Miller: Cut fees not rollover
(CNS): The government’s increase in fees is far more of a problem for the country’s commercial community than the length of rollover, says the independent member for North Side. In the wake of announcements by the premier that the rollover could be reduced to as little as thirty days, Ezzard Miller said that he doubted very much that would constitute a genuine break in stay and, more importantly, immigration policy is not the cause of Cayman’s declining economic fortunes. Miller said that government should be reducing the cost of doing business not risky reductions to the break in stay that could result in Caymanians losing political control of their country.
“I remain to be convinced that the problems we are facing with the economy are solely down to immigration,” Miller told CNS. “I believe it has more to do with the cost of doing business in the Cayman Islands right now.”
He said that the increases in duty, in particular that on gasoline, have had an inflationary impact and the increase in building fees have also shut down the construction industry.
“When bank manager tells me now that before he makes a dime he has to lay out close $¾ million before he does anything, I know something is wrong with the fee structure,” he said. “What I think government needs to do now is find out what other jurisdictions competing with Cayman are doing that’s better than us and start doing it better and cheaper and take back what we have lost in the financial services sector. We can given someone a Cayman stamp in their passport but if it takes forever to get business done people still won’t come.”
He pointed out that reducing rollover to as little as a month was a risky approach as he said it was very unlikely that was sufficient to represent a genuine break in stay. Miller recalled that the islands’ legal minds in 2003 all said the minimum period of time for a genuine break in domicile had to be two years and couldn’t be any less. “Cutting fees would be a far more sensible approach to getting the economy on track rather than reducing rollover to the point where it cold be challenged,” he added.
The UK government had said before the status grants were given out that a six month break that some people had taken prior to the assessment was not a sufficient period, Miller recalled, pointing out the current legal advice coming from Lord Panik relates to sovereign states.
“Any attorney will give you the answer you might want but it depends on the question you asked and I would be curious to know what the question was in this case,” the North Side MLA said.
He pointed out that Cayman was not only an overseas territory but, as a UK dependency, it was also a signature to the European Convention on Human Rights, which would mean that a short gap would very easily be challenged. Miller said he had voted against government’s introduction of a caregiver certificate earlier this month as he doesn’t believe the UK government is going to allow Cayman to keep people for seventeen years with no rights.
He explained that he did not see the rollover policy as having anything to do with protecting jobs for Caymanians and therefore the reduction in the length was irrelevant from that perspective. He said Caymanians were not getting work because the immigration law was not be adhered to and arbitrary decisionswere still being made about granting permits.
Miller said rollover was all about managing the numbers of people who would be eligible for permanent residency and the subsequent right to Caymanian status for those who passed the criteria. He said the evidence pointed away from a shorter rollover period being enough and said Cayman faced losing further control especially at a time when there were over 22,000 work permit holders in the country.
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“Someone will test it in the European Courts and we will then be in a position where we face having to do another status clean-up, then we could see the electoral list double by the 2018 elections,” he added.
Category: Headline News
Sorry my maths is way off!! Not 27 million.Its late…going to bed.
Big Mac You have been busted for lying to the investors and to Caymanians.
Businesses are not leaving because of Immigation. they are leaving because of the cost of doing business THE FEES!
Immigration and labor office is still not doing their job. Why do we have 1,000 unemployed?
The roll over never worked becuase Immigration system never worked. When they start reading some of these adds and figuring out the loop holes and maybe actually create a 5 day a week work permit board maybe at least 2/3 of the 2,500 hundred will get employment.(thats who is registered with the labour board- maybe add another 500 who did not register)
Why does an accomodation letter need to be signed and submitted when applying for a permit whne the laws on how many occupants to a room is not enforced either? What ever happened to issuing GOL cards for 1 year holders?
Lets see some statistics on who is leaving and what jobs were held.
Also lets get a number on how many Caymanians have left also since 2-5 years ago?
Once we get most of the Caymanians back in the work force even if they spend CI$1000.00 a month into caymans economy it will get better.
If a work permit holder know they are going to get rolled over then of course why invest in Cayman? If they even send 100.00 out of the country every month thats USD$27 million. If it was not for foriegn help Cayman would not be the place is it now…but we must get our local situation sorted quickly or else they will be leaving for the crime not the fees only.
Ah yes.. another far sighted guilish scheme by Mr Bush. & at this time Mike Adam is cheek to cheek with the elderly. We are waiting on Caymanian only jobs,pick those feet up.
Big Mac You have been busted for lying to the investors and to Caymanians.
Businesses are not leaving because of Immigation. they are leaving because of the cost of doing business THE FEES!
Immigration and labor office is still not doing their job. Why do we have 1,000 unemploed?
If the UK thinks a 6 months break is insufficient then a 30 day break ensures GRaANT of STATUS to X_PATS to vote for big Mac. The man is not honest and it is a shame that he wears the name of the Lord on his shoulder.
What a shame.
Come on Ezzard lets fight this policy Big Mac is using to get votes for himself and the UDP. YOU HAVE GOT TO S TOP HIM OR YOU WILL NEVER BE PREMIER IF YOU ALLOW HIM TO GET AWAY WITH THIS SO EZZARD IF YOU SEE HIM TRYING SOMETHING FUNNY " S Q U E A L!"
This expat wouldn’t give any of your politicians her vote – until they became politically, financially and internationally aware and accountable and stop playing wannabe dictator. You can keep your vote.
Don’t get too happy remember big Mac and his Fries can not be trusted. Even when they do something good that appears to be for the benefit of Caymanians at the end of it all is something to screw you in the a**
That’s what Elio Solomon’s so called job positions for Caymanians only was only about.
IT’S AN EXCUSE FOR BIG MAC TO GRANT THOUSANDS OF STATUS GRANTS TO X-PATS UNOTICED! He is throwing crumbs at Caymanians while sitting at the table eating Caviar and new York Saeaks with the Rich and Famous. Investors are aware he will never be elected here again and that’s their reason for seeking other lands for investment. Its over for Big Mac!
You don’t upset voters on every turn, flood the country with x-pats to win votes, and expect to be loved. It just DOES NOT WORK!
This country cannot afford its huge public service – so why two years later are the contract renewals that are been advertised in the local paper still have non contribution pension and health. The civil service and government masters can draft laws quick enough to add cost to the private sector but cannot change civil service hiring perks.. smells funny !
The answer is simple competitive tendering for all government services with the private sector. If the civil service can provide it cheaper they get to do it but if the private sector is cheaper – close that section and transfer the civil servants to another department with new contracts – don’t like it well resign and the cost saving brings down the fee charged to private sector – economy grows and we get going again.
Small government – less red tape – fewer laws that then can be enforced – good for private business good for the country.
If you are department head and you can not run your department to your budget then you should resign or be sacked – sorry I sick of paying the cost. If you want to be paid like the private sector then you have to live and die like the private sector.
A lot of us are working 4 day weeks – guess what that is 20% pay cut to survive this recession so my heart bleeds when you got a 3% cut in pay.
With all the comments about expats leaving worse places of abode to come here should "shut up", "trying to run our country", "go home" etc., why do so many Caymanians live away from Cayman? Doesn’t that make them ungrateful? Why on God’s earth would they leave such a haven to go elsewhere? Do they really think they can find a better life, lifestyle, somewhere else?
