Money transfer stores to stay closed

| 09/04/2020 | 142 Comments
Cayman News Service

(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government is not going to allow money transfer stores that send cash overseas to open because it would create another very high risk opportunity for the coronavirus to spread through the Cayman community, Premier Alden McLaughlin has said. Worried that the situation at the banks is already a major problem, he said that to open these cash service stores would make matters worse and undermine efforts to save lives.

There are a significant number of work permit holders and residents in Cayman who send money overseas to their families using the cash transfer companies, which has led to a clamour for these stores to be exempted from the business ban.

However, government has asked these companies to provide a solution to the social distancing challenge they pose before it will consider allowing them to re-open. But none of the proposals put forward so far have alleviated these concerns, the premier has now stated on several occasions.

On Wednesday he explained, once again, that the supermarkets and the banks already pose the most serious public health risk when it comes to social distancing, and concerns remain around adding to it with the money transfer companies.

“The supermarkets and the banks still pose the greatest public health risk because of the sheer number of people who congregate in queues to get into these facilities,” he said. “We are absolutely loathe to create another situation that makes the risk that much greater.”

The premier said he was aware that it is of great inconvenience to a significant part of the population, especially the expatriate community. “But we have to weigh that in the balance against the risks that this congregation of many people will create,” he added.

McLaughlin repeated his message again that if government opened all the stores and services that people want, there would be no point in having the curfew, and that the current exemptions, though risky, were necessary.

However, on a more positive note, he pointed out that if people “just batten down the hatches, suck-up some of the pain and inconvenience for another few weeks, we might just be able to relax some of these things.”

He said that once government is satisfied that the virus is not spreading through the community, the lockdown could begin to be lifted.

“But if we keep messing about with opening this, opening that, creating more opportunities for people to interact with each other and contract the virus, we are going to be dying by a thousand cuts for months,” he said. “Let’s all understand, we have to deal with the inconvenience for another few weeks.”

But he warned if cases of positive COVID-19 keep popping up in the community because people are still interacting, it pushes back the lockdown relax date further each time by another two weeks.


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Category: Business, Financial Services, Local News

Comments (142)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Jamaica would not take back their own people from the cruise ship- yet they expect the Cayman Government to take care of them

    Not that is shameful when your own country do not want you ( see story in the JA Gleaner)

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    • Anonymous says:

      1.22pm…. exactly. The Premier must make their repatriation compulsory; including all those that were given Status and PR and now find that they cannot support themselves. They now have to go. Set up a screening process with NAU and get them out of here immediately.

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    • Anonymous says:

      1:22pm… they got to have a reason why they don’t want them!!’ But not our business – we got enough to deal with.

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  2. Anonymous says:

    It is shocking how many entitled people we have here. People who have no concept of how the other half lives. These decisions impact them, their children, and parents massively. They do not have pantries full of food, subzeros full of steak, nor bank accounts able to wire funds. This is wrong! Helping the least able is the right thing to do! My god, there are so many monsters out there, far more frightening than this virus.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It’s true. Between the people who want to out covid patients to the people who don’t understand those who barely get by. It’s sad.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We’ve provided employer reference letters to all of helpers over the years. All successfully opened bank accounts with VISA debit cards and wire services. The true monsters are those employers that won’t do this for their employee, or even their own Honduran spouse!

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    • Anonymous says:

      7:43pm… and you are not shocked yet.. if we don’t get these “entitled” people out of here we are going to be in some serious trouble.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Don’t be too sorry for government. They are the engineers behind the all things and people foreign attitude. So now , in times of chaos when most are simply keeping quiet and complying as directed, this entitled bunch is stressing them out wanting every exemption under the sun to continue their lives as if nothing is is wrong. And spread covid to everyone in the process.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    People change views to prejudice Cayman’s foreign workers. They too contribute to our society by renting, care for your children and elderly, cleaning your household and yard. building your homes and shopping locally. Now you are arguing that they are beggars. When they leave there will be a recession. Govt owes them a free flight as many hundreds of thousands of dollars has been paid for Non-refundable Repatriation Fees for work permits that was paid to immigration for this purpose.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I wouldn’t argue the free flight. That’s the least.

