Mac refuses to cut CS jobs
(CNS): In addition to a 10% tax of work-permit holders' income, the government will be introducing a directorship fee and another employment fee to firms employing foreign workers in jobs that could go to Caymanians in order to try and balance the 2012/13 budget. In a broadcast to the nation on Wednesday evening announcing the new payroll tax, Premier McKeeva Bush said he had refused to cut the 500-700 jobs needed for government to balance its books and had preserved the public sector workforce. However, the payback for that was the requirement that all civil service staff and their families will now make a contribution to their healthcare provisions and their pensions plans.
In a statement that demonstrated just how bad the state of government finances has become, the premier confirmed that, despite his promises to hold out on taxes, Cayman needed a new source of sustainable revenue and he would turn to direct taxation.
Although Bush claimed the so-called 'Community Enhancement Fee' was not an income tax, it will be calculated on the incomes and taken from the earnings of all work-permit holders who are paid more than $20K per year.
In what appeared to be an effort to soften the blow, Bush announced that employers of non-Caymanian workers and those employees would no longer be required to contribute to a compulsory pension scheme, cutting the burden to businesses.
Bush said that he had been under twin pressures from the UK to simultaneously cut spending and increase revenue.
“The FCO insisted that the Government strengthen its fiscal position by implementing a greater level of expenditure reductions,” he said. “The FCO is also of the firm view that the strengthening and improving of fiscal results for the Government must not occur solely as a result of reductions to expenditure, but revenues of the Government need serious enhancement and expansion.”
His statement listed vague references to savings in the public sector, such as cuts in marketing and the centralization of procurement. He also announced the sale of the police helicopter based on recommendations from the Expenditure Review Committee.
However, he said he had fought to hold on to benefits for veterans and seamen as well as assistance for churches and community projects.
There was, he said, a further request from London to reduce an additional $20 million “in areas of the budget which give grants to: Seamen/Veterans benefits, Social Services, such as the Elderly and Handicapped Persons benefits, temporary rental assistance and temporary financial assistance for persons who find themselves unemployed, Education Council Scholarships, grants to Community programmes such as apprenticeship programmes and church related programmes. To do this would truly make our community suffer much more than at present. I have refused that cut!” Bush stated.
As a result of a myriad number of announcements in the statement relating to the forthcoming budget, the premier said he would begin a serious of public meetings starting on Monday evening.
See premier's full statement below.
Category: Politics
One of the areas that needs to be urgently cut is ALL of that free travel on Cayman Airways by former employees and their whole families. That free education funding for all the UDP supporters children. It should be limited to 1 child per family, not every child of 1 family getting the free education funding. While others are being cut off by the Education Ministry because they could not make the 3.0GPA. No one knows their story why, perhaps the ministry should ask the students why and access, not just cut them off because they fell below the standard.
As aCS I disagree with the cuts, why? because why should I sacrifice while Mac gets to keep his nation building fund, pension , salary, and all his other perks? A true leader makes sacrafices with their people. In WWII, King George VI and his wife were subjected to food rationings just like their subjects.
If the higher paid expats have to pay tax and they leave the I sland we will be left with only poor ass people to make up our community. Cant some people see, Dont blame only Mack, but all his extension cords are just as guilty.
Where will these higher expats that have to pay tax leave to go where they will not have to pay more than 10% taxes and make the same salary? Please tell me because me and my household will follow them. Yours for a better Cayman with or without taxes.
About a month ago I took a job with my company in the US (west coast). Same role and title. At the moment after tax, retirement contributions, and healthcare contributions, my Cayman role is worth 3% more then the US role. After this tax (depending on whether Cayman treats healthcare contributions etc as pre-tax or not) the Cayman role is worth 7-9% less than the US role. I have loved my time here in Cayman, and am moving for family reasons primarily, but there seems to be a dangerous presumption that professional jobs here have significantly more financial reward then in other countries. They don’t always. You do have “the beach” advantage for sure, but after factoring cost of living, etc, I couldn’t say its been financially more rewarding.
BVI
Bermuda
Panama
TCI (Recently added VAT)
These are all fairly local. There are more, especially if you're willing to go to the other side of teh globe.
The better question is; other than the tax free status, what unique attribute does Cayman have to offer that will draw foreign money to the local economy. There are lots of other islands with beautiful beaches and some are even actually seven miles long or longer.
Bush is an out-and-out coward. Votes first, and the economy somewhere down the list.
everywhere else in the world, gov expenditure(civil service) is being slashed…..
yet this buffonn promises no job cuts???????????
I have a huge problem with Civil Servants having to pay for healthcare and pension because the richest developer in these islands is getting all kinds of concessions from my government and that's why me and many other CS who can't afford this now have to pay!! This is really, really unfair!!!
Where is the voice of the dumb-founded Civil Service Assen in all of this mess??
My wife and I are regular contributors to the NCVO, Pines Retirement Home, Humane Society, and PAWS. These are the ways we give back to the Cayman Islands and help to "enhance" the community. With the introduction of this payroll tax, our ability to help these specific (and needy) organizations will all but disappear.
OK-Will the civil servant CINICO Payments include the right to go to private doctors?
It better dam well be!
"Mac refuses to firevoters"
Great headline
If the CIG people (all of them) would pay their fair share Cayman would not need another tax to survive.
But no.
If the money (all of it) that CIG spends was auditable there would be a surplus enough to finish the schools and build YOUR OWN docks.
But no.
If the UK would just step in and manage the finances and still let Caymanian leadership do their part Cayman still yet has the resources to get back on top.
But no.
Why is that? Think hard and long. The reasons are easy to see and not hard to understand.
I am glad you said "all of them" because I have always paid my fair share and don't depend on government for anything.. I pay over CI$1,000 every month for private insurance coverage for my family and although we usually go to private doctors, on the odd occasion that we go to the GT Hosp I claim it from my insurance. There are many other civil servants who do the same so please do not generalise. What needs to be done is for the foreign workers without adequate insurance to be cut off from obtaining free health care at the emergency room at HSA for non-emergency issues. It happens and it would be good to have an audit done of that amount! They don't have adequate coverage but get treatment and guess who pays? You got it, governnment, i.e. us the people!
I rarely ever go to the hospital. I go to the private doctor almost all of the time. If they institute this, I'll just take my family off it and get private insurance since I don'tuse it anyway.
The problem is that there is some people that abuse the system and practically lives at the hospital.
so funny! the regualr run-on-the-mill people commenting here have more sense than our MLA's. mabe one of you should run next year!
Cayman is now a COUNTRY with a rich resource' CAYMANITE"
What plan does government have to capitalize on that or are we going to let
an investor pirate come in and steal that from us too????????
Use commonsense and begin to export, or harvest and trade 'CAYMANITE"
You are sitting on a gold mine!
NO INVESTOR/THIEF/PIRATE OR EXTORTIONER SHOULD GET AN EXCLUSIVE ON
THIS EITHER, SO DON'T TRYING ANYTHING!!!
Definitely you should let us.
get rid of kx mainline (keep express as it is needed) kx mainline is not…and get rid of the 'new' turtle farm….keep the old turtle farm…..I suspect that would go a long way…it would be hard no doubt but destroying the fabric of cayman is far worse in the long run.
The get rid of Cayman Airways mantra keeps getting bleeted. But people conveinently forget a few essential benefits that Cayman Airways provides to the Cayman Islands.
1. Relatively low cost means for tourists to get to the Cayman Islands.
An absolutely essential feature for an island so dependent on tourism. The money that tourists arriving via Cayman Airways bring to the economy far outweighs the loss from the airline itself. Privatization of the national flag carrier will not provide the same low cost conduit. See Air Jamaica for example. And without the low cost competion from KX the other air carriers will ramp up thier prices rapidly. This will in turn make Cayman a less desirable tourist destination due to the travel cost.
2. Another oft forgotten, but critical need for Cayman Airways is for evacuation of the isalnds in case of hurricane. While it may be possible to bring in charters or some such on relatively short notice there is no guaranteed availability as there is with KX being owned by the government.
There are many things that should definitely be cut to curtail exsessive government spending. Over staffing and nonessential offices are ripe for being made redundant, but other services such as KX provide a greater benefit to the country than may appear on their individual balance sheets.
Premier says: "The rationalisation of remuneration in Statutory Authorities is expected to yield "savings" or expenditure reductions of $1.5 million".
So he is not cutting civil servants' salaries, but Statutory Authorities, who already contribute to health insurance are having salary cuts? Am I reading this right?
I tell ya what, that may be a brilliant idea fro there are "some" case of overpaid staff who dont think dont contribute and get handsomely paid. CNS an FOI on Statutory Authoity salaries would be very revealing.
YEP….SOME OF THEM MAKE MORE THAN THE PREMIER! LOL Check it out!
What I do not understand is: there are may be 25,000 caymanian.How many civil servants and revenue really needed to serve them?
Civil servants do not only serve Caymanians obviously. They serve all residents plus visitors immigration and customs).
So, he says No to cutting the "hand-out" money, a mere 4million today in the grand scheme of things, and would rather introduce DIRECT TAXES in the Cayman Islands – which may cause us to lose untold millions tomorrow and well into the future.
He is so short-sighted he must have blinders on!
yea, Mac would rather keep his ‘healthy voting pool’ alive than our econamy. Afterall, he pays the churches and the economically deprived ( and then some). Fair exchange for a vote, I’d say! Sad!! Why does he continue to make exceptions and exemptions for revenue collection when our islands are BROKE??
