MLA blames mass status grants for gangs

| 02/06/2014

(CNS): Government backbencher Al Suckoo said the 2003 mass status grants to thousands of people is still causing problems in the community more than a decade later. Admitting he was a member of the UDP when it happened, Suckoo said that the failure to properly integrate the new Caymanians has created a divide in Cayman in which both sides suffer. He said there was animosity between the Jamaican and Caymanian cultures and it has encouraged gang development. The Bodden Town MLA said it was not the fault of those given status that there were so many social issues but because there was no effort made to assimilate so many new Caymanians, many of whom had not been in Cayman very long.

Speaking during the budget debate in the Legislative Assembly on Friday,Suckoo said that he was seeing the effects every day in his constituency and said that grants had created two societies that were not fully meshed. It was “a social experiment gone bad”, he said, as the local society was not prepared to deal with the creation of so many Caymanians and the population increase. He said that the gang development was a part of the failure to encourage integration but now there was even greater competition for jobs, especially at entry level, which had been compounded by the economic downturn.

Suckoo said that while working with the National Workforce Development Agency and trying to assist his constituents to find work he had discovered that although some Caymanians were not workplace ready and needed training, he had also seen discrimination against Caymanians by employers.

Cheap labour, he said, was a significant barrier to local people getting work, and while in the boom years people overlooked the workforce problems, the economic downturn required a new look as employers are not training people like they used to, creating a vicious circle.

“We now need to take a step back and re-look at how we deal with locals in the workforce and see if the policies are working and guaranteeing locals a part in future industries,” Suckoo urged, adding that the neglect of those Caymanians that cannot get work was showing up in the courts, the streets and homes.

He raised concerns about employers misrepresenting facts to get permits and urged immigration to be more vigilant as instances of abuse of the system fuelled the belief that government is not looking out for its people, just business. Aware too of employers in several cases telling Caymanian applicants that the adverts they are responding to are for work permit renewal and there is no vacancy, Suckoo reminded employers that was illegal.

Talking about the job drive which began last year when the immigration law was changed and work began on making the NWDA more effective, Suckoo said he had some success helping Caymanians get work but it was not all he had hoped for. Nevertheless, changes at the agency have vastly improved compared the situation before the work started. He said the task force which he chaired met numerous times between September and January and put forward several recommendations to re-engineer the NWDA, which have been implemented along the way. The full report is expected to be published shortly, he said.

Suckoo told the LA members that one of the most important positive changes was the interface between immigration and the agency so those approving permits can now see much more easily if there are Caymanians available for those jobs before they grant the permits. The MLA acknowledged, however, that there was still a skills gap and training was required to help the local unemployed to be workplace ready and align the needs of employers with the training.

During his contribution to the debate Suckoo also pointed to the pressing need for a minimum wage, as he said he wholeheartedly supported the implementation and was aware the labour minister was moving towards its introduction. The Bodden Town representative said he firmly believed that it would go some way to address the problem of cheap labour and competition for entry level jobs, opening up new opportunities for Caymanians. He said reasonable basic minimum pay would improve Cayman’s reputation and make it clear we don’t allow exploitation of foreign workers.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I think we should blame some. Of our most successful business men, for laundering money’s for the cartel back in the 70s, suit cases full of cash, I would consider them as dealing with gang members back then. Also some of our well known Caymanian spent time in prison caught for one of the largest drug bust in US history, remember the Cocaine Cowboys!
    Gangs have been on the islands for years and it’s not the expats it’s our own Caymanian founding these gangs, yes there maybe a few young status holders involved but a majority of prisoners in Northward are Caymanian.

  2. Caymanian Donkey says:

    Are you kinding me!!! Come on Al!!! gangs started way before the staus grants, I recall bck then the authorities refused to call them gangs, they were groups (lol), we had several gang murders in the mid to late 90's in GT commited by GTs, they are in NW. in the late 2000's we had a nubmer of gang related murders in WB, those convicted are from were!! Caymanian youths.

    look at the prison, 80% or more are from Cayman.

    Now Al, look on your doorstep in BT, you have several gangs there and they're all Caymanians!!!

    PPM stop blaming others, get on with solving the problem!!!!!!!

     
    • Anonymous says:

      ..and 80 percent of those are CayJamians.

      • Anonymous says:

        06:30.   A better word is Jaymanians.

      • Diogenes says:

        You may as well say they were committed by short people, or ones with two legs.  Simple fact is, they are OUR problem – we cannot deport them, we have to deal with them (and those outside the bars continuing the criminal lifestyle).  Origin is not a solution, nor is alloting blame.  Finding out how to stop the criminality, and prevent it reoccuring, is. 

        • Anonymous says:

          Actually, you can deport them if they commit a certain level of crime, especially if they used their Status to do so.

           

      • Anonymous says:

        Jamacaymans

    • Anonymous says:

      "Kinding me?). Cayman Kind?

  3. Anonymous says:

    I really have to laugh at this… Come on!
    The gangs. Started back in the early 90s, back then we decided not to call them gangs but groups of youth. I was in the force then and I can tell you all these Groups were young Caymanian.
    Now let’s look at the status grants in 2004, most of these people were working adults, yes one or two bad apples, but prior to this time we had a gang fight going on in GT, with several murders, all the accused convicted are Caymanian. In the last 10yrs more gangs have come about, as well as again massive gang shootouts and murders in WB, now 99% of the accused and have been convicted are Gain Caymanian, not persons of status grits in 2004, let’s now look in the prison system 75%if not more are from which country and of that’s countries decent, oh, they are Caymanian again. Oh and by they way several of these gang members grew up in the BT district.
    Stop making excuses, we need solutions.. So get on with that….

  4. Anonymous says:

    I have lived in Cayman since the early 80's. It seemed like everytime I was eligible to apply for status they changed the rules, 7 years to 0 years etc. In 2003 I was fortunate enough to apply and receive status. Had I not had status when Ivan hit I would not have invested in our business. We currently employ 70 people. 

