Independent member objects to status grants
(CNS): The member for East End, Arden McLean, voted on Monday against two Cabinet status grants after an acrimonious exchange with the premier, who brought the motion to give Caymanian status to developer Fraser Whellan and Monique Hamaty-Simmonds, general manager of well-known local firm Tortuga Rum Cakes. McLean said he objected in principle to anyone being granted Caymanian Status unless by descent or through marriage, but he objected even more to Cabinet conferring status when there were other legal means by which the people can become Caymanian.
Raising his objections to the grants, McLean highlighted what he said was the discrimination faced by Caymanians who have foreign spouses, pointing out that it takes seven years after the marriage before a spouse can claim Caymanians status. He said those Caymanians face numerous barriers and are forced to jump through all sorts of sometimes humiliating hoops in order to get status for their partners, and Cabinet should address that failing before handing out status to people who did not appear to merit special treatment.
The debate became acrimonious when McLean suggested that government had a hand in the decisions and was undermining the change in the law after the now infamous 2003 mass status grants to prevent anything like that ever happening again and remove political interference from the issue. The East End member said government should not be circumventing the immigration law to give certain individuals status when it suited them.
He further questioned when government was going to sort out the mounting problems with the entire immigration law, including the permanent residency situation. McLean echoed sentiments that had been raised in debates last week that the law was no longer functioning properly, that it was convoluted and it was evident the system was failing everyone.
The premier flatly denied that government had any part in the decision to grant these two people Caymanian status. Accusing the member of taking an anti-foreign stance as part of his election platform, he said McLean was “wrong” about the role of Cabinet.
He said the decision was based purely on the recommendations made by the Caymanian Status Board and the applications for the grants had been made in 2012. He said it had taken this long to reach the Legislative Assembly and there was absolutely no recommendation coming from anyone in his government for these two grants. He acknowledged the problems with the permanent residency issue and said that government was still working on a resolution. He also accepted that the system could be difficult and it was important to get the system right so that it was fair to everyone and not just for individual cases.
However, the premier gave no indication of his government’s plans regarding immigration and how the growing problems throughout the system are going to be addressed.
Category: Local News, Politics
I am so glad that my children and I have citizenship in multiple jurisdictions.
This is a rigged process and system. Yours truly, Donald Trump!
Speaking of “Status Grants ” isn’t it ironic that two PR and Status holders residing in the peaceful development of EAST END HEIGHTS are now the only ones building walls and fences to separate each other
So lets get this clear. The business of Cayman have to be forced to consider these little spaniards and other nationalities as Caymanian just because these old men run to Cuba and other countries to marry off these uneducated little Girls or boys. And all of a sudden the “Married to Caymanian” becomes a diploma of sorts?
I’m getting sick and tired to see uneducated and can barely speak english persons apply for a Job and saying they are Caymanians.
Why is there always a rush to claim status by being married to Caymanian, when legally the spouse can work in Cayman Islands.
I see a lot of person trying to make it seem that they get married and they have to have status in order to seek work.
Lets be clear, if they were uneducated before the marriage, they are still uneducated after being “Married to Caymanian”.
When refer to status grants and being against cabinets grants which legally is very few, and endorsing the “married to caymanian” type grants is setting cayman up for some serious already abused situations.
There are some good marriages around here, but there are also some serious abuse of the “married to caymanian” Title as well. lets not argue about two grants by cabinet and encouraging another group.
And yes we are still suffering and continue to suffer from that original 3000 Grants. The abuse of adoptions and marriage of convenience to someone with this type grant is still rampant. But lets us continue to focus on two persons that are not looking for a hand out from Government, but are in the position to offer hand outs to Caymanian in form of jobs and being good citizens.
Spell checkers and english analyzers welcome to comment.
“3000 grants …..” What 3000 grants you talking about? I recall approx. 800. Inflationary math?
2,850 and another several thousand immediately took through those.
“When refer to status grants”. Is that English?
Your whining, crying and nashing of teeth are heard and ignored. The problem in the Cayman islands are all the people who do not carry their own weight. Who bitch and cry but do nothing to contribute. Who abuse the public trust and treat all others with disrespect. Caymanian and expat alike.