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    • Anon says:

      No employer pays a Repatriation fee to Govt because they complained about it so stop stating that over and over. They only pay a filing fee of 200.00 which can only get u a ticket
      to Cayman Brac. Every employer should have to pay for employees’ tickets.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What garbage, just shows how hard it’s gonna hard for us to readjust to a “locals” first mindset. So now we’re 100% reliant on foreign labor ?? The pandemic called COVID-19 will thrust the world into a recession, not because of a few selfish, entitled foreign workers leave the Cayman Islands.

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      • Anita says:

        You and I know that there are certain professions that Caymanians cannot fill because they are not qualified. There is not even a Caymanian dermatologist available at the government hospital. One has to be flown in when needed. What about doctors? How many Caymanian doctors are there on island?
        In addition, I think what the person was referring to is that if there should be an exodus of foreigners, then the rental market will crash. Who will rent your houses and apartments . . .among other things I am sure.
        I am yet to understand why Caymanians are so hateful towards foreigners. And what is all this talk about expats being ‘beggars’ and ‘living off government’ when the people who are constantly harassing NAU are CAYMANIANS?

        smh

    • Anonymous says:

      2.39pm Sorry I disagree – have you seen how some of the minimum wage expats live here… partying every weekend… drinking etc etc…. wiring out lots $’s / sorry – they worked they got paid and it’s very questionable how the could live such lavish life style. We don’t owe them nothing – it’s between them and their employer !!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      2/29pm… it’s called work … guess what no one put a gun to their heads for them to come here … and they were PAID didn’t do any thing for free… and guess what we enabled them to build their homes and set up many businesses in their country. We have done more than enough for them… ok.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Don’t be sending money off Island if you are not paying your rent.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Family over landlords.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Imagine being so cucked you’d prefer to give money to a landlord over making sure your family gets to eat.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am an expat and I pay my rent. However, I would still like to send home money because I am a responsible adult and I have a mortgage to pay back home.

      Not all expats are sitting here depending on government or not paying rent. Stop stereotyping . . .

  6. Elvis says:

    How do you get 200 people in a small shop?
    Open a money transfer store

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  7. Anonymous says:

    The only time I have used any money transfer was when my family was sending money to me! Lots of tunnel vision going on here with the majority of these comments. Verging on bigotted. Distasteful!

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  8. Anonymous says:

    How about they take customers on an appointment only basis?

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  9. Anonymous says:

    All dem baby mudda soon starve

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hahaha you think dem baby dadas pay child support if it’s not garnished from wages? Nah suh.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Not all dadas be like Caymanian dadas with baby mamas all over the place. Some actually care about their offspring and send money home to support them. But we know which kind you are. Make your mama proud, don’t you?

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        • Anonymous says:

          I care for my children. I waited until I was in a good relationship and we had a steady income. We aren’t close to divorce and if that ever happens we will co-parent and fake a good relationship because that’s how adults should behave.

          If you’ve lived here long enough you will see how many baby mamas are alone in their childcare. Not very many baby daddy’s out there that are providing by themselves are there? It’s less of a cultural thing and more of a male thing.

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        • Anonymous says:

          And the jamaican fathers. Dont forget how they spread their seed and dont have anything to do with their children. Just sick how some caribbean men are. Dont even start on caymanian men. They lost and wont be found.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Keep the money in Cayman.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Then pay your help more.

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      • Anonymous says:

        7.48pm… you just found out that you were underpaid?

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        • Anonymous says:

          I don’t pay my help minimum. We are lucky enough so we try to be better to those who work for us.

        • Anonymous says:

          That’s the thing about being a domestic helper. Wages are in line with duties and hours worked. Nothing to do with qualifications or experience. Most people that have domestic helpers can do the cleaning themselves they simply lack the frigging time and energy….thus wages for domestic helpers are indeed in line and fair for the service being provided.

          Who needs to be paid more in our society?

          Teachers, police officers, fire men, doctors and nurses. Just as a starting point.

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          • Anonymous says:

            12.08pm The more we pay – the more are going to try to get here. We must stop this madness. They need to look in their own country for work or some other islands/countries. Damn give us a break.

            • Anonymous says:

              Wait a minute, you need to go back to the drawing board and ask yourself why YOUR country has so many expats. Could it be because your people are lacking in some areas? Surely so many of them could not be here had there not been a need. Think about that before you sit down and start whining.

              Some of you are so mean and nasty! Shame on you.

