Cayman can be centre of learning says BT candidate
(CNS): The Cayman Islands could become a centre for excellence when it comes to further education, says independent Bodden Town candidate, Justin Woods. When it comes to finding a viable third pillar to help prop up the local economy behind financial services and tourism, the local businessman said that it has already been demonstrated with St Matthews Medical School that Cayman has the potential to bring more further education institutes to the island as well as develop and expand those that already exist, such as UCCI.
Speaking at a political meeting at the Bodden Town Post office on Tuesday evening (5 May) Woods suggested that there was considerable untapped potential in the business of education. “We have veterinary school, a medical school, a law school as well as UCCI where we can develop the potential for learning here,” he said. “We can have children coming here to learn.” He added that this was a business that would be constantly renewed. Talking with CNS he said this was an idea he had been considering for many years and said with the Marine institute in Little Cayman as well, there was a significant opportunity to develop new business for the country by expanding courses on offer for overseas students. He said with Cayman’s reputation as a financial services sector the country could develop a specialist business management courses designed to meet the needs of those looking to study the offshore sector which would also have enormous benefit for our own students. “It’s a no brainer and I can’t understand why it has not been developed,” he added.
Woods also spoke about the need for a new kind of representation from politicians as he said it takes an election for thepeople to see their representative. He said politicians spent more time arguing with each other in the Legislative Assembly than taking care of the needs of the people. He said the district of Bodden Town had been neglected but there was a lot of need in the district so it was time to give people the tools to advance themselves and not give them handouts. He estimated that there were as many as 3000 Caymanians out of work but the country had some 27,000 permits with no policies in place to address that or make people’s lives better.
“What is going to happen to our people?” he asked stating that it was time to change things by electing people who cared and who were able to make the changes to make a better life for Caymanians. He also said that the delays on addressing the flooding on Bodden Town were unacceptable when all it required was a pumping station and that the claims by government that the Savannah gully wall had been held up by planning were not true as planning had approved the wall some time ago but the government had not provided the financing.
However, Anthon Eden recently stated at a Chamber Candidate’s District Forum that the delay was down to objections to the plans to build the sea wall by residents in the area which had only recently been addressed and the project was now slatedto go ahead.
Woods also spoke about rising crime, the glass ceiling for Caymanians in the civil service, the failure to promote Cayman as a tourist destination overseas and the money that was being spent on buildings without any investment in people. He said government was spending and borrowing millions of dollars while Caymanians were out of work. He asked the people to think very carefully on Election Day and to consider if they were better of today than in the past before they marked their Xs.
“If you elect me I will be a different kind of representative,” he said adding that if the people wanted better for their children he was the one they should vote for.
Category: Election 2009
Congrats on running a clean campaign, for actually having solutions to the problems rather just talking about them. If you decide to run in the next elections, we will be behind you 100% as we were this time. Being a first time independant running you made us very proud. Just keep it up over the next four years – do not disappear like some do and then just pop up out of nowhere just before elections – but that is not your style so we dont have to worry about that. Once again, Congrats !!!!!!
Justin Wood…we know him. He is visble. Accessible. Will work. has a mind of his own. Can see a thing for what it is. Does not play mind games. Can be firm but fair. Will not drive by the hungry. has the same Bodden Town accent we know without change. We know where he lives. Unafraid. is not a prince with entitlement. Knows what he does not know. No bluffer. Pays his taxes. Gets nothing for free. Justin troubles no one. Fears no one. Has sence of humour. Attempts to fool no one. Does business in a way that leaves no one behind. Talks little, acts more. Personable. Respectful. No baggage.
Yes Justin has a lot to learn…at least he can. He has the ability and the time to do both.
Bodden Town is considering him seriously
We all should be a shame of ourselves Candidates and voters alike whom has partken drinking from the toilets. One week to go!!! Like many other I can’t wait so all of this bad mouthing one another can STOP!!…remember;like it or not we the people will have to live with whom ever takes office…so start praying and stop bad mouthing!!!.
God bless the Cayman Islands, and thank you for letting me share it with you for a time. You are a wonderful people.