  5. Anonymous says:

    A mango and a apple are both fruits . But they don't taste the same, they don't grow in the same regions, they start green and ripe into different colors. We can't grow mangoes further north and we can't grow apples further south . Sorry. For many reasons what happened to Jamaica  during slavery days is not what happened to slaves in Cayman times. That history is what causes the prejudices that we see wherever you find a jamaican living. Those that left before or after the downfall of Manley's government changed to meet the demands of their new homes. They tried to fit in and most with education did. They were mostly the rich and professionals, they understood. The poor and uneducated have failed to achieve this goal due to corruption during Manley's reign. When faced with the realities of broken promises and losing money and finally half of the country with no education they still leaving. "No problem mon" in reality was plenty problem . Body guard turned drug gangs killing anyone with money to set themselves up . This started in the 70's. From that time we see that the population of jamaicans start coming to our shores. The exchange control regulation that started in Manley's time nailed the coffin shut.  

    But the history shows that Jamaica was on top of the caribbean from 1953-1973, the island was doing great in business, education and ruled by England. When finally England believed that they could leave and allow Jamaica its independence , bang the SHTF. Jamaica has gone in a spiral downfall that still has no bottom.

    Their is no question that Jamaica is riddled with crime whether it is drugs or corruption. But mired with corruption in education, (Jam. Education minister says that teachers are not qualified to teach math and english) , how will it change? Our new Caymanians don't care that they are not qualified. But as long as they work for other Jamaicans who can control them they are safe.

    Great how is that going to work for our own Caymanians ? Our own Caymanian don't show that type of loyalty. First we still arguing about minmum wage? Why? 

  6. Anonymous says:

    The gang problem is due to baby's having baby's who have absolutely no interest in properly raising their children.

    The gang problem is due to men being able to be a sperm donor to 10 different women without ever experiencing the financial consquences for siring children all over the place. This is partially the fault of those idiotic women who seem to drag babies around like it is a new handbag, but it is also the fault of our system who doesn't hold men finacially accountable for child support.

    Besides that, IF the Governments would have enforced all immigration laws and if the immigrations boards werent' just staffed with people who are receiving and handing out political favors, perhaps then there wouldn't be an issue with all the cheap imported laborers, half of them who don't even have a full time job.

    So please, those are all problems that have been known for a long time, and we KNOW that the job ads in the paper are a pile of crap.

    IF Government would actually shut up and get to work, perhaps some of those issues could have been resolved long time ago – but I guess fishing for future votes is ALWAYS priority for any Government, that's why nobody seems to be able to get any real work done cause we sure don't want to piss off any voters, right?

    • Anonymous says:

      And mothers denying their son is part of a gang…

    • Anonymous says:

      BABIES HAVING BABIES

      Baby's is a contraction signifying possession: the baby's diaper…. or a contraction of the "baby is" such as: the baby's going to nap now.

      Just sayin'

       

  7. Anonymous says:

    AL SEEMS TO FORGET THAT EVERY PPM WAS EQUALLY INVOLVED

    I this status grant. They got for there buddies

    • Anonymous says:

      Nonsense. The status grants were made by the UDP cabinet. The opposition had no power to make any grants.  

      • Anonymous says:

        Nonsense if you don't believe that the Opposition put names on that status grant list.

        • Anonymous says:

          Anybody can put forward a list of requests.. What matters is the party who has the power to do the actual grant. Don't try confuse the issue. 

  8. Anonymous says:

    Dear Mr. Suckoo,

    You have totally missed the boat on this one. No one seems to want to tackle the issue of drugs and drug related crimes. Many gang related activities stem from an active drug trade and culture. No one wants to talk about an entire generation of young Caymanians who are unemployable because they fail the drug test component of their medical. No one wants to talk about the Caymanian children  whose Caymanian parents are drug addicts. Their last names are Bush, Ebanks, McLaughlin, Smith, McLean, etc. No one wants to talk about the number of Caymanian children who are raising themselves.

    • Anonymous says:

      And where did that " drug trade and culture " come from…?

      the jails and streets of the UK, Florida New York, Toronto are filled with Jamaican criminals and drug dealers gangs.

      Al has dared to tell the truth, man up immigration, stop more invasion.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I'd like a statistic from the RCIPS linking arrests to those who were granted status in 2003. As I have been under the assumption majority of the crime commited in our country are by our own young people who are unable to find jobs.

    • And Another Ting says:

      MLA Suckoo I believe your statement as portrayed by this news media is not correct. The 2003 status grant  is not to blame for the gangs in the Cayman Islands. We have had gangs since the 90's in this country and Politicians consistently refuted this fact. There was a report compiled by a Police officer who infiltrated the gangs in the school system before the status grants  ( these were the fore runners of today's gangs). This report was hidden from the Public for quite some time. It was eventually released but not much seems to have been done by the authorities then to stem the tide, as the situation has escalated. This report precedes all the youth policies and movements that we have tried to implement ever since.

      so Missa Suckoo please sah get ya facts straight.

      • Anonymous says:

        He said "encouraged" development of gangs. Read before you speak 

        • And Another Ting says:

          12:57 "grants to thousands of people is still causing problems in the community more than a decade later". This is what Mr. Suckoo said , so u don't know how you can twist this into "encourage". You fall on ya head whren you wa small o wA. Maybe you need glasses me son. He indicates that the "rift between Caymanians and Jamaicans is what "encouraged" gangs. 

          • Anonymous says:

            18;32

            The facts are  there!, the proof is in the tasting! before these status grants all Caymanian builders had jobs,now they are out of work.

            • And Another Ting says:

              There is an epidemic of people who fall on de heads when they wee small my Word!

        • And Another Ting says:

          12:57 I can't hear ya!

           

           

  10. Annie says:

    I only hire Caymanians, but let me tell you I had to sift through 10 decks of jokers to find a few aces.

    • Anonymous says:

      More fool you for having a racist recruitment policy.

