MLA calls for research on Caymanian marginalization
Alva Suckoo in the Legislative Assembly
(CNS): Deputy Opposition Leader Alva Suckoo (Newlands) has called on the government to commission an independent study of the factors affecting the social mobility of Caymanians in order to inform government policy and identify the root causes of social and economic divisions and other related issues so that they can be addressed. Suckoo filed the motion to collect the data because, he said, it has been well over a decade since any research into these kinds of issues was done, and the social challenges facing local people today are worse than ever.
Suckoo filed the private member’s motion for it to be debated in the most recent sitting of the Legislative Assembly, but it became one of a long list of opposition motions that did not make it to the floor, as the government met for just three days and barely had time to deal with government business.
Although the motion was not debated, Suckoo said that government needed to begin collecting this information as quickly as possible because the situation for local people was not improving, despite the growing economy. He said government was pressing ahead, making plans, encouraging development, changing education, among other things, with “no real insight into the root causes of our growing social and economic problems”.
But Suckoo said that with a prison that is full, the rising cost of living, unemployment and underemployment still impacting many Caymanians and employers dependent on cheap imported labour, wages are falling and some 50% of the working population now makes less than $2,400 per month.
“Government sold the notion that more work permits equal more jobs, that the rising tide floats all ships and that we are in a ‘sweet spot’, but the sad reality is that many of us have been left behind, unable to contend with a rapidly changing Cayman,” the opposition MLA told CNS.
“We need to understand where we are as a country and a people, understand why Caymanians continue to struggle amid all the ‘good’ things that are happening, and understand what are the barriers to the upwards mobility of our people, so that they can be the primary ingredient in the plan for the future, and not the afterthought we have become. If we do not adopt this proactive and introspective approach in making plans for our islands, we will continue to marginalize and leave our people behind,” Suckoo added.
He said government’s message over the past five years has shifted, and with the end of austerity, local people were still not seeing the benefits promised by government.
“Many of us accepted that the austerity times were necessary and that eventually the focus would shift on building for the people. Five years later, the message has shifted. Now we are being told that the government is concerned about education, labour, unemployment and underemployment; that the premier is going to tackle discrimination issues; that he is going to take drastic measures to reduce crime. Again, this signals that Caymanians will have to wait a while longer while the government deals with these issues, all the while the underlying causes are the same and are compounding,” Suckoo said.
Government has not even attempted to identify the underlying causes of the social problems, “much less address them in a meaningful way”, he added.
Several areas of the community services budget for this current 18-month period had either been reduced or given the same allocation, Suckoo told CNS, but the relevant departments were being asked to produce at higher levels — “to do more with less”, he said.
“Not tackling social concerns and remaining focused on developing the country is why so many Caymanians now feel locked out of the Caymanian dream,” Suckoo added. He urged government to take action because it could ill afford to ignore what is happening in the community.
Category: Community, Jobs, Local News
For the most part the experts seem to be local companies that really have no expertise in economics or immigration but are merely getting easy and lucrative contracts from government. The results are more often then not obviously biased by government wishes and often even the company contracted for the study has a dog in the fight.
The problems, in no particular order:
1. Too many broken families
2. Too many kids being raised by the streets
3. Too many kids having kids
4. Too many Caribbean and South American expats bringing their bad habits over
5. An entitlement attitude
6. Politicians who pander to the the whims of the entitled
7. An education system that through no fault of the teachers has become a babysitting centre
8. Drugs, alcohol, and any other sort of abuse
9. Too many desperate young ladies becoming girlfriends of wanna be gangstas
10. Too many confused boys who end up being wanna be gangstas
11. Too many kids not knowing who their daddies are
12. Too many uncles and aunties
13. Kids not wanting to learn – you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
14. Too many Caymanians betraying their own for the Almighty Dollar
15. Adoption of western feminist mentality in Education (ie. Johnny punches Devonte in the head. Johnny gets called to the office and is given a space in the corner to play, until he has calmed down. The principal fusses over poor Johnny who must have had a really bad day to have punched Devonte in the head. Johnny is hugged, referred to a psychologist and social worker for his ADD (there’s nothing wrong with Johnny, other than he’s never been given a good arsing) and sent home with a lollipop, hoping that it’s going to soothe his troubled mind and feelings. Devonte is sent home sporting a black and blue eye.
