Rivers to get labour ministry
(CNS): Although the full details of the new PPM Cabinet will be announced this evening, newly elected West Bay representative Tara Rivers has finally accepted a post in the new government and said she will take the job of labour minister, which includes the new National Workforce Development Agency as well as youth and gender affairs. Although Rivers spoke of joining a coalition government, there are no other C4C or independent members in McLaughlin’s Cabinet but it appears that the two George Town C4C members will be joining the government on the back-bench and could be given supporting junior ministry jobs.
Having been given a clear message by her constituents last night to take the cabinet position, Rivers said Tuesday lunchtime that she had accepted the invitation. “I have the ability and the necessary experience to be Minister for Labour,” Rivers claimed when she revealed that she had told Alden McLaughlin what ministerial responsibilities she wanted following his open invitation to her.
Encouraged by the PPM leader and premier in waiting's desire to form an inclusive government, she said she looked forward to working with the Progressives in Cabinet, although she would remain and independent member of government.
“The leader of the Progressives advised that I am under no obligation to join the Progressives and I do not intend to do so,” Rivers stated, although she will be bound by the rules of Cabinet responsibility.
Talking about support from the other Cabinet ministers in order to be successful, Rivers still seemed concerned about being the only independent in the Cabinet in statement released on Tuesday. “It is important that the public recognizes that it may be challenging for me to operate as a lone independent minister in a PPM dominated Cabinet. As a member of Cabinet, however, I expectto be given the necessary support from the Progressives to fulfill my responsibilities,” Rivers added.
Along with her C4C running mates, Rivers had held out for more than four days trying to negotiate for more, even though McLaughlin did not need Rivers in his Cabinet to form government but had actually wanted to include her specifically. Having finally recognised that the offer was not going to change and given the emphatic support for taking the job, Rivers finally accepted.
Rivers said she had also accepted the meaningful involvement and participation offered to other independent members in government, which she said meant there would be a minority coalition government.
Rivers stated that she would not jeopardize her independence. “I am committed to giving due consideration to the objectives and policies of the Progressives as an independent member of Cabinet, and I anticipate that I will be respected, supported and given equal opportunity to put forward and pursue my own ideas,” Rivers added.
The new premier will be holding a press conference at 6pm this evening to reveal where the rest of the portfolios and departments will be going and which of his PPM team will take the seventh Cabinet seat.
Check back to CNS for full coverage.
Category: Politics
I love how she was behaving as though she was considering NOT taking the position… so ridiculous. She should have just accepted it in the first place and not dragged it all out. As if she wasn't ever going to accept the position. Please.
I know Tara and whether it would affect our chances of re-election in 4 years was a real concern for her. She ran on a platform for a coalition govt. and so was satisfied that if there was a substantial coalition of 2 or 3 independents plus 4 or 5 PPM it would have the approval of her constituents, or at least those who voted for her. She wasn't so sure that a coalition of one would not be seen as a defection to the PPM in a district which had rejected the PPM.
Ooops. "her chances" not "our chances".
What an easy job. There is no such thing as Caymanian unemployment. Just people who do not want the many many jobs that are available.
Get rid of, or try to reduce, the WELFARE CULTURE that McKeeva created with Social Services and we will be heading in the right direction.
They are so many Caymanians who are out of work and who have many skills that could generate a little income while they are between jobs or even supplement the job they do have. A cooperative would be useful to facititate the making and selling of Caymanian craft and other products. The idea should go beyond just providing a physical location to sell their products and address all aspects of the supply chain. This would include classes on how to make the products as well as web based promotion which would allow these products to be ordered on line. A competition could also be set among the school to innovate new design for Cayman traditional products.
Truant officers are needed to ensure that our youth are not wandering the streets, when they should be in school. This would be a very small cost which would help us as a community to catch then when they are young, and to talk to them and understand their perceptions and hopefully put then on a productive track.
we now need a handle on employers to employ CAYMANIANS FIRST Mis Tara !!! Tired of cheap labour by slave drivers !!!