    • David Shibli says:

      I understand your point of view perfectly. My wife however has a disabled mother in Honduras, so what would you suggest?

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I don’t understand people cant pay three rent yet have money to send home that’s wrong as well spent your money here.

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    • Anonymous says:

      How much do you make? I’m assuming you’ve sacrificed by leaving your home country and your children behind to be in the care of your family just to send money back home so they get a good education? Empathy works wonders….

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      • Anonymous says:

        Hard to have empathy when you’re only concerned for yourself – it’s the Cayman way for expats as well as locals. Most subscribe to the in Gordon Gekko “Greed is good” school of thought (though they throw just enough crumbs around to the puppies, poor folks and youth sports to be able to sleep at night).

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  12. Anonymous says:

    So you people want to send money back home and then leech off our Government…. great job Premier…. dont buckle under pressure…. arrange flights for them to go home to take the money for their families….

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, I just want to send money to my Mother and Father who are 83 and 84 to eat.
      I don’t want your stinking hand out you slimy piece of s..t.

      Go and complain how we come and take your jobs – Thats what you do best!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Have you tried Pay Pal? There are other ways to send money.

        CNS: The problem with PayPal in the Caribbean is that you cannot transfer funds from your PP account to you bank account as you can in most countries. This means that you can use that money to buy stuff from the US, for example, but you can’t use it to pay utilities or rent or buy groceries, etc.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I pay my pet sitter in Cayman through PayPal. Is that money not going to her in Cayman? I guess she might have a US account but don’t really know. I just send it addressed to her gmail account.

          CNS: No she cannot access the cash in Cayman unless she transfers it from PP to her bank account elsewhere and then transfers it here. See this page to see in which countries you can link a bank account or credit card.

      • Anonymous says:

        Go to the bank and send a wire transfer ..works just as well..

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        • Anonymous says:

          First the recipient has to have a bank account. You may think that’s a straight forward matter buts it’s not for poor people who struggle to meet all the requirements the banks have these days. Second, do you have any idea of how much a bank charges for an international wire? For people earning $6 an hour it’s a fortune. Yours is a “let them eat cake” privileged comment that is made in complete ignorance ( or perhaps indifference) to the realities that the poor face.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Poor people have smart phones though. And internet. And TVs. But no bank account.
            See the problem with those priorities?

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            • Anonymous says:

              You twat. You sound like republicans in the USA who say “oh they’re poor but they have enough money to buy a refrigerator so they must not need government assistance”. Don’t you think that these people would like to talk to their families back at home? So how do you expect them to do that without a smart phone or an Internet connection? We have our nanny an iPhone. I think you’ll find they are usually gifted and not purchased. Get your head out of your arse.

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              • Rick says:

                I would agree with you except your comment on Republicans. You have a completely Democratic narrative on Republicans. It is Republicans in the USA that represents poor people. Strange, but true. I know; I have lived there and Cayman for 40 years and there is no doubt about that in my experience. Democrats SAY they do but merely use poor people. Republicans actually empower and help the poor; more jobs, more independence, more freedom, better schools, and I can go on.

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          • Anonymous says:

            The hardest part seems to be for the employer to write a reference letter. We’ve helped all our helpers to open bank accounts. You don’t think the money transfer services take their pound of flesh on each end?!?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Culturally, it’s the Bank of Folgers/Seely for many third worlders on both the sending and receiving ends. Reliable, portable, and no fees.

        • Anonymous says:

          Have you tried to send a wire transfer to some of these countries? Butterfield’s online wire transfer portal does not even list Honduras as country. The SWIFT codes for Honduras banks, give ‘no result’.

      • Anonymous says:

        Stop being so disrespectful. You came here, you worked, you played etc.
        You didn’t take my job I can assure you of that. You might have taken someone else’s opportunity but not mine. I don’t complain about expats dear I complain about my own people who pick the permit holder 90% of the time than the caymanian. That’s just a fact.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I don’t believe your estimate, but let’s say it’s true. Don’t you wonder why employers would hire expats over Caymanians to that level? You don’t think it might have something to do with reliability, competence, attitude, knowledge and honesty do you? Oh, of course you don’t.

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          • Anonymous says:

            No I didn’t elaborate as you would have liked. So here is my addendum. At the very least sir/madam, entry level positions within government and the private sector should be left for caymanians. I am well aware that we do not have a qualified and experienced caymanian for every high level position in the country but like I said previously, entry level positions should remain available to caymanians.

