Letters to the Editor
Candidate for West Bay Disagrees
Dear Sir:
I read with keen interest a letterwhich appeared in the ì'Letters to the Editor' sectionof the Cayman Net News newspaper's edition of 21st - 27th September,2000 and entitled: 'Constitutional Review.' I am writing aboutthis matter because it is a very important one and it is thereforeextremely important that any debate on the matter is accurateand well informed.
Miss Tara Rivers, a candidate in the upcoming general elections,wrote the letter. It contains some relevant statements. Unfortunatelyhowever, there is a great deal contained in the letter, whichis in desperate need of clarification.
Firstly, I note the comment on the matter entitled "FridayFiasco" in which she criticises the present Legislative Assemblyfor rushing through legislation in response to international pressuresfor changes in the regulation of our financial industry "withoutproper and adequate consideration to the possible effects."
One wonders what is the basis for Miss Rivers' statement and whetherit is fair for her to make such allegations. Whilst I would agreethat the legislation was rushed through the LA, and that thisis not an ideal way in which to manage the country's affairs,one has to consider that there was significant international pressurebrought to bear on our legislators.
Further, had the legislation not gone through when it did wouldwe have suffered even more attacks from the international arena?One has to be responsible when making such sweeping statements!However, had the country had visionary and proactive leadershipthen perhaps the situation may have never arisen. A better balancedteam would prevent the re-occurrence of such unfortunate circumstances.
Secondly, and more to the point of the letter, are the issuesraised in relation to constitutional review. I agree that allvoters in the Cayman Islands should ask their candidates whetherthey are clear about the various challenges facing the country,including those matters clearly set out in the White Paper entitled'Partnership for Progress and Prosperity'.
HOWEVER, Miss Rivers goes on to make reference to one MLA statingthe position in relation to a bid for internal self-governmentmeaning a move towards independence. She criticises such a statementas being "complete nonsense." I wonder if Miss Riversdid her homework prior to casting such an aspersion?
Fact is, that while the concept of full internal self-governmentis palatable in a general sense, the Cayman Islands have beentold, via various mediums, that the British protocol on full internalself-government is clear. IT IS that it essentially requires thesetting of a date for independence. Had Miss Rivers understoodissues of British constitutional protocol and practice she shouldhave grasped this important point.
She goes on to draw a comparison with Bermuda and to say: "propagandais being spread by MLAs who just don't understand the situationof the White Paper or constitutional review [and that this] iswhat is going to continue crippling the country." To thisI would say, please recognise that Bermuda's constitutional developmentis quite separate and distinct from our own. One should not "guestimate"that the two territories will be treated in exactly the same wayand there are reasons for this.
For example, Bermuda is Britain's oldest overseas territory andits Parliament, which first met in 1620, is the oldest in theCommonwealth outside the British Isles. The UK government hassaid there will be no other Bermudas. Candidates, like MLA's,have a responsibility not to mislead the public with "propaganda."Better balanced teams do not need that type of propaganda normake those types of mistakes.
Miss Rivers also makes reference to some text from the 1971 constitutionalreview. Unfortunately the quotation does not explain the significanceof the reference by the Rt. Hon. Earl of Oxford and Asquith. Itis therefore taken out of context and effectively redundant sinceit does not touch the point of whether a move towards internalself-government means setting a date for independence. Miss Riversalso does not explain whether the 1962 General Elections resultedin a confirmation that the people were not interested in completeindependence (a message which Miss Rivers might more clearly obtainin the upcoming 2000 General Elections).
Miss Rivers also refers to the 1991 Constitutional Review whereit sets out that our constitution should advance our politicalmaturity and stability. I think most Caymanians today would agreewith this. Constitutional advancement and modernisation is clearlyneeded, especially and mainly within the context of necessaryadministrative improvements.
However, this does not mean that we should aim for full internalself-government! In any event it would not be prudent to pursueany major constitutional change without a clear mandate from thevoting public. This could take place only after the necessaryreferenda law is properly passed by the LA.