In a twist of irony, the first and only time I've ever spoken to Ms. Rivers we discussed Jobs and Immigration about 2 months ago and now she is the Labour Minister. I salute you Ms. River and I'm asking God's guidance for you embark on the tumultuous task of balancing CAYMANIAN jobs and Immigration.
Obviously no clue what the word "irony" means.
Since it appeared that Tara had her choice of a ministry I really wish she had chosen education.
Tara for heavens sakes break the glass ceiling that stops the up right mobility of Caymanians!
Glass ceiling? White collar Caymanians can't even get in the front door! Returning grads are unemployed, work permit renewals are a "given" in all the finance firms, no vocational schools, and no shadowing work permits. We do not have an unemployment problem, we have 20,000 work permits and cronies that rubber stamp even the simplest admin job.
Fix unemployment by following the rules instead of wasting money on new cement.
I hope Tara asks Sharon for advice and we clamp down on the Business Staffing Board (a joke and a dedicated "corporate buddy" Board to keeping qualified Caymanians out of work!)
People believe that crap? No Caymanian acheives less than their potential, many achieve much more than that.
Ummm.people KNOW that to be true. Including expats.
Tara has her work cut out for her. I pray you seek God's guidance on every decision you make. One of the big changes I would like to see in Labour is the Department more involved with the placement of Higher Qualified Individuals. It seems the department is merely used by blue color worker and low level white color workers.
Vampt this department up to be just as good as any of the Placement Agencies in Cayman. Also this I think they are doing this now but when work permit request go in and go to the board if the labour department has someone or person available to do these jobs they should be deferred until the Caymanian is interviewed and assessed for the position.
Labour Department should also have inspectors, out assessing businesses with a certain percentage of foreign workers.
Other other hand caymanians please educate yourselves and if you can't get a job in someone else company. For goodness sake create your own. It takes nothing to push a lawn mower or bake some cupcakes. Cook a pot of soup and sell to constructions worker, clean someone house etc. Just think. There are a lot of startup business that can be done. Advertise on Ecay and caymanpal. Just do something. Tired of hearing the whinning and looking to government. Look to yourself and what you can do for yourself.
Grow peppers and sell.
Lord, just use your minds.
Hopefully you can also be educated, and use “collar” not “color.” And as for seeking guidance, i would prefer she seeks help from actual living people, maybe even people that have relevant experience and skills in labour planing, rather than some imaginary man in the sky.
to: 17;12
"if you can't get a job in someone else (sic) company" maybe he can help you bake cookies or cut lawns, hopefully that is what you are doing and not working in someone else's company.
You think that being out work is a joke, it is not. I am a born CAYMANIAN! Have a Masters Degree in Business, An Associates in Medical Assisting, Chartered Secretary Decree and a Profesional Administrator Degree. When I graduated with my Bachelor and my medical degree and came home to my beloved home. There was no jobs in the medical arena for me. No one would hire me. I was an educated Caymanian then. That was twenty years ago. What is happening today did not just start today. It is only more obvious because of the economy in the whole world. With degrees and yes I said DEGREE all kind of alphabets aftr my name, many long nights studying. I still had to work in Wendy's flipping burger and on the road turning stop and go signs. I cleaned office garbage bins at night. Did what I had to do to make an honest dollar. Not one minute did I look to the government to help me find a job. I started my own company and made thousands of dollars. Other persons made money and had food on their table because of me.
Nomatter how hard it seems there is always a way out. If I today had to cut grass and bake cookies and cupcakes for a living. I have no problem in doing it. Once I am make and honest dollar and not hurting anyone in the process.
Ya have fi do what ya have fi do!!!!
If you can't get a job, create one!!!!
Alden: When Tara was a civil servant in Edna's ministry of Gender etc, she loved to travel – at taxpayer expense of course. Women's affairs/gender/labour are buzz words these days and there are always masses of conferences worldwide, NEVER inspots like Mali or Somalia or the Central African Republic but always in desirable locations. Freebies in other words. Make sure you keep control of the travelling, not just her, but ALL your ministers. We're sick to death of it and that's why we put you there – to change it!
I agree and like other large organisation all travel requiring less than a 5 hrs flight should be in economy class regardless of senority. Will the new Ministers lead by example and start flying in economy class like the rest of us?
