Report shows 250% jump in welfare support
(CNS): A new report from the ESO documenting a variety of statistics in the Cayman Islands for 2017 has revealed a massive jump in the number of people seeking assistance from the Needs Assessment Unit last year, with a 254% increase in “miscellaneous supplements” given to people receiving some kind of government welfare, officials said. The unit supports people and families with more than a dozen different benefits, from food vouchers to burial costs. In 2017 almost every benefit saw an increase in demand.
Some 2,049 families were helped in 2017 compared to 1,805 the year before, many of which were receiving more than one kind of support. A major increase was in the numbers who received help with pre-school expenses, which increased by 195.2%, as well as help to buy propane gas, which increased by 115%.
The Economics and Statistics Office (ESO) released a number of new statistical reports this week, which appeared to support government claims of a growing and strong economy. However, a 3.2% increase in inflation highlighted how ordinary people and lower earners are not all enjoying the economic success.
The figures on welfare showed that those receiving poor relief alone jumped to 999 families compared to 905 the year before but many of those families were receiving multiple other types of support. People helped with clothing jumped from 56 in 2016 to 177 last year, and 251 families were helped with school uniforms — the highest number since 2012. Support for rent, utilities, burial fees and almost all welfare claims increased considerably last year when compared to 2016.
The Compendium of Statistics also points to growing pressures on public services from both the steady growth in the population, which was estimated to be at 63,415 at the end of 2017, and an increase in visitors, highlighted by the impact on the amount of waste being generated.
Garbage being managed at the landfills increased sharply by 55.5% to 158,679 imperial tons, compared to 102,074 tons in 2016. The total waste incinerated during the year was 452 tons, which was higher by 52.2% compared to 297 tons incinerated in 2016. The report found that over the last five years the amount of solid waste collected has more than doubled. In 2012 garbage collectors picked up 26,329 tons from domestic and commercial locations; last year that figure had reached 59,656 tons.
The compendium highlights several anomalies in Cayman, such as the highest workforce in its history, with 40,856 people in jobs, while at the same time the unemployment rate remains relatively high at almost 5%.
Among other interesting numbers are those reflecting technology changes, including the decline in the number of households with landline phones, with just 32% of homes still using a land number while 98% have cell phones. The percentage of homes with internet increased to almost 81% in 2017 from just under 74% in the previous year, and 70% of households now have computers.
See the full 2017 report on the ESO website – see links to each section in the right hand side column.
Category: Local News
How many non Caymanians are receiving these benefits? We seem to import poverty (against our laws) and then spend forever subsidizing it (against our laws). This is not sustainable and will ultimately bankrupt us. I know many of the beneficiaries are Caymanian, but it also appears a significant portion are not.
Us expats would not be here if Caymanian owned businesses did not hire us
Not exactly. I know a lot of “Cayman” companies that are only called Caymanian because an Expat bought enough land to get status and then formed a company.
No one can live on minimum wages so low. Especially when cost of living is not taken into account of salaries matching it.
A few points for the public to consider before saying Caymanians need to work:
*I think there also needs to be more financial training in schools. Honestly when you look at public and private schools there is little or no budget/financial training. I have learned this by pretty much research on the internet and guidance from friends/colleagues, as to how to cut back and manage monthly finances, so I’m not in the situation of having to be a burden on the NAU. I’m thankful the NAU is there for persons who genuinely need it.
*I do think we need to make sure our students have more career guidance and scholarship opportunity for technical & vocational training.
*Immigration really needs to pay more attention and investigate work permit requests before they approve them. I have personally sent a Caymanian to a company that was looking to fill a position. A few weeks later I find out they hired a work permit holder. The person I sent had the background to do the job and had previously worked with me before, so I knew she could do the job, which is why I referred her.
*A lot of people are trainable, but it seems as though companies are becoming too spoiled with the easy access to work permits. They rather take on an expatriate than hire a Caymanian who may need some training to do a job.
The fact of the matter is, the Government depends on the revenue earned from issuing work permits. If they try to control permits then their budget wouldn’t or couldn’t balance with a surplus hence more permits more revenue!!!
What’s the cost of all this? Can somebody give us a number?
This is what we get when there is no term limits for our MLAs. Using tax payers to buy votes or keep them in power
3.50pm…West west Bay……
And all this after only 4 years of PPM “leadership”
Kurt Tibbetts was smart, quit while the people still love you so that when the good times end they don’t curse your name
Sadly for Alden and Mac the love of money, power and authority seem to rise above all senses of intelligence and ration
When the next financial crisis occurs and we still haven’t diversified our economy or the next major hurricane hits and we haven’t properly prepared
I wonder which one of the two is going to go out publicly admit wrong doing and fall on his own proverbial sword
“Don’t stop the progress”
“For love of country”
The mass importation of poverty and refusal to enforce the protections enshrined in the Immigration Law strikes again. Thanks Alden!
