Eden calls for independence from UK ‘noose’

| 21/10/2020 | 188 Comments
MLA Anthony Eden in the LA on Wednesday

(CNS): One of the Legislative Assembly’s most conservative members made a radical call on Wednesday, when he said the next administration needed to consider independence for the Cayman Islands. Anthony Eden (SAV) implied that the British do not wish this country well and things had gone “haywire under this administration”. He said that whoever takes over after the next election should look at getting away “from this cumbersome noose that is tightening around our neck”.

In other words, “independence”. And Eden’s message to the future parliament was: “Don’t be afraid to cut the cord.”

The surprising call from the veteran MLA, who has served over 28 years in the LA, some of it as a Cabinet member, came during the ongoing debate over the government’s controversial Defence Bill. Eden described the legislation as another “power grab” by the UK in what he saw as a relationship that has turned sour under this current government.

Eden’s current aversion to Britain, which he has often described as the mother country, has been growing ever since the UK gave a clear indication that it would impose marriage equivalency for same-sex couples here if local politicians did not address it themselves. With the passage of the Civil Partnership Law last months, the opposition MLA’s feelings about the governor and Cayman’s relationship with Britain has soured.

Eden joins growing enthusiasm on the opposition benches for Cayman to begin carving out a pathway to independence. While few politicians ever call for outright independence immediately, the idea that we should be preparing for it sooner rather than much later, as has previously been the case, is gaining traction.

In the LA on Wednesday it was clear that Eden’s opposition to this new law had its roots in his virulent opposition to rights for the LGBT+ community, as well as the power the governor’s office retains over Cayman and lawmakers.

“In light of how the civil partnership legislation was handled and managed by the governor, it terrifies me to give him more power,” he said, as he suggested that the Defence Bill goes much further than any MLAs had envisioned with the idea of a regiment.

Joining others on the opposition bench in criticising this current draft bill, which they have called colonialist legislation, Eden said he would not support the law as it was.

Government has agreed to make amendments to the bill before it reaches the committee stage and to deal with what Premier Alden McLaughlin accepted as overreach, as he wound up the debate in the LA. He pointed to what he said were helpful submissions made by North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, which the changes would be based on.

But in light of what Eden had said, as well as other comments made recently by the official opposition members about this bill and others, the premier questioned whether the opposition would be brave enough to put independence in their manifesto.

However, despite Eden’s very clear statement, which could not be misinterpreted, Deputy Opposition Leader Alva Suckoo (NEW) said that no one on the opposition benches had advocated for independence.

“I sat here and listened,” said McLaughlin, adding that he viewed independence for Cayman in the same way as his own death, which was that they are both inevitable but he hoped neither happened soon.

“If the opposition is of the view that it needs to be fast-forwarded, then that is entirely up to them. That is a proper political platform and the people can vote and determine whether or not they agree,” he said.


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  1. Anonymous says:

    Eden needs to go sit down in a grass piece out in the middle of Lower Valley where he came from. Or go to church and preach his nonsense. Useless old dinosaur!

    This Caymanian (of many generations) will NOT be voting for independence – NOT for the likes of his kind to have total control.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Independent????are we crazy???Bernie is in the back sleeping..the rest who spoke on the Regiment Bill..gave two hours of war history…David Wight gave his condolences…WTF…Kenneth is bossom buddies with the Premeir and the speaker…dont let them fool you with their antics…awaiting a ministerial position…come 2021

  3. Anonymous says:

    What I want to know is whether the Brac let GC go independent.

  4. Anonymous says:

    We need some fresh MLA’s to purge the dinosaurs that have a voice in Cayman affairs. We need to train the leaders of tomorrow to govern in the 21st century and cast out those with outdated homophobic and bigoted rhetoric.

  5. Anonymous says:

    The man has zero credibility to, I would suggest, a vast majority of Caymanians. The sooner he retires the better.

  6. John Ebanks says:

    Lets ignore what the UK and the first world says is the right thing to do. In fact they are trying to bring Cayman into the real world! I wonder where Cayman would be now if the British had not enforced the abolishing slavery in 1835?

  7. Anonymous says:

    The one Tony Rebel!

  8. Anonymous says:

    I don’t know of one, not one educated and enlightened Caymanian who thinks this is a good idea or will EVER think it’s a good idea. When I say educated, I mean of course those that are proficient in the 3 Rs and not an education dominated by religious ‘teachings’. AntAnt is copying that age old rhetoric of Mac i.e. Local good, ex-pat bad. Heaven help Cayman if it does vote for independence. Imagine relics like Ant Ant and that intellectual colossus JonJon running things without checks and balances?

  9. Anonymous says:

    He shut his claptrap mouth! The Pope approved civil partnerships as they have rights to have a family and it is God’s children! Even the Queen approved as well. The sooner he off the LA seat the better for us.

