Cayblogger - THE Cayman Islands' Blog Man

Say It Loud: 'Cayman Is Straight And Proud' UPDATED LINK

I'm about to say something I rarely say: I'm at a loss.

I just want to say "thank you" to Cayman for clarifying its position on homosexuality and for letting us know what is and what is not appropriate public behaviour.

But I'll let you be the judge. If you'll go to the following link you'll be able to witness decidely heterosexual behaviour that is endorsed by the Cayman Islands government and the RCIP, and encouraged by the Islands' religious right-wing, anti-gay, hateful idiots:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5nr5m_caymandancehallapril2008_music

And parents: if you ever wonder what your children do after church, you're about to find out.

God bless the righteous citzens and residents of the Cayman Islands. May your behaviour be a lamp unto our feet and light along our way.

If anyone needs me I'll be at a local Cayman church dry-humping the alto section of the choir.

Safety? Tolerance? Freedom? Peace? - "Not here"

“Not here,” seems to be the dominant theme in today’s Compass editorial. It also seems to be the head-turning attitude toward anything not wholly Caymanian entering these islands.

“Not here.”

In today’s editorial The Compass is referring to the predominant Caymanian attitude toward homosexuality and suggests that the Caymanian attitude is that for all of the social and political evolution undergone here in Cayman over the past 500-plus years, one idea is strictly taboo; and that is homosexuality. It is not an accepted part of the Caymanian culture.

Culture – noun – 1) a particular civilization at a particular stage; 2) The tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group; 3) All the knowledge and values shared by a society.

I was thinking about it and realized something which may startle a lot of people. The Compass is 100% correct about the Caymanian culture and homosexuality.

“Not here.”

Because Cayman, 1) refuses to grow out of their homophobic stage; 2) exhibits poor taste and a lack of manners toward divergent cultures and philosophies and; 3) has little knowledge of their own values and a complete shared ignorance and indignation toward the values of others.

“Not here.”

And to go along with their “not here” philosophy, they’ve actually come up with a sort of mathematical formula (proof) for this process whereby they either accept or reject things in accordance with another mantra, “That’s not Caymanian.” The formula is:

Controversial position, gradually formed, strongly held = culture

Let’s give it a shot: Homosexuality in Cayman (controversial position) + Gay tourists (gradually formed)+ homosexuals respected as human beings (not strongly held)= culture

Homosexuality in Cayman = Caymanian culture – gay tourists – no regard for gays = “Not here.”

The formula works.

Now, let’s try it for murder.

Murder in Cayman + attitude toward murders + no one seems to care = culture

There have been, what… five murders in Cayman this year to only one “gay kiss?” Which means that we, as a society, are less tolerant of a gay kiss than of a murder. Gay people kissing is somehow more socially damning and repugnant than murder.

There have been more letters written to my blog and to the newspapers about two gay people kissing than about people getting set on fire, hacked and beaten to death with machetes and blunt objects, or shot.

The Compass states “…what they (homosexuals) are up against here is a cultural position, honed over time, and taken very seriously.” So Compass ed-board… what are the murder victims up against?

Has the concept of murder just not had enough time to take root in the psyche of Cayman, or have we simply not honed our attitude toward murder to a point whereby people might actually start taking the problem of an increase in violent crime seriously?

That is the preposterousness of the entire situation: people in Cayman are more concerned about homosexuality than about murder. Fools…

You go on to state in your column that “… how firmly these cultural decisions are held; once made, they are virtually unshakable…” This being the case, I would suggest that Cayman as a society is in for a much tougher test with the ever-increasing penchant for murder than we are with incidents of two same-sex people sharing a moment of tenderness in public.

Furthermore, your column seems to suggest that public acts of homosexuality are applied to your “not here” philosophy, but so long as these acts take place behind closed doors it’s okay. However, not the same can be said for murder.

I expected more out of the Compass. I expected more than just a simple, “We’re Caymanian – You’re not,” or a “Not in our house” attitude toward homosexuality. I expected more than the closing, “I told you so” conclusion.

I certainly expected more from everyone regarding Cayman’s five-to-one ratio of murders to gay kisses (thus far) in Cayman and the accompanying wholesale ignoring of the spike in violent crime in Cayman.

And I expected more than the Compass telling us, “You may not have noticed, but that culture you say Cayman doesn’t have? It just jumped up in your face.”

