Hundreds sign up for Christmas clean-up
Christmas clean-up workers gather in the Lions Centre
(CNS): Government officials described the response to the Christmas clean-up seasonal work as “overwhelming” after more than 700 people were signed up and accepted last week ahead of the orientation on Monday. The number of people who came in search of work on the National Community Enhancement Project far exceeded anticipated numbers, the managers said, which means that many won’t be working for the full four weeks in order to ensure that every local who signed up gets a chance to earn some cash.
“All Caymanians who applied and provided required documents have been accepted,” officials said. “However, due to the large number of workers, many of these will be hired for only one week of work.” The management said that as a result of prioritising work, permanet residency holders and spouses of Caymanians as well as those under 18 were turned away.
The numbers provide a worrying illustration for government about the extent of the unemployment problem among local people who are looking for work and who are willing and able. Government officials said the basic pay was $10 per hour.
A team of 70 workers, who were chosen during orientation today, will be given three weeks work. This group will include those with supervisory experience, who will act as foremen for the assembled teams, and those who will be assigned to do necessary work at the landfill, but for consistency and safety reasons that work crew cannot be rotated.
The rest of the 700-plus successful applicants were required to attend the mandatory orientation session Monday to sign contracts, receive safety instruction, and learn to which work teams they will be assigned. The workers are expected to hit the road Tuesday and begin the Christmas spruce up.
The NiCE project will cover repairs and maintenance, gardening, cleaning parks, beaches and roadside verges. A similar project has already commenced on the Sister Islands under the supervision of District Administration. It also means that local unemployed people can earn some cash ahead of the Christmas holiday.
A cross-ministerial team is leading this initiative, and government ministers and elected members of the Legislative Assembly have been informed and engaged in the process. Government agencies involved include the National Roads Authority, the Department of Environmental Health and,in particular, the Public Works Department.
The three-week project will run from 7-18 December and continue during 11-15 January 2016. Participants in the project will be expected to work from 7:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday.
For further information, please contact the Hotline (917 0153), or email NCEP@gov.ky
Category: Jobs, Local News
11:58, working in a Hotel I would think you were smart enough to know the difference between an expat and a tourist (cruise to be specific), and who it is that litters our beaches on a daily basis. But clearly you are dumb as F and you highlight that with the last sentence in your comment. And hopefully you won’t be there for much longer because we don’t need people like you dealing with our visitors whilst harboring such attitudes.
Please tell what hotel you work at. I am one of those tourists that spend my hard earned money to visit a couple times a year. I pick up my trash because that is what my parents taught me. I would not want to stay at a hotel where the hotel staff “wouldn’t feel bad if I got robbed” or would want me to get a “conch shell to the face” Thank goodness that I have been to GC enough times (usually 2-3 times a year) and know this is not what most hotel staff would wish, but I honestly would not want to stay where you, Someone Somewhere was employed. You should find a new job!
Do the people picking up trash on Northwest Point Road have family members working to keep them gainfully employed? In the last week there is a huge increase in mattresses, old appliances, and garbage all over the roadside and in empty lots. Really nice for tourists headed to the Turtle farm, Hell, etc. to see, and it isn’t parked in front of condo complexes but private residences.
It’s part of the annual bulk garbage clean up, this will be removed before the end of the year, not to worry!
anyone that says “caymankind” why are you here?
5 year plan. Easy money. Big bucks for living in the third world.
Anyone that says “Caymankind” should just go back to where they come from, why are you here if you dont like it? Atleast cops arent murdering people here or microwaving babies lol
Caymankind.
I saw some of the persons hired cleaning up the trash around residential garbage bin holders. Why can’t the people that live there and produce the trash pick it up themselves. Why should we be paying people (with my and your money) to clean up what is clearly the responsibility of the homeowners living there?
this sorry scheme is a perfect example of what is wrong with cayman….
illogical, expensive, wasteful, discriminatory, hypocritical…..etc
An awful lot of vitriol here, a large collection of stunted brains that should be dumped in the landfill.
