I refer to the letter with the above caption in Cayman Net News. After Ms. Ebanks’ letter of 27 February was drawn to my attention, I had contacted our Synod office in Jamaica to make enquiries of all our Ministers or any other “official” of the church who had traveled to Cayman on a Jamaican passport since the visa requirement was introduced, to ensure that none had been granted any form of “waiver” – if indeed that is possible.
To our knowledge in Cayman, all those whom we were aware of had received visas, but we wanted to be doubly sure before responding to Ms. Embanks’ “question”.
Accordingly, after receiving the confirmation, I responded on your website on Friday 10th March confirming that to the best of our knowledge and belief none of our Ministers of “officials” had sought, or obtained, a waiver to travel to Cayman. (And that, likewise, those of us from Cayman who obtained the necessary visas).
I have kept your confirmation link details, but have not seen the response published yet. Although others may have jumped to conclusions from Ms. Ebanks’ letter of 27th February, I chose to treat it simply as a “question” as she had stated, and replied accordingly.
However, her letter in today’s Net News clearly goes beyond a “question” and it is very regrettable that she chose to actually drag someone’s name into what has become now an allegation, Rev. Dr. Maitland Evans.
It would have been very simple for either Ms.Ebanks or the Net News to have asked us about this before publishing the allegation.
Dr. Evans was invited here for the ITLD graduation on November 27th and his application for his visa was taken into the visa office in Kingston on 17th November, after he had completed the necessary requirements in Jamaica, including obtaining his Police Clearance Certificate.
As clearly shown on the (attached copy), the visa was duly granted before he traveled to Cayman. We apologise to Rev Dr Evans for any embarrassment and damage that he may have been subjected to as a result of the publishing of his name in that way.
For and on behalf of United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands,
Cayman Islands Council
BRYAN BOTHWELL