I think the point is that whereever Caymanians go they respect the fact that they are in someone else’s country and do not insult their hosts.
Rather a sweeping statement. All Caymanians? Wherever they go?? Actually, I hope this isn’t true.
As an expat i have many views on the immigration policies and current fee levels.
I have been here for 4 years – cayman is my home. I am an accountant and have worked for the same company since i have been here. I want to invest in property as i see this as my home and would like the opportunity to stay. I have many close friends here as well as family.
My reasons for not investing are multiple. However, it does not come down to simply the rollover issue.
I would like to add that i DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY HOME or OFF ISLAND. It all stays here – i rent locally and buy locally.
My concerns are:-
1. The state of the economy as a whole, both local and internationally. House prices are dropping everywhere and this is a major consideration in investment.
2. Government – I have little faith in the current government and policies seem to be changing so much that its difficult to make investments in anything when the security of it all is questionable. Investing requires forethought and planning – how can we do this when the leader of this wonderful country is all over the place!
3. Rollover – I believe that the rollover idea has some merit – but in todays climate and with the fees and duties levied on the people of the country it is wise to adjust it to ‘fill a gap’ – for now!
4. WP Fees and other charges – Rollover may not be such a hot topic if these fees had not increased hugely. People are not just leaving/ not investing because of rollover alone. Businesses cannot afford to operate, its just that simple.
I would happily invest here and would welcome an adjustment in immigration policies – but only when the country becomes more stable as a whole!
Reply to 09/28/2010 – 15:26.
First and foremost I am elated to read that after four years you call Grand Cayman home. Prior to delving into my response, I want to preface it by stating that, I earnestly hope that you have decided to assimilate into this society by seeking out and maintaining generational Caymanian friends as a result learning our colloquial terms that are “spoken like a true Caymanian”. As with any native of their homeland, it is earnestly felt, that in order for you to use and or feel the term “home” which means a “congenial environment” you have to fully and completely embrace its people and their ways. Failure to do so results in not a congenial environment but a hostile one.
Let me correct some figures you have there.
Even if you invested $110,400 into a home at the local bank you WOULD NEVER have $100,000 equity.
Taking the amount of $250,000 as a decent amount in today’s economy and the $2300 based on a loan at 5% (1.75% above prime). You would only have 66,710.14 equity built up over 4 years despite paying over and above the monthly payments by 838.52 which by the way some banks don’t let you do.
But hey I still get your point. An accountant SHOULD have thought this way IF he/she intended to have done this. However we don’t know what his/her thoughts were going into it. It might have been a situation where he/she grew to love Cayman and initially only intended to work here for awhile.
As we are not him/her how could we know the initial intentions?
Anyways it would be a good idea for him/her to consider investing.
reply to Dred Wed, 09/29/2010 – 09:32
I thank you for trying to lend some “wisdom” to my posting, however, with your zeal to try and impress with spurting out numbers, you have over shot the runway and crashed in the sound, I guess that happens during the rain. Nevertheless, if you read the Author’s posting she has been here for four (4) years, therefore utilizing reasonable logic she has three (3) years left on island under the current immigration policy prior to being rolled over. Other than that, she is always faced with the possibly of being terminated by her employer as is the case with the majority of employees around the world.
Yep buy propery
let’s see you buy a home for CI$250,000 after 1 year of being on island, 10% deposit
you pay 7.5% Stamp duty and 0.5% stamp duty on the mortgage, so that’s CI$ 19,875 lost off the bat. When you get rolled you pay an agent 7% to sell, that another CI$17,500
Now strata say around 600 a month, interest on the 225,000 mortgage, same prime +1%, I’ll base it on the low current rates to be fair so 4.25% over 6 years so 43,200 on strata and 57,000 on interest
Total cost for an expat investing in a house, not including the proce depreciation is:
CI$137,575 or $1,900 a month!
Frankly paying $2,000 which are rents at the moment means that you are not stuck with an a house you can’t use and any maintenace cost.
It just makes sense not to invest
What? you’re not even gonna try to keep it and rent it?! there is some Positive cash flow in there, isn’t there? with anticipated growth
Appreciation in Cayman’s housing market, not in the next 5 years..the population has gone down 20%, look at how many homes are up for sale on CIREBA. Rents are pre Ivan, there is little demand.
The you are letting your home, sp you need an on island management company and pay them as you’ve been kicked off the island.
Then if interest rate start to increase you are truely up the creek with out a paddle
There is no point in you talking about "points" when the person is not eligible to apply for residency anyway. Unless, he is a key employee.
It is funny to read all the changed opinions. I have argued for months and months that it isn’t the immigration policies that is killing business in Cayman, but rather the cost of conducting business. People used to get so irrate with me for defending that view and immigration policies were made to be the scape goat for the reason companies have left the Island.
Every single person that I personally know who has left the Island is because they were laid off or just simply couldn’t afford to be living in Cayman any longer. Not on suitably qualified and invested person left because they couldn’t get their work permit renewed or they didn’t get their PR. In fact, I know people who have come here on a temporary basis and since managed to secure a full time position for themselves.
It is good to see that people finally come to the root of the problem, which is cost! It is killing all of us………..
Cut Fees and Tax the Work Permit holder.
Yup, I know I will have stirred up much controversy here, but let’s understand something here.
With the fact that the TRANSIENT Work Permit populace generates a significant portion of burden on the Government with respect to the infrastructural expenditure for example; garbage, Sewage, roads, whereas the fees paid per household & per individual is nominal compared to the overall cost to Government to operate these facilities. For example Sewerage fees are @ $460 p/annum per individual on average according to the Water Authority’s rates scheme and as for the Garbage Fees… well those have been changed effective July of this year as follows:
Owners of single and private homes are no longer billed for garbage collection. *** (perhaps more applicable), Residential properties (multi-family, condos, large apartment complexes, etc.) that are required by law to have a commercial container will only be charged for the container and its servicing. Residential properties will not be billed by the number of units. Sooo, when prorated among the work permit tenants in argument, the fees becomes an insignificant amount.
This does not include the expenses of maintaining the existing roads and the new ROADS that we have to build to accommodate the added work permit populace. Perhaps adding the schools that we have to increase sizes thereof, where applicable to any w/permit dependencies. Let’s be realistic here.
At the same time, we have between 25 and 27 thousand of these W/Permit holders pumping some 2.5 million per week OUT of our country/economy on average based on a benchmark of CI$100.00 p/week per w/p holder and of course there is FAR MORE than one $100.00. This is negative economics people, which we will never see again.
We must remember that the w/permit populace is TRANSIENT, hence this ‘incurred and accrued burden’ is no doubt being left with the citizens of the country to pay through the increased taxation. Currently there is NO direct taxation on the W/P holder. They make the money they make and they get to send or take most home. I say despite the adversity with taxing the W/P populace, Cayman should or must at some point Impose some degree of taxation on Work Permit Holders as a way to compensate & recoup some of the ACCRUED infrastructural bill incurred by the W/P holders and as to not have the Citizens of the country to bear their burden through increased taxation while they go FREE.