She will come to realise what all Caymanians come to realise when they are actually made responsible for Labour that large numbers of Caymanians ( NOT ALL) are the problem. They don't want to put in a real day's work, let alone a week. 7:00 to 5:00 Monday to Friday is just too much for them. We got Jamaicians, Honduranians and Filipinos to do that sort of unreasonable work.
some of the laziest lying thieving complaing corrupt people I have ever workked with are the jamaicans honduranians philippinos & many more expats ( non-native Caymanians) I am not surprised at comments such as yours that still reguarly pop up but now that Tara is in place she will now be able to do something about all the wrong that is being done to her own people by the way I was not born in Cayman but in the good ol USA.
Iwish CNS could stop all these derogative commence.
Somewhere the spirit of the English language weeps.
It is interesting to note that there seems to be a correlation between racism/prejudice and a complete lack of grammar.
It is also interesting to note that when Caymanians are bashed, it is ok, but when any other nationality is spoken about, then it is racism or prejudice!!!
Born in the good 'ol USA…that says it all…you racist twat.
The issue with the ratio of foreign workers to Caymanians has nothing to do with theLabour Office- blame this fairly and squarely on the Immigration Department and Immigration Board, for it is these 2 entities that approve and issue work permits. Until this and EVERY Government STOP depending on the revenuegained from work permits- this issue will always be a thorn in the side of workers. The Work Permit system should be removed from Immigration anyway and placed in a HR Authority. Immigration is for border control!!!
"Labour Minister, which includes the new National Workforce Development Agency as well as Youth and Gender Affairs." Wow this sounds like a Minister that will actually have something to do. Well done Tara. Definitely not looking for an easy ride.
Let's see the NWDA get some teeth and stop Immigration rubber stamping work permits. Too may qualified Caymanians are being passed over for buddy-corporate favors. This includes ALL the companies that C4C worked for !?! Tis true……
The FOI rules! If you are Caymanian and only get a "courtesy" interview, then do a FOI. It takes NO paperwork and the truth comes out. The Business Staffing Boards have ignored qualified Caymanians again and again. Shame.
Tara, shake this up. Do some immediate audits of the top ten firms and you will uncover the ugly truth.
I see an end to the UDP…. C4c working with PPM ans now ju ju joins them… Mind you I don’t trust ju ju and am rather upset that she is now going to be making some 170k per yr after all her over spending on her vacations. But I am happy to see the UDP slowly disappear into thin air….
And PNA. Poof. Gone.
Hahhahahaha
It's absolutely alright for you to celebrate the fact that the PNA are gone, but let's not forget to give them credit for being responsible for getting the process started of breaking the UDP's stronghold in West Bay! Also, it is my opinion and the opinion of many others that they would have made a great impact for the better of the country, if they had more time. Unfortunately for their political careers but fortunately for us, they put country first!! Lastly, let us also remember that we lost great talent in the house when the best Education Minister ever, lost his seat! For the record, his name is Rolston Anglin!
It is quite alright to celebrate that the PNA are no longer around, however, let us remember to thank these guys and give them credit for starting the process of breaking the UDP stronghold. It was especially evident in George Town where Joey managed to squeeze in and in Bodden Town where Al Suckoo managed to come in above Theresa. What these guys did unfortunately cost them their seats but fortunately for us, they put country first. It is my opinion and many others' I am sure, that the PNA did a great job in the few months they had to run the country, and if they only had a bit more time, then I am sure the positive impact would have been more noticed. Any fair person would admit that we have lost great talent in the Legislative Assembly when the best Education Minister this country has ever seen, lost his seat. For the record, his name is Rolston Anglin!
