What a difference a government change makes.

This was noticeable when two members from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) met with Cayman’s new Cabinet to discuss the issues regarding their damning report last year of the conditions at the Cayman Turtle Farm (CTF).

The two WSPA officials, Neil DaCruz and Chief Executive Officer Mike Baker, met with Cabinet  members Wayne Panton – Minister for Environment, Osbourne Bodden – Minister of Health, Kurt Tibbetts – Minister for Planning and Moses Kirkconnell – Minister for Tourism. Also present was Gina Ebanks-Petrie the Director of the Department of Environment.

The WSPA said they had had a cordial and realistic meeting and it was a more positive meeting than they had had before with Cayman’s previous government. They said although the Cayman Islands Government and themselves remain divided on the substantive issue of breeding turtles for meat, the new Cabinet listened to some of the proposals to address the myriad of issues at the CTF.

“We have opened a more positive channel of communication, and while we understand the fundamental issue of supplying the local population with meat is not going to be discussed at this stage, the new government listened and discussed some of the other issues, such as handling, husbandry, the numbers and the head start programme,” Da Cruz said.

Da Cruz said that for the first time the WSPA were not simply dismissed as agitators.