Premier hints at ‘freedom’ before end of June
(CNS): Premier Alden McLaughlin once again urged people to be patient as government continues with the strategy to fully suppress the coronavirus before opening up the local economy and lifting the curfew restrictions. He said that, given the success of government’s strategy to prevent the virus spreading and save lives, it would be tragic to throw it all away because we were not patient. But when it works, the community will be open in June.
At Friday’s press briefing, McLaughlin talked about the pressure government was under to open the economy, but pointing to the loss of life in the US and the UK as well as Sweden, he noted the unacceptable cost of getting economies open. He questioned the ethos of those countries that were paying a high price in deaths.
“What price are you prepared to pay as a country and as a people to get business back to normal?” he asked rhetorically. “Our ethos here is that, as far as it is humanly possible, we are not prepared to sacrifice any life just to get back to normal,” he said, adding that the position was not going to change.
The premier said the plan to ramp up testing to assess the spread of the virus and isolate, trace and treat those who have it requires a little more sacrifice on the part of the wider the community. But when the strategy succeeds, we will be able to operate here in a way few countries will be able to do for a long time.
He said that if Grand Cayman stayed on track, he had “no doubt” that in another four to six weeks it will be in a position to open up, as has been the case for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
McLaughlin explained the strategy has been driven by the respect and admiration that Caymanians have for the elderly. He spoke of their contribution, wisdom and experience. “Elderly people enrich your lives in a way, if you let them, that young people can’t possibly do,” the premier said.
McLaughlin said the ethos here was such that Caymanians were not prepared to sacrifice their old folk for the sake of business. If suggested that for people who believe it doesn’t matter if a few older people are lost to the virus, Cayman might not be the right place for them to live, work or invest.
But with patience, the premier said, within four to six weeks Cayman could be in some “real semblance of normalcy”, as he appealed again for patience. He said that in a week to ten days, more areas of the economy will be opened and people will be able to go into more facilities.
The premier explained that there would be 14 days between the phases to enable government to see if the virus pops up, and then it could shut it down as quickly as possible. But as confidence builds regarding the prevalence of the virus, McLaughlin said things would change.
Answering a questions about why helpers and nannies are still not being allowed into people’s homes, he appealed to everyone to “hang on just a little bit longer”.
See the press briefing on CIGTV below:
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Category: Health, Local News, Medical Health
Could we sort out the mosquitoes……when was the last time they sprayed?
Spraying works? Hmm.
McLaughlin explained the strategy has been driven by the respect and admiration that Caymanians have for the elderly. He spoke of their contribution, wisdom and experience. “Elderly people enrich your lives in a way, if you let them, that young people can’t possibly do,” the premier said.
McLaughlin said the ethos here was such that Caymanians were not prepared to sacrifice their old folk for the sake of business. If suggested that for people who believe it doesn’t matter if a few older people are lost to the virus, Cayman might not be the right place for them to live, work or invest.
Yes Mr Premier, in principle I agree with all of the above. There is however a broader context being missed that we’re entering into now relating to those that were due, continue to, and will need treatment for life threatening conditions / ailments. To those people, (especially younger but not limited to) your ethos signifies blatant discrimination.
Meanwhile Alden still supporting a shit educational system. I guess the next pandemic we wont have to stay inside so long.
Sincere question: can someone please tell me why we need to wait another month to allow people to go back to work? Does anyone sincerely think that we will see anything other than a trickle of new cases that will turn up as a result of the increased throughput of tests? The reality is that the virus is here but for now is relatively well-controlled. Surely the abstract number of positives isn’t relevant – i.e. what is the difference between 80 or 200 cases? Surely the number of hospitalised and deaths is what we should be looking at? On this basis what will really be different 4 weeks from today? Why are we waiting? If 50 cases turn up but no one dies do you really think that ought to justify reverting back to full lockdown?
It’s ok to keep the lockdown going but unlike the UK where the residents are receiving benefits, that is not the case here. If the expats seek assistance with the NAU there names are given to customs and border control. You cannot expect the owners of small and medium size businesses to continue paying salaries and health insurances when there is zero income coming in. Persuade the respective governments to take back its people and do not leave them to suffer here as when it’s it’s good they send all their income back home and it’s the receiving country that is benefiting. Without jobs they cannot pay their rents as they didn’t see the need to save anything here, nothing at all.
Nothing in life is free; there are always tradeoffs. That includes the coronavirus lockdown. Saving “just one life” from the coronavirus is not costless. Unfortunately, the true nature of these costs is being ignored and reduced to mere temporary economic inconvenience
Exactly temporary! Unless your in tourism then you’re screwed, but that’s not the fault of the lockdown, no in would come anyways.
Because the perspective is distorted. If you are an MLA or a civil servant it’s difficult to understand and empathize with the burden borne by those who have lost their income – guaranteed and ongoing full salary regardless of lockdown leads to a “let them eat cake attitude” on the pasty of our decision makers. For Alden the trade of increased risks to his elderly relatives versus lockdown is a balance of personal inconvenience rather than catastrophic family versus the increased risk of catching the virus. For a family entirely dependent on incomes on shit down businesses- not so much.
We have had a couple new cases every week since this started. New cases aren’t going up or down. Why is June going to be magically different?
Just so. Not much is likely to change in 4 or 6 weeks. We either take the leap then or now. Why wait for things to get worse.
This rings true, stay safe and sane Cayman.
Did you exchange
A walk-on part in the war
for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.
How many of you remember the Hong Kong flu? Exactly.
Get healthy, stay healthy, protect the vulnerable.
Live life. Peace.
In 1969 It killed near 1 mil. Worldwide including 100,000 Americans. My dad was one out of 400,000 attending Woodstock.