16. Adoption of western feminist mentality in the Judicial System. Johnny enters a condo, wakes up the female tenant, who takes a bat to his head. Johnny is sent to the hospital. A social enquiery is launched, to discover that Johnny’s daddy had no time for him because he had 15 other babies with 10 other Baby Mamas. Johnny is given a stern lecture by the judge, and told that it’s not right to scare female tenants, and if he ever does it again for the 10th time, that there will be some serious repercussions. The female tenant is arrested for attempted murder, loses her job, and upon conviction, sent home to America.
17. Too many idiot politicians, who wouldn’t qualify as garbage men in most countries.
18. Will stop for now….
Spot on
Word for word – almost also a perfect description of modern day USA, England, and Canada.
Your general conclusion is correct; Cayman has allowed itself to lose itself and embrace too many of the crippling western “modern” ideals.
Some believe the way to get Cayman back on track to where it was yesterday, is to do things like we did yesterday.
However, others will immediately condemn and label as backwards etc the minute that is attempted.
All I know is, MY immediate family circle has ZERO challenges with the dysfunctions outlined in your checklist.
We have managed to maintain our originally high standards by adhering to the cultural principles of discipline, manners, family values, and education.
– Who
I am the original poster, and yes, I agree with Who (at least this time). Word for word, almost a perfect description of modern day USA, England, and Canada. It’s much more evident and in your face in the Cayman Islands simply due to the smaller size of the Cayman Islands…
It’s “evident and in your face” yet you have yet to provide any compelling evidence for your claims
As Ben Shapiro would say:
“Facts don’t care about your feelings”
Increase in robberies, increase in burglaries, increase in drug use, increase in drugs arriving on island, etc. isn’t evident and in your face enough Bobo?
After all this talk the evidence for you position are a bunch of wide-sweeping statements and conveniently made up “Johnny” anecdotes
I love #18 “will stop for now” .. very compelling
At the end of the day you will say anything to justify your thought process
working backwards from your conclusion and acting as if the rest of us are ridiculous
Let me be the first to say you are in good company on Cayman
Maybe start calling into radio shows to give them a piece of your mind while you are at it
You let the minority of bad apples twist your perception of the entire system and set of ideas
You and others like you
“Acting as if the rest of us are ridiculous”? Where exactly did you get that from? And get off your high horse, you’re no Greek philosopher. Just because you call yourself Diogenes, does not a philosopher make you. Lol, now that makes you ridiculous! Here, let me call myself Cristiano Ronaldo. Ooh, I must be a great soccer player because that’s my nickname on the chat boards. Good one Diogenes. Lol.
Didn’t realize I ever once claimed to be either:
Greek
or a Philosopher
Where exactly did you get that from?
I am using a pseudonym just like the vast majority of regular commenters on CNS
Since you seem to be demanding an explanation, I will play along with this lunacy
In short, Diogenes the Cynic a man who has been dead for well over 1000 years amuses me to no end, and is a man who displayed many of the ideas that led to the development of my identity as an individual
The real question is why are you particularly offended about it
and why aren’t you attacking anyone else who uses a pseudonym on CNS
Clearly your issue is not based in the name I have chosen and lies aside it’s pretty clear you are subtly attacking my ideas rather than me personally though you seem to be unable to accomplish either correctly.
Good luck with whatever this was meant to accomplish
No response to the actual comment?
ATTACK THE PSEUDONYM WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do love CNS comments
Great comment! Thank you for putting the truth out there.
With all due respect, Mr Suckoo, the motion should actually focus on understanding the factors that lead to so many Caymanians succeeding in their academics, careers, and families.
So many parents and their children are getting it right – not perfectly, but they are making the necessary sacrifices, finding solutions, creating opportunities, and relying on heart and soul rather than government handouts, gang life, self pity, or endless complaints summed up as “poor me”.
Mr Suckoo, shift your focus to delivering a more mature strategy – one that raises the bar rather than lowers it.