    • Anonymous says:

      True. What willhappen with those Aces though is that, sooner or later, they will command very high auction type salaries since every employer wants those Aces. Small business who can't afford to pay salaries above US$65,000 will then be stuck with the other cards in the deck.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Dear Al

    I dont care about the other expats but you please make sure you dont knock Americans after all it was my tax $ that allowed you to go to school in my country.

    That said be careful of how you treat any american hanging out in Cayman or perhaps you all will find yourselves on the undesireable list

    • Anonymous says:

      Dear 20;12

      If you are one of those Americans who came here like those in the past, who not only loved the Caymanian people, and treated them with respect.

      These Americans came, brought their money, invested it, and if they wanted to develope they seek Caymanians to do the work for them.

      Now if you are part of the group which our ass wipe governmnets have given the  the privilage to import your own people to do whatever you want done in this country, then i can see your worry, and concern.

      Speaking of undesireable list, we have our list also.

    • Anonymous says:

      Goodness you are kidding right to anonymous person dated monday 2 June at 20:12.   Might I had that America is no representative for law and order.  You have child molesters running all over the place in the States, you bomb countries where you have no business going into, you constantly want to police the world as if somebody asked you to do so in the first place, you try to place your supposed capitalism/democracy on everyone, you have no real freedom of speech that you might as well be communism, you give a game called internatiional sports when it is only the States playing, you celebrate Thanks Giving when you took the land from indigenous indians who were there first and now you place them in reservations and Casinos and you think the rest of the world should be careful for the Americans hanging in Cayman.  Really.  The only good thing so far coming out of the States although he is question is Obama.  Just  be careful that this country who don't do not do full background or homework  allowed some of the Americans to arrive and reside here although most are from the deep south.  Now that is frightening.

       

       

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes and they tried to say he was not born in America- he probably wishes that himself, after having to deal with the like of some of them!!

      • Anonymous says:

        You did fine til you thought the only thing good out of America was Obama.  Your kool aid is worse than Keke's.

    • Anonymous says:

      You are really full of it.  Perhaps Al will not respond to you on this, but please bear in mind that Caymanian children did not go to school in America on your dollars . Our Government and Private Sector, and Parents  paid for our children to go to America, Canada, Carribbean, England (yes England even though we are a Crown Colony).  Soome of our bright Caymanian and Al is one of them, went to America and brought up the learning curve in your universities because as I said they were bright  and industrious. So you please do your research before you write rubbish.  On top of that they paid 3 times what you Americans paid so it was the other way around , our Cayman Islands dollars assisted you.  I hope our dollars was not wasted on you but based on you stupid statement I am afraid they were.

    • Anonymous says:

      Huh? How do you figure your tax dollars in America had anything to do with meeting the costs of Al's education?  

      It is this kind of obnoxious, superior attitude that turns people off from Americans.

  12. Henry says:

    Talk is cheap! Do something about the issue as this has been going on for so many years  and it keeps festering into a sore with each political administration keep band aiding it.  You think this is bad give it five more years! We have seen it all from kidnapping, murders, missing persons and gang rapes. I would much prefer my little mosquito infested island then, than how I now live!

  13. Anonymous says:

    Rick…..let me inform you…there were many persons in the mass status grant who recieved Cayman status and had never ever set foot in cayman until they came here to claim their gift.  Fact.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      “Gift” would imply nothing was paid for it.

    • Anonymous says:

      OK. I am willing to believe you. Now do your civic duty and send the information to the police so an investigation can be conducted into the corruption surrounding it, and Cabinet can withdraw the grant. You do not even have to identify yourself. There is 800 TIPS.

       

      Rick

  14. Anonymous says:

    PPM vs UDP …….who cares ????? As a voter I am so tired of hearing you brain washed cool aide drinking lot fuss over two sides of the same coin. There is absolutely no difference between the two parties ….. (Rolls eyes)……does an entire generation need to pass away in order for there to be a single sensible candidate in the LA? 

    The bottom line is the government is the people, the people are the government …….we need to stop depending on these mere men to solve societies problems. All i have ever seen from both parties is finger pointing and patting themselves on their own backs. They are the same. 

    What are you doing besides casting a vote based on tribal politics every four year? Nothing …..if you have not engaged in community service if you are not giving back to society then just shut up because you are a part of the problem.

    Evil wins when good men do nothing. Casting a vote is nothing. 

     

  15. Anonymous says:

    I can't wait to read this research paper……..oh wait his opinion is not based on anything but fantasy. 

    If I want to hear random utterings i go to the bar. Do some research before opening your mouth. 

  16. Anonymous says:

    I personally am tired of hearing political opinions. I received status in the massive status grant. My grand father went off to sea. My grand mother does have any birth papers. I was born and raised in Cayman. My uncles went to sea.

    At the local heritage days my family is called on to demonstrate traditional cayman activities such as rope making etc. The immigration law didnt fully cover persons like myself.  I am sure i am more caymanian than most of those flapping their jaws in out rage. 

    Do you chase every bone that self serving politians throw your way? Man take a look at this island the real issue is lack of long term planning and voters who won't get up and help themselves. 

    We need to stop waiting for politians to solve our problems. 

     

  17. Anonymous says:

     

    ONE MAN ONE VOTE PLEASE! 

    As a West Bayer who was raised in Birch Tree Hill i feel the reason for the demise is the the fact that elected officials are too out of touch with their community.

    Many of the young people who end up in these so called gangs were failed systematicly in one way or another. Of course you have some who are simply idiots mimicking a life style…..but I have seen some of my peers cast out of  school,for drug use at age 11 ……come on now if an 11 year old has drugs shouldn't  you look into their home life? 

    Ironically enough back when many of these future criminals were cast out of school the only place to receive a GED was northward prison. 

     

     

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      The 11 year should have been taken in by child and family services with both parents immediately sent to jail. Next the child should have been listed for foster care and adoption. A psychologist assigned and a social worker to follow the child until 18. Plus a mentor to ensure the child would integrate successfully into society.

  18. The Truman Years says:

    As much as I would like to blame Mac, it is fairly well documented and quite clear that the gangs are a result of Truman’s incompetence.

