Caymanian Friday, April 19, 2019 Issue No 364 www.caymaniantimes.ky Complimentary Christians take a Stand Full story on page 3 >> Cayman Islands – Doing it with a Flourish Jamaica [A UK Perspevtive] – A commentary on the Expects to Lead Premier’s Strategic Policy Statement the Medal Count “Certainly, more Caymanians are doing well in Several of Jamaica's top athletes will miss the 48th an- our �lourishing economy than this Government’s nual CARIFTA Games, but the Jamaica Athletics Adminis- critics would have anyone believe.” trative Association (JAAA) is con�ident the team will once “...our �lourishing economy...” again top the medal standing when the meet takes place On the surface that assertion sounds quite au- this Easter weekend (20 to 22 April) at the Truman Bod- dacious, especially in these times of severe global den Sports Complex. The country, which produced the economic challenges. likes of Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Asafa Powell, But that doesn’t seem to be the case in the Cay- Veronica Campbell-Brown and Yohan Black, has topped man Islands, where the Premier Alden McLaughlin the medal table 41 times and its last defeat was in 1984 has made his 2020 Strategic Policy Statement to when The Bahamas won at home. the British Overseas Territory’s parliament. In 2018, team Jamaica earned 82 medals (43 gold, 28 sil- The description of the current state of the Cay- ver, 11 bronze) in the Bahamas, four medals shy of the 86 man Island’s economy stands up to scrutiny at �irst they hauled in back in 2017 (39 gold, 28 silver, 19 bronze) glance. in Curacao. Their medal count in 2018 was 47 medals clear There isn’t any triumphalist about it. The cold of their nearest rival (and hosts) The Bahamas, who had 35 hard fact is that the Cayman Islands has a �lourish- (6 gold, 14 silver, 15 bronze). Trinidad and Tobago placed ing economy. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin third with 17 medals (4 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze). And Premier McLaughlin has presented the evi- Garth Gayle, JAAA General Secretary, said based on the dence to prove it. performances from the trials, he is con�ident Jamaica will Where the challenge lies is at the second glance. once again dominate. ... Continued story on page A6 How does the Cayman Islands maintain this tra- ure,” the Cayman Islands leader says, attributing it jectory in the current global economic climate and to “the direct result of the efforts that he and his how would that impact on the verdict for the legacy team have made in taking Cayman’s case directly to of Mr McLaughlin and his government? the capitals of Europe.” He is into the closing stages of his consecutive But he admits; “We have more to do as the goal- two-term limit as leader of government. posts continue to move – but this is no surprise. Delivering the 2020 Strategic Policy Statement, The EU has now added a requirement that Cayman he reported: should address an apparent need to give appropri- “In the last six years we have indeed put the ate economic substance to collective investment country back on course and across two successive vehicles or, more simply put, funds.” Administrations I have kept true to that inclusive “There are those who would say that it is because approach. of our signi�icance as a Financial Services Centre “As a result, what a very different position our that the bar is higher for us,” Premier McLaughlin country �inds itself in. said in his 2020 SPS. “The economy has grown steadily. The latest �ig- “I have said before that Cayman does not need or ures from the Economics and Statistics Of�ice show want illegitimate business and we stand ready to annualized GDP growth at 3.6% in the third quar- do all that we can to resist any attempts at using ter of last year.” our Financial Services Industry for money launder- One of the toughest challenges facing the pros- ing, terrorist �inancing or other illegal purposes.” perous British OT (pop. 61,000 appx) is in the main The Cayman Islands’ other major economic pil- pillar of its economy; its lucrative but highly-scruti- lar from which it derives the revenue to drive its nized offshore �inancial sector. $US3.5 billion economy,... Continued is tourism. story on page A2 Briana Williams “The fact that Cayman has yet again avoided any kind of blacklisting by the EU is, in no small meas- EDITORIAL — A2 CARIFTA GAME SCHEDULE — A7 BATABANO — A8 GLOBAL NEWS BRIEFS — B1 THIS ISSUE INSIDE Le Masque dinner show returns Easter in Cayman Carifta Game Schedule to Batabano Notre Dame will be rebuilt EDITORIAL | COMMENTARY PAGE A2 Friday, April 19, 2019 | Issue No 364 C�������� T���� EDITORIAL Easter In Cayman 2019 By Flynn Bush erally dozens of camp sites across the three