Looking for alternative revenue sources is a good idea and higher education can be one of those, but I am concerned that the cost of living here makes the economics of taking a degree here improbable. I remember as a student living off of the $700 per month that I made tending bar part-time after class. It was hard but worth it (it gave me the credentials to come here and practice law). I could never survive here on that amount of money, even eating Kraft Dinner and hot dogs (and I love KD and dogs), and I know that Caymanians might not look kindly on a population of students out looking for those kinds of jobs which are otherwise available for Caymanians.
Were I from rich parents I suppose that all would not matter, but for that category of students Cayman would be competing with the Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and all the other places people go when money is no concern. Middle of the pack families might be the right target.
Finally, I agree that education is CRITICAL to a good career. I now make considerably more than that $700 per month, and it is because I have 2 degrees hanging on my wall. They say money can’t buy happiness, but that is wrong. It can’t buy love or forgiveness, but it can buy steaks, lobsters, beer, cars, houses, travel, books, plasma TVs, … well you get the picture. Money can buy a lot of things that make people happy, and that is part of the reward of higher education so STAY IN SCHOOL. Plus, it makes you a more interesting and interested person, and that is its own reward.
Thanks for letting me share.
God bless the Cayman Islands and its people.
Who is Justin Woods?
Mr Woods is a kind, decent person, person who will be there for anyone when you need him and many more………
Lets all of us Bodden Town People give our vote to him
But aleast my vote is for Mr. Woods
Mr. Woods my vote is for you.
Lets get to the point Justin Woods is a good candidate
Let Us all Bodden Towners Give our VOte to him
Proves that a degree alone does not make you educated.
Lets revist this 3000 unemployed figure one last time. Why is it that the Chamber of Commerce is now saying that at the end of April this figure was in fact just over 800, with some 600+ of those being Caymanian. Quite the disparity in figures I would say.
Justin is educated? He may be a lot of things – nice guy, business man, family man etc.
But educated he is not. Let’s get with the program here. I ‘m sorry but even his ability to convey is proper message is very questionable.
More of these candidates need to go back to school themselves so pushing education is not a bad idea at all.
Well you know what before you make comments like such you better research and get the correct information. I went to school with Justin and he was top of the class throughout I have never met someone with such a knack for academics especially in the sciences and math! In addition my cousin went to college with him and I was present at the graduation where he got the highest honor MAGNA CUM LAUDE! and graduated with a 4.0 out of a very large class. So there next time get the fact before posting and please let’s stop tearing people down its very uneducated and distasteful!
Check out your facts before making statements because sometimes you have to retract those statements as they are not the truth.
I think the person above who responded to my earlier comment on Friday at 13.42 has actually just confirmed by example with his/her poor grammar and misuse of capital letters what most of the people on this forum are saying day in and day out. The education system here is not good enough, kids are leaving school without being able to read and write, they aren’t taught how important it is to get a good education.
Only when the Caymanian education system is good enough to train the next generation of this country’s workforce, can they finally get rid of the expats. Until that time the businesses are going to need trained and competent expat staff.
If the comment was written by a child under 5 I would say that the spelling/grammar was ok, but they should try harder at school, although I do applaud the fact that they are trying to keep up with current affairs by visiting a news website.
If the writer was over 5 years old then they shouldn’t be wasting time scrawling unintelligent garbage on here, instead they should try learning to read and write.
Justin – never fear the detractors, for as the saying goes, "For the lack of knowledge my people perish." Just so that you know, Justin has no need and desire for power, affluence, or money. He sincerely wants to see each person living here attain their true potential. Education is the only tool that can achieve that for them. There are opportunities out there, but if one doesn’t have the education to master those opportunities, it often leads to frustration when someone else succeeds and you fail.
With education you also improve your communication skills and hence there is less tendency to resort to violence. Everyone talks about crime, well education helps to make people productive and less prone to engage in crime. I agree with Justin’s stand to not tear anyone down. Just deal with the issues and what will make Cayman a better place. Build on what has already been accomplished. I heard Choppy Delaphena make his opening statement on Rooster yesterday and he advocated a similar philosophy. Those are the kind of politicians we need. That was how it used to be when politicians earned nothing, but did it for the love of Cayman and made us the best nation on earth. Justin will work with any other elected politician who has Cayman’s interest at heart. As Cayman grows, there will be more and more people with divergent ideas. Some may get accepted and implemented, some will not. It doesn’t mean that they are right or wrong. It doesn’t mean that because they were not implemented that it is personal and the political directorate at the time is incompetent or short sighted. An educated population would understand that only so much can be addressed at one time and accept a compromise. They would understand that if an idea failed the first time around that they could keep it in the public domain and maybe one day it will be implemented. So Justin, you’re on the right track. Keep the focus on education this population so that everyone can succeed according to their abilities.
