Caymankind: Don’t believe the hype
Expatgirl writes: Cayman has long been a hotbed of anti-expat feeling and the rhetoric in the wake of coronavirus has only served to amp this up to new levels. Comments and posts on social media see increasingly vocal comments which for the most part call for anyone who has an alternative opinion to those promoting anti-expat feeling to “leave if you don’t like it”.
One example is the recent publication of an article (in the Cayman Compass) by human rights law specialist James Austin-Smith, who quite rightly pointed out (in his role as a specialist on the matter) that the government had not evidenced that they had followed the correct protocols and paperwork to enact some of the laws restricting movement and advising them gently that this could lead to court-based challenges to their legality.
For some reason unknown to most citizens who believe in fair and just democratic rule, several Caymanians then proceeded to attack the lawyer, the newspaper that published the article, and of course anyone who agreed with the lawyer’s viewpoint in the comments.
“Rethink” and “Leave, go and live somewhere else” comments were rampant and seemingly the only response that some could think of, although one man went as far as to say, “Scrap everything, sack them, we don’t need human rights here.”
Quite the bold statement and one which invites curiosity as to how that person might really react if there were no human rights on the island. Presumably the rights to equality, freedom from slavery, freedom from discrimination, freedom of speech, a fair public hearing, to be considered innocent before proven guilty (I could go on) are all unnecessary (unless you are a selfish expat, in which case, go somewhere else).
Seemingly, the same applies to the need to hold the government accountable in times where laws restricting human rights and civil liberties (albeit for the best of reasons) should be handled carefully.
Many of the comments were focused on those who question the lockdown on beaches and that this is hardly the time to care about going to the beach. Of course, those moaning about not being able to fish or use their boats are exempt from such criticism, presumably because they are Caymanian and those wanting to go to the beach are not (at least in the minds of those writing the comments).
I cannot believe that there are no Caymanians who miss the beach, who miss the soothing of the water and the release from the hardships of a day’s work when walking along watching the sunset. Those who do not don’t realise the gift that they have here, which is presumably why they sold it all to developers.
Equally there are expats missing fishing and the emotional and physical release it gives them. Everyone is suffering in different ways. Everyone is impacted in different ways. Everyone has fears and dreams and hopes, but not everyone is unkind. This is not top trumps of suffering. This is people struggling to find their way in a world turned upside down in a matter of days.
Back to that article. At no point was Mr Austin-Smith criticising the government concerning the need for restrictions in order to curb the spread of coronavirus, in fact quite the opposite – he specifically stated that he was full of praise for the government’s swift actions and response.
All he did was give them a heads-up that they should be transparent about how they both chose (based on the need to stop the spread of the virus as opposed to just allowing a day off for essential workers on a Sunday or other reasons not connected with the prevention of the spread of the virus) and enforced those restrictions in law.
To date, the government have still not produced the paperwork on the hard curfew on a Sunday or the restriction of marine activity, despite having been asked for it for weeks by all of the local news media even before Mr Austin-Smith wrote his article.
Truth is not always mutually exclusive of other truths. Did the government do a good job at the beginning of the coronavirus scare? Absolutely I believe they did. Did they follow the correct protocols for enacting restrictive laws that infringed on human rights? Probably.
Should they have to prove that they did? If any Caymanian does not think that they should provide evidence that they have kept their promise to uphold the Constitution of the Cayman Islands as elected officials of the government and servants of the people, then it is they who are short-sighted and they who do not have the best interests of the island at heart.
So yes, they should. And you should be grateful that someone was willing to put their reputation and job at risk to highlight the issue. That’s what being a professional is – acting ethically, with integrity and doing the right thing regardless of the potential personal implications. You might want to take a leaf out of his book.
An example from a work colleague and supposed friend in a post on Facebook: “Time to tell ppl about they backside when they try to paint us all with the same brush… Time to embrace our history and culture before it disappears completely because ppl have already started rewriting that for us and we’re letting it happen. The more we keep our head down the more they’ll be pushed down.”
Who exactly is pushing your Caymanian head down? As a Caymanian, you have all the opportunities – you get free education from the government, you get scholarships and sponsorships to support further learning, you get first dibs on any job that you are qualified for, you get to pay no stamp duty on your first home, you can borrow from your pension to buy property, and you are the only ones that can hold positions of power in the government.
Let me clear, I am not stating that this should be any other way. But what I am saying is that if you are not lazy or ill you should be succeeding. As in all countries around the world, there are those that want to work and those that do not, those that are too ill to work and those that require assistance.
Nowhere, even a beautiful tropical island, is spared a proportion of the population that fall into these categories. And just as not all Caymanians are lazy or uneducated, not all expats are trying to destroy the Caymanian way of life. How about not tarring expats with the same brush?
So for the record, expats want both Cayman and Caymanians to succeed too. We actually want the same things we all want at a human level: a safe environment, a loving community, a strong and compassionate leadership, a fair and equal society and laws that are upheld for and by all.
So why can’t we build a community together? No expat is coming here and wanting to exclude or hold back Caymanians. Most people know, and it has been shown in a multitude of studies, that diversity brings success in both business and life.
A personal example is that a Caymanian work colleague, who used to work for me but has since moved up and onto bigger and better things in the company, recently invited me to her college graduation as a thank you for supporting her in both work and in her studies.
She is a Caymanian who exhibits pro-activity, independence and a strong work ethic. She has two businesses as well as her main job. She did an amazing amount of hard work, putting in the hours at class, studying at home, and she has accomplished so much for herself and continues to push towards higher goals both in education and at work.
I really could not have been prouder of her as a friend and colleague and was so excited to share that graduation experience with her and her family. It was simply wonderful to celebrate her achievements together. I wish it could always be like this, but alas, it seems like a rare moment right now.
The most public and official example of the anti-expat sentiment is the recent decision by the CIG to make work permit holders pay for their isolation for two weeks at a cost of approximately $2,000 should they leave the island and then wish to return. Caymanians and permanent residents still have to quarantine if they leave island and return, but the government will pick up the tab.
The government is, of course, free to act as they please and many Caymanians are in support of this measure, stating that if employers want them back so badly then they should foot the bill.
It seems to have escaped their attention that employers of work permit holders are often businesses owned by Caymanians who have been unable to find a suitable Caymanian worker in their industry (as most of those eligible to work were already working before the virus hit) and have resorted to employing a work permit holder.
Someone said on the article comments that they hoped that all the negative comments would be being kept along with notes of the names. Presumably because keeping a list of dissenters and then black-marking or black-listing them with the intention of making their lives as difficult as possible and then kick them off island as soon as the situation allows seems like a well-worn path that has worked excellently for other authoritarians in the past.
You’re right, you don’t need human rights with this kind of list.
Some comments on the article say that work-permit holders should just stay away if they cannot afford to re-enter the country because Cayman doesn’t need them anyway.
One would be curious to know what Cayman would look like if there were no expats. Who would rent their properties? Who would serve the drinks and food in restaurants once they re-open? Who would stock the shelves at the supermarkets? Who would do all the beauty treatments? Who would be nurses and doctors and engineers,?
That is not to say that Caymanians cannot or should not do those jobs; of course they absolutely can and should. But in reality, this is a numbers game and Cayman doesn’t have enough people with the right skills (at the moment) which, by the way, is not the same as saying that they don’t have any people with the right skills because that is also not true.
Nevertheless, there is a reason you have expats here in the first place. Not to mention that it is unclear who it is that Caymanians think are spending their hard-earned money, earned here on island, at the local supermarkets, ordering food deliveries, buying local homemade products and masks and still paying their domestic workers so they can still eat without being able to work at the moment, supporting local business (Caymanian businesses). It is not just Caymanians, that’s for sure.
Another example, take the family who found themselves stranded on a boat in Cayman with the lady being pregnant. With borders closed, they are having to stay a lot longer than they expected. So far, they have been offered a condo to live in, a car to drive, food vouchers so they can eat, baby clothes and toys for the impending arrival and not one of those things has been provided by a Caymanian. Presumably because she is a dirty foreigner who shouldn’t be here and Caymankind really only applies to Caymanians.
Fortunately, there are other examples of the community working together. ARK is supporting those who need meals with the help of local businessmen from Deckers, Abacus, sponsored by numerous companies on island.
Such a shame then that the general message to expats is simple: we don’t want your hard work, your skills or knowledge, your economic input, your community involvement, your charities, your social initiatives or your help. We want your money and then you can leave, and if you do manage to stay and get permanent residency, you will always be a second-class citizen.
Caymankind is a myth. Don’t believe the hype.
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Category: Viewpoint
Well written but the fact the writer has to qualify every single point they make in order to head off all the usual tedious logical fallacies tells you social media isn’t the place to try and have any kind of sensible conversation.
Like with any society the vast majority are decent fair minded people with a healthy respect towards others, and then you have a minority of idiots that are arrogant, ignorant or worse, racist, whether local or expat. The fair minded will steer clear of the idiots and the idiotic minority without anyone to listen to their bile will end up writing nasty invective on these posts instead.
But not when your leaders belong to “minority”.
About as many Americans who vowed to leave the States if Trump got elected…and stayed behind of course. Lol
If it was easier, they would.
Yes, I’ve read where emigration to Canada has been increasing since the last election. If Trump wins again, it might be a mass exodus!
Caymankind is fairly recent marketing slogan, not a particularly good one at that.
Now crabs in a barrel, that I have heard for years.
I was agreeing with you up until you wrote “presumeably she was a dirty foreigner who shouldn’t be here” as a 8 generation Caymanian i was definitely not thinking that, but was thinking wow it must be really rough. I wish i had another place to offer them to stay. Most Caymanians are struggling and were very sympathic towards them. However Please do not TELL me what i am Thinking.
You do not know me and i am glad that you don’t. If you are soliciting our sympathy please stop insulting every Caymanian.
