Enforcement inequality in Grand Cayman

| 30/06/2020 | 148 Comments

Ezzard Miller writes: I am concerned about the way laws are enforced in Grand Cayman by those charged with authority to enforce laws. I am a duly elected representative of the people in the North Side electoral district and far too often I get frustrated by the authorities who seem reluctant or find procedural excuses to enforce Cayman Islands laws against people who are rich or have influence through their circles of wealth, and therefore their breaking or contravention of the laws are ignored or some settlement is negotiated which allows the infraction to continue, or the settlement carries no punitive action.

However, on the other side of the economic spectrum and especially Caymanian single mothers, I often have to intervene to correct problems or infractions of laws because the laws are being mercilessly applied. To illustrate this, I will tell three stories without calling names to identify the individuals involved:

Story one.

I am a rich developer who has completed several developments in the Cayman Islands, so I purchase a small parcel of land in Rum Point, on which I plan an enormous building that is entirely out of character with the surrounding area. To accommodate this large multi-storey complex, I stretch the highwater mark out into the sea to a depth of five feet of water.

Nobody in government bothers to check where the highwater is and the plans are approved by the Central Planning authority. Also included in the plans is a gate across a registered fire lane and a six foot beach access, which, in spite of objections by the neighbouring property that this fire access protects, is approved by all government authorities.

There are also some protruding ironshore rocks in the water’s edge which I remove without permission in a Marine Park and then I apply for permission, that is granted, to construct a dock in the same Marine Park.

I also happen to be doing a development across the street on the canal, so the government spends several hundred thousand dollars to improve the safety of the road junctions around my property.

I lay claim to my property by constructing a fence in direct contravention of the Roads Law section 18, blocking the line of sight on an inside curve and negating any improvements in safety achieved by the government’s road improvement. In fact, the junction is made more dangerous than before but I avoid enforcement by giving an incorrect address on the land registry documents.

I am a rich developer so there are no consequences to breaching these laws; the CPA likes me, I am a developer. The gate is securely locked, preventing the access of fire trucks to neighboring property and any intrusion of Caymanians using the prescribed beach access.

This saga has been ongoing for five years with no enforcement or penalties. And if the local troublesome MLA tries anything to interrupt my development, I just call my friends in government and nothing happens.

Story two.

I am a single mother, raising two children on my own, working two jobs, one from 7:00am to 3:00pm and the other from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. At the same time I am trying to build a house for my family.

I own a lot of land in a development and have so far managed to get the foundation done and a small building on site for temporary living quarters for me and the children.

I apply to the authorities to do an inspection on the foundation. When the inspector comes he decides to inspect my temporary home on site and decides it is unsafe and that he will instruct CUC to disconnect the supply so the children and I will be without electricity. The inspector’s recommendation is that I can buy a generator to get electricity when CUC disconnects the temporary supply.

I call my MLA and ask if he can help. He listens to my story and immediately reaches out to the government authorities to seek a delay in the disconnect notice to give me time to make the identified changes to comply with the law.

He is successful and gets a delay of one week on the disconnect notice from the authorities on his personal guarantee that the repairs will be done. He also sought help from the agencies in government charged with providing assistance to people like me in need.

They promise that all will be taken care of but nothing happens for five days. My MLA then takes matters in his own hands, employs a licensed electrician to correct the problem at his expense so he can honour his commitment to the authorities to fix the problem. The problem is fixed before the deadline and the disconnect notice is withdrawn.

Then the COVID-19 lockdown strikes. The children are home 24/7, I lose both my jobs as they were tourist related, one at the cruise port the other at a hotel. The family struggles on, the children are adjusting well to classes over the internet, I am looking for a job.

Then, in the middle of this pandemic another inspector from the same agency shows up and again threatens to instruct CUC to disconnect my electrical supply within two days, because of some other technical issue with the work done by the licensed electrician and putting in a smoke detector.

In a panic I call my MLA again to ask for help. He responds almost immediately, contacts the authorities, informs them the work has been done on the electrical supply, has the licensed electrician contact the government agency. The electrician shows up the next day to remedy the new problem identified by the inspector.

Hopefully me and my children will be allowed to live in and enjoy our temporary shelter and with God’s help I can finish a portion of the concrete house this year and move in with the children for Christmas.

Story 3.

I am a single mother struggling to make ends meet and maintain my mortgage on the house that my daughter and I live in. To enjoy a little more comfort, I pinch and save to add a small patio to the back of the house. I was unaware that government had changed the planning law so that you can no longer add 10% on to your house without planning permission. Someone complains to planning that I am adding this small patio.

The planning inspector arrives, demands that I stop building the deck, employ an architect to draw plans, an engineer to certify the structural plan and apply for planning permission. Of course, the fees for the architect and the engineer exceed my financial capacity, so I abandon the project.

There are many stories I could relate that demonstrate the enforcement inequality employed by our enforcement agencies, while the rich get richer by breaking the law and the poor and middle class get trampled by the system.

Meanwhile, the developer turns his nose up at the local MLA’s frustration in trying to do the right and legal thing, and moves on to bigger and larger developments, safe in the knowledge that his contacts and influence over them will protect him and give him advantage over the average Caymanian.

The fire lane and beach access remain blocked by his gate, his fence continues to obstruct the view around the bend, the government agency does nothing except resend the enforcement notice to the wrong address, even though the law allows the government agency to remove the encroachment, bill the landowner. The law also provides a penalty of a fine of five thousand dollars and imprisonment for six months.

The MLA and other users of the road hope no one gets killed at the junction.

This continued influence of money and wealth is going to lead to continued erosion of the socioeconomic balance that has made Cayman so successful.

We need to act collectively to restore the confidence of Caymanians that they can continue to participate in the Cayman economic miracle and at least maintain, if not progress, up the socioeconomic ladder.

This selective enforcement of laws in the Cayman Islands must stop. The LAW is the LAW and it must be applied equally according to the LAW.


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Comments (148)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I must say that the Planning Department have special eyes for what they want to see. Case (1) They can see a new house siding and roof when this is being repaired but fail to see the old house siding and roof that was there in dire need of repair for over 60 years. So they thought it was a new house being built and not an old one being carefully repaired and promptly issued an enforcement order.

    Case (2) Rich people have learnt the benefits of asking for forgiveness, rather than having to aks for permission. Poor people need to learn this simple rule. The lady should just build her damn patio and deal with it after the fact!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Except that the ATF penalty/fine is 10X the amount of the original permit fee. Rich people absorb this as a matter of doing business.

      Regular people can’t afford this. It’s not a matter of learning the unoffical rules, it’s a matter of not being able to afford them.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Really amazing the way the majority of commenters are siding with the morally corrupt business man while attacking the Caymanian lawmaker. It’s quite clear where their bias lies.Anti-Caymanian.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They are coincidentally rich, They are criminals and should be treated as such. When we start treating them according to their behavior we are against foreigners. Prosecute, jail them and send a clear message we will not tolerate it.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    DCI are reminding people of the fines they will face if their T&B Licence renewