More legal action as PR remains stalled
(CNS): A local law firm representing a number of applicants waiting on their permanent residency applications has filed at least one more case in the courts as the situation remains stalled. In correspondence with applicants, some of whom have been waiting for more than three years, the lawyers have questioned the commitment by government to deal with the mountain of stalled applications. But Premier Alden McLaughlin told CNS there is no hidden agenda regarding the challenging situation and government is very keen to get the process moving.
McLaughlin said that officials are now seeking updates from people who want to submit new information which may help to boost their claims, and that there was no reason at all for his administration not to press ahead with the applications now that the point system questions had been addressed.
The PR applications were stalled by a legal decision by the chief justice that the point system was unfair, but it took government nearly two years to make a simple revision to it.
However, in an email update on the issue, which CNS has seen, Nick Joseph, a partner with HSM Chambers, one of the firms representing some applicants that have taken their cases to court and others who are still patiently waiting, raised concern about the continued delay. Revealing that another judicial review has been filed because one applicant despaired of waiting so long, he said that as far as the firm was aware, no requests had been made for updated information and nothing seems to be happening to re-start the process, as claimed by government officials in March.
Government sent out a press release on 27 March indicating that it was finalising a plan to enable it to begin re-hearing applications. But in his email, Joseph stated that “despite the passage of significant time, there are no indications of applications being considered at present, or even imminently”.
He made it clear that their issue was not with the volunteers and civil servants on the boards, who have engaged with the firm, but they have not been able to give any reassurances about when things may begin moving again, and attempts by the firm to get information from higher up have failed.
As time passes, the legal challenges will mount and they are unlikely to be just about the delay. Joseph pointed to the block on career development, problems for employers, uncertainty for the families involved and the constant six monthly updates to remain in Cayman, requiring what he said were unreasonable, repetitive, costly police records and blood-work. In addition, some permit holders waiting on their applications have children approaching their 18th birthday, and will therefore need to request that their cases are expedited.
They said that children born in the Cayman Islands who have remained here beyond their tenth birthday “should be the immediate subject of an application for registration as a British Overseas Territories Citizen” because “the fact that neither parent has permanent residence or British Overseas Territories Citizenship is not, in our opinion, relevant.”
He also raised the issue that any child born in the Cayman Islands more than a year after their parents’ application for permanent residence was filed may have been improperly denied a right to a BOT Cayman Islands passport, as he listed numerous issues that continue to mount as a result of the delays.
CNS has contacted immigration and senior government officials and we are awaiting a response.
Category: Local News, Policy, Politics
If applicants are allowed to update information we should be able to make additional changes to the law making it more restrictive…we cannot afford 900 and family more caymanians in a contracting economy..
I’m an expat, spouse of Caymanian. I love living here, I’ve lived in many countries and one thing I have learned is that no matter where you go there will be corruption, things you wont like, traffic and more corruption. One thing I must say about Cayman though, Yes it’s expensive but myself and my partner are living good, we cant complain and the way I see it is…sure we work hard we have a property in cayman whether i get PR or not im grateful for the opportunity i have received and no matter what it will be an asset an investment for me. I was born and raised poor so when i loook back in life im very thankful and also i have ambition to keep striving for bigger and better things, no hurdle will stop me not even the government if i dont get pr i will find ways to keep living a good life. The problem with a lot of people is that they get too comfortable and stop trying they settle. Dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with settling if your happy but if your not happy and you settle and then you complain about it like your a poor victim that aint right either do something about it or move on.
Just void granting them, with legal reasoning. There are ample legal arguments, and applicable laws, for why Work Permit Holders’ are needed in the Cayman Islands, as there are ample legal arguments to why they are not.
Work Permit PR Status is not a Right, it’s a Privilege. Both, the Government and Cayman people need to understand that. Constitutionally, the Cayman Government should not be in the business of giving away PR Status/Privileges at the perils of its People, or simply because Foreign Nationals on work permits insist on remaining on the islands for excess periods of time, as a result of successive work permit renewals.
Significant time served in the Cayman Islands may be grounds to start the PR Application Process, but it is not a “Privilege” guaranteed for remaining put. Unfortunately, an Applicant’s personal decision/choice of long-time tenure here [Cayman Islands] is certainly not a sole predicate for PR Status.
Whatever Expats have [i.e. Assets or Interests] established in the Caymans, should be legally viewed as an investment, not wholly a pathway to PR Status/Privilege.
