Posted: 6/26/16 at 9:28pm
The Bermudan independence referendum of 1995 was a referendum held in Bermuda on 16 August 1995 over whether Bermuda should become an independent sovereign state or remain a British Dependent Territory. On a voter turnout of 58.8%, 73.6% voted against independence, and 25.7% voted in favour. Following the decisive referendum result, Sir John Swan, in favour of independence, resigned as Premier of Bermuda.
The Cayman Islands have been connected to the United Kingdom since the signing of the Treaty of Madrid in 1670. From that time until 1962, Cayman was linked to Jamaica as a dependency. In 1962, Jamaica chose to become independent, but the Cayman Islands decided to remain a British colony. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recently discontinued the use of the term "Dependent Territory" and the Islands are now called an "Overseas Territory." The Foreign and Commonwealth Office appoints a Governor, whose responsibilities cover a number of areas including: National Security, Foreign Affairs, Police, Immigration, the Passport Office, the Postal Services and other portfolios such as Broadcasting, District Administration and Civil Service.
Interestingly, there is very little desire amongst Caymanians for the Islands to go independent. Caymanians do not have to look far to see what happened to other Caribbean nations which went independent. Before independence in 1962, Jamaica was the most influential country in the Caribbean and an economic powerhouse. Now poverty, unemployment, high inflation, political corruption and a garrison style political structure are considered problems, despite recent efforts to confront the issues. Another example for Caymanians is the independence of the Bahamas in 1973, which is commonly acknowledged as the catalyst which kick-started Cayman's banking industry and spurred an economic boom.
Some simply are satisfied w the status quo- it IS their choice.
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