  19. Anonymous says:

    "Suckoo" –  a good old "generations deep on both sides" name right up there with Ebanks, Bodden, Miller, Walton Dixon etc etc.

    • Anonymous says:

      That's why he is particularly credible, dimwit.  

    • Anonymous says:

      Ebanks, Miller, Walton and Dixon are relative newcomers! They weren't around in the 1700s.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Al.. You need to stand for what you believe in stop changing heart! 

  21. Anonymous says:

    I agree with Al the status grants fiasco was the start of this country's downfall. Soon after crime escalated.  The majority of the recipients were Jamaicans.  End of story!!!  

    • Anonymous says:

      Or, perhaps Cayman's downfall started with an education system that is arguably the worst education system in the world per captia incme. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Oh, you mean the one that replaced a globally respected British system with a less onerous Eastern Caribbean exam system reviled by our private sector employers,

      • Anonymous says:

        I hope you are not a UK person. Your level of education is ranked  20th on the global scale  in Reading Maths and science.

    • Anonymous says:

      Ummmmm, do you think perhaps that the escalation in crime following the grants might actually have had to do with the fact that Ivan hit and we opened our shores to anyone an everyone who landed here?

      Ivan is the benchmark people, Cayman has been going downhill ever since that MOFO passed through.

       

      • Anonymous says:

        16;59

        I cant swallow that, we had and have an immigration department that should have secured our borders.

        Maybe they were taking out T&B to hire these same people and is the reason they never returned.

        The difference with real immigration and incompetent  immigration,  example, when the fruit and vegatable pickers from any caribbean Island travel to the US or Canada to work on these farms, when finish they have to return to their home land.

        Caymanians have become too damn greedy and want to have their cake and eat it too. So they take out a T&B and keep these people here then they mature for status. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I think your comment is the textbook definition of prejudice. 

      • Anonymous says:

        And your comment is textbook ignorance.

      • Anonymous says:

        No, his comment is the textbook of the facts and you cant change it!

         Most  of you are running away from your crime infested country, lets face the textbook facts!

  22. Gran Heffe says:

    england wants restricted immigration (seen by the recent elections), america wants restricted immigration, greece, ireland, Germany, Austrailia – the list goes on and on, so why is it that whenever Caymanians feel the same we all of a sudden are the worst xenophobes on the planet?! Get real and be honest with yourselves. You came and saw paradise and didnt\\dont want to leave (literally). All you expats being sarcastic on CNS about Caymanians should stop playing a dangerous game (as this very much conrtibutes to the devide we see). I would advise you to take a hard look at places like Jamaica, Trinidad and several others where you would never dare to live and work and act as if you own the place (setting up your own little colonies at Rackams, Dukes, Calico Jacks etc.). The disturbing level of crimes happening in Cayman are teetering near the boiling point and i'm feeling as though my homeland is slipping into a very sinister environment. I dont blame expats for this, but, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that this island can only hold so many people and provide so many jobs before the system of luxury and affluent times we have enjoyed for some many years is lost.

    I still cannot figure out why it is so many people want to leave their countries to come and live in Cayman? Now thats sarcasm for you.

    • Whodatis says:

      Preach, preach, preach it, Big Boss!

      🙂

    • Anonymous says:

      Please point out all the comments calling Caymanians Xenophobic on this article that you are refering to, I cannot find any. Talk about overtly defensive, makes you wonder

    • Anonymous says:

      The number of people leaving their countries to come to Cayman is extremely small compared to the number of people leaving their countries to go elsewhere. There are many countries that accept huge numbers of immigrants every year. The city of Toronto alone takes on 100,000 immigrants a year. Cayman has the attitude that everyone in the world wants to live here and they have to fight it at all costs. The real threat will be when the unwelcoming attitude, over time, causes nobody to want to move here.

      • Anonymous says:

        What a stupid argument. Obviously the issue has to do with the proportion they represent of the population they are joining. Proportionately Cayman has many more expats than most places in the world including Toronto.    

    • Lizzie II says:

      You neglect to acknowledge one minor detail. 

      Rule Brittania!

      • Anonymous says:

        Brittania has enough problem of her  own, trying  to stop the Immigration of Romanians and   Bulgarians from destroying their country with the  unsavory people entering their shores.

        By the year 2030 their wont be a majority Britain…that is so sad for such a great country that was on top of the world, in less than a century ago.

        That is why the UK people recently  voted in the UKIP Party, its the only party to stand up against the ethnic cleansing that is occuring in the UK.

        Cayman has to do the same nextelection. get rid of the rif raffs. They all have a country to return to.

        • Anonymous says:

          1. How many Romanians and Bulgarians have entered the UK since those countries joined the EU? What proportion of the total UK population do they comprise?

          2. What is the source for your 2030 claim?

          3. The UK population did not "vote in" UKIP. This party does not have (and has never had) a single MP. In the recent local authority elections, UKIP won a measly 214 seats out of the 19,385 available.

          4. What "ethnic cleansing" is taking place in the UK? Have there been some mass killings of Yorkshiremen which have somehow passed the world by? Your use of this emotive phrase not only demonstrates your ignorance, it demeans the horrors which took place during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

          • Anonymous says:

            Leave Yorkshiremen out of it 

          • Anonymous says:

            18;01

            Call me ignorant. It doesnt phase me any.

            Nothing hurts like the truth.The UK population will not have the majority of British people, come 2030 they will be replace with your ethnicity, Estaern Euporeans. That is what i call enthnic cleansing. without spilling any blood.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Whilst it is a popular thought process, that the mass status grants caused all of Cayman's ills, I've never seen anyone sit down and prove it.  I would bet that the majority of those 3000 grants included many deserving people, after all didn't the ministers have a hand in putting forward names for the list, plus many friends of the political class, I know a few teachers were added.  I also know of instances where there were people who shouldn't have been included but that was a minority.

    So without anyone coming forward to give a breakdown of how long most resdients had been here before getting a grant I'm not going to join in this harmful finger pointing.

