It is difficult to come to terms with a self-proclaimed “staunch environmentalist” who believes more protection for the marine environment and expanding the marine parks is a good idea, but “it’s simply not the right time to do so”.

One of the candidates for the Cayman May elections made this claim and said he would like to see a referendum on the subject. When explorers were telling everyone the world was round and there had been a referendum on the claim the official line would be “the world is flat and that’s that!”

Governments need people to govern and make a decision that could be unpopular but reeks rewards in the future instead of sticking with what is the popular view at the time and will cause catastrophe by not acting now.

“If you’re starving today, what’s the good of saying ‘here’s a half a loaf of bread for tomorrow’?” he asked.

I will answer him. There will not be a half a loaf of bread tomorrow or ever after!”

At this precise moment in time we have overfishing, climate change, rising sea levels and a growing population. We are a tourist trap that relies on tourism to put money in our coffers and a reason for tourists to come. We have stunning coral reefs that are diminishing at a faster pace than we can restore them. If we have no product to lure our tourists here we will have even less than a half a loaf of bread now. We won’t have any food!

The sheer total ignorance, blindness and deafness to what is happening, despite the HUGE number of warnings and documentary proof that is pouring in by very, very worried scientists, that is ignored by the very people we elect to protect us (and the world) makes my blood boil.

I feel I wish I could knock some sense into these people’s brains!

We are digging ourselves many graves here in Cayman but listening to the utter nonsense being shouted at us by sadly the majority of our election campaigners is so woeful I fear if any of them get elected the graves won’t be enough to hold all of us and them too.

Writing a manifesto is one thing but asking these persons proper questions that affect all of us shows us the mentality and flawed wisdom they really have when they answer. Listening to some of the questions asked is almost as embarrassing and even when a quarter is answered they are let off the hook.

The subject of the environment and our marine life we depend on is a number one priority now and cannot be left to a meaningless referendum or another day. Even by a staunch environmentalist!