Now Let’s hear the opposition and controversy!
Always, IRON CLAD
Did you ever stop and think that maybe because of the rollover policy and uncertainty in these WP holders being able to stay here and attain residency has anything to do with them sending THEIR money home?
The majority of them are at the lowest end of the pay scale and so the majority of the pitence that they make is sent elsewhere, a) because they have families that they cannot afford to have here and b) because they know that they are leaving, eventually.
Wow, what’s this commentator been smoking? He has a death wish for the Cayman economy!
Cut fees, keep rollover and tax the work permit holder? You’ve already removed our incentive to invest here with the rollover, now remove our incentive to work here by taxing us? And you wonder why expats have no loyalty to Cayman?
If that happens just watch the mass exodus. I can bet many of us won’t even bother to honour the remainder of time left on our work permits – we’d just up and go to somewhere else where we’d be more welcomed – and believe me there’s plenty of other options.
Expat… we have MANY expats like your self who has NEVER had any loyalty to the Cayman Islands. The only ‘loyalty’ most of you have is to the Almighty Dollar you came here to reap. You people feel that you should have EVERYTHING your way or nothing at all. You people think that our Islands are just a ‘Watering Hole’ & Gold Pot for the whole world to come and reap the Gold or to make a ‘Better Living’.
Expat, People like yourself NEED a brain to understand that this little set of Islands can only hold so many people and at some point we will HAVE to STOP people from immigrating here PERIOD. Why not start now? We are only making a living hell out of what was once ‘almost paradise’.
And furthermore if I had my way, I would REMOVE EVERY incentive for people like yourself and remove all of you who have contributed or have been just ‘Another Number’ in this whole ‘PARADOX’ of Development-Gone-Perilous. That which all you Expats call the ‘Economic Blessings’ for the Caymans, but has become the atrocity in the making for the indigenous Caymanians.
Many of us would rather go back to the days of laborious living and having more peace and happiness rather than this ‘Laborious and Stressful life’ WITH all the other perils as we natives are now dealing with and no doubt an INCREASED amount of perils into our future, combined with the regression in our individual lives as a result of the increased development and ‘Dog-eat-Dog’ environment that goes along with bigger populations.
So as one Caymanian, I say to you, please just go back to YOUR country and TRY to make yours BETTER. Perhaps some day you will become more considerate and less ignorant.
More IRON CLAD
Iron clad. All of us ex-pat and Caymanian alike feel your hate. Perhaps you should consider moving to a country that treats its people like you would like us to be treated? Lots of countrys in Africa would love to have you on their team. Which one did your ancestors leave to come here from?
I do not agree with Iron Clad’s comments, but you do the argument no good when yo ask," Which one did your ancestors leave to come here from"? This comment at the very least suggests that he/she must be of African heritage, which I find very distaseful and racist to say the least. It is comments like this that does not help the already tense relatioship between expats and locals. It is amazing how under the guise of anonymity, the things that people would say and even more so, the surprise to know who they really are and how they truly feel. By the way, I am an expat!
There are two distinct expat groups.
The low wage earners from destitute countires must choose between working in Cayman as indentured slaves or going back to their destitute home country and be unemployed. Tax them and all you do is increase their misery. A five percent payroll tax on these poorly paid people would be cruel because their cost of living in Cayman would not drop by the same five percent.
The high wage professional expats can work anywhere in the world. They have viable choices. If Cayman imposes a fiver percent payroll tax on them, then their employers will have to top up the expats’ saleries by the five percent if they want to attract them from offshore. These people can do the math and will not come to Cayman if they can get a better deal elsewhere. Remember that there are lots of other wonderful places in the world in which to live and work.
My view is that I need to make at least 40% more here than at home in order to make it worth living in Cayman. If that is interfered with by tax or duty, I am perfectly aware that there are many flights leaving daily.
Ezzard is correct, roll back the fees and increase the Rollover to 2 years as previously discussed. The local banks and Western Union needs to increase their fees, though. This will hamper the Expat workers from sending their income overseas on a regular basis. Limit them to only 2 transfers per year and the Government or a Private entity should open a bank called the overseas workers bank, so that the fees and the money stays here. I hope for all the expat workers sake, that the Cayman Islands Dollar don’t ever devalue, because if it does, then I’ll wonder what they will complain about then. Where will they go, why are they all her anyways. They are ONLY here for the money, They do not care for the Islands and they don’t care a Rat a$$ about the Caymanians. Never did!! Change the Rollover to 2 years and reduce the fees. Real Estate is suffering now, because there is no more real estate to sell and they have priced themselves right out of the market. They were too greedy!!!
Better yet make it a law that they have to contribute some of their pay to (fill in the blank) then keep it!
Mr. Ezzard Miller,
YOU ARE RIGHT AGAIN AND CAN NOT BE WRONG.
Bottom line we need you for premier in 2013. Prepare yourself you are the only one in the house right now with a brain that works! And insight with vision for the people of the Cayman Islands which on the other hand has been lost by Big Mac and hissmall Fries long ago!
Make no Mistake Mr. Ezzard Miller you and others like myself are well aware that Mr. Bush is not at all interested in Caymanians maintaining control over their own politics. His plan is to throw us under the bus at all costs.As long as he pleases himself and his friends that’s all he cares about.
Mr. Ezzard Miller since yoursatement is right on target we believe in you but that’s not enough.
QUESTION:
What is your resolution on behalf of the people of Northside and the entire Cayman Islands when Big Mac shoves his own concocted rollover policy down their throat? Will you make another written or public speech or will we see some action? since that’s what it will take, to stand up to Big Mac is ACTION!
WHAT ARE YOU MR. MILLER WILLING TO DO TO STOP Mr Bush should he push for this one month rollover which is NO ABSENSE AT ALL! -vs- the more comprehensive 2 year rollover absense or gap necessary for Caymanians to maintain control over their political decisions and at the same time allow the necessary imported labor to continue only as needed?
We can not allow another 3, 000 status grant.
This is McKeeva Bush’s plan to win again. He can and will use the Census to determine how many status grants is needed in each district to determine how to top off his expat voting constituents registered to vote.
The man is clever but not so clever that we can not see exactly what he is doing.
He’s always doing the wrong things that will go against the wishes and best interest of Caymanians.
Ezzard if you have to come to the people or go to the UK or the Governor to stop him if he tries this, WE WILL STAND UP WITH YOU. I HOPE THE OTHER SORRY PPM MEMBERS AND LEADERS DO THE SAME.
We as Caymanians CANNOT ALLOW MCKEEVA BUSH to use the census to determine how many X-pats need to be granted status in his district of West Bay and around the nation to support and vote for the UDP!
WE JUST CAN NOT ALLOW THIS AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS WHERE HE IS HEADED!
I am a senior attorney on the Island and I must say that this is exactly right. We are seeing more and more corporate clients move out of Cayman and set up shop elsewhere because the fees are too high. A lot of decent sized operations have left in the last year, some not published, that will result in a large loss in revenue (and jobs!) for the Cayman Islands.
There was not even any indication that the fee increases were a temperary measure when they were introduced so the feeling is that they will just continue and continue when needed for the bloated government to survive. The problem is they are killing the thing that feeds them.