Mac refuses to acknowledge his complete incompetence as do his people. Its like watching stevie wonder drive a car. Funny as anything I have ever seen but also a little sad.there should be no doubt now as to the question: will the UK "have to" take over Cayman just to save it from themselves? Its that or a total breakdown of Cayman in the near future. $200 million a year for this tiny little nation and they still couldn't make it work.
you cut my job or wages i cut yo wotes ya feel me
Agree 100% with comments from 06:14. As an ex-civil servant and pensioner, I can relate to your suggestions because I also made recommendations to improve revenues and expenditure but to no avail. Managers are scared to put forward recommendations and/or make decisions for fear of losing their jobs; and there is no political will to introduce sustainable measures that may cause some pain in the short term but greater gain in the long term because politicians are primarily concerned with re-election.
This situation has been brewing for years and finally the fat has hit the fire – UK is here !!! I am not surprised – I saw this coming and no one in authority would do anything about it. Everyone just keep doing "business as usual" politicians and top management alike – they are all to blame for the situation this country finds itself in. It is so sad that these decisions now will cause more divide between Expats and Caymanians; and if this 10% goes through why are expats Civil Servants exempted – the majority are highly paid.
They are exempted because they are the ones who proposed it.
AHHHH… Sorted it out. all my staff will make under 20k pa but i will be paying for their homes, schooling, health, food, car, gas, bar tabs, boat, vacations, some jewery and birthday, christmas presents for their families. Guess what , no tax for them and i dont have to pay pension. LOL
No work permits issued for under 20K that amount is below the poverty line and we will not import poverty so no worry no work permit paying under 20K how about that?
Can you imagine if Mac cut 500-700 jobs? That is a horrible solution and I stand behind Mac, not a CS employee BTW. So the only solution is to find new ways to increase revenue and cut expenses. The problem is, and I'm an expert at finding measures in cutting costs and making businesses more profitable, CIG is a huge business and we all know there are many ways in which funds are being wasted but identifying them is another thing. If any of you think your up for the task then please stop rediculing Mac and run for office yourself if you think you can do a better job! Mac's job is not an easy one and I do not wish to be in his shoes, do you? It's far eassier to redicule then to find real world solutions to real world problems. I only wonder if Mac is seeking professional advice from anyone other than his constituants? Mac do your thing to the best of your ability, that's all you can do, people will always criticize.
Most of the people with sense are either unable to stand for office, or unwilling to taint their integrity by beingin office with the corrupt MLAs that are already there.
Time to sweep out the entire LA.
In the meantime, the CS is over-staffed with the overpaid and under-worked, leaving the rest of us to pay down on the burden.
Thu, 07/26/2012 – 19:11, I agree with the first two sentences of your post but take issue with "In the meantime, the CS is over-staffed with the overpaid and under-worked, leaving the rest of us to pay down on the burden." The Civil Service is like any large organisation, made up of some lazy people, some hard workers and many others in between, however for people to continually attack the service and blame those workers, the majority of whom are overworked and underpaid, is just wrong. What you should call for is to have the lazy, overpaid ones identified and gotten rid of. The politicians are afraid to do that but it is what needs to be done. Nevertheless, this too will not solve the economic woes of the country. What needs to be done is for a radical change to take place in the way government's funds are being spent and or given away!
I'm from a Country where we pay tax everywhere and the Gov is in trouble too. So you can see it will not fix the problem. Need to cut the expenses. And little weekend trip at $75 000 on public purse
Waving hand FRANTICALLY!!!! ME ME ME TEACHA….I KNOW WHERE>>>>PICK ME!!!
– Nation Building (I want to buy your vote) Fund
– Solar (I probably will not see the light of day after these allegations) Panels
– Home (I am tired of having to buy fridges now CIG can pay for them) Repairs
That's like huuummmm 25 million I believe.
MLA Salaries can be cut by 20%
No more double dipping pension and salaries
No more travel unless EMERGENCY which can be vetoed by the opposition leader.
Collecting the 6 Mil from Ryan another good thing.
Collecting back from the people who stole using the gas cards might help
Where else??? huuuummmm no more concessions unless approved by a 90% margin in the LA.
I am sure with more information I could find more money to be shaved.
Raise duty on luxury items (expensive boats, cars) and reduce duty on food (bread, milk, baby supplies) – you would make money
Sell Boatswain's Beach! Even if you sold it for 1 dollar you would be saving what, 9million per year?
Promote Cayman Brac and Little Cayman more and have Cayman Airways stop into the Brac more times per week
Encourage produce and livestock growing in Cayman Brac and import more locally grown foods from there
The last two will help the Brac and Little become more self-sustaining, therefore less subsidy from public purse.
Hope ALL Gov, including elected members, salaries will be examined &revised…it was only a matter of time before the bucket bottom fell out…collecting pension AND salary should NEVER be allowed!
Ya see what I see? Mac never takes responsibility fa any mess…it is either the fault of PPM, FCO & now willing to dump the responsibility of the CS on the Governor, but I bet when the financial position improves and we eventually get to a surplus in the budget, Mac will try to take the credit!!
Bye bye Cayman. See you when you grow a brain.
Sorry, we don't have enough brains for that.
"It is a well-known fact that the Civil Service is inefficient."…
Well, that statement is indeed a far-reaching conception.
But, having knowledge of the private sector, it's no better there, in general. (Ever tried calling a businessplace and getting a live person to help)?
However, the ghostly silence of the Civil Service Association on the issues (and common misperceptions) is again Deafening!!!
And your point is?? oh yes, in the private sector we make a profit, this is why my phone is automated, i don't need to hear some dumb ass grumpy person on the phone, oh forgot can you say Attitude as well. That's most Government Dept's for you right there, at least when you call my office the machine comes on , you put my name in and it rings my office. ohh and it's cheaper than paying someone, PROFIT$$$$$.
So cut the CS, make these people go get real jobs, not just sit on the Asses all day make a good salary, free health care etc..
Hey – you sound like be the plumber I been waiting on for days.. can u give me a cell number instead!!
Since u have my deposit i not going to call no one else til u do your job!
All Right then, all I can see is people complaining, there is no Caymanian or expat suggesting a solution or recommending a solution.
My 2 cents are the past government put us in this debt, they borrowed 250mil in a year, increased the civil service by 33% and the average salaries in the civil service from approx. 50K per year to 70k per yr. Now we have Supreme Leader taxing people expats 10%, he should have done it at 5%.
The pension being cancelled for expats is a good think, but our Supreme leader has it wrong, it is not going to help me the small business man, what it really helps is the large business, eg, I have 3 employees and pay 5% 250pm per employee $750pm, $9,000pa, now let’s look at a large company with 150 employee’s (now I know pensions are less due to salaries under 60k) so let’s work on average $175pm that’s $26,250pm and $310,000pa in savings the company will no longer have to pay. BIG SAVINGS!!!
Maybe our leader should have looked at this and just said no more pensions for expats and Caymanians for one year, whoever everyone has to contribute these funds to Government. So let’s 25,000 people pay pension ( we some don’t, but for those who don’t large fines of say $25K per company,but actually fine them and send the labor office out to do their job), so 25,000 at an average of $150pm equates to $3,750,000pm and $45,000,000pa. NOT PERFECT BUT AN IDEA…. Budget covered……. OH and I am sure there is more than 25,0000 payingpensions.
Now the above is only for a year. What the government has to do in the next year look at cutting costs, possibly take away the following from the Civil Service;
A 10% in salaried employees making over 60k per yr.
MLA’s 20% decrease
Reduce cost of travel and training overseas, a majority of this can be done online, in fact screw you guys going away for meetings, SKYPE it’s free ( That’s what I do now and saves me 35k pa)
Collect a fees that are currently not being paid i.e. the Hyatt Hotel (wasn’t it 25k per day in fines), 3 yrs now, that’s approx. $27 million owed to us. If can’t pay, too bad, we now own it and sell it to Dart for $30 million.
Small fee but adds up, boats license, I pay mine but I put money on it that 90% of people don’t, now this is not much money but say 2,000 boats @ $250pa equals $500,000pa.
My email seems to be getting to long, so I’m off, but these are just a few ideas.
We need to assist all the donkeys……..stop bitchin
I’m sure I’m going to get a bitching from some people, but I don’t give a …… I VOTE!!!!! Just don’t know who to vote for anymore….
I'm not sure where you got that figure concerning the mean pay for Civil servants? The average GDP for the Cayman Islands is around $42,000 per annum. The average pay within the Civil service mirrors the national GDP. Whilst the other element of your post contain valid ideals and points, please refrain from exaggerating the salaries of the average civil servant. I will acknowledge that the upper level civil servants receive large salaries, however, they are make up the majority of workforcing force within the civil service.
GDP per person is not the same as income per person.
Globally companies as well as governments are slashing jobs. Cisco laid off 3% of its work force, RIM cut 6000 jobs (mismanagement of financial expectations…ring any bells), the Canadian government cut hundreds of civil servant positions, locally both LIME and Digicel have had to make cuts to stay within declining budgets, what makes the CIG any different than other major employers. Taxing and spending don't work (case in point the current US economic quagmire). What needs to happen is to create efficiencies in the current government, automate certain departments such as the licensing dept, immigration, customs etc. which yes will likely create a loss of some public sector jobs, however the increase in revenues by way of volume would offset some of those losses. Privatize aspects of the government as well, Bush is already working on PPP projects (Dart) so privatizing outright aspects like the port authority, HSA among others and let them run as revenue generating ventures rather than losses. The previous AG was essentially "run out of town' for bringing to light the chronic disease of apathy in government accounting principalsand now the attack is on the current AG. If the voting populous is standing up and saying we wont stand for back room dealings and cloak and dagger financial reporting anymore then possibly future governments will actually listen. Quit voting "OUT" the current governments and focus on putting in people who will actually represent the interests of the Cayman Islands. I for one wish I had the opportunity to cast ballots when election times roll. being given the privileged of exercising that right means you have a SAY in how your country runs. Alas I don't have the right and the CIG will never allow it. Stand up for what is rightfully yours Cayman and stamp out corruption at all political levels. If the current tax issue passes, i fear the worst for the people of Cayman. post after post on this site show that foreign workers wont stand for discrimination and will likely just leave in frustration. great right? all those jobs become available again for Caymanian people, but wait where will those jobs be if the employers are too frustrated with dealing in a corrupt society and they too choose to locate elsewhere? Sorry those jobs wont be around for anyone to take them on unless you are willing to move with the employers. It has been said time and time again, financial services companies in cayman are here for one reason and one reason only, there is no direct taxation. all things being equal, these companies have their choice of sunny climates to domicile and believe me there far easier places in the world to do business than Cayman.Long rant i know but discriminatory taxation isn't the answer, cutting spending and creating efficiencies in Government are where the CIG will start to see a balanced budget!