Finally, just so you know, Justin is a sober person; you won’t find him intoxicated and talking nonsense. He is honest; you won’t find him seeking contracts that give him a cut and you won’t find him buying votes. He is one person that can sing Aaron Tippin’s song, "I got it honest." He is a listener and a thinker; he will assess and evaluate before deciding on a course of action. He has made good choices thus far in life and I can trust him to make some more for Bodden Town and our country. You have my vote Justin.
"Jestin -Never Fear The"…
I agree 100% with this person…let us vote for the educated who understand the need for education. BT has two such person…Justin & Theresa.
I agree with him and think its an excellent idea. Why couldn’t we do it and be successful? Jamaica and other countries in the world have students attending from other countries. We have been one of the top financial centres for years and could offer specialized training in the various industries we now have eg. Insurance,Mutual Funds,SPVs and the list goes on. This would also help our positive exposure to the world as they could learn how we do what we do here instead of assuming as always that we are a money laundering and tax haven.Expanding marine studies is also a great idea.Finally some one who is coming up with ideas on diversifing our economy.I’m definately considering this candidate.
As for the PPM I was ashamed how they carried on bashing everyone from Mr Bush to the independents last night at their “manifesto” party or should we say “bash” party. They should be ashamed of themselves I was so glad that I didn’t take my child out to hear this. An attempt to avoid dealing with the issues.
"It would be a great day if a degree from the University of the Cayman Islands was looked upon as par to any US State university" – at least no-one can complain that we are setting our aspirations too high!
I would have to agree with Justin on this. Cayman offers the safety for universities and professional colleges that these institutions desire. The Med school and law school are examples of this. It would be a great day if a degree from the University of the Cayman Islands was looked upon as par to any US State university. Having an institution like that on island would be an assest to the people and children of Cayman. The finance industry would no longer have to rely on outside expertise for so many positions. Also the student it would attract would help stimulate the economy.
Yes there are Caymanians who are not willing to work…there is this category of unemployed in every country of the world. However, there are those of us who are qualified and experienced, who do go to work every day and give 110%. But if the company is a foreign company, with foreign Human Resource officers and administrators in charge of hiring who do you think they prefer to have in their employ? Persons who are like them with the very same culture, beliefs and interests! For the majority of the large financial companies here, having to pay for a couple of work permits and in certain cases providing housing allowance and paying school fees/tuition is a none issue to them. It is just the cost of doing business in the Caymans ( sorry 🙂 I mean the Cayman Islands).There is definately a degree of bias when it comes to the hiring and promotion practices of some of these companies. But Caymanians whether unemployed or under employed we should never stop trying. .. give them no excuses!!
I agree with what the other two people said about the Caymanians in the workig world, and that is the issue that is right now being discussed in respect to Elio Solomon. We need to encourage our children to get an education so that they have a better chance to progress. If they don’t choose the college route, there is nothing wrong with it, but then be open minded enough to be a nurse, a teacher, a waitress or anything else and don’t complain about the salary you are earning in these jobs. Yes, there are many well educated Caymanians and some of them have been treated unfairly in the past, however, we need to prove that we can be an educated society and hold our own.
Lets not beat around the bush, we all know why the unemployment figure is so high!
Caymanians believe they are entitled to all the best jobs, they won’t accept menial jobs.
As an expat I struggle to get work because my firm can only employ so many expats. However there are no Caymanians skilled enough to fill these positions, so our work has so many incompentent staff that the business can hardly operate. All the managers are frustrated, but there hands are tied.
On this island, positions are not filled based on who is the most competent, but rather where you are from.
This culture leads to Caymanians not bothering to seek further education as they do not have to compete for positions, resulting in a poor standard of education.
Key to successful business – employ the most competent staff possible. If employment laws are changed to enable this, Caymanians will suffer in the short term. However, in the long term, they will seek further education to compete with expats and Cayman will be blessed with a highly skilled workforce!
