Hundreds of people gathered outside Government House, along West Bay Road on Saturday 2 Oct., to voice their opposition to a proposed bill that would amend the Immigration (Transition) Act to make a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for work permit holders.
Kattina Anglin, one of the event organisers, told the Cayman Compass it was a “pro choice” demonstration meant to express concerns over what she believes is “discriminatory legislation”, which would “rip away every individual’s right to choose their course of medical treatment”.
“If one doctor says to me that I have cancer, I say ‘thanks doc, I going get a second opinion,’” said Anglin. “Nobody can interfere with that and if I got struck by a car and the ambulance came for me and I said, ‘I do not want any medical treatment,’ nobody could interfere with that.”
Armed with placards, cardboard cutouts and homemade signs that depicted a variety of messages such as, “My Body My Choice”, “No Vaccine Mandate Please”, “I’m not anti-vax I’m anti-mandate”, the demonstrators chanted “No vaccine mandates, no vaccine mandates”. Their chants were matched by passing drivers, who honked and shouted in support.
The proposed legislation is divisive. It has received support and resistance from a wide cross-section of Cayman’s population. Those against the legislation say they are not against the vaccine; instead, they are against a law that would make it mandatory.
“This proposed bill, if successful, would remove the existing rights of many residents in the Cayman Islands and ultimately has the potential to force us down a one-way street with further restrictions and the removal of our human rights, regardless of immigration policy or nationality,” said volunteer Taura Ebanks.
She added, “Our goal for [the] peaceful demonstration is to unite all of our people living in the Cayman Islands on common ground to support medical freedom of choice for every individual and to turn the spotlight on our Members of Parliament that democracy can not exist if medical apartheid becomes law. Now is the time to unite for medical freedom of choice, not when it is too late. The time is right now.”
The Cayman Islands Human Rights Commission has said that, in exceptional circumstances where the health and safety of the majority are endangered, some human rights can be suspended.
Premier Wayne Panton has on previous occasions said while his government is keen to implement legislation to mandate vaccines for work permit holders, they are not willing to introduce mandatory vaccinations for Caymanians.
In a letter addressed to all MPs, Anglin warned that any law passed by Parliament which mandates vaccinations would be met by a legal challenge.
A separate protest is currently being planned for Monday 4 Oct., outside the Cayman Islands Parliament.
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The right of protest is fundamental in a democratic society, so good on them for demonstrating that right.
However, if you travel to an area with prevalence of malaria you get a jab, if you go to an area of typhus concern, you get a jab. The list goes on but no one complains about that. Covid is here to stay so what’s the difference between a covid jab and a yellow fever jab in this respect?
Pro choice, does that also mean that the work permit holders have the choice to stay or go or potentially apply for a job on island as opposed to not applying for it?
Finally, we all have choices to make throughout our lives but does anyone stop to think about the consequences of their actions to society as a whole? We all have a responsibility to those within our family units but we also have a responsibility towards society as well. I don’t think that mandating jabs is an individual matter, it is for the protection of society and therefore wholeheartedly agree with this mandate.
That said, perhaps it does need tweaking to demand that any new work permit holder has a jab but not acting retrospectively? Jabs and hand washing is paramount, without it we will never truly leave this pandemic behind, carrot has been given so perhaps it’s time for a bit of stick?
Let me know when they start campaigning for freedom to choose an abortion.
“Freedom” ? Do you have the right to risk public health by drinking and driving? Shooting rifle out your window? Not picking up your dog’s poop on other’s property?
I don’t get this whining.
Did any of these people get shots for: measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, rubella, meningitis, whooping cough or chickenpox? Those are mandatory in most, if not all, first and second world countries and many developing countries. Those diseases won’t kill you; Covid may very well. If people want to come to Cayman to work, vaccination must be mandatory. No-one is forcing them to come — if they don’t want the vaccination then don’t come — they do have a choice.
Wondering… are you required to have other vaccines like MMR, Polio,… for permit holders on the island?
This has NOTHING to do with freedom! If you want freedom, you’re free to give up your work permit and go somewhere else. This is about keeping people safe and that is something Cayman did a MUCH better job of than say, Florida. A group of malcontents wanted to make it a political issue versus the health issue it is! And Compass, I am sorry but that is certainly not hundreds of demonstrators !
“If one doctor says to me that I have cancer, I say ‘thanks doc, I going get a second opinion,’” said Anglin. “Nobody can interfere with that and if I got struck by a car and the ambulance came for me and I said, ‘I do not want any medical treatment,’ nobody could interfere with that.”
Correct. But you cannot give someone cancer or a car crash by breathing on them.
Interesting article in the Washington Post “If you refuse to get vaccinated — without a medical reason — you are failing your family, your community and your nation. Just get the shot. Today.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/30/covid-19-is-sticking-around-time-stop-pretending-its-not-your-problem/