There is a risk of not being “awarded” PR Privileges, on the basis that you want to make the Cayman Islands your choice of “home”, wholly for the economic purposes (Money!) or that you may appreciate the tropical aesthetics; relatively safe, slow paced, laid-back lifestyle that may be ideal raising a family! While this may be — the Cayman Islands is not an open border for Outsiders to take calculated risks to reside here permanently, even, when the Immigration Status sought is duly a “Privilege” and not a “Right”.
Even the Human Rights (HR) Commission, in conjunction with Immigration Department & Cabinet, need to understand the implications of Mass Grants of PR Status/Privileges, particularly, when they are haphazardly deemed as Obligatory, Infringements on HR Rights, or Guaranteed Pathway to Residency or Citizenship. PR Status/Privileges are not guaranteed.
By the way, NO RESPONSE (or a delayed response) is a RESPONSE, however it may be perceived!
#TeamTrump
I am afraid it is a right rather than a privilege if you get enough points. If you do not like that fact, blame the politicians.
Well , the way that Chief Justice Smellie ruled on U.S-Caymanians (Dual Citizens), I would not count my chickens before they hatch. An American Citizen is an American Citizen, according to U.S. Law – regardless if U.S. Citizenship was obtained by (Accidental) Birth, Family Lineage, or Pledged Allegiance. As you may know it today, the Chief Justices ruling was not consistent or aligned with the U.S. Definition of what Constitutes an American Citizen. I say all that, to say this, you never know the outcome of your lawsuit when you are faced with wishy-washy judicial rulings. Like with every Caymanian who were born in the U.S., they were or are either considered “Accidental” U.S. Births or Medically Motivated U.S. Births. I guess entire islands of (now) American born babies were too “at risk” to continue the using the traditional, local facilities or delivery methods for this purpose (i.e. birthing). As a result, the U.S. can be accredit for saving successive generations of Caymanians from going extinct! So, those PR Applications may stand a similar uncertain fate, by just welcoming some sort of wishy-washy ruling by the Chief Justice, when the time comes. #Wishy-WashyRulings
Convinced yourself 8.05? Amazing how much crap one person can write based on no legal or moral grounds.
Cayman PR Status is the equivalent of a U.S. Green Card, and it is revocable and/or not guaranteed; hence, the reason there are “Privileges” to work and live in a foreign country- not duly a “Right”, as would be the case for Citizens. And, there are no obligations or “Higher Powers” that can enforce PRs (same with the U.S. Green Cards) except the CIG/Governors Office/Cabinet – whichever may be the superceding protocol. However, each does not have any obligation to approve PR Status. Many Applicants may be qualified, but not selected due to quotas, Obligation to the “People” (Constitutional), etc.
The legal arguments are many. The moral ground is non-existent, unless their is an applicable law governing it. I guess by moral grounds, you were referring to Human Rights? Well, if you are already a work permit holder, what more Human Rights (HRs) to another man’s country do you request a NEED/WANT for?
The Cayman Islands hasn’t violated any HRs if you are insisting on more “privileges” being granted to you from this Country’s Government, than merely to remain here Temporarily. Again, acquiring PR is a process, that starts with and application. Some may get a carrot at the end of the stick (that is, Approved), while others may just get the stick (that is, Denied).
Another graduate from the University of Made Up Stuff Law School.
Well , the way that Chief Justice Smellie ruled on U.S-Caymanians (Dual Citizens), I would not count my chickens before they hatch. An American Citizen is an American Citizen, according to U.S. Law – regardless if U.S. Citizenship was obtained by (Accidental) Birth, Family Lineage, or Pledged Allegiance. As you may know it today, the Chief Justices ruling was not consistent or aligned with the U.S. Definition of what Constitutes an American Citizen. I say all that, to say this, you never know the outcome of your lawsuit when you are faced with wishy-washy judicial rulings. Like with every Caymanian who were born in the U.S., they were or are either considered “Accidental” U.S. Births or Medically Motivated U.S. Births. I guess entire islands of (now) American born babies were too “at risk” to continue the using the traditional, local facilities or delivery methods for this purpose (i.e. birthing). As a result, the U.S. can be accredit for saving successive generations of Caymanians from going extinct! So, those PR Applications may stand a similar uncertain fate, by just welcoming some sort of wishy-washy ruling by the Chief Justice, when the time comes. #Wishy-WashyRulings#UniversityofMadeUpStuff
Thank you for the intelligent, logical and accurate summary of the situation. I hope our courts, politicians and boards understand and agree but fear they will react to appease everyone but their people….this does seem to be their MO.
Wow CIG, I just got a notice that I have to provide more paperwork, within 28 days, with more useless fees. Really? For what? They have everything short of my kidney.
