Ezzard takes on budget alone
(CNS): Frustrated by government’s refusal to convene an emergency Finance Committee meeting as he requested, Ezzard Miller, MLA for North side, is taking on the budget single handed. Convinced that there are numerous areas in spending that government could cut more easily than the salaries of civil servants, the independent MLA says that he will be examining the budget documents line by line to see the exact details of each appropriation and attempt to cut unnecessary expenditure. Miller told CNS that he believes this is what government should do first before taxing public sector workers.
“I will do what it takes to find the cuts that will ensure my constituents will not lose their homes,” he said. “This is what a salary cut could mean to those at the bottom of the pay scale.”
Miller said that government is taking the wrong approach and needs to examine expenditure in the round before cutting salaries. Once that exercise is complete, Miller said government should then be seeking to reduce the headcount of the service rather than salaries. He said he believed that where Caymanian civil servants had to be cut, they could be found work in the private sector by simply matching the local staff to work permit holders.
“If government has to let go five accountants, for example, then we approach the large private firms and ask them to cut five accounts on work permits from their staff,” he said, adding that keeping thesame number of public servants on less money would only serve to cause hardship to more people and undermine the efficiency of the administrative arm of government because of low morale.
Although he admitted that he was at a disadvantage with regards to his goal of finding savings in the budget since he did not know what had been spent yet, Miller said that if he could demonstrate where significant cuts could be made and present those savings to government, they would then have alternatives to the proposed salary cuts.
Miller also said he was concerned that if government did not direct the cuts in the budget and formalise them through appropriations, then the civil service was unlikely to make those cuts as demonstrated by the last administration. “It is my belief that the previous government made a mistake when they asked the civil service to make cuts of 6% in the budget without bringing those cuts to Finance Committee, and I believe the current government is about to make the same mistakes.”
Through this exercise of examining each of the budget appropriations, Miller said he could at least prove to government that it was worthwhile holding a Finance Committee meeting where all of the elected officials could workon the budget together and make cuts.
He said he had heard numerous rumours of public sector waste that could be cut, and he stressed again that government should at least try to cut back on spending before cutting back on salaries. “I’m trying to find legitimate cuts that have to be preferable to a tax on the public sector,” Miller added, saying that although it may be a lonely and ambitious project, it was worth a try.
Category: Headline News
The N***** Word- Caymanians use this word to describe someone who is a rude, disrespectful, badminded, spiteful, person. ( eg. Stop acting Niggerish when you are out in public" this simply means that you need to conduct yourself in a proper manner and not act as if your parens never trained you on how you should be respectful when you are amongst the public.) So please stop tryin to make a Mountain out of a Mole hill.
If he has actually called some "a N*****r to their face and in the context of degrading the person because of their skin color, than that for SURE would need to DIRECTLY addressed because we have enough against us now and we don’t need a Racist politician here too…..
Caymanian 2 D Bone: You just don’t get it do you? Read your first paragraph. Using "Niggerish" like this derives its effect from a supposed similarity between dreadful behaviour and black people, disparagingly called "niggers" in the pre civil rights days and, alas, by some in Cayman. You can’t escape it or justify it as something nice and "Caymanian"-it isn’t so stop trying to prove it is and just getting yourself further in the hole.
Well said 11:48!
According to Ezzard’s defendants, the local definition of "Nigger" is a person who is any of the following:
Upset, Rude, Ignorant, Nasty, Foolish, Behavioral Problems, Disrespectful, Badminded, Spiteful, "a-whole", etc..
Its a such a beautifully diversified word, it can even be used as a friendly greeting. "Hey Ole N."
So if anyone new to the island wants to blend in to the local culture, this could be quite a useful word to learn. Perhaps a multiple choice question can but put on the History and Cultural Test to garner points.
Of course, I suspect the reality is that there are all sorts of unwritten rules (i.e. not in black and white) as to who can use the word. So new residents and visitors, good luck with your attempts at assimilation.
Don’t make excuses for the guy it was an ignorant comment!
I don’t care how you want to spin it it had very definite racist undertones and in an "off hand comment" he allowed that part of his makeup to show.
Then… thought about it. And realized he was talking on the radio.
Caymanian 2 D Bone,
The word "nigger" is derived from the word "Negro" and means a person with black skin.
You are saying that "nigger" to Caymanians means rude, disrespectful, badminded, etc.
Cant you see the racism in connecting the two?
I am a Caymanian and I try my best to be a good Christian, I pray for God’s forgiveness for you and Mr. Miller and everyone who thinks this is acceptable.
It amazes me how people will justify "anything" Would it be offensive if he referred to "that type of behaviour" as SEXY. I dont think so. Sooner our later we all show our true colours.
Only in Cayman.
I totally agree with Ezzard…when I now assess the statement he made and the situation he was in and how he used that sentence. We Caymanians know it means to…as the calyspo song says "go on and get on bad". It means to become obnoxious and ignorant. I think North Americans call it belligerent. But Caymanians, being Caymanians are not naturally racially antagonistic nor provoking, and so we usually get away with it. Even dark or negro people use the sentence. It means a situation of the last resort…when ignorance takes completely over after all other avenues of reasoning has expired. If Ezzard thinks its only one time Caymanians have to do this down at the hospital, he needs to think again. For e.g., I took tests 1 year ago. I still don’t know the results. I had to "go on and get on bad" at the hospital — and still I can’t get my PAID results. My doctor still hasn’t received them. When i asked him to also put pressure on them, he rolled his eyes saying "this is the way they are, they’ll send them when they’re ready". Well, it’s been over a year. I still haven’t gotten the call from the doctor to say he’s received them. It was a cancer test. I guess if I’d had cancer, I’d already know it by now. I’d be dead by now! These are the type of things happening in hospital administration and also in the actual hospital. Who’s really in charge there? ALL of the 3 people giving me a hard time weren’t my own Caymanians. They were foreigners from Jamaica, who think once they get in positions like this, they’re a stone’s throw away from God’s throne.
Worse yet was an emergency situation I had last December. I went there with high fever and then got thrown aside in a cubicle shaking and shivering and barely could speak. No one came to me as the minutes dragged on. Soon 1/2 hour passed. I was shaking uncontrollably, nothing but a thin gown on. I finally had to in my hoarse whisper get the person in the cubicle next to me to alert them. Then they came handed me a thin blanket then disappeared. Another 15 minutes dragged by. Finally they came to take blood, then at one point the blood in the vile was dropped all over the floor. Then I was poked several times before they got it in. When it was finished, i again had to alert my neighbor to alert their attention. It was another 1/2 hr again waiting. When they finally came, I wanted to use the bathroom. The nurse told me I’d to hold my bottle and carry it to the bathroom! I told her there wasn’t any need to since the bottle was finished and to unplug me totally. When she insisted, I asked her how I’d wipe myself?! Needless to say, I was happy to finally get out of there AFTER 7 hours! Ezzard, you’ve all reason to "go on and get on bad!" And, while you’re at it, go on and get on bad and niggerish as to why CAYMANIANS can’t get jobs up inside that hospital! Atleast Caymanians wouldn’t treat people that kind of way! Neither in administration nor in the actual hospital. Yet we’re pushed aside for the likes of people who are coming into this country who are STONE COLD!!!!!!!!
The difference between the accountants that Mr Millar is refering to and those at the accountancy firms is big.
For an accountant to be allowed a permit here they will always have a professional qualification be it CA, ACA, ACCA or even CPA.
Just look at the qualifications for an "accountants job" in a civil serive job description. It’s nearly always an accounting degree.
The difference is big, one is a university degree, the other is a university degree and another 3 years or study and experience.