Mac is about to drive us off a cliff, pretty soon CG & Rollie and crew going starting praising the beautiful view – never mind that certain death awaits at the bottom
Cayman's business industry cannot survive implementation of direct taxation in ANY form.
Nor is it even necessary. We collected $500,000,000 in revenue which is enough to manage this small Island. Mckeeva has to cut his wasteful expenditure. That he doesnt want to, I get it — but hear what, TOUGH SH!T.
You blew the money you did collect taking care of yourself, your buddies and your loyalists; you dont want give up anything yourself and you too "Christian" to cut the seamen, the disabled and social services — so you came up with direct taxation of expats. NO. This cannot be allowed to happen. You cannot destroy the whole damn country so you can have your way and your slush fund.
SELFISH, INCOMPETENT BUFFOON!
RESIGN!
Wow, is 500,000,000 figure correct? Where did the money go? There are 20,000 caymanian people, including children and elders. Have yet to see that long time promised crossswalk on WestBay road. And The DUMP continues to grow and posion environment and people's health.
i like the headline, maybe alden can cut the cs jobs for us… com on aldy, show mac how its done (:))>
As If…
Can you say "Only God can stop me…?"
It's one thing to sit down quietly and be thought of as a fool… but to speak up and prove it????????
There is no way this can benefit Caymanians.
A business (in this case the Government) that is loosing money in a difficult economy because its costs are too high has two choices:
1. Reduce its costs; or
2. Increase its prices.
If it reduces its costs by staff cuts some people lose their jobs.
If it reduces it's costs by increasing prices (taxes on expats and/or the financial sector) its customers (expats and financial institutions) go elsewhere, the company goes bust, and everyone in the company (the civil service) loses their jobs as do the people in businesses that deal with the business that has gone bust.
Who wins?
nobody can keep up with mac… kardashians not withstanding…
Wouldn't it be funny Mac gives a speech tomorrow and says look I was just talking for talks sake, I am really going with Income Tax. Cns would have to make another article on income tax and we will have another debate. How I see it, any direct tax is bad. So for those who are whining at this tax, dont be surprise that Mac like he always do flip-flop on you and say the next day, you know what income it is.
I have said this before and I will say this again, the TWO-PARTY SYSTEM, this tit-for-tat system, will DIVIDE US and DESTROY CAYMAN. CNS posted the question, "What party would you like to see form the next government?" And we answered NO PARTY – give us a box of squid, and I recall I and many other were rediculed. UDP recieved 17 votes, PPM received 294 votes, and we were left under PPM by 265 votes. Apparently no one appears to be enlightened enough to see what these partiers are doing to this country. Now we have TAX. We have a Premier that strategically implemented a TAX on Expats. He knows he's going to lose the next general election, and God help the next government that will have to follow the mandated for Caymanians to take the rap! This is all politics at its best and it is going to destroy Cayman if there is no miracle to stop it! Vote for Independents to get into the LA! Enough with PARTY INTEREST, it the people's INTEREST that they should be serving. Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I am telling you like it is! THIS TWO PARTY SYSTEM AND THEIR POLITICS IS GOING TO RUIN CAYMAN IF WE DON'T UNITE AND THINK ABOUT OUR INTEREST!
This taxative imposition has nothing to do with political parties, but rather with people who are in the parties who do not understand economics, nor strategies to maintain a balanced budget and a thriving economy. The develpment of the country has been allowed to mushroom for years without any thought of its effects on the society and its people. People have got left behind in the great boom days, education and retooling was never part of our social economic policies and neither did we think that the money being sent out by the trillions should have at least a fixed tax which if it had been done would now assist with the broken down finances. why is it that we never learn, we were once the envy of the Cariibean and now we are beggars therein..All politicians and senior civil servants in place should be ashamed of where they have put this coutry today. And to those who came here made your money by living amongst us and now are being critical when the chips are down, you either contribute or go back to your lofty castles in your homeland which you made off of our backs. I assure you wont miss you because all you have done is take (not all of you, but certainly those who write insidious comments through this news service). and never gave anything back in return. Sayonara to You.
The most intelligent comment for a long time. The party system has been the biggest destruction to Cayman. Cayman is too small to be so divided. Even familys dont speak because of it. There are some husbands and wives and children who are having daily fights over the two partys. On another note we need to start from the Politicians salarys and begin to cut. NO Politician should be making as much as $10,000 dollars. This is ridiculous. Imagine there is some Caymanians who work for $1,000 per month. How do you expect for them to survive? Then Civil Servants earning asmuch as $15,000 per month is a sin. What do they do to earn this? If these salarys are cut in half that would save alot of money.No wonder in Cayman there is the rich and the poor, there is no medium. Then we wonder why there is so much crime this is the answer. The poor has decided when they cant pay their bills to go and steal from the sharks. Then just take an hour off and visit the Government House. I have never seen so many employees in all my life. They seem to get in each others way, and forget about knowing who they are, only a few Caymanian faces. Cut them in half and you would get better performance. Then let the private sector get rid of so many work permit holders and employ those that Government get rid of. This way we wouldnt have to think about taxing. All of these extravagant trips made by Politicians and top Civil Servants should stop and be made accountable for. Then miss ju ju should have to also get rid of her travelling companion, after all she bragged of such a large family , then they can protect her from WHO? DUPPIES….. The expats are accustomed to tax evasion so they will not leave the Island but instead find a way out. They can easily make arrangements with their employers to collect a salary of say $15,000 per annum and another bonus of say $5,000. They are much smarter than most of us anyway. I again say leave it as it is and start from cutting the Politicians salarys and perks, then we wont have so many in the race and might then pick up better qualitys as Mr Dacosta was so accused of saying. However if said he is absoloutely correct. These little hurry come up barefoot and yardies are not the right people to run our Country. Congrats to our Mr Handsome who will be running for the Brac, not to mention educated.
Funny how they cut the Managing Director of the NRA for budget cuts, but Mac wont cut any other department heads or public service jobs. Politics and corruption at its best.
To all concerned expats. Let’s have some feedback on the idea of a mass protest outside the government buildings next week followed by complete work stoppages (except of course for essential services). There is power in numbers and we need to use it.
Shocking, very racist. Stop these so called Goverment officials from double dipping, salary & pension, disgraceful!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bone idle getting paid for making a huge mess. Tax Caymanians too if it'sa 'Community enhancement fee'! Keeps it fair then!
"Racist"?
Please – you're sounding like a right twat!
And Bush doesn't think this is a PAYCUT?? HIs grammar school education is showiing.
His WHAT, WHAT ??
I am calling on all UDP to march and support the Premier's decision. It is so hyprocritical that opposition is opposing the expat tax for another tax, a tax on Caymanians. We can't allow PPM to rule next year, because you know their hands will be tied and that is what they will introduced. This is really party against party and the people of Cayman are relying on us!
I think that is going to be a pretty small crowd marching
Don't worry Caymanians have the back of the Premier. Yes, keep on the "community enhancement fee". We will deal with all those that oppose this fee at the next election and we will remember. From East, North, South and West we will remember. No job cuts for CS and when my time to pay taxes come around I will pay. This is my country and I will pay the price of the piper when it comes around to me. I am not going anywhere so if bad or good comes I will have to take it and I won't run. This is my rock. Let them sign their online petition and we will do just what we did with the OMOV we "Caymanians" will vote it down. Yes to the "community enhancement fee". We got your back Mr. Permier we got your back!
You canNOT speak for all Caymanians. you look at the group online opposing this and you will find HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of Caymanians. I am Caymanian to the bone and have not actually spoken to a SINGLE person who supports this. Caymanian or expat!!!
If you need me to explain to you why this is WORSE for Caymanians than expats, who can just leave, feel free to join the group and someone will explain it to you.
I did NOT vote in the referendum because my registration was not recognised as it wasn't done before the deadline (and still over a month ahead of time!). Mckeeva refuses to play on a level playing field!
And I would/will be willing to pay taxes as well. All of us at the same time and on the same level. But only when there are no other options. He is not even TRYING to implement other solutions. He is not LISTENING to the people of this country. Get a CLUE!!
Wait! What are Cayman's natural resources? What are Cayman's exports? What are Cayman's advantages?
When last I checked, a few years ago, the money in Cayman's economy came mostly from foreign investment brought about dueto Cayman's tax free status/nature and, to a much lesser extent, tourism. There was a 20% import duty and then no income tax, no property tax, no sales/VAT…
Now I'm seeing taxes popping up and people talking about more taxes including VAT and property tax, less and less advantge for foreign investment, open animosity towards foreign investors e.g. Dart's project and the anti-expat mood. What a gwan? What will draw money to the Cayman economy? Tourism alone is not nearly enough and there is no shortage of competing Caribbean destinations.
Does Cayman want to go back to eating turtle stew, making rope, and looking to Jamaica for help? I'm sure that this remark will be quite inflamatory on this site. But seriously, where does it end when Cayman does away with the advantages that made Cayman what it is today?
This may destroy Cayman but perhaps the investigations will now be dropped completely and Beloved Leader will get a knighthood.