I always carry my trash with me until I come across a bin – its just what I was brought up to do or face the wrath of my parents. My boyfriend of 9 years, who is Caymanian and normally ends up on these island clean-ups, will be the first to confess that he rarely uses a trash bin and instead tends to just throw his trash down. We’re always arguing about it because I hate littering. And he always counters that he cleans up his own mess at the end of each year for $10 an hour!
Lying
You should dump your selfish lazy pig of a boyfriend. Such behaviour shows a mental make-up inconsistent with monogamy or good parenting. You are only staying with him because of low self-esteem issues. Let him go and start living your life in 2016.
Those are not expats, those are tourists. The term Expat refers to one that is resident here.
Teach some of these workers some courtesy and respect private property next to the government places they are cleaning up!!
I think the word you are looking for is ” tourists”. I wish I was spending my holiday dollars being looked after by someone with your welcoming attitude.
Nice Caymankind moment in the last sentence.
” wont even feel bad when they come here and get robbed lol” is a good quote for Trip Advisor too.
Both of these comments above produce that “Caymankind supanova ” only found ar certain times of the year.
It allows the viewer a sneak preview of the undercurrent and dislike of all “furriners yet a love for their money and anything else that can be taken.
I would pick up rotten dead driftwood for free. Funny how some expats are commenting on this making fun of them, We should arrange a clean up at the GT Landfill and only permit holders can apply, drug tested as well.
Christmas crack comes but once a year and now its here now its here!
Let it snow!
no snow…no show
Even so all these comments are more or less political i did enjoy reading the comment of Barkers National Park which is absolutely true, numerous tourism related business besides the general public using
this area for cycling, kayaking, fishing etc. and it is mind blowing to see between department of tourism, tourism association and environmental health are not able to have regular clean ups organized. Not one single garbage bin is in that area, that just shows the official commitment to keep the island and beaches clean.Guess we have go wait until Mr. Dart takes it over and have it sorted out. Besides 7 mile beach more or less all beaches in Cayman are spoiled with garbage and comments how dirty the beaches are in Cayman can be read on numerous online publication.
‘The management said that as a matter of prioritising work permanent residency holders spouses of Caymanians and those under eighteen were turned away’ . Let alone the permanent residency holders aside, just because a person is not a born caymanian but have a caymanian spouse he is turned away and not given an opportunity to work, so that he can provide for his caymanian family? If that is not racism I don’t know what is.
Shame shame shame on the organisers and the government if this is their orders.
PR holders, spouses and under 18 cannot vote.
Pr Holders and Spouses of Caymanians would also need permission to work from Immigration.
As a PR holder and long-term spouse of a Caymanian, I need no one’s “permission” to work anywhere for anyone, doing anything! Yet after 3 years unemployed and well over 100+ applications out, I am still unemployed and in fact have not had even ONE interview.
Perhaps it is my age [in fact I KNOW it is!], but my (Caymanian) spouse is much older and has no pension at all! I guess the local ‘criminal manufacturing process’ is too well entrenched. Can’t provide employment, but expect those who are desperate to remain “law abiding” under undue pressures of unemployment and extremely high living costs.
I have worked since age 12 and received high-middle class income for most of my over 48 years of working (you do the math). Yet with all of that extensive experience and skill sets plus excellent health, it still counts for nothing! So, I should abandon my spouse to abject poverty and go somewhere else where age and experience might actually count for something??
I must say if you referred to “math” rather than “maths” in an interview with me I would be inclined not to employ you. Perhaps with your preferences for Americanisms you would do better over there?
What do you expect from an American – bigot much? Oh, that’s right, you only would hire your own kind! Problem elucidated….
too many fake marriages….imagine how many of the “spouses” would show up lol
Permanent resident (married to Caymanian) with unlimited right to work – unemployed for 3 years – refused work under this scheme. House in foreclosure and being supported by church and friends, yet no job under this programme – UNACCEPTABLE!