Let me fix your racist view:
Poverty is not imported, but created by greedy businessmen who abuse the work permit system , caymanians can’t get these jobs and end up in poverty.
The solution is a stop on new work permits untill every registered caymanian looking for work, is hired.
To ALL Whom It May Concern
As an educated and very concerned Caymanian, it is without doubt, we are going to see more Caymanians in need of some sort of assistance IF we do not see more Caymanians being given the right to:
1. First being considered for a job that we are qualified for and are willing to do;
2. Government understanding that salaries, both in the public and private sectors, do not match up to everyday living in Cayman;
3. Not being treated like third class citizens in our own country;
4. Opportunities that will qualify us to home ownership assistance for as long as needed;
5. Opportunities to health care that is afforded /well within our means;
6. Educational scholarships, especially within the technical and vocational areas, without prejudice; and
7. Appropriate career guidance and sincere assistance in finding jobs at all levels of educational attainment.
I don’t understand…all the mega-developments always come with a wonderful press release and photo of the top executives telling us how the 00’s of Millions of capital injection into the economy is so good for cayman…all these huge development…and more on stream as we sell our ocean front lands for massive hotels and bizarre concrete jungles because the trickle down into the economy from the now BILLIONS invested will be amazing for all…like Xmas every day……oh, you mean, it’s not how it really works…you mean, the money actually stays in the top 1% (not 10%)…you mean most of those making money in cayman and able to live the McMansion lifestyle and afford their imported gourmet foods are those who work in industries that don’t actually operate in cayman, just the offices are here….i cannot believe how this economic self-fulfilling prphecy miracle is coming to a flaming, screeching halt…lost among roundabouts and tunnels to nowhere….civil unrest is rife…its just a matter of time
The Regressives at their best.
It seems like either 2 paths for our leaders to take:
1. A easy way or
2. A hard way
Easy way – Tax, tax, tax …
Hard way – Reduce cost of living, and increase ease of doing and maintaining business. Look out for small business owners so they can create more jobs
Alden & Mckeeva permit fallacy! Unfortunately the Police welfare state they are nurturing is going to consume us all. But it is excellent to see their rubbish propaganda debunked its time we stop this population expansion that only benefits their foreign sponsors little gangsta agenda
Over 2000 Caymanian families have received support? How many Caymanian families are there not receiving welfare help? This seems like an extremely high percentage of population. How can this be possible?
It’s not. They’re massively double counting in the stats. Look at the report. If one family is getting both school meals and rent assistance that counts as two families.
The numbers are total nonsense.
The overall percentage increase is wrong and the headline is very misleading. An increase from 1,805 families to 2,049 families is an increase of 244 families year on year equating to an increase of 13.52%.
CNS: Sorry, the wording was misleading and we have sought to clarify that. The 250% increase is the number of benefit transactions.
Hahahahaha! And all you politicians still believe the myth that “more permits = more jobs for Caymanians” and that Cayman is going to be a better place.. Sorry but these statistics point to this myth being no more than a BS sales pitch to Caymanians and the cr@p has hit the fan. Now what are you going to do to fix this? Please do tell.
It’s only a matter of time before we are all getting into rafts to try and sneak into Cuba!
The Burnie Sanders government got the Islands like how they wanted to, then they are talking about Independence. God save the good people and the Islands.
first of all – Bernie Sanders*
Is a Senator and has never had a government unless your are referring to his stint in municipal government as mayor of Burlington Vermont almost 30 years ago
Sorry… Did you say Vermont…sounds like GTS constituents. Ppl nah fool.
more to come???? the way our economy is setup…locals dont stand a chance? e.g. how can govt be making budget revenues by not employing caymanians? govt get zero dollars when a company hires caymanians? ????????????
UDP and PPM politics 101… Keep your voters dumb and poor so they will sell their votes for a pittance.
Stop the port and build a trades school! Lets get people back to work!!
Do not worry, once they get the new dock going, there will be loads of high paying jobs available. Just ask the Honorable Minister or the Honorable Premier!
Lol!
Dont forget honorable Hew!
Joey Who?
Another do nothing politician shocked to be getting such a big paycheck with no track record of success. He’s nothing more than Moses pet protege. Beware as birds of the same feather will foul up cayman together.
Yah…. All those good jobs will start when pigs start flying.
PPM and Aldart – This is your legacy!!!
