Only about 10 people showed up to the meeting in Bodden Town and there were no objections to optional trading on Sundays, but it was a different story in George Town, where many of the 40 attendees were vehemently against the possibility. As one attendee put it, “We have our tradition. It needs to be respected and it needs to be maintained.”
Everyone in our democracy is entitled to his opinion and those who expressed theirs in objection to Sunday trading are no different. The problem, however, from the government’s standpoint, is how to assess and put into context the opinions of such a tiny representation of the population.
In fact, statisticians and pollsters will tell you that a reliable extrapolation from a sampling this small is impossible to make.
Cayman currently faces a number of critical issues and Sunday trading isn’t one of them. Whether we have limited Sunday trading or not is largely a matter of convenience.
Yes, there may be minor economic and social implications, but to argue that Cayman shouldn’t have Sunday trading because traditionally we haven’t had it is specious reasoning.
Many businesses are already open on Sunday. Bars, restaurants and hotels are open on Sundays. Several important government agencies – the police, the fire department, the hospital, the Port Authority – all have staff working on Sundays as well.
All kinds of other businesses – gas stations, water sports operations, pharmacies, the cinema, the Turtle Farm – are open on Sundays, too. Every Sunday you’ll find lawyers, accountants, architects and other professionals working, and every Sunday you’ll also find a small army of reporters, editors, photographers and pressmen working on Monday’s newspaper at Pinnacle Media. Allowing grocery stores to open on Sunday, if they so choose, is not going to tip the social and moral balance of these islands.
Opening a business on Sunday would be a matter of personal choice, as would patronizing any business that decides to open. No one is forcing anyone to do anything.
As for the argument that it’s tradition not to have Sunday trading, those objecting should remember that many aspects of “traditional” Cayman have changed over the years, as the country has developed into a first-class destination for tourists from across the globe, and a home for residents with diverse cultural backgrounds.
The laws against Sunday trading aren’t traditional in and of themselves. Instead, they were put in place legislatively to induce the observance of the Sabbath tradition – as it was interpreted in Cayman at the time. It is clear, given the ways a large majority of Caymanians – young and old, churchgoers and non-churchgoers – now spend their Sundays, that the Sabbath tradition has evolved as well.
In fact, it is hypocritical for the law to allow people to work in bars or restaurants, or to patronize those bars or restaurants as early as 11 a.m. Sunday, but to not allow them to go to the supermarket to buy groceries.
If we are going to keep our law restricting Sunday trading, then we should have a better rationale than “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
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People losing their houses and not having enough money could use another day . Other people too busy to get to the bank or other gov’t agencies could go through less stress to accomplish their business. I say full ahead. God bless you all
Religion is one thing and business is another. Religion shouldn’t have anything to do with the laws of the land and other things such as education and business.
In defense of that, have a look see what’s going on in the strife of the world and a lot of it is about religion. Let business do its thing and let the church do its thing. And please folks, don’t confuse what I have said about religion and confuse it with Christian values.
absolutely agree with the comments of The editorial Board, and to add my two cents. I think it should be a matter of the individual choice to open their business on Sunday, and the shoppers choice also. Having a tradition has nothing to do with what is right; and for that matter Saturday is the Sabbath Day. Do we really think that God is going to frown upon anyone going out on a Sunday Or Saturday to purchase food or relax on the beach. As far as I remember his words are that we will be judged by our hearts. So my thoughts are that we should begin there and live good with a pure heart.
As a frequent visitor from the US, we find the present lack of Sunday trading very refreshing and relaxing. It is really nice to have a down day whether you use it for religious activities, a day at the beach, both or anything in-between. Please Caymanians, don’t get caught up in the hubbub of a 7 day-a-week routine.
Yes lets get with the rest of the world! Time to move on Cayman.
Sunday trading should be framed in one of two ways, Yes there is Sunday trading or No there is not Sunday trading.
To try to interject middle ground is mendacity because competition will make many business owner’s choice for them, to stay competitive businesses will be forced to operate on Sunday.
I am against Sunday trading for a number of reasons. This tradition of the country is important and needs to be maintained. A free Sunday has been a good thing for the country and those who want more profit can vote thumbs down but that is my opinion.
As a Rental Property Homeowner I would like a limited expanded business opening. Grocery Stores, Hardware/Lumber Stores to name two. Many homeowner need to do repairs on Sunday and of course we have arriving rental guests arriving on Sundays. Many people are working 6 days a week these days to survive in this economy and need Sunday to do their grocery shopping and materials for home repairs.
My fear is than a blanket every type of business opening on Sundays would lead to Cruise Ship Arrivals on Sundays.
here is my question—Are these people who own the business who want to operate on a Sunday willing to pay all their employees’ extra pay for working on a Sunday. And are the owners or their family who owns these businesses willing to work on a Sunday. If they should answer no to one or both of these–then I say no to Sunday. I can pretty much guess that those who want Sunday hours are those who work 9 to 5 jobs, working as a cashier at fosters at or below minimum wage, if that were me I would not want to work Sunday.
While we are at it, all government agencies should be open all day saturday, banks open 7 days a week, it starts with a few stores, so careful what you wish for, you just might be working more yourself soon enough.
I do like Sunday’s being different, just to get a break, it forces you to do other things, however, I don’t see an issue with allowing businesses to be open for say, 6 hours, 11-5 or something. That should appease anyone with an issue of it clashing with Church and still make it worthwhile for the business, and maybe still keeping Sunday a bit different.
All those who talk about the tradition of the Islands needing to be maintained have a point. In fact, they should all get rid of their cell phones, because traditionally the Island did not have those. Same with electricity and cars. Having electricity is a slap in the face to the tradition of the islands. And I’m sure all the men will give up their desk jobs in the air conditioning paying them a suitable wage so they can go out and fish for a living. Tradition is the most important thing ever, and there’s no reason for things to ever evolve or change!