  10. Anonymous says:

    “In light of how the civil partnership legislation was handled and managed by the governor, it terrifies me to give him more power,” he said, as he suggested that the Defence Bill goes much further than any MLAs had envisioned with the idea of a regiment.”

    Good ole Anthony didn’t get his way in the playground and he’s threatening taking his ball and going home. How does he see that anyone is giving the Governor more power? If the Civil Partnership bill was handled correctly in the first place. We wouldn’t be at this point. What terrifies me is giving people like Anthony Eden power to begin with. Look at every Caribbean country that went independent, ask them how better they are.

    • Abraham says:

      They (the politicians have already destroyed and sold out this country). They turned this once peaceful territory of green lands and blue seas into a cesspool of hatred and bigotry. While I may not agree with civil partnerships and what have you but I’ll be dammed if I give up my British citizenship. I’d rather live in the UK with all it’s problems than live in an independent backwards Cayman, where they can’t clean their butts without someone else wiping up after them. Half of my life I spent loving this country, the other half ashamed of being Caymanian. Ashamed more of Tony Eden, who is actually related to me.

  11. Biden 2019 says:

    I will grant you independence. Vote Biden. Biden 2019!

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m a USA citizen, own a condo here for 30 years, can’t come back yet.

      Please don’t pollute Cayman politics with our sad state of politics. You have enough issues to work out, don’t dig the hole deeper. I cry for USA, I weep for the Cayman that I have learned to love.

      • Anonymous says:

        Reality check – Cayman is a Trump utopia of 100% legal Immigration and pure capitalism. Apply what the crazy Democrats in the USA are wanting to Cayman – open borders, defund border security agents, raise the corporate and personal tax rate, free healthcare and education for illegal immigrants, government paid for abortion clinics and pathway to citizenship and voting rights for illegals. Cayman would collapse under these actions in 4 years. Cayman is an ultra right wing utopia with a lot of wisdom which is why annually there is a budget surplus instead of massive deficits like almost every other country in the world

    • Anonymous says:

      <>

  12. Anonymous says:

    tha so calked christian want total control…as a caymanian..i prefer having uk az watch over us poor caymanians

    • Anonymous says:

      I mean no disrespect, but I cannot understand your vocabulary. Would someone assist; again, no disrepect intended.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Eden is really sticking his neck out here.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Independence hasn’t worked out very well for Jamaica, Trinidad, Grenada, Bahamas, Barbados or Bermuda! Cayman has the highest standard of living in all of the Caribbean, it isn’t even close. All these countries would gladly trade places. Be careful what you wish for!

    • Anonymous says:

      This is a common rhetoric, but is the standard of living of Caymanians truly higher than the Caribbean average? Perhaps a handful of Caymanian families but the rest of us are struggling to achieve or maintain middleclass standards. A reality check is required here.

      • Anonymous says:

        Having been to about two dozen of them, I can tell you your standard of living is far better. You have a few impoverished people, other islands have half or more. Everyone has struggles.

        • Anonymous says:

          A few impoverished??.Standard of living is far better for who? Must be just for you.

          You must be wearing Alden’s rose colored glasses..The problem is that you don’t go off the beaten path of your Seven Mile Beach condo or home in Crystal Harbor to understand how most of us live. Many of us are struggling paycheck to paycheck worrying how we are going to put food on the table. We are no different than some of these countries you speak off, it’s just that we have been relegated to the parts of the island that you will never see or even care to see.

      • Anonymous says:

        Amen., lots of my Caymanian family migrated and live in the US. Aside from all the ‘issues’ all my US family can actually retire with the 401ks and the Social Security they are in good shape.
        Heck during the pandemic they could withdraw 100k tax free from the 401 K and they got a 1200 check and stimulus for there businesses….

        For the relaxed pace of life., I lost a lot of money and material quality of life e.g. A 2500 sq ft house 2 cars and ski trips to Aspen. I work a good salary here cost of living high and blood sucking corporates at every corner. Planning my exit and hopefully can work remotely…

        I’ve got some family that went to the UK too., yeah it’s hard over there.. Just like CI a systemic old money city centre trap. Hard to get ahead in that place. I think it’s lack of resources given that those Isles have been plundered for 1000s of years.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yuh full a ….
        Seriously, you clearly haven’t pulled your head out far enough to see the thousands of Caymanians living very well and driving the best cars and owning homes in wonderful subdivisions… not to mention the high quality jobs we are holding down … get a life bozo!

      • Anonymous says:

        Lol, you think you have it bad? Even cayman’s poorest have it better than most people in this world.

    • Anonymous says:

      11:02 am, Bermuda does not have independence, check your facts before opening your mouth, please.

    • Anonymous says:

      Bermuda is not independent as they still fly UK flags! Bermuda flag have UK logo in the corner of the flag.

    • Anonymous says:

      The day they stop celebrating the queens birthday is the day you sell your assets and move on.