Hilarious, whilst the Neanderthals whinge about a, ‘descriptive status’ title, the rest of the world couldn’t care less. You see, the so called status of being ‘Caymanian’ isn’t a status at all, it is merely a description of somebody who comes from the Cayman Islands, as ‘Caymanian’ isn’t a nationality, or even an ethnic group. It’s purely there to give people a sense of identity, such as Londoners, Texans, New Yorkers etc.
Basically, the sensible money is on those who obtain status for purely financial purposes, like the tax avoiding rich or money laundering criminals. Because for every one else, the hopelessly inefficient passport, isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. There are far better options available out there.
My advice to those who so desperately want ‘status’, is go to a country that cares about those it gives nationality to, and doesn’t insultingly refer to them in perpetuity as ‘ driftwood’ or ‘paper Caymanians’.
As for that useless member from EE, I would deem it an honour to be blackballed by him and his MLA trough divers, after all, who would seriously want to be proud of being aligned or associated on the world stage with a bunch of uneducated bigots with nothing else to do but rabble rouse their equally unintelligent followers.
Decent, hardworking and honest ‘Caymanians’, from where ever they may originate, already know what they are, they don’t need a piece of paper to reinforce their sense of identity or insecurity.
Smack on.
This is the most spoiled group of people on Earth who doesn’t know what war and terrorism is, their men and women are not mandated to serve in military to protect the country, RCIPS provides law enforcement, there is no poverty, health insurance is free and pensions are guaranteed. Financial service industry provides steady revenue flow, but most importantly the flow of intellectual capital. So what does a spoiled child do? He imagines himself to be God, instead of counting his blessing and being grateful. He spewes hatred to the very hand that feeds him. But even the Rome empire fell. Just imagine for a second what happens if all “paper Caymanians” leave the country and Brits stop providing protection and law enforcement?
If that happens Cayman will look like Jamaica and they’ll be begging for the UK to take them back and for all of the job-stealing expats to come back. Only a matter of time before the expats up and leave – running out on their home and auto loans (with zero repercussions) – putting the country’s banking system into disarray. Same thing happened in Dubai when they changed their bankruptsy laws, but at least Dubai’s money isn’t just in the bank accounts of all the expats the locals gnash their teeth over.
Free Healthcare???? Where?
What @12:01am said.
More importantly, who were the idiots that gave Arden MLA status?
See 11.09am for a decent explanation.
The same people that think they should get jobs without education or even filling out an application.
As best I can recall, PPM vowed to address this issue that UDP went rampant on, but as far as I see, the PPM are no better. I agree with the Hon. Arden McLean.
All I could think of was rum cake.
I actually agree with McLean. For once. “there were other legal means by which the people can become Caymanian” There is no good reason why this had to be a cabinet status grant.
What other legal means could an individual with no direct Caymanian relations take in order to gain Caymanian status???
They could be resident in Cayman for 8 years, get PR, get naturalized, then get status.
Maybe a few years ago, but I don’t think they’re granting PR any more.
They can apply for PR and then apply for status like everyone else who doesn’t have direct Cayman relations.
At this stage, we can hardly list “PR” as an option – the 800+ backlog is bad enough, let us not encourage anymore persons to apply at this moment, it does not take much to overwhelm our Government.
OK. You can buy a 1.6 million house and pay $100K and get PR in 6 weeks.
Nope, at this point in time it is taking 3+ years indefinitely to get approved…
But why would anyone want to? I’ve got the house and have absolutely no desire to have dual citizenship. Quality people with money don’t really need Cayman passports.
11:09 why hide behind anonymous. Show your true Identity, so that this genetically challenged voter from East End could find you and have a good ole Cayman sit down. Signed Brent Mclean
expats can’t leave their names or speak openly or honestly….without fear of victimisation from the ‘caymankind’…..
don’t worry we are in control now and nothing will stop us….
anonymous 11:09 says….. i just whipped your…….
Arden is just like Alden who is just like McKeeva who is just like Ezzard they are tyrannical Idiots!!
I feel sorry for Arden. He clearly still hasn’t recovered from the trauma of seeing Durty Reid’s demolished. I was there and saw him, beer in hand, watching his second home being flattened – it was painful.
Reid’s is gone , but the smokes & booze flow at the Western just fine.
And the Chicas.
