In response to the payroll tax announcement
This makes me want to puke! Not so much for what the premier has announced but for the fact that Caymanians have sat on their hands allowed things to go this far and yet Caymanians have done nothing more substantial than bray like a jackass with a case of colic. Far too often Caymanians blame our plight on past administrations, other people, and myriad external factors – but we continually fail to accept that the person we look at in the mirror is the prime culprit behind our descent into the abyss.
Make no mistake, Caymanian born and bred stupidity and complacency is the prime cause of the mess we are in; not expats, not past administrations (or even present administrations): they have only done what Caymanians either encouraged or allowed.
It is easy to blame others, but the truth is that years upon years of ignorance, years upon years of mindless and idiotic voting, and years upon years of ghastly complacency and poor choices on the part of "born" Caymanians is what has plunged us to this depth.
Our autocratic maroon wastes money with impunity. He makes sweetheart deals and gives away our birthright to enrich opulently wealthy collaborators. He ridicules the rational leaders among us, and he all but dares us to do anything about it. As the country becomes stifled with debt, Bush gives away rights to future tourist tax dollars to an already fabulously rich developer! He fails to curb his extravagant spending and trim the expenses as urged to by the UK. Now he has the audacity to declare, out of the blue, a payroll tax!
And yet Caymanians do nothing but pass gas about it. We have turned into a country rife with lazy, complacent people, incompetent morons unable to plot a sound course for ourselves, so we haul up the sail under the command of even bigger morons .
The Cayman Islands is brimming with poltroons who whine and bitch and complain but are too self-involved, too impotent and too cowardly to do much else than snivel and whimper like whipped puppies. These lemmings who smile as they head over the cliff make me sick! The huge number of recreants in these islands make me ashamed to be called "Caymanian".
Caymanians push out their chest and say "I am Caymanian, worship me!" but yet they cower like sycophants before a despot who is bringing their so-called "beloved" islands to the brink of disaster: these kind of people are nothing more than contemptible craven caitiffs.
"Beloved Isle Cayman" my stinking foot! Show me someone who loves these islands enough to do more than sing off key about them with a misty nostalgia in their eyes and I might believe those words. Far too many of our people are inflated with the putrid flatulence of some pathetic semblance to ethnic pride but are too yellow-bellied to manifest any real pride in their own land and empower themselves and make their voices heard.
Caymanians claim to be a wise and independent people. Ha! What a joke we are making of that idea! No wonder we moan that we are the laughingstock among local expats. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…" Yep! That's us! We deserve all the contempt and derision than can be heaped upon us. Just look at the man we chose to lead us! (Well not me but a big bunch or born and bred morons chose him.) We are quick to give our opinion and pontificate on anything and everything, but when it counts the most, Caymanians as a whole are too impotent to impose their will in any meaningful way. In unabashed arrogance we lord it upon those who visit and work here but in reality a vast number of us are a cadre of cringers, too fearful to go nose-to-nose and do what has to be done to get the point across with any tenacity, courage or meaningful impact.
Show me loud, boisterous, passionate 24/7 protest marches that angrily demand that the UDP step down; show me likenesses of Makeewah and his minions burned in effigy all across these islands; show me work stoppages and strikes; show me UDP/Makeewah meetings aborted due to a deafening chorus of boo's and chants from an angry throng of people who think he and his minions need to go NOW. (Somebody show me some bloody courage, dammit!) Make some signs for us to wave, organise the grunting masses; let me see that Caymanians have some balls and I may cease to feel the urge to put a bag over my head when out with expats who know me and can brand me as being Caymanian.
I can hear the lily-livered snivelers among us now: "Oh no! We can't do that! It would cause instability." "It would look bad." "It might scare off investors". To these lackeys I say "Wake the hell up, you damn idiot!" Can't you see this country is already doomed if we continue to stand doltishly by picking our noses and whining? Don't you think we already look pretty damn bad and are looking worse by the day! What investors? The only investors around are the ones Mac wooed by giving up concessions and favours as if Cayman were a cheap whore. If the sky does not fall when a substantial part of the country grinds to a halt because of a glitch at CUC, the sky will not fall when the country grinds to a halt because of a loud and clear call to good governance and civil resistance to despotic power. Yeah, darling … it might be time to get a little rude!
