Let’s learn from each other
(CNS): Premier McKeeva Bush is looking forward to learning from a collective pooling of ideas, he said at last week’s first ever Northern Caribbean Conference on Economic Cooperation, and maintained that countries such as the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Bahamas all had a variety of common issues that might be solved from improved relations and co-operation. The premier said that immigration and labour, trade, education, national security and tourism had been identified as the core areas for discussion at the conference. He confirmed that Cayman would particularly benefit from learning how neighbouring countries approached such issues, in light of the current downturn in the economy.
“The picture is not quite as rosy as it used to be. Fallout from the 2008 global recession continues to have a wide-spread effect on the Cayman Island’s economy, so whereas traditionally the pace of our growth was steady and positive, within the last two years the country has undergone a sharpreversal in this growth trajectory,” he told the audience gathered at the Ritz-Carlton.
Bush spoke about how links with Northern Caribbean countries could foster better relations when it came to the training of their people within the tourism industry. While acknowledging the fact that the University of the West Indies had Bachelors and Masters Programme in both tourism and hospitality management available in both the Bahamas and Jamaica, he commented: “Tourism is a strong sector in Cayman, in the Dominican Republic, and in Puerto Rico as well, but how many College of Hotel Management can say they have interned in one of the myriad of hotels in any of our destinations? If a central placement committee was set up to cohesively look into this, I am sure something could be worked out for these students.”
He also called for research assistance for graduate students, as well as the establishment of education exchange programmes in general. In particular Bush highlighted Cuba’s success with the training of their doctors. "Why can’t we learn from them and apply it to other disciplines?” he questioned.
Bush called for Northern Caribbean countries to join forces and to present a united front when it came to external influences, which, he perceived, “threaten the viability and sustainability of our tourism industries.”
Bush was referring to the UK’s recently introduced Air Passenger Duty which places the Caribbean in one of the highest bands, where the duty payable has recently risen from £50 to £75 per person.
“In these difficult economic times, requiring a family of four to pay £300 in taxes just for the privilege of flying to the Caribbean will make the annual family holiday unaffordable for many. It will take great cooperation and a strong regional voice to make our position clear in order to fight such unfair initiatives now and in the future,” he confirmed.
Turning to immigration, Bush said that his newly launched Economic Plan addressed aspects of immigration reform, including enhancements for options to residency. It also incorporated visa requirements designed to create a better business climate for international and regional travellers. Further to this, Bush said he had announced that visa exemptions would be put in place for Jamaican Nationals who hold validated US, UK or Canadian visas, to which he received a round of applause from the audience. The news that he was also introducing a new 1-5 day business visa for business travelers was also well received.
Category: Headline News
Now this is interesting he is unwilling to talk to his own people/opposition party but he is willing to learn from people in other countries.
He needs to start at home we have intelligent people right here in Cayman, who have great ideas he just need to listen and accept some of them even if they are different from his thoughts. As the saying goes no man is an Island.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the people of the Cayman Islands a very merry christmas and a happy new year!!!
You think mac na smart, that 5 more trips confirmed for next year already. He will now have to go to the Dominican repulic, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Haiti TO TALK to these folks. Ya tink he na using his head darlin, LOL
Leadership starts at home.
mac should be willing to work with the leader of the opposition as he is willing to work with the leader of Jamacia
Now honestly do you think JA and the Bahamas are there to help the Cayman Islands while we nearly put them out of business for many years by reaping the benefits from their downfall. I am certain that they are here to learn about our weaknesses so that they learn from it in a prudent manner. I hate to think the day that something bad happens to one of our guest (visitor). Just today on the world news an american tourist and you know the rest. Take this seriously, make it your #1 priority.We don’t really want to hear how easy it is to come here without a visa at this time. I would have never thought that I would say that we need a quick response from a few well organised intelligent armed units in our country24/7. You are sending the wrong message.
Cayman will benefit the most from this arrangement. The Caymanians are weak in the areas of higher education, tourism management & health care in addition to other key areas. The other countries are strong in these areas. This arrangement will only allow Caymanians to rise to the level of the nationals of the other countries if properly used.
The other countries especially Jamaica should not agree to provide ways in which to empower Caymanians as Caymanians have no respect nor use for them.
Bruce Golding is a highly educated & intelligent person. He does not talk rubbish. Remember that the wealth of a country does not translate to the intelligence of its people.
They’ve fooled the Premier already and if he’s looking to them for ideas, just look at their financial status. That should be all the answer he needs to stay clear of the mistakes they’ve made. But alas, they’re gonnan help him solve our problems by giving us more people. That more of their people employed and less of ours. Smart eh?
Please don’t do anything like any of those countries.
Mack you already learned from Bruce Golding. You act and speak just like he does.
Talk about a bunch of realist.
There is a big difference between having a job to pay the bills and having a career doing what you love to do. Kids need to learn this life lesson from a school guidance counsellor or from a career mentor, since they are unlikely to learn it from their angry picketing aunties.
"LETS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER"? That is very wise if you got something good to tell me. However how can you tell me how to clean my back yard when yours is not clean. So what can Bush really learn from Bruce Goldin, that will help us.
I hope he learns something about the secret trade of Illegal entry, smuggling of weapons and drug in to the Cayman.Islands. Also the bank robberies. Those lessons we would like to learn.
Why would we need to learn these lessons from others; isn’t it our own people doing these stuff – you need to wake up and face reality.
"isn’t it our own people doing these stuff"
If you know for a fact who is doing this "stuff" why don’t you report them?