Governor urges Cayman to stand with Ukraine

As the world watches the unfolding hostile invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, Governor Martyn Roper has said he stands with the embattled country and believes so does Cayman.

“I am sure that everyone in Cayman will want to stand with me today and express our solidarity with Ukraine and her people. The UK’s position is very clear,” Roper said in a statement on his official Facebook page Thursday morning.

Premier Wayne Panton, in a statement Thursday afternoon, also lent his voice to the call to support Ukrainians as the conflict ensues, saying, “it is with dismay and a heavy heart” he watched the news reports on BBC on the Russian military operation.

“At this time, the Cayman Islands Government Office in the United Kingdom is not aware of any Caymanians presently in the Ukraine,” Panton said. “However, we will continue to monitor the situation as we continue to hope for a diplomatic and peaceful resolution.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent children, women and men of Ukraine as they face the fear of this unprovoked attack on their lives and their country.”

He added that the Scholarship Secretariat has advised that no Cayman students are on Education Council scholarships in Ukraine.

A full-scale invasion commenced Thursday, following orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

World leaders are discussing actions and next steps in response to the military action initiated by Russia.

Panton said this war presents a threat to the global economy, which is already reeling from its attempts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have already seen an increase in energy prices worldwide as oil rocketed past $100 a barrel,” the premier said. “If war continues, the prices could go up even more, affecting prices worldwide. Here in the Cayman Islands we will almost certainly see higher fuel prices, which will in turn impact the prices on all goods and services, and therefore the general cost of living.”

Instead of war, Panton said, the Cayman Islands would prefer an urgent peaceful end to this situation.

“To us, war is not a viable solution. Indeed, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 calls, in part, for peace,” he added in his statement.

US president Joe Biden, on his official Twitter account, said sanctions are coming.

This morning, I met with my G7 counterparts to discuss President Putin’s unjustified attack on Ukraine and we agreed to move forward on devastating packages of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia to account. We stand with the brave people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/dzvYxj7J9w

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 24, 2022

Roper, in his statement, quoted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who addressed the British public in a televised speech earlier on Thursday.

“President Putin of Russia has unleashed war in our European continent. He has attacked a friendly country without any provocation and without any credible excuse,” Johnson said.

The UK PM said a vast invasion is under way by land, by sea and by air.

“Ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. We – and the world – cannot allow that freedom just to be snuffed out. We cannot and will not just look away,” he said.

Johnson said there would be sweeping sanctions against Russia and Russian businesses.

“Today, in concert with our allies, we will agree a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy. Our mission is clear. Diplomatically, politically, economically – and eventually, militarily – this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure,” he said.

Johnson, addressing Ukrainians “in this moment of agony”, said the UK was them.

“We are praying for you and your families and we are on your side. We are joined in our outrage by friends and allies around the world. We will work with them – for however long it takes – to ensure that the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is restored,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in a statement Thursday, strongly condemned Russia’s military attacks and invasion of the Ukraine.

“CARICOM calls on all parties involved to urgently embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards a sustainable peace,” the statement said.

It called for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in that country.

“The recognition by the Russian Federation of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk represents a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community,” the CARICOM statement said.

It said CARICOM maintains that the principles of universal respect and adherence to these norms and principles of international law are “fundamental to the maintenance of the international system and global peace and security”.