Cayman residents dug deep into their pockets on Sunday night, giving generously towards efforts to support the Ukrainian people who have been suffering due to the ongoing Russian invasion.
Governor Martyn Roper was among nearly 500 people attending a special fundraising event, ‘Together with Ukraine’, at Rackam’s Waterfront, in support of the Ukrainian Red Cross that has been leading relief efforts in the wake of the Russian military assault, which entered its 12th day on Monday.
He said it was wonderful to see the turnout at the event.
“I think that the community is really showing its support for Ukraine at this really difficult time. I think we’re all just shocked and saddened by what we’re seeing coming out of Ukraine at the moment and the news seems to get worse by the day. [There have] been attacks on civilians, indiscriminate attacks, and this is a really difficult moment for the people of Ukraine. So I think it’s wonderful that Cayman people are showing their solidarity and support,” he said.
On Monday afternoon, Rackam’s indicated the event had provisionally raised $28,000.
Roper, speaking with the Cayman Compass at the event, said he was glad to see the funds will be going to the Red Cross, adding that the United Kingdom has already raised about $85 million.
Cayman, he said, has stepped up like the rest of the world in terms of implementing sanctions and “we’re doing absolutely everything that’s required of us to implement those sanctions”.
“This is a really serious situation. I think the first thing is obviously the humanitarian tragedy for Ukraine. But secondly, this is an invasion of a country by another country. So this is against international law. It’s against territorial integrity and what happens in our world if bigger countries think they can just go in and invade smaller countries?” he said.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Roper expressed solidarity with Ukrainians and their families fleeing the violence in their homeland.
Roper, an experienced UK diplomat, lamented the realities of the unfolding battle in Europe that have far-reaching implications.
This, he said, is also about democracy and freedom “because our democratic system is something that we should stand up for and fight for and protect, and we should value the democracy and freedoms that we have”.
Tim Langfitt, Rackam’s manager, said it was a team effort to raise funds for the Ukrainians, many of whom are forced to flee their homes.
“The Caymankind that we always talk about, we’re seeing it. It’s fabulous,” he said.
Ukrainian Olga Korobova, who also works at Rackam’s, was behind the fundraising effort.
She said she was moved to tears to see the support from the community during this difficult time.
“I’ve been working here for about 14 years now. I still have… tons of family, friends back home and I’ve been checking on them. This cause, obviously, it’s very, very close to my heart, it affects a lot of my close family,” she said.
The Ukrainian community in Cayman, she said, is large, but others in the community have been stepping up and helping raise some money for the humanitarian need in her homeland.
“We know it might not be a lot, but anything will help and everything counts… the response has been overwhelming,” she said.
Rackam’s pledged 20% of the proceeds from food and drink sold on the night towards the humanitarian work of the Ukrainian Red Cross and a table was set up for people to donate to the cause.
Additional reporting by Alvaro Serey
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