So I have 28 days, and they have 28 months, or years to do their part? No wonder people are suing. I am pretty agreeable person. I know Government bureaucracies move at a snails pace, but at some point, your victims will get annoyed, and seek recourse.
Since no updates have been asked of applicants, and no fees would be due with simple updates, I call bullshit.
It’s going on all the time. That’s the issue 8.25 and why people are suing.
So we can easily conclude not all 1000 people are working on updating their files for more points.
My suggestion would be start with the highest scorers and folks with Caymanian connections. Then more to the people near the point cut off and review those.
That suggestion was made literally years ago. It makes too much sense. They have refused to do that, even though there is not lawful reason not to.
There is no political will to resolve the problem. The government sees no upside politically. It can be observed that they have no intention to fix the problem. Until forced by either law or Mothers intervention nothing will happen.
I’d like to know why expats have to go through all this whilst Caymanians born and bred here can just go to the UK with their children, don’t work and claim off the British Welfare system and receive all the benefits of housing, medical care, schooling, dental treatment etc., etc., free of charge by the NHS and cash to live day to day. All from the tax payer. We cannot reside in Cayman unless we have hundreds of thousands of dollars and can support ourselves or work via a permit to keep us here.
Not true. Only persons who were BOTC’s in 2001 can do that automatically. Whether they are or were Caymanian or not is irrelevant. Everyone else has to apply to be registered as British first. That is not automatic and is expensive and time consuming.
As to why? Well 20,000 people potentially moving to the U.K is very different from 60,000,000 people potentially moving here. It also results because the U.K. stripped rights from all colonial citizens to prevent Hong Kong Citizens being able to emigrate to the U.K. when the U.K. Handed them over (against their wishes) to communist China.
Get off your high horse on this one. There is no legal or moral equivalence.
Hmmmm…because they raped Cayman like they did most other countries in the West Indies and have an ethical obligation to make up for their wrongdoings? Or at least to try…
There was no one here to rape!
How did they rape Cayman exactly? At a slight loss to understand which natural resources were ruthlessly exploited, people forced into servitude etc
All I can say reading these comments is stay away from the US, we do not want you or your crazy systems or culture. If you have relatives who live or want to go to the US, goto London instead. I hear London isn’t anything like it was 30 years ago, and you will be around immigrants of your needy and whining type.
All you have is good weather, thats all. If you move to Florida, I will personally make the call to ICE.
You think anyone wants to go to the US anymore? Rapidly descending into chaos and possibly civil war, and certainly no longer respected following the coronation of the Orange thing.
Good, now if you and 30 million of your kind leave the US, the US will be back on track.
This from a government that has made it legal to steal money from non- Caymanian workers.
As opposed to a government that spends their money on world travels and casinos.
The PPM are delaying this as much as possible to get through the election, without facing a UDP style Status debacle. But, the bill for this procrastination is going to be astronomical. The “surplus” is going to be wasted on paying off all the current and future legal costs/fines.
If you want a homeland and continuity of culture then don’t let the 1000 PR stay. If you let them stay you will lose your island Caymanians. The demographic replacement will be the end of us. People using the law to break into a country. The whole PR process is insane, How many people can Grand Cayman fit? Soon we will have restrictions on automobiles like Bermuda as the traffic will be so bad. The house prices will be beyond our people as these 1000 PR applicants have to buy property. How does increasing the demand for our property benefit us? It just increases prices leaving us poorer. Instead of paying 200,000 KYD your paying 260,000 KYD. The pensions law will increase demand for housing as well as people extract their pension to invest in property and buy land. Bring back rollover. The expat can earn good money for 7 years and receive their pension at the end of it. They can get some more skills to take back to their homeland. Companies who make millions in Cayman can invest in the training of Caymanians as they know the expat will be gone after 7 years, also the leaving expat will open opportunities to Caymanians. If these companies whine they can’t find staff they need to offer more incentives to attract talent. I don’t believe for a minute that some of these companies in the financial services sector would change their business model because of rollover.
Continuity of what culture?
The Caymanian leadership of the past has shown time and again that it is just not up to dealing with the first world mentality of the rest of the world. They are too far behind to catch up. In this corrupt society no qualified person would ever get voted in. If you are planning on living here plan on third world leadership, rules, corruption, driving, etc. That is the real taxes of the Cayman islands. The good part is if your third world born and raised then this island must be heaven for you.