It only stands to reason that any prudent buisness person would seek to operate his business in the most cost effective means possible and Cayman is just becoming too expensive. Reduce fees and keep businesses coming to Cayman or soon the financial sector will be dead.
While I have no significant views on the immigration policy – none of my clients ever mention immigration as the problem, its the high fees that are their issue – it seems to me that changing it will result in additional administration and costs for the Government. Government should be seeking to save costs. But what do I know, eh?
Nice try – senior attorney my ass! If you have lost business recently, trust me, it is not the government’s fault.
Er, ok. So whose fault is it that the Cayman Islands have a higher cost of setting up and maintaining a financial entity that any of its Caribbean neighbours? Whose fault is it that Dart and many other business that were heavily invested in Cayman are running to the Bahamas and elsewhere? Not government? So who raised the fees? Was it the lawyers? The accountants, perhaps? No, you clown, it was Government. Pauly, are you a special needs person? If so, I understand why this is too much for you to grasp.
Your arguements are reasonable and correct in my opinion, it’s the "temperery"and overall tone of your post that gave you away. And yes, I am a special needs person and I didn’t have my bullshit pill yesterday. Much better now though. Thanks for asking.
Even if you remove the rollover entirely or decrease the time period significantly, if the cost of doing business in theCayman Islands does not decrease, it will have little impact on the economy, as there would be less jobs to apply for work permits, thus the spin-off to the economy with regards to local expenditure would be status quo.
We are now living in a global economy and theCayman Islands are no longer the only player in the finance world. Global companies require optimum return for their investment and the cost of doing business in Cayman is now counter productive. Cayman was lured into the false perception that logistically, work could only be conducted here, but it is evident that this is not the case.
That is why three financial companies have since moved their Fund Administration operations toHalifax , Toronto and Montreal
Why pay high work permit, bank/trust company license fees, rent and utility costs, not to mention relocation and high salaries, when you can just move to a North American city with less fees and expenses, in addition to a readily available work force?
I am not saying that the rollover policy should not be addressed; however, significant consideration should also be placed in lowering cost to make the jurisdiction more appealing in relation to cost and red tape.
Hopefully all is not lost on this front, but I have a feeling that we missed the proverbial boat on this one, as to much emphasis was placed on immigration legislation and policy, rather than remaining competitive in a weakened global economy.
Every country has an immigration policy, and while rollover may or may not be the best answer, it does perform a function. That said, most countries use 6 months (183 days to be exact) as the deciding factor for ‘non-residency’, that would seem to be an acceptable rollover period.
As far as the fees, yes, the increases are dramatic, but there are no taxes in Cayman, which still makes it affordable to do business here. I agree with others that it is the Immigration Department that needs to control work permits, renewals, etc., and must enforce the rules to ensure Caymanians get fair shake for open positions (which I know for a fact is abused greatly).
Cayman is starting a ‘death-spiral’ due to the downturn, companies reduce staff (layoffs), expats leave taking their spending with them, which affects local merchants/utilities, which causes them to have less income and spend less, which cuts into local company profits, which causes them to reduce staff (layoffs), which…….
Cayman needs some very strong political will to get through this, and some sacrifices are going to have to be made to turn this around (although some would love to see Cayman back to the way it was 40 years ago).
Pat X
Miller is right!
If you INCREASE THE POPULATION by doing away with the ROLL OVER, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that you will most naturally have to INCREASE THE FEES to maintain the government’s demands.
More traffic on the roads.
More larger growth of the dump.
More crime and people who don’t love these islands – just here for the money!
—
I agree with Miller
Are you implying that the people of the islands love the islands? And the proof so that everyone can see is?
I think that most people are not looking at what the roll-over policy has done to the Cayman Islands, since it has being introduce the economy has taken a down turn…..money that use to be saved and spent in the country, this is no longer being done because people are not sure of what is going to happen to them. Why would someone want to invest in a country that does not care for them…..it would be better for them to save their monies in their home country to which they will be sent eventually……just ask the business people how much they have being hurt since the roll-over started, business that have being a staple in Cayman for years have closed their doors…..example Sound and Things.
I think that we need to get over the love hate relationship and work together to rebuild the country to what it was and more….expats need Cayman and Cayman need expats.
Expats don’t really need Cayman. It’s a big world out there.
It is a HUGE WORLD out there…and you are correct, Expats do not need Cayman, there are expats in every country, obviously they are here for a reason though, perhaps a reason that has proven impossible to accomplish in their own country, therefore they look for other options to make their desires possible. Why are there expats here if we have nothing here? Then the expats come here, and complain about everything that they came here and found. I am not against expats, or any other human being, but I would like to say to those that only produce negativity about our country and people, why dont you go back to your lovely, perfect countries? Sometimes I wish from the bottom of my heart that Cayman would return to the country it was even just 30 years ago. Yes, it was bushy, not many professionals, almost everyone worked very hard, just to eat, we didnt have the luxuries that we have today, however, that Cayman was so much more better in so many more ways than it is today. Ugh…the unrelenting power of Greed plus the weakness of todays soul-less people…its so destructful
Sadly this is the way of the world now – we left our homes because they had changed from those early days – it is sad they are lost here now.
Expats don’t need Cayman, it’s a big world out there???? Cayman needs expats very much but stupid comments like that is why its hard to like some of them. If there are so many better places to live in the big world then you must be stupid for coming here. Are you stupid??? If so, thenyou are excused for making stupid comments.
Finally I am reading that there really is someone who has some wisdom and common sense in the Cayman government. There is no easy way to fix all the many problems (leadership?) of the recent past has caused. Looking from the outside/in I see that no problems get fixed they only get worse. The way of the Caymanian is to take and not give. This has stopped working many years ago. Just like in real world business in order to get something you must first have something to give in return. If Cayman is to return to a working business center with a future it must start giving businesses a reason to work there instead of the present Governments actions which have only resulted in giving businesses a lot of reasons to leave. Good luck to you Mister Miller. I hope you are successful in turning the tide in Cayman.
sure Cayman is lovely and eveybody loves it here but fact is we can’t manage a huge population what will happen if we just sit back and allow everybody to stay for as long as they want..it is just too much for Mac to expect this lil 2×4 country to manage anymore citizens..last time mayb he should have gave the status to people who are wealthy and can afford to stay here instead of people who have to rely on government for welfare..
So you really want to get rid of the people who have to rely on Government for welfare? Where would you send them? How would you get them to leave? Now that they know of no other way to earn a living other than showing up for a pay check who else but CIG would hire them to do nothing in return. The quantity is not the problem its the quality of citizens. Lately Cayman has been on a run to get rid of those who are more educated and contribute the most to society so those who don’t can get their jobs. How is that working out? For your leadership it is working out great. First class trips to 5 star accommodations all over the world and in return no work or accountability is required. Is there ANY Caymanians out there that see this as a problem for the future? No? That explains everything.
Cayman was lovely.
Now it is a great place for thieves and their families.
It is clear that this present government is inciting hatred, enmity and strife between X-pats and Caymanians. It is a deliberate attempt to divide and conquer them. The divider is also used as a thermometer to show this present government just where they stand with the Caymanian people and where they stand with x-pats.
