Millionaire leaving Cayman Islands
So, 15-20 years ago I invested my millions in the Cayman Islands economy, purchased my dream home on Seven Mile Beach and legally settled here. Back then, everyone seemed to be happy. I loved small island atmosphere, unobstructed vistas, crystal clear sea, beaches and sunsets. I go to Royal Palms each Friday for a drink, music and dance. I regularly contribute to and participate in numerous charitable events that benefit youth, elderly, ill and hungry. I clean beaches and recycle. I volunteer. I quietly live my life, bothering no one.
Fast forward… my idyllic life is changing. There is less space for me to enjoy. Beaches are occupied by vendors, chairs and cruise ship visitors. There is never-ending noise from all directions. Pollution from the dump is turning from a nuisance into a real problem affecting my health in the long run.
Unobstructed vistas that are so good for my mind and soul are being replaced by concrete walls. I can no longer take a pleasure trip around the island for it is more a nightmare trip. Condos are popping up haphazardly with the speed of light, bringing more people, noise, traffic and destruction of natural environment. Open spaces between residential buildings are shrinking.
I no longer want to leave my home because I can’t avoid crowds. I am stressed, often angry and unable to enjoy my life. I worry a lot. For some reason, local people started to show their animosity towards me (not personally) and blame us, millionaires, for social ills in this country. It appears they literally hate us, call “cry babies” and dream when an airport door hits us in the a$$. They even rob our residences after we raised millions for local charities. There is seem to be no code of honour among local gangsters.
Since peace on my mind is my #1 priority, for all health problems take root literally in ones head, I will be relocating, someplace where I would be respected, appreciated, where the environment is still pristine and government has vision.
I want to stop worrying about detrimental effects of Cayman toxic environment on my health. I can afford to live anywhere I choose. Sadly, the Cayman Island is not the same country I fell in love with 20 years ago. I am “filing for a divorce”. It was good while it lasted.
This comment was originally posted on: Hotel gets green light after cutting height
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I understand!! As a yearly visitor to the Cayman Island I no longer have that desire to visit the Island that I once loved.
i live within my meqns and save to travel…..mankind destrying the earth and eventually himself along with it…plastic in oceans…burning amazon…heck some cities in china and russia are unlivable because of pollution……..it all boil down to greed! but what is answer?
Try living away from 7 Miles Beach, say South Sound or East End, or even Little Cayman or the Brac…
I too have invested millions in the Cayman Islands, got pretty good return for my investments and I love it here: it’s Paradise compared to the crime infested US or Europe…
Some of us natives also find it difficult to live here. However there are not many places in this wide world to choose from that is any better or as good. It is only Cayman Brac that perhaps you can go and find more peaceful. But I agree that everything has changed for the worst. We the locals has become an indigenous species. The beginning of the worst was when our telephone operators was taken out of Cayman. Ever tried calling them for a number? What a nightmare! The décor of even some of our churches are ridiculous not to mention the behavior. The list could go on and on.We can only blame ourselves as we are too spineless. Anyhow of all the many parts of the world that I HAVE TRAVELLED I STILL PREFER TO BE IN MY GOOD OLE CAYMAN. Please don’t put on your work application that you are a Caymanian. If there is a Cayman stack and a overseas stack and the Caymanian is probally the best applicant it is now becoming a habit that the Caymanian application will be put in the expat pile. How wicked.
Total nonsense written by a crab
It is a pleasure to give you a thumbs down.
*They* even rob our residences after all *we’ve* done for you. You don’t sound like the victim you make yourself out to be.
Just like use you and abuse you and leave you after I get what I want and leave . On to the next money machine . The next one will soon have the same reason for leaving.
As a Caymanian I have nothing negative to say to this man
Where he decides to call home is his business
But I do think it’s hilarious that he thinks he is going to be better off moving anywhere else
If you think Cayman is bad, you are going to come running right back once you see the state of most of the rest of the English speaking world
7:46 PM. Which 3 people will replace him? You mean the 3 desperate men that ensures that they get 3 babies with 3 Caymanian young ladies who has no skills and no profession with very low self-esteem. Young ladies, it is time to park these men. And Millionaire, please… do not leave.
There are many people who would have gladly doubled or tripled their investments into Cayman had it remained exclusive, environmentally pristine preserve for rich and famous. Instead CIG has chosen to cater to hordes of penny-pinchers aka cruise ships passengers.
you people have to decide who are the problem it seems like some are blaming the poor man and some the rich man!
I hear you friend! Sadly, the only goal your government has is to bring more tourists, build more hotels despite the fact that revenues from tourism are only 3% of total revenues. There are no land and financial resources reserved for young Caymanians of today and future generations. The only option you have, as you rightfully mention in your comment, is to rent from expats. If this is not a crime being committed by your government against its citizen, then what is?
As an example i want to compare Qatar and The Cayman Islands.
Qatar and The Cayman Island have experienced economic miracles in the last decades and both had opportunities to distribute its wealth among its citizen.
Here is how it is done in Qatar.
Being rich has become a birthright for native Qataris. The government redistributes money from its resources to citizens, resulting in the record $88,221 GDP per capita. They also get free electricity, water, health care and other perks.The events of the Arab Spring have shown the dissatisfaction of a young population, with rising unemployment and a lack of opportunities for young graduates.
“Having been blessed with the wealth there is no better way of using it than education,” Qatar leaders say.
