Recession… what recession?
So far, so good, eh? There’s little evidence here in Cayman of the severe recession up north, though there is bound to be worse to come for us. We are only 50,000 people; there are 6000 communities of this size in the US, and all 6000 aren’t suffering equally.
There are pockets of prosperity like ours.
It’s handy for us that we can watch American TV. Not only can we follow what’s happening up there – all those job losses and foreclosures and repossessions – but we can also catch some of the advice on what to do to minimize the effect of hard times on our personal lives. That’s just as well, because nobody here is giving us any free advice.
We can buy advice, but it’s very expensive. Even just a few hours can cost a thousand dollars or so, and for individuals or small businesses that’s not affordable.
Large and medium-sized companies have full-time accountants or other financial types on their staffs. Maybe they have outside consultants as well; or at least their bankers are on hand for them. Whoever the companies go to, they can afford to pay whatever it takes. And they get good value.
But who can small companies turn to, or individuals? They have just as much need for professional help as large ones. Small companies are always the first to go to the wall, during recessions, everywhere in the world. We had better prepare ourselves for that to happen here, too.
The Chamber of Commerce used to care about this sort of thing, a while back. It is best placed to get something going now. If its Councilors would read their formal terms of reference, they would see that they are actually obliged to help out.
Free advice
They could start up a non-profit “Citizens Advice Bureau” (CAB) where individuals could go for free or low-cost advice. Almost every town in England has one of those, and they are extraordinarily useful, especially during hard economic times.
Over there, local governments often fund the offices. Our government could do that – with the money they budget for First Class junkets overseas, why not? Is it too much to hope that our new Cabinet will spend the money on useful projects, instead of indulging in ventures of vanity?
Ah well, it’s a sad fact of life that pretty much all government projects end up as either vanity projects or empire-building exercises. A private-sector CAB ought to be much more efficient and productive. Let’s hope we can get one.
The Merchants Association is defunct, but it could be revived quickly if the will existed. What value do merchants place on the solvency of small businesses, and the spending ability of customers. If the government (MLAs and Civil Servants) won’t come to the party, or the Chamber and Merchants Association, who else is there?
Well, there is one unappreciated source of talent that has great potential. Grand Cayman is home to some hundreds of individuals with financial knowledge and experience that might well be made available to those who need it. Someare Caymanians, some are Status-holders, most are expat transients on Work Permits, and some are rich retirees.
Most would probably be willing to help, if asked politely. And, on the premise that nobody truly values advice that’s free, most would want to be paid something for their time.
It would be worth paying fifty or a hundred bucks an hour to improve one’s business and money-management skills. Unfortunately, the indentured-labour system doesn’t allow expats to do it without a Caymanian “front man”. That obstacle may be all that stands between a great many native Caymaniansmall businesses and survival, in the coming recession.
Change the Law
Many individuals are at risk, too, who under-estimate the danger that may soon face them in the form of foreclosed mortgages, called-in car loans and credit-card debts. The key question is, would Caymanians be willing to change the indentured-labour system in any circumstances? It was suspended after Ivan, very successfully. Unfortunately the Immigration authorities of the time betrayed many of the expats who helped the rebuilding, and rolled them over as soon as the emergency ended. The stench of that betrayal still lingers in expat memories. They will insist on fair dealings, next time around.
So until the Immigration Law is changed, those in need of advice will have to limit themselves to watching relevant American TV programs and trying to pick up ideas from there. In their spare time they might like to lobby their MLAs to change the Law to allow easy access to basic financial advice from people on Work Permits. The addition of twenty words in the Law is all it would take. That could be done and dusted in a week, if the will were there.
Work Permit expats willing to help Caymanians from going broke when things get really tight, would be best not to do any favours before the Law changes. Even giving free advice is dangerous, if a Caymanian could have charged money for it. The marl road is littered with stories of the deportation of do-gooders. Be very careful.
Much depends on our new Cabinet. Will its members be smarter than the outgoing one – smart enough and bold enough to take action before disaster hits? We must hope.
Category: Viewpoint
"they don’t have the luxury of doing that. Too busy working to make ends meet. "
Just like the majority of expats then, you have their wives in other countries as they are not allowed dependents as they are trying to make ends meet.
"Unlike the stay at home wives of wealthy expats,"
The fact that you include expat in that sentence shows your predjudice, as taking it out is the truer meaning…no? try it again without the word expat.
"The fact that you include expat in that sentence shows your predjudice, as taking it out is the truer meaning…no? try it again without the word expat".
