Lettersto the Editor
Women be allyou can be for Cayman
Dear Sir,
I was very happy to hear the women in theCayman Islands who participated in the Talk Show on Talk Today,regarding the importance of the presence of more women in politicsand more women in Government.
As a male, holding a degree in politicalscience and a UK national I am very concerned that there are notmore women in the Government in these Islands, namely the CaymanIslands. I am convinced that this is the reason that there isa loophole for unprecedented breakdown in Government from timeto time and a continued threat to the stability necessary to surviveboth socially and economically.
Women play a role that is superb. They arelife givers. A woman is a tree of life - she is a peacemaker.In the home, she is the chief corner stone. In a business sheis the light that shines. A house without a woman is a destitute,barren land with no one to soothe or heal the wounds of the hurtand brokenhearted. Solomon said in the book of Proverbs: "Whocan find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies".Virtue does not relate solely to sexual preference; it is symbolicof a woman who is concerned about the home, the community andthe country in which she is a part. A woman's great sensors, coupledwith her expertise and skills and willingness to serve, drivesher to become involved with community groups and ultimately, theGovernment and Legislature.
I am driven to say that I am a bit disappointedthat a local practitioner in our community did not do a good jobin grasping or showing appreciation for the lady politician whocalled in some weeks ago. She was calling on the women of thiscountry to "get involved with Government and to prepare themselvesto serve in the Legislature".
Mrs. Florence Goring-Nozza made historyin tapping the awareness of the women in our society and encouragingthem to run for office. The country is at the stage in adulthoodwhere it is necessary for leading women's roles and involvementin our local government. I commend Mrs. Goring-Nozza for her boldnessand vision that obviously is politically comprehensive and articulatelycensored.
I also commend Mrs. Lucile Seymour and Mrs.Pamela DaCosta, who both were very articulate in explaining howsuch a process could work and the need for women to now get involved.Don't leave the home to the boys to take care of all the time;things just won't be right when you get back.
As a British citizen and an ex-pat, I urgethe electorate, the indigenous Caymanians to support and encouragethese women to move forward and support them morally and financiallyand vote for them at election time. Don't continue voting formen with big pocketbooks, start voting for women with big mindsand big intellect and most of all, unlimited political comprehensivecapacity to think, recommend, lead and direct.
I must tell you that I also possess a degreein Sociology and I can assure you that there will be more peace,harmony and more productivity and much greater accomplishmentsin your country when you open the doors to women and embrace theirexpertise.
I also would like to say that just becauseEastern Caribbean ex-pats marry Caymanians and have a medicalprofession, that this does not grant him or her a licence to publiclycriticise, resist, scrutinise and verbally disapprove of womenleaders in the Caymanian community who are female politicians,or group leaders playing an active role in Caymanian society.These women are to be cherished and supported as they are workingvery hard making a contribution to their community and they aretaking risks that most professionals at the highest level wouldnot sacrifice themselves for.
Women with guts and intelligence and charismaare not plentiful and it is time that everyone - young, old, richor poor - begin to appreciate and be very proud of those Caymanianswho have the right to and who exercise their constitutional rightwithout consultation with aggressive professionals, whether maleor female, having a right as born Caymanian to aspire or not aspireto a political office in Government. Those ex-pat objectors shouldnow discontinue interfering with the political affairs of therightful citizens of this country.
I would like to further state that localpractitioners should be careful not to venture too far, not gettoo deeply involved with certain political issues as this is notprofessionally sound practice. It is also not socially positiveor ethical practice for one who administers medical services inthe community to continue to meddle and be critical. Consequently,the end result would cause customers in the community to thinktwice about feeling comfortable in the care of one who gets soinvolved with local politics.
It is only reasonable for ex-pat professionaland medical practitioners to stick to their practice and leavethe politics to the women and men of this country whose constitutionprovides the right for them to exercise their prerogative to encourageand support whomever they choose to represent them in their legislature,whether male or female, and that the citizens of Cayman have thefirst voice to accept or reject. It is the sole business of thenatives of the territory and the citizens concerned.
I refer to the last constitutional review,on which I received a brief report at the George Town, Town Hallwith the Constitutional Commissioners, that some of these sameindividuals questioned, queried and scrutinised selfishly thepolicies explained by the Chairman, Mr. Benson Ebanks of the ReviewCommittee. These individuals demanded birthright privileges thatapply rightfully to the citizens of this country and taking littlethought for the first rights of Caymanians born in this country.
The Chairman of the Constitutional ReviewCommittee, Mr. Benson Ebanks 'off the record' responded that asan individual whose rights were not even being acknowledged, respondedto the individual "Well, what about my rights?" Individualslive in fantasy in believing that because they have a certaindegree or title that they deserve special privileges and thatthe feelings and wishes of others, even the citizens of theseislands are not be considered.
B. Herman
Liverpool, London England