It’s time for a change

We believe that the winds of political change are presently blowing compulsorily across Cayman Islands.

As a people, we have patiently endured the decline of the political, social and economic conditions in the system over the past several years, and like many of us are saying, “Enough is enough”.

Undoubtedly, we accept that change is inescapable, and while many of us may take the inevitability of change for granted, the rest of us realise that the tension surrounding political and economic change in Cayman is at its strongest.

Being away from my Island for many years, I have always managed to stay in touch by monitoring what was going on in the media, with my country.

I have read many bad reviews of our failing government to their own Caymanian people. Some of you may know me as the sister of a candidate who’s running for election. I wish him the best, but I stand by the words of my favourite singer Bob Marley “Get up stand up for your rights”.

I believe in my own opinions and I strongly stand by what I feel is best for the country that I so love. What does my voice have to do to gain a positive reputation? Does it just involve remaining silent?

Our lives can still have meaning; take control of yours. Our future belongs to our younger generation; one who is vital, where eccentricity and mysticism can become reality.

Many observers and critics contend that the system is unmistakably in a deep crisis and the unacceptable status quo facing us today begs for a speedy political change of magnanimous proportion. I personally feel that the system is not broken, the system is corrupted.

We need change, in governship. We need to investigate the financial misspending and incompetence under this government. I believe the relationship between the government and the people is trapped in a dysfunctional system.

The system must be fixed and that process cannot start until everyone is sitting at the same table. These problems are not due to any infringements, rather, the problems exist due to the nature of the relationship between the government and how they govern themselves.

At the moment, the people have spoken. Concerns have been expressed regarding a lack of consensus and the absence of specific demands and proposed solutions. The people’s voices are not being heard, yet it is being overlook, so to the politicians tell us all how can we fix the solution if you do not listen to the people’s problems? I strongly support the “No dumping in Bodden Town”. I stand with my people for the undesirable state of affairs in the country demands a big change initiative – one that provides a benevolent reformation and renaissance that is essential to restore Cayman to an era of sustained joy, peace and widespread prosperity.

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

Unfortunately, perhaps the biggest challenge Cayman is facing today is getting rid of the very expensive and counterproductive bureaucracy that services this dysfunctional system.

Let us state an obvious fact: Change is coming. It is not a matter of if, but how soon? We believe that political change in Cayman is imminent. What is, therefore, important is how we deal with the coming change – do we let it overwhelm us or do we create the change we want and so richly deserve? We strongly suggest that we do the latter. But to craft the change we need, we must know what we are changing from and what we are changing to.

To that end, we cannot replace a bad situation with an equally bad solution or worse. Change for us must signal an improvement over the status quo.

So, why should we consider making a political change in Cayman at this time?

The answer is simple: The political, economic and social status quo existing in the system is untenable. The present government has plunged the country into a quagmire, which has visited tremendous hardship upon the unsuspecting citizens of this once great country.

Consequently, people are truly suffering, many have lost their jobs, there is no public funding available to help our people when they do need help in hard-ship situations.

We need to introduce public financing for all elections, even if it is just a partial funding, because candidates can get closer to the people, not the money, and put this funding aside for the Caymanian people, not the powerful.

The government needs to start putting their own Caymanian citizens first, above all, to give the Caymanians more qualified jobs for higher standing positions. We also need to ensure the safety and the responsibility of not only our Caymanian people, but for others visiting our beloved Country.

Tougher immigration laws need to be enforced and it starts with fingerprinting everyone that lawfully enters our country today.

Education is of importance when it comes to our future generation, with children competing today against each other for top spots in universities and jobs. In order for us to hold a high standing, we must have higher standards in education.

Therefore our government should invest more in our children’s education and set a decent funding aside that is needed for any improvements to help our students, without all of the political rancour. Our country depends on the youth and the youth depends on the education. Education is very crucial to everyone; we cannot let our children down and failure is not an option! If we fail our children then they will fail us too. We need a dream that will make students voices fill school hallways, we need a dream that will pull this new generation together of engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers out of the cloud and into a pool of what is and into a pool of why not?

Therefore, no self-respecting citizen can justify letting our people suffer any longer. So change must come.

I can recall a few years ago, under different leadership, the Cayman Islands were a beacon of joy and prosperity. There was peace in our communities and we had high hopes of an even brighter future. Our country was slowly developing and the promise for our future generation seems brighter. The country enjoyed a level of economic growth, which was the envy of its colleague nations of the Caribbean; others endeavoured to be like us. Sadly, today, we have become a laughing stock. Nowadays, we are seen as a country in decline.

Far be it from us, meanwhile, to criticise a bad situation without offering at least one solution.

So here goes: We propose that our country can get back on a path of sustained success, as I leave you with these words of a great poet.

“We need a change of heart and a change of mind.

We need to change the system while we have the time.

But we can’t go back to the old-time mockery, and we can’t condone the present treachery.

Oh no! Our economy is failing,the country going to ruins –

we hate one another,

wouldn’t live together….”

Like this great poet, we firmly believe that “if we don’t change this old charade, we can’t last a next decade”. In other words, not only do we need a change, we need transformational change. Systems have to change, attitudes and hearts and minds have to change. Big things have to happen. Therefore, we hasten to submit that we cannot solve our long-standing problems with old solutions. We need a breakthrough and inventive paradigm to transition our country from a dismal status quo to a bright and more prosperous tomorrow. Most of all we need change for the future of our fellow Caymanian children of tomorrow. May God bless you all and I hope and pray that you all vote for a better change.

Marlene Ebanks