While there is a smattering of truth to "Lets not beat around…we do have some "incompetent’, ill educated" as are found in every jurisdiction, including the one whence you came.
The writer is blinkered and unburdened by fact. The truth about the educated Caymanian unable to attract employment because of calculated determination to hire (many times, not as qualified) from elsewhere, is not disputable.
Many times the determination as to "who is most competent" is code for Caymanian…automatically unqualified,genetically inferior, can’t and will never fit the bill.
Lets not beat around the bush. Business success is also predicated on harmonious scio-political-econonmic harmony. Not native subservience and submission. If there be an imbalance in that equation the result will be a serious backlash. The continuation of inequity and ethno centricism results in an eruption of justified blowback that we can ill afford.
We need to stop feeding that viscious monster.
This country is too small to allow narrow minded spoilers who recently alight, to step on, spit on, and maintain an expectation to "keep these n….in their place" mentality around.
Cayman will only have sustainable success if we have the courage to confront and smack down the entitled-lazy among us (our own)…and set free (send away) the culturally insular, racist, decidely ill willed, socially upsetting gold digging guest that there seems to be a gathering of.
There are many who come to live and work among us who grow without condesending, integrate with little disharmony, and finally become a part of us. Stay you should. We need more of you. We have many who have helped us grow.
There are those who should not be here. We have too many. It is clear their intent. The charateristic…take much, sowing social misery..p…on the place you make much money from…a place you are a guest of.
This category, unfortunately is a growing strain. They can go…and go away now. You make it so difficult for the rest of us who pay our dues and live well with people.
It is time to strain the sediment.
While there is a smattering of truth to "Lets not beat around…we do have some "incompetent’, ill educated" as are found in every jurisdiction, including the one whence you came.
The writer is blinkered and unburdened by fact. The truth about the educated Caymanian unable to attract employment because of calculated determination to hire (many times, not as qualified) from elsewhere, is not disputable.
Many times the determination as to "who is most competent" is code for Caymanian…automatically unqualified,genetically inferior, can’t and will never fit the bill.
Lets not beat around the bush. Business success is also predicated on harmonious scio-political-econonmic harmony. Not native subservience and submission. If there be an imbalance in that equation the result will be a serious backlash. The continuation of inequity and ethno centricism results in an eruption of justified blowback that we can ill afford.
We need to stop feeding that viscious monster.
This country is too small to allow narrow minded spoilers who recently alight, to step on, spit on, and maintain an expectation to "keep these n….in their place" mentality around.
Cayman will only have sustainable success if we have the courage to confront and smack down the entitled-lazy among us (our own)…and set free (send away) the culturally insular, racist, decidely ill willed, socially upsetting gold digging guest that there seems to be a gathering of.
There are many who come to live and work among us who grow without condesending, integrate with little disharmony, and finally become a part of us. Stay you should. We need more of you. We have many who have helped us grow.
There are those who should not be here. We have too many. It is clear their intent. The charateristic…take much, sowing social misery..p…on the place you make much money from…a place you are a guest of.
This category, unfortunately is a growing strain. They can go…and go away now. You make it so difficult for the rest of us who pay our dues and live well with people.
It is time to strain the sediment.
Caymanians should be ashamed of how often we tear each other down. This is why we have not been successful to date, the island can not more forward if the people are not united. Serving in public office is not a glamorous or easy job. I’m so happy to see all the independents who have come forward this election they see the issues and are volunteering themselves to the people of Cayman. As for Mr. Woods not being able to convey himself poster you obviously do not know this young man. He is a quiet giant in the Bodden Town community. I can only speak from my experience but I’ve found him to be honest, pleasant, approachable and very intelligent. You will not find him shouting or pounding down the podium however he has run a clean campaign and made it clear he believes in doing what’s best for the country and actually has solutions. I vote in Bodden Town and to date I have only seen his manifesto.
Let’s build up and empower our people instead of always being negative and tearing them down. I take my hat off to all the candidates running for this election.
This loser needs to get back to reality. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Firstly he has the delusions that Caymanians that are out of work, actually want to work. They are all holding out for the senior management roles that they feel they are entitled too ‘cos of da bird’rite, man’ and won’t settle for lesser jobs. They have it instilled from an early age that they are entitled to high flying jobs and then think that any normal jobs are beneath them.