The government of Qatar is making its economy self-reliant and thus, it is heavily investing in the education sector. The Qatari government launched “Qatar National Vision 2030” in order to bring about change in the Qatar education system.
Don’t forget that Alaska Gives Cash To Its Citizens Every Year. Because Alaska resources belong to its residents, not its government.
I don’t even bring Norway in my comments because Nordic countries are so much advanced when it comes to welfare of its citizen.
One big difference. Qatar and Alaska have oil.
Qatar has natural gas and LNG not oil.
With all that said about leaving the Cayman Islands.
I bet your millions won’t leave here!
It is the ludicrous to compare Qatar with the Cayman Islands, Qatar has the worlds third largest deposits of natural gas and is the world’s leading producer of LNG. They have a wealth of riches. The two places are not comparable by any measure.
The end product of any economic boom, be it from oil or financial services is money. In Qatar it is redistributed among citizens in many ways, from unprecedented investment in education to many subsidies and perks. In Cayman only overly large and excessively compensated government bureaucracy benefits.
The rest of Caymanians are left with dismal state of education, no employable skills and destroyed, poisoned environment.
Every penny CIG makes, it spends, often wastes, saving nothing to future generations.
One would think that one of the richest countries in the world, 14th, according to the latest data from the World Bank on per-capita economic output, would at least have wisdom to preserve land and financial resources exclusively for Caymanians, its children and grandchildren. Instead they are forced to rent from foreigners who own their land.
true word
The Government of these Islands are just a bunch of uneducated fools who does not foresee the disastrous future they are creating for the up coming generation. 4:18am you have hit the nail on its head. I am 100% with you, i feel the same way. 14th richest country in the world with the #1 highest cost of living in the world is almost equal to the poorest country in this world. Do the maths highest cost of living + broken education system is equal to a generation of criminal.
5:05 that will also happen when we strike oil!
I said it many many years ago, planning and population are the downfall of Grand Cayman. There’s little foresight or sophistication in planning. Look at the chaotic layout of urban development. The absence of green spaces. And no one seems to put any thought into commence population growth. The politicians continually talk about more and more people. Government should’ve aimed development towards quality over quantity. But stupid or greedy/corrupt leaders always rely on simple growth to mask their failures and lack of vision.
Grand Cayman was once so beautiful and special. No more. And we Caymanians cannot blame the foreigners. We invited them in. We sold them the land. We voted a steady stream of idiots and crooks into the LA. It’s our fault.
I think a large part of the issue lies within having a totalitarian government which gives priority to private interests over public interests. As an undemocratic nation, with no unions and limited rights in general our very little voice as a nation is not often heard. I’m not saying hiring overseas as a bad thing – quite the opposite as many countries do, but one could argue that in a country where the majority of the population has no voting rights, the majority is automatically overruled and the public does not have a voice. Power by numbers. Either keep Cayman the way it was intended with only Caymanians and forget being like Miami or take another look at our pr policy and give more rights to the general population so together we can make it a beautiful place and stand in unison with Caymanians. Half of our population is always preparing to leave – think about what kind of country will come of that – a country no one cares about because they are, “leaving soon anyway”. In certain areas our government is doing in excellent job, but as a whole nation we are essentially powerless. Soon we will have skyscrapers, massive docks, condos on every corner…and yet we are struggling with issues from ten years ago (next time you fly in you will notice our landfill is almost the width of our island). It’s not too late – Cayman can be a great place if we act with less greed and more common sense.
Truth.
explain how the worst place can be the best place!
Depends on your focus. If you look at the beautiful sea and blue sky from your balcony it seems like the best place to be. When you know how polluted and overcrowded the rock is, it is the worst place to be. One has to either wear pink glasses and pretend everything is wonderful, or use his brain and realize that fantastic international school and even more fantastic preschool at the foot of the Dump is a crime being committed against innocent children. It seems that parents of these children have chosen pink glasses.
can somebody explain why we Caymanians cant do something for ourselves then we will not have time to notice what somebody else is doing.
Parents at CIS don’t exactly have a lot of choices – public education is off limits to expats and crap, and the other private schools have waiting lists.
Hundreds of expat kids are in Government schools.
So when your choices are limited you sacrifice your children first because they can’t object?
We need but ask but one question. Who are we developing the Cayman Islands for?
No one told you? Dart is planning to buy the entire island, kick us all off and make it his own private island and residence.
…and country. BTW, he won’t need to kick you out, he’ll pay your beloved political leaders to get rid of you. Except for some bathroom cleaners.
His concerns are most due to the greediness and destruction the largest landowner has skillfully destroyed the island with each land purchase.
The key word being “purchase”. The Caymanians “sold” and cashed their checks.You can’t complain after the fact.
Same fore the native Americans, eh?
In all fairness, I think most places are not what they used to be 20 years ago, but I understand where you are coming from. However, the issues you are referring to do not just affect expats who have settled here, they affect everyone living on this Island. Many people who were born and raised here don’t recognize this place and miss the days where they could go swimming and beach walking wherever they wanted. Unfortunately greed has taken over these Islands……..
1:30 I am a Caymanian and every Sunday I swim the lovely 7 mile beach amongst the expats where are you?
Let’s face it – SMB is a sh*thole, utterly ruined by development and populated in the main by richardheads. This started years ago, but Dart accelerated it and made the problem much, much worse.