Umm I get what you are saying but i think the study he has requested will look at both. Also remember it’s his job to fix the problems
Al where are you efforts to develop a sustainable economy that does not rely upon the mass importation of labour? Where are your attempts to slow the rate of development? You and your colleagues in the LA have failed this country miserably. You preach politics of exclusion and pretend studies are a substitute for tough decisions – that is why we are where we are.
Drug addicts, alcholics, sex addicts and the mental disabled with drug addiction and different other type of addictions. NAU is giving those persons the government poor relief funds and those persons are just taking the funds and spending it on their addictions and if they get food vouchers they will sell or give their groceries too support their addictions. If those persons is living with friends or family then those friends or families will be the people to suffer in the end because they have too care for those persons that have the addictions and most of the time those friends and family are struggling trying too make ends meet so it will have those friends and family too be living poorer and harder. The reality is that the persons that have the addictions are the people who have too sign for the funds or vouchers so the friends and family cannot tell them what too do because if they do they will get angry with the friends and family and if the friends and family ever try too control them or the funds or their assistance they are getting they will go too the NAU and talk bad about the friends or family so that they can have their way and make the friends and family look bad like if they are not caring for them just because they want too destroy government funds/assistance on their addictions. So for those situations too stop the persons with those type of addictions must not be allowed to have control too government funds/assistanance it should be the friends and family that have to care for them because if those persons that have the addictions get in any form of problems the NAU or any other government entities that have to get involved will get in contact with those same friends and family.
So, if 50% of the working population makes less than $2400 per month, how many of that 50% is Caymanian? That should put things into perspective and do away with the myth that there is no salary earnings gap between expats and Caymanians.
I mean, when most expats that work in the financial industry leave Cayman, their resumes are pullet proof, and have experience that most locals in whichever country they relocate to, do not.
I would say most the under 2400 are expat…
Neveeerrrrrrr….real locals have to be superman to get a job above that scale…they payforuiner whitd alot everywhere look around you all
Helpers, fast food workers, domestic help, gardeners, trash collectors, security guards… the list goes on with the under paid expats. I don’t ever see Caymanians in those jobs. Maybe ones through marriage but that’s it.
Do you know how many Caymanians in admin roles making less that that on a regular basis?
Do you?
Well 5000 ‘real locals’ are employed by CIG at an average 4k a month for a start!
Average means that 49% will be earning less than $4000 a month
No it doesn’t. Back to school for you.
Come on, it’s well known that the ex pat probably earns double or more and normally hold higher positions in work places than locals, caymanians let this happen because they take no action apart from talking about it but never resolving it, I know when I worked there it was great, not the island the money . So grow a back bone and look after your own people and not the ex pat.
Dude, you need to be worthy of the salary if it’s a good one. This isn’t a where you’re from thing it’s a how good are you thing.
They have experience because their home country has immigration control for exactly that purpose. Cayman does not and our bright young people need to get US or Canadian papers go over there to get the experience to prove themselves?
Isn’t that the truth of it all?
Even if you get the opportunity to get experience else where it does not help a Caymanian. I am a generational Caymanian who was raised outside of Cayman. I left so young that when I returned I had to learn everything about my country…..even the National song was foreign to me. The work place here is an awful experience and I now know and understand what visiting family when I lived in the other country use to come and share. Even when I offer my ideas in the work place from having international experience it is not taking seriously….an accent does not help up….International experience does not help us….color plays a large role here. Oh by the way I am the first person called for ideas that are later used…. But no upward movement although qualified.
If that truly is how it is at your workplace then write a formal complaint. I bet you don’t because you arent as great as you think you are. I’ve worked with many caymanians I’ve liked so I’ve picked up the slack for them.
Bs, call it like it is. Meet a real one. Simple conversation.
Politicians like Suckoo can preach till the cows come home and this Government will continue to pretend all of well. I agree with this suggestion, have the “experts” document the issues and root causes and maybe just maybe Government will pay attention.
All governments commission “experts” to document the issues and then happily ignore the findings. In the Ministry there are shelve loads of expert documents gathering dust. You have to ask yourself why successive governments are able to get away with this without being held to account.
