Archive for September 15th, 2011

The crash of the Titans

The crash of the Titans

| 15/09/2011 | 0 Comments

(CRFU): The final round (Round 14) of the Summer Touch Rugby league gave us some great games, some great tries and some major upsets. Top teams in all three divisions were well beaten by teams they might expect to beat showing that reputation counts for little and that the standard of touch rugby in Cayman just gets better and better. The league standings are concluded now and teams are preparing themselves for the all important Finals Day where dreams can come true, hearts can be broken and great rugby rivalries and camaraderie can be experienced firsthand.

DIVISION 1
Maples1 beat Ogier 5-3 in a tense and scrappy game that saw the Maples defence at sixes and sevens in the first half. Ogier needed to win to stand any chance of getting into the top four play-off places, and they set about their task with relish. Onson Mukwedeya and James Waters continually burst through a slowly-retreating defensive line and it was only scrambling defence that kept the scores close. In offense Maples1 continued to spill chances and it was only their greater experience that made them take greater control of the second half and ultimately run out 5-3 winners. 

However, the warning signs were there and, in a makeup game from Round 13, DMS beat Maples1 3-2.   DMS have had a spluttering campaign this year but with some of their more experienced players restored to the line-up, they toppled the Mighty Maples. Tim Rossiter (2) and Johnny Doak (1) took advantage of mismatches in the Maples1 defence to go through gaps to score all too easily.

As the game progressed, the tension increased and referee Dan Andersen had to have strong words with several players on both sides for voicing unhelpful opinions. Maples1 pressed hard but couldn’t get the leveling score and they will need to regroup quickly if they are going to get back on track. Ogier’s defeat to Maples1 saw their chance of a top four spot disappear and Appleby will take fourth spot.
Genesis Five Nations comprehensively beat Appleby 9-3.

They have looked confident and efficient all year and they are peaking at just the right time, gathering more momentum than a greased-up hippo sliding down an Olympic bobsleigh run. Can anyone stop them? Well, I for one wouldn’t want to be at the bottom of that hill!  Unbeaten all season, they must go into the play-offs confident of taking the top prize.
Genesis Five Nations played Maples1 in a catch-up match from Round 11 winning 2-0 with tries from Venassio Toketokevanua and MVP Howard Byrne.

PWC recorded an easy (10-2) win over Walkers Blue Iguanas to guarantee third place in the league and consign Walkers to a winless season. As PWC prepare to take on 2nd place Maples1 in the play-offs, Walkers Blue Iguanas would do well to reflect on the words of that great philosopher Yazz – “The only way is up!”
In their round 14 game DMS silenced Team LIME with a hefty 11-1 victory, with Johnny Doak (3), Steve Henshaw (3) and Tim Rossiter (2) being the main scorers. One is left to conjecture just how good DMS might have been had they been able to field this team every time they stepped onto the pitch.

DIVISION 2
Table-toppers Trident Titans lost their six game unbeaten record to a spirited DART team. Dart were looking to be the only team to do the double over the league leaders and similarly, the Titans are a proud bunch and had the sweet smell of revenge in their nostrils.  But it was DART, and Neal Ainscow in particular, who got up their noses, winning 3-1. Drifting across the defensive line he spotted several gaps and burst through to score three superb individual tries in the first few minutes to render the Titans a mortal wound.  Down but not out, the Titans responded and it was only last ditch diving touches that stopped them get back into the game. They became increasingly frustrated through the half and it took a fine solo effort from James Waters just before half-time to get their first point on the board. 

One of the big transformations of this season has been DART’s defence and although Trident Titans pressed in the second halfthere was no way through. As the light faded and the rain fell, handling became more difficult. The conditions suited DART’s short passing game, whereas Trident Titans had to force the pace and with the ball like the proverbial bar of soap there were turnovers a-plenty. A last gasp touch by Riley Mullen prevented a diving Bryan Fitzgerald from extending DART’s lead.  

So, Trident Titans’ season ends on a down beat but they take first place in the league and must still go into the play-offs as favourites.  They’ll be glad they can’t play DART again until next year. DART can be proud of their end to the regular season and, with only two defeats in their last nine games, they will enjoy Finals Day in the Plate competition.

KPMG1 secured second spot in the Division against Harmonic winning out 6-5 in the end. On a pitch drenched after a tropical downpour KPMG1’s try threat came from all over the pitch with Gerhard Albertyn, Philip Fourie, Neil Montgomery, JS de Jager and Ben Blair all scoring. Gavin McMaster (2) played another great game for Harmonic and Tim Rossiter also got a brace.

