New cop becomes Caymanian
(CNS): Young people who have grown up in the Cayman Islands and call it home but have no rights as citizens may in the future be provided with a way to gain those rights. During the final stage in the granting of Caymanian Status by Cabinet to 23-year-old Kishna Burke – the ratification by the Legislative Assembly – Premier Alden McLaughlin noted that there were many others who, like her, had lived in Cayman almost all their lives but would not, as a young person, be likely to gain permanent residency, and said government would consider a route for them other than a Cabinet status grant. Burke, a successful candidate in the recent recruitment drive by the RCIPS, made her application in March 2011.
A maximum of four people per year can become Caymanians through Cabinet, a provision made by the previous PPM government in the wake of the mass status grants of 2003 under the UDP administration.
Under the current process, people can apply to the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board, which makes recommendations to Cabinet. If the members of Cabinet agree with the recommendations, the status grant must then be put to the Legislative Assembly for approval.
In September 2012 businessmen Harry Chandi and William Maines were the first to become Caymanian this way after a majority vote in favour and only North Side MLA Ezzard Miller voting against the grant. “No one should be granted Caymanians status just because they are rich,” Miller said at the time, adding that he wanted to see these special grants given to really deserving people for exceptional reasons.
With the opposition bench empty as Burke’s status grant passed through the House last Friday afternoon, there was no debate and only the premier spoke.
He explained that she has lived in this country since the age of five and does not know the place of her birth, Jamaica, or have any family there. Although her father, a Jamaican national, obtained status through the normal immigration process, Burke’s family did not apply to have that status extended to her. So, when she turned 18 she found that she did not qualify for Caymanian status and faced the prospect of being sent back to Jamaica.
In March 2011, with little chance of gaining permanent residency, she was advised to apply to Cabinet for the right to be Caymanian, McLaughlin said. He noted that Burke, now a trainee officer in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, has proved an outstanding member of the community and deserved the right to be Caymanian.
Premier McLaughlin said that other young people in a similar situation might not know they can apply for Cabinet status, and even if they did, four status grants per year would not be enough. Without going into details, he suggested that government would consider other ways to provide for such cases without a grant of Cabinet status.
Category: Politics
Was she granted this 'Cabinet' status grant BEFORE..or AFTER she was accepted as a successful RCIPS recruit ?
Meaning…was her status application before Cabinet before she applied to the RCIPS ?
I have no problem with this young lady being given Caymanian status Cabinet grant…that is allowable under the law.
What I DO have a problem with is preferential treatment through connections and contacts that other people in the same position is denied.
If she was given this status grant becauseshe was successfull in applying to the RCIP, it is even more questionable…as it calls into question the integrity of the RCIPS hiring policies and its supposed non-involvement with the elected politicians.
In any event, I wish this young lady all the best.
It really bothers me that our legislators sometimes make hasty decisions in voting for something, because, the proponent [be it the Premier or anyone else] that has brought the proposal has done a good job in generating empathy for the individual whom they are hoping to help. Here one must ask the question! Why do we have laws in place to protect us and prevent such indiscretion from happening! If people in our legislature can "bend or break" these laws whenever it seems convenient for them to do so!
Let me say this! This young lady has the same right as do every other person who comes to live or work here, to apply and hopefully obtain status! But she has no special rights to jump in front of the line to get hers. Now what I'm afraid will happen is, that because of "THIS" grant of status, we have now set a precedent and there will be those, who have been waiting in the wings and abiding by the rules, who will now, [and rightly so] go to court to demand their status based on the precedent that has been set, which now will involve equity from a human rights position.
My advice to our legislators is this! Before rushing to do anything that at the time seems, like a good idea from a humanitarian standpoint, take the time to THINK about what you are about to do before doing it and winding up with egg on your face!
My situation is similar to hers. What makes her more speical then me?
I wish I could get a cabinet status.
Good for her!
But what about the rest of these people who have families that are Caymanian now that do not have status. How can one be granted and the others be denied? Or have to pay thousands of dollars to apply for PR with no guarantee of obtaining PR? Or be under a permit for 7 years but ordinarily resident for 10 + to 15+ years?
