Illegal over-stayer leaves after twelve years
(CNS): With only one week left of the immigration department’s amnesty officials are encouraging people to leave the island before the enforcement arm begins its clamp down. So far 41 people have taken advantage of the prosecution waiver to leave the island. According to government officials the longest over-stayer had been in Cayman illegally for twelve years. Only one employer so far has cancelled a permit but the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Enforcement Gary Wong encouraged companies employing illegal residents to take advantage of this otherwise their business could be in jeopardy once the enforcement part of the exercise steps up.
Immigration officials are encouraging anyone who is overstaying or working without a valid permit to similarly take advantage and leave Cayman now before the end of July.
Those who have been recorded as departing range in age from six months old to 80 years old. Of the total, 15 were from Jamaica, nine were from the United States, and three each from South Africa, India and Nicaragua. Also, one person from Britain, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Honduras, Panama and the Philippines has left.
The immigration department has said it believes there are around 250 people on the island who are here illegally and warned employers who have people working without permits or who have no work for people with permits to also come clean.
“This practice may affect the future standing of their companies, as well as their applications to obtain permits,” said Wong. “There may also be implications relating to their business licences.”
Upon the conclusion of this month’s amnesty, the enforcement section will be working to identify and arrest offenders. Because of the suspected number of workpermits of convenience (with no, or irregular work offered by the permit holder) the department will also be checking to ensure that employees’ pension and health insurance premiums have been paid.
Residents and employers are encouraged to take advantage of the remaining days of the amnesty.
For more information, call 244-2028 or visit the Department of Immigration on Grand Cayman or the District Administration Building on Cayman Brac.
Category: Local News
And we are supposed to believe that they investigated those not so clean Jamaican police clearances and there weren’t any here. However, they can’t find someone that was in the country illegally for 12 years.
Two words. BANANA REPUBLIC! Complete with dictator who is always either gone or the people wish he was. Complete with Government that does not follow its own rules and regulations. Complete with half built Government projects that they just can’t seem to get er done. It still amazes me that people still are surprised when something does not work up to modern day standards. Nothing works up to modern day standards in Grand Cayman. Everything done here cost twice as much, takes twice as long, has twice the problems of anything done in a developed country.
And why is that? Simple really. Everything done in Cayman MUST be done by a Caymanian before it can be done by anyone with skill, experience, and a high work ethic. ANYHING done in Government must be done the CAYMAN way or the highway. Caymanian people don’t know what they are missing in life because they have never had it done right, on time, and on budget. Anyone out there believes that the immigration enforcement arm will do ANYTHING? AGAIN? In Cayman even caught, on bail, ankle bracelet-ed thieves are not afraid of any kind of Caymanian enforcement! As in any country the state of the country is the mirror of the will of the entitled people.
So Bitter: Why are you so bitter friend? Its not all that bad.Somewhere over the horizon you will be able to fulfil your life ambitions.The closing of one door is the opening of another but you must not let anger get the better of you.beyond every dark cloud there is a silver lining. move on with your life
I think its sad that not one person here has bothered themselves to consider the plight of the person kicked off the island.
Overstaying 12 years means he or she obviously has some compelling reason to be here. Is it his fault he ended up here, or his employer? Is it perhaps that a local employer was taking advantage of this poor sole so they can pay them less, work them harder, and threaten to shop them to immigration if they complain?
What about their family, friends, does he have children? Are they going to be left here without a father or mother? Is a family being torn apart? – does anyone care?
Where is the compassion in this "christian" community?
That’s right, speculate endlessly and blame the Cayman community, employer and Santa Claus for someone breakng the laws of the country.
Obviously is someone is employing a worker illegally they could not possibly threaten to report them to immigration since the employer would also have been committing an offence.
Clearly, every illegal immigrant anywhere will claim compelling reasons. That does not justify it.
Spin, spin, spin.
God Bless
I’ll agree with you if I could understand what you were trying to say. Some grammer and spelling lessons might help.
As it is mainly Caymanians and Caymanian companies that are employing these people, I would think that the community would be aware of the people who are breaking the law. It’s fine to blame the employee – he’s just here to earn a living – the main problem unfortunately lies with the employer as they will get rid of that employee and just hire another one!
Just sayin, Please give me a break, "mainly Caymanian’s & Caymanians companies" it’s always CAYMANIANS when it is something wrong or illegal right!!! are these children that these companies or employers employing or adults, they know right from wrong but choose to do what they know ir Wrong and Illegal that’s just an EXPAT for you!!!! Answer that Just Sayin!!!
he will be back in a couple of months with a new identity
i reckon they were looking for that person… so long days of law enforcement rounding up these overstayers! we don’t care about immigration we’re actually giving them right b caymanian for nothing
I couldnt agree more. Like giving people British passports for nothing…
I really wonder how many are here illegally, and working???
Immigration Dept should be escorting those that they know are here illegally off this island, I am sure they have Photos from their permit applications to know what they look like, so circulate a poster with their faces so that the COMMUNITY can also assist the Immirgration Dept with finding them, We are always hearing how the COMMUNITY needs to help our LAW ENFORCEMENT agencies. Well this is one suggestion that will save our Law Enforcement agencies, any many ways, "Let US help U to Help US"
What the Immirgration department planning on doing, waiting for the amnesty to expire and then arrest these illegal overstayers, spending money on a court case, (and they are already guilty) then check them in the Hotel at Our expense? hell no we have no money for this … so Immigration Dept get up hunt them down and kick them out of our country.
BE PROACTIVE in every way possible…
I wonder if this is supposed to raise our confidence in the Immigration Dept.? I think it is an embarrasment that they cannot find these people! What exactly do they use all of the permit fee money on? Do they have enforcement officers supported by administrative staff supported by computers???
wow 12 years overstayer………means government departments never work!!!! Always chatting/texting on blackberrys, never mind about overstayers.
You forgot "assisting friends".
How correct you are, these people were employed somewhere. Employers here on the island are Caymanian. Oh but I forgot, it’s that sense of entitlement again. My observations lead me to believe that most laws are not enforced here, from small matters to more important things, really amazing. And then we get to enjoy the commentators on the negative rant, never a good word for anything or anybody. Ya gutta luv it!
You can have all the laws in the world, and as much regulation as you want, but without the means to enforce those laws, they count for nothing.
Of course more thought by those that make the laws to start with might help too.
It is obviously nonsense to say that employerson the Island are Caymanian. There are many, many businesses, companies and firms that are not Caymanian owned. And please don’t start quoting the LCCL. It should be common knowledge that the largest employers do not fall under the scope of that law, and neither do many small employers e.g. where people are seeking a handyman.
Always an anti-Caymanian spin.
How many times have we heard over, many years, the words "We are going to clean up the backlog of applications?" Yet we never come close. Here is why. We need to hear the words "We are going to clean up the corruption within Immigration." The minute that is said, and meant, all backlogs will be cleared. I, for one, wont hold my breath.
So he / she never went on a trip anywhere in 12 years. Now thats scary.