This will destroy Cayman, 'not may destroy Cayman'!
And we all know how Knighthood is bestowed……with a 'sword'.
I'm a successful finance guy but with this possible upcoming legislation, I seriously would leave the Island before the end of this year regardless of any long term commitments I entered into.
This will only further impair Cayman Island's reputation.
Have a nice flight
Have a great time standing in line with all the rest of the Bushits for your meals.
I agree, and I will stop donating monies and other goods as well as my personal time to charitable organizations to help the less fortunate who are unable to feed themselves or are still semi-illiterate. I will not invest any further money into the economy other than to purchase food and fuel. This payroll proposal is a very slippery slope as it is offensive and discriminatory, and if the government is unable to manage its fiscal affairs responsibility, then ultimately it is the Caymanian people who will bear the brunt. I and others will leave and there will be a brain drain and the economy will suffer – yes, there are some very qualified and extremely smart Caymanians, but those few individuals cannot sustain the economy. Those persons who decide to stay will structure their wealth and finances to circumvent any ridiculous taxation proposal the government tries to initiate. As a long term resident on the Island, I am saddened by the current state of affairs as I have many Caymanian friends, and I love Cayman, but now is the time for Caymanians to stop being complacent and stand up to McKeeva's nonsense as this knee-jerk proposal is irresponsible to the all people in Cayman, present and future generations!
And whenever you leave you will be replaced with two.
At least 2 Caymanians who will not have any idea how you got so much done but love the pay. And the free(to them) healthcare, pension, gas, etc. at least until the company folds or leaves island. And then they will wonder what they did wrong.
How about cutting:
MLA salaries by 20 percent
MLAs (who also receive pension) salary by 40 – 50 percent
Official travel (make Ministers pay for half of their trip's expenses and guests pay in full)
Premier's utility bills and housekeeping costs
Or selling one or two of the three Govt cars for the Governor
Or selling the Premier's Govt SUV, he has two other vehicles to be chauffered around
Or selling one of the Dep. Premier's two Govt SUVs
Contracted workers over 65 years age
The Nation Building (Slush) Fund to 10 percent of the amount budgeted by UDP
ALL PAY to members of boards down to 100 dollars per month, 90 percent get paid for the time from their main business anyway, and the other 10 percent are retired and on pension
ALL CATERING for weekly Government / Cabinet meetings and Board meetings – pack a lunch or eat before you get to meeting.
Social service money to long-term persons who only came seeking temporary (1 month) aid
Lemme look at the whole budget and I will find more wasteful spending that we cant afford now.
Cut more than that 20% try 70%(MLA Salary)
100% of benefits..they don't deserve any
Cut the number of MLAs too – don't increase them!!!
Those SUV got to go…driving around with a Cayman Flag on them..You know how the dictator story ends…
This sounds like how the Nazi's treated the Jews…i.e. stole all they Money…
Caymanian…
Well, 2 thumbs down, looks like at least 2 MLAs are reading CNS news and comments
I only wish that I could like this comment the same amount of times as McKeeva has wasted in dollars! And I say 'McKeeva" because it does not seem like any one else is making and announcing these half thought through (pardon me, "half thought through" gives too much credit) policies and procedures…he certainly acts as a OMAMV (One Man All My Votes) aka dictator!
The million dollar question: has the budget actually been approved by the FCO? If not then the FCO should, and probably will, refuse to approve it based on the fact this is a race-based tax.
How is this a race based tax? Are the expats from one country only or do you mean to say that "expat" now constitute a race? To be correct, there is only the human race, everything else are ethnicities and nationalities.
Caymanians are a culturally and ethnically unique community of people. That's a race. Caymanians don't have to pay this tax purely because they are Caymanian. Therefore it is a race-based tax.
White/black/brown or yellow races?
Sorry – but 'status' means we are all mixed now!
Perhaps you refer to nationality .. but ditto above!
We're all in this together bro
Expat is not a race. There are expats of many races and Caymanians of many races. The ECHR permits discrimination with respect to taxation.
Well then it is discriminatory based on nationality. Either way, it is uttterly distasteful and an ill-conceived way of raising revenue, as all you are doing is killing the goose that is laying the eggs, and then were will you be? Those who are exempt from the tax still get to vote and have full access to government services and social programs, and those who do have to pay get none whatsoever. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, I, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS, WILL LEAVE, AND YOU WILL HAVE TO THEN PAY YOUR OWN TAXES, as well as clean your own streets, toilets, cook and wait in your own restaurants, collect your own garbage, pick up your own kids from school. How is that for a refreshing change?
You are taking a hackneyed phrase out of context and misapplying it. The American colonies used it and obviously while only U.S. citizens can vote in national elections ALL residents are subject to federal income tax. Same in the UK and Canada. You are wrongabout not getting no access to govt. services. When the Bill of Rights comes into force in November expat school children will be entitled to free public schooling. Also has had to fund many emergency medical evacuations for expats where it was not covered by their insurance.
"race-based"???? What race are you in?
Tammy Sulliman on CITN News last night clearly seemed to indicate that this tax was certainly not proposed by the FCO, and has not been approved. Her statement suggested that this is yet another of far more attempts by bush, than have been made public, to produce a budget acceptable to the FCO. If this is the case there are now only three weeks left before bush has to produce something th be debated in the LA
Whilst the FCO might have proposed a tax, as the UK is a member of the European Union, it most certainly would not propose a blatantly discriminatory tax that breaches Human Rights legislation. Simple as.
Whatever happened to Bush cutting his own salary? Didn't he say at the beginning of his term that he was going to reduce his pay by 30%. That idea seems to have conveniently disappeared.
What ever happened to calling a proven (time and time again) liar a liar?
What ever happened to calling a proven(time and time again)fool a fool?
What do you think Caymanian voters should be called when they vote for race over intelligence time and time again?
I know what I call them.
He needs to get at least six more pensions to be able to do that.
Cayman needs a free ecnonmy…the more government tries to control everything, the worst this country will get. Bush is so consumed with "helping" the Caymanian people who are fully capable of helping themselves. Caymanians already have an advantage because employers have to take a work permit out for an expat. If the cost of this work permit is less than the cost of hiring a Caymanian, then what more should the government do? What Bush does not understand that he is encouraging laziness and in essence, crippling the Cayman economy…I mean seriously, do we really need foreigners to fill security jobs or lanscaping jobs? Caymanians, get out there and work for a change…
O yea, I am a Caymanian…and let me tell you, if I lost my job today, I would be pumping gas, waiting tables or packing groceries or all three if that is what it took to pay bills.
But hey, did you expect more from a guy who barely got through high school? I'm hoping that this tax will actually be a good thing in the sense that people will not be foolish enough to put him back in office. But then again…I won't speak too soon.
So is the Racist Expat Tax 10% or 15% (when I lose the pension too)? How many days does that mean I will work for Govt, effectively? Think I need to start taking sick-days; why work hard when I will earn less?
Does it apply to employees at CEC companies too?
Since millions were given in concessions to Dart, & now there's this racist tax (taxing Caymanians soon-come though) I think Dart has effectively shirked this tax burden on to me, whilst I can't take my annoyance out on the Govt. (but I'm thinking how), I can decide to stop using Dart businesses (so many though) or going to Camana Bay; not for ever, but for a few months every year just to make a point. One rule for the rich, another for the workers.
How exact;ly is it Dart's fault? According to Bush the tax is neccessary so that he doesnt have to cut the civil service, or cut his "Nation building" and other handout funds.
Brrrr -it's getting cold in Cayman!
While I have my opinions on the "10%" idea, jumping at every chance to call something 'Racist" only shows up the reverse-discrimination and extremist stance by some who work here.
Such a tax would affect people of ALL RACES, CREEDS AND COLORS!
No, it wouldn't affect Caymanians.
Um – Caymanian is not a 'race', andbtw, Caymanians are now made up of people of ALL RACES, CREEDS AND COLORS!
It is very disappointing that Bush is refusing to reduce the cost of the Cayman government
This behemoth is sitting on top of the private sector and bleeding it to death. Every part is struggling to make ends meet and trying to raise prices wherever it can. Besides donating most of its profits to Government, it must also cover the costs of delays and interference caused by Government.
Since when do 50,000 people of which only 15,000 are voters, need 18 MLA's to represent them? Already, most of the annual government income is spent on the Government itself. Do you mean to say there is no where in this mess that cuts can be made?
And please do not forget that this payroll tax will drive up the cost of doing business on Cayman so will slow business development and perhaps drive some businesses away from Cayman.
Is this what Caymanians really want? If not, they must do something about it, and fast.
To International Business and all expats who will have to pay the new 10% Payroll Tax. Come to Bermuda and enjoy the Sun and Rum!
I do not agree with the payroll tax,
But lets get some perspective here. Since this present govt got in several hundred less civil servants are employed with considerable savings. There has been considerable restictions on new hiring or even filling vacancies and renewing contracts. The govt has announced that civil servants are to pay toward health and pension. these are significant reductions and cost containment measures. But the govt is getting no credit for this. All we do is complain.
There is no doubt that containing the costs of govt is difficult especially after the many new initiatives and projects initiated by the previous govt. (this is not under dispute and agreed by PPM)
The govt probably put out the expat payroll thing in part to take attention away from the increased costs for civil servants. So far its worked, hardly a peep.
I however think additional cuts could have been made, such as the slush funds etc. We need to avoid this income tax.
its the year 2013… population 16,754, give or take 1
I, for one, can't want.
Are you that one – less?
Man dey mussa mad. Dey don't unnastand 65 percent of Cayman ALREADY wote me out? now dey want me cut social serwices n ciwil serwant pay? Dey ga be jokin.