Where would we make a new threshold? If you can prove to came here under 18 as of or before year 2000 should you get status? Of course be of good character and other due diligence. Or do we turn a blind eye to people who are integrated in the community with family here and keep making laws for the people who arrived after 2004 post Ivan?
With this grant a preceedant has been set and the government will need to move quickly to apply a remedy. This raises questions of human rights violations and will need to be dealt with equitably.
Oh my people can't you see The premier is using psychology on we. By doing this sole exec grant he has now set thevstage for massive grats, he jknowsthe numbers, but he has played this card to create the clamor necessary to justify the end he wants to achieve, polittrics they call it.
The Government had better be careful in what they continue to do in regards to status give aways. There are human rights issues in all this, what about some adults that I know of who have attended high school in Cayman as far back as in 1970s and is still here and do not possess Caymanian Status. The Government had better research the files in Immigration and send in for these people and give them status outright and then continue with the children and grandchildren of Caymanians. When this is done they should then block the loop holes and shut the door on cabinet status. No further dispensation of status should be given unless the person qualifies under the proper immigration law. Cayman is now in a mess because of the 2003 mass immigration grants and if this recent status grant by cabinet is not handled properly it could be the straw that will break our back.
These should have been the persons who were granted Status inthe 2003 Status give-away fiasco by the UDP. If it was done properly and all the required papers provided, and even if it was 3000 people who were given Status, it would have been persons who deserved it and were worthy of it and not people who were either here for a short time, never even been to The Cayman Islands or those that had criminal records as no background checks were done, just so as to cover the granting of Status to an undesired few "under the table"! Life in The Cayman Islands!
The PR rules discriminate on the basis of age, as younger people are less likely to attain the earning level to satisfy the new standards.
Valid point, but also an otiose one, as the new rules are so ludicrously stringent that no-one other than the super-wealthy will qualify anyway. Ordinary, hard-working professionals, with mortgage, spouse and kids have no chance whatsoever, regardless of what industry they work in.
Setting aside the multiple human rights violations that are occurring under the new law (and the UK government needs to sit up and take note now, rather than wait until they arrive before the Privy Council), the biggest threat to the Cayman Islands is now the ultra-draconian PR rules. Onshore regulation, hostility to tax planning, FATCA, etc pale into insignificance. The Immigration Law 2013 is going to destroy the financial services industry in Cayman in very short order.
I know of many individuals in professional positions that bring in work to Cayman who are now planning to leave and go elsewhere after the new rules came in. And the days of "ah well don't let the door hit you on the way out, someone else will replace you" are long gone, especially now the onshore economies are heating up.
08:16 you are talking nonsence. Hardly a week goes by that I do not get at least 2 emails with resumes attached of people looking for jobs of varying categories. Beleive they still want to come to the Cayman Islands to work.
Let's put it to the test.
From what I can see, some senior partners are rounding up bonuses, cash and assets faster than newly elected Cayman politicians.
The support staff won't get replaced and in some cases, gone to Asia with them.
Something is happening.
The business case to move staff away from Cayman writes itself.
Yes, but there is always a reason. One announcement on charging expats tax a few years ago led to another office being created elsewhere. That decision took less than two hours to make and the office is up and running with staff formerly from Cayman.
The finance business fell into the lap of Cayman, it can easily fall out.
What you need to worry about is not the worker drones, but the employers. Its already very expensive – everything from permit fees and other indirect taxes, andthe cost of living driving wages higher than onshore jurisdictions like Canada or Ireland, The added hassle of persuading staff to relocate when they will almost certainly get rolled and there is no realistic prospect of a long term career, let alone the disruption from having to replace senior managers for no reason other than they have been here too long. Not talking about people who will open up a space for a local either. Why would you want to do that when you could just incorporate in another,cheaper, offshore jurisdiction but place the actual employee team somewhere cheaper and without all the HR hassle? If my business was not already here ….
Absolutely.
I'm about to relocate a business that made 2m bucks last year, is on target to make 3.5m this year, and has a 5 year revenue projection of over 15m. Why? Because of the stupid, wasteful and excessive taxation by the Cayman Islands government. The latest immigration law is the final straw. My highly qualified, experienced and specialised staff (of which there is an acute global shortage, with many being swept up by google, apple etc) are going to get kicked out, with no chance whatsoever of PR, all because of the idiotic xenophobia of the PPM. government. We had hoped to make Cayman the regional centre for our business, covering the Caribbean and Latin America. Now we are looking to move that centre to another island or onshore.
