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The Editor Speaks: The Good, the Bad, and DST

We have two articles published today giving opposite opinions on Daylight Savings Time (DST).

Last Sunday at 2am USA put their clocks forward one hour.

In the UK you have to wait for 1am and 25th March.

Now that is chaotic!

Here, in the Cayman Islands, we don’t change at all, although Premier Alden McLaughlin did campaign once saying his government would adopt the USA practice of DST if elected. He was. He didn’t.

The irritant I get with the change is from the television programming that comes mainly from the USA. My favorite programmes now clash with our local six o’clock news! And NO I don’t want the bother of recording the programme it interferes with!

Next is the air travel departure and landing times. That doesn’t worry me now as I don’t travel anymore.

So, would it be a good thing if we changed to DST and aligned ourselves with the US?

The Financial sector would warmly welcome it. However, as they have surmounted the problem with no real adverse problems forever, my sympathies don’t go there.

Then, there is cruise ship timetables. I have even less sympathy there.

The Eastern Districts here (now much nearer to where I live) are strongly opposed to it. It would make for much darker mornings.

Most of the Caribbean does not utilise DST.

The Caribbean countries that do are:

The Bahamas. Bahamas started Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time. Bahamas ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday November 4, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.

Bermuda. Bermuda started Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.
Bermuda ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday November 4, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.

Cuba. Cuba started Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 11, 2018 at 12:00 AM local standard time.
(Midnight between Saturday and Sunday). Cuba ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday November 4, 2018 at 1:00 AM local time.

Haiti. Haiti started Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.

Haiti ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday November 4, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.

Turks & Caicos Islands. Although they discontinued it in 2015 they have resumed. Turks and Caicos Islands continues Daylight Saving Time on Sunday March 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time. Turks and Caicos Islands ends Daylight Saving Time on Sunday November 4, 2018 at 2:00 AM local time.

At least there is some standardization with the USA as to the dates but not the exact times. Airplanes in flight during these time nonconformity can actually seem to be going backwards or even shooting forward. Must be a nightmare for computers who want to be 100% accurate.

I have no sympathy for them either.

I’m glad we don’t change. I’m thankful for the benefits of the Good and the Bad? Doesn’t bother me at all.

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