Sooner or later Cayman will understand that McKeeva Bush does not give a rat's backside about Cayman. And sooner or later Mr. Bellingham will understand that the ONLY cure for McKeeva Bush and Cayman's mortal affliction is to get him out of the Cayman Islands Government.
You work? You pay!
And the next item of funny business is ???????????? Oh yes, the election.
As a Caymanian overseas in the UK, I have been diligently following the developments of the budget crisis back home and for the most part have remained largely silent on the proposals put forward by the UDP administration to address the deficit. However, the recent announcement of the, ‘Community Enhancement Fee’ which will be levied on permit holders has forced me to break my silence on this matter. I write with the utmost concern for my family and fellow Caymanians back home. I worry that the Cayman that I left a couple of years ago will be unrecognisable when I return. However, instead of simply complaining about the horrendous job which the UDP administration has done in addressing the financial woes of the country; I’m proposing several initiatives which if implemented correctly will be highly effective in addressing the financial deficit and also prevent the need to implement direct taxation.
I’ve managed to come up with these ideas in a matter of a few minutes and could certainly expand on the list. I’m hopeful that this will inspire a new way of thinking whilst attempting to address our deficit. Good luck Cayman!
You forgot – Sell Turtle Farm too. It along with Cayman Airways is an an anchor around our necks.
Please come back and start a political party with like-minded individuals 🙂
Every expat in cayman needs to come out and protest this tax. How many of us have up and left our home countries to come here leavingjobs and families behind, there is already ridiculous indirect taxation in cayman. What needs to happen here to avoid this tax is simple, fist all expats need to come out in a mass protest and when the government ignores our concerns then we do a complete one day work stoppage, when they ignore that then do two days and so on. Let this so called government see what these islands would be like without the expats…we need to do this to be heard!!!
Why shoudl your voices have a impact. Asa caymanian living here all my life, our voices are still not heard even when we protest!!
That's crazy talk. Expats will follow the usual risk-management approach: if this new tax doesn't work for them, they will simply leave. There is no mention of tax payable in tips and bonuses which will certainly not be reported by employees/employers. There is, however, a possibility for a nacent business in Cayman: payment schedualing whereby expats are paid $19,999 and anything extra is deposited in an account of another offshore location.
The merest whiff of organized labour, especially from a group with no franchise, will have you frog-marched to the nearest holding tank. There you will await your iminent repatriation.
Do it and you will have your work permit pulled.
You are entitled to sick leave by law. Can't be pulled for that.
So tell us, why did expats leave their families and home? Out of the kindness of their heart to help the Cayman economy? Get real! Your only here to earn more than you did in your own country and send as much as you can back home…..and possibly even avoid paying tax in your own country. Cut the ish…I’m tired of hearing how expats do so much for this country….majority of expats are not here on a charity mission for the Cayman Islands, they are here because it benefits them in some way! Atleast expats have somewhere to leave and go back to….where will Caymanians go when they can’t afford to live in their own country? USA? Canada? Provide suggestions/solutions but spare us all the bull with the threats of leaving Cayman.
Heyy
Leave Canada out of this!
We all love Cayman like it was our own island!
I earned more, much more money when I worked in England. I enjoy more, much more of a healthy lifestyle in Cayman. I made a life choice, not a financial one. Many of us do, and don't regret it. But lifestyles can be enhanced in other jurisdictions, no biggie.
The trouble with ANY tax is that it is ultimately paid by the consumers.
No matter if the tax is in the form of 'duty'. fee, income tax, or any other money collected by Government, it has to show up as price increases in whatever you are buying.
Where else can the money collected by government come from? Out of thin air? No, it has to come from an increased burden on all of us.
It is well past time whenCaymanians have to ask themselves about the value of Government services they receive for the heavy cost imposed on them by Government. Do they really want to continue to pay for their bloated and inefficient civil service? Or do they want to save some of their money for themselves?
Here is a great chance to cut back on the grotesque size and cost of our local government. Do we really need 18 MLA's , 9 districts, and countless commissions to govern 15.000 or so Caymanian citizens?
The civil service here is a way too big. Let's balance our budget by streamlining it.
Let me save you all a lot of Blood Pressure meds.
Here's the short and skinny….
UDP is a big bunch of @#@ ups and they need our Jolly old Mother Ensgland to accept a budget we are proposing. So our hairbrained schemer decides…..huuuuummmm Slush fund or Taxes or cut CS…..Can't cut CS cause well thats UDP death in 2013. Can't cut Slush Fund (aka Solar Panel, Nation Building Fund, Home Repairs) So Tax it is.
But before we start to blow some gaskets lets understand thiswhole thing for what it is.
This is words on paper to pass a budget. He doesn't know man in teh moon of what this entails. He seems to think this kind of thing can be thrown together overnight.
As I sit here I pitty the poor fool honestly. He's going to:
1) Establish a office space
2) Hire Staff
3) Acquire hardware
4) Acquire proper software
5) Establish proper policies and procedures
6) Train Staff
7) Train Businesses
8) Create means to detect who should be paying and who should not be paying
And do this all before he leaves office? People it took us 3 months to understand OMOV and there were still some 2 to 3,000 idiots who didn't get it. How easy was that to get? One person gets one vote. Simple you would think.
Ok. I get that the law firms and banks will be kind of easy to target but past the big businesses how do they know who didn't pay but was suppose to pay? Are they planning on auditing businesses? How many businesses pay in cash to their employees?
Ok another hypothetical question. As you know many businesses are seasonal. Sometimes things BOOM and then they go dead. So in Months 1 – 5 I am making more than the prorated 20,000 per annum but then business falls off and I end up making 18,500 per annum, Do they claim back bacause they never met limit? Is it based on calendar year?
This is all piped dreams. Systems like this takes a year or two to set up at best which is far more time than he has left as Premier of this country cause unless he is prepared to give the whole Island new fridges he won't get back that seat. I believe the OMOV must have shown him the distain the people have for him. (PS I like Jenn-Air Stainless Steel please)
Let me help you Mr Bush and I do not have any PHD or Masters. Just a lowly person on the totem pole with some accounting knowledge.
Cut the bleeping slush fund, cause you and I know and half of Cayman know that your Nation Building, Solar Panel and Home repairs are nothing more than vote buying schemes. That's 25+ million right there. Move ahead with automating as many functions you can throughout the CS and move those employees into private sector. Offer some incentives to businesses who take on CS staff.
People RELAX. Big Mac is pulling another Refinery crap out the tail pipe again for us to jump and rail about. This is not even a good pipe dream. This makes Cohen and Cohen look like government bonds.
I am saddened by the fact that we have such a silly person holding our most sacred seat. I wonder if he thinks the UK FCO are idiots. Does he actually believe that they think he can do this at the drop of a hat? Many small businesses struggle to understand simple payroll and he thinks they are going to easily grasp payroll taxes!! You know how many of them will actually pay?
So do not blow a gasket anyone. This is only to play the fool in front of mother England sssssh lets hope they buy it.
By the way. I do agree CS should pay their health and pension (duck….incoming!!!!)…wooops…..darn hard hats they don't make them the way they use to. Aaah crap made in China!!! Damn you CHEC. DAMN YOU!!!!
Cayman for sale!! Selling price: 1 fridge!
Fking insane……caymanians don’t alloy this…..it’s near death for the place clinging to what it once was…..so sad….we will lose revenue to this economy that will be devastating…what an idiotic idea only a 3rd world leader could even consider…….he really is stupid
On a serious note, Mac you need to listen for once; taxing expats is not the solution to the problem. Here are some suggestions:
Cut pension payouts to politicians who have other incomes. They don't need it. Adjust the formula to bring it in line with the rest of the civil service.
Cut the number of politicians, do not increase it to 18. We cannot afford it.
Cut out legal aid except for those charged with any offence that carries a mandatory life imprisonment.
Cut out Social Service payments except for those who are elderly, disabled, handicapped or mentally challenged. The rest can fish, grow produce and fend for themselves.
Cut out donations to churches and nation building fund.
Discontinue hurricane hilton in CYB. We can't afford it and there are enough caves there to shelter any overflow from the buildings already on the bluff.
Forget the CHEC project. We can't afford the payback on it.
Pay all Civil Servants a base pay and then for supervisors, managers and so forth up the line, add a fixed amount to the base pay as reasonable compensation for their position and responsibility.
Cut out CINICO. Pay that money to the hospital so all the poorer population can go there and access the services they offer for free. Anyone who wants overseas medical treatment will have to pay for it themselves, or buy supplemental insurance to cover it. The Government cannot afford to pay it any longer.
Where necessary, use fans instead of airconditioning in buildings that have windows facing the prevailing winds.
Get rid of all them chiefs you have in your Ministry. You only need one.
Centralize government accounting and human resources once more. That will save quite a bit in human resources.
Apply the money from the sale of the West Bay Road to Dart to the Treasury to be used for General Revenue and forget about the look good thing of fixing up 5 year old homes. Most 5 year old homes don't need maintenance, but your budget needs a lot of help.
Make text books and teaching aids electronic and reduce number of text books government has to buy. Subjects that do not require practicals can also be made electronic and that will allow students to learn at their own pace.
Come on man, I've come up with these ways of reducing government expenditure in a few minutes and you all have had 3 years now to figure it out. Forget taxing expats and locals directly. You are only going to make things worse when you start doing that. In fact, you never should have entertained that idea. We need people with vision and a willingness to do the right things. You only have a few months left, humble yourself for once na?
I am still speechless. Everything is still a jigsaw puzzle. I would like to know more details. Hopefully I will put the pieces together. But so far, I understand this is news that has everyone worried and intense. Good Night
PLEASE READ ARTICLE, BULLET POINT 1
Communiqué from Overseas Territories Consultative Council
18 November 2010
Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham met leaders from the Overseas Territories for the Overseas Territories Consultative Council on 17 November.