Way to go PPM. Your stupidity and bigotry is going to cost Caymanians their jobs and lower living standards. Give yourselves a pat on your fat-cat backs.
They would also be a breach of the right to a family life under the ECHR.
Nope, and believing otherwise does not make it fact.
Anyone who has lived in Cayman that long, especially from a young age, has established connections to the Cayman Islands that will generate article 8 rights. I am sorry but there is really is a serious human rights problem in sending away people who have grown up in Cayman.
Are you suggesting that 40 bonus points for having a "Caymanian" parent are not enough? Having a Phd. and 30 years experience in your field only gets you 25 points. I think we should be done bending over.
Good decision by the Cabinet and Legislative Assembly. She's chosen to serve and protect the land she calls home and I'm sure she'll make a fine Officer.
Congrats to Ms Burke, I am sure she is relieved and can enjoy a great career, now having all the rights as a Caymanian. Please ntoe my comments are directed at the politicians because if people can come to Cayman and get all the support from our leaders we can't blame the recipients, it is our fault for electing them in the first place.
What concerns me is the fact that the Premier is concerned about residnets here who obviously have other options in terms of citizenship but oour government's goal is always to secure the rights of foreigners first. Here we have an example of a person who was not only given the privilege of being an officer but she got the job before receiving citizenship.
When will our leaders make the same pledge and great efforts to ensure rights of the native Caymanians are protected?
I pray that the jobs they take are those the MLAs feel will always be theirs and for their family members. Mr. Premier how easy was it for your wife to get articles?
Do you think thses officers will not be helped by their own native people to go after those higher paid, more powerful and influential jobs too?
What a mess these politicians have put us in with their arrogance and greed.
Not to point out the obvious, but Caymanians have other options, like mostly every other nationality on planet Earth.
Everyone remembers their relatives going to sea back in the day to make a living and returning home, what is stopping so many Caymanians who can't find work here from doing the same nowadays? Education? Grow some, look at the expat's in Cayman and around the world in other countries. Get off your ass and do somethg and stop complaining, the "silver spoon" mentality is ridiculous down here,
And this woman has lived here practically her entire life, its her home, damn right she should be given status / residency, at least she is doing something for the betterment of the Cayman Islands.
For those that continue to cry foul with all these foeigners taking jobs, guess what? They work hard, don't bitch and moan, respect their positon and the fact that they have been given an opportunity to work in a foreign country.
If those locals who constantly cry, call in sick all the time and feel hard done by actually worked hard, didn't bitch and moan, respect their employer and the fact they are employed, many if not all of them would be singing a different tune.
There is a reason why you don't have a job, figure that out, fix it, move on and stop blaming others for your own (self inflicted) problems.
Some Caymanians need to wake up.
10;57
I have to agree with you.
Why dont these people go back to sea? there are lots more ships on the ocean now a days.
Why dont the government give the first offender the opportunity to take a 12 month trip on a ship, instead of locking them up and feeding them? It would sure do him and his parents a lot of good.
You could have them join the military or go to jail
From a professional British soldiers view, I do not want to deploy or be in the same grid square on a map with any of the half wits seen in that court.
Hold on now high horse … I am 3rd generation Caymanaian and did not choose to be raised here, but my wife and children are here now too. I cannot "grow some" and move away from my mortgage and children's schools, church, and friends! I AM qualified and have excellent work References (never used more than 2 real sick days a year.). I am shut out of all Friday newspaper job adverts becasue they are white collar work permit renewals in the field I am highly qualified in (IT). Look around a s see how many expats hold senior IT jobs!! I am qualified and working on my MBA, but Govt & Private want expats in these roles. So should I take my Caymanian family to England and sell the house I worked so hard for to the expat in my job? Not as easy as you think… The bias and unfair hiring practices to beyond this. Congrats to a lady who deserved her status, now may I have a CHANCE at my profession too?