You have not being paying attention! We do not need more money being spent on reports that never come to anything, e.g. The Ernest and Young one comes to mind immediately. CI$200,000 for that report to gather dust and now you want more money spent in the same way.
There is too much emphasis on physical development and not the type of intellectual development that develops our people for sustainability. Do we expect to keep building physically for the sake of building? Cayman should be for Caymanians, otherwise who else we are developing for?
We are developing for our globalist rulers. It is a shocking shame that we meander through the darkness with no direction.
To my future slavemaster of the cabal. Be careful when you drink your coffee.
Truly!! In plain sight.
Once again the MLA’s are “too busy” to sit down for more than a few days to get things done. And no, nothing anyone can say will convince me they are busy “running the government” the rest of the time. Maybe if they stopped treating the MLA like a side job things might actually get done.
“Government sold the notion that more work permits equal more jobs, that the rising tide floats all ships and that we are in a ‘sweet spot’, but the sad reality is that many of us have been left behind, unable to contend with a rapidly changing Cayman,” the opposition MLA told CNS.
Agree with this comment. The Government needs to explain why this “rising tide” theory (i.e. what some call trickle-down economics) didn’t work as they expected. Is Cayman any better off? Why are we seeing an increase in crime at the same time?
Well, it needs to be the right people…. painters broke into our condo years ago. They were hired by the strata to paint the building and they knew when everyone came and went. So what I’m saying is that maybe these people on these easy work permits need to be vetted a little better.
Trickle down is nonsense but it’s obvious there are more opportunities in a booming economy. The question is; why are some, by all means not all, Caymanians missing out? The answer is staring us in the face. Education, skills, qualifications, experience… it’s all out there for the taking.
I hope the Premier and his UDP/PPM Dream Party will pay attention to the issues outlined in this article and do something about it. According to a few statements by the Premier lately makes one think that he is slowly waking out of his coma, but just waking up is not enough. He needs to change his agenda ASAP. Mr. Premier please do something for your people that will at least show you as being relevant and worthy of being in our history books. Fix immigration and labour issues that have marginalized us. Take a leaf out of the eastern Caribbean book and allow ” Caymanians” to get a decent job and live a decent life in our own homeland. If not the line at NAU will get longer, not only with persons deemed to be uneducated but with educated Caymanians who are constantly being pitted against the work permit holder. Eastern Caribbean looks after their own first before looking yonder. When will we make that a precedent here. We are waiting with bated breath.
Really now? Have you looked at unemployment rates and quality of life in most of the Eastern Carribean? Cayman is the envy of the region. But the malcontents that favour this forum don’t recognize how good a thing we have. They keep waiting for manna to fall like rain from heaven. Whiners hear this: life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.
You don’t need another study. Here would be some of its findings:
Caymanians, like any small nation, is in competition with the world for first glass people in the field. Our young people come back with a degree and think thats enough to reach the top.
The education system, although improving, needs time to catch up with world class education systems. It will have some chance if it stops hiring teachers from Third World countries and expect them to deliver world class education
The entitlement culture that is all too apparent
Many employed Caymanians do not know the meaning of hard work. They cannot hope to compete with the young people being brought in who work twelve hour days
The marginalization of many of the underclass who are just not employable
I am sure others will add to the list.
Not to mention attitude! Smile and try to be friendly! A lady that works the front desk for a huge insurance co on island is a classic example… some people know they can’t be replaced because they are from here and do their job just fine so they don’t have to act nice.
Here come the arm chair quarterbacks, has it occurred to you that you are not an economist sociologist or someone who could be called an expert ? The man is asking for an expert study so that Government can stop guessing at what the problem is and actually do something about the problems. Do you think your little outburst on Cns can be used despite it being riddled with subjective personalization ?
The root cause of any Caymanian issues on these islands is the old ‘entitlement’ mentality. Only once that is broken down will things move forward. Sadly, too many MLAs still subscribe to the long-discredited concept that being Caymanian automatically allows people to walk into jobs they’re not remotely qualified for.
I’ll give you two quick examples – an ex-pat friend of mine came here with years experience in her profession only to find that the Caymanians she was working with, including her manager, had no real world experience in the job and an attitude that boiled down ‘that’s not how we do things here’. I had to work with someone who has an MBA but struggled to write coherent English. And it goes on and on like that.
