These comments came in the wake of the recent deaths of three young people and numerous injuries in automobile accidents since the New Year. HRH questioned the underlying factors as to why young drivers die in traffic accidents. 

 “I am not a politician, but there are all sorts of questions you can ask,” he said. “Why are young people being given such powerful vehicles? Why does an Island this size need such powerful vehicles? Why are you importing such big vehicles?

“You could control the vehicles coming on to the Island and should be looking for vehicles that are the most environmentally friendly and have the lowest emissions. You can manage that,” said the Earl.

These remarks by HRH hold great significance, as British Royals traditionally do not make statements that are considered political.

In addition, the Earl explained that better training for young drivers would be helpful in curbing this alarming trend. His statements support the initiatives for ameliorated driver education made by the Minister of Education, Hon Alden McLaughlin.

The Prince recognised that it is difficult to advise young people to avoid common problems within society. He noted that those who are in a position to disperse advice have been young once and thought they were invincible, so young people of today will not necessarily take heed of his advice. Consequently, the responsibility lies with individual parents to provide guidance, advice and love.

“As you get older, you discover there are different ways of doing things. You learn by bitter experience perhaps you shouldn’t have done something quite like that,” he said.

The Earl added that numerous activities exist where young people could get involved, so as to lead them away from problems such as drug misuse.

“There are all sorts of influences in young people’s lives, people who can set good examples,” he noted.

The Prince also discussed the importance of the preservation of the environment for the future, and remarked the country needed to strike a balance between future development and the protection of the country’s flora and fauna.
“The natural habitat you have is your number one draw [to tourists]. You have to protect it,” said the Prince.

He was particularly impressed with the wind power project by the Cayman Brac Power and Light Company to develop sustainable energy. He said it is vital that the country use the natural resources available for alternative sources of energy.

Commenting on his overall visit, the Prince said it had been a great success and it was nice to meet familiar faces again. He noted how well the country has recovered since Hurricane Ivan. Although some damage is still visible and recovery yet to be done, it was difficult to remember the scale of the damage in the immediate wake of Ivan.

“There has been a considerable amount of progress and the economy is buoyant, which has helped hugely,” he added.

The Prince arrived in Cayman on Saturday, 3 February and visited with people whose homes were rebuilt by the National Recovery Fund in East End. He also met with the Director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, Fred Burton and visited the Sandbar.

On Sunday, he then flew to Little Cayman to visit the Central Caribbean Marine Institute of which the Prince is the Royal patron. On Monday morning, he witnessed the ground breaking ceremony on Cayman Brac for the country’s first alternative power project, where the Cayman Brac Power and Light Company will build the windmill farm.

The Prince also visited the University College of the Cayman Islands and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s Marine Base, at Abanks Jetty, which was featured in the blockbuster film ‘The Firm.’

On Monday evening, he attended a reception for Queen’s Honours and Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients.

On Tuesday morning, he visited Pedro Castle before leaving for Jamaica.