BOTs status discrimination wrong, says FAC
UK and Cayman Islands flags outside Government Administration Building, George Town
(CNS): The denial of the right to vote or run for office to legal residents in the UK territories is wrong, a parliamentary committee has said in a report about Britain’s relationship with those territories. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee is urging the UK government to consult with its territories to agree a pathway for all resident British and OT citizens to be able to vote and hold elected office. The report makes a number of other expected conclusions that are going to stir up controversy in the territories, from beneficial ownership registers to same-sex marriage.
The report by the committee, Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting
the relationship, was released yesterday and covers a number of areas that are causing friction between the parties.
In the report the committee indicates that the evidence it received supports the notion that the BOTs and Britain are in a “difficult period” and long-standing assumptions that “the UK can take a hands-off approach and bear little cost or liability is under strain”.
There is much in the report that is expected to cause controversy in Cayman, including the suggestion that the UK government imposes a timeline on the introduction of same-sex marriage and that beneficial ownership registers should be established, regardless of whether or not they become a global standard.
But the findings regarding status and ‘belongership’ or its equivalent is likely to top the list among many Caymanians as a step too far by the British government if it takes action to force the Cayman Islands Government to allow permanent residents to vote and stand for election.
With the writing on the wall regarding same-sex marriage, given the anticipated legal ruling on that question, and the battle for beneficial ownership already in motion, it is the challenge to the territories’ ability to decide who gets status that is likely to be the major future battle between Britain and its territories
“While we recognise that the OTs are small communities with unique cultural identities, we do not accept that there is any justification to deny legally resident British Overseas Territory and UK citizens the right to vote and to hold elected office,” the report concludes. “This elevates one group of British people over another and risks undermining the ties that bind the UK and the OTs together in one global British family.”
The committee said the UK government should initiate a consultation with the elected governments of territories and work with them to agree a plan to ensure that there is a pathway to these rights.
“In its response to this report the FCO should lay out a timetable for this consultation process and set a deadline for phasing out discriminatory elements of belongership, or its territory-specific equivalents,” the committee states.
During the hearings and the consultation period the committee asked OT leaders and their representatives about belongership. But the report shows that Cayman, which had engaged extensively with the committee on a variety of areas, did not respond to this question.
While the FCO has “expressed the hope that the OTs would extend the franchise to non-belongers”, it recognised “the desire of small territories to maintain their cohesion and the need for a qualifying process. We hope for progress on this point in the future,” the FCO had told the committee.
The minister responsible for the territories, Lord Ahmad, said the BOTs “feel very strongly about the issue” and that it is “an issue that they should be ruling on”. However, he did not intend to intervene.
On the other side of the coin, the committee said the UK government should urgently address the territories’ concerns about the issue of citizenship by descent and anomalies in the British Nationality Act that have taken too long to resolve. “It should also consider options for removing quotas on the number of people in the OTs that can access NHS services,” the report said.
The report also makes it clear that the UK parliament is still expecting the territories to move quickly on beneficial ownership registers, as the committee said they must not enable those seeking to undermine UK security to launder money in them.
“We cannot wait until public registers are a global norm and we cannot let considerations of competitiveness prevent us from taking action now,” the report stated.
The report addressed a number of issues over how the territories are managed, the possibility of moving the oversight from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Cabinet Office, and the idea of a special committee or body to deal directly with territory issues, given the cross-section of departments the territories now deal with.
The 40-plus page report acknowledges the concerns that the UK often manages and directs the territories rather than working in partnership. However, it concludes that there is little appetite across any of the sixteen territories for independence, even if they all see room for improvement.
Category: Politics
We all should be proud of our heritage, all of us should feel welcomed making us proud of our forefathers and mothers homelands. To be able to be embraced. BOTs are our homelands, where family and the blood connection and history is essential to one’s cultural identity. It is the responsibility of elected leaders like you to protect this right, to ensure our children of descent know & understand who they are, and that they are part of our history, and are valued.
Critical points raised in the recent Foreign Affairs Committee report which some in the media/press and locally elected politicians/leaders are either ignoring or not giving enough coverage too, perhaps because the “hot-button” issues in the report are overshadowing and drowning it out? It’s a pity because contained in this report is a significant issue that BOT governments’ should be very concerned about the issue and get behind it.
