Editorial
A Wish forChristmas
With just eight weeks to go, Christmas willbe here again, and like deprived children, the people are hopefulthat their worst fears brought on by the present economic downturnwill be allayed, while their hopes for a joyful season will berealized.
No one will doubt that to date not withstanding the recentterrorist acts in the United States it has been quite adifficult year for one and all who call the Cayman Islands home,whether they were born here, are on work permits, are legal residentsor are investors with the right to work.
The late Haig Bodden, one of the 'Bodden Town Twin' (the otherwas the late Jim Bodden) once remarked in an interview with the'NorWester' magazine, that the Government has a right to competewith the private sector, because "there was no Santa Clausout there".
Therein lies the root of what the Cayman Islands is all abouttoday. No longer is it possible for Government to compete withthe private sector to deliver the services or products at a competitiverate because of its overstaffed size, duplicity, at times wastein spending and the ridiculous notion that they must invite overseascompanies to bid on services and products readily available righthere in Cayman.
There are also not many Santa Clauses out there today, becausemany of them over the years have either been chased away or gotso fed up that they have stopped turning the other cheek. Someof these have been investors, community workers who were justsimply ignored in spite of their previous track record as GoodSamaritans.
For the Cayman Islands to recover at an accelerated rate, it willrequire more than promises of reform, which will re-establishthese islands as just about the friendliest and most prosperousin the Caribbean.
Government recently announced reduced fees for the transfer ofland, but there should be further incentive to encourage longterm residents to take advantage of the administration's offerto buy now. This certainly still begs the question: What comesfirst, the chicken or the egg, security of tenure in the formof Status or Residency with the right to work or the right timeto own?
The Leader of Government Business, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts made a commitmentat his latest press conference, that the issues relating to Immigrationreform would be addressed during the first session of the Housein 2002. Could many who are wavering hold on until then? Willwe lose their confidence over the next six months? These are somehard questions deserving answers of encouragement.
The stimulus package presented by Government covering mainly realestate is an excellent gesture. However, the marketing strategymust go further. In the absence of overseas buyers flocking toour shores as they have in the past, it would make sense to givethe incentive to those who live here. As stated previously, thiscould be done by an Order-in-Council for those who could qualifybecause of the longevity of residence, in the like manner it wasdone to attract footballers to play on the National Team. Sixmonths down the road, a far more defined overall law will be inplace to address the whole issue of immigration.
Half a loaf has been offered with this stimulus. The communioncould be completed with the leave to grant security of tenureto the over 1000 residents who now qualify and are prepared totake the full plunge in helping to resuscitate the economy bytaking advantage of the lower costs now for acquiring real estate.
The reason and season for giving security of tenure should benow.