Miller: Findings back rollover

| 20/06/2012

2959754739_82f289be6c.jpg(CNS): Although the Term Limit Review Committee has recommended that government drop the controversial seven year term limit for foreign workers, Ezzard Miller says the findings of the report show that the policy has worked. The independent MLA says that, despite the recommendations made by the authors, their findings indicate that rollover has not driven business away but has worked and limited the number of people who are now eligible for Caymanian status. He said that removing the seven year limit and allowing everyone to apply for PR is nothing more “than kicking the can down the road” and will raise unrealistic expectations among foreign workers.

Miller is likely to be a lone voice on the issue, however, as it seems government, the opposition and large parts of the community are set to support the committee’s recommendation to pushthe term limit back to ten years.  Nevertheless, despite being one of the few remaining supporters of rollover, Miller believes it is still the best policy.

He said the idea that because government will let all people who stay here for ten years apply for PR, more people will be granted residency is misleading as it cannot afford to allow many of those who apply through because it will not have the money to take care of low paid workers once they retire. He warned that making the system seem fairer to allow low income workers the right to permanently reside may sound politically correct but it wasn’t a realistic option.

Miller warned that allowing everyone to stay longer than eight years so they could apply for PR would place the Cayman government at risk of human rights challenges and would create false expectations because, while everyone would then apply for residency, government would have no intention of granting all but a few of the applications.

Although he admitted it might not be a perfect system, Miller told CNS that he supported the key employee system. “There is nothing wrong with principle behind the ‘key application’ process.  I don’t agree with the TLRC that it’s the employer making the decision,” he said. “The decision is made by the board based on a lawful set of criteria.”

The independent member noted that to improve the application process, those given key status should meet all of the criteria established by government, not just one.

Miller emphasised that the report found that rollover was not the main issue impacting the Cayman economy so there was no real reason to remove it. He said that it was a fallacy that thousands of people had left because of the term limits. “As I’ve said many times before, immigration isn’t the problem. It’s simply not true that people have left en-masse. This was confirmed by CUC who had not lost the thousands of customers that they should have done if the exodus was a reality.”

Miller said the problem is government’s imposition of high fees and policies, which were crippling existing small business and preventing new entrepreneurs from launching start-ups. The North Side representative said the cost of borrowing was too high and the cost of fees even higher.

“Government has been addressing the wrong problem all along,” he added, pointing to endless amendments to the immigration law since the UDP administration took office. “But there have been no amendments to legislation to help small businesses. With the exception of bending laws and policies to meet the wants of his favoured major developers, who are lauded as economic saviours, the premier has done nothing to help the backboneof the economy.”

Miller told CNS that, given the current economic circumstances and the number of Caymanians out of work, the government should be turning its attention to reducing the number of permits. He said new jobs are no longer being created, which means young Caymanians need to be given the work that is currently held by migrant workers.

He conceded, however, that this was unlikely to be a priority for government considering the amount of revenue it now collects from work permit fees and its dependence on that money to pay for the ballooning public sector.

See full TLRC report here

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Dear Caymanians,

    Question 1 of your Culture and Hisotry Test. Please tell me how Cayman became an offshore Centre?

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      sea captains!

    • Anonymous says:

      Smarty, do some research.  Caymanians don't go to other countries and question the natives.  You all are too insulting.  Get off the rock if you don't like what Caymanians have to say.

  2. Libertarian says:

    I couldn't agree more with Ezzard Miller's statement:-

    "there have been no amendments to legislation to help small businesses. With the exception of bending laws and policies to meet the wants of his favoured major developers, who are lauded as economic saviours, the premier has done nothing to help the backbone of the economy"

    I challenge readers to contemplate the reality of these words carefully.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard Miller is no indredibly wrong that its unbeleivable anybody can agree with him? Nobody can see how bad the rollover has been for businesses here? Anyone who agrees must be an unemployed Caymanian who blames ex-pats.

    • dartanian says:

      Hello anon it is not Ezzard who said the rollover was not the biggest obsticle to business it was the business people themselves who ranked it 5 out of 8 in the survey. You need to stop being personal and read the report, Ezzard has the balls to pander and whether he is wrong or right he has his own views and is not afraid to be alone on an issue.

  4. UDP Supporter says:

    Again I say that all of this is ridiculous! Our Christian people have been subjected too long to these expats and their ungodly ways! We should have a rule that only those who are Christian and have proper respect for our morals and values are allowed to stay in our Islands. And there should be a committee of Godly men and women who should make sure that only those of proper respect and morality can remain in our midst. We need to be rid of corrupting ways and return to our Christian heritage. God bless Cayman and true Caymanians!

