Locals need to lead recovery
(CNS): The increase in government revenues over the last year is down to the investment of Cayman based firms in local development and not external investors, the independent member for North Side suggested this week as he reflected on the premier’s New Year message. Ezzard Miller said any advancements or recent success in the local economy were not down to foreign investors or the major projects that he said the premier has been pushing over the last two years but to local construction companies and developers who are taking the chance and going ahead with commercial and residential projects.
As he looked forward to the next twelve months, Miller said it was all about the economy and that Cayman’s economic recovery would depend on local developers and local businesses, which government should be encouraging. He said that whatever gains the treasury made in the last few months were down to Caymanians.
“These developers are going ahead with different projects across Grand Cayman, despite the tough times, and they are doing it with very few incentives and concessions which the premier is offering to other projects led by external investors that have not yet started the work,” Miller told CNS Tuesday, adding that government needed to incentivise local people to invest collectively in the islands' recovery.
In the premier’s New Year message on Sunday he said that government would be extending the reduction on construction materials as it had produced an increase in the level of goods being imported and had been “an effective economic stimulus initiative.”
In his own New Year’s message to the people of Cayman, the country’s only independent member said he believed that the major task for 2012 was getting “Caymanians who are unemployed to work and not creating more jobs for imported labour through the approval and selective solicitation of huge projects that will by their very nature provide limited job opportunities for Caymanians even if it provides great profit to the foreign investors.”
Miller told CNS that he firmly believed government must begin to focus on Caymanian businesses to fuel the economic turnaround. The independent member said he was glad to see that McKeeva Bush was at least still thinking about the economy of the country in his most recent message to the people, However, Miller said the projects that Bush is depending on so heavily would not provide much relief for most local people. “With the exception of those players directly involved, very few Caymanians will derive much benefit from any of this projects being heralded by the premier,” he said.
Cayman cannot rely on foreign investors for an economic turnaround, Miller said, because in most cases where the major projects were concerned the investment coming in would leave when it became profit, rarely benefitting the local people.
“We need to encourage Caymanian entrepreneurship and local ownership with the sorts of concessions currently only reserved for foreign investors and stop depending on or hoping external conglomerates will create jobs and wealth for us,” Miller said.
With more than 19,000 people on work permits, Miller pointed out that Cayman did not have a shortage of jobs; the problem, he said, was that Caymanians are not considered capable of holding these jobs by the boards, which continue to grant work permits in the face of rising unemployment among Caymanians.
See Miller’s New Year Message below.
Category: Politics
Really ? I thought the civil service was going to lead the recovery.
If Mr Miller was out of work after the next election who would employ him, or would he just keep selling land and houses to expats as he has done in the past.
Everytime this issue pops up we are reminded of how grateful we should be for strict forms of immigration control in this country.
Some of 'you people' are the most typical, narcissistic and self-serving individuals I have ever come across.
Woe be onto us all (yes, yourselves included) if some of you ever receive the power to vote and bring about certain changes in this beautiful island nation.
To those that approach these issues from a fair, considered and balanced point of view – we warmly welcome with open arms. As for the rest of you … go fly a kite.
(P.S. If you were offended by this post, then yes – I am speaking to you.)
* Reminder (News story):
British workers have no skills and a bad attitude.
"Many British youngsters are too lazy, ill-educated and lacking the work ethic to compete for jobs, business leaders said last night …"
Love the "you people." It perfectly captures the Cayman view of everyone else.
"Light the fire! We get' one!"
Even with the red flag equivalent of quotation marks present you still managed to step your foot right into that trap 'eh?!
That was a deliberate and conscious use of the phrase in a covert response to many of the remarks posted previously.
* The following are but a few examples:
Funny how we tend to only see what we want to see, isn't it?
(Many of these posters are the very ones applying for permanent residency, already living amongst us and perhaps even in positions of influence within the community.)
???
Covert response? How so? I am not getting you. What exactly was the trap?