It mentions the present day & historical unfair & unequal treatment of its people. The denial of British [OT] citizenship right’s to children, now adults of descent, born abroad, outside of marriage. While the same category of children, now adults, with mainland UK fathers, got give a retrospective right to register for their father’s nationality under Sec 65 Immigration Act 2014. The same category of children, now adults of BOT descent, were intentionally left out due there being “No time to consult” the territories before the implementation of these amendments (per Home Office Minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach and Lord Ahmad). The same historical discrimination does not apply to BOT mothers, or anyone born to a father or mother after 1 July 2016
Page 3 (Summary): “the UK Government needs to ensure that those who should be able to claim British Overseas Territories citizenship can do so.”
Paragraph 4, Pages 58: “The issue of citizenship by descent stems from an anomaly in the British Nationality Act, which means that fathers with British Overseas Territories Citizenship cannot pass it on to children born outside the OTs between 1948 and 2006 if they were not married to the child’s mother at the time of birth. In May 2018, the Joint Committee on Human Rights described this anomaly as an unacceptable form of discrimination, while Montserrat’s representative, Janice Panton, said it “has caused a lot of anguish among some parents.” Lord Ahmad is not able to indicate when the matter would be resolved. He said that “discussions are ongoing across Government on this.”
Paragraph 4, Point 60: “The Government should urgently address concerns in the OTs about the issue of citizenship by descent and anomalies in the British Nationality Act that have taken too long to resolve.”
The people of the OTs have a right to be fully informed and engaged on the issue. We hope this post will raise the conversation and get people to demand their OT Elected leaders & Governors have a hand in fixing this demeaning and hurtful piece of legislation which places our flesh & blood at a disadvantage.
We would be happy to enlighten people you further on the issue.
Trent L. Miller
BOTC Nationality & Citizenship Campaign
One little island fussing about another little island.
The proper mode of growth and evolution for small nations / colonial nations is to be able to stand on their own and distance themselves from the influence of their master. Ask yourself do you really think Cayman and the people in these islands will be better off with this results of this meeting?
I think not.
You all understand that this is the first step to Taxation right? Full blown taxation. Full transparency and meddling in the social, political, and economic affairs of the people and businesses on this island. Cayman will fall to ruin as Britain has. Do not allow them to pull us down with them. “Outsiders” have no skin in the game here.
The truly telling, and perhaps sad, reality of this situation is; deep down, the typical Brit realises, even if implemented, this change would change very little in Cayman (and perhaps most other BOT’s) as they have done a stellar job of isolating themselves from the wider community.
What good is being awarded a right to hold democratic office if you conduct yourself in an arm’s-length manner in respect to your host community – for generations.
As a Caymanian I must admit it’s scary how many people would jump to the conclusion that a difference in opinion means the connection must be severed
(explains modern divorce rates I guess)
I would much rather see the relationship evolve into something that is mutually beneficial to the UK and the Cayman Islands
Being a small nation in a large world I think we have much to gain
There is no reality for Cayman as an OT or Independent nation that involves us simply ignoring all outside influence and carrying on whatever path we choose whether you are talking about internal social issues or international financial services conflicts
That is a reality some people have yet to wake up to
There is nothing wrong with admitting you can’t do everything on your own
For a country our size with our population
I think it would be the prudent thing to do
In this modern world strength is derived from forming new bonds not ripping ourselves apart in the search for utopia
Nobody is saying that we should rip ourselves apart from the UK. THAT WOULD BE LIKE A NO-DEAL BREXIT. What rational thinking Caymanians are saying, if the UK continue to undermine our democracy and PUSH their policies on us – A RESPONSIBLE BREXIT, or RESPONSIBLE MOVE TO INDEPENDENCE is the only sensible option. Alot of fear mongering folk think Independence means we go alone! No it does not. We can join and negotiate with our own allies.
Don’t be a coward, and then put up with their sh%%t! That does not make any sense :/
And precisely what do we have to negotiate with?
We have 0 exports
We are entirely reliant on daily US imports for sustenance
We cannot sustain our population internally with food or fuel
We have no large scale industries that create necessities like clothing and other goods
Pointing out reality is not fear-mongering
It is being realistic
There is no reality in which Independent Cayman is better off internationally than a Cayman working together with the UK to form a more perfect union
Nothing to do with fearmongering
We have more leverage internationally as part of the UK
FACT
Look at the way we talk to each other in this forum. Do you think we have the maturity to seek any form of independence, or are we more like naive teenagers, anxiously awaiting graduation so we can flee the oppressive collection of rules that exist living under Mum and Da’s roof? Only to find out afterward how ill-prepared they are to face the world’s challenges.