    • Anonymous says:

      is your Christian son or daughter gonna cut grass or clean pools at $4 an hour?  Are they gonna clean houses or work as a table server for even less?

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you CNS.  After a busy and stressful day working, I can usually rely on you providing hilarious nonsense to brighten up my evenings.  This one is priceless.

    • Anonymous says:

      so which nationality has been fraudulently using Gasboy cards.

      LOL better look up Matthew 7.5 and while your at it leviticus 19.34

      "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself;"

      not adhering to the teaching of your own holy book, very christian of you

    • Anonymous says:

      Can't you folk see that this is a troll winding you up?  

  5. Truth says:

    lPlease clear up a few facts for me.

    1.If a persons stays here for 8 or 10 years they must be granted residency? 

    2. Kicking everyone off before that happens is the only way to keep out those who are not self sustaining?

    3.CIG has no say in who is granted residency as long as they have stayed long enough?

    4. Businesses will have to let go of their expat skill sooner or later or Cayman will have too much expat skill and not enough jobs for Caymanian skill.

    Is this right?

    5.  If there is a cap on the number of residencys per year and they have to pass other qualifications then a time limit is moot.  Unless kicking skill down the road so no skill can have a chance is the real reason for a roll over.  In which case it is understood.  And the real reason for the expense of having, running, and using a business in Cayman.

    • Anonymous says:

      1. no, the PR bpard will decide if they can stay or have to leave before 10 years

      2 it is also the only way to stop anyone investing on staying in Cayman

      3. yes they do

      4 no that is wrong, very few people in today's world spend their life at the same company

      5 What ????

  6. Anonymous says:

    We are neglecting theconstraints. Injecting money and manpower into a functioning area does not eradicate our islands' problems.

    I agree with Mr. Miller.

  7. datisyou says:

    Millar report:  Findings back Caymanian self governing not self sustaining!  But still better than nothing for the next year if the money holds out.

  8. datisme says:

    Findings back UK takeover!

  9. Anonymous says:

    17:58 Shame on you  to suggest any Caymanian should be run out of our own country!!!  Thats exactly whats wrong with the mentality of some who live here now!!!  Ezzard's forefathers and mine were Generational Caymanians who helped build Cayman to what it is now.  They had the same goals, to build a sustainable Cayman and a place where Caymanians had te benefits of being here.  Thise others who came to these shores were welcomed and most of them fit into the fabric of our society.  They made valuable contributions to Cayman, not just made their riches and left.  They respected they were in someone elses country and embraced Caymanians and worked hand in hand with them to ensure their survival.  The bottom line is Caymanians still got the benefit of being here.  As much as I would like to see some of my expat family and friends also be able to come and live here, it is not economically feasible to import EVERYONE.  When people take jos or come here to go to school it should never automatically entitle them to become citizens.  The Immigration policies should be clear on that and then those who would come here could make an intelligent choice to either come here for the short term or stay where they are.  No Caymanian would ever have any different priviliges in any other country.  Please o not bring up England……The rollover statistics say enough.  It is working and that must be the only thing here so far that is.  I am with you 100% Ezzard..

    • Anonymous says:

      The difference between you're Forefathers and those that lead now is that they had Cayman and its development at the forefront of everything they did.

      The bunch of  jokers we have now have only themselves at the forefropnt of everything they do. BIG DIFFERENCE. 

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Rubbish. Just because you, me and our forefathers, are from Cayman does NOT mean that we all built the place. You make it sound as if we had some cohesive master plan.  The fact is outsiders had the idea of turning this place into a financial centre and SOME of us embraced the idea. As is typical in Cayman, some were against it. Some didn't even know (and still) don't know about the financial industry and how it put us on the map. The financial industry back then is exactly the same as CEC is now. 

      Contrary to what you say, there is zero entitlement for foreigners here. So stop spreading propaganda. They can only APPLY for key employee. IF successful with key, they can only APPLY for residency. IF successfuly with res, they can APPLY for naturalization. If successful with naturalization they can APPLY for status. At each and every stage of the process, they can be (and often are) turned down. 

      Those who are not Caymanian cannot go to public schools. So you your point, is once again, inaccurate. 

      Your post is an insult, not only to Caymanians who successfully live and work in other countries, but to those of us who have stayed here and acutally know our history. I'm not surprised in the least that you support that dinasour 100%. 

      P.S. Until we no longer use the term "paper" Caymanian, we have not truly welcomed anyone here. 