Go Derek ! I have had the pleasure of working with you and I know how much you have done for the community, the cadets etc. There are many others like you that have served the Cayman community, invested in Cayman and made it your home. I hope the government see how valuable you are and stop with unnecessary delays. Good luck and best wishes.
We need to get a whole lot of bright foreigners to get PR then Status in Cayman so that they and their bright children educated at private schools and achieving real academic and technical success because their parents attend school reporting sessions and support their kids can run this wonderful little place eventually and save it from the morons we have now. Right now, it’s pathetic. Look at those running for election. Some good ones yes. But, anti-gay bigots, lightweight Christian women and men, users of prostitutes, racist abuser of a senior civil servant, anti expat all Caymanians are brilliant and worthy of employment village politicians, people who have had no job worth a damn and are looking for that massive salary, former Bob Marley worshipping associate with the old Central gang in George Town, Whogene and people like him who are running and no one knows a damn about them because they only come out at elections etc etc etc. Many of us are not going to vote this time because so many of these losers are wasted effs that don’t deserve the salary, pension and health benefits that are all they are looking for.
Dead right, bobo.
Whilst I agree with a lot of your comment 7.22pm recent history in the UK and US shows the result of not voting… You end up with populist idiots and not just idiots. Populists will destroy any place they are elected… So you and everyone needs to get out and vote, if nothing else, just to stop the populists getting into power.
you forgot wife-beaters
PPM should suffer at the poles for this utter incompetence, but then who gives a s#*t about expats getting PR?
Poles? What have the Poles got to do with it? What did the Poles ever do for us?
The greasy ones are my favourite. I can slide down them all day long.
I have got one you can slide down honey…
I don’t go near neanderthals that consider “honey” appropriate in social discourse. You’ll need to do your own sliding.
You don’t take tea with honey? What a nit wit!
I agree the PPM government should be banished to the North Pole or South Pole and made to suffer.
Idiot. Typical narrow minded uneducated response.
British Nationality law is out of touch with modern day living. I found this interesting article on line about how citizenship is riddled with discrimination:
https://nationalityandcitizenshiplaw.com/2017/01/11/unfinished-sympathy-remaining-prejudice-in-british-nationality-law-against-persons-deemed-illegitimate/
Yep, so you wont need your British passport anymore if you find that so offensive? Compared to the hypocrisy that goes on here…please…..
Remember England don’t give , England always takes. When it was nothing in Cayman for them, they would not even look this way, now that is changed they want the good jobs and to tell us what to do about everything including what to eat.
What have the English ever done for us?
A very sound policy and it is disappointing that it was reversed for births form 2006 onwards. They were born in a third nation and by definition their mothers have a different nationality. Given the high levels of illegitimacy among lower socio-economic group such individuals, who have at least one, if not two other likely nations with a better claim to citizenship, are more likely to be a drain on future public finance. I am sad to hear that soft liberals in the UK’s left wing government at that time reversed a sound rule.
Did you know that: The “Forgotten illegitimate Children” of British Overseas Territories descent, who are born abroad before 1st July 2006 are still SHUT-OUT from claiming citizenship via their fathers. While the same category of children, now adults, whose father happens to be born in the UK can claim that right effective 2014 when the BNA 1981 was amended but only for them. Grossly unfair! When will BOT be treated equally and have equity by the Westminister government? Ask your local government why? For more information and if you or someone you know is affected by this, complain to your government and contact: http://www.botccitizenship.com
Like many I am sure, I did not know this. This is outrageous! that children who are now adults are treated like this by HMG. When will leaders in our country and the rest of the Territories stand up to the Westminister bullies and demand equal treatment? Tell them to stop treating our citizens and their children born to them, like this! Sometimes laws are so stupid and not relevant to modern day life.
I am not saying this treatment is fair, but if people tried a little harder to procreate within a stable family unit then it would tend to better for them, their children, and their desire to get any passport they may feel entitled to!
Exactly. Someone falling in this tiny category will probably have two other nationalities anyway.
So most Caymanians (apart from those mentioned in your post) are entitled to a British passport. But most Brits (unless here for at least 15 years and approved for PR/Status etc) are not entitled to a Caymanian BOTC one. I would think twice about bitching too much on that one.
Umm, you only have to be here for 5 years to get a Cayman passport.
If our Politicians stood to become personally liable and named parties in these claims, instead of being shielded behind parliamentary privilege, there would have been a swift resolution to this PR points system before the applications became a pile, a problem, or lawsuits filed. It would be generous to characterize the collective performance standards of our MLAs and Cabinet Members as “Mediocre”. Although it is regrettable that we, the public, will have to bear the cost of these future settlements, I hope more lawsuits are filed so that we become compelled to change the engrained systems of governance. We impair our own advancement when we keep electing fiscally incompetent morons.
