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Rollover gets rolled out

(CNS): Full story -- Government has revealed its intention to suspend the controversial seven year term limit known as rollover for up to two years. Premier McKeeva Bush made the surprise announcement in the Legislative Assembly this evening (Wednesday 14 September), stating that the proposal would be going before Cabinet next week to allow government to temporarily suspend the policy as soon as possible and allow those now facing rollover to apply for another work permit. Government then intends to review the policy and will be appointing a committee to examine the pros and cons of the term limit and look at how the country can address the immigration dilemma in face of a policy that has not worked as it was intended.

"It is my opinion, as Minister for Financial Services with responsibility for economic development, and it is also the view of the government, that the policy needs to be re-examined," Bush told the Legislative Assemblyin a statement delivered at the end of the most recent meeting.

He said that he believed the continuation of the term limit has led to a decline in all sectors of the economy and negatively affected jobs for Caymanians.

“There was time when the Cayman Islands had many more persons from overseas in our workforce,” Bush stated. “Very few of our people were unemployed during this time. Many of our young people were able to establish their own businesses and to have a place in the growth of the country.  Unfortunately, some of these local businesses have had to close and others are experiencing very pressing financial difficulties.”

Bush said people had thought rolling over qualified and trained persons would create opportunities for Caymanians but that hasn’t happened. “Many of the persons that were rolled over took up positions in other competing jurisdictions. The lack of their skills was correspondingly felt here, as we failed to gain the economic activities that would have created additional employment for us.”

He said that since coming to office he had pressed for reform but people had opposed it, not anticipating the serious impact on the local economy.  Despite opposition within the United Democratic Party, Bush appears to pressing on with the changes at the earliest opportunity, beginning with the suspension which he said will happen as soon as Cabinet approves the necessary amendments to the immigration law. In his statement to the Legislative Assembly he said he hoped to bring that amendment when the House reconvenes at the end of September for a new meeting.

“I intend to present a paper to the Cabinet next week to place a temporary suspension on the rollover policy for up to 2 years pending an urgent report from a committee,” he said.

This new committee will be formed from members of the Chamber of Commerce, Cayman Finance, the Immigration Review Team, and other organisations representing small businesses. Bush said it would review the “positive and negative aspects” of rollover in the current conditions. “The committee will be also tasked to receive input from a wide cross section of our community and relevant data from the Immigration Department and to provide their findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within 180 days,” he explained

Once Cabinet amends the law to suspend the term limits people who were expected to face rollover will be given an opportunity to re-apply for a work permit under the usual considerations. The goal, Bush added, was to try and prevent jobs being lost when senior managers were rolled over. He said when their jobs were relocated, Caymanian secretaries and administrators lost their jobs.

“When this happens rental apartment revenues are lost, plumbers, electricians, shopkeeper, supermarkets, construction companies, heavy equipment operators, truck owners and every other business feels the economic impact in these islands,” he said, adding that he believed there were some 2200 rental apartments currently empty which were owned by Caymanians who were now unable to meet their costs.

“We need the right people to remain on island to ensure that our people have the ability to benefit within their own economy,” he told the House. “Government will take steps to ensure that Caymanians are employed with each business established in this country.” The premier added that business without policies for the employment and promotion of able and willing Caymanians will not be permitted to benefit from the temporary suspension of the roll-over policy.

Although Bush has advocated a change to the immigration term limits since coming to office, the issue has now reached a critical point as immigration figures have revealed that some 6,000 people are potentially facing rollover between November of this year and next as a result of the massive recruitment to the islands in the wake of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It is understood that more than one thousand people are believed to be due to leave between November and the year end.

The business community and CITA in particular has spoken on a number of occasions about the major losses the tourism sector will face over the next twelve months and the Ritz Carlton is facing the loss of some 120 long term employees.

The temporary suspension will enable any of the 6,000 workers that are granted permits beyond the seven year rollover to remain, without having to apply for key employee status, taking them to a position where they will be able to apply for permanent residency after their eighth year.