      • Anonymous says:

        You could also add that when persons APPLY, they APPLY to various boards where only Caymanians may sit. Many of whom have the same disposition as the writer above. So to use the word "entitlement" is absolutely shameless. 

         

         

      • Anonymous says:

        The term 'paper Caymanian' is no worse than all the ugly adjectives expats use to describe us.  Not welcoming someone is nicer than 'stomping' on someone.  Everyone knows that in many instances Caymanians are treated unfairly inorder to accommodate expats!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Wow a lot of thumbs down on these comments, I guess the foreigners are not happy with what the Caymanians have to say.

    • Let's get this straight says:

      Nope. I am a college educated Caymanian and 5th generation from this fair land and sea.  We just don't trust Ezzard Miller as far as we can throw him.  

      • Anonymous says:

        Well if you are you should then understand his motive, he just wants to protect the future for us the 4th and 5th generation Caymaninans. We do no want foreigners with the top postions in The Cayman Islands forever.

      • Anonymous says:

        Hope you're not brainwashed by that expat.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Obviously Miller and those that agree with him have little or no idea of real world business.
    Every legitimate business must be allowed to hire who it wants to do the job.
    I have a business that has suffered three rollovers and a pending fourth. I cannot find local staff that is capable orwilling to work or learn. I spent considerable time and money teaching one person who has now left and is now my competition.
    Can you not see that people are not investing here anymore? I. E. Buying homes, new cars etc etc. All they do is work and save every last Pennie to take with them.
    And that is everyone from dishwashers to lawyers, so please use your head.
    Before anyone gets on their high horse, I employ 98% Caymanian workers that are capable and WANT to work.
    Rollover is, and will cripple the economy.

    • Anonymous says:

      You must be dreaming. That reasoning is why so many legitimate Caymanians cannot get jobs for sufficient pay to feed their families and pay for their housing.  Every country in the world controls the work force and with all the others, the people of the country are given the first choice. That is one of the reasons for the rollover policy, and it would have worked if  the people hiring in the Cayman Islands would have done what they should have by law.  As a Caymanian, I applied for jobs here in the island until I was about to give up and move my daughter back to the US.  Every job I applied for, was given to ex-pats, mostly British, with no explanation to me.  So when you talk about. being able to hire who you want to, that has been going on here for the past 30 years and even with the rollover policy, the only category it seems to affect are the household helpers.  Any position given to anyone above that level is still being given to ex-pats and won't stop anytime in the future.;

    • Anonymous says:

      Then you like what commenter 21:50 was saying, should be exempted from having to pay for work permits. You should have special incentive for employing 98% Caymanian workers.

    • Anonymous says:

      Please stop! all that you are saying  is lies, stop pushing foolishness on us, miller is right we all know and so do you that rollover is not the problem, its greedy business persons that think they can pay anything they want to, keeping workers in poverty so that they can make more profits but all they are doing is running themselves out of Cayman. 

      I think every one knows what you will do, you will run to some other country, tell them you know it all, grab what you can grab and ruin them, then run from there when they realise what you are and start to stand up for there rights, then you will say they are hatefull and small minded  people because you cant have and do what you want.

      Please do not ask us to let you do things in our country that we cannot do in yours, you are causeing us to dislike you, we were liveing in peace untill your greed came to us, if this is prosperity god help us, twenty years ago expats used to respect us and we welcomed them but the expats that is comeing now most seem to disrepect us and our culture, and then you wonder why we are not friendly anymore, you do not have a right to go to another persons country and insult them, they will run you eventualy.

      Please if we want rollover then that is our policy, if you are in your country and you dont want me to stay but for three years that is your policy, stop biteing the hand that feed you, the people will get mad and run you, remember our children deserve to work just like yours do, they have to eat just like you, do not push them or none of us will like the result, these kids are starting to talk bad things so please stop makeing the same mistakes that almost every other country made out there, no one will be able to turn around these hard problems when it starts, where will you run then? to a country where they have serial killers, people killing there whole familly and where you have to watch your children so as not to have them kidnaped, raped and killed, enjoy this country dont try to change it, you may not like what it may become.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Rollover is not crippling the cayman islands , greed is. No matter where the businesses are the best person for the job is now being hired from a cheaper source. If the chinese would come businesses would hire them from there. Bowl of rice anyone?

    • Anonymous says:

      In other countries you can't hire who you want unless they are citizens of that country or have legal rights so cut the bologne.  There is a limit to how many people should be allowed to migrate to these 2 x 4 islands.  Every country has countrol so should we.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Miller’s reference to the CUC customer count as being representative of population stability is misleading because a landlord will still keep the electricity connected to an empty apartment.

