Watersports operators should be Caymanian
Winston McDermot writes: Don Fosters going out of business is just the tip of the iceberg and the virus was not the only cause. I predict many other watersports operators will follow suit and, likewise, it will not be the virus but our very own Cayman government being the cause.
Most of the Caymanian watersports operators I have spoken to recently have been on very thin ice financially for a while now. This is mainly due to limited customers and because business was spread too thin among too many operators. The government has been dishing out watersports licences indiscriminately to any and everyone who applied.
Who was responsible for that fiasco and why were Caymanians not always given the priority? I know of persons with residency and millions in the bank receiving licences. Others have Caymanians with two cents in their pocket and working for only a day’s salary claiming they are 60% owners and receive a licence. Come on now! How blatant can you be?
I suggest that, as soon as it is possible to do so, government should go through all current licences and carefully investigate and remove all the bad eggs. Watersports should, and must be, a 100% Caymanian business. Ultimately, no one else does watersports better than Caymanians.
The government must do all it can now to save the few watersports businesses still alive when this is all over. And ‘over’ will not be until a vaccination is developed, possibly sometime in the fall. By winter we may start see a few tourists arrive, the ones who can still afford to travel, as the US economy will be devastated by then.
Likewise, many cruise lines will be closed and the handful remaining will be struggling for years to come. We must continue to treat our foreign residents the best we possibly can. However, we cannot allow them to take bread off our plate either, while their pantry remains full.
To our politicians: our people must always be number one. Always.
Winston McDermot was a pioneer of the diving industry in the Cayman Islands, particularly in the Sister Islands. He is an International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Honouree.
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Maybe some people need to watch this video for some insight…..
https://www.facebook.com/100004181315380/posts/1747217895427571/?
I am an expat business owner and I don’t see this article as “anti expat”. There is nothing wrong with prioritizing hiring Caymanians in their own country. There should be no unemployed Caymanians in Cayman. Industries and jobs that Caymanians WANT to do should be saved for them. Especially now. If a moratorium will be set in place so be it. Spreading the business too thin is hurting both Caymanian and expat business owners.
I agree with Winston totally. I have an American accent and was born an American. My father was born Caymanian. His mother was a Watler and his father was a Miller. I came here from NYC in 1968. I worked at the bank which I enjoyed, but eventually moved into my first joy, the sea. I had a thousand dives before I got a c card. I worked for a dive resort with a wonderful boss who also enjoyed the sea. I worked day and night and if there was a room available I stayed at the resort. No car, so just hitchhiking everyday, I walked into town from the resort everyday. I made $700 per month but very little to no tips. Free food and worked day and night. Learn to operate a dive boat and was the backup diver. Around 1977 is when I started working and I enjoyed it. Eventually moved to another resort which became the largest dive operation on the island. Same pay, a lot more work, different staff only one foreigner who was married to a Caymanian, nice guy. Cool guy no issues learn some more stuff. He quit, I had to work with foreigner expats. They were constantly high or had a hangover from the night before. Not all of the time, but like most people they weren’t here for the money or to meet any Caymanian girls? So they were here to party and dive. They were all dive Instructors but no matter how much I asked they never offered to teach me to the next level . When I went back to the first place I worked, two dive instructors got me licensed to Divemaster. Then I worked for a new guy who bought the oldest company on Grand Cayman. He paid me $600 per month I took the job on the agreement I would stay and I would be making $950 by the end of the year. I also got the glass bottom boat to operate all by myself. I went all over GT from the drop off to the shore line. It was very educational. I got an apt right next door to the boss. Dive Instructors were coming and going. In fact the boss showed me a stack of applications from the floor to the top of his desk. They were willing to come and work for free. But one day I got sick and even leaving a note explaining I was sick with stomach problems, I was fired. Took me a long time to figure out what happened. I could stay on the job if I took a salary reduction of $150 a month otherwise I would have to go. I left and started working for a smaller company that while he was a foreigner he was fair. He had been here for many years and paid me $250 per week 1980. 10 people as customers 2 dive instructors per boat. Home by 2:00 pm. But all in all I continued working for other companies even as a captain for 50 ft catamaran and up to 106ft pirate boat, sweet.
What happened to this wonderful life was the boat moorings. You couldn’t just fire a Caymanian because who knew how to find the underwater sights? They don’t have a sign, so you needed to know by using cross bearings. Foreigners don’t know that, but if all you need is to put a bow line on a boat you can make up a new name for the site . Especially if they just arrived on the island. When that new guy bought that old place in town, he wanted to take over the island. First thing he found out from the previous owner is all of the Caymanian divemasters eventually started their own dive companies, oops thats the problem. Thats why we are no longer qualified, drug addicts, drunks or never on time just excuses. Thats the real reason.
“They were constantly high or had a hangover from the night before. Not all of the time,…”
I stopped reading after that. Makes no sense whatsoever.
“while he was a foreigner he was fair…”
Meaning what? That the expectation is that foreigners are innately unfair?
Excuse me but those mooring balls that you are putting down help to prevent further damage to the reef. If you think that they are the reason that you or anyone else lost their jobs then I’d like to know what you are smoking!
As far as the hangover and drugs….I always worked to hard to be hungover and never did drugs as I respect Cayman laws. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush!
First off, why all of the hate? We wonder why Caymanians grew resentment towards expats and it’s evident in this comment section. Shame on you all. Shame on you for stating that you love this island and the wildlife but impose so much hate on the people, It’s truly disgraceful.
As a young Caymanian what I believe is missing from the water sports and hospitality industry is education from preschool and primary school level. Generational poverty intervention is key and that is through quality education from teachers who care and express empathy with their students from early. This also goes to the Educational Ministry which has very poor management. Exposure to the possibilities is also important by acknowledging a student’s passion from a young age and harnessing their energy for their development in that field. There’s too much pressure to become a lawyer or accountant thus creating a negative stigma around the water sports and hospitality industry. I would love to see more black male representation in conservation as this will show young black men the possibilities, representation matters. I’ve heard many stories of expats arriving on the island to bar tend on a 6 month contract, making 50k and then leaving to travel again. I’ve also walked away with $300 a day from working on a charter vessel but young Caymanians are not aware of these possibilities and are not trained for it.
There’s too much judgment from privilege people who traveled here and imposing what they believe are the needs of the Country. I’ve been wanting to write an article on cultural imperialism and neocolonialism in the Caribbean and feel more inclined to do so after reading these CNS comments.
Your second paragraph is on point.
Your first and third however, less so… perhaps some of the attitudes on here are in response to hate directed as Expats? Read through the comments again and you will see plenty of people attaching foreigners, plenty of xenophobia.
Most expats love living here, love the people and work hard… they also contribute massively to the Island.
Most Caymanians are incredibly welcoming and understanding of the mutually beneficial relationship they have with those coming to live here. You only have to look around the Caribbean to see how less welcoming countries have suffered as a result.
However, people on both sides react to insults and accusations that they consider to be unfair in a fairly predicable way. Neo-colonialism it is not.
Many industries are suffering (for a while) because business is spread too thin among too many. “Free Market” I was told “Let the best survive”. “This is how we gonna improve services”. Cut throat situation. Survival mode. Every single day.
Expat workers in the tourism industry are mainly here for a good time and not to make a fortune….
CNS: The rest of this comment is posted here.
I have been to Sandbar many times with both ex-pat and Caymanian companies. For the most part the ex-pat companies respect the stingrays and follow the rules. The same cannot be said for the Caymanian run companies. They act as though the stingrays were put on this earth to make them money and have no respect for them at all. They don follow the regulations and blatantly abuse the rays. The tourists don’t know any better.
Even as far as fishing goes they think all the rules are made for everybody but them. Do they not realize that the waters around Cayman are so overfished that some species might never recover ? I’ve heard every excuse for the lack of fish from loud engine noise is to photographers flashes scaring them away.All nonsense. The only thing that empties the oceans of fish is fishing.
