There is a saying that “all is fair
in love and war”. The concept behind the phrase is that some areas
of life are so important and overwhelming that you cannot blame
someone for acting in their own best interest. You can wreak all the
havoc you want during the pursuit of true love.

The job fair I am referring to in my
title is the recent announcement from the Verdant Isle consortium
that it will be hosting a job fair.

The Verdant Isle consortium has been
selected by government to construct the proposed cruise and cargo
port project.

The job fair is to take place on
Tuesday, 29 October, 4pm-8pm at Margaritaville Beach Resort, Grand
Cayman, 269 West Bay Road.

The persons behind the Referendum, who
do not want it to happen, are crying “foul”. Verdant Isle
presumably should have waited until after the Referendum.

Surely, people should know all the
pluses for executing the cruise facility?

We have been told by Referendum group
every conceivable negative the terminal MIGHT bring on us so it is
wrong for the government to tell us how many jobs our locals MIGHT be
employed at.

It is also OK for this group to state that all the specialist jobs will go to expatriate workers, as Verdant Isle is looking for those experienced in marine construction. They fear that almost all of the jobs will ultimately go to foreign workers.

I don't fear it at all. It is obvious
that those jobs will be filled by foreign workers. However, don't
these people have to be housed, fed and watered? Doesn't that alone
bring monies into the community? They aren't taking jobs away from
the Caymanians who want to work. They just haven't got the experience
to do it.

What utter garbage is being put out out
and the government mustn't answer back? If only a much smaller
percentage of work is given to the Caymanians it still keeps, even at
the lowest local workforce levels being spouted, two hundred jobs.

The job fair is not only aimed at jobs
during the construction phase but Verdant Isle have said will include
jobs in the fields of land and marine construction, tours and shore
excursions, plus jobs on the cruise ships. Small business owners can
also meet one-on-one with cruise company executives to discuss tour
businesses and “ideas”.

In a Press Release we published
recently, T.J. O’Sullivan, the director of compliance, Global Tour
Operations for Royal Caribbean, said, “The cruise market is the
fastest growing segment in the travel and tourism industry and
presents a wide variety of opportunities for those looking to partner
with the cruise companies,We are always looking for unique and
exciting tours for our guests and look forward to hearing and
discussing ideas from Caymanians.”

I don't cry “foul” at this at all.
And even if you think I'm wrong all is fair in love and war. And it a
“war” between the government and the Referendum group.