Currently the infestation of richardheads is confined mainly west of Prospect, but it is spreading East – look at the grotesque monstrosity built at Rum Point (and the richardheads who are purchasing units).
But who allows for these fast tracked developments? Our government! Instead of slow sustainable growth in line with the island’s infrastructure, everything is being rubber stamped for the almighty dollar! No planning, no foresight. I bet anything if I wanted to build Disney world I would be approved just as long I have proof of cash…….sad!
We’ll caymanians stop selling your land then you can stop complaining
If you are leaving my friend , was wondering if your gonna sell of your stuff ? like cars and boats and whatever , maybe a yard sale huh . Millionaires All over the world get sick of their little paradise , they leave because they can , most people don’t have that option . Cry me another river . Wont be long before you leave your next paradise .
I am a young(28) conscious Caymanian, I agree with the article and most of the comments on this page.
Unfortunately there is nothing Caymanians can do that are lower class.
Atleast some people have the millions to get up and leave or buy property.
What about the generation that can’t afford to buy a home in there own country and have to rent from foreigners most of there life.
Yes we are all destroying our environment and everyone health continues to decline every day.
The government will continue to sell there wallets and souls to larger corporations and the wealthy.
We can get a few thousands people at a kabboo or carnival but we can’t get people to protest or stand up for what is right.
Cayman’s issues is more about moral and ethics and service to humanity.
Another 20-30 years for the old generation to die off before real conscious change can happen in Cayman. Unfortunately that might be to late for Cayman let alone the entire planet as earth is dying.
Thank You
read my response at 5:05 pm
I agree with your comment.
The Tax except was a beautiful thing we did saving the king/prince in our history.
Companies have now exploited our good deeds in the behave of Caymanians now, misfortune.
Personally Cayman would see a benefit in taxing off shore investments and restructuring them to the local community.
They already put duty on perishables and everything else. Why not tax the people(companies) that have millions in off shore accounts even if it’s 1%.
Cayman Launders trillions of dollars in ‘investment funds’ every day and no one bats an eye. That money could be used from political corruption to war crimes and no one seems to care or understand what is really going on behind close doors.
100,000 companies in a 50,000 people country shows you exactly what is happening.
If the people think dart is bad, you have no idea what he has in planned for the next 30-40 years. Private engineers have told me the madness is what to come is nothing what he has now.
People are awaking to the propaganda, Politicians and the CIG is telling the world and the people of Cayman.
From the Original Poster of this comment.
That is why I decided to purchase a home in the Brac. Grand Cayman is far too busy now. Cayman Brac is like how Grand Cayman used to be many years ago; except that it has all the basic amenities.
i agree, but sadly, how long will that remain with DART?
You are so correct, writer. As a Caymanian, even to us will have to leave the island in order to servive. This government is not addressing the high cost of living and that there are so many people hurting.
I don’t comprehend how they think that allowing so many people to live on this small island, is going to make things better.
I miss the good old days.
Have to agree with the writer. I moved here a few years ago and loved it. Now also worried about health, (find me any third party report saying it’s safe to breathe the air and swim in the water here). I don’t understand why they don’t address environmental issues here? No one will be coming in a few years when people find out how polluted it is here and all the real estate investments will be worth zero.
As a Caymanian, I have to say that one of the things that I am most bothered about is driving. I am getting worried about getting on the roads with the congestion, speeding, and lack of courtesy. Maybe I am just getting old, but I try to stay off the roads as much as I can.
Sadly, public transportation is not in the books
I think more residents like you need to be more vocal about their dissatisfaction with the direction our political leaders have decided to take this country. Successive governments, albeit basically the same greedy politicians, have destroyed this country and its people, all for the sake of enriching themselves and their cronies. Maybe if wealthy foreign property owners voiced their unhappiness, our political leaders would listen. They certainly aren’t listening to us.
You’ve missed the main point. Living in Grand Cayman is detrimental to ones health. There is only one thing of true value and it is health. Once it’s gone, nothing else matters.
what are you talking about?
9:08 why don’t you try getting a charge from California smog!
Where is the better proposition, and what is their cost of living, tax regime, density of corrupt bureaucracy, and weather woes? Where are your hobbies, flock, friends, family – things that matter and bring joy?
The Cayman Islands remains a very appealing/enviable locale to live and raise family; free of income/housing/sales/death taxes and with relatively affordable comforts with springboard access to mainland/overseas pleasures. Sure there are some headaches, hurdles, and corruption permeates some circles, but I’d wager that after a few months “back in the real world” you will recognize why you initially left, and regret the decision to leave (many do).
8:52, The problem living on Grand Cayman is that we are seeing a steady decline in the overall quality of life. I have noticed it clearly over the past 10 years. With the CIG goal to have over 100,000 people living here, I am sorry to say that the decline in quality of life will continue. Those who want to make Grand Cayman the Hong Kong Of the Caribbean will end up destroying the place.
Fact is that now many people are contemplating leaving this island. That is a fact that can no longer be ignored.
You are correct. I am also planning to leave.
9:38 look at the good part, if people are leaving how can we reach 100K
8:52am – What you say is very true however the writer stated they would find elsewhere, not that they would return to ‘the real world’.
I came in ’91 for 1-2 years…I’ve always called this place a gilded cage and have found it difficult to leave. So I agree with you and know many that left but came back. However, with all the corruption now coming to the surface and the port being built looming, I myself may be looking elsewhere.