For too long I and precious few others bold enough to tell it like it is have borne the brunt of being labelled as firebrands because we publicly have gone against the powers that be in regard to critical issues, while the rest of you snivelling whiners sat in the shadows. If there was any sign of life among you pusillanimous zombies it was usually expressed by quiet nodding and the occasionalmurmur of approval, all the while you look around in paranoia that you might be labelled a non-compliant rebel by expressing support for those who were exercising their right to free speech and putting it on the line.
If you read my postings here you know I tend to speak my mind. I am usually no less candid in public venues I can assure you. If you think for a moment and recall the voices that have abraded our lords and masters the most; think about those whose few who are brave enough to be outspoken and pro-active on important issues, those whose stubborn non-acceptance of every whim of government have made a difference: my voice was among those that you have heard.
Now it is time for more than just talk! Bush loves debate, darling! He relishes the opportunity to exchange words. He thrives on hot air. As long as we merely talk, Bush knows his tyrannical reign is quite secure. As long as his subjects remain suitably docile he knows they are impotent to stop him from doing whatever he wants.
More talk will not change things. It is time for action. I will be contacting those who I know are like-minded to begin to organise mass protests. I know others will be doing the same shortly. Icall on many many many more others reading this to do likewise.
Caymanians! Wake the hell up! It is time to stop whimpering and do something! It is time for concerned Caymanians to take off the kid gloves and come together en masse and make our will be known! If this goes like the referendum vote and mass protests fails to materialise, then Caymanians indeed are the pathetic clowns we claim that some expats take us for.
Please circulate this message and make it go viral all across this land. Do it for your country; do it for yourselves!
Category: Viewpoint
See you at the protest on Monday before Macs meeting.
To illustrate the long-term effects of this change, consider my example:
I am a Canadian Finance professional contemplating a move to the Caribbean for two years. Of the many options available, the Cayman Islands was my first choice based on their history and outstanding reputation.
Given that my estimated annual salary would be $80 – $100K USD per year, the proposed tax has given me a $16K-$20K (over 2 years) disincentive to move to the Caymans versus my alternatives. It would be irrational of me to make this move if the Cayman Islands do not provide a value proposition equal to or greater than the taxes I will pay. Though I am sure the schools are very nice, I am single with no children and find it very unlikely that I would recoup that amount through any social services offered by the Cayman Islands compared to my other Caribbean options.
To attract professionals, Cayman businesses will be forced to adjust wages upward by an amount equal to the tax increase. This will make doing business in the Caymans a much less desirable option for people considering where to conduct their offshore operations.
There is a key difference between raising taxes in a country such as Canada and taxing expats in the Cayman Islands. In Canada, we just accept it. There's really nothing we can do but vote and deal with the consequences. In the Cayman Islands, expats and businesses will vote with their feet. Fewer expats will come and those that do will demand higher wages to offset their taxes. A cost that will have to be absorbed by the businesses.
Another way to look at this is as a Laffer curve issue. What Bush fails to realize is how incredibly sensitive a mostly two-year rotational labour force will be to any taxes when much more rational alternatives abound in the region. Revenues will rise in the short-term, but decreased growth and fewer expats paying taxes will minimize the effects of the tax increase.
Caymanians will ultimately pay the price with a sluggish and dying economy.
See you at the protest on Monday!
Signed:
Another disgusted, frustrated Caymanian.
I loved ever word of it. WE need all the help we can get right now, and when people like "Just Commentin" voice's their rightful and true opinions' then it will get noticed by the right and true Caymanian people, who can, and will do the right thing for all.
