Review calls for 10 yr rollover

| 15/06/2012

immigration office_13.jpgCNS): A government appointed committee has recommend that the key employee provision in the immigration law be abolished and a ten year term limit introduced to address the issue of the controversial rollover policy. A report by the term limit review committee, established by government last year, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Friday in order to start a public consultation period on the committee’s findings and recommendations on the way forward in dealing with government's need to balance an expatriate workforce with the needs of Caymanians.

See full story Key-wrong-way-chose

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Politics

About the Author ()

Comments (100)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Whodatis says:

    Re: "Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 06/19/2012 – 16:47.

    Until Caymanians can count on an upbringing that makes them competitive in the workplace NOONE of them will replace a employable worker."

    Obviously, as evidenced by the high number of comments and thumb ratings, this particular thread / news item is very popular at the moment.

    As a Caymanian, I am clearly in the above poster's crosshairs however, I will refrain from directly addressing his / her comments.

    However, I am curious to know why not a single peer of the individual has bothered to address or counter such inflammatory, ignorant and prejudicial views?

    Such a mindset harkens back to the era of slavery, Jim Crow, apartheid and such.

    By default, this individual is representing the expatriate community and for the rest of his group to simply ignore, or at times encourage (thumbs ups), such comments does not help the situation at all.

    Attitudes like the poster's is a major contributing factor to the friction that exists in the Cayman Islands today. Furthermore, we can be assured that there is a percentage of influential individuals within the workforce that think in the same way as this racist dinosaur.

    Cayman has always extended open arms to "foreigners". I should know as I am a product of this reality. However, amongst the good folks that have been included, we find the odd asshole – and they must be checked and corrected otherwise we run the risk of the ruination of this otherwise wonderful community.

    * Lastly, I would like to acknowldge and thank 2 long-term expatriate posters (see thread of comments) in particular who took the time to attest to the warm and inviting nature of my Caymanian people.

    Such individuals are who our newly arrived expats should be looking to for examples of how to conduct oneself in a newly adopted community … my expatriate parent would be an ideal candidate as well.

  2. Anonymous says:

    As someone who is fast approaching their roll-over date, I think that this change in policy is well over due.  It never made sense to me to kick people off the island before giving them a chance to apply for PR.  NO ONE SAID THAT THE GOV'T HAS TO GIVE IT TO THEM, but you want some people to stay on this island who have tried hard to invest and become part of the community.  Let them stay long enough to be able to apply for permanent residency but make the criteria appropriate and transparent.  The island needs to grow and the smart way to doso would be to grant PR to those that deserve it and prove that they want it.  I came here with no money, worked hard and was able to buy property, and invest in a local business, yet I don't even get the chance to plead my case or prove my worth to the PR board.  So what happens now?  Sell everything, get rolled over, come back (maybe) and start all over again?

       If the CIG does change the policy, you will see some changes almost immediately.  The real estate market with start improving over night as people who are getting ready to leave, start buying property to add to their PR score.  People will change their view of the island from a place when they can work, save money and leave with it to an island where they can grow, invest and build a future.

       Obviously this won't be the final solution to the immigration problem, but in my mind it is definitely a step in the right direction.  

    • Anonymous says:

      I wouldn't invest in Cayman and take the chance that I "might" get PR.

    • Anonymous says:

      I did invest in Cayman a while back and now my ten year plan will see me still not being able to sell my home in a country that has sunk down to third world level very quickly.  Caymans glory days have passed. The time for fixing before it is too late is passing by.  Very soon it will be overrun with unemployable and uneducated Caymanians who will continue to blame everyone but themselves for their misfurtune.  At least the beaches will not be overcrowded.

  3. datisme says:

    What if you just told everyone that applying for a residency is not about the time you have spent here but more of a proven record of being a self sustaining and responsible individual and citizen before ever being considered for it.  THEN make the law or laws to make that happen.  And nothing else.  Would that solve the problem?

    I know it won't please the many on both sides that wouldn't make the cut either way but…  Just a thought and hope it helps.

  4. Anonymous says:

    We left before being rolled out and have no regrets whatsoever. We still own a home in Cayman and look forward to vacations. Cayman is not the best, most desired place in the world to live.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Maybe some of you are not aware but the financial industry has improved greatly . The law firms are doing wonderful and so are insurance companies offshore like captives. So why do we want to change anything? It seems the tourism industry is the only industry that is not doing well and its where we have the most amount of work permits after domestics. Tell the truth caymanians need jobs and until we get jobs that pay decent salaries noone should get permanment residency. 