Big Mac is complaining about not enough people in the country. He thinks we were born behind a cow behind! His aim and goal now is to GRANT STATUS TO X-PATS to make sure he is elected again. He is fully aware that Caymanians WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.
Ezzard, Kurt, Alden, Eden, Arden, and all opposition.
YOU BETTER ALL WATCH HIM CLOSE NOW, HIS EVERY MOVE BECAUSE HE IS NOW A DESPERATE MAN AND HE WILL ACT OUT OF DESPERATION! so watch Big Mac very closely.
MAKE SURE HE DOES NOT GET AWAY WITH ANY STATUS GRANTS NOR GET A VOTE FOR IT ON THE TABLE. IF HE GOES TO THE UK OR THE GOVERNOR COME TO US THE PEOPLE AND WE WILL LET THE UK AND THE GOVERNOR KNOW WE ARE AGAINST IT AND WHY.
IF YOU DON’T ACT I WILL PRAY TO GOD THAT ALL OF YOU NEVER GET ELECTED AGAIN NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR THE WORLD TO COME!
Who are the "people who have to rely on the government for welfare"? Last time I looked (2 minutes ago) it was the Caymanian people. Am I missing something?
yes Caymanians receive welfare just like any other nationality does in their country… i am referring to the give away of status by mr bush mostly poor unemployable people got status, if he gave it to lawyers doctors accountants we would be ok today because these people actually invest a lot in this country.. a lot of the poor people that got it has to depend on social service for help the recession started from the previous udp govt in a lot of ways
Wrong. As soon as some people are granted permanent residence they immediately apply for assistance from social services never mind that the grant was on the basis that they could afford themselves and their dependents.
Oh please, get a grip on reality and make a FOI request to prove what you say is true – I think you’ll fail miserably on that one.
Why would I need an FOI request to prove what I already know? If you don’t know then say you don’t know rather than suggesting that someone who does know is a liar. YOU need a grip on reality.
Then do something about it or otherwise take some gripe water!
My dear – you are speculating and not speaking of facts. If you are so sure of what you say and don’t like us ‘doubters’ make a FOI and display the response here for all to see. You see what you think you know is simply not true – but I am not the one making this assertion, is you!
If this is happening, which I doubt, then social services are wrong for providing assistance.
If you know ‘some of these people’, then tell social services.
Simple.
It is absolutely happening and social services decline to provide details to immigration citing "client confidentiality".
You seem to be confused. Obviously Social Services already knows that Social Services is giving aid to these people.
You can doubt all you like but factsare stubborn things.
"Who relys on Government"
I beg to differ here sir/madam. It is a known fact that MANY other people other than Caymanians get a hand out from government, for instance, look at the Afganistans, 3 of them, getting food , shelter & now schooling, just one instance, yet there are many more.My point is that this is world wide, England ,Canada & America has the same problems we do, we accept the expats yet when it seems that the numbers are too high we complain about what they are taking from the local citizens.
Why every day the UK are bitching about the muslims & west Indians and the cost on the UK, America is doing the same thing & Canada you are doing the same thing, so whats wrong here, Cayman cant express its concerns? its a smaller country & feeling the pinch too.
I too worked in a foreign country had a good job yet since I were not a citizen of that country I couldnt qualify to work in companies that had sensitive information on that country, thats called protecting our country, however I was happy to have a job as I was there to better my self and take care of my family which I did, I didnt try to change the laws or bend rules to suit me.
I didnt feel grudge or hate for that country, I was greatful that I had an opportunity to work there and make a living AND yes I did send my money back home too, no regrets. So bloggers please be sensible here and stop the hate & rhetoric that is so blatantly outrageous, which only causes people to see the ignorance of some of you. Its a big world out there and I enjoy travelling to other places and letting others know about Cayman, yet I do not feel that I should critisise any of the places I go to.
Can never figure out why we pay so much for energy. Ezzard blows so much hot gas on a daily basis that he should be powering our electricity supply.
Friend, let’s not get too personal. As Ezzard is a pharmacist, I am sure he is doing his utmost to make up for the shortcomings of Beano, Gas-Ex and other such over the counter treatment options. It’s our sympathy he needs, not our condemnation. Thank you.
I think he’s right that fees are the biggest problem for most businesses, but he is wrong to dismiss the rollover. Rollover makes expats see this as a temporary home and means they don’t invest in the local economy. Why start a business, buy a house, or even buy a nice car if you’re not going to be here long? Better to save your money for when you settle down in a country that isn’t going to throw you out.
Well… if you don’t dimiss the roll-over –
1. Be prepared for increased volume of traffic
2. Be prepared for Mount Trashmore, plummeting to new heights
3. Be prepared for the increase in Crime
4. Be prepared when you lose you job for more competition on a small island
5. Be prepared for more school populous of children
6. Be prepared for more land sold out to foreignors
7. Be prepared for more smog and cutting down of trees and wildlife
8. Be prepared for more of Dart projects and Mac bringing in more people on the island to win votes
9. Be prepared for increase likelihood of the spread of deseases and flu viruses
10. Be prepared for government having to increase IT FEES and DUTIES more because of maintaining the large population.
MILLERS VIEW is a RATIONAL ONE!
I CAN’T SEE HOW ANYONE CAN SAY THAT DISMISSING THE ROLL OVER POLICY WILL BETTER THE CAYMAN ISLANDS!
Who will it better???
???
Hmmm… of course, people who are here for the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!
Thank you EZZARD, and I AM WITH YOU 100%
Edna T
you 100% miss the point of the rollover… it is not about population control…..
it is about controling citzenship and voting rights for expats….
Glass half empty much??? First, counterpoints…
1, Not necessarily – in fact, most expats I know come from countries where carpooling is the norm – and our selfish Caymanian way – yes, I am Caymanian – of insisting on each driving our own car to work is more of the problem…
2, Mount Trashmore – I would agree there would be some growth, BUT, if people are told they can stay and live here, they are going to care more, and I would wager, look for ways to recycle and do their part to help. If you tell them they are here for 7 years then off you go – why should they cae what their long term impact is?
3, Criminals don’t commit crime in their own back yards – for the most part, this is a fact. Tell someone this is their home, they will care, look out for each other, and together, the criminal element can be broken down. Tell them to grab what they can for the few years we let them be here, and guess what, some of those sitting on the fence just might turn to the dark side… What the heck – they can go back home when we boot them out…
4, No employer likes to change employees. It is costly, time consuming and generally disruptive. We Caymanians have used this self defence arguement to avoid work for as long as I have been alive. But the Caymanians I know who have been successful, have done their best from the start – even if there was no direct competition. BTW – Competition is healthy – it brings out the best in those taking part…
5, More schools, more teachers, better education? Right now, our education system is a mess. Teachers try their hardest and are constantly belittled. The truth is, a lot of this starts in the home. Driving down Walkers’ Road yesterday at 3pm I was shocked at the number of kids milling around. An hour later, many were still there. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS? Why are they not being held responsible? I would suggest that neglecting the state of your child’s education is no better than feeding them junk food and being abusinve – you are NOT being a parent if you are NOT doing your part to ensure your kids go to school, study hard, and do their homework. Only then should they be going out to the cinema or clubs. Ask yourself how many parents you know are really being parents here… Stop blaming others and step up to the plate. With the wealth of this nation over the past 2 decades, we should have some of the world’s best education systems in place – people should be clamoring to be in the public schools… And we as a nation should be encouraging them and paying for our childrens’ futures – not praying for them like we have to now!!!