    The disincentive for expatriates to invest or otherwise spend locally the money they earn locally is the most damaging aspect of rollover. It’s like the vortex of water running out of a bathtub even though the tap is full on. If you want to fill up the bath to float everyone’s rubber ducky you have to put the plug back in.

    Rollover ought to be abolished altogether.

    • Anonymous says:

      And replaced with what? Go back to the old days where people lived here for umpteen years on work permits and be deluged with human right claims for permanent rights? You must think we are real idiots to even consider that.  

      • Anonymous says:

        Assuming that the rhetoric is true and it is the lower paid long term expats that the Jurisdiction is concerned about, then replacing the current regime with one where the expat employee applies for and holds his own work permit would be more efficient.

        Currently, the cost and effort that an employer has to expend in obtaining a work permit for an expat employee acts as an incentive to hold on to that employee rather than the equally skilled Caymanian when it comes to down sizing. The employer's logic being, when things get better, it's easier to rehire the Caymanian than recruit a new expat. It's not fair. It's not in the spirit of the Law, but it is a real economic incentive.

        Let's assume for a moment that the wage for equal work skill, experience and effort is, or at least should be, the same, whether expat or not.

        The work permit fee would then be an expense to the expat employee so, in a downsizing era, with the incentive for the employer to keep the expat over the Caymanian removed, and both employees are equally good and cost the employer the same, then the employer will most likely lay off the expat, not the Caymanian. The expat whose expenses are higher than the Caymanian's, after finding no other work in the short or medium term, will be incentivised to leave. No need to roll him over, he'll go of his own accord.

        The Caymanian still needs to compete with the expat to be as good or better so as not to be the employee that is laid off. No problem with that for a hard working and competent Caymanian, of which I have employed hundreds over the years in my construction related business.

        Expats and Caymanian's want a level playing field. The market will be far more objective in making these decisions. The Employee will decide whether or not to renew his own permit and his only reason to do so would be that there is economically viable work. Raising a category of workers' work permit fees, should there be a recognized surplus in that category, would increase the impetus to leave in lean times. Lowering it in boom times would have the opposite effect, attracting workers to our shores. These permit price fluctuations would not impact the business owner. He wouldn't have to pay for it. The labour market would hit its own equilibrium.

        It is still up to those Caymanians who are unemployed to improve their skills and make themselves more employable. We need Labour Law reform to assist them.

        My view (always has been). Scrap the Labour Law. All of it. It's a huge disincentive towards hiring Caymanians and the European Labour priniciples upon which it was founded are now very obviously failing in those countries too. There is only two rules. Remove all disincentives from an employer so that he will employ someone new. The employee then makes himself indispensible to his employer! It really is that simple. All the rest of the populist protectionist rubbish is killing opportunity for Caymanians and is therefore working against the very people it was intended to protect.

        I don't believe that getting rid of expats, no matter what their pay bracket might be, is the correct answer. The Island requires population growth in order to enjoy economic growth. We should be encouraging all to stay and work and spend their money here.

        Abolish rollover.

        Abolish the indentured slavery that is our current Work Permit system.

        Level the playing field for Caymanians, Expat workers and their employers.

        Reward hard work.

        The economy will take care of itself in those circumstances.

         

  13. Anonymous says:

    The Cayman Islands are not a big western socialist state, and cannot afford to behave like one (although in many respects we already do). With plenty of homegrown social cases, we needn’t import more. As nice as it would be for every one of our favorite migrant friends to join us for the long voyage, it is simply not economically feasible. Those productive individuals with means and demonstrable commitments already have a mechanism to stay, and inevitably we must bid a bittersweetand grateful goodbye to longtime friends that do not (and will never) qualify. We should not anguish over this reality. It is well publicized. Everyone knows the deal coming in.

  14. Anonymous says:

    It is not understod, why? one wants to start building an empire in another man's country, and at the end of the day it only causes pain and stress, trying to achieve a goal of being a citizen when you know you are not!!  Someone is not doing a thought process of the end results – we feel sorry to hear of their plights but this is the way the world turns. 

  15. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians no longer have any say the foreigners are the shot callers, if they say no to a policy the Government listens but if it is a Caymanian that says so it falls on deaf ears.

  16. Libertarian says:

    I never did like the idea of a rollover policy to limited the number of Caymanian status holders on the island. How I see it, the market, when allowed to be free and lassez-fare, can produce a healthy and ambitious population with good circulation of monies that will sustain businesses on the island. And the market will naturally rollover itself, no policy, nothing planned by politicians, people come here, move in, and then roll out, leaving their mark on the island. No government telling them when they must leave or stop contributing to the Cayman Islands.