The UK and Overseas Territories represented at the Consultative Council discussed a number of issues of mutual interest and concern. Mr Bellingham emphasised the Coalition Government’s determination to improve and strengthen the UK’s relationship with the Overseas Territories and to represent their interests in international fora. He also made clear that other Government Departments were now more closely involved in Overseas Territories work. The Caribbean Territories welcomed the important emergency assistance provided by the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) during the recent hurricane season. The Minister noted that the Coalition Government had restarted the vital Air Access project for St Helena and had agreed to provide assistance for Tristan da Cunha’s harbour. All parties agreed on the need to work together to help the commercial and economic development of the Territories.
During the criminal justice session there were discussions about rising crime in some of the Territories; about drugs and organised crime; and about possible UK technical assistance to the Territories in these areas. In the session on transport there were discussions about maritime and aviation safety regulations; and the importance of meeting international safety standards. Territory leaders raised concerns about the cost of this and about Air Passenger Duty.
During the session on the environment, it was agreed that Territory Governments and relevant UK Departments would work together to help manage the natural environment and the impact of climate change in the Territories, including highlighting examples of good practice and successes already achieved in the Territories.
During the session on passport issues, the UK and the Overseas Territories discussed arrangements for handling the printing of passports in light of the UK Government’s decision to repatriate to the UK the printing of all British passports.
During their separate session on financial services and public finances, the UK and the Caribbean Territories and Bermuda agreed:
I like the last agreement. It entails that politicians will have to exercise financial discipline. Hopefully, the budget will not pass and the UK enforce responsible reduction of civil service cost and restrictions upon businesses from expanding and tourists coming here to stay. Dart and wealthy people can invest in Cayman, but it has to be done properly. Hopefully the UK will see that we shouldn't be treated like TCI. We are not the same island.
Is the additional 3 MLAs getting the axe too?. If we are going to cut then that seems like a good place to start. We already have 15 useless Eustaces and a speaker that we are wasting a lot of money on.
The only time in the history of the LA, the Speaker dosen't have to confirm to the working hours like paid civil servants. Other speakers worked the regular working hours but times have changed. Why some have to work and others just barely warm a seat? The pay deserves extra work.
OMG what is he doing to this Island…..imposing 10% on workers salaries, imposing fees for jobs not fullfilled by Caymanians…I want him to define this, how is he going to prove a Caymanian wasn't looked for and either they weren't qualified or didn't apply. I don't want to hear the crap about plenty of Caymanians. Have you gone to the EMployment RElations Office lately. When you go for an interview first impressions is what counts. When you as an employer are filing with the Employment RElations looking for an employee and you see what is coming in looking for jobs, you really think twice about hiring them. I am not saying everyone, but when you have woman coming in that they look like they just have been hanging out (big t-shirts, cut off shorts) and men with corn rows down to their shoulders, baggy pants that three good size people can fit in and earrings…sure I'll hire you….lol..
THis Island is coming to an end and all of you who voted this person in should be ever so greatful….rising work permit fees, pensions imposed, taxation is here to stay!!! What is taking so long for those three investigations to be completed? There are so many useless MLA's and UDP sitting in office, collecitng a nice fat cheque and not doing a damn thing for this Island.
This tax must be the other part of the "For Cayman Alliance." Oh, the brilliance of it all!
Not sure Dart would be in favor of empty office towers, having invested some cash here.
No. The ForCayman Alliance was designed to avoid thi by generating new revenue for Govt, plus new economic activity. Unfortunately it’s been so bogged down in the political process that only one small part is underway.
Cayman has had it’s opportunity to avoid this black hole….and may have missed that chance.
Says the Minister of Finance XXXX……. He is the one proposing this budget, can this be any more of a joke?
The UK FCO will not approve this as he has tried this before and so have other countries and it has been denied based on discrimination (look it up) . In Bermuda both expats and Caymanians pay 4%, that seems a bit more logical to me….
I think you must mean both expats and Bermudans pay 4%
TIM RIDELY – Where are YOUUUU?
Wasteful western governments cannot compete with tax neutral societies. They want the whole world to have and pay taxes. Our governor with the UK were complicit in our Premier’s lunacy because they knew that if they counter signed the loans, our fool would predictably dig us deeper and deeper into the pit which leads to direct taxation. Mission accomplished! Now they can spread the word that our system didn’t work, all thanks to our unaware simpleton leadership. Played him like a violin.
He was the one bragging he was going to turn the economy around and that he had done so last year when he gave Civil Servants their raise. Tell him brag now. He's the Minister of Finance and he kept jet setting around about he was attracting new investments. Must be investing in future debts. He just thought his lies weren't going to be exposed and he thought he could borrow just one more year. I am glad the UK held him to his word. Now tell him and Elio to spin their way out of this. Forget the PPM excuse. We heard that for 4 years. You said you could do better. It is you that we hold accountable. You wanted the job, you got it and if you can't handle the heat, get you fat a– out the kitchen!
Or, maybe, we are the ones pulling him down and strengthening the British hand to achieve their goals, which is weakening our economy and increasing the cost of doing business here which benefits them, our competitor.
FYI – that was no 'raise' – just a minimal cost of living adjustment!
Um, or in other words, what the rest of us all over the world would call a raise. I've worked for 30 years and every year when I have had a raise (not many here I admit) its been in line with the cost of living, or as you put it, a cost of living adjustment. However here in Cayman, many of us in the private sector, haven't even got that.
From the year 2000 to 2004, I got only 1 "cost of living adjustment" i.e. raise in my pay to meet rising cost of living on this island, and yes, I am in the private sector. From the year 2004 to 2006, I received 1 raise. From the year 2006 to 2012, I received none. Still in the private sector. And my health insurance premium represents 25% of my monthly salary. You civil servants have it good. You just don't know how good. But you will soon know, when all the expats are gone, and the gravy train has dried up.
Civil Servants in the UK are no different from those in Cayman. Same culture of entitlement, untouchable security of tenure, and benefits.
The big difference is that those in the UK do not represent a voting block which could completely influence the outcome of a General Election.
That and a load were axed over the last few years as the first step in cutting costs.
And we pay our own contributions towards pensions and health care just like the rest of the public, no special treatment or free rides and fuel just because we work for government.
It is time to have a huge protest march on the LA and the Government Admin Building. If they get away with this the country is doomed.
Perhaps it is worthwhile also noting that the "nation building" slush fund survived. This madness might destroy the economy but the man's slush fund is OK.
Private client and trust business is dead and now he’s choking the funds industry. Thousands of accountants, lawyers, and directors will leave and businesses and office buildings will shutter. Not to mention, you can kiss the Enterprise City and Shetty Hospitals good bye. How irresponsible to propose such measures without undertaking any private sector consultation!
CEC work permits are tax free for 50 years. Too bad local businesses cannot set up in there.
Breaking News!!!!!!Uk response to Premier Bush……Go Back to drawing board..
Cut the Civil Services or else…..
Official projections show that without reforms civil service spending will soar to more than 40% of GDP by 2050,and even higher after that.The result that governments would consume more than half of the entire Cayman Islands economy.
Indeed,the results of the 2009 elections indicate that there is already widespread disapproval of big government.It is also unlikely that the government would be able to raise taxes much above current levels to support higher spending because of our increasingly globalized economy.
The upshot is that we will have to make major spending cuts sooner or later,and it will be better to make them sooner before we accumulate even more debt.The Premier can start with the menu of cuts presented by him,and then they sould pursue other reforms such as restructuring the civil service and Public Authorities.
Leaders of other nations have pursued vigorous cost-cutting when the government debt go out of control,and there is no reason why our Premier shouldn't do the same.
Keeping Cayman informed!!!!
This man have to go him & ppm! We need a leader that can count beyond 3!
Brilliant suddenly created hundreds of new jobs for Caymanians who will be required to work in Govt to establish the 10% and collect from all these expat workers along with checking to see, on a daily basis, the quality and experience of Ex pat staff in all businesses against the Locally unemployed with equal or better credentials. (An impossible comparison to make)
Tax planners have been working for an eternity to assist individuals and businesses to legitimately cut tax liabilities which US and UK legislation has been unable to halt. With accounting firms on the island employing a good number of Expat staff you will find that loopholes in the plan will be found and the revenue collected as a result of this Income Tax(Oops sorry Community Enhancement Fee) will be eventually outweighed by theGovt Depts cost of monitoring and collecting.
This is clearly Macs last ditch, off the top of his head with no thought. attempt to preserve votes and nothing to do with enhacing anybodys life in the commmunity. Think again please or this will be the final nail in the coffin.
They cannot even collect their garbage fees, how are we to expect them to collect this new toll or head tax on expats?
"Maconomics" at its best!!
Mac hasn't even tried cuts.
Nothing done about Gasboy
Paving private drive ways
Excessive travel for UDP friends and family
Millions to churches, so pastors can drive around in Tahoes
Brac Hurricane Hilton
No collection of duties from Ryan
Lost millions on the Cohen loan that never happened (all to save money, LOL)
tens of million in settlement for illegally going against the tender winner on the cruise dock
wasted money on calling a government referendum and spending money on advertising to try and defeat it
And finally not taking the cut in salary he and the rest of his useless MLA's promised
Good work on those cuts then Mac, you didn't even get off your fat arse to do anything
…and these are just the cliff notes.
Tax the lawyers and accountants.
Better be quick, their work permits will not be renewed….
Is that because they have been caught lying to the immigration authorities about Caymanian applicants?
Or propose it and have them leave of their own accord. They are not prisoners here to abuse for entertainment. There are many alternative venues awaiting skilled professionals elsewhere.
ah! hah! got your attention 20;58 didnt realise we had that many expat lawyers here.
Mac is discriminating against UK citizens with a punitive tax only because he is so ignorant an incompetent to submit a budget to the FCO. This sets up a confrontation he can not win. This fool has set the stage that only he can fall off. What an ignoramous.