Government’s goal, however, is to have another term limit type plan in place before the end of the two year suspension that can tackle the constant dilemma faced by government of facilitating the recruitment and retention of talent into the islands to maintain the financial services and tourism sectors and create proper career opportunities for Caymanians, while at the same time controlling the number of people who eventually become Caymanian.

Vote in the CNS poll: Are you in favour of the suspension of Rollover?

AttachmentSize
Premier McKeeva Bush's Rollover statement Sept 2011.doc63 KB

Comments

Cuba is the neighboring

Cuba is the neighboring country. And it cannot be Jamaica they are talking about and spewing all that HATE, because the bible says you must love your neighbours like yourselve. Remember Cayman is a christian country.

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I am a Caymanian, but... to

I am a Caymanian, but... to Thur 14:43 that is why it is so hard to keep people like you employed. You are not even equipped to write on a blog. Your spelling and grammar are atrocious. Bottom line, WE NEED TO GET EDUCATED! Nobody can take away your education, but they can stop you when you are empty headed. 

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A    Caymanian, i think not ,

A    Caymanian, i think not , just another disgruntled resident.
I got my status over 20 ,years ago  when it had to be earned.
have never been unemployed and love this country and the genuine people here.
you check the grammer, and ignore the message, thats why we are where we are now.
I will get back to figuring out the material for my next project.
what were your Net earnings last month.
maybe you can help, how much cu. yds. of 4000psi do i need to  purchase for an area 3953 sq.ft. 8" thick., i also need help figuring out the roof. 

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Hey 15:49- why are you so

Hey 15:49- why are you so hateful towards the Jamaicans? Your comment appears as if it has a history and nothing to do with Roll Over. Did your Jamaican spouse left you?

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To 11:33 I think you 'The

To 11:33 I think you 'The Canadian Educator' is teaching the Caymanian children at the government schools and that is why 75% of them are BOBOS and so dunce.  Roll out and be replaced with a real teacher.

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I agree.  I am another

I agree.  I am another Canadian educator and am embarrassed both for, and by, my compatriot above.  If this is the standard of writing displayed by teachers, what can we expect from our students?  Please, Canadian educator, at least learn to spell before you frequent a public forum to criticize others.  You are letting our entire profession (not to mention our glorious country) down!

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This has to be the only

This has to be the only country I have come across where the government and its people expect employers to do what the government, through its education system should do - train people to be able to do jobs.  Everywhere else you have to get qualifications at schools and colleges, then get a job (mostly unrelated to your qualifications at the very bottom rung of the ladder), and work your way up through recognition and commitment.  Only then, when you have finally gotten into the job you trained for, do you start to get education and training from your employers, but that is usually to help you to be better at your job, not to learn it in the first place.
A girl I know spent several years studying in accountancy qualifications, went on to work for a major auditing company and now is a financial controller and accountant, after more than a decade of working from the bottom to the top and earning recognition and position in her home country.  She is a key employee in the company she works for because she has specialist skills, yet the unskilled, unqualified Cayman admin assistant is expected to fill her shoes... well at least thats what the Work Permit Board dictated... how logical is that and what business do the Work Permit Board have in telling you how to run your business?
Try push your government to produce a more literate and work orientated schedule and colleges if you really want to see fair change.

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The following is not a

The following is not a credible story.
"A girl I know spent several years studying in accountancy qualifications, went on to work for a major auditing company and now is a financial controller and accountant, after more than a decade of working from the bottom to the top and earning recognition and position in her home country.  She is a key employee in the company she works for because she has specialist skills, yet the unskilled, unqualified Cayman admin assistant is expected to fill her shoes... well at least thats what the Work Permit Board dictated".
The Work Permit Board would never require an unskilled, unqualified administrative assistant to replace an experienced, qualified accountant in the role of financial controller. That is just plain nonsense said for propaganda purposes.
As for training people to do their jobs, that happens all the time with respect to expat employees. Having gained training and experience while on a temporary work permit (which did not have to be advertised) that is then produced as their advantage over the Caymanian applicant when they advertise for the full permit.  