    We have to secure our people first before we make anymore mistakes

    • Anonymous says:

      Until Caymanians can count on an upbringing that makes them competitive in the workplace NOONE of them will replace a employable worker.  

    • Anonymous says:

      So why don't you apply for a job as a domestic then?  Huh?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Funny, the Rollover is the one subject both UDP and PPM unite on. What does that tell you?

    • anonymous says:

      If there are 3,000 + Caymanians unemployed where are we going to accommodate 100,000 people? XXXX Boy are we screwed from every which way.

      SO MUCH CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

      We better stop this and now. Caymanians will lose their identity, foreigners will control the Legislative assembly, or their children who are just like them, and Caymanians will live like dogs.

      The one man one vote will encourage foreigners to buy large parcels of land, develop them and have their own foreign born cayman status holders Politicians emerge from within!

      All that glitters is not gold.

      We better stop Sherry and Mac in their tracks XXXX. Cayman can not take 100,000 people. Caymanians are the only ones suffering with a population of 50,00 as it is. Is this a scheme to have us killed off with the 100,00 population? Fancy getting a foreigner to testify that they saw a crime being committed against a caymanian when they are the majority and we are only Indians on a reservation!

      THIS GOVERNMENT IS SENDING US ALL TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET. STOP THEM.

      The Comissioner of Police and his staff can't solve the crimes we now have can we agree to have crime double or triple or quadruple on us?

      WE BETTER CLEAN THAT HOUSE IN MAY 2013.

      • Anonymous says:

        Paranoid much? You better tell Caymanians to stop marrying foreigners. 

    • noname says:

       A fool by any other name!

  7. Whodatis says:

    Clearly the intellectually dishonest posse is out in full effect today.

    E.g.

    Re: "Caymanians & the xenophobic government by & large really wont have to worry about rolling over foreign workers. Once the workers have been here a few years & experience first hand the troubles of the little society that exist, they will just figure out that their homeland is the better long term choice…tax included.Having been in Cayman 28 years & becoming naturalized, Cayman passport & status doesnt neccessarily allow you to be accepted, you are always branded as a'Paper Caymanian' which is an insult and just proves how small minded the society is that labels you as such. Cayman offers no incentive now for long term residency. Look at the crime, fear of walking down 7 mile beach at night or along West Bay road for being held up by gun or knifepoint. If you are a young woman,dont think about going to these areas alone late in the evening. House burglaries and car break in's for random theft, with no possible hope of action by the RCIPS. All the money put into the health insurance 'Racket' schemes will result in no insurance for you at all, once you surpass retirement years….just when you need health care. Outrageous school costs for children of foreign families to the point they have to send the kids abroad.The youth is coming out of school with no trade skills, qualifications for better teritary education & left with unemployment & an avenue of crime & gang culture to pursue. It will be interesting to see how this one facet alone affects Caymans future youth in 10 years time and what measures are in place here to approach it. The government better start to look at this one area now."

    You have basically described a situation common to every major city / country in the western world today, save for the few obvious exclusions (of the points raised).

    Basically Cayman is currently the focal point of many "1st world" individuals that for the first time in life are having to deal with what hundreds of millions of people are dealing with in their own home countries. Many of these very expats are simply unaware of what immigrant workers have to endure back home.

    Interestingly, it also tends to be those very individuals that are the most outspoken about our immigration policies. Unfortunately, many of our expats fail to realiye how good they have it in Cayman. Many hold well paying jobs and now enjoy financial freedoms unimaginable in their own countries.

    E.g. For goodness sake, in most European countries many work permit holders are unable to even acquire a simple mobile phone contract due to the limitations of their annually reviewed / renewed documentation.

    Regardless, personally I am more primarily concerned with the welfare of my fellow Caymanians. What cannot be denied is that our collective welfare has decreased as our expatriate numbers have increased – and that is in respect to crime, employment opportunities, family structure, education, etc.

    If the hosts within a community are disproportionally disenfranchised and neglected there will be hell to pay for all members – end of.