It's about damn time he started looking out for Caymanians….my main concern is that I do not see how this 10% fee from WP holders is going to make things any better in fact he may have just chopped off his nose to spite his face. Let CS workers new and old pay their pension and health contributions. Come up with strategies to CUT spending and try to remove all the dead weight Civil Servants as there are so many who do nothing and collect a pay check. Yes…I AM CAYMANIAN!
So its fair for CS to pay pension and health contributions but not fair for expats to pay a fee for the money they make in this country? Many of those people do not stand a chance getting the type of job they get here back home much less to mention the amount of pay. That is why they come here because it is an opportunity for them not necessarily because they have a real interest in the Island or the people of this Island. Some do but many don’t. Working in the private sector I have seen it firsthand how Caymanians are used just as numbers on a piece of paper in order to get the number of work permits they desire. Many Caymanians can do the work that the expat can do because many of those same Caymanians are the same ones that train the expats when they come. Is that fair? Is it also fair for expats to get their rent paid until they settle in, have a car rented for them, pay for relocation expenses not just for them but also their family? If an expat chooses to come here and work, should not that expense be on them to sort out? Caymanians do not get any of those benefits at all. I agree with making expats pay a fee just not at 10% across the board as that is a steep number. Break it up into salary ranges and make the higher brackets pay more. They can afford it! I do not think cutting the jobs of Caymanians are the answer although I do believe cutting some of social aid would cause some of my Caymanian people to make better choices rather than abusing the system and feeling they can just go to social aid and get their rent paid and food vouchers. I also believe that expenditures could be reduced by freezing hiring and consolidating positions, reducing the amount of expenditure on capital projects, unnecessary outfits of offices for people’s preferences, cell phone and telephone usage, minimize official travel and utilize teleconferencing more for overseas meetings (use skype or some other service that will reduce expenses), these donations to churches to build more buildings needs to cease and ensuring CS are performing by actually doing performance assessments will help to identify who is a liability or who is an asset to determine if the expense of that individual is worth the cost to continue carrying. I also believe ministers and back benchers should pay a political fee to the public purse since they are the ones that contribute to making decisions that we the public have to suffer for.
A budget with something for everyone. The drug runners and bank robbers must be a large voting bloc if we are going to sell the police helicopter to appease them.
Perhaps you should look at the money behind the drugs boys
The Gardener/Janitor from West Bay who does not have a high school diploma and is both the country's despot dictator and Finance Minister has clearly spoken and shown the world he does not have a clue and is totally incompetent. The Civil Service is totally unsustainable at 12% of the entire country's population with Department heads earning over US$250,000 more than their counterparts in the USA and other world power economies. Wake up and smell the coffee as this is a NO BRAINER. We must cut expenditure and cut the civil service before they take us all down just like Greece.
Bush informed us that an expert was assisting in the budget. Such an expert must have noted the ratio of income to civil servants cost. It is unacceptably high as it was in the TCI who dramatically cut the number of excessive employees. Obviously the thoughts of this person were ignored or like the last AG he was sent home.
However i really do welcome this new form of income tax, a subject that I specialized in many years ago. A new breed of entrepreneurs are already in business, not dissimilar from what we did years ago. It is called how to beat the taxman. Since Macbush’s pronouncement I have already come up with a multitude of ideas as to how to avoid, not evade, this new tax. For a small fee you can contact me, the proceeds of my fees will go to a charity to help rebuild our island. Every cloud truly does have a silver lining.
Haven’t you heard Chris, “avoidance” and “evasion” are now considered one and the same?!?
Not quite sure how you can come up with avoidance schemes if the law hasn’t been drafted yet, but I get your drift and agree wholeheartedly. If it’s drafted by the Attorney General’s Legal Drafting Department, you won’t see the tax for the loopholes. Or even better, leave it with those geniuses at the Law Reform Commission or perhaps one or two of those private sector or ex private sector lawyers the Premier likes to consult. Government will end up paying us.
Nor will the government be entitled to protest. Cayman’s economy is built on the avoidance of taxes elsewhere. To condemn avoiding these taxes would be like a barman condemning the evils of drink.
Salaries for top Civil Servants should be cut by 10%-15%. They are overpaid and underutilised.
no correction…senior civil servants overpiad by 30% and their mouth is over utilized! Their deptuy is the one who usually does the thinking. Just sack them and promote the depuyt and you will get the same ideas without all the political postering and empire protection.
And for God sakes man, centralize this little islands government and get rid of the multiple bank fees, HR fees, accountant fees…surely the deputies must be able to agree once they give the boot to their bickering bosses
Anon 2034 you really must be smoking something strong.
250,000 salary. Not even the politicians make that.
The CS needs to be cut but through privitisation of portions.
Anon 2333 You are drinking the kool Aid for there are many civil servants making over US$250,000 like the head of the Monetary Authority and all the other Authority Heads for hardly being at work. Wake up and smell the coffee and submit a FOI request and you shall see who is smoking something strong.
$250,000 u.s. works out to $17,500 c.i. per month
quoted in the news in 2005, since there has been no major salary increases
Leader of Government business $12,963 per month
and now Mr big smoker you are saying that the government department heads are making more than $5,000 c.i. per month more than the highest ranking political figure in the country.
Definitely YES. Authorities Department heads are earning higher salaries than the politicians. Make an FOI request if you do not believe or drink the kool aid and believe blindlessly.
"blablablabla. church programmes." church and state should be separate! i respect all religions and i'm a sunday christian myself…but come on…churches are very capable of raising their own money. he should be making personal contributions to his church if he thinks it's necessary to cleanse his soul.
seriously, what do we need to do to get this guy removed??? i am a young Caymanian and i'm terrified and have not spoken to a SINGLE person who believes that this is the solution. i guarantee any poster that agrees with this can be defined by very specific characteristics….
i can only hope the reason we haven't heard anything about pending litigation is because they are gathering absolute and sufficient evidence for a conviction. or three. and then we can wake up from this terrible nightmare.
Most mushroom churchaes are owned by self-appointed pastors. Public funds donated to these churches can be misappropriated. When ownership of the church is in the pator's name,he can sell it to another pastor and move on making profits on the sale. Govt. should ensure the church is in the name of a group of trustees before donating public funds. If public funds are to be donated to churches, selection process sould be done by a committee comprising civil servants.
Wow – and I’ve always heard “When Cuba opens up, Cayman is doomed.”
Cuba doesn’t matter anymore. Cayman is doomed.
Its fine, tax happens everywhere, the problem here is, this is discrimination in the work place which is firstly: Illegal…. you cannot determine one group of individuals will have to do this and not the other! Especially when you think of the fact that this 'leader' didn't even graduate high school and spends 70,000$ of governments money on his holiday. Think about the fact that he stated he would cut 30% off his pay check.. did he? NO. In no way shape or form are individuals going to pay tax to pay for caymanian children to go to school when the children of expats can't go… This is a huge problem, people are not going to stay and it will end up being Karma for the Caymanian people when they cant rent their house, or have people to go to their stores, not to mention Cayman already is getting a bad name (Obama) and when people worldwide find out that the leader of a country is discriminating against the people, things will go down hill. People aren't going to move to a country when ALL expats are saying things like this about the Island.
At the end of the day, every Expat I have spoken to have said they would leave. It is easy though, businesses will move, and their Expat workers elsewhere, the economy will eventually drop in Cayman.
It is patently obvious that McKeeva has no intention of bringing a budget that is acceptable to the FCO. He is like a little spoiled brat (same level of education) throwing temper tantrums to see how far he can push his parents. And like every spoiled brat knows, if he is smacked in public then everyone around will turn on the person who did the smacking, and pay no attention to what he was saying or doing that led to the smacking.
For a myriad of reasons, McKeeva surely knows that his time is at an end. If the rest of the UDP members do no meet behind closed doors this weekend and remove him, then surely they will perish with him.
He has to start with the permit holders cause if he did that with Caymanians it would really hit the fan. No matter what Mckeeva does the majority of Caymanians won't agree with him. Plus this isn't all up to him, the UK wants a "sustainable budget"so this is a quick solution I am guessing. With that said to tax the work force that fuels the economy doesn't sound like a good idea to me. When they leave who's gonna work at the fast food restaurant and do all the menial jobs??
"When they leave who's gonna work at the fast food restaurant and do all the menial jobs??"
……ummm, how about the couple thousand unemployed Caymanians, who refuse to take entry level jobs and work their way up, and instead choose the thug life. Thats who.
I’m assuming there is an opt out for intelligent Civil Servants who will refuse to pay for the piece of crap which is CINICO?
This Govt. is such an embarrassment!
Anyone with any objectivity knew that Govt. expenditures have been far above revenues now for many years…yet they kept on spending…and giving money away on foolishness. All while blaming everyone else.
Is it still any wonder to anyone why the books have not been done?
I don't think cutting CS jobs has anything to do with Mac. Its pretty much is their call. I feel that he is demanded by the UK to impose tax and he just suggested expats instead of Caymanians. But as usual he's not saying that, remember they have sent their man in to do the budget. And don't forget once already they have already tried to demand tax and Mac said no. They were also in cohoots with the US a few years ago talking about their citizens that live and bank here are dodging taxes. Well this is the first way that the UK will make sure that the salaries of our UK friends who live and work here are not tax free anymore. They probably gave him a choice of taxing salaries or a general consumption tax, and he chose to do it this way, as people will not say that he was forced to tax, they will say he taxed them so they're not voting for him. When I heard that TCI was getting a VAT I knew we would be next. No surprise to me.