    Nevertheless, the rollover policy is here to stay, and the question that everyone struggles with, is how it is defined. Here, it seems Ezzard Miller's statementsabout the rollover policy "not driving business away," gives the impression that the MLA judges all is well with the business community. I hope that is not the case. Because just a few weeks ago I took a walk in George Town and saw so many signs of businesses hurting from the cost of living and an immigration policy that has cause slow-growth because of unskilled workers. And really the rollover policy has taken a toll on small businesses. 

    Of course, extending the policy to ten years will "kick the can down the road", but it is alot better than it was before, because people will be allowed to apply for PR without the sense of deadline being up on the seventh year. At least, it will increase the Caymanian population and more flow of money in the economy, and unlike Miller, I see that as a very positive thing for these islands.

    We can't befull protectionist all our lives. With a policy that is estrange to liberty and a free market, we can at least amend it in ways where we can provide more options and opportunities, hence not such a restrictive system. One of the options I recommend and I think should be implemented into law, is in exchange for an employer losing a valuable and skilled worker for a year, allow the employer to pay a “special one-year fee” to keep the skilled worker on island. Then the revenue from the fees can be earmark to educating Caymanians, social programs and helping small businesses to thrive. Another option to consider, is a special exemption for businesses when at least 60% of their skilled workers are Caymanians. Also the incentive could be included with the exemption that work permit fees wouldn't have to be paid if 60% of skilled workers are Caymanians. This will ensure more jobs for everyone including youngsters that are citizens. 

     

  17. Anonymous says:

    “… kicking the can down the road …” should be re-phrased as:

     

    "…kicking the expat down the road…"

  18. Anonymous says:

    I hope and pray Ezzard is the next Premier……SOON too…..

    • I Care says:

      R U MADDDDD. This man has a Personal agenda can't people see this. This man will be worst than Mackeeva trust me , I am from North Side and the things I know  would  freighten Ya All.  I dont suport Ezzard  and I support a National Vote not one man one vote .

       

       

  19. Anonymous says:

    The rollover has worked except that it should be on a case by case basis.  Domestic care-givers, nurses and helpers for the disabled, elderly and children should be automatically excluded.  All others should be rolled and have to remain off-island for 3 or more years instead of one year.  Let's face it…..if everyone who comes here to visit or work thinks that entitles them to become Permanent Residents and or Caymanians we might as well just do away with Immigration period.  We need to get Cayman back to ZERO unemployment, not cater to the wealthy and wannabes who are here only to make money and avoid taxes in their own countries.  Caymanians have nowhere else to go and are being run out of their own homeland because the wealthy are taking over, the cost of living is sky-rocketing and Immigration is catering to outsiders with their political correctness instead of protecting generational Caymanians.  We are trying to "fix" a major problem that was single handedly created by Macdummy when he doled out status grants and made that something that everyone now thinks they are entitled to also. There are already too many people here now as is evident in the unemplyment statistics and trust me this is not just unemployables as some would love to use as an excuse to suit their own agenda.  It is going to cause civil war before long too if it is not curtailed effectively.  Mark my words…… 

    • Anonymous says:

      Quite frankly, your comment is both stupid and destructive to your economy. Who do you think you are and where do you think you come from? There are few blood line relatives of the original British settlers on this island and those who can claim a DNA link have high levels of inter relationship with dozens of other nationalities. Look around, you are a multicultural society made up of citizens from the UK, US, Jamaica, Honduras, Cuba, Phillipines etc………..So the hypocritical position is to now claim that you are 'Caymanian', even though you are actually British Overseas Citizens. The only reason you can claim to be Caymanian is because you live on this rock, a bit like a person born in New York being a 'New Yorker'.

      How many of your well known family businesses are owned by families that originate from 'foriegn' countries? How many come from Jamaica and Honduras or even the USA? The fact is you probably don't know and find it convenient not to ask as the truth will destroy the 'little islander' mentality.

      This island is on a fast downward spiral which will inevitably result in more unemployment and fewer businesses willing to invest. To think that such a small population can maintain a highly educated workforce is niave and unrealistic. You would never be able to produce enough graduates to fully staff all of the financial services and legal practises on this island, to say nothing of the most important sector, tourism, hospitality, service and entertainment.

      I note that you want to shield your delectation for domestic help, perhaps you should start cleaning your own homes and looking after your own kids for a change.

      Your views are also racist and xenophobic, not a trait that you should be proud of or encouraging in the 21st century. 

