I am fully in support of the protest against the bar at Stingray City. I am proud of the leadership of a young Caymanian such as Natasha Kozaily.  I take my hat off to her for having the boldness and maturity to lead in this situation.

If Bernie is miffed at us (I was at the protest—a fifth generation Caymanian.) then he needs to know that we are very upset at him for having such a thought and even more so with the Liquor Licensing Board. I have known Bernie for a long time and frankly I was shocked that he would consider such a venture. It didn’t seem to match the character of the man I knew or thought I knew. As to the Liquor Licensing Board, I am still trying to decide if they are there to regulate and protect us or promote and encourage the use of liquor. I firmly believe that there are more of the population and visitors that are against the bar than for it, and I can only hope that if it is established that people who go to Stingray City will boycott the bar so that Bernie will see that he needs to stick with his mouth watering Caymanian dishes and forget the floating bar.

I am asking Bernie to withdraw his application and consider how he can use his capital for some other venture. I want to see Bernie succeed but not at this. Both Bernie and I and many other Caymanians have gotten a piece of the economic pie.  The majority of the boat operators at Stingray City and deep sea fishing ventures are owned and operated by Caymanians. Many Caymanians have risen to the top in the banks, trust companies, accounting firms, law firms, construction companies, utility companies, and other businesses as well as Government, so I don’t understand where he gets the idea that Caymanians have not benefited or are not benefiting from the prosperity that has come to Cayman. There are a number of millionaire Caymanians and we all know who they are.  There are many like Bernie and me who work hard for a living but still enjoy a piece of the pie. 

Finally, let me say that I protested the establishment of the Calico Jack bar as well and will protest any bar that tries to establish itself near a playground.