And these remarks came from two posters. Two. Not "many". And for all you know, they could be Caymanian.
It IS rather funny how we see only what we want to see. I agree with you there.
At best the score appears to be a draw.
Well, maybe not, as I purposely penned my post in that manner (" ") to evoke a response.
Anyway, this is getting silly now – walking away.
🙂
Oh right! Sorry. Didn't realize this was a game played for points. I thought this was a discussion forum…
why oh why would anyone believe that external investers are going to pour money into cayman when we from the outside do not see a good future for this island. Cayman is the most expensive island in the caribbean and we dont mind paying that when we are guaranteed the safety and beauty of the island but as cayman has proved now it will not and some think cannot guarantee safety now as it still refuses to takle crime hard and still pampers to the crooks rights and arrests people for murder for the cases to callapse.. WAKE UP CAYMAN YOU ARE ONE OF MANY ISLANDS OFWHICH OTHERS YOU GET A LOT MORE FOR YOUR BUCK sort it or lose it
The laws that govern work permits were enacted by Caymanian law makers to benefit the Caymanian ruling class.
Caymanians, do not bad mouth expats. Expats have come to Cayman under laws that were enacted by Caymanian law makers.
If Caymanian workers have a problem with employment, look no further than your Caymanian ruling class. The Caymanian ruling class are the true enemies of the Caymanian working class.
Caymanian working class, read (if you know how because your ruling class has kept you uneducated) Karl Marx.
If the Caymanian working class wants work, then unionize.
The business laws of Cayman are on any analysis designed to benefit the core capital owning families of the island who have flourished. The laws in respect of business formation, the employment laws and the lack of any competition law all point in the same direction.
build more house……yea! National Industry
WOW. People on this post really need to know a person before bleeding from the gums.
Mr. Miller has been a proponent for advancement of Caymanians in the workforce BUT he has never asked for handouts for them. He has CONSISTENTLY said they should DESERVE what they seek by hard work and commitment to education.
I FULLY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT HIM ON THIS MATTER.
I have always said that all things being equal between two applicants where one is Caymanian and the other Foreign, the Caymanian should get the job everytime and this is for several reasons:
1) The money will more than likely remain within the country which would a better local economy.
2) It's one less person who would/could be unemployed which leads to one less person at Social Services
I have read Mr Miller's letter a few times now and he has said nothing more than that.
He went on to simply explain that none of the illustrous projects have helped anyone as yet in Cayman. Projects such as Shetty Hospital and CEC have yet to really do anything and until they do they are only paper projects. Don't get me wrong we like the fact that they exist but we can not allow ourselves to be waiting for these to save us. We must save ourselves.
Mr. Miller is not AGAINST foreigners or foreign investment but simply saying we can not rely on them to always save us and we can not always look to fill seats in our businesses while CAPABLE and HARDWORKING Caymanians are available.
I hear all of you guys blasting us Caymanians about lazy and all the rest but we are like every nationality in the world we got some of everything here. Yes there are lazy Caymanians but how many Americas literally live off unemployment because they don't want to work? How many Jamiacans?. I really could go on all day. In every nationality you will find some of everything but we should not class the whole nationality the same just like I know not every Jamiacan is a theif and not every Colombian sells cocaine.
We have in the workforce some hard working Caymanians. I believe all Mr Miller is saying for those Caymanians who work to get a good education and work hard give them a chance. Some companies are not doing this. Some companies seek foreign employees because they can pay them less and control them more. Some employees are getting mistreated by their employers paying them late or not paying pensions but the employees feel scared to go to authorities.
So while you try to pick on Mr Miller and stick your heads in the sand all these things are going on. I do not believe nor have I seen any evidence to support the fact that Mr Miller is anti-foreigner. He simply wants us to not rely on this for our preservation.
Great post Dred.
new year…same old cliched backward drivel from ezzard…..
Cruise Berthing Facility & Docks
Our Position
Currently because of our enormous debt we are not being allowed to borrow funds for Capital Projects unless they generate revenue to support it.