That Legge dude was right about corruption being rampant on this island. It is the go to for people making an income for those ‘in the know’. I laughed when they tried to embarrass him into repenting his words because someone finally called them out….
y’all can leave but when you return we will even be bigger and better!
Only In your dream
Mickey? Mickey Rooney, is that you? Are we gonna put on a show?
Get your head out of the sand. That is exactly the point of this whole arugment. Thanks to our policies the Cayman Islands (specifically grand cayman) is now the “real world” with real world problems albeit on an island and no solutions in sight. The longer people like you live in a denial state the harder it will be to adjust to that reality that is to come.
If this is how a visitor, turned resident feels about what is happening to the Grand Cayman, can you just imagine how the Caymanians feel about what is happening to their Island? It’s a real concern with the amount of development that has happened and continues to this day over the last 20 years and the overcrowding of the beaches, roads is a concern and headache for everyone living and visiting Grand Cayman. Yet, there seems to be no end…for Caymanians, this is out home, where do we go?
You make a good point
I do genuinely feel very sorry for Caymanians that are watching their island being turned into an overcrowded parking lot. It must be heart-breaking watching parcels of land being chewed up and turned into million dollar homes. However, it should be pointed out that it is Caymanians selling out Caymanians – starting with the corrupt, self-serving politicians right down to the families who are selling their land off so they can retire early – and who can blame them.
But you understand that you, the Caymanians, are the only people who can vote and yet continue to vote in the idiots and rogues that do this. Yet somehow it’s viewed as outsiders that cause the problems. None of this happens without government action or complete inaction – the remedy is in YOUR hands, don’t just sit there and take it or you have yourselves to blame.
Very true. Caymanians are the only ones who can vocally object and vote out this bunch of crooks ruining Cayman. I wish I had the power to do so because I hate what’s happening to this country and I’ve only been here 6 years. The island has developed a purely greed driven mindset
I believe the last elections proved to everyone that the people wanted a change. However, somehow somewhere a back door deal was strucked and here we are suffering with the same government we had 6 years ago…..yikes! Show me one politician that you believe would make Cayman for the Caymanians. I can’t think of one as the bottom line is, our immigration system is rigged to make money. Tell me one domestic helper that got PR over the past five years first some rich kid with a yacht and a house in crystal harbor.
8:36 how about taking a ride back to 1948 the year this Caymanian was born then you could make a choice of the before and after Cayman
first thing you would have to do is switch your nice car for a nice Donkey!
what I summarize from all this, expats in the pass thought that once they had enter that the gate had close behind them, but they were so wrong!
I used to visit Grand Cayman back in the 2000’s (many visits) but stopped going when the big developments / hotels on the beach started going over 3 floors. I wrote then that this would be the downfall of the islands. I wish you luck, maybe now is the time to stop further development in the hope that you can retain what you still have? I now go to Grenada.
Thanks for the tip. For starters, they are not in the hurricane belt..
One lovely sunny morning I was drinking my coffee outside Icoa. At the next table to mine a large family of tourists with small children was enjoying their breakfast. Undisputed middle-aged matriarch of the clan was smoking like a chimney despite “no smoking” sign on the wall. A garbage receptacle was few feet from their table, yet granny was throwing cigarette butts on the cleanly swept pavement. Nobody paid any attention to that except me. After I finished my coffee, I walked to their table and whispered into granny’s ear that we take pride in keeping the island clean and pointed to the garbage receptacle.
I know, I should have kept my mouth shut, but I love Grand Cayman, its natural beauty and do everything I can to preserve it.
There are people who love this country and those who just passing through. Lumping them together as driftwood distorts the picture. I believe that it would be a loss for the Cayman society to have one outstanding citizen replaced by 3 newcomers.
P.S
“After social revolution of 1917 in Russia, a Bourgeoisie was observing a child destroying a beautiful flowerbed. He asked the boy why was he doing that, isn’t it beautiful? It is not yours anymore replied the boy. The bourgeoisie responded: But it is yours now, isn’t it? “
I think you got the moral of this story and its relevance to the featured comment.
Imagine how I feel!! I was born and grew up here and hardly recognize this island anymore! Some call it “progress”! Unfortunately I don’t have your million$ to relocate.
I recently went to Grand Cayman and had a totally different experience: https://youtu.be/L-8IiIeufw8
I “liked” your video. Unfortunately one can’t live under water.
Beautiful indeed the world under the sea which in these islands which no doubt will too reach a point of no return
As with the land the Earth given us by the creator , maintained and worked on pleasantly and assuredly for our benefit by our forefathers has become mans playground of Avarice and greed, where numerous buildings and rich men must show their prowess and the politicians make their individual journeys to financial freedom and safety on the backs of those they are meant to serve and protect.
What more can you expect when you elect people with Only a vision for themselves before elected and who then most certainly cannot have a vision for their countrys future. They too like the blonde up north see progress by having a lot of rich supporters who will keep them in power if they only give them concession upon concession in return for who knows what as they say behind closed doors.
They play lip service to social ills and they make sure the majority people will never think critically of their político sins by changing the education curriculum at whim. Pollution by garbage is also fueled by pollutant speeches of what we are spending on your behalf which will benefit the hundreds of thousands they have been told must be brought in, to cause more confusion in upgrading infrastructure by people within the circle eh Who really don’t have a clue as to what they do. New dock yeah lots of jobs , increase in air arrivals will soon diminish when and if the crowds cover the beach like sardines and run fareigners back home and locals into a crab hole.