    The only thing I have to go on is that there's about 58,000 people here now and that there was about that many in 2003.  How many Caymanians in prison came here after 2003 and falied to assimliate? How many Caymanians are known to the police that came here in the last decade? How many family members were brought here after 2003 that weren't here already? What is the breakdown of nationalities?

    • Anonymous says:

      There were about 45,000 here in 2003.

      • Anonymous says:

        nope…clearly over 50,000…you are wrong!!

        • Anonymous says:

          44,144 according to ESO. Slightly less than 3,000 were granted status. The legality of those grants was and remains very much in question. Thousands of children and other dependents with no prior connection to Cayman then moved here with little to no vetting. They too were granted status. The legality of their grants was and remains in question. What is now clear, and was warned of by the time, is that the economic, cultural, and social consequences have been a disaster.

    • Anonymous says:

      Prove it , you must be blind!

      Dont you see all the Caymanian builders out of work,dont you see all other nationality driving around in their work trucks. Go on the construction sites and tell me how much caymanian builders you find?

  24. Anonymous says:

    McKeeva babies coming home to roost. No surprise at all,

    • Anonymous says:

      It is too easy to blame Big Mac when in fact all UDP and PPM and the key soldiers had lists that were submitted to Cabinet for the lottery.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Apparently it was all the fault of some Caymanians who are not quite Caymanian enough.

  26. Anonymous says:

    So if people get granted PR but then commit crimes, revoke it & kick them out to Jamaica or whererever they are from!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      You can do the same with status grants.

      • Anonymous says:

        You mean like the one the Attorney General and pretty much his whole office got? and you expect the law to be enforced against who?

  27. Anonymous says:

    Al you just as lost as your leader!!

  28. Anonymous says:

    Every individual that resides in Cayman is a foreign national, from another place. Everyone came here post 1503 , from another place. Whether that be Africa via Jamaica , England via the colony ships , Cuba or other nations in the Americas. Arguing over whether someone is a 'Natural born ' or a 'Paper' Caymanian is like 2 fleas arguing over which one of them owns the dog they live on. But the divide will continue…

    • Anonymous says:

      I am not a foreign national. I am a Caymanian, 10 generations deep on both sides. I have no other home and my loyalities do not lie elsewhere. Status holders don't identify as Caymanians but with their countries of origin – Jamaica, Canada etc. One may as well argue that the English are not more English than a recent Pakistani immigrant because their ancestors were Celts who migrated there from central Europe, Angles and Saxons who migratedthere from northern Germany, Viking raiders from Scandinavia and Normans who came over from France in 1066.  See how far that gets you.  

      • Diogenes says:

        Do make sure that your children don't set up with any nasty expatriates, status holders or anyone who wasn't born here to parents also born here.  It would be a terrible tragedy to deny future generations the ability to say they were 11th generation , 12 generation etc.  Alll that time spent in keeping your family pure would be wasted!

      • Anonymous says:

        So which one was it then that brought your 10th age generation here to a previously undeveloped  & unpopulated island , was it the new free settlers from Jamaica, or the British colonial ships?

        • Anonymous says:

          LOL 10 generations ago Jamaica was also being settled by the British. You make it sound as if it were an established country.

          • Anonymous says:

            Question is, will you jamaicans be willing to take into your country 50% of your population to give all  these 1.2 million people work and to do business?? I didnt think so!!

        • Anonymous says:

          You need to understand that many Caymaians are ashamed to admit they have a connection with Jamaica. So lets be more politically correct and say "African", "British", or "Spanish" 

          • Anonymous says:

            Many Jamaicans believe that any connection of one ancestor 300 years ago with Jamaica means you are Jamaican and imply that we have no separate identity from them. That's the problem. Those distant and negligible connections with what was itself a colony in the process of settlement are irrelevant.

          • Anonymous says:

            17; 11

            Many of us will admit we have Jamaican parents and grand parents, and we are proud to be of that ancestor. So what is the big deal?

            We are a population of 55,000 people vs jamaica 2 1/2 million, do you really think it is fair to let in an unlimited amount of Jamaicans in this little island…this is pure madness!

            We already have too many Jamicans here. We are losing our building industry to  Jamaicans…do you think that is fair???

            An example. Where we were laying building blocks for $1.50 back in the 80s the jamaicans are now laying them for 75 cents. Do you really think this is fair to the caymanians that grew with our development to now cant get a job for cheap prices.

      • Anonymous says:

        I call BS on this post you cannot go TEN generations deep on BOTH side and not have another country mixed in there!!! Sorry impossible

        • Anonymous says:

          Oh dear. Saying you are 10th generation Caymanian doesn't mean that you have no ancestors from anywhere else. It means that you can trace your ancestry back 10 generations in Cayman on at least one line for each of your parents. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Sir, your roots are here but at some point your ancestors were from somewhere else, just like the rest of us. There was no indigenous population when these islands were discovered, hence no indigenous Caymanians. Everyone's family came from somewhere else.

        • Anonymous says:

          And that gives you the right to push the peole out of their jobs? the people who built this little country.

          Where were you when we fought off mosquitoes, lived in thatch palm houses. fished turtles for  a living, our men drowned doing so,  planted casava for food. If i had the authority i would never give one of you a T&B license to destroy our businesses.

        • Anonymous says:

          Ummmm…you seem to have completely missed the point of the post.

    • Anonymous says:

      Does that give you all the rights to fill this country up with the same nationality that came here 300 years ago. 

      Have  some damn sense… this little Island cant hold any more of you. You are taking away our businesses that we struggled so hard  for.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Sorry to tell you but the gangs were here way before 2003, its just everyone's head was in the sand

    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah but were they so common back then?

    • anonymous says:

      Gangs were here during the 1980s starting in the schools and the education officials called them groups. When are you going to categorise  indiginuous Caymanian and paper Caymanian,and  where do you draw the line?. Look at the different names of "who is who" in Cayman. Many of these names are not Ebanks, Mclaughlins, Scotts, Parchments, mcfields Kirkonnels Tibbetts Connollys and other household names. So politicians have to be careful that by their words they don't unintentionaly make the hate and poison between the indiginuous caymanians and the paper caymanians increased. There are Caymanian in the very LA whoseparents or grand parents are not in Caymanian for 50 years. An what about descendants of Caymanians who lived overseas and have return to the islands recently?  ?Where do these fit into the puzzle?