Well Cayman, you may not have noticed but that culture you say Cayman doesn’t have just jumped up in your face, beat you, shot you, hacked you to death with a machete, stuffed you in a car and set you on fire while you were watching two gay people kiss.

Welcome to your new culture of violence and murder. “That’s Caymanian” - and it’s not “not here” any more.

CMEA - Hundredth Verse Same As The First

So there I was at a concert arena last month in New York City. The opening band was from Canada and the headliner was from the UK which got me thinking: “This is America! Why the hell do I come all the way to America to listen to non-American bands?”

I mean, are American bands being marginalized by their foreign counterparts? Is the talent outside the US superior to that which can be found inside the US? Are there not enough US bands to go around? What gives?

I love the band U-2, but in spite of their global accomplishments and musical genius just because they come to the US doesn’t mean they automatically get preferential treatment over bands like Banana Blender Surprise or Zen Archer does it?

I mean, these little American acts are struggling artists and they deserve to play sold out American auditoriums just as much as U-2 because they are, after all, Americans. Right?

Elton John? Screw him. I want to see Rocky and the Mudflaps play Caesar’s Palace. And will someone please just shoot Celine Dion and replace her with The Therapy Sisters? Please!

And Batabano... don't get me started. Where was the local talent?

To hell with Bryon Lee – bring on Chuck and Barrie! Because nothing, and I mean nothing, jumpstarts a crowd and propels a street filled with semi-sober partiers into a carefree frenzy of festive ass-bumping and soft core pelvic-grinding like C&B singing about taking the kids on a fishing trip. Hell yes!!

The CMEA would have us believe that Cayman artists (some of whom are actually Caymanian) should always have preferential treatment – period. If you’re a foreigner you go to the back of the line regardless of your experience, notoriety and/or talent…at least according to the idiot leader of the CMEA.

Constantly Moaning Entertainers Association president Brent McLean (aka Rant McLame) and his minions are apparently upset because Donna Myrie – for God knows what reason – obtained the services of internationally known musical acts for Batabano. Donna, what were you thinking?

But the funny thing about McLame’s rant was that he asked a question, and answered it – quite logically. McLame axed, “2008 Batabano has now come and gone and by all accounts the general public would consider it a roaring success, but at what cost would we attribute this success?

“Successful because the Batabano committee brought not only one International Soca band but two, the ever popular Byron Lee, and the king of Soca himself Mr Machel Montano. ..(but) my question to her and her committee is why were there no local entertainers?”

And the answer is simple, Rant. It was, as you claim, “a roaring success” BECAUSE of the talent Donna was able to retain NOT because of the local talent she didn’t use! But I suppose for Batabano the CMEA would rather have a harpist playing the theme from “The Godfather” or Dave Martins singing about too many chickens. Who needs the King of Soca? Call George Nowak (the King of Toke-a) and have him sing about fat drunk chicks or getting drunk and screwing a judge’s wife.

For crap’s sake CMEA – shut the hell up!! Once or twice a year it happens that Cayman is fortunate enough to get some fresh entertainment in these islands and you complain about it? How many times do we have to sit through the same sets played by the same musicians before you morons wake up and realize that a little variety is good – even necessary – for the islands? Answer: too freaking many times!

Donna Myrie goes out and gets some quality and appropriate musicians to play Batabano and instead of saying, “Good job Donna” and leaving it at that, you piss and moan like the spoiled brats you are and complain that more local acts weren’t used which means everyone in Cayman didn’t get to see – for the umpteenth time – the same people playing the same songs… again.

There is positively too much whinging and complaining going on in Cayman in general, and everyone – especially the CMEA - needs to shut the hell up, go about your day, love your fellow man (just not in public) and re-freaking-lax.

Seriously. CMEA complains that not enough local “talent” is used. Caymanians complain about ex-pats. Ex-pats complain about Caymanians. Everyone complains about the lack of or presence of a constitution and/or bill of rights. Businesses complain about rollover. Politicians complain about a healthcare system they’re ruining. Straights complain about gays. Chuckie steals from the government and then complains because people don’t like the fact that he’s a common criminal. “Dr” Frank assaults cops and then complains that the cops and the courts are treating him unfairly; ad nauseum.

Cayman isn’t a derivative of a word meaning crocodile – it’s Latin for constantly complaining!

(Editor’s note: technically what I’m doing isn’t complaining. I’m merely pointing out that too many people complain.)

