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Cayman Net News' Bookshelf
As I See It: How Cayman Became a Leading FinancialCentre
By Sir Vassel Johnson, KT, CBE;
The Book Guild Ltd., East Sussex, UK; Hardcover, 425 pp. withindex/ ISBN #1857765966
The title of Sir Vassel Johnson's masterfullywritten memoir is misleading: it fails to convey the depth andscope of vital historic information he presents. As I See It:How Cayman Became a Leading Financial Centre is important as thefirst comprehensive account of the development of Cayman's financialindustry.
However, there is much more within these425 pages. The book's lengthy index reveals the broad range of20th century subjects it covers, ones critical to understandingcontemporary Cayman and often taken for granted today.
From the origins of our currency to the impossible task of mosquitocontrol; the controversial creation of Cayman's Marine Parks andfounding of the National Trust. Many of these important topicshave escaped or eluded Cayman's contemporary consciousness, muchless been presented in such eyewitness and historic detail.
This work is both a captivating autobiographyof the remarkable man who masterminded Cayman's offshore financialindustry and an invaluable historic reference work that belongsin every Cayman business and home library. It is also a timelyantidote for the kind of cultural amnesia that can cripple smallcountries: A wake up call and reminder that only in understandingour past can we chart a course for the future.
As I See It, is not light reading-but itis compelling from cover to cover. This is book of tremendoussubstance, whose chapters are filled with unexpected materialthat together explain what made Cayman the country it is today.
This is neither straightforward autobiography nor merely casualmemoir. Sir. Vassel draws on his personal experiences in orderto share first hand knowledge of the previously unwritten historyof modern Cayman. It is that specific history book this countryhas waited for-and needs now more than ever.
The first two parts share Sir Vassel's recollectionsof the challenging early years of his family's life in Cuba andCayman. These pages provide valuable insight into this remarkableman who in 1993 was honoured to become Cayman's first and onlyknight. Rather than present strictly an autobiographical narrativethroughout As I See It, Sir Vassel combines fascinating autobiographicaldetails with relevant personal observations.
Humorous anecdotes provide a delightful"insider's" lagniappe however, they make the readerwish Sir Vassel had included many more. The result is a very entertainingliterary style that encourages the reader to continue and at thesame time, allows him to understand often-complex accounts ofthe development of Cayman's financial industry.
His life story is an extraordinary one. But the author downplayshis own remarkable life history, using it instead as a platformto outline Cayman's history and how work affected the developmentof his adopted country. As the book progresses into his career,the subject matter becomes more complex.
Sir Vassel Godfrey Johnson. Kt., CBE, JP,entered the Civil Service as a clerk in the Courts Office in 1942.He joined the Cayman company of the Jamaican Home Guard laterthat year and following his discharge at the rank of Sergeantin 1945, he returned to the Civil Service a Clerical Officer inthe Department of Treasury.
From 1965 until 1972 he was the country'sTreasurer and Collector of Taxes and Economic and Financial Advisorto the government. In 1968 that position was re-named and SirVassel was appointed Cayman's first Financial Secretary. It isfor his role in the development of Cayman's complex offshore financialindustry that Sir Vassel Johnson will undoubtedly be best remembered
Yet, many do not realize how the other areasof Cayman's economy Sir Vassel were involved with, apart fromthe financial sector. Among them: Chairman of Cayman Airways from1971-1977 and again from 1984-85; Chairman of the Cayman IslandsCurrency Board 1971-1982 when the country issued its first currency.
Sir Vassel served as an elected Member ofthe Legislative Assembly and consequently, EXCO Member for Developmentand Natural Resources, from 1984-1988. His many accomplishmentsduring that time have had lasting impact on Cayman's environmentand tourism industry. Among them: the Marine Parks Regulationsof 1986, the creation of the National Trust and the completionof the George Town Water System and Seven Mile Beach SewerageScheme.
Throughout As I See It, Sir Vassel tellsabout his own far-reaching role but is generous in giving creditto others whenever appropriate. This is one of many admirablequalities of both this great man and his important work. He liberallymentions both famous and relatively unknown local personalitieswho played pivotal roles in Cayman's 20th century historic narrative.
Like international radio celebrity PaulHarvey, Sir Vassel shares with readers "the rest of the story,"about many things we take for granted today. Among them, a comprehensiveaccount of Cayman's mosquito and sand fly eradication program,putting Dr. Marco Giglioli's work into proper historic perspectivefor the first time.
There are two important, or perhaps illuminating,sections that merit special attention. First, is this except whichappears on pp. 231-232, which may be one of the most revealingof all of Sir Vassel's dedication-and modesty. He writes:
"When I retired (from the Civil Service)in 1982, a journalist asked me if I wished to describe my achievementsand successes during my 17 years in office as Financial Secretary.My answer to was this: 'I will try. First, my effort was to createthe offshore financial industry. While working strenuously onthat subject, I tried, for my own benefit, to build around meas I moved along, a fabric of public trust demonstrated in myperformance. And then I helped to create a reservoir and filledit with goodies for the benefit of the present and future generationsof Caymanians.' I went on to say: 'It was my honour and privilegeto serve the Cayman Islands, my adopt country and its Government,in the ranks of Civil Service. This, of course, demanded a deepsense of devotion to duty, self-respect and the ability to offera fine service to the public. I watched the country grow and developfollowing World War II in the way we see it at this point in time.I am certainly glad to have been a part of it all. The most admirablerespect of the country's progress was to watch the indomitablespirit of the local population in action, which created much ofthe initiative that moved progress and development to its presentlevel.'"
Next, is the powerful concluding chapter,'Mission Accomplished' in which sir Vassel summarizes his reflectionsand perceptions of his own accomplishments. It is one of the mostcompelling passages of the entire book.
Congratulations, Sir Vassel Johnson on thisbook. Thank you for your foresight, intuition and dedication tothese beautiful Isles. And now, thank you for your diligence inwriting As I See It and putting so many crucial 20th century eventsin their proper perspective. By doing so, you've given this countryanother tremendous gift: an awareness of the past. By sharingyour experience and knowledge you have enabled present and futuregenerations to understand how Cayman came to be the success storyit is today.
This book will undoubtedly rank as one ofthis country's most important literary accomplishments. It alsopresents an undeniable case for why Sir Vassel Johnson deservesstill another honour: to be named Cayman's third National Hero.