The African Expat

Cruise ship - Grand Cayman

The Cayman Islands society has always been very conservative since the first settlers arrived here many years ago, in fact most family tourists love this place because outrageousness in any form is very limited . Even to this day, nightclubs shut down at 2 am, no form of gambling is allowed whatsoever, there are no “red light districts” to speak of, no one is allowed to carry a gun unless specific permission is given by the authorities, very limited commercial activity takes place on Sundays because it is a holy day and gay presence in any form is not tolerated at all by society on island (this is not the official government position though).

Depending on where you are coming from, you are probably thinking that this is utopia or the back of beyond, right? But guess what? It is neither… My experience, as an expat and “non-belonger” is that all the normal vices exist on this island, however it seems that it is intentionally kept below the surface. Gambling exists in the form of “numbers” (a lotto type game that is played by punters at various popular bars and meeting venues), prostitution exists in some form or another by prior arrangement it seems and drugs seem to be available through very discreet contacts for the “moneyed” individuals.

Catholic Church West Bay

Of late, several people (including a child of 4 years old) have been fatally shot in gang related violence which in my simple mind is related to drugs and other such nefarious activities such as gambling but, hey… what do I know? For a population of some 60,000 people (half of which are expatriates), the incidence of violence amongst feuding gangs on the island must be very worrying to the community at large here. I am seeing a nation that is going through some terrible experiences lately that much of the world is already used to and I really feel for the majority of the people of these beautiful islands.  The answer lies in the powers that be focusing on the youth, because they will determine the direction (good or bad)  that these islands will take in the future.