Maples2 pulled out a great performance against Happyfish Ticklers, their main rivals for the third spot.  5-1 was the final score and Marc Randall was the MVP.  Other notables included Hugh Thompson, Bobeth O’Garro and the Ginger Ninja himself Andrew Dean.
Campbells laid down a marker against UBS winning 6-4.

These two may well play each other in the Division 2 Plate competition on Finals Day, so it’s always good to get one over on a rival. Missing top try scorer Dicky Sawle-Thomas, Campbells may have feared that their main try threat was missing. However, team spirit counts for a lot and they all stood up and shared the tries between Peter de Vere, Johnny Doak, Karen Hart-Thomas, Jyoti Choi and Marcus Cumber. UBS, who have lost their last three games of the season, kept on battling and notched up four tries of their own.

DIVISION 3

The Swiss are famous for their clocks and one of the largest clocks in the world is often referred to as Big Ben. That one resides adjacent to the Houses of Parliament in London, but Credit-Suisse has their own Big Ben right here in Grand Cayman in the shape of “Big” Ben McDonald.

Credit-Suisse played Deloitte, the No.1 ranking team in the Division, who were looking for a glorious end to the regular season. Big Ben certainly called time on that and, showing great hands and movement, clocked up five tries. A confirmed member of the front-row union, McDonald can be usually found propping up the scrum in the 15-aside version of the game. But on this day he went through the gears and showed his class by opening his legs and out-sprinting the defence from the halfway line not once but twice. Deloitte responded with tries from Riley Mullen (3) and Dean Curtis (2), but the pendulum swung back in favour of Credit-Suisse, and they eventually ran out winners 8-5. As time ran out for Deloitte, it was Credit-Suisse who chimed the victory bell.

Ernst & Young, formerly known as 1960’s Californian folk-rock-combo Crosby, Stills, Ernst and Young, played their final game of the season against Queensgate Grizz’s Old Fellas. Whilst David Crosby and Stephen Stills have led fairly tumultuous lives as rock’n’roll stars, Ernst & Young went on to form a highly successful accountancy company here in Cayman. Really? No, not really! But with only one win all season, and that being against the Old Fellas, Ernst & Young set about their task with sweet relish. With “John McEnroe-circa-1980’s-look-a-like” George Mervitz running around like a man who was late for his own wedding, they were imbued with an energy beyond anything the Old Fellas could muster, ultimately winning 6-4.

With nothing on the game other than a chance for a good run out, GCM beat Island Heritage 5-4. Two tries a-piece for Dave O’Driscoll and Phil Fourie, and one from Niall O’Sullivan gave GCM the win but the truly stand-out moment came in the second half when Island Heritage managed to get the ball out to Marvin Gordon on the wing on the halfway line. What happened next was sheer poetry. As he sprinted toward the corner two GCM defenders took off in pursuit with the aim of cutting off his angle to the try-line. Gordon spied the danger and immediately spun through ninety degrees to completely wrong foot the first defender who was left clutching thin air.

The last remaining defender now stood between him and glory. Gordon jackknifed again, spinning on a dime (that’s sixpence in old money) and completely faked the defender who just rocked back on his heels and watched the try go down. Spontaneous and raucous applause from the bleachers was met with a big smile from Marvelous Marvin. Try of the week! 

KPMG2 beat Rawlinson &Hunter 6-5 in a tight game that showed why both teams have had good seasons to date. Conrad Proud scored another three tries to take him to 29 for the season and makes him the only player to score in all 14 rounds of the competition.

However, his three tries were overshadowed by a splendid performance from Neil Montgomery of KPMG2 who notched up four of his own to take the Player of the Match award.

Player of the Week: This week’s Heineken Touch Playerof the Week goes to “Marvelous” Marvin Gordon for his get-you-out-of-your-seat try for Island Heritage. A bucket of six thirst-quenching Heinekens await you at the rugby club bar.