      • Anonymous says:

        I am a Caymanian even if you dont like it and i will keep saying so even if you dont like it, i guess it is okay for you to call yourself British, Jamaican,American our wherever you came from, but i cant call myself Caymanian because i am less than you, who are you to come and insult the Cayman people because you cant get or do what you want, South Africa anyone? by the way i am Caymanian, Caymanian, Caymanian and Caymanian again, there i said it. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Who are you to talk about bloodlines? Where are you from? What do you know about our bloodline? What does that have to do with immigration policy? Businesses have a 60% ownership by Caymanians. Unless they married a Caymanian. 

        It doesn't matter where you are from if you have Caymanian citizenship ,you're Caymanian and should be proud of that. If you're still flying the flag from where you oringinally came from then you should turn in your passport  and apply for a work permit  just like you would in any other country. There is no" Islander mentality" what we have here is what they have in any other country patriotism and nationalism. Don't you have the same? So what are you talking about? Superiority complex? Maybe that is what the problem has really been about with people like you. I suggest you change your atitude have a rum punch and relax.

        If there is more unemployment on this island it will be caused by recession not rollover. No one is saying that we don't need some people from outside of the island but come on 21,000 people and 2000 people dont have jobs even ones that have masters degrees? Come on now wherever you are from you probably have enough people with education and skills to operate whatever . Take for instance football or rugby if half the team were from cayman wouldn't you complain? What about all your law firms or acct firms , half. Bars, tourism etc.   Lets say they had to have work permits and more people from india , china got hired .When they got hired the companies said they were more qualified then the people from your country. Then a recession hit and they downsized and 20% of your people lost their jobs and homes and pretty cars and kids going to private schools. You would be ok with that ?When the foreigners in your country say that you were lazy ,uneducated, unqualified and that because you were  multicultural you were inferior? Whats wrong don't you like conch stew, grilled lobster ,our sunsets etc? yours truly New Yorker

  20. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard is of course right and no amount of expat dominated populism will change that. The interests of the Caymanian people and the long term viability of the Cayman Islands are all that really matters. Expats should be welcomed and those that embrace us and benefit us welcomed to stay, but everyone else, this is our land and we wish to control it’s destiny. Respect that.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually, it's a British Overseas Territory and you are British Overseas Citizens. That means its NOT an independent nation and you are NOT independent citizens. Who do you think will guarantee your requested government loans? Yes, the good old UK taxpayer, so when you default and you will if you're allowed to get yourselves further in debit, they will be picking up the bill. So, no this is NOT your land, you are basically tenants and very pampered ones at that. The only saving grace on the horizon is that your days of irresponsible spending and corrupt governance are coming to an end, then lets see who really pulls the strings.

      Hard to hear, but true none the less.

      • Anonymous says:

        I never said we are a country and there are thousands of Caymanians that are neither British nor British Overseas Territories Citizens and I have been complaining to the Governor (whose salary we pay, not the British taxpayer) for years about corruption here and he has done nothing. Most corruption here has been under the very nose of the British – so to me they are implicated by their acceptance of it when it plainly should have been stamped out years ago.

      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong. It is called British Overseas Territoroes Citizenship, which is very different from British Overseas Citizenship. There are other words to describe you.

  21. Anonymous says:

    The problem in Cayman is the cost of living is ridiculous .So people who own businesses here just charge too much. Why are the basics so expensive . Water ,elect., food , clothing. When i was paid $5 per hr. my rent was $ 240 and my elect. was $40. Gas and diesel was a lot cheaper . So if we dont rollover  those people who are in the service industry how will they live? Like the way they do in treasure island ( on top of each other ). There should be a law that no one lives more then 2 people per bedroom. Then you will see more apts. rented. How about  apts for lower class people who make $5 per hour to $10 per hour?

    • Adam Smith says:

      You live on an island.  Things need to be imported.  That costs money.  That island has limited usable living space so land is expensive.  The only means of reducing net costs for those at the lower end of the wage spectrum would be intorduce income tax and redistribute wealth through government spending of the tax income.  Not so sure that would be a vote winner do you?

      • Anonymous says:

        Maybe we should introduce vat , things maybe a little more even then and of cource we will see loves us then.

  22. Anonymous says:

     

     

    We should take the example of Bermuda and tell me what's wrong with their economics? 

