Archive for August 4th, 2012

Suggestions for the premier

Suggestions for the premier

| 04/08/2012 | 11 Comments

I write to you today along with my fellow Caymanians, Chaz Hill and Eden Hurlston.  Together, we represent the members of a group known as Caymanians & Expats United Against Taxation. As a group we have very little interest in how our country has arrived at the threshold where we now stand.  We concern ourselves with the past only so that the mistakes of ourselves and others may be identified, then used to educate ourselves in such a way that history is unable to repeat itself.

Our vision is for the future.

Today we wish to convey to you our thoughts in relation to the Community Enhancement Fee which has been proposed recently.  To begin with, we would like to address the title of this proposed legislation.

Despite the euphemistic title you have used to describe a payroll tax it remains just that, a tax.  The word tax can be defined as a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income.  Your proposal is therefore a direct tax which is to be levied on a subsection of our population, so please allow us to refer to it as such.

The payroll tax which has been put forth by your administration is discriminatory, and as our group looks forward to the implementation of Human Rights in Cayman on November 6th, 2012, we cannot accept it.  Additionally, the proposed tax will reduce the purchasing power of those on whom it is levied, and therefore be detrimental to our economy.  Furthermore, the implementation of a direct tax will no longer afford the Cayman Islands the title of a tax neutral jurisdiction, which is the foundation of the way in which most countries of this world see our nation.

Of particular concern to us is the information contained within the Miller-Shaw report.  As you know the Miller-Shaw report is within the public domain, and has been since it was commissioned by the current administration in 2009.  This report, which was compiled by professional economists, speculated that the implementation of direct taxation in our jurisdiction would result in the contraction of our economy.

Since the announcement of the proposed payroll tax it has been highly scrutinized by the international press.  Most notably, an article published on Forbes.com which likens the implementation of this payroll tax to fiscal suicide.  To date we have been able to locate no less than six international outlets which have carried this story, and we are yet to find a single one which believes this policy will benefit our country. 

We also assume your administration has recently received reports which present evidence contrary to the above.  We arrived at this assumption as it is simply impossible for us to believe that our government would be irresponsible enough to implement a policy of this magnitude, which goes directly against the conclusions reached by their own commissioned reports, without first consulting a wide range of knowledgeable economists. 

Therefore, on behalf of the Caymanian people, we call for you to release these reports into the public domain so as to alleviate some of our concerns related to the payroll tax which you intend to enact.

On Monday, as representatives of our greater community we wish to present to you, a series of proposals which show how our government can increase existing revenue streams as well as produce new ones, whilst also minimizing the negative effects of such measures on our economy.  Together, these proposals, none of which involve direct taxation, amount to an increase of projected government revenues which is by no means insignificant.

Although some of the proposals we intend to propose shall require initial capital injections to create a new stream of revenue our group has aimed to maximize short term return by focusing on alternatives which have preexisting methods of collection.  This is strengthened by our opinion that an approach which produces the desired revenue through a series of relatively small gains across a diversified range of government policies provides less risk of a budget shortfall than would otherwise be the case with a single piece of legislation aimed at collecting fifty million dollars.

It is worth noting, however, our group is of the firm belief that the people of the Cayman Islands have not met these difficult times due to low revenues.  Rather, we acknowledge the fact that our current budgetary issues are the result of careless and excessive expenditure by our government in recent times.  This belief is in fact reiterated by the very definition of deficit; the amount by which expenses exceed income.

As stated, our vision is for the future and we consult the past to learn from the mistakes of ourselves and others.  Last year your administration successfully proposed a budget which did not include long term borrowings and perhaps generated a small surplus.  However, the budget which has just been submitted to the FCO appears to propose total expenses which exceed last year’s projections by nearly sixty million dollars. 

To achieve the positive results of last year your administration asked the public to provide you with greater amounts of revenue.  Although there were several, the request which stands out most significantly is the two percent increase in duty charges on all dutiable items.  Despite the public obliging these requests we again find ourselves being asked to provide government with additional revenues.

Although the revenue generating measures we shall propose include both short term and long term measures, we refuse to once again allow our government to use these measures as a temporary patch over our increasingly unsustainable budget.  Doing so would simply postpone the inevitable and we would once again find ourselves in this situation within a few years.  We will therefore also present to you a series of proposals which are aimed at reducing government expenditure. 

Mr. Premier, you have stated that you are open to hearing alternate solutions, as you do not desire to impose a policy of direct taxation.  Our group feels that we will be able to provide you with a list of reasonable and economically viable alternatives.  We will therefore look forward to your response, and respectfully as that it be made within the public forum as the group which addresses you today is nothing more than the voice of Cayman.

The above has been forwarded to the office of the premier in response to his recent invitation for suggestions to help raise a budget surplus of $76million.