A sorrowful state of affairs for a land and people who many looked upon as a place like home ,where everyone could eat a good meal and pay their bills and raise their children and work hard yo get them through school and find a job. Where was the vision not everyone could be a lawyer, doctor banker insurance ; we needed locals to be trained in the trades ( boom period lots of work permits granted immigrant workers marrying local women who applied for business licenses so their husbands could take away jobs of caymanians; not a clue by the politicos cared of what was going on then and still going on) .!
And hear this and we have the non visionaries who claimed they were modern revolutionaries set to make changes for all to benefit forgot about their pre election ideals and succumbed to that evil compulsive spirit which seems to abound in that government building, where altruism goes out through the back Dooor and the money man dem walk in through the front of course , and take over. Still no Trade school, still pollution in the air from the dump, a hospital which at times is bursting at the seams, a market full of unemployed who now will all get WORC as their standard bearer, while the foreign companies dem a laugh dem to scorn behind their backs, keep making their money and yes slowly and covertly preparing for a coming implosion. They see what we don’t see they know it can’t last forever under the present type of narcistic players at Government.
Meanwhile the people grumble and mumble and anyone who speaks up shows any kind of forward thinking and who could make a difference in this and to this unadulteratedclsusterfark is shot down because dat don’t suit the Puppet Mastersthe TrueLeaders of the Cayman Islands.
So sad so sad .Cayman Rise Up !
Crowded sand bar….. never used to be like that.
Mini Miami
Why not move to Little Cayman or even Cayman Brac?
So basically Cayman was great for you but you didn’t want to share it with any more expats. Don’t let that drawbridge hit you on the way out.
DARTBOT what a foolish post.
Huh? Not sure what that is supposed to mean. The ‘millionaire’ supposedly leaving was happy to move to Cayman and live his perfect life but he’s not happy that others have chosen to do the exactly same. Unlucky.
Glad you purchased your dream home on SMB, didn’t realize that came with a clause that no one else could.
Good luck to you!
you missed a chance to buy SMB and build a wall around it!
You can if you are a Turkish millionaire
Everybody have problems and millionaires are not immune. Sorry to see you go. Just asking you to reconsider. We really appreciate you being here.
The Brac is a great little island and living there is way less stressful and it’s way ceaper.
Only because there’s nothing worth spending money on
it seems like some people want the cake and eat it too!
Lets be honest, 3 people will replace him by the end of the week!
3 people and another 20 cars added to the island. Simply not sustainable.
It sounds to me like the island got a little bit busier, but more importantly you got 20 years older. There is a risk when we age that we become calcified in our ways. Resistant to change, resentful of those who have the energy, passion and recklessness that we don’t realise we’ve lost somewhere along the way. The solution to your problems might be to let go of your judgement and prejudice. Learn to enjoy life again. Be flexible. Look for the good things and not the bad things. Because you’ll find whatever you look for.
Speaking as a Caymanian if I had an the option to leave then I would also leave.
Why can’t you?
5:54 every one is using the easy word ” leave ” not one has mention the destination!
Grenada.
I wish I could meet you before you leave this Island to give you a hand shake. Its sad to say but Cayman is not the paradise its use to be 20 years ago.
Nowhere is the paradise it used to be 20 years ago.
5:55 where is the place that has remain without change for the last 20 years I am also looking!
If you are stressed by the “crowds” in Cayman, you are in trouble…. most places on the planet have more than 60k people….
…plus 5-10,000 pink, stumbling, plump bags of money from your beloved cruise ships.
Your wrong there are many places in the Indonesia area that have beautiful beaches, beautiful people and where a US$ can go much further. Wait until the piers are built, talk about over crowding then.
They still eat people at those beaches.
Come to Guanaja We have no Traffic.No Crowds.Build or buy a Retreat and enjoy.
But you might get killed getting to Guanaja. Honduras is the murder capital of the world.
What are my choices? getting killed in Guanaja vs. dying slow and painfully from cancer in “paradise”?
Exaggeration!!!!!!! getting to Guanaja is as easy as catching a flight without having to leave the airport.
bottom line…. anyone can leave at anytime to find something better. cayman is not perfect but is the envy of 99% of the worlds living locations.
Millionaires, we Brackers are asking you all to come to Cayman BRAC, we are happy pleasant people , we will, treat all good , and anyone can walk the Beach and not even see anyone, no traffic jams, very, very low crime, when you see us we wave and say good mornin, how are you . We have good Hospital, available Helicopter if needed, Good plane service, good schools , good supermarkets, good internet, so please come and enjoy this Paradise with us
But, what about all the Brackers?
Plus, Dart will be rolling in writing his shit-show when he’s ready.
Why is Dart a shit-show? I always shake my head when people in cayman complain about Dart. What Dart project has been done poorly? What has that company done to make the island worse? Over development? Maybe. But I’d rather have Dart develop anything vs other contractors. Look at the shit-show from all the other companies building on the island.
For a lot of people it’s not that it was ‘done right’. It’s that it is being done at all.
You either see it one way or the other.
Some people in world seems to be waking up to the idea that unbridled development and paving over of the natural world is not necessarily a ‘good’ thing and in fact may be unfair to the rest of god’s creation and possibly the demise of the human race.