     

    • Anonymous says:

      You might want to read a bit about how bad the economy is in Bermuda and how many business are leaving as a direct result of a Government and country that just took the Re-Insurance industry and the Funds industry for granted. I know of 2 large Fund Administrator that just laid off a lot of people, refer the Royal Gazette in Bermuda, 21 October 2011

      "Fund administrators have dramatically downsized in Bermuda as companies including Citco and Citigroup cut jobs and relocate staff to Canada where it’s cheaper and there’s a larger labour pool.

      Top executives in the fund administration industry expressed concern about the trend of firms cutting jobs in Bermuda while expanding in Halifax and Toronto and in the US.

      They warned the exodus is likely to continue with at least one other fund administrator poised to cut staff in Bermuda.

      One top fund administration executive said the once booming sector had gone from 1,000-plus to just 150 staff in the last five years."

      • Anonymous says:

        Truth be told, we are following he example of Bermuda. Both places are being run by idots who don't understand the very businesses that made them successful in the first place. As much as I don't want to admit it, the future looks bleak both places. They will just become more islands in the sun. Those who don't know their history ….

      • Anonymous says:

        I think you are talking about leeches.

      • Anonymous says:

        The economy in Bermuda is getting bad because theres a recession. Not because of its rollover policy. My son a caymanian is working for one of those companies in Toronto and the people who were working making large salaries are being let go so that they can get cheaper staff from Ireland. Their top staff who are from many countries are not  getting any special anything. The company does not give two hoots about their childrens schools insurance mortgage or anything else they are on their own. 

        The rollover is a good thing

      • Anonymous says:

        The exodus of Fund Administrators to Halifax is happening here too. Beware!

  23. Anonymous says:

    maybe we should rollover ezzard and give him a taste of his own medicine….

  24. Anonymous says:

    the rollover has been to a disater for cayman and for the people it affected….

  25. Anonymous says:

    Isn't the US losing their middle class. Aren't places in the US starting to see towns that can no longer afford to keep their schools open ,pay their police and firemen? What do you think is causing that?

    • Anonymous says:

      Mr Miller?

    • One Cloud says:

      17:57   I call that a dying world.  We need to seek the face of God, there is no other hope cantwe see that.

    • Anonymous says:

      And anon 17:57 don't forget to mention, the scrapping of  their pension schemes. there is no money.

    • The Jordanian Ambassador says:

      Is it Ezzard? 

    • Anonymous says:

      Nope, we're good. Stick to your own knitting.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is primarily due to budgetary problems.

       

      You should note that the US also has term limits on work visas i.e. a roll-over. But this is not the cause of them having to shutter schools or lay off public workers.

  26. Anonymous says:

    miller has just proven how out of touch he is……

    beware of the small town, small minded backwardness of independents

    • Anonymous says:

      Cause you cant get what you want, so he is backward and small minded, heard that one before.

      Your country is big minded so you can get what you want there, lost in space anyone?.

  27. Anonymous says:

     

    Mr miller is correct. If young people coming back from university can't get a job then something is not working properly. I and everybody on this island knows whats wrong. Salaries nothing but salaries is the problem. You all don't want to pay the proper salaries for the cost of living. It has nothing to do with rollover. 

     

    • Real World says:

      Try looking at the problem from a different angle.  Why is the cost of living so high?  Could it be because of the increases in taxes and duties (in particular fuel) required to pay for this gowerment's financial impropriety, mismanagement, and imprudence? 

      The fact is, the private sector is stagnant and not creating jobs for returning educated Caymanians because of the government's inability — or perhaps lack of desire for political purposes — to stimulate and grow the economy. There's absolutelly no confidence in this economy and Caymanian no incentive for entreprenuersto expand their businesses ans create jobs.  The extraordinary financial pressures on businesses act to keep salaries low, and until the gowerment finds a way to give companies a break, nothing will change — they'll be very few jobs generated, and they'll all be low paid with respect to the cost of living.

    • Anonymous says:

      No only thing wrong with salaries are the that young people have an unrealistic perception of how they should be.

      When Ifinished university and started working in London a an accountant, I hadthe equivalent of about $150 a week after rent, and that was for food, and transport to work and London is an expensive city.

      Trying to get 80,000 US as a starting salary is just unrealistic and then some see this as too low, as they can't buy a brand new car, new clothes etc and everything they want immediately.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Educated, motivated Caymanians cannot help but get a job here.  As an employer I am constantly on the lookout for them so I can grab them up before anyone else does. Caymanians with an overseas qualification or experience working in a country where they don't have protected status? They are like gold dust. I do not believe there is a single Caymanian that has an overseas qualification/ experience and a good attitude that cannot find a job here.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Cayman Islands seeks to stop businessmen leaving

    The government of the Cayman Islands is drafting legislation to relax its immigration laws in a bid to stem the flow of fund managers andbusinessmen quitting to go abroad.