It has nothing to do with prejudice. I was responding to the suggestion that Caymanians ("locals’") don’t engage in charitable activities. I was therefore making a comparison with expats.
"And I am sure you do this for immigration points…I mean from the bottom of your heart."
I’m surprised that they found somewhere to volunteer with all those church going, kind hearted local volunteers filing all the charitiy volunteer spots…..
"I’m surprised that they found somewhere to volunteer with all those churchgoing, kind hearted local volunteers filing all the charitiy volunteer spots…."
Unlike the stay at home wives of wealthy expats, they don’t have the luxury of doing that. Too busy working to make ends meet.
There nothing wrong with that picture we expats have to make a living too? Caymanians need to take stock of their own situation and look around smell the roses taste the coffee and lay the blame at those responsible for this long standing situation. Your leadership and powerful elite who enjoy a life of great privilege living the big life in luxury homes fancy boats 100k cars overseas homes shopping sprees no problem paying bills children in private schools they seem to really enjoy the parties and company of the hated EXPAT, who frequently finds the time or volunteers their time to help the poor and the old folks and service to the entire community. You can count on one hand those Caymanians you see doing such things or encouraging others or their kids as a matter of fact. We have all seen them driving around in their freezing cold aircondition cars with that belly full of food look! and that could not give a damn attitude. Deal with them first and then consider Expats who are just trying to make a living just like you? Now that aint Gordon barlow talking that just me do not hate the player hate the GAME!
“ who frequently finds the time or volunteers their time to help the poor and
the old folks and service to the entire community.”
And I am sure you do this for immigration points…I mean from the bottom of your
heart.
"In fact, I know of one young lady who has just returned home from Unversity with her Masters and can’t find a job as of yet. Yet we have over 25,000 work permit holders. What’s wrong with this picture?"
I hear you, but what is the masters degree in? If it’s in fine arts or history, what did she expect to do in Cayman with such a degree? If she’s got an LLMor an advanced accounting degree or an MBA and she can’t get a job, then I agree that something’s broken.
The moral of the story is the same everywhere: if you want a good job, educate yourself to be good at something that is in demand where you want to live and pays well, then work very hard to become very good at doing that job. I took a philosophy degree (with honours, thanks) but after graduation found not one single "Philosophers Wanted – Apply Within" ad in office windows or in the newspaper. Didn’t see that coming…
Solution: a second tour through uni for a law degree, and Bob’s your uncle, I got a good job. OK, well that first job actually sucked, but it led to a good job later. You know what I mean.
"I hear you, but what is the masters degree in? If it’s in fine arts or history, what did she expect to do in Cayman with such a degree? If she’s got an LLM or an advanced accounting degree or an MBA and she can’t get a job, then I agree that something’s broken".
I know of what at least one bright Caymanian with an MBA who can’t get a job. Keeps being told he won’t fit into their ‘corporate culture’.
"It is good to people like you out of the woodwork so that Caymanians can see the mentality that we are dealing with and recognize that rollover is needed now more than ever."
Don’t paint me with that brush my friend!!
Look at my boy Gordon Barlow in a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
"…telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act".
No wonder Mr. Barlow reacted so strongly to the Caymanian truth-tellers!
It is good to people like you out of the woodwork so that Caymanians can see the mentality that we are dealing with and recognize that rollover is needed now more than ever.
Raul Ova has his facts wrong. Lawyers and professionals generally do not get rolled over. They are exempted by the Key employee provisions as long as their employer makes an appropriate application and they do not wonder around expressing disdain for local people.
You speak up and say what many thousands of us are too intimidated to say.
"It is pretty silly to compare Cayman with the US (or Canada and Europe) in that respect. The U.S. has some 300 million people and grows by about 2 1/2 million a year and of these only about 800,000 represent immigrants. There is no danger of becoming swamped by recent immigrants. There is no need for any rollover. If the US had the equivalent of the situation in Cayman there would be an absolute meltdown!"
It’s true for Canada as well. With 30-something million people in a country roughly the size of the USA, there is plenty of room to invite contributing immigrants to come and stay permanently. However, if there were a 2 to 1 ratio, meaning 60 million people, standing in the immigration line looking to move in, you can bet your backside that the door would get slammed shut in a hurry. There really is no comparison.