How many Caymanians step up and help with conservation efforts like rebuilding coral reefs or coral nurseries? How many have worked on restoring mangroves which are important to the Cayman ecosystems? You can’t keep taking and taking and taking and expect the planet to keep giving. Cayman is still a beautiful place and is probably enjoying this break from all the hoards of cruise shippers.
From an environmentalist view I have seen very few Caymanians over the years really look at the sea as anything other than a source of money and food.
As far as Caymanians holding water sports jobs that has already been discussed. The work is to hard, not enough money, to hot, no fun….. they just don’t want to do it for the most part.
I used to be quite anti-expat until I learned about the importance of them being here. Many of you that are set in your ways won’t agree with me and that’s fine. Expats are not only here because of jobs, they’re here as consumers as well.
There’s more jobs here than there are Caymanians, so we could employ EVERY Caymanian and there would still be plenty of vacant jobs. Another reason is because companies want to attract Expats because there aren’t enough Caymanians to keep a business running. A big warehouse center like ALTs needs large numbers of consumers and the Caymanian population is not enough, so the expat population makes up for it. Another factor is that Caymanians are either not having enough children, not having children fast enough, or not having children at all, and our population will decrease because of this, resulting in a drop in our economy, this is why we need expats to keep the population growing because we can’t rely on a native population of 35,000 or so people who a lot of the young generation don’t want children, and the older population is dying off. Maybe the government IS trying to grow the population to 100,000, so we can have a stable number of people. Places like Jamaica didn’t need mass immigration because they were having children at record rates.
In fact the United Arab Emirates went from a population of 79,000 in 1950 to 500,000 by 1970, to 9.7 million in 2019, it’s because they’re native population was not enough to grow the economy, they need people in large numbers in a very short amount of time. I’m not saying Cayman needs 9.7 million people, that would be a disaster.. but I’m saying that the native population is too small to only have itself here, unless you wanna go back to fish and boat making, because every other service would crash instantly. That’s why population growth is important, population growth equals economic growth.
But Caymanians should definitely come first, that’s why the government should build trade schools to train Caymanians in different fields, so we can employ Caymanians AND Expats alongside each other, but we shouldn’t push either one to the side, both are equally important in the advancement of our islands.
Yes, yes, yes. And to add to that, expats have brought valuable knowledge to add to what already existed in the Cayman Islands in science (controlling the mosquitos), culture (Cayman Arts Festival, National Orchestra, Cultural Foundation), financial services (starting with Bill Walker and Jim MacDonald), tourism (the Bergstroms, Ron Kipp, etc.), sports and restaurants (Italians, Austrians, French, Americans, Canadians, etc) and construction. They’ve also started, manned and donated to many charities. It’s been a joint effort and Caymanians have, for the most part, been incredibly gracious hosts. And most expats are grateful for that. There are malcontents on both sides that sometimes blur the situation, but we need each other, especially now folks.
A lot of the younger generation simply doesn’t want a child on top of paying half their salary on rent. It isn’t about wanting your people to die off.
The caymanisns that aŕe overseas in other countries now and for a long time that are willing to come home and bring their children that was born in other countries are put through do much red tape and expense that they cant afford to move back without any guaranty that their children will be permitted to live here as caymanians.
Excellent, I hope others can read what you’ve written and truly try to understand the words. Just a point to make, Jamaicans were at one point asked to procreate as the population was on the decline. Maybe this is something that can be applied here. Lots of young ppl are refraining from having kids and opting to focus on their careers or establishing a stable life first and with the high cost of living here that means procreation is just not the priority. If something isnt done the native caymanian population will remain stagnant.
I have never understood why locals can’t maximise the opportunities afforded to them,so they can become competent in various sectors.
They apply for jobs same way expats do,with an added advantage of “Caymankind which really means caymanians first ” but still expats get the job. The reason is simply because most caymanians aren’t qualified or experienced for the positions they want.
Own your shortcomings. Address is. Develop yourselves and see how opportunities will open up for you both home and abroad
Its always someone advocating for self-hate and self blame instead of addressing the institutionalized anti-caymanian attitude that has been perpetuating for years and tolerated in silence up until now. Well the awakening has already occurred and I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of it.
“Institutionalized anti-Caymanian attitude”…from the Caymanian business owners sitting three pews away.
Such an easy excuse to make but it`s actually not true.
Oh please. Dream on.
8.30 You are really niaive if you believe that it is so easy. There is networking among expats and there is preference for their “own kind”. And that’s a fact.
I have lived here for about a dozen years and have worked in several different businesses so think I have a reasonably broad view of hiring practices.
Of course there are a few big law firms where there is emphasis on hiring blue blooded English people who went to the “right” schools.
I don’t think most people are that obsessed with hiring people “like them”. What I do see is people moving here, enjoying it, and trying to get their friends back home a job at the businesses where they work. And this is where the hiring tricks start. The customised job ads and ignoring actual qualified Caymanian applicants.
This definitely happens reasonably frequently. But I don’t think it happens out of some sort of disprespect or bias against Caymanians. People want to help their friends. This is true of Caymanians and expats. I think these situations are the source of anger for many Caymanians. And in some cases their anger is justified.
That said, as a general principle, in every business I have worked, in absence of the occasional situation where there is an already existing candidate who is a close friend of an existing employee, the preference has always been to hire Caymanians. It is always cheaper and quicker than bringing in someone from overseas. If you are a Caymanian and couldn’t find a good job in the precorona virus economy in the last couple years, you are the problem. Not favouritism or racism or any other ism. You either have a bad attitude, work ethic or lack a reasonable understanding of your qualifications.
The people running the businesses I worked for love the Cayman Islands and want to support locals. But, as is often pointed out, they are running businesses and need qualified candidates. They are not charities.
The interesting situation now is that there will be many unemployed Caymanians as a result of businesses closing. Among those there will be great employees and lousy ones.
I do hope that immigration is tough on employers in the next year and absent positions with specialised qualifications, e.g. doctors or jobs with specialised training, society needs to redouble its efforts to make sure Caymanians and secondly permanent residents are given priority for available jobs.
I fully agree with your general theme that the notion of a specifically anti-Caymanian bias is largely a myth.
However, your point about Cayman law firms is, I think, a little misplaced.
1, Very few of the lawyers on Island are “blue blooded”; most are from pretty middle class backgrounds).
2. A substantial portion are not English.
3. If by wanting to hire people who went to the “right” schools you mean they have a preference for candidates from Cambridge, Oxford and the like, then yes they do (in line with most law firms globally). I can see no issue with that. Caymanians are perfectly able to (and do) study at such institutions and should strive for the best possible education they can.
4. Caymanian candidates are of course entitled to begin their career here immediately following their degree. Expat candidates must have worked elsewhere for up to 5 years. The result is that many talented Caymanian candidates do not go through the same level of training that foreign lawyers do in places like London or Toronto etc. Quite simply, that puts them at a distinct disadvantage. Many would be far better off working at a major internal firm before returning home if for no other reason to see what a 100 hour work week looks like.
5. If look at the number of lawyers in England and the percentage of them that become senior partners in major law firms, it’s a vanishingly small figure. Unless the view is that Caymanians are innately smarter and harder working that other nationalities, applying a similar percentage to the law graduate numbers here would equally, result in a very small number of people.
Overall a Caymanian that had say, gone to Cambridge and then spent 5 years training at a major firm in London, would almost certainly have his or her choice of firms in Cayman to work at; there would be a feeding frenzy.
Build a large trade school and suck up a large part of the Caymanian young unemployed. It really is simple.
The Caymanian young people don’t want to go to a trade school. They want to become partners in a law firm. Nothing wrong with that unless, like many, you have little or no academic aptitude.
If only all the law firms actually disclosed the fact of Caymanian applicants, and did not knowingly mislead the authorities as to who their partners are, you might have a point.
Yes we do! Your just afraid that if we do you won’t have that excuse Caymanians are qualified.
No, just provide the legally mandated training set out in the Immigration Law. Apprenticeships work best, and are more efficient.