@5:04 pm: lunch time. Also Labour Law mandates daily 10 minute breaks.
There are no laws in The Alden Islands
I would not use the word “freedom”. The correct words at this stage are “complete economic collapse and massive suffering”.
The Premier used the words “grave, very grave” to describe the situation but I am still not quite sure that he actually gets it and that he truly understands the extent of the upcoming economic crisis.
Lock it down Alden lock it down. Keep those repatriations flights going Governor make Cayman great again.
Yes, Make it great for the ignorant individuals who can’t work when there is jobs. Lock down the expats and send them home so Caymanians don’t have to be afraid anymore of competition. Who cares if Cayman is functional again if your dysfunctional? Cayman without expats is a slum in a swamp in the middle of the ocean. Great place for certain kinds of people.
Swamp mouth
Trump’s “make America great again” slogan was aimed at the ignorant, under-educated gun-toting bible-thumping sister-humping heroin-addicted obese hillbilly redneck trash that live between the coasts of the United States.
They actually think he has done the things he said he would do because they are too stupid to realise he has chased his own tail in little narcissistic circles worrying about his hair and his fake tan while accomplishing nothing. Sure he drained the swamp, but then he filled it again with Jared, Ivanka, and the kids of the lobbyists that paid him and the people he owed favours to.
Are you seriously saying that describes the kind of leader you want in Cayman? Are you seriously identifying yourself with the American underclass? They were the ones fighting to keep black and white entrances separate up until the 70s. Is that what you want here? One drinking fountain for the pure Caymanians and one for the driftwood? How are you going to tell the difference?
Idiot.
One question. What did Obama do specifically for America in the 8 years he held office?
Pulled the US out of one of the worst recessions in recent times. All thanks to the republican before him. Stop Obama bashing with faux news info.
This isn’t about a virus anymore, this is about power.
8:54 pm: here’s what Alden has done—acquires the tools and infrastructure to understand the local situation and bring it under control.
He is not expecting that we will wait for the next steps until there are no more cases. I see that New Zealand today is registering two new cases. He knows that will happen.
But he has positioned the Cayman Islands to live peaceably with this virulent virus by reducing the risk and being fully prepared to meet eventualities.
8:54 one thing will be remembered who is IN CHARGE!
Give your bloated salary to the out of work people you ask to be patient, to wait. Put your money where your mouth is.
Pay the old people’s CUC bills this month
More like 25% reduction for all.
I agree, 8:25 am: the token by CUC of paying for seniors’ shopping bill at one or two supermarkets for one day was highlighted by Alden as “good news”.
It would really be good news if the government would underwrite the electricity bills for May for all customers 70 plus, or perhaps even 25% reduction for everyone.
CUC has granted a moratorium, but those payments are piling up, and will have to be paid one day.
It could be considered a sort of a reward for the population that complied with the lockdown mandate by government (which I do support, but it does come with its costs).
Actually, maybe they could give a reduction to those that have spent less than $300 or $400 bill. As those that have such a huge bill probably have a huge home and can afford to pay it while those below probably have more modest of a home and need the break.
Soon he will be asking the private sector to pay more taxes so the MLA’s can maintain the style of living they “deserve”..
Let me ask the most relevant question? How many deaths recored?? Ok.. its a flu folks. We good..all tested are ok. They got over it. We not dead.
Exactly, @8:35 pm. Exactly—you are alive. Hundreds of thousands of people, just like you, are dead. Be grateful.
Death and taxes. The only guarantees in life.
So if you or a loved one rec’d a diagnosis of a potential illness that would cause your death, you would just wait to die or would you do all you could to save yourself or your loved one.
Yup. It is a flu. Been saying it. Can’t hide from that. This is total BS now.
This all an ego trip. It does not matter what the facts are, it does not matter what the risks are, (aka so low it cannot be calculated as an integer), it does not matter how many businesses fail. It is all about one man’s choice. And his choice to destroy the economy, and to our rob children of a future.
It must be difficult leading people like you. If Covid was rampant and Cayman hospitals were overrun who would you blame? The government of course. But if we avoid disaster you start downplaying it and accuse the government of overreacting. The decision-makers cannot won with people like you.
Perhaps you could point to a society that has been wiped out by Covid19.
4:31 You are not even AWARE that the USA deaths from COVID-19 has
long passed our POPULATION!
That’s also true every year with the regular old flu.
It is now past the average ANNUAL death toll for flu in the US and only going into the beginning of FIVE MONTHS.
Plus those numbers are with quarantines, lockdowns, borders closed etc. Please tell us how the hell you are still clueless enough to be comparing this equally to the seasonal flu with such different numbers and factors?
Lmao. So ignorant. What is the population of the United states of America. Let’s see….
328 million people. I hope you can grasp the magnitude of that number.
Government, protecting us from reality.
Please do not open the borders and schools at the same time. Because the 2nd wave due to borders reopening will be blamed on school reopening. And we cannot close schools again and let our children’s education continue to suffer.
Where was the first wave? Get a grip…
6:47 pm: don’t worry. The borders won’t be open for now. Unless by some miracle there is a vaccine available in the next few months, our customers will be in their second wave to the end of the year. They will definitely not be getting on a cruise ship.
Looks like they already found freedom at the XXXX construction site, in plain view of the officers spraying peoples hands at Hurley’s
If anyone wants to know what it is like suffering through and surviving Covid-19, read this account by the scientist who fought the Ebola and HIV virus. It will open your eyes:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/finally-virus-got-me-scientist-who-fought-ebola-and-hiv-reflects-facing-death-covid-19
Your comment is irrelevant.
4:00 pm, is it? You are so bright.