CHEC Proposal makes sense only from the vantage point of the fact that we will incur no new loans keeping our finances in line. It allows us to do many things we wanted to do with little to no out of pocket. YES there will be infrastructure needs.
Why does this hurt us?
It willhurt the Cayman Islands more than help us in the end and CHEC knows this. Currently we are lead to believe that Cayman makes about $80 per visitor that comes ashore in the Cayman Islands. I would propose that this number will decrease substantially should CHEC be allowed their illustrious UPLAND development plans. I would argue that our CAYMAN income per visitor would fall to probably around $20 to $30 per visitor.
Other business leaders such as the DART Group and KIRKs who have spent millions upon millions in the community would see their investments severely damaged.
Security of the Cayman Islands could also be threatened. The Chinese attempted a few years back to buy up docks in the US and was turned away. There was a real good reason for this. No foreign entity should control your docks.
Should we do this with someone else?
Strangely enough I would prefer DART doing this than the Chinese but I say that with great reservations. Honestly I do not believe anyone but the CIG should control this.
What would be the best angle at this?
I believe the best situation would be for us to borrow the funds needed from the DART group at a EXTREMELY nice interest rate BETTER than what was proposed by Cohen & Cohen for a repayment of at least 40 years with no early repayment penalties.
Why would DART do this?
They would consider this for several reasons.
· Chinese – They really do not want the Chinese proposal. It would kill many of their investments and really I believe they would be open to options.
· Construction – They could be granted the construction job which would be like paying themselves. They would have to ensure certain % of Caymanians employed. They would have to get materials locally.
· Retail – They would get 40% of the retail spaces in the new upland area. No other single entity directly or indirectly can lease more 20% of the rest of the retail spaces. Rent would be cut by 40% until the end of the loan.
This would also allow DART group to move businesses from Island side to Upland area. This would allow for local businesses to move into town and allow DART to make funds from rent.
And don't forget, when Dart does something it's done right……Also Paper or Not he is a Caymanian so the Money is local…When Dart offered to do it people rose holy hell..Now look where we are. If they'd let him do it, it would probably have damn near been done..
In the same token I am not 100% fond of DART having the CHEC rights either.
I really do not like the balance we have currently have on the Island to counter the DART Group. It's never a good thing when someone controls so much. It only leads to bad things.
You may have a point, but your comment points only to vague and mysterious "bad things" without substantiation or example. Can you provide some background for your views? Words such as "never" and "only" are bandied around rather freely here but don't seem to mean very muchbeyond an individual poster's opinion — whether informed or uniformed, it is difficult to tell.
14:08 I didn't see the control of Butler when he built up 4 miles of our seven mile beach. (the condo man) no body said anything about the embalance then.
You yourself have said that "Caymanians are not considered capable of holding these jobs by the boards". You should have also said that Caymanians are not considered capable of holding these jobs by the Caymanian business owners and operators themselves. All the employable Caymanians are employed. So are many of the unemployables in the Civil service welfare program. The only way to get more employed is to get them "some how" to WANT to go and do the work and get them training (education) so they can compete with everyone else. If you can't do that (and your not even trying) all you are doing is forceing bad workers on good businesses. That might be OK if its your business and it just caters to you but for everyone else it is a business killer. Is that what you really want? Caymanian businesses owned, run and worked by Caymanians that can not survive? Look at the big picture. Otherwise your just telling them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. Just like Bush.
Now, that's the best why I ever heard it summed up, You sir should run for office what we need are leader who are willing to do what's best for the country as a whole and speak the truth and not just say what they think people want to hear.
Again with the pertetuation of the old Caymanian unemployment myth.
Ezzard needs an education on the difference between unemployed, "Without a paid job but available to work" and unemployable, "Not able or likely to get paid employment, esp. because of a lack of skills or qualifications".
Source: google.com
My question to Ezzard would be this.