    I will agree with the sentiments of the quoted poster to the effect of CIG's need to focus on the youth and general welfare of the community – however, I fail to see how guaranteeing the permanent residency of an even higher percentage of expatriates serves to satisfy those requirements.

    *Lastly, I take great offence to being labeled by the poster or anyone else for that matter as "xenophobic".

    A visit to my Grandma's house on any given Boxing Day will support my opposition and stance in this regard. My extended family resembles the United Nations and even I myself am the product of a Caymanian + Expat union.

    Interesingly, the (formerly) expatriate parent of mine made it their duty to fully integrate in the community and amongst the people that they decided to make their new home. They were not dedicated to sub-communities, cliques and such.

    Maybe, just maybe if more of our current expatriates would follow the examples of the thousands of their peers in the decades before them they may find that Cayman is not the horrible place as so many of them tend to believe today.

     – Whodatis

  8. Anonymous says:

    More third world countries will put more $ burden on the C, we will soon be going to there country instead! Sound like a good am Keke.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians & the xenophobic government by & large really wont have to worry about rolling over foreign workers. Once the workers have been here a few years & experience first hand the troubles of the little society that exist, they will just figure out that their homeland is the better long term choice…tax included.Having been in Cayman 28 years & becoming naturalized, Cayman passport & status doesnt neccessarily allow you to be accepted, you are always branded as a'Paper Caymanian' which is an insult and just proves how small minded the society is that labels you as such. Cayman offers no incentive now for long term residency. Look at the crime, fear of walking down 7 mile beach at night or along West Bay road for being held up by gun or knifepoint. If you are a young woman,dont think about going to these areas alone late in the evening. House burglaries and car break in's for random theft, with no possible hope of action by the RCIPS. All the money put into the health insurance 'Racket' schemes will result in no insurance for you at all, once you surpass retirement years….just when you need health care. Outrageous school costs for children of foreign families to the point they have to send the kids abroad.The youth is coming out of school with no trade skills, qualifications for better teritary education & left with unemployment & an avenue of crime & gang culture to pursue. It will be interesting to see how this one facet alone affects Caymans future youth in 10 years time and what measures are in place here to approach it. The government better start to look at this one area now.

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually, in all fairness, it has to be said that many expats can live here for 28 years, be naturalised, obtain Caymanian status and never truly integrate into this community. So far as as possible they segregate themselves from Caymanians, look down in contempt on Caymanians and certainly do not wish to be called Caymanians. Those that behave differently generally find that they are warmly received.    

      • Legerdemain says:

        Why should I want to assimilate?  I am happy as I am.  I generally mix with nationals from my homeland and only view PR and status as handy stamps to make life easier and more profitable.  I came here for the money, stay here for the money and the money I make off the money and always plan to go back home with the money I made. 

        • Anonymous says:

          Obviously you fall in the first category. Thanks for confirming my point. But don't go blaming Caymanians for not accepting you as a fellow Caymanian.

        • Anonymous says:

          Please don't feed this troll.

      • Anonymous says:

        As an expat, I can attest that this is true.  I have only been here for 15 years, and have had the good fortune to be in a job that affords close contact with Caymanian families.  I have experienced a very warm welcome from almost all.

      • Anonymous says:

        As one of those who behaves differently, I can fully support the final sentence of your post.  Its very true and I have been, and continue to be very warmly received.

  10. Raffaelle says:

    Our government rush off just the other day with a high level delegation to fix our black listing problem, I only wish they would have the same enthusiasm to fix our 10% unemployment situation. I won't hold my breath on that one. A government, for protection of business only, is but a carcass and soon falls by its own corruption and decay. Pay attention Cayman more to come?

  11. Absurdistani says:

    An easy way to limit the number of people making it to or past the 7 year is to impact the costs and therefore the bottom line of businesses using people on work permits. The annual fee for work permits could progressively and substantially  increase the longer someone is on a work permit. This would incentivize businesses to replace staff earlier enforcing a "roll-over" themselves in the interest of their bottom line. 

    • Anonymous says:

      I love the way people spend their time trying to come up with new and creative ways to run off the people who make the economy go. Once those pesky lawyers and accountants and hedge fund people gain serious experience so as to REALLY bring in the business from New York and London, they ought to get the hell off the island and make room for a new lawyer, accountant or hedge fund person who doesn’t have the international connections to bring in that business, so as to drive down the quality of Cayman’s actual salable product. Damn straight. That’ll bring Caymanian’s jobs for sure.