Do you consider yourself representative of the majority’s maturity?
You can run but you can’t hide lol
I am in favour of being associated with the British while realizing that does not mean that I am British. I am a Caymanian. With the latest report, there is a continuing effort by some in the UK who are hell bent to force us to make a binary choice of being full-in (akin to a remote town of the UK) or full-out (independence). In my opinion we should push for other options as neither of the foregoing are in our best interests. The UK Government granted British Citizenship to BOT citizens on 21 May 2002 and that includes me. They did not ask me whether I wanted it and I have not taken any steps to accept it. I have not applied for a UK passport and would do so only in the last resort. I have travelled extensively including to EU countries with my BOT Cayman Islands passport and while there have been some occasional minor inconveniences, I have been just fine, thank you.
But you are British, and always have been at some level, despite your protestations to the contrary.
When i attended university university in the UK I was considered a foreign student subject to immigration controls like any other foreigner and paid foreign student fees. Does that sound like being British? The UK parliament decided to change that for their own reasons that are becoming more apparent. I always knew that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
If you held a BOTC or BDTC or British (Overseas) passport you were A citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, a form of British Citizenship – even if not (for a while) full British Citizenship.
If you had a Cayman passport in 2001 you have been a full British Citizen since 2002.
In the early 1970 ‘s. Cayman passport said, citlzen of the United Kingdom ,AND colonies, ( i still have that passpprt) yet they gave me a few days to get out of England, i don’t think that means that I was a part of U K
…but you were, and so remain.
That is indeed the case but many Caymanians rightfully feel they are not British . The same can be said of Scotland where everyone, excluding non-nationals, are British subjects but possibly forty per cent of those do not regard themselves as British. I think similar situation possibly holds true in Northern Ireland
You got some bad advice, in addition to the poor quality of education evident from your post.
Based solely upon their spelling, I would guess born American, not that it should matter regarding the validity of their opinion, nor the right to express it.
6:52, If you are Caymanian you have been brought up with British laws and British values whether you like it or not. What do you think the Caymanian legal system has been built upon? Judeo-Christian values which are constantly evolving. Whether you accept it or not you have for the most part become British in your values just like Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders have accepted the overall British value system. This does not make any of those people less Canadian, Australian or Caymanian. It is just a fact of evolution coming out of the British / Commonwealth system which is not perfect but compared to other systems is pretty damn good.
We may be BOT but our culture and values are not identical to the Brits. The rigid class system of Britain is something foreign to Cayman,
Perhaps but Caymanians are certainly nowhere near as liberal as many of the British people seem to be. That’s what got you all into the whole Brexit mess to begin with. Sorry, we don’t want any of that.
decoded: i want to have my cake and eat it.
I like cake
What cake?
Joker!
Jamaican rum cakes. #1 Cayman export item which we will build our economy on when we declare our independence and King Alden takes up the Caymanite Throne.
Very critical points in the FAC Report which addresses the unequal treatment historically of our people. Your people have a right to be fully informed. We will be happy to provide more background:
Page 3 (Summary) “the UK Government needs to ensure that those who should be able to claim British Overseas Territories citizenship can do so.”
Pages 58 “The issue of citizenship by descent stems from an anomaly in the British Nationality Act, which means that fathers with British Overseas Territories Citizenship cannot pass it on to children born outside the OTs between 1948 and 2006, if they were not married to the child’s mother at the time of birth.103 In May 2018, the Joint Committee on Human Rights described this anomaly as an unacceptable form of discrimination, while Montserrat’s representative, Janice Panton, said it “has caused a lot of anguish among some parents”. Lord Ahmad was not able to indicate when the matter would be resolved. He said that “discussions are ongoing across Government on this”.
Point 60. “The Government should urgently address concerns in the OTs about the issue of citizenship by descent and anomalies in the British Nationality Act that have taken too long to resolve.
I doubt this is aimed at Cayman so much as Bermuda and BVI where expats (even Brits) have no rights and never get to vote, let alone run for office.
Doesn’t matter who you ALLOW to “run for office”, you still have to get elected. If someone can stand for office but won’t get elected then who cares? And if they could get elected but cannot stand, well, that makes no sense. Anyone that the Caymanian people would want to lead them ought to be eligible to do so.
Bottom line is that democracy will do its job so no need to fret about who’s eligible by some arbitrary criteria.