Why do many Caymanian businessmen choose to hire foreign labor on work permit instead of hiring fellow Caymanians?
The Dart Group have a 45% Caymanian work force. How many Caymanian companies especially in the construction industry have a 45% Caymanian work force?
look at the statistics though 45% Caymanians? Why can't it be 100% Caymanians? You know why because alot of the Caymanians just don't want to do hard labour. They think it is below them. Wendy's and Burger King are below them. Housekeeping is below them……So hence, that is why we have a foreign work force
Obviously being broke and unemployed isn't beneath them…
45% Caymanian? Or Status holders? There is a difference in the categories.
Sad refelection on one of the sides of racism in Cayman – failure to recognise that very few of the island's present 'Caymanian' residencts can trace themselves back more than 70 years within the islands..
So when a status holder has done their fifteen years and becomes naturalised suddenly they are 'in the pot' but until then they are just foreigners?
Yes there are true 'ex-pats' who may or not have Caymanian status who will never look to make Cayman their lasting home but there are Status holders who are fully committed to the islands and no more or less 'Caymanian' than many of the present 'Caymanians' were 10 or fifteen years ago.
Let's not make this a case of 'I'm all right jack because I am already Caymanian by residence / choice but anyone looking to join me is just a status holder and not of the same standing / worht to the islands'
The Process for those that re-qualify and re-apply at each step:
Key Employee at any time (Property acquisition recommended), PR in year 8, Naturalisation (Passport) after year 8, CI Status (Voting, Jury Duty, Business Ownership) after year 15. Even upon grant of CI Status, the Board grant can be repealed for a variety of subjective reasons/offences. Possessors of the Paper Certificate, though somewhat more tolerated, will never truly be the same as a born Caymanian since the Paper Certificate of Status shall always bear the nation of origin for further subjective bias. That is the state of affairs, per the Immigration Law 2010. Those croanies that were granted cabinet grants in 2003 did not have to bear any of this scrutiny, uncertainty, or endless handicap; but that is the way it is, take it or leave it.
Er, no, sorry Adolph, there is no difference.
There is a difference if you are narrow minded enough.
Wrong. A Caymanian is a Caymanian. Through birth, status, black, white, educated,
un-educated. Get with the times.
Sorry, but the stamp in my passport says that I am a Caymanian no matter what narrow minded bigots like you might want to think.
Cheap labor. Caymanian wants $12.00hr for carpenter work. Expat work for $7.00 an hr.
Hello people – this is an example of why Caymanian politics are so rudimentary. Can we please put more focus on the actual substantive issues being raised or discussed, rather than always getting personal?
What is your view on the actual issue being raised for discussion -NOTE: not your view on Miller himself: Leave us not get personal all the time.
We will a develop better thinking voting population by discussing, for example, the question "do you agree that the government should look more to local developers and investors to grow the economy?"
A more informed, sensible voting population will be less prone to cheap manipulation tactics and higher standards from their representatives
And Mr. Miller, where would the locals get the MONEY to do the development??? What are you developing locally? Do you know if any other Caymanian that has the money to develop?? Get real please. It is a good thing that most foreign developers coming here do not believe we all are like you.
Cayman was built by foreigh investment and will die from the lack of it.
15;23
You are so right, Mac has told usthis so many times. now we have our mansions BMW, rental apartments, businesses and the such, but we do not want no one from any other country here.
Xenophobia is never pretty.
To stimulate the economy and encourage local entrepreneurship, people would have to spend more locally. Unfortunately, people cannot spend more locally because the prices locally continue to rise and a lot of people have not gotten pay raises in the last few years, or worse, lost their job altogether.
Everyone has to watch their budget closely. For example, why would I spend CI$ 35 on a board game locally if I can get the same for USD 14.99 in Miami?
I would love to support the local economy by shopping more locally or even by opening a small store myself, but the market is just not there and the greedy landlords with their horrendous leases stiffle any small business.