    • Anonymous says:

      The only thing this will do is in ego use the company to move those jobs to another country where they don’t pay work permit fees. My company has done this with 60 jobs in the last three years. Means fewer jobs here for Caymanians and ex-pats alike.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Hang on a minute… We were told that the rollover was put in place to limit the number of people making it to the 10 year mark which would allow them to claim human rights reasons for applying for residency/citizenship. Now this committee, in all their wisdom, is saying make the rollover start at the 10 year mark. How does this make any sense at all?

  13. Anonymous says:

    Goodbye young Caymanian dreams.

    • Anonymous says:

      Pass the self-pity pot so I can be sick.

    • Anonymous says:

      Work hard in & stay in school.Respect your elders. Wait until you graduate and know what you want to do with your life before starting a family. Be punctual for school and work . Your dreams will come true.

      • Anonymous says:

        You forgot to add, lose your accent, attend the rugby club, …

        • Anonymous says:

          Or more accurately, master the grammatical structures of standard English (and feel free to use your dialect outside of work, as we all do in our global economy) and network (as we all have to do to stay connected).   Doesn't have to be at the rugby club, although that's as good a place as any. I'm not sure why you think these are unusual requirements.

          • Anonymous says:

            Those are mastered with a proper education which many of us have. That's not really the issue.

        • Whodatis says:

          I would now be rofl if there was not such a ring of truth to your post!

          🙂

          On a personal note, nothing gets under my skin more than the category of Caymanian that you are describing.

          "Look at me you guys … I'm here, I'm dancing my jig … please say I'm now "acceptable" in your eyes!!??"

        • noname says:

          Right O.  Some of you will go that way.

        • Anonymous says:

          YOu forgot to add lose the huge chip on your shoulder.

  14. Naya Boy says:

    Cayman feeds the world while its own people starve to death! Absolutely spot on  anon 16:07

  15. McCarron McLaughlin says:

    Mac and Sherry's plan of 100k by 2020 will be a reality, why bother to extend the rollover to 10 year when these employee will have to right to apply for permanent residence, this has stink written all over it just like it's crafters.

  16. Anonymous says:

    I have said this before no citizenship like our sister island Bermuda. If you want permanment  residency you need 150,000 US dollars without working , a place of residence worth 400,000 US dollars, you can own a business but cannot work there. A work permit can be issued indefinitely no right to vote or citizenship.

    • Anonymous says:

      Where do you get 100,000 from? I hear, from a good source, its 250,000. 

  17. Whodatis says:

    For a country that is constantly referred to as backward, corrupt and inept on this forum – there always seems to be much celebration and optimism at times like these.

    I wonder why?

    • Anonymous says:

      Everyone who’s left is insane or drunk. Welcome to happy hour.

    • Anonymous says:

      There are two countries within one. The great source of weath is from external business – not local. The high standards are dictated by external sources, not local. We celebrate at times like these because we don't want the local government to screw up a good thing. A good thing in which everyone benefits. I'm quite certain Caymans standard of living is higher subsequent to the introduction of the financial industry. In the 50's how many Caymanians had rolexes and benzes? How many Caymanians now make thach rope and have to men sail around the world just to make a living? 

       

       

      • Whodatis says:

        (Edit.)

        I have retracted my reply.

        Stooping to the bitter levels of others is never a wise move to make.

         

         

    • Anonymous says:

      maybe because it is a small step in the right direction?

      • Whodatis says:

        Your ignorance makes you believe that immigration is a new concept.

        We have always welcomed and integrated "expats" – however, in the past few years it has suddenly become a "major problem".

        I, as is the case for approximately 70% of my first cousins, am the product of a Caymanian + Expat union. This is nothing new for this community.

        However, that "expatriate" parent of mine is most likely someone you regard today as "just another local Caymanian".

        Honestly, a mindset like yours does not belong in a community such as ours.

        Keep it moving …

         

         

        • Anonymous says:

          I do sometimes find that your posts get my back up, Whodatis, and I'm not sure why.  I agree wholeheartedly with this one, especially your penultimate point.  Caymanians, especially young Caymanians, should note the pride in community shown here.  I am an expat, but that pride and sense of integrity amongst the Caymanians I have known is what has kept me here.  Love it…more of it, please.  (Less condemnation of other places, while we're at it…"be the change you want to see in the world" and all that.)