You do not know all of us. The Cayman Islands has been home to lots of people. Some nice and some not so nice. Both Caymanians and expats. I am not sure which one you are expatgirl?
Unfortunately this is spot on. Cayman would not be where it is without our ex-pat community. As the OP pointed out, who is going to clean your house, mind your child, clean hotel rooms, pick-up your garbage, teach your children if not ex-pats?
The truth is that ex-pats will do for this island what Caymanians won’t. Who raises money for charities? Who walks the dogs at the Humane Society? Who volunteers? I am telling you that 90% of charity work is done by ex-pats, permanent residents and those that had to apply for Caymanian Status.
Caymanians need to take a long and hard good look at themselves. We boast that we are a Christian community, I dare say that Jesus Christ would be horrified at the hypocrisy of our actions and the words we speak.
Get over your attitude of entitlement and be very, very grateful for our ex-pat community who have worked hard and continue to work to help build this island.
A Caymanian.
I feel sad that you seem to have developed Stockholm syndrome.
omg i want to give this a thousand thumbs up. I’d be willing to bet that no Caymanian wrote that….
I’m Caymanian, and I’m willing to bet you know very few Caymanians over the age of 40.
Not sure where you’re getting that figure re charity work from – I’m a young Caymanian and have always been involved with charitable organisations and regularly volunteer (be it humane society, NCVO etc.) alongside fellow Caymanians and our expat peers. Of course there are lots of expats who do a significant amount of charity work on island, but to say they do 90% of charity work and that Caymanians don’t volunteer is untrue and insulting. Especially at this time, plenty of us are doing what we can to ensure our community (both expat and Caymanian) is cared for.
Not sure why you’re so keen to paint a false people of your own people (?)
How about suggesting that everyone engaging in this tired argument do some self-reflection, rather than just the Caymanians. We aren’t perfect but neither is anyone else, it’s called being human!
‘A Caymanian’.
@11:52 – Please don’t twist my words. I never said that Caymanians don’t volunteer, and what I said about 90% of charity/volunteer work being done by ex-pats is the truth. I am not painting a false picture of my people, unfortunately it is the truth.
99% percent of charity work is done by expats!!!! You know why??? To put on their resume for PR points. Im Caymanian and have volunteered for most of these charities plus done mentoring until I realized my peers, the expats, were only there as a means to ends. PLEASE SPARE ME THE BS
I’m sorry, but you are wrong. I’ll give you one example of how: Look at the Pink Ladies. Almost all of them were visitors at one point. Most of them are Caymanians now. And yet… they remain Pink Ladies. Yes, there are some expats who get involved in charities so that they can tick a box and get points on their PR application, but many remain doing charitable work after they get Status. It is true that many Caymanians volunteer, too, but from what I’ve seen, there are more Status Caymanians than born Caymanians volunteering these days, and for as long as I can remember. Now, if you want to comment on what kinds of charities the two different sets of people volunteer for, I’ll agree that there a big differences in some of them.
Only so they don’t get accused of hypocrisy when they stop contributing. Basically expats come here and get given a reason (the PR system) to be a better version of themselves than they were at home, they follow the rules and get their status…zzz. What were we talking about again?
Expats were at the forefront of many charitable organisations even before 2004, when the PR point system came into effect. Why is it so hard for you to give credit to any expat and assume that any of them doing charitable work is doing it to either gain PR or avoid being accused of hypocrisy. There are people who want to make a difference because it helps give their life meaning. I don’t agree with much of what Expatgirl wrote because that’s not my experience, but your stance is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
I agree that most volunteer work is done by expats, partly because back in the day there were a number of spouses who didn’t work and had plenty of time and it was a great way to meet people. Now, many volunteer to get the points needed for PR. In my 12 years of volunteering (because I think it’s the right thing to do) I only met 2 Caymanians who volunteered alongside me and they were not drfitwood. So that does say something. Caymanians can definitely do better in that regard IMO.
I guess you left out the corollary on purpose…”where would Cayman be were it also not for the lawyer, accountants, developers, etc.” as if we don’t have our own people here who haven’t tried to go that route and been frustrated by expats or some of our own Caymanian people who can “pass” for something other than Caymanian.
Yes, I do think that Caymanians should fix what needs to be fixed in our own culture. However, you’re ignoring the glass ceiling that has been put in place to keep many Caymanians down.
It’s because those activities could gain you 20 points in the permanent residency points system sellout…take away that component and see how many volunteers you”ll have left. I have never seen an expatriate garbage collector, most of those guys are caymanian. Maybe that’s your problem, you have nothing to teach your kids hence why you have to rely on a foreigner to do the job.
God humans are stupid. A pandemic is an external threat to our lives and way of life. And yet it divides us further. Can anything ever unite us?
Where is the Pandemic certainly not here . No deaths and hardly any one hospital from it .
A pandemic (from Greek πᾶν, pan, “all” and δῆμος, demos, “people”) is an epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people.
You are welcome troll.
Too dumb or too lazy to look up the meaning of a simple word? And if that wasn’t enough, you then advertise your stupidity for all the world to see. LOL.
I think we should make the island like Survivor and every week we get to vote someone off. We could televise it and make loads of money. Then everyone would care how they acted and what they said about other people.
One season of Survivor made CBS over 100 million. Everyone is home and watching TV. I’ll bet we could make 250 million!
I think I just solved everyone’s problems. You’re welcome
Can we vote people off the briefing panel?
LOL. I already know who I’d vote off.
I just have a beach house and don’t work so I don’t think I count as an expat, but based on 50 years observation, this post is more true than not. In my own case let me say that there is no culture to assimilate to here. There are some good people and more than your fair share of crazies, crooks and morons, many of them in politics and government, but the “culture” is the same as Oakland CA. The clear water and coral is world class but that’s it. And don’t get me started on PR or status. Hardly any honest person (unless married to a Caymanian) would rationally want to be Caymanian. The extra passport is meaningless, there is no tax advantage for citizens of your largest neighbor, and just having a bank account is an invitation to a lifetime of tax audits. So yes, most of the North American expats hanging out here are sleezy, and so are you.
Lol yet you have a beach house and 50 years of experience here…politely go jump off the bluff.
There are more than just me. I like the water and the beach house has been a good investment. What part is hard for you to get? It’s less crowded in North Side than in Destin.
You just won the Cayman News Service thread prize LOL. Omg. He didn’t realize that when he open his mouth, he stuck his own sleazy foot in it. LOL. But then they get an attitude when people ask them why are you still here? Go home! No one got you tied here, you not in prison! Go TF home!
Anyone who makes the claim that there is a lack of culture in Cayman is essentially indicating they they don’t value the culture here. I assure you (as an expat), there is a vibrant, wonderful culture and history present to be embraced. For those that think otherwise, I believe this is just an expression of elitism.
Ah, but whose culture is it? It’s no longer truly Caymanian, that’s for sure. Traditional Caymanian culture, as was said by a former Minister of Culture here, is a thing of the past, something to be put on a shelf and remembered nostalgically, but it has no real meaning in today’s society. The prevailing culture here now is a fusion of Caymanian, Jamaican, Eastern Caribbean, Central American, North American and the UK. You see it in different events, different foods, artforms, etc. But keep in mind that the population of the Cayman Islands in 1960 was less than 9,000 and now we’re over 65,000 and it’s not because Caymanians have been having lots of babies. Sure, some of the growth came from diaspora returning after a generation or two away, mostly in the US, but these generational Caymanians brought with them a different culture, too. So, I think otherwise than you and it has nothing to do with elitism, but everything to do with sociocultural evolution.
That’s not the same as saying “there is no culture to assimilate to here,” which is the point I was making as coming from an elitist viewpoint. Recognizing the the culture has been influenced over the past 40-60 years by the influx of individuals from other places does not negate that there is still a Caymanian culture. I also think that there remains at the core of it deep historical roots, whereas the influences are more akin to branches.
Ok – give some examples of what you think are Caymanian culture in today’s society. Much of what you think is Caymanian culture might very well have originated in other places, specifically Jamaica. Yes, some cultural practises have been Caymanised over the years, but they aren’t uniquely Caymanian. Jamaican rice and peas is called rice and beans here, but they are essentially the same dish. I suppose you could say that still represents Cayman culture because it has been Caymanised, but it’s not a particularly strong sense of culture. As for the historical root, that sounds a lot like people to me and while individuals do indeed form a kind of cultural reference for their deeds, they are exactly the kinds of things that are put on a shelf – or have their names written on a wall in George Town – to be admired and remembered nostalgically, but who have little relevance culturally. Mention those names to most Caymanians and you’ll get the response “who?” Sam Rose and the Swanky Kitchen Band might play at events for old timers where the organisers want to demonstrate as sense of culture, but that aren’t being booked at nightclubs or in the hotel lobbies. They, too, are akin to something you put on a shelf and take down when there’s a need for nostalgia. There is nothing wrong with that, but these mementos from a bygone era don’t represent today’s culture.
There is a culture everywhere on your terms. This one is simply not unique or desirable.