There is a lot that Government can also do to stimulate the local economy and that is not just giving concessions to a few selected people and businesses:
1. Give concessions to businesses who operate "green" (ie charge a high import duty on any single-use plastic items).
2. Reduce duty on fuel which lowers everyones utility bills, reduces prices overall and should free up cash for individuals to shop.
Those are just examples but unfortunately, government is not prepared to take a cut or make an investment in its people – so why should the people want to take a chance?
Same crap again! As a business owner and employer of 99% Caymanians, I find it very difficult to find believe that the employment numbers are correct.
Just who are you classing as being ” Caymanian” Mr. Miller? It seems that paper Caymanians are in your equation when it suits you.
I can tell you this. Any Caymanian that wants full time work is working the rest don’t want to know.
CNS do a poll and ask business owners if they find it difficult to hire locally and if so the reasons.
.
I Second That CNS, a Poll like this is a long time coming. I think everyone would like to know what the employeers are thinking and the the reason they believe so many Caymanians are unemployed. and why they have to hire expats.
Are Caymanians
1. Not willing to work hard.
3. Aren't appling for the jobs they list
2.Unskilled
3. Unproffesional
4. Want higher pay then what's offered.
Or whatever I'd love to see their response…
Dear Cayguy (and all readers),
Should we ask that question of the dozens of western nations that are facing record numbers of unemployment of their citizens yet are experiencing ever growing numbers of immigration into their respective countries?
E.g. Great Britain:
British workers have no skills and a bad attitude.
"Many British youngsters are too lazy, ill-educated and lacking the work ethic to compete for jobs, business leaders said last night …"
The prima facie perplexing nature of work permits / imported foreign labour / immigration is a multi-faceted one.
We ought to be careful how we analyze and approach such issues.
(I welcome all thoughts on the findings contained in the provided link as they relate to the situation in the Cayman Islands. Hopefully emotions will be set aside and readers will see the opportunity for a balanced and meaningful discussion – even if that requires the temporary suspension of popular rhetoric.)
The way I see it is either the opinions and findings in that report are factual, or there is something more sinister at play. What say you, and could there be similar elements present within the Cayman Islands?
Judging from the comments on that thread, the issues are one and the same.
-British young people pushed towards higher academia despite the fact that many good jobs are found in the trades, then emerge with expensive credentials and no real-world experience to too few white-collar jobs and huge debts they need high-level jobs to pay off
-employers who would rather hire foreigners (because they work harder, or because they are cheaper to employ and easier to get rid of or some combination of both)
-a sense of entitlement and a lack of ability to see opportunity where hungry immigrants can see them.
-a legal and invited influx of qualified and hard-workingimmigrants against whom natives must compete or lose out.
So, you can:
-encourage a more realistic and varied range of training (and jobs — including trades)
-ensure that high school graduates understand the real availability of white collar jobs
-encourage that high school graduates towards an entrepreneurial mind-set, so that they can see and take advantage of the opportunities around them without needing to rely on foreign firms to employ them
-ensure that your high school graduates value education and do their best while in school
-make immigrant labour more expensive to employ (though you already have work permits in most cases). This could start by ensuring they are paid a fair wage, that their insurance premiums are paid etc.
-ensure that immigrants cannot be easily dismissed or mistreated so that employers do not see this as an advantage in employing them
-do away with the competition and force employers to hire all Caymanians eligible for employment.
What are your solutions?
Re: "What are your solutions?"
Que?
I sincerely hope your reply was not a combative one as I am in full agreement with your suggestions.
In any event, not a single "greater" western nation have employed any of them and I believe that this fact must be acknowledged before we dive into aggressive attacks on the situation in Cayman.
*As I always say: "We only play the game, others made the rules."
On this occasion you are preaching to the choir and I trust that more of us will bear these points in mind in the future as we post our comments here on CNS.
My post is certainly not combative. I am looking for your input. I would really like to know which of these possible solutions (or any others you might imagine) would be useful.