    • Anonymous says:

      11.02am. Bermuda is not independent. Barbados is doing ok. Grenada is beautiful andits of spice. Bahamas is beautiful, attracts plenty, suffered alot more storms recently. Cayman independence-no.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Talk about independence has been around for a very long time and I agree that it is inevitable. But instead of a knee jerk reaction by a dinosaur still smarting from the civil partnership law, and whose days in public office are numbered, Cayman should be setting out a 15, 20 year plan for reaching that inevitable state. It means projecting what we would like an independent Cayman to look like and what needs to be put in place in an organized and thoughtful method to reach that goal. Air heads like Eden, do not have the discipline to engage in this kind of thoughtful process so instead, they appeal to the evangelical masses with this useless discourse.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hardly inevitable. Better to be a no-tax part of the UK than one of several dozen powerless island countries with no money and no way to get any.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Eden is right to a certain extent. The problem is not to leave the UK, but to purge the criminal element of the UK manifesting in Cayman, aka, LODGE.
    Without purging the evil, there is no hope.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Wow! Watch what happens, more Caymanians under the poverty line, greater lines for NAU assistance, serious increase in crime which will result in a greater rich/poor divide than already exists, and tourism? Forget about it ever recovering!
    I wouldn’t trust these politicians to tie their own shoe laces, let alone run a country without any oversight – look at the politricks they get away with now, it would only get worse!
    Foolishness

  18. Anonymous says:

    So this idiot is willing to let Cayman turn into a poverty stricken 3rd world country just to deny grown adults their equal rights?

    • Anonymous says:

      Why whenever the word “Independence” is spoken so many are jumping up about “3rd world” and “poverty stricken” we really need to come to terms with the possibility of being forced to go to independence eventually. There are no options left for us in the future other, either we go on our merry way or be content with being disrespected and treated as a step-child. I fully understand that we are not prepared for independence, however, I believe it is passed time to seriously educate ourselves, from the youngest to the elders among us. I attended a High School in the mid-sixties and can clearly remember the tutor for our Government class ( which was actually based on the American System) bringing in elected officials to talk with us on the history of politics, and governmental functions . There was one in particular who even back then were very much aware
      that eventually we would have to take that route. Due to the facts that there were no textbooks on civics nor our history available to students I am of the opinion that we were and perhaps still are very much lagging in those subjects when compared to our Caribbean neighbors so I can understand why many of us are frightened of the word “independence ” it is also frightening to think that unless we remain subservient and learn to keep our thoughts to ourselves we might have no other option. I think we all should remain aware and start having informative dialogue so that we will not be forced to go independent before we are ready. Please remember we might not have an option.

      • Anonymous says:

        If you want to be a disrespected stepchild, the quickest route is independence. You can be just like some island in Belize.

  19. Anonymous says:

    What the hell is wrong with this dinosaur? The only thing that needs to be cut is his salary or better yet cut him out of the LA. We have enough embarrassment with Jon Jon and JuJu.
    I visited Jamaican before independence and it was a wonderful island. You could not pay me to go there today.

  20. Anonymous says:

    This man doesn’t know what the hell he is talking about! Every time he open his mouth a lot of crap comes out of it!

  21. Anonymous says:

    Pass the popcorn! This is comedy gold! I predict 200+ comments on this one.

  22. Anon says:

    Brilliant idea
    Anyone that supports the call for independence. please line up and hand over your British passports and of course all those Queens honors.
    And the right to go to the UK and live off the state without any contribution whatsoever
    Good luck !

    • A. Caymanian says:

      UK does not contribute anything of substance or any monetary funds to the Cayman Islands Government

      • Anonymous says:

        The British contribute the British judicial system and laws which is the # 1 thing that makes this place so attractive to the world financial system. Without that we are truly screwed economically.

      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman’s single largest marketing pitch – “We are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.” You know, the one that distinguishes us from other islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        Comedy gold indeed! Please look up “What have the romans ever done for us” on YouTube.
        Not everything is based on simple money. In fact the most important parts of our society have nothing to do with money in its basic form.
        If you do not wish to see what the UK has brought to Cayman and continues to do for Cayman, especially during the Covid crisis, then there is no point in further debate.
        But please do watch it. Not only is it very funny, it is much closer to the truth than anyone in government or power here wishes to acknowledge!

      • Anonymous says:

        The Cayman Islands contributes nothing to the uk. You still get the passport

        • Anonymous says:

          Actually it funnels that North American errr.. Americam money across the pond allows London to operate on a sensible time zone. It supports the UK insurance markets, provides thousands of jobs and facilitates that special relationship. The UK is very interest ‘make no mistake’ in keeping Cayman, BVI and Bermuda as funnels to London open. Esp in the current Brexit EU circumstances

      • Concerned says:

        Helicopter? Covid funding? Prisoner transfer? Consultants in virtually everything? Governors office? Naval support? Political support?

        • Anonymous says:

          Seriously, they gave us a helicopter that we have to pay for and maintain so that they can use it whenever necessary on other islands.