Here it is: Donna Myrie-Stevens, thank you for all of your hard work for Cayman. Keep it up.

So CMEA, shut the hell up and put your “life is unfair” press release back in the drawer and save it for when Donna CAN’T get internationally recognized talent to come to Cayman… and she still snubs you because even if she did hire your members you’d find something to complain about anyway.

Until then McLame, don’t complain about the unfair treatment of Cayman’s talent pool when all you do is sit in it and pee.

Julianna O'Connor-Connolly Comes Out!

(If you don't like naughty words, stop reading now. You have been warned - rtm)

Julianna O’Connor–Connolly is the latest idiot to throw her dunce hat into the circle of stupidity surrounding a lack of human rights in Cayman.

Julianna made what could possibly be one of the most idiotic, uneducated, close-minded, homophobic, scared, hateful statements surrounding this issue in today’s Compass. And what’s worse is she used her political position to do so.

It goes something like this: “Once doubt enters in the equation that we have to pander to these people…then we are diminishing our faith in God…”

“These people?” “THESE PEOPLE?” Are you kidding me?

Julianna, you’re a bigoted ass whose efforts are doing nothing more than perpetuating fear and hatred. You’re an idiot and you should crawl back under the rock from which you crawled out.

Why don’t you talk about “these people” who rape women and children? Or “these people” who beat their spouses. Or “these people” in West Bay who fuck horses. Or “these people” who deal drugs. Or “these people” who kill Miss Teen Cayman in car crashes. Or “these people” who steal government documents under the guise of some lame-ass whistleblower rule. Or “these people” who financially rape the country. Or “these people” who care more about two men kissing than about attending a meeting on Constitutional matters, human rights or a bill of rights. Or “these people” who label people as “these people.”

As far as pandering to “these people” – Julianna are you really that freaking stupid? Actually, yes you are.

No one is asking anyone to pander to gay people – we’re asking you to simply ignore them. Treat them like everyone else on the island, then when it's election time kiss their asses and lie to them like you do the rest of us.

Pay them as much attention as you pay people you don't know, cruise tourists, ex-pats, anonymous residents, rapists, drug dealers, child beaters, wife beaters, animal fuckers, drunk drivers, illiterates, thieves, ex-pats, voters, your constituents, the economy, Cayman’s global image, etc… In other words, just ignore them and pretend like they're not here and if they are their pressence is of no consequence. You've been doing it long enough with everything else so this shouldn't be a stretch even for the likes of you.

One thing that bothers me is your pious attitude that in spite of your lack of secular intelligence begs the question, "How does being in the midst of different people diminish your faith in God?" Does God tell us, “go forth and minister to the good people and the people who are like you and the people who believe everything you believe,” or does he send us out as sheep among the wolves. Does He send us into the not-so-pretty areas to minister to all of God’s children?

Did Jesus not tell Peter to “feed my sheep?” Do you truly understand what that means – or do you simply think God meant to feed his 13 sheep and screw the rest of them?

Julianne – before you spout off your warped religious ideals you may want to wait until you’re outside the LA and inside your close-minded church.

Regardless Jewlianna, at the very least you’ve helped us regain a sense of our past. You’ve sent us backward in time and you’ve shown us that if we follow your religious teachings that copping out, quitting, dividing God’s people, spewing anger and hatred and perpetuating a bigoted attitude will allow us to enter the kingdom of heaven; but more importantly it will allow us humans the right to pick and choose those whom we want with us in heaven while excluding everyone else. When the fire and brimstone rains down from heaven I'm sure we can all huddle in safety under your umbrella.

So Julianna we’ve scratched the fags off our list, now let’s do something about the kikes, the niggers, the spics, the nips, the crackers, the slants, the slopes, the wops, the micks, the limeys, etc… because “these people” are really mucking things up. Find me the bible passage and I'll exploit it for the sake of your self-serving ignorance.

And as far as telling pastors how and what to preach – THAT’S NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB YOU IDIOT!!! You don’t tell a minister what to preach – who the hell are you Henry VIII (although you do strike an amazing resemblance; although his beard was a bit thicker and you’ve got a few pounds on him…)? Besides, the ministers here in Cayman are more than adequately qualified and capable of spewing their seperatist bilge without your help or the help of the LA - although it might be easier for them to do so if they weren't busy pulling the strings of Cayman's political puppet show.