No!!!! I once thought the same as you too…..however when I inquired as to why trade schools where not provided as an alternative I was told that only prisoners go to trade school….and that is sadly the misconception here and I guess that is also why ppl with excellent skills that can be polished into a top engineer force to enter law firms or HR sectors
Sad.
What crap. Only prisoners go to trade school? Only an idiot would make such a statement.
I thought the same too and I’ll tell you it was a brit, in a position to implement a trade school program, told me that. I’ll never forget that day.
Caymanians in public school have been subjected to a shit system for 20+ years and politicians like keeping the voters dumb and dependent telling them “ those expats don’t have nuttin on you, you don’t need an education all you need is to call me bobo.”
The problem isn’t “ water sports need to be run by caymanians/ expats” the problem is there are too many companies with two more opening every month it seems
And the way to deal with this issue is to stop issuing licenses and get rid of the shared company’s where the local is only getting the crumbs
Yes, every week and different boat company is on the scene all promising “commissions” to sell their trip.
I remember the dive company when Don Foster and his wife owned and ran it. I knew them both. It was a well run operation. I am sorry Jill left the island. I have lost track of Don. I miss them both.
I have been visiting Grand Cayman for over 30 years. The best water sports experience I have ever had was sailing with Blue Sky Sailing. It is Cayman owned and operated. Our group had such a good time, we booked a second trip.
Yes, I am a blue water sailor. Orneil knows what he is doing. It is a pleasure to sail with him.
Thats it Winston…….you go…..Make Cayman Great Again !!
Native born Caymanians should have the say because these are their islands. When things “go south”, as has happened under this ridiculous shutdown fiasco, or when a hurricane hits, Caymanians can’t just jump on a plane and leave like a well heeled, golddigging, globalist expat can do. For better or worse they are stuck on island.
Are there expats who have advanced the lot of the average Caymanian? Of course there are. Many are average folks who integrate into the Cayman people and become a part of the story. However, there is nothing wrong with a Caymanian first attitude, and nothing wrong with laws and regulations to advance their interests over those of strangers.
Caymanians always have the option of the UK. Never forget that.
Caymanians don’t have any options anywhere! trust….
Sounds like someone else who expects everything handed to them without doing anything,
So do you. This is their home and you are guest unless you have been given status but remember to respect the island which provided your bread and butter.
Best, Caymankind
Yes but don’t you forget that cayman is able to make that bread and butter because of expats. Otherwise you’d be offering turtles and coconuts.
Agree, there is nothing wrong with a Caymanian first attitude, as long as we define “Caymanian” the same way the CIG does.
That’s not even the most important part; the most important part is that the majority of the employees need to be Caymanian. It’s probably much easier to find a Caymanian owner than a Caymanian employee, at least in some businesses. We need expats — our relationship is a symbiosis. They don’t force their way in, they are requested down to the last person, by a Caymanian.
I think this current crisis should show us the value of ongoing international relationships. Think about those people that are still here, in the trenches. Most of us get our groceries and other goods from many of them. You think we don’t need expats? Think they aren’t part of the community?
“like a well heeled, golddigging, globalist expat “. Great second line to a rap song called, “Driftwood”. I can’t judge. Much. All our experiences are different. Sounds intolerant.
I agree with much of what you say, but most Caymanians also have US or UK passports and many fled after Ivan and after the financial crisis. I suspect it will happen again in some cases now – not that I necessarily blame them, mind you.
Just remember “Expats” your nothing more than a immigrant here.
And when us immigrants leave and take our businesses elsewhere, remember how you treated us.
Please don’t let the door knock you out whilst leaving. Now this explains the kind of mentality that is left on the island. No respect to the born and bred Caymanians of at least 5 generation. Again history repeating itself where guest come to people’s soil and do not embrace the culture but come to TAKE. Covid-19 hopefully will help the local people to wake up as some of these invaders are not your friend. We need the true conversations come to light to let the people of this island realize, the new guest do not like you and are jealous of what your forefathers have done to put this island on the map. I am all for new folks arriving to embrace with the people but they should respect the persons of the soil.
Sorry Carol, Cayman is not on the map. If you asked 99% of Americans, Canadians or Brits to point out Cayman on a map they wouldn’t be able to find it.
The rest of the entire world knows nothing about cayman other than ‘Cayman is that place where drug dealers launder money right?’ Such a sense of self importance.
That just shows how ignorant people from North America and Brits are. It’s not something to brag about.
No, just how insignificant in the world Cayman really is.
There are highschools in the USA that have more students attending them than there are caymanians in the entire world. Cayman is soooo small yet the Caymanians think the entire world revolves around cayman.
We don’t think the entire world revolves around us, you moron. We just think that Caymanians should come first in our own country. Wtf?
Yes, because you are entitled 10:02. That’s the crux of the problem here. Just look at our Minister of Health or Education or even better, the Speaker Of The House.
They are first in our dinky colony and they are precisely the problem.
We need to better than all of those Bobo’s and Boba’s.
Why are you here then since it is not on the map. Another person who has not read the history of this island. Disgraceful. Please go home since you are not really contributing to the positive aspect of the island. How can you say 99% Americans when that is not a great example. They arrived on the native american soil to avoid paying taxes and religion persecution in England and now the poor born native indians are on reservations drinking themselves silly for the little drops the new arrivals are giving them and Casions. Like that should keep them happy. The same behaviour from the Canadians. Brits, I am British. But we know how they got their wealth by stealing from other countries (i.e. gold, minerals, etc.) and enslaving the people of their own country/island and yes look how rich they are. Well the elite that is. I think we should know the history of countries before making sweeping opinions, don’t you think.
That you Carol for letting me know at what point one should consider themselves “caymanian”. At least 5 generations. Thanks.
apparently an immigrant with better jobs and pay than the locals? can’t figure out which side of the argument to be snarky from.
Raise the standard of education on this island and you can have good jobs but have to get a good education first. Life is not easy without an education.
Agree. This is where the Governments have failed their people. A shame
Carol, it’s not only up to the government. The problem with the schools are the lack of parenting on this island. The fact that when people commented about wanting their kids to have some quality of life during this pandemic people said well put them on the patio for a second they can take care of themselves speaks volumes.
Agree. The new generation. Thanks to technology
The quote that ” A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for” is true. Education can help a man reach his personal potential. However, don’t expect “education” to significantly change a man’s height, his complexion, or his basic cognitive abilities.
So you’re implying your job/salary vs that of the average Caymanian makes you superior? What a disgusting and ignorant mentality.
There are plenty of highly educated and extremely well-off Caymanians anyway, but that’s besides the point.
It’s not all about money for lots of us, and that’s where most expats get confused …it’s the heritage and culture of our island which is shown no regard by the majority of expats because money is the only thing they understand the value of or care about (other than the inflated sense of self-importance they get from belittling locals). Your comment presents the case in point.
I’m not making excuses for some of the hateful comments by Caymanians here either – but at least try to take some time to see things from other people’s point of view and how you would feel in their position.
Have a blessed day.
100% agree
Same in every other sector sadly
Electrical
Plumbing
Landscaping
Let’s slap a magnetic sign on a van and call it a business and uncut our competitors!!!!!!!!!!!!
Need I go on…
Not to mention, non compliance with just about every government requirement and policies related to running a business legally. But the Caymanians have the book thrown at them from out the gate.
Pathetic attempt at trolling. Poor show old bean.
And “your” an immigrant as well. Unless “your” a turtle.
Youre
Sure – provided you can remember to use proper spelling and grammar?
As a Caymanian it is good to hear from Winston. I grew up with your two children.
Caymanians will and always need skill workers. I first want to thank everyone who have embraced the Caymanian way of live and integrate into the Cayman Islands welcome and thank you for your contribution. For those who come to the cayman islands searching for something different, find it then complain please ask yourself why are you still hear?
The issue here is the Cayman islands economy will shrink. Low skill workers and yes watersport operators are low skilled should be reserved for caymanians only at this time, just like how low skill jobs should be reserved for any native of any country.