This is ludicrous.
Oh get off your high horse!!!
how are these people selfish or self important? Do you know any of them? Do you know their stories? Have you read the pleadings?
Would you wait for close to 4 years for a decision?
It’s and important decision to a small country…getting the privilege may take some time…if you don’t like it abandon the application and move on.
and then some, every year and forever as all the persons who cannot afford to be here and their kin will nevertheless get PR and then status and further destroy the social services, education, and healthcare systems of Cayman. Well done Alden, well done!
Blame your government for sitting down on the thousands of PR because they are too wicked and lazy!
This debacle will simply mean everyone who currently has been on island for 10 years or more will be allowed to stay however many points they do or do not accumulate.
Which is not good for economical reasons. Honestly just ask Marco why he dressed it up this way, just before KB takes his shine in GT…Alden knows this all too well.
I think you mean “economic” but really what you are referring to is your everyday bigotry.
I agree… I had sufficient points before the rule change but you are absolutely right. They can’t kick out those that have been here for more than 10 years.
Wonderful how so many people are dying to become permanent residents of this backward, uneducated, and lazy country.
How altruistic of them.
However, can’t help but wonder how a news headline of immigrants demanding citizenship in the USA or the UK today would be regarded … by Americans and Brits.
Your ignorance shines through like a beacon in the dark. None of the people who are suing the Immigration Department are demanding PR. They are asking for PR applications to be considered in a reasonable period of time.
Can you honestly say that you would wait close to four years for any decision let alone one which puts your life on hold? Can you honestly say that….. because i call b*** Sh** on you if you say yes.
If people were waiting for close to four years for a straight forward decision in the UK, then the press would support these people because waiting four years is ridiculous. Plus the press would be angry that the some of the Immigrants have been able to stay in the UK longer than they should have been able to.
Have a look at this article in the guardian. Hardly critical of the Immigrants is it!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/feb/01/refugees-asylum
When a person is granted a work Permit. It has very boldly stated what the conditions are and the expected time for roll over.
So I if give you permission to stay at my house for 5 years and you decide you would like to stay to enjoy life a little more. I ask you to leave you say you cannot because you have settled and unpacked your bags.
From there we have to hide from each other. We have to start to lock the doors. No more food in the fridge. Of course you would become ungrateful and decide i’m not as “caymankind” as i used to be.
In other words you take my kindness for weakness.
So in this demonstration, instead of being ungrateful you ask if you can help around the house, put some food on the table every so often. Become part of the household. In the long run when you decide you want to move on, I will suggest for you stay a little longer, we can work out some mutual solutions.
Now after you stay another few years, you feel you own the house and you ask me kindly to leave because you need space to grow your family and you dog is uncomfortable with me.
Do you see where I am going with this.
The worst thing you can do with Caymanian is to be ungrateful and hate them for protecting their own land.
Why curse and talk bad and make it sound as if you are forced to be here?
If Cayman is such a hell hole, then please pack it up. Save the legal fees.
This little 2 by 4 is the best that most people have ever been and will ever.
Your argument is ludicrous. For a start you own your home, you don’t own the Cayman Islands!! Unless you have one of the big homes down at Rum Point.
If you want to be particularly pedantic about property ownership In the UK, if stay in a property for 10-12 years illegally and can show it, you can acquire the property via squatters rights. I don’t know if that is the same in Cayman, but it could well be.
1) Permanent Residence exists and has done for over 15 years. People come here for a number of reasons but partly because they know that they can settle here. Immaterial of what the work permit says, the Law says people who achieve 110 points under the PR system get PR.
2) the people waiting for PR are not being ungrateful. As say i check out the pleadings, they are asking for their claims to be heard. PR applicant’s are not taking the food off your table or stealing your land, as much as you would like to think so. They just want to be treated fairly, whether you are the same anonymous person who posted earlier i do not know but would you wait 4 years for a passport for instance or for registration of your land? i doubt it.
3) you and i have a completely different concept of bad language, your insinuations that PR applicants an ex pats is basically a form of racism.
4) No one is suggesting that they are forced to live here, they want to live here!!! that’s why they have been waiting so long.
you and i have a completely different concept of bad language, your insinuations that PR applicants an ex pats is basically a form of racism.
ohps missed out a couple of words. it should read
you and i have a completely different concept of bad language, your insinuations that PR applicants and ex pats are thieves is basically a form of racism.