The real problem politicians like Suckoo need to tackle is the impression that being ‘Caymanian’ translates to being lazy and stupid. Obviously, it’s a grossly unfair generalisation but you only have to look at the way way some sections of CIG operate to see why people think that way.
Entitlement mentality?!! Really? It wasn’t us that showed up at the doorstep of others and demanded that everything be ours. It not us that, to this day, believe that the world is ours only, and everyone else isn’t supposed to have anything comparable to us.
Please spear me your warped view.
Actually….
Please spare us with your warped Caymanian view.
Regards,
Caymanian
I believe they said spear me.
So they meant ‘spear’ as in a long, stabbing weapon for thrusting or throwing, consisting of a wooden shaft to which a sharp-pointed head, as of iron or steel, is attached?
Start cutting back on work permits and introduce pay as you earn taxes to all with a higher rate for expats . That will solve the problem .
LOL!! Are you in competition to see how many thumbs down’s you can get? If the laughing emo was still there, it would be easy.
Actually, it’s not even that funny, just sarcastic drivel.
It is simple. In the modern economy the educated are doing proportionately better than in previous generations. So to provide social mobility a good education is needed. Cayman is not providing that to Caymanians. Don’t be lazy and blame foreigners when the true problem is home grown. And the educated ones need to stop undermining their futures by attending third rate tertiary institutions just because they are in Florida.
It really is that simple.
I’m so sick of people trying to diminish the degrees earned at Florida Universities by our young Caymanian people. The same Universities that you are calling third rate were good enough for of the best and brightest globally. Almost every major blog post referring to education I see the same idiotic statement is made mostly by own people. If the Caymanian attends any major university in the US someone on CNS will state something similar yet the same schools are regarded as the best globally and are respected by all major employers globally. Some UK and Canadian schools are also “Third Tier” as well. Its seems like the goal post is being pushed further away. First it was UCCI and ICCI were not accredited so most that could transferred overseas then it was the Florida schools that were below standard then moved to all US schools. What is next then experience will be scrutinized whether its deemed sufficient or not then will be not enough international experience. All young Caymanians that can need to seriously consider moving away because we are not united and the older Caymanians are not helping all they do is complain.
I got your research right here. Ineptitude and entitlement and your two primary issues Al.
Ok Aldart,
stop shooting the messenger, MLA Suckoo said we need to understand what the barriers are to Caymanians becoming successful in their own country, why is that a bad thing ? What proof do you have that ineptitude and entitlement are the root causes ? It sure hasn’t made a lot of us successful, I’m sure there is something else to consider besides the typical anti-caymanian excuse of entitlement.
Laziness too. You missed out the -itis.
Laws and regulations over decades were developed to minimize the marginalization of Caymanians. But under Aldart’s watch companies have been allowed to return to the slimy machinations used to circumvent those laws. At first I thought the Premier and Mini Marco were just really deluded and naïve thinking they were somehow the first to realize that more work permit meant more work permit revenue and that this was the only important consideration for government performance measurement. However now I believe they both had a more selfish agenda. Caymanians should really hate these guys for the damage they’ve done to your futures.
Caymanians continue to struggle because of one thing. The lack of a good education system. As simple as that.
Very true Sir. I don’t see too many Caymanians who went to Prep struggling.
The vast majority of Caymanians who are thriving did not go to Prep.
Simple evidence of “we see what we want to see”.
“Government sold the notion that more work permits equal more jobs, that the rising tide floats all ships and that we are in a ‘sweet spot’, but the sad reality is that many of us have been left behind, unable to contend with a rapidly changing Cayman.” – Suckoo
“Not tackling social concerns and remaining focused on developing the country is why so many Caymanians now feel locked out of the Caymanian dream.” – Suckoo
I don’t support much of the way Alva does things but he is NOT wrong. The government needs to pay attention to the very real plight of our people. A few years ago, during a conversation with one of our current honourable ministers (who will remain nameless), I politely argued that trickle down would not work – it never has in any society and it certainly wouldn’t work in Cayman. He wouldn’t hear it. He COULDN’T hear it. When you are upper middle class to upper class you simply cannot fathom what working class struggle through on a daily basis. Here we are 2-3 years later and that same honourable minister is barely starting to grasp what I had tried so earnestly to explain to him.
