Local unemployment climbs

| 04/07/2012

wall_street_journal_taxes_unemployed_people_to_blame_for_unemployment-460x307.jpg(CNS): Despite good news from the country’s experts that the local economy is improving, the government’s latest annual economic report shows that unemployment continues to climb, with over 1,700 Caymanians registered as unemployed – some 9.8% of the local workforce. Given that not all those who are currently out of work will necessarily register with the labour department, the real figure is likely to be considerably higher. According to the Economics and Statistics Office report, the labour force grew slightly at 0.8% in 2011 to 37,620 and although Caymanians benefitted the most, with the number of employed locals rising by 1.1%, the number of Caymanians out of work has also risen.

The overall number of unemployed was 2,353, with the unemployment rate rising by 0.1 percentage points to 6.3%. The number of Caymanians unemployed reached 1,732, resulting in a Caymanian unemployment rate of 9.8% in 2011. As expected, the unemployment rate for non-Caymanians was lower at 3.1% with 621 people recorded as unemployed.

One of the main factors affecting the unemployment of local workers as opposed to foreign nationals was the continued shrinking employment activity in the construction sector, which fell by 6.3%. Related manufacturing, mining and quarrying also fell by 7.5% and there was a fall of over 10% in administrative and support services, where many locals are employed.

At the close of the year, work permits had contracted by 2.9% from the 20,452 recorded a year ago to 19,852.  By 31 March this year, according to the immigration website, the number had fallen again slightly to 20,309.

The rising levels of unemployment set against the numbers of work permits continues to cause concern, however, and during the budget debate the independent member for North Side, Ezzard Miller, warned government to keep a closer eye on unemployment levels among local workers because of the long term implications.

Miller said that government needed to get a grip on the number of unemployed Caymanians given that the over-employment rate was running at 60%. As the government is depending on work permits for funds, it is tempted to ignore the rate of unemployment among local workers. He said this was a vicious circle because government then had to spend more on social support for those who are out of work.

Unemployment is also particularly high in Cayman among young people leaving school and college, where unemployment levels are believed to be around 35%. In the ESO’s latest report on the labour force, which was released in May, only 55% of those aged between 15-24 who are currently in the workforce are employed. More than 50% of the country’s unemployed have been without work for 12 months or more, while almost one in every six has never had a job.

Related story on CNS Business

Cayman economy improves

See ESO report below.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    A lot of the expats are from India- the service industry pay less for their foreighn workers than they legally could to local Caymanians-it's virtually like buying slaves-a lot of them have financial difficulties at home and their debts are paid by the Hotel industry, thay then have to work off thus new debt in the form of gruelling shift work back to back nights- with days and nights merging into one. The risks these guys are taking for their physical and mental heath iare huge-no way would these corporations be able to get away with  what amounts to abuse in any other country !!

  2. Anonymous says:

    keke need to go that is a big problem why the unemployment continues to grow, ke ke is promising jobs but never delivers & he's always off island blowing away our hard $$$$$$! WE NEED NEW BLOOD & SOMEONE WHO HAS THE COUNTRY IN HEART NOT HIS POCKET !

  3. Anonymous says:

    What is the definition of an unemployed Caymanian?  If I walk into any Post Office there are always Caymanians sitting around doing nothing.  Are these people included in the "unemployment" figures?

    • Hiphophooray says:

      They are termed "Post Office staff".  They are paid to make up excuses why your post took 3 months from the States or the UK when we all know it is because the Cayman Post Office holds up everything until there is a full container to save costs.  And then they charge you to pick up your own mail.

  4. Anonymous says:

     

    There are currently 2,353 (registered) unemployed Caymanians and 20,309 expats on work permits. If I do the math correctly, if all the ex-pats were to leave, and the unemployed Caymanians filled the positions there would be 17,956 job openings on this island. Call me stupid but I'm not too sure the island could stay afloat. What the Government needs to do is enforce the rule that if a Caymanian and a ex-pat are both qualified for the same job, by law the Caymanian should get the job……

     

    • Anonymous says:

      It's more than just being paper "qualified", there has to be a demonstrable attitude that meshes with the business culture.  You've got to show up (sober), and when you do, you've gotta have a good attitude, ie. be smiling.  Nothing worse than a scowling employee arriving to work early and sitting in the parking lot for 40 mins getting all pumped up on Rooster chatter, then storming into the office with negative and combative energy.  Or the mysterious "sick day" claims on Mondays and Fridays.  Or the 2 hour lunches and nail appointments.  Many businesses gladly dismiss employees like that, both Expat and Caymanian alike.

  5. honorable cow itch says:

    i have a remedy for unemployment:  i eat from the land… just have to run fast when they chase ya arse off the land!

  6. Anonymous says:

    If the locals cannot find jobs, then, firsly I blame their educators and then I blame their politicians…..both local.

    • Whodatis says:

      Where are you from and do you award the blame for the current levels of unemployment there along the same guidelines?

      By the way – your comment demonstrates a chronic lack of knowldge and understanding of the bigger picture.

      • Anonymous says:

         " your comment demonstrates a chronic lack of knowldge and understanding of the bigger picture".

        I often say the same about your comments, Whodatis!

        • Whodatis says:

          Good for you, however, many people say many things about my comments, poster.

      • Anonymous says:

        I am not the original poster but damn right I award the blame for the current levels of unemployment on a bad education system and even worse politicians.  Both are failing Caymanians in a big way, most of us can see that, even if you don't.  I am actually surprised that you don't see this, despite the 'bigger picture' this is what the problem bores down to, along with poor parenting.

      • Anonymous says:

        gotta agree with whodat on this one. It's a much bigger picture.

    • Anonymous says:

      I was born and raised here and had no problems receiving a proper education. I did take advantage of private scholarships to receive a higher degree abroad but I wouldn't say that's different from a lot of countries or small cities…. you have to grab what opportunities are available and this country has a ridiculous amount compared to others.

      to your second point: i graduated from highschool over 10 years ago and mckeeva spoke at that graduation (and no, it wasn't any less painful).  it's fair to say that (a) there are quite a number of us that know an idiot when we see one, no matter the age and aren't influenced by them and (b) politicians had very little influence on much in the greater scheme of things until recent years so, even though your point may be applicable to the little ones now, it doesn't apply to those out of work now as they should've already received their education.

      that being said…and i'm sure it's been said several times below…the main issue is entitlement and laziness. not to say that that's not the problem anywhere else – i have several friends in the US with a masters in business in their 30's who've moved back in with their parents because they "can't find a job" when really they want a job that represents what they've worked for.  still if they wanted work, they could find it.  here, people seem to think they'll be offered opportunities regardless of the "work" they've put in to deserve that position. very different situations and yet both would only work "lesser" jobs if they struggled to put food on the table. and thankfully that is not the case 99% of the time. 

      i have no pity for the people of my generation in this regard. i like to say that i have worked very hard to get to where i am today, but it was not a hard path to follow.

    • Anonymous says:

      oh – dont blame the foreign teachers (the majority ofthem are non locals) or the education system?

      yes, there are many who are obviously prejudiced/preferential – never mind that the local system has traditionally focussed on the top 5-percent 'best and brightest ' to the detriment of the other suckers.

      and efore you throw the old reverse psychology quips – I know the responsibility for education is equally shared by the family, individual and the schools

  7. Anonymous says:

    Maybe everyone needs to stop playing the blame game.. I've seen people "march" for Jobs, or write up big articles in the newspaper. Is that helping? NOPE.. is complaining helping? NOPE.. Instead of wasting your time standing infront the governer house marching or just wasting your time complaining you should start learning a trade. Once you learn that NOBODY can take that away from you. Airconditiong for example, I have seen more expats doing this trade than caymanians. For Caymanians schooling for these trades is way easier so why arent we taking the opportunity?.. Cashing at fosters? We all seem to "good" for that. 6$ an hour is better than NOTHING! In each news paper advertisement there is a line that says "Caymanian preferably" so why aren't we applying? COME ON! Dont play the blame game with ex-pats.. without them we would have nobody pumping gas, cashing at supermarket, fixing A/c, cutting grass, cleaning pool, managing business because of course the caymanians, WE won't do it or we think we are too qualified. COming out of school with 5 C grade subjects and receiving a SCHOLARSHIP? Ask an expat if they got that in their country! Caymanians are spoonfed throughout school and expect it to be continued throughout their lives!

  8. Anonymous says:

    If this has anything to do with the traffic being almost non-existant with the schools being out…I'm notmad.

  9. Big question says:

    I also have another BIG question that has to be related.  

    How in the heck can the economy be so poor, yet the locals keep building?  I guarantee these HUNDREDS of new and empty 2 bedroom condos that keep popping up like mushrooms have Caymanian owners and partners.  WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE DO NOT?

    Either they drank the Big Mac kool-aid and believe that 50,000 more people are comning (huh?) or these landlords/slumlords are going to go broke with empty apartments.