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Show me somone who is of the

Show me somone who is of the mind that we are this little place, wrapped in a cocoon where nothing can touch us, and that we can just carry on without other nationalities coming to our shores and living and working among us - and I will show you someone who is living in a dream.  Open your minds and learn something - learn that Caymanians have ALWAYS travelled to and lived in other countries in order to make a living AND SEND IT BACK HOME - whether it was on a foreign flag ship or actually living in another country.  Open your minds to other cultures, and try a little graciousness instead of anger.  

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why suspend the R O.  for 2

why suspend the R O.  for 2 years? it shows a  lack of consideration for our future and selfishness of our leaders and their supporters.
say 2000 will get RO in the next 2 years,  thats roughly 83 each month.
the employer,     had a  minimum    of  84 months (7years)  to find someone locally for that job.
there are very good ethical hard working Caymanians going to and returning from highly rated Universities every year who are willing and capable to share their knowledge while gaining the expertaise you require,
IS THAT NOT WHAT USUALLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU BRING SOMEONE IN   ON A WP?  So why deprive the Caymanian.      BUT no you have to have that WP   WHY, WHY/ !!!. The experience you clame the employee is taking away when he leave, DID HE NOT GAIN THAT IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.??? 
if the employee have a rare specialty that cannot be provided locally then the RO do not apply.  
Say the RO is suspended for 2 years, 2000 people their employer  and the country are in limbo,
2 years is up Caymanians were/are out of work and the 2000 people all have to leave at once.
who benefits from this ?????.   worse yet, they could all qualify for residency and then the issue of there dependents come into the equation.
from the begining when they accept the job, everyone knows they are leaving their home to come here to work for 1 year OR A SPECIFIC PERIOD  and they gladly accept.
so why all of a sudden everyone is so surprised to find out what they knew from the time they got their first WP???  The world is in a tail spin millions would be glad to come here for 1 year at a time.
Give the Caymanians a chance  you know they can do the job. You know the Good companies that have and are doing it and they are very competative and succesful.
I know of people from different countries who have got Status and they say the worst thing that happened to them were to get status.  they had constant employment when on a WP and could be exployted, now they can hardly get a job not even from the people that exployted  them.     what sayeth though,  show the thumbs down, TRUTH HURTS.
Caymanians be respectful, be firm, stand up.
this   gov or ment     is tricking us again preparing for the next election.

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Anon 0936 this is call trying

Anon 0936 this is call trying to serve two masters. A number of people are crying out in favour of the roll over and others against it. The Government is trying to make both happy. They probably would like to try it as a testing period to see if indeed the country is better off without the roll over.
What is probably needed more than the roll over is an imigration with teeth. If private sector companies are not giving Caymanians a fair chance then the immigration department should have some mechanism in place to punish them.

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what do the rollover policy

what do the rollover policy have to do with your nanny leaving after being here for 5 years?. sounds like the buisness was doomed from the get go.
Another 1   saved,   $100,000.00 moved to another country,
whare there are no immigration controlls for foreign nationals.
why dont you people just admit i want to stay in Cayman and stop writing rubbish.
better than back home eh.

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wow, spirited reponse there

wow, spirited reponse there 17:55!
your spelling and grammer show your intelligence and your lack thereof explains your hatred for "you people". I wonder who that my be?
To help you along there sport, she was with me for 5 years which has no reference to how long she was in Cayman.
How would you know anything about the business I am referring to? Ah, maybe you're psychic as well as being an idiot.
I would argue my comments were factual therefore not "rubbish" and yes I do like it here, guess what i'm Caymanian you tool, but unlike you I am educated caymanian and an entrepreneur who is a positive force contributing to the economy and many charities in a big way. I would love to know what you contribute on a day to day basis. Pray do tell? 
The rollover was bad for all of us. Expats too, but it appears you hate them rather than try appreciate we all need each other to survive.
 

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"your spelling and grammer

"your spelling and grammer (sic)".
What a hoot! Never criticise anyone's spelling unless you make d@mn sure yours is spot on.  