          Prisoner Transfer? do you really believe that flight and the prison time is not being paid for by us?

          Consultants? They don’t consult, they tell us what to do and do you know how much these unsolicited consultants cost us?

          Governors office? Really do you know how much we pay for that house he has on the beach, his many hand servants and chauffeured Jaguar? Anything that happens in that office, believe me the people of these islands pay for it.

          You may be thinking the UK gives us a lot of freebies but one thing I know about life is that nothing comes free. Independence is not the way to go, especially right now but to try to make people believe that the UK is giving us things hand over fist is disingenuous at best..

          • Anonymous says:

            Why do you think you shouldn’t pay for these things? Look at what you pay MLAs for their do-nothing part time jobs. The things you listed are a bargain.

    • Anonymous says:

      You do realize that the people that go to UK go there out of desperation because they cannot afford to live here anymore. Most of them are/were people of the middle class. The poorer ones couldn’t even put together the funds to buy the ticket on BA.

      The UK does very little for us and independent or not don’t think for one second that they are not looking out for themselves first.

      Instead of the talk about independence, we need to start educating our people and getting them ready for the day when going independent may be the only choice.

      Most people couldn’t give a rats behind about Queens honors. A piece of metal does not make the man, it is what is in his heart and his contribution to his fellow Caymanians and to these three islands.

    • Anonymous says:

      My mother and maternal grandparents are Caymanian….I was born in Jamaica and therefore had to apply for status. I’d give up my Caymanian status before I’d give up my UK citizenship (through father) and I’ve lived in Cayman for over 40 years.

      • Anonymous says:

        How ungrateful! That’s in itself says how little commitment you have to Cayman…It’s people like you that don’t deserve Cayman status. If the UK is your first choice for citizenship then why aren’t you there? The answer is the same for most of you that think this way and that is that you have it too damn good here and know if you went there you couldn’t survive.

        I came here as an expat 24 years ago, I made Cayman my home. I got to know the people, their culture and their beliefs. They allowed me to become a citizen of their country and for that I have been most grateful and even though I love Canada as my birth Country, Cayman and it’s people have been more than welcoming and accepting me as one of their own. I intend to stay here and continue to contribute to this island and I would not spit in the face of the people of the Cayman Islands like you have just done. Shame on you!

    • Anonymous says:

      Another common rhetoric. That should highlight the state of disrepair of the Cayman Islands and the truth about our economy if Caymanians followed by others choose to emigrate to the UK of all places and placed on welfare. The UK passport ain’t that powerful anymore… Anyone can design an honor.

    • Anonymous says:

      8:17 am, what good is Queen honours ? Can i cash it in at Price Right of Cost u Less ?

  23. Anonymous says:

    There is some deep irony that on the same day that the Pope calls for same sex civil unions, something our dinosaur MLA’s rejected because it was against gods wishes, the Chief Dinosaur, calls for independence because the Governor was following the rule of law!

    Not content with cutting us off from the rest of the world due to Covid, the dinosaurs now want to cut us off from the rest of the world because they dont like the way the rest of the world thinks!

    They seriously think that Cayman can go it alone in a world increasingly full of nationalism and protectionism!? How?

    Rather than reading the bible they should start studying history and understand where we are and the need to be part of something stronger and larger than a small set of Caribbean islands can create on their own.

    The current Covid situation is a case in point. Do you think we would be better or worse off without the UK’s integral support? Would we have had the calibre of people here like our CMO, John Lee? No! Would we have had the logistical support of the UK’s armed forces or BA Airbridge over the first few months of the crisis? No! Would Cayman have had access to the same testing infrastructure and know-how if we didnt have Public Health Englands assistance? No!

    The world is a completely different place than it was 5 years ago, after Trump has trashed the “old” order of things and here we have the Chief Dinosaur pushing independence because he didnt get his way with the same sex civil unions! It’s complete madness!

  24. Leon C says:

    Eden needs to go. He is way past his sell-by date. Typical of the man, he expects other people to do what he wants – e.g. “He said that whoever takes over after the next election should look at getting away “from this cumbersome noose that is tightening around our neck”.” What has he ever done? Has his position in the LA been of any benefit to the greater Cayman Islands in the last decade? Like most MLAs he is just talk.

    And this muttering about independence is just talk too. Has been for decades and will still be just talk in 30 years’ time. Spineless, do-nothing moaners most of them.

  25. FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOM NOW! says:

    Tony Eden 4 Premier!

    Savannah must become the new capital of the Cayman republic

  26. sad says:

    Every morning I see a headline foreshadowing a complete economic collapse and societal disaster in Cayman.
    Really Cayman, you are looking like a complete joke to the rest of the word. Go for independence, but like others said- make sure you are ready.

  27. Anonymous says:

    Independent crabs in a bucket. Woohoo!!

  28. Anonymous says:

    Eden rocks!

  29. Al Catraz says:

    Cayman has genuine challenges the solving of which have nothing to do with UK overseas territory status.