  18. Anonymous says:

    Have you forgotten that the author of the rollover policy is the same person now appointed to try and fix the problem. How crazy is that! What happened to all the many reasons the public and the business community were told by the chairman of this committee why they needed to have the rollover for the 7 years in the first place. Crazy! It’s been an unmitigated disaster but why not have the same person give us some more!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Its a work in regress. 

    • Truth says:

      Cayman will always be Caymankind.  Kicking the hard working professional people off island for a whole year just to satisfy an archaic law having to do with human rights in Grand cayman which has a terrible human rights reputation.  A great deal of the professionals there just want to work a job there and have no intention of getting Caymanian status.  EVER!  But kicking them off island every 5,7,10 years is just a way for Caymanians to show them who's boss.  Face it!  That is whats more important than common sense.  Caymankind to the bone.  And yes having the problem fix the problem is a Caymanian thing and always will be which explains to the rest of us "others" why problems are always addressed but never fixed here in the land of "my island".  The good side of it is Cayman will never be over run with educated professional people.  Just undereducated and unemployables being payed by the Government to pretend to work.  Like now.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes, that'll work in court. "But judge some anonymous posters said the expats said they didn't want Caymanian status. EVER! Honest they did!".

        Let me get this right: you are criticising Cayman for having rollover to address human rights concerns and then in the same breath criticising it for supposedly having a "terrible human rights record"?. You just can't please some people.

        And please stop the insulting use of "Caymankind" to be mean all sorts of derogatory things.

      • Anonymous says:

        This has nothing to do with Caymankind.  It has to do with international human rights obligations, to which the UK will — and should, in my opinion — hold us.   I am an expat, and I think the approach being suggested here is fair, transparent and entirely reasonable.

  19. Anonymous says:

    I just knew the probelm with the 7 year rollover policy was the 7 years. Now, if moved to 10 years, it will actually work. NOT.  I don't know how anyone can sit on this board and hold their head high. The rollover cannot work, because it is INHUMANE. It doesn't work just like segregation, indentured servitiued and slavery didn't work. You cannot promote segregation within and expect to attract highly educated, qualified, experinced persons, particularly those with families. When you don't attract these kinds of people, who generate money, you will not have enough funds to look after those who can't look after themselves. Instead, you are gong to attract people who are fleeing from worse circumstances. In short, its a self defeating policy. I guess it will take another seven years for the idiots who are immune from real world education and labor understanding, to realize the 10 year rollover wont work either. 

     

    • Anonymous says:

      It's not inhumane. That's ridiculous. It is obviously unrealistic to expect that the law would allow everyone to remain indefinitely.

      What you appear to be missing is that the 10 year rollover allows EVERYONE (not simply key employees) to apply for permanent residency in year 8. If he or she wishes to remain in Cayman beyond 10 years, from day one the aim of the expat should be to work towards satisfying the criteria for permanent residency (which will also need to be modified).  There is every chance that "highly educated, qualified, experienced persons" will qualify. If you don't qualify at the end of the day (and some won't) you will have sufficient time to plan your exit, and if you really liked here it you can return after a year's absence. There are other people don't wish to work herefor longer than 10 years anyway.  

      The comparisons with segregation, indentured servitude and slavery are highly inappropriate and make light of the experiences of persons who actually endured those evils.  

  20. Thunder Storm says:

    Has this committee joined the premier in going nuts!!!?????

  21. Anonymous says:

    Welcome to Manilla !

  22. Anonymous says:

    This 'rollover' issue again…smh, just another waste of time to formulate policy when no clear vision of what is sustainable in order to determine the best policy, then ENFORCE the regulations.

    IF they really want to be fair, start with having the labour law put into effect or very least MAKE THE CIG AND CHURCHES be subject to same employment and immigration laws. Start blocking some of obvious loopholes before creating more confusion.

    • Anonymous says:

      This is insane, back and forth back and forth with this roll over, just shorten the time the workers have to go home say 3 months and then they can return…just extending it to 10 years isn't going to fix the problem and the end resutl is the same

  23. Chris says:

    Kick the can down the road another 3 years….that will solve our problem!