We know how this works. In Every business they are some good ones and not so good. Every restuarant is not a 5 star restaurant ? Caymanians developed our watersport/dive business in conjunction with some expats who are now new Caymanians.
With business everything is timing Caymanians should not be scarificed in their own country. Please try to look at this from a caymanan point of view. If i was in your country should you or me employed. Thank you to all our guest workers. We appreciate you but the Cayman Islands at the moment can not support and employ everyone.
@5.40
Let me enlighten you. Caymanians don’t want the low skilled jobs. They want prestige and a huge wage. No bad thing. But be under no illusion, they won’t fill the dive jobs or hospitality jobs. And being in another country and who should be employed, let’s use the UK as a perfect example. Eastern European came to the UK in droves and did the jobs Brits didn’t want. They are hardworking and have a terrific work ethic. Much like the Philipino community here. The people who should be employed ate the ones who deserve it by turning up for work on time all the time no matter where they are from. Can you put your hand on your heart and say that your countrymen will readily do that in the same way the ‘guest workers’ do?
You have clearly outstayed your welcome. Get to the know the history of this soil. Seafarers and born bread, over 5 generations where the ones that put this island on the map. Long before you arrived. Unfortunately and no disrespect, some of the poorer of the Caymanians married the poorer of other nationalities where sometimes English is not their first language. Then they in turn educate their children stating that they are entitled to NAU or any other benefits. Why because they are Caymanians. This society then created a new bread of Caymanians and not from the original hard working stock of Caymanians. You need to spend time with some of the elders of this soil as I did when I first arrived and got grass roots history. Very informative and empowering. Take sometime out and get some facts. You will then realize why some of the new stock are not from the original strain of the old skool Caymanians. As a guest you are exploited and will of course work hard to send your back home to build up a life style that you would never have achieved if you had stayed in the country you are from. Cheap Labour trust me is the IN THING around the world. Remember to show some respect and do your job to the best of your ability and GIVE THANKS FOR THE ISLAND THAT HAS FED YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BACK HOME. Be blessed.
Oh calm down Carol, the numbers speak for themselves. Expats make and enrich this island. Get over your ridiculous crusade and wake up to reality.
So does the locals.
Let’s see..
If you were in my country and we both applied for a job and you the expat were more qualified and got the job, I would not feel anyway about it..if it is a field I want to truly work in I would go undertake further studies to get more qualified. Stop trying to force Cayman to remain in the dark days of giving jobs to every Caymanian who cried for one. We need to function like a real society that awards jobs based on qualifications and merits and not nationality.
Umm, every society requires jobs to be awarded based on nationality. That is one of the fundamental benefits of nationality. You have a right to work in your own country. For other nationals it is not a right, but a privilege.
Yes, everyone has a right to work in the country they were born in, however, trying to force businesses to take the nationals who are ill-equipped for jobs is a foolish move. I’m not advocating for blocking nationals from taking up jobs in their own countries that’s a different issue. My argument is gaining a job should not be based solely on your nationality other factors like competency, skills, experience and qualifications matching the job should matter too.
Emmm…just so you know. It’s Caymanians who are instigating this ‘shutdown fiasco’. Homegrown. Nothing to do with ex-pats. Thought I should point that out.
To you. Can you guess what you are to us?
I own and operate many business here in Cayman, employing many Caymanians, ignorant comments like this make me wonder why the hell I bother?
It is difficult to find an caymanian to invest a water-sport company here. That why many people use oversea investors or even selling the company to oversea investors. Believe me it is hard to find caymanian to work for us. It is so easy to find oversea workers and we pay more than minimum wage. I have seen few boats that owned by caymanians and their boating rules is lower than international boating rules. They are putting people lives at risk. How many boat captains do drink rum while on duty? How many people know how to do CPR/first aid?
The very death here by boating were not caused by Caymanians.
You need to write before you drink, not afterwards.
What about that boat accident cause a death outside Harbour House canal? The captain is an Caymanian and he is on his way to prison!
Let me tell you a true story from a few years ago. Looking to book a Stingray city trip. Narrowed it down to 2 companies. One Caymanian owned and operated. One operated by permit holders.
Called and called the Caymanian one. No answer no returned calls. Called the permit holders operated one, answered on one ring took the booking.
Met the Caymanian owner by chance, little chit chat and it came up… “You should have used me because I’m Caymanian…” I tried. You didn’t answer, or return any calls. “But I’m Caymanian..” (until telepathy bookings are a thing I couldn’t book you). The REST OF THE WORLD works by you do it right and well you succeed, or you soon learn and adapt.
The ex pats had a hunger and were superb.
Let me tell you one more. A restaurant open for delivery during Covid-19. 16 employees, down to 12 (non Caymanian go home – we’ve had your money and permit fees now clear off). Of the 12 a Caymanian quit – all my friends are off and I wanna hang out with them. You have a job young man, you have income I’m sure the tips are generous and plenty. I’ll get another job… Hanging out surely breaches the orders in place.
Remove the chip from your shoulder this is 2020 not 1900!
Now to be blunt… Mario Rankine is making up stories…Mr Dart and Ms Oldie are donating millions to the island to help, at the same time. How can you argue that… Oh wait your are too busy putting your hand out to take from the non Caymanian (not Cayman really…). Let me ask Dwayne Seymour – does that answer your question, quoting the Bible to deflect from what is asked of you. Beaches closed after the camping weekend – why… Tents being pitched on the beaches… I’m guessing by no ex pats. I’ve seen ex pats blamed for the cost of water…
You want the ex pats to go home… They should and take Governor and Dr Lee with them. The ex pats working in finance, law, medical. Sure let’s go..The only 2 (Lee and Roper) that are holding this together, could you imagine them not there. You want the ex pats to go home stop taking the aid that the UK is sending. I give your island less than a year and it’ll be a shambles. No doubt the ex pats will be to blame, even if we aren’t here.
Fortunately the islands beauty and majority of people that stay here outweigh the sheer stupidity and prejudices instilled at a school level and right up into adulthood.
In the meantime, stay home, stay safe, all of you. One love.
Camping was not allowed at Easter, and the beaches were closed by Easter Monday.
That didn’t mean people weren’t doing it. I saw a group of Caymanians camping in South Sound in a rather hidden area. But they were so stupid that they parked their cars on the road right in front of the area and police got them.
The Caymanians thumbing their noses at the curfew (playing dominoes, sessions, family barbeques, etc.) is a big reason why we still have a strict curfew and probably why we keep getting more cases of community transmission.
Read the newspapers and you’ll see that it’s happening all over the world, so it’s not just a caymanian thing
Are you sure they were Caymanians as some of you folks who are from countries that are not used diversity would like to put people in the same category when it comes to colour pigmentation. Dominoes question mark. Usually from Jamaica to the Central America. A universal game. Caymanians will get the blame for almost anything especially when people can’t tell between ethnic cultures especially from the various Caribbean Islands. Hopefully, we all have got the picture by now during Covid-19 CAYMANIANS FIRST FOR EMPLOYMENT. We and that includes myself as I too am a guest and although been here for almost 15 years and still considered a born nationality from the country I am originally from have always believe a country/island should think of their people first. As Donald Trump is doing. Whether we love him or dislike him. We just need to get on board and avoid disrespecting a country that we currently calling home. Remember we have a home to go to and the Caymanians ARE HOME. I would say to the especially over 5 generation Caymanians please start respecting each other, stop stabbing each other in the back and by putting aside your family feud issues, stand tall together as some folks arriving to your soil DO NOT LIKE YOU. By the very negative messages in response to Mr. McDermot just goes to show the mind set of what is left here and have not check the background history of the fine and grass root man. Disgraceful. Some of these people responding they where they are doing just because a industry especially TOURISM should be provided by the local people and should not be a discussion. Can you imagine going to China and having an Italian show you the GREAT WALL OF CHINA. Wow. China has over a thousand year history and respect should be given to the founders and nothing beats having a local explain that history. Likewise if you went to Sicily (Italy for those who do not know countries), you are expecting a Sicilian. Let show respect and all the Mr. McDermot was simply in TOURISM, it should be provided by Caymanians first and especially to those who wish to work and know the history especially as to why Stingray came about. This disrespect to the local people born and bred needs to stop especially in the times like these. If we do not like the people of the soil I think and suggest to GO HOME!