6, I am Caymanian, I am a landowner. No "foreigner" as you like to call them, will get their hands on my land UNLESS I SELL OUT TO THEM!!! My land is for my kids, and I hope they will appreciate that start in life. If they want to or have to sell, then so be it. But it will be by choice, as most land sales are…
7, Back to the Trashmore point- people care about their homes. Tell them this is not their home and never will be, and why should they care??? That said, I know far more of my expat friends who try and recycle, compost, reuse, etc. How many Caymanians are out preserving the Mastic Trail – do most even know where and what that is? Who spearheaded and does the lions share of work at the Red Cross, Humane Society, National Trust, Cancer Society? In your books – they are "foreigners". Really, they are people who care and are trying to make a positive change. On Earth Day, did you go out and help clean a beach? Pick up trash? Or is that below you? I saw a lot of "foreigners" who have achieved status and now call this their home out there. Did you stop to thank them for cleaning up our island, OUR MESS???
8, I am sorry you cannot see the economic and social benefits of outside investments to these islands. So Mr. Dart got status – well he put more money into this island and arguably created more positive impact than any group, let alone individual, has in the history of Cayman. With it, we have a safe family oriented town to visit, a nice fancy first world cinema, quality stores and restaurants, upgraded roads – yes, Dart paid for the bypass sections through Camana Bay. Not only that, the Dart group has created parks in almost every district and given back to Cayman on every level. From what I understand from reading a few weeks back, they are now trying to create affordable housing on some of the tracts of land they have in West Bay. Precisely where is there a problem here? And, before you go off on me, make sure you have never benefited from all of this – assure me you have never enjoyed a visit to Camana Bay, visited one of the parks, been to the cinema. Let’s not be a hypocrite here – you cannot pick and chose. Oh, and by the way, if you have never done any of the above, good on you, your argument holds, but the only loser in the end is you – you are missing out!!!
9, I assume this is because we Caymanians are going to give up our shopping trips to Miami and travels around the world and go back to buying everything locally, making it here and supporting our burgeoning local manufacturing industry. If not, we are just as likely to bring the diseases of which you talk back with us!!! Oh, and you won’t be able to visit the Shetty Hospital if you do catch something – that was built by a "foreigner" – built at a time at least 100 Caymanians were trying to do exactly the same project of exactly the same magnitude with exactly the same level of personal investment. Another "foreigner" steals our opportunity and ideas!!!
10, More people will generate more fees… These will help cover the costs of the new infrastructure required. Less people, less fees – less money to invest and grow with.
Now, if you could join the few Caymanians like myself that are doing their best to quell the hatred and division that seems to have grown exponentially the last few years, maybe we can make this a place people want to live in, because contrary to your belief, there is not a line of people waiting to overwhelm the islands any more. A lot of them are put off by the anti-expat rhetoric. This place is fast becoming like Bermuda – and if you have never experienced the level of hatred the locals their harbor against the non-belongers, as they call them, I urge you to go, visit, try and live there for a bit – PUT THE SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT. Then come back here and honestly tell me THAT is the Cayman you want, the Cayman YOU are making.
Oh, wait, you can’t go – you might catch a disease and bring it back here…
Well said,and yes Bermuda is a hateful nasty place i would never go back there,not even if the air fare was free.
11. If you follow Miller, be prepared for a catastrophic crash in GDP and a concomitant fall in every Caymanians income.
In 10-15 years time, Caymanians may see the insanity of following the likes of Miller. Still, it is the prerogative of Caymanians to cut their own throat I suppose.
12:17
You’re an idiot., Miller has proven himself to be a real leader and looking out or Caymanians . Who are you?
One of the dummies in this forum? Oh I thought so!.
Answers as follows to your statements:
1) Traffic is going increase inevitably, FACT. Has anybody supported Mac’s views on people cutting down on the amount of cars they own, NO.
2) Unless Trashmore is addressed it will continue to grow, DUH!
3) Increase in crime…… so getting rid of expats will address this? I think you will find if you follow the news that Caymanians at the forefront of all major crime currently being committed down here. Shall we get rid of the Caymanians?
4) If you are frightened about loosing your job, a) work harder b) show your employers that you are willing to do whatever is necessary in order for you to keep it c) show your employer why they should keep you, and being Caymanian is not an excuse.
5) So if we don’t have expats, do we as Caymanians stop having children so there is not an increase in the populous of the schools?
6) If there is any land still available, it won’t be affordable to the majority of Caymaninas and expats alike, only DART, Michael Ryan and Mac will be able to purchase it, so whats your point there?
7) Blame Mac, the Planning Board and anyone else who has a say in the development of these islands, not expats, as they have the final say.
8) Doubt that very much,.
9) Genrally happens in society, and unless you are referring to something like AIDS, Swine Flu or anything else as serious, your blowing smoke up….
10) Seeing as that is our Governments only solution to any of our problems, that is a gimme whether we ban the rollover policy or not.
And calling for the same old bunch to be in the next elections will solve none of our problems, clearly you have not been around for the last 20 yrs of political mudslinging and doing nothing that the current and previous governments have been good at.
i like Ezzard’s idea more than Mac’s
Reducing fees is all well and good, but if the business does not come back it will make the governments deficit a lot, lot worse and unviable.
In that case they will then have no choice but to start making civil servants redundant, is Mr Miller in favour of taking Caymanian voters livelyhoods away?
No one thing is going to cut it.
Reduce fees so we are more competitive,
reduce the rollover period to 3 or 6 months
introduce a 5% payroll tax or start to relocate public sector jobs back in to the private sector, to cut government spending.
Limit the Premier excess expenditure
Tell me, does it make sense to limit the roll over to 30 days. So I must inconvenience myself and leave the island for France just for 30 days to come back and continue working here? Come on! It is either NO 1 year ROLL OVER or 1 year ROLL OVER.
At least, Miller is not blind to the fact of Mac’s increased in fees and duties upon the Private Sector.
We were doing well with the ROLL OVER before the Fees and Duties were increased.
wrong…you can track the demise of cayman all the way back to the introduction of the rollover….just look at when the property market stalled and began to crash….
fees and duties were introduced because the country was already broke after ppm’s economic mismanagement….
however the increases in fees were a bad idea…gov spending and the civil service should have been cut in accordance with the miller shaw report
Wrong!!!!
The economic downturn here started when the GLOBAL RECESSION started, it had nothing to do with rollover. You may ask why ? Because the firms that do business internationally and locally saw a downturn, they still had enough people to do the work locally, trust me I worked in the industry, there is no labour shortage in Financial services, work is not piling up!!!
The same story goes for Tourism, there is no shortage of tourism workers due to rollover, its a myth, there were less tourists arriving therefore less tourism dollars coming here.
People may argue that the reduced population results in less local money being spent, but lets be rational. Of the individuals who left what would have been their average monthly spend? CI$2000 or less right ? so for 10,000 that is approx $20,000,000 give or take a few million, is that really significant enough to cause the economic woes we are currently experiencing ? I think not!
