The tribe has spoken. Extinguish your tiki torch. Game over.

 Typically my posts are pretty light-hearted in nature. I dislike conflict immensely so I tend to avoid  anything political, and to be honest, I don't enjoy reading political commentaries, so I choose to blog about topics that I enjoy reading about. But, hey, it's my blog, and I'm pissed off. I feel like venting. If you're not into reading a short vent, I recommend that you skip this one...because here I go...

Over the past two weeks, two separate groups of travellers arrived in Cayman, were mandated into 14 day quarantine, proceeded to tamper with their tracking devices and breach quarantine. One couple, whom I am embarrassed to admit are Canadian, managed to get caught on camera breaching quarantine 15 times. That's right...FIFTEEN. Once to visit the liquor store (can you hear the squeal of steam emitting from my ears?). The other breacher decided to attend her boyfriend's jet ski competition, where hundreds of onlookers watched her hold someone's baby and interact closely with the crowd. WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. F? 

I realize that there are a multitude of beliefs circulating the world about Covid. I've heard that this is all a conspiracy theory. We are all puppets of our government. Death rates are being inflated. Human rights are being violated. Covid is a plot by big pharma. Yes. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. However, if you intend to step one foot into this county...if you wish to live or visit the Cayman Islands where we, as a collective whole of nearly 60,000 people followed our government's rules to a "T" since this Pandemic was defined, resulting in one of the few countries in the world living freely without community spread, then you better follow our damn rules for F^%#'s sake!

One of the breachers was fined $10,000. I hope that stings. The couple from Canada was fined $1000 (not nearly enough) and their tiki torches were immediately extinguished casting them off the island. All of the breachers were shamed incessantly on social media. But...what if they unknowingly infected someone and began the spread in this utopian paradise that we have worked so hard to create? What if someone on their flight was positive (we are identifying positive travellers on a daily basis), and unbeknownst to them began community spread across an entire country because they had a hankering for gin at 3:00 on a sunny afternoon? What a selfish act to place 60,000 people at risk. It's vile and I am disgusted by this blatant disregard for our rules. 

If I could speak directly to these selfish humans I would ask:

- Do you have any idea that we were essentially locked down for 3 straight months without any contact with family or friends?

- Do you have any idea that helicopters literally tracked our movements to ensure that we did not so much as leave our yard on mandated days?

- Do you have any idea that many of our students live in less than ideal conditions and returned to school in August with PTSD after experiencing and/or witnessing violence in the home during lockdown?

- Do you have any idea that's it's taken our students months to become physically and emotionally regulated enough to be in a position where they are finally equipped to begin learning again?

- Do you have any idea that our servers donned masks outside in 90 degree temperatures for entire shifts, all while maintaining friendliness while relieved to still have a job to return to?

- Do you have any idea how scared we all were to take that first trip to the grocery store after being locked up in our homes for months?

- Do you have any idea what a relief it's been to safely attend birthday parties, happy hours, and celebrations with friends while the rest of world is concerned about making their family members ill?

- Do you have any idea how incredible it feels to be able to safely hug or high five your students without fear when they desperately crave human contact and wish to celebrate an achievement with you?

- Do you have any idea what we've all sacrificed to get to the place that we are at right now?

No. I don't think that you do. 

If you don't like rules, please do not come here. 

As for everyone else who is enjoying 2 weeks of solitude in quarantine...enjoy the beautiful views. Welcome to paradise. See you at happy hour in 2 weeks. 

Cheers.