There is no shame in having to ask a neighbor for food, but there should be in quick tempers and lack of compassion, we all have it hard.
  I congratulate the efforts of every one no matter how small to make it to the ultimate goal of how Cayman was before the hurricane, but at the end of the day we go back to our families and loved ones. We the people of Cayman need the basic necessities to live each day and I just hope that during these times that PEOPLE are being given high priority and consideration.
  Rebuilding and working are needed to get us back on our feet, but not giving people enough time to be able to give their day to day life some kind of stability will have its toll on over-worked backs.
  They say, “Time heals all wounds”, but it also says, “Time wounds all heels.” We need to give the people sufficient time to be able to help build back the Island but at the same time to be able to build back their own altered lives.
  God bless every one, and keep up the good work - Anonymous
  
   
• I would like for the consideration of a National Day, whereby the people of the Island could have a day of relaxation and thanksgiving. Maybe a small fair where children could have balloons and local artist would not find it too difficult to entertain with songs and people of the public could have a chance to publicly thank outstanding acts of humanitarianism.
  I think that right now it would help the spirits of many as well as act as a ground for people to socialize and come closer together. I hope this request is not seen as inappropriate due to the already limited resources, but I am one of many who have lost every thing and I would love to have the feeling of my heritage as a Caymanian as well as our culture to embrace at this time. It’s been hard for every one, but I think we all deserve a big pat on our backs for our great courage and determination in rebuilding - Anonymous
  
   
• My husband works in Cayman as an expatriate and still staying there for thick and thin. He does not know his position and is still waiting for the outcome of job offerings. I hope the Cayman government can find more jobs especially for those expatriates who are trying their best in the recovery of Cayman. Thank you - Luisa
  
   
• Prayers for your safety and for your rapid recovery! - Cotton Family
  
   
• Having lived in Grand Cayman for 5 years in the ‘80’s, I have a deep love and respect for the peoples of the Islands and send love and prayers for the victims of this terrible tragedy. Love and prayers to all. I hope my friends I am in contact with will see this and call me in Florida when they can - Marilee
  
   
• Bless you all at Cayman Net News (and the rest of the Island) for maintaining this information link for those of us away from home. It was the only source of information about Cayman; at least until some phone service came back. Even though the information published in the U.S. is minimal to non-existent, there are several organisations and church groups within parts of Florida (maybe others) that are organising what relief supplies they can to send to Cayman. If this news service or anyone else can post an address (the British Red Cross?) where these supplies can be sent, please do so as soon as possible so that others can help. Thank you and may God be with you all - Michelle C.
  
   
• Thank God all are safe! Wishing you the best on Cayman Brac. I miss all my friends there and hope to see you soon- Bonnie Scott
  
   
• Thank you ‘Radio Cayman 89.9FM’ We tune in every day. It is great to hear local Cayman news! - Aaron and Annamarie, BC, Canada
  
   
• Heavy fine for price gouging - Legislators
  Fairness at last. This historic piece of legislation has been long overdue, and hopefully, we might some day soon, even make price gouging illegal in “good times”, as well as “the bad” - Jubilant Caymanian
  
   
• Tackling the issue of accommodation
  I assume that Mr Culbert is not speaking for his employer when he says that he will not deal with landlords who wish to increase rent, as Rainbow Realty increased my rent 30% effective November 1 - Anonymous
  
   
• CUC continues to connect Grand Cayman
  I want to find out how come until now we haven’t got any reconnection in our area at Selkirk Drive Redbay.Its been more than a month now since the workers from overseas laid the new electrical wiring ( thanks for their excellent work by the way) ...kindly note that till now we have no electricity... many thanks - Pykes
  
   
• Cayman currency should be devalued
  I would propose that I get a pay raise to help me pay higher insurance costs and cost of living in general post Ivan but that is not going to happen either. Why is it that some Americans just cannot accept that our currency is worth more than theirs! - Richard
   
• Sorry to hear about you losing 20% of your money but we have a lot of rebuilding to do so we can’t afford to devalue our currency. If you can’t afford to visit I suggest you visit somewhere else - Anonymous
  
   
• Plans Move Forward on Beach Bay Club Resort
  I own property there and have been in contact from day one. My company and myself sent 5 generators, chainsaws, industrial sump pumps and 800lbs of food for diabetes, and canned goods. You are always in my family’s thoughts… see you soon - Jay Saternow,
  The Grandview on Seven Mile Beach
  
   
• Beulah McField: God and Families in the LA
  I do not think this is a good decision to let this woman run for the position in the House. This lady does not have the ability to connect with her people. As far as I am concerned she should stay serving the people by distributing food and helping the homeless as she has been doing. This suits her personality, not running for the House. I do not know what else will happen in Cayman. There are other smart people in the Cayman Islands that can better suit this job. Please! - Concerned Caymanian
  
   
• Poor treatment on British Airways
  Tell her to stop moaning. I work for British Airways and am a pilot captain. She is lucky I was not on the airline in question. I would never have had him on if I found out he had restricted items anyway. We are a company to make money not hand out charity to a very wealthy rich Island of the Caribbean. Look to some of the rich people who are residents of the Island and ask them for a hand out not British Airways - Dave
  
   
• Cruise ships return to Grand Cayman on November 1
  Congratulations Grand Cayman. We have visited many times on cruise ships, but skipped in November. May your Islands and people be blessed with fair skies and smooth seas. See you next year - Joe Kelly
  
   
• The life and times of Hurricane Ivan
  Please can you advise where the data quoted in this report came from? Thank you - Dave
  • Editor’s note: This was all given to us in an interview with Fred Sambula, Chief Meteorological Officer with the CAA.
    
     
• Diving in Cayman to be better than ever
  I had reservations for 10/10/04 to 10/18/04 and had trouble with Delta letting me change my destinations. Maybe I will try to make it in 2005 - Ron Witcher

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