    WHY are they still so many new construction empty apartments?  Surely the market is tilted.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I worked in the service industry here as an expat for 7 years.  It taught me amazing work ethic, great communication skills and flexibility, made some friends for life not to mention, made a great salary competitive with some of the 'white collared' jobs here in Cayman.

    In my 7 years, I worked with a variety of different nationalities with only one being Caymanian and never saw any locals apply for a position in the restaurant I worked in.  

    I believe that it is a strong mindset here that is being taught to the younger generation that the service industry is degrading and not a good enough job.  This mindset is what is keeping the young work force from gaining some amazing potential and experience that could lead to a much greater position in the future.

    • Anonymous says:

      You are correct! That mindset is now largely accepted as 'fact', and trumpeted by those who can benefit from the claim, to the detriment of those who are would actually welcoem a hospitality job.

      I adn many Caymanians worked (full- or part-time) in hotels/restaurants etc in past years – but I doubt i would evenbe considered for a post today.

    • Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

      Local unimployment will continue to rise when favourtism takes place. There is a woman who is a millionaire that recieved Status during the Status give-aways in 2003, that is employed in the Ministry of the Premier. I mean to say, this woman is a millionaire that does not need to work while there are so many Caymanians who need work and could well do with that job. Life is so unfair to us Caymanians! I would love someone to do an FOI but because of where I work (this is how I know of this situation) I am afraid to do an FOI myself!

      • Anonymous says:

        "Life is so unfair to us Caymanians"!

        Who ever said life was fair? It's not and it doesn't matter where you come from. Stop complaining, get off your butt and DO something about!

        • Stiffed-Necked Fool says:

          "Do something"? Look Star, I got a job but what about those that want to work but are blocked by those that dont need but are given because they are "in the loop". Where I work, I see the unfairness, thats why I say what I say, you brain!

      • Anonymous says:

        Boo-hoo, life is soooo unfair!

  11. Anonymous says:

    I really do wish that all expats would be asked to leave and no others allowed in. Who would work at the hotels on Sundays?  Perhaps Cayman should become a Christian vacation get-a-way.

    • Anonymous says:

      I too wish all expats would leave.  What a story of the Cayman Islands would be written then.  "The Islands That Time Forgot – Again"!

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Ridiculous point.

      Who do you think owoked in the hotels and restaurants before the expats flooded in?

      Not that I blame the expats – it's the overall employment system/attitude that needs to be examined.

  12. Annonnymous says:

     

    I am addressing the writer of 'WHEN WILL THE BLAME BE STOPPED?"
     
    Try make up your mind!  My take on this is that "The ones that stay think that if they leave, Cayman will sink and all us Caymanians will drown or drop dead!  Us hardback smart Caymanians brought this island forward – we needed no college degree to do so – we have the degrees of life, living and surviving without  expats! what did they bring us? progress? progression to what? crime, social problems, diseases, unemployment? we had no unemployment before the expat era, we all had jobs on island and overseas! Our progress should have been paced with the growth of our work force and we would still be maintaining control of our islands, our home! We survived before you came and we will survive after you leave, the same door you came through, we have left open for you to leave through.  I have nothing against integration and equality and welcoming expats but those who come here and think us Caymanians are dumb and exhibit a 'holier than though' attitude and that we can't exist without them, and that we are stupid, think again, we are not! the only part of you I want to see is the sole of your foot when the door closes behind you! Because of some expats we have lost our heritage, identity and culture, and generations of young Caymanians to ethics inflicted upon them by the same expats who profess to be our friends but turn out to be our worse enemy! Bon voyage to those expats who do not respects us and who beat us into the ground and t.ake the bread out of our children's mouths!
     
    • Anonymous says:

      I just don't understand how our people can have so much misguided xenophobic rage and drunkenness at 08:45 and still think they are employable somewhere.  It's so embarressing!      

    • Caymanian to the Bone & Proud of it says:

      Thank you Anon, well said I agree 1000% with you……

    • Anonymous says:

      Well, you are Caymanian, so send all the expats home and don't let anymore in – call the bluff. However, will the rich Caymanians want to give up their expat nannies, helpers, gardners etc to allow their fellow Caymanians to have work? And will those  Caymanians want to work for other Caymanians as nannies etc? Also, take over the law firms and accounting firms.  If you think so, then take back your country.

    • Anonymous says:

      "we had no unemployment before the expat era,"

      is that why nearly all the men had to leave the island and work on boats to supply money for their families

      Read your own history, and try not to make it all up. In fact there was a great article in the Observer on Sunday where they interviewed a old Caymanian, he confirms all of this.

    • Anonymous says:

      And it is this shameful ignorance that makes me sad to be Caymanian. You sound like you could sure use a college degree.

    • Anonymous says:

      The bread going into your many childrens mouths is payed for by the expats you want to get rid of.  Do you still think the money comes from bush's A$$?

  13. Let's get this straight says:

    Let me agree with a few things and state a few others:

    1.) There is a reality that our youth do not work in tourism or entry level jobs.  This gives credence to the perception that Caymanians are not willing to start at the bottom and work their way up.  This may be a perception problem anddiscriminates against a few…but the majority of young Caymanians do not start in the service industries.

    We do need to instill a work ethic with our teenagers.  Most ex-pats that arrived here had to work side jobs through university (The nature of expats is "outgoing enough" to leave their own country and take a risk overseas- this same group has experience with working their way up in a company)   and this fuels their resentment of young Caymanians with an entitlement attitude.  Right or wrong….it is there.  Employers are keen to hire young people that flipped burgers, waited on tables, and swept a floor.

    2.) Yes, also strongly agree that the whilte collar jobs are passed over for Caymanians, the rollover failed, and Immigration / Govt. does a bad job of helping qualified locals secure jobs.  

     

    have Status and Caymanian family.  My resume is perfect and is filled with awards and community service.

    I have an overseas top-notch degree and perfect work experience from both here and overseas, but have been passed over for ex-pats and given only a courtesy interview!  The rollover has created a mentality of, "Well, he/she is already here on a permit I need to keep them" and "It is too difficult to fire Caymanians, I can always replace an ex-pat."  (**oooh, I let the scary truth out?  Ex-Pats dont LIKE to hire Caymanians- they feel they are life-jobs.)

    Our most sought after companies are the worst offenders.  I cannot tell you how it pains me to see north americans and europeans getting the Mid-management,  IT jobs, Sales Management, Marketing, and Financial roles.  The recruiters are a joke and our own senior HR staff should be ashamed if they feed this ironic mess.  (But HR is a protected local role to show a false hope).

    It remains that yes, we do not help ourselves, but as long as our economy is dependant on work permit revenue and cronyism thrives, we will not succeed.

    The top twenty employers in Cayman are the worst offenders.  I'd ask the AG to see how many complaint letters Immigration receives about each of their favourtism hires.

    Too many times have I heard a qualified Caymanian has been passed by by the Top 20.  

    This is where the Immigration Boards fail.  If there IS an Caymanian, married to Caymanian, or Status holder eligble for the job, they SHOULD get it.  (but that is not the norm.)

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree except Caymanian employers prefer not to employ Caymanians, perhaps more so than expats!

  14. Expat says:

    Can we please stop the same stereotypical arguements about our hosts reasons for unemployment.

    Have you seen the job classifieds in the papers, there are jobs like cash washer or pot washer available, yet with them is a prerequiste of 5 years similar experience? for low skilled work?

    Come on, why are there such hurdles for the local population to even the low paying jobs.

    It's all very well harping on about entitlement, but the fact is how can we expect locals to start at the bottom when there are barriers to entry for even those positions.

    The facts are 10% unemployment among Caymanians and 30,000 work permits. There is a mismatch that nedds to be addressed

    • Anonymous says:

      could you show us this advertisement for a pot-washer that requires 5 years experience?  No, thought not

      • Caymanian to the Bone & Proud of it says:

        Sorry to say that the post for a Dishwasher isn't wrong the poster may have  exaggerated the number here but it is true most ads for low paying jobs come with unrealistic experience needed, just to quickly eliminate applicants so they can retain the permit holder they already have and that are being paid little or nothing to do such a grueling tiresome job….

      • Expat says:

        Look in friday's compass, it is there in black and white (literally) on Page C6 at the bottom

        So how would you expect me to show it to you, apart from telling you where it is, do you want me to project it on to the Butterfield building ?LOL

        SO sorry mate, your negativity is unwarranted

    • Anonymous says:

      Is 'cash washing' a banking job?

  15. Anonymous says:

    1700 people is not so many. It's a manageable number if someone would actually focus on getting jobs for those specific people instead of all these arguments about who is good and bad.

    • Anonymous says:

      Governments themselves aren't supposed to create jobs.  All they can hope to do is correctly modulate factors that effect the business climate – indirectly stimulating or dampening job creation via the private sector.  The world would be a better place if more politicians stopped believing "job creation" was part of their mandate and simply got out of the way.  

      • Angel of truth says:

        09:13 If government get out of the way, we would go back to slavery.