You mean like coming to the Cayman Islands and every single service industry person IS NOT caymanian! Why is that? Go to Jamaica and they’re Jamaican. Go to Anguilla and they’re Anguillan. Go to Bermuda and they’re Bermudan. Go to Thailand and they’re Thai. Go to BVI and they’re local. Go to curaçao and they’re local. ONLY in Cayman do the locals not dominate the service industry. Why? Because the locals in Cayman think they are so superior and are so self entitled that they are above that type of work and deserve to start in mid level office jobs which they are not qualified for. Hmmm… now that I think about it how many Caymanians have out ‘Caymanian’ as a qualification in their CVs.
As a British expat, I think I can understand to a degree a level of resentment towards some expats.
Through my employment, I have come into contact with a lot of wealthy expats here and they have been hands down some of the rudest people I`ve ever met in my life. Just saying.
Dwl a lot of caymanian actually do have it as a qualification for getting jobs.
I lived in Bermuda. In Bermuda you will not be served by a Bermudian. Actually a large group of expats is moving between Bermuda, Cayman, cruise ship industry, Middle East etc
Except bar serving jobs are a retained occupation only to be held by Bermudians … or it was when I lived there in the early 00’s. That kind of kills your statement
You do remember you are a guest in Cayman and getting great opportunities. Enjoy and don’t disrespect the Island that has allowed you to be here.
Good lord. Yes there was this thing called curfew. There was at least 40 tents set up in East End/North Side.
Mr mclaughlin please keep the beaches closed until 02 01 21
Who shit in your cheerios?
2.17 pm You may be a Caymanian but that gave me a good laugh (expat).
Covid-19 took a dump on his whole life!
Cheerios…. I’m more porridge. But thanks for the insight.
Probably an ex pat.
McLaughlin and Seymour can barely string a sentence together… it would be funny, if we weren’t in such tragic times. Thank God for providing us with Dr Lee and the Governor!
5.20pm I’m an expat and your comment is ridiculous. Alden speaks very well although I don’t always agrees with what he says. The Minister can also string sentences together because he’s quite a good reader and God is on his side.
What I do find annoying is their constant tardiness, the briefing started 70 minutes late today and no apology from anyone. The panelists are supposedly the cream of the crop so is it totally beyond their capabilities to be professional and start on time?. I exclude the Governor here as I suspect he is not to blame.
Doesn’t really set a good example in terms of job interviews and turning up for work!
McLaughlin’s rhetoric is actually very good and he’s become much better in delivery than he used to be. Seymour’s not so much.
I remember seeing a bumper sticker that read, “Caymanian (kay•man•yan) An endangered species.” My first thought was, “Yes, like the panda bear. Too lazy for its own self-preservation.” This country was built on the backs of seamen and others who worked nonstop to build better lives. And now, unfortunately, the latest generation has imported the same malaise, incompetence and entitlement that has turned the US into a great disappointment. John John starting to sound a bit like Trump, too… {Sucks teeth} Meh…
Two things…
1st – Years ago I took my visitors on a Cayman owned catamaran snorkel/sandbar trip. Small lovey little cat. Three young Caymanian crew. They intended to run the motor the entire way to rush the trip. The smell was nauseating. I asked if we could not put the sails up. This seemed to embarrass them so they did. We went faster! It was fantastic. (people thanked me…)
Then out at the sandbar, they had no squid and argued amongst themselves over who had to get in with the tourists.
I found a small dried up piece of squid in the fridge and went in myself to try to bring the rays around. Only when the rays came did the crew finally get in to help…
2nd – You should do an FOI request asking how many watersports/snorkel companies are listed. You would be SHOCKED. It is no wonder that none of the regular companies are barely breaking even.
Seriously. There should be a LIMIT to how many operators are out here. Local and expat owned/runned
If this was correct, why is the Cayman taxi and bus system one of the most apalling services in the world? Most Cayman taxis I have ever gotten don;t obey the rules of the road, don’t know the way around the island, don;t indicate at roundabouts or use the inner most lane on a highway and price fix at rip off prices. And people want this model (Caymanian only) extended from taxis to watersports?
Most taxi/bus drivers here are not Caymanian.
Wrong. They might have been born in Jamaica, but they are Caymanian now. That is a fact.
Nope. The vast majority are work permit-holding Jamaicans who aren’t even legally Caymanian. But I wouldn’t expect you to know the difference.
Taxis are Cayman owned but operated by others
So why don’t Caymanians hire Caymanians in the taxi business? They can do it if they want. I think we know the answer.
No taxi owner has to drive taxi. That’s the law.
This is a really good point. The Cayman taxi service is so bad it literally costs lives as most people choose to drink and drive instead of trying to use them. Crappy, smelly old vans that weave all over the road and don’t give way and charge $50 to go two miles. They are the worst! Not fit for purpose but no will to fix them. Is that what we want from our dive operators?? I don’t think so.
That is not true
Finally the truth,how many Caymanians are running a taxi or a bus? Whether you want to believe or not, a lot of so called Caymanians are not 100%. A lot of them are the same problem in that other country. Why does anyone travel to another country if they are so good? Some of them can’t get a job in their country. They also wouldn’t let you go to their country and do taxi, bus, watersports or even buy a house. Now you tell me why they doing well?
Well, there hasn’t been that many coronaviruses in the past (and no, there haven’t been 18 before Covid-19 as some people think – there are seven identified) and only three of them have scared people (the original SARS, MERS and this one). They were working on a vaccine after SARS, but work foolishly stopped because of funding when it was no longer thought an imminent threat. However, just because there hasn’t been a vaccine developed for coronavirus yet, doesn’t mean there can’t be one. NEVER has there been so much worldwide effort to create one as there is now and there probably will be a vaccine developed eventually. I do agree that, despite Trump’s assurances, it probably won’t be this year, but I’d be willing to bet there is one before the end of 2021.
I’ll take that bet.
You know your own antibodies are way safer, faster and effective than any vaccine, right?
You know the floating petri dishes (cruise ships) were most likely offloading the virus for months each day and you probably have the antibodies…. think about it….
is there somewhere to report unlicensed operators – especially ones that are not caymanian owned?
Unlicensed Operator (any industry) – report to the police, since a Law is being broken. (You could also report it to Dept. Commerce & Investment, who do the licencing and may have some authority over non-licencees.)
You may as well report it to my foot.
how can i find out if an operator is licensed? i know so many underground businesses cropping up and skirting the rules since no checks or enforcements
Check DCI website.
Because Governments rigging markets always turns out so well…
Watersports operators are struggling because Cruise ships take most of the money the Cruise Tourists pay to go on trips.
take away cruise ships, problem solved… oh wait
To 12:13
No, the best answer would be to regulate the prebookings that can be done by the cruise lines and leave business for the locals also. Do you think this is too much to ask of the greedy, unconscionable, cruise lines? Sounds like there are only one way solutions for you, but trust me, there are always two sides to a coin!!
cruise lines are evil and unconscionable, but you cool doing business with them? got it
Like the majority of cruise passengers are scared Sh@less of doing anything that isn’t organized and/or sanctioned by the cruise line. Minimal risk. Minimal immersion in the local culture.
Not strictly true. When the cruise line engages with an operator a net price is agreed – ie what the operator wants to receive per head. The cruise line then add their mark up and try and sell it. They either won’t sell many or won’t agree to market it if the price is too high and that is ultimately dictated by the operator.
‘I suggest that, as soon as it is possible to do so, government should go through all current licences and carefully investigate and remove all the bad eggs. Watersports should, and must be, a 100% Caymanian business’.
