Online Forum - Website posting from caymannetnews.com

Thursday, April 14, 2005

• McLean’s sister now head of HSA
  Perhaps Gilbert McLean might wish to consider changing his political advisors because this can only be described as assisted suicide (political suicide that is !) Nepotism, nepotism and more nepotism! Gillie, you are finished my friend and you and your colleague Roy will be replaced in Cabinet with Tony and Charles and Bodden Town will finally see what can be done when you put country before self and hold firm to the principles of good governance. Tony and Charles, supported by Ossie, will do Bodden Town proud when we put these men in office on 11th May 2005. I hope that the Broom Squad Supervisor has his workers and his brooms ready for Roy and Gillie. Here comes the PPM train. - Conductor
  
   
• Detained Cubans seeking political asylum
  Although I feel compassion for these refugees, their flight from Cuba seeking freedom is laudable, however may I ask my fellow Caymanians one question and that is can Cayman afford to accept all refugees that land on her shores? I for one don’t believe Cayman is equipped to take in everybody that requests to stay; we Caymanians must set some limit. What would we do if 5,000 refugees landed in Cayman, would we then just accept them? I maintain we cannot - it would break Cayman.
  As it stands now our government is overspending. A good example of what I’m talking about is the difficulty the hospital has in keeping adequate staffing. Government can’t afford to pay for competent professionals; therefore they accept every Tom, Dick and Harry that presents themselves claiming to be medical professional. We may think that we have a huge economy, but we do not. We must make hard decisions that may not be popular, however we must look out for Cayman’s interest and that means saying no sometimes.
  I vote no to asylum, however I don’t see any reason we cannot give these people water, food, medicine and let them continue to the next destination, and while I’m on the subject we cannot keep granting statuses to everybody who comes to Cayman, stays for a few years and thinks they automatically are entitled to stay in Cayman. We have to temper our openness with some type of constraint and start limiting these status grants. We should have a quota, no more than a set number of statuses a year period. This would be consistent with practices that all nations enforce for their own survival. Cayman is moving too fast, the whole nature of the island is being undermined. As it stands today, the things that made Cayman unique is now so watered down, visitors cannot tell whose Caymanian and who’s not! - Concerned Caymanian
  
   
• Rudeness ruled the island
  What an excellent letter from a long-time visitor to Grand Cayman. Perhaps this visitor might take a trip to the Sister Islands, and he will be pleasantly surprised to find that the Caymanian hospitality and friendliness still abounds there, as long as you are dealing with the native Caymanians. His words of advice regarding the beauty of Grand Cayman should be well taken... “the inhabitants need to bring back the beauty of the people themselves”. If indeed it exists at all in Grand Cayman, any more. - Caymanian away from Home
  
   
• Statement from the Governor on crime
  Strange thoughts from the Governor in his statement on crime. Surely he’s not so naive to think that an experienced overseas officer will actually be put in a roll to investigate and detect crime? Surely he knows that they’re only brought over to spend 12 hours in lock up, or sit in a security hut outside his residence? Then watch over him for his morning swim. The sooner the RCIPS starts allocating their resources according to experience the sooner all of Cayman will see a drop in crime. (Though I know for a fact they would never admit to this). - Former Officer
  
   
• Bo Miller’s Hypocrisy
  Further to your letter from “Ex Pat” regarding prospective MLA Bo Miller’s view that ex pats should not be allowed to work on Cayman: It’s good to know that Bo’s political principles do not get in the way of him collecting rent from at least three of his many properties from working ex-pats!! How would you be doing for cash post Ivan without them, eh Bo?? - Martin King
  
   
• There’s more than enough to do in Grand Cayman
  Please let me say a few words for this column. I believe that Cayman should grow as the world grows, not to say that we need to be a great big water park, but there needs to be some activities for our growing tourist trade. If we don’t provide this they will go somewhere else to spend their money. There could be other activities for these tourists than just going to the Stingray City and the Turtle Farm. There is no excitement for the returning visitor. Maybe turn the downtown into a boulevard and have Caribbean music and some Caribbean food and arts & craft.
  We need to be creative in bringing something new to the scene. Maybe the government should employ a committee to come up with some activities and ideas. Something other than Batabano and Carnival. Something appealing to all people. - Julie
  