      So some of their generation could be stigmatized too . is it that when you are living here for 50 0r 40 or 35 years you suddenly become iniginuous Caymanian? Some of these same paper citizens voted you into office so what? Why do they vote if when poblems come in the country you going to point fingers? both indiginuous and paper Caymanian are responsible for the cimes and the gangs.. Do you believe it will help by highlighting differences? Why don't we define who is entitled to be call real Caymanian and the paper ones . Why not put a difinitive date like 1955 or 1960. So if your parents  or grand paents were here before these dates you are indiginuous and all that came after are paper Caymanians.

      The point is politicans have to be careful what they say in the public arena less you divide the society further, by people who are less learned that themselvesf take this as a que to to hate and divide the society even more .The mass status grant might have been a bad idea but we have to deal with it. what are we going to do behave like the Dominican Republic? Fix the problem or else in 2040 you will still blaming the ills of society on the mass status grant

      • Anonymous says:

        The man didn't say it was the origin of gangs he said it encouraged gangs and I agree with him. We gave many people status without thinking about how they would fit in and without thinking about the increased pressure on the schools hospitals etc and now I hear Mac talking crap about needing to increase the population ? XXXX

        • Anonymous says:

          Mac doesnt care if we imported 200 thousand people. He doesnt have to compete in any business with them.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Did the status recipients steal the status grants? Or were the status grants handed to them by Caymanians? If the latter, why is the recipient being blamed?

    • Anonymous says:

      They are being blamed because they commit crimes, idiot., And "Caymanians" did not give them status – McKeeva and crew did it.

      • Anonymous says:

        And a crime may have been committed in relation to some of the actual "giving" anyway. Anyone investigate that?

      • Anonymous says:

        I'm going to go out on a limb and say McKeeva and crewe are Caymanians. Having witnessed some of the happenings at the time, I can assure you prominent PPM members were making their lists too. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Since I'm an idiot, perhaps you can help me. Are not McKeeva and his crew Caymanian? Were they not put in place to represent the people? Were they not voted back in after 2003?  Was Mr. Sukoo not a part of the entire process he is now bashing? 

      • Anonymous says:

        Who dis mckeeba is?

      • Anonymous says:

        To the posters below, do you understand the difference between "Caymanians" = "McKeeva, versus "McKeeva = "a Caymanian".  

    • Anonymous says:

      You clearly have a reading comprehension problem: "The Bodden Town MLA said it was not the fault of those given status that there were so many social issues but because there was no effort made to assimilate so many new Caymanians, many of whom had not been in Cayman very long".

      • Anonymous says:

        So the Bodden Town MLA is basically saying the government / society on a whole, failed the recipients.  That is to say, native Caymanians failed to assimilate new ones. Perhpaps by calling them "Paper Caymanians", asking "Who you daddy is", "Where you from"? etc. Certainly not comments exclusive to the McKeeva Grantees. So perhaps its a much deeper problem than Mac' tarnished recipients. Perphaps the root of the problem begins with a word starting with the letter X.  

        • Anonymous says:

          They are called paper Caymanians because that is how they behave. They have no desire to assimilate but want to change this place so that it is just like where they came from.

          • Anonymous says:

            8;42

            You hit the nail on the head. Very few of these people will mix with Caymanians. Most dont even include Caymanians when seeking people to work for them.

        • Anonymous says:

          "ex" actually.

    • Anonymous says:

      Our stupid politicians gave them the status. They are not considered Caymanians…. more like from outer space.

  31. Anonymous says:

    Mr Suckoo I commend you for your vigorous work in trying to assist Caymanians (born and paper staus).  This insight is long time over due and to be honest I think the Governments (past and present) already knew about the situation but everyone turned a blind eye.  You definitely need a stricker system to monitor the companies that are arriving on island who are not following the laws by recruting.  This is racism and prejudice in full flow and this should be monitored with a key eye.  Also to be honest a lot of those folks sitting in Immigration are descendents from Jamaica for example who are only going to assist their people rather than born and bred Caymanians.  When listening to conversations on the streets they are more likely to have alliance with their own family as they feel more accepted than the Caymanian culture.  Remember a lot of Caymanians do not want to accept that they have Jamaican blood whether present or previous.  We have a definitely gap between Jamicans and Caymanians and if we don't watch out soon we are going to have the same Jamaica situation and that is not going to be pretty.  This country needs a complete cleansing and real men/women who are going to represent the people of this country and not somebody that can be brought.  Too many times folks are sitting there without a care in the world and act as if the social unrest is not a part of them.  It starts in the home.  Unfortunately there are a lot make shift relationships and people are just using each other to have their foot in another man's country.  

  32. Anonymous says:

    Al Suckoo for Premier!!!  Thank you for calling things out as they truly are!!! 

     

  33. Anonymous says:

    Why didn't we just make this man minister of Labour?

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly because this person unfortunatley and I am going to say it has it is IS NOT LIGHT ENOUGH.  There I said it.  They would rather listen to an Uncle Tom is being controlled by a Consultant

    • anonymous says:

      It was good enough for Albert Speer.

  34. Anonymous says:

    It is hard to believe that when Suckoo was going through the government school system in the 1980s he did not know there were gangs in the schools. This was well before the 2003 grants and they were 100% Caymanian gangs.

  35. anonymous says:

    Possibly the most idiotic comment ever made by a politician. In the first place, the individuals who obtained status were already in the society. If they were not assimulated after status was granted, they would not have been assimulated prior to that. Status grants can only assist in assimulation, it does not work against it. It stands to reason that if they were not involved in gangs before, they were less likely to do so after.

    The perception that recent arrivals were granted status en masse does not hold water. There is not evidence of this. What the evidence shows is that on being granted status, long term residencts were finally able to normalize the immigration status of close family members who were being disenfranchised due to unjust government policy and practices.