You know what I don’t want to see? An angry, moron spewing jaded religious nonsense under the auspices of political leadership. I’d rather see two dudes kissing than one Julianna acting like she knows what she’s talking about.

And I certainly don't need to see a politician belittling a government employee for making a correct judgement call and apologizing for an incident that can and will have social and ecnomic repercussions in these islands. Cayman's indignance will be its undoing so any little jestures made by someone like Pilar Bush that may help soften the blow of Cayman's stupidity shouldn't be met with such opposition and derision by the people charged with helping these islands succeed. But I wouldn't expect an idiot like Julianna to understand this intensely cerebral concept.

So screw you Ju! Hats off to Pilar Bush for apologizing (even though the apology was a bit backhanded and not entirely accurate) in the wake of a most unfortunate incident perpetrated on one of Cayman's benefactors by government.

And kudos to Julianna for teaching our children that if people are different it’s okay to ridicule them, deride them, berate them, exclude them, deny them liberties, deny them human rights, inconvenience them and after all is said and done NOT apologize to them - in the name of God.

“The Gospel According to Julianna – Go Forth and Hate.” Julianna your stupidity is showing – again.

It’s amazing actually; the LA has a dress code but it doesn’t have an intelligence code. Thanks Julianna. Thanks for putting a bit more lipstick on that legislative pig. How about trying a little on yourself…

Hang Or Shoot Gay People? Norman Linton Wants To Hear From You: (345)945-7554

Hats off to the Cayman Islands for being a “welcoming jurisdiction to all people.”

The latest parade of hatred includes a genius named Norman Linton who stops short of advocating hanging or shooting homosexuals. He also draws Alabama and Mississippi into the mix for some odd reason as Alabama and Mississippi had zero reported incidents of sexual-orientation related hate crimes for the most recent reporting period.

But apparently Cayman can feel proud of itself for not shooting or hanging Aaron Chandler and his boyfriend and they both should count themselves as lucky for being in such a safe jurisdiction while they were not breaking the law.

In Cayman you never hear of anyone hanging from a tree; being shot in a drive by; having their hand chopped off; having their face slashed with a machete; tourists being assaulted; senselessly butchering endangered blue iguanas; being murdered and stuffed in a car and set on fire… But if you did hear of stuff like this happening in Cayman, I’m sure it would be because of homosexual activity, right Norm?

Norman also says that men or women kissing in public makes him gag. I don’t guess you go to a lot of weddings, do ya Norm? And Valentine Day must REALLY suck at the Linton household.

Norman’s “different countries have different rules” philosophy has already been refuted as Cayman doesn’t appear to have a law or even a rule about people kissing in public; but that didn’t stop him from applying faulty logic in his comparative analysis of multi-jurisdictional human rights statutes in an attempt to make the violation participated in by Cayman somehow less significant because in our incident no one was shot or hanged. Everyone in Cayman stand up and pat yourselves on your backs.

So, if you’re from Alabama, Mississippi or Iran – give Norman a call or drop him a postcard and enlighten him as to exactly what is and isn’t an okay way to treat human beings. His phone number out of the Cable and Wireless online directory is (345) 945-7554 and his address is below.

Show your support for his right to freedom of expression and ask him why his exercise of that right is somehow more significant than others’ rights to freely express love and affection to their significant others.

And ask him how much solace he finds in a not altogether accurate fact that people get shot and hung in other jurisdictions but not in Cayman.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in Florida on the beach today. I’d ask Norm to join me but the beach I go to doesn’t allow violence-advocating, dumb-ass, close-minded, hateful, idiotic, separatist, mental midgets – but it does allow beer.

http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1030567

Maybe the gay kissers should try Iran? They would be hung there or shot. (I’m not sure I’d try it in Alabama or Mississippi either).

I personally don’t care about what people do in the privacy of their own homes. But men or women kissing each other in public makes me gag.

Different countries have different rules. For example, it is OK to have a glass of wine or beer on the beach in Cayman, but you would be arrested for doing so on many Florida beaches.

Norman Linton

Linton Norman

Box 31263 Grand Cayman KY1-1206 (345) 945-7554

Alson Ebanks - Advocate of Gay-hating Police State

The Cayman Islands have officially entered a new era in social distortion and whether people here believe it or not Cayman is one step away from their own version of the “final solution” – and all because of a kiss.