She not even in the Hot Seat as yet and already the ignorance is starting. If Tara has to please just the people of west bay and be intimidated by them, then we are in some serious problems. If you think Edzar is bad, just wait till she has to remove all the "Expats" from all those positions that her electors will claim that they can do but will not do. This is exactly why she probably was so hesitant, knowing that if she was to promote Caymanians in Business such as her running mates, Sharon and Mervin who all have permit holders on staff, then they would tell her she an "Expat lover". For the records, not every company in Cayman is owned by foreigners. A lot of good companies are owned and operated by Caymanian entrepreneurs. And it is very obvious that Caymanians will not work too long with their own Caymanians business owners since there is no way to threaten another Caymanian that they will kick them off this Island. Tara, Labor issues is not as simple as listening to one or 2 disgruntled individuals in West bay. It’s about listening to the overall community and entrepreneurs and even the big business. Why do we have to create an environment where we have to be looking for Jobs? That’s not opportunity. Opportunity is the chance to open a simple business such as landscape or car wash business and be able to hire someone for the Job that will stick out at least a year. As a Caymanian with high hopes, why should I be denied an opportunity to have my own business and have Expats or whoever suited for the job hired as employees. As started this conversation, the ignorance has already started.
Julianna has been UDP, PNA and now PPM all in a six month period. She has been Deputy Premier, Premier, and now Speaker. Wow really is anyone else confused with all of this swapping back an forth.. Not sure if there are really any loyalties is this game?
WE all have to put COUNTRY FIRST and the way to do that is by giving Tara and all the others a chance. This was a fair election. The people elected who they thought was best for the country. Ease up. Don't start tearing them down before they have even had the opportunity to take office. Have no fear, TARA RIVERS is well educated, has common sense and will not be pushed over by anyone. She understands the issues involved in getting Caymanians back to work and she will get the job done. Hold your tongues for a minute and give her a chance. If she doesn't perform, then you have reason to talk. But dont jump to conclusions and make statements that are absolutely foolish and out of order.
Caymanians need a true crack at jobs plain and simple. If you legitimately can’t find a Caymanian to fill your positions then yes you should be allowed to legally hire whoever you want. You want to hire people so that they will stick around? Try treating them with dignity and respect instead of looking down your noses at them. There are more educated, hard working Caymanians coming out of colleges now that need a chance. They need to not be painted with the same brush of the lazy ones with an entitlement attitude.
It sounds like your kind of work is that which may not attract Caymanians so seems like you won’t have to worry about the rights of the people that Tara will be fighting for. But think about if it were you out there looking for a job and no one would hire you JUST because you are stereotyped as being Caymanian. You’d be singing a different tune. BTW just in case you are wondering I have a job but am tired of seeing expat faces in every corner of the island in jobswhen there are Caymanian that are willing and able to work and are out of jobs!
Hear Hear!!!
Tara, stop the madness. The work permit renewal pages in the newspaper give any degreed Caymanian FALSE HOPE.
Start with DART, DMS, MAPLES, KPMG, Walkers, CIBC….lsit goes on. These firms have HR lip-service and that is all.
Yes I can see the line up now of Caymanians at the casheir line and at the fast food places to flip burgers. There are just some jobs that should not be contradicted. Are you telling me that Caymanians are in line for this type of jobs?. My biggest gripe with the system is that for these basic jobs that allow us to have our $0.99cent burger or full moon chicken or a whoping burger, why is there so much complaints? If the system is to work, Caymaninains simply have to drop the entitlement mentality. And lets be clear about one thing. It is mainly imported. Any person that has Status or married to Caymanian will remind you over and over that they are Caymanian. I have not seen real Caymanian remind anyone of that point. So the entitlement mentality, as another writer posted, is due in part to importation. Meaning if you want to see examples, go to UCCI and see reality. Kids with all accents with pants down and looking like a Bum hang out. In Cayman we do have some un-employable persons. We know who they are, but how can the Labor Job placement department handle a highy educated person seeking for a job. They are not suited to distinguish the capabilities of these persons. Writer and readers in all fairness what we need in cayman is a re-visit of culture and basic working ethics. We also need to remind the new commers with status or other legal form to work, that they are a bad representaion of the real Caymanian working ethics. and you ask what is a real Caymanian? It is any person thats been here one day or 100 years that understand that Goverment should not be a source of handouts, and that they will work to make ends meet, and as another writer posted, if you cant get employed, then make your own employment enviroment, then you get to see what other business face with the employment suitation.