That and the fact that getting more, and more, and more, and more, never really satisfies or brings joy is why I used the term shit-show.
10:06 every week I go to Camana Bay I would like to go to a better place can somebody recommend.
I think you have missed my point but to answer your question, stay home.
You take locals too?
no thanks. there is a reason the brac is a tourism wasteland.
….after 40+ years of visiting and living in the Cayman islands, the Brac has been a great place to retreat and dive….every day. People with a positive outlook should share with those already on the Brac.
Just like you did with Le Soleil you mean, who were kind enough to turn your dry shrubbery into a desirable tourism destination?
Not much beach.
Well, may 3-5%. Sheesh
Guess what? Us middle class and lower incomed locals have no choice but to suck it up and keep going. We have no options on where to go, so consider yourself lucky that you are able to find other options. We have to suffer whatever fate these islands offer us, especially since other millionaires can so easily continue to come here, milk it dry, and then leave.
Thank you though for your community contributions, for sharing your perspective, and I wish you the best on your quest to find peace of mind.
Millionaires “like Dart” are allowed to come here and milk us dry. Caymanians are the ones who allowed Dart to build…who sold their land to him “Caymanians”!!!
6:52 if you were asked to explain that stupid comment it would be the most stupid explanation ever!
Just to clarify, Dart is a BILLIONAIRE, with a B. Millionaires are a dime a dozen these days.
Aldart catering to foreign influence out of self interest has created an environment where the expatriates are the entitled which has created resentment…even to the people who settled here long ago.
Isn’t that the way NYC, MIA, LON et al were and then developed so you could have made your millions?
So now you want to settle on an island where most people are “poor”and you are rich. Then you raise money from the middleclass to help the poor?
Of course Cayman should welcome millionaires. But they shouldn’t think it’s all about them. Only the disingenuous who are well off would think Cayman doesnt need to develop anymore. Anybody who doesn’t want to be in Capitalism can just leave their money with me and go where no money is needed. Back to the barter system.
Who are we to think that our sins will not cause our demise like all the other powerful and prosperous civilizations in History? Modern science can’t even figure out how they achieved some of their feat. We are NOT superior. They did not have all the chemicals and stuff that made you rich.
They key is, love others, live good, share your wealth, do your best to preserve, but know what we have will will eventually go TOO. The most important treasure is the SOUL in the hand of GOD Alrighty.
Cayman is a place where middle class surely can’t live. Gone is the beautiful quaint island it was. Remember buildings couldn’t be higher then the highest coconut tree. Not anymore. So the man has a point. One good hurricane with lots of rain will show everyone what all this building and destruction has done to the Island
We are overdue for a violent correction by nature. I personally am hoping for the hurricane of the millennium to come and destroy all of this very soon. Next week would be fine.
5:35 you halfwit there is no good hurricane.
Depends on your point of view. I was in the building business after Ivan and for me Ivan will always be a ‘good hurricane’
will be relocating, someplace where I would be respected, appreciated, where the environment is still pristine and government has vision…. Hmmmm. Where is this magic place? Is it safe/secure for you and your family? If that is what you are looking for, good luck to you! Cayman is probably the closest you can get. The grass is NOT greener on the other side, and I’ve lived in a lot of places!! Unfortunately the world just isn’t made for what you seek, and if it was, the humans would arrive and ruin it.
Grenada.
9:51 have you made sure the US don’t have to invade again!
wronggggggggg
Bet you have never been to Grenada 3:13. The place is wonderful.
Someone left 20 years ago saying the same thing about you
if you don’t enjoy living here anymore then your free to move, but complaining about modernization and making derogatory remarks on your way out, only means that this island is better off without you. Goodbye
I don’t view 50 storey buildings on a dinky island as modernization. More like idiocy.
You can’t stop progress…you can only bad mouth it.
You can’t stop progress but with effective planning you can control it so that the quality of life does not deteriorate on a monthly basis.
Sustainable development and progress can go together, however, it does require political will. Currently there is no political will as developers are calling all the shots.
if Jesus came and do the planning it would still be those that would put him on the cross again!
4:33 did you tell that to the Government of Manhattan too!
I started coming to Cayman in 1987. Back then, the ocean life was plentiful and the beaches pristine and safe. The traffic was manageable and not every single open space on SMB was taken up with development. We loved that Cayman.
Today’s Cayman lacks plentiful marine life, open views of the sea as one travels the island and the roadways are horrible. We come less, as the costs are outrageous! We now travel to other countries instead of our annual trips to Cayman. I miss the Cayman of the 80’s and 90’s… even pre-Ivan!
We had ten fortitude, economic potential and insurance to help us recover from Ivan. The damage from a substantial number of the cabinet status grants is where possibly irreparable harm remains.
I started coming in 2000 and sadly feel the same as millionaire and 2:26. With the open space becoming cement, the uptick in traffic ( construction), the destruction of the environment, and the outrageous air/ hotel prices, my trips are becoming less and less. I loved the “ old” Cayman where my peace of my mind was always restored. Now, there is just not the same feel to the island and the construction, cement, noise, etc brings a level of stress. Makes me sad what has been done to beautiful Cayman Island.
I’m Caymanian and I just want to say I’m sorry you had to leave. At least you have that choice to leave. I’m stuck here to deal with the sad direction this island has been taken into. If you had located to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman you would have found the peace and quiet you lost on Grand Cayman. However, I wish you all the best where ever you go.