    Independence does not improve the schools. Independence does not bestow a sustainable economy that works for everyone. Independence does not address, prevent or reduce crime.

    The noose Mr. Eden feels is of the silver thatch rope he has fashioned for himself through failure to address the real needs of Cayman. So, for him, it is important to point overseas and say, “Look, over there is the problem,” so that the eyes of Cayman do not squarely look into his own.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Leave now for Canada or somewhere. Independence means another s___ hole country like Jamaica. Shortages, ghettoes, illiteracy. Plus no jobs. Chaos. Say no to independence. Jumping from frying pan into the fire.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is my home for the long haul. You people left your own s—-hole to come here. Where else should we go thats not a s—hole. I plan to stay to here and make sure my home stays great!!! Thanks

    • Anonymous says:

      Leave for Canada? Then why do Canadians make up one of the largest portions of the Cayman Islands population and it seems like more are arriving daily?

      • Anonymous says:

        Largest- like 1500 out of 65,000? like 2.5%?

        • Anonymous says:

          You’re forgetting about all the Caymanian Canadians.

        • Johnny Canuck says:

          Wonder how many Caymanians have Canadian citizenship? Certainly seem to be a lot of Caymanians here that were educated in Canada.

          If truth were told bet the number is much higher than the official number of 1,500.

      • Anonymous says:

        Moron

      • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

        Simple answer 3:34, the weather is the pits in Canada and the weather is great in the Cayman Islands. Oh, and Seven Mike Beach is wonderful too.

        Also, the Head of State is the same here as in Canada. AKA, Queen Elizabeth.

        The day Cayman ditches Mother is the day I go back to Canada.

  31. Anonymous says:

    Independent from British rule only to go back under Jamaican rule 4 years later once they realize the severity of the mistake. A national who has to ship everything in and makes hardly anything for themselves wants to be independent?

  32. Anonymous says:

    What has Eden done in the last four years, among others in the LA, but spree hatred. How has he improved the lives of Caymanians and residents in this term? I can not think of one thing that this man has done in these last four years that has made a significant contribution to the betterment of the people of these islands.

    Sit down and stay down. Enjoy your political career pension, unjustified big salary for the last umpteen terms, and that health care bonus that you will need when your family members come out of the closet that they are so deep in at the moment.

    You may not respect me but I am an educated, world-traveled, Christian, and civic-minded Caymanian that hopes that Cayman never goes independent anytime in my lifetime or that of my children and their children and grand children.

    Only God will be the one to help these islands if that would become reality anytime soon.

    • Anonymous says:

      12:16 pm, they took away from us to print/make our own Passports, now that has to be done in UK so they could make money for doing it.

  33. Write it like it is says:

    CNS did you not mean “cord”, or was this a musical figure of speech?

    CNS: LOL. Thanks.

  34. KY1 says:

    Independence would be brutal on Cayman’s poor. Have a look at the standard of living for the poorest members of society across the Caribbean and tell me what conclusions you come to?

  35. Anonymous says:

    anthony eden…prime example of why cayman is not ready for independence.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sadly Eden together with McKeeva, are our best political examples of our “Best & Brightest”. Sad state of political affairs.

  36. Anonymous says:

    With the way things are now, an independent Cayman would be a disaster. The pros of being a territory far out way the cons; in fact, what exactly ARE the cons??

    • Anonymous says:

      This myth about being an overseas dependency, colony, and now territories meaning stability for places like the Cayman Islands has been busted so many times for by so many different people. So why don’t the objectors of independence enlighten the rest of us to these “advantages” of colonialism and remaining a BOTC? I’m dying to see a list of the pros….

  37. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Eden… shut up!
    Cayman wouldn’t last a decade on its own and you’d be long gone and unable to take any blame for this type of foolish talk you are trying to start. Just because you don’t agree with some of the recent political decisions or the state of play, it’s not reason to spew garbage …

  38. Anonymous says:

    This is of course a big issue. However, the bigger issue is the process beforehand, the divisiveness and possibly hatred it would cause among the people, possibly for years and generations to come. There are enough examples out there in the world as examples.

  39. Anonymous says:

    I don’t necessarily agree that independence is needed now but there is going to come a time when we will have to be prepared for it.. Right now our children know nothing about nor are they taught civics in school.

    The constant dumbing down of the local populace and the discord brewing between expats and locals will soon reach the boiling point.

    Caymanians now are cast as uneducated, dumb, illiterate and unemployable by “most” of the expat population and you cannot blame them. We have allowed politician after politician to continue their policies of doing absolutely nothing towards educating the youth and then when they rise up and demand something they are sent off to the NAU to go on the the government tit from which they are never weened and become reliant on the politicians and as long as they know how to mark an X next to their politician at election time they will remain there.

    If I had my way I would turn over all of the schools to private organizations and give them measurements of which they need to abide by in order to ensure a great education for our youth. Government should not be involved in education and if we had a system in which we could demand success then we would be much better off.