So … his comment is irrelevant because the link doesn’t corroborate your preferred narrative? You are pitiful.
11:05 pm: No, my post is irrelevant because it does not corroborate his or her preferred narrative.
Too many of the posters on this site have closed their mind to anything but the line that Coronavirus is “just the flu”, sadly the standard narrative of Fox News.
Those persons are wrong but continue to be in denial in the face of data to the contrary. Good thing Alden is not moved by their lame, uninformed wailing.
Remember it is not just about you—it is about other people who may suffer or could possibly even lose their lives.
Sorry – the sarcasm wasn’t clear. Carry on.
My brother had and has recovered from Covid-19. He is 59 with underlying health issues. No symptoms at all.
This is a crock to keep us locked down like animals. The s not flipping ebola! Omg get a grip people!
8;02 pm: statistically, your evidence of one case is a crock.
Amazing read, thank you for sharing A++!
Thank you, 3:29 pm, very good read.
You mean the landscaping which would be covered under the recent exemptions? Or are you saying the construction work itself has resumed?
You would hardly be landscaping a building site with no buildings…..
Maybe the construction workers are more afraid of their children going hungry than they are of the curfew, the police or the virus.
Or the construction taking place under guise of landscaping.
I agree with the Government’s approach, despite the hardship and inconvenience some people may be experiencing.
Getting the island opened up like LC and CB, and virus free will pay big dividends for our image in the long term. Plus it will undoubtedly save lives.
Geographically and demographically, we have a good chance of being completely virus free if everyone plays the game. We need to work to our strengths.
There light at the end of the tunnel, make the most of the quiet or slack time at your disposal.
Being virus free sounds good bit doesn’t work in the long run. As soon as we open borders we’ll get it. And we will be at the beginning again.
That’s the sort of negativity we don’t need.
At least we can be virus free, and have freedom of movement.
Sure we cannot leave or have visitors until perhaps there’s a vaccine or mandatory testing for visitors.
But it sure beats sitting at home under lockdown, making pissy sour comments!
Yes, however we stand an excellent chance of being far more prepared than in the initial throes of the virus; more prepared with health services and response, and established procedures and protocols for people entering Cayman.
@6:41 pm, correct. Also, there is always the possibility that effective anti-viral treatments may emerge—even possibly a vaccine—in the near future.
Then all the hundreds of thousands of people who have died worldwide in the throes of achieving herd immunity would have died in vain.
AND it’s still not known how long immunity lasts
AND to achieve herd immunity it needs to be 70% of population. So just in Cayman 45k + based on 65K still on island? That includes your kids, so you’re actually wanting to make the DECISION to infect them and give them potential lifelong health issues just so you can go out to the bar? No one even knows how long immunity might even last.
That’s not what the ministers are proposing. It sounds like their plan is to remain closed until the “world catches up” If catching up means the virus is no longer around as is the plan here then why would we need procedures and protocols? Do you really believe the world will catch up as defined above?
Borders are not going to be opened until there is a vaccine. Even if Cayman opened its borders, there will be no tourism until the rest of the world does the same thing. Forget that. What we can have is freedom of movement locally. Bars, restaurants, shops, offices, gyms, beaches. An economy. We just have to stamp out the virus first, and we’re nearly there.
But there’s a good chance that some of these “it’s just the ‘flu” morons are going to blow it for everyone. It will only take one event- a church gathering or a funeral or a party- and one infected person and all the sacrifices made by everyone in this country will be for nothing.
Yes that’s what is so sad
Until there is a vaccine! You mean like the other Corona virus SARS? Out break in 2002 and still no vaccine. Or MERS. 2012 and no vaccine. Nearly there sounds a tad in realistic.
As the latest research suggests that low Vitamin D Levels are seen in most deaths due to COVID 19 in countries around the globe, when the businesses and offices open more as the phases of curfew goes down, may be everyone’s Vitamin D Levels should be tested and anyone with lower than 40 Vitamin D, especially if they are over the age of 45 or so, and anyone with underlying health conditions, be allowed to work from home, if that could be possible, until they supplement and vitamin D levels are brought up.
We can hardly test for the virus now we need to test to see if people have enough vitamin d?
Vitamin D is a blood test and this testing has been available for ages, so there is no constraint on the number of people who can get tested for Vitamin D. Not just during this pandemic, Vitamin D testing should be a periodic norm for health check ups. If the insurance companies remove the co-pay for this test, more people might be interested to get tested for this and may try to increase their levels to become healthier. Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to all kinds of cancers. It is also linked to allergies and auto immune conditions. So it is in the best interest of everyone to get tested and optimize their Vitamin D levels to keep in good health in general. It is ironic that most of us, although living in the sunny Caribbean, may find ourselves to be deficient in this key hormone (yes, it is a hormone), because of staying indoors in air condition, and using sun screens when staying outdoors. A few minutes of sun exposure few times a week, without the sun screen, may do us good. Overexposure to the sun is to be avoided.
It is not that simple when it comes to testing vitamin D levels.
For some reason CNS didn’t like my comment that would help people to better understand active and inactive vitamin D levels.
CNS: Your previous comment was posted. Because your comments often have a bunch of links they sometimes go into the spam box, which I go through last. Apology accepted.
Here is my second attempt:
Make sure you check both D25 and D1.25
The 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the major form found in the blood and is the relatively INACTIVE precursor to the ACTIVE hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. In other words (simplified): D25 shows how much is in your blood, and D1.25 how much is in your tissues and organs.
Since I can’t post an image of vitamin D metabolism here, it goes like this:
Sun hits your skin ➜ converts cholesterol on the skin into inactive Vitamin D25➜ then it goes to your liver which converts it into an active form D1.25➜kidneys➜bones and tissues.