On another point, in some Canadian cities there are small business development centers funded by government and staffed by volunteers from local law firms, accountants, bankers, etc. including IT specialists whoare very popular with start-up internet businesses, which ought to be thriving here given that geography is irrelevant on the internet. I volunteered there and would do the same here in a heartbeat if such a facility existed and there were no legal impediment to it. It is a win-win scenario, in that a professional can make a very real contribution to the local small-business economy, creating jobs and local wealth, and to be perfectly frank it’s also a good marketing exercise because without fail every business that I helped succeed became a paying client of my firm. It’s worth discussing.
Finally, I don’t know Gordon Barlow and I wasn’t here during Ivan, so I can’t comment on that part of the publication. Notwithstanding, Gordon I take it that you are an expat who now has status, and I see that you sure seem to have peeved some of the locals. As an expat without status who loves Cayman and its people, I’d be grateful if you would try not to screw things up for folks like us. Be nice to people and be fair, it really isn’t that hard. God and each other, that’s all we really have in life. Everything else is just furniture.
"Work Permit expats willing to help Caymanians from going broke when things get really tight, would be best not to do any favours before the Law changes. Even giving free advice is dangerous, if a Caymanian could have charged money for it. The marl road is littered with stories of the deportation of do-gooders. Be very careful".
Hate and fear, Mr. Barlow’s stock in trade. Then he has the temerity to take umbrage at the comments of others.
Roll-over is costing many leading Cayman businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in costs and lost revenues. Take a professional on this island who needs to be replaced after 7 years. It costs 50k or in recuritment fees, 15k or so in other recruitment costs, about two months lost billings from the leaving employee (say for a lawyer about 100-150k lost in revenue), then the newbie takes six months to get going and that means 50% productivity – about another 200-300k gone. One case of rollover and 400-500k lost to the business and to the economy. This reduces the higher end professional knowledge which is what really drives Cayman’s position in the global market. If Cayman dliutes its talent pool, which is the effect of roll-over, it will lose its market share quickly.
Yep. sounds just like Gordon to me. No surprises there with that reaction.
And yes – he IS serious.
Gordon you cant be serious!
You wrongly assume the poster ‘abusing’ you was Caymanian – when they stated clearly they were an expat. But your anti-Caymanian hatred runs sooo deep you cant see straight.
And then you try to complain about anonymous postings – but this site is designed to allow anonymous comments – which you knew when you decided to write this article for this site. So take what you get!
Three cheers for Gordo he sure knows how to lay it down. When people yield up the privilege of thinking the last shadow of freedom quits the horizon.
Simon
I do not dispute many of your points – but there are pros and cons to the policy. The alternative is to do away with it – have every expat be in a position to claim citizenship have the locals riot because they are pushed out of the economy and lose their culture overnight. Ask the Bahamas what that does to the economy. I would rather we had a thrivinng second hand car market.
On another issue – no one has to sell up on short notice – there is at least a year’s notice of getting rolled over. Of course, non-renewal of a work permit is something that happens with or without rollover – and that gives much less notice.
It is always disappointing when personal abuse is anonymous.
Is this the way the abusers (below) live their lives, hiding their identities for fear of having their malice brought home to them? How gutless it is, to publish false libels anonymously, against someone whose opinions one dislikes. How hateful. How disrespectful of Caymanians’ old reputation for fairness and courtesy.
The nastiest of the criticisms below are the product of either a psychopath or a half-wit. If we knew who they were, we would know hot to get help for them before they do any physical harm in the community. They sound dangerously unbalanced.
"You wrongly assume the poster ‘abusing’ you was Caymanian – when they stated clearly they were an expat. But your anti-Caymanian hatred runs sooo deep you cant see straight."
I agree, Gordon is so prejudice and anti-Caymanian, he cant help himself. But you listen up Gordo, I am a Caymanian who is not gutless so I will post my name! What exactly are you going to do about it? You are one expat that I would not mind rolling over and sending back home because unlike some expats who actual make positive contributions to these islands, you are a menace to society and serve no purpose here. All you do is spread negativity about the island and its people. Why are you here anyway? Do you have anything positive to offer these islands besides hatred to its natives? Please, do us all a favour and stop writing garbarge in the media. Dont write anything more unless you can produce a balanced article with realistic solutions.
Dear Naive Self
I fully agree. Why anyone deigns to give Gordon Barlow any attention is beyond me. He is openly racist and only exacerbates division in the community. He is an uncontrolled menace and his writing is not well thought out or presented to boot!
And thanks for the note that as an expat, he does not speak for yourself. For my part, I am Caymanian and don’t give Barlow the time of the day. Atleast the Caymanian and Expat community have found some common ground — since we all agree that Barlow is a moron.