    HAHA this is such typical Cayman Islands Government political dribble.

    hmmmm….crystal ball tells me at the end of this 10 year term limit there will be the same cry from industry that 90% of their workers will be rolled over and they cant afford to have that happen.

    CIG will grumble and blame the "last govt" and set up a team to review the matter.

    CIG will conclude that we need to extend the rollover to 12 or 15 years, in effect rolling out the roll over when we take into consideration the human rights challenges that may/will arise.

    This proposal is not a solution but simply grand scheme to postpone dealing with the problem.

    • Anonymous says:

      The difference is that after 10 years residence they will claim huma rights requires that they be granted permanent rights to remain. This is a recipe for disaster. Bush will then say, like with the status grants, that the UK made him do it.       

      • Anonymous says:

        Don't worry, you won't go to hell for writing "human rights."

         

         

      • Anonymous says:

        20;23

         

        You got that right but why bring Bush into the equation. Bush or any other head of Government has no say in Human rights affairs.

        He won't be saying the UK made him do it! Stratsbourg will take over the next time around.

        You doubt me, read the immigration news in England, they don't have the power to expell foreign criminals, because human rights say they can't!

        Caymanians, this is not a Bush thing, dont let no one fool you. Educate yourself, read, read read.

         

        • Anonymous says:

          You are missing the point. Obviously it is Bush's govt. that will decide on the 10 years as the term limit. I think they know full well what this will lead to human rights claims for permanent rights to remain. This is probably part of the effort to grow the population to 100,000.     

      • Anonymous says:

        No.  In ten years they will have the right to *apply* for permanent residence.  The government need only implement a transparent and straightforward points system to be selective about who gets to stay.

        • Anonymous says:

          Anyone out there belives that current and or past Caymanian Government has the ability to "only implement a transparent and straightforward points system to be selective about who gets to stay."?

          anyone?

           

    • Say wha? says:

      You seem to be missing a major point of all this:  By making rollover 10 years, all foreign workers will have a chance to apply for permanent residence. Those that want to stay here can do what it takes (ie, invest in property, get involved in the community, etc) to remain longer, if they want to.  Those that don't want, or can't afford to, they will have to leave for a year before they return – again, if they want to return.

      10 years is a long time to stay in one place if you don't want to remain there.  I would imagine that most expatriates would leave before that period of time anyway. The people who don't want to leave after 10 years will probably gladly do what it takes to remain.

      I know some people on this site just want to criticise every single thing the government does, but of all the solutions to the problem of how to prevent too many people from gaining the right to reside here permanently, I think what is being recommended now is by far the best suggestion to date.

      What's more, this solution would seem to have support on both sides of the Legislative Assembly aisle.  The recommendations are almost identical to the suggetions Alden McLaughlin made last year.

      • Anonymous says:

        10 years would only mean something if Cayman had human rights. Speak to the very top and they will tell you, "Oh no, its 15 years." Its a real pity Caymanians don't realize they do not have a monopoly on the financial business. Law firms, who created the wealth on the island, are moving / opening up in alternate jursiditions. Fund administration has moved en mass. Would the Caymanians who know their history, are educated, and worldly, please stand up. Its in your interest 

         

         

        • Anonymous says:

          Cayman does have human rights. For a number of years there has been a right of direct petition to the European court under the ECHR (which has been exercised at least once) and the ECHR is now reflected in our Bill of Rights which will come into force in November.

          10 years is the period given in the European Convention on Nationality.   

  24. Anonymous says:

    Hallelujah!!

  25. Anonymous says:

    A government appointed commitee.  In other words a group with no skill or experiance other than the knowledge of what does Bush want us to do or say about this and then get paid.  It is so much easier than work.