Finally, Miss Rivers states that: "We need new leadershipwhich is capable and willing to take decisions in the long termbest interest of the country and the people of the Cayman Islands."Clearly Miss Rivers is absolutely right on this point. It is thebetter balanced, more informed teams who understand these issuesand will be in a position to deliver on these issues in an effectivemanner! I would encourage all Caymanians to consider carefullybefore casting their votes on 8th November, 2000.
May God Bless the Cayman Islands.
Rolston M. Anglin
West Bay
Caymanians are Born Swimmers...
Dear Sir:
We would like some clarifaction aboutwhat was written in the article "Where are the Cayman Swimmers?"in another local newspaper.
Having been involved in competitive swimming for most our livesand also having served as members of the Cayman Islands AmateurSwimming Association (CIASA) board for many years, we were surprisedby what was written.
The article inferred that Coach Dave made the decision not tosend any swimmers to the Olympic Games. It has always been ourunderstanding that the CIASA chooses the swimmers who representthe Cayman Islands in international competitions.
The swim coach provides guidance to the CIASA but is not authorizedto make the decision. In so making "his" decision, CoachDave talks about the relative youth of the local swimmers andtheir inexperience in competing at an Olympic level versus anage group level. What happened to those swimmers who are old enough?
We wonder whether Coach Dave is interested in the athletes particiatingin the Olympics only if they have a legitimate chance for a medal.That attitude seems to contradict comments he made in the past.
In previous articles he downplayed the importance the importanceof winning medals at the CARIFTA Games stating that he was moreinterested in seeing the swimmers improve. Does this same notionof competition not extend to the Olympics? Must a swimmer be rankedin the top five in the world before they are considered a "participantrather than a spectator".
Recently, there was a program on television that documented somehighlights of past Olympics. At the end of the show, the narratorsaid that the focus of the Olympics is not whether you win a medalbut rather simply to participate.
We think that Coach Dave needs to think a little more about whatsort of message he really is sending out. The fact that he makescomments or commitments that are outside his scope of authority,contributes to what make him "one of Cayman's more controversialcoaches."
Andrew Crowe
Victor Thompson
George Town
The Music Police Mon
Dear Sir:
So here I sit astonished that the PoliceDepartment has taken a stance on lyrics in music and censorship.I thought that the Police Dept. was to protect the public andmake sure that everyone as much as possible adheres to the lawof the land.
What is commonly referred to as "music censorship" (andwhat I will examine in this article) is actually the attemptsof communities, people and business to regulate themselves totheir own standards of decency. As you will see, their fight isagainst obscenity - not music.
In other words, THEY determine what is best for YOU based on whatTHEY think. A pretty scary thought ... especially in a land ofsupposed social equality.
It's now time for me once again to get off on a rant:
Music lyrics for years have been some concern to parents and biblethumpers everywhere. They have sued over lyrics and claimed thatsome rock bands have deliberately sung about and written lyricstelling their listeners and fans to commit suicide etc.
In Cayman, apparently a complaint from a mother 'horrified' bythe hip-hop music her son was listening to, prompted the Policeto look into the selling of music in Cayman by retailers.
A little history:
In 1985 Tipper Gore (wife of US Vice President Al Gore) co-foundedthe Parent's Music Resource Center or PMRC.
Its intent was to urge the record industry to adopt a system ofwarning labels for albums that include violent or sexually explicitlyrics.
With the approval of Parental Advisory Label (Sometimes referredto as "The Tipper Sticker"), the U.S. Government couldtell you what is and isn't appropriate to listen to! (Call mecrazy, but isn't this a form of Censorship?) Here now in Caymanit's like remembering old times, as now is the first step in thecensorship of music and freedom of expression. What types of musicwill be targeted undoubtedly is Hip-Hop music and Rock n' Roll.
These types of music are not listened to island wide or by everybody.Mostly the younger crowd likes Hip-Hop and like myself, Rock n'Roll. I think than to be fair Soca and Reggae (Reggae alreadyis seeing some censorship with some artists not been able to performin Cayman etc) should be on the list of music to 'look-into' ifthose in power are considering banning certain types of music.
As Theresa Broderick pointed out in another newspaper last week"Soca and Calypso is filled with sexual innuendoes".
I wonder what will happen to the Police officers that listen tothe same music that the Police Department is "exploring"as to see if any "may be contrary to the laws of the CaymanIslands"? Everyone likes different kinds of music, you havea choice as to whether or not to listen to the radio or watchwhat's on TV.