You can move to another country – you may not want to, you may feel you shouldnt have to, and you may or may not find moving away from your established relationships with friends and community painful – but there are 20,000 people working here who did exactly that in order to secure a job or seek a better life for themselves. And as a Caymanian the UK would even let you work there without having to apply for a work permit, requalify for it every year, or your employer tell you that they had to employ a British national for the job even though you were better qualfied for the position just because they were born there. Its a tough world these days – expectiing a job as by right regardless of qualifications is a fantasy. Perhaps you should think about how high your horse is before you accuse the other poster of being on his.
My only question throughout this is why can't you move? Are you electronically monitored?
You have far more opportunities open to you in the UK than any UK national arriving to Cayman so quit the whole "I have no choice, I cannot move, my church is here" excuse.
Strange how it is a one way street and often overlooked.
Why should any Caymanian be forced to move to the UK to see employment if they do not want to when there are more jobs than Caymanians? This was the attitude that changed the Bahamas in the early 1970 and unfortunately if these kind of attitudes pervail the same will hold true in Cayman soon.
By copying the Bahamas you are referring to Cayman, like the Bahamas, going for a crazed independence movement lead by a corrupt politician leading to a flight of financial services and capital, economic collapse and rampant crime?
That is your versions of events. The locals in the Bahamas tell a different a story. Of course you think yours is authoritative.
Don't make me laugh. The UK is a racist society. For what Caymanians have to endure in their own country God help them when they are in the Englishman's country. And spare me the usual "Cayman is not a country" talk.
If you have issues getting a job why are u wasting money on a Masters? You see that's the problem with some Caymanians, the lack of common sense. If you walked into my firm and I asked why u were unemployed and you explained then said " but I am working on a masters I wouldn't employ you. I guess you took "move on" literally right? You may have to "excellent job references" (whatever that means ) but just looking at what you wrote I totally understand why there may be some hesitation to employ you – you would be a bad investment IMO.
Why did you take on an MBA if you are unemployed and have a mortgage? MBAs are worth nothing right now becuase everyone who had nothing to do went out and got one during the downturn because the opportunity cost of study was so low. I reckon it is your crap attitude that is the problem.
I don't really value MBAs obtained on the last decade other than from a top institution. One from anywhere else just says "unemployed" or "underemployed".
You are certainly one of those gold digger Cayman haters that we seem to have so much of. Yes the poor Cayman men went to sea until they could build up their once little Paradise and then move on to higher. As soon as we had accomplished that the Pirates invaded us. Yes we are proud to be some of the BEST seamen in the world whilst some of you haters cant even swim.If people such like you had the power we would all be run off our little rock. But I have a good suggestion for you ,"Please go back to your hole and turn it into a decent place to live like what our seamen did."
Caymunkind Supernova.
This would be all the Cayman seaman who went to work for Bulk carriers that were non unionised and could undercut the unionised seamen? Disenfranchising those at the home ports and taking jobs.
Working as expats all over the world until they got hold of that fat pension, whilst sending a little bit of money home to start a business and get out from that hole.
Strange how things go round isn't it?
What rock were you born under. It has nothing to do with whether or not she is eligible for status. The point is ! She should never have been pushed to the front of the line when others who have applied for status and have been waiting long before her have not been treated equally. And how ridiculous that you would suggest that Caymanians go overseas to look for work when we have "IDIOTS" like you here on work permits. GET A LIFE!
You are lucky if some workers make it in to work two days in a row, 1 mile away, let alone turn up forwork in another country.
It is far easier to be a big fish in a small pond being fed regularly, than to be a small fish in a big ocean without the can do attitude.
"With little chance of gaining permanent residency"…So lets get this straight. This is a grown adult, who will not qualify for PR under the rules and laws in place, but special dispensation has to be made for them because they grew up here? Why her and not everyone in a similar position? Why isnt Ms Burke told that she has to secure a job and face 9 year roll over if she cannot qualify for PR like anyone else who does not hold status? Are we saying that because you have lived here for a certain period of time as a child you have rights of residence that are somehow different to those gained by living here as an adult? Try that differentiation and see how far you get in a court, or for that matter how do you then refuse every other applicant who has grown up here and is not connected with the ir nationality of descent. Or is she somehow special, or connected? There must be hundreds of children in exactly the same position, quite apart from the ones actually born here to expat parents.