        You do not like no one watching you so you can discriminate against people like you have been doing all your life, if you could pay us .50 cents an hour you would do it.

        We know what you are history is full of people like you, Caymanians and expats alike please watch pbs.org/sban and you will see why they behave this way because of money and greed.

    • Anonymous says:

      But this is only those registered as unemployed.  There are plenty out there who are unregistered and looking for work, as well as those who admittedly, can't be bothered to work at all!

  16. Anonymous says:

    When you go to other Caribbean nations, yousee local indigenous people in all these service industry jobs, you dont see expat workers. They are hotel managers,concierge in hotels, waiters & waitresses to name but a few examples.They do the job given them with total commitment and customer service & satisfaction is at the forefront of their work ethic. You used to see more Caymanians in these positions here too ( back in the 80's I recall) but not now. If you want to reduce the unemployment of locals here, the authorities in power need to answer the above question of why none of them want these jobs.

    • Anonymous says:

      Because in Cayman they are not indigenouse people. They are CAYMANIAN!

      That means they are intitled to act smart, act like they are the most skillfull, pretent they have experiance, And no one can tell them any different.  Like Bush.

      • Anonymous says:

        Given your inability to spell and punctuate properly you should not be deriding the skills of anyone else. You are obviously an expat. I hope that you are not employed in a job which requires writing of any sort which could be filled by a Caymanian.   

        • Anonymous says:

          So I can't spell and I have a job that does not require much sitting and writing but I'm still right and you are just hopeing your right.  P.S. I am a self employed worker, successful enough in my job to have a house in the states and one in Cayman all payed for. And yes I am PROUD to be an expat.

          • Whodatis says:

            Re: "And yes I am PROUD to be an expat."

            Eh?!

            I can appreciate anyone being proud of their nationality or background e.g. British, American, Jamaican, Canadian etc. … but how exactly does one take pride in being "an expat"?

            That categorization is lacking in any true foundation and celebrates one's segregation from a host community over everything else.

            I trust you are one-of-a-kind, otherwise we surely have a major problem on our hands in this country today.

            Actually, judging by many of the daily comments and sentiments here on CNS – you quite possibly just 'verbalized' a common mindset within our expat community today.

            Regards,

            Whodatis

            (Product of a Caymanian + Expat union.)

          • Anon says:

            Only goes to show that no matter how unintelligent and uneducated they are certain expats believe themselves superior to any Caymanian. 

      • Angel of truth says:

        Why are you in Cayman?

    • Caymanian to the Bone & Proud of it says:

      Here is your answer, they are not hired for these jobs, Ritz Carlton for example, look how many expats are there!!! Yet this was a "Job Creating" venture  by our Politrikions, there caymanians that have applied directly out of school who have yet to be interviewed with them much less hired.  They don't even have a single caymanian at the airport welcoming their guests all i see are the expats, at the front door of the hotel, expats, at the residences on the beach side, expats, at the Exclusive Resort behind the Ritz all the concierge are expats.

      When you have a permit out for an expat  it's like a leash/collar, a caymanian can't be handled anyhow by an employer because they don't have to have a permit, therefore caymanians aren't wanted in the tourism industry. 

      As a previous poster has stated our NATIVE Caymanians should be the faces that every visitor sees when they visit OUR country, unfortunately this is not the case.

      Now that Shomari Scott has now become the new Director of Tourism this should be his first task to undertake ensuring that the Native Caymanian face is the first that our guest see and not the last as it is now…in every aspect of our tourism product.

      • Anonymous says:

        I would love to be the fly on the wall when Shomari tells the tourism industry, "Thou shalt hire Caymanians".  Or what exactly?  will be their reply.

        Really do some people even think before they type.

  17. Anonymous says:

    For What it's Worth.

    I read a comment about the various boards that are politically appointed and it stirred a thought. It has always been my thought that excluding expats from public schooling is a terrible policy. Correct me if I am wrong but I think that the standard of education would be higher if expatriat children were permitted to go to the public schools. My other concern is all the the boards that are 100 percent Caymanian. 50% of the population are expats. Why would you not at least have token input from half of the population. It might make them feel a bit more inclusive and expand there participation in other parts of soceity.It is obvious that the us verses them is not such a smart way to move forward.

    • Anonymous says:

      What has to be remembered is that there is no 'Caymanian'  any more– at least not in the sense of indigenous peoples, and pobably one-third of Caymanians today are first-generation status holders.

      Not that I am making any complaint – it's just that the fact has to be remembered when we say "Caymanian" – especially in cases where employment stats are twisted to make the assumption that these are all 'blood-natives".

    • Angel of truth says:

      For what its worth

      You can give all you want they will want more and more and more.

      You must understand just look at history, they do not want to live with us, they want to rule us, can you not remember that we welcomed them with open arms and kindness, but liston to there words now?  they think we will die if they leave, our kids is nothing to them ,we should be happy to live in poverty right?.

      Will we be able to live togeather? i think not, because some people think they are better than us, and i wonder where they will run to next.

  18. Anonymous says:

    The enemy of the Cayman working class is the Cayman ruling class.

     

    The Cayman ruling class makes the laws so that they can import

     

    1) qualified white collar expats who can be controlled through the threat of work permit cancellation

     

    and

     

    2) cheap indentured blue collar slaves from impoverished countries who will put up with

    – long hours with no overtime,

    – pension deductions that are never paid into a pension fund,

    -health care deductions that are never paid to a health insurer,

    – sexual abuse.

    The minute they complain, their work permit is pulled.

     

    How can a Caymanian compete for a job in this type of environment?

     

    The Cayman ruling class (aka employers) makes all the laws to suittheir needs.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep. When an employer is faced with a choice between a free Caymanian and an indentured slave, guess which one gets the job.

       

      It is all about control.

      • anonymous says:

        maybe learned that from Mac. The all about control part.

      • Anonymous says:

        nonsense…. employers don't like paying extortionate permit fees….

        • Let's get this straight says:

          Yes they do!  At least thet retain control.  Until Immigration enforces the white collar jobs going to QUALIFIED locals, this will not change.

          The top 20 employers can hire ALL the expats they want.  CNS wont publish this if I name the companies, but suffice to say the biggest 20 EMPLOYER offenders for protecting work permits and ignoring their own college degreed locals are:

          Large LOCAL banks- sure all the teller are local, but look at Senior Admin or IT. Shameful white collar hiring practices.

          Telecom companies, what a joke, see any (should be ALL)  local sales reps and mangers? Yup, the shops are full of retail locals, but the senior management all have UK accents.

          Charities – harldy can find a senior Caymanian in any of these juicy roles.

          Our billionaire benefactor: wow, again, great to have locals at the front desk, but the back office???

          The list of the terrible twenty could go on….and the Immigration Boards should be the ones vetting the white collar applications, not us.

           

        • Anonymous says:

          Of course not. But they can get the indentured servant to work it off.

          • cow itch says:

            my dentures are not in me, they're expoooosed on me legs, baby ;))>)

    • Anonymous says:

      So long as you understand the Cayman ruling class comprises many expats.

    • Higgs says:

      My healthcare and pension was paid for the most part over the 8-9 years I had been living on island. I wasn’t paid on time sometimes for more than 2 months behind and I had long working hours.

      I had some great Caymanian friends, which I miss along with the culture on the island. But before I had been rolled over in 2010, I increasingly started to feel like an outsider like I shouldn’t belong due to the economical climate. Its sad that there’s increasing divide between locals and expats.

      • Anonymous says:

        You ARE right – it's because of the bad economic climate – not a blatant hatred of expats that some people preach.

        so, please go home til we get our own house in order (and some locals employed), then you are free to return

        Bye now…

  19. Anonymous says:

    Caymanian are prideful people!your pride will be your downfall in life, those same caymanians are looking and lol at you when you at the s-market using food stamps from gov rather getting a lower paid job until better things come along! Lower your pride my fellow caymanians and keep your head high no matter how small the job might look in the eyes of your fellow people!!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Caymanian companies are looking for more because they don’t want to pay for work permit fees, I mightn’t be allot but it’s something more than sitting at home doing nothing at all & I am 100% braca!

  21. Whodatis says:

    Honestly, at times I wonder if people; have no knowledge of, have never traveled to, or simply conveniently forget about the employment realities in other countries.

    To attempt to label this as a "Caymanian" problem is nothing but intellectual dishonesty on display … yet again.

    I will refrain from reposting the deplorable employment / government dependent (and immigration) statistics and prospects of the USA, UK, Spain, France, rest of the EU because certain folks will simply shift the goalpost … yet again.

    However, until Cayman (as is the onus for any country); secures a liveable salary for EVERY employed individual (Caymanian or otherwise), improves the avenues and mechanisms against the exploitation of workers throughout the entire workforce, and diversifies its values, priorities and "respect" awarded to our spectrum of careers – we will continue to face this problem.

    * The very existence of the economic framework of countries like the Philippines in this year of 2012 is nothing short of a global disgrace. (I trust readers will see the bigger picture within the previous statement and not take offense as non was intended.)