Don't like what you see or hear? Turn it off or switch stations!Don't try to impose your values on others or me. As an adult Ican make these choices on my own thank you very much.
I agree that there should be some sort of regulation as to theselling of music labeled 'Explicit' to minors. As a future musicstoreowner this would be one of my policies to see that the storefollows this self-imposed rule.
No one under 18 will be allowed to buy music with the explicitlabel attached. Of course this brings up another question as towhat happens when a parent finds that their child has a CD orcassette with explicit lyrics etc.? Will they then accuse theretailer of selling that kind of music to minors? What happenswhen a minor is refused the CD they want that has an explicitlabel? They might and will get an older friend or brother/sisterto buy it for them.
As you can see no one can control everything. This maybe why thePolice are considering banning certain music artist and CD's inCayman. Well if it happens, the Internet is where the hot spotwill be for 'Banned Music in Cayman'. What happens then? WillCable & Wireless than be required by Government to stop accessto sites like MP3.com or Napster? Or any of the hundreds of musicsites that are on the Web.
This is my RANT on the whole thing:
Parents need and should take more interest in what their kidssee and listen to. When a parent finds something that their childis seeing or listening to that offends them or that they don'tthink their children should be exposed to, don't run to the Policeor your local politician. Make the change and let your kids knowhow you feel regarding these types of songs etc.
A certain candidate for the 2000 elections sometime ago made commentsto the Press regarding the type of songs he heard on the radio.He was "shocked" according to him, what types of lyricswere being broadcast over the radio.
He went on to say that he asked his daughter about what exactlythe artist(s) were singing about. I know this man very well andI believe he has raised his kids to the highest standards he knowshow too. So if his daughter liked what she was hearing, but didnot take it literally than he has done his job in teaching hiskids what's right and wrong etc.
Talk to your kids about how you feel regarding music, television,movies etc. You will come to learn that kids ARE smarter thanthey appear or you might think. I know it worked for me to havesomeone to talk to and listen. You can only guide your childrenin the right direction, you cannot make them do as you want. Suppressionof music is NOT the answer!
I'm thinking about this while I write: If you ban explicit music,why not ban books and novels by Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe,Ann Rice or how about John Grisham (remember The Firm was partlyfilmed here) or any of the other great authors. These writer'sbooks are filled with murder, government corruption, violenceand sex, blah blah blah.
We can start by going to the public library and burning the 'offensive'books ("Every burned book enlightens the world."- RalphWaldo Emerson)
How about the news on T.V. and in this very paper let's ban thattoo! Since this is all about music while we're at it let's alsoban Love Songs, songs about heartbreak and love lost, dying, breakingup, cheating etc. All of these thoughts and actions above canbe destructive to the mind if you don't know the difference.
Luckily we do know what someone else goes through in life doesn'tmean it's the end of the world or our youth will forever be lostand corrupted. I would like to end this very lengthy letter (it'slong I know, a can of worms has been opened with this subject)with two quotes from great people who looked beyond the box wesometimes and too often live in:
"Without free speech no search for truth is possible... nodiscovery of truth is useful... Better a thousand fold abuse offree speech than denial of free speech. The abuse dies in a day,but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hopeof the race." - Charles Bradlaugh
"You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded bythe bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police.Yet in their hearts there is unspoken - unspeakable! - fear. Theyare afraid of words and thoughts! Words spoken abroad, thoughtsstirring at home, all the more powerful because they are forbidden.These terrify them.
A little mouse - a little tiny mouse! - of thought appears inthe room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic."- Winston Churchill.
Shane R. S. Ebanks,
George Town
Roads should be re-surfacedproperly
Dear Sir:
I would like to comment on the roadconstruction that is being carried out in Grand Cayman. FirstI give praise to those concerned with the construction of theroad from Pasadora Place to the four way stop at Hospital Road.
I feel this was done properly by removing the old surface andlaying the proper base before repaving. It is a pity that thispractice was not followed on Spotts Road, Industrial Park Roadand most recently West Bay Road.