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"Mr. Kettle you are looking

"Mr. Kettle you are looking mighty black over there".

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"you people" mean, anyone who

"you people"
mean, anyone who fabricates reasons to bring some one here and do not keep their end of the bargin. such as pay, accommodation, have them work free for the employer also forced to give their employer money they earned illegally working for others, on and on it goes.  when that person get status,     the employee lay them off and go to immigration for another W P.  
no secrets being told here.
now go ahead and correct the gramma, oops, and watch our country go to hell,
it will make Caymanian  children proud.  

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21:55 Educated !! Educated

21:55
Educated !!
Educated people do not use words like IDIOT,  in their correspondence.
Well intended  people, do not donate to a good cause's and then brag about it.
One can have and opinion without disliking others, guess only idiot's can figure that out.
Very shallow indeed
 

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S h o o o o o,  

S h o o o o o,   EDUCATED,  
want more WP's. 
If you had trained those Caymanians your buisness will still be up and running. Greed is the problem not the RO.

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In the last year we have lost

In the last year we have lost our Nanny of 5 years and devastated my kid, lost our family and comany mechanic who employed 5 staff and after leaving shut down his company and just recently lost our second tenant in the space of 18months to the rollover. She left with her husband who had a job but she was not a dependant and neither were their children who were on her WP. They had 3 kids.
Think of all the spending power that was lost to the island.
The mechanics staff all have to leave except the 2 cayamanians of course who are now out of a job. There is no replecement coming. The company and the staff are gone from our economy or on teh streets with no prospects......and you know what that leads to!   
The nanny was a lovely woman who had our trust and my sons adoration and she was impossible to replace......and so we did not. We manage without her.
The married couple had 3 kids at school, they worked hard and spent most of their considerable income in Cayman. Now they are gone and spending their money, getting their schooling in the UK.
We know many people and similar stories but here are 4 easy to see how they affect the overall economy examples.
 

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15:42   lost our family and

15:42
 
lost our family and company mechanic who employed 5 people and after leaving shut down his company.   sounds like FRONTING dont it.
Sorry for your, is it kid or kids loss. take my word for it  they will be better off in the long run now that they are being cared for by you their parents.

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I was Roller over in 2009 I

I was Roller over in 2009
I would have loved to purchase a house and call Cayman my home.  When the rollover was put into place I was looking at purchasing a home but when I knew my days were numbered I decided to stop that thinking all together buckle down and save money (meaning not spending it in Cayman on anything other than necesasry living expenses) because I would have to relocate and would need funds to do so.  I was also thinking of updating my car at the same time but did not do that either.  So none of my money went back into the community - I thought well I will save all I can and then take all my savings and purchase a home and a new car in a country where I know I can live in for more than 7 years and call my home.  I ended up saving about $100,000 and have taken every penny of it and purchased and home and a car in another country that was not going ot make me leave after 7 years... Just an example of one expat who was rolled over...

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That's really great that you

That's really great that you could leave with all that money and get all those things in another country.
I am happy for you. 
It is sad that no Caymanian can even write a story like that in their own country.  So amazing you can critize our country when you benefited so much and with such wealth to boast about it on this blog.  I am very happy for you.
But as you are very ungrateful, I hope that you don't have to eat those words when you apply to come back to this country, that persons such as yourself have come to love and know as the 'land of milk and honey'
Stop being ungrateful for what this country has given to you.  Think about if you hadn't come here and worked and lived for years you wouldn't be able to write about it either.
 

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  I don't get the impression

 

I don't get the impression the poster is ungrateful -- just pragmatic.  I think he or she wrote to explain some of the ramifications of the rollover have been:  many expats thought twice about investing here when there was no long-term benefit for them.  That seems reasonable to me. What would you do yourself in such a position?  I doubt very much you would be giving away your hard-earned money to a community that wouldn't let you stay.  Just like this poster, you would be absolutely obliged to save it in order to be financially capable of setting up a permanent home elsewhere.   Nowhere in his or her post is there criticism of Cayman -- just simple observations from one individual's real experience.
 