    The Daily Telegragh 29 Dec 2009.

     

    So, no problem then Ezzard? Sounds like another load of garbage from the mouth of NorthSide. Just carry on burying your head in the sand Cayman, at least that way you won't have to hear this nonsensical isolationist.   

  29. Anonymous says:

    I agree with Ezzard except re key employee. Since the employer must propose someone to be a key employer before the Board ever gets to decide whether they meet the statutory criteria, by way of exclusion the employer does have a major say in who is eligible to apply for PR. It is directed by perceived needs/wants of the employer rather than the govt.'s overall social and economic planning.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Rollover has had a devastating effect on the local economy.  Families that that have made this place home being sent packing, selling businesses, taking kids out of school, emptying apartments, taking their savings with them. No foreign workers want to buy houses here now, they all send their money home instead of investing it here. It has been a disaster. Not to mention the loss of experience.

    • Anonymous says:

      The majority gained their experience here.  When they are employed, the other employees are the teachers, they do not even know the first thing to do on the job.  They are taught but the university graduate cannot be hired because he/she has no experience.  What is a joke.

  31. anonymous says:

    You know I rarely, if ever, agree with Mr Miller however he is dead-on with this position. The business community has grown accustomed to the rollover at this point and just letting people believe they stand a chance to get PR is misleading and at best a political gimmick- kicking the can down the road.

    The real potential downside of this is that the infamous HUMAN RIGHTS may kick in and later on say that if someone has been here for 10 years with the EXPECTATION of PR that they should get it unless there is a very good reason NOT to recieve it….that will eventually completely kill the Caymanian future and what is left of our culture, opening the floodgates again. We have already seen the population grow from 12,000 in 1975 to 60,000–and folks that is not all Caymanians having babies!

    This rollover policy HAS worked. It has sent home workers who cannotafford to live and retire here, who would eventually become a burden on Cayman's government, either through crime or welfare….who would supplant a Caymanian worker eventually.

    I for one, as a Caymanian, will stand with Mr. Miller on this issue. Lets keep it the way it is. Atleast we have a fighting chance of getting a job or advancing in our companies and keeping folks who cannot really contribute to Cayman longterm out of the country. Those with special skills, and more importantly have money so as to not be a burden on us, can move into the society long term- welcome on board.

    And less this post may give the impression of an anti-expat bias, it is not. We need folks from overseas here, we need their manpower, we need their money and we need their expertise. I am completely good with that. We just need to keep the ones who will not be a burden on society and who can continue to contribute to Cayman's growth. We just cannot follow immigration protocols of large countries that have huge indigenous populations. It will not work here. Rollover has shown a way to do that effectively.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      I am totally in agreement with Mr Miller and 16:38. Within a short time we will have thousands applying for PERMANENT RESIDENCE. After we gave almost three thousand Cayman Status there was hundreds others who had in applications for Residence, and from that list another 600 Permanent Residence was given. Thank God we had a good and sensible Board who went through that list with a fine comb and did an excellent job selecting the best.I have said from day one that STATUS should be done away with. If someone comes here to work because they cant make a living home which is the norm then they should not expect anymore than their pay check which is usually sent back to their Country. Their behaviour should be the means of their stay on the Island. Their bosses will know when they mess and complain to Immigration. Itis a shame how we are out ruled in Cayman these days, and our kids are fast becomming second class citizens with no jobs. Almost every one working in the Brac was given Cayman Status, no wonder they know who to put their vote for. What a shame, imported voters.

      • noname says:

        Wow!  Another reason to leave Cayman to the Caymanians.   Thank God right?

    • Anonymous says:

      'The real potential downside of this is that the infamous HUMAN RIGHTS may kick in'

      Listen to yourselves, human rights are a 'downside', what is wrong with you people. You are already covered by the ECHR as Britsh Overseas Citizens, to say nothing of the various UN charters.

      What it needs is for someone to take the CIG to the ECHR and force PR onto the agenda.

      For your information, human rights aren't a downside, they are a basic right that should be acknowledged by all civilised countries. Oh hang on, I forgot, this is Cayman.

       

      • Anonymous says:

        I wonder if i can go to the Us or Canada and force pr on them, me thinks you left your brain on the bus.

        Thank god Cayman is so special that people is fightingto stay here, even insulting us when they cant get there way.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Miller is a wise man, please listen to him

    • Anonymous says:

      This man has a vision and a foresight that no other can see – he is rated for that gift, and if we were to listen and reason with him, today we would be better off.