  26. Libertarian says:

    Supporters of the rollover policy, affirm that it is a necessary measure of protecting Caymanians from being overrun by a large influx of foreigners gaining residency and citizenship, which will make it even harder for Caymanians to secure jobs and the preservation of cultural identity. However, the policy removes skilled and well educated workers that are very essential to the performance of many businesses in the Cayman Islands. It does not only inconvenience the employer, but makes it hard for rollover employees to find temporary work for a year’s time before they can come back to the island. Some businesses are expressing safety concerns in the loss of educated workers and having to re-train new ones to fill in the vacuum. I recommend that since the policy is so crucial, as it is evident that many establishments are failing to hire young Caymanians and use such words like “they are lazy” or “not educated enough” to help their “own” from overseas – at least, consider a more win-win option for employers having to deal with a brain-drain on their businesses. Government can allow employers to at least pay a “special one-year fee” in exchange of having their skilled and educated workers sent off the island for one year. The proceeds of this fee could be earmark for two things: – Educating Caymanians and as a financial aid to help Caymanians start and initially maintain a small business.  Employers, who really want to keep a skill worker essential to their establishment, will pay the government anything to keep them. There can also be the added incentive, a special exemption for businesses not having to pay for work permit fees when 60% of their workers are Caymanians. That to me will ensure that youngsters graduating from High School will be more utilized and trained by the business community.

    I believe it is in our best interest that government provides more options and incentives for both expats and Caymanians.

    • Anonymous says:

      Where's the money coming from?

    • Anonymous says:

      You call yourself a libertarian, yet you are espousing a restrictive practice – the employers choice of employee (already on non libertarian grounds because the employer has to pay a work permit fee for a foreigner to do the same job as a Caymanian) is now to be further restrcited by paying additional fees to reatin that employee.  You are perfectly welcome to engage in this – protectionism is an age old tradition – but to call your self a libertarian at the same time is rank hypocrisy.  You are an old fashioned protectionist, my friend – just admit it!  You will fel so much better not trying to reconcile what you say with what you believe.

      • Anonymous says:

        I disagree with you. I am a libertarian and I am a protectionist at the same time. I believe in protecting the environment, culture, and people. Plus, I believe in liberty and the free market.

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually your the one thats wrongs.

        "it is not the advocates of free trade and restricted immigration who are wrong, but rather the proponents of free trade and free immigration" – Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Democracy the God that Failed

        Unless you don't think he is a libertarian either?

      • Libertarian says:

        If government refuse to abolish the rollover policy, remove its other anti-business regulations upon the market, and reduce the cost of living, how I see it… it is better then for them to amend the rollover policy and at least have some element of "liberty" to the restricctive measure like having the option of a "special fee" for employers to pay. I am not endorsing the rollover policy, but seeing both parties are adamant on having this measure imposed on employers, there is room for some accomodation of freedom.

        By the way, do you know there are different types of Libertarians?  Which do you say I am not? 

        Peace   

  27. Anonymous says:

    Good plan, but the criteria for getting PR needs to be made more robust and clearer.

  28. Concerned New Caymanian says:

    Is the Govt finally coming to its senses regaurding a realistic immigration policy? I agree with scrapping the current key employee requirements and implimenting an accross the board fair set of critiera that would allow desireable people to become permanent residents and then naturalized Caymanians. A policy that would encourage someone who would be a " Good Resident" that is similiar to the point system that is in place would give expats a chance to set down roots and plan to be good residents. This would encourage investment in realestate, personal goods, cars, and other big ticket purchases. The monies spent on anything locally is good for the economy, and it encourages people that I would think, the local population would want to be a part of the community?? Dont get me wrong you have to set the requirements high enough to not allow everyone to be accepted.The Cayman Islandsare  to small to accept everyone.Those who have,sacraficed, invested in, and can prove to be an asset to the Country, be it a construction worker, food an beverage employee orhelper should be the kind of people that you would want to add to the list of potential Caymanians. My 2 cents worth.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Whilst I have no problem with you approach there is no such thing as a Naturalized Caymanian. Sure you can become Naturalized, but only as a British Overseas Territories Citizen, not a Caymanian. Most people need to become a BOTC before they are even eligible to apply to become a Caymanian. This is why we are in the wierd position that just because you have a Caymanian passport, you are not a Caymanian. Most Cayman passport holders need additional permissions to even be allowed to live here ie, they must also have an RERC, be Caymanian, or have a work permit or dependents stamp.

    • Anonymous says:

      This "fair" criteria system already exists and has for a decade or more!  You should see the hoops that expats on this journey are made to jump through – the process is frought with re-qualifying steps and needless and discouraging replication when Immigration loses part of (or in some cases the entire) file!  Then, if you're lucky, your file makes it to a committee that then applies their subjective bias as to whether you stay or go.  Multiple this process for Key Employee, PR, Naturalisation and Status.  Meanwhile, the applicant  acrues panic attacks, sleepless nights, and fees that cannot be refunded. 