islands, �illed with hundreds of I’m not sure about anyone else but, it campers and a multitude of tents, are seems like just a few days ago that we to be seen beginning from as early as were getting celebrating Easter 2018. the Wednesday before Good Friday. They say time moves faster as we get However, when the church doors are older and it seems that way to me opened, there is still a great number more and more. Perhaps, it is that we of individuals who make it a point to Premier Alden McLaughlin arriving in Brussels are all busier than we were ten years attend. People still dress up in their ago. We have become a split-second Sunday best, and celebrate the reason society where everything moves in for the holiday in the �irst place, Jesus high gear and the norm is immediate dying for our salvation and rising again Cayman Islands – grati�ication. Now, that doesn’t mean, for our eternal life. necessarily, that we are more produc- When I was a boy, Easter meant tive; just busier. This fact is more rea- church on Friday and Sunday, time Doing it with a Flourish son why we need to take a break from spent with family, Sunday dinner, and time to time and smell the roses. The Easter egg hunt on Monday. We were upcoming Easter weekend affords us all taught the reason why Easter exists (A UK perspective) the perfect opportunity to do so. in the �irst place. Were there people In generations past, Easter brought in our community that did not par- A commentary on the Premier’s Strategic special traditions and customs. It was take like the rest of us? Sure. However, a time for families to spend together; those were a minority few. Easter had Policy Statement by our UK correspondent a time for re�lection; and a time for a way of bringing families together, Michael L Jarvis, London UK getting right with God. The holy days even estranged ones. It was a time of of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, es- reconciling and healing old wounds ... Continued story from page A1 pecially, were respected. People made and building bridges. Nowadays, it be- their way to the church of their choice; hooves to remember that and to make “Secondly, and in my view most signif- at times, �illing the pews to over�low- it a point to practice the same. You icantly, this is a matter that is properly ing. Children were there; parents were see, regardless of one’s own religious Major infrastructural projects includ- for the locally elected Government to de- there; grandparents were there; aunts, persuasion, Easter is a time that can ing the just-opened new international termine and this attempt by Parliament uncles, cousins and neighbors were be productive for community harmo- airport (opened by Prince Charles on to interfere in our business represents a there. It was a glorious atmosphere. ny. If we take the time to consider our his recent visit), a planned mega cruise severe Constitutional over-reach.” Now, don’t get me wrong. By no own shortcomings and failings, and to and cargo port and extensive improve- There are constitutional implications means should it be inferred that the consider that new starts are possible ments to the transportation network, not just for the Cayman Islands but the customs and traditions of old are not through forgiveness for one another, all underpin a growth trajectory that the wider family of OTs, and he worries that in practice anymore. Nowadays, the we will reap bene�its galore. Perhaps, McLaughlin administration hopes to at- the autonomy of the islands could be at big rage on Easter weekend is the this Easter weekend, as we look up at tain before the end of their term in of�ice. risk. camping scene, where families and the starlight sky from our campsite, or “It is also recognition that I have just “This second criticism has the most friends camp out on the beach and our yard, we will consider this for at two years left to get as much done for far-reaching potential impact because cook and relax and revel together. Lit- least a moment. my country in this role as I am able to once the UK Parliament does this a �irst do. So, these next two years will not be a time, who knows when and over what gentle wind-down, but rather a ramping other issue they might decide to do that up of delivery as my Government looks again. to push on further and achieve even “Over the last nine months or so I have more for our people.” been leading negotiations with the UK A push for enhanced government ser- Government to try to put in place new vices, safety and security, business de- Constitutional safeguards.” velopment, health, education, youth and And those safeguards might be seen social services are also part of the revved- as critical to the legacy of Premier up socio-economic growth agenda.