However, I am not sure how the efficacy of any other country's solutions are relevant here. Why do we need to acknowledge this "fact"? (I use parentheses not to be combative but because I have not examined any other country's handling of these problems recently and can't say for certain whether any of these ideas have been employed elsewhere. I will do some reading today.) I do wonder though, why you feel that is relevantto us here and in what you feel it should affect our own handling of the problem. It seems to me that we are perfectly capable of making our own rules, at least to a point, even as a dependent territory. And if we desire to make rules not available to us in our current political situation, we have other options available to us.
You have written in a very brave and encouraging manner.
However, let us not pretend as if every time a Caymanian, be it layperson, blogger or politician, forwards suggestions similar to yours, that we are not called xenophobic, uneducated, racist or 'entitled'.
Your post is guaranteed to attract much virtual support, however, in the real world not many of our expats (and elites – [the two are not necessarily exclusive of the other]) welcome the sentiments you have expressed.
Literally tens of thousands of people are fighting for Caymanian citizenship at this very moment and much of what you have said would prove problematic to their cause.
Obviously many will disagree with me but as usual I am simply calling it the way I see it.
As for what other nations are doing – that point was made in the context and against the backdrop of the criticisms and negative opinions regarding Cayman in this very thread. Clearly many fail (or pretend not) to realize that we are / were simply employing the tactics suggested by the "greater" nations as a means of governing a "successful" nation in modern times.
*Had we not adopted these methods by now we would be considered outdated, over-priced and unsustainable.
Regardless, I do agree that there are other options available to us as the current way of doing things are not working here or anywhere else for that matter.
However, I trust that our expats understand that a better way forward (for Cayman/ians) will inevitably place their hopes of becoming a citizen of the Cayman Islands in grave danger.
Firstly, I am fairly certain that almost all expats would find most of these suggestions quite palatable, bar, perhaps the last. In that case, it would be up to Caymanians to decide whether doing away with competition would be in their best interests or not in the long term. It does strike me that with all the intelligent people in these islands, we should be capable of coming up with a new and more specific model. In fact, we have the perfect opportunity, as a small nation, to do so — we don't have the unwieldy population and bureaucracy that larger countries must control. (Yes, we have a rather bloated civil service, but that is neither as massive as those in place in other countries nor as necessary to us).
Secondly, I myself am an expat (though not an elite one) and am in the process now of applying for naturalization. I do not feel that any of these suggestions — even the last — would place my hopes of becoming a Caymanian citizen in "grave danger". Rather, I feel confident that a strong Cayman, in which all its current citizens are socially and economically healthy, will afford more and better opportunities for me too. I am not a parasite; I make my own contributions to this society and pay my own way. I hope that the immigration board would consider me worth keeping around. I do not feel in any way threatened by the empowerment of Caymanians, provided it is true empowerment and breeds no unnecessary insecurity or resentment in its intended targets. We want stabilizing power here, and with that will come jobs and opportunities enough for a great many expatriates too. What we need is a fair, confident hand to run this ship — to develop policies that are sound for Caymanians but also progressive enough to allow us a global view, and to communicate these policies in ways that lend confidence to our project here without simply pandering for the next vote.
Good post – no arguments here.
Good luck with your application.
(Appreciate the feedback.)
I have already posted an answer but still find myself wondering which solutions you favour. What do you think would work to solve Cayman's immigration problems? Do I understand correctly from this part of your post:
"that point was made in the context and against the backdrop of the criticisms and negative opinions regarding Cayman in this very thread. Clearly many fail (or pretend not) to realize that we are / were simply employing the tactics suggested by the "greater" nations as a means of governing a "successful" nation in modern times.
*Had we not adopted these methods by now we would be considered outdated, over-priced and unsustainable…"
that you feel the tactics Cayman has adopted from other nations have been successful so far? Also, which tactics do you mean, specifically?
Thanks for clarifying.
No, I do not feel the adopted tactics have been successful at all.