Oh dear 11.20, like some ketchup with that chip on your shoulder? Gratitude is earned. When you read the deliberately insulting crap and ignorant comments posted on here about WP holders, residents, paper caymanians, jaycans, Honcamians or whatever etc on here, you should ask yourself why we should like you at all? Its a bit like France, would be great without the French. Me, I am always polite and tolerant, and don’t blame people for their ignorance, but I wish I could fix your education system so you could stop thinking that Cayman is a fantastic and wonderful. You perceive yourselves as the answer to the Universe, yet you all hate each other as much as you hate us, and that is as plain as the large nose on your face. And yes, when my time comes, I will be gone, but thankful I had some time here.
Well my Dear. France certainly is not great now with all of those immigrants that have destroyed that city.
France is a country not a city
France a little bit bigger than a city.
Neither is Cayman any more…take those rose tinted glasses off. Shootings, thefts, no respect for human rights, education is appalling….need I go on?
France is a city? Not sure we should worry about the thoughts of a person with the intellect and education of a small mosquito.
I see where you are going. You want “foreigners” to become like you or go home. Which is the hallmark of the modern bigot.
So if you ask some migrant to assimilate that is “the hallmark of a bigot”? No. The person not assimilating is the bigot.
Oh do tell us more, dig that hole baby, dig dig dig!
You make it sound like these PR applicants are freeloaders. To your analogy, what if in the 5 years i lived with you, I had not only helped with the bills, housework and cooking, I have also improved your house? Would you then say “well, 5 years, time to pack up and ship out!”. Its such a blatant false equivalency to compare someone who has worked here, contributed to local business and society and compare them to some freeloader…
Hola Chico / Chica (Cinco de Mayo).
Then as I was trying to explain. You would have done good for my home. I would like you to stay. This would be the kind of guest that I want in my house.
But strangely enough you have a lot of those applicants that talk so bad and complain about this place. You would swear they are being forced to be here. So now this explanation can be concluded.
More than half of those applicants will be a burden to this country as they already think they should not earn the PR and simply think it is there rights. Instead, as mentioned, even if you fooled me into thinking you are being a good guest.
But not sit all day and complain and expect me to be happy just because you are in my house.
Welcome to my house. I hope we can continue to live together for a very long time. ( Stamp , stamp )
(Original poster)
Did you really attempt to align our local situation with that of political, economic, and war refugees?
Kindly have a couple seats.
Feel free to try again though.
You misunderstand completely. One seeks PR to get Status. One wants status so one can leave and go back to civilization while using the passport to get other people to print money for you.
Hence the perfectly appropriate and intentionally derogatory term applied to some of “Driftwood”.
Is there a “I don’t care what you think” emoji? If so [ insert emoji here] .
One has to apply for PR after 8 years if one wants to keeping living here. There is no option to continue to willingly submit to permit fees and forego the path to citizenship. To be honest, many applicants (including myself at the time) did not aspire to become Caymanian, and would have preferred to have just paid a fee every year in exchange for some security of knowing they were welcome to make longer-term plans, deeper investments, put down roots and stay. For decades it was so. Roll-over was a Caymanian effort to mimic xenophobic Bermudian policy (similarly failed, and long since scrapped).
So true. Many don’t need PR nor care about status. We just want to stay… And our employers want us to stay. The system is broken. And because we can’t vote, the politicians don’t care about us. The only ones who can change this are the big employers who the politicians will listen too.
Actually, the courts are about to change it, and the embarrassment resulting will be enormous, and the adverse publicity to the jurisdiction will cause harm including to the big businesses who sat and watched and did nothing.
Im guessing you have no spouse or kids.
Actually no. You and your supporters are just full of bullshit.
Not fooling a soul.
I think you are the one full of bs. Just look at the BVI. Almost impossible to get status, but still sustains it’s financial services industry with long term expats, who don’t want to vote or retire there. Open your mind to the possibility that not everyone wants to become Caymanian – they want the money and a longer term career, and you want them to be here because of the revenue they generate. It should be a happy, symbiotic relationship not a war. Yet you are fighting over a prize – citizenship – that you don’t want to give and they don’t want. Madness, but down to Caymanian politicians who have decided to make applying for it the condition for certainty of longer term employment.
Not all of them. I got my pension out luckily and along with my savings, invested in property and travel cheaply now for a year or two. Even paying tax on the rental income is cheaper than paying 12 dollars for just bread and milk, etc.
I thought about PR and wondered why I would bust my ass to live in a country where I could never be wanted or could ever afford to retire!