    We produced many great students when the schools were run by the churches and even today they still deliver high quality students,ie Triple C, Cayman Prep etc. Dart does the same with Cayman International School. The problem is that the Caymanian students only make up a very small portion of these student bodies. This needs to change.

    My point here is that Independence may come sooner than we think and to avoid being like Jamaica who wasn’t ready, we need to start building up our people and in particular our youth. There are many success stories of islands and countries that became independent. We should not judge our success or lack thereof by that of our neighbor to the east. Jamaica should not be our measuring stick for Independence. The resolve and resilience of our people must be what our Independent Cayman Islands should be measured by when that time comes and we need to get our people educated and with jobs across all fields.

    • Anonymous says:

      You know nothing of the student populations of private schools, amongst other things.

    • Anonymous says:

      JA will be the measuring stick since more Jamaicans now have status than there are native Caymanians.

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Agree. I think independence — at least at this time — would be a colossal and costly mistake. Really liked your points. We have to step up.

    • Elvis says:

      He he
      Let me know when you plan to do this so i can book my flight

    • Anonymous says:

      Jamaica has to be our measuring stick and what we need to break away from before independence, because-

      – historical ties
      -geographical proximity
      – RCIPS is dominated and controlled by Jamaicans (yes there are few in top positions and Commish from UK)
      -Attorney General, Chief Justice, majority of judges and magistrates, increasing number of MDs in private law firms
      -Ministry of Education, DES, schools, Health Services
      -security officers
      -many Caymanians and British/Irish Lawyers and teachers married to Jamaicans (strategic? lol)
      -influence on or from secret societies that favor Jamaican members

      So, yes…. I would say we are on our way and the Cayman-Jamaican pawns don’t see how the more influential Caymanians, who owned the businesses etc years ago are now fighting for survival to be relevant and influential for their grandchildren.

      They refuse to see that they are pawns! we all should understand the historical pain of former colonialists;

      But why can’t we have enough love for our own culture, people and refuse to sit back and watch others destroy opportunities of their own generational people

      CNS: The police commissioner is not from the UK. He is from the Republic of Ireland.

      • Anonymous says:

        Thanks, I thought it was Northern Ireland, even better for him to be welcomed by the Jamaican officers then

      • Anonymous says:

        Glad someone sees the plot that thickens. It’s not the UK we need to worry about. It’s the Jamaicans that have taken over and are working overtime to bring Cayman down and our people ..well probably not any of our people. The people I see making the most noise are paper Caymanians from Jamaica. We wouldn’t have the money that we have now to help our people if it wasn’t for the UK. Everybody forget how the Civil Servants got paid one time? It wasn’t from CI Govt coffers because we were broke. They want to be able to do what they want and spend the money with no restraints. Total corruption. Jamaica will be a Sunday school teacher compared to Cayman Islands. That’s our future.

    • A concerned Caymanian says:

      Why do we need a regiment? The government did not ask the voters if they support it. This is the last straw. Me and my family will not vote for the ppm next election or anyone in the current government.
      The new regimentc bill allows the Governor who is mentioned over 100 times to hire none Caymanians. He can by pass the immigration law and hire who he wants like 10,000 unemployed UK men. The Governor is not required to consult the minister of finance. If the sitting government disagrees will be forced to pay for an occupying army. Just like hiw the Cayman Islands was forced to pay for operation Tempura.
      Yes persons not Caymanians in an army in Cayman is an occupying army.
      This is an aweful idea and bill. Please self it.
      A very concern caymanian.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wow, I totally agree and I am so glad that someone has the courage to look beyond today and Anthony Eden in his current context.

      I too am not supportive of Independence right now but I do know that there will come a day when we will have no choice. How we prepare ourselves for that day should not wait until a few months before it is upon us.

      Education for the last three decades at least has been more of a political football and a means to keeping our people reliant on their politicians. We need to demand change at the polls next time and we need to keep the politicians that claim they will do something about this in check.

      I am in agreement with the government giving the schools out to the private sector. Government has proven time and time again that they have no clue about running an education system. They believe building nice buildings is the way to resolve the education issue and it is not. If they are run by private organizations that have to meet goals set by the Government or risk not having their contract renewed, things will turn around in short while. Let’s get our people prepared and ready for any changes that may come.

    • Anonymous says:

      Dart does not run CIS; it merely leases the building to International School Services. However, you are correct with your point: at that particular school, there are few Caymanians – at least the generational kind you are probably talking about. The problem with your analysis is this: generational Caymanians are close to being a minority of total Caymanians. You can’t talk about what’s good for Caymanians and only talk about one segment of them.

  40. Anonymous says:

    There are so many ‘white’ Caymanians being scared into supporting this idea especially for their Jamaican/Caymanian MLAs and co-workers that we have people who want independence yet as MLAs have done nothing to help with the structural classism, racism and unfair discrimination against Generational Caymanians.