$20 M lost to rollover is not causing the level of economic contraction we are experiencing, if it was Mr Bush would have fixed this little "Glitch" long ago.
The rollover may have helped actually, because there was less work to do, therfore we had a Government policy in effect that hopefully, removed excess individuals who were not needed and allowed locals to get work.
Lets not get caughtup in the hype, rollover didnt cause the economic down-turn and eliminating it will only serve to push more locals out of work, increase the drain on social services, and create a surplus oflabour and reduce wages. Leave it in place! the Financial services has all the accountants, fund admins, corporate admins, etc that it needs! If they need more tell them to hire a Caymanian and train them.
These alarmist theories only serve to cause fear and panic so they can continue to lead us around by the flippin nose like a bunch a robots.
‘global recession’ = ppm excuse for economic mis-management……
recessions in the us and uk were caused by the need to bail out the banking system…that has not happened in cayman…yet….
You really have no grasp of the issue. The recessions in the UK and the US were not CAUSED by the need of bailouts for the banking system. That is simply nonsense.
The U.S. recession started in December, 2007 whilst the first bailout (Bear Stearns) occurred in March, 2008.
The collapse of the U.S. banks was caused by the sub-prime mortgage crisis which started in 2006 when the U.S. housing market started to decline. When subprime borrowers couldn’t sell their houses at a higher price, they were forced to default on their loans. Like internet stocks in 2001, the housing market had experienced a bubble which had to burst at some point.
Obviously our economy is not isolated but is dependent upon what is happening globally since we rely upon foreign capital, establishment of mutual funds etc. and tourists.
The international initiatives by the OECD, the EU and the U.S. ranged against Cayman have all exacerbated the situation for us as our brand is now perceived as tainted and business has departed for other jurisdictions which have double taxation treaties with the U.S. and EU countries and/or offered tax incentives taking with them jobs, govt. revenue and spending stimulus to the economy.
All of this meant less economic activity within the Islands, a decline in GDP, loss of jobs, slow down in construction, departure of many on work permit, empty rental accommodation, etc etc.
I understand that none of this is written in the UDP crib sheet of political rhetoric but no amount of partisan political spin can change the facts.
I’m sure you’ll kick yourself… ‘its only $20 mio"…per month, that’s a fair chunk of change to lose from any local economy. $240 mio per year buys quite a lot!
There are many factors at play in the financial health of Cayman, immigration policies are of course a part, to some people it means a lot, to others next to nothing, except the cost.
The total annual revenue for just 1 of the major law firms on island would cover that so no Im not kicking myself. Based on the volume of business here that 20M is still not a major factor. I know a few Firms that could cover that and still break even. Ooohhh maybe thats where MAC got the idea to increase fees.
Nonsense. Rollover became the law on 1st Jan. 2004. During 2005-2008 Cayman appeared to be doing very well economically as revenue rose and the numbers of persons on permits were at their zenith.
Rollover is used as a scapegoat for so many things.
And no, our economic downturn was not all about the PPM’s policies although their excessivespending did contribute to govt’s difficult financial position.
don’t fool yourself with meaningless facts….when was the rollover first implemented and when did it start to take effect.???….
everybody with a brain on cayman can see it has a negative effect on the economy…..
I understand that they are inconvenient facts but they are certainly not meaningless. You on the other hand are making an assertion which you cannot support.
It would cost 25% to collect a 5% tax. Bad idea.
And you get your figures from where? somewhere in the sky???
Work force is around 34,000 (it was 39,000 in 2007) average pay is USD43,800
So a 5% payroll tax would approximatley raise 75 million dollars.
According to you suggest a tax would cost 25% to collect, so $375 million.
That means by YOUR suggestion collecting the tax would employ around 8,500 people on average salaries.
HA HA HA, you are to funny.
In that case make the Payroll Tax 50 percent. Now that would make a lot of cents.
Ha Ha, the government couldn’t even collect pension funds from seven hundred plus businesses. These people STOLE money from their emplyees.How in the name of God do you think the government would ever collect a payroll tax?
And doesn’t government owe government workers pension also? Isn’t there a few million dollars missing somewhere from the pension?
Rollover is a useful tool which must be implemented every four years in the Legislative Assembly.
‘Miller said that government should be reducing the cost of doing business not risky reductions to thebreak in stay that could result in Caymanians losing political control of their country’
how does he figure this? how does decreasing time of rollover suddenly mean the policital system will be taken over by Expats????? or am i missing something?
Did you not read the full article?
Yes, you are. That is the whole point of Rollover.
Reducing the time of required absence increases the risk that a court would find that there had been no break in continuous residence and those persons are therefore eligible to apply for permanent rights and ultimately, through naturalisation, the right to vote.
no surprises there from ezzard…….he is 100% blind to the benefits of expats and foreign investment in cayman……
Ezzard isn’t worried about the benefits of expats or the high fees. Ezzard is interested in saying what he needs to say to play the crowd for the next vote.
Mr. Miller is right on all counts.
get rid of the roll-over and make it 20 years to apply for status
Do try to educate yourself on the issue before posting. The time periods are there for the reason that the reflect either international norms or human rights requirements. 10 years is reckoned to be the maximum period that one can have continuous residence in a country or territory and be denied the opportunity to apply for permanent rights.
Do you really think if it was that simple it would not have been done?
Its not 10 years in Cayman. Many have gotten kicked out after being here 10 years. Some 15, some 20. The time one lives here is not a consideration when it comes to Immigration – no matter what the EU or HR think.
Notice that I did not say that you were ENTITLED to permanent rights after 10 years but merely that you were entitled to apply.
You’ve got to be kidding yourself, I reckon. Actual countries establish their own policies without regard to UN BS or that of ony other foreign organization or state. There is no "international law" on the subject of the conferring of citizenship.
It may help if you actually know your subject before posting. Article 6(3) of the European Convention on Nationality states as follows:
"Each State Party shall provide in its internal law for the possibility of naturalisation of persons lawfully and habitually resident on its territory. In establishing the conditions for naturalisation, it shall not provide for a period of residence exceeding TEN YEARS before the lodging of an application".
See http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/166.htm
While the UK is not actually a signatory to this convention (see http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=166&CM=1&DF=7/5/2007&CL=ENG) it recognizes this requirement as representing the international norm and this was fully considered by the architects of the Immigration Law, 2003 in designing the term limits of 7 years so that all rights of appeal etc. will have been exhausted by the expiry of 10 years.
International norms also dictate a break in residency as being absent for 6 months and a day. So I take it you advocate rollover to be cut in half. Personally, I would. And I am fairly certain most people could accept this happy medium…
If you mean cutting the required absence in half then I agree.
Same old stuff, we need the expat worker but we don’t want to give them any rights, WE NEED the expat worker so we have to give them rights, without them our country cannot stand.
Yes to the first part but no to the second. We do not need to give them rights (to stay forever). Bermuda manages to avoid it – it does’nt even let them buy homes.
We marry expats! that’s how Cayman has grown, we need them simple. Or we marry each other, but I’m not from West bay, so……
Preimer Miller!!