And I doubt Cayman "gave" this expat anything.  He or she obviously worked for the money and was paid whatever his or her employer felt was a fair wage.  It's not as though Cayman's government or private companies just throw money at expats for nothing.  A paycheck is earned -- and a paycheck can be earned by hard-working people in other jurisdictions too.

 

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What I assume is happening is

What I assume is happening is that some business was going to loose a vital employee, because of the rollover policy, so he calls mckeeva and said something needs to be done.
Since he is a good friend, mckeeva decided to change the law, since it is common practice to do that here to accommodate business.
I assume the same thing happened with the 3000 status grants. A few people applied for residency, but were not qualified or had a criminal record. So somebody called somebody and the rest is history.
Like I said, just an assumption.
 
 

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Re: "The rollover policy made

Re: "The rollover policy made all expats feel unwelcome, widened the division between expats and Caymanians and discouraged expats from attempting to make themselves a part of the local culture."
My friend, the operative word in your post is "EXPAT"!
An expat, regardless of where he or she has expatriated to, fully understands that he or she is an EXPAT.
They filled out forms, they knew the terms of the situation before entering into the agreement - what pray tell is the problem now?
I challenge any one to try that logic with a U.S. or UK Immigration officer. Good luck!

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happens hundreds of times a

happens hundreds of times a day in those countries my friend.

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Enjoy it while it last,

Enjoy it while it last, remember the world is in a recession, expats will leave with or without a rollover policy, it's known as supply and demand, no business, no jobs, no work; voluntary rollout. Will still be faced with unrented apartments, properties for sale, business closures.  Just look around any town USA and it's just a matter of time for anywhere the world over, with or without a rollover policy. 

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Read, here is how any small

Read, here is how any small island should operate a proper immigration policy, until the government of the Cayman Islands get it right it will always be flip flopping on the issues.
http://bermuda-online.org/employwp.htm

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Wooooo! Rollover needs to go

Wooooo! Rollover needs to go so I don't have to.
I'm here to stay baby! Wooo!

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you are funny, but we will

you are funny, but we will never love you

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That's right.  Never forget. 

That's right.  Never forget.  They may not know you but they will still hate you.

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after 2 yearsa of utter

after 2 yearsa of utter nonsense from this shambles of a government...i just got to say well done and thank you....the rollover has destroyed people, cayman, relationships, and families......
can't wait for ezzards anti-expat rant on tues!!!!! hahahahhha

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thank god! at last they have

thank god! at last they have seen sense.... caymnan can now attempt to recover........

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The problem was a recession

The problem was a recession caused by people who wanted to help poor people subprime loans. people invested the market crashed because poor people can't pay their  loans.
The lower price of apartments was caused by  businesses who couldn't  keep their doors open. So when they closed people started to go back to there countries they were from. But the majority of the people were people who came after the hurricane to rip off people building new roofs. Because when the construction was done most of the caymanian owned businesses hardly got any business. Even cabinet makers went broke !! how! foreigners came in got licenses through sometimes taxi drivers or someone like them. They then got work permits for any kind of construction job and when it was finished people who had construction jobs for more then 20 years had to close. The country that the majority of them came from was jamaica. The majority of the workers still today is from jamaica and i'm not including those that married jamaicans. So when the they started to roll some of them over we started to realize there was alot here who weren't suppose to be here. No work permits. overstayed. They were given a bligh to leave and some can't still be found. I have had jamaicans working for me in the pass were they have told me gov't in cayman is so stupid because any jamaican can get a false passport. $150 and you can have a new name a new birth certificate and a new passport. When we look at crime we know we didn't have this attitude and disrespect from the youth until the jamaicans came here with their bad english . Remember the dance hall dancing on the streets of cardinal avenue! Remember where the ganja comes from? Remember the bicycles that were being shipped out of this country jamaica. Remember one baby store that was robbed the night before and someone call police at the airport when they saw this poorer looking woman with all these baby things in new boxes going to jamaica. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2011/aug/13/david-starkey-whites-black-video
Watch this video and hear what a historian thinks caused the riots in england we next