ROUND  14
Division 1 Results
DMS 11 v. 1 Team LIME
Walkers Blue Iguanas 2 v. 10 PWC
Maples 1 5 v. 3 Ogier
Genesis Five Nations 9  3 Appleby
   
Division 2 Results    
KPMG1 6 v. 5 Harmonic
DART 3 v. 1 Trident Titans
UBS 4 v. 6 Campbells
Happyfish Ticklers 1 v. 5 Maples2
   
Division 3 Results    
GCM 5 v. 5 Island Heritage
Credit Suisse 8 v. 5 Deloitte
KPMG2  v.  Rawlinson & Hunter
Ernst & Young 6 v. 4 Queensgate Grizz’s Old Fellas
ROUND 11   
Maples 1 0  2 Genesis Five Nations
ROUND 12   
Maples 1 WIN v. LOSS PWC (Defaulted)
ROUND 13   
Maples 1 2 v. 3 DMS
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

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Pacific islands going solar with coconut back-up

Pacific islands going solar with coconut back-up

| 15/09/2011 | 0 Comments

(UPI): The South Pacific islands of Tokelau say they're committed to obtaining 93 percent of their electricity demand from solar power — and the rest from coconuts. Tokelau's leader Foua Toloa said this week solar energy will provide the majority of the electricity by the middle of next year and the rest will come from coconut oil, NewScientist.com reported Tuesday. Motor vehicles and some cooking equipment will still be allowed to use fossil fuels but renewables will provide most of the nation's power needs, he said. The grids will be fed by solar photovoltaic cells, with batteries to store excess electricity for the night. During periods of overcast or when electricity demand exceeds solar supply, coconut oil will fuel a generator to supply power and recharge the batteries.

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More UK top cops reveled enjoying perks

More UK top cops reveled enjoying perks

| 15/09/2011 | 1 Comment

(Daily Mail): One of Scotland Yard’s most senior officers quit yesterday as he was exposed as the force’s freebie king. Assistant Commissioner Ian McPherson enjoyed lavish hospitality, attending Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and top football and rugby matches as a guest of various corporations during his two years at the force. On the day of his resignation, a revealing gifts and hospitality register was published by Scotland Yard showing that he had accepted tickets worth thousands of pounds. His freebies topped the pile of perks enjoyed by the current crop of officers. Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who was also forced to resign over the phone hacking furore, also enjoyed a number of freebies.

Last year among the hospitality he took up included seats at the opera, Wimbledon tickets and an England versus Bulgaria football match.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police stressed the departure of McPherson was not linked to any freebies. His resignation leaves a gap at the top of Scotland Yard, where the senior management team has already been reshuffled following the departure of Mr Yates as head of counter-terrorism.

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Pillar Design

Pillar Design

| 15/09/2011 | 31 Comments

Diversifying the economy of the Cayman Islands is a good idea. Encouraging high tech companies to locate in Cayman is a good idea. The draft “special economic zone” legislation recently released is very badly flawed. So how did two good ideas come to be associated with such daft implementation?

The draft legislation proposed last week shows all the signs of being another episode in the MOU-of-the-week “Fire, Ready, Aim” soap opera … or worse. There are so many things wrong with it that it would not be possible to identify all of them in 8000 words let alone the 500 – 800 words that CNS recommends for a single Viewpoint. This Viewpoint will point out only two of the many defects, one specific and one general.

The specific problem is that while the hype surrounding the “special economic zones” suggests that they will bring in new high tech companies, the draft legislation does not even mention "high tech" nor does it limit in any meaningful way the types of businesses allowed to escape normal regulation within the “special economic zone”.  The principal limitations are set out in s.18 of the Bill, but these are so vague that much of our current financial services sector would be permitted to relocate. By way of example, our principal law firms, fund managers, etc. exist mainly to service offshore clients and most of what they do in Cayman is incidental to the services they provide to offshore clients. They would therefore be permitted to relocate some or all of their activities to the proposed “special economic zones”.

Perhaps it is the government’s intention to ensure that one of the existing pillars of our economy is placed outside the rules that apply to the rest of the economy. Perhaps, as it appears, this draft legislation was designed by the ones intending to benefit from it, with nobody in government understanding the effects. Perhaps it is the case that those who proposed the legislation in the LA don’t really care what the legislation does to our country.  Perhaps there is another explanation.

Whatever the explanation, a simple solution to this specific problem is to add provisions that clearly delineate which businesses are not intended to be in the new “zones”. By way of example, the legislation could specify that no person engaged in a profession regulated in the Cayman Islands (including law firms and accounting firms), and no business regulated and/or licensed by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, and no person doing business with any of our official registers such as the Companies Registry or the Trade Mark Registry, is permitted to operate in the “enterprise zone”. That addition would not hinder real “high tech” companies, but would limit the damage to an existing economic pillar.