Just one observation regarding the rollover policy – does anyone realise the damage this policy currently does to the Caymanian economy?
What do you think happens when someone gets rolled over? The first thing they have to do is sell up ( and usually quickly).
If they own real estate, the first thing that happens is it gets listed for sale. It is usually listed at a fire-sale price too. The limited buyers out there right now are presented with even more choice. This adds pressure to the Caymanian-owned construction companies trying to offload their brand-new condos and townhouses.
It is the same economic effect for the vehicle market. The rolled-over expat needs to offload their vehicle – again quickly. Why buy a car from a Caymanian-owned garage when there are dozens of cars for sale privately littering the roadsides, at substantial discounts (meaning losses) for their owners. Again the policy damages Caymanian economic interests.
The rollover policy has the same damanging economc effect to the local market for furnature, household goods, electronic appliances, TVs, Computers, Dive equipment etc etc. etc.
Anything someone is forced to sell when rolled over, takes away an opportunity for a Caymanian business to sell that product.
Forcing people to leave damages the economy and shrinks it yet further.
Simon, don’t be simple. When one expat goes another comes and he in turn purchases.
Rollover should come as no surprise to anyone when it arrives. You know that unless you are a key employee you will be rolloed over in 7 years. No need for fire-sales etc. etc. blah, blah.
I wish my naive self could understand why this hateful author gets so many columns in this publication and others. Since I am not a journalist I do not know what criteria are used to assess the suitability of a columnist, however, clearly, whatever preconceived notions I had were off the mark.
He is not different, though, from a number of persons who are the irritating proponents of "everything UK" as being so essential in Cayman – such as the Citizens Advice Bureau. I wonder if Mr. Barlow would not prefer to call this the Expat Advice Bureau. Perhaps then the Expat social network could fund such a bureau, which would at least be partly staffed by lawyers, unless Barlow would be the Chief Advisor.
But, what a a hodgepodge of random ranting! From the recession, to the CAB, to Merchants Association, to expatwork permits, to the recession. He swiped the Chamber of Commerce, Immgration, & the outgoing Cabinet.
It seems this man is now the sweetheart of the press, and it matters not what manner of rubbish he writes, it will be published.
I am an immigrant myself, and I can tell you, Barlow does not advance the cause of expats. He aggravates it.
"Mr. Barlow has a reputation of providing lopsided and biased views"
I agree, but then don’t we all, it just some peoples opinions get more press coverage.
"that good deed might be able to contribute to your points used in the immigration system."
Maybe, but I will have to qualify for key first, but I knew of the roll over when I came, so can’t complain of it now. Anyway you are right I have much to thank Cayman for, with apart from Ivan many good memories and I did met my better half here, so where ever life goes I’ll always keep Cayman in my heart
"Unfortunately, you forgot that a lot of expats took off and left the island before and right after Ivan and never returned until after the island was rebuilt. The stench of that betrayal still lingers in Caymanians memories"
I know a lot of Caymanians who did the same.
Obviously surprisingly to you a lot of international businesses have contigency plans to move their staff off island in a natural disaster so the business carries on running smoothly, unfortunately the world ouside Cayman did not stop after Ivan and international clients still have to be serviced.
I was an expat that stayed and cleared up and still suffered remarks about using up valuable Caymanian resources so you can’t win. I can also still remember when they stopped annoucing the nationalities of the looters arrested on the radio due to embarrassment.
Everyone suffered with Ivan
anoin, I was simply letting Mr. Barlow know that there are two sides to the story. He
made it seem like only the expats felt betrayed after Ivan. Mr. Barlow has a reputation of
providing lopsided and biased views when it comes to what happens in Cayman, so
I wanted to add my two bits from another perspective. Thank you for staying and clearing
up the island – I am sure you have benefited from your good deed by being able tp
keep working and making money as before. And who knows….that good deed might
be able to contribute to your points used in the immigration system.
" I am sure the Americans, Canadians and Europeans, for example, would want to know that they have preferential rights in their respective country and not be treated like second class citizens to the foreigners that come to their countries."
Can’t speak for Canada and Europe, but as a USA citizen I have NO preferential rights in regards to employment, housing, education. Any immigrant to this country who follows the rules and legally becomes a citizen, has the very same rights that I have, with the exception of being able to become President. There are many folks born in Cayman who are now enjoying the rights of US citizenship. No rollover involved!