Especially the chicas
I would like to know what is the criteria to qualify for a Cabinet status grant. I don’t know any politicians, I don’t know anyone on the Caymanian Status Board, I don’t have a business nor am I wealthy. If I am a spouse of a Caymanian, can I also apply for a Cabinet status grant rather than having to wait for seven years before I can apply? Also I understand that if the Caymanian spouse obtains a divorce before another specified period the foreign born spouse could lose their status but with Cabinet status grants the waiting period doesn’t appear to be that long and they are not faced with losing it.
There has always been marriages of convenience to obtain citizenship in most desired countries, but I don’t believe it is rampant here. Not allowing a spouse to get it through marriage will not stop marriages of convenience, just makes it more difficult for the legitimate marriages.
Mr. McLean is saying is that there are many others here who have just as much right to status as a wealthy person who comes to the islands and desire status.
I don’t know who the two individuals are and this is not about them specifically. I feel slighted if I have been waiting six years, one more to go, and someone can come in and can just get it because they could apply to the Caymanian Status Board and get recommended to be granted status by Cabinet.
After living and contributing to the economy for the recommended time, those persons can apply for PR and then apply for status like everyone else
It is not rampant here? Haha – you don’t know what you are talking about!!!!!
As an educated, open minded human being, I support everything and anything that Arden opposes.
Who gives you the right to insult all the residents of East End? Uou are so disrespectful.
Give disrespect where it is due.
look at who you elect…..
There should be NO special grants of Status made my this or the next government until they get their act together and make it possible to deal with routine Residency applications. There is no excuse for the inept way this has been handled, or not handled as the case may be.
Ezzard have him well trained by now., ya can’t expect too much , come on really. LOL
11:09 You are and insulting low life tump.
I think the carefully crafted prose and insightful substantive analysis provided by this East End resident has gone a long way to demolishing the point made by 11:09.
Completely disagree with Arden’s reasoning for denying this – first of all the many Caymanians who have foreign spouses have the option to get their spouse PR – isn’t that enough for the first seven years?
The primary differences between PR and Caymanian status are:
1. PR holders must continue to pay an annual fee equivalent to whatever their work permit would cost;
2. Status holders have the ability to run for office or vote
So… why would it not be perfectly sensible for “spouses of Caymanians” to wait for seven years? First of all; being married to someone for seven years is really not a very long time, so must we run around now granting Caymanian status to every Jane and John Doe that marries one of our people just because they got married? Seriously?
How many people do you know who have been married for over 20 years and then have the nastiest divorce imaginable?
I would say individuals who have invested millions of dollars and hours of their life in building up the economy and developing and creating jobs are far more deserving of Caymanian Status; and, Arden’s objections (or reasons for objecting) are ridiculous!
We have enough trouble on this island with marriages of convenience and foreign women “breeding” for local men just to stay on-island and foreign men marrying local women by filling their heads with words of love and then they all find themselves in marriages where one or the other is physically, financially, emotionally or all sorts of abuse is happening.
I know many cases where foreign women marry Caymanian men, have children and during the entire marriage she is busy mating with her own kind while on-island, married to the Caymanian.
Then the Caymanian reported it to the Immigration Board after having to take his naked wife off her apparently preferred bed-partner (whilst married to the said Caymanian), wrote two letters, had a meeting with board and what? She is granted PR because of having Caymanian children – well tough luck for him then.
Then of course during the divorce she gets the house, the kids, the maintenance, the easy access to local jobs, legal aid for said divorce and is still sleeping with the same man that she was sleeping with while married to the Caymanian man and that foreign man is now also married to a Caymanian woman, but yet the two are still sleeping with each other.
And Arden wants to throw in the extra incentive for this behavior by encouraging Status grants to every Mary-Lou that says “I Do” and comes from some third-world background and realized her best ticket out was to marry a blinded Caymanian. Yep, that should work well for this country sir.
That’s fine but the spouses of people who get status by PR ie non-Caymanians don’t have to wait the 7 years which isn’t fair. So someone who got status by PR and a work permit can get married and their spouse gets status in a year but a Caymanian ‘s spouse has to wait 7 years even when the European standard is 4 years. It should be the same for everyone at least and definitely shouldn’t have Caymanian spouses at a disadvantage.
A PR that marries another PR naturalises much faster than a foreigner married to a Caymanian. These strange quirks in law need to be fixed as a priority.
Did you read the article?
Your post sounds very personal and emotional rather than logical.
Spouses of Caymanians do not get PR, they get something called Under the Operation of the Law which they are not paying permit fees.