One can have high D25 and low D1.25 because he has “broken” VDR (vitamin D receptor). It is like your store has plenty of orange juice (vitamin D in your blood), but you can’t get it because store’s doors are broken (VDR).
Parathyroid gland is like a watchdog and a traffic controller in your body- it senses calcium levels and increases or decreases parathyroid hormone secretion (PTH).
That is why testing D25, D1.25, calcium and (PTH) must always go together. It completes vitamin D metabolism picture.
If your calcium level is even one decimal above the normal range, if your PTH, D25 and D1.25 out of normal range, it is an alarm that warrants investigation. It affects the entire function of your body.
Get more information here:
Low Vitamin D Levels, and Low Blood Vitamin D. https://www.parathyroid.com/low-vitamin-d.htm
High blood calcium https://www.parathyroid.com/high-calcium.htm
Normal Blood Calcium Levels Depend on Age https://www.parathyroid.com/Normal-Blood-Calcium-Levels.htm
and there is free app called Dminder that guides you to how to achieve optimal vitamin D levels which depends on many factors including geographical location.
This is interesting. I wonder why the doctors don’t test D 1.25. So, one cannot have a high D 1.25 if they are low on D 25? May be that’s why?
Maybe people returning to work should be tested for these, especially those with underlying conditions. Insurance companies could waive the co-pay and may be even make it free for those without insurance in the current circumstances.
While 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D is the most potent vitamin D metabolite, 25-OH vitamin D levels more accurately reflect vitamin D status since it is not influenced by PTH and other hormones. In unique cases such as renal disease, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D levels may be used to better determine vitamin D status.
You dont need to take a supplement for Vitamin D in the Caribbean. Your body can produce about 10-20,000 IU if D3 (the sunshine vitamin) in about 15 minutes , best between 10am-12pm. Only snag is its best your torso/upper body is exposed which is s bit harder when youre at work…depending on your work LOL. Surprisingly many people suffer from deficiency in the islands because they are constantly indoors, covered up with clothing or slathered in sunblock.
Did you play a doctor on TV? Because you are a terrible doctor in real life. My doctor put me on high dosages of vitamin D and I trust him much more than you!
Yes, keep listening to your western doctor who wants to pump you full of endorsed drugs and sell you sand to go to the beach. Why dont you just do a bit of research before you criticize others?
If I trusted the doctors before taking a personal interest in my own health, i would have suffered twice in the past year from being prescribed penicilin derivative drugs even after clearly noting my allergy to it on their forms! Two different doctors!
Nobody makes those quantities of vitamin D. Both vitamin D and B12 must be supplemented by everyone, even in the tropics. You’ll be glad you did.
Reasearch facts. If a caucasian can produce that much in 12-15 minutes of summer sun in OSLO, pretty sure we can do it here in our Caribbean sun.
But I read that darker skinned people need more time, up to 5 times longer which would explain all the other instances people have noted below this on deficiencies and trends of increased Covid rates amongst darker skinned persons.
How hard it it to go outside for 10 min a day???
Timing matters and one has to expose as much skin as he can.
I would be happy if my employer made it a mandatory recess time to be in the sun daily for 10 minutes. Would be difficult to expose torso, but arms and legs could still get the sun.
Smokers get to do it multiple times a day where I work! I am actually jealous because I don’t smoke.
doesn’t mean you can’t go outside
But you might catch the Corona if you do, especially on a Sunday.
Labour Law outlines 15 minute break in both morning and afternoon. Its what you choose to do with them.
10 mins.
When I first came to Cayman I developed a vitamin d deficiency and was told by a doctor at HSA that a lot of ppl in cayman present with vitamin d deficiency because we are always inside in the ac and even our work conditions keep us out of the sun (for those who work in ac). If vitamin d deficiency is probable cause for covid death rate, cayman has a lot of planning to do….that is if the doctor was accurate in his conversation with me.
FFS you can out outside for 10 min!!! You are NOT locked up indoors!!!
6:48 pm: vitamin D is an essential for all round good health—it is amazing how important it is but how little attention most doctors give to this.
Doctors should be routinely testing for vitamin D for patients from a certain age. To my knowledge, my doctors didn’t raise this until I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. ‘Til then, I had no idea of the importance of vitamin D to bone health. Now I make sure my calcium supplement is combined with vitamins D and K.
I also try to make sure that I get a daily dose of sunlight. Maintaining a good vitamin D level is also generally surprisingly easy—everyone can get out into the sun for 15 minutes per day regardless of work conditions if her or she plans for it.
It’s interesting to note that so many kids, even here in the Caribbean, are vitamin-D deficient because they are covered in sunscreen and UV blocking hats and tops whenever they are outside. Sunburn is bad but a little bit of sun every day is as important for us as it is for the plants and is one of the few things proven to boost your immune system. How much exposure depends on how strong the sun is and how light or dark your skin is. Dark skin absorbs sun more slowly- the darkest shades of human skin are the equivalent of SPF-15 sunscreen. Even without sun there are over the counter VD supplements readily available.
There is some evidence to suggest that is why dark-skinned people in Europe have been dying of Coronavirus at a higher rate than lighter-skinned people. Ironically it has gone largely unreported because researchers are taught to look for socio-economic explanations for racial differences and avoid biological explanations at all costs to be politically correct. In this case there might be a very simple biological explanation and solution! Get some sun or take a vitamin D supplement.
The vitamin D theory might also explain why NZ and Australia have fared so much better than Europe and North America. It will be interesting to see what happens over the northern summer.
Interesting 7:05 am: that could also be a contributing factor to the proliferation of cases among African Americans.
Alden and Seymour need to present us the fact before their irrelevant hour of waffle. No one can listen through that and turn off before they even get to any sort of COVID update.
