EDITORIAL

Silence is not always good

Monday,  October 17, 2005

To live in the Cayman Islands for any length of time is to become aware that Caymanians are traditionally a people not given to pointed public comments, particularly when they verge on the critical.

It is in the nature of our people to shrink from the confrontation, and to remain cordial in circumstances when others would become abrasive. Indeed, this disposition to always be hospitable is cited by many as an important factor in our tourism industry success of the past three decades. 

This fundamental Caymanian characteristic of cordiality is clearly there in our reluctance to speak out on issues, drawn undoubtedly from earlier times and from the influence of Christianity, but the evolution of modern Cayman suggests that our people now need to be more vocal about concerns, particularly in these changing times, or, to use the Caymanian vernacular, “dog eat your supper.”

A case in point is the recent newspaper comment by a prominent Caymanian here complaining about the rampant incidents of greed in the community following Hurricane Ivan with its insurance and re-building scenarios.

This comment stirred a response by one letter writer who disputed the assertion and claimed that such behaviour was excusable. The merits of this particular subject aside, it is refreshing to find a Caymanian, particularly a prominent one, willing to publicly stand up and point to problems in the society with the intention of drawing attention to the matter.

Far too often, in the past, our disposition has been to grumble one-on-one about this deterioration or that in the society but not to take the matter any further and, indeed to refuse comment when asked to speak on the issue known to be troubling to the individual. 

The frequent comment is, “I don’t want to upset anybody.” Charitable as this may be, the reality is that it is often only when you get upset that some people get your point.

The society is clearly now at the stage where the people who are concerned about what is happening to their country must speak out. This is no longer 1980 with things starting to stir.

This is 2005, in a dramatically changed country, with development and the consequent changes from that development, and social disruption, as well, affecting the indigenous Caymanians. 

Speaking softly, or not speaking at all, as in the old tradition, is now a perilous position to take. Not to speak about the negative consequences of this condition – or any other for that matter – is to leave the impression that all is well.

That, we venture to say, cannot be good for this country.

For things to be put right, for transgressions to cease, the agents of change, be they entrepreneur, foreign investor, politician, and many others, must be made aware of concerns. And to be fair, to those proposing changes, they are not going to see concerns when none is expressed. If we continue to grumble privately and shut our mouths in public, we are going to find ourselves more and more living in a country that we like less and less. Like the gentleman who spoke out recently about “greed” we have to turn the light on what we feel is wrong with our country.

In the face of concern, our silence is not going to get anything fixed.

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