I don’t understand why they just don’t give out the cash and get a signed pledge that says “I will vote for you next election”. Why are we even pretending its anything else?
always get a joke outta all these expats that left their depraved countries which might i add spends billions each year on wellfare to provide for lazy dregs. Their streets are littered with bums and vagabonds and encrazed criminals and drug addicts of the worst kind. So please, you should have nothing to say about a place which has allowed you prosperity.
Beautiful beaches, beautiful establishments and a superb currency, not to mentioned lack of direct payroll tax. This wasnt created soley by Caymanians or Expats, best both sides to remember that. I dont know why Caymanians expect better from these folks (that butched the Native American Indians and stole their land, the Aboriginals or Australia, the indigenous of South Africa the Caribbean Native Indians) These folks feel they are entitled to whatever it is they want in whatever country they chose. They are the true epitome of “entitlement” who have been stealing and depriving the indigenous around the globe since the “civillized world” came about.
One over-developed beach and the US dollar? Expats come because they have to work less hard and they get paid a hefty premium to work in a third world country.
3.59 Damn right, we have a Queen you know! Entitles us to everything. Oh, wait a minute, so do you! Without that Queen this place would be Jamaica or Honduras, you know it and so do I and still the politicos try to make like those countries. Native Caribbean indians in Cayman? Never were any. Unless you thinking crocks and turtles?
You seem mad. Leave if it’s not your cup of tea….
Yes. In addition to the harsh Caribs there were Arawak, Taino/Ciboney and even visits from the South Florida indians!
They teamed up to raid cattle in Cuba, or sakvage wrecjs; and their longboats were their homes almost. So then, little permanent settlement was recorded here.
Cayman has a rich history but untold.
But all this info awaits the industrious searcher.
If the jobs are only available to Caymanians to apply for, can I apply for a bunch of them, collect the $10 a skull an hour, and sub contract the work to Filipino’s for $5 an hour?
Presumably Fred’s Pies could tender for the clean up next year at a net price of $9 per hour and then Alden’s “good governance” would kick in given the offered savings of $100k.
Odd that the nationalist whiners are not commenting on the very high proportion of non-native Caymanians participating in this programme. Choosing to turn a blind eye to that issue when it suits them?
at 1:23 pm Perhaps it shows that the commenters who are doing the whining are only pretending to be Caymanians and therefore not representative of the true picture.
Like the “Jamaican” criminals who put on Caymanian accents during crimes?
Fingerprinting and drug testing should be included
Also proof of Doctorates degree in garbage collection. Just incase you didn’t notice, I was being sarcastic….
@4:28pm Unfortunately for you, sarcasm in printed form is not easily identified.
3.15, to the uninitiated or plain dumb, correct. Electronic form is easy to understand unless uninitiated or dumb.
This is 700 problems, period.
Scary thought
Politicians all suck and only buy votes instead of educating people. Enforcing laws, and making our lives better ?
another day in wonderland…
expats do clean-ups for free…
lazy littering locals will only pick up their own trash for money….
Beg your pardon but sometimes expats pick up thrash for permanent residence and status so there pay out is much bigger!!
Coz picking up trash gets you soooo many PR points, right.
As for pay outs, this equates to approx. US$1,950 per month, on top of what ever else the recipients are receiving from Needs Assessment. Not a fortune, but looks pretty good compared to minimum wage.
So are you suggesting they do this outside the Premier’s house?
“Thrash” or “thrush”?
expats do clean-ups for status points.
God, I even had to read the history book of a place with no history. Picking up trash is nothing compared to that.
or out of the goodness of their hearts….. you can group expats and not give them credit but god forbid you do that to us Caymanians…..
Hmmm. yep and they walk dos for free too…nobody does anything for free..locals are doing it for a few bucks a months…expats are doing it so they can keep their big paychecks that come with permanent residency..after permanent residency is granted those poor dogs have to wait on the next crop of hungry starving permanent residency applicants to get walked and possibly they will pick up some trash as well. Luckily, we have a good supply of applicants, thanks to Alden and his lousy government..