    ** It is imperative that Caymanians diversify our choices of careers but such diversification would be futile under the current state of affairs.

    *** Caymanians are discriminated against within the local job market. I have seen it personally within the banking, legal and tourism industries. There is no reason to believe that it does not happen elsewhere as well.

    The saddest part of all is that we (they) have done ourselves a great disservice, for in a few of those (tourism) instances, we lost some of the most dedicated, young, qualified, and passionate Caymanians we could have ever hoped for.

    • Angel of truth says:

      You see, Whodatis they think we don"t read.

      • Whodatis says:

        Yep … or that we don't own passports.

        Seriously, the standard of the contributions to this forum deteriorates on a daily basis.

        Everyone feels entitled to the right to stay forever, but yet so many only have negative and spiteful things to say about the country and its people.

        Go figure.

    • Anonymous says:

      I'm in agreement with much of what "whodatis" has expressed ..concurring strongly with"we have done OURSELVES a great disservice…"

      Yes, dear fellow Caymanians, if we contend that we have a problem that extends beyond (and I do agree..somewhat..) the "norm" for the rest of the World at this period in History..then we , in my opinion, can lay the blame for the existence of such squarely at our own doorsteps..however unpleasant and embarassingthat excercise may be.

      The populace's role in creating/fostering the "problem":

      In the last 50 years we have undergone a dramatic paradigm shift in the way we view employment and what it takes to maintain an "average" lifestyle. Increasing personal/community wealth brought with it increased possibilities and expectations (increased wealth gives one access to more choices for, material consumption, educational possibilities, access to better healthcare, independence of thought etc. BUT it also indirectly "imposes" limits on what the recipient is willing to/or feels that he/she HAS to accept, (..I can't see Donald Trump "choosing" to wotk as a janitor anytime soon!!)) with the end result being that in a very short time, the typical Caymanian worker went from one who would literally take any job(simply because we HAD to.!!.."beggars can't be choosers!") to one that had/felt they had some say/choice in what activity they would/could CHOOSE to do in order to make "a good living"! This "change of circumstances", although it might seem to have occurred "overnight" in fact was a long time coming, starting arguably from the time that the first seamen were recruited back in the 1950s to man the National Bulk Carriers freighters and tankers. For the first times in our history, a substantial segment of our population had a STEADY and PREDICTABLE INCOME. This developement/money influx fueled the inception of the banking industry in the Caymans, and with the efforts in the 1960s made by such visionaries as sir Vassel Johnson, Warren Conolly et al (Government) and W.S Walker (Private Sector) in creating laws to further capitalize apon ourstatus as a "tax free" country, we made the rather abrupt transition from the "islands time forgot" into what has since become this world reknown "banking/financial services centre. The rest is history as they say…

      Governments role In creating/fostering the "problem":

      In order for our community to have made the most of this newfound wealth (and countered the negatives) , it would have required the Governments of the day (as leaders of the people) to have had a well defined/comprehensive long term "developement plan", characterized by an aggressive approach towards educating/qualifying its people, limiting/controlling private sector capital injection/investments, so as not to overwhelm local workforce supply to any large extent,  (easier to do when the approach is from expat investors…what to do with locals "fronting"/pardenering with such?) and practising "austerity" as a form of general Government policy. It is my opinion that the founding fathers DID in fact practise this policy to a large extent,(I am not contending  that they were perfect in every approach!)as can be seen by the fact that such initiatives as the "Cayman Protection Board", the introduction of the "Comprehensive" approach to education (although arguably , with the benefit of hindsight we may argue that this was not persued aggressively enough ) creation of medium/long term "developement Plans" etc were brought to fruition under their watch. It is therefore my opinion then that, when opposing politicians(with their own personal agendas, we older individuals know of whom I am speaking!)), starting in the mid 1970s, proceeded to "charm" a Caymanian population already "drunk" from the new and unexpected increase in wealth (and all the possessions that it allowed us to wallow in..and still are wallowing in!) into thinking that "more is certainly better!" and consequently voting out most of the "old guard" of conservative and "plodding" architects of our prior economic success..it is THEN that we then started along a path that was largely out of our effective control. (Arguably, we are STILL in "control", but I believe the control is largely now limited to, how we RESPOND to each crisis that arise..we no longer have "control of the wheel of the ship"..but we will definately have to "bail the incoming water" should the good ship "hit the reef!")

      Please note dear friends, that I am not saying that what we have today is necessarily "bad and deplorable' Nay!…for indeed our lot in many respects is still many times "better" (when measured by such markers as, personal wealth and material possessions, shelter, access to food and water, education etc) than many of our fellow humans who share this earth with us. Neither do I think that the immigration to our shores by many and diverse people that we have experienced in the last three decades is necessarily a "bad thing"..Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the "vistors", chosing to treat them as I would like to be treated, if in the future I should find myself a "visitor" in someone elses country. Additionally, like it our not, we are now irrevocably  a country that is run by the dictates of the "aggressive capitalist/free enterprise" model that we GLADLY adopted and nurtured (by buying into the "rabid consumption" mindset, andby continually voting for politicians who promised "more and more"..Such a system requires a sufficient population count to "feed" its demand for labour AND consumers. Without sufficient headcount, commerce is compromised, stalled, or lost entirely to our next competitor/frontier.

      It is necessary then my fellow Caymanians, and indeed any and all who call this little rock "home" that we choose to see (and make an effort to capitalize on ) the potential benefits of our present situation, instead of "moaning and bemoaning" and wallowing in xenophobia and self pity. We have to realize that each person is largely responsible for his or hers own Destiny, and that we are larhely "limited" by our own "insecurities, fears, lack of ambition etc" when it comes to us making "progress" along our chosen path through life. To quote from my favourite philosopher Bob Marley.."..when one door is closed, many more is opened".."in the abundance of water, the fool goesthirsty"…"every man was once a baby"(meaning that even the successful amongst us ..had the same start as the rest of us ..)

      Peace…and God Bless us all!! 

      • Whodatis says:

        Wow … talk about a comprehensive history lesson and breakdown of the local situaton!

        Excellent post … excellent!

        I agree with and support 99% of what you have written.

        I only wish your post was on Page 1 of this thread as I am certain many readers will miss it considering its current location.

  22. Annoymous Blonde says:

    We are importing workers from countries that offer their citizens free education.  In the Cayman Islands the Govt. won't do this so that's the problem.  The Caymanian has to work and pay their way to a higher education but on the other hand we import workers from countries that educate their people for free.

    If we implemented a legal lottery system we could easily afford to educate the majority if not all for free.  Therefore eliminating the majority of work permits and a reliance on the income from it as well.

    • Anon says:

      I worked from the age of 12, 40 hour weeks in any holidays to raise enough money to go to univiersity and continued to work evening and weekends will at university.

      Caymanians get their education free and then there are plenty of scholarships to go around for college. You will find that Caymanians have to pay a lot less for their education than nearly any other country in the world outside of Communist states

      out of interest please let us know which countires yu are talking about

      You should really use your free education to learn more about other countries

  23. Jumbles says:

    In other news, a mermaid was spotted on Seven Mile Beach and the tooth fairy visited several schools in East End.

    This is not a news story.  It is like reporting a man has starved to death because he refused to eat the food that was placed before him. 

    There are many many jobs available.  However people only want the jobs that they consider themselves worthy of.  If I see an applicant now with a long period of unemployment it sets "entitlement" bells ringing loud and clear.  If I see someone apply for a job and they have done work in the interim that might be considered "lesser" then that person goes up in my estimation and if far more likely to get an interview and a job.

     

  24. Anonymous says:

    There is a large section of that unemployed number that one of our politicians recently said were unemployable. I tend to agree. When the tide goes out (bad economy) you can see who is swimming naked. Parents need to take responsibility for making sure their children get a proper education. Education is the great equalizer. Don’t blame the teachers. Parents need to instill the proper work ethic in their children. Properly educated and with the right attitude, there remains great opportunity here for young and not so young. Not everyone can be a lawyer or accountant. Skilled trades, teachers, chefs, entrepreneurs,jobs in the service economy are the kinds of jobs that are the real backbone of our economy and of any economy. Tourism-have you ever been to a resort in Jamaica? Every service job is filled by a Jamaican. The result is a genuine, unique Jamaican cultural experience for the tourist. It is a very different experience here for the tourist who are looked after largely by other nationalities. Why do Caymanians not aspire the work in tourism? Our sun and beaches are not going anywhere. For a bright, presentable, hard-working local person, there is a job for life!

    Why do I need an Irish guy or a Canadian to be my electrician? Why is my plumber an expat? educating our people properly and instilling a work ethic in our people, and losing the entitlement culture are things that will change that.

    • Anonymous says:

      The youth that go out and seek summer jobs and internships will be those prepared with the lessons and skills for their future.  Schools don't teachthat, responsible parents do.  You really don't see much of that here. 

      • Angel of truth says:

        I know of kids trying to get summer jobs now, i guess they must be looking management jobs thats why they cant get any.