And pastor alson ebanks is once again proving to be a formidable champion of morality, cleverly cloaking his hatred in pious pomp and self-serving God-speak, when in actuality he is a scared and angry little man who is encouraging those in Cayman to join him in his hate-filled crusade.

The level of intolerance in Cayman is nothing new and is consistent with the growing number of governments and sects actively engaging in all forms of atrocities against other human beings all for the sake of their warped beliefs of what they believe is right; and often right (so they tell us) according to God.

In recent history man’s inhumanity to man is legendary. Hitler in Germany. Stalin in Russia. “The Butcher of The Balkans” Slobodan Milosevic. Genocide in Iraq, Rwanda, etc…

And now here in Cayman we are faced with a situation that is dividing this tiny island nation. A situation so silly, so innocuous and arbitrary that the real tragedy is not the fact that two people shared a harmless kiss but that everyone is making a big deal about it.

But the issue is not about the kiss, it’s about what that kiss represents. It represents love, adoration, caring and passion between two adults: who just happen to be men - and that scares people. It’s not about the kiss; it’s what the kiss represents to those who don’t understand it.

It’s about fear.

It scares people because they don’t understand it. It scares people because it doesn’t fit their ideals of what is normal, or just, or right – or Godly.

It scares people because it’s different (even though it really isn’t) and it scares people because they don’t know anything about it and they refuse to stop, listen and learn. And instead of understanding or even tolerating, people choose instead to hate. It’s the easy way out; but it’s a slippery slope to hell my friends.

Hitler’s hatred resulted in the destruction of (depending on what statistics you believe) 2million to 4million Jews, possibly more. Stalin is estimated to have rid the Soviet Union of 12million to 14million people and is still history’s most effective murderer. Milosevic actively attempted genocide and killed thousands of Muslims.

Fear. Ignorance. Hatred.

And in the US there are now “hate” crimes. That’s right – the world is so screwed up that we actually are now criminalizing an emotion – hate; and there is plenty of it here.

Hatred is born of fear which is the result of ignorance. The more you know about something the more you can understand it and the more you understand it the less afraid you are. And if you don’t fear something it may not be as easy to hate it.

And if you don’t hate it then it may be easier to, at the very least, tolerate. But people here seem to think if they tolerate it then they are somehow endorsing it; which is not the case at all.

Here in Cayman a common thought is that homosexuals are out to convert the masses. That they are going to come to Cayman and rape our children and have sex in public. This is probably less true for gay people than for heterosexuals.

In Cayman people think that homosexuals are dirty, subhuman freaks when in actuality they are our friends, neighbors, parishioners, bankers, attorneys, hotel workers, tour guides and – yes – tourists. They’re human beings. But that’s not good enough for Cayman.

What makes the situation in Cayman worse is that idiots like pastor little al condone and advocate the continuation of the hatred by telling the RCIPS to “keep up the good work” in spite of the fact that there was no legal grounds for the men to have been detained at all.

Pastor alson – a supposed man of God – is advocating ignoring human rights and ignoring the law because he is so filled with fear and hatred that he can’t do what The Bible tells him to do - simply turn away from the offenders.

The Bible also advocates living a life as an example of Christ and God and to let your light shine. Be a fisher of men. Go into the world and preach the good word. Be loving and kind – and forgiving. Instead, little al takes refuge behind the cross in his air-conditioned pulpit while casting his judgement on those whom he refuses to grant even the most basic form of dignity or respect.

Pastor alson in all of his piety can’t see that he is ignoring providence and missing out on an amazing opportunity to lead his flock to a new level of understanding – a new level of tolerance – and a new level of deep relationship with God.

Instead, pastor alson, you haphazardly encourage hatred and an un-Godly disrespect of the very souls you as a Christian promised God you would serve - proving that some people achieve salvation when they get close to the light; others just go blind.

A man’s words are only as good as his actions – pastor alson, you may want to spend more time sitting in a congregation and less time spewing your pious hypocrisy from the pulpit.

When you have ministers advocating fear, hatred and the categorical denial of human rights you have one thing – a HUGE problem. Why? Because people will listen to idiots like Alson Ebanks.

People will listen and it will support their own fears. People will listen and it will fuel their hatred. People will listen and it will lead to a narrowing of minds, a broadening of negativism and the stunting of any social progress.