Besides the good that this will lead to, there many more questions that need to be answered.
1. Has the government vetted this unemployed (prove they are Caymanian)
2. Has the government used this opportunity to collect data. Such as level of education, criminal record, previous experience, expected level of remuneration, married or unmarried, have children or not? Are you registered with unemployment division. If not please register. Do you receive any other forms of social assistance? From just these simple questions you will be able to determine the demographic this is most effected.
3. Why are these people so reliant on the government provide opportunity for them? Can they not find work themselves?
The government needs to stop harping on the banks, law firms, and accountancy firms that provide for middle class Caymanians and Expats who have the required skills to be employed in these business. Government should do more to attract these type of firms to the island.
On Cayman Brac on Friday afternoon you couldn’t get a parking spot by CNB, Market Place/plaza next door. All the seasonal workers getting $$$, shopping for groceries and buying a couple beers – busiest I have seen Cayman Brac all year.
Also got to see a lot of local people out working for a change, as most private sector businesses seem to favor hiring persons from a certain Asian country.
Just glad that the works programme was available to locals, the ones who stay here year round and spend money in our community – just not working to send money back to home thousands of miles away.
Signed Caymans version of Donald Trump – ha, ha.
So they don’t buy groceries, they don’t rent accommodation, they don’t buy cars or gas, they don’t buy beers, they don’t buy clothes—- it’s a miracle they survive here!.
Can we get an idea of how many work permits the supermarkets have for their staff? Or are all the people from Central America, the Philippines and Jamaica working there married to Caymanian spouses?
Remember such staff have to turn up when it rains, at times that might be inconvenient for social events or sleep and not be on their smartphones for many minutes at a time.
Yes! And if 700 locals are willing to work hard outside in the heat for $10 an hour and I think we need to make this a standard salary and get these people full-time work with benefits.
Shame on Kirk Supermarket (boycotting for management reasons) they should take notice of this clear employment signal and pay a fair wage, stop their endless greed and expat revolving door, and hire locals.
And what did they boycott???
And do we have any idea of how many Caymanians apply for those jobs?
Ask the people at the markets sometime (including the Caymanians) why more Caymanians don’t work there. I have, and they will tell you all you need to know about why there are so many work permit holders there. WHO won’t like their answers, but I’m sure he can find a way to make it the “white western world’s” fault.
I hope that the Government brings out a statistic that shows how many of those applying are status holder, especially the ones that got the McKeeva status.
It is also strange to see how come some of those who apply for clean-up can’t be working a gardeners, in hotel maintenance, cleaners etc.
Maybe they are just looking Christmas $$$.
Look at all those frustrated equity partners of leading accountancy and law firms reduced to this. Drug testing should be a precondition of getting paid. Would save a lot of money.
Well, why don’t we police everyone for drugs, start with the police and then the teachers and lawyers before they get work permits renewed…. sound fair? and good place to start and oh we should be screening for all drugs, including the ‘recreational’ white powder type many are alleged to us.
Fine with me. As a permit holder I am actually accountable for my performance so I stay away from things that might impact it.
Speak for yourself, dull boy. Partying is what I duzz.
What a national disgrace by the Government, so some of these unemployed Caymanians deems unemployable by the Government agencies are capable of being supervisors by virtue of their experience, yet we have persons on work permit doing similar. When is the Government going to tighten up the work permit process and give qualified Caymanians a chance at proper employment opportunities.
The majority of these people look like ex-pats, why are they working at the time of this meeting. Government should not be handing out work to ex-pats in this manner, thought you couldn’t share work permits unless immigration was aware of it. Why would they hire these people if they are all supposedly working 45 hours for their own bosses so how the hell are they going to find time to work for the Christmas clean up, simple……………they have no work and are here hustling!!!!!!!!!!
