The Geography of Money: How Tourism and Seafaring Changed Modern Cayman – Part Two

A crucial question to ask is, is there importance in the writing of History; why write it, why study it? Why should I know about the past of the Cayman Islands, or even of any country for that matter? Committed to the tyranny of the now, it is the present that matters, some persons insist, even though they may plan for and worry about the future. Our society is increasingly dominated by the private sector’s ideas about returns on spending, which expects education to serve useful, tangible, and measurable purposes. In this context, the functions of history can seem more difficult to define than those of engineering, accounting, or medicine. As Peter Stearns of the American Historical Society puts it, ‘Historians do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals.’ Why do educational programmes insist on including some history – not to mention, even local history? Why suggest it is desirable for new members of a society to engage with its past? Who has time to purchase a history book, much less to read it?

In these articles, the study and writing of history is taken as a most serious and consequential activity and the historian is elevated as equal in importance to the wealthiest entrepreneur. Do we desire a society prosperous in wealth but impoverished in understanding?  To prevent this possibility, historians deserve to stand alongside the most successful entrepreneurs and public leaders as architects of national development.

These articles are meant to summarize the works of local historians, beginning with Bodden’s book, Deconstructing Development (Immigration, Society and Economy in Early 21st Century Cayman. We are now at chapter fourteen with only one chapter and the epilogue left. These articles are not meant as critiques, but as summaries of main themes and arguments advanced by the authors. It is hoped that, by introducing readers to these important works, more persons will be encouraged to read them in full and, in so doing, come to appreciate the invaluable contribution historians make to preserving our collective memory, explaining the forces that have shaped our society, and enriching the national conversation about who we are and how we came to be.

Last week we examined Roy Bodden’s argument that the combined impact of seafaring remittances and the growth of tourism fundamentally transformed the Cayman Islands from a subsistence society into one of the Caribbean’s most prosperous economies. We also considered his comparison of the contrasting approaches of Warren Conolly and Jim Bodden to tourism development and noted the profound social changes that accompanied economic growth. This week we conclude the summary by examining the questions Bodden raises about the long-term sustainability of Cayman’s development model.

One of the most important arguments advanced in this chapter is that tourism should not be judged solely by the number of visitors it attracts or the revenue it generates. Rather, Bodden argues, the more important question is whether tourism genuinely improves the lives of the Caymanian people. In his view, the ultimate purpose of development should be to enhance the well-being of citizens.

To make this point, the chapter introduces the concept of “leakage” in tourism economics. While tourism undoubtedly generates substantial income, much of that wealth leaves the Cayman Islands through imported goods, foreign ownership, overseas suppliers, and the remittances sent abroad by expatriate workers. The result, Bodden argues, is that not all of the wealth generated by tourism remains within the local economy. He therefore encourages readers to distinguish between economic growth and the retention of wealth within the country.

The chapter also questions whether Caymanians have benefited as fully as they should from employment within the tourism sector. Although tourism has created thousands of jobs, Bodden argues that many senior managerial and specialist positions continue to be filled by expatriates while Caymanians remain concentrated in lower-paid positions. He suggests that greater emphasis should have been placed over the years on training, succession planning, and preparing Caymanians to assume leadership positions throughout the industry.

Closely connected to this concern is Bodden’s discussion of immigration. As tourism expanded, so too did the demand for labour. This brought increasing numbers of expatriate workers to the Islands, contributing significantly to economic growth but also altering the demographic and social composition of Caymanian society. Bodden reminds readers that earlier public officials, particularly Commissioner Andrew Gerrard, had warned that immigration policy would eventually become one of the defining public policy issues facing the Islands. Whether readers agree with his assessment or not, he presents immigration as one of the central consequences of rapid economic development.

Environmental sustainability is another major theme. Bodden expresses concern about the cumulative effects of intensive coastal development, particularly along Seven Mile Beach. He argues that overdevelopment, shoreline erosion, pressure on infrastructure, and the consequences of climate change now present significant challenges for the tourism industry. His broader point is that the natural environment is itself one of Cayman’s greatest economic assets and that development which undermines that environment ultimately weakens the very industry upon which the economy depends.

The chapter also returns repeatedly to the relationship between politics and development. Bodden argues that decisions about tourism, land use, planning, immigration, and investment have often reflected competing philosophies about how Cayman should develop. Some leaders favoured cautious, carefully managed growth, while others embraced rapid expansion and greater openness to foreign investment. The chapter encourages readers to consider the long-term consequences of these debates and decisions for Caymanian society.

Perhaps the most provocative argument in this chapter is Bodden’s comparison between aspects of modern tourism and older systems of economic dependence. He contends that unless tourism provides genuine opportunities for Caymanians to own businesses, occupy leadership positions, and participate meaningfully in decision-making, prosperity may coexist with new forms of inequality. Whether one accepts this comparison or not, it challenges readers to think critically about who ultimately benefits from economic development and who bears its costs.

The chapter concludes by asking whether the current model of tourism is sustainable over the long term. Bodden argues that future success should not be measured only by increasing visitor arrivals or constructing additional hotels. Rather, sustainability requires balancing economic growth with environmental protection, responsible immigration policies, investment in Caymanian human capital, and preserving the cultural identity that makes the Islands distinctive.

As with much of Deconstructing Development, readers may agree with some of Bodden’s conclusions while questioning others. That is precisely what makes the book valuable. The fact that the author does not seek to only celebrate Cayman’s remarkable economic success but to challenge readers to examine the assumptions that underpin that success and to ask difficult questions about the future- is what makes the work so valuable. Whether discussing tourism, immigration, education, governance, or national identity, Bodden consistently reminds us that development is only partially about creating wealth- in fact, it is about creating a society that is prosperous, resilient, equitable, and capable of preserving its identity while navigating the forces of globalization.