So don’t fool yourselves into believing this is about two men kissing, or a non-existent law that was broken or the enforcement of some sort of unwritten Cayman code of standardized God-fearing heterosexual conduct, because it isn’t. It’s about ignorance, stupidity, anger, fear and hatred – and we all know where that leads.

So pastor alson, how appropriate, right, tasteful or socially beneficial is your hateful behaviour? That mirror you look in each morning must be very dimly lit...

Health Care In Cayman - 18 Million Reasons To Worry

Hey everybody – look! The health care system is in the crapper!

Surprise, surprise, surprise… the HSA and CINICO continue to be the biggest financial mess and are the combined recurrent budgetary abortion for the government with projected deficits of nearly $18million for 2008 according to a Caymanian Compass page one story on Monday.

Are the HSA and CINICO board members and staff asleep at the wheel, lazy or just embracing an attitude of defeat?

I’m going to go ahead make a comment here regarding the HSA and the term “acting” CEO: Someone – and I don’t care who that someone is – needs to stop “acting” like a CEO, sprout a pair of nuggets and actually BECOME a CEO.

Eighteen million dollars lost – projected. It could be worse; and based upon historical performance it probably will be.

Eighteen million dollars - wasted.

If there are 50,000 people in Cayman that equates to $360 for every man woman and child – wasted, lost, pissed away… gone. Gone because people aren’t doing their jobs.

What’s happening now with the HSA and CINICO is “stupidity” defined. Stupid – 1) repeating the same act and expecting a different result; 2) – consistently putting unqualified people into positions of authority in the HSA and CINICO and expecting both entities to suddenly heal themselves.

So what’s the answer?

“Acting” CEO Lizzette Yearwood and the HSA geniuses had the great idea to raise the fees charged for services rendered and decided as well to not fill certain vacant positions (some possibly doctors and nurses) at the hospital. So basically she’s proposed cutting the hospital’s operational capacity and raising prices; and she’s completely missing the obvious.

Even though the words came from her mouth, Yearwood ignores the most obvious culprit of the financial disaster. Here’s the quote from Monday’s story: “The system currently covers all civil servants, their spouses and children, and pensioners at no cost to those who are covered.”

“At no cost” – there’s the problem.

Stay with me here. Let’s assume there are 3,000 civil freeloaders and half of the 3,000 are covered under the government’s “at no cost” health plan as employees alone and the other half for full family. At a conservative estimate of $250 per month in premium for the employees and $500 per month premium for the families (which is grossly understated), the premium generated by civil servants alone would be $13.5 million per year.

Based upon actual distribution of plan participants and dependents, and plan costs, this $13.5million would more than likely increase significantly and would surpass CINICO’s deficit.

Add to that the requirement that civil servants pay deductibles and coinsurance and the HSA could actually begin seeing a more robust revenue stream from the population that is the number one user/abuser of the “at no cost” scheme.

By making civil servants financial stakeholders in the system we’ve generated premium dollars for CINICO and a revenue stream for the HSA. And all by doing nothing more than asking civil servants to do the same thing we do – pay their fare share.

Will this completely remedy the comedy of errors now playing out every day in Cayman’s health care theatre? No; but it will work better and more economically than cutting staff and raising fees because doing so doesn’t necessarily cut costs in the long run.

“Why not?” Well I’m glad you asked. Consider the following:

If you cut staff you reduce normal payroll but increase your overtime exposure. If you reduce staff you reduce the number of man hours available without reducing the work load, which means you are forced to pay overtime to adequately deal with the existing workload or you are forced to keep your doors open and lights on longer to complete a day’s work.

OR you screw the patients, shut the doors and force them to the emergency room at significantly higher costs to them and the insurance company. This may save the HSA money in the short term, but it will screw the patient on provision of care AND cost. But hey – it’s easy to do. Am I the only who can see the writing on the wall here?

So, let’s increase the fees. Hmmm… If you increase the fees you generate more accounts receivable – but the trick is turning the accounts receivable into revenue; something the HSA has proven entirely incapable of doing especially given the old Caymanian adage of “you can lead a man to the HSA but you can’t make him pay.”

Further, if you increase the fees then the patients’ insurance companies either a) pay the increased fees submitted by the HSA or b) pay the standard fees in accordance with the law and the HSA is left billing the patient for the balance – which leaves outstanding A/R on the books and doesn’t have the intended affect (shocking, I know).