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Mac clinging to expat tax

Mac clinging to expat tax

| 04/08/2012 | 188 Comments

(CNS): Updated —  Despite the statement from the representatives of the business community on Saturday morning, the premier has not yet given up on the proposed tax on work permit holders' earnings. In a short statement in the afternoon McKeeva Bush said he had not yet agreed to stop the tax. "The proposed Community Enhancement Fee will only be withdrawn if alternative revenue measures that do not affect the ordinary Caymanian can be implemented," Bush said, adding that further announcements would be made on Monday night at a public meeting at the Mary Miller Hall at 7:30. However, on Saturday evening the business group released a further statement denying that they had  “jumped the gun” over the tax withdrawl.

The group signed by Woody Foster and six others stated that they were "unable at this time to explain the discrepancy between the news reports" and the clear understanding it has in writing with the premier.

The business leaders said the earlier press release had also been agreed by the premeir before it was issued.

Check back to CNS for more on this developing story.

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TS Florence forms as Ernesto rolls towards Jamaica

TS Florence forms as Ernesto rolls towards Jamaica

| 04/08/2012 | 1 Comment

ernesto2 (268x300).jpg(CNS): The sixth tropical storm of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season formed on Friday night in the far eastern Atlantic the national hurricane centre in Miami reported. The storm posed no threat to Cayman and on Saturday morning was located about 415 miles from the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. Meanwhile, Ernesto was weakening and heading towards Jamaica as the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence. Forecasters said the storm should pass south of Jamaica Sunday evening and the move over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and south of the Cayman Islands when it may become a hurricane.

Local hurricane officials are meeting on Sunday and will make an announcement about the possible closure of government services on Monday as Cayman remains under a storm alert.

Ernesto is travelling at near 18 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph with higher gusts. No significant change in strength is expected today but some intensification is possible on Sunday. Ernesto is forecast to become a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean in a day or two. Tropical storm force winds currently extend outward up to 105 miles mainly to the north and east of the centre.

Check back to CNS over the weekend for announcements regarding the storm.

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Cayman sprinter makes it through to 100m semis

Cayman sprinter makes it through to 100m semis

| 04/08/2012 | 16 Comments

kemar hyman 1st rd 100m    4 aug 12 057 (257x300).jpg(CIOC): Kemar Hyman is safely through to the men’s 100 metres semi-finals at the London Olympics. The 22-year-old Caymanian ran 10.16 seconds in his heat, coming fourth behind the USA’s Ryan Bailey (9.88), Ben Youssef Meite of the Ivory Coast (10.06) and Canada’s Justyn Warner (10.09). Only the top three in each of the seven heats qualified automatically and Hyman qualified as one of the three fastest finishers outside of the top three. There were no surprises in the other heats. Defending Olympic champ Usain Bolt of Jamaica cruised home in 10.09 seconds to win his heat.

Other heat winners were America’s Tyson Gay (10.08) and Justin Gatlin (9.97)  and Jamaica’s Asafa Powell (10.04 and Yohan Blake (10.00). Britain’s Dwain Chambers won the final heat in 10.02 seconds.

The 100m semi-finals and finals are on Sunday. The semis are from 1.45pm Cayman time and the final is at 2.50pm Cayman time.

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Expat tax on hold

Expat tax on hold

| 04/08/2012 | 54 Comments

(CNS): A group of local business people claim that they have proposed alternatives to the expat tax which the premier has accepted. Although there has been no confirmation yet from the premier himself,  the group of private sector representatives said McKeeva Bush has agreed to make a statement on Monday evening at a public meeting at the Mary Miller Hall, where he will outline the proposals made by them and others to replace the controversial 10% payroll tax on work-permit holders. The six men and one woman released a statement Saturday morning about the development in order to “relieve the anxiety” that they said had arisen in the wake of the announcement by Mckeeva Bush just ten days ago about the tax.

On Wednesday, 25 July, Bush made the announcement that he had been forced to introduce the payroll fee because of pressure from the FCO. He described the tax as “a community enhancement fee”, which he said was needed to meet the UK's demands for a budget with a $76 million surplus. At first, Bush had targeted all work-permit holders earning $20,000 but on Wednesday it was revealed the threshold would be raised to $36,000 and the money would be collected by the immigration department.

The proposal was greeted with opposition from almost every corner of the community. Every single business body, from the Chamber’s Council of Associations to the law society, as well as the Facebook community pointed out the potential dangers the introduction of any kind of tax on earnings posed.

The business group said that during a meeting on Friday with Bush “and after many hours of careful review and input from most sectors of the business community” they were able to come up with alternatives that the premier had found acceptable, they said.

“We support the premier and his efforts to meet the parameters set for the budget," stated the group, which is led by Woody Foster, the owner of Cayman’s largest supermarket chain and wholesale distributor. “We recognize that in order to reach this point, it will require all areas of the economy to participate and contribute to the revenue enhancements and they should not be borne by any single sector."