    I think many of our African Jamaican Caymanians need to address their anger and look at improving equality for Caymanians versus deluge with the greedy motives of new Caymanians who have come here first for financial reasons and don’t really appreciate our culture and think it will be so easy to be controlled completely by Jamaicans but simply replacing the British wasn’t answer for Jamaica and will not be for Cayman.

    There are more structural adjustments needed here than just hiring Jamaicans, Trinidadians or foreigners to replace Generational Caymanians. Really look at why they’re fostering such division and promising scraps to keep you and maybe your spouse happy

    The hatred and jealousy for Caymanians is real, in the workplace, schools and just dealing with police and others in the community and the fact that the same MLAs who refuse to support the LGBT community would support independence is baffling! You want to run a country independently and can’t embrace the rights for all your citizens?

    Voters need to really assess the mindset of these MLAs regardless of their colorful rhetoric.

    • Anonymous says:

      Colorful rhetoric you say? The only thing colorful is the division you are sowing with your white vs black spittle … take that horses–t and shove it. Cayman remains one of the most peaceful and integrated populations in the entire Caribbean… we don’t need you sowing your seeds of discontent based on your old hatred ideology. We Caymanians are doing just fine and its only when people like you try to use race bait to try to stain our harmony that we should really be in uproar!

      • Anonymous says:

        It is ironic then that the same ‘white’ Caymanians who speak so ill of black Caymanians in private try to be on their side in public…sounds like fear to me. The other side is that I have personally not met too many African West Indians here who don’t try to encourage me and other Caymanians to share their dislike British and Filipinos, guess it all comes down to eliminating competition.

        But I agree 100% that people need to stop race baiting, for once I’d like Jamaicans and Trinidadians to stop telling me ‘the British are the problem here’. Never experienced so much hatred and racism until we had so many come here from late 70s to now from other Caribbean islands and Caymanians know that. They know it’s their Caribbean friends constantly making us feel the British and Filpinos are coming after us…. while looking at us with their foreign faces!

        Leave the racism in the countries you ran from to now enjoy our years of peace with foreigners!!

  41. Anonymous says:

    Wow, you have to hope this does not happen, or Cayman will need to start fishing and hunting turtles again. It is only the UK that is preventing a Cayman version of Animal Farm.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why? I’m not for independence but we seem to do just fine without the UK. What do they bring to the table that we don’t already have? Independent or not I don’t think we should use the UK as the country to look up to.

      Look at how many problems they have right now particularly with Brexit and their abhorrent handling of the coronavirus. They should look to us to learn a thing or two about running a country.

    • Anonymous says:

      So the UK is ok in your books to seek self-determination in Brexit as of late, but its territories shouldn’t be given the right to do the same?

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Perfectly said.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Go Eden go! If you had voted for civil unions you won’t be calling for independence today.

    Never allow hate to force you to do the wrong thing. Don’t cry about it now.

  43. RJ says:

    Are politicians allowed to imbibe in the LA?!!
    This place is the size of a small town and unfortunately some people’s outlooks are similarly small….
    With the clamour for independence comes tribal nationalism-just look at Scotland, Catalonia- and that ugly atmosphere will drive out the primal reason that makes this place as prosperous as it does for the locals- expat business.
    Without the stability provided by being a BOT let’s see how long those overinflated government job wages last. You only have to look at the current fiscal state of here to now independent Bahamas.
    Be very careful what we wish for…..

    • Anonymous says:

      So when the income and property tax is levied I hope you sing the same story……time longer than rope my son and it is coming.

  44. Anonymous says:

    At least Mr. Eden had the guts to say it aloud, more then can be said from some others.

  45. He belongs in a museum says:

    Does any else find it appalling that when some of our politicians crawl out from under their rocks all they really know is to put both feet in their mouths. Mr. Eden needs to take a tour around Jamaica as that is what Cayman will resemble if Cayman gets it’s independence in short order. How do these dinosaurs dream up this $hit?

    • Anonymous says:

      worse, is the that the younger new MLAs might be also pushing this

    • Have a word with yourself says:

      What a time to be instigating the independence agenda! We are on the verge of economic catastrophe and need to maintain stability and good governance to attracts investment in the country. This is not a time to create doubt and uncertainty.

      Mr Eden seems like he is letting his views on same sex union cloud his decision making. The term, “Cutting off your nose to spite your face,” comes to mind.

    • Anonymous says:

      We resemble Jamaica now but yet we’re a “stable British overseas territory” think that might be the origin of the issue amongst many

  46. Anonymous says:

    Lawwwd. The leader of opposition wants to be the first Prime Minister or wha

    • Anonymous says:

      Wrong! The speaker has long said he will be the first Prime Minister. Such short memories, you all comment and don’t have a clue who is behind this move.

  47. Anonymous says:

    Indeed its coming. The question is when. Every Country on Earth will become inpendent one day. we need to get ready for it.