The reason industry wants qualified professional accountants doing their accountancy work is easy their clients demand the best work and the knowledge that qualified people are doing the job.
Only 10% of the members of CISPA are Caymanian, and they will generally be earning a lot more than an equivalent expat.
Looking at the state of the government financial reporting it is rather safe to asume that any professional accountant in the civil service isn’t going to be the first poeple to be cut. More likely the last
While the word nigger is Cayman has traditionally had a less derogatory and different connotation than in the US, it is still an unkind word. One morning in discussing negotiations of Government contracts I heard Ezzard use the phrase "Jew them down" in the context of bargaining hard for a good deal. I was horrified and that morning he did not apologize. Albeit that in some people’s opinions this phrase (which I have not heard used in Cayman) might also not be considered derogatory here because we have traditionally not had a Jewish presence, therefore the sensitivities of such expressions were not evident.
However, apart from the fact that this island is different than it was 30, 40, 50 years ago and that our media is instantly global, despite how insensitive Ezzard Miller his, he should try to contain his boorish personality and respect the sensitivities of the day, the majority of Caymanian people and the audience that he reaches and keep his bigoted expressions to himself. At the very least, he should try to respect the office he holds and not speak in that manner as a representative of the people. Anywhere else, such remarks would be cause for a public servant’s resignation. This is 2 now Ezzard. But he has been like this from school days so there is little hope of him changing.
Ezzard you are an educated man with a couple or three degrees, surely your vocabulary is larger than using derogatory terms to make you points. Generally, your message and your past political track record is sound but you will negate it by your blustery style. Try to act and speak respectfully and civilly because the alternative just labels you as a big mouth bigot.
I am very concerned that we have now become an island where all we are able to do these days to blame each other and call each other names. If we don’t like a person, we are unable to accept what may be a very good idea! Can we grow up a little here, please.
What these islands need now are solutions. There are sucessful businesses on this island. Mr Premier, check who the people are running them and bring them together and have a session for solutions. We are all in this together so we’d better work to save this place. If we don’t we all will suffer. Forget the politics for a short while and talk to people outside your circle. They may have an idea of two that you have not yet thought of.
It seems that the civil servants are not ready to give up their salaries, some don’t want to pay towards their own health costs, noone wants the GAB to be sold. so what are the alternatives?
Find 10 young bright Caymanians who are partners, lawyers, CEO’s, accountants, leaders, maybe a former civil servant who understands – call them, lock down in a room and ask for 3 workable ideas each to create revenue and reduce the deficit. Leave the baggage outside and roll up your sleeves and work it out. Good luck.
Ezzard Miller is not Pro-Caymanian as he would lead many of you to believe. He is, as he has always been, Anti-Expatriate. There is a difference between the two.
Ezzard need to replace McKeeva Bush. McKeeva is working for X-pats and rich people.
Ezzard is working for his people and thats what every MLA is electd for!
In a similar tone, lets not forget Mr. Benson O. Ebanks, OBE.
On the 12th of April 2006 he wrote "No Mr. Editor we are not going to just exchange white dog for white dog. We have been doing that for too long. We are going to exchange mongrels for German Shepherds. In case you do not understand the analogy, I mean we are going to replace unskilled persons with skilled or at least semiskilled ones-no more recruiting on Eastern Avenue at 7 O’ clock in the mornings. The roll over policy give these islands a real chance to change the quantity and quality of our workforce."
Since Cayman has had its "real chance to change" what has happened?
UP – Unemployment
– Division of Society
– Crime
– Debt
– Cost of Living
– Cost of Doing Business
DOWN – Real Estate
– Salaries
– My hope for the future of these islands.
Of course there is no necessary connection between rollover and these issues as you seem to infer. Rollover is a convenient whipping boy for every conceivable economic or social problem.
No not necessarily. Other than the outcome was utterly predictable to anyone who understands human behavior and social history. Every time I open the Net News Editorials I’m looking for the headline "I TOLD YOU SO." So let me spell it out to those who still don’t seem to understand – as long as the rollover exists Cayman will continue to deteriorate. Protectionism = Arrogance and Weakness. Education = Work Ethic and Strength. If we want to compete on a world class stage, we need to provide world class education. On the other hand, if really we want to go back to the island time forgot, then we are moving in the right direction.
Well, if what you say is true Just Sayin, by default he is Pro-Caymanian and that is just fine in my books! The effect is the same and I applaud him.
What about the Caymanian "Niggers" and Caymanian Jews? Is he Pro-Them as well?
“If government has to let go five accountants, for example, then we approach the large private firms and ask them to cut five accounts on work permits from their staff,”
I respect and admire Ezzard especially since he has always encouraged me to further my education and push for my career.
However honorouable his intentions are, what he proposes above will spark a slew of employment litigation cases. Please see the http://www.caymanjudicial-legalinfo.com.ky site and search for a case in the CI Law reports called Thomas v Cayman Islands National Insurance Company [2007] CILR 96. Firing a present expat employee in order to hire a suitable Caymanian is NOT the intention of the Immigration or Labour laws. Such termination is wrongful and could lead to finding of unfair dismissal with untold liability for damages on the parts of employers who do this.
It would be unconscionable of me not to speak on this. Cut from public spending are needed, Civil Servants’ salaries should not form part of these cuts and in no uncertain terms should we try to force or guide private sector employers to cut staff to make space for ex-civil servants.
Read Thomas again. What says (and it is not perfect) is that just because a qualified Caymanian applies for a job on renewal does not mean that the expatriates employment is automatically at an end at the end of their permit. The case says that the employer must either give the expat notice under their contract and pay them out, or apply for a new permit for the expat, declaring that a qualified Caymanian has applied, and wait for the Board to deny the renewal on that basis, which it is perfectly entitled to do.
Franz Manderson is quoted in evidence as saying that he has never seen a Board grant a permit where it knew a qualified Caymanian had applied. He accepted that nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, it had the right to do so.
Thomas is dangerous. Whilst the Judge is almost certainly right on the law as it stood, no-one thought it through. Thomas invites employers to refuse to employ qualified Caymanians, and appeal the subsequent resulting denial of the work permit, keeping the issue tied up for (perhaps) years. Meanwhile a Caymanian will be hungry, unable to work, and run around town saying (correctly) that expat holds a job for which I am qualified and that employer is relying on technicalities to prevent my employment. That analysis will only end up in sorrow for all concerned. The judge also omitted to deal with the point that work permit applicants must dempnstrate a need, but that is what happens when there was not a single person who studied the Immigration Law in law school, in the Court room.
Go ahead, apply for the renewal of permits in the face of qualified good local applicants. Good luck with that PR application, and Expat/Caymanian relations.
IRT, you getting this?
Mr. Ezzard, when you are doing your review of the government budget, could you please find out how much government spends at the prison on air conditioning, fancy meals and all of the other luxuries that the prisoners get that your honest hard working constituents cannot afford. Why are we paying to give them a better life than many of us can afford?
Ask Franz or someone in the office of the Chief Officer of the Internal and External Affairs portfolio to speak to this. They should know since the prisons fall under them.
GOOD JOB EZZARD, GIVE MAC SOME POINTERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Close all of the costly and unproductive overseas offices effective immediately. Stop giving away services to the general public for free which they can and should be paying for. If there are no Pensions then what the heck are we going to need a Pensions Office and staff for? Eliminate any and all free travel on Cayman Airways without exception.
You want people to pay for their health care? Sell the hospital. Privatise the hell out of it, refuse treatment to non payers. Reinstate the refuse collection fees and this time add it as a $10 per month fee on the CUC bill. Cut the bastards who don’t pay off.
