Letter to the Editor
Retired seamen deserve everypenny they get as pension
Dear Sir,
This letter is in response to remarks madeby a caller to the Radio Cayman 'Talk Today' show, in which sheinsists that seamen do not deserve a pension from the governmentinn recognition of their contribution to the country. She evenwent as far as to claim that it was a disgrace, because seamenwent to sea for one purpose only, and that was to make a livingand to support their families.
Well, I do agree that was the primary purpose for which we wentto sea, but I will insist that in so doing, the country as a wholedid benefit from it.
First, I want this person, or anyone else who may think likewise,to know that I am not defending the granting of a pension forseamen, because I am one who is receiving it, because I am not.I am writing this letter in defense of us seamen, because I knowbetter than most people the great contribution that seamen madeto this country.
Let me say again, as I have been saying all along, how badly isthe need for real Cayman history to be taught, especially in ourschools, to the younger generation. Too many people, like thatcaller, believe that the Cayman they see today is the Cayman thathas always been. Perhaps, they are not to be blamed; they werenot taught otherwise.
Furthermore, the idea that Cayman's seafaring days was only whenthe National Bulk Carrier Company employed men from these islandsis being falsely promoted by some people and is wrong. To be sure,that was a time when more Caymanians were employed at sea thanany other time in our history.
But the fact is that these islands have always had to depend onour seamen for the major part of our livelihood, even in the dayswhen turtling and sharking were the main source of our livelihood,it was our seamen upon whom everything depended, surely, not farmers.
Common sense should tell us that those days, almost everyone waitedwith bated breath for the results of those voyages; the size ofthe catch, more or less, decided what the economy would be likeuntil the next season. There was not a bank on these islands thosedays; very few cars; no hotels, condos or restaurants for peopleto be employed in. And, I know this is hard for that caller andlots of others like her to believe, but it is the fact.
I personally can remember way back in 1946, the year after returningfrom the war, a company in Aruba sent here to recruit seamen toman their oil tanker fleet. A lot of seamen went from here andthe Brac and some Cayman seamen who were in Jamaica looking forjobs also.
When we started sending our allotments home to our families, theyhad to come through the government here from the company in Aruba.Everything was handled through the main Post Office. Our familiescollected our money from there and any cheques or money orderswe sent home was cashed at the Post Office the same way. Theresimply were no banks here, besides what was known as the Government'sSavings Bank, which was located in the old Government House, whichwas just what it said it was; a savings bank where you could savea few pounds; if you had it.
I remember after returning home from that voyage in 1948, my goodfriend, the late Mr Ernest Panton, telling me how that was themost money he had ever seen handled in this island, and how hardit was with such a small staff to make sure that everyone gotwhat was coming to them.
So, for the benefit of the lady caller and others who may thinklike her, Cayman was not always like this. And, yes, the Caymanseamen, at one time, made all the difference, whether she likesit or not, and any recognition seamen are given is well deserved.
Before I close, let me say, I too, am waiting and have been fora long time, to learn what really happened to the money collectedby Global Seamen's Union (GSU) as it was known. Somebody shouldhave an answer; it's time we have one.
Carley Ebanks,
West Bay