From Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce

STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL

The Chamber Council is concerned about the local and global implications of the editorial published in the Cayman Compass on 3rd June entitled “Corruption: An insidious creeping crime” and the resulting response to that editorial by the Government, the Legislative Assembly and the wider community. We support the right to freedom of expression as exercised by the Cayman Compass and all local media and as guaranteed and protected under the Cayman Islands Constitution. We also support freedom of expression exercised by those within our community that disagree with the editorial or other content in the newspaper. While we may not agree with what is said or written we believe it is important for everyone to be able to state his or her views, whether that be the Premier, the Editor of the Cayman Compass or anyone else.

We do not support, however, the financial sanction proposed and passed hastily during proceedings in Finance Committee on Monday, 8th June in the Legislative Assembly as this sets a dangerous precedent and would negatively impact the important role that a free press plays in our democracy. The Council calls on the Government to repeal the advertising ban immediately.

We are concerned that as a result of the actions of both parties this matter continues to unnecessarily escalate with the effect that it is creating negative international media coverage. This is reflecting poorly on the Cayman Islands and the wider business community and we encourage both parties to act responsibly to resolve this matter urgently. Doing so is in the best interest of the Cayman Islands’ reputation which is being unfairly damaged as a result of this matter. It would also be in the best interest of the continued right to freedom of expression by all local media as well as our wider community.

Related story:

(IAPA) condemn decision by Cayman Islands legislators to ban advertising in local newspaper

From Miami Herald

On Wednesday, the Miami-based Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned a decision by legislators in the Cayman Islands to withdraw official advertising from the Cayman Compass newspaper in retaliation of its coverage of the scandal, which has also ensnared the head of the Cayman Islands Football Association, Jeffrey Webb.

A beloved figure in the Cayman Islands, Webb was among the seven who were arrested in Switzerland after prosecutors unsealed the 47-count indictment in the corruption probe. Webb had served as president of the association since 1991, and had been tapped to replace Warner as vice president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football when he was forced to resign in 2012.

Webb’s arrest surprised Caymanians. Friends and family have refused to comment, something Compass publishers David and Vicki Legge pointed out in the June 1 editorial “When ‘no comment’ is the wrong comment.”

But that’s not the editorial that has gotten government officials mad. It was another that criticized Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin and other local officials for allegedly engaging in acts of corruption, among them one related to the FIFA soccer scandal.

“He put a target on my back, to my mind,” Legge told The Washington Post, his former employer before moving to the Caymans 25 years ago. “And my wife’s as well.”

The Post reported that the couple had to flee to Ft. Lauderdale because of death threats.

IAPA President Gustavo Mohme, editor of the Lima, Peru, newspaper La República, condemned “the lack of independence of the legislators who, in order to ingratiate themselves with the Premier, approved the suspension of placing official advertising and any other commercial activity with the islands’ sole newspaper, directly impacting freedom of expression and the people’s right to have access to information of public interest.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article23783419.html#storylink=cpy