Thank you, sir ex-pat 🙂 ! Some of you are super nice and try to immerse yourself in the local culture and people. But MANY others, especially British (yep, I said it) especially British expats that come here to work, are so busy looking condescendingly down their noses at all things local that the only contact they even have with locals and any other ethnicity are the ones that clean their houses and take care of their kids. Caymanians are kind people once you are kind to them, once you are open and interested there is NOTHING a Caymanian wouldn’t do for you. But come with that disdainful stinking attitude and act like the locals are just a step above savages that cannot read, write or understand and you will see the back side of us, and believe me, you won’t like it. Not saying YOU, sir. But people in general. Hey, I work at a this big company, big fancy place, hoity-toity and frou frou…and let me tell you there are expats that walk past me in the hallways EVERY SINGLE DAY of the week for as long as I’ve been there (5+ years) and ALL NOW they haven’t so much as said “boo” to me. Some will give a grudging hello if I say it first but I stopped that a long time ago. But let them see their expat friends in the lobby or the kitchen or whatever, and it’s like they having a party. THEY ARE RUDE, INCREDIBLY RUDE. Most British expats have no interest or desire to mix with locals in any way. They have their own clubs and bars and whatever boring crap it is that they like to do, and they live here for YEARS and YEARS and never so much as know any locals beyond the guy that cuts their hedges or the woman that washes their clothes and cooks and drives their bratty kids to 100 different activities. It’s like we don’t exist. We are something that they must “abide” or “deal with” if they want to live here. You know the things they talk about around the old proverbial “water cooler?” The outright dislike and superiority in their complaints to each other about local things and people is disgusting. I can’t stand them and wish every one of them would leave. Except you. You seem nice. 🙂 Elitism? You’re damn right!
100% accurate. Though, they will mix a bit with other “white” expats, but never if non-white other than the services those might provide to them.
You do realize that Caymanians are British? Those are the original settlers of the Cayman Islands so basically the British are looking down at themselves? Please check the last names and the origins.
Well I guess they are looking down on themselves then which makes their holier-than-thou attitudes twice as sickening. So what’s your point exactly? And being British on paper does now mean in any way, shape or form are we “British” just as it does not make them “Caymanian” because they are our the “owners” of the Cayman Islands. We have NOTHING in common culturally, yet we don’t go to England and disdain them, condescend to them or avoid them as a race. Checking last names and origins of many races and cultures is a side hobby I do for fun so we can unpack that if you want. But I’ll bet I’ll swamp you, and fast.
So exactly where do the Scott, McLaughlin, Bodden, etc families come from then? Whether they look down on you is besides the fact. My point is that you’re acting like Caymanians came from somewhere else originally. I don’t know the bozos who upvoted you but obviously don’t know your own ancestry. Please pray tell where did these families come from since they didn’t come from Great Britain?
I agree with a lot of what you said, but “never so much as know any locals beyond the guy that cuts their hedges or the woman that washes their clothes and cooks and drives their bratty kids to 100 different activities”. Are we still talking about Caymanians here? Jamaicans are also expats.
Erm….hm….understood. I believe I am putting all minorities together as locals, which could be erroneous but it’s how I have it in my head, nonetheless. When I hear expat, I see British, other European nationals, Canadian and American. WHITE. I see WHITE. Maybe wrong or racist, but it is what it is. Somehow, to me EXPAT means WHITE elitist, snobby, rich, Stereotypical, I know, but if it walks and talks and looks like a duck enough times, it’s probably a duck.
Well that’s just stupid, because an expat is simply a foreigner. You’re really no better than the ignorant white expats who come here and assume that every black person they see is local. It doesn’t matter how dark your skin color is or how “Caribbean” you are. If you’re not from here, you’re not local. If you think someone is local just because they aren’t white, that makes me wonder how “local” you really are. Yours truly, a Caymanian who can trace his roots to the original settlers.
Not everyone is an American. I agree if you are American and not willing to renounce your citizenship then I have no idea why you woulf want to own property here or become a resident. For people from pretty much anywhere else the tax free income and capital gains makes this place a good proposition. You don’t have to be sketchy in any way. Pretty much all you need is a six figure income or reasonable investment portfolio for it to make sense.
To answer your question, property here is a good investment. There is no reason for me to renounce my citizenship to enjoy it. If Dart was still a US citizen, I doubt he would renounce now. For people from elsewhere the proposition is indeed that I can do better here than at home. Maybe I run in a bad crowd but most seem sketchy.
I can just imagine your rage when you find out that there are many other places with clear water and coral reefs, and the housing is so cheap you could buy five houses like the one you have in Cayman. Of course, there are sleezy expats in those countries as well.
Dear Expat Girl,
I am sorry you feel the way you do about my home.
I suggest you do one thing over the next few days- that is do some research into the life of the late Mrs Olive Miller, OBE.
Ask any Caymanian about her life of service, her love, her humility and her generosity. You might find it instructive, even inspiring!
Our perception is often our reality. Perhaps if you change your perspective, you can change the way you view your time here in Cayman and more importantly, the very special people who made your better life possible.
So when Minister calls a high rank employee 🤬 driftwood, we just have to change our perspective and take it as a compliment? Or accept Premier’s excuse as difference in temperaments?
When Speaker brutally attacks an employee on duty we just have to change our perspective and assume that was physical expression of CaymanKindness?
@ Anonymous 20/05/2020 at 9:52 am – c’mon, exception to the rule and you know it – stop picking the worst examples. Most, if not all, Caymanians were and are as offended and disgusted and as outraged as any human would be with the behaviour of many of our Ministers and MLAs. Change is coming, slowly but coming nonetheless.
Cultural difference
Full of BS 10:39 am – You keep voting the SAME ones into office.
Actions speak louder than words..
You?
You who?
@ Anonymous 20/05/2020 at 11:59 am – No, I don’t. Don’t speak for me please. Many end up back in office again & again because so many refuse to vote because there is “nobody worth voting for” & of course, the usual buying of votes takes place year after year BUT some of us try very hard to vote those politicians out.
I realize you made this comment without actually looking at our last election statistics but just a heads up, barely anybody in this current Unity govt actually got voted in. Check your facts next time sweetie.
Who else is there to vote for?
at 10:39 am
exception to the rule ??
2014, Health Minister Osbourne Bodden:
“You [ministry’s chief officer, Jennifer Ahearn] aren’t even Caymanian, you are like a piece of f%&king driftwood.”
“You know that I can make your life a living hell.”
“Get out of my face. Get out of my f&%king office. Get out of my f&%king office now.”
“I do not believe that it is either helpful or appropriate for government to discuss personnel misunderstandings in the press,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Sometimes, when you have strong personalities who are passionate about their work, differences in opinion will occur.
Tell us what Mr. Osbourne Bodden is doing now.
2020:
Mr. McLaughlin’ response to the infamous bar assault:
“Obviously when those matters are resolved, decisions will have to be taken about the way forward,” McLaughlin said.”But he is still the substantive speaker.”
Well you know the expression about being able to dress up a pig and put lipstick on it, but it’s still a pig… Pig’s a pig’s a pig.
As an expat, I can honestly say I am depressed by the level of political leadership on these islands. I like Caymanians, however, people like the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and the Speaker of the House leave me fearful of the future direction here. I just wish Caymanians would get mad at their level of leadership. Surely they can do better than what exists now.
Be careful lest we start judging and generalizing you based on your government leaders!
Oh no please don’t judge us…you’re opinion is so important. ahhhhh goodbye.
Two words: Donald Trump
No one would ever call Olive Miller anything disparaging.
@9:52..Why paint every Caymanian by the same brush?…I don’t know why it is so hard for you to assimilate into the Cayman culture and its people. I have been here for 3 years and when I first arrived, it was the Caymanians that welcomed me, not only into their homes but to be their friends. I actually love it here and I love the people..I’m American and everyday somebody makes fun of Trump or calls him despicable and I suck it up because not every American is Trump..
Let’s try a little tolerance and go out of your way to say hello to a Caymanian. You may find them a lot different from your perception..
Why can’t we all just get a bong an get along
“Hit a bong, get along, hit a bong”-T Rex
Because like many things they just have not had time or courage to change the laws about “weed” to reflect the more common world view of Cannabis. You can now go to the doctor and get very expensive oil legally on island that does not work as well as plain old pot but the jail is full of Cannabis smokers. This needs to change people.
Because church and state won’t let us, even though this could be the lucrative fix we need for the economy right now.
Let me remind you the act of Cayman Kindness:
“Minister Bodden’s profane tirade shocks civil service staff. “
The incident was so intense that a security guard was called to the scene.
The statements included: “You aren’t even Caymanian, you are like a piece of f%&king driftwood.”
“You know that I can make your life a living hell.”
“Get out of my face. Get out of my f&%king office. Get out of my f&%king office now.”
“The treatment of this ministry’s highest-ranking civil servant by the minister and subsequent lack of disciplinary action to date [as of the Dec. 12, [2014]writing to Mr. Manderson] has shaken up all the staff of the ministry,”
Mr. McLaughlin’s comments did not indicate what action his administration might take to address what happened on Dec. 10.
“I do not believe that it is either helpful or appropriate for government to discuss personnel misunderstandings in the press,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Sometimes, when you have strong personalities who are passionate about their work, differences in opinion will occur. There was such a variance of opinion between Minister Bodden and his chief officer, for which the minister has already apologized in writing to his chief officer and the ministry staff.”
There you go! Want more examples?
By the way what Osbourne Bodden is doing today?
He was coming from the days of…”I’ll get you kicked off the island for that”. Those that have been here for 15+ years will remember those threats out of almost every Caymanian back then. Fortunately, those threats are easily ignored and laughed off, although I’m sure a few, very few, “connected” Caymanians can still cause a bit of a nuisance, but mostly harmless these days.
If you all don’t stop arguing everyone is getting an ass whoopin.
To the author of this essay: You nailed it, bravo!
Caymanians readily admit they are a passive people. They will not stand up to their UK overlords, The Governor or their own politicians and wealthy elite. They will however berate an immigrant worker for not fitting in and one who asks to many questions.
Instead of picking apart this comment, try to grasp the message it tries to deliver:
General attitude toward expats in Cayman is hostile.
Such attitude comes from the very top with a “welcome” message to Governor that “cockroach has no business in a rooster fight”, with gaypril, driftwood, rascals and other derogatory comments coming from the very people who are supposed to unite all living and working here.
Just politicians pandering to the fears and apprehensions of a segment of their voters who just want their representatives to vent for them.
