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| Hon Mike Adam | Ellio Solomon |
By Kevin Shereves
kevin@caymannetnews.com
Crime and unemployment were just some of the burning issues raised at the Rock Hole community meeting in George Town on Wednesday, 5 August.
Hon Mike Adam, Minister of Community Affairs and Housing, and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ellio Solomon, both members of the United Democratic Party (UDP), anchored the two-hour meeting.
Approximately 50 residents from the George Town constituency attended and discussed a range of topics affecting the community including safety and social issues in the area and the rising rate of crime.
Community officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) also attended the forum along with representatives from the newly formed Young United Democratic Party (YUDP).
Minister Adam encouraged cooperation and community fellowship among attendees.
“The UDP is not about one person, we are all about teamwork and a belief in one another. Our most solemn duty is to protect you, protect your families, protect your neighbours and lead this community in a responsible manner. Join us in putting the public interests ahead of the special interests, so everyone has a chance at the promise of Cayman,” he said.
“It’s a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation, but that businesses should be responsible for creating Caymanian jobs, looking out for Caymanian workers, and playing by the rules. We are responsible for ourselves, we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.”
Jonathan Piercy, (UDP) political candidate in the 20 May general election, also developed on the issue of unemployment among Caymanians.
“Caymanians need to have full access to available jobs. We have a record number of Caymanians who are currently unemployed and opportunities must be valuable in terms of compensation. There also needs to be a tectonic shift in the mindsets of the people,” he said.
“Because jobs are scarce, we are faced with a very competitive marketplace. Retraining and lifelong training is a concept that must be embraced and Caymanians must come first, second and third in their own country.”
Mr Adam urged the community to put their differences aside and work together as one. “Let’s restore the moral fibre of our society, to embrace values that ensure amongst other things; respect for human life, dignity and property,” he said.
“I am concerned about the youth of today, who are not receiving the proper care, love, discipline, and education that will prevent them from living their full potential in the future. These children that are at risk may turn in the wrong direction if not guided by us, the parents and the community on the right path.”
A concerned member from the community said: “There is a shortfall in Rock Hole, Swamp and Windsor Park areas. These neighborhoods have always received the short end of the scale and the frustration is being echoed throughout all these areas. There is a high percentage of single mothers throughout these communities and many of our young men are not achieving their full potential because many of them are unemployed and there is a sense of hopelessness and despair in their lives.”
The woman added: “If these matters are not addressed, then crime will continue to be a problem in our community. We need to focus on working together and meeting the needs of the people in our community, only then will Cayman be Cayman again. Please do not overlook these neighborhoods again because more and more is needed and we need to work towards enriching our communities that are most in need. Let’s do it.”
Another concerned citizen spoke about the need to rebuild the George Town Primary School, which received severe structural damage during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
“We need George Town Primary School rebuilt and reopened. Our children are being bussed out to Prospect Primary School and this is unacceptable. George Town Primary School has been a pillar of our community for generations. Our parents fought for the school and now the community must fight for it today,” the citizen said.
One member of the audience expressed: “We need to create a trade school for people who are released from prison, because we do not want them to just be sitting around idle. We need to reintegrate them back into the society by getting a trade school in place so that they can learn a trade, earn a certificate, have their proper papers and be employable. That is the only way that they can be expected to have a future.”
George Town MLA Ellio Solomon said he was not surprised by the concerns raised at the meeting.
“I am not surprised to hear the feedback from the community because those were the same concerns that we were hearing before and during the election. Our Government is faced with a number of problems and we are implementing policies in relation to housing,” he said.
“There are over 700 aplications for affordable homes that we have inherited from the previous administration and it is important to us to ensure that we get those affordable homes built. It will put people back in their homes and will put contractors and tradespeople back to work.”
Another resident suggested that there was a lack of trust between the community and the RCIPS: “There is no trust and there is a lack of communication between law enforcement and the community.”
Adrian Seales, Superintendent and head of community policing, said: “The neighborhood forum is a very good initiative, because it is only through dialogue and discussion that we can achieve our objections.
We, the police, need the community just as much as the community needs us. This means that we must continue to work together in partnership. The RCIPS is committed to this neighborhood and we will increase police presence by implementing more community policing. Our role is service oriented and we are here to serve the community.”
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