Let’s all do what “Just Commentin says”. Let’s march on Cayman, and do what's right for all of us. Let's roll as the old saying goes. It's time to take back our country.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Big Mac is taking pages from the Idi Amin and Mugabe text books on how to destroy a country?
Good points. But, you need to watch the way you generalize Caymanians.
In what way was there a generalization about Caymanians in this ststement???
How can you not see the generalization? The poster kept saying "Caymanians this and Caymanians that" and never said "Some Caymanians…" Here are some snippets from the FIRST paragraph alone to highlight a few:
"…but for the fact that Caymanians have sat on their hands allowed things to go this far and yet Caymanians have done nothing more substantial than bray like a jackass with a case of colic." That is not true, not all Caymanians have sat on their hands.
"Far too often Caymanians blame our plight on past administrations, other people, and myriad external factors – but we continually fail to accept that the person we look at in the mirror is the prime culprit behind our descent into the abyss." Not ALL Caymanians think this or put the blame there.
And especially here in another paragraph where the poster says, "Caymanians as a whole are too impotent to impose their will in any meaningful way."
So I will say it again, not all Caymanians think and act this way.
"Caymanians as a whole are too impotent to impose their will in any meaningful way." All evidence proves this to be true. But go ahead and say it again. But this time click your heels together twice as you say it.
He is right to generalize, because not one true voice has risen from the morass of insanity, ineptitude and collusion to challenge their leadership.
It is almost as though Caymanians want to be detroyed by this man rather than admit a few expats who live here and love this place (or what it used to be) could possibly be right.
Well Bobo, da wa ya get. Pride before the fall, or haven't you read?
Sir, an excellent post. I commend you.
Why? Because I should "generalise" that Caymanians are (generally) so wise and courageous and they love their country so much that they never choose poor leaders and then stood cowering and allowed this country to slide into the abyss in the hands of a tyrant of their own choosing and I am just in a coma somewhere dreaming that Caymanians (generally speaking) either do not care or do not have the political balls to put a halt to the madness? Oh, sorry. Maybe someone will pinch me and this nightmare will end. Maybe I am not the only one in a coma. Maybe we all need to wake up! But somehow – generally speaking – it does not look like this is gonna happen, huh?
If the expat tax does come into play and drives people out you are not only losing consumers which keep the economy running but also the people who help run your critical services like hospital staff and teachers, the people who volunteer in your animal shelters, those who help maintenance work on heritage sites, run your arts/culture programs, play on your sports teams, socialise with at your bars and clubs as well as pass on their knowledge and expertise on a whole range of topics. The withdrawal of this will have a negative effect on "community" relations. Aren't expats part of the cayman community?
Expats already have no voice here, that has been accepted as the price of being here, but to allow them to be subject to taxation laws without the chance of putting an argument across is quite unfair. Most expats would like to have a voice in Cayman, I'd dare say a majority would happily pay tax if it meant they have representation, a chance to use the same public services afforded to Caymanians and take the fear factor out of not knowing their fate after 7 years of living on the island (i.e. guaranteed status)
You write eloquently about our cowardice and failure to stand up but then you right anonymously. You are not exactly leading the charge.
I am no UDP supporter but I am with the Premier on this one keep on the “community enhancement fee” it is needed at this point. The Premier is right on this one and the other politician should stop political postering on this. I hate taxes but we are here now between the devil and the deep blue sea. A community enhancement fee vs layoffs? “community enhancement fee” win everytime. The sky is not falling here people this too shall pass.
Thank you civil servants. It is becasue of your incompetence and huge benefit packages that Cayman needs to tax anyone. Free gas, healthcare,pension, and no expectation of work done has cost everyone else. Now go back to sleep.
For those who have voiced support, thanks! For those who agree with what I said but think I should "come out" and display my true identity and "lead the charge", thanks for your encouragement and here is why I have not yet chosen to emerge on this venue:
As I pointed out in my original comment, for many years my voice has been among those few who did "lead the charge" on many vital and controversial issues. I spent – we spent – much time and resources contacting people and helping to organise grass-roots movements to focus attention on critical issues. At public meetings, I was and am usually among those in the front row and on the front lines and I always speak my mind.