It is funny that so many fear Independence, as if the great blanket of Crown Dependency is really much of a thing anymore…just look at the mess the UK is in, they’re no better than us and they’re getting worse…the real fear for those afraid of Independence is all coming from the very, very few in the high echelons of the offshore finance industry….it isn’t going to disappear with independence…anyway, the next election should be fun, hopefully some will stand as Independents on a platform of Independence and at the very least let us vote on it….and get rid of this lot.
It isn’t going to disappear with independence – said the Bahamas before they opted out and the financial industry decamped to Cayman.
Awaiting for the Independence FEAR MONGERERS!
Independence is like another Brexit.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH INDEPENDENCE.
What’s wrong, is HOW YOU GO about it!
Ww have options with aligning ourselves to another superpower, or, creating an Alliance. Don’t let UK Loyalists scare over the word INDEPENDENCE!
Caymanians, GROW UP!
Of course Captain B, there is nothing wrong with Brexit or independence, as long as one is prepared to accept a major drop in one’s standard of living.
Pure conjecture.
Tell that to Jamaica
Were not Jam
But by far the majority of people in the Cayman Islands came on the same ship and trip as those in Jamaica. Caymanians might not like to admit it, but their evolution as an entity is intricately linked to 2 places: The United Kingdom & Jamaica.
One cannot deny one’s historical development.
Do you see who’s running the country?? This place will be Jam 2.0 in about a week an a half if we go independent!
How long do you think that would last without British protection?
So bright one 4:46, fill me in with your insightful evidence on why 4:37 is incorrect? A point worth pondering 4:46 is that the only reason the financial services sector is here is because of the excellent British legal system in the Cayman Islands. The judicial system is independent, but once it is no longer independent you can kiss this place good bye economically.
Of course, you will always have tourism.
Until mass cruise ship tourism displaces the higher paying stay overs with the day trippers, which we will not even be able to charge passenger landing fees for for 25 years.
fear mongering..
Is it fear mongering? Look at Lyndon Pindling in Bahamas. He basically destroyed the Bahamian financial services sector a few decades ago.
Why is Cayman so different?
Like down to a standard of the UK, for example?
– Whodatis
Have you seen what happens to those that go independent? Singapore is the only success story I know of and they certainly have some very strict rules and disciplines work ethics. Please let us all know what ‘superpowers’ we can align with?
And Singapore has a Chinese work ethic. Soon come is not part of the lexicon.
According to UK business leaders, “can’t be bothered to come” is very much part of the local lexicon as it concerns the work ethic.
Hence the mass influx and reliance on a “foreign”, primarily Eastern European, workforce.
Jus sayin…
And Britain aims, with advent of Brexit, to get rid of all those Eastern Europeans who are the backbone of its workforce.
Lol…what a mess!
I know independence has not helped in many countries but if USA was still under England would it be where it is today? Same applies to the Irish Republic. If they had stayed part of UK would Dublin be the tech and financial centre it is today?
You sound quite young and lacking in life experience with your capitalisation and exclamation points.
Wild hairs like you are not what is needed, but calm, thoughtful minds that can wrangle the variables and consequences of both sides and present it to the people as a referendum.
I am currently against independence, however I won’t say that my mind can’t be changed. I think our government is to immature to handle the pressures of independence. I would love to be wrong about that. I don’t think the particular members of the LA matter as much as our style and culture. I don’t think we are yet ready.
One could easily and successfully argue today that the UK is too “immature to handle the pressures of independence”.
– Who
😉
Any person who has reached the qualifying age and holds Caymanian citizenship should be allowed to hold elected office. They have the right to vote so they should have the right to represent. It should not matter how they obtained citizenship. What are we scared of?
As a Caymanian with multiple generation of local ancestors, we have to be accepting of persons who have earned the right to become a Caymanian.
This is why the UDP citizenship grants was such stupidity, i.e. little or no qualification process.
Absolutely not. Some things are sacred.
yeah….like cayman genetics….zzzzzzzzzz
Good thing we are lazy because your ass would be starving.
Everyone has a right to their opinion. In America a naturalized citizen cannot run for president.
5:19, And there are a hell of a lot of naturalized Americans who could be a better a president than the Russian puppet known as Trump running America.
We’re not in America though we’re a BOT.
Ah, but part of the stupidity (now adopted by most politicians – you cannot just blame the UDP) is that there are thousands of Caymanians who are not BOTC’s and thousands of BOTC’s who are not Caymanian.