Huh. That's actually a fair point. I hadn't thought of it that way before.
Please put checks in place that alerts social services that the unemployed have found a job & should be removed from their list! Also before giving away cig$$=social service find them jobs instead! We have hope in you Tara!!
Caymanian
So will Ozzie be the Minister of Education?
yes, Bobo, the education system need that cow cod
Your 5th comment. Relax man. No wonder people have to switch channels from this site.
Audit and make the laws stick Tara
Tara has become the Patron of Unemployed Caymanians. Mmmm.. will she live up to her name and finally purge the Labor Board???
Not unless she create an employment agency with the private sector. She has to remove the employment decision from the Immigration department.
You all cant find something constructive to do….geeezzz. Go and read the Constitution
Glad that is finally done and dusted. Now let us move on to elect Ezzard as leader of the opposition so that he can guard dog McKeeva for the next four years to keep him quiet.
I bet people who complained about C4C are having second thoughts, seeing that they can be useful "QUALIFIED" additives to both the UDP and PPM parties. Next election, I will vote for some more of them. I am proud and happy that we didn't stick with merely a two party option. It is time we give Caymanians more than two options. C4C provided that third way and I can tell you that I see no other Caymanian in the LA more qualified to take on the Labor portfolio.
Finally a decision, its a good thing country was supposed to be first!! Politics what a joke.
This info is skewed because PPM could not get the majority vote as required in the constitution.
Please Note below, Cayman’s Constitution:
______________________
2009 No. 1379
CARIBBEAN AND NORTH ATLANTIC TERRITORIES The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009
Section 49.
(2) Where a political party gains a majority of the seats of elected members of the Legislative Assembly, the Governor shall appoint as Premier the elected member of the Assembly recommended by a majority of the elected members who are members of that party.
(3) If no political party gains such a majority or if no recommendation is made under subsection (2), the Speaker shall cause a ballot to be held among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly to determine which elected member commands the support of the majority of such members, and shall record the vote of each member voting; and, where such a ballot is held, the Governor shall appoint as Premier the elected member who obtains a majority of the votes of the elected members.
________________
PPM received 9 out of 18 elected members which is not the majority vote, the only have 50% of the house. In fact the other members of the LA can flip a PPM party member and form the Gov’t as a coalition using the UDP. The PPM is forced to gain a 10th vote for majority and makes Mrs. Rivers a necessary Minister in Cabinet. It should also be noted that Mrs. Rivers could also negotiate a 2nd seat for another member which would level the playing field for the Cabinet even further.
This is not a discussion of the parties or independents but the math of electing a Gov’t within the realm of the constitution. The soon to be newly appointed Premier, Deputy Premier, and speaker of the House are not official because the new Gov’t has not been formed. This means the dearly departed Edna Moyle is still considered the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker now presides on the floor. As per Section 49. (3) this vote is also a real possibility if Tara does not accept the Ministry.
The people of Cayman need to beware of crafty politics and backdoor deals because as we move into our next 4 years in this economy we need to make all the politicians accountable for their actions.
This blog will go to all the media sites and I hope this be published on CNS.
Merlin the Wizard
Edna Moyle was not the Speaker in the last LA it was Mary Lawrence…..
Whatever! at the end of the day, it is the C4C that came out looking bad because of their poor power hungry behavior. Winston and Roy and their handlers allowed this to drag on just long enough to ruin their political careers in the future and to bury the C4C for good. Given what i now know about them and their behavior – a happy ending i would say, and everyone loves a happy ending!
Power hungry? Really? Dont you think the experience and acumen of Roy and Winston will be invaluable in working with Mark Panton overseeing financial services?
This is why financial services had such high support for Roy, Winston and Jude — because they understand the industry, and they know that the budget cant simply be plugged by charging more and more work permit fees. Have a chat with places such as Admiral, Butterfield Fulcrum etc, and how many jobs they have moved up to Canada because of costs. How about we focus on financial services that will create real and stable jobs, and not silly misadventures such as the film industry and special economic zones.
Let Mark, Roy and Winston oversee financial services, and allow the rest of the folks play around in other areas.