  48. Hubert says:

    Kiss the Golden Goose goodbye with independence.

    This guy’s understanding of business and the ways of the international finance world is zero.

    • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

      Independence? Independence? You jokin? We are the size of a small town in America.

      65,000 friggin people.

      What world are some people like Eden living in?

      • Anonymous says:

        You don’t seem to know that America was also a British Colony and had to fight a war for their own independence. Up until the last four years, America was the leaders of the free world, displacing the once mighty British Empire which hasn’t been a superpower for the last 60+ years. Mr. Eden is right to say that a “gradual” move should be made to independence. He did not say a sudden move to independence. In the likely scenario of Scotland removing themselves from the U.K. down the road and rejoining the European Union, independence may be suddenly thrust upon us where we may not have a choice. Isn’t it better to have a plan in place for this which includes our national development along the way just in case of such an event? Whoever fails to plan, plans to fail. Has planning for contingencies ever hurt anybody? Be realistic.

    • Anonymous says:

      And your understanding of world Socio-economic and Socio-political principles is in negatives. We well achieve self-determination, every oppressed people has at some point in history. But with that kind of illiterate statement, you’ll miss the boat. Keep your golden goose, Freedom and equality is a must.

  49. Anonymous says:

    Why is anyone surprised? The Cayman Islands have been a living hell for locals the past 40 years.

    • Anonymous says:

      And it’s Caymanians that have been instrumental in creating your so called living hell.

    • Anonymous says:

      This local quite likes it as it is.

    • Anonymous says:

      That is such a troll comment! Living hell for the past 40 years? LOL!
      Is it that we have the highest standard of living of any Caribbean country? Is it that we have a generally low crime environment? Is it that we still have fundamental protections for local Caymanians in employment and business ownership? Remember non Caymanians cannot own more than 40% of a local business!
      Or is the writer unhappy that there has been this success but they chose not to take part and sat back to watch it happen?
      Seriously – Living hell? Give me a break.

      • Anonymous says:

        Utter garbage. Crime has been on a steady increase for over two-decades. Mount trashmore rising. Beach peddling and skylarking officially arrived on our shores signaling the end of our “unique” tourism product, Streets are becoming dirtier, noise pollution rampant and traffic woes, Work permits issued breaking the previous year’s records with no end in sight. NPO and charities being formed overnight and the NAU indigent list is increasing daily (Part of the strategy to keep people on aid) EXPATRIATE owners of properties writing letters to the CPA objecting to just about every project on grand cayman. Citing the same reasons Caymanians have been detailing for years but it fell on deaf ears. We were anti-development and anti-expatriate apparently, but now overdevelopment is a problem. Increased marginalization of locals in the community and the workforce. GTFH. What fantasy island you live at?

        • Anonymous says:

          Yes we do have problems – Like any developing and growing country. The point is not “do we have problems. The point is whether those problems are ultimately manageable AND are they better than other countries in the region?
          And then when we look at the problems we have the central question is would they be better solved being an independent country or part of the UK? The UK didn’t make any of the problems we have in education, healthcare, crime (which I would argue is relatively low), mount trashmore, etc. We did that to ourselves! Going independent ain’t going to help those issues it will just exacerbate the problems with more local politics and large egos getting in the way.
          I get where you are coming from but don’t think we can or should give any ground to those that try and sow fear and division into our minds. Cayman is a special place and a relative oasis of calm in a crazy world.

        • Anonymous says:

          None of this is the UK fault.

        • Anonymous says:

          Who is keeping Caymanians on NAU? Caymanians. Because our politicians wouldn’t have it any other way. #2 because a lot of them are descendants of the status grants of 2003. Expats should write against development because you know what Caymanians don’t give a rats a– about our own environment. We should be ashamed that foreigners see what’s wrong and we’re okay. Greediness is our downfall. We Caymanians made our own bed so we need to lay in it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Speak for yourself. I am a 45 year old local and think my life is fairly good here at home and I’m happy to be raising my children here too. Life is perfect nowhere but I am thankful for many things here.

    • Concerned says:

      You live off ex-pat money. If you want to improve your life go and get some experience in something. No one ever mentions that. It isn’t just education, it is experience Caymanians lack. A worldly view and recognition to rise up you need to stand on your own two feet and not constantly look to CIG to hand you a job. Independence will come, but at the hand of the UK enforcing it not here deciding. The business will take flight to somewhere else and the standard of living locals enjoy will go down the pan. Be very careful what you voice because ex-pats are listening.

      • Anonymous says:

        I bet you a CI dollar that you got your international experience working here seeing that Cayman is a financial center. Also with the salary you all get you can afford to travel. Please bear in mind that a majority of Caymanians can do that as well.

    • Anonymous says:

      So says my Caymanian friend who owns 3 condos which he rents out to expats.

  50. Anonymous says:

    Better schedule some extra KX flights in May/June just in case.

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