  29. Anonymous says:

    After 10 years residents could claim a right to citizenship on human rights grounds, why bother having rollover at all?

  30. Anonymous says:

    sanity prevails …hopefully……. the rollover has been an anchor around cayman's neck…..

  31. insane says:

    What is the next step??? Spend 10 years in Cayman withouth the rights to apply??? hahahahaha please stop playing with people's life or at least check the expat that wants to invest in Cayman. Not the ones that send their full pay check back home. 

  32. jsftbhaedrg says:

    Unless Govt revamps the enitre education system drastically nothing will improve. WE NEED EXPATS, DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT!

    If they have been here for 7, 10 or more years they should be given residency and allowed to remain, simple.

    If expats are willing to up and leave their own countries to come here and assist us in all aspects then they should be allowed to live here indefinately.

    Increasing to 10yrs does absolutely f ' *l all to the issue at hand.

    • Anonymous says:

      ……assist us.  Not so; assist  themselves.  No one comes here to assist anyone other then himself.

    • Will Ya Listen! says:

      "If expats are willing to up and leave their own countries to come here and assist us……"

      and all out of the goodness of their hearts! Wise up. They're here because they have better opportunities, more money, no tax. better weather, healthier children and we should love them for coming here to work at jobs Caymanians are currently unable (or UNWILLING) to perform.

       If they can assimilate after 7, 10, whatever years they deserve to stay. We should welcome them but don't for a minute think they're here to do us a favour.

      • Anonymous says:

        Will Ya Listen why does your comments sound like "you poor dumb caymanians"

        Do you really think they cheard that the cayman islands was in trouble and so out of the goodness of their hearts they came to help us?

        They came because they could get quality jobs. And we have people like you telling the caymanians that they are too fool to hold the same jobs. Some of these cannot cammand the jobs that they do here back home because their qualifications are not up to par. Just freinds helping friends.

        While some of these expats come with good qulifications and do better for caymanians than we do for ourselves, there are a significant number who are here to help there own people and at the cost of caymanians. They get away with it because while they support their own we do not.

    • Absurdistani says:

      Immigration is a complex and emotion-provoking issue that much be approached with care and careful planning.
       

      Residency is a priveledge, not a right, and must be managed to ensure there is not a drain on the economic resources of the country concerned. Increases in population lead to increases in demands for infrastructure and the budget to cover these items must be in place. We can already see the current government struggling to deal with the bugetary impact of the infrastructure development i.e. the schools, roads and port.

      No one is debating whether or not Cayman's economic survival requires Caymanian and guest workers (aka "expatriates") alike; it's clear that we need guest workers. However, no where in the world is anyone "given residency and allowed to remain, simple" as you put it.

      So it's not as "simple" to use your wording as a free-for-all policy when it comes to immigration/residency/citizenship. Appropriate measures must be put in place to maintain, and possibly improve, the standard of living for all who live in these islands.

    • noname says:

      Allowed to remain and take the jobs our people are educated and already trained  to fill?

      Get over Cayman!

      Tthere are other places in this world to live, why are you fighting nail and tooth for this little rock?  Boy this place called Cayman must be sweet, there's something here these people really are infatuated with!

      Is it job opportunity because Government sells work permits to bring in revenue despite the many, many educated Caymanians capable and experienced to fill those same jobs?

      What a political ploy!

      Obama's doing the same thing in the US, its all politics and what is convenient for them, the moment they get elected in May 2013, politicians will be back to the ole boys business again of pandering up to those who have money and selling work permits by the thousands all over again and Caymanians remain as beggars begging for a job and a hand out from social services, what a humiliating disgrace, we are now a welfare state.

      Caymanians have lost all dignity and foreigners are allowed to maintain their dignity by way of security of job tenure!  such an unfair and crooked deal.

      Young people you better urge your friends, family and associates to go to thhe polls on July l8th, 2012 and vote for one man one vote.

      One man one vote is the waterloo for this saga.

      End it!

  33. So will fees be refunded? says:

    If this becomes the new policy, will those that paid for fees for the 2 year extension be refunded ?

    • Anonymous says:

      How about the additonal fees for applying for key employee?  Guess we all know the answer tho! Dont try and stand between CIG and a dollar!