The general problem is that the Premier and his Cabinet propose that they should be the ones who decide on whether a particular entity is able to set up a zone in Cayman. That is a very, very bad idea.

Consider that perhaps there are very good reasons why politicians are no longer permitted to decide which applicants get banking licenses. The reasoning in relation to banking, which is applied across the planet, seems to be that most politicians have no relevant experience or formal education on which to base appropriate licensing decisions and, just perhaps, there is a need to minimise political corruption producing decisions that are bad for ordinary people. Whether either of those criteria is relevant in Cayman is left to the reader.
 
The simple solution to this general problem is to set out proper policy guidelines in the legislation and to leave decisions on the number and location of “special economic zones” to the “Special Economic Zone Authority” that the legislation already proposes. This is already done with other statutory authorities. Provided that the proposed Authority is staffed with appropriate expertise and is not tampered with politically (that is a big “if” admittedly), it would be able to make decisions that are good for the entire country, rather than decisions that may be based on other considerations.

There are a number of specialist developers around the planet which have developed very successful “high tech” parks in the US, Canada, the UK, and elsewhere. These developers have proven track records filling real high tech parks with real high tech companies that provide real high tech jobs. If “high tech” is to be a real pillar for our economy rather than smoke and mirrors camouflage for a get rich quick scheme, then we should be encouraging many proven high tech park developers to come to Cayman.

Ignore the hype. Read the proposed legislation, look at the relevant track records, see the flaws, and then ask yourself, “who is this intended to benefit”. Then raise hell!

Related article: Mac brings techy park law 

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Governor cautious on COLA

Governor cautious on COLA

| 15/09/2011 | 37 Comments

(CNS): Despite the premier’s recent suggestion that the civil service could get the 3.2% cost of living allowance (COLA) returned to them by this September’s pay packet, the governor has greeted the idea with some caution. The recent surplus of $24 million is only one part of the public finance equation and with the capital expenditure for this year at around $60 million, among other issues, Governor Duncan Taylor said there was still some way to go to meet the requirements of the three year plan submitted to the UK. Following his announcement, Premier McKeeva Bush reportedly contacted the British government to get permission to give back the cost of living cut to public sector workers but no word has yet been received.

“I think there may be some good arguments for giving back the 3.2% to promote morale and inject cash into the economy, but when it comes to affordability we need to be careful when talking about the surplus,” the governor told CNS this week.

The current surplus announced by the premier only represents increase in revenue over spending for one year and may be down to some ‘one-off’ revenue raising measures such as cash from dormant accounts. It is also set against the backdrop of public debt and a public pension liability that remains unpaid for the last three years.

Asked about his position on the return of the money to civil servants, Taylor said the decision had to be made in context against the entire public finance picture. “The premier has already said he will consult with the minister and I imagine he is likely to expect savings to be made elsewhere in the budget if the 3.2% is to be given back,” he added.

The estimated cost of returning the cost of living allowance is around $4.5 milllion but there have been suggestions made in the public domain that the COLA could just be returned to those at the bottom of the pay grade, who were already struggling even before the cut.

However, the premier made the national announcement last month that he proposed to return the cash to everyone. The statement was delivered to the country in the wake of criticisms made of Bush by the governor regarding the premier’s attack on the auditor general’s office after its damning report on the tendering process.

As the criticisms over the Cohen loan in particular were aired in the public domain, Bush hit back and also picked the time to release government’s unaudited accounts, which suggested it had managed to end its operational budget with a surplus of around $24 milllion as well as his proposal to return the 3.2%.

Although both the premier and the governor had spoken about improved relations between the governments of the UK and the Cayman Islands after the departure of Stuart Jack, the previous incumbent at Government House, and the departure of the Labour government in the UK, more recently cracks have begun to appear locally between the elected and official arms of government.

In the wake of his own public criticsms of the premier over Bush’s attack on the audit office, the governor said this week that he continues “to try to have a good relationship with the premier” as he had since arriving in Cayman last January.