🙂
At least he stands for what he belives in and what he believes makes sense!
Based on your spelling, the education system is not working here in Cayman. Perhaps you should get your man Ezzie to focus on that, as I’m sure all the expats that are ‘taking’ all the high paying professional jobs are able to string together 20 words without multiple spelling errors.
But I guess who am I to question anything that goes on here as I am not a "true" Caymanian and so my job is to bring business to the island, not have a say and then get rolled over or jump through hoops to stay. Not for much longer though, hooray!
What does he mean "We face having to do another status clean – up"? There is a massive difference betweeen a "clean – up" and a "give away". Many posters on this website are still furious about the 3,000 "give away". I’m happy to hear Mr. Miller refers to the 3,000 as a clean-up. A "clean up" implies it had to be done. Mr. Miller is Caymanian to the bone and certainly would not call it a "clean up" if it were a "give away". Truth will out.
See ya and be sure to call me when that high paying management job in your country opens up!
Oh before you go! You selling that condo and BMW? My cousin (poor soul is still living at home with his folks, still cant convince the bank he is credit worthy despite having a degree so maybe we can work out a little deal for him to buy your condo without having to pay the usual cut throat prices you normally charge unless you are selling to one of your countrymen)
Call me !!
You are clutching at a straw. Miller was responsible for the idea of the mass status grants as it was he who, as Chairman of the National Quincentennial Committee, originally suggested that 500 grants be made to commemorate the quincentennial in 2003. If the grants had been limited to 500 deserving persons who had been here for a minimum of 10 years and awarded through a fair and transparent process it would indeed have been a ‘clean up’. I doubt that there would have been such an uproar.
However, as it stands it was not a ‘clean up’ at all as it awarded grants to undeserving persons, failed to award to deserving persons and created more problems than it solved. Obviously, there was no compulsion for 3,000 grants.
Miller: “I remain to be convinced that the problems we are facing with the economy are solely down to immigration,” Miller told CNS. “I believe it has more to do with the cost of doing business in the Cayman Islands right now.”
I think the man is right! It is better to get rid of the whole roll-over policy if you are going to reduce it from 1 year to 30 days – that don’t make sence, and besides it is not the roll-over that is really hurting businesses,
BUT THE FEES, DUTIES and MORE FEES
lol… it is good we have Miller as an opposition, because no one would question and critique the policies of the UDP : )
I like more and more what Mr. Miller has to say. He is about the only one giving any careful consideration and making coherent statements about issues. He has also mellowed out his rhetoric and appears to have a better grasp on the situation than either of the parties. Perhaps the system of political parties has run it’s course? The upside too is he also doesn’t have to follow party lines or a specific doctrine but instead use common sense.
What a refreshing change from blaming, damage control, and off-the-cuff remarks.
The whole rollover policy is a load of crap. If people want to live and work in Cayman let them do it. I’m sure that most of them dont want status or residency. Just the right to work and live their life in a beautiful warm country. The lack of jobs and the unemployment rate is the fault of immigration. I got laid off last year and I must have sent out in excess of 50 applications. I was called to interview for several positions for which I was fully qualified if not over qualified and in 3 instances that I am aware of the positions were issued to expats on permits. The immigration department does not do their job and that is what is causing all the animosity towards the expat work force. Lets face it. Immigration and therefore the government makes money on permit fees so they keep getting away with issuing said permits.
Figure it out, work permit fees went up, companies went down!!! Rollover should be changed. Common sense (which it seems like no one in Government has) would explain why real estate is at its lowest point ever. Who wants to invest in real estate when they know in seven years they have to leave the Cayman Islands. The rollover, the hike in work permit fees, etc wasn’t thought out!! We are now paying the price for government’s mistakes!!!
chap!
don’t make me laugh… it is the hike in fees, my friend
Take it from me – its both.
Having to find suitably qualified employees to replace those (exceptional ones who have been/are to be) rolled-over. Plus the associated increased fees not only to get a permit, but to ship the new employee in are crippling ours and similar businesses across Cayman. Add to that, the expense of settling the new employee into the role, introducing them to the clients and hoping to God that they’ll all get along and can do the job as efficiently as the previous rolled-over candidate, and so on. Before rollover our employees readily invested in property in Cayman. Since rollover, not one employee has – and the resounding reason given is because they’ll be leaving within the next seven years.
I hasten to add that not one Caymanian applied for these jobs and the Department of Employment confirmed they have "no suitably qualified Caymanian candidate" to fill them.
Its not just the fees, its everything. We’ve lost some really good employees who likely won’t come back, and we’ve found them awfully hard to replace. The private sector is paying royally for this dysfunctional immigration system.
Sorry Bud but I don’t agree.
The problem is we are simply too small to take on everyone. Rollover while not perfect helps us keep our numbers down somewhat.
Already we are having unemployed people here in Cayman, granted some are just lazy and don’t want to work but there are those who can’t find jobs in their fields. What will happen if we continue to allow everyone to become Caymanian is that our unemployment will skyrocket and those who have no place to go because Cayman is their natural home will become a load on the system.
Natural Caymanians need some sort of protection. Globalisation would say that’s their tough luck but in reality Globalisation has it’s weaknesses also. It’s heartless for one as it only cares about the bottomline and we need to determine how much we are willing to give up in the name of globalisation.
Globalisation is rhetoric used to open up politically weaker countries to the more powerful.
Beachboy you said a mouth full, Immigration is the one to blame for Caymanians not getting jobs.
I disagree – in my 15 years here it has become apparent that Caymanians dont get the jobs (in the finance sector that is) because:
Lack of qualifications
Jumping from job to job
The desire to not self promote (by way of learning) to advance. It’s "just a job" not a career.
Having said that I have had the opportunity to work with 2 lovely Caymanian women who were hard working and didnt abuse the system. They are Diamonds in the Rough for sure and are a credit to your society but alas they are such a tiny minority. So I dont think it is Immigration at fault here necessarily. I just find the work pool in my sector has very little local talent.
Yea right Beachboi.
And in 10 years when they apply for Residency and Human Rights say that they have to have it, what will happen then.
Cayman is a small Island that cannot just accept people without making sure we are not out numbered in our own Island.
Therefore the Rollover Policy is very necessary especially after the fiasco of the Status Grants of 2003.
We have to protect ourselves and it does not have anything to do with not liking expats but has all to do with loving Caymanians and protecting what is left of us.
Thank you very much for being so candid. It is just outright racism then.
You clearly don’t understand the meaning of the term "racism".
You complain so much about traffic, apparently you must have a solution when the population increase what we should do then.
Beachboi, you so-so ideas, but because you’re not from here, you are quite ignorant and lack the vision you need to even make a comment on this site.
Sorry for my words, but born and raise here, I know what’s best for my island.
And I tell ya, INCREASING THE POPULATION HERE WILL NOT HELP US. It may help you when you get sick of our overpopulated island and decide to scram somewhere else. But people like me where Cayman is my home, will become more stressful and we would have to deal with the matter on our own.
SORRY, THIS ISLAND IS NOT FOR THE EXPAT… IT IS FOR THE CAYMANIAN!
Man has got a point. He’s the only true voice of reason in the LA.