Immigration to split into new agencies
(CNS): As government begins work on shaping a new border protection force, which will see the customs and immigration enforcement arms merge and the creation of a new human resources unit, the immigration department as it is now will no longer exist. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly last month, the premier described the immigration department as being in a state of flux as the changes begin to happen. But there are hopes that by separating the work permit functions from border protection, the system will become more efficient and more secure.
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson told the press Thursday that the civil service supports the idea of a single border agency, combining immigration and custom officers and work, because it will be more effective and provide better value for money while keeping the borders safe.
Governor Anwar Choudhury also offered his support this week at his first press conference, where he spoke about the importance of flexibility in the civil service to improve the system. He said the immigration function will not go away but if the merger helped with agility, that would be a good thing.
During his comments in the LA last month, Premier Alden McLaughlin said the departments were currently in transition and there would be some changes to the existing roles. With indications from the premier, the governor and the deputy governor of these changes and the possible disappearance of the immigration department as we know it now, the future of the chief immigration officer’s post is also in question.
Standing in for the deputy governor in the Legislative Assembly last month, Gloria McField-Nixon spoke about the future of this post during a debate on a private member’s motion. She said that the role would evolve in scope and responsibility over the next year as the new human resource unit emerges.
The head of the new human resources agency, Sharon Roulstone, was the first appointment to one of the new agencies, but so far no one has been named as the head of the new border agency. The current immigration boss is Bruce Smith, who has been acting in the job since Linda Evans was placed on required leave in 2014.
Although Evans was paid off after a long dispute with government last September, Smith has not been given the top job. Before he was appointed to act as the immigration chief, Smith’s substantive position was as deputy chief for border control.
Category: Crime, Crime Prevention, Customs, Immigration
I think this is a good thing. Currently those persons who process work permits (not the Boards, I’m talking about the individuals who review permits as well) are under staffed. There’s not enough resources available for them to be as effective as they can be although they try. I was unemployed and I applied for a position and one of them actually called me to confirm what the company said was true. We need more like her who actually care about fellow Caymanian. She also encouraged me to register with NWDA.
Well, looks like we finally ran out of employees from each side (aka in prison).
Twice the departments, twice the chance of even more corruption?
I suggest fixing the Immigration Laws first, sure is an hot mess………and if they are not aware of what they are doing things can only get worst.
They are certainly unaware of what they are doing. Their lack of awareness is however artificial and negligent at best. There has been a total lack of accountability. The result is plain for all to see.
They have known what needs to be fixed for a decade. They have refused to do so. The destruction of immigration is intentional.
Agree. This is several orders of operation removed from the initial problem.
We are screwed unless the primary deficiencies and problems are corrected BEFORE legislative split of the Immigration Board.
Maybe then we can keep all this illegal Honduran-Caymanian connection crap from happening. The more Hondurans CIG allows in the country the more illegal “Operations” we will have going on. Has anyone looked at how bad they manage their own country? Makes you wonder how people are so prideful of a “shit hole”?
if it was not for “Hondurans” or any other foreign people Cayman would be a shit hole also… Lazy camanians
Cayman was better off with Hondurans
Lets not forget what a SNAFU Jams made of their own country.
You obviously have no clue as to which nationalities are given the hardest time with approvals on ANYTHING in Immigration. However, since you think you know the solution, why don’t you share your views on the other nationalities that have floated up on our shores, made claims to heritage so they can get their free ride, Caymanian Passport, land, house, cars, jobs and very large pensions, then state plainly after reaching 50, that Cayman is too hard and the are going back HOME, and selling all of their belongs to live off of a few dollars a month, because they never considered Cayman their home, simply a means to get what they wanted and a stepping stone to get somewhere else in the world. One guess, what nationality I refer to, and to help you out, we even have those “jumping ship” for a better life….
WTF! Your saying Hondurans are given harder huddles to jump over to get a work permit? Remember who cheats…..passports are handed out in that country for free!
The primary function of the customs department is revenue collection. It has nothing to do with ‘border control’. Smuggling results in a loss of income for the country so Customs has the job of preventing it; nothing to do with ‘border control’ in terms of monitoring the passage of people into and out of the territory.
Does Chuckie become the new all-powerful supremo?
It won’t be missed.
The new CIO will be a British National sent to Cayman by the FCO.