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Long arm of UK bribery act stretches to Cayman

Long arm of UK bribery act stretches to Cayman

| 15/09/2011 | 14 Comments

(CNS): Anyone holding a British or British Overseas Territories Citizen passport had better ensure they are familiar with the UK’s recently passed Bribery Act (BA), which came into force in July of this year, because they could fall foul under this law, even when they are outside the UK, according to former Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Chairman Tim Ridley. The offences under the law are very broad, Ridley warned, and nothing requires dishonesty to be proven.  Speaking at a seminar held at the Westin, Tuesday, by the Cayman Islands Compliance Association, the first formal presentation of Cayman’s own bribery legislation, the Anti-Corruption Law (ACL,) Ridley said the act had a “long arm”.

The BA creates four main offences, including promising or offering an advantage (financial or otherwise), with the intent to induce someone to perform improperly a ‘relevant function or activity' or to reward a person for doing so; likewise, penalties would occur if someone requested or agreed to receive such a bribe. 

For example, If someone offers someone in the planning department an incentive for getting their application through ahead of others, or without the relevant paperwork, that would be an offence under the BA. The BA does not only apply to public sector workers; private sector workers are also subject to the BA, he said. The law also makes it an offence to bribe a foreign public official.

The UK, he said, has been slow to enact such legislation (indeed, the Cayman Islands enacted its ACL at the beginning of 2010) because multi-national businesses dealing with countries with “rich resources and poor governance” may have difficulties with such legislation. Thus there had been a fear that the competitive element for such businesses would be lost.

Nevertheless, the UK was obliged to abide by its international treaties and therefore produced the legislation, which was far more concise than Cayman’s ACL, at 17 pages versus Cayman’s 54 pages. This was partly down to the UK already having in place other legislation which dealt with similar issues, and also a lesser amount of varying penalties applied to offences under the BA, Ridley advised.

The “extraterritorial component” of the BA was that it applied to any person’s acts or omissions outside the UK, if that person has close connections with the country, was a citizen or resident, a BOTC or a UK company. Thus, he said, a Caymanian who bribes a public official in Cayman or elsewhere can commit an offence under the BA as well as the ACL.

Ridley also described how it was an offence under the BA for a commercial organisation if a person associated with that organisation, such as an agent (with not necessarily any UK connections), bribes another person for the benefit of the organisation. The organisation could use in its defence that they had installed adequate procedures to prevent bribery, he added.

He used the example that an agent or representative in Cayman of a UK company bidding on an infrastructure project would commit an offence under the BA if they paid a bribe in an attempt to secure the contract for the organisation.

Penalties for such offences include imprisonment for up to ten years and unlimited fines. Anyone convicted of such offences in the Cayman Islands would most likely have those offences termed a predicate offence under Cayman’s Proceeds of Crime law as well, Ridley confirmed.

He also added that directors or officers of Cayman companies should be especially conversant with the BA because they (and the company as well) may be liable under the law if the offence was attributable to their neglect of duties, not just their consent or connivance.

“The act has major implications for businesses and individuals both within and outside the UK. Businesses must review their relationships with agents and third parties tounderstand what roles they undertake for the company and to define who is and who is not an 'associated person' under the act,” he stated.

“Further, businesses must put in place adequate systems and procedures to prevent bribery that will apply to all associated persons (as well as employees).” He added: “Those individuals resident in the UK and those non-residents holding UK passports (of all kinds) need to be aware that the Act has a long arm.”

Ridley called on the Anti-Corruption Commission for guidance on the ACL (which, he said, was very similar to the BA) for the business community.

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French firm leads bid to buy Texaco’s regional ops

French firm leads bid to buy Texaco’s regional ops

| 15/09/2011 | 3 Comments

(CNS): According to the regional press a French multinational energy company has been identified as the preferred buyer for Texaco after offering a nine figure bid. No sales agreement has yet been signed the Bahmas based Tribune is reporting that RUBIS, a petroleum products distributor and operator of bulk storage facilities appears won the bid to acquire Texaco's Bahamian assets, as well as those in the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos.  Texaco's Bahamian operations are in the midst of being sold but Chevron Corporation has said nothing has been signed yet. "Chevron is currently in the process of assessing bids for the sale of its fuels marketing and aviation business in the Bahamas. However, we have not signed any agreements to sell as of yet," Chevron told the Tribune.

Chevron is seeking to exit operations in 20 jurisdictions in the Caribbean and Central/Latin America, but rather than sell them as individual territories it has put them into four different 'packages'. As a result, the Bahamian operations have been included in the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos package. The firm has also said that those who bid for all four packages would be given an advantage over those who bid for just one."