Keep the prayer to a prayer hour & the news briefing brief
This is so true. I tune in each day but usually reach saturation point and have to turn it off before getting the important info. And none of the Compass, CNS or the HSA site are reliably up to date. Usually I get a WhatsApp from a friend in the US with political connections here that actually tells me what I need to know.
It’s a warped sense of values brought on by a capitalist imperative for consumption. The Western world is addicted to materialism, with the United States leading the way. Hence the seemingly absurd ethos that would suggest that life is not worth living if you can’t have your stuff and your amusements. We have lost our way as a species and something like a pandemic can wake people up. However, as we see here and all over the world, there will be those who refuse to reflect because of their addiction.
12:24 / I understand your stance and fully agree with you to a point. What you’re not nor it seems is Govt considering is a basic necessity of income to function. Just one example of multiples on the list, medical insurance, – now a basic requirement to healthcare (more especially those with preexisting conditions) is being compromised by those that can’t afford it. ‘The ethos you appear to be projecting is I’m financially stable for the long term in my minimalistic existence, what’s the problem’.
Strap yourselves in ladies and gentlemen cause open or not there will be more pain financially.
Please, I beg you, be above it all and isolate forever…
Hahahaha
Thanks Stalin.
We are not addicted to materialism but with industry shut down can not afford food, the rent or health insurance. I am involuntarily breaking into tears and struggling to hide my fears from our children. People with views like yours do not help.
Sorry for your suffering
Can I help you?
Driving kills. Let’s save lives and start walking. Don’t choose comfort over lives!
Also, obesity kills. Let’s make it a law to exercise 2h per day. Every life matters!
silly
They may take our lives but they’ll never take our FREEDOM! Alba Gu Bráth!
I’m with you buddy.
Thanks Mel. But we have, get over it.
Think they already took our freedom. We have no rights anymore.
It’s rather like saying:
Tigers are very dangerous and we should protect ourselves at all costs and lock ourselves inside for fear of the tiger.
But Sir, we don’t have any tigers in Cayman.
Reply: I have read about them Tigers and they are very dangerous, mark my words you should protect yourselves and stay inside and we will lock down all our flights and cruise ships and businesses.
But Sir, we don’t have tigers in Cayman – there is a nasty kitty on Selkirk Drive that will bite you if you let it…
Reply: In 14 weeks from now you will thank me that I saved you all from the dreaded tiger!
But Sir, we don’t have tigers in Cayman???????
Agreed. Great analogy.
What a silly comparison. We do have community spread of COVID 19 in Cayman. Tiger is visible, this virus is invisible, you stupid. Government is doing a great job in protecting us from this invisible enemy.
It is an analogy and the references appear to mean the tiger that is not seen – yet the fear of it is terrifying and the kitty maybe is the actual real effect of what the tiger was supposed to do? I’m not brilliant at these things but still a funny way of looking at it.
@9:46am – great analogy for Little Cayman maybe, but so far, in Cayman we have 81 tigers.
Could be at least 84 now, with 3 at Kirk market.
You have no Tigers… the Tiger represents death, the kitty is Covid. For Godsake!
Even if there was a tiger, it is possible to cage it and protect the human beings, or pack it off to a remote forest in a corner of the globe. There indeed is COVID 19 in Cayman, and the government is trying its best to save people from untimely death due to this virus. Why can’t people who complain understand this simple thing. Those who want Cayman to be opened up in a rush, well, you never know you might contract the virus and pass it 9n to a loved family member and you and they may suffer health issues due to it.
They have no one that they care about. That explains it all doesn’t it?
I prefer a lion
I realize you need to over simplify for your ilk. But this want a good example.
So true! And so frustrating to get this through the dense skulls of both ou Government and the sheep they infect.
It’s very easy to turn the Premier’s half baked “ethos” around on him. I guess he can take responsibility for every death due to preventable or treatable disease moving forward after re-opening including the flu. How many people died of cancer under the watch of the Premier’s government in the past few years who would have otherwise still be with us if only the government intervened and sent them to the Mayo Clinic all expenses paid instead of the GT hospital. And let’s not stop there, I believe a few drunk drivers have killed people on the roads under his watch. Totally preventable by simply eliminating alcohol. Not one life is worth a way of life and money doesn’t matter. Right?
Of course it is completely absurd to assign blame to the government for the above, yet the government is using that same logic and paradigm to shame those people questioning the long term viability of the chosen strategy. If the ethos won’t change as the Premier has told us, we can only assume that it won’t change under any circumstances.
Keep it tight old boy…keep up the good work. . Would love to taste an ocean turbit…but I just have to follow the rules. Better to wait a few weeks than a few months…A Caymanian.
Turbot.
But this is not a plan, it is a result of panic. Let’s say they do eliminate it on the island, a naive goal perhaps, we eventually have to open the island to leave and for visitors/tourists. What then? An island of unexposed virgins.
Could you possibly consider that more info will be available in that time? More and more info seems to be coming out about this virus each day. If we can contain it, the island can open up slowly domestically (that means locally on the island) tourism will not be back for a very long time even if we were to open up the borders today, so if that is business, you better figure it out as you’ll be whining for years if not.
The plan was never eradicate the virus it was and is contain it. It seems to be contained it is expected that every few days we get a few positives but the vast majority being negative and this will continue for months and some weeks there may be an increase in numbers but I believe we are well positioned to handle this. To remain locked down for a further four to six weeks seems an over reaction, it’s time to think about mental health especially for kids/teens, people living alone, the economy, open the beaches allow people to swim. Social distancing will be here for a long time we are learning to live with it but the government need to trust us the people as well to make the right decisions and remove some of these measures. Anyone that chooses or can stay home will, a lot of staff working remotely will continue to do so. The elderly, the most affected group can continue to shop within specified times and socially distance. This is not wishing ill on any group of people it’s just common sense measures.
