Thousands plan to demo over Mac’s ex-pat tax
(CNS): Updated with cancelation of public meeting — With the community already subject to massive amounts of fees and duties, the proposal by the premier to introduce a discriminatory income tax on work-permit holders has seen both Caymanains and expatriates unite against the move. From the CNS blog pages to a new Facebook group, the internet and social media is buzzing with opposition to the move from every corner of the Cayman community. According to a new Facebook page, some 6000 people have indicated they will be going to, or are supporting, a peaceful demonstration planned for this evening at the Mary Miller Hall in Red Bay.
Caymanians and Expats United Against Taxation was set up by work permit holder Nick Pitman as a reaction to what he called the latest “ignorant and discriminatory policy from the current administration” which he said was vote hunting and now has close to 10,000 members.
Pitman said it is not a PPM page or an expat page; it's a united page. “It is the Caymanian people who are suffering the most already because of the rollover policy with empty houses that need tenants increasing in number," he said.
The group has organised a demonstration at the location where the premier is holding a meeting about his proposed 10% income tax on work-permit holders earning $20,000 per annum and above in an effort to balance the ever-growing Cayman Islands budget.
"This is your chance to speak out against (this) crazy decision to introduce the ‘community enhancement fee’,” Pitman said. “Bring your friends, placards, banners and a nice non-aggressive attitude. Let’s show him how much we love Cayman and how we feel he is killing this beautiful place we call home, hurting the very people he claims to protect.”
A public meeting planned by the premier at Mary Miller Hall in George Town for Monday evening at 7pm has now been postponed. The premeir will now be meeting with the public in West Bay on Wednesday evening.
Category: Politics
lets be honest guys, there are alot, not everyone but alot of people that come to the cayman islands and DO not invest money here,XXXX. Many Jamaicans come here and the majority of there pay check is sent directly back home and only the bare essentials are spent here. The majority of expats come an actually do spend an invest here
When its all said and done, expats can leave and return HOME, Caymanians can not go any where else an call it HOME, The majority of expats come an actually do spend an invest here its very unfortunate but the good have to suffer for the bad
Why is it always about jamaicans, there are other nationalities here who are making almost CI$20,000 or more per month and no one complains about that, the majority of Jamaican workers here are in the range of $600-3,000per month. please notice I said Majority.I am a jamaican and I do agree with the tax.
If ou are working somwhere to try and make a livign wouldnt you send home to take care of your family too. Most of you act as if its a crime to take of ones family. Have you seen a jamaican traveling home, they go to Pricright and now cost you less and shop to take home stuff to their family, no matter the economy, unlike you who is able to travel to miami whenver you wish I suppose.
This discussion has nothign to do with Jamaicans, but how can the governement can keep some of the money in the islands. Lets face it the pension system doesn't work, irregardless of earnings the limit income that pension can be paid on is $60,000 per annum so what happens to the other earnings and after their term limit they leave and the monies goes right out of the island with them.
Stop bashing Jamaicans and do come up with a solution as i beleive this will help to pump some money into the economy and yes their are other ways to cut spending. But what the heck we pay taxes in Jamaica and we have to do it wheter we like it or not.
Please make a positive contribution and stop hating.
To poster 08:59, i am a Caymanian and i agree with you this is not about Jamaicans, but what you should do, is let some of your fellow country men know that they are here on a work permit, not to get involved with our politics, because we feel that you as a person on a permit should not be backing any of our politcal parties.
we as Caymanians are beginning to notice this, and this will cause problems down the road,some of them even insult our leaders, please tell them to stay out of our politics.
What is happening is,if you do not know, is we notice they side with the ones that is most corrupt, so we are beginning to feel that they love corruption, we do not want the type of problems that Jamaica is haveing with there love of politics.
Last but not least i do travel but i do not get mixed up in no other mans countrys politics, they should do the same, nothing wrong with them being conserned with policy,they work here but what i notice is,they are going too far, after all at the end of the day when the violence start because of politics, they can go home ,we cant.