Reinstate the book fees for the Public schools and this time, insted of making excuses as to why it can’t be done, get off your rear ends and collect them.
Well said Uncivil Servant: Closing the useless London office and selling its expensive real estate would raise AND save money-and not put any Caymanians out of work, just English people. Closing all the useless overseas tourism offices should have been done donkey years ago and, again, would not put Caymanians out of work.
There are barely any tourist offices overseas now. McKeeaver almost every one the last time he was in office. Sorry to disappoint you but there are Caymanians working in some of them. mmmmclosing offices..tourism went down..connection? That’s why we are looking high end people constantly and not giving value for money. We ran away our market when we closed those offices. Now people there have never heard of the Cayman Islands.
Dear Big Four Partner,
At a time when the quality of offshore services is under threat, please fire 5 accountants with relevant experience and hire these ones outcast from the bottom end of the civil service who will have great experience of filling out forms in triplicate. We guarantee each one will deliver as much as 90 minutes of productivity each day. Or four days a week at least.
Ezzard
PS We can assure you they chose the civil service rather than the private sector for reasons other than they could not get a job in a decent firm in the first place.
Miller’s Law:
The level of agreement with Hazzard Miller is inversely proportionate to the poster’s ability make sense.
No one would say anything against Ezzard’s parents -decent people both. But you forget, anon 20:13, that the country as a voting whole did NOT want his hospital in the swamp and made it very clear at the polls in 1992. Good thing too, because that site flooded horrendously in Ivan-far worse than the George Town site.
You are so missing the point! not because the majority voted for a proposal or idea makes it right . I could give you numerous examples of where the masses of the day voted for an idea and it was dead wrong; as a matter of fact their votes did more harm than good, I will give you 3 prime examples
i) The Iraq war
ii) The Seven Day War
iii) The Vietnam War
in all those case those with the majority of votes were very wrong and history has already proven that the the minority were right. So I will say this to you history has already proven you wrong and the masses that voted against the proposed hospital at Fairbanks. I will agree that Fairbanks flooded in Ivan but do did the 99.99% of the Island. Have you forgotten so soon? As for Fairbanks being the swamps have you forgotten that about 80% of the Cayman Islands were at one point in time Swamp. In case you are too young to know let me enlighten you the great areas of Lime Tree Bay, Governors Sound, Snug Harbour, The Yacht Club, Salt Creek, and Caymana Bay (I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the point!) were at some point all less that 40 years ago Swamps. I am quite positive if Mr. Dart should offer the government to build a new hospital at Caymana Bay in exchange for the old hospital site you would be the firstto say it is such a good deal and forget that Caymana Bay is built on nothing more that Swamp. So see my friend your little argument does not hold any more water than what have drained from the Fairbanks swamp.
No one would say anything against Ezzard’s parents -decent people both. But you forget, anon 20:13, that the country as a voting whole did NOT want his hospital in the swamp and made it very clear at the polls in 1992. Good thing too, because that site flooded horrendously in Ivan-far worse than the George Town site.
"Excessive spending" implies that the money was used on temporary goods or services of little or no lasting value which is clearly not case with the investments made by the PPM Government. The money the PPM Government spent was invested into infrastructure needed by the Country. If anyone thinks that too much was invested then, it is excessive investment, not excessive spending.
But then again, it suits the current Premier and some people in the UDP to say that the PPM spent too much instead of invested too much. After all, sensible people might then realise that our current economic problems are more to do with the G20/OECD/Brown/Obama assault on Cayman and the global economic economic recession.
This morning on Rooster Mr. Miller said he only got attention for his mother at the hospital after he went on like a n****. What exactly did he man by that racist remark? How exactly does a n**** behave? Why did he use that derogatory and racist term? So well intentioned and respectful isn’t he?
He offended many including myself with that remark and if he is any kind of respectful human, he needs to, at the very least, apologise for his remark.
Anonymous Wed 00:48 Mr Miller did apologise on the same show .Sorry you missed it.However most of us know that he meant no disrespect.
To all those Ezzard apologists for his ignorant use of the n…… work on the national airwaves let me clue you into a higher level of expectation for one of the so called leaders in the country.
Ezzard is supposed to be an educated man as well as a statesman on the governance of the country. When he speaks is such an ignorant and inflammatory manner he brings down not only himself but his position as a member of government.
Another clue is that about 50% of the local Caymanian population are descendants of slaves so furthering this ignorance is offensive to all thinking people.
He has already defamed Jews on the radio show without an apology so I guess there aren’t enough Jewish voters to matter to him.
"Another clue is that about 50% of the local Caymanian population are descendants of slaves so furthering this ignorance is offensive to all thinking people."
Caymanians are mixed. The people who settled here were deserters (men) of Cromwell’s army. Who do you think their women were? slaves..correct.
I’m not offended.
"…he needs to, at the very least, apologise for his remark".
He did apologise on air.
In fairness it has to be said that many Caymanians use the term without any racial meaning but to denote a person who has a very bad attitude.
Mr. Miller apologized already so get over it. If you are Caymanian you know very well that this term has nothing o do with race but rather means something like "ignorant" or "foolish". Get the chip off your shoulder please. Othewise, if the shoe fits…
Oh please, do any of you really know what N***** means, nasty, rude people, any of you on a good day use that word, there is two words here, with different meanings. However knowing Ezzard, I would understand what he meant, but what I do not understand is the man who is plotting to run in N/Side in the next election posting his rude comments on facebook, like "a leapord never changes his spots", who the h*** do you think you are, I hope north siders have a brain and keep you right where you belong. You cant do anything for them, at least Ezzard has proven himself and you know what you are going to get with him, no pretense and teeth showing, if you cant handle the truth, dont ask Ezzard for advice, he is just blunt with the truth.
I thought that all of our elected members were supposed to examine all legislation including the budget in detail before voting approved. Anyway better late than never, hopefully this will set an example that all future MLAs will follow.
I’m sure that Ezzard can get some help from an accountant if needed, also might be a good idea to ask any of his constituents that work in government for ideas about where to look. Their jobs are on the line here.
The salary that we pay to our MLAs is for work, not a reward for being elected, and this is an example of the work that not only needs to be done, but should have been done.
Caymanian citizens also have a responsibility to get involved, how many have downloaded the budget and read it? Its a masterful work of spin and expense justification that wouldn’t pass as a budget for any business that had to go to the bank for a loan. I’m sure that it wasn’t designed for critical scrutiny.
There are a lot of good jobs in Cayman. The concern about redundancies in the civil service and the resulting unemployment is overblown. Good, hard working, educated Caymanians can find jobs in the private sector, business don’t want to hire overseas and apply for work permits, all they want is performance.
This might be a good time for government employees to make either a move to the private sector or start their own business where they can control their future and with hard work make a lot more money in the long run. Early retirement programs will help a lot. Many of the one’s that I know are just waiting for retirement before starting a new life of self employment. I’m told that it is a long wait.
Our politicians are under the gun at the moment and casting about for income producing and long term economic solutions. Unfortunately such solutions are not a one time event they are built up bit-by-bit over many years of struggle, improvement, learning and profit encouragement for enterprise. In any other field of economic activity it is called management and getting an MBA is only the first step down a long road to becoming a powerful and competitive manager. Politically Cayman is a long way from an MBA let alone managing a internationally competitive economy. I wish all of our leaders the very best. Cayman was unprepared for this change and they are swimming in a unknown sea.
Thank you Mr Smith for your well written article.
If I may suggest we do have MBA in Cayman – McKeewa Bush Accounting.