Clearly we can’t be trusted if you look at previous behavior.
Would somebody tell them to stick to the script. It’s a press briefing not the Birthday Club🤮
Thank you!!!!!!
Not it’s it a prayer meeting.
Immune system is the only way we can over come this.
CIG or Alden can’t stop nature.
Lets not be deluded… Hes been lying to the community for years and years.
From the first 24 hour lock down he knew that this was gonna be months but did not want to cause panic and tell the community
Don’t believe the fear.
CIG has been more dangerous than any criminal or virus in Cayman ever will.
Shut down the beaches because of all the drug boats and packages on the beach, than tell the community the beach is dangerous. While I can go stand at super market with 50 people around me.
What we should do is lock down the CIG from there propaganda and take back our country from the real criminals.
The Youths will prevail!
You spoiled that with your last four words.
If they get out of bed, get an education, get a job, put down their phones, stop eating junk food constantly, pull up their pants, learn to drive, lose the self entitled attitude and actually contribute something to the country, then yes, they may.
09/05/2020 at 1:37 pm
But the old generations have done that and look at the mess we are in now.
Yes we all can hate on the youths. But they are more connected to nature and the mother energy system than the old gens.
Right? How many of us are eating plant foods healthy and full of energy?
Less than a hand few of healthy adults on the island and we must punish the younger generations to save are old dying buts when most of the adults in cayman are in their 40-60s and think they know more than that 13 year old child.
Most adults have health problems and this isn’t going away unless you listen to my advice take your stubborn arrogant attitude and drop your ego.
Ban alcohol and tobacco?
Greed is the evil in Cayman
Yeah I am 29 and I know more than most of the community double my age.
The trillions of dollars laundered in Cayman every month(week) can’t be used to help the community?
Yeah, I knew everything at 29 too! SMH. I hope you remember this comment directed at you in 15 years.
Youth.
Your silence will not protect you. In times of chaos speak out. Tell people the truth about things they cannot accept.
I hope you figured out with C-19 that not every crisis can be managed. As much as we want to keep ourselves safe, we can’t protect ourselves from everything. If we want to embrace life, we also have to embrace chaos to thrive.
Just a quick reminder: The flu has a vaccine and still kills 45-65K people annually.
Just a reminder – many people don’t get the flu shot because they think it gives them the flu. And other than that, people take very few precautions against getting the flu – they even show up to work when sick. If people took similar precautions (like just washing hands, sanitizing door knobs and work areas, etc) far fewer people would die of the flu each year. You are not making an apples to apples comparison, but then you’re really only interested in proving your point that this is all overblown.
I disagree, the comment is actually under-blown. The flu kiils 500,000 every year. On the bright side, you probably won’t get it locked in your closet.
It is so true that people go to work even when they have flu…and pass it on. Going forward there should be some measures taken to stop this. Also the common areas in a business or office should be sanitized often, may be every hour, going forward. Better still, if anyone is able to work from home, let them just work from home.
But not in 6 weeks dodo!!!
Nor with the lockdown measures that most of the planet has taken.
We haven’t even seen a full year of this yet
What you all expect? This is who WE chose to lead us for years.
“We may indeed in counsel point to the higher road, but we cannot compel any free creature to walk upon it. That leadeth to tyranny, which disfigureth good and maketh it seem hateful.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
Your personal choice Alden is to lock everyone else up so you are safe from them. My personal choice is that you hide from us and let us choose to live or hide. Easy for you as you are still getting paid and doing whatever you can get away with. Harder for us who have lost jobs, pay checks, homes, and our way of life. I would rather risk getting the virus and then getting over it and be immune and move on instead of hiding from it. You are not letting me have that choice because of your fear of me.
Will you get your job back after this?
I may not have a life after this.
I wish I had the choice to abort my selfish kid way back in the day. Wait…that’s you making comments about choice right?
Hahahaha
You have accomplished “bending the curve”. You can do no more until/if a vaccine is developed. You can not eliminate the virus buy shutting down and you can’t stay shutdown forever. The first plane back in, be it now or December will bring more of the virus with it. All you can do is your best to protect the vulnerable and let this run its course. A sad but true fact is that some will die, as we all will at some point.
Hope it’s not someone you love
Thank you. I hope not too, but that really isn’t the point is it?
YEAH, it kinda is
Already was, and I agree with the original post.
The Premier keeps trying to make the link between lives and money. The only person pushing this idea and agenda is him. This is a completely false concept. This isn’t about money or business but peoples livelihoods. There is a major difference but every time someone dares bring this thinking up he keeps making it a binary issue. Lives or money. It isn’t!
Whether you agree with the Swedish approach or not they recognise that this is about a holistic approach to life, not just death. This means there is no point in saving one set of lives if you lose as many people to suicide or depression caused by the restrictions you have put in place. They recognize that there is no point in bringing a country to its knees when the virus will be there in our environment for many years in the future. Alden is so fixated on saving the few he has forgotten his responsibility as leader of this country is to all of us. He is literally prepared to destroy the Cayman economy to keep the virus out. That is the sign of a desperate man who has lost sight of reason and objectivity.
Drama queen
6:43 who says there is not an ECONOMY for DEAD PEOPLE!
If the premier cares for the elderly so much why is my pension of 0.5 million paid out to me at $1000 a month?
He does not care. You are the fool. Did you ever think that he did/
It is in reference to his speech about caring for the elderly, honestly I would be better off dying from covid 19, than trying to live off this crazy pension. I contributed from day 1 in the belief that I could retire in reasonable comfort, that is to say enough to buy food and pay bills, nothing more, but the pensions law takes my money and puts it in the hands of another to control.