My activism has effected many facets of my life, my business, my friends and my family. I have spent much time and at times my own money. I have experienced attempts at victimisation by those with power. But it was worth it. I know my efforts and those of like-minded people have certainly made a difference for the good of this country.
However, as we put our balls on the line over the years, we would look around and realise that the masses of Caymanians, including those with a much higher stake regarding some of the issues we fought for and against, were not exactly queuing up to stand by us and make their will be known. My businesses have never depended on the graces of government and my hand is not open to get more than a fair share. However, I am growing weary of taking the first shots only to look behind me and see a paltry group coming up the hill. Somehow I am not exactly thrilled at the prospect of "leading the charge" alone while behind the trees and in their caves the majority of my fellow Caymanians hide, cowering and complacent, or snug and comfy – impotence and ineffectiveness their common denominators.
As time passes, like Alexander, I choose my battles. I have nothing to be ashamed of, I have fought many good fights. Unless and until I see a clear indication that a credible and compelling mass of Caymanians are ready to put their balls on the line and stand shoulder to shoulderwith me and demand a change, I will probably be reluctant to launch a one-person public onslaught in hopes of inspiring other Caymanians out of their slumber. Which is why I and several like-minded people are testing the waters carefully with a view to organising public meetings in the districts with the objective being to demand that Mac resign. Why, Wizzard Miller has not already done so tells me that he does not want to burn any bridges, lest he hamper his political fantasies from coming true. Wizzard fiddles, Rome burns.
Surely I am not the only Caymanian who can muster the masses. If I am it is a pretty damn sad situation – even more pathetic than expressed in my Viewpoint. Is there anyone else who is with me on this? I am not talking about a quiet restlessness, here, I am quite serious about the burnings in effigy and marching and signs and clamorous chanting. Come on. Can we see some token that we will not be not alone? If so then maybe I will – we will – be inspired to emerge.
(Oh, hell, on this issue I will emerge at some point, soon, even if I am still just commentin' here on CNS.)
Only a fool would walk up to a bully and and say go ahead and hit me(or get me fired). Cayman is a third world country complete with a dictator (who is to be called honorable premeir or else) and a well payed group of backers. Look what has just happened to the last guy who stood up UN-anonymously. In Cayman you cannot stand up and talk freely. So many have to be anonymous like you.
Your own personal cowardice and failure to stand up is noted Caymanian
Anonymous.
What a joy to finally read osomething from someone who isn't afraid to tell the WHOLE truth!!
Chris (not verified) on Wed, 07/25/2012 – 20:22. You just won't see the truth – so sad. How's your new fridge / freezer / washing machine going?
What an absolutely brilliant article, Mr Just Commentin'. 2 Thumbs Up!!!
Just need someone to organise some protests now, only way there is a small change he will listen, doubt he would then either though, kinda like the Sryian president blame on the opposition…
You have eloquently proven that Caymanians live in fear of political reciprocity. You say, march, protest, etc. but yet you yourself have to remain anonymous. While your passion is contagious, it is evident that you represent so many Caymanians who talk a lot, but are afraid to do anything. What will people think? It might look bad on Cayman. What will people say? What will the Govt. do to me or my business? This is one of the drawbacks of living on such a tiny island nation. Everybody knows everybody and everybody's business. This could at the same time however, be a powerful tool. With everyone being united, and proactive, the people could actually display an actual movement instead of a lot of talk. I along with so many other Caymanians living abroad, watch with great interest and concern the happenings of the homeland we left behind. It is good to remember that one of the most powerful tools you possess is your vote. Make your voice heard; vote.
I had to take several visits to the online dictionary before I could complete the reading, but I like what you had to say.
Very well said. Thankyou
Very well put.