The existing laws are designed to ensure that kids don't automatically get rights of residence or status just because they resided here with their parents when a child. Her parents had a window to apply for her and failed to do it. If the Premier thinks that is unfair or was not the intention of the LA when the law was passed – and pretty sure it was a quite deliberate policy decision to stop a wave of status grants being given to those growing up here but not of Caymanian descent – he needs to have the cojones to tell his electorate that he is going to change it and allow kids born here or who have spent most of their childhood here to qualify irrespective of their financial circumstances or their parents nationality (and see the firestorm that will then ensue).
The Premier is opening Pandora's Box here. We cannot go one making willy nilly exceptions to the standing law. First its nannies, now its children? If the Premier believes the law is wrong, he should change it. Otherwise he should enforce it. SMH.
Waiting to see how they call out Mac on this. They always revert to blaming Mackeeva for everything that goes horribly wrong. Well Alden is at the wheel this time and looks to me like he's doing the same shit as last time which was 2005-09 for those who don't remember.
This administration is a real piece of work!
No, I am not a UDP supporter!
I was not at the meeting in Cayman Brac on Friday, due to family comittments, when this status grant was approved by the Legislative assembly and had I been there I would have vote NO, as I told the Premier when he met with us to provide the background information.
I would have voted NO for the following reasons;
1 This person was not statbeless as she is entitled to the nationality of her mother and she was born in Jamaica.
2. She should be in possession of a Jamaican passport to travel to Cayman at age five.
3. Having been refused status at age 18 she could have applled for a work permit and after seven years apply for PR and Status.
4 How can she be a recruit in the police service if she did not have PR or status at the time of the application which required that persons applying have PR or status. I know of fourth generaton Caymanian who was not allowed to apply because he was not in the age bracet.
5.Do we really beleve it is possible for a Jamaican not to have any family in Jamaica.
6. Now that we have set a precident and opened the flood gates again how will we controll the flow.
7.. I find it most interesting that the PPM gvernment will go this extreem to grant status to a polce recruit but will not lift a hand to help the Caymanian qualified helocpter pilot who wants to join the police force and fly the helocopter.
I hope this is not another case of the Government taking action to cover for the Chief of Police like suporting him not providing police for North Side and East End as part of their empargo on the eastern districts.
Ezzard Miller
Nationalism. Does it make anyone else feel grubby?
You do not have to agree with Mr Miller's well known views on expatriates to agree that he has some very good points on why this grant misrepresents the position this lady was in, runs contrary to the existing law (whether you agree with it or not), and now creates a precedent which makes it morally very difficult for the government to stand behind their own immigration law. Point 5 may be a little distastefuly expressed, but I would suggest points 1 to 4 are spot on. I like Mr Miller wonder how CIG will now justify not exercising their authority to overide the provisions of the law for other cases of a similar nature, or deal with the inference that Cabinet or its members have some undisclosed reason to make an exception in this individuals case.
Nationalism.. as opposed to what?
Yup. Everyone else
Who is this guy?
The lunatic fringe elected by the lunatics on the fringes.
Nobody of any significance.
:Cough: Spell check :cough:
He only accepts spelling suggestions from a sixth generation or higher Caymunian. Furreigner spelling is not relevant. Computers are furreigners.
I can assure you there are plenty of 6th+ generation Caymanians who can spell perfectly fine.
I love the reference to "fourth generation Caymanian". It has a Harry Potter ring to it. Would a "fifth generation Caymanian" have priority? Why does it matter where my great-great-grandfather was born?
Ezzard,
Are there any other countries in the world where if you are born there, live there your entire life, create a famiily life, contribute to society and are still not considered a citizen of that country?
Cayman as far as I am aware is the only one.
Perhaps all those Caymanians with US and UK passports but can't find work here should go elsewhere?
Wait a minute where did all our Caymanian forefathers come from? Isn't Ebanks a Welsh name? McLaughlin Scottish? Bodden English?
Where does the last name Miller come from?
Caymanians so easily forget that their families were once foreigners too.