To everyone else who reads this comment – we are all in lockdown and suffering degrees of “cabin fever” and economic distress. Chill. Love thy neighbour as thyself. To those that have the resources to help please do so willingly and without seeking praise.
Share in the true spirit of Cayman Kind.
No Weed, No Vote
This article is about as shallow as JA-S’s analysis. Next.
You have brought shame on all expats. Many come here an work their asses off help locals along the way and leave because they know coming in their time is limited. They make sure when they go they leave their mark on this family based community. Many come back to visit because of the friends they made here. Many decide to make this their home. All because of the love of Cayman
Then there are the few expats who love what cayman has to offer just not the locals. Expat girl you are entitled and sounds like you just don’t want anyone who doesn’t look, act or share your hatred to stand up for themselves . I bet you are the expat that makes fun of the cayman accent! Do yourself a favor an do not speak on the behalf of all the expats who love Cayman and Caymanians. And if no one is Cayman kind to you, I think that is a reflection on you.
Expats plz don’t make this sour writer deter you from enjoying Cayman and Caymanians.
Love of the islands, and having radical tolerance of fellow inhabitants are two very different things. Often mutually exclusive, if we’re going to be honest.
Can you imagine someone writing this about Trumps America ? Hahaha
Same applies to Pre and Post Brexit- Britain.
Australia….same
South Africa…well that’s a mess but they hate foreigners too.
Canada is about the only place where we fish for well heeled expats that welcomes foreigners with open arms!
@ Anonymous 20/05/2020 at 8:48 am – ‘Canada welcomes expats with open arms’ – maybe the Canadian government but certainly not the Canadians – ask any Canadian living in BC, particularly Vancouver, how they feel about Asians…
Only because Canadian’s aren’t particularly good at math.
11.21am Or badminton.
But great at ice hockey.
True dat. Visit and interview the rural folk in the prairie provinces and ask their impressions on Temporary Foreign workers or immigrants in general. There are all types in all countries. No one is immune nor perfect.
Racism throughout the world is rampant due to the orange gorilla, aka, Trump. Wasn’t nearly as bad before, such a shame.
Largely due to their enormous wealth and raising the property prices so the average or even upper middle class can’t afford.
Happens all the time. Just read CNN, New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. I may have missed a few but you get the point.
That you’re a right wing nut? We gathered that.
No, Mr. or Ms. Jackass. I don’t lean to any extreme…whether that be the right or left. I only commented that Trump bashing happens often. Then you have the idiots on Fox News bashing the other side, then I have idiots like you attacking without know a damn thing about me. You must be bored at home?
Trump bashing happens because the man is a total buffoon. A divider of everyone unless you kiss his ring. You don’t kiss the ring then you are gone.
But to be fair. If you’re neither right or left you really have to agree Trump’s a buffoon right? Without listening to anyone else’s comments on him, just watching him speak, you must agree he’s not the brightest or nicest human right?
Trump is the political version of Bernard Madoff.
It’s false equivalency though. I’ve watched/read both sides. Both rant, but one side tries to make arguments based on logic and fact. There’s absolutely no logic in “alternative facts.” Too many don’t understand the nuances of rhetoric or know how to think critically, which means they are susceptible to propaganda. But then keeping most Americans stupid and distracted by religion, sports and reality television shows so that they can live vicariously through others has been the first page of the Republican playbook for decades. Make American great again with that? Sure, if you want to enjoy a shallow life with virtually no meaning and only the promise of eternal life to make up for the drudgery. It’s sad to see what has happened to America.
On the matter of politics, leadership and some Caymanians’ attitudes towards expats, I can distinctly recall and attest to anti-expat sentiments being spouted from political platforms, starting from and especially in the mid-1970s. The same platforms expressed statements of “you’re Caymanian and you deserve…” or “expats are taking your jobs” (i.e. “entitlement mentality”) and other vote-gathering and hate-mongering rhetoric. It was directed mainly towards the English and Jamaicans, our largest expat demographics at the time.
Sadly, those sentiments stuck with political supporters of those populist types and permeated some families and successive generations. But likewise it was rejected by many other families and successive generations – including mine and many like us.
I believe people who are now Caymanians but who came here as expats during or before that time may have seen changes in the sentiments of some “native born” – from totally welcoming to “not so much”, as a result of that type of politics.
Sadly for us, the main presenter of those vile and divisive sentiments was named a National Hero (not in my eyes) and has a statue downtown – again facilitated for political reasons. BTW, as far as I recall, the statue was the brainchild of (and I believe paid for by) a few Cayman Airways pilots and apparently the Government of the day blindly accepted that it was a good idea. The hero status came later as an official sanction.
What does that say about our leaders?
5.37am Sounds like you are talking about the same “hero” who bulldozed our most treasured national monument in downtown G.T., in a fit of pique over a land dispute,
The original crooked divisive politician, you mean???!!
As a eight generation Caymanian, I’m insulted by your generalized assumptions that
1. I ‘don’t care about beach access because I sold my land to developers and I don’t know what I’m missing be of that’, or some BS you’ve conjured up.
2. “No expat is coming here and wanting to exclude or hold back Caymanians.” – You’re lucky to have good and non-selfish expat friends or did socialize with others of no ill intent, of which none exhibited one or both such behaviors you describe above (or similar). I’ll happily introduce you to several dozen expats who feel that they are superior to any one Caymanian, no matter their social standing in our society.
I’d like you to also not “paint with the same brush” when writing such narratives in the future. Because of the way you constructed your comments, I’m lead to believe you have your own ulterior motive and cherry picked instances, true or otherwise to ease the reader into seeing that although an Expatgirl, you still know what’s best for us, heh¿. Or did I get that part wrong?
Your comments that pushed me over the edge and prompted this reply was those you made regarding the pregnant visitor that’s stranded here – You said items such as clothes/toys, a condo to live in, food vouchers and even a car to drive (I’m assuming she can drive legally here) these items were offered to her, to assit in her time of need. What slapped me in the face was what you said, not implied, and I’ll quote you, in case a reader didn’t make it that far – you said; “not one of those things has been provided by a Caymanian.”
Please provide the evidence that No Caymanian assisted this lady. Because I know this to be an incorrect statement as of the day you decided to submit your opinions for all to read.
You ended the presumption by stating, and I quote you once again;
“Presumably because she is a dirty foreigner who shouldn’t be here and Caymankind really only applies to Caymanians.”
Wow! If you said this to me face to face, I’d tell you where to go with several expletives in between. You’d have to report me for -insulting the modesty of a woman- (a local law, if you aren’t aware). This is how insulted I was to read your assumption.
You should know by now, that you’ve got to accept diversity in any shape or form that you come upon it, you don’t have to like it, but don’t make assumptions or bend the reality to fit a certain mold just because you are reading or actually hearing stupid anti-expat/human rights/anti-lawyer comments from “several Caymanians”. The strokes do not go that wide for all Caymanians, so don’t try to make it so.
I’ll agree to disagree with you and defend your right to your thoughts and opinions, but don’t paint all of us Caymanians as un-kind. It’s insulting.
At no point did Expat girl paint all of us Caymanians as un-kind. In fact, if you will reread the viewpoint with less hatred (and ready to attack) you will see the exact opposite.
I cannot believe you saw “..don’t paint all of us Caymanians as un-kind”. Crazy blind with anti-expat eyes….
I am a 30 year Caymanian.
Well, you’ve got me all wrong as I had no hatred towards Expat girl nor was I at the ready for an attack towards her viewpoints.
I stand by my “don’t paint all of us Caymanians as un-kind” comment.
Do I believe she thinks that way, of all Caymanians, no.
But to the uninitiated, those that are overseas, not familiar with the culture, its people, etc, I had to make sure to point out that we’re not all cut from the same cloth, if anyone was non the wiser because of the below printed words.
When anyone states as fact, as Expat girl wrote;
/
“…not one of those things has been provided by a Caymanian. Presumably because she is a dirty foreigner who shouldn’t be here and Caymankind really only applies to Caymanians.”
“Caymankind is a myth. Don’t believe the hype.”
/
It’s important to make sure readers understand that we, those Caymanians with enough perspective (historic or otherwise) and experience, that we do take the time to set records of inaccuracies/false assumptions (see the Expat girl quotes just above) as such straight. Making sure to have a counter argument so that anyone reading such untruthful and incorrect statements can come away with a better understanding and make their own judgment as to whether it’s a fact or not or is there more learn about country and its born citizens and settled residents. That was and will always be my intention whenever I come across these types of viewpoints/articles aimed at the Cayman Islands.
I am a 49 year Caymanian.
5.00am I agree we should not generalise, but there is a problem, if only with a portion of our population and that of course applies expats as much as locals.
I would be very interested to hear your opinion on expats having representation in the L.A. (even just one). We are a democratic society and now have a large number of expats with Cayman status or permanent residence. Every time this subject is raised there is a chorus of “no way”, but is this not a step towards reducing the friction that we see so often.
In the U.K. and most of the E.U. there is ethnic minority representation in Government and I feel it would help here.
Hi. Thank you for responding with some good points and exchange.
I do not believe at This point in our history (in regards to the politics, development, the overall growths & success or lack of in the different segments that make up our society) that the Cayman Islands is mature enough to have an elected expat representation to our L.A.
It will happen, I’ll gladly welcome it, but I believe (speaking from my own experience and historical studies and research), I’m predicting that this will be addressed in the near future, unless the political climate here and elsewhere in the developed countries that have good, working democratic governments, if there’s any changes for the worse (I sure hope not) – I’m going to say we’ll see progress towards electing expats who have lived and have a True vested interest in our country, its people and care about all that it encompasses and its future prospects.
This person(s) will see support for sure.
Are we 10 to 15 years away? I don’t know, can’t say with certainty. But if pressed, I’m going to say by the year 2031, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this coming to fruition.
