Editorial
SacrificingConservatism for Realism - A Conundrumn
With their characteristic blend of passion,eloquence and intelligent analysis, many indigenous Caymanianssupport the pernicious dominance of the Caymanians' rights andcall for Government to assert its leadership on an increasinglyfragmented society.
Since souring economic effects created byyears of braggadocio, even prior to the terrorist attacks of 11September, there was an urgent need to find some form of internationalsettlement about how do we make people who have been here forover 10 years feel secure in putting down roots. At odds for yearsover a clear conscience on how the Cayman society should growand how the market economy should evolve, we are now faced witha depletion of residents who have had enough and are going backto the homes of their birth.
England, which traditionally has close tieswith this country, faces a fundamental choice and must decidehow much we are Caymanian or Caribbean or fit in as Europeans.This inevitably so, as Caymanians, given their nature to takeup residence elsewhere, will be trekking to the mother countryto take advantage of residential, health, education, culturaland even travel opportunities to other European countries.
Our country is at a critical juncture. Whileour Caribbean neighbours to the North and South of us, and thisincludes Cuba - have been ignoring the fact that they have beenwatching and preparing over the last decade how to retrieve someof the business they lost to us over the past 30 years andhow they could attract the healthy business and real estate activity,given that we were enthralled to an extreme in conservatism.
And given its show of force in their objectives,it appears that the OECD, FATF will stop at nothing to keep thecountry in fear by imposing their power, demanding that the restof the world becomes subordinate to their interests, values andways of thinking to their superior force.
Although our country is still consideredto be rich and entrepreneurial, it is also economically volatileand not as productive as it could be, despite its enormous assets.The National Airline Cayman Airways' deficit, and that of theGovernment itself is growing.
Yet conservative Caymanians delude themselvesinto thinking that theirs is unquestionably an economic and socialmodel that the rest of the Caribbean should emulate.
The Cayman Islands has for too long beenseduced by our ties with the US, and too slavishly follows theAmerican route to capitalist success. In fact, historical andsocial values make America a more natural partner.
There are also some who strongly advocatethat being Caymanian is far more ambiguous, particularly in attitudetowards the social contact and equality of our Caribbean neighbours. However, this notion is quickly dismissed, because unlike manyother Caribbean countries, the Caymans still provide health, educationand a basic income to the disadvantaged.
The present Government Administration saysthat it wants to improve public services, increase social cohesionand provide a stronger safety net. However, the natural conservatismof many recent governments attempts to marry Caymanian conservatismwith a modernised needs have doomed them to doubt insteadof hope.
While there is much yet to achieve, Caymancan still be proud that its success story, inherited conservatism,ability to be comfortable when making new social contacts withinvestors, and a natural gift to pursue capitalism, have earnedus respected marks. Although we share so much history with theCaribbean the 'sixth' continent of the world, we must nowaim to construct our economic and social structures within theregion with more political accountability if we must maintainour leadership position.
Our vision of a better Cayman has not changed:security, prosperity and justice are the goals. But the fightcannot be lead by one nation alone. Cayman must, in concert withthe rest of the Caribbean, take up the challenge against the powerof the bullying of larger countries that we must surrender ourhavens. By being ultra conservative, we cannot create an enlightenedregional order not least to reinvigorate a liberalized Cayman,whose instincts have been submerged.