Why didn’t you hit an annuity & get a higher monthly payment? I did.
And if you had 1/2 million a lot of that had to be voluntary contributions that you could have received as a lump sum on retirement – if you asked. They don’t offer, in fact dont record it properly. Fought with Miss Amy who told me I was wrong before she finally agreed that at ‘normal’ retirement age, voluntary contributions can be refunded (any payments over 5% & over the salary thresholds). Then I fought with the pension company.
First and Foremost my dear Caymanians you have this whole Alden thing wrong.
So will the pundits please correct me in what I am going to say.
The Premier of the Cayman Islands does not, does not have the ultimate authority over our beloved isles during this pandemic. The UK appointed Governor has the say – as you may note that the regulations have to be assented to by him. Anything that the Commissioner of Police does has to have the blessing of the Governor. Am I right?
Does Alden negotiate with foreign governments for repatriation of expats? Does Alden arrange for flights into Cayman? Does Alden arrange for supplies from Motherland?
Does Alden authorize UK vessels to be here? Does Alden directly deal with various worldwide health organizations? And on and on.
So day after day when we read Alden this and Alden that, he is the mouthpiece and public relations man at the front of the Caymanian voice, but Governor Roper is in charge … period. Alden, the Cabinet and collective MLA’s can make suggestions to the Governor, but seems to me that Governor Roper is the ultimate authority.
To you Governor Roper, I am glad that you are taking a proactive, cautious approach and not following what the Motherland itself is doing (ie second highest virus deaths).
May God Bless You Governor Roper and may God Bless all our of locally elected officials.
Premier conducts an experiment in annihilation. Is he a modern day Victor Frankenstein who has turned the population of an isolated island into his laboratory?
The island has literally turned into a concentration camp. People move in alphabetical order. People forced to wear masks. People forced to mandatory testing. People deprived fresh air and sun exposure. People with medical conditions other than COVID denied treatments. People are monitored by police on foot and in helicopters. Tracking equipment is being employed.
People’s mental faculties are being tested for resilience.
Adults and children have literally became victims of an experiment compared to that conducted on prisoners during WWII.
Why nobody stops local Hitler? Has everyone’s spirit been crashed? Or everyone is a willing participant of this unscientific experiment? There’s absolutely no basic of any kind to allow this to continue.
Exaggerate much? Whine much! Suck it up buttercup – you’ll be able to get back to the bar soon enough.
…even then, the 6 ft apart bar. There is no return to what we remember as pre-COVID interactions until there is a workable global vaccine rollout. Sad fact for the teen-minded party crowd that think they’re being kept from beating a path back to Lillies. That world is gone for the foreseeable. Calicos and Royal Palms don’t even exist anymore…the chronic multi-month booze-fog seems to have slowed the grappling of headline realities.
Let me remind you that there is flu vaccine, yet 45-60K people annually die from it.
Less than 40% of Americans adults get a flu shot every year. People believe it gives them the flu.
This year’s flu quadrivalent vaccine, itself a product of years of trials and extensive lab collaboration and testing, was <40% effective against 4 long historical strains it was designed to inoculate against. Covid-19 is not a normal flu, or even a normal Coronavirus. That is why the medical community is still learning and a virus Hail Mary is such a long shot. Worth trying though.
Rude person. You have no idea what this person is going through.
Some people can not even keep their lights on or their water flowing.
Your analogy is literally nonsense.
One way that will help Cayman opening in 4-6 weeks is if the Police Commissioner (thru the Governor’s directive) starts cracking down on curfew violations. People understand being ticketed, they understand being locked down and they understand jail.
This may sound hard, but RCIPS is way too soft on the public. Don’t play around and warn all the “bobo’s” about being prosecuted -those who knowingly flaunt the restrictions are putting the health of others in jeopardy.
So if someone caught the virus from one of these Covidiots can that be classified as some sort of assault.
Okay Cayman bring on the negative comments – we good at that.
I think people in cayman have been extremely respectful of the seven week lockdown and the odd few are hardly deserving of large fines or prison sentences.
Then you are blind or stupid, or both.
No, most is just 50% +1. I think we got that!
FFS where the hell have you been these last 7 weeks.
Go figure out what warned for prosecution means. So sick if people not being able to fend for themselves here and not in the financial sense.
Fitting how politicians use our old people such as a time like this. Do we care about them that much if COVID-19 had not come. Unbelievable!!!!
Oh shut up. The only ones not carrying about old people are the selfish idiots who dump their parents at the Pines, forget about them and then enjoy the spoils of their early inheritance. Most Caymanians, and most certainly not Alden, do not think that way. But sadly increasing numbers of younger Caymanians do.
Can the Premier answer this: is anyone in CIG doing anything to reach out and reassure the many foreign property owners and business investors that they are important to us too during this terrible pandemic, and their investments, although inaccessible indefinitely, are safe? For many years we have heard about the importance of government’s efforts to attract wealthy retirees to what they touted as a “safe and stable haven” and wonderful place to live. And now, that target market has been cut suddenly off from their investment properties. Someone better start thinking about this looming public relations nightmare, about how Cayman is not the safe and stable place to invest.
So the construction industry is next to open up. To build more luxury homes for this target market of wealthy foreigners…who is going to buy them? Who will want to invest in a place whose leaders at times have resembled African dictators? What savvy investor will want to own something he may not be able to use, but still have to pay strata and maintenance fees for because the country goes in and out of lockdown as the pandemic comes back? How is that going to work? What kind of confidence will anyone have in Cayman?