Why do you expats come here and decide the rules and laws of the country shouldn’t apply to them? Aldart is the reason..he has made the expatriate the entitled while supporting the blatant disregard for the rules and laws meant to provide some security to Caymanians in their own country.
But yes..if you don’t like our country and rules go somewhere else..leave.
Yeah, it’s the white privileged young college-grad “wait til they get a load of me” syndrome, aka “Canadians-to-the-rescue”. Charged by misplaced national-sense-of-superiority and fueled by family and friend send-off parties where they exclaim that their little star will be the tycoon of “the islands” in no time. We are lucky when it gets humbled in the opening weeks working amongst superior career peers (expat and Caymanian alike), other times it persists for years like a mental cancer. Particularly sad mentally, because their disappointment in themselves is real.
I take it you don’t like Canadians? As a Canadian, I agree on some of the points (self-entitlement; sense of superiority). Of course this applies to a select number, and not everyone. Mind sharing where you come from?
Very dumb
A misplaced national sense of superiority? You mean like the fallacy that Caymanians are the best seamen in the world? Granted, Caymanians aren’t the exclusive owners of such delusions – Americans traditionally have been the worst, although many have come back down to earth in recent times.
Entitled.
Yes we are. Everybody want to come here to live. I feel very entitled. I am proud proud to be a Caymanian. Tax free. Money good. Beautiful Beaches. Good food. Good night life. Good food. Money good. Clean streets. No beggars. Money good. A gov that bending backwards to accomodate your ass. Money good.
You get my point.
Oh sorry I forgot. Marry a Caymanian and you set for life!
No beggars? You must live in a gated community and have your servants shop for you, the Caymanian version of an Uncle Tom.
Sorry, but completely untrue. For the many years that I lived in the Cayman Islands I have been witness to far more Cayman bashing than expat bashing.
Starting with those who hailed from other parts in the Caribbean, who forever feel that the food is not good enough, that GC is too flat, that things are too boring, to attitudes that Caymanians are less intelligent and lazy…to the western expats, the South Africans, the Canadians, the Brits, the Americans, etc.who shared some of the same attitudes (Caymanians are less intelligent, lazy, etc.), to those from Asia and the Indian subcontinent who outside of their jobs rarely mix with the local population… Of course there are some among these groups that I just mentioned who have made an honest effort, and who for the most part don’t share these sentiments…
Yes, some Caymanians, to a lesser degree, are partially at fault as well, as there are those among the local population who paint expats with a broad brush; however, when it’s all aid and done, it is not their job to integrate, but ours. And unfortunately, far too many expats arrive on the shores of the Cayman Islands with their “I’m special” and “the world owes me” attitudes, and instead of acting like courteous guests don’t knock but rather barge into the home, don’t bother taking off their shoes, as if they were raised in a barn, leave the front door wide open, kick the dog, throw their feet up on the living room table, belch out loud like some cow full of gas, ring the dinner bell and ask what’s for supper.
Of course it also doesn’t help that every expat ignoramus (and there are many among the diverse expat community) has an opinion on how horribly wrong everything is in the Cayman Islands, and how much better the Cayman Islands would be if only they ran the show; starting with religion, the education system, moving to social issues, ending with government and other such things. On the one hand, I am very much in favour of everyone having a right to own and express their opinions. Expats are needed guests, and therefore participants in the social fabric of the country. Nonetheless, that doesn’t provide licence to act with impunity – there are judicious and tactful ways of expressing an opinion, of discussing alternatives to how things are done. It has to be done with respect, with professionalism, not to belittle, not to humiliate, but rather to elevate and to try to better a situation.
For the most part, Caymanians with all their flaws, just like like us, with all our flaws, are open and welcoming people if you make the effort to get to know them. There are many expats who do make that effort, and who go out of their way to try and become part of Cayman, to fully integrate with the culture and the people. Unfortunately, there are far too many who make no such effort at all – instead, all they do is badmouth, criticize ,and cast aspersions all day.
There is also a division in the expat community. White expats vs others. Very few white expats, US, Cad, Brits, Aussies mingle with the Jamaicans, Flips, Spanish. So I sense racism is the core. While there are a very few white Caymanians, most from my understanding have a bit of flavor in them.
But Caymanians do bash Jamaicans alot too.
There aren’t very few white Caymanians lol. There’s a lot of us, but you wouldn’t always know it.
So you write a piece complaining about being generalized, then you proceed to generalize the population you are critiquing. Your clickbait title is offensive and inciteful and I think you know that. So what exactly were you aiming to accomplish? Do you think the way you presented your opinions and experiences will endear caymanians to your plight? Get over yourself. You are judging an entire community off the behavior of loud trolls online and you expect it to be recieved with an open mind? I won’t attempt to assume your motivation but based on the way you communicated, to put it nicely, I’d rather not share my HOME with someone that will pigeon hole my people.
Did it occur to you at any point that you do not have the full story, that you do not know the historical issues that caymanians have had to struggle with regarding autonomy, class disparity, racial disparity, socioeconomic disparity etc. Do you have any idea where the anti expat sentiment may arise from? I’m not condoning as I don’t agree with it but I understand why some caymanians feel that way. We’re are all descended from expatriates that came here and joined the community but that doesn’t mean that we have to accept all expatriates or apply their ways of life as our own. That colonial bs is played all the way out.
The funny thing is you paint all expats with this benovolent we only want to come and be apart of your culture brush but in reality that is not the norm anymore and probably nhas not been since the early 1900s if ever. So no, maybe the old Caymankind is no longer prominent but you get enough disrespectful foreigners and it gets old. Either which way, who are YOU to define it? I could make the assumption that you came here with this feeling of entitlement, met disappoinment so you decide to espouse your sense of entitlement on a public local forum Or maybe you Came to Cayman for the geography and to hell with how the locals feel. but idk you so I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
All that said, it’s weird to me that out of all the things you could be doing with your time to help develop connections with caymanians, you chose to write this. In the midst of an unprecedented global crisis at that.
Maybe next time ask your fellow expatriates why they feel the need to move to a country yet refuse to integrate at best and at worst belittle and denigrate the native population, then speak on that. Do you write on your native countries public forums about all the bs your own ppl perpetrate or is just something you do as a guest in another country or is your home magically devoid of similar issues? Sure we have issues I just wonder if you’re consistent in your cultural critiques.
Your opinion and the way you present It says more about you than the people you are putting in a box. The bottom line Still stands, you don’t have to be here. You chose to come, you can choose to leave and I assure you as far as the avg caymanian is concerned the net effect either way will be null REGARDLESS of how you feel about them. Have a good day.
This is a valid point. As an integrated expat who is (according to the community here) “well Caymanized”, I completely agree with this comment. Barely anyone I have ever worked with integrates into the community like me, and seem to prefer to just hang out with each other. Because of how I integrated, because I am not like them, I too am the subject of jokes, intimidation and even exclusion from projects by fellow expat workers.
Unfortunately, Cayman has its ignorances and arrogances just like every other country in the world. While we do promote ourselves as a sort of ‘Little Miami’, this promotion fails to capture the many different backgrounds, nationalities, cultures (and subcultures), here too. I understand that what you have and are experiencing may not be the slice of pie you were hoping for, but I think it is extreme to mix your feelings in with the pandemic and recent government initiatives. Find yourselves a blend of Caymanians (or residents) that you can resonate with, and try to ensure that they are not just the same race/nationality as you. It can, and will be, more beneficial for you. However, if you are unwilling to do that then I do not think Cayman is the right for you (and vice versa).
The largest expat girl community in Cayman is Jamaican and Phillipino. Most of us are really struggling now with little or nothing to our name and no way of getting “home”. I would dearly love the chance to live on the Canadian family’s ocean going yacht now they have been gifted condo on SMB with a/c. Couldn’t make this up and this type of letter does not help with solidarity.
What also doesn’t help is that instead of being happy for the Canadian family who received help, you see to envy them.
Take your long ramblin story to BVI or Bermuda where they treat expats like crap. But wait the money not as good as ours in them two islands
So shut up. We good here.
I would sign my name but I need s job!!!
The only thing I see clearly is that you are anti-expat. The girl writes about her experiences and you come up with a lame response like that? You might as well just said the typical “don’t let the plane’s door hit you on the ass on your way out” response.
This reads more like venting of a frustrated expat than a sound argument for the absence of “Caymankind”. She relies heavily on anecdotal evidence, that while may be true, should definitely not be generalized. It isn’t surprising that this entire thing came about as a reaction to some comments on a news article, but it remains a fact that comments on news websites and social media can offend you no matter what side you are on. A Caymanian can easily go through some of those comments and infer that expats are arrogant, self-righteous leeches, who have no regard for Caymanian values or culture. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I don’t think her mind can be changed easily. However, I still hope that one day she will see that amidst all the angry jabber, there is a lot of kindness in the hearts of the people of these islands.
Aren’t all references to Caymankind going to anecdotal?
I believe that one of the things that is responsible for this division is the loss of control of our country to “expat money..”. Our government is in the pocket of Dart.. Yes, Dart has status, But he and his money have been naturalized. He,and his money,are making the decisions, unchallenged, about the future of our country.
I feel that one of the things that angers both Caymanians and long term expats is the take over over of country by “naturalized” money. It would not be so bad if he respected Cayman and its culture and heritage. But rather he is remodeling our country as he wants it. Giving a new meaning to who the he is in the well known words: “He hath founded it upon the seas”‘.
I feel this loss of control of our country and our government to this x-expat is what fuels a lot of the anger or perceived anger, against expats..
If we do not address this underlying problem ,then the rest of the arguments, even the well thought out and honest openly expressed ones on both sides will be meaningless in solving the problem with our country.
So Dart fuels the anti-expat anger? Wow. And here I thought it was expat peeping Toms that was the true cause.
