Report
of Cayman Islands Rally
by
Philippa Davies
Sept
13, 2016
Packed
to capacity with standing room only, the Lions Centre in Grand
Cayman, on Sunday, September 11, 2016 was the scene of an
enthusiastic public affirmation of the importance of good family
values to the Cayman Islands.
The island-wide rally held under the theme of 'The
Future Is Now: Preserving Values for a Better Future’ was organised
by the Cayman Ministers’ Association, the Cayman Islands Conference
of Seventh Day Adventists and other churches.
The information-rich presentation from keynote
speakers, Professor Brendan Bain, Public Health Specialist, Mr David
Gibbs III, US Constitutional Attorney and Pastor Alson Ebanks of
Church of God Chapel, Grand Cayman, was interspersed with
inspirational musical items from various local artistes. These
included the Church of God Children’s Choir, spoken work and rap
artistes Pauze Entertainment, saxophonist Junior Hinds, and a number
of choirs. The opening praise and worship segment was led by the
First Baptist Choir under the baton of Pastor David Jorge.
The over 3000 persons in attendance were pleased to hear
the Premier and Leader of the Opposition affirm that for their
respective parties, marriage was and would remain the union of one
man to one woman. The Hon. Alden McLaughlin informed the audience
that he had recent confirmation from Cayman Islands Governor
Helen Kilpatrick, that the U.K would not require the Cayman Islands
to adopt same-sex marriages. The Premier
stated however that his government would not allow hate or bigotry to
characterize Cayman culture, rather tolerance and love. The Hon
McKeeva Bush in his comments noted however that the Government had
implicitly given recognition to same sex marriage by way of the
recent decision by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. It was a
shameful action in his opinion and if the justification was that this
recognition was required by law, he openly wondered what other
changes would also be required by law.
For
a few hours during the Rally, a peaceful demonstration took place on
the pedestrian embankment across the road from the Lion Centre.
Around a dozen persons sporting multi-coloured t-shirts and banners
held placards expressing their views that homosexual relationships
should be treated as equal to male-female relationships and marriage
extended to all.
The first of the keynote presenters,
Professor Brendan Bain, Public
Health specialist based in Jamaica, provided the audience with seven
take home messages on good values for parenting, marriage and sexual
behaviour. He e
ncouraged parents and proxy
parents to pray for and teach wholesome values to children and young
persons and not to allow privacy to turn into secrecy. A healthy
marriage was in fact a relationship between an imperfect man and
woman “who are committed to learning and growing together and
adjusting to change over time.” The educator and researcher warned
against accepting the values of today’s hedonistic environment
which promotes pleasure and fun of all kinds, without boundaries.
Exercising self-control was possible for both young and old so as to
remain safe from disease and from disappointment in marriage.
Professor Bain also urged his audience
to be sexually responsible in an age of HIV/AIDS. Early sexual
initiation, promiscuity and using drugs in sexual encounters were
among the danger factors increasing the risk of catching and passing
other sexually transmitted infections and
some forms of cancers.
The greatest risk came from practicing unprotected anal penetration.
The next presenter was Mr David Gibbs, Founder
of the National Centre for Law and Liberty in the USA. He challenged
the audience to ask themselves 3 questions when engaging in the
public square; take the right stand, take the right way, and in the
right spirit. He reminded his captive listeners that the law always
draws a line between what is right and wrong, and where the law
removed order and good regulation, there would be chaos in society.
The constitutional lawyer also pointed out the bizarre results
taking place in US society and schools arising from removing order in
the law in the ‘grand untested experiment’ of disregarding
biological sex and demanding that citizens, teachers and students
affirm the desired ‘gender identity’ of confused persons.
He urged church leaders to set out a statement of faith to clearly
define the church’s position on biblical beliefs in particular
marriage, morality and human sexuality and these should factor in the
selection of leaders and admission of members. Mr Gibbs stressed
that leaders must also hold themselves accountable to these
standards, whether they did not struggle with them or whether they
did, and that the grace of God was sufficient to heal all sins and
brokenness.
Just
before the close of the evening’s programme, Ms Philippa Davies,
Advocacy Officer of the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society
briefly shared with the crowd on the experiences of Jamaica in
countering international efforts to undermine laws and policies
protecting the family in that country. Among other actions, an
objectionable sex education curriculum was sneaked into schools and
children’s homes. Additionally, US President Barak Obama and the
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon have pressured Jamaica
to accept illogical ideas on human sexuality into its laws and
policies. Ms Davies encouraged the Caymanians to stand firm for God’s
design for marriage, sex and family, and to work with other
like-minded Caribbean groups to preserve the well-being of their
nations through the rebuilding of healthy family life.
The
event was the first of its kind and Pastor Torrance Bobb, Chairman of
the Cayman Ministers' Association commented that it had been a
wonderful start to what would need to be a sustained effort over time.