Mr. McLean is not suggesting that you change granting status to spouses of Caymanians after seven years, his point was that we have to wait seven years so why are these people so special that they can be granted status by Cabinet in less time than us?
Irrespective of your emotional argument regarding marriages of convenience, you have people who have married a Caymanian, not for convenience but for love and are in a legitimate marriage who have to wait seven years. Why do I have to wait seven years but someone can just be granted status because they are wealthy?
I do not have a company and directly create jobs for Caymanians but I contribute to your economy, I am not sending my money back home, I am depositing it in your banking system, not sending overseas to aid another economy, therefore indirectly allowing companies to give Caymanians jobs, paying rent to a Caymanian landlord assists that Caymanian with their income, paying a post office box rental fee is money in your Treasury.
They can apply for PR and then apply for status like every other person who desires status with no direct Caymanian link.
The PR approval system is a (or ‘was a’, not sure what it will now become) point system and therefore an individual married to a Caymanian or having children for a Caymanian received far more points than someone who is not; so I think it is safe to say the PR grant in relation to a person in this category is facilitated more from the fact they are tied to this country through a native than the other items.
Undoubtedly there are very many local to foreigner marriages in these islands that blossomed through genuine love and affection (I have many family members and friends in this category as well).
However, I also have many friends and family members who have been abused, cheated, lied to and robbed by their foreign spouses in a number of ways (too numerous to list) – so if my comment sounds emotional, then believe me I have had to lend shoulders to salty tears, yes.
An individual who has only recently married their Caymanian partner is able to work, on something of a work permit, fees waived and to some extent the employment market would obviously prefer these persons versus full WP fees.
If you have married your partner for love, and the local law enables you to reside freely with him/her; then why exactly is so much emphasis placed on whether or not you can have PR or Status and when???
Why does it even matter?
If you are still able to find work, get jobs, help out in your household, make a living and not have to be concerned about deportation orders or overstaying; then exactly what further benefit are you seeking to procure for your Caymanian spouse from getting PR or status?
Obviously the grant or PR or Status primarily benefits the holder – the Caymanian spouse benefits exactly how?
Is it some advantage to the Caymanian spouse saying I am “married to a PR/Status holder?
Will such grants somehow provide more positive results within the said marriage and family life?
Will the Caymanian spouse and the marriage somehow become more sensual, happy and loving because of the grant?
And as for those two people being more special and not having to wait seven years; both of those individuals have been contributing to these islands for decades in one way, shape or form – so they have waited and put a lot more work in to remaining here than grabbing the first single Caymanian off the shelf (or, in some cases, first married, cheating Caymanian).
#CSG – FYI
You are referring to a WOL (Working by Operation of Law) which is now PCW (Permission to Continue Working)
A ‘PCW’ is issued when someone has had an application refused and is appealing the decision. In certain cases when that happens the work permit holder can apply for permission to continue working until the appeal has been completed. The work permit fees still have to be paid.
Spouses of Caymanians do not get a WOL nor a PCW, they don’t need permission to continue working as they are now married to a Caymanian and issued a RERC, Residency and Employment Rights Certificate. The RERC is valid for 7 years and they do not pay annual fees.
Please do your research instead of publishing incorrect information.
11.27 Hilarious! A man who marry a woman before lighting up a fire of passion in her heart is in trouble. Has noone to blame.
“Status holders have the ability to run for office” Really? Where do I sign up?
It is time to drain the swamp in East End. Arden has done NOTHING for you.
Calling upon righteous, God-fearing, truth-driven folk.
Get off your big church butts and stand for your people.
Please, no hate, love your people and they will love you.
All of us are sinners.
Self-righteous need not apply.
It is time to smash the system of dishonest greedy politics in all of Cayman.
The house of cards is coming down.
I am sure some of you incumbents will end up in jail when the truth comes out.
Drain The Swamp
Cayman 2017
T-shirts will soon be available.
He is always so angry…his constituents must be tired of his antics by now.
The “inaction Man”
E.L.F. Eastend Liberation Front!!!
3.31pm Definitely not an East End Front ; in fact not even Caymanian.
To 1.04pm Drain it so you can sell it. I get that. Greed, pure greed.
Spoken like a true civil servant who plans to run and is using her position to get votes
Delays in addressing the 800-900 PR applications, is just setting the stage for another mass status grant, by either the Court or the FCO.
