I Continued to hope forJustice - and Caymanian Status
by Christina McLaughlin
Ever since the report by the Sub-Committee on Immigration waspublished a couple of months ago, and the Chamber of Commerce'sluncheon meeting held at the Grand Pavilion when it was firstdiscussed, I have had glimmers of hope, that my problems may besolved.
My family attended the meeting at the Cayman Prep School a monthago, organised by Mr. Billy Adam and the Chamber of Commerce.At this meeting, my mother took the microphone during the audienceparticipation and addressed the panel. It seems that our casewas similar to many other residents on the island who have beendenied Caymanian Status. Our family members have lived here continuouslyfor years - some with status and some without.
Our problems with the Immigration Board are many, but to beginat the beginning, my mother, Mrs. Reina Watler, was born in BoddenTown 79 years ago and is a third generation Caymanian. She gotmarried in Honduras and had six children there: Billy, Walter,Orvin, Francine, Sonia and myself. Sonia lived here for many years,but died in Honduras.
I have been married to a Caymanian from East End for the pastten years. I hold a Cayman Islands passport, which was first issuedto me in August of 1966 and renewed in 1976. When I went to renewit again in 1987 I was told by the then Chief Secretary, Mr. ElmHurlston, that I had to wait four years. When I returned to thePassport Office in 1991, after waiting the necessary four years,they refused to renew it.
I have lived here for 24 years. I was even denied a passport whenI desperately needed to travel to the United States, in Januaryof this year so that I could accompany my husband on an emergencyflight to Baptist Hospital in Miami. I pleaded to both Immigrationand the Chief Secretary but neither of them would help me.
My brother Margarito, Jnr. is also married to a Caymanian, andhas lived in Cayman for 37 years. He has applied three times forCayman Status and has been refused each time. However, Margarito'ssister, (born in Honduras) applied for Status and received itin 1994 with no problem. Her two sons also have Status.
My brother Oscar, has lived here for 34 years and applied forStatus and he too was refused. On top of all of this, it is sadto say that at this particular time Oscar's son, Oscar Lee Watler,is waiting for a kidney transplant. Oscar Lee was born in Caymanand lives here with his mother. Oscar has had to leave Caymanand move back to Honduras, leaving his sick son while he awaitsnews of a kidney donor.
My sister Francine, owns her own home and other apartments whichshe rents out. She has been here 25 years and works at the GeorgeTown Hospital. At one time she was also married to a Caymanianfrom West Bay, but they were later divorced. Francine has onechild born here, with Caymanian status, but Francine has alsobeen denied status.
At the meeting held at the Prep School, we heard a lot of verysad and heart-breaking stories, but one story in particular mademost of us angry: ExCo had given Status to five football playersjust so that they could play football for the Cayman Islands.Of course, by the time this was mentioned by a member of the audience,the three politicians who had come briefly to the meeting, hadall left.
Anyone at that meeting at the Prep School would have shed a tearwhen they heard a distraught mother, married to a Caymanian man,yet unable to be with her baby.
I must thank the Chamber of Commerce, and in particular Mr. BillyAdam for working so hard on behalf of Caymanians like myself whohave been treated so badly and with no just cause. Even the lettersof rejection that are sent out routinely give us absolutely noreason stating why we are rejected.
With such heartless decisions one is left to wonder who are thesepowerful people who deny our rightful place in Cayman and havethe capability of keeping families split up. I hope and pray thatthe next Government will address this question of Caymanians whoare refused status.
In closing, I would like to thank some wonderful and caring Caymanianswho have helped me and my family through all these years of applyingfor permits and status and especially Mr. David Foster , PastorMarcus McLaughlin, Harry McCoy, and Errol Bush. And to you, also,Cayman Net news for agreeing to publish our cause.
My family and I will continue to have hope, and pray that theinjustices we feel that being done to us will be resolved.