Every time I go out to a bar or restaurant I am served by a expat, my house is cleaned by an expat (it used to be cleaned by a Caymanian but she never showed up at work), the communal gardens are pruned by an expat, the pool is cleaned by an expat, the local kids are looked after by expat nannies, they are taught by expats. These are the kind of jobs that are always available but no Caymanian person can be bothered to do, so they have to get an expat.
There’s no point wasting thousands of dollars advertising Cayman as a tourist destination. Get the product right before you start to sell it!
You’re not going to be able to lure students here as the cost of living is much too high. You’re not going to be able to attract good lecturers here, because they wouldn’t be bothered to set up a life here if they know they’re getting booted out within 7 years even if they’re lucky enough to be able to stay that long.
Dear "Get a grip",
I strongly suggest You get a mirror and you will see the full embodiment of a real LOSER! before your very own eyes. And whilst you are at it, you may think about getting a life as well that way you will not have time to sit around spewing venom about people you don’t even know.
"He estimated that there were as many as 3000 Caymanians out of work but the country had some 27,000 permits with no policies in place to address that or make people’s lives better".
Where does this 3,000 figure come from? I understand there are less than 700 are registered as unemployed with the Department of Employment Relations. Granted there will be persons who because of pride, or because they are not really seeking employment, do not wish to register but how do arrive at this estimate? Is it electioneering sensationalism?
There were 27,000 permits in November, 2008. There are now about 25,500.
Justin can barely express his ideas to us the public so how can he do this on our behalf internationally and in the LA. I also want to know if he is really the new kind of candidate that he says that he is and that these islands need. I want to know if he is the type of candidate that gives out marl aggregate and money to people in return for votes. Some people definitely have needs but we now what happens around election time with the cars, washing machines and fridge. So I want to know that he is not that kind of politician because marl aggregate and $25 dollars cant help my retired mother who lost her pension or educate my sons. XXXXXXXX Tell us too how you will get us out of all of this debt.
Justin is young, clean, clear thinking, a Bodden Towner with a family, and business. He is hard working, ambitious, able, quietly couragous ….under estimated because of his non confrontational dispostion.
His position on most of the issues is sober, logical and reveals coherance and thinking on his part. He is not excitable and trivial. His performance is no less steller than others with presumed experience and expousure.
He will be part of the inevitable change that will occur in Bodden Town.
He is a credible contender. He will be attracting many more votes than half the field including the current representatives.
His contention for a seat is a real threat to the status quo.
inescapable.
"3000 Caymanians out of work but the country had some 27,000 permits with no policies in place to address that or make people’s lives better. “What is going to happen to our people?”
They can take one of the many jobs on offer on the island that they consider "beneath them" or too poorly paid. This accounts for probably half of the existing work permits. That is what people do in a time of recession. It is not permits that keep people out of work it is pride and perceived entitlement.
"[I]t has already been demonstrated with St Matthews Medical School that Cayman has the potential to bring more further education institutes to the island" Just what we need another bunch of arrogant Americans who could not get into a proper University coming down here and thinking they are god’s gift.
He does have something worthy to say. Where he gets his information and how he will get it done is a whole other story. Nevertheless, I think he has potential and may in fact be a good MLA.
Oh wait.. isn’t there another college in the district of Bodden Town.. one that’s been there for 30 plus years and graduated some of the country’s most prominent? An accrediated college no less.. the International College of the Cayman Islands. If you don’t know your own district well enough.. why on earth should anyone elect you?
Justin may be a nice young man but he’s not ready for serious politics. He can barely convey his ideas.
"The Glass Ceiling for Caymanians in the Civil Service". Give me a break. Do a little research before you open your mouth and let your belly rumble. The top branches of the Civil service are hugely dominated by Caymanians, the few who can’t get the jobs they feel they are entitled to are the ones I presume to who you are speaking.
There were at least 64 jobs advertised in todays Caymanian Compass alone, so by the end of next week, assuming that all of the 1200, or is it 1800, or is it 2000?? "unemployed" Caymanians applied for at least one of those, we should see a drastic decrease in the unemployment percentage figures. Nah True?