The tactics I am referring to are those that seek to import cheap, foreign labour (I actually consider this to be localized slavery respective to the host nation in question) which inevitably leads to the destruction of the middle class. This ALWAYS leads to political, societal and socioeconomic instability – all of which can be found in Cayman today.
Mr. Miller is right as usual. We have more jobs here than Caymanians. Yet, our people are out of work? This is just the beginning of the end of Cayman…in a few years…we'll be known as "CaymanA Islands. Home to spoiled billionaires from around the world who employee only their own kind".
Bulletin:
WE NEED REAL CAYMANIAN CANIDATES TO RUN FOR 2013. WHO SHALL IT BE? LET'S START NOMINATING:
My choices.
Theresa Pitcairn
Wade Dacosta
Wayne Panton
David & Christopher Wight
Consuelo Ebanks
Capt. Bryan
Alice Mae Coe
Dax Foster
Daphne Orrett
Perlina Lumsden
Lem Hurlston (former EXCO mem.)
Ezzard Miller
Sandra Catron
Sterling D. Ebanks
Austin Harris
Gilbert Mclean
Dennie Warren
Ken Jefferson
Paul Rivers
Linford Pearson
Maxine McCoy .
Mary Lawrence
Truman Bodden
Felix Mazanares
Arden Mclean
Jennifer Dilbert…..
These are just an example of my ideal L.A. members. Right now we need EXPERIENCED people. People who have guts, education and good ole fashion Caymanian common sense! People who can be LEADERS. People our youth will look up to, talk with, laugh with and RESPECT! Because running a country isn't just about securing deals and passing laws, it's about preserving the DIGINITY of Caymanians and providing futures for our children and giving them the same right to prosperity as our forefathers hoped for us!
And right now, the wayI look at it, we need to back off the party system and get back to mixing things up for a better balance of Government! No schemers and charmers, we need action, not handshakes, bobble heads and false smiles, BUT PEOPLE WHO TELL IT LIKE IT IS AND AIN'T AFRAID TO DO IT!
But, good luck to anyone who can be the better CAYMANIAN and clean up this mess we have now called Gov't! Because we need all hands on deck for this task!
Your list is interesting…many are NOT formally educated, many have NOT run a business and many have NO management or political experience.
The only common tread I can find is that they all have been in the public eye over the last 2 years. So you should try to narrow down your list to be more accurate and consider those with the attributes you claim we needand who have NOT been in the public eye as well. We may find the real candidates there.
Like the good Capt. up west?
What is outrageous and sad is that many believe that if you host or talk on the radio then you are suitable for public service.
This will continue the trend for underachieving politicians with no answers or solutions other thasn blaming on the radio.
The old politicans have been at the trough too long.
We need someone who is financially astute too – unlike the current contenders!
This list is simply a joke with the exception of one. For example you have listed some of the old politicians who difinatedly should not be mentioned, we have been there before and done that and should most definitely NOT go back there. Others are businessmen who do not belong in politics for they will help no one but themselves. Others still may have held positions in high place but during there tenure have not lifted a finger to assist caymanians other than themselves, the majority are a real joke. I can count on one finger the one mentioned who would possibly make a good candidate. We need real people with new ideals and not what was good in the ” good old days” . We need to move this country forward and not backward to 40years ago, plain and simple.
Mr Miller wants Caymanians in these positions but the answer is Caymanians don't want the majority of these jobs. Also how does he suggest to collect the outrageous fees that go into the CIG purse from the employers of the permit holders. Raise the duty on fuel some more ? charge us $1000 dollars a year to license our vehicles ? It must be sweet to collect $10,000 grand a month and don't have to bust a sweat.
Hint: A lot of government money is wasted
$10,000 a month. Exactly how many people make that kind of money. it certainly would not be the norm. You certainly dont expect to as a Caymanian to walk into such a job. People in the higher levels of Government for example make a lot of money notsure how many make $10,000 a month, but in the end these people have been working for years to get to that position.
