Editorial
A Time for Healing
The process of electing members to the ExecutiveCouncil, which appears to have been a rancorous and protractedone over the past several days, is now at an end. The new governmenthas been announced and quite appropriately, the designated speakerhas begun by calling for unity and urgency in getting on withthe administration of the country's affairs.
It cannot be argued that there is much to be done and that itwill take the collective action of government and citizens toensure that it is. How much is achieved over the next four yearswill of course depend on a number of factors - not the least ofwhich are a clear definition of where the Cayman Islands wantto go, how prudently it prioritizes and tackles what needs tobe done to get there, and how much partisan or personal agendaswill be subverted in the interest of the greater good of the country.
Moving forward will require courage in the face of tough decisions,and recognition that it may well take deep and far-reaching changes- legislative and political - to achieve the desired ends.
There is reason to be hopeful. Within the new team, there is enoughcombined experience from those have been in previous governments,as well as enthusiasm and perhaps new perspectives from newcomers,to suggest that for this government, the task will not be as dauntingas it seems.
After the excitement of the election campaign and the delicatenegotiations for the formation of Executive Council, it now followsthat any distractions or divisions that these processes broughtmust be set aside and all efforts be concentrated on the governanceof the country.
It must also be remembered that as a small society in which everyoneis everyone else's family, neighbour or friend, it is criticalthat an atmosphere of harmony be engendered, if progress for thewhole society is to be maintained. That spirit of cooperationhas been evident in the past and should be invoked to inform presentand future actions.
Those who now have the mandate to run the country for the nextfour years will of course understand that the decisions they makeon behalf of the people will go far beyond their term of office.Their stewardship will be for posterity and future generationswill judge them on the basis of what has been their contributionthe country.
It is at once a serious responsibility, and a privilege.