Plenty people left and survived ok. Plenty more people will still leave before October, once schools start etc, you watch the exodus.
Many have given up and left the island Many have been forced off the island. It is true that citizenship has benefits if you are from a third world country but for most from the first world who needs it I see no benefit
If you are a permit holder for starters 6:38 a better quality of life than in their home country is the most important factor, followed by higher earning power. If you don’t believe it ask around. If you are of a different circumstance sorry, cant help you, pick up ya bndle and leave and go don’t stay here no more, fe ya lucky. .
Better quality of life is fine if you mean ability to earn more money, or at least non taxable money. However quality of life goes a lot deeper than that, and I don’t think many people get that. Money is not everything, not by a long stretch.
Cool…leave and try not to sue us on your way out
Its true that a lot of caymanians and( others )believe more money equals better quality of life . I may have once and was the reason I came there. 9 years down the line I decided not to put in for PR and return to the UK . Did I earn more in Cayman than UK ? Yes . Do I spend less in the UK ? Of course . What is the value of getting up on a Saturday morning and having the choice of taking my kids to a forest , a proper park , real countryside, vibrant cities , museums and attractions versus a choice of beach or camana bay or…well that’s it. What is the value of going on a date night with my wife and saying ‘ lets try this restaurant..we’ve not been there before and then maybe the theatre ? ‘ . What is the value of being able to jump on a plane and for a fraction of the cost of what we paid to get to Miami be in Paris , Barcelona or Berlin and feel like you have travelled a million miles from your home . Cayman suited us fine for a while and we enjoyed our time there for the most part but this idea that some have that everyone is clamoring to get PR because there is no place on earth anyone could possibly want to live other than Cayman is ridiculous .
I am the original poster and that’s how we feel too. Don’t get me wrong, we love this place and respect it too. However we also understand that we could never afford to retire here, the healthcare cost is insane for everyone, and to go see a show or something you have probably at least a $2,000 expense for two of you. When the time comes for PR we will be heading back, maybe even sooner because of the pension thing.
Can’t believe a word out of McLaughlin’s mouth on any issue.
Let’s spill a little common sense here.
All these PR people should just sit down and help or promote PPM to get back in.
For the meantime PR applicants need to be quiet so this elections can get past everyone.
The more stupidity they carry on with now will cause the people that matter “the registered voters” to turn against them. (them meaning the PR applicants.)
Alden is a lawyer, they have other lawyers on the team. So, I’m sure they see the challenge to get this timing just right. Would not want to be on PPM team this moment. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
They all know it’s a gamble either way. They also know it must be dealt with.
A new government simply mean PR applicants are at risk. That would be approximately 1500 persons to seek jobs or create new business that would need permits to replace this persons that would also cause a drop in revenue from the PR applicants.
That would not matter much since half of them are already not paying and have entitled mindset already. Next would be for them to get the PR and start to line up at social services to say it took so long to get the PR that they cannot support themselves .
Alden and his team already did a huge favor for PR applicant people.
He gave them that extended time that gave them this confidence to go courts.
No matter how it goes. If the independents or MAC gets in we would have some serious interruptions to the Government and some real bully type behavior going on.
Or we would have a green team and the senior civil servants will have to take the lead and do what they always do. Which is do what they want to who and how and when they please. There is good and bad in everything and everyone. So not to blame all.
But you know human nature is to be ungrateful.
PR applicants take from this story below what you can. Here is your story to learn from.
A little bird was flying south for the Winter.
It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung,
he began to realize how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung,
and promptly dug him out and ate him.
Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you are in deep shit, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!
What are you talking about?
“Alden is a lawyer, they have other lawyers on the team. So, I’m sure they see the challenge to get this timing just right.”
The timing right…. they have been doing nothing for close to 4 years. Alden has been making frequent comments about things will be sorted soon…. and nothing happens.
“Alden and his team already did a huge favor for PR applicant people.
He gave them that extended time that gave them this confidence to go courts”
What favour are you talking about????? Do you honestly believe that waiting 4 years for a decision is a favour, when you can’t get promoted, change your job title, get naturalised, potentially have problems getting loans. You are living on a different world my friend.
“But you know human nature is to be ungrateful.”
I’m sorry but i am completely lost. Some of these people have been waiting for close to 4 years for a simple decision to be made. Every six months they have to get blood test done, they have to get medicals…. It’s not as if they are moaning about waiting 1 month. It’s close to 4 years!!!! Would you wait for 4 years for anything when there is no good reason!! you are crazy!!