Unfortunately many of the condos popping up everywhere are foreign owned and foreign developed with almost exclusively foreign labor. The architects are overseas and the realtors are foreigners. Too many Caymanians are too far removed from the benefits of the economic miracle their fathers and mothers toiled to make possible, often working with persons such as yourself.
The local gangsters you complain of often have foreign baby fathers that provide no support to them and are not required to because our government will not enforce basic laws, including the Maintenance Law.
We have large numbers of poorly educated (again often due to government failings) mothers the condo developers and owners will only employ at a derisory and insufficient minimum wage. Our society treats them and their children as a lost cause.
Our politicians sold us out, often for personal gain. You have been here long enough to recall when and how it happened.
Caymanian should lament your loss, and recognize that we are destroying our own society. In the process we have to also acknowledge that many of the issues that are ruining it for you and the Caymanian people are in fact imported. We are taking in the good with the bad. The effects of the cabinet status grants are magnifying, uncontrolled.
The cost of living is growing in correlation with the decrease of earning potential of local people. We have open borders for labour, and now effectively import poverty and social issues (adding to our own and overwhelming our infrastructure to deal with it) at an alarming rate. Our leaders could control this, but refuse to.
Good luck. I hope that we can welcome you back one day.
Comment of the year!
Thank you for taking the time to write this. You didn’t have to. You could have just left without sounding this warning. The ‘airplane door ass hitting’ idiots won’t get the significance. I apologize for them. I hope the politicians get it but sadly doubt that they will.
Thanks for letting us know. Imagine what it is like for those who can not leave. Those who are seeing the changes the same way you are but with greater pain cause we knew what it once was before it attracted millionaires. A millionaire.,,,, what problem could you really have…. let me tell you what real problems are than you would not feel as bad.
To be fair it does sound like this gentleman contributed to and got involved in community work. Many condo and their owners contribute nothing. ( I have seen many accounts of condos and there were no donations made to charities). Much of what he says is correct. Indeed the island has changed particularly since the arrival of Mr Dart who in many ways has altered everyone’s way of life. Whilst Camana Bay is a wonderful addition unfortunately it is the major factor in the downfall of George Town due to the emigration of many firms to Camana Bay. However we must note all his contributions to the wellbeing of Cayman and its citizens.
We cannot turn the clock back and must be prepared to live with the future. This will consist in years to come of a population approaching 100,000 quite likely a new port to accommodate larger cruise ships. Taking into account a total lack of planning and foresight by consecutive governments for the past 20/30 years our way of life will never be the same. The road system will deteriorate further because it just cannot accommodate traffic from Eastern districts and West Bay Road will be a bigger nightmare than it currently is. Basic amenities such as schools, utilities and health need serious improvement. The concrete jungle will expand with no thought of neighborhoods developed over forty years. Build and be damned.
However above all it is obvious that the gap between the haves and have nots has continued to increase and that is largely ignored. Whilst families of today may have a higher standard of life I doubt that they are happier than in years past. This gap leads to the increase in crime and will become a real problem in years to come. It needs to be addressed by the CIG sooner than later.
Now a word of warning. During the past 50 years the financial centre has been a cash cow for the CIG. However nothing has been saved for a rainy day. Most of the world governments would like to see that business disappear and whilst we have kept them at bay it may not be the case in the future. Hence this segment of our economy needs to be supplemented by alternative sources, medical tourism being one.
Finally I implore government to consider what this gentleman said to prevent others taking the same path. At the same time I encourage condo owners on the beach to play a more proactive part in the Cayman community.
It is sad that someone like Mr Johnson who has lived here longer than a lot of Caymanians (those born after 1968) is unable to become an MLA where he would be a valuable asset to the public he would represent.
Truth
Too late Chris. The problem is that our politicians lack the foresight and the basic understanding why people come to our shores. They are now on the verge of destroying the same product why people love this place for the sake of the almighty dollar. Soon will come time when they nuke the goose that has been laying the golden eggs for all these years. Question, why increase the population to 100k? For more traffic, for more stress on our envorinment, for more garbage, for more crime, for more pollution, or is it “all” for the almighty dollar?
Mr. Johnson, there is huge difference between ‘a total lack of planning and foresight’ and what the reality is. The reality is that Cayman has sustained, and is only beginning to experience the negative consequences of, a purposeful ignoring of (some would say ‘God given’) foresight. The effects of a goldrush mentality, all in the name of a myopic greed and a sociopathic thirst for power and/or influence at the hands of the ‘powers that be’ (both public and private sector and the monopolized grey area therein which now illegitimately exists) and the sociological fractures which now exist as a result are evident to anyone with their eyes open. The gravity of the difference therein, and the implicit dereliction of duty to an extreme which has purposefully promulgated this, coupled with a complete and utter lack of accountability going hand in hand with a systemic and institutionalized system of corruption at the highest levels of governmental mal administration, have set a dangerous and unacceptable course for the Cayman Islands and what is left of her people. One should be neither surprised if one is cognizant of historically recorded regional comparisons, nor should one be willing collude with those for whom greed, illegitimate control of policy and/or decision making processes, engaging in the purposeful dispossession of a people of their own economy (with the creation of a welfare state to put a band aid on a gaping wound) and the outright whoring out of the Cayman Islands to the highest bidder is their modus operandi. This inequitable equation should and shall remain unacceptably untenable if one truly has the best interests of this place in their heart and soul and/or if one retains even an iota of simple common sense. The insipid vote buying practices and assaults on what is already a pathetically inadequate semblance of democracy, hidden in plain sight evidence of bribery which yet still remains unpunished, the nefarious lack of implementation of SIPL legislation etc. ad nauseum and what amounts to a purposeful sociological cannibalism have only begun to bear their bitterly toxic fruits. Far too often the word ‘incompetence’ is bandied about when nothing could be further from the truth as to the reality at hand. The truth is that there are those among us, and in the highest of offices, who have very competently used their positions of power and influence to rape and pillage the future well being, viability, sustainability of the Cayman Islands for no other reason than to satisfy their own selfish greed at the expense of all and sundry.
