Cayman has rallied to support a group of stranded Nicaraguans who were denied entry into their own country as their government continues to grapple with COVID-19.
The Cayman Compass on Sunday reported that 160 passengers – many of whom gave up almost everything to purchase a ticket on one of two repatriation flights to Managua, Nicaragua – learned the day before the flights were due to depart that the Nicaraguan government had closed its borders.
The flights were cancelled, and the Nicaraguan residents were left in Cayman with no money, no shelter and no jobs.
But just as things seemed hopeless, the local community stepped up to help.
“I saw the story online, and I heard the news,” said Kenneth Thompson. “I’m a humanitarian and I don’t like to see or hear of people who don’t have, or they are without something they need.”
Thompson owns and runs the Island Taste restaurant and catering company. He fired up the kitchen and put his chefs to work.
“We will donate meals, I couldn’t do more than that,” he said. “But for now, we can give them meals each week and keep them going.”
On Wednesday, the chefs cooked Spanish chicken, white rice and red bean soup, and baked fresh bread. The food was packed into biodegradable packages for delivery.
“When you get blessings, you pass them on,” said Thompson. “If everyone does a little bit, then it won’t come hard on anyone. It’s simple.”
Volunteer Marlon Thomas Hodgson picks up and drops off food to those stranded.
“Well, first and foremost, I am a Nicaraguan. And irrespective of where I see the need, and I’m in a position to assist, I try to,” he said.
Thomas Hodgson added that since Sunday, people have been contacting him, asking how they can help.
Following the flight cancellations, Governor Martyn Roper said the stranded passengers would receive assistance from the Cayman Islands government. Several have since received a $150 food voucher. Hurley’s supermarket has donated grocery vouchers. The Cayman Food Bank has increased deliveries to the passengers, and several people are searching for ways to assist with accommodation.
“I’ve had so many people reach out to me, offering me help, food, water, and even opened their homes to me,” said Telma Molina, who on Saturday had been facing the grim reality of sleeping under a tree with her children if it had not been for the help of a friend.
“Since the interview, a lot of people called me and asked what they can help with,” said Molina. “I tell them food [and] water. [Now] we have food and we are thankful.”
Norlan Jimenez Gutierrez also gave up almost everything to get on the flight, in hopes of being reunited with his young son.
“We are so grateful that many people are helping us every day after the flights cancelled,” he said.
A former janitor, Jimenez Gutierrez was laid off more than a month ago. His landlord agreed to waive his rent for what was expected to have been his final month in Cayman. But with his time now extended for the foreseeable future, the question of how long his shelter will last remains uncertain.
The community outreach has been so strong that charities are now coordinating with each other to ensure efforts are not duplicated.
“One of the concerns that we have as a non-profit organisation, is a thing called ‘double dipping’,” said Cayman Food Bank’s Phillip Hyre. “One person may deliver in the morning, one may deliver in the afternoon and several may deliver on the same day; and nobody would know what the other person is doing, and then one person may get four meals for the day, where others in other locations may get none.”
Despite the help, the main goal for the stranded passengers is to find a way home to their families.
Mother-of-three Georgia Sutherland, from Jamaica, has started an online petition to spread awareness of the stranded passengers’ plight.
“Knowing that in Jamaica, I have my own home, and being told that I can’t stay in my apartment in Cayman because I can’t pay my rent while I know I have my own house back in Jamaica. I would want to go back home.”
“All we need from our president is to open the borders,” said Jimenez Gutierrez. “We are willing to do a quarantine to make sure that we are healthy and we won’t infect any other people.”
Earlier this week, Governor Roper said that his office was in contact with the Nicaraguan foreign minister’s office, but was unable to report on any progress to re-establish the repatriation flights.
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