As an expat turned proud Caymanian, married to a Caymanian and surrounded by Caymanian most days I know that there are plenty expats here with a closed mind who are very hard to to imagine integrating in any society outside of their own, there are also expats here who embrace cayman and it’s people with open arms and realize yes there are good and bad Caymanians but all in all most are good people just slightly different, culturally, obviously. Expatgirl please realize that there are lots of trolls that provide comments about expats snd Caymanians just to fuel a row or an article such yours which is very wordy but lacking some substance. Just that you think your facts about the boat family donations are true made me lose respect for you (whoever you may be) and your weak argument.
I too am an expat turned proud (but not accepted) Caymanian. I was with you until your last 3 words. She made some excellent points.
If CaymanKind is hype, and you obviously still consider yourself to be an expat after all these years, why did you come an stay? Clearly you have not integrated.
Expatgirl I’ve heard both sides, “passing” as an expat to those that don’t know me and the ugly words that come out of the mouths of expats when they think they’re surrounded by their own are truly horrifying. Many, many expats don’t integrate or assimilate and make absolutely no effort whatsoever to do so. I’ve been the recipient of the change in attitude once they know I’m Caymanian. After many years of hearing the anti-Caymanian rhetoric, lack of assimilation and expectation that we accept your culture whilst you don’t accept ours, naturally we are tired of hearing it. Many expats have not one single Caymanian friend, don’t know the local history and make no attempt to learn anything about Cayman. The racism and the bias is not overt most of the time but it is there, in every aspect of daily interaction.
James Austin-Smith was not putting “his reputation or job at risk to highlight the issue” as you say, but there is a time to ask questions and a time to keep your mouth shut. JAS chose the wrong time to bring this up and by doing so incited and agitated the situation even more. It is something that should be questioned but after the event when cooler heads prevail not in the middle of a pandemic.
As to your comment that not one Caymanian supported the family on the boat – I know for a fact items were offered to this family by Caymanians, whether the group of expats that organised the donation accepted the contribution from Caymanians, I do not know. Most Caymanians don’t have two homes and therefore can’t offer up a home to this family, although a number of them have already opened up their homes to expats who have lost their jobs. The question I put to you is why didn’t these very same expats offer their homes, clothing, food vouchers and car to the many Caymanians who are homeless or in need? To use your words “Presumably because they are dirty Caymanians”.
Expats are welcome here. Expats are needed for Cayman to continue to prosper but as long as expats don’t assimilate and continue to denigrate Caymanians nothing will change. Cayman was built, long before you were here, by Caymanians and expats working side by side and not by expats alone, please remember that.
Everything you said is true. Apologies for her ignorance.
Expat here.
UK voted for Brexit as they are not fond of cheap expat labor. US voted for Trump so he can build a wall as they are not fond of cheap Mexican labor. Migrations are natural and have been happening since the beginning of time. I agree some immigrants did not come here to assimilate but they expect this country to be like their own (plus tax free, crystal clear water and sunshine which they are missing at home). And there are some locals who fear for their livelihood and are therefor are hostile towards the expats.
We should not generalize each other.
The UK voted for Brexit because the unelected ‘Eurocrats’ in EU have delusions of grandeur and (wrongly) thought that they could impose their political ideology & agenda on the British people while making the UK foot the bill to prop up their failing experiment.
The US builds a ‘wall‘ to stop the unchecked flow of drugs and ILLEGAL immigrants flooding across their southern border, BOTH of which are having a significant negative impact on the health of the US citizens and the US economy. The US is NOT anti-immigrant, they are the most immigrant friendly nation on earth, but they also have rule of law and process … they have the right to decide who can immigrate to their country & to secure their borders, the same as the CAYMAN ISLANDS or any other country.
With you on first para but definitely not the second. As an expat, that is not my experience of the US.
When I moved here 10 years ago I remember thinking how nice everyone was… well, that faded with time. Too many people being pitting against each other by the government who chooses to not unite… if they did…oh Lordy.
That point is spot on. Elected MLAs for the last 15-20 years have pitted Caymanians against expats. Not happy with your lot in life, blame the expats. Don’t have what you want, blame the expats. Don’t have the job you want, blame the expats. Nothing is your fault.
Politicians of the previous generations didn’t do that and Cayman was harmonious and flourished. And it all started with the uneducated “scoundrel” from West Bay.
Yes, it really started after the Cabinet Status grants in 2003 and then in the run-up to the 2005 election when the PPM demonized McKeeva for the status grants, which In turn demonized expats for many more Caymanians. They were going to “take back the country” and when you asked from whom, the answer was the expats, who had apparently stolen it from them.
And then the divisive Immigration Laws of 2007 onwards…
Yep! Just look at the inequality, the MLAs profit off expats and use the poor Caymanians to blame us for their short failings so they keep electing them to office.
-poor public schools
-poor minimum wage
-poor family planning help
-poor community programs for at risk youth
I remember his “cluttering up the infrastructure” speech in the L.A.”
And don’t forget that they started instituting the roll-over after Ivan. (It was always in place before but never utilized)
They got rid of A LOT of good people that stayed on the island to help rebuild rather than those that escaped the discomfort of no a/c… (not blaming those that needed to take their kids to schools overseas)
@ Anonymous 19/05/2020 at 8:15 pm – yet you’re still here. Clearly isn’t that bad.
Did I say that? God, try to understand what I was saying you cig pleb…
People like you are why she wrote the above. Do try to keep up.
What a load of crap! You must hang out with the girl on facebook that in every post complains about how bad her time in Cayman was and every place she lived in Cayman had mold and that Caymanians are lazy and worthless and took advantage of them. This after many Caymanians stood up for her.
There is always be a divide but there are a lot of expats who refuse to assimilate in the Cayman culture. I have been here for 17 years and when I first arrived I was invited to a Caymanian family’s house for a Barbeque and learnt to play a game of dominos. Needless to say I fell in love with the culture and the people. Tell me where there is a fish tea brewing and i will be there.
The same didn’t happen when I went to work in a top 5 accounting firm. Most of the employees were young expats like me and were rotating out every 18 months. There were very few that got to know even one Caymanian and I found myself in many situations defending Caymanians because these folks treated them as a subclass. It irritated me so much when they would sit around and make fun and belittle them. I even invited them from time to time to join me on a boat ride with some of my Caymanian friends and they always found a reason to get out of going.
To the writer, I say this, rather than hanging out with your fellow expats and treating Caymanians like crap..Get to know them, they are accepting , caring and not lazy. Laziness is found in any culture not matter where you live..So let’s not use the broad brush on them either..
Agree with this observation. I am an expat working in financial services too and its true what you’ve observed. Some expats come here and literally complain about anything Caymanian – religion, culture, people, traffic, etc. They laugh at how the older Caymanians act and most refuse to work with Caymanians too saying they are not good when in fact they just have the same or even more qualifications. My question is, why stay here if you hate Cayman so much??? All of us came here to have a better life (some of us don’t even have our own vehicles at home and would never be able to afford the luxuries we have now – thanks to Cayman!) and earn better salaries. That’s a fact. You wouldn’t leave your country if you are so much better off at home. But not some of the expats who feel that they are better than everyone else (even better than some of the expats from the Caribbean or third world) and that they are God’s gift to Cayman. They came here with the mentality that Cayman has to adjust to me and to hell with the locals. You know before coming here what Cayman is all about. I believe that if you come into someone else’s country, you should adapt to the culture of your host country. Respect their culture. Respect the people. Just as how you respect your host when you go into their homes should be the same respect you bestow on the people who are hosting you in their country. Problem here is Caymanians are too kind and too forgiving. Try to write this article in a US publication and see how fast your visa will get revoked or how fast you’ll get deported (they now check your social media while applying for visas too). Just think of how you would feel if it was you in their situation. I know I wouldn’t be too happy with expats too. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Caymanians who I now consider as my second family here. If you just talk to them you would understand where they are coming from. Most expats won’t even bother saying a simple good morning or good evening to them much more try to know them. That’s the sad reality.
I would only comment on the statement that no Caymanian helped the Canadian mom stuck here on the sail boat with her family. It is absolutely incorrect to make this statement. I personally provided a lot of clothing, a car seat, baby bath, and other things for this impending new norm. All my stuff was collected by another Caymanian lady who personally bought diapers etc washed everything and delivered them. We may be many things but when the call goes out to help others many of us respond. My advice, when writing a piece like this be careful to use such strong language like Caymanians ‘dont’, or we never etc. Life is as complicated here as anywhere else. We are always ready to help.
Most rental ads in Cayman are explicitly “NO NAU”. Why this person did not offer her condo to a local family?
Because if they aren’t paying they aren’t taking care of the home. That’s usually the MO. Not saying everyone who falls on hard times is like this but until everyone realizes that some people just want freebies and just are POS the ones who ACTUALLY need the help will be lumped into that category. Just like a few assholes ruined the beach visits for everyone.
100 % accurate! Many, not all seek assistance from wherever, and whoever is willing to help. It’s over-whelming. I can’t help everyone. So I would really only like to help the ones that TRULY need it.
Thank you Expatgirl. As someone who can trace his roots to many ancestors listed in the 1802 census, you have really opened my eyes to things I could never have imagined on my own. Like Oxbridge, Ivy League, and a few others, Expat is a moniker to be proud of and should be held in high esteem to alert others that even when we are all equals, like on the Animal Farm there will always be some who more equal than others.
Thank you Expatgirl, for doing your best to promulgate and maintain the divide between Caymanians and Expats, whilst simultaneously decrying, to a small degree perhaps, its very existence.
Thank you Expatgirl, for collating all of the stereotypical differences between Caymanians and Expats into one viewpoint, and of course an especially big thank you for training a young Caymanian girl to the point where you feel she is worthy of mention.