“Now that’s Progressive”
Or a mass Deportation of the persons on “Roll Over”,. After all they did have enough time to plan around it. If they did the roll over already they would be back and just on the 2 years of a nine year vacation in the Cayman Islands.
I’m not much for the roll over or much against. But I do know that everyone that comes to Cayman are aware of the Immigration Laws. So for them to turn around after seeing how this Little Place is called paradise, to say that Cayman Islands owe them, now that is a stretch.
Not everyone is allowed to live in Paradise.
So for every helper in Cayman Islands are you indicating that after they care for your children, the Government should then be responsible to take care of your helper? (The government being the people of the Cayman Islands.)
The next new thing in Cayman after being “married to caymanian” is the “helper permit”. Those permits are on a rise and need to be looked at before its turns out to be another diploma type status.
Next thing we be hearing that all the helpers need to be given special status because of their contributions to cayman.
I would not want to be Alden in these times.
Blamed if he do and Blamed if he don’t.
Now let us turn our attention to the waste of money for Smith Cove, It was fast becoming the big hang out for the kids to smoke a little ganja. It was neglected but all of a sudden it had to be saved. So Alden stepped in, Saved the cove. Lets remember this post for future when Alden has this one throw back in his face that he was able to find money to buy the cove, than to help some school children with lunches.. at least now 8 year term limits start to look good.
What is the election process to decide which individuals are deserving of status grant through Cabinet anyway? Sorry, but everyone should follow the same guidelines and processes……..too much room for favoritism which is unfair for those who jumped to all the hoops and loops for years to get to the finish line……
I don’t understand the issue here. Any spouse of a Caymanian can apply for cabinet grant of status.
I think the law provides an excellent benefit on a spouse of a Caymanian…7 years right to work anywhere for anyone seems good to me.
Does the member think that a more liberal system would help. What about the marriages of convenience.
I think his issue is that if someone is granted PR tomorrow through applying, their spouse can apply for Caymanian status I believe 1 year after. So the spouse system works a lot better for a PR holder rather than a Caymanian which isn’t really fair.
Arden is entirely right. Cabinet grants should be reserved for the most deserving, not for the wealthy who cannot be bothered to pay work permit fees.
Alden washes his hands by saying the Status Board recommended these two to Cabinet. Who makes up the Cabinet? How does Cabinet actually decide? Votes?
Why isn’t the process the same for everyone. Just because you came to the island with enough money to start a business doesn’t mean you should be able to bypass the process to citizenship the rest of us had to painstakingly go through. Lets just be fair with equal rights for all.
Yeah, who do they think they are creating all those new jobs (and cayman’s number one export)?
Check their businesses and count how many locals are employed. Cheap labour, imported foreign workers, so how is the Cayman Islands benefitting from that?
Her father did that, if you are referring to Hamaty – he would rightfully deserve the grant but because she is his daughter she gets it too? SMH and because it seems to matter on here, I am expatriate.
arden…the perfect example of why independents offer nothing to cayman….
he should save this drivel for the genetically challenged voters of east-end……
The words “East End” can be interchanged with “North Side”, “West Bay” and “the Sister Islands”. Drivel works in these parts.
3.43 PM. I am ready to take you on, you coward! Your drivel is the worse kind of all; an unnamed, no-nationality drivel. Please call me; very interested in meeting you. Signed Lorna E. Bush; born in Cayman Brac; lived many years in West Bay and the last 20 in George Town. Phone. 3261808.
I think I am in there. Who needs Tinder?
Anyone who considers the term “generational Caymanians” a legitimate means of discriminating between the rights of settled residents is not worth talking too until they have addressed their own prejudices.
A typical rock hopping Braccer response. Can’t argue, needs to threaten, you disrespect your own point, idiot.
I wonder if this anonymous coward would like to say exactly who he was addressing by “typical rock hopping Braccer”. Enquiring minds would like to know.
So there are two people wanting to know then?
You can call people’s names but you won’t publish your own coward!
I am John.
That would be John Doe, right??!!!
I am Spartacus.
No, I am Spartacus!
I am John, nice to meet you Spartacus.
i am 11.09….now what you gonna do about it????
Since you prefer to remain anonymous, there’s really nothing I can do about it, you coward! Time to come out of the closet!
But if you could you would write to Immigration to leave a note on their file come PR time, yes?