“The majority of these people look like expats” – Some times looks can be deceiving, and expats slip through looking like born Caymanians. We should make all expats wear special coloured clothes so we can all spot them at events like this.
Hot damn, Jotnar 12:32, brilliant idea. No need to reinvent the wheel, there was a chap in Germany many years ago who came up with a scheme of striped uniforms with stars, coloured tabs and so on. Gays wore pink flashes so maybe Mr Eden would like to take this project on.
6:44pm Do you still have yours ,maybe it is time to bring them out of the closet.
If they all lived in certain areas and had visible means to identify them such as the same loathing or a star, it would be far easier.
einsatzgruppen 503 Isn,t that a German expression?Perhaps a Nazi expression? I thought the Nazis were all dead and gone ,but it appears that I am wrong.Some appear to be alive and well and commenting on CNS.
Oh dear, another sarcasm font fail. Some very stupid people are alive and well and allowed near computers.
Or maybe an emblem on their chests? Just to make it easy to recognize them.
No need. Stiff upper lip does the trick.
Take a look around Caymanians see who living large? You had better get use to it too.
Get a grip anon 9:27pm Caymanians are right where they should be. If you don’t stand up for nothing pretty soon you have nothing to stand on.
Remember what the Gov’t said, they are here for us??? Yes the few who still have their lickle jobs will soon join you on the bread line temp jobs while da big man drives by wid he rims spinning. How truly sad for this lickle place.
the roads they cleaned are being littered already (before they were finished) Paying seasonal workers to do this is NOT solving the problem. Government needs to get a meaningful anti litter campaign in action.
This is vote buying among the crucial demographic of the great unwashed, the criminals and the junkies. It has nothing to do with litter. They get their Christmas crack and the politicians get some votes.
At 8:32am How bigoted and demeaning of you.
So why are all these people unemployed. I was at multiple stores and a restaraunt yesterday and would say nearly every person I came in contact with was non Caymanian. These are not the most skilled jobs but I am sure they come with a weekly paycheck and no reason why they are filled with ex pats. And why 10$ hr? Is that the minimum wage here now??
It is the minimum wage that delivers votes.
Should be……if you don’t sign up…
no dole
Give them drug tests as a condition of payment. But after they have done the work.
Drug tests are great but it should also be done in Corporate Cayman. If you think it’s only the shabby and unkempt doing drugs you are much mistaken.
Private sector is the private sector.
Drug tests for anyone paid by the Government so all Civil servants and MLA’s included.
you mean private sector is majority expat! Wouldnt want the coke heads saturating the law firms and audit firms to be outted would you!
You know if staff are shooting smack into their eyeballs at their desks, as long as it does not affect my profit margins, I don’t care.
yes but they are functioning coke heads…. not asking for handouts….and if they don’t function they loose their jobs and don’t apply to pick up trash…. they can do what they want as long as its not our nations problem…..
But corporate cayman is not taking government money and saying they are struggling for work.
But when I have some fun at the weekend I do not come cap in hand to the government for cash.
Hopefully Barker’s National Park and Beach, which looks like an extended garbage dumb, or maybe the armpit of grand cayman will be cleaned up as well. This area is very popular whith locals and tourists a like and it’s a disgrace to see the comments on Trip Advisor.
But what happened to all those Rangers big Mac put in?
Shameful scenes like these do away with the hostile debate back and forth regarding alleged laziness and entitlement attitudes of Caymanians when it comes to work.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Caymanians are signing up to effectively pick up garbage over the Christmas season, yet we have THOUSANDS of work permit holders doing the most menial and general of jobs in our workforce?!
Nevertheless, we can look forward to the usual talking heads spinning this reality to fit in to their same baseless negative theories about Caymanians in general.
Consider this; every person that has signed up, at least 700, is a potential criminal by way of necessity.
We have a major problem on our hands.
– Who
*Speaking as an 80’s baby, it is heart-breaking to see what has become of my country. I grew up in a population that was predominantly Caymanian where we were able to boast enviable statistics where, at a minimum, 80% of our people were middle-class and above.
