Commentary
For whom the bell tolls
Harris A. McCoy
In light of the SundayTimes' report revealing the UK Parliament's plan to lift the banon homosexuality in five British Overseas territories, includingthe Cayman Islands, Cayman Net News sought different perspectiveson this latest action, to help readers better under the issueand its wider implications.
Below, we report on aninterview with Harris McCoy III, a Caymanian who for the past7 years has been closely exposed to the workings and developmentswithin the European Union and the political machinery of the UnitedKingdom.
CNN: Are the actionsof Her Majesty's Government (HMG) acceptable?
HM: Anything is acceptable if you as an individual decide it is.This latest action only serves to highlight the need for Caymanto control its future -- a future that is only uncertain if wethe people allow it.
CNN: What do you meanby allow it?
HM: Caymanians are ourselves a minority in our own country. Asa result, most of us feel disenfranchised and unsure about thedirection we should take. In my opinion, the Caymanian peoplewere done a great injustice to allow these issues to escalateto this extent. It has indicated to the world at large that weare unable to make informed and responsible decisions about ourcommunity and environment.
CNN: What is the Caymaniancommunity?
HM: For someone who has traveled and worked all over UK/Europe,our community is a special one -- in the sense that it has tobe the most tolerant and accepting of views and individuality.We have over 100 nationalities in these islands, with a long andstrong heritage of social harmony. We have embraced so many cultures,yet there is a distinct translucent quality about being Caymanian.
CNN: What is that quality?
HM: Compassion. As I go through my community there is compassionin the eyes of every Caymanian - but yet it is balanced with forthrightnessand common sense. My greatest fear is that Caymanians are becomingtoo timid to stand up and say, "wait a minute let's takea second look at the issue," and continue to show that compassion.
CNN: What is the second look?
HM: A second look is to provide Caymanians with access to informationand transparency in decision-making. This is not a new thing toCayman. Traditionally, decisions in small communities were madeby consensus. Perhaps growth and the pace of life have causedless time to be spent on issues, but there has always been healthydebate.
For Cayman to take its rightful place on the international stagethere are certain rules -- not just those we have given much attentionto in the last 12 months related to the financial services industry-- but those that are considered the human rights of any democraticnation. A Bill of Human Rights is paramount. We must have onein our doctrines and we must have the constitutional adaptationsto enable and protect these rights. These rights cannot be lifestylespecific but must be all- encompassing, as equality is just that- equality - one group cannot be a little more equal than theother.
CNN: How encompassingare these rights?
HM: They are all encompassing. An Order in Council itself labelsCaymanians as a rightless people. We exist, as one of the fewpeoples in the world today, who do not a have nationality thatis directly related to what we consider our cultural heritage.The word "Caymanian" does not exist on the internationalstage. If anyone has doubt, take a look at your Passport -- themost widely accepted documentation of who you are. The word "Caymanian"is nowhere to be found. I am not sure if most of us realize this.We are not Caymanian citizens. We are British Overseas Territorycitizens -- "British" being the operative word. Butthat said - we have systematically since the 1950s been excludedby British Law from many of the rights of British citizenship.The world at large, I feel, needs to know this.
CNN: Needs to know what?
HM: The fact that you have about 20,000 people in a country whohave struggled for the last 60 years, first to survive, and tobuild a world renowned service industry sector, have welcomedoutside expertise to do so, and have taken a back seat to theircultural needs to accommodate changes - best for the developmentof a nation -- only then to find out the nation is not even theirsto define.
Regardless of the subject matter of the order in council, oneperceived wrong does not give another nation the right to dominateand abuse the other. The British Government must take responsibilityfor its own abuse of human rights in it remaining colonies andperhaps be very careful in how high-handed it feels in "doingthe right thing".
CNN: What is "doingthe right thing?"
HM: "Doing the ìright thing" by Cayman is tobe more compassionate and understanding. We need time in our communityto debate any mainstream issue. Our economic success has far outpacedour social and political development. This is typical and nota one off. We have achieved what has happened here in the last30 through a lot of hard work -- work which came from Caymanians,not from outside only. To do the "right thing" is tofirst respect a people's ability to adapt. Treat them with thecompassion and understanding needed to make the changes.
To change gears in the common expectation that if dependencieswish lively debate, it must be Independence is an outdated andineffective form of existence in today's conversing global economy.Having a voice does not have to mean independence. Having a voicemeans saying what you feel is right by consensus = democracy.And stop sending a mixed message to a people trying their bestto accommodate social, economic and political changes at whathas been an alarmingly quick and peaceful rate.
CNN: Has Britain adoptedaway from her colonial past?
HM: No. We still live in a country where the Governor has blanketpowers. We have sat back and seen a succession of Governor-relatedblunders over the past decades. Good governance goes beyond havingan intelligent Governor.
Good governance in the mainstream is our efficient and effectivemanagement and support of our public service boards and relatedentities. We perhaps need to focus resources on strengtheningand supporting these boards and respecting their decisions. Tomany times in the past few years I have become increasingly uneasywith the intervention of the Governor/HMG into the will of thepeople under the umbrella of order and good government.
As an individual, I often feel torn between my feelings on thisissue. In London, Paris, or Zurich I am treated as a citizen deservingindividuality for my cultural heritage and ethnic origins. Arrivalin Cayman often confuses the hell out my psyche as I am now culturallyand ethnically a non-citizen, in a non-country with less rightsthen I enjoyed in Europe.
The great irony to this, is that we have a majority that cry outthey have no rights as expatriates, when in fact the Caymanianpeople themselves are struggling daily to keep what little rightswe all have together for the benefit of the country and for allto prosper and enjoy.