Thank you for your honesty! Your last sentence is accurate. I never believed that everyone is as dumb as one of the famous female Ministers.
I agree with most of what you have written, Chris. (No surprise there!) But I myself wouldn’t put any blame on condo-owners. For one thing, expats are still discouraged from involving themselves in the affairs of our community, except only to give money to local NGOs, some of which bring dubious standards of ethics to the table.
The *primary* blame must be levelled at the local bloodline-Caymanians-only politicians. It is they(with very few exceptions) who don’t give a damn about the future of the island. Of *course* it’s mindless stupidity to push for a population of 100,000, when our roads can’t even handle the needs of half that number. For our politicians (in general) to change their plans for that larger figure, they would have to be accountable, yet they have for years held off the introduction of a Standards in Public Life Commission. Why? Because they prefer not to *be* held accountable. They don’t want to commit to any standards in public life. What does that tell us?
Instead, we see too many of our ruling politicians – and of our senior bureaucrats too – strutting around like roosters, pretending that their long-term plans are for the good of the country. The last thing Cayman needs is to ask (or force) condo-owners to line up in support of our government’s plans for the future.
Gordon I cannot really agree with you on the role of expats, including condo owners. Many do not contribute to society and know nothing of Cayman’s history or geography.
It is true to say that paper Caymanians and other expats are seldom asked to sit on Satutory boards such on the CPA which is unfortunate . There is a huge pool of talent out there who have no axes to grind. On the other hand many commenced and continue to play active roles in community service, charities and the many sports clubs.
It would still be nice to see condos contribute to society.
Otherwise I largely agree with what you had to say but too late to turn the clock back.
you have to be rich and fool to think you alone will be living on an Island that is not yours.
9:41am – How have you totally missed the mark on all of the above?? Another one that just doesn’t ‘get it’…
Lived on cayman almost 3 years 93,94,95 went back last week was going to stay a month but left after 2 days what a shame
1:01 pm, you should came to Cayman Brac you would have found Grand Cayman of 60 years ago.
2-3million cruise passengers without any real plans how they will be accommodated will only make life for all who remain even worse. The government seem only interested in a select few special interests that fund their political campaigns or provide backhanders. This island is getting like the Bahamas and worse. Lack of proper planning and honesty with the people will guarantee Cayman loses more than a few millionaires. The policies and projects like the cruise dock currently being pursued that do not make any sense and are not needed will be the biggest mistake ever made.
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman still have everything you’re looking for. But of course, you’re just someone else who showed up and wish for everything to remain as you found it in 1970.
That’s right the sister islands!
Stay away! Dart included….
Too late to stop Uncle Dart. He already owns much of all three islands and trying his best to buy out the rest. Welcome to the Dart Islands.
Well if Dart is buying, I am selling. Time to jump this sinking ship!! I ain’t going to be like Jack, going down with the titanic.
And while he’s buying all the land what he’s really doing is stealing our brand and our identity and changing it with what he develops.
1:11 you like the others when the price is right will be smiling all the way to bank!
No I actually come from a family that prides itself on not selling and if we ever get interest in some land we own we ask for an outrageous price that is never agreed. If someone one day calls our bluff and pays what we ask for we will be rich, and still have all the rest of our land.
Now THAT’s a laugh. Sounds JUST like the Royal Palms saga. I spoke with someone in the family about 5 years ago regarding the rumor that Dart was indeed buying RP and he talked about how they would never sell out. Patriarch died and SOLD!!! So….. The power of the almighty dollar is powerful.
Only one family owned Royal Palms and one family sold it. Our land is out east. If we sell some of it some day, no one will ever know or be affected in any way. So you assume too much, but say what you like.
7:24 you have repeated the second time and still don’t know!
12:28 you have just repeated what I said and you don’t
even know!
Too late. He already owns most of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman too. No one there to protest. They’re all government workers.
There you go, letting the cat out of the bag ! You same “ones” will be writing articles on CNS in the future complaining about the overdevelopment of the sister islands. Which I have to sadly report is being plotted as we speak.
I’d rather the sister islands float with being developed than be sinking due to the current economic downturn.
The Sister Islands will never “sink”. Tha folk dey made of much sterner stuff than dat; they have ‘sand’, and are now the repository of our native Caymanian spirit.
There are still old souls in Grand Cayman, but they are getting weeded out over time, because they aren’t being replaced with their corresponding youth.
Do you know how many Caymanians are still Mariners? Precious few. Our very heritage — going to sea — is no longer considered a viable vocation. Very sad.
I don’t understand what all the problems are about
every morning when I rise I give thanks for another Day that is not promise to no man.