        You must be looking at the wrong end of the bull with comments like that.

  25. Anonymous says:

    We need to stop focusing on what a job might seem to be, oppose to what it is!! To many locals see the service industry as a degrating job, and want to sit in a A/C office with all the frills and no pay.  

    An island that so heavily depends on tourism, why arn't more local kids wanting to become bartenders, servers, divers??  All of these jobs have room for growth, but you, for the majority only see expats holding these positions?

    time to see more locals in these positions, but not any locals, ones that want to work, leaving their guest served with the welcoming feeling of coming back.

    Stop blaming Bush, x-pats, your parents, your pets, the weather WHATEVER!! and starting helping yourself 

    • Annoymous Blonde says:

      Bush goes around blaming everyone else so what's your point?

    • Anonymous says:

      I could have sworn during Bush’s swearing in as premier in front of the LA building, said something very inappropriate along the lines of (and I’m paraphrasing): his mother use to tell him to go work in the hotels and he never wanted that. It never got her anywhere. Andthe he cockily said the the crowd ” look at me now.” he the rambled on about being a “sugar-head boy from West Bay” and whole bunch of other embarrassing garbage on poor taste of such a high office. Was I the only one who remembered it? Was it my imagination?

      I agree with your comment because its mostly true but here we have a politician who has been famous for “helping” (handouts and vote buying) a large segment of the island, who during his arrogant acception speech down cries the service industry and devalues the hard work of his mother in the service industry, then becomes minister of tourism (and a bad one at that) – how does he serve as an inspiration or source of encouragement to any Caymanian? He contradicts himself by enabling a welfare state and then blaming his own people for the house he has built.

  26. TaxiMan says:

    Until I see Caymanians working in supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, as nannies and other such jobs then there is no unemploymet on this island – just a whole bunch of people who aren't prepared to start at the bottom and work there way up and who feel they are entitled to a cushy job.

    • Annoymous Blonde says:

      TaxiMan:

      Why don't you feel that Caymanians shouldn't have a sense of entitlement in their country.  Oh I get it you that TaxiMan from somewhere near to down under.  That would explain your defence, but I wonder if you had stayed in your own country would you have had to fight for your entitlement too.  But, No, you had to cross the seas and land here with your guaranteed job and your entitlement that the UDP Govt. has given you and pushed aside the Caymanian so you could get your 'entitlement'.  

      When the PPM was in power we had the lowest unemployment rate and we certainly didn't have this many person on work permits taking away the Caymanian entitlement for themselves and calling it their 'entitlement'.  

      The minute the UDP got in office they amended the Immigration Law to open the door further for the imported worker and shut the door in the Caymanian face.  

      But here wha, we taking away the UDP's entitlement , so TaxiMan sssshhhhh, don't run and tell them.

      • Anonymous says:

        Anonymous Blonde i just hope that its not the PPM that you are going to vote for, that just wont make any sense,why? because Alden is now on the same page as McKeeva when it comes to the rollover,permits,term limits p.r. etc., you better start lookin for some independents to vote for sweetheart!!

    • Real World 101 says:

      You are absolutely right.  This "not good enough for me" Caymanian attitude in the job market is a direct result of the gowerment's damaging policy of positive discrimination and protectionism for Caymanians.  It has been seen the world over that this type of social engineering promotes a lazy work ethic and an entitlement mentality.  Surely, positive discrimination must be humiliating to any self-respecting young Caymanian?  One can only gain a sense of self-worth by making ones own way in life through hard work and self-development? 

       

    • FULL OF IT says:

      Taximan you are full of it.   Who did you think did these jobs before foreigners came here?  It was Caymanians, and some Jamaicans.

      That is a load of Bull what you are saying.  These employers are not giving Caymanians any job because the simple reason they hold a work permit over the head of another foreigner and wave it at them every time they make a slip.

      They do not give Caymanians a job because Caymanians will not take the abuse that most times go on in these Jwork place, slave mentality.  Dont bring that around a Caymanian, because we are the blood of an Irish  and English man.  No slave mentality.

      Caymanians asre willing to work but both Caymanian and Foreign business owners are alike,  They will not hire Caymanians, or give them a chance.   Then when they get rob they are running around like a duck without a beak.

      Stop being anti Caymanians.

      • Jacko See More says:

        "Dont bring that around a Caymanian,because we are the blood of an Irish and English man."………………….FULL OF IT you are really full of it, funny how you included our European ancestors while ignoring or west African ones,well i am one proud Caymanian to have African blood,what do you say about that now FULL OF IT?

      • Anonymous says:

        "FULL OF IT",  you are certainly full of it.  So why are locals not doing these same jobs now, if you were doing them before? What changed?  I will tell you what changed.  Your country's fast growth and development boom gave locals a false sense of entitlement andsuddenly the service or menial jobs were no longer good enough – everyone wants to work now in airconditioned cushy bank jobs.   As to your being of the blood of an Irish and Englishman – those people you refer to, came here FROM Jamaica, they were Jamaicans who came here in the early days, settled, developed a life here, and you are their offspring.   Jamaicans are not only black people, they comprise people of every race that had settled in Jamaica long ago, and some of them came over to Cayman to settle here.  A lot of your so-called Caymanian businessmen mostly have Jamaican roots, and most of you have Jamaican ancestry but refuse to acknowledge it because you believe you are better than Jamaicans.   Some of the Jamaicans who came here in the early days were also runaway slaves.   Slavery was also practiced here, with the fairer skin land-owners here holding much of the wealth and power.   That ruling class / holding onto power continues to this day.  Blame your ruling power for the situation that now exists – they are the ones who would rather hire expats than their own "locals", because not even they can stomach your sense of entitlement.

        • Anonymous says:

          The myth that all Caymanians came from Jamaica and were originally Jamaicans really needs to be dispelled. The original settlers – Bodden and Watler – were simply part of Cromwell's army in Jamaica and moved here when the army was disbanded sometime after 1655. [Prior to 1655 Jamaica was Spanish]. Obviously that did not make them Jamaican. Many others were shipwrecked here and had no connection with Jamaica – e.g., Fosters, McLaughlins and Arches. Others came from Cuba, Belize and Honduras – e,g, Kirkconnells, Woods.    

    • anonymous says:

      TaxiMan you are right on target.

    • Anonymous says:

      So you think a Caymanian can survive on $5 an hour like say the Filipinos?? Where 10 ppl share a one bedroom apt?? Don't get me wrong that nation of ppl are quiet and hardworking but their lives a relatively easier due to them having multiple room mates and eating a lot of rice.

      • Anonymous says:

        Their lives are easier because they have to pile ten people into rooms and eat a lot of rice?  What are you smoking, man?  You can't possibly believe this.

         

        Don't Caymanians have the support of their families here?  Can't a young Caymanian start in a low-paying job and continue to live with his or her parents until some experience is gained or a better opportunity comes up?  That's what I did when I was young and inexperienced.

      • Anonymous says:

        pure ignorance…..

        thats why most employers will take a phillipino over a caymanaian any day of the week…..

        • Angel of truth says:

          10:25 You are right they will take a Phillipino over a Caymanian because they want slaves, if this is so good why dont you stay 6 or 10 people to a room?.

      • Anonymous says:

        Anon 0817 there are big problems in this country.

        First off we must stop putting all the expats in the same boat and we ask them not to group us as they please. Not all caymanians are hardworking, nor are they all educated but at the same time we are not all lazy nor all uneducated. If you are a Caymanian we then to preach that we educated and that we are hard working the expats preach that we are lazy and uneducated. This is carried out by both sides to satisfy their own needs.

        However in the world we may all be asked to work and survive on that $5. And we should not say no becaquse we are caymanian. If the Filipino survives on $5 then we need to find away to do the same.

        Now I say this with a side note.

        If you are a caymanian and you have messed your education then the filipino job is there waiting for you. However if you are an educated Caymanian then we should not put up with the stupidness that is going on. We have many many caymanians with high levels of education who have been put aside for educated jobs for expats.

        But if you are poorly educated then the filipino job is there for you.

        PS when the Government puts together programs to help locals in these hard times why should we have problems with it. I will grant you that there are those that will take advantage of it. There are those after hurricane ivan took whatever insurrance money they got and spent freely and then recieved money from Government to fix their homes. Those people I have no use for. These are the ones that give Caymanians a bad name and the expats dont need any help in that area.

        One of our big problems is the immigration section. There are too many companies in Cayman interviewing Caymanians for jobs and have the jobs go to expats with similar qualifications. They love saying we are over qualified – Gee such a lovely term inthese difficult times. 

      • Anonymous says:

        $5 an hour is better than $0!

      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry I stand corrected! It’s better to earn f all and sponge off your family than Yoda

    • Angel of truth says:

      You are a fool there are some Caymanians working in the jobs you mention, stop putting everyone in the same pot, you are out of touch with the people who you speak of.