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How short your memory is,

How short your memory is, that allows you to kick down the very people that helped you.  You should feel lucky Jamaicans came and helped you rebuild after Ivan so you could move back into your homes and businesses fairly quickly.   Air Jamaica was the first plane that brought in aid, while a British ship stood off in the distance.  Your own Premier said that.   Stop your nonsense and feel glad your neighbouring Jamaicans came to your rescue fast when others were slow to respond. 
Jamaicans willingly came to do work while Caymanians flew off to Miami to cool out with relatives until the cleaning up and rebuilding was done and water and electricity was restored.  I know this as a fact, as my Caymanian neighbours and friends did that while our company employees and other responsible people remained on island to clean up and rebuild.   I saw Jamaicans cleaning roadsides, carting the garbage to the dump, cleaning up homes and businesses and repairing them.   Where were you and what were you doing?
I manage the operations of a caymanian owned construction company for over a decade now, and we got loads of work after Ivan.  Many caymanian contractors had so much work, to the point they could not keep up with the demand. They all hired Jamaicans, Honduranians, and other nationalities on work permits as they know Jamaicans and others are not afraid of hard work and hot sun and sweat, while Caymanians ran off to Miami.  After Ivan, other caymanians who were worked in banks, janitorial companies, etc., who were not contractors by profession, saw a chance to make loads of money and opened construction firms and hired expats to do the actual work.  They charged markup on the workers and made lots of profit off their backs and some unscrupulous ones did not pay health, pension for their workers and forced them to pay their own permit fees.   
Much of the crimewave is due to Caymanian youth involved in gangs and drugs, whose parents neglect them.  They have too much time on their hands - instead of educating themselves or finding honest employment like everyone else has to, many desire overnight riches without working hard for it and are not willing to take a menial job, learn a good skill and work from the bottom up.   Jamaicans are not who caused this current crimewave - many of them were rolled over and replaced by Filipinos, Honduranians and others. So you don't have Jamaicans to blame anymore, blame your own local people.
 

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02:10 did they come, and work

02:10
did they come, and work for free, of course not.
they took advantaqge of our situation and gladly reeped the benefits.
who were the people running around during and after Ivan with cutlases in hand,
hauling away everything in sight and when spoken to, their reply was  go way, me fin it. 

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Traitors and bastards all of

Traitors and bastards all of them.  But then again we are the idiots that keep voting for them which begs the question, can one betray himself?

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Election time is near! This

Election time is near! This is the ONLY reason this man is suspending the rollover policy now!!!!! God this man will stop at nothing!!! STOP HIM PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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HOW DO GETTING RID OF THE

HOW DO GETTING RID OF THE ROLLOVER POLICY CREATE MORE JOBS?
ARE YOU SAYING THAT, RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE,
IN 7 YEARS, send more money home, EAT AND DRINK LESS, "DO NOT"  PAY RENT, UTILITY BILLS, WALK TO WORK, go on vacation, DO NOT DRESS PROPERLY ETC, ETC.
BET you more than 75%,  three quarters of those on permit (over 14,000) will neaver be able to buy a home in these Islands. stop looking cheep labour and distroying the Caymanian way of life.
the rollover never stopped anyone from investing in Cayman because there are otherways they  can gurintee their residency. Just buying a home can qualify someone to remain in these islands
Just make what we have better and more affordable, Government become more proactive and plan long term, inforce all existing laws, incourage/educate our people, and everything else will take care of it self.
UDP created this law,
now they tell us, while blaming others, we will clean up this mess. 
NO TO 100,000 PEOPLE AS A CAYMANIAN I WILL BE LESS THAN 25% OF THE POPULATION AND HAVE NO SAY OR OPPORTUNITY IN MY COUNTRY.
AS THE     job INTERVIEWER    will more than likely not be a   Caymanian.
it is happening now imagen adding another 50,000 to the pot. 