Thank you Expatgirl for your self-aggrandizing viewpoint which clearly distinguishes you from the many other expats, yes, those with a small “e”, of whom many were here even before MRCU managed to get the mosquitoes under control. On their behalf, and perhaps to satisfy my own morbid curiosity, as soon as the curfew is lifted I shall exhume my great grandfather from the South Sound graveyard to ask him why he sold my share of Seven Mile Beach to foreign developers.
If there is anything to defend, is her right to an opinion, flawed as it may be. Best to Ignore her though. Clueless to say the least. You will always get the few who are truly proud of their ignorance.
Ok, let me catch my bearings after reading this quite long winded article:
1. For the love of God please STOP classing all Caymanians in the same category of “expat-bashing” as we DO NOT all behave in this manner. IMO if you as the expat took it upon yourself to come here to work and make a better life for you and your family that is completely your business. How you conduct yourself while here as a grown adult is completely your business. What you do with the money that you earn is completely your business. If you are doing the job that a Caymanian was not qualified to do then by all means do it to the best of your abilities and go about your life with your head held high and IGNORE what everyone else has to say. They are voicing their opinion and last time I checked it is a free country and freedom of speech is permissable for everyone local or expat.
2. The term “Caymankind” is a Tourism gimmick and IMO should not be taken seriously as many Caymanians do not need this to show good will towards others. If you were raised in the right way it will come naturally as you would want to be treated fairly by others. Stop this stupid “Caymankind” repetition of how others think Caymanians are suppose to behave towards them. You cannot force anyone to treat you as you think you should be treated. You only need to worry about how you treat others.
3. I am quite sure there are many coutries around the world that their citizens have a dislike for foreigners (expats) and they voice their opinions openly. Stop making it seem like the The Cayman Islands is the only place in the world that this happens. Prejudice happens everywhere and in many forms. No one can stop it but you can rise above it and be better than what others are portraying you as. No one here is perfect and no one should portray themselves as perfect either. We are all just human beings trying to make our way in an unperfect world. Words hurt yes but if it hasn’t done physical harm to you then let it go.
A born Caymanian.
7:03pm….Well said!
You need to check out the comments under the Gov live feed on youtube to just feel the hate! I know its a minority but it is hate and could be prosecuted as such.. In the end we’re all expats.. nobody was here 500 plus years ago and if we keep going like this there won’t be anyone left in another 500 years.. We can all trace our histories back and they all come from somewhere else.. We’ve all been stolen from somewhere, run away from something or run towards an ideal or hope for a better life.. ALL OF US.. Time to get over it and grow.. this is like firing the field to make sure the next growth is better!
@ 10:10 am….I am sure you are not wrong in regards to there being comments of pure hate but as you said “it’s a minority” and there is NOTHING we can do about how they feel. I really do not understand why a person would think everyone will like them? It really does not matter who you are or what you have done to prove your worth as it is just best to ACCEPT that you will not be liked by everyone. Even our own Caymanians do not all like each other and spew hateful comments towards one another. It’s just the way Life is and you can either accept it and roll with the punches or let it destroy you.
Yes, migration is the history of the species, of all species in fact, along with evolution. That doesn’t mean there aren’t those of us with such deep roots we can’t move, and others with none. Come now.
“Little islander” mentality is not just a Cayman thing but it has been strong here since I first came in 1975. All the incompetence and laziness and pettiness must be ignored because everyone is a relative or a friend of a relative.
As an expat, here are my tips for living on Cayman:
1. Do the job you came to do. You and your family will benefit.
2. Treat everyone with respect. You get what you give. Not just BS “politeness”. Understand and empathize.
3. Enjoy what the island has to offer. Yeah, there’s the beach, but there’s so much more.
4. Help the community in some way. When you help someone, you see the world is bigger than yourself.
5. Accept that you don’t have a say in governance. You just don’t!
6. Embrace that there are going to be some quirky things that you wouldn’t experience at home. That’s the way it is.
7. Stop whining. If the grass is greener somewhere else, then go explore your options.
Sorry, i just have a beach house and don’t really care how expats or islanders treat each other. I do have eyes and ears to notice the ignorant arrogance.
Not sure what the point of your comment was.
That’s probably a troll that doesn’t have a cardboard box. Simply trying to upset people with an act that he or she is above it.
“You get what your give” If only people really understood and saw how much this is true!
I sure would like to see the USA, England or any other developed nation paying to house non-essential ( read not asylum seekers) to enter their countries. Get out of here with that BS. Our government is feeding and providing medical care to out of work permit holders while the US is refusing to pay legal citizens $1200 relief cheques because they are legally married to someone who hasn’t yet been issued a social security number.
😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Your comment clearly demonstrates why employers prefer expats.
Your critical thinking skills are undeveloped, especially capability to incorporate multiple facts to make most logical and well-suited conclusion.
Err…it seems that your critical thinking skills are the ones in question.
You seem to have a problem that a great many other expats have which is a failure to learn about, appreciate and assimilate into the culture. That is precisely the type of attitude that will undoubtedly be met with, “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”.
There we go, best defense is offense.
“We” would even justify the infamous physical attack on a woman because she probably didn’t “assimilate into the culture”. Didn’t hear anyone condemning the act.
Then you clearly don’t have any Caymanian friends because all of my friends and family are still outraged at the Speaker’s behaviour and the lack of appropriate action/words from the Premier.
And yet you will still wote him and his cronies back into office. Every single time…
I have never voted for McKeeva or any of his cronies. Thanks for the xenophobic opinion which doesn’t take into consideration my carefully considered vote every election since I was 18 years old.
Exactly. Assimilate don’t exacerbate a problem that the vocal few minorities exude. Even your home country has those, i am sure. Perhaps you should go back and see before you judge those that actually do welcome you with open arms – remember, when in Rome….
Who the heck wants to assimilate into this culture?
Please leave. Thanks.
If you don’t want to assimilate or even make the appearance of assimilation then please leave Cayman now and never look back. Thanks.
I’m a long time expat. Whoever wrote this was ill judged in their rhetoric. I find it deeply offensive from the perspective of an expat, let alone how I feel from the point of view of people who are from the Cayman Islands and consider themselves “Caymanian” in the way in which you refer.
I don’t see how this in any way has any relation to Mr Austin-Smith’s editorial regarding the legality of any lockdown measures which have been taken. You are patronising. Please don’t speak on behalf of expats again.
Kind regards.
Deeply offensive? Patronizing? Please don’t speak? Common, you could have done better in your passive aggressive thinly veiled as polite comment. You’re using the “best defense is offense” tactic.
They say there is only one chance to make an impression. Her impression of Cayman kindness was not good. Who are you to invalidate it?
You don’t see any relation to the mentioned editorial? But she does. May be your thought process works differently than hers.
Instead of picking apart her comment, try to grasp the message her comment delivers:
General attitude toward expats in Cayman is hostile. Such attitude comes from the very top with a “welcome” message to Governor “that “cockroach has no business in a rooster fight”.
Agreed. What this person thought they were accomplishing by publishing this cynical tripe is utterly beyond me. All she has done is stoke what negligible amount of anti-expat feeling there might have been in this community. If that was your intention lady, well done.
If anyone else feels compelled to write a lengthy missive responding to anonymous xenophobic comment trolls, here’s a tip: Don’t. You cannot possibly extrapolate their views to an entire people and xenophobia cuts both ways.
Caymanian friends and gracious hosts: please ignore and forgive this idiot, for she knows not what she does.
Signed, another (grateful) long time expat.
Exactly. I am curious how they treat expats in her home country. In mine, expats that do not make an effort to assimilate are treated really bad, so I feel blessed and welcomed here, even now in the middle of this catastrophe
It comes from a place of ignorance. Probably not her fault, as she was most likely not taught better – prefer not to assume, but that’s how that usually comes about.
Thank you. Just as there are a few vocal protectionist Caymanian that do go to an extreme with their ideas, so too are there some pretty obnoxious expats that come here trying to force their ways on those that already live here – Caymanian sand happy expats alike.
Sadly, this person is one of those obnoxious expats and they are only trying to exacerbate the problems by highlighting the vocal minority who, for whatever reason, do chose to be a little extreme. But at heart, it is their home and just like the middle Americans and their indie ing love for Trump, we all have a few who are off the edge of the spectrum.
The only good thing is, the extreme Caymanians are here to stay, and you, Expatgirl, are free to, and most definitely should, leave.
Signed a long time expat who is now an assimilated and very happy and welcomed Caymanian.
I couldn’t have said it better!! .
We’ve seen them come and go over the years, there will be more, I just wish these new ones realized no one wants to hear their whinging.
…Another happy settled, welcomed expat turned proud Caymanian.
How can you even begin to call the poser patronising, before immediately telling not to speak on behalf of expats, because you have the sole right to determine what an “expat” viewpoint is, or should be. Did the irony not even occur to you?
If you stay off social media you may find your outlook on and experience in Cayman (and IMHO in life) will improve. That goes for Caymanian and expat alike. People are basically good.
I agree, however hostile attitude toward expats comes from the very top. And that is THE problem. It is kind of hard to overlook driftwood, gaypril and rascals “jokes” as well as “cockroach has no business in a rooster fight” warning.
Sure, but for the most part, the “people” of the Islands are decent, kind, welcoming…
ETH – And yet it comes from the highest in the land. And you keep voting them back in. The same career politicians since I landed in 1991.
So if you truly believe what you wrote, prove it with your next election.
Amen. Try actually lowering yourself from your high horse and actually integrating with the local community.
Interestingly though, that is easier said than done these days. It used to be much easier to integrate with Caymanians but started becoming more difficult the schools became segregated to a large degree and even the bars became much more socially segregated. You can still integrate, but unless your join a church or a social organization that has lots of Caymanians, it can be difficult. Integration needs to happen both ways.