  27. Anonymous says:

    It's the Government fault,  each job opening placed in the Caymanian Compass should also be register with the National Workforce Development Agency in order to give Caymanian a fair opportunity of applying for that position to be filled. 

    The Government also needs to mandate where they can enter a business place and review their books to see how much Caymanian applied and how much Caymanian was short listed and interviewed.

    We have Caymanians who applied for job positions and not even a acknowledge letter was return, to later find out that the position was filled by an ex-pat.

    It's not fair and I would encourage all Caymanians to cut out the AD placed in the Compass that you have applied to and attached a copy of your resume and send it to the Immigration Department.  

    The workforce is assisting the ex-pats to become more suited for Key-status and the banks are not helping by giving them house loans as one of the requirements set out for Caymanian Status.  This stops us as Caymanians from being promoted.  I see a big war happening soon and I hope am not here when it starts…(Rodney King style I see in the future).

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Listen to me Caymanians, you all brought this on yourselves….nasty attitude! that is our problem.

      Have you ever asked yourself, why so many other Caymanians just flow right into the work force, and you can't? look in the mirror and ask yourself "what am i doing wrong?

      I have nieces and nephews that are all working. They all started at the bottom of the ladder, they never came back here after schooling, and bitched about they should have some expat's job. That attitude will not work.

      Why is it that you guys think this Island owes you anything? just because you are Caymanians? don't you see it is your foolish attitude that is keeping you from a job! go and get proper training, we have serval instituations on the Island offering you a varity of skills. Auto Mechanic, Elactrical Engineering and more. Stop listening to your ego, a job is a job.

      When i left school I pulled weed as my first job. never bum around begging my parents for anything.

      If you all want to continue to be losers, then go ahead, but stop blaming expats. if you had gotten off your ass and work, in the first place, that expat would'nt have had the opportunity to come in and find that vacancy where you, provided for him or her.

       

      by a born Caymanian

  28. Anonymous says:

    the helpers are making $1400ci a month! that is alot better than nothing at all, hold your job no matter what people may think about you, it's better than stealing!!!!!

    • Angel of truth says:

      21:09, i advise all expats to get to know the people that they keep shooting down, oh and some Caymanians too who seem to be rideing this horse from outer space.

      $1,400 per month? sure with 4 jobs if you dont know better please dont talk, again you are out of touch with the people who you speak of.

  29. Anonymous says:

    caymanian can also hold 2 jobs if that what it takes to get them through until they can find a better job, i didit and i am caymanian! 1 loaft of bread a better than none!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you Caymanian 21;07 you have ambition and a very good attitude! Very good example.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your answer to Caymanians being UNEMPLOYED is to say that they can hold TWO jobs? lol. Did you read the article or even the headline to the article? If you are holding two it means you are depriving someone else of a job. 

  30. Anonymous says:

    Such misleading information.  How do you have a non-employment rate of 3.1% for non-Caymanians?  The old school of thought is that if a non-Caymanian was not on a work permit, then they would not be here in the first place.  Other people that have become unemployed here have had to leave, why not these?  Unless this is another of those facts that include people married to Caymanians.  Over the years, we have employed many Caymanians and have found that only around 30% make it past the first month.  There is always a litany of excuses like my car broke down, it was raining, I missed the bus, I have family problems, etc…  And there are many hundreds of Caymanians I know that hold multiple jobs.  As the economy of these islands expands and various business sectors start to grow back to their previous levels, perhaps a more pragmatic approach needs to be taken.  We now fully enforce the rollover policy which does not help Caymanians get more jobs, it just brings new, untested workers to the island because the bulk of the jobs these rolled over people do are jobs that Caymanians will not do, be it custodians, security guards, gas station attendants, and the like.  I have several friends that operate dive companies and it is impossible to get any locals to work in that industry (they all offer free instruction to locals who would like to pursue this as a career) yet the dropout rate among the young is virtually 100%.  Most of these youngsters find out how much work it is and disappear or have someone they know get them an airconditioned job.

    But since the enactment of the rollover policy, most local merchants I have spoken with have noticed a sizable drop in revenues and business as a result.  Think about it, you are now making sure that those expats you loathe so much (the ones that gave us economic freedom that the island never dreamed was possible 50 years ago is now happening.  And yet when you remove a sizable segment of the work permit population (14% annually) you are only assuring yourself of an overworked Immigration department, and vastly increasing crime statistics due to untested new residents arriving daily.  It's better to deal with the devil (insert expat here) than the devil you do not know.

    Instead of getting good people that would like to make a living in Cayman, own a property and keep fixing it up, as most people do when they buy a place to call home, we have now created money hoarders who contribute nothing to the local economy as they know they will be booted in a few years, so why bother to invest or spend money here?  Have you ever noticed how many money wiring services seem to be doing a brisk business here compared to 15 years ago when we had more expats here.

    Now I know that I am going to hear the argument that we gave some of them status so the numbers really do not mean anything.  But the fact is that most of those people are workers and do their part in this society.  And I doubt seriously if most of the people here on work permits would care less if they were allowed to stay and work without benefit of the right to vote.  Other countries like the USA have a green card that does not guarantee anyone the right to do anything other that reside and work.  If they choose to try to become citizens of that country, it is done on individual merit. 

    So maybe you want to see that those among us are all employed.  I have not talked to anyone unemployed lately that could not find work.  Perhaps we should enact a law whereby Caymanians cannot have more than one job.  According to the statistics in this article, they are not being replaced by expats because that force is shrinking, ever so slightly. 

    Has anyone noticed how many empty apartments and stores we have here?  Why is that?  Maybe a few of us might realize that we are stifling growth in the local economy by making sure that only a few people are permitted to stay and help the country grow.  Prior to Ivan apartments were at a premium and there wasn't an empty store anywhere.  What has been built since Ivan is not really too much out of line except that the world economy fell apart a few years ago, and even Cayman has suffered for it.  But we have a better chance than countries in the region that have runaway population growth.  But by alienating a key segment of the population (insert expats here) we are doing ourselves a disservice, and for that we will regret what is going on here now.  While I respect Ezzard and many of the things he has tried to accomplish, if you want a progressive society that growth is almost assured, then quit picking on the one thing you should leave well enough alone and concentrate on seeing that you have a stable population, one that you will see when the revolving door here slows down.

    Has anyone ever wondered why Cayman was employment blacklisted? What has always been the standard practice here for our Jamaican neighbours does not sit well with the Phillipines.  Yet we have so many bunkhouses here now, more than we ever did when we had more Jamaicans here in the past.  Having owned apartments here in the past I have seen where there are 10 or more people living in a two bedroom.  This practice is widespread here because these temporary workers are saving every dime to further themselves in their homelands.  They are just using this island as a way to become wealthy.  If we had in place security for our expat workers, then they would buy and invest in homes and goods here instead of standing in line every payday to get their money out of here.  The demographics of the type of workers that are here now have changed vastly in the past twenty years. 

    Wake up and smell the coffee.  Once we realize that it takes foreign workers to do jobs that Caymanians will not do, and get past that hurdle, perhaps we can all work together to fix the problems we have. And remember that not all people (regardless of origin) are destined to be corporate executives, bank managers, and the like as I saw in an article the other day.  The people who become corporate executives have trained for years for those positions and bank managers work their way up through the banking system.  If you are smart and intelligent, then you will create your own opportunities.  A government cannot give them to you, you have to earn them, like people in other countries.  There is not a master race and if you believe in the Bible, all persons are created equal.  Treat them as such.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Well spoken 20:34

      Everything you said are true and factual….I take my hat off to you!

       

      (A Caymanian)

    • Anonymous says:

      The only people that apparently believe in a Master Race are some expats who come and automatically treat Caymanians as their inferiors. It comes across strongly in the many contemptuous posts on CNS.

      Rollover is a scapegoat for everything bad that happens. Empty apartments? Blame Rollover. Increased crime? Blame Rollover. Businesses failing? Blame Rollover. Obviously we are  experiencing a recession which has reduced the number of jobs and therefore the size of the population as well as leaving many Caymanians unemployed. That is the major factor in all of the above.   

  31. Anonymous says:

    Try banning new work permits for 3 or 4 years.

     

    It might be and interesting and enlightening experiment.

  32. Kerry Horek (Tibbetts) says:

    I really wish the real haters of Caymanians would stop the rhetoric about Caymanians don't want to do the jobs yada-yada-yada.  

    I do house cleaning, I do mediocre jobs and so do others, because we have to survive in our OWN DARN COUNTRY!!  Not all Caymanians that are unemployed are unemployable.  That was simply a bad choice of words that the Minister of Labour Rolston Anglin let spew from his mouth several months ago which of course will haunt him until he is removed in the next election.

    If given the opportunity the majority of us will work, be loyal and do a darn good job.  But we are not given the opportunity.

    The work permit is submitted long before the interviews are completed.  Does anyone check this?  In some instances they are walked in the back door! That still goes on so please don't tell me it does not happen.  Too many 'kisses and favours' and we have to stop this.  If you can't go through the required channels for that work permit then that application approved should never be approved.

