When it comes to the question of whether everyone entering the Cayman Islands, including visitors, should be photographed and fingerprinted, respondents to the latest Caymanian Compass online poll generally had an opinion one way or the other.
And nearly as many people were for the crime deterrent measures as were against it.
The two-week poll received the most votes (362) and the most comments of any Compass poll to date.
It was also the closest poll with regard to the results, with 186 (51.4 per cent) of the respondents voting no, and 173 (47.8 per cent) respondents saying yes to photographing and fingerprinting.
Only three people responded ‘don’t know’ to the question.
Those against the measure had some harsh comments.
‘We should not treat everyone like criminals because of the actions of a few,’ said one respondent.
‘I think this idea is ridiculous,’ said another respondent. ‘What an awful way to fight crime.’
One person said he or she would not accept such measures. ‘If this policy is implemented, I will be leaving the island.’
Some respondents seemed to think Cayman should adopt the measures because the United States has adopted similar measures.
Others disagreed with that thinking.
‘We are not Americans,’ said one person. ‘Why follow their lead?’
Some saw the measures as aimed at a particular group.
‘This so easily shades over into racism and racial profiling,’ said one respondent.
While two people responded that they thought everyone but Caymanians should be photographed and fingerprinted, others thought the measure should be implemented differently.
‘It should be everybody or nobody,’ said one person.
‘All residents of the island should be treated the same,’ said another.
Others thought only people from high risk countries should be photographed and fingerprinted.
Several people expressed concern on how such a measure would affect tourism.
‘Tourists like to be treated like criminals,’ said one respondent sarcastically.
‘Delays at the airport would be hours,’ said another.
One person thought visitors should be photographed and fingerprinted, but not genuine tourists such as those staying in hotels.
One person thought this measure could change the recent proposed visa requirement for Jamaicans.
‘If that is in place, then there should be no visa requirement.’
Another respondent thought Cayman should adopt the measure simply because it could.
‘Why not, since the technology makes it easy.’
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