If you read through the Foreign Affairs Committee report, in almost every instance of consultation sought on these varying topics of sensitivity:
“…we asked the Cayman Islands government the same in writing…Cayman did not respond”
Withdrawing from consultation, we sealed the Orders in Council that follow.
If the non response is true,I give the Government a pass on this one assome nonsense isn’t worth a response.
Our response wouldn’t change their repor because fundamentally our consultation doesn’t mean jack to them. They just want to promulgate their neocolonial drivel in an irrelevant report.
We sent a written submission and our London Rep went and sat before them.
If they try this one, most OTs who’s sentiments are similar to ours would pack leave!
Both the Cayman Islands Government and Cayman Finance responded. May be the FAC chose to ignore their responses.
Link please?
Finally I can vote for Mr Dart. Tired of these local poor ass educated fools that selling out the islands. Why go independent when we have DART?
You must be taking the piss!
If you really believe that, you are not a patriot. I think you are a crap-stirrer, trolling for LOLZ. However, if you really believe that Dart is the answer, I think you are lost and a sycophant. Perhaps the maturity of life will show you the way to support your country in a way that is meaningful.
You know, it is international law that those that stir the shit, have to lick the spoon. You should be used to it by now.
Another educated fool that have their head so far in Mr. Bush a$$.
If it was not for people like DART that invested there millions here where would cayman be today?
I can tell you licking $hit. The rich caymanians like Mr. Mosses family have done nothing for cayman and it’s people. Take look at GT jewelry stores how many caymanians you see working there? None!!
They would not even paint their buildings. It was Dart that showed them them how to do that.
GT is dead not even your grand children want to go there. Camana bay is the place to be.
Caymanians biggest enemy is caymanians.
I don’t know but I’d sure like to find out.
If the golden goose known as financial services is killed by Alden and his merry gang, then the only thing that will save us is DART. Sad but true.
All those Caymanians and Politicians that want Independence . First thing you need to do is hand in your British passports!!! ………………………….Yep! Or of course post a photo of you shredding them? Thought not
I burned mine
Numbnut it does not work that way.
The UK would have give up its claim over Cayman and that will not come easy.
Only then can you get another passport.
Hard for you to understand ?
Only fair, all Caymanians have the right to go, live, work and vote in the UK. Why should that not be the same the other way around? If Cayman even thinks about going Independent the financial industry and all the workers will be out of the island before it even happened. That might be something some people would want but I think it would be a shame.
I am Caymanian and I agree with you. It has always been odd that no benefits are reciprocated. And to top it off, we are a finanical liability – we borrow money, we overspend, we cant budget, we probably dont even have a disaster recovery fund for the next hurricane. We want all the benefits of living with our ‘parents’ but cant follow their rules. I expect they are going making life in their house as unbearable as possible in hopes that we will just move out!
When have we ever had to borrow money from the UK? In times of war we actually gave them money…and never got a dollar back..
They loan their credit rating so we can borrow at G7 rates instead of junk terms. We save about 40mln a year because of it.
All your loans MUST go through the UK because you have no international credit status. The UK underwrites all Caymans loans.
FYI, the diplomatic, military and security protection you gain from the UK is plenty payment for any contribution you made in the past.
Can Caymanians hold elected office in the uk?
Yes they can.
British Overseas Territory Citizens can if they wish.. so YES
NO THEY CANNOT!!!
Shouting doesnt make it true.. Prove it – attach a link.
Yes they can! SMH.
Your comment has merit but UK is leaving EU as it does not want anymore Eastern European people diluting their culture and way of life, so why should they expect to do the same to Cayman? Cayman may be a British colony but we are a distinctive people.
So by your logic we should leave Britain as Britain is leaving the EU – can’t expect to have the benefits but want to be separate and subscribe to different laws and standards.
3:55, so what you are saying is that you do not want hard working Eastern Europeans with Judeo-Christian values but Muslims or Asians? In the UK deaths have outnumbered births for the past 10 years so immigration is a necessity in the UK. What type of immigrants do you want? Caymanians and Jamaicans only?
Distictive people my ass. You began as British or British/Jamaican, then diluted further by Hondurans and other North/Central and South American populations. Add several generations of various Caribbean peoples and you get somewhere near a Caymanian.
You are not a racial group, you are a mixed race, mixed culture and mixed religious people’s. Please don’t class yourselves as something you are not and take a good look around you, there is no particular racial profile you can rely upon to class anyone as Caymanian, no more than one can class a Londoner or New Yorker.