    Also, when some jobs in the papersare advertised, they are so catered that the applicant of choice for the work permit modifies their resume's to facilitate the job which we call 'catering for employment'.  But check to see what the job is really about once they are on the job with the approved permit?  Also check to see exactly what they are being paid.  Work permit applications are being falsified repeatedly, but unfortunately we don't have the resources in the 'enforcements division' of the Immigration Dept. to really dig into these matters, and we all know why because $70+million a year in fees is reason enough to 'turn a blind eye', while our people are disenfranchised for the almighty dollar!

    Furthermore, who is checking to see that all those Caymanians that applied are not qualified to do the job?  Why are we not demanding the resume's of those that applied be submitted along with the work permit and not only a list of names and why they were not hired.  Immigration must do more due deligence to see that every applicant that applies for a job is given a fair and equal opportunity.  

    This hearsay on the work permit application cannot continue.

    Furthermore, why are we granting work permits for Nanny's that have Law Degrees?  When Caymanians such as myself apply for certain jobs we are told we are 'over qualified'.  So again, I say this double standard mindset in this society has got to be dealt with and soon.

    To the haters out there about Caymanians don't want to work or take on certain jobs, be mindful of this one fact, not all of us are going to sit around and take this much longer.  There are more than enough Caymanians that can do these jobs, and there are many Caymanians returning home every year that can replace those on work permits and do so with their college/university degees.  

    So, the UDP Govt. has failed us all, every last one of us Caymanians, they have sold us out for the almight work permit fee. They do not care one ounce about their people, because if they did they wouldn't have VOTED YES everytime an amendment was before the LA in favour of the expatriate worker.  (The hansards don't lie)  Whilst all now we can't even see a white paper on any proposal for a decent minimum wage or a modernize Labour Law.  So stop and think about that for a minute!!

    In my opinion we MUST FIRE or RETIRE every last one of them, they are all for themselvesand their 'kissing and favourable' buddies.

    Bring on the OMOV!!

    Blessings to all my unemployed EMPLOYABLE CAYMANIANS!!

  33. Anonymous says:

    With the gowernment devoid of policies to stimulate the LOCAL economy, what else should we expect?

  34. Anonymous says:

    Then the Premier said that we need more people in Cayman. What in the hell will we do if we have more poor as. people here looking cheap paychecks? If we have all poor coming here we will have more crime.

  35. Anonymous says:

    The fault begins with the parents who do not focus their children on education and the value of working and providing value for wages received, is continued by the education system that does not teach trades and other useful skills, continues with a society that does not believe you should have to start at an entry level position and pushes a sense of entitlement and the attitude of you owe me a living and is finalized by the bad apples that fail to perform their jobs once they are hired IF you can get them to show up for an interview and actually follow the reasonable rules and regulations of an organization such as show up for work on time, do your tasks efficiently and to standard, be helpful and courteous, do not abuse the employer’s resources etc. it begins at home not all people can be bankers and lawyers, frankly I am far more in awe of CUC linemen and a mechanic and a plumber all of whom make very good livings than I am of so many in the financial services sector. Try and find a Caymanian who is willing to work in water sports or at a hotel or a restaurant, it just doesn’t happen because we as Caymanians look down on those positions as beneath us but our parents did not and their parents did not but not for us or our children. Guess what it is our own darned faulted and we don’t get to point the finger at anyone else but ourselves. Bring on the thumbs down the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree it all boils down to work ethic and value system.  Before school everyday, myself (and thousands of other kids like me) used to get up at 4am, stuff and sort newspapers and hand deliver them door to door on a paper route.  I did it in the rain, in the snow, when I was sick, I did it every morning without fail.  It was a big commitment.  If I didn't do it, some other kid would have, and there were plenty of jealous and willing kids ready to take my place, and eventually some of them did!  Same with summer painting jobs, pool and window cleaning, gardening, swimming lessons, babysitting jobs.  In this culture, these capitalist errands are completely foreign or beneath them.  How do these kids earn their pocket money for their iphones, hondas, and jetskis?  In 20+ years we've never had any young Caymanian entreprenneurial kids knock on our door offering any service – save for Halloween!  It's a shame that homegrown youth miss out on this important phase of life which provides a foundation for a service-oriented mindset, independence, and the character-building that future employers will pay a premium for. As we've seen, some of these "gimme gimme" kids would sooner join a gang and deal drugs than knock on some doors.    

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Take a stingray city tour and you'll see plenty of Caymanians working in watersports. People forget that its the vocal minority that are the entitled and unemployable Caymanians. We aren't all useless and we are grateful for the few opportunities we are given. So please give a Caymanian a chance you'll know soon enough whether they're worth thier salt within amonth. If they do turn out to be a bad egg it really isn't anywhere near as hard to fire a Caymanian as its made out to be. The private sector does not have the same red tape as the public sector.

  36. Anonymous says:

    Well Ezzard .. I am certain that increasing custom duties will just do that. Companies will start laying off people. Thanks to McKeeva they are still around. If we ever had another four more years of PPM, God knows where many of them would have been, and the number of unemployed children

  37. NeoSurvivor says:

    I imagine that what I am going to say will be unpopular.    I have to call it like I see it. 

    Much as I dislike sweeping generalisations, I am going to make one, and a comparison:   In the U.S., frequently those south-of-the-border are blamed for "taking jobs".   Nope.   They take jobs that are often considered by the citizens to be too low-paying or beneath them.  

     

    I think we have a similar situation here, in that there are LOTS of people on work permit, and they are often holding lower paid jobs.  They are not the problem; each and every one of them were requested and hired by a Caymanian.    I've heard things said like:  "Paying that man $60/day to chop bush is WAY too much!"   Well, I've chopped bush — lots of it — and while it's not a highly-trained skill, it is physically demanding.  If you are not willing to chop bush for $6/hour, then you must hire it done.  

     

    The same goes for retail clerks, helpers and all the other jobs at the lower end of the scale.  Caymanians could be doing these jobs, but are they willing to work for this wage, or are they still living in the world that has a sense of entitlement?  Do we really need shiny, newSUVs, or would a used whooptie serve the same purpose?  I will do whatever work it takes to feed my family, and that's the bottom line.  

     

    We have had a construction peak, and people were working, however I don't think that level of so-called "progress" was sustainable.   How many more hotels do we need?   How many docks, how many new roads and restaurants and apartments?   All civilisations level out eventually and either expand geographically, or move into other fields of labor as their cities become overgrown.    Much of all three islands are undeveloped, but is that the answer — to expand our influence, until we run out of land?   What then, will make us different from any other conglomeration of people?    

      

    The golden years seem to be over — not only locally but globally.   We have to adapt in order to survive.   As much as I don't support the current government, I don't believe all of this current unemployment can be laid at their door.    I think we have to  change our ways, and conserve, and learn to live more simply, as our ancestors did.  

     

    I once made a lot more money, and could afford to run an a/c unit whenever I wanted.   That is no longer the case, and with escalating fuel and power costs, I now consider it a luxury to run the a/c, and have cut back to an efficient ductless split system in one room only.   I am not suffering, I am surviving.   Moreover, it does me no good whatsoever to blame anyone or any system for changing times.    I am disgusted with the appearance of money wasted and misspent within this administration, however what I CAN  do to help my family and neighbors is to continue to grow small crops in containers, and take whatever work I can find.   I completed a college degree many years ago, and it was money well spent.    Times have changed, and employment related to that degree has dried up for me.    If I have to chop bush, or wait tables or sell vegetables or chop bush, I will do it, because I am responsible for my family's well-being.  

     

    I can well envision a time in the not-so-distance future when all these wild fowl that are running about everywhere will not be safe from me;   the chickens will become part of the fabric, and part of the system that feeds me.  

     

    Be safe.   Be responsible.   

     

    • B.B.L. Brown says:

      NeoSurvivor, your comment is one of the most profound I have ever read.  You are a survivor AND a realist.  If everyone were more like you our islands could truly be a Paradise.  Kudos!

  38. Sick of Cayman says:

    The unemployed are too proud or just down right lazy, wait for governement to make hand outs, its easier than going to work……

  39. Donkey Faced Bayer says:

    Government  must  insist  that  all businesses {Local or Foreign} with ten or more employees must have a minimum of 20% "CAYMANIANS" {Born and/or Naturalized} in their work force. And that anyone deemed  to be a "KEY EMPLOYEE" must be holding a position "which shall be demonstrated and proven to be of such vital importance to the business, that the survival of "THE BUSINESS" would be "JEOPORDIZED" without said person. This has to be done with Equity and Balance on both sides {Business and Labor}. But it can be done. That was the way it  was back in the Seventies. It worked well then and it can work well today. Our politicians must insist on putting "Cayman First" starting with  the Leadership of  Men and Women whose honesty, sincerity and fortitude and most of all with a Love of  Country to get the job done.