Whitehall will seek to have greater control of key strategic areas of the Civil Service. This will be facilitated by the new Governor and DG Manderson in order to implement its own policies and exert greater influence over an important colony like Cayman in the wake of Brexit. The invitation to Hong Kong by the FCO was not an act of charity; there is always a purpose behind such jestures. Unfortunately your leaders do not understand this level of geopolitics or have experienced advisors to aid them navigate the political midfield. FCO assets are strategically placed in the private and public sector to advance and protect the UK’s interests.
Your politicians will continue to compromise the futures of generational Caymanians in order to retain political power. Your natives will be led like lambs to the slaughter by the invasion of British decision makers sent from the FCO and the mass increase of new Caymanians due to open immigration policies that will drive population growth masked as economic growth for locals.
Tom Clancy is alive and well, but still just writing fiction. It would make a great film though. I think you severely overestimate these Islands worth to the Crown. The UK would be very happy if you voted for independence.
UK care enough about Cayman to bug Chief Justice Smellie and everybody else’s communications. Look at the great cover up in the Euro Bank trial.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jan/18/military1
Part of justice enforcement and corruption investigations I believe. You hate it when the UK does nothing and hate it when they do.
Never forget the cover ups of Operation Tempura that costs millions for what we’ll never know!
Geez, you are really living in the past. Why not just cite GCHQ’s “Tempora” Global Surveillance which commenced in 2011? This is the modern world we live in. We have asked for all communications (including submarine cables) and metadata to be monitored and screened, because, sadly, there are real world threats to confront, and we have been at war against those threats for 18+ years. Where have you been?
Read the Euro Bank judgement before you post rubbish silly rabbit. Understand what Brian Gibbs and David Ballantyne did whilst employed by CIG to undermine the rule of law, our elected government and jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands.
Thank you for your highlights of some very significant agendas that I have no doubt are true. Caymanians have long missed the bigger picture. It isn’t each other we should be holding down… we should be strong together to navigate what lies ahead… unfortunately even if one wants to be optimistic that we will come out with a fair shake… our recent history doesn’t leave much hope. Sad. We were in a great position in the 90s and we’ve slowly let it slip away… but what is slipping away for us is sliding toward others in this constant global socioeconomic tango we dance. You snooze you lose… that may very well sum up the story of the Caymanians in the future of Cayman. Dog eat our supper.
You believe a bunch of heresay with no fact to back it up? What is your problem? You just want to believe it… expect you have told your grandchildren about the Great British Scandal that never was…
I saw a lot more than wanted to see. Heard more than I wanted hear. And in the process realized we’ve lost our footing and our grip. I don’t want it to be so… so yeah… I’ve kind of lost hope. Sorry.
Separating work permit from border protection . So then the left hand won’t know what the right hand has done/doing . Another bigger mess in the Immigration system.
I think that they are trying to fix the issues of Immigration the wrong way . I believe that they should start from the top down approach . Not from the middle of the problems.
The sign above the door is irrelevant if you have the same people and the same system.
That cannot be so….when people arrive Immigration can see who has been approved and who not, why would that change? If you don’t like who is being allowed in, then that is the thing to do something about.
It is perfectly possible and appropriate for one agency of government to decide someone is fit to be employed, and for another to decide they are not fit to be allowed accross the border. This is one of the fundamental issues that the Premier is yet to explain. I hope to hell he has an answer to it that does not fetter a different agency of government in its important border security work.
Lets hope they don’t continue to dress them like Nazi storm troopers, can’t imagine what visitors think when they are confronted by our “friendly approachable” Waffen SS?
I guess they feel the same way we feel when we go up to the desk Miami. That is never a pleasant experience either,
Cayman immigration is nothing like US immigration, no comparison. Our guys and gals are always polite and friendly. In the US it depends on who you get and what kind of day they are having.
I have to assume that you do not travel much.
Unfortunately in the Civil Service we never see heads roll, rather we see them proliferate. Undoubtedly this will be the case here.
A disaster, created by politicians, tainted by corruption and nepotism, unfairly blamed on civil servants, and one for which Caymanians have been and will continue to pay the price.
Good luck Sharon. We all need you to succeed.
“single border agency, combining immigration and custom officers and work” Civil servants will be upset when they find they are going to have to work. 🙂
Are there enough Immigration employees not in jail, on suspension or on paid leave ( pending further investigation ) to split into new agencies?
Que? No habla ingles.