Anyway, keep on beating that drum folks. I just hope that gate around your community is rated 700-person strong … as should you.
Well said 4:27am. I too am an 80’s baby and have to agree with you!
Caymankind.
You are so right. We do need more gated communities with better gates.
and don’t forget the gate for canal side, and like one Jamaican teenager said to me last year, they intend to keep us locked up in our houses.
If only.
“Shameful scenes like these do away with the hostile debate back and forth regarding alleged laziness and entitlement attitudes of Caymanians when it comes to work.”
Maybe.
On the other hand, with estimates of the unemployed in the country ranging from 1200 to 2000 or so, it also shows that between 500 and 1300 unemployed did not show up to obtain work at nearly double the hourly rate obtainable in entry level jobs. And at a time of year when everyone could use a little more cash.
Here is a quote from Winston Connolly, reported in the Compass just 6 days ago: “When did it change that proud, able-bodied Caymanians would rather not work — even for entry level pay — but go to politicians for cash and rely on social services instead?”
Not every Caymanian is lazy or has a bad attitude, but clearly some do. You deny this as ” … baseless negative theories….” .Grappling with a complex reality is seemingly beyond you and unfortunately our politicians – stoking the class/race war locally, less so.
Your suggestion that all 700 who showed up – and presumably all unemployed who did not – are potential criminals is far more insulting to Caymanians than most expats would ever be.
As often with your posts I am reminded of the old saying: ” with friends like you, who needs enemies”
Nice try, however …
1.) Re: “Not every Caymanian is lazy or has a bad attitude, but clearly some do.”
Are you implying that the Caymanians that showed up to sign up for the NICE project are lazy and have bad attitudes?
2.) Re: “Your suggestion that all 700 who showed up – and presumably all unemployed who did not – are potential criminals is far more insulting to Caymanians than most expats would ever be.”
My friend, I would say the same about those existing on the fringes of ANY society, yours included.
You know, if you spent less of your limited days on earth trying to counter everything “Whodatis” says you may find some happiness in this life.
Anyway, as I said in my earlier post; “Nevertheless, we can look forward to the usual talking heads spinning this reality to fit in to their same baseless negative theories about Caymanians in general.”
People like you (and your supporters) will always find any possible negative in each and every Caymanian or issue that impacts them.
There is a word to describe individuals like yourself. I’ll let you tell it though.
– Who
and you will always find excuses and insist nothing is a Caymanians fault, always somebody elses.
try some self reflection once in a while
Oh dear, still confused I see.
Your point 1 suggests you believe that the 700 who showed up to get work are not lazy nor have a bad attitude and presumably are good, but unemployed, members of society.
Your point 2 suggests they are “… on the fringes of … society…” and therefore potential criminals.
Make up your mind.
I don’t need to spend much time countering your view points – you are quite capable of doing that yourself.
I wondered where all the Caymanian Employees were this week. 2 of them called in sick this morning…hmmm
Think you should have just left out the 80’s reference…
Local unemployment still a Myth?
Yes it is.
Yes it is. I took a week of vacation to sign up, might as well get some extra cash if its free.
OK – voluntary unemployment, then. You are available for a job picking up litter at $10 an hour but not available to stack shelves at Fosters for $6?
The shameless shambled in on the annual vote buying jamboree in a scene reminiscent of a zombie movie.
Don’t forget the iguanas you kill pays $15 a head. We have 400,000 of them
I guess the expats leaving scraps for Caymanians is male believe!
Most leftovers I see 9.27 are thrown out of car windows seemingly driven by Caymanians and left over on the beaches at weekends, especially after Easter camping! All expats I know ( although I agree tourists not always good at it) put their rubbish in a bin or take it home.
I guess this is what our useless government wants for our Caymanians. Help us find good jobs not the Expat’ leftovers!
yep, cleaning up and taking care of our island is a job no Caymanian should demean themselves to do.