I agree with all of your post but realise why some Caymanians call Jamaicas name a lot, it is because they are involveing themselves in our business, the heat will get worse if they continue, it may even turn to violence,please we do not want our country to go the way of Jamaica with there love for politicians, you came to work not to take sides in our politics,respect us.
Can we all agree that Caymanians should be allowed to decide what type of tax, if any, should be implemented in the Cayman Islands?
ummmmmm NO.
It would be helpful if you would expand on this type of thinking as it is the basis for a lot of the discrimination that happens in Cayman today.
Expand on the ummmmm no?
Ok – have you read the comments supporting this tax? Talk about discrimination.
I’m going out on a limb here and I’m going to say most were written by my fellow Caymanians and some of us appear to not be able to see the forest for the trees.
Why in the world would anyone want these possible voters to have a say in what type of tax is levied? It is blatantly clear that some feel that anything “punishing” expats is in their/Cayman’s best interests.
After all, all these big bad expats do, is come here, take their jobs, and send money back to their homelands.
So yeah, my final answer to your question is NO.
Yes, as long as you agree that whatever they decide is applied without discrimination to Caymanians and non-Caymanians alike.
WHO PUT HIM INPOWER?
Foreighners are ranting and raving about the tax that Mckeeva Bush is putting on them, Well I wonder who put him in Power? Was it not for all the money that the Foreighners pumped into his campaign he would never have been in power or in the position where he could tax them, so now let them suck it up. No one is holding them here, I am quite sure that no matter where they go, except for here they will have to pay taxes. Good ridance!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else think Mac is running scared? Postpones meeting, and then has a change of venue to his home district of West Bay? Hmmmmm…….very interesting I think.
Why are you all getting up in arms, this is only to divert from the real issues, OMOV and excuse to bring in the Casino's and Gambling etc. trust me on that; he will never tax the expat community…Referendum "for Gambling" here we come. He is a danger to all, why cant you all see that.
If that's the case then why does he insist on opening his mouth and spouting off so the whole world can hear. The damage has already been done.
Complete waste of your time because it will not change ANYTHING that Big Mac sets his hands on. Tha man is a complete laughingstock and has really brought out beautiful little country down.
McKeeva will not listen. He has no ears; only a mouth.
You go yu here, i'll be there,
this man is ruining this country all in the name of politics
and personal egoes.
It's the ego..
It is dam if you do and dam if you don't. I trust that the expats will stand with the locals when the time comes for direct taxation from the Caymanians. What a mess!
This one has always stood up for locals while she has been on-island – I stood up to be counted when we protested in the East End and in town. I will continue to stand up for whatever I feel is right, whether it affects me or someone else.
CNS: I know its here in a comment for another article somewhere on here, but would you be so kind as to post a link to the relevant FB page so that people can easily find it and join please?
Thanks
CNS: http://www.facebook.com/groups/caymanunitedagainsttax/
As was the case with the numbers voting on the OMOV issue, I wouldn't be surprised if Bush at some point states that with less than 60% of those affected by his "fee recommendation" being "no shows" at this demonstration, the majority don't disapprove and in his convoluted way of cooking the numbers, the people of Cayman therefore approve of his recommendation.
Just a thought.
I was just thinking the same thing today you know! Since half of the population plus one doesn't come out to the meeting must mean that the majority agrees with him. I wouldn't be surprised…
john foster: well its going to be a bright sunny day in cayman, no rain, and wonderful clear blue sky
Expats don't mess around. From last week they are already organize themselves to protest. Caymanians take a month before they protest. That should tell you if they wanted to take Cayman over in a day, it should be with ease, because we like to sit down too much.
