Caymanian Times Comm�Nity Voi�E / Tal� on the Street
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Covid 19 Vaccination Caymanian Schedule Page 5 Friday, May 21, 2021 Issue No 663 www.caymaniantimes.ky 50¢ INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE PACT CHALLENGE COMMUNITY VOICE — page 2 Perfect Storm or Sea of Opportunities ENCOURAGING EVANGELICALS TO RECEIVE VACCINE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE — page 6 See story on page 9 >> Amazing steel pan Performance Young Caymanian nets job at Apple By Christopher Tobutt, John Gray TV High School Gymnasium Steel Pan has become Cayman’s Na- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — page 10 tional Instrument. Thousands of children and young people, and now, older people too have learned to play thanks to Earl teaching and nurturing steel pan talent rightLa Pierre, back whoin the set 1980s the fire (and going he receivedwith his a special trophy in recognition of his huge contribution at the end of the evening) So of course, to make it fair, the competition had to be divided up into lots of different sections. First came the Soloists, and Micah Leon won in the Juniors’ Division. It is very hard when you are so young to stand up in front of so many people and perform The Chamber of Commerce encourages the community to get X Earl La Pierre Sr. received a special presentation in recognition of his great achievement in vaccinated before 9 June bringing Steel Pan to Cayman so flawlessly, and all fourSEE ofSTEEL them, PAN, Isaiah Page 4 1 2 3 4 3' – 6' Let’s Keep Working Together Vaccine Protect yourself and your community against COVID-19. continue safe consider wearing continue frequent consider getting distances from a mask around hand washing vaccinated others in public the elderly and when eligible www.gov.ky/covid19-vaccine vulnerable 2 Issue No 663 | Friday, May 21, 2021 | Caymanian Times Comm�nity Voi�e / Tal� on the Street COMMUNITY VOICE To Be-Or Not to be-Vaccinated Caribbean have caught the “American set the stage for some of the greatest ad- evangelical bug,” symptoms of which in- vances in medical science. clude the belief in some conspiracy theo- I am not a doctor, so I Iook to doctors ry associated with vaccination, distrust of when I need medical advice and action. But Bill Gates, and the rather naive expectation I never forgot the name of William Jenner that there should be no adverse results as- from my days in elementary school, where I write this for two reasons. First I hope sociated with any world-wide vaccination. we were taught about his discovery—one it will encourage my fellow Evangelical Therefore, on the one hand, local Evan- that has saved multiplied millions of lives. Christians to remember, as the Psalmist gelical and other conservative Christians Some things have changed from Jenner’s stated, that “Our God is a God of salvation, express their distress that those who wish days. I have read that vaccines are now and to God, the Lord, belong deliveranc- to promote non-Christian views of human made using several different processes. The es from death” (Psalm 68:20). I will state sexuality are ignoring science in prefer- most common method until today has been categorically that every discovery that has ence of their feelings, while on the other to make a vaccine that contained either live saved human lives is from God. Science is hand many of us operate along the same viruses that have been weakened or altered not the purview of atheists; science be- lines when it comes to Covid-19 vaccina- so as not to cause illness, or inactivated or X Pastor M. Alson Ebanks longs to God, the Creator and sustainer tion. killed viruses; as well as inactivated toxins of the universe (and the sustainer of life). I assume that by now most of us will for bacterial diseases. A recent develop- vaccine had life-threatening reactions to it, The second reason that I feel compelled have read and heard enough about vac- ment, and one directly related to the Cov- with a mortality rate of one to two people to write this is because I am becoming cines to know what they are. As a Chris- id-19 vaccine, are vaccines using mere seg- per million. increasingly embarrassed by some of tian pastor, I believe that since God is in ments of the disease-causing virus. This reality of adverse events associ- the chatter that I hear in the Evangelical the business of saving lives, and not taking I recall that immediately after my daugh- ated with vaccinations in general must camp—which in essence is just an echo them, that he chose two committed Chris- ter was born (I was in the birthing room), be appreciated in the greater reality that chamber—people choosing to speak and tian men to bring about the initial gains in the nurse took her aside and administered smallpox, polio, and many other vaccines listen to only that which they are