Govt is already ahead of the game Mr McDermot, finally as promised, managed to get a real good grasp of the fiasco that’s been carrying on at Public Beach.
This post is great. It takes our mind off the pandemic and lets us all get back to the typical expat/Caymanian bashing that we all seemingly love so much. Thanks for throwing the “Caymanians are the best” argument out there when we really needed it, Winston!
Most of these comments read like a true foreigner wrote them. Since you’re all so bright and bring so much to the table, how about you tell us your name. I’d love to know who’s business I need to stop supporting.
We allow people to come here and speak ill of our people on a constant basis. Allow them to come and dictate our rules and regulations (yes some need to change but that’s not the point). We allow outsiders to come, not fully embrace the culture or community and then talk down to us.
I am not a second class citizen in my own country.
It is a fact that no one is better suited to talk about our history and culture than a Caymanian. It is a fact that no one is better suited to be on the water and giving tours than a Caymanian. We were born of the sea and if I had a penny for everytime I heard a expat give a tour with the wrong information I’d be rich. It is the same facts for any country you visit. Locals are the best ambassadors for their country.
The expats who truly succeed are those who embrace the place they’ve brought themselves to. But most of you are not going to do that because at the end of the day you’re only here for what Cayman can give to you. Money.
You tell us we’re prejudice, uneducated scum failing to see the massive plank in your eye.
I am not a second class citizen, especially not in my own country. I should not have to leave my place of birth to find work when our economy could provide it for me. I should not have to listen to prejudice being spouted from the mouths (or from keyboards) of expats who transplanted themselves here because they wanted to be here.
I am a minority in my own country who is not allowed to talk about the short comings of expats living here but I should grit my teeth and listen to all the asinine comments coming from them about us?! No suh, not today bobo.
Our country benefits greatly from outside workers, as do all countries and I’m not talking solely about labour I also mean their ideas and experiences. There will be some jobs there are no quailified Caymanians for and therefore an expat is needed. But if you all reading this can’t see the hatred that drips from a good majority of expats living here you’re blind. You think these expats make it easy for us to work alongside them? They’re condesending, rude, entitled and out for themselves and their own.
Rubbish.
9.40am I trust you embrace operators like Peter Milburn, foreign born but a standout operator over many decades. I don’t disagree that it would be nice to have most watersports businesses run by Caymanians, but expats will be needed to work the long hours at minimum wage to produce a worthwhile profit. To accuse us of calling you uneducated scum, when a number of your own comments show racist bias, rather spoils your commentary, yes there are a few bigots out there but they exist on both sides of the fence as with most countries with a large foreign born workforce.
If as Winston says you are all on thin ice at the moment, which is to be expected, maybe you can all call on Jon Jon to hold another Jingles competition for all your musical members with a mandatory cash stipend for everyone, in addition to the prize money.
Take note that that foreign born operators like Mr. Peter Milburn, came and assimilated quite nicely into caymanian society. Got his head down from out the gate and achieved much success in his career. He didn’t spend his time at the beach bar, drink in hand bashing locals as if that will bring any value to the situation. Its a fairly simple recipe that the modern age economic migrants can’t seem to grasp, hence their disdain and hatred towards caymanians when they arrive and can’t achieve the same material success(Legally at least) as their historical contemporaries.
“Tell us your name“…so we can coordinate the sabotage of your life, says “Fed up Caymanian” anonymously.
Born of the sea / Jamaica.
What nonsense. Utter crap. Bottom line again and again and again – in any business if we could find a caymanian that would work we would hire them. We are constantly hiring caymanians because we have to, NOT because they’re the best for the position. Then – again and again and again a majority of locals simply don’t work as hard as ex-pats or quit or don’t show up and expect to be paid and then when they are let go (after a long process) they cry that the owner is prejudiced. Absolute crap.
YOU need to wake and and acknowledge that many local attitudes towards hard work and success are simply not the same as much of the rest of the world. Perhaps you’ve never worked or lived outside of Cayman which would explain your naivety?
Fortunately there ARE some locals who were raised properly and have seen the outside world and understand that if you work hard and do well you will succeed instead of whining and crying racism and how the bad ex-pats exclude them after screwing up.
Do you really think an employer would rather pay thousands of dollars every year for a work permit holder vs hiring a local if the local would do the same quality work? Please – wake up! There is NO conspiracy – it is just as it looks – do the work and you will be hired.
As far as entitled??? Fed Up – you are beyond help if think every single employment law in Cayman is not geared towards entitling Caymanians. I have never seen a group of people with a greater sense of entitlement than Caymanians (except maybe Bermudians, sorry ‘Belongers’).
Fed Up – step outside your bubble and look at who’s doing the work here. Every single employer wants to hire the best person at a reasonable cost for the job every single time. If that person is Caymanian – then they hire the Caymanian. If its not, they look elsewhere and spend thousands more on a work permit. You should be focusing on teaching young caymanians about proper work efforts and what it means to be responsible and start out at the bottom and work their way up. Most of the local graduates show up half the time. Can you tell us how many ex-pats show up for work half the time and expect to be paid? That’s what entitlement is.
Whine whine whine. Caymanians sold their souls to the ‘foreigners’ when they decided that they were above working in the service industry. They did the same to make money from ancestral land, and yet it’s all the ‘foreigners’ fault.
Caymanians are opportunists, they take, but rarely give, as the corps of expat volunteers all over these islands will attest. The notion of Caymankind is nothing but an ad mans sound bight, as your natural inclination edges back towards racism, xenophobia and bigotry when you realise others do it better than you.
9:11, Ivan, 2008 and Covid are all examples of the money grabbing mindset that destroys any credibility your argument may have. We live in a region that is frequently destroyed by nature, but you still whine when the money runs dry because of your propensity to spend and not save or insure for an inevitability just around the corner.
A wholly owned Caymanian water sports industry is laudable, but for one minor flaw.
Few of you are qualified in anything, let alone commercial boat handling, safety regs or even first aid. In a more progressive, and sensible country, almost all of your Caymanian boat operators and ‘captains’ wouldn’t qualify for anything but a citation from a competent Police or Coastguard Service who would be authorised to utilise effective marine regulations and laws.
But no, you don’t want that because it would immediately put you at a disadvantage against far better qualified foreigners. You would sit and whine rather than implement a competency that all operators should observe, raising safety standards across the board.
Local knowledge is a plus in any operation, but so is competence, safety and a quality service and product.
Few Caymanian operators are adequately insured, many of their boats are obviously old, unseaworthy and operated by unskilled kids who care little for their guests, preferring to check their social standing on their phones.
No my friend, in most areas, including water sports, Caymanians are their own worst enemies. They leave a void that better qualified and better funded foreigners will fill. If you want that to change then change must come from within and not from petty minded expat bashing.
By blindly going for quantity over quality you sold yourselves short with cruise ship passengers. That has ended badly and maybe gone forever. So how are you going to progress now that Elmer Fudd and his redneck army will no longer come to Cayman?
Blind xenophobia isn’t going to work, only a competent business plan and forward looking Caymanians who understand how the real world works hold the key. Not those who think a past heritage gives them the right to call themselves ‘seafarers’ without the qualifications to demand money for the current second rate service.
I did travel all over the world. I was sailing/diving/snorkeling in Egypt, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tenerife and so on…In most of these places the water sports were run by well trained Germans or Swiss dive masters or sailors. Safety is always first not sentiments. The standards should be high! Lack of safety measures may put peoples’ lives at risk. Water sports are awesome as long as responsible and well trained people are in charge.
Oh!! And your name is….?? It goes both ways Bobo.
I AM Caymanian! But no way would I ever post my name. Are you crazy AND stupid? Yep. You are and even you won’t post your name.
Caymanians suffer from inferiority complex.
From one caymanian to another good response
This one hit it on the head. The hate from the comment section is utterly disgraceful and it hurts me as a young hard working Caymanian.