Star, who is "Mark Panton"? Go back to sleep!
Mark? Panton? Sound like a cross between Mark Scotland and Wayne Panton heehee didnt know they had a lil baby boy….awwwww
Who in the hell is Mark Panton?
Merlin the Wizard, you are incorrect. By gaining Juliana O'Connor Connolly, the PPM secured their majority. Juliana crossed and they nominated her for speaker. Thus making the numbers 9 -8. Slice and dice it how you will, both Alden and Juliana knew what they were doing when they had their press conference on Saturday. The Attorney General and the Governor would not be preparing for a swearing in ceremony as we speak if they were not satisfied the PPM could form the government without the C4C and other independents.
Merlin, goes to show how informed you are. Ms Edna hasn't been Speaker for the last four years. She was an elected member, nominated and appointed as Speaker and left the role when she decided to not run in the 2009 election. Mary Lawrence has been Speaker since then, with Cline Glidden as Deputy. To date, there have only been two non-elected members who have held the Speaker role: Sybil McLaughlin and Mary Lawrence.
The Progressives have their majority – with or without anyone lese. Juju secured that for them when she agreed to become Speaker. They didn't need Tara, they wanted her. Big difference.
You are right about all but one simple fact, they needed Tara, trust me on that. The fact that the Governor would not appoint Alden until JuJu actually joined the PPM is very telling. In other words, until then they did not have the majority in the House that they so required. And by the way, Tara remains an independent working with the PPM, she is not like JuJu changing sides every turn around.
Actually, no. I am a supporter of Tara but that is simply not the case. The significance of Juliana's joining the PPM was that it brought Alden's appointment as premier under s. 49(2) rather than having to go to a ballot under s. 49(3) but the result was a foregone conclusion since the PPM already had more votes than all the others combined (9 -8).
Yeah, except none of this happened or is going to happen. The losers like being invited to sit at the grownup table.
Paragraphs man, paragraphs! In your case, double paragraphs.
Thank you.
Even without Tara the PPM has 9 out of 17 possible votes (the Speaker having been appointed and thereafter unable to vote) and therefore a majority. Section 49(3) does not require an absolute majority of all elected members including the Speaker but simply a majority of the votes of elected members who vote. The PPM now has Tara and apparently the other C4C members as well so that is a complete non-issue.
Merlin also seems to be confused about the identity of the immediate past Speaker who is Mrs. Mary Lawrence. The offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker were vacated when the House was dissolved back in March and he is therefore wrong about who presides at this point. The first order of business is to elect the new Speaker which may be done by the newly elected representatives even before being sworn in as MLAs.
With Caymanians out of Jobs, this ministry is close to Tara's heart. Well done, Alden! I think you established an Advocate who will fight for Caymanians.
Tara, big congrats to you!
As a fellow female Caymanian I am very proud of you. That being said, for too long Caymanians have been overlooked for jobs by companies more interested in hiring cheap ex-pat labour or letting their friends take well paying jobs that Caymanians should be given. Please do some spring cleaning across the board and get rid of ex-pats who are taking away jobs qualified Caymanians are entitled to have first and foremost. Also while you are at it please look into some of the ex-pats who have been given PR or status that did not get it throught their own merit and simply beat the system because too many in Immigration are not looking out for their own or just too incompetent to do their job. I realize alot of people were also given PR and status to collect fees to help the country because the UDP bankrupted the country but its not too late to revisit those applications and set things straight. You can do it, and I trust you will. Those that do not like my comments can take a flight back home. COUNTRY FIRST!!!
Is it true that the Cayman Islands produces more bigots per capita than anywhere else in the world?
To:Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/28/2013 – 16:18. No!! We just import them.
For Tues 17:33
LOL! LOL! Thank you so much, i was wondering if it was crab season and those bigots were coming out from under the rocks, phew! Thank God they are not from here, so please contact Miracle Brokers we have a lot of exporting to do.
16:18′ Naah… I think that the US, UK and Spain trumps Cayman every time!!
Anonymous at 14:40 says "get rid of ex-pats who are taking away jobs qualified Caymanians are entitled to have first and foremost."