So well said 8:30. You hit it bang on with your point.
Boggles my mind every time a Caymanian says they are a distinct people.
So what is your point who cares and why should you ascto who or what we want to call ourselves. Take ya self outa we kitchen before you get the broom behind the door.
Like the Americans, eh? Pathetic statement with no forethought.
It had nothing to do with ‘dilution’ you guys spouting on about Brexit on here are all so ill-informed and ignorant of the subject you love to rant about.
An ocean cannot fit in a bucket.
Depends on the size of the bucket.
Was only a matter of time before this was thrown on the table. Remember they shook hands with the Indians first! Then the song “this land is your land, this land is my land” – we all remember who got the messy end of the stick. Pay close attention Cayman it will be your children getting the indian side.
We have enough infrastructure to industries to go independent if need be, fortune favors the bold.
Lol
We elect regimes that are addicted to debt, short on consultation, and insensitive to costs, where at least a quarter Billion is set to be refinanced later this year at rates only possible with FCO credit backstop. We aren’t going anywhere, specifically because of the morons we keep electing.
Thats what you Caymanian get by getting U K passports, wasn’t Caymanian passport good enough ?
A Caymanian passport is a British Overseas Territory passport. Whether you have just a Cayman passport or a full UK passport makes zero difference to the arguments being set out by — they still see us as part of the British family, and by extension subject to the same standards and obligations of other British citizens. The only way to break that – and make a Cayman Islands passport meaningful in its own right as an indicator of nationality controlled by Cayman – is independence.
2:03, Can you name me a few of those industries? Rum cakes?
Nope, Jamaican.
I continue to question why we as Caymanians do not have political repressentation in parliament in London, and why as citizens we are administrated by the foreign office (FCO). As citizens we should have access to the National Health Service (NHS) as well as all welfare services available in The UK.
1.57pm Who represents the thousands of status holders and permanent residents in the Legislatve Assembly?. When you start paying UK taxes and National Insurance contributions you are welcome to NHS and welafare benefits.
I don’t want any NHS benefits in Cayman period..They are screwed up enough in the UK..Why would we want them here.
4:36 Oh really? And just how good is the health service here? If we need any major trauma treatment the nearest centres are in either Florida or Jamaica.
Just in case you were living in Neverland..We have one of the Top hospitals in the Americas and Caribbean right here in Cayman in Health City..find one hospital in the city of London that can say that…
Great Ormond Street – paediatrics, Royal Marsden – cancer, Moorfields – eyes, Royal Brompton – cardio vascular, Royal Orthopaedic …. I know you only asked for one, but there are so many to choose from 😉 – and all NHS, unlike the for profit Health City.
OMG you are killing me there are several in the City could crush Health City. You have got to be joking or never been to London for more than a vacation.
Umm – because its free, versus us paying an arm and a leg each month for private insurance with co pay and serious limits on claims? Of course, the original poster at 1:57 conveniently misses the other side of the equation, which is that the UK citizens entitled to NHS and welfare benefits pay something called taxes.
Are you paying taxes for those benefits?
So can we have access to everything in Cayman too?
Be careful what you wish for that all comes with a lot of taxes
Only a matter of time before all the residency and WP requirements for UK residents are also bought into question. A Caymanian can get a UK passport (that includes all the papered ones – a friend of mine who is a US citizen living here on PR has one!) then go live in the UK, work, take advantage of the welfare state, free health care and social housing but someone born in the UK can’t even come and live here – if that makes sense to you your brains are fried.
I completely agree, and I do hope that will change one day. We actually lose points for being Brits on the PR apps, which is insane.
The UK Parliament decided to grant UK citizenship to BOT Citizens after Hong Kong was returned to China. They did not ask us whether we wanted it. If that is your justification then I am fine for the UK Parliament to reverse itself and take away our rights to UK citizenship. They have done it once already many years ago so a visit to the Westminster library should allow them to do a quick copy and paste.
I hear what you are saying, and I know this is extreme but let’s say we open those rights and UK citizens decide I want to move to Cayman (it is my right) and there are no limits to the number how do we fit persons here. Maybe there should be priority for UK citizens over all others i.e. they get the same treatment with regards to job priority before WPs applications – then I would go for it.
If Brits were going to flock to Cayman they would have done it before all these insane discriminatory immigration and trade & business policies were introduced, before we became little Miami and when there were business opportunities aplenty. They’re not going to do that now.