I would like to make it abundantly clear that what I am aboutto say in no way questions the credibility of the owners of IslandPaving, Mr. Hubert Bodden and Mr. Jay Bodden. I know both gentlemento be two of the most honest that this country has ever producted.We canot place any blame on them as they are only carrying outdirectives from our Public Works Department.
I think that the manner in which funds are being wasted is anutter disgrace with the new practice of paving a surface, in someinstances in excess of 12 inches, over existing damaged surfaces.
This should be viewed as madness.
I am not an Engineer but common sense tells me that the prettysurface that is put on top is only as good as what is below. Aprime example of this is Crewe Road, which was paved just priorto the '96 Election.
Take a close look at what has not been destroyed by the burstingWater Authority pipes.
In less than four years the asphalt that was slopped on top ofthe old surface has already cracked by following the contour ofthe old surface below. It can be noticed all along but particularlyin the lane headed to George Town in the vicinity of Cayman Veterinaryand Every Blooming Thing.
Does this not tell us something? Most of the roads that have beenrepaved recently had the first treatment of hot mix in the earlyto mid 70's, during Mr. Berkeley Bush's administration. That isquite a long period.
Yet in these moden times in which we live the new methods employedare not making it to 4 years. The answer is quite clear. The properbase must be layed followed by a reasonable layer of hot-mix.
I really cannot understand why a country that is known for itshigh standards in the construction industry would carry out sucha technique. These Islands certainly do not have a reputationof building without having first laid the proper foundation.
There are other negatives of the present practice also: 1) Darenot let your wheel go off the edge as if you don't roll over thebottom of your car will be destroyed. 2). Roads are now abovesidewalks that developers were forced to build. Tourists haveto slush around in the gravel that was thrown on top of the sidewalkswhen rain falls. 3). Businesses are likely to be flooded especiallyin Industrial Park during periods of heavy rain.
Are we supposed to accept that every time we repave a road thatasphalt will be laid on top of the old surface and subsequentlyraise the sidewalks and drains? Come on. I have only seen thisconcept utilized here. I know there is a milling machine thatstrips the old surface. It was used in the area of the CaribbeanClub after the first taste of opposition.
I now notice that it is abandoned and pavement is being laid 81/2 inches again. I suppose that the new Holiday Inn side walkrecently completed will be paved above also. Think about the thousandsof feet of roads that could have been resurfaced if a layer of3 to 4 inches was used. I can name a few roads that could do witha fresh surface: South Church Street, Mary Land Road, the Roadthrough Savannah and many others.
I know the arguments about saving time and less disruption totraffic by employing this method so they need not be mentioned.Just do it properly. Late at night if necessary as the Runwaywas done.
Stop the madness!
Kennedy L. Panton
George Town
An Idea for the Internet dilema
Dear Sir:
I suggest that to solve the Internet& Telecommunications dilemma in Cayman is to compact it downto just one PACKAGE and make it affordable to all, just like cableTV is affordable to all households & consumers alike.
I believe if C&W were to offer one complete Internet &Telecommunications PACKAGE which includes Cellular phones-emailmessages, & unlimited Internet access, maybe even providecomputers with the deal. And each month you pay your Internet& Telecom bill you will be charged a rental fee for the computeralso; it would be the same as we are doing presently for our telephoneservice. Instead of having multiple bills like cellular phonebill, Internet bill, pager bill, it should all be compacted intoone bill, which can be your 'Internet & Telecommunicationbill.'
With the technology we have today where we can compact call forwarding,call waiting, etc. into the telephone then we should be able tocompact one good deal of Internet & Telecom service for everyconsumer. This idea maybe ahead of any Internet deal even in advancedplaces like North America, I would like to get some kind of responseon this idea from C&W.
A package like this should take down the unit price of Internetand Telecommunications cost at the same time increasing the volume.Everybody wanted a phone and everybody wanted Television and itwas made possible for even the lowest income persons to have both.In fact today the telephone is a necessity and so is the Internetwhich is the leading information highway, and especially withE-Commerce becoming more and more a way of doing business.
With a deal like this C&W should be allowed to keep the monopolybecause it would be a monopoly in favor of the people and notjust the greedy shareholders.
I would like some feedback on this idea.
Joseph Yates
Grand Cayman