I wholeheartedly agree that Caymanians are to be given the first opportunity of obtaining a job, provided that they are qualified and experienced for the position offered. As an employer in the construction field I provided many opportunites for Caymanians, yet I cannot agree that any person, or group of people is "entitled to have" a job. Many jobs are simply not here any more.
The Labour Office also has an obligation towards the employers of these islands to only send suitably qualified persons to a prospective employer for interview. That way both parties have a reasonable opportunity to succeed in matching positions with persons to fill them, setting off into their new relationship with some hope of mutual respect and satisfaction in each's expectation of the other.
Too many times I have seen the Labour Office send totally inappropriate people for a job that they are not even close to being qualified to do. This practice damages the morale of the unemployed person and the reputation of the potential employer, who consequently has no choice in those circumstances but to consistenyl turn down those sent.
Many who fall into this category have been deprived of a reasonable and practical level of education by several governments long before the PPM and the UDP became established.
Then there are the "nowheries", i.e those children of expats that were born and grew up with no rights to live here, or anywhere else, who now- fairly and correctly – have been granted Status, but carry the burden of a palpable entitlement mentality, having been taunted for so long by their Caymanian peers that they were on the "outside".
Cayman's successive xenophobic governments between 1980 and 2004 created these people, hundreds if not thousands of them. It's not up to Cayman's employers to fix that on their own, or suffer the cost of it to their businesses, especially when the Chamber of Commerce was pointing out to those governments through all of those years that they ought not to create such an underclass in the first place. Finally, the FCO fixed it, but way too late in my view.
Caymanians who are willing and able to work, by a reasonable employer's definition of "work" that is, are not, in my opinion, those sitting outside the Labour Office. The Labour Office would do well to speak the plain truth to those unfortunate people, and help them progress towards a reasonable level of expectation of the kinds of job they can hope to succeed doing, rather than dashing their hopes week after week sending them on a wild goose chase.
I wish you sincere good luck with your new ministry Ms. Rivers. I believe the battle can be won if you are able to restore the employers' confidence in Caymanians as the wonderful and hard working people that they nearly all used to be only a generation ago.
Well said, Alan, and respect to you for using your name. Now let us sit back and wait for the thumbs down from the lazy non performing "hidjuts" and their supporters out there who think that being born here is enough and why work for five days when three or, gasp, maybe four will do.
To: Tues 14:40
I feel your pain but it is not the board to blame for all those who were given PR, Ms. Rivers need to look into to all those in the Public Sector on contracts which allow them to qualify for PR. Simple jobs like Receptionists, that's a disgrace. The first place to start would be the HSA
Hear Hear! It is a path to easy street for ex-pats in Civil Service. There are so many that got that status just by breathing! Purge the Civil Service and hire Caymanians!
HSA is the same way.
Clean house Tara. Get 15% of the 20,000 work permits to qualified Caymanians (There ARE many Caymanians who work darn hard and are being passed by with rubber stamp WP renewals.)
After a seemingly 9-month wait, Tara has gone in to Labour!
Cut the umbilical cord. See below comment for reference.
This may be premature as we son’t know if they have accepted her term, strings…
Congrats Tara.. I am glad you stood up to the PPM in your discussions. You ran as an independent along with other c4c persons. Itmgoesmtomshowmyou are loyal and will not switch just like that.. Very honorable..
I feel that you will do a great job for the whole island not just WB..
To the PPM team I didn’t vote for you but respect that you would choice and outsider to work with, lets hope this a sign for our future on this little islands..
Good luck to all over the next four years…
Junior ministers – what a joke. What a bunch of power hungry rich guys. I will NEVER vote for C4C again, with their BS about 'Country First'; they are 'Winston First' and 'Roy First'. Someone tell them that they LOST.
Ahem!! Read the words that are printed on the page: Junior MINISTRY Jobs. Ahhh… boy
Let’s get this show on the road of recovery! We’re still waiting on your promises of employment & $4.00 fuel cost & lover standard of living etc!
Wp
To:Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/28/2013 – 13:39. Looks like you believe in fairy tales and expect Alden to wave his magic wand and roll back the price at the pump.Please let's wait until he actually gets started on the job.