already vaccination and immunology that we en- some sort of vaccination. I believe it was are the single greatest life-saving medical convinced of. If that attitude had prevailed joy today. We know from history that the against Tetanus. And over the years I my- intervention and invention in human his- during the days of William Jenner and self have received multiple vaccinations for tory. Thanks be to God for his great mercy. Louis Pasteur, where would the science of based using weaker or “weakened” (atten- all sorts of pathogens. In reality, each year I declare with the psalmist, “Our God is a immunology be today? uated)first human viruses vaccines to generate against immunity. viruses were The more than 10 million vaccinations are ad- God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, be- At times I hear many of my fellow Chris- smallpox vaccine used cowpox, a poxvirus ministered to American infants (those one long deliverances from death.” And I now tians complaining that people in certain that was similar enough to smallpox to year old and under). Thankfully, because of encourage my Christian brothers and sis- camps ignore science in order to promote protect against it but usually didn’t cause vaccination as a medical tool, smallpox—a ters to celebrate the fact that science is of their sexual ideology, for example. But this serious illness. This breakthrough was at disease that caused fatalities in 30-40% of God, as is medicine, as is vaccination, and is exactly what I see when it comes to the the hands of Edward Jenner, a committed cases—has now been declared as eradi- in faith trust him to preserve your life all-too-common attitude among Evangel- cated. But vaccines are not perfect; even if icals with reference to vaccinations—in rus attenuated in a lab to create a vaccine they were, human bodies and immune sys- And, by the way, I wouldn’t worry about particular, the Covid-19 vaccines. I read forfollower humans. of Christ. The breakthrough Rabies was thefor thisfirst can vi- tems are not. So despite its effectiveness, receivingwhen you theact unselfishly“mark of the to Beast”be vaccinated. by way somewhere recently that in the U.S. the be credited to Luis Pasteur, the celebrated there were adverse events associated with of vaccination any more than I would sug- largest group that is resisting Covid-19 French microbiologist and chemist, hon- the smallpox vaccine. According to some gest that someone could receive the “mark vaccination is Evangelicals. From what I oured as “the father of bacteriology.” Pas- sources, an average of 28 persons out of of Christ” accidentally. have detected, Cayman and much of the teur was a devout Christian, whose work every million who received the smallpox Pastor M. Alson Ebanks TALK ON THE STREET List for New Government Now that the election is over and the changed the name from the Cay- Larry, Caymanian, 58: cabinet is formed, there is speculation as manian Protection Act to the Im- “We need to do something migration Law.” about the cost of living. Gro- Our reporter took to the streets to ascer- ceries and CUC bills are ridic- tainto what what the the government public feels will should focus on be first. the Karen, Caymanian, 28: ulous.” “The environment, and en- “What issue would you like the govern- forcing the laws and regulations Laura, Caymanian, 49: mentpriority. to addressThe specific �irst?” question Below posedare the was, re- in place so that we protect it, “They have to address the cost sponses of 12 individuals. of living in Cayman.” Brian, Caymanian, 37: shouldTheresa, be first.” Caymanian, 47: Jessica, Caymanian, 54: ployed so that they can provide for their “We need to do something about what is and then unemployment as a whole.” be a complete overhaul of the system.” families.” going on in our schools.” “The minimum wage needs to be first, “Education must be first. There needs to Barbara, Caymanian, 56: Nick, Caymanian, 44: “Well, I hope that they will look at re- “Making sure that Cayman’s environ- opening the borders so that we can get ment is protected and preserved.” Caymanian some relief.” CaymanianGeorge, Caymanian, 43: Times Jimmy, Caymanian, 54: “Finding jobs for Caymanians is the Issue # 663 “That’s easy. The government needs to most urgent task right now.” address these developers and ensure that Publisher: Ralph Lewis the environment is protected.” Victoria, Caymanian, 51: Company: Lewis Cayman Islands Ltd “Can we please do something about jobs #19 Walkers Road (next to Tomlinson Furniture) Kevin, Caymanian, 33: for Caymanians?” Telephone: 345 916 2000 “I wish that they would do something Email: [email protected], about all the Caymanians who are out of Michael, Caymanian, 62: or [email protected] a job, while we have foreigners here able “Right now, the only thing that matters Website: www.caymaniantimes.ky to get any job they want.