            What is wrong with this?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I have seen people using the Western Union mobile app to send money to their family so please see if that will work for you.

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      • Anonymous says:

        4:41 pm, you should be ashamed of your self for that nasty comment, after all you are in another land working and making enough to support your family back home, you should appreciate being allowed to come here to work

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        • Anonymous says:

          So let me send MY money where I want to then!

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          • Anonymous says:

            Absolutely! You earned it – do with it what you please. Image telling a Caymanian how he/she had to spend his/her money!

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          • Anonymous says:

            As long as you pay your rent and your bills. Otherwise take the first flight out, leave and don’t come back.

            Also the government should keep a record of who is asking for help. Keep a record on their permit, cross reference with remittances, seek their landlords to confirm they paid their rent and be cautious about allowing them to return if they didn’t pay for their responsibilities.

            If it’s a Caymanian then it is fine. It is our country. If it a permit holder, go to your country to ask for help. A foreign government should not be responsible for you. You’re a guest worker who came to benefit economical. We are well aware of everyone’s mansions back home. If you haven’t built your mansion yet or business then you were either stupid or just arrived.

            • Anonymous says:

              Oh. So I see. Is it the mansions that expats have back home that have stirred up Caymanians and led them to have such hatred for foreigners?

              Interestung 🤔

      • Anonymous says:

        4.11pm… well well… I wonder how many Caymanians working in your country… you all are your worse enemy – it was you all that mashed your country …. we are not responsible for you and your problems.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Send it to your sister/brother/aunt/uncle s bank account so they can give it to them. The only reason to use money services is tax avoidance. Other wise they would have a bank account to send it into.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly!!! If there is a safe way for them to open money transfer places, it needs to be for INCOMING cash only. Do not allow people to send out money and then hit up government for help.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Money services is also to receive funds. At least family members outside this country can send money in to help their relatives. I wonder did other countries treat Caymanians like this when the seamen and others were working abroad and sending money to Cayman. So much prejudice and discrimination is not Caymankind.

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      • Anonymous says:

        no one’s sending money here. The world is f’d at the moment and so much is sent away every month. No one and I mean NO ONE is sending money to one of these types of places

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        • Anonymous says:

          You would be surprised. Alot of people find themselves in a hard situation and family from elsewhere send money here. People just don’t advertise it because of pride.

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        • Anonymous says:

          What? You all seem to know everybody’s business. Someone in the US happens to owe me in excess of $3000 CI. I would not mind being able to collect it right now except . . . Money Transfer establishments are closed.

      • Anonymous says:

        There was no worldwide pandemic then. Think and reason if that is possible.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The answer is yes they did. You have no idea what Caymanian seamen had to endure. I will give you one guess which country was the worse

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      • Anonymous says:

        You so silly… you are going to compare the seamen’s (probably less than 200 were out there at any time) salary to these 40 thousand parasites we have here.

        I still question just where these people get the kind of money they are sending overseas. Something wrong here “big time”.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Parasites Ha!
          Looked in the mirror today.
          You disgust me you maggot! I come to this Island live and spend my money for 6 months a year ( NOT WORKING ) and to just see the way you talk about expats. Cayman Kind should be Cayman WE WILL F–K ya Behind. I for one will not be coming back if I keep seeing this!

          Just remember it’s not just Islanders on your news site and people will see how nasty you all are!

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          • Anonymous says:

            I wouldn’t say that everyone is a parasite and I’m not the original poster. But people who emigrate for financial reasons generally have no intention of helping anyone but themselves and their families they left behind. It is more the exception than the rule that people emigrate financially to help the country they have moved. Most people come from countries that are poor, the rest come from countries where they would never have ever in their life seen such money and these are the white collar expats I speak about.

            Everyone is welcome as long as you’re not taking advantage. Happy to have you come back. But if you have such a bad attitude, I wonder how you’ve managed to live here so long.

            • Anonymous says:

              10:21am. Thank you!!! You nailed it.

            • Anonymous says:

              To be frank, some people would love to work and invest their money in the country that they emigrate to. But sometimes that is very difficult to do when you are constantly being called parasite and being told that you do not belong.