The statement said the proposed Community Enhancement Fee had created polarity and division in the community that had caused great concern. However, on the social media circuit itwas apparent that the proposal had united Caymanians and expatriates more than ever before, as illustrated by the lightning speed with which the Facebook page Caymanians and Expats United Against Tax formed.

There were very few Caymanians who spoke out in support of the proposed discriminatory tax, as most recognized that it would detrimental to the wider economy and the impact would not be limited to the 5,000 or so work permit holders earning over $36,000 per annum that Bush had planned to target.

“We are a welcoming diverse society that recognizes the contributions of Caymanians and expatriates alike, and we are confident that the new revenue measures will provide a way to share equitably the responsibility of providing revenue to the Government," the business group said. “The premier has committed to making a public statement on Monday night at the Mary Miller Hall agreeing to suggestions – proposed by us and others – and removing the Community Enhancement Fee from further consideration. At this time, he will provide details on the new revenue measures that government is considering.”

It is not clear now where this move will leave Bush with regards to the timeline for the budget, which must be presented, examined by Finance Committee and passed into law before the 31 August. He revealed last Wednesday evening at a meeting in West Bay that his government’s latest proposed budget containing the new direct tax had gone to the UK for approval and he had planned to deliver his budget address in the LA this coming Thursday 9 August.

Check back to CNS for more on this latest development.

See both the statement from local business people and Friday’s statement from the Council of Associations below.

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Community on alert over TS Ernesto

Community on alert over TS Ernesto

| 04/08/2012 | 8 Comments

Photo for NRA Hurricane Release.jpg(CNS): As Tropical Storm Ernesto moved quickly through the south-eastern Caribbean Sea on Friday evening government officials were warning the community to be prepared for the storm to pass about 123miles southwest of Grand Cayman late Monday night when Hazard Management said tropical storm force winds would brush the island. The Core Group of the National Hazard Management Council will meet at around 4.30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and make a decision about the closure of government offices on Monday.

Officials said after the meeting the decision would be communicated via the local media and the Cayman Prepared website.

At 5pm local time Ernesto was about 210 miles west of St. Lucia and travelling through the eastern Caribbean t around 21 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remained at 50 mph with higher gusts but the National hurricane Centre in Miami predicted some strengthening in the coming days. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles mainly to the north and east of the centre.

Cayman residents were advised to begin preparations for the possible arrival of the storm on Monday. Government began its own preparations at the new building in Elgin Avenue on Friday afternoon after the NHMC convened its first meeting of this year’s hurricane season. Some 30 senior officers, representing critical response agencies, such as the Meteorology Office, the Health Services Authority and RCIPS, attended the meeting.

Grand Cayman is now in the ‘Alert’ phase – 72 hours before possibly being affected by Ernesto and the

‘Watch’ stage begins tomorrow afternoon. Government workers spent Friday afternoon securing the main government building, while PWD shuttering crews and the hurricane shelter staff have been put on alert.

“The civil service should ensure the continuity of government’s operations,” said Deputy Governor Franz Manderson,

Meanwhile, the RCIPS urged home and business owners to start taking precautions to secure their property and belongings in preparation for any potential evacuation.

“If you do have to leave your property, please make sure that your doors and windows are locked and that you close your hurricane shutters if you have them,” said Acting Chief Superintendent Kurt Walton.

“If you have to leave any valuables behind, make sure that they are safely protected within your homes and that you take all necessary steps to make your premises as safe and secure as possible. You should also make sure that your valuables are security marked and that you take notes of makes, models, serial numbers and take photographs. These simple security steps will assist in the recovery of your property if it goes missing,” he added.

Walton explained that during a storm or hurricane the police have a number of jobs and include shelter security, protecting critical infrastructure and, of course, maintaining law and order.
“Any criminal activity before, during or after any storm activity will not be tolerated and those who engage in it will be dealt with appropriately,” the senior officer warned.

Business owners are reminded that they should make immediate application for curfew exemption passes. In the event of a Hurricane and the declaration of a curfew, the passes will be issued to key personnel who work within the private sector to allow them to work past the curfew times, as and when required, to assist in the post-hurricane recovery process.

The application form for the exemption passes can be found on the Hurricane Section of the RCIPS website.

The curfew applications should be filled in and taken to the nearest police station within your district. The District Commander will vet the applications which must be accompanied by a photo ID of the person whom the application is for. The District Commander will decide whether the application meets the criteria, in accordance with the Police Law 2010 Revision, Section 49 and the Police (Emergency Powers) Regulations 2004 Revision. 

Residents and businesses may see regular updates about Ernesto on the HMCI’s website (CaymanPrepared.ky) on Facebook and Twitter accounts, Radio Cayman and all local media.
 

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