Cayman Islands staying with CARICOM says Tibbetts

Kurt Tibbetts

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent on assignment in Castries
Hotline: (758) 461 9200
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com

Tuesday, July 5, 2005

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: Leader of Government Business of the Cayman Islands, Kurt Tibbetts, says his country will not abandon CARICOM and is continuing to do the best it can in recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan in September last year.

Tibbetts, who is in St Lucia for the 26th CARICOM Conference, told Caribbean Net News that not much discussion has taken place in Cayman on the question of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

"As you know, we only have associate membership. We do not participate in the voting although we are at the table with discussions."

Tibbetts said the Cayman Islands "is certainly going to act in its best interest in any decision-making process. We want to have a very clear understanding of not being segregated from or totally segregated and apart from the other Caribbean territories."

He said that, due to the situation, a careful study will have to be made of Cayman and a decision will be arrived at that will be best for his country.

Tibbetts was clear on the fact that "it makes no sense for us not to retain a relationship with other Caribbean territories. It makes all the sense in the world because there are many issues facing the territories, which the Cayman Islands will also have to deal with either now or in the future.’

Meanwhile, the country continues to bounce back from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan last September.

Tibbetts said, "We have done the best we could," adding that “we would have liked to received some more help from outside. Unfortunately that did not seem to be forthcoming, at least to this point. We are still in a recovery mode and we could always use more funds.”

He pointed out that, as well as domestic households and home owners who still need assistance, the country's tourism sector was badly hit and, as a result, the recovery effort will continue into next year as it will be "physically impossible to get it all done this year."

While tourism interests are closely watching this year's hurricane season, "We are still battling to get more hotel rooms on stream as we work to rebuild that sector," said Tibbetts.

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