The salary that we pay to our MLAs is for work, not a reward for being elected
I like that comment Dennis! It explains more than you know.
I’m having a hard time with trying to understand what people expected of these two parties. The same people have been saying the same things obviously for years. With the same results! They get elected, and collect enormous salaries. Or…they don’t elected and collect enormous salaries. The differences it seems are only academic. In many ways it’s like watching wrestling. We all know wrestling is phoney and pre-rehearsed. But we still watch it for the action and supposed suffering by the opponents.
The UDP and PPM are like that in so many ways it’s laughable. Bouncing off the ropes, and charging across the ring to land a drop kick, while the audience yells, I can almost picture McKeeva and Kurt in shorts with masks. Madman McKeeva!!! against Kurt the Kruncher!!! The Bout of the Century.
Swimming in an unknown sea? I have to take exception to. The worldwide financial crisis was apparently unforeseen by the leaders of most countries. If we are to believe them. But unfortunately, and sadly, Cayman has paid to watch this local WWF for much longer than that.
We know every rehearsed move by now. And still cheer and yell! Get ’em!! Hit ’em!! You tell ’em Kurt!!! Don’t take that Mac!!!
Even more bizarre, the UDP and the PPM believe now the salaries they are paid is just the price we offer up to watch the match.
It’s the same everywhere. Popcorn anyone?
Ezzard Miller; the epitome of all that is wrong with Cayman. Unfortunately conditions are perfect for Ezzard’s ignorant and bigoted rhetoric and he certainly seems to be garnering some support.
None of the international firms will tolerate a government forcing them to swap their staff for redundant civil servants. They will just leave. The idiocy of even suggesting something so stupid is beyond belief. Cayman is only attractive to firms because of it’s tax status. They’re not here for the weather, or workforce, or to listen to you Mr. Miller – they are here because it makes business sense. If you start putting idiot policies in place they will just leave – jersey, gurnsey or one of the other tax havens. When it stops making business sense they will leave – what then for Cayman?
Caymanians need to embrace the expat community and thank the organizations that invest here. These organizations provide opportunities for Caymanians to get well paying jobs and have great careers – and it’s on their doorstep.
The expat community didn’t create the financial mess the government is in. Caymanians created the mess. If you are going to impose the salary reductions on the civil service it should only apply to Caymans – don’t you think Mr. Miller?
By the way your use of the n-word on the radio this morning wasn’t appreciated.
Liam, sorry, you do not (generally) get it.
Ezzard is not proposing anything new. The Immigration Law has always required that any employer prove a need to employ someone on a work permit. Save in really exceptional circumstances, you cannot prove a need if there is a Caymanian (redundant civil servant or not) ready, willing and able to fill the position.
No-one is suggesting a qualified expat be replaced with an un qualified Caymanian. No one is suggesting that Caymanians ought not embrace the expat community, but can we please see a little more reciprocity so we can all get along better for everyone’s benefit?
You also seem to make a distinction between industries. Perhaps you are right to do so, but would you really have a problem if a backhoe operator or labourer did not have their permit renewed so that a qualified Caymanian backhoe operator, or hard working Caymanian labourer, made redundant from Public Works, could get a job? If that was what Ezzard was suggesting, might you find some common groound with him in all the circumstances? Do you have a better solution? You cannot call (as many do – including me) for a significanty down-sizing of the Civil Service without dealing with the employment fall-out. If you do not deal with it then you can forget Cayman/Expat relations entirely, and you will certainly bring about the demise of BOTH the financial and tourism industries.
Cayman is not your whore. She sleeps with you because she likes you, and thinks you like her. She has maturity and more common sense than you give her credit for. She imagines that whilst not a marriage, this is more than a one night stand. A partnership of sorts. Many others in the financial services industry are here for the money, but they also enjoy the walk on the beach, the camaraderie of friends, the choice of restaurants, the expat lifestyle, the climate, the cosmopolitan nature of society, the proximity to many intersting places, and the quality of life. Some even like Caymanians and count them amongst their friends.
But if, as you suggest, you are only in it for the money (and nothing else) then don’t let the plane door hit you in your … (well you know the rest).
Still, I really hope you work it out. Most expats are not like you, and are willing to work together with Caymanians. I, and my (financial services) business, certainly find that beneficial, and we are doing rather well as a result, thank you.
Oh, and when you refer to the expat community not creating the mess, you are mostly right. However, if you are only paying secretary work permit fees for your in-house counsel, and arranged for your helper’s children to come from overseas to attend government schools for free, whilst under-paying and under-insuring her so the hospital ends up treating her at a large subsidy, then you do share in some of the responsibilty. Even more if you insisted that you must have an expat PA because the Caymanian has an "accent". That Caymanian had to get a job in Government or be unemployed. The fact that she was hired by Government even though not really needed MAY have more to do with you than you are willing to acknowledge.
As for the N-word – its use was wrong, but if you understood North Side culture, you would not be as offended. Rather like the free use of the word "piss" in the UK, and "crap" in the US, different cultures attach different connotations to the same word. Don’t be so quick to impose yours.
Interesting.Every thumbs down poster (unless their issue is purely with the N word explanation) seems to be saying Caymanians ought not to be preferred in employment over Expatriates. If this is a truly held belief they are refusing to apply the principles their own countries apply to Expatriates, including Caymanians, in their land. If true, then there can be no reasoning between the sides to the debate, and we are all truly screwed.
Look forward to hearing from a thumbs down poster. Do I misunderstand you?
Let me see if I understand you. I am a US citizen living and working in Cayman therefore tacitly I agree with US immigration policies toward expats, Caymanian or otherwise, that US citizens are to be preferred in employment? Sorry, I never subscribed to that particular theory. If "us first" actually worked, there would be far less expats, wouldn’t there? People have been mobile and willing to relocate to find food, shelter, work, whatever since we learned to put one foot in front of the other. I trust we will continue until the earth is no more.
For me, there is no debate. I simply do not subscribe to your theory. We can sit in a bar room and fling accusations and "facts" at each other all night or at least until we realise we are pissing up a rope. No matter the outcome of our debate, the fact is the situation will not change: There will be expats and there will be natives out of work. None of us are obligated to spend their entire life in the place where we are born nor is there any guarantee of our "making it".
As for the thumbs down, if I think the post is crap then it gets one. Two if its really crap.
Frank. This is not about political belief or point of view. It is not a theory, but a fact. It is simple. Either the Laws of the Cayman Islands (as with those of most other countries) require local persons to be given preference in employment over all others, (including persons already here on work permits) or they do not.
I think they do.
The Immigration Law says yes.
The politicians who wrote it say yes.
The Attorney General says yes.
The Grand Court says yes.
The Caymanian People say yes.
And every employer acknowledges it by the terms of their adverts in the back of every Friday’s Compass.
The world is not flat, and continuing to insist that it is does no-one any favours and just breeds resentment.
I’d like to join the fray. Liam, Anonymous, and you, Frank. Mostly, because I partly disagree, and partly agree, with all that’s being said. I mean no offence by this, but it seems to me in many ways Caymanians have been treated like children by their politicians. Obviously I’m an expat for having said that. Put that aside, and I also support any country’s attempt at providing meaningful sustenance for it’s citizens through policies of employment and immigration.
Along with that I often wonder at the animosity shown towards expats on the island although hopefully that is beginning to settle down.
Because it does not take into account for one thing how they all got here and for what reason.