              There are two sides to the coin. The number of negative comments towards foreigners that I have seen since I began reading the comment section is rather startling! No wonder foreigners just come, make money and then leave. Truth be told, they are not welcome here.

        • Anonymous says:

          Parasites? I’m Caymanian and I find your comment offensive. There’s good and bad in every society,, including ours.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes yes they did. Other countries were racist and touched the hands and hair of our forefathers to see if it was just dirt and the colour would wipe off. They were treated poorly because of their colour and had to teach the white Europeans how to do the jobs because of their colour. Our forefathers were just happy to have a job. Sent money home and built things for themselves.

        This is no different than what is happening today. Just replace colour with nationality. But never forget colour is always a factor.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Is your name Donald Trump? Or you are in a habit of accusing others of things they have not done? Has someone done you wrong? Certainly not expats who worked hard to support large families.
      Count your blessings. You might end up in their shoes some day. No one is spared from hunger, poverty and prison they say.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Have you worked out that money transfers can go in both directions – that they may be trying to get relatives to send them cash since they have lost their jobs?

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      • Anonymous says:

        4.58pm… sorry …. highly unlikely.

        Boy some of you have a short memory!! Remember in Ivan. . We were exploited to the max… sure hope the authorities don’t let this happen again.
        I wonder how many storage sheds and containers are being filled.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You people. Classy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It is interesting how some folks love to “selfishly assume” around here, with mass generalization, but at the same time remain ignorant and short-sited as time leaves them by

      When I came here 20 years ago, it was the same, I have friends that “assumed” the same, and complained the same, generalized the same about things they knew very little about. Yeah I sent money back, but I also invested a lot of it right here, which I now call home

      They are still my friends today, the only difference is since that time my education level has drastically increased which resulted in job elevation over the years as I worked hard on both, whiles they remained the same, assuming and complaining

      I guess some things will never change, which is sad

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:23
      One of 3 things could easily turn you into a beggar and migrant: strong earthquake, Cat.5 hurricane and uncontrollable Dump fire.

      I doubt that expats are receiving monetary assistance from CIG. I doubt they even apply.

      I hope 3:23 is an anomaly, not a typical member of Cayman society.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:23
      You are where you are now because of collective work of both, expats and Caymanians.
      Professional expats making $100k+ fill (indirectly) CIG coffers, rent your properties use your small and medium size businesses services.

      Expats on minimum wages bring conveniences into your life, maintain the beauty of the land and also indirectly contribute to CIG revenues by servicing visitors.

      Both expats categories work hard, hardly anyone works less that 10hr/day. It is their money they want to send overseas to their families. What claim anyone can have on it?

      Your spiteful comment is unwarranted. I seriously doubt gardeners, house helpers or hairdressers apply for assistance. Many Hotels and restaurants assist their staff with meals, housing and some even continue paying wages. Skillful and experienced staff is valuable for employers..

      Restricting abilities of expats to use money transfer services is not wise, to say the least. It is discriminative in nature.
      Those with bank accounts and electronic payroll deposits are not restricted in what they can do with their money.
      The financially vulnerable group of expats with no bank accounts and paychecks is being subjected to unsubstantiated insults, accusations, hatred; their ability to cash those check and use it as they find necessary is restricted and or made impossible.

      I am still to hear from the territory leaders messages that would call for unity, cooperation and mutual respect.

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      • Anonymous says:

        you must not have been listening

      • Anonymous says:

        Love you last statement.
        All I heard was “work permits should leave ”
        Cayman Kind!

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        • Anonymous says:

          4.49pm … u got it…if Work permits holders don’t have a job … then “work permit holders must leave”

          • Anonymous says:

            You are correct. That is the terms of the work permit and is known upfront. There is nothing more to it.

      • Anonymous says:

        Lisen, Lisen let me explain what i’ve seen my helpers are paid well have bank accounts, eat at my house everyday, get paid for gas yet turn around and steal my stuff and to another point while building my house had and expat and friends do work the last day they worked and was getting paid one come in to distract me and the other stole stuff from my shed didnt realize until about an hour later after they left- do you see these jam guys that do contsrution the tools they have theres no way they bought them the share amount they have i cant afford that myself- just my point of view- but you all be safe and god bless everyone please stay home the life you save may be your own.

