A planned visit by Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson to Cayman in September has prompted calls of protest from people who fled the island during the 1970s.
Several long-term Jamaican residents in Cayman this week voiced their objections on a radio talk show.
Mr. Patterson will appear as a guest speaker at the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary dinner on 24 September.
The Honorary Jamaican Consul for the Cayman Islands, Robert Hamaty, welcomed Mr. Patterson’s visit, however, and said people must respect democracy.
Mr. Patterson, who rules the People’s National Party, took over the leadership from the late Prime Minister Michael Manley in 1992.
It was during Mr. Manley’s 1972-1980 tenure in office that many wealthy and middle-class Jamaicans left the country, many settling in Cayman.
Mr. Manley’s socialist government aligned itself with Cuba, incurring the wrath of the United States and causing alarm among the nation’s well-to-do.
‘There is no politician in the world who does not have opposition and Mr. Patterson is democratically elected and highly respected,’ said Mr. Hamaty.
‘All protocol will be put in place to welcome Mr. Patterson as a respected world-leader.
‘We live in a free society and right here in Cayman we have people who do not like Mr. McKeeva Bush.’
Mr. Hamaty said it was a great honour to have the Jamaican Prime Minister visit the island for the Chamber’s anniversary celebrations.
In his first visit to Cayman, Mr. Patterson will be the guest speaker at the dinner, speaking on ‘Strengthen Relationships throughout CARICOM’, of which Cayman is an associate member.
‘We are grateful that Mr. Patterson has accepted our invitation,’ said Chamber president Joseph Hew.
‘I have heard Mr. Patterson speak at other conferences and he is regarded as one of the leading speakers in the Caribbean and one of CARICOM’s greatest advocates.’
After assuming the role of PNP leader in 1992, Mr. Patterson was returned to office in 1993, was re-elected in 1997 and, in 2002, became the first Jamaican prime minister to be sworn in for a fourth consecutive term.
Having celebrated his 70th birthday in April, Mr. Patterson recently announced his intention to step down as leader of the PNP in the near future.
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