No one relocates, in some cases half way around the world and especially in Cayman where a pre-determined job must be available, unless there is employment. Who employs them? In many cases, it’s Caymanian business owners. Why? Because the work permit system, not set up by expats but by Cayman’s own government with feed back from local employers, allows a compliant workforce. Some jobs just needing being done. This is an appropriate way to do that. Maybe. Then, when this seemed to get out of hand, Caymanians, and sometimes rightfully so, complained to the government. That they were being left out of the tastier jobs.
The government often took their hand, patted it, and said "It’s ok, you can come and work for us as long as you remember who gave you the job. And who to vote for." It’s a rather simplistic description, but that is exactly what has happened. In the process, chips were created- and enhanced- on peoples’ shoulders because the boogey man… waiting in the closet… was not government ineptitude, mismanagement, and over-spending, and… further along the road an economy in crisis. It was expats. Always ex-pats. Blame them. They can’t vote. Never once was it questioned why the same people, the same relatives, the same families, ran politics on the island. Never speak of favoritism, nepotism or cronyism. And, if you minded your political manners, coddled when necessary and pushed the right anti-expat sentiment buttons, you could rest assured of another four years of comfortable living for you. And your associates.
Now people who were brought under the protective blanket of government when it seemed, or were told their way of life was threatened, are beginning to realize the boogeyman wasn’t outside, and didn’t come from outside. It was inside and under the covers.
Cayman and it’s voters are maturing and with that asking the right questions of the people they elect. And, the Fairytale is over. There was no boogeyman. Although some elected representatives would like it to continue. And use it. Because it was just tooo easy.
Now people and voters are beginningto question. And rightly so. "Haven’t we seen them before?" "Haven’t we heard this before?" "Was it really true?"
"Or… was it a bedtime story to get us to sleep?"
“No-one is suggesting a qualified expat be replaced with an un qualified Caymanian”
“But if, as you suggest, you are only in it for the money (and nothing else) then don’t let the plane door hit you in your … (well you know the rest).”
Liam – semantics in play. You and I are not that far apart. I apologise that I seem to have made some unfair assumptions about you. I think you are a little harsh in your analysis of Ezzard, though – he does make a lot of sense in many areas (he is the one leading the charge on budget cuts). Nevertheless, although your e-mail is in response to my original post, I just voted thumbs up for your reply. Many Caymanians are sensitive to obvious abuses against Caymanians (and, I accept, against Expatriates) in the immigration system, including in our industry, and some of that frustration is poking through, including in my post. That is regrettable.
We all just want to get along. Perhaps we can all do a better job of understanding each-others perspectives.
With all due respect Sir, what you are suggesting may save a few millions at most, judging by the excessive expenses budget in the CS. In all likelihood, this process has already been undertaken. The problem that Cayman is faced with is a $70M deficit which can only be addressed through draconian measures. Even the CS salary cuts will not achieve the requiredcuts in govt expenditure to reduce the deficit to an acceptably low level, let alone balance the budget. I would not be surprised to see direct taxation of some sort, be it payroll or property, being introduced a very near future.
Mac is in an almost impossible position and has an immediate choice between cutting the CS salaries, which will be a relatively easy process, from an administrative perspective, but politically, a very brave decision. The alternative would be direct taxation, which will be difficult to implement in the short-term with no proper infrastructure and setup to administer such a tax system. The other drawback of direct taxation would be the impact on the image of Cayman as an offshore jurisdiction. Most professional expats take home only slightly more in Cayman than they would in their own country, considering they are on a lower base salary here coupled with higher cost of living, save no income tax. If direct taxation were included into the equation, it would be an easy decision to head back home for most expats. While this will please many hardcore Caymanian expat bashers, it would not bode well for the future of Cayman. This will eventually lead to less businesses, less tourists, more crime and ultimately a worse situation for Caymanians in general. If the CS cuts do not resolve the immediate problems, the situation in the next few months, however, may force Mac’s hands, and see the introduction of direct taxation in any case. Then it will be a real nightmare scenario for Cayman in years to come.
Selling the govt building now appears out-of-bounds, most likely because the govt did not get a big-enough offer rather than Mac ceding to pressure from Chucky. IF there was a big enough bid, no question, it would have been considered. In retrospect, selling the govt building does not make much business sense in the long-term as it would only delay the cash flow problem another year but increase the extent of the cash flow problem significantly next year.
It’s a pity that most people in Cayman do not appreciate the extent of the problem the country faces right now and are only concerned about the short-term impact of the necessary evils needed to try to rectify decades of govt living above its means. It’s time to reflect on how to make the CS a more well-managed organization for years to come, so such drastic cuts will not be required in future and learn to live within our means (as a nation and as individuals).
People jumping on Ezzie’s bangwagon, mainly as a result of disappointment from your successive govts, please think before you commit to doing something you might later regret.
"Most professional expats take home only slightly more in Cayman than they would in their own country, considering they are on a lower base salary here coupled with higher cost of living, save no income tax."
If that were the case they surely would not be here since the challenge of relocating would not be worth it. No one would come for a lower salary than they could earn in their homeland, and if they did through misunderstanding, they surely would have left soon after arriving. No, people are here because they are substantially materially better off than where they came from. That is plain common sense. It is accentuated by the fact that many professionals were laid off from big firms in London and in the U.S. However, this should not be taken to mean that I am an advocate of income tax.
I for one earn less in real terms in Cayman than I used to make in London, doing a similar job. I left a stable job there of my own accord 2 years ago.
My salary now is slightly higher after tax but my rent, bills etc are much higher. So not everybody is here solely for the money.
The 2 minute commute, rather than 2 hour commute, the nice climate, the proximity to many interesting places, the laid back lifestyle and the safe environment to bring up kids (although this is obviously going downhill fast), are the reason that a lot of expats come here, plus of course they are getting international experience which is beneficial to their careers. Whilst most Caymanians believe they can get all the experience they ever need without leaving a 12X9 mile island, most professionals know that employers like their senior staff to have experience of different markets and different business environments.
I know a few people just like me, so don’t think everybody comes here to do jobs and get paid more than they could ever command in their home countries, this is just not true, it is anti-expat rubbish.
It is not anti-expat. I certainly would not uproot myself from Cayman to work anywhere else MERELY because the salary was slightly better. I would have to be at least 20% better off.
i think the responses to the thread says it all. i’m sure most caymanians would not find a job overseas with their local salaries, let alone slightly higher. no disrespect. i say most because it is a FACT that most caymanians are not qualified to a professional level and are grossly overpaid in the civil service.
Actually I came here for the weather and a more outdoors lifestyle
Monetray I get more net a month than I used but cost of living is higher so I save roughly the same (very little)
Sorry, you have failed economics 101.
The firms operating in Cayman need only offer an effective salary slightly higher than what was offered on-shore in order to attract the sort of professionals who would be inclined to come to Cayman, together with a relocation package to cover the costs of the move. The professional then gets a bit more money, no moving costs, and they get to have the "adventure" of working off-shore for a while. There is no economic incentive or need for Cayman firms to pay more than that. Why would they pay more than what they need to to attract the required talent? That would make no economic sense.
I might add that while the rest of the world is pulling out of the recession, Cayman is not. Cayman firms do not appear to be in a position to increase salaries (or they just don’t want to), but the properly-run profitable on-shore firms are ramping up again. The professionals across the Island were previously complaining about how poor the salaries had become. Some left to go get those on-shore salaries, or those available in other jurisdictions. Cayman firms need to review/increase their salaries in order to get back to "slightly above the on-shore firms" in order to attract and keep talent.
That and they needto offer danger pay.
And bullet-proof jackets.