    What generates gangs is social injustice and poor social framework within the society., including being alienated from that society. Working and living in a country for 20-30-30+ years without any security of tenure is unjust, removes the incentive to have ownership of the society and generates resentment, all motivating criminal behavior. Removing that injustice can only mitigate against the likelihood of someone becoming a member of a criminal gang.

    What can encourage gang membership is behaviour that further alienates people with Cayman Status, such as the silly remarks of a narrow minded, irresponsible politician reminding the status holder that they are not welcome as a part of this society, status or not. Added to that is the implied justification for the so-called animosity  between Jamaican and Caymanian segments of the society. The only small measure of satisfaction is that WE have the vote.

    Rick

    • Anonymous says:

      The suggestion in the post by anonymous at 9:18 which reads: "Working and living in a country 20-30-30+ years without any security of tenure is unjust…………."   I would like to let the writer of this post to understand that no Caymanian or I'm pretty sure anyone else for that matter FORCED any foreigner to stay in the Cayman Islands.  Thatwas the indivdual's choice to stay so don't go blaming my country of injustice!!  The same way they came here they could leave here!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Don't shoot the messenger!

  36. Whodatis says:

    Sounds like what Suckoo is saying that the country's failue to properly analyze and weigh the effects of a sudden and significant population increase, amongst other shortcomings (education, training, diversification of job prospects for locals), has led to major disenfranchisement of many Caymanians. Add to this the relatively new element of slave labour and it is not difficult to understand why things have changed so much in the country.

    By the way, before some of you jump on the "xenophobia" bandwagon – I would just remind the room that Suckoo is of half expatriate ancestry.

    Also, kudos to you Al for supporting the minimum wage. It is badly needed in the country – not only in regards to the unemployment issue, but also in regards to the gross reduction of money within the economy as a result of remittances to other countries.

    Today many people say, "money doesn't flow like 10-15 years ago". To that I say, look around again – Cayman has NEVER before been busier, more productive and more populated. The problem is that much of the money is being sent ELSEWHERE! Whereas a country with tens or hundreds of millions of people can absorb that activity quite easily, a country like Cayman feels it accutely.

    Lastly, we as Caymanians have to realize and accept that it is us that must bring about the changes we are hoping for in the country. Government and the private sector can only do so much. We must be willing to diversify our approach and expectations within the job market. Our kids must be taught to reject the typical western work ethic and approach to manual / hard labour and starter jobs. Parents must stop spoliing their teenager kids with every gadget, sneaker and mobile phone that hits the market and place greater emphasis on their schoolwork and overall academic or vocational performance.

    Parents must be prepared to place their own relationships, hobbies and social life second to the education and development of their children. Not only am I refering to secular activities, but also to spiritual commitments as well.

    I know of quite a few parents that are "Jesus-filled" to the brim but as a result are so disconnected from their kids. Praying about it won't be nearly as effective as looking yourself in the mirror and facing life like a man or woman by way of actively engaging with your child.

    Keep up the good work Suckoo. Cayman, we finally have a young Caymanian that appears to have our best interest at heart. The onus is now upon us to ensure that individuals like Suckoo are not fighting for us in vain.

    • Anonymous says:

      If expatriot workers are being told they are not welcome and are only here for 2-3 years, of course they will not invest locally and will save as much money as they can

      • Whodatis says:

        I agree, and your argument makes perfect sense.

        However, the ultimate objective of my perspective is to significantly reduce the expatriate percentage of the makeup of residents in the Cayman Islands.

        I was trying to make the point without being direct in the hope that it wou1ld allow people to see the bigger picture – and avoid the oft forwarded "Stop being a xenophobe!" tactic of deflection.

        By the way, all of our expats are "welcome". However, by no means are all of our expats welcome to stay forever. I say this with absolutely no apologies. This is a tiny island nation and not even the greatest of countries roll out red carpets of indefinite stay to their immigrant population. Therefore, why should we?

    • Diogenes says:

      For once find myself in almost complete agreement with Whodatis.  However, one small quibble – introducing a minimum age will not necessarily reduce the haemorrage of money out of the local economy through employee remittances.  It will only do that if it reduces the number of expatriate employees remitting money overseas by more than the percentage increase in their wages, or encourages them to spend money they previously sent home locally.  Otherwise it has the potential to increase, rather than decrease, monies remitted.  If you are already on a very low wage, but prepared to put up with hardship in order to send dollars home, what are you going to do with a higher wage?  Surely the majority of the increase would go home, if not all of it.?  Cannot imagine you would send less home than you did before. You are basically relying on those workers being displaced by unemployed Caymanians.   Taking that into account two obvious problems arise.  First, Caymanians have to be prepared to take the jobs – and a minimum wage at the levels currently mooted seems unlikely to overcome prejudices or motivation.  Second, you can only displace the a foreigner with a Caymanian if there is one available for the job – even if the entire unemployed local population were to suddenly seize on the potential for local employment, you are only going to get rid of 1000+ expatriates, whilst making the remittable income of the remaining expatriates higher.   

      • Whodatis says:

        Thanks for replying.

        It is crucial that the reader understands that I associate the lack of a minimum wage to the presence of our slave labour by way of many of our expatriate workers. I think that addresses the first part of your post.

        I take your point in regards to having to replace expat workers with Caymanians. I also spoke to that issue in my initial post – as in where we went wrong, and what is required to bring about the required changes.

        We didn't get here overnight so we should not expect to fix the problems in a week.

    • Anonymous says:

      Oh my god, you're starting to sound like your parents. 

    • Anonymous says:

      Well spoken Whodatis!! well spoken!!

  37. Anonymous says:

    Of course, blame it on the expats, particularly the Jamaicans. This isn't helpful at all. And you speak about creating divides, Al?