So perhaps the next time a work permit holder complains to theiruncle in the House of Lords and the PM's office calls demandingmore understanding, it might be nice also for us Caymanians toalso call our uncle in the House of Lords and demand that thePM show us more compassion and understanding. But alas, as Caymanianswe are not allowed to have a representative in the House of Commonmuch less the House of Lords that might ensure us a voice of compassion!
Yet we are expected to comply, often unconsulted, with the decisionsand social trends made in the Houses of the British Parliament... an interesting definition of partnership indeed!
CNN: Is the Blair Governmentseeking to change this with the White Paper?
HM: Yes, Tony Blair's government is trying to address the humanrights agenda but not because Tony Blair felt it was time to extenda hand of compassion to the Oversea Territories. In fact, it isBritain that has one of the least favorable human rights recordswithin the European Union. So the "partnership" betweenthem and us was more the result of their need to clean up theiract in the treatment and relationship with their protectorates.The French, Dutch and Germans have long ago given citizen rightsto their dependences with protective measures and representationto ensure that such minorities are given fair and equitable resourcesand support to preserve their way of life and culture. Britaincertainly has not until this time ... some 30- 40 years behindits European counterparts.
CNN: So is this LabourPolitics?
HM: Yes it is... and we are the unfortunate victims here. Takethe issue of Gay and Lesbian Rights which has a very divided opinionworldwide and suddenly label a small country as the "badguy". Britain did not, until 22 months ago, extend its ageof consent rights to Gays and Lesbian. Baroness Scotland's governmentin summer suffered a major defeat in the House of Lords over anextension of future Gay and Lesbian Rights. This indicates thatthe UK itself is divided on the issue. How then can you expecta small and conservative community -- with limited resources tomake quickly informed decisions, to suddenly become a trendsetter?It is fundamentally wrong and Caymanians must not be caught upin the hype. They should see that what is really at stake hereis more than an issue of morality.
CNN: What is at stakehere?
HM: Basic human rights for a group of people to determine in theirown time and on their own terms how to move forward. So next weekif we decide as a people that we do not want importation of Europeanbeef into the islands as result of mad cow disease, will we getan order in council to say you must eat European beef?
CNN: Could that comparisonbe a trivial one?
HM: Absolutely not! What is to defend us? We have no Human RightsBill on our statutes, we have no international voice to gain supportand we do not have a lobby group active enough in UK politicsto present and support our case.
CNN: Could a more activerole in UK arena help us ?
HM: Absolutely! For many years, Caymanians have been facelesson the London scene. In fact most persons did not even know weexisted, as we never spoke for our self, we never presented ourselves.I was told a funny joke once at an FCO reception: "What doyou call an ex gratia pension for retired governors?
Answer: The Cayman Islands!
Cayman has the highest populationof retired governors of any of the territories on our payroll.Either they are reviewing some issue that never appears to cometo an end or they are given status and just stay around and speakfor us. Well, as a Caymanian I can speak for myself thank you... and so can my father and his father before that!
I was so delighted to have Jennifer (Dilbert) in London, and soproud for the first time to go into our most prestigious officeoverseas and see one of my people there. We need to see more ofus out there and not the token Caymanian ... as I have had theunfortunate position to be on many occasions ... rolled out forofficial functions to answer the most ridiculous of questions.
CNN: But what has beenthe involvement of Caymanians in the development of the WhitePaper?
HM: Can you handle the truth? Very little. The House of Commonscommittee which was initially set up to review the partnershipdid not hear from one single Caymanian -- not one, in it mostimportant formative stages. So I feel they could have been a littlemore sensitive to Caymanians. If Caymanians are interested inseeing what was said on our behalf I suggest you get copies ofthe transcripts and I think you will be enlightened.
CNN: How can Cayman moveforward from this?
HM: Stand up and support each other. I was so encouraged to seesuch a determined group of Caymanians put themselves forward forpublic life on Nov 8th. Let's support the wishes of the peopleand help us move forward on our own terms and with our valuesthat are important to us.
CNN: But there must bea practical action plan?
HM: Yes, this is a democratic country. With very efficient democraticmachinery, I might add. Our votes are counted and our people acceptthe winners, more than can be said for our neighbors to the north.
We need to establish an action group to develop and implementour Human Rights Bill and make the constitutional changes to dothis.
CNN: But what is to bedone in mean time about the order in council?
HM: Call a press conference let the world know that is not justa people discriminating again a person's choice of lifestyle orpreference. There is more to it -- much more. What is at stakeis a people trying their best. And Cayman's best far outshinesmuch of the world's. Period and full stop.
Long gone is the age when a power can force at will another todo this or that. Long gone is the view that progress must be imposedat a rate comfortable to those who have the upper hand.
We can show the world that compassion is a very bright light andshines much further than a political agenda of any of the world'sgreat powers.
CNN: But what about therights of Gays and Lesbians?
Compassion... compassion... compassion. A very wise man in mycommunity one said to me that racism and bigotry are not colourblind. Show hate, and you will embrace it. Show love you confuseit. My personal choice is to show love rather than hate... ittakes too much energy to show hate.
Morality is a personal choice and certainly there are very fewif any, that can honestly say they have the right to judge morality.I believe that is God's job and by all accounts he has not startedthat judgment process just yet...
CNN: In closing whatare your final thoughts?
Let us look beyond the obvious contentious issue here. Much moreis at stake than what people do in their beds. What is at stakeare your rights, period. So take a second look and do it on yourown terms.
No one has the right to impose change on any other country withoutgiving consideration to their comfort with the issue and the processto "do the right thing". The Blair government has itown "Pink" agenda... that is fine, but be honest aboutit.
Perhaps Cayman's stand will indicate that there is still nothingmore accepting than the compassion of understanding ... more importantly,we all have rights and that is what this is all about isn't it?Acceptance for who and what you are.