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Rollover gets rolled out

Rollover gets rolled out

| 15/09/2011 | 266 Comments

(CNS): Full story — Government has revealed its intention to suspend the controversial seven year term limit known as rollover for up to two years. Premier McKeeva Bush made the surprise announcement in the Legislative Assembly this evening (Wednesday 14 September), stating that the proposal would be going before Cabinet next week to allow government to temporarily suspend the policy as soon as possible and allow those now facing rollover to apply for another work permit. Government then intends to review the policy and will be appointing a committee to examine the pros and cons of the term limit and look at how the country can address the immigration dilemma in face of a policy that has not worked as it was intended.

"It is my opinion, as Minister for Financial Services with responsibility for economic development, and it is also the view of the government, that the policy needs to be re-examined," Bush told the Legislative Assemblyin a statement delivered at the end of the most recent meeting.

He said that he believed the continuation of the term limit has led to a decline in all sectors of the economy and negatively affected jobs for Caymanians.

“There was time when the Cayman Islands had many more persons from overseas in our workforce,” Bush stated. “Very few of our people were unemployed during this time. Many of our young people were able to establish their own businesses and to have a place in the growth of the country.  Unfortunately, some of these local businesses have had to close and others are experiencing very pressing financial difficulties.”

Bush said people had thought rolling over qualified and trained persons would create opportunities for Caymanians but that hasn’t happened. “Many of the persons that were rolled over took up positions in other competing jurisdictions. The lack of their skills was correspondingly felt here, as we failed to gain the economic activities that would have created additional employment for us.”

He said that since coming to office he had pressed for reform but people had opposed it, not anticipating the serious impact on the local economy.  Despite opposition within the United Democratic Party, Bush appears to pressing on with the changes at the earliest opportunity, beginning with the suspension which he said will happen as soon as Cabinet approves the necessary amendments to the immigration law. In his statement to the Legislative Assembly he said he hoped to bring that amendment when the House reconvenes at the end of September for a new meeting.

“I intend to present a paper to the Cabinet next week to place a temporary suspension on the rollover policy for up to 2 years pending an urgent report from a committee,” he said.

This new committee will be formed from members of the Chamber of Commerce, Cayman Finance, the Immigration Review Team, and other organisations representing small businesses. Bush said it would review the “positive and negative aspects” of rollover in the current conditions. “The committee will be also tasked to receive input from a wide cross section of our community and relevant data from the Immigration Department and to provide their findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within 180 days,” he explained

Once Cabinet amends the law to suspend the term limits people who were expected to face rollover will be given an opportunity to re-apply for a work permit under the usual considerations. The goal, Bush added, was to try and prevent jobsbeing lost when senior managers were rolled over. He said when their jobs were relocated, Caymanian secretaries and administrators lost their jobs.

“When this happens rental apartment revenues are lost, plumbers, electricians, shopkeeper, supermarkets, construction companies, heavy equipment operators, truck owners and every other business feels the economic impact in these islands,” he said, adding that he believed there were some 2200 rental apartments currently empty which were owned by Caymanians who were now unable to meet their costs.

“We need the right people to remain on island to ensure that our people have the ability to benefit within their own economy,” he told the House. “Government will take steps to ensure that Caymanians are employed with each business established in this country.” The premier added that business without policies for the employment and promotion of able and willing Caymanians will not be permitted to benefit from the temporary suspension of the roll-over policy.

Although Bush has advocated a change to the immigration term limits since coming to office, the issue has now reached a critical point as immigration figures have revealed that some 6,000 people are potentially facing rollover between November of this year and next as a result of the massive recruitment to the islands in the wake of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It is understood that more than one thousand people are believed to be due to leave between November and the year end.

The business community and CITA in particular has spoken on a number of occasions about the major losses the tourism sector will face over the next twelve months and the Ritz Carlton is facing the loss of some 120 long term employees.

The temporary suspension will enable any of the 6,000 workers that are granted permits beyond the seven year rollover to remain, without having to apply for key employee status, taking them to a position where they will be able to apply for permanent residency after their eighth year.

Government’s goal, however, is to have another term limit type plan in place before the end of the two year suspension that can tackle the constant dilemma faced by government of facilitating the recruitment and retention of talent into the islands to maintain the financial services and tourism sectors and create proper career opportunities for Caymanians, while at the same time controlling the number of people who eventually become Caymanian.

Vote in the CNS poll: Are you in favour of the suspension of Rollover?

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