I did not see anything in your post which demonstrated that I do not understand economics 101. I agree that firms would not pay more than they need to to attract the required talent. The question is how much is that? Whether the firms need to offer only slightly more is a matter of the price elasticity of supply of professional workers. In effect you have simply asserted that it is very elastic so that even a slight increase in salaries will attract workers from thousands of miles away. In my experience that is seldom the case. Regardless of relocation packages few persons would uproot themselves merely for a salary which is only slightly higher and, because of the high cost of living, do not realize any tax savings, particularly when this means their onshorecareer path may be lost. That is just plain silly.
I’m interested… what is your ‘experience’? I think you’d be surprised how many people would uproot themselves for only a slighterly higher package to live in a warmer, healthier environment. I am one, two others have responded, and I know plenty more. We’re not all as greedy as you seem to think.
Sorry, wrong. The poster hit the nail on the head for me. £40,000/US$60,400 p/a in UK (before mandatory 40% income tax + national insurance contributions). That’s about £29,000/US$43,790 after tax.
US$50,000 here. (Equivalent to c. £33,000). About $45,000 after mandatory health insurance and pension contributions.
I’m about US$1,000 p/a better off… whoopee!
Relocation was an exciting challenge and an opportunity to experience different cultures – that was my main driver, and admittedly the warmer weather too!
so he wants to get rid of private sector expats (because they are expats) and replacement them with caymanian civil service rejects who excel in laziness, ineeficency and incompetence?????
another ezzard miller reciepe for disaster
No, he simply wants the Immigration Law (the one that every expat agreed to work under) to be enforced if there are indeed expatriates in positions which are perfectly capable of being filled by available Caymanians, persons . Do you truly have a problem with that?
Listen, and listen good. Yes there are positions as you state where expats fill a job perfectly capable of being filled by Caymanians… if they have the right work ethic, are productive, utilise business etiquette, and contribute toward the overall turnover and profitability of their employer, whether directly or indirectly. Those who fill the requirements for the role will succeed. Why on earth would an employer pay thousands to ship over, temporarily house and obtain work permit for a suitably qualified ex-pat, when they could save those thousands and pay the same annual salary to a Caymanian who can do an equally efficient job.
A perfect example is Legal Secretaries. Contrary to common opinion they don’t chat on the phone and file their nails attheir desks everyday. They are frantically producing delicate and detailed documents, where speed, accuracy and presentation are crucial, and often carrying out work delegated to them by their bosses. By delegated, I don’t mean ‘type a letter’, I mean she’s doing the bosses work, so the bosses can do more work and be twice as productive through increased billings.
There are Caymanian secretaries with these qualities, and they are gainfully employed. In fact, they are snapped up as they are a valuable commodity indeed. But sadly, there’s only a few. Just because that’s what you do doesn’t necessarily mean you cut the mark and should automatically get the job.
Simple tests put in place so that the employer can establish whether a Caymanian candidate can meet their requirements perpetually prove this point. I’ve seen the results, collated over years, and it sits very uncomfortably with me to have to inform you that almost 90% of applicants could not type up a decent application letter and CV; have very slow typing speeds; appalling spelling and grammar (poor accuracy; most under 50 wpm with <50% accuracy compared to the ex pat’s 80 wpm and 90% accuracy), and little to no interview skills in terms of answering role-specific questions. All those who cut or even came near to the mark were taken on without hesitation, and remain today.
I do have acquaintances in the hospitality and other businesses who constantly comment on their amazement that they have received not one application from a Caymanian for a job that "anyone can do", and thus ship in, at great expense someone to fill the role. Then there are the ‘applicants’ who don’t even bother turning up for their interviews, giving some excuse such as ‘because of the long work hours’; ‘having to work on a Saturday’ or simply ‘decided I don’t want the job’. And then there’s those who don’t turn up and don’t bother calling up to let you know at all. Now, I am not saying that similar traits don’t exist in all countries/cultures, but what I am saying is the very effect of the Immigration Law, reduces the possibility of such ex pats getting through. The expats being employed here, in my line of work at least, have already proved their worth abroad and are snapped up by employers seeking productive and disciplined staff who can be left to get on with the job and achieve results with minimum to no supervision. Such is the nature of the private sector. They’re businesses. Business exist to expand, thrive and be profitable. This is not possible without an efficient and productive compliment of staff. Profits would plummet; clients would leave… and the companies would withdraw from Cayman.
However, therein lies a solution. Not that I want to put any ex pats out of a job, but if Cayman only had some kind of technical college, with business courses aimed at admin staff; secretarial courses including audio typing speed/accuracy exams such as the RSA exams in the UK; then most of our young girls with such qualifications would be in gainful employment and many of the ex pat community would have to look for work elsewhere. I am sure similar solutions lie in other industries, but I am not in a position to comment on anything other than my own field. However, I would speculate to say that if courses were offered to obtain qualifications in say, bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing, electrical and masonry, then I imagine that would reduce the ex pat population down even further in the long run. A Technical College offering further education facilities to those leaving school, in my view, would be an excellent investment in Cayman for the benefit of both Caymanians and Caymans future prosperity.
In finishing I would add that I left school with no useful qualifications other than English. I didn’t know what to do; couldn’t get a job. So I went toone of these technical colleges in my area and did Business Studies for a couple of years. I’ve never looked back since. I learnt a lot in a relatively short time. I came out with excellent qualifications and an attitude to work hard, be recognised; achieve and excel in my field. While working full time I studied more so that I could diversify my career into management and hr.
There’s a lot to be said for a positive attitude and work ethic and the term ‘Life’s what you make of it’. Carpe Diem (seize the day) Cayman. Push for further education facilities which will equip the younger generation with the necessary skills, qualifications and attitudes for these jobs. That in itself (in the long run) would lead to a huge improvement in employment opportunities for Caymanians, and in turn, a huge financial saving for all the private sector businesses here who will now be able to look, with enthusiasm I hasten to add, towards a local workforce without the cost, expense and hassle of employing an ex pat (and believe me relocating and placing them can often cost upwards of $10,000 per candidate and most would rather not have the cost and hassle).
I’m trying to offer a reasoned response. I can only hope it is interpreted that way.
To Anonymous Tue 21:43 You are missing the point.The number one priority of the Cayman Is. Govt is to provide for the well being of Caymanians .Sometimes it might require issuing work permits,sometimes it might require not issuing a permit, or two ,or five.
I listened to Mr Miller on the talk show this morning and all that I can say is that he is an inpiration to these Islands. I was really moved by his quick actions to take on such a very important task single handedly . He is what you call a constructive and productive person. May the Good Lord continue to guide and bless him and the Cayman Islands.
Ezzard dont forget to add to your budget cut ALL the unnessacery computer access they have daily .If they only have government work on there screen they might get some work done but facebook, twitter, chat, shopping, and only God knows what elsesome of them they do to make day at work .Looks like some only got to show up but dont hit a lick and call it a day at 5. I know this dont apply to all but oh i could name some for you…..
FYI GOVT EMPLOYEES DONT HAVE ACCESS TO FACEBOOK OR OTHER SIMILAR SITES AS ALL SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ARE BLOCKED SO TALK WHAT YOU KNOW
Apparently they have a ban on the lower case too at the moment. It is part of Mr. Watler’s response to the deficit – he has proposed a reduced use of the "caps lock" button. Over time this will result in savings in terms of replacement "caps lock" buttons. This is a significant offer in the minds of civil servants, as they do not see those in the private sector offering any commitment to "uni-casing" with their profligate use of capitals and lower case letters, sometimes in the same sentence.
They may not have face book access on the computers but they sure do on those wonderful blackberries they are clicking on 24/7.
Oh yes I do.
Start by cutting unneeded politicians like Ezzie.