Oh sure, there’s a good idea — independence. A less mature nation than Jamaica. We could go the same direction. Imagine a patty costing $439.00.
I think we need the UK’s influence and occasional guidance, and would be an irreversible madness to go independent.
We should went internal self government ( like Bermuda) when we had the chance
Yea ,and England just ship a plane load back to Jamaica last week , we soon have them here ,what a mess .
I do agree with #23, that “the FCO should ensure that the territory’s governance meets the highest standards”. We’re a long long way from that.
It was only a matter of time. We were silly if we thought that we would be given the right to a British passport without eventually having to pay the price.
Whether we want independence or not we better start educating our people on it..Either we are going to be bullied by the British into submission or we forge our own new path. We did it once when we got out from under Jamaica and with God’s help we can forge a new start now…
When asked for written submissions on these questions, the CIG didn’t even respond to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. Not even a polite “go ___ yourself”. Everyone else did but our “leadership”.
That is incorrect. Both CI Government and Cayman Finance made submissions.
The a-holes are no different then the Castro’s, Maduro’s and Ortega of this world..
They make me utterly sick…
Maybe it’s time we stood up to them. Too bad the likes of the Jim Bodden’s and Ormond Pantons no longer exist..Men with balls that would stand up and be counted for love of country…Now we have these useless ones that tuck their tails between their legs and go stand in the corner and let these people walk all over them…
Cayexit!
caymanians will hate this but trust me it will improve things greatly for everybody.
Yes 1:15, just trust me when the financial services sector leaves and then you have to pay income tax. Won’t that improve things greatly for everyone?
Don’t forget estate taxes. I can just hear lips smaking at the thought of foreclosure bargains for developed and undeveloped land. It will be the last of any Caymanian ownership that remains.
hahaha!….we haven’t come to take part…we have come to take over!
about time to let the most educated and hard working members of society have equal rights.
As a piece of driftwood, I would like to remain precisely that. If the Caymanian people go independent and decide to change the laws for themselves, then fine.
Only an “useless driftwood” would decline the opportunity to vote, and then moan about how voiceless they are. Cayman cannot go independent so long as it runs a half Billion in unpaid debt clinging to an FCO credit backstop. Fake news.
Obviously you are struggling with comprehension. The vote is not in question. I have a vote. I just think that Caymanians should determine who can stand and not have it rammed down their throats by Colonial bullies.
In fact, I think that all expats should be taxed. You want to play, you pay.
An expat is someone who was in possession of a non-Caymanian passport when they washed up here, myself included.
I am a Caymanian and I don’t vote, because there is not anyone worth voting for. Before people respond with stupid comments like ‘if you don’t vote, don’t complain etc, please note it is a fundemental right to voice an opinion voter or non voter. When there is something worth voting for and when I am convinced politicians are for country and not themselves then I will vote. Only the blind cannot see that whoever is in power it is the same old crap. The low for me was when driveways were paved for votes and absolutely nothing done about it! I say let legal residents run and vote, it may be the only way to break up the tribal system.
You are totally correct 5:29 but what frustrates me is that there are so many people living here who have lived here for 10, 15, 20 years and have made great contributions to these Islands, but they cannot run for political office as the current laws protect the old boys and girls and allows them to stay in political power although the majority of them should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. The reality is THERE IS NO ONE WORTH VOTING FOR.
BREAK THE TRIBAL SYSTEM.
Sadly – I’m right there with you too. It took me many year – guess I’m a slow learner. But I won’t be voting again unless they “break the tribal system” (better quote than the Trumpism of “drain the swamp,” 2 thumbs up).
I’ve had enough – which truly breaks my heart.
Trump is a nasty globalist plant. He will soon have the liberals cheering for him and that will be a disgrace. I have to confess that he fooled me, but thank God for solid people who saw through his bullshit from the beginning.
No more politics for me.
4:50 pm, you are a big fool, Mr. TRUMP is doing a good job, look at the U.S good. ecomany, un’employment at the lowest and peace with North Korea, etc. Wish we had people like him here.
Hey Who. Where u at? Chagos…
Right here…chillin’.
Whassup?
– Who
Time to discuss setting a realistic timetable for INDEPENDENCE. Clearly the UK are forcing the issue and are not interested in protecting the dependent territories or having responsibility for contingent liabities and long term debt for new banana republics like the Cayman Islands.