   
• Ex-pat bashing by politicians and locals
  I am writing in response to the cry-baby letter from “Ex-Pat” in your April 7 edition. I must say you are one bitter person. I am an ex-pat also and trying to make a life for myself in someone else’s country. A country which I may add I feel more fond of everyday.
  What I don’t need or want is for you to vent your frustration and prejudice, including your obvious dislike for 1. Caymanians; 2. Jamaicans; anyone else? Hey, you know if you don’t like it you could always try some other country. How about where you came from? Or didn’t you like it there also?
  There are ways and there are ways to move to another country and make a home for yourself. In case you’re too self-absorbed to know dissing the indigenous people is not among them. I don’t care if you went $40,000 in debt for your education. I don’t think anyone else does either. I think it’s great if post-secondary education is being subsidized. Are you jealous? Bitter?
  It’s great if you helped with beach clean-up. So did lots of others. You also mentioned it five times. Were you ignored as a child?
  I was also most interested to hear about frequent dining at “upscale” restaurants. Gee. Does that mean not many Caymanians? Get a grip.
  I quote: “if we weren’t here your little island would fall into disarray very quickly”. Who’s “we”?
  The vast majority of the Caymanian people I have met have been courteous, friendly and helpful. And classy. Not the kind of class you might find in an “upscale” restaurant goer. Real class. From within class.
  I have a suspicion if you do decide to leave; Cayman will do just fine without your likes and furthermore won’t even notice you’re gone.
  I apologize on behalf of other ex-pats for this rude and obnoxious person. Whoever you are... get a life. Preferably somewhere else. - Grateful Ex-Pat
  
   
• I’ll never visit Cayman again
  I was on vacation over the Valentine’s Weekend visiting my boyfriend who is there working. I am from the United States of America and he is from Jamaica. My vacation was a short trip (February 12-16) because I only had a couple off days from work and Valentine’s Day is his birthday so I decided to visit him.
  Anyway the time there was lovely but, when it was time for me to leave, I wasn’t allowed to board the plane, I was pulled off the line by Immigration, my luggage pulled off the plane, had to wait for what seems like forever to be searched again. When they finally found nothing, my plane had already left. The next one was a couple of hours away and I was to connect in Miami to come to New York.
  Anyway, after all of this, I asked what the reason was. They told me because I stayed for such a short time, had a Jamaican passport and was going to the USA I was suspected of trafficking money. It’s not like I went Jamaica to Cayman and then Cayman to USA. I left from New York to Cayman via Miami and was retuning that way.
  I will be a US citizen in a couple of months I left Jamaica 11 years ago. I work for a big reputable company in New York and everybody wanted me to tell them how my trip was so we all could go back for vacation in the summer time. What must I tell them? It was lovely? That would be a big lie.
  The way the Immigration officers treated me as a visitor I would not tell a dog to visit there. I have written several letters to them and all I asked for was an apology for all the embarrassment I went through walking back through the airport with officers, and no reply. Do they think the only way a Jamaican female can earn money is by drug or money trafficking? I am 27 years old with a Masters degree in accounting making about $70, 000 a year. Does this sound like someone who needs to traffic drugs or money for a living?
  Looking at me one would never think this because of the way I am dressed or look when I am away from the office. But what I am saying is, because I spent $600 on a ticket to come to Cayman for a long weekend to look for my man, I am now a victim. And this will remain in their computers forever. My man keeps asking me when he is going to see me again. My reply was as long as you are in Cayman – NEVER! - Lisa, Queens, New York
  