Don’t let people like Lie-zette Yearwood convince you that by firing a few porters and raising fees the problem will be solved, because it won’t. If the HSA raises its fees we all know who pays those increased fees, and it isn’t CINICO, the civil servants, or the “underserved” population of Cayman.

And don’t let Gordon Rowell fool you into thinking that the solution is as simple as, “We have to address changing demographics.” I gotta tell you Gordon – if you guys haven’t already addressed “changing demographics” we’re all screwed.

Demographics won’t generate non-government subsidies for CINICO; proper management of the HSA and CINICO will. Demographics didn’t put the health care system in the toilet; foolhardy political myopia got Cayman into this position.

Demographics didn’t create the laws that burden Cayman with a restrictive, expensive and unsustainable health insurance industry/product: foolish and ignorant politicians did. Change THAT.

Demographics didn’t continually allow the HSA to be mismanaged and to continually underperform from a service standpoint AND a financial standpoint: foolish politicians did by appointing unqualified people to positions of authority and allowing those people to ruin the hospital. Change THAT.

Demographics didn’t forbid insurance companies from free and open competition within the Cayman insurance market: a pissed-off minister with a bad attitude and an axe to grind did. Change THAT.

Demographics has nothing to do with the fact that more than 10% of the Cayman population pays not one penny toward the cost of their health care – and the government and paying customers/patients end up bearing the cost. Change THAT!

We don’t need to address “changing demographics” we need to address changing the philosophy. We need to address changing the cost metrics. We need to address changing the leadership dynamic. We need to address changing the administration structure of both the HSA and CINICO.

The only demographics that need changing are the demographics of both boards – so Gordon, my mistake. You are correct. Regardless - blame increasing health care costs on Cayman's demographics or the global economy if you must, but the $18,000,000 deficit is the sole result of poor policy; and those in charge should be sacked yesterday.

I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again: the HSA board is entirely incapable of running a hospital and the latest bailout and potential staff cutback and fee increase is irrefutable proof. And as a result of pathetic HSA management, CINICO is forced to rely upon the government’s retarded and bankrupt step-child for revenue.

The hospital needs professional management – period. CINICO is in very capable hands with Gordon Rowell but even he is incapable of turning crap into gold (if you don’t believe me, play a round of golf with him).

Regardless (and all due respect to Gordon), this has nothing at all to do with “changing demographics” and everything to do with changing the paradigm from one of well-intentioned ignorance and systemic stupidity to good governance and fiscal responsibility. People need to swallow their pride and admit that they are wholly unqualified by education, experience and training to run a hospital. Then they need to hire the right people to do the job and LET THEM DO IT. Finally, they need to include all gainfully employed participants in the financial responsibility of health care.

There are 18 million reasons why Cayman needs to disband the HSA board and turn the hospital over to a professional management company; and there is one reason why it will never happen: Fear. No one is strong enough to make the right decision to fix the boards and force civil servants to be financially engaged in the provision of all aspects of their health care.

And the two people who would have (Michael Elliot and Craig Brown) were fired NOT because they weren't doing their jobs, but because they did their jobs correctly and people's feelings were hurt. I have two words for the HSA and CINICO - boo freaking hoo.

Eighteen million dollars knowingly, consciously and willfully flushed down the toilet. Suddenly two dudes making out at Royal Palms seems pretty insignificant.

Wholesale Hatred of Homosexuals: Just Another “isolated incident”

Cayman Islands Director of Tourism Pilar Bush wrote a letter of apology to Aaron Chandler (half of the couple involved in the “kiss heard ‘round the world”) and called his detention by the RCIPS an “isolated incident” and assured Mr. Chandler that Cayman “is a welcoming jurisdiction to all people.”

Okay Pilar: come down out of the rum tree, set down your bong, back away from your crack pipe and pay attention.

Cayman Islands is NOT a “welcoming jurisdiction to all people.” Cayman is not a tolerant jurisdiction, nor is it a jurisdiction in which human rights and freedoms are encouraged or even supported. And as far as this being an “isolated incident”… give me a break Pilar. We all know better.

The Cayman Islands is a jurisdiction caught between the need to progress and the desire to remain a self-proclaimed morally-righteous society – resistant to change, ignorant, and stubborn to anything remotely resembling tolerance of ideals or values that may be inconsistent with the current self-righteous indignant attitude toward outsiders.