Are you kidding me "“If government has to let go five accountants, for example, then we approach the large private firms and ask them to cut five accounts on work permits from their staff."
There’s a reason these persons work for the government (and are now been chosen to get let go) and it’s not because they are competent, hard working individuals.
Just because the "large private firms" have many staff does not mean that they can take on dead weight. This is a vital flaw in Ezzie’s way of thinking (and others). You can not simply add unqualified, incompetent people in amongst highly trained permit holders and expect nobody to notice. The company pays the price, the company’s clients pay the price and these individuals’ co-workers pay the price as they are no doubt allocated more work based on head count yet each person does not carry their own weight.
To Anonymous Tue 20:23.Of course there are no unqualified ,incompetent permit holders.What about the secretary who got her job because she was the bosses mistress and from his hometown.Please don’t say it never happens;some of us know better.
To Anonymous Tues 22:40, of course there are people who have absolutely no concept of punctuation. Why are those who post the most prejudiced rants those who tend to write in such an abysmal manner? Is there a link between ignorance and prejudice?
Is that a rhetorical question?
To Dick Shaughneary……Wed 07:29 You should be able to answer that quite easily ;after all your posts usually contain a heavy dose of both.
The poster at Tue 22:40 made a valid point and your response was to make a personal attack about poor punctuation! For a blog his/her minor punctuation errors were perfectly acceptable.
Actually, it is prejudiced thinking if you insist that this occurs only with Caymanians.
Yes
I agree with the approach that MLA Miller is taking, I am certain that there is at least 10% of fat in the Govt. budget and that is not even counting some slush funds that are built in for various pet projects.
I feel strongly that the people working in the civil service know where the fat is, I think that identifying the specific areas were trimming can be done should be offered as an alternative to salary cuts.
As for redundancies, many countries import Labour (of varying skill levels) to meet demand! and that is exactly how it is done, when the demand can be met domestically, permits for foreign labour are allowed to decline untill empoyment levels of the native work force reaches the desired level. Of course for that system to work, trained people with the requisite skills have to be available locally. This is not rocket science after all I doubt that there are very many Sail-makers, Turtle fishermen or Thatch-rope makers sitting on the sidelines waiting for a job in their area of speciality, they realised years ago that they had to adapt to a changing world, so it is today, except change is happening even faster. Unfortunately I do not belief that the country’s leadership over the past 30 years has done a very good job of alerting people to the needs of a changing Cayman Islands. so now we have to worry about a group of so called unemployables and we have a high work permit count while also suffering from a relatively high level of unemployment in a country that was never set up to deal with social problems of that nature.
At some point we’re going to have to bite the bullet, the more people we have to help us swallow the bitter medicine the less it will be for each of us. Let us not be tempted to exempt certain segments from society from having to take any of the medicine simply for political expediency, it would be folly to think that the person that owns a Ladder is going to stand on the ground while the water is rising!
So, let us look closely at the budget cut what can be cut defer what can be, then if all that is not enough some incomes may have to be curtailed.
It is also crucially important that our leadership sets the tone. Now, it is entirely possible that the Cayman delegation that went to the Olympics paid for it out of their pockets, but it is doubtful! It is certainly regarded by many as a type of action which contradicts the expected behaviour of the leadership of an entity that is struggling finacially.
As has been said so often : "your actions speak louder than words" this goes for parents or leaders.
yes Mr. Miller, by all means, let us look closely at the budget, it may just lead to a whole new way of fiscally responsible governance.
Well siad, Peter! I really appreciate those comments.
Start cutting with the Cayman Islands Development Bank
Cayman needs to keep all eyes on Mr Ezzard Miller. He is trying his best and needs our suport. Mr Miller, You are worth ever grain of salt that goes into your pot. I take off my hat to salute you. You are Not only a man of words, but also of action
At least there is one politician showing a bit of common sense and initiative. The PPM could have done this but as well but unfortunately they don’t seem to have the necessary initiative to get their sleeves rolled up and get things done.
I suspect that a lot of the waste that Ezzard is looking for will be buried in line items description that give no idea of what money is actually spent on. In the hope that it will help, here are some things that every sensible Caymanian views as waste:
The Premier’s luxury travel budget,
The budget for the Premier’s "advisors", "consultants" and "assistants" who just happen to be cronies,
The budget for the Premier’s servants who are being paid at our expense,
The budget for the renovations of the Premier’s personal property which are being carried out at our expense. He will keep these improvements when he is no longer Premier – but then maybe he intends to declare himself Emperor for life. That is just so wrong.
I hope that Ezzard will also bring a motion to ensure that every effort is made to recover the cost of the stolen fuel from those who were given the fuel cards. The Premier seems reluctant to push this issue. I wonder why that would be?
I have yet to hear an official response for the government about the Great Wall of West Bay.
Tell us what this is about and the cost?
So you support a guy that uses the ‘N’ word on public radio???
Did ANYONE hear his Rooster commentary this morning – and subsequent retraction and justification?
How would America react if Obama stood up and said he knows what the Honkys need?????
He is only showing his ignorant and juvenile ways – nothing we need to have in a leadership position…
Ezzard’s use of the "N" word on the radio was not his first on air demonstration of Ezzard’s world view.
He used the "Jewed" word as a verb meaning not getting value for money.
This guy is the darling of Rooster and Austin’s hero.
Both hosts seem afraid to confront his ignorance.
Same Guy, let us all call him Nezzard from now on as a reminder of what you rightly call his ignorant and juvenile ways. What a disgrace. Thank God children would be in school and presumably not listening to this backward looking man.
i heard it too, but can’t remember exactly what he said… if you can remember exactly what he said please post it…. don’t be afraid
Is this the same guy that wants Government to provide scholarships to Harvard and Oxford when he wrote the following on the 5th of February 2008 regarding Mr Kinch’s scholarship to Bishops University?
I wonder, Mr Kinch, has it crossed your mind that most Caymanians have no desire to spend their university time frozen, being the warm blooded tropicals we are?
Perhaps he can see Boston and Oxford from North Side, but Lenoxville is just out of site.
It’s the same guy who on Rooster FM Tuesday morning said the only way he got his sick mother looked at in the Emergency Room was by acting like a "N*****". Check the tapes…7:40am
Oh yeah….Ezzard’s the perfect statesman
For all the expats and Y generation of young Caymanians… this is not a racial comment !
What you don’t and probably will never understand is that N**** on this island (with the older generation) is a attitude and has nothing to do with the color of your skin !!!!
Growing up in Cayman 20+ more years ago. N**** was a commonly used slang used by all Caymanians (of all color) and white people were often called N****. If you acted like an as****** you were a N****.
There was nothing racial about it !
And you are perfect? Instead of putting him down for one mistake give him kudos for taking on this responsibity.
I’m sick and tired of negative people. If you can do better audit the books yourself or run for office. At least he’s trying to do something. How are you contributing?
There are a lot of things that could be taken out starting with the premiers slush fund, housekeeper, driver, wall and numerous trips with entourages. Julianna’s bodyguard and premier’s bodyguard, special vehicles, and stays at Alexander hotel to name a few.
And the same guy who on Rooster Feb.23 said potential buyers of the sewage facility would try to "Jew down the price".
Reply to 19:43 Get over your prejudices, get to know "Caymanians" with DNA to Terra Firma, learn our culture using the "N" word in the context that Ezzard used it was not in anyway considered an insult to our native Negro population.
FYI "I had to act like a N—– to get assistance for my mother" was another way of saying in our our Native Caymanian way "I had to get mad". One of my best friend who happens to be "Native & White" uses the same term likewise myself who is black within context and we know what it means. Any Native Caymanian hearing this knew exactly what it meant and was not offended by it.