   
• If all ex-pats left
  If Bo Miller had his way, no ex-pats could work in Cayman. Let’s grant him his wish and see what this island would look like if all working ex-pats left tomorrow:
  There would be no tourist industry, because there would be no Filipinos to clean the hotel rooms, no Canadian students to man the bars, no Indians to cook the food etc, etc (leaving aside the fact that no international hotel would open here without at least some of their experienced staff moving here to set it up).
  There would be no financial services industry. Why would a big international law or accountancy partnership open an office here and give it totally to the control of Caymanians?
  Unless Bo knows where to find 10,000 Caymanians willing and able to take up these posts, the economy would collapse.
  So Cayman would have no tourism and no financial services, sounds like a Banana Republic to me, but then of course Cayman doesn’t even have bananas does it? - Anonymous
  
   
• Partner’s Organization
  I hope you will print my letter so that others will know that the Partners Organization that exists is not always as secure as we may think. I recently had a friend who lost some money in this organization. The person who was hosting the Partners that he was involved in made the unscrupulous decision to keep part of the man’s share. She had a lame excuse for why she couldn’t pay him the entire share that was due him!
  None of it was in any way this man’s fault, as he faithfully paid his dues each week for months. The woman was very indifferent about it and apparently she also stole another man’s share as well. Stole may seem a bit strong, but how else do you describe a situation where someone puts their money in trust and when it’s time for them to receive their “refund”, they only get half because the person in charge decides they need it instead?
  I am curious to know if other people have had this happen to them and what, if anything can be done. It seems like these dishonest people should be punished before they repeat their actions. No one should lose their hard earned money in such a manner! Any other time, stealing is considered a crime. Why should this be any different? - Concerned in the Brac
  
   
• Trade unions coming
  Will the social, economic and political landscape of the country be negatively affected? And what measures will be taken to address them? - Kay-Ann Forbes
  
   
• Give our boys support
  A very good article from a knowledgeable person who knows cricket. - Anonymous
  
   
• Concerns raised over 30ft sea
  Do ships and ferries coming in hurt the coral or the area around Grand Cayman? - J. T.
  
   
• Commuting to Cuba cuts medical costs
  Good luck to Ms. Myles and we will continue to pray for you. It sounds like a good option considering the mess that the Health Services Authority is in. I hope that the Bodden Town people fire him once and for all from his Ministerial position on 11th May so that Tony Eden can restore our Health Services to what it used to be.... and remember Bodden Towners that Tony needs Charles Clifford and Osbourne Bodden to help him get the job done right! - George Towner That’s Voting Straight PPM
  
   
• Double Standards
  So, Bo Miller doesn’t want ex-pats to be able to work? Perhaps he should tell that to the American woman working on this island that, the last time I heard, he is living with. - Gerald Adams
  
   
• Election Changes Proposed for 2004
  Given the improved accountability that mobile voting would offer to the Caymanian electoral landscape, why did the government so vehemently reject this proposal? Mobile voting would ensure the same level of scrutiny that is present at the stationary polling stations - aren’t all “democratic” governments in favour of such checks and balances? Isn’t such an improvement one that any honest and upstanding politician would desire for the people he/she claims to love and serve? Mobile voting would offer to the indigent and disabled voters who cannot physically get to a stationary polling station an opportunity to vote in an environment that is auditable, transparent, accountable, fair and just – features that are at great risk with postal ballots. Isn’t the country deserving of this? - Young & Educated
  
   
• Questionable purpose of CNB chairman’s comments
  I think it appropriate to comment on the article in the Caymanian Compass of 4 April in which Stuart Dack refuted your publication’s previous claim that CNB was held hostage by the LoGB, over the Cayman General Insurance settlement.
  It would be reasonable to ask why it took over two weeks for Mr Dack to express his concern - was he cajoled into going to press?
  And why was the original letter written as a bulletin to the world at large, and not as a personal note of thanks to the LoGB - especially when we know that the UDP and their leader would NEVER use something like this for political ends? - A concerned depositor

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