The prospect of Cayman’s independence from the UK isn’t likely anytime soon, two prominent Caymanians have said.
The verdict came after the government of the British Virgin Islands publicised a draft resolution of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, known as C-24, which called for independence for the UK overseas territory.
A similar document on Caymanian independence was published by C-24 last December.
But pro-independence Roy Bodden, a former politician and former president of the University College of the Cayman Islands, said there was no great desire to cut the country’s ties with the UK.
“I have never been an apologist for colonialism and I’m certainly not one now,” Bodden said. “But I know enough to know you can’t just jump into independence from where we are – we’re not prepared.”
He said, “You can’t just jump into it like a shower. That’s why some other countries in the Caribbean haven’t made it. They didn’t have a plan.”
The C-24 in 2020 set 2030 as the target date for decolonisation of the 17 territories, including Cayman and other UK overseas territories and dependencies – the fourth time it has singled out a decade since the first goal was set in 1990.
Bodden said a realistic target for Caymanian independence – to allow for an education campaign and preparation of the workforce and economy – would be the middle of the century.
He added Cayman should look east for its inspiration to Singapore, where its founding father and long-time leader Lee Kuan Yew, who ensured its population had the education and skills needed to turn the tiny state into an economic powerhouse.
Bodden, a former United Democratic Party legislator and Cabinet minister in the then Legislative Assembly, said, “That’s the disappointment I have in our leaders down through the years – our leaders don’t have any political philosophy or political ideology.
The writer, historian, political sociologist and political economist added, “That’s why they branded me a radical, a socialist, a Marxist – not that I’m any of these things.”
But Bodden, 79, said young people “definitely” had a different attitude to going it alone compared with previous generations.
He added “younger and more educated people, who are less conservative” were more inclined towards independence.
But Bodden said that country had “too much insularity” and had to find a way to “accommodate those people who have come here from outside” before independence.
Bodden said, “I would like to see it happen in my lifetime – I believe we can do it.”
But lawyer and social commentator Steve McField, said the country was content with the status quo.
He added, “There is no great movement for anything other than where we are in Cayman right now.
“They are satisfied with the 2009 Constitution Order at present.”
McField said he had been one of the Cayman representatives to a UN consultation committee for several years.
He added, “The Cayman government gave instructions on what the position should be.”
McField said a string of new laws in the 1960s, which laid the ground for Cayman’s economic transformation into a major offshore financial centre, had made the country prosperous.
He added, “There was no need to beat the drum about independence. That’s not on the agenda.
“There is no interest in independence for independence’s sake. We are more interested in economic independence.”
McField added that Cayman also had a different history from other parts of the English-speaking Caribbean.
He said, “Our roots go further back in terms of loyalty to the crown than the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos and others like Jamaica.”
The C-24 draft resolution on Cayman highlighted its “serious concern” that Cayman had last been involved in its activities in 2010.
A government spokeswoman said it was aware of the latest draft resolutions.
She added, “As there is no ongoing engagement with the UN on this matter, we have no additional comment to provide at this time.
“Should there be any relevant developments that warrant further communication, we will provide appropriate updates through official Government channels.”