What a joke this country has become the premier is a joke thw whole political scene is a joke. There is no responsible government. I give it less than two years and cayman will be run by gangs and people will starve to death. Hati will look like a dreamland. You can not tax a person and offer them no service in return and the use the tax money to pay for locals only programs and services. Cayman is the most racist place I have ever lived and it has become a joke. This will only increase that expats wont stand by and watch money go to waste like the locals do i can not see how this can go foreward the only thing cayman had left to make it attractive was the no tax or should i say no income tax cause govt taxes the hell out of e ery thing else unless ofcourse your buddies with bush then you get all the breaks Business will not survive people will rebell cost of living is too high already add this and you will see Leo,e leave faster tan if hurricane Ivan was on he way back. Property values down the toilet no tenants no one to pay cuc rates group to one to pay any other duty cause everyone left is bushes buddies bad there exempt. Lay off half the civil service and just get the other half to actually work. And if they don’t then sac em and hire someone else let a few go hungry they’ll start to come to work. Good luck to you all to bad bushy wrecked the place greedy politicians suck.
The Premier can cut Social Services by $30 millon, because their are those who are too lazy to work and sit back and let government take care of them and their children, whom the fathers should be taking care of. Some have three or more children for different fathers and government is handing out to them constantly. Investigate, and you will learn that they are not unfortunate, they are just dependent on the easy handout. Stop encouraging that type of life.
I know of individuals who go to prison for years and when they come out of prison, their money is paid into the bank and they have a wonderful time getting high. Is that what tax payers should be contributing to? Too many are drifting and surfing, waiting on the crumbs to fall in their laps. Time for a change and the time is NOW.
The Premier has no choice but to do as they say, or else, do you want a more heavier tax? Caymanians, do you want to be taxed directly? So I am satisfied with tax he has proposed. Whose fault is it? Nobody else but the voters who want the same faces every 4 years.
Let me take a wild guess. You're not going to have to be paying those taxes. No wonder you're satisfied.
"more heavier" ??????
Like most expats, I am from a country where I had to pay a tax on my income. That for me is not an issue. What is at issue is that despite my investing so much into this country, I still don't have a voice. Expats come here and invest in this country. We buy property. We access the local financial institutions for loans. We support local business by purchasing our groceries and other household items. Now we are being asked to contribute to the country by donating 10% of our income. At what point do we as expats start having a voice?
The Immigration Review Team has been working on the Immigration Law since Mac was a boy. Now that he is a man, to date, nothing has been done. Expats who come here and have made this country their home have no idea what will happen to them after 7 years. Now you have to contribute to the Community Enhancement Fund.
Finally, if anyone believes that what is happening in Cayman started recently, they are fooling themselves. Both parties have systematically mismanaged this country all for the benefit of those who do have a vote. The chickens are coming to roost. No one in their right minds spends more than they make. When you go to the banks for a loan every loan officer tells you that your debt to equity ratio has to be 3-1. That means you need to have 3 times the money in your hand for the price of a loan. At some point the economists in Government must have told both parties that what they were doing, spending and spending and spending with no thought for tomorrow or how it is that they planned to pay for all the debt that was being accrued is a question that both parties need to answer.
The PPM built schools and roads by borrowing money. Now that the UDP is in power, they have paved roads, contributed to churches and basically been sued by everyone. Everyone forgets that the Governor's Office is at fault as well. How soon we forget how much money has been paid out due to all the failed police investigations. Tempura, Storm and whatever else has been ongoing.
The people of the Cayman Islands, both expats and Caymanians have been systematically destroyed as a result of the failures of everyone in authority and now while some are sitting back and relaxing under their mango trees, the rest of us will have to work our fingers to the bone to try and get this Island back to where it belongs.
God help us because we certainly cannot expect either PPM or UDP to help.
On a final note, it would seem as if both Ezzard Miller and the PPM are in favour of the tax on expats. Their comments early in the day says it all. One wonders whether they will continue this policy once they are voted into power.
On your final note, I suggest that you re-read the comments in the earlier article.
I wish people would stop complaining about not "having a voice", being able to vote, etc, etc, despite buying property, spending money and now possibly being taxed. Hey, guess what? That goes for 99% of countires out there. You move to the US,buy a house, pay tax, spend your money – do you get to vote because of that? No. Same with every country in Europe. You get to vote when you become a citizen so I don’t understand why people expect to have a vote in Cayman just because they have been here for a few years. (In case anyone wonders, no, I am not Caymanian).
[Quote 9:01 above]You move to the US, buy a house, pay tax, spend your money – do you get to vote because of that?[/Quote]
In the U.S. legal imigrants enjoy the all of the same benefits of citizens, save a few like the right to vote, be elected president, free from deportation.
But, after five years, you have the opportunity to become a naturalized citizen. As a naturalized citizen you have all the benefits of citizenship, save being elected as president.
Yea, it's quite a bit different in the states.
Call it what it is it is an income tax.
"Community Enhancement Fee that is linked to the remuneration level received by work-permit holders in the Cayman Islands. The Fee – which is payable to Government – will be charged in respect of remuneration levels that exceed $20,000 per year. The employee on a work-permit will make a contribution to the Fee – which will be calculated at 10% of the employee’s remuneration."
Mac, How dumb do you think we are?
…but don't you think my Christmas lights enhance the community? Dey expensive you know.
Oh well. I guess this means my salary is about to go down and my bonuses, paid directly to my Jersey accounts are about to go up. Ka Ching!
The Sales Tax looks pretty good now, doesn’t it?
The objective was to stick it to the expats "the better you than me" mentality. Sales tx would never have happened because it would affect Caymanians ans Expats alike.
Directorship fees? The devil is in the details. Read the first part of the article. The rest is fluff.
The problem with this is that Caymanians should be taxed too. Unless they start paying tax too, the government will continue it’s lack of accountability and wastage as it will still not have to answer to those who provide it’s revenue.
“Both parties have systematically mismanaged this country all for the benefit of those who do have a vote.”Really so wait why do all expats have this attitude that they should be first in our own country. do not get me wrong I m no fan of this tax I tink its unfair unfortnately I m both a us citizen and a caymanian I have never lived in the states but now I will have to pay taxes to the us gov that’s just the way the cookie crumbles you can complain all you want at the end of the day your still going to have to pay the UK was going to introduce direct taxation to the cayman islands sooner or later this is nothing new the story on how cayman became tax free and that no caymanians will never have to serve military sevice is all a urban legend according to wiki(the uk denies it). The fact is everywhere in the world has this type of bs so to those out there who are deciding to just pick up and go else where let me know how it workouts for you and I truly hope you find a better place but right not cayman is as good as it gets this country will survive with you or without you so please cut the bs so if you want to leave because this country is being told by our masters to implement some sort of taxation go right ahead you will be missed and don’t feel bad after elections caymanians will be taxed too .
Jordan R
So the budget is a joke, direct tax is introduced and Mac gets to keep his slush fundvote buying fund – big surprise there.
Sounds like he has refused to give up his "vote buying" Nation Building fund.
What about the solar panels – can I still get them
That depends on who you're prepared to wote for.
Couple of thoughts, ask the Premier if he will be willing to table the supposed documents from the FCO that outlines the things he claimed he was told, I got ten bucks that says he can't because they do not exist.
While you're at it, ask him whether the slush fund is still there of if that has been cut considering all the other deep cuts that's been made, the answer will shock most of you.
Then ask him to tell you what his plans are for collecting this tax, which Agency in Government is currently staffed to collect and enforce it, I've got another ten bucks that says he doesn't have a clue.
He as Minister of Finance directed a certain amount for a Budget, then Agencies exceeded it by $150 million (according to statement on other newspaper website) he has now spent months correcting that, I then suppose he has gotten the budget back in line with his brilliant plan of $498 million, afterall, I'm sure he didn't pluck the figure out of thin air, I am sure he had a credible detailed plan on how it would have been achieved and the trouble making civil servants were just trying to pull a fast one. Tell us Mr. Premier, what are the expenses now after all the weeks and months of cutting you've done.
You will still be travelling first class, staying in the finest hotels, giving millions to your church and cronies though right mac?
You will not be paying any taxes on your salary and pension that you collect at the same time right mac?
You will not be losing your private cook and maid paid for by us and you will get to keep all the money that you "won" in Vegas and anywhere else you had meetings at ATMs right mac?
You will get richer and we will get poorer and thats a fair trade right mac?
Resign you bastard
He will never resign.
He suffers from delusions of grandeur. He thinks we need him and he is almighty and right in all that he does.
He needs to be removed from office and NOW.
Is the airport equipped for the thousands that are about to leave?
On top of that…when expats leave and some will because of this tax on their income…….
Are more expats going to come and fill those spots ? having to pay tax…………………..
Biggest question…Are there enough Camanians at this point in time to fill those
professional positions? No .? then…
Will some of these firms pull up stakes and leave if they can't get qualified personnel?
What is to happen to Caymans future then?
"Mac Refuses to Cut CS Jobs"
Whether for Vote or Not, I agree with Mac, who wouldnt look out for the own people?
Stop renewing the expat civil service contracts. Caymanians can do the work.
They are not renewing contracts now, if a caymanian can do the job, he/she gets it if the job is open. And most do the job well, but don't be naive to think that you have all the skills on Island. Caymanians that want the job hard enough work at it, I've seen that
Jamison – Mac isn't looking out for his own people, he's only looking out for himself and something of a quick fix to have more money in his pocket.
He's not looking out for his own people with this tax move…
Not thinking ahead to the consequences of this action….
From what I have observed, Mac is not looking out for anyone but himself, oh and maybe Dart
What he did is not looking out, its trying to retain votes.
I hope you keep the same view when next year comes around and there is yet another short fall in the budget as I fully expect the estimated income from this TAX will be far off (Sort of like the ""Sur Plus" we were estimated to have last few years), they the "Tax is expanded to every one
Notice how progressively worst things have become each year, you see any sign of it being better next year? I sure as hell don't
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