12:35
These are names that was given to slaves fool.
15:09 When the white man had children with his African woman, his name was passed on, f**l.
Not al islands had same experience and ask any Jamaican, they even want to claim the Africans that passed through Ja WERE Jamaican, go figure that one, f**l
Excuse my language, thought you would appreciate reply more if I followed your lead.
Given to slaves by the slave owners that had the same names! Anyway, look forward to yur telling Ezzard he is the descendant of a slave – think you may find he has a different view – remember his use of the N word on the radio a few years ago?
Unless Ezzard is of 100% European origin (which he is not) then undoubtedly some of his ancestors were slaves, same as most generational Caymanians. The only difference among us is the degree of racial mix – 90-10; 50-50; 25-75% etc. But I am sure Ezzard knows that and was not using the N word in the way you think he was.
Written by someone who does not have a clue about Caymanian history and genealogy. Most Caymanians are descended from BOTH slave owners and slaves, dumbass.
Yup Cayman is unique. Isn't that why you it here?
And don't forget, it's one of the few if not the only country where you can become premier and not even have to be born here and even join service before being a citizen.
So you will be accepting a reduction in pay as a result of your absence?
We are all immigrants on this island Miller, you and your entire family included.
Vote Joey 2017!
I have a private pilots licence. Please could you demand that I fly the Cayman airways jet to Miami tomorrow?
Also, I am out of work, so I want a lot of money for it, oh yeah … free food too.
Its not what you know but who you know .
And that is what's known as Caymankind.
That special, unique brand not available anywhere else.
Mr. miller smart man. He know wa right.
Is it better to use no verbs at all or to use a verb but conjugate it improperly? Mr Miller's caveman economics appeals to posters like this, because reality is just too complicated for them.
00:14.You are so filled with hate for Ezzard that you are confused;Mr Miller was addressing a grant of status and not economics as you suggest.Next time calm down before you post ,then it might actually be relevant.
Yep that is correct. Please ask him how many was granted Residency this year. I hear that 20 is being approved weekly. Ezzard would know.
How many people are we talking about here? How many young people who grew up here that some how, again, has managed to go through the process to secure status.
Not too long ago we gave status away to everyone and their grandmother, and now we find out that they didn't include their children.
Why don't we just get rid of these immagrtion laws and just allow whomever who wants to come and stay to do so?! Because these so called laws are a joke and do nothing to protect the native. Caymanians obviously don't care about these laws either way, as they never get up in arm's over anything that goes on here.
Is it disgraceful that statehood can be denied to desrving people on the whims of politicians.
Uhhh. nationality laws are passed by politicians in every country. How else do we determine nationhood? Or is your point that in this case the whims have overridden the law!
"statehood"? ROTFLMAO!
First, this is not about "statehood", and second, this story is not about anyone being denied anything at all let alone anything they were actually entitled to. It is actually about someone being granted status that they were NOT entitled to on the whims of politicians. You must be an expat to get this so completely and utterly wrong.
A discretion vested in politicians to grant status is a discretion to refuse to grant status. Such things should not rest with politicians, especially in such a tiny territory. You must be a blinkered Ezzard fan to get miss the valid point that was being made.
You seem to be particularly dense. The point is that the Immigration Law lays down objective criteria for the grant of Caymanian status by the Board and this individual did not satisfy that criteria and was therefore not entitled to a grant of status under the Immigration Law. Her only hope of obtaining a grant of status was by way of a discretionary grant by Cabinet because of her personal circumstances and the fact that she was a successful police trainee. If there were no such discretion there would be no grant, period. In the context of this case, it is therefore not meaningful to talk of "a discretion to refuse to grant" as if it were a normal application under the Immigration Law. As for it being by politicians, two safeguards are in place: (1) there is a limit of 4 grants per year; and (2) it cannot be done in secret but must be publicly approved in the legislative assembly. If it were done by bureaucrats there would be no transparency at all.
Unlike you, I don't dismiss whatever Ezzard says simply because Ezzard is saying it.
There are many other people who have lived here virtually all their lives that need a route to citizenship.
They have a route. It is in the law. It sets standards. It is fair and it is transparent. We ignore it. We destroy our future.