I hope this will be an opportunity for ALL to unite as I think certain people have been losing sight of the real issue at hand and we need to stop throwing mud at each other with labels such as the "job-stealing…" and "lazy…". The fact of the matter is that the decision to implement this "enhancement fee" or "tax" is going to have a HUGE impact on the island (not just for those that are forced to pay it). Cayman has always been an appealing offshore jurisdiction which has been the main driving force behind keeping this beautiful island afloat (literally!). Unfortunately if this biased ruling is passed effecting some ex-pats (but not those with PR or who are CS etc. apparently), businesses WILL Leave and decide to trade elsewhere (taking their staff with them) and investors WILL follow. Sure, less "ex-pats" on the island, more jobs – not if the businesses leave don't forget and I really don't think that Cayman can survive on tourism alone. Revenue for the Government will be scarce (again)and that will produce REAL hardship for all. The fact that news of this proposal has now whizzed around the world is highly embarrassing I think and makes one or two members of Government look rather foolish to say the least. I have a feeling however that this will not "go through" and the Premier will have to try and cover his red face whilst looking for support from his voters as he says "I did try…". There will always, always be foreign workers in every country and Government really needs to sort itself out, spending money wisely and investing in education which, I might add, needs to start at home and the schools need to educate these kids properly – not just by what is in a text book but teach these kids about life, the value of money, to encourage them to work hard and to strive towards their goals, to explain that nobody is "owed" nor do they "deserve" a fantastic job with a six figure salary unless they are prepared to put the work in from the outset. We need to help each other in difficult times and our attitudes need to change. Let's hope we can now stop slapping each other round the face and get on with the work at hand. I hope this united front that the Premier sees tonight, and with those attending and hopefully not just the ex-pats, will show him that this island is worth fighting for and cannot go downhill like other islands have. Look at the state Bermuda is in – not good.
WHAT TIME?????
lets be clear: if McKeeva does not listen he must be removed BEFORE this tax is passed
You all should try and move him, because it is timeCaymanians show you all what what we are made of. So try and move him. Every body will want to leave Cayman, so move him.!!!!
I went on the page and it said less than 250 have confirmed they will attend. Thousands were invited only. My prediction is less than 100 will show up.
Oh don’t worry dem foreigners going to stick together. Lets see wha Mac saying now?
From a born and bred, 100%, to the bone Caymanian, I say congratulations, thank you, and God bless you Mr. Pitman. Unfortunately it is most certainly not just unfair expat taxes that this gowerment, led by a fifth grade dropout, and supported by his equally ignorant, spineless clan in their own self interests, is doing to destroy this country and our people. Caymanians need to show enough interest in themselves and their country to demonstrate and demand full and complete details on the CHEC fiasco that has already cost several upright citizens of this country their jobs and coat the country millions of dollars before there is even an agreement, as well as on the For Cayman 'deal', that is atrociously going to cost this country tens of millions of dollars in concessions, and the three police investigations that have been going on for years now, and at least one of which has already cost at least one outstanding citizen his livelihood and deprived Cayman of his valued contribution to our country. Things are totally and completely out of hand and something desperately needs to be done NOW, Cayman.
Someone should write a biography of Big Mac's life and his "accomplishments" in detail – the way you have summed it up clearly, convinces me it would make for an interesting read. Maybe it will be in a history book someday, as lessons to be heeded. Whether good lessons or bad, readers can be the judge.
I just wanna see the cliff notes. I wish I had the time but cliff notes alone would take a long, long time to complete…. and I'm only speaking of the last 3 years!
i bet the meeting gets cancelled or venue changed at the last minute!
Your crystal ball works well my friend!
Spot on!
As you seem to have figured out the method to the madness of our mad Premier, please do tell more!
Would you please comment on how much longer we have to put up with Mad Mac?
I will certainly be joining this!
I guess we can expect a line of cars parked on the side of the road from George Town to the Mary Miller Hall. A nice evening walk will be good exercise and help relieve stress while we show our disapproval with Mac's mis-management and taxes!
Come on out everybody. Time to show Mac that we just will not allow this in this country!
If this dont work then everybody can just refuse to pay the tax and lets see how profitable this will be for Government if they have to spend prosecuting thousands of people…
I'll donate a $1US to the Red Cross fore veryone that actually shows up.
I've got a $10 bill right here.