    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly. They will lie and play the poor one to get Gov and Employers to subsidize their tickets home. The fly back to their multiple houses and fat bank accounts.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Premier, you may be comfortable . But many many people are struggling just to get through each day. Use your power to help make things easier-Work with (don’t threaten as you do everyone else) the banks to get them to open more branches. Open the hardware stores we can make needed repairs with all this time we are locked down and please open the post offices; as some of us seniors still wait for important mail. These constant lockdown threats are causing so much stress and anxiety that it is weakening our immune systems!!!

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  14. Kaptain Powell says:

    I dont care if they ever re-open. Standing in long lines is inefficient. I can top up my phone via Scotia Online Banking. Why cant one or more of the banks offer Western Union money transfer from online banking? Scotia, Butterfield, CNB, FCB I challenge you to offer this service at a reasonable fee?

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    • Anonymous says:

      a) Reasonable Fee
      b) Services for the ‘unbanked’. Money transfers will take cash, the bank won’t even take my cash if I don’t have an account with them.

      There’s a reason those lines are so long. (But, yes, you’re right, financial lines are inefficient. Why can’t they do more reasonable online services.)

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      • Anonymous says:

        And how do you suggest they get cash accepted online? Stuff it in the floppy disk drive?

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        • Anonymous says:

          It’s called the ATM dummy. If you are a work permit holder you should have a bank account on the island. The banks can then take your deposit through the ATM and then you do a wire transfer to wherever in the world you want. Mostly everyone has bank accounts in banks. I don’t see what the problem is??

          CNS: Many low-income workers in the Cayman Islands do not have a bank account here. There is no law that says they must have one and if you are scratching a living, it’s an unnecessary expense.

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          • Anonymous says:

            It is a pre requisite on the work permit application form to list your bank. If the persons here on a work permit earn a scratch living and choose to not open a bank account then who’s fault is that? Bank fees can be a lot but it depends on what services you use at the bank and for those earning a scratch living they can be minimal if they are smart. As well with the amount of different nationalities on this island and how they all like to stick together at least one of them must have a bank account. So therefore get a friend to wire the money out or vice versa. There must be someone you can trust to do that for you. Like all economists say never put all your eggs in one basket so always have an alternative for savings and in this case for sending money. Common sense prevails in all hard times. So instead of yelling that the money transfer is closed find an alternative.

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          • Anonymous says:

            CNS,
            Dont come here to scratch a living then. Simple.
            Having a bank account is essential. It’s 2020. Those same people spend money on lots of things they probably dont really need.

            CNS: I was not commenting on what should or should not be the case. The fact is that many permit holders on island do not have bank accounts. They come here because the laws allow it and people employ them and it is worse in their own country. There are a whole lot of things to fix, locally and globally, starting with an understanding of poverty and sympathy for the poor.

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    • Covid Veritas says:

      My understanding is that Western Union has an international online transfer service.

      • Anonymous says:

        I tried doing it online. They said that they were refunding my money but they took it. I strongly recommend not using Western Union online. The person that I was sending to doesn’t have the money and neither do i.

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      • Anonymous says:

        yes they have, my sister from LA used to transfer money via western union international money transfer mobile application that she was downloaded from her phone, but unfortunately that apps is not working in cayman 😞

  15. Anonymous says:

    What is the statement of -“But he warned if cases of positive COVID-19 keep popping up in the community because people are still interacting, it pushes back the lockdown relax date further each time by another two weeks.”…………………………………………………………………..

    Alden…. What are you going to do…. Lock down everyone for 14 days each time there is a new case. This is crazy even IF we get through 14 days one will come up if not this month then after we open up the airport OR is your plan to lock down the country until there is not a case left on the planet???? This virus is here to stay when will you get it!

    You have lost your mind and people are crazy to be backing you…….BUT the best way to keep people under control is fear RIGHT?

    Keep soft curfew by day, lock down at night, bars closed business open with full social distancing. Yes we will get cases BUT we are going to get them anyway.
    The idea of flattening the curve is so health care can keep up you are stupid to think this virus is just going to turn off and leave like a light switch.

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    • Brown Freeman says:

      You are totally 100% right. The CoVID19 as other Coronaviruses onset to stay, mutates and cause serious outbreaks from time to time, at least until the vast majority of the world population is inmunized by a vaccine and it will take some time. In addition, every time it mutate, humans will need to update the vaccine. Even if the criminal experiment of herd immunity go ahead, thousands of unfit will die, the communities reach 70-80% of people naturaly immunized (the fitests one), still the virus will mutate, causing the disease as a new one. Time and observation, we will see.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We backings our Premier!

