Dear Sir:

I would hope that those looking to re-assess the tourism model of Grand Cayman would be honest with themselves and seriously consider how the recent and drastic increase in crime and brutality may be impacting tourism.

Don’t be so jaded to think that this is only impacting residents of the island, and not contributing to the decline in stay-over tourism.

My wife and I fell madly in love with Grand Cayman two years ago during our first visit to the island, but were seriously considering cancelling our return trip this past August -- solely due to the dramatic increase in crime on the island.

I will echo the sentiments of another editorial commentator who wrote, “I avoid American inner cities as well, and that’s what things are starting to look like in Cayman”; and like this contributor, I too read the daily online newspaper headlines, and am aware of what is happening there.

Grand Cayman offers, or at least used to offer, a place of escape to those of us who otherwise live in, or near, places that have already become what Grand Cayman seems to be racing toward.

Cayman was a place where we could get away from the burdens of our daily lives, to relax, unwind, and be at peace. However, what was a peaceful, rejuvenating place is seemingly becoming yet another place to avoid.

Honestly speaking; we had to think long and hard about whether or not it was worth risking our safety and peace-of-mind in returning to Grand Cayman this year, and at the rate things are declining on the island, I’m not sure Grand Cayman can win that battle next year, which would add us to that percentage drop in stay-over tourism, even after having purchased time-share on the island, (we’re already considering a swap for another location).

Wake up, Caymanians; it’s not too late to turn things around, but if the drop in tourism revenues is to be blamed for the moral decline, then yielding to the upswing in criminal activity on the island will only cause that drop to increase, and it will feed upon itself, becoming the same vicious downward spiral seen in many American inner cities.

Edward Jolly