Why does it always boil down to money? Every life we save is worth more than all the money in Cayman.
No, not really. Every business that fails represents a child that will not go to private school. Or to University. If they go to public school there actual chance of a future is small.
I paid for my university education myself. No help from rich parents. Your comment is so entitled! PLEASE don’t raise your children with those values…PLEASE!
No sure what your agenda is but Id much rather have Alden than Donald Trump!
Amen to that!
I’d be back in a heartbeat. I was sad to leave when I was told the airport was shutting down, but realized the small community there might not be able to handle something full blown. I felt I was leavng the safest place on Earth.
5:15 First you have to know what PANDEMIC means!
Alden Oaken Shield has entered Erebor.
a sun halo mid morning today (Fri) and forced to scroll through ‘Nothing short of lunacy’ to reach the comment box tonight, – disciples, feel the guidance I feel, the virus shall renounce these ‘Blessed Isles’, our souls too as the sun rises on the summer solstice !
WE WILL BE FREE ! ☀️
contact your Eradication Representative for pre purchase tickets, price includes nasal swabs and entry to 10 day festival. June 20th – July 1st.
Another 4 to 6 weeks? Have they lost their mind? The whole world is easing restrictions, but we are supposed to stay locked in for another 6 weeks?!
What a discrase of a “government”.
Go to the US, they re opened.
Can someone please tell me who we will be doing business with internationally if we open??? Like who???
This is Crazy.
There is no way to prep for hurricane season, do general maintenance,
get a car fixed OR anything else and with such low numbers we should be allowed more controlled openings ASAP. Even after the poor people at the grocery store showed up with it!
It is here to stay!
Turks and Caicos eased restrictions and guess what they got first!
1. Curfew 8pm to 5am 7days
2. Beaches OPEN but no more than 4 from same house no drinking ect.
3. Hardware stores entry
4. Car parts stores
5. Markes
6. Fishing
The list goes on and on. Next week they get even more and construction work starts, Gov. offices open.
Why is CIG so intent on locking up its people?
And to just put a blanket boarders closed for 4 more months is crazy maybe in 3 weeks there will be a treatment. Maybe Caribbean island based travel only. Who knows.
10:44 who will we open to!
Bermuda is allowing people to got to the beach, use boats, play sports go in bars.
And they have had more in their hospitals & 8 deaths.
It got tinto the old folks home
…and immediately regretted it – read the Gazette and see the pictures of abuse!
@2:19 pm: and they have not had a new case for at least two weeks. I have been checking. We are not there yet.
What numbers are you looking at? They had positives reported on May 6th. They’ve had more positives than us & 8 deaths.
Aaaah the high ground you have taken this time!! I wish you could have shown the same high standards with your buddy Cow Cod!
You lost our respect at that moment and it’s been a steep downhill.
We dont believe your radical overreaction is based on the pure intentions you espouse or will it succeed in eliminating the virus. We will be in the same ‘low virus numbers situation’ in July. Just a far worse state.
Yes totally agree. We should plan to open slowly now.et people know the plan so they can prepare
Alden’s Achilles heal has always been his ego. Who to the point of complete inability to reason. But what choice did we have Mac? Can some worthy Caymanian please step forward for the next elections.
Alden you’re mental, 4-6 weeks !?!
300 responses to this one no problem.. 🤩
Have you shopped at Kirks lately. You idiot.
The word of the day was Ethos. The premier repeated it ad nauseam. I found it almost as annoying as the constant prayers during the press briefings. They should be brief. Even the U.K. with so many more people, asking so many more questions, through so many more news outlets, keep it down to half the time. Can we please have a separate prayer meeting after the news BRIEFing?
Prayers are what has been lacking from most all world leaders. People can say what they want about the Minister of Health (Mr. Seymour don’t know you) but keep HIS WORD coming every.
Open with prayer and close with prayer.
You put this Mr Seymour on a pedestal? This man who praises God one day and twists scripture to call a reporter a jackass the next? This man who helps set the rules and then tries to openly curses a woman who asks him about his own wife breaking the rules? This is the man you admire? XXXX May God hear my prayer: Merciful Lord, please save us from the likes of Minister Seymour!
Pray on you’re own time! We are being force fed the killing machine of Christ, by ignorant fear monger politicians and their families. The same ones that rape our coffers, import whores for their side pleasures, cut side business deals at the lodge, put criminals back in business or public office. They are “Too Stupid” to even see how obvious it is to us all.
Come next elections, after Alden has laid his Legacy if destruction, there will be change. No statute for you in the square bobo.
Great news! We are free, except the airport is closed!
Really we are free ? You should move to the US then. 3 employees are positive at Kirk Market. More to come. Can’t fix stupid.
They are not dead.
Bet they all were friends, hung out or lived together. And, they are all fine, asymptotic, not a sniffle amongst them.
Let’s shut down the country! Do it now! Omg they have a totally asymptotic illness, let’s all over react!!, close the flipping country for a year. Or two! Or forever!
I’m not free. I’m spending Mother’s Day alone & working from home next week. No beach swimming, no condo pool swimming, no squash, no tennis, no driving to Camana Bay for a beer. I’m locked up!
How horrible for you
Have you been locked up in isolation for 8 weeks? I’m not a criminal so please set me free!!! We are not all on the road as ‘essential’ workers, picking up groceries, picking up take away, or pretending to be on the road to go to the doctor or groceries when we are actually making a booty call. Or watching the dump burn. Did you see the photo in the Compass if them all standing around? Of cycling in a large group. If going to garden/clean houses piled 6 to a van. Why does Hews have exemption when my neighbours live alone nanny is not allowed to work!!?
yes, following the rules to protect others.
“the sky is falling the sky is falling!”