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Sorry I am a Caymanina Born

Sorry I am a Caymanina Born and I agree with this, why ? simple we can't make it as a country alone , we need people of all walks of life, BUT we as Caymanina must be first and foremost.
I am not a UPD or a PPM member I am independant therefor my views are that of mine and not a Party. Because of the world economic situation we can't get out of this alone. I say if the Expats are here contributing to the economy and not causing any problems then we have no problem.
Can't we all just get along LOL LOL

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It's about time. The rollover

It's about time. The rollover policy is probably one of the most idiotic ideas ever. How can you expect to be part of a global economy and have a policy where you kick people off the island after 7 years. Do you know the amount of work it takes to move to another country? Do you know what it feels like to love a place, it's people, it's culture, only to be forced to leave just when you're feeling at home? How do you expect companies and people to come to Cayman and create jobs, duity, and revenue with a policy like this. It's no wonder that there are 2200 apartments for rent on the Island.
It seems that most Caymanians think we expats believe we're the greatest thing to happen to Cayman. You're wrong. We are here because we think Cayman is the best thing to ever happen to us. We came here becuase we love your country, and you repay us by letting the door hit us on the ass on the way out.
It makes me so angry to read the comments about how if you change the rollover then you need to take away residency.
The Caymanians may not know it becuase they're on the winning team, but there is a sad class system here where we expats are the low class citizens. Do you know that there are very few developed democratic countries in the world where you can't get citizenship if you work hard, love your country, pay taxes, and contribute to society? And even without rollover, I'll never be able to vote here. I'll never be a citizen. America may not be the world's best friend right now - but there is still something special there and other countries like it that Cayman will never have. Do you know that I spent my whole life never seeing someone from another country as an expat or a "paper citizen"? Sure, there are plenty of racist jerks just like there are everywhere in the world, but most Americans see other Americans as their peers, regaurdless of if they were born there or earned their citizenship through hard work. In most places you'd want to live, if you work hard, the sky is the limit. Here, 7 years is the limit.
If you opened up your policies and allowed people who work hard to become citizens, you'd probably be amazed at what you'd find. Expats would buy more homes, making everyone richer. Expats would invest in their communities, making streets safer. Expats would create businesses and jobs. With all the money, you could invest in a better college, giving all better opportunities to compete in a global economy. Cayman would become an ever better place.
It sucks that no matter what my intentions are, that I'll never be able to contribute everything I can to this country. It sucks that Caymanians think we're all just here to take advantage of you. It sucks that you can't share what you have here becuase a few people take advantage of the system.
I'll stick around until you kick me off the Island. Thanks.

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Lawd mi head a hot mi mek mi

Lawd mi head a hot mi mek mi gwaan wuk da money ya an seni dung!!! Unnu fi stap gi unnuh likkle island su much credit....mi nuh wha tan yah fi eva!!

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But you do want to stay for

But you do want to stay for as long as you please which means having permanent rights.

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What?  

What?
 

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Translation:  Lord my head is

Translation:  Lord my head is hurting me, allow me to go on working a little money here so I can send it home.  You give your island way too much credit, I don't wan to stay here forever.

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I think certain professions

I think certain professions should be exempt.. I'm an educator, and as teachers, it takes years to build up our reputation, resourses, contacts, and classrooms. 7 years later, we have to just get up and leave our classrooms to a stranger? It's a rediculous thought to build up your career for 7 years, and just leave it for one, and HOPE it's still waiting for you when you get back... Don't get rid of the roll-over, just minamize it to a couple of months!
-Canadian Educator

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Hi.  I am NOT a Canadian

Hi.  I am NOT a Canadian Educator but I play one on the internet.  Next time, try using a dictionary.

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Mr./Ms.  Canadian educator,

Mr./Ms.  Canadian educator, please learn to spell "resources", "ridiculous" and "minimise" and then we might take you seriously. 

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If you are an EDUCATOR in our

If you are an EDUCATOR in our school system and you cannot even spell "minimize"...then I have a serious problem with you.

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Canadian Educator - For the

Canadian Educator - For the good of your profession, please check your spelling and punctuation.

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