Agreed. How is Alden (or anyone) going to have an effect on the price of fuel? The wholesalers buy in the world markets at a price determined in the world markets, then have to ship the fuel here.
Does Alden plan on having a vote at OPEC meetings, or have a plan on exploring shale and oilsand deposits in North America?
Pure political rhetoric. Same with controlling the 'cost of living' in general. Do you plan on putting in rent controls, or pricing controls at the grocery store.
We can ask one thing of you. Control gov't spending. That would require you to roll back salaries to a level that balances the budget. But you will NEVER do that.
Mac had an effect when he increased the fuel tax by 50 cents a gallon.
Other taxes (new andincreases) in some areas to offset some of the fuel tax
Some rollback in salaries and some movement of civil servants into private sector or voluntary separation.
Reduction in some sercices and programmes run by govt.
We should have started with the nixing the increase of MLA's and Ministers so we are off to the races….. in the wrong direction.
Anon 1542 I think what he was saying is that he was taking the Gov taxs off. Still the Gov taxs will not cause it to drop that much. The cost of the fuel and the profit by the gas companies are the largest portion of the cost not the Gov taxs.
this was a promise by the ppm on their campaign to drop the duty on fuel immediately. we are still paying way too much for a gallon. Come on ppm please start living up to your promises.
Ummm can you swear them in firstplease?
I want some of that stuff they sold you.
Me and Mac have some quality land to build your hurricane proof home on the reef.
Guys if the Government cant balance their budget now and you remove income to the Government how is it going to work?
It means that Government like all past Governments have to find an alternative source of revenue. Best one is a cruise port.
Well, we are off to the races
This is wonderful, we have someone over the labor board that I think will be an advocate for caymanians who are not given a fair shot at jobs. And who are skipped over when they are quilified enough to do the job and picked over for an expat. Truth be told we need someone to step on some toes to get our people back to work!!!! You Can Do It!!!!!!
Tara yo need to start with Cayman Airways as they are promiting expatriates rather than caymanians every day and paying then better than caymanians.
"promiting"? Could it be your lack of qualifications (including the written language) that is holding you back?
As a small business holder I want to employ locals as it cuts down on the expense of Work Permits, and related expenses. I pay all my staff expat and Caymanian at the same rate, I have when possible promoted Caymanians.
The reason I find (in some cases) it easier to employ an expat is because they turn up for work, and when they do turn up they put in a days work for their pay. Simple as that.
You could always pay the Caymanian staff more because they don't have the permit cost. Try offering that as an annual bonus if they don't take any sick days or even easier, if they don't miss a days work without you knowing that will happen in advance.
And while your at it , close the damn turtle farm. As a true ‘tax payer re. Expat I would like to see my money go elsewhere
Congratulations Tara, I have no doubt that you will do an outstanding job!
~Proud West Bayer
Roy, Winston: We the People who elected you are counting on one of you to take up the Leader of the Opposition role. God forbid it should land on the lap of he-who-should-not-be-named. We would achieve nothing for his running his mouth opposing for the sake of opposing at every turn! No, no, no!! That simply won't do.
Leader of the opposition and opposition in general are largely ineffective. It would be a waste for Roy to sit in opposition.
Lets get Roy and Winston working with Mark Panton to work together on getting financial services more bouyant. They are of no value barking from the oppostion; they would be ignored. Trust me.
Hi Austin. Who is Mark Panton?
I have faith that Panton, Roy, Archer and Winston can work really well together to sort out financial services and finance. The experience and intellect among these four people should put these two ministries in great shape in the next four years.
Let’s start being positive people. Let’s forget about political differences and work together. After all, we all breathe the same air around here.
Elio, who the hell is Mark Panton? What district did he win?
too late. they have said they will join with the govt as well.
I think by Tara joining the PPM ranks, she weakened C4C's chance of becoming the prime "party" of Opposition. They have given that crown to McKeeva Bush who has two of his supporters with him.
They were never a party, remember?
I don't know if I would call them "supporters" so much as "pocket puppets".