So, under the current Unity government, it seems like Caymanians are having to rely more and more upon NAU for the basics. Read a recent article that our beloved Cayman Islands is the most expensive place to live in the world(see http://www.expatistan.com).
This to me does not seem to be a partisan political issue – sure we can brag about selling multi-million dollar condo’s, we can boast of an economy that relies upon low-wage earners from third world/lesser developed countries. But it is our own Caymanian politicians and Caymanian businesspeople who continually allow this to happen.
Rather then having the testicular fortitude to really deal with the problems, all those in a position of power seem to think that it is easier to have Caymanians just go to NAU. We Caymanians always copy the U.S.A. and we are becoming a real small version of New York City (small portion of extreme wealthy people and higher and higher number of people on welfare/social services).
So CNS has the beloved, inept Premier come up with any solutions for the social and economic problems which are now affecting over 2,000 Caymanian families?
Signed,
Progress/Unity/Change – all for the better?
Reservations coming.
CNS, an unemployment rate “at almost 5%” is not “relatively high”.
In GCSE Economics, we were taught an unemployment rate of 5% is the target all economies should strive to achieve.
Claiming 5% is too high will only stir the pot of pessimism, just saying.
5% is too high considering how many work permits we give out!
No it means Caymanians aren’t skilled! Don’t blame expats for this.
companies and expats don’t want to train staff..
having someone on a work permit is best for business you can control the individual because you hold their work permit
Not true in every profession I think that would be true for very low-paying jobs which Caymanians could get without a degree but they will not do that for little money!
They can have my work permit…I’m certain that there is a glut of unemployed Caymanian Doctors and Nurses hiding in a cave in West Bay!
Think before you write this racist crap, there are still many people filling essential posts on this Island that can not yet be filled by locals, so stop persecuting us, show a modicum of respect to the Ex-pats who constantly apply their expertise and hard work to ensure you have a first world health care system, we are not all attempting to steal your jobs!
PS…get your paranoia treated before you become unemployable
Did they explain (can you pass on) why 5% is the target?
Then you/we can decide if 5% is high, low or just right, for Cayman.
are we surprised when ten years ago endless people were provided residency and now their children are taking advantage of the system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shocking.
Who could have foreseen a massive influx of exploitable and or next-to-slave-level labour would have such a negative impact on the local population of such a tiny island-nation that has not seen any significant change in a now 40 year old business model?
There MUST be some mistake. Can we do a recount please?
– Whodatis
Have you figured out how to blame this one on the Brits yet?
“FCO, UK, IMPERIALISM, BLAIR, THATCHER, COLONIALISM!”
Dude…you are so very sad.
It makes your day to see a post from Whodatis, doesn’t it?
– Who
(smh)
*(Btw, when have I referenced Thatcher?? Help a brotha’ out – coz’ I’m lost, lol!!)
Well I guess the PPM Alden McLaughlin and Marco Archer former minister of finance have a different view of what the economic sweet spot looks like up in their ivory towers. Thanks PPM and Unity for helping your people to grow more disenfranchised and 2nd rate citizens with your policies and failure to address the costs of living. Time to vote them all out before things get any worse
shows you who exactly is benefiting from this growing economy! As the economy expands and businesses get richer they seek to employ cheap labor. Take a look at the construction sites booming around Cayman, the supermarkets, the gas stations, the restaurants the bars and the list goes on. Where are the young Caymanians who are leaving school? This government hasn’t a clue about anything other than getting rich off of the port deal, the people should not complain about the treatment they receive after “re-electing” a previous government.
Who gives a crap. We have a society with women empowerment. Who cares if boys are flunking school and can’t provide as men and Fathers. As long as we have smart phones, fb and welfare we strong women will continue to vote in governments that financially support our way of life.
Long live feminism
Huh? What total bs.
Ever heard of sarcasm?
Yeah didn’t sound like sarcasm
Yes, and the comment is using it to make a BS statement.
one of the funniest comments on cns ! EVER !
the other commenter may not have gotten the well placed sarcasm… but this comment was brilliant !
Tiffany… you are a star among the sheep
men and Fathers…. lol. You’re a male troll.
The economy may be doing well, but inflation has risen, the cost of living has risen, wages are stagnant and have been for 30 years
The wealth is there, its just at the very top, the wealth disparity between the top 10% the 90% percent has grown exponentially in the last 50 years
and Caymanians are now beginning to realize that
Wealth disparity is the consequence of moentary/fiscal policy not political policy. The real question is who runs this policy for Cayman, hint, the central bank in our larger neighbour to the North as our currency is pegged. This is what they do not teach you in school so that one half of society constantly fights against the other half over irrelevant political policy.
Austrian