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    • Anonymous says:

      3.04pm … you are the stupid idiot – evidently you have no idea how serious this is and apparently you have no idea how the world is dealing with this. The Premier is doing an excellent job. My advise to you is please go to one of the spots Like New York.

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  16. David Shibli says:

    More lies from the government. What is different from these people lining up 6ft apart to transfer money than standing in bloody line to buy groceries?
    People are suffering and need money and this is not helping.
    Alden, we are not buying your shit.
    CNS. Please publish my name on this. I am sick and tired of this government filled with cronyism.

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    • Covid Veritas says:

      Take a breath David and read the latest of Alden’s comments in the context of all the past conversation from Alden. From early on, he has asked the money transfer service providers to come up with a viable comprehensive plan on how they plan to effect social distancing management at their various locations. So far their plans have apparently fallen short. Most of the major services are located within the premises of other businesses. Managing the logistics of social distancing and customer access is difficult enough for the primary businesses. Add to this the traffic and social distance management issues generated by the money transfer service and it becomes a huge problem. For example: If the existing business has capacity limits are they supposed to give up a portion of their capacity to accommodate the money transfer customers? How will that be determined? Do they line up in separate lines? If they opened up only their dedicated office locations, people could be standing in line for hours. A large restive crowd may require police supervision, thus dilution their patrol capacity. These are just some of the many challenges.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Trust me, I have taken a deep breath and if you want your comment to have any credibility, just put your name on it.
        If you have my number, just call me and if you don’t, it is 916-1238.
        When you call me, I will publish what you say right here.

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      • David Shibli says:

        And by the way, there is no truth in Covid, so Covid Veritas is an oxymoron.
        I am waiting for your call. If you do call me, I will post your name and the essentials of our conversation right here.
        Funnily enough, this is the time for truth.

        David

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        • Anonymous says:

          So why would he call you then? I mean if you are just going to publish what he says. Me thinks you are just bored and want to start something on CNS. If you don’t like how Alden is dealing with the crisis would you rather someone like Donald Trump? Or perhaps the president of Brazil. Maybe you can do better? Everyone has an opinion and if you think you can do better then perhaps lend your expertise to the Government. That is if you have any? There are people out there that are helping the Government like the individuals that procured the tests from South Korea. They actually did something rather than sit on CNS and bash Alden and then bully people by saying if they call you then you will post it. 🙄
          Most people go anonymous because they don’t want people like you running their name down. It doesn’t make what they say any less valid.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Just put pieces of tape every six feet. Seems pretty straight forward.

    • Anonymous says:

      These facilities are small and would be one more thing needing patrol.

      The biggest difference, though, is that these places will primarily be used by people sending money out of the island and leaving themselves broke and at the mercy of government. Smart call keeping them closed!

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      • Anonymous says:

        And I could send money out with a bank and leave my self broke to.
        Who are you to say where the money goes.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If it opens limit it to $100 per month per person and to avoid them using their friends to send on their behalf limit it that people can only send to existing contacts no new contacts. They not working so where they getting money to send. Simple! Apply to bank money transfers same way!

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        • Rick says:

          What right does anyone have to limit the amount of money I choose to send out of Cayman? Who’s money is it anyway? Do you all realize that the economy of the Cayman Islands is built on the freedom to move money around? Oh, right, that is only for the rich. Poor people can do their best. I know when you write, you think mainly of Jamaica, Philippines and Honduras, etc. Do you realize these countries are struggling to cope also? I cannot believe how simply uncaring this Cayman Kind attitude is.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @4:02 well they are lining up at banks instead and still sending money out of the country. So what is the difference? Government has shifted the lines from the money service businesses to banks, where hoards of people are lined up in banking halls spilling out to parking lots! What plan do banks have that Money
        Service Businesses don’t, tape on the ground indicating where to stand?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Such ignorance. Those that support their families support themselves first.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Some people only think for themselves but remember in life what goes around must comes around. God don’t sleep.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You’re right.. he knows what he’s doing , just don’t want money leaving country! Poor excuse about crowd.. and as u said it’s no different from banks and supermarkets.😒

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