Mr. Miller is correct the Government should alienate these foreign investors and focus on all those Caymanians that are willing to invest 5-600 Million Dollars into projects like the Cayman Enterprise City or the Shetty Hospital. They should have also never let Dart buy land or build Camana Bay when there were so many Caymanians standing in line to invest their millions into similar projects.
And those darn 19,000 work permits need to go so the 6,000 unemployed Caymanians will finally be able to get jobs. After all it will create 19,000 job openings so Companies will be lined up to hire any Caymanian and pay them huge salaries weather they are qualified or not because they will have no choice if they want to conduct business in Cayman. And don’t worry about the 15-20 Million dollars a year generated by those work permits that the CIG will no longer get because I’m sure Mr. Miller has an alternative for bringing in revenue. Possibly the taxes on all the extra groceries clothing folks will buy now that they all have high paying jobs and will no longer need to shop in Miami.
Foreign owned Companies need to be more like Caymanian owned Companies that seek out and hire qualified Caymanians. Such as the huge quarries, hotels, grocery and lumber stores where you won’t see expats working a job that can be held by a Caymanian because they truly look out for their people and know that there are plenty of qualified Caymanians to fill every position.
Let's be honest, how many Native Sons are in the $50-60mln disposable basket, let alone the $500-600mln? If there are belongers in the $500-600mln basket, where were they after Ivan, Paloma, when their nation was suffering? Where are their public parks and philanthropic deeds?!? There's your answer.
I actually agree with you but for different reasons. I'm sure any educated persons (to the worlds norm) are tired of the crying, blameing,uneducated, and ill informed ranting that is the normal(for Cayman) leaderships way of getting things done. With all the disasters, pending court cases, financial back door deals, and private money pay offs with the public funds you would think the Caymanian people would use their unity to make some changes but no. If you can not learn from your recent past then maybe it would be better to let Caymans premeir leaders do just what ever they like when they want to do it. I belive it would not take long at all for the whole thing to come crashing down around you and then you would HAVE to listen to professional advice. You would have to start following the rules, regulations, and start using common sense over Cayman sense. All those living off the public purse would HAVE to find and do what it takes to keep a real job as all that money comeing in would be going out just as fast to pay off all the loans and court cases. Painfull but it would appear necessary.
For just a minute try hard to imagine if all the hard working expats were to be sent packing (and they will be) and replaced by all the unemployed Caymanians tomorrow mourning. How well do you think Grand Cayman would function as a working society?
Incredible how many people gave this post a thumbs up, when I was being Sarcastic…..Just goes to show how many disillusioned Miller type folks there are here…
I think people understood your sarcasm. :))
Sooooo glad we have the insight of someone so skilled in the business field. However would Cayman cope without him?
Mr Miller said (With more than 19,000 people on work permits, he pointed out that Cayman did not have a shortage of jobs; the problem, he said, was that Caymanians are not considered capable of holding these jobs by the boards, which continue to grant work permits in the face of rising unemployment among Caymanians.)
Maybe Mr. Miller should ask all the Caymanian business owners why they do not hire Caymanians and hence hire foreign workers on work permits as an extra expence to doing business.
Mr Miller
You are a horrendous example of what we younger Caymanians hope is a dying breed – you are an embraasment to us Sir. You say you are not anti-foreigner and yet you go ahead and make terriblly disparaging comments on certain nationalities that work in Cayman, your most recent the young chartered accountants from South Africa. Shame on you. imagine if our Caymanian seamen of yester year were shunned and rubbished the way you commented on the young South Africans that look to improve their life by getting overseas experience. Resign, retire, – just go away you shameful man.
Mr. Miller is a fine example of what an intelligent, patriotic Caymanian should be. You are an embarrassment.
Signed: a Young Educated Caymanian.
I think you mispelt Educated, rather it should read Edumacated.
Intelligent and Patriotic he is, but his mindset is well out-dated.
Get with the times or get left behind.
A Young Educated Caymanian.