I refer to the Caymanian Compass Editorial of 17 May, ‘Brackers Must Be Responsible.’
I am disappointed, first of all, if the statements about the youth of Cayman Brac are indeed factually based and secondly because I had come to expect a better quality of journalism from your newspaper.
That this publication has resorted to the kind of sensationalism that one expects of a tabloid is unfortunate and indeed disheartening to me.
Nevertheless, I want to believe the editorial to which I make reference was intended to draw attention to a perceived problem, but to make such broad generalizations was, in my opinion, highly irresponsible.
I wish to challenge the caption. That one would dare to imply that Cayman Brackers on the whole are irresponsible is a flagrant injustice and an unfounded statement. Look around and identify the leading entrepreneurs, business administrators, managing directors, government leaders, hospital CEOs, educators, academic achievers… and I could go on and on.
Here are some well-known family names of which many can quickly and proudly trace their roots to the Brac: Bodden, Dilbert, Foster, Hurlstone, Kirkconnell, Lazzari, Martin, McCoy, Parchman, Reid, Ritch, Robinson, Ryan, Scott, Tatum, Tibbetts, Tomlinson, and Watson … try to imagine the Cayman Islands without them?
Now to specifically address the statement within the editorial, ‘Basically the Brac is raising a generation of alcoholics who probably will have problems finding steady jobs when they’re older…’ I have observed that while the major problem with finding a job on the Brac is perhaps due mainly to a population base of less than 2,000, many leading businesses in Grand Cayman eagerly seek out Brac high school and university graduates for employment in their firms.
Just two days after this editorial was published I had the privilege of attending the Junior Achievement Awards Banquet and I must say I was indeed proud of these fine young people. What an encouragement they are as we look to the future of our Cayman Islands!
When it was announced that the award for Product of the Year went to Cayman Brac High School’s Bracca Wear Company for their innovative T-shirt designs, I was certainly elated. Then eight out of the 12 finalists were named as delegates to the Canadian National Junior Achievement Conference in August, and six are CBHS students; I could scarcely contain myself! As was clearly pointed out, in order to achieve this coveted honour of an all-expense-paid trip to CANJAC, the Junior Achievers are required to excel in a written exam, followed by a personal interview. I will dare say there are at least six teenagers on the Brac who are not consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs on a regular basis, as was portrayed of all Brac youth. Allow me to ‘big ’em up:’ Geoffrey Grizzel, Cordell Gutierrez, Nicholas Juman, Demi McLean, Robert Tatum, and Karthika Velusamy.
It is interesting to compare the international exam results for the Cayman Islands High School to that of Cayman Brac High School. In my opinion, there is no doubt that the one-on-one attention CBHS students receive from their teachers is a major contributing factor and for that reason I wholeheartedly support the creation of multiple-schools-within-a-school design of three new high schools on Grand Cayman.
Within a high school of less than 200 students, surely it is not hard to identify the teens who are at-risk for substance abuse and addiction, and endeavour to seek professional help, rather than give up on them.
Instead of condemning an entire generation, may I suggest that journalists seek out some of the many Brac teens who are positive role-models and focus their attention on them instead.
To identify but a few of the other outstanding teens on the Brac, inquire at DoT about Junior Minister of Tourism Nickolas DaCosta, at the Cadet Corps about Lance Corporal Myfanwy Leggatt, and from the Rotary Club about the Interschool Debate Competition finals, which featured not just one, but two teams from CBHS and included, along with some of the previously mentioned students: Staci Scott, Melody Martin, Arthur Isaacs, Elizabeth Scott, and Sharrissa McLaughlin. In fact, CBHS has held the debating championship title for ten of the past sixteen years!
Does this sound like a ‘generation of alcoholics’? I submit that to pronounce all Brac teens as such is indeed irresponsible journalism and in my opinion, Madam Editor, an apology is owed to these and many other Brac teens! Perhaps this letter could be aptly captioned, ‘Editors Must be Responsible.’
Over the extended weekend of 29 June – 2 July, Cayman Brac High School will celebrate its 40th Anniversary and this festive occasion will undoubtedly demonstrate a vibrant legacy of perseverance and accomplishment.
I have no hesitation in identifying myself as a proud Bracker – as if one could not guess.
Virginia Castillo nee Tibbetts
Editor’s Note: The editorial was meant to raise awareness of what is perceived as a major problem on Cayman Brac. It was written after listening to comments from Sister Islands MLA Julianna O’Connor-O’Connolly in the Legislative Assembly and speaking to former Brac students who still have sisters and brothers on the island who have reported the problems to their older siblings. It was never our intention to insult Brackers or their children.
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