    • Anonymous says:

      Are you that stupid? He blamed the UDP for giving so many status without planning for it 

    • Anonymous says:

      The truth is the truth.  He is merely pointing out the facts that a few or shall I say most of the politians are not addressing.  Al for Premier and can not be brought

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Come on now, 9:01

      Please tell me when a jamaican ever gave a Caymanian work on his job site? We open our arms to these people gave them status. The stupid Goverment gave them business license to run the locals out of their business.

      Tell me now ,who started the divides???

      The other expats are no better. Look at the large projects coming on line… see who will be on those sites, not Caymanians. Tell me now who started the divide???

  38. Da Bracster says:

    Must give it to the PPM they got some theories Mann! They have yet to come up with one to get us out of this mess yet though ? Besides the Deputy Premier taking care he own "Bizzness" intrest  and disciples…….

  39. Anonymous says:

    Well said Suckoo you the only ppm MLA working for Caymanians. You should be in Cabinet

  40. Anonymous says:

    One thing I can say for sure, is that AL Suckoo is on the ball.   All those who supported him should be pleased to see he is the only one with a  working concen for his people.The suaton of expat Versus Caymaians will always be, unless we decide to give more jobs to our people.

    Also Mr Sukoo you need to bring to  the house a motion  to assist eldely caymans who cannot  work need to be given more than a 550 a month stipen  from Goverment or  40.00 a week for food.   When was  the last time   the elderly got a raise.   The 2.3 or 3.2 percent should alo include them also.  Why should they be left out and forgoten. . This is something we need looking into.   Stop giving this money away  to PR  expatriates.  They never built this country..

  41. Truth Seeker says:

    UDP and PPM had people who collected names, prepared the lists  that were submitted for the status lottery. Both sides and their loyal supporters are to blame for the negativity and increased burden on Cayman's infrastructure in their ad hoc attempts of 'nation building' all in the hope of guaranteeing party loyalty in future elections.

    • Anonymous says:

      Submitting names is not the issue. It is the process by which the status was actually granted together with the massive number that are the issues. Only the UDP Cabinet was responsible for that. Nominations are generally a much higher number than the number of appointments. If one job is advertised and there are 10 applicants does that mean you must hire all 10? And this was no lottery – grants were made for the purpose of harnessing the political support of those persons.

      There is only one party responsible for the Nation Biulding Fund fiasco – the UDP.

      You are not seeking the truth at all but trying to obscure it.

      • Anonymous says:

        The process is the main issue but if you made a list by either UDP or PPM you got irrevocable Cayman Status

        • Anonymous says:

          That is nonsense, and, in any event, irrelevant. The issues are very simple: 1. Who had the power and did in fact make the grants? Answer: UDP Cabinet. 2. Was the appropriate diligence done? Answer: No.   Who controlled the number of grants made? Answer: UDP Cabinet.  

    • Anonymous says:

      Rubbish. There has never been any evidence of PPM affiliated MLA's submitting lists of persons to this debacle. It was those MLA's that brought this to the attention of the public.

      • Anonymous says:

        You are in denial and a typical blind ppm blogger. Just ask those persons working at the pines who made the list and how they got status. Wake up you are all to blame for the plight of Cayman in 2014

  42. Anonymous says:

    Suckoo really needs a reality check. Does he even know what he stands for anymore? Firstly, the UDP got it wrong when he was a member. The PPM is now getting it wrong when he is a member. Maybe the issue is HIM!! He is the only constant in the 2 parties. You know who else have the record of being a member in BOTH the UDP and the PPM? Joey Ebanks. 

    If Al is going that far back to locate problems, why dont he go back to Truman Bodden who said there were no gangs in school when the teachers and everyone else knew there were gangs. Why not mention that? Why continue this political blame game that does nothing to move the country forward?

    Al, you and your fellow PPM colleagues were elected to find solutions for our country. Anybody can tell you what the problems are. Go find a solution or go find another job. This is another feeble attempt  to create disunity in our already divided country. Really disappointed in you. I thought you were different. Dont become like Alden, Mac, or Ezzard. Learn from Anthony! 

    • Anonymous says:

      08:39  You could babble all you want, but AL Suckoo is a man whome we trust a respect,  and we will be voting him back in for Bodden Town next electon.  End of Story.

    • Anonymous says:

      Never too late to wake up.  Don't beat him down.  We all have to learn the hard way.  That is life.  Get rid of the two party system which is creating a division here 

  43. Anonymous says:

    The problem with minimum wage is not at a business level. Hotels and restaurants may be a bit below $5.00 but they easily make that up in gratuities. Small retail and fast food almost all that I know of exceed $6.00. 

    The problem with minimum wage, and why the relutance to pass it, is the families who expect full time domestic help at starvation level pay. If they pay at all.

     

     

  44. Michel says:

    I agree with you Mr. Suckoo. The massive Status grants was the beginning of many shortfalls. Some persons did deserve it but many did not. Also the many persons who fell thru the cracks after Hurricane Ivon.Unless one departed ( via our airports legally) our Islands there was and still is no way of knowing who is legal residents. I am for an identification card that a person should always carry and presented to proper authorities when Asked. God Bless. Michel Lemay.

  45. Anonymous says:

    “many of whom had not been in Cayman very long.”

    Now that is quite an admission.

    • Anonymous says:

      And quite an exaggerataion. There were some… but not many. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Thousands who had never lived here once you add the all the dependants who came as a result.

  46. Anonymous says:

    CI must be the dumping ground for world castouts & criminals=finger printing system please PPM!

  47. Anonymous says:

    LOL right. (sarcasm).

  48. Anonymous says:

    The foolswho were running around making up lists of people to get status have a lot to answer for. You know who you are. You destroyed the Cayman miracle.

    Thanks for that. Thanks a bunch.

    • Anonymous says:

      I partially  blame the authorities for not acting to stop the blatant corruption of the whole process. Good Governance? UK?

      • Anonymous says:

        You mean like the Attorney Generaland his dept. who were themselves grantees but nonetheless were providing advice to the Cabinet that it was perfectly legal?   

  49. Anonymous says:

    How about revoking any status' given to individuals who are arrested for criminal offenses??? Would be a good start!