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Employment is not a “right”.
      I have many positions available immediately in my businesses that require dedication, the willingness to work hard, a sense of urgency. Ihave suffered innumerable times the newbroom sweeps clean symptom. Then “my pressures up, my grandmother died, I’ve got the pain” excuses start showing up.
      I have NEVER fired an employee who makes a strong effort. I am unable to find Caymanians to fill the positions. This is not discrimination, it is a fact of life.
      When I first came here over 85 % of my employees were Caymanians. Why can I not find qualified Caymanians to fill those positions now?
      It is not my fault. The idea of “forcing” employers to have 20% of Caymanians employed simply perpetuates the entitlement mentality.
      Why is there not an outline registry of those looking for work?

    • Anonymous says:

      15: 52

      Back in the 70s we had Caymanians that all wanted to work. we never had them with their pants waist draging down their crotch.

      We had our little splift ( weed) but we were up next moring waiting at the boss house to go to work.

      Do you really think Government, now, should encourage the lazy? no! no! they need to get out there and prove they can walk the walk, and talk the talk,  like the rest of us did. Good attitude. 

    • Anonymousey says:

      15;52 i agree with you. However I would like to see the numbers back to 60% Caymanian ( Status and all) and 40% work permit holder. Unless one can really show that if you absolutaly cannot hire any locals and show the applications you received to the Immigration Board. And if everyone reports to Labour Board, Immigration the jobs they went to apply for against those same companies (read HR) normaly under the control of a permit holder. That would bring the level of playing more transparent. I too have choldren who were either told they were over qualified or plaiin telling them it's actually for a permit that was already placed in. that I am not asking anyone as those ARE the facts way too often. If we were all lazy the Cayman Islands would not heved been rated at the top for the helpfullness and genuine friendliness that has made visitors purchase Condos and call the Cayman Islands a home away from home. Most frequent question asked. Where are all the locals, what do they do ,where do they live ??? And often they are here because they heard that from previous visitors. I see a lot of disapointment often from returning visitors looking for so and so just to spend time with them or even do some business together. Now they can't even find them as many companies opt for the easy way. You are under MY work permit and do what we tell you and work you to death for little or nothing. guess what ? many of us could so the same thing but it would be a little difficult to live with 3 or more familes per place of residence. And for the record nothing will ever change those from sending ALL their money home as they are supporing their families and building themselves up for when they return home. Fairness you say ? I have many expatriate friends and most understand and I don't have to bash them because they can see themselves the situation many of us are in and it's not my friends fault and you know what else they are ALL willing to mix with us and learn our culture. Expats on work permit please learn about us, our culture and how cayman got there and YES with many expatriates. the difference then was they truly loved the Cayman Islands and it's people and not afraid to mix right in. Never bashing us the way I see today. Try go anywhere else and start downgrading the locals and see how long you will last. Food for your thought. " Love thy neighbor as you would yourself " and while in Rome adapt to the Roman way or better known as do as the Romans do. Well not all Romans.

    • The Parliamentarian says:

      Unlegislatable……….  Just more "Big Brother". 

  40. Anonymous says:

    zzzzzz….. the myth of caymanian unemployment continues…….

  41. Arf the arfing arfers says:

    Oh where oh where did the rich foreign investors go?
    Oh where oh where can they be?
    With their term-limits cut short and their fees cut long,
    Oh where oh where can they be?

    You told us to go and we left. Any questions?

    • Anonymous says:

      What nonsense. Rich foreign investors don't have term limits. They get permanent residence. And nobody told them to go.

  42. Anonymous says:

    Our unemployment problems are 35% immgrations fault, 10% teacher failure, 25% individual failure and of course 30% McKeewa's failure – HE just has to be included.

    • BORN FREE says:

      Blame the UDP! After three years in charge what have they done? NOTHING! They have achieved nothing, the economy is worse, people are suffering more than ever, & unemployment is rising. The only few that are prospering are those in the UDP & those CLOSELY associated with the UDP. What has the UDP government done since being elected in 2009? NOTHING!

      • Anonymous says:

        Born free-17:27

        If you had kept your big mouth closed, we and the UDP would have had lots of work going. But after 3 years of your mouthing off the UDP like a sick man's backside, what do you expect.

        Im so happy that the Premier now have taken a stand and told you all to f@@@ off, he is going ahead with the development of this country. While you pointing  that finger, look at the 4 pointing back at you!

        We suffer because of  people like you, but we will overcome you. You can't keep a good man down, and don't you forget that!

    • Immigration fault says:

      Employment problem is DEFINATELY IMMIGRATION FAULT  Stop giving work permits where Caymanians can fill.  Hello? !!

      • Anonymous says:

        Or maybe ask the Caymanians who get the work permits to hire Caymanians instead of skill.  Then you whouldn't have to blame the Caymanians in immigration.  Hello!

    • Anonymous says:

      I have been asked to contact you on behalf of the minister of finance pro tem Barren Waffleit. He does not like the percentages assigned to him, but he does like your style. He is proposing that you reduce just his percentage to zero and add 50% for PPM's fault, 20% for Auditors General (both Dan and Stan) fault, 20% for FCO fault, 18% for the Governor's fault, 15% for Rooster101 fault, 10% for devil worshipper's fault, and 5% for Ezzard and other donkey-face people. Maybe 2% for Aunt Sookie because that's all she is worth.

       

      He would like the total percentage of blame assigned to come in under 200% so he can have some room to add carrot eaters and others when the FCO economist questions his numbers.

  43. Sea Org says:

    There is no real unemployment in Cayman, just people who don’t want to do the many many jobs theatre available or who are too drink, high or have too long a criminal history to get a job.
    No doubt Ezzard will call for some lawyers and accountants to lose their permits so some construction guys can get a job.

    • Anonymous says:

      I hear them say that in the U.S.A, Burmuda, England and so on, you see when they want to continue the status quo, getting cheap labour not paying pension etc, they will say no one wants to work those jobs and on and on, everyone is lazy and so on.

      Sometimes i feel they should just tax Cayman and see where they run, remember the Bahamas had the same problem, look at what they had to do and now they are doing good.

      That is the reason Cuba turned out the way it did they treated the natives like dirt, and give them crumbs then wondered why there was a revolt.

      I hope we dont go down that road, please stop insulting us, i know you think you are gods gift to us fools but sometimes fools can become wise, please be careful with what you do.

    • Thats says:

      Thats incorrect! There are many qualified and experienced Caymanians who are unemployed myself included. I have applied for countless jobs and am constantly told I am over qualified, those jobs were all work permit renewals. The real issue is that the Work Permit Board is not doing its job.

    • Anonymous says:

      Wait untill you get your status!

      Within 1 month after you receive it you will be unemployed,

      think it is a joke ask others that have gotten status or the right to work.

  44. Anonymous says:

    So many unemployed Caymanians yet so many expats!  What are we doing to the islands!

    • Anonymous says:

      The Caymanian business owners, on the whole, hire expats. They are to blame. Look at the auto parts stores, boat repair organizations, bars, delivery people, etc. Local businesses complain about government fees, yet insist on hiring foreigners. You can't have it both ways.

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Ask your Caymanians, who sit on the Boards. No expats allowed there. The reaons the woes continue indefinately is because you are blaming the wrong people. 

    • Anonymous says:

      When will the blame stopped being placed at the door of expats? News flash, the reason expats are here is because, locals (sorry to lump the masses in with the few) have failed to prepare themselves to meet the demand of industries in the country.  An unfortunately all the companies are looking for is an excuse.

      Your country can do 1 of two things, send all the expats home and force the people of the Cayman islands to prepare/improve themselves to meet the demand for skillled workers & professionals. Or, realize that expats are needed here and work with us while educating themselves (especially the young people) and ensure that companies adhere toa realistic succession plan.

      Most expats are not the enemy, and the ones that are, are the ones being allowed to stay!

      • Anonymous says:

        I agree 100% with you. Expats are not the enemy. It's funny that there is such discrimination in both directions against local and expat alike. I really wish the system took the right to work approach and abolished work permits altogether.  A work permit gives too much control over an employee. If we could just care for and protect the entire work force to ensure that everyone was treated fairly many of the complaints seen on this forum would disappear. I'm happy to welcome people from around the world to these beautiful islands, as long as they respect and care for them like they would treat their own home. The foreigners that intend to live in and contribute to Cayman should not be painted with the same brush stroke as the expat that comes here with a "Holier than thou" attitude and contributes to the ongoing "us versus them" fight.

        Thank you for your comment as it brightened my day to see a positive point among all the name-calling and discriminatory comments on this article.

    • Anonymous says:

      So I assume yuo think that if there are 1500 unemployeed Caymanians that 1500 Expats should be sent packing and thier Jobs given to the Caymanians weather they are qualified for the job are not.

      So that expat that doing accounting in an offcie downtown, should be replaced by the guys who's last job was hanging drywall.. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Err. no. The expat should be replaced by the qualified Caymanioan who applied for the job and whose application was ignored and the employer simply continued to employ the expat who was already here on a temporary work permit.

        Your post might sound like good rhetoric but it is not reality.