And what makes your stop complaining attitude even worse is that you don’t see how this mess that Alden has created is harming Caymanians. Of the 1000 people waiting for their PR applications to be granted, there are undoubtedly some who will never get PR and are taking advantage of the system. That means Caymanians are not being able to get those jobs which are currently being filled by ex pats who shouldn’t be here. If the system was working as it could be then those Caymanians could be working or getting promoted. But you don’t see that do you?
Seconded
If he had just let them roll over. They would have already be back long time and enjoying all those promotions and loans and what have you.
One year vacation.
Fastest way for Government to create at least 1000 new jobs.
Talk about creating new Jobs. That would be a legacy to beat.
Not even Obama would be able to make that claim as fast.
But noooo. he had to try to make them happy.
Sorry fe maggaw dog. Now Alden nah have no dinner. Not even turtle meat.
So 2.27, you are entitled to happiness but no one else is? Except for the few rich ones, I have yet to meet a really happ Caymanian. How’s that working out?
Promotions and job training and changing jobs are not part of the work permit program. Its amazing the people who come here knowing nothing and then get promoted into high paying roles all off the back of what they have learned in Cayman.
Not to mention the tens of millions government has taken in PR application fees. One might speculate that those funds were fraudulently obtained and the PPM members should be personally made to account for it before being sent to Northward.
No one writes common sense at 12.08 a.m.. You in particular.
Depends whether I have started the coke binge by then. But if I had I would be on websites other than CNS.
I have 150 points Alden. Only thing I am waiting on is you.
You are making no friends with future voters and those with close Cayman Connections.
Just leave All of you…your not wanted here by any of the money hungry goons….
“You’re” …………..
Are you suggesting they use the informality of a contraction?
You are and You’re mean the same thing in this case.
Wow. Grammar 101 from Einstein.
Except they used your, not you are. They were being pedantic, but before you start lecturing someone on their grammar you might want to make sure you have the facts right.
That’s a lovely attitude…. Very Christian of you.
I’m sure you would prefer silence while the “lions” take our country.
lions…… i haven’t seen any of those. I thought the Green Iguanas were bad enough but lions….
i guess you are equating PR applicants and Immigrants as lions… so potentially racist then…… nice.
How are these people taking your country from you??? can PR holders vote? nope…. so they are not talking your country away from you then are they.
What i would prefere is a degree of understanding in relation to people who have been waiting close to 4 years for a decision. I would have thought you would have been happy that these people are are prepared to spend so much of their life in a place that they love and fight for the right to stay… Least they show commitment to the Cayman Islands.
No but PR recipients become part of the economic and social furniture…they don’t need replacing at the rate they’re created, causing the Caymanian percentage of the resident population, voting population and workforce to drop over time. That’s the problem
Now that’s funny!
No need to take. We will just wait until you lose it on your own. Should be soon.
Also, all*, no need to capitalize.
I think I’ll stay. Wait for Caymanians to fully fail (your halfway there) and be in a good position to enjoy the islands without it being run by ignorant, incompetent, and disrespectful people.
Really, and where are you from. Not here, no one is from here. Just the mozzies.
There you go Alden..you’re not even going to get the votes of the foreign folks you’ve been catering to for the last 4 years.
To the contrary he still could make this right.
Dreamers approach..We need a captains approach.
“McLaughlin said that officials are now seeking updates from people who want to submit new information which may help to boost their claims, and that there was no reason at all for his administration not to press ahead with the applications now that the point system questions had been addressed.”
But Alden, they are not seeking updates. What you say is happening, and what is actually happening in relation to these issues, appear to be two different things.
Anyway, if I were someone who scored enough points with or without 15 out of 15 for my occupation 3 years ago when I applied, why has there ever been any reason for your administration not to press ahead with my application?
Your faith in ignorance is noted. Please continue waiting for us to gather our intelligence together and see if we understand the question. Sincerely CIG
Bit of a theme here, what Alden says and what reality is….
Alternative facts.
There goes the $48m surplus
If Caymanians were really concerned about this, they could pressurize Alden into getting the system moving by calling him and sending him emails. The Law changed 8 weeks ago, applications should be heard.. People won’t sue if their applications are heard!!!
come on Caymanians if you are so worried about your country force Alden and MLAs to get the system moving!!!
Caymanians can not save themselves from themselves. The solution must come from outside.
…and then some, every year and forever as all the persons who cannot afford to be here and their kin will nevertheless get PR and then status and further destroy the social services, education, and healthcare systems of Cayman. Well done Alden, well done!
You are talking about Caymanians right?