What you have to remember Ezzard is still Caymanian and does not try to be anyone else. Before you come here to pass judgement on us, please get to know us and judge us by our own standards not yours. In this diverse island as it is now, yes we must be careful how we speak and as humans we all are guilty of saying the wrong things sometimes but before you run your mouth about cultural issues you know nothing about get to know us. In Cayman "Native Caymanians" know the difference between the hated "N" word and the dignified word of "Negro".
ok you stick to your colonial attitiudes while the rest of the world moves on and leaves you behind. Good for you turning the other cheek when you’re called a n*****. It sets a great example for the children of this island that it’s ok to call someone that because that’s your culture.
To Anonymous Wed..11:39 It is your colonial attitude that has you running scared.Ezzard is showing Caymanians thats it is ok to stand up for your rights and not be afraid to speak out.Obviously this is not to your liking.
Yes we will stick to our Colonial attitudes. Haven’t you noticed that we love being "British" been that way since 1503 and intend to remain way past 2503. We are quiet contented with being "Las Tortugas" we don’t aspire to be the Hare, remember the story. Caymanians never envied the rest of world that have moved and left us behind because we have always known that itnot the fastest that wins the race but he who endures to the end.
We have no problem with turning the other cheek. Using the "Nigger" word in the context that it was used in the first instance have not bothered a single Caymanian (oh let me paraphrase that "Native Caymanian") as we are well aware of our mores and norms and don’t need you to incite any war over words, let me remind you we are above that. Please be so kind as to advise us not to turn the other cheek when our people are displaced by work permit holders when they are competent and qualified to do a job but is being passed over by a permit holder. Yes and when our citizenship was given away to 3,000 people without our consent oh did you forget to advise us then? Why don’t you advise us not to turn the other cheek when 3,000 of our people are out of work and there are 26,000 permit holder. Should we turn the other cheek when we cannot live with dignity in our own country when those of us who want a job any job that we are qualified to do can’t get one because we are "Native Caymanians" and dare to speak with our accent .
What sets a great example for our children is for them to see their parents living a life of promise with dignity in their own country with their own identity one that they can be proud of (and not the usage or refrain from use of the "N" word). All "Native Caymanians" know that stick and stone can break my bone but name can never hurt me. So we are not afraid of the "N" word, we will never let this word have power over us in action or deed. The "Nigger" word to "Native Caymanians" is as passive to us as we are to you. I hope this helps you to under the true nature and character of "Native Caymanians" who are proud to be "British" since 1503 and would not change it for anyone else.
…so "Jew" used as a pejorative verb is also a quaint Northside expression?
No, it was originally taught to us by our English colonial masters, after they banned the use of reference to Scotts in a similar context .
So why the hell wont you spell the word out since it’s such a sweet and dandy aspect of Caymanian culture to use the "hated N word" (or is it, er, ahem the "dignified word of "Negro""?. Was Ezzard saying "I had to act like a Negro to get assistance for my mother"?
very well said… in any another juristiction the media would have highlighted this and the politician in question would have to consider resigning
Yes, it’s the same guy who on Rooster FM said that all expats should have their cars taken off them and they should all use the bus.
I DO BELIEVE, a N*****, can be black or white. Chinese or Indian. What makes us a N*****, is how we behave, not by the colour of our skin.
Haven,t you heard about Red N***** and Black N***** and White N******, So, some of us not all, sometimes when we are pushed to the limit, "we all at some time in our lives behave as N******"
Even if it is at home,shouting at our kids, wife or husband, in flash of a moment we become a N*****. Black or White,.
So Twyla if it’s ok to use the n-word, why do you use asterisks and not spell it out? And why, if it is about the way we behave and not about our skin colour, don’t we use the term, for example ‘whitey" instead of a word deeply associated with one of the worst human abuses of all time?
Caymanian Please,………… Do not mis undrestand when a Caymanian say the N***** word, because sometimes, one Caymanian will greet the other with these words.
Question:: "Wha happen old Nigger? whey ye was, aw naw see ye all dis time"
Answer:: "Old dog aw right yaw ye naw", so wha ye say happening now?
Answer: Aw right yaw trying ketch dese two dam Cow whey get whey last night.
Question:: So how ye say the family doing old boy.?
Answer:: The Old wife gone left mi, and she take the parrot, the cat and the dog.
Question: Well old Nigger, wha ya do now.
Answer:: Wha ye think? wait tll she miss mi. Naw. See ya.
It has never been a practice in Cayman to verbally abuse anyone wih the Nigger word. However It has been used loosely a times.
What each and every one of us must realize, is that none of us are perfect and we need no stop trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. That is exactly what we are trying to do here. The hate crimes are much stronger here than the shooting.
I am not afraid to use the word Nigger.
We Caymanians sometimes, greet each other with the term.
"Wha ye saying old Nigger"
"Old dog aw right ya.
To Anonymous at 17:27 .Very constructive.NOT!!!!!!
My apologies. I didn’t realize this website was restricted to constructive criticism.
Therefore, young people of Cayman, think before you support a man that uses the "N" word and discourages you from accepting a valid scholarship.
You will be much better off with an actual education as opposed to a promised one. The actual education will allow you to think for yourselves and be less prone to manipulation. It will strengthen you, give you confidence and the tools to succeed in this life. It will free you from prejudices and make you a more productive person in society.
The great minds of the Cayman Crosstalk want everyone to pay for the excessive spending of the PPM government Caymanian voter and Expatriate nonvoter alike. What they ignore is the Expatriates already pay all the increased rates for duty.
They believe that the civil servants cuts equate to income tax. It boggles the mind to listen to these great minds.
Ezzard alone cut the budget by $70,000,000.00 CI in less than 30 minutes all by himself.
Why do we need all these civil servants and politicians when we have Ezzard?
Thanks to the parents of D. Ezzard Miller, see what a "Native Caymanian" with good parents, common sense and an education can do. He is able to propose sensible cuts to the budget in the range of CI$70,000,000 in less than 30 minutes while many highly paid experienced key employees and consultants are not even able to produce audited financials for many government departments in 4 years. Way to go Ezzard and thanks for your great mind.
If many of the so call great minds of 90s had listened to you we would now have a brand new high tech hospital with ample parking away from the flight path and this that would have cost us the most $30 million while the extension and renovation of the old hospital have cost us double that amount while renovations are still being carried out. Again thank God for the great man with a brain and the ability to talk and chew gum at the same time non other than Ezzard Miller.
Oh by the way if memory serves me he was the brain that drafted the original health bill but again the sections that would have benefited Natives the most were deleted by the so called great minds of the day and again we were left with a shell of a health bill which favours the health insurance companies need I say more but just in case you don’t know let me fill you in or remind you that the hospital that Cayman use to send our patients to was the best in the USA non other than The Cleveland Clinic but then again another genius who tried to discredit Ezzard’s intelligence decided to change Cleveland Clinic for Baptist now I rest my case and hope you will rest your brains and leave our duly elected representative to do his work. Yes Native Caymanians value his services and ability to think and offer his solutions to our problems. What’s your suggestion to reduce the deficit? if you have nothing to offer "silence yourself"
Haha, I think this guy is actually being serious. Can he really keep a straight face whilst talkign such rubbish!
Do you want the Government to provide services, because if you do they come with a price tag.
You just can’t cut to reduce expenditure for the sake of it – it has to make sense, otherwise the service will not be there for the public.
I know this makes you happy to see figures being reduced, but can the service still be provided to general public?