No MI6, the UK is not forcing the issue. It is the Cayman Islands by undertaking a policy of discrimination, who want to remain as a banana republic stuck in the 19th century. Move into the 21st century Cayman. End status discrimination.
This is exactly why you should not have the right to vote here! You’ve got persons in the UK leaving your country to fight for ISIS who were supposed to be UK citizens. Your entire political system is unraveling daily as a result of Brexit which is itself driven by immigration fears. Its quite frightening to see the daily undermining of your own country by expats who have become UK citizens who have settled there and who clearly don’t like you and have never really assimilated. This is what we need to avoid. You’re welcome here and welcome to set up your home and work, but if you don’t like us and cant ever really be us then whats the point. You will in turn change Cayman into a place you’ve been running from!
2.19pm I have lived here as a British expat for 50 years now, and visiting what was the homeland on a frequent basis and I have to say that you have put the state of affairs in Britain today, very succinctly and I just have to agree with you.
However status holders who have earned their right by assimilating, and there are many of them, should have the right to vote here.
They do.
Same here. Not everyone wants to assimilate and these are the dangerous ones. Using their resources and the trust of the people who welcomed them to overthrow a perfectly fine culture with subterfuge.
This is 2:19. I have to say that the expats that arrived here 50 years ago are in a very different ‘boat’. They came as pioneers and truly invested in an Island that only had possibilities and not much else. They’ve paid their dues and some and no Caymanian would say otherwise. So in fairness you more than anyone else can see how things have changed beyond recognition. We have to ask ourselves now when is enough? When do we have so many coming in with such economic power that we have disharmony and the Caymanian rich or poor become outsiders in their own Country. We need to welcome all to our shores but not with a view to willingly taking us over. That can never end well for anyone expat or Caymanian.
As a British citizen, I would support indepedence for the Caymanian people but only if they abandoned the fake democracy and stupid British influence that has created such a mess in the UK.
If Caymanians don’t like the UK view presented on status discrimination they can go for independence. The result of independence will be to kill the financial services golden goose. That will be followed by a significant drop in the standard of living here. People of Cayman, make your decision carefully.
It’s dead either way. Public registers are going to kill it anyways.
About time we had public registers to keep out the dirty laundered money from Russia and China which very quietly and in a very slow and incremental manner is taking over the Cayman Islands.
It’s not actually. But it is in London.
Britain will kill the financial services anyway. It is just a matter of time..They have already tried..Just like this it will be imposed on us..
I say start the process to get the hell out..
The Brits can’t even agree on exit Europe, how are we to believe they won’t screw us up..
The golden goose is “Caymanian” not British…
12:57, Yes, Mr. Walker and Mr. Maple and Mr. Calder were Caymanian when they came here in the 60’s? Don’t forget your Caymanian history lessons.
They killed/ are killing their own financial industry right now. Do we really want them to have more influence down here.
Waiting for the Ezzards reaction
Ezz is irrelevant
Cayman has two choices:
#1. Either be under a DICTATORSHIP of special interest with its economic benefits; or,
#2. Go for Independentce, but RESPONSIBLY aligning with another superpower or alliance of countries.
We come to a cross road. And now we can’t whine like babies anymore. We pretty much financially made Cayman what it is today. The UK thru the FCO will continue imposing its values on us and disregarding our electorate as mere uneducated natives. If we go Independent, our huge mistake will be a transition that is a corrupt one. We will need political leaders that will be able to lead us better than Theresa May’s brexit. There are superpowers that will want to adopt us. Or, like the EU, join a union of countries. We don’t need an Independence like a brexit where we go on our own foolishly.
The off shore sector is a British invention, not Caymanian.
*sipping ice cold beer…
I for one welcome our Colonial Overlords.
But can you be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves?
Colonialism: the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. Yea this will go over well… time for Cayexit? UK just gonna take us down with them with their stupidity.
Can’t wait for independence. Then the fools that want this have only themselves to blame when Cayman tanks by its own hands.
Rope making classes anyone?
At least it is an honest pursuit. Where do I sign up?
Unfortunately we cut down almost all the silver thatch so not enough left to make much rope ( maybe enough to hang ourselves).
I for one would welcome the affordable real estate on 7MB!
Your ancestors sold that long ago.
5:23, Obviously you don’t currently own real estate on SMB.
Lol ? Yes me too!
perhaps we need change.. break up the same old same old career politicians! change is alwaus good most of the time…