I voted Yes! for OPOV and i marched in GT and EE to protest foolishness by this Govt.
I have also protested against the previous Govt. when they folded to foolish "negociations" with UDP and religious right wing zealots in relation to pushing through a watered down 2009 Constitution. One that gave almost ALL the power to the politicians and little to the people.
And i will continue to stand for what i feel is right, just and ethical….for real "Good Governance"!
And i'm a Civil Servant too.
Is there any organisation out there that is willing to coordinate a march on the goverment buildings?
Och. That article hurt but you are pretty close to the truth. I have been campaigning against much as to what this meglomaniac has been doing for years. Some could see what he was up to years ago. When a bank goes down you know something is wrong. The writing was on the wall years ago.
It is now too late fate has befallen us unless the fuzz can complete their investigations in a timely manner and save us from the asinine decisions of the West Bay despot. Do not hold your breath.
I agree with most of what you have said, but….
We could all probably take you more seriously if you had a name other than "Just Commentin'".
I would suggest that your hiding behind anonymity when writing such a missive is part of the very problem you complain about. You want people to show "balls"? Show them yourself – write under your real name.
Personally, I'm an expat with no security of tenure (soon come, hopefully – I think) so you won't get me putting my name to this. But I've never understood why so many bright and educated Caymanians are afraid of speaking their minds. Instead, you let the same old politician wantabes and unemployed dolts speak for Caymanians. I suppose it's some cultural more, but when the kind of insanity that is happening now occurs, people need to stand up and be heard, and not anonymously!
You berate the man for 'hiding' under a false name but do exactly the same thing for fear of getting your residency denied? Surely a double standrd there, the original poster calls on people to stand up and be counted and you feel that you cant't put your own head above the paprapet ? How is anything going to change in this country if everyone is so scared to say anything ?
If he does stand up he won't get his residency! And Bush won't care until he has the vote anyway. Entirely rational behaviour. Conversely a Caymanian cannot be deported from his own country (not yet anyway) for voicing an opinion, and his vote does count.
So you who want to know who I am are saying that the truth is more truthful if its author is known? Strange line of reasoning, but…whatever floats your boat.
I would not be so quick to disparage anonymity. I would love to see thousands of citizens posting here anonymously calling for public meetings and marches and protests over the madness Bush is imposing. History is filled with examples of the fact that, passion – though anonymously inflamed – can eventually burn and spread until the people are empowered to resurrect their tarnished pride and muster up their flagging courage and stand up for what is right! But a docile and complacent people will always become slaves to tyrants.
Must I remind you that the most powerful country in history was born when a group of men disguised themselves as natives, boarded ships and threw some tea overboard? The anonymous acts of these men kindled consuming fires of passion in the masses, and ultimately the emboldened and empowered people made an empire back off!
Come on! Caymanians! Let's hear from you now! Write! Be bold in your words. You need cower no more! Let's assemble here and kindle the tinder of passion that lies waiting to burst forth. Love your country now! By your boldness here you just may change the course of history. Imagine that! The pen is mighter than the sword! Arise, people, and be heard!
One of the best, most eloquent and passionate pieces I have read on here for a long time !
From an expat, I salute you !
What I have to say about your article? No offense, but it is pure BS, politically motivated to stir disorder, and full of hate against a man. There is really no substance in your article but to attack the Premier when he has to make hard decisions for this country.
No offense, Chris, but I hope no one thinks I am the Chris that made the above comment. If I HAD written it I would have used "stupid" instead of "hard" in the last sentence. That would tend to fit the Premier's actions more accurately.
Certainly not this Chris writing the BS as I do not wear rose tinted glasses. Everything that can be said has been said in these responses which are of course being shared with the rest of the world.
Ahh, a declaration of "BS" but, like a true Big Makahuna minion, no rational refutation, therefore, essentially a rant. Thank you for yet another illustration of the attitude of a Makeewah minion, and why he has to go.