Hot air from this minister is expected and often delivered.
Unpopular opinion in our leftist propaganda gynocentric culture, but Mr. Suckoo, you may wish to investigate the repercussions of the feminized school system and the effects of gynocentric society. The model looks a bit like this.
Feminist Ideology
Broken Family Model
Socialist Government
Welfare State
Feminized school system
Broken Boys
Broken Men
More Broken Family Model
More Socialist Government
More Welfare State
continue repeating and commissioning studies, outside research to cover up the the problem
“leftist propaganda gynocentric culture”
You got the wrong island bobo, that aint Cayman
really?
which part of this list isn’t accurate?
Feminist Ideology
Broken Family Model
Socialist Government
Welfare State
Feminized school system
Broken Boys
Broken Men
More Broken Family Model
More Socialist Government
More Welfare State
continue repeating and commissioning studies, outside research to cover up the the problem
I do believe the parts that are wrong, just about all of it
These talking points might work in conservative circles in California or New York, but acting like Cayman is anything but run by and for Conservatives is farcical
Even if I suspended my disbelief (along with disabling all logic checks and throwing my brain away) you have yet to issue one single iota of proof or evidence in support of your hare-brained theory
The feminized school system? What?
Broken Boys, Broken men? what the fuck does this even mean
Repeating the same points doesn’t make them true, it just shows the complete and total lack of substance your position is perched on
People needing assistance from the government does not equate to a welfare state, (some argue the role of government is support if necessary and protect it’s citizenry)
In short, your argument is a crock of shit filled with right wing tropes and talking points not even applicable to the Cayman Islands
Well, the obvious sexism to start…
You just cannot make this stuff up.
The same MLAs complain about spending all the money on consultants.
It’s very obvious what is the problem. We keep importing poverty and the so called “new caymanians” have nothing to offer Cayman. Hence first chance they get the are lined up outside NAU and NDWA to demand that they are given priority.
Whoever sponsor / marry them to be here should be responsible.
In the past we used to have real investors that had an interest to invest and live here. Now we have them all red taped and keep discouraging them from investing, while same time we importing nannies and other class that has no benefits. So it’s very simple. We have stop importing wealth and start to import poverty. The SOB or Dark Minded people do not want to see anybody achieve anything in Cayman and feel that if a foreigner or another Caymanian achieves something that they should get something from it as well without hitting a lick.
And for the record, to this day the massive Status Grants have not been realized of the negative effect that it has caused and will continue to cause to the Cayman islands.
Caymanians are being marginalized by the importation of new Caymanians.
This is one of the very few places in the world where you can head a little south and pick up a Girl in the street, get fooled about “love you papi” and then marry them off and when they get here now they want to be Bank Managers and Office secretaries and such.
Soon after, you see the lineup of children fill up the schools and the vicious circle starts all over. By that time the man or woman is too embarrassed to face the facts that he was fooled. Since when did a marriage Certificate substitute for Education Certificate?
This foolishness needs to stop.
This is so true its fire.
As much as I like Mr. Suckoo, he rarely provides solutions to the above outlined issues facing Caymanians.
Idenitifying there’s an issue is good, but what good is it without any solutions being proposed?
Data would help formulate proposals, yes, absolutely, but he also needs to tell the people what ideas he personally has come up with to positively impact the unfolding situation.
Really ? He has advocated for Technical and Vocational programs, improving education, eradicating the imported cheap labour market, at risk youth intervention, tackling discrimination in the workplace, diversification of the economy, more accountability for Government, more accountability for employers, workers rights shall I continue ?
Read his manifesto
I suggest Mr Suckoo has a chat with the Director of Government’s Drug Counselling Service, he will get most of the informtion he needs from them.
So every Caymanian that is being discriminated against, unemployed or underemployed is a drug addict ?
No but when you take out the junkies, drunks and criminals you are left with a small number of people. Best to right-size the problem.
yawn……
Says the rich lazy entitled pandered to expat
Says the mind reader. Or the bigot. I’m going bigot.