This is nonsense, as usual. The cycle goes like this: a couple of enterprising Caymanians create a business, like red sail. It does well financially by employing low-wage earners to operate it. They are usually young people – expats and Caymanians. Except the Caymanian workers never stay long because why should they work in the sun all day for minimum wage when they are the pure master race and should be working in an air-conditioned office? So over time the staff that stick around and rise through the ranks tend to be foreigners.
Then the Caymanian owners cash out by selling the business for $$ – the new owners might or might not be local, but the owners after that, or the next ones will eventually be foreign.
Then XXXXX blame “The Government” and claim that all businesses in a particular industry should be ring fenced and protected for, quote, “our people” who “must be number one. Always.” (shudder).
So how would that work Winston? Are you saying they can only employ Caymanians? To do that they will have to pay them a lot to compete with the other industries that need to load up on locals to get their business staffing plans approved. That’s a massive expense for the business, so the owners will make a lot less money.
Then when the owners come to sell the business and reap the reward of all their hard work, are you saying they can only sell to other Caymanians? That’s a pretty small market and they’ll make a lot less money. Plus the business will be a lot less profitable because they’ve had to employ Caymanians-only so they will be lucky to get back what they’ve put in. Which means the result of your policy is actually less money for Caymanians. How is that making sure “your people” are “number one”…..”Always”.
In fact what will happen is that waters ports will become so unattractive as a business that there won’t be any operators at all. And then people will probably moan that the “The Government” needs to do more to help the magnificent true born pure exalted Caymanians.
This entitled, unrealistic, racist attitude makes my skin crawl.
Good post. What these guys don’t realise is that by restricting businesses to 100% Caymanian ownership is their business will only ever be worth a fraction of what they think it is when they come to sell. In the mean time everyone suffers from the utter mediocrity and price gouging protectionism always brings. Taxi anyone?
Winston, the police, dci, and many other enforcement arms of government, refuse to treat fronting as the crime and money laundering that it is. That is part of the problem. It is one of the reasons so many view us as corrupt. Fronting is prevalent and there is no enforcement.
And who exactly does the “fronting”. Caymanians. Ergo your problem is with your own people. Stop blaming expats for everything.
The real problem is most have been brainwashed to believe that expatriates aren’t to blame for anything.. Like I’m gonna launder my own money….lol
“Ultimately, no one else does watersports better than Caymanians.” Exceptionalist nonsense! What is really being advocated is not quality, but the ability to restrict market forces to ensure that limited licence holders can extract oligopolistic profits while providing a second rate product.
How about helping support the small business with government grants. They will put 240 million in a dock no one wants but they won’t invest in their own people!?!?!
And government still spending millions appealing the court cruise dock decision, whilst government schools ask the public for money to feed the poor kids.
The culturally engrained xenophobia here is something you only see in Cayman, where the locals are so incredibly insecure that they constantly whine about needing to be protected from any competition by the government. They cry and whine about it constantly, but let’s be honest… If Caymanians had the skill and entrepreneurial spirit needed to be any good at business, then they would build successful businesses, just like everywhere else in the world. The Kirks and Thompsons of the world succeed because of their efforts and talent, not because of the government baby-bottle feed them. Protectionism is such a pathetic attitude.
It’s not just xenophobia. It’s also a distorted sense of ability, like the claim that Caymanians are the best seamen in the world.
Boy, you are so wrong! Protectionism is the norm in most places, especially in the Caribbean. The rest is wrong also, but if you actually believe what you stated, then it is pointless correcting you.
Have to agree with Rick. Protectionism is alive and well in North America too.
A gift and a curse that Cayman has is it is very easy to put Cayman under a microscope and analyze every aspect of life and business. In doing so, it is easier to see its flaws at times. If you applied the same microscopic focus anywhere else, you too would see the flaws but they are often hidden better due to sheer size and complexity.
I don’t agree with all of what Winston said but a lot of it rings true. One particular point is the value of Caymanians being on the front lines in tourism, and yes business owners too. When that occurs, there is an authenticity that can’t be fabricated.
There are a certain percentage of tourists, I have no idea what the accurate number is, who want to have the most authentic experience possible on their vacation by interacting with a Caymanian. This supports one of their core values of authenticity.
However, there are also a certain percentage of visitors who will feel as or more comfortable with having an expat guide their tour too. Familiarity may be more important to them. This is just human nature. Cayman serves both types as well as serves different values of many others.
In summary, a unique selling proposition for a destination could be having authentic interactions with locals in the watersports and dining experiences and you would be able to market specifically to those who value that.
We can’t undo the accommodation reality of that equation, again some people won’t care that they can’t stay in a hut on the beach, but they will be ecstatic about a tour lead or a meal prepared and served by a Caymanian.
My comments don’t address the realities of the competition for scarce Caymanian workers as they are attracted to other industries before tourism. And those challenges are real. However I have noticed a change over the past decade of more young Caymanians working and progressing up the ranks in tourism industry.
The CV19 reset may allow for further opportunities if there is significant contraction in the tourism industry as there appears to be. Let’s keep an open mind to ‘what could unfold’ as tourism recovers in the coming years.
Let’s be cautious and not let the ways of the past need be what defines the present and future.
The typical stay-over tourist coming to Grand Cayman is well-traveled, has moderately high income and very high expectations. If you want their money and their loyalty as customers, you are going to have to earn it. If you can provide an authentic local experience coupled with exceptional, professional service, you’ll always win. I feel like the tourist here has to choose between the two and so they choose the service.
Tourism boomed here over the last couple years. Party’s over! You’re gonna have to be better and work harder than ever before and for far less than you were making. There’s no point in arguing who should operate what. The market will determine that well before the government will.
It is definitely NOT something you only see in Cayman. I browse news articles from other Caribbean and quasi-Caribbean islands and often see similar rhetoric in the comments.
Thanks Winston you are correct but this applies to many other industries as well and should be addressed with urgency.
Best estimates on a widespread, available, and effective vaccine are sometime between 2021-2036. There are a couple hundred different candidate vaccines either in early clinical tinkering days, or about to begin phase one trials. Anyone thinking there is going to be a miracle working vaccine formulated, trialed, approved, manufactured, and distributed, by this fall, is frankly, living on another planet.
Too bad Ron Kipp isn’t around any longer to respond to this, especially the part about nobody doing watersports better than Caymanians. If you really want to complain about the state of watersports in Cayman, look no farther than what two Caymanians did with Red Sails Sports. It destroyed the competition with nary a Caymanian around – except for a few who got Status over the years. Why? Because those young guys and girls generally get paid peanuts these days and few Caymanians past the age of 25 will accept that.
Mr McDermot, read 7:49’s post over and over and over again. Just cause you don’t see or recognize the face of the business as Caymanian doesn’t mean its not Caymanian owned. Just look at XXXXX the entrepreneur……I mean the “fronter”. Maybe if Caymanians stopped ”fronting” you’re eyes would be full.
Red Sails Sports is a true Caymanian success story.
And yet owned and staffed by foreigners, many of whom do not live here?
So what are the managers of Red Sail suppose to do if Caymanians will not do the work that Canadians, Brits and South Africans will do?
How do they work on the boats if they don’t live here? They take a plane in from South Africa everyday? They must make great money on those sail boats.
What is great money to a South African is not great money to an entitled Caymanian.
Some people rather start off making $45,000 salary and get a 2.5% raise every year where others will start off making an hourly wage and work their way up to running or owning a company.
People make choices, if it were a problem, the government wouldn’t allow foreign workers, that work permit income would go away, and you would just pay taxes. Problem solved.
“Entitled Caymanian”? Really!? Weren’t the lot of you crying when the whole talk about taxing expats came up? Did you not feel entitled to not having to pay taxes because Caymanians would not have to pay?
In my own home I feel entitled to food in my fridge. Also, a stranger cannot come into my home and help himself to the food in my fridge. My point is, if Caymanians should not feel entitled to the opportunities their HOME has to offer, then what do you suggest they do? Just be quiet and allow you to call them entitled, when it is clear that most expats here are the ones that feel entitled to the home Caymanians share?