So you think my article was intended to motivate the masses into getting off our a$$es and using all legal means of civil resistance to bring Bush's trannical rule to "disorder"? And you accuse me of attacking Bush because of his "hard" (meaning moronic) choices? Well! What's new there, darlin? Ding! Ding! You can read! Wow! Yeah! This is exactly my one of intentions! (DUH!) Ooo! Good job, Chris! You deserve a little gold star next to your name…darlin'!
For you to come on this site with your PPM-Bush rantings and deny the past administrations contribution to our economic downturn, is for you to expect us to sqeeze our minds into your little world of hate and arrogance for a man. No wonder why he is regaining momentum. Usually those who do the crudifixion, are those in history ending up on the losing side. I don't expect any better from the ignorant crowd. Your article is immaterial despite you making all the thumbs down here. 😉
Try this for a mind-squeeze: Typical of Big Makahuna minions, you fail to read a comment or article critically, miss the point and then you fly off into the sun with pitch-coated wings. (But then I do not expect any better from the ignorant crowd.)
Since my stuff is so "immaterial", and you are so bright (or at least think so anyway), let's see you refute the critical point upon which a large portion of my comment hinged, darlin'.
Makeewah's minions are masters of misinformation, and you are no different. (But then I do not expect any better from the ignorant crowd.) Contrary to your incorrect allegation, I did not disallow that past administrations made a "contribution" to our plight, actually I proffered that idea as part of my moot. I expounded on a concept, which concept – in case in your self-satisfied cranial splendor you somehow missed, I will reiterate from my posting: "…past administrations (or even present administrations)…have only done what Caymanians either encouraged or allowed." The construct of the sentence makes your allegation absurd! (But then I do not expect any better from the ignorant crowd.) Past (and present) administrations would have to share culpability of else the rest of the clause would make no sense – but your allegation would still be absurd. Is this or is this not true? Come on! True or not true? T or F?
What do you not understand about this idea? Ok, since complex sentences seem to elude your capability of comprehension, let me try to putit into simple words that those who would elect a man with a grade 5 education would understand: Translated into grade 5 words, this means: "If leaders in our past messed up we either let them do it or we helped them do it." Hopefully I made it simple enough for you to grasp. Got it now? My point is that no matter what past or present governments have done or not done, they have done nothing that was not allowed or abetted by Caymanians. So….Is my point true or is not true? Come on! True or not true? T or F? So what's your answer, darlin'?
I made only two basic points. Putting it in grade 5 words and condensing it to fit an attenuated attention span: 1. If leaders have messed up it is because we either let them do it or we helped them do it. And, 2. Caymanians are too scaredy-cat to get rid of their bad leaders. Simple enough for ya, darlin'??
BTW: Your allusion to crucifixion does not hold water historically (but then I don't expect any better from the ignorant crowd). Those who do the crucifixion usually live. (Right?) those who are crucified usually die an excruciating death. (Right?) The Roman empire expanded after they crucified the man known as Jesus Christ, and it endured for over 1400 years thereafter. It was actually Alexander who spread the practice of crucifixion throughout the known world by using it liberally in the lands he conquered. Ol' Al was one of its most ardent practitioners. Crucifixion was one of Alexander's favourite remedies for people who annoyed him. Anyway…the reality is that if you were crucified by Alexander, or any other leader,it meant that he won, and…you ended up loosing…darlin'.
Now if by "crucifying" the Big Makahuna and his minions you are alluding to the act of making ones displeasure towards bad government known by exercising one's right to free speech and freedom of assembly, your crucifixion metaphore is absurd or maybe even "immaterial" (but then I don't expect any better from the ignorant crowd). Mandela incited widespread protest and brought down an entrenched social and political system and became its leader. The 13 Colonies burned the king in effigy and eventually became the most powerful country on earth, while Englands empire evaporated. The Suffragettes got the vote. And, hopefully, in a time in the not too distant future, rational Caymanians who love their country will rise up and rid this land of the Makeewah blight…darlin'.