Because we realised we were being hunted to extinction and letting expats integrate with us was just making it easier for them to take our stuff. Witness the rise of the new generation of ‘young Caymanian success stories’ none of them actually Caymanian just parents who came here in the early 90s or earlier. They had a lot of Caymanians who their parents had successfully integrated with help them along the way. Unfortunately I don’t see those bonds maintained after the help has been given. I do not have children of my own yet but I have seen it happen as a young Caymanian adult myself and saw it happen as I grew up. I’ve written too many letters of recommendation for too many people who I couldn’t call now and ask for help with my own lot in life. We are ultimately disposable… Just like the countries you expats left. We can’t change who you are – takers. The clue is in the very act of leaving your home for better after it raised you. The lack of gratitude goes with you everywhere you go because it’s in your nature – and so you see it in everyone else.
Do you realise that in the 1950s, the population of the Cayman Islands dropped as more and more Caymanians left to seek better lives, mostly in the United States? It’s why there are still a lot of people with Caymanian heritage living in places like Port Arthur, Beaumont, New Orleans, Tampa and Miami. We’re they all takers by nature, too? And seeing has many of them, or their children, have come back, by your own logic they are Caymanians who are by their very nature takers. Stop playing a victim. Nobody is “hunting you to extinction” and nobody is taking your stuff – unless you willingly sell it to them.
Expatgirl – I can’t reject or rebuff your experience(s) with Caymanians and I respect your opinions. Therefore I hope you will respect mine, in kind.
I’m a Caymanian by birth who was raised and educated to accept people for who they are, not from whence they come. I have friends of all nationalities. I was schooled in the UK in the 1970s and was accepted totally where I lived. Hence I fully appreciate the acceptance of a “stranger” in a foreign society. I was the only black kid in my school, my youth club, my Boy’s Brigade and I never felt out of place. I still have dear school and social friends from that time of my life. One of the reasons I was accepted so openly was the nature of the people where I was, working-class Geordieland /Tyneside/ the Northeast – the friendliest people in all of England, in my opinion. I later moved to boarding school in Yorkshire (one of only 4 blacks in the whole school), an upper-middle-class environment and more “snobbish” but I still found acceptance. Another primary reason I was accepted so readily, and I was constantly told this by people around me, was that I ASSIMILATED with both societies in which I was placed – as diverse as they both were. I never experienced racism.
The problem that some expats in Cayman experience with marginalization is related to two factors – locals who do not know how to be accepting of anyone else (those types occur in every society around the world – witness the rise of nationalism in the USA, Britain, and other western countries now). So they are not unique to Cayman. Another primary reason why some expats find life in Cayman unaccepting is that they refuse to ASSIMILATE within our society. They don’t seek out Caymanian friends or indulge in local activities or venues.
I’ve had three expat close friends (one American, one Canadian and one English) describe to me how they were “coached” by acquaintances from their respective countries who were already in Cayman before and shortly after they arrived in Cayman. They were told Caymanians are stupid, lazy, vindictive (don’t mess with a Cayman or their significant other will have you kicked off the island), don’t appreciate expats’ contributions and other generalized bull-shit. Thankfully those friends were more open-minded and found their own niche in Cayman. One, of dear departed memory, had all his kids born here and both he and his dear wife are buried in Cayman soil – the island they adopted as their home.
So, don’t paint all Caymanians with the same narrow-minded and short-sighted brush and criticize “Caymankind” as a generalization. Perhaps if you would take the time to meet and get to know some Caymanians of your choice, and ASSIMILATE with Caymanian culture
(the little that’s left) you might find that not all Caymanians are xenophobes. However, my suggestion might make you cringe because just from the tone of your post itself, I have my own opinion that you may have xenophobic and “holier-than-thou” tendencies yourself. BTW, I’ve also had experiences locally with that type.
Well said !
I am one of tens of thousands of paper/driftwood/don’t let the door hit you etc. Caymanians that now irreversibly colour Cayman’s international tapestry. Been here most of my life now, and like everyone (and I suspect you too), witnessed a lot of jaw-dropping stuff. There are many parts of West Indian culture that I will never assimilate with on principle (and these are BBQ guest deal-breakers): turtle eating, ranting about a sky wizard, homophobia, environmental belligerence, and willful blindness to the abusive and corrupt. Cayman needs to be dragged into the present and the ruling elite to be held accountable…finally. Some people will need to be prosecuted and sent to jail in order for us to move forward out of blacklisting. If that doesn’t happen now and soon, we are all screwed. See you at the voter booth.
Generally agree, but with regard to turtle eating, I would say you shouldn’t judge them for your beliefs. Should the majority of Indians dismiss friendship with you because you eat beef? Do you hate people who eat foie gras or caviar? Should vegans despise you because you eat animal flesh of any kind? Well, in the last case, they probably do, but that is wrong, too.
Turtling is how the forefathers of this county survived. It is the national dish. They farm turtles, just like other countries farm livestock. You don’t have to eat it, but don’t judge Caymanians just because they do.
Maybe you ought to have stayed back wherever you came from. Have some decency and respect. Expat also in case you are wondering.
A perfect response from an open-minded, exposed Caymanian who doesn’t have a sense of entitlement. If only Expat girl knew how many of us actually exist. The question is does she really care to know.
If you are such a nice and kind person why did you bother with your lengthily comment, praising yourself, instead of asking yourself: Maybe we are not that kind after all if people seem not to see our kindness? What can I do personally to change that?
Instead, you resorted to blame and shame a person you never met and know nothing about.
You mean the same one who just tried to blame and shame all Caymanians with the same brush? Surely you see the hypocrisy in your own comment.
Excellent summary. Well said.
Wrong
Great leadership is about uniting, not dividing people.
I am not aware of a single message from Premier that calls for unity among all people in Cayman. Never ever he stressed the importance and value expats brought and continue bringing to Cayman’ prosperity.
Quite the opposite, he appears to approve with his silence the despicable verbal and physical attacks on expats that come from MLAs and Ministers.
The last straw was declaring that returning expats must pay for their own involuntary imprisonment. CIG have yet to provide evidence that shelter-in-place is an insufficient measure to protect public health.
5:42pm Our leaders are doing what is deemed best for us INCLUDING feeding you! They’ve said that you should pay for your 2 wks isolation as YOU chose to leave so pay your dues to return!
And lastly wherever you come from look at what your Gov’t is enacting to get your country back up and operating and keeping its citizens safe!
Ps next door Jamaica & Nicaragua have shut their doors to their citizens
They’re on OUR soil and Cayman Gov’t is caring for them
Finally there’s an airport that will re-open and a plane to take you back to where you’ll have no issues:- YOUR YARD … SO PLZ don’t stay in Cayman and be miserable girl:- catch a flight as soon as you can!
I never heard of people being detained on irrational fear, involuntary confined then forced to pay for the pleasure of being “ incarcerated”. Well, India seem to be doing that.
By the way, who is paying for the UK military group?
True words. We welcome you but you don’t get to dictate what our government do or no not do. You are a guest.
@ Anonymous 19/05/2020 at 5:42 pm – you and I are definitely not listening to the same press briefings as I HAVE heard the Premier stressing the importance and value of expats to Cayman. And it’s not “imprisonment”, get over yourself!
People chose to hear what they want to hear and if they don’t they ask questions over and over again until they get the answer they want or make it up to satisfy their agenda.
LOL,
after they left in droves and you sense that they took their money with them you suddenly start saying it is not good if they all leave.
7:38 They can continue to leave in droves.
He did that because people are irresponsible, break rules, and dont care about the safety of others…And instead of self quarantining would be running around the community. Dont’t come back if you don’t want to.
A while lot of inaccurate drivel.
Too exhausted to bother going into detail.
As another expat girl, you and I both know there is ALOT of Caymanian bashing that goes on, especially at that particular spot, you know the spot I’m talking about. The lovely boat family was aided partly because they were just like us, looked like us, spoke like us, foreigners in a foreign country. And I KNOW FOR A FACT, Caymanians also assisted them. It is true however, that Caymankind is a myth, so you got one thing right.
Yup.
Sorry, which spot is this? As a Caymanian who looks and sounds like an expat, I wouldn’t mind infiltrating it to hear the truth.
Did not take me long after moving on Island to see this part of “Cayman Culture”. I have been here for total of 12 years in two tours and I have seen the good and the bad. I try to celebrate the good and ignore the bad but sometimes it is hard to do when the government and leadership is part of the bad. Now with the fear of Corona practically running all plans Cayman Islands is going downhill fast and the bad is picking up steam. It’s their time. Cayman is heading for a big fall and no brakes put on yet. I hope Cayman will survive the next year without too much bad. One good hurricane and they will be on their own with no help. Just the way they seem to want it. I am only hoping that after a year the good will have a turn to fix what the bad has done. Good luck Cayman. See you on the other side.
Stopped reading after 1 minute. You could have gotten to your point sooner. Everyone has a right speak. James spoke his point, let the locals speak theirs too!
I have to agree James isn’t out there doing good in the community by sitting behind a keyboard basically inciting anger by saying Government breaking the law when they are trying to save people from death of covid19. This isn’t USA where Trump encourages states to rebel. Please don’t bring that foolishness to Cayman James. Not everyone is sitting working still like lawyers.
And he’s not always right, although he always thinks he is.
The author of this drivel sounds like a lonely spoilt little Expatgirl. Try being a bit more friendly and respectful towards others and you will be amazed by the outcome. And yes, Cayman is not for everyone so you know what to do!
And, she’ll be clamouring to get back as soon as she can.They all bash how horrible it is here and then a year later, they’re back and if they can’t come back they all wish they could come back.
LOL So you didn’t even read it…
Very true, how many have left slamming the island, vowing never to come back, yet yearning with each post on someone’s FB how much they miss it and what jobs are available so they can return.
The law is the law. You dont’t get to choose when and which part of it gets enforced. I support Expatgirl in this instance. Not in anything else she said after.