Next time you may want to add some facts as to what the average wage and cost of living is in South Africa. With an unemployment rate of 29%, and an average wage of USD$1,220 it’s no wonder South Africans run here for employment opportunities just like most other nationalities.
Entitled, or just knows they can get a ‘better’ job?
If I am Caymanian, and a ‘high quality’ employee, I can have my pick of several companies/careers to work for. Yes I may like the sea, but I could choose to work in an office more comfortably and make enough money to enjoy the sea on the weekend on my own boat. With a better pension at the end and a vacation package in the middle. Which should I choose?
This, here, is the false equivalency argument. Caymanians aren’t accepting jobs just because you think we have to accept them at the rate you want to underpay your staff. We’re accepting jobs where we get the best return for our work (and schooling). The problem the tourism industry (more than just watersports) has is those ‘good’ (entry level) jobs aren’t what you’re offering. So, as a young Caymanian who liked the sea, I took myself to a different career path and you’re complaining why I didn’t work for you for peanuts.
But all of this has sloughed away from the point of the original article, so lets drop it and get back to discussing the benefits and failures of corporate ownership controls. You may wish to look away from watersports and consider some of the discussions larger countries have had regarding the ownership of ‘critical infrastructure’ by non-national corporations. (Generally, if you want a free market, you have to take this risk, as others have pointed out. But you can try other protections, which is what Cayman did with decreasing effectiveness it seems.)
They know can get a better job without being qualified because they are entitled. Thank you. There you go.
Your first line summed it all up. The rest of your microeconomic pontificating can be deleted.
So, by your summation, no Caymanian is ever qualified for the job they do? Bigoted much?
What do you think is entitled about wanting to get the best job I can?
Or do you think you are entitled to poverty-wage employees?
So 6:34, why does your Caymanian Government not raise the minimum wage so that the wages are not poverty wages?
The minimum wage here is an absolute disgrace.
and yet here you are.
Immaterial to the question(s).
– What do you think is entitled about wanting to get the best job I can?
– Or do you think you are entitled to poverty-wage employees?
Don’t let yourself be distracted from the core question. (And the answer to your question may be in the answer to the second question. It might help you to look at anti-minimum-wage arguments in other countries as a starting point.)
I agree but safety must be applied to these businesses and the safety or the guest that use them.
I would like to add that saying over is when a vaccine is developed should NOT be seen as the only way forward. This may never happen or maybe years and years away.
Stricter boarder control is very important as is pre screening before boarding flight Asian countries have been doing this for years time for all of us in the west to catch up.
Governments around the world should NOT be putting all of their eggs in one basked and waiting for a vaccine you mast have a second option, this is the advice of a lot of the worlds scientists.
The best person for YOUR watersport business is Caymanian. Just being Caymanian does not make you better at anything. Look at your leadership. Look at Cayman airways and the Turtle center. Look at Caymanian run schools. Look at your speaker of the house and your health minister. If that does not clear this up then nothing will. Caymanian run usually means losing money, poorer standards and tax payer funded bailouts. Now I am sure that there are very good, and very professional Caymanians but Saying that Caymanians are the best at anything because they are Caymanian is a joke.
Exactly – although I agree Caymanians should have first consideration I also think hiring should be based on competency, not nepotism or entitlement. If you’re the best for the job, you should get the job.
Agree 100%. We need to take this opportunity to reset our tourism product and to strictly limit watersports providers and capacity at sites like starfish point and stingray sandbar.
CIG should also take this opportunity to fix the mess they created at public beach by strictly limiting vendors and to give the beach back to the public.
I don’t understand why we would need a tourism product that requires us to import foreign labor to serve visitors. Who benefits?
We import foreign labor because Caymanians will not do the tourism jobs available.
Nail. Head
Funny how Caymanians won’t do the “jobs” of a tourism industry that caymanians and only caymanians developed in the first place. An industry that has provided for so many that drifted to these shores to benefit after the fact.
Exactly. Pretty much every overcrowded, understaffed crappy boat in the North Sound or Starfish point, staffed by rude, inconsiderate and sometimes unqualified, dangerous crew, blatantly flouting the rules regarding wildlife handling and interaction is NOT a expat operation. Open your eyes folks.
100% Caymanian? Does this have to include dive instructors etc? Because i know for a fact that we don’t have the numbers of Caymanians with dive instructor certification. Most instructors are expats and do a great job teaching diving. I’m not disagreeing that Caymanias should get priority if they have the qualifications but I think you’ll find it difficult to fill all the positions required in the water sports industry with locals.
Yours truly a born and bread Caymanian.
Not diving, It’s not the stuff these type Caymanians want.
Water sports was an integral part of the high school PE program on Cayman Brac for a number of years, producing dive masters who are revered by tourists. It was scratched from the program when CXC took over. Also, when Winston ran the business on Cayman Brac, he hired almost strictly Caymanians. Tourists still ask for them. I for one, would not want to go to Italy and have a Caymanian be my guide at the Coluseum. I’m with you here.
Then I would consider you guys start pressing your government to actually treat the public school system like the pandemic it is. Quality of educated children and teenagers that are coming out of there it’s abysmal. Not to mention the fact that I would rather have an ex pat who took the PR test leading tours over most of the next generation. That’s sad.
The problem lies in your ignorance that no one does anything better than Caymanians.
Three comments on a thought provoking article:
(1) The Government needs to play a greater role in order to reduce the leverage the cruise ships have over local operators. Equally the local operators to organise themselves to collectively negotiate with the cruise ships on basic terms. Otherwise, the race to the bottom will continue.
(2) Like the telecoms and utilities sectors, operator licenses should be restricted only to ensure economic and environmental sustainability. The regulation of this sector should fall under OfReg. (But a far better functioning OfReg).
(3) Requiring 100% Caymanian ownership will send hugely negative “warning” signs to the investment community across many sectors not just investors in watersports. This would undermine foreign inward investment at a time when its greatly needed. Any such requirement would be very short sighted.
Ludicrous that scuba diving operations and instructors should be totally Caymanian. For years, Caymanians have had many opportunities to become scuba diving instructors and to learn the business, but they have simply not taken up the opportunities.
The question to Mr. McDermot is why have more Caymanians not learned scuba diving and become instructors?
What are the barriers to Caymanians in this watersports sector?
Low pay and high danger. No benefits worth the risks.
Rick, High danger? Yes, high danger from a good day’s work.
I don’t know about “high” but there is danger in diving and there is serious danger in being exposed to UV rays every day all day long.
11:25 Not to mention the impact of all the apres-dive activities 😉 I’ve been around long enough to remember the staff at Parrot’s Landing hitting the Seaview bar after work. Man, those were good times!
#1 barrier is I don’t want to work in the hot sun for peanuts a day.
Exactly. And I don’t blame you. But then Caymanians can’t turn around and complain that the industry is overrun with expats. Until sometime in the ’90s, watersports used to pay decent money and the standard here was among the best in the world. Then Red Sails realized it could hire capable young expats from South Africa, Down Under and the UK and pay them peanuts just because of the allure of working in the industry in the Cayman Islands. It completely blew the business model for the local industry and made watersports less safe generally here, but make no mistake, the Caymanian owners made TONS of money.
Yeah, let those Brits and Canadians do that work for peanuts.
I want to clear something up. There is nothing that suggests that a vaccine will be developed by fall or a least be deployed in any meaningful way. If we can accept that we do not know when or if a vaccine will be developed we can bring to look at a plan.
Anyone like to take a guess how many vaccines have been found for the many other Coronaviruses before COVID-19.
Anyone?
None. Nada. Zilch.
Perhaps Alden should be told.
Perhaps he should actually test everyone for antibodies, tah dah, no need for magical vaccine long shot…..no need to lockdown/isolate island, cruise ships were full of this virus for months….
Dont like the way Mr mclaughlin is running our island go home please if u have one
That test isn’t reliable Trumpette