"as a USA citizen I have NO preferential rights in regards to employment, housing, education. Any immigrant to this country who follows the rules and legally becomes a citizen, has the very same rights that I have, with the exception of being able to become President. "
I think you are missing the point. The immigrants that the roll over policy applies to are not legal citizens of the Cayman Islands or to be more specific – are not Caymanian Status holders or Permanent Residents as defined under the law. Therefore should not be entitled to the same benefits as Caymanians (paper or born). As a USA citizen you DO have preferential rights over expats in American. I am sure that if I applied for a job in America, an American with similiar qualifications would be given preference over me, the expat. I am also sure that as an expat in the USA, I would not be entitled to housing assistance or state fees for education or financial aid that are given to legal USA citizens. So to say that you have NO preferential rights in your country over foreigners is not correct.
"Can’t speak for Canada and Europe, but as a USA citizen I have NO preferential rights in regards to employment, housing, education. Any immigrant to this country who follows the rules and legally becomes a citizen, has the very same rights that I have, with the exception of being able to become President. There are many folks born in Cayman who are now enjoying the rights of US citizenship. No rollover involved!"
It is pretty silly to compare Cayman with the US (or Canada and Europe) in that respect. The U.S. has some 300 million people and grows by about 2 1/2 million a year and of these only about 800,000 represent immigrants. There is no danger of becoming swamped by recent immigrants. There is no need for any rollover. If the US had the equivalent of the situation in Cayman there would be an absolute meltdown!
Thank you Gordon. I admire your tenacity and exercise of free speech but yet again with your lack of balance and clear disdain for any legitimate expectation of Caymanians to have primary control of their destiny you remind us all of why we need a rollover policy. If only there had been an opportunity to object to you getting key employee status – there may be much less of a divide than we see today.
“Unfortunately the Immigration authorities of the time betrayed many of the
expats who helped the rebuilding, and rolled them over as soon as the
emergency ended. The stench of that betrayal still lingers in expat memories”.
Unfortunately, you forgot that a lot of expats took off and left the island before and right after
Ivan and never returned until after the island was rebuilt. The stench of that betrayal
still lingers in Caymanians memories.
Your views always seem to be one-sided and quite anti-caymanian at times. Perhaps
I mis-understood but are you suggesting that Cayman barter their immigration/labour
system for financial advice or the likes of? Hmmm doesn’t seem like a fair trade.
Why is it that Cayman is being crucified for trying to ensure that the natives of the
country are given an opportunity to prosper? Shouldn’t natives of every country have
preferential rights and benefits? I am sure the Americans, Canadians and Europeans, for example,
would want to know that they have preferential rights in their respective country and not be treated like
second class citizens to the foreigners that come to their countries. I agree that there
are loop holes in the system that need to be fixed but some laws (such as the 7 year
roll over policy need to stay). Key employee and PR are options available to suitable
candidates after their 7 years. The only problem with the roll over policy is that we took
too long to implement it. And now because we have sat back and been silent all of these years, people
were under the impression that we didn’t need this policy. Now that we are finally speaking up –
we are ungrateful, expat bashing people. I think Caymanians have handled the situation over
the years well and even now with the occassional tantrum thrown – they are still handling the
situation well. We have expats from all over the world in Cayman lashing out at us telling
us that they built our island and we need them to survive. They tell us that we are too
too lazy, unqualifed, inexperienced and uneducated to get the higher payings. They threaten us on a daily
basis now and tell us to get rid of our strict labour system and roll over policy or else! And what
do we do? Besides beat up our gums on CNS, the media and on the streets…..nothing.
The Cayman Islands my friends is still a good place to live. Could you imagine telling
other countries like Bermuda or the Bahamas to get rid of their strict labour system or
demand the rights to stay in their country indefinately? Better yet…..go and try to do
the same in Jamaica. My bet is that you won’t live to tell.
The expats continue to rant and rave about the unfairness of the roll over policy, but just recently I talked with a Bahamian banking official who was visiting our island. She was amazed at how many foreigners she saw doing the jobs of Caymanians in view of how many Caymanians were out of jobs. Her comment was: "the Bahamian Goverment would never allow foreigners to come in and take away the jobs of Bahamians the way they do here in the Cayman Islands".
No foreign employee should expect to stay in the Cayman Islands indefinitely, after all, where will our young educated Caymanians find a job once they return home to work? In fact, I know of one young lady who has just returned home from Unversity with her Masters and can’t find a job as of yet. Yet we have over 25,000 work permit holders. What’s wrong with this picture?
Just saying.