Jurisdictions who welcome all people do not forbid “gay cruise ships” from calling at their ports. Jurisdictions who welcome all people do not have local ministers encouraging citizens to line the streets in protest of homosexuals. Jurisdictions who welcome all people do not have MOI that turn away refugees attempting to escape communist despotism.

Jurisdictions who welcome all people do not create laws that foster hatred and division among its own people and the “outsiders” who love and call Cayman home.

Welcoming jurisdictions embrace visitors. Welcoming jurisdictions accommodate visitors. Welcoming jurisdictions are tolerant. And welcoming jurisdictions make adjustments (within reason) to ensure that the people bringing them bags of money enjoy themselves and return with more money.

Cayman is mired in paradox. The United Democratic Party is one half of a divisive element in Cayman and the People’s Progressive Movement is a party hell-bent on stifling progress.

If Cayman was half as united or progressive or welcoming as it thought it was, Mr Chandler would have left Cayman with a bag full of souvenirs, a flash card full of pictures and a head full of memories.

Instead, he left with a letter of apology from a director of tourism who, instead of addressing the REAL issue, chose instead to perpetuate the lie.

The hatred, fear and intolerance in Cayman needs to stop and it needs to stop now; unfortunately it will probably take another 500 years…

"We hate homos!" - Cayman Islands Re-Affirms Gay-hating Attitude

In what can only be described as the most recent stupid, idiotic, moronic, dumbass show of homophobic and discriminatory behaviour against another human being, the already maligned Royal Cayman Islands Police perpetuated Cayman’s gay-hating attitude when they detained a gay guy for kissing his boyfriend in public over the weekend – thereby showing the world that the Cayman Islands officially hates gay people. http://www.caycompass.com/stories/1030419.shtml

Drug dealers? No problem. Money launderers? Come on in. Wife beaters? Rapists? Drunk drivers? Child molesters? Corrupt politicians? Welcome to the Cayman Islands!

Gay people? We hate you so stay out!

Cayman’s reputation as being too expensive, too conservative, too boring, too restrictive and too homophobic is known throughout the world. This little incident only serves to reinforce the attitude that the Cayman Islands hates gay people and they will stop at nothing – including ruining an already expensive evening – to impose archaic, homophobic and just plain idiotic “laws” against people who so brazenly disregard the law by showing affection for their loved one.

And apparently prior to the “detention” of this “criminal” people were approaching the couple telling them they shouldn’t kiss in public. Just doing their "civic duty" I suppose... Bullshit.

You know what Royal Palms patrons, staff and owners and off-duty RCIPS officers – where are you when I need you? Where are you when people approach me to sell me drugs? Where are you when grown men approach young tourist girls like my nieces and offer them weed, crack and alcohol? Where are you when drunken Caymanian men stand in the parking lot and cat-call my female family members and hurl sexually-charged remarks at them?

We all know it happens. Every scumbag drug dealer with a pocket of dope will at some point stop off at Royal Palms to peddle their wares. And every paper tiger with a huge ego and a small dick will stand in the parking lot with his buddies, their chests inflated looking for God knows what. I know it, you know it, the owners of Royal Palms know it and the police know it. Yet all you give me is a detained gay guy?

Instead of paying attention to actual laws and protecting guests from the dregs of Caymanian society you’re busy telling two people they can’t enjoy themselves; and two tourists end up bearing the wrath of a crooked system that turns a blind eye and deaf ear to rampant abuse of the drugs laws, and the public and the police impose a moral judgement on two people who were minding their own business and enjoying the evening after having paid far too much for a mediocre meal before hitting the dance floor / drug-dealer central.

And why? Because Cayman hates gay people more than they hate drug dealers who engage in an activity that will endanger everyone.

Shame on you. Shame on the idiot patrons who approached the men. Shame on the off-duty cop who arrested them, and shame on the RCIPS for rationalizing the entire event when instead the public and the officer should have been reprimanded for lapses in judgement, and for intrusive behaviour at least as offensive as what the two men were engaged in.

So what have we learned today? I’m afraid it’s something we already know: Cayman hates gay people.

So if you’re gay you have two choices regarding Cayman: First – Show up, spend your money, shut up, spend your money, drink up, and go home. Second – If you’re gay, stay the hell out because Cayman has legislated its hatred and justified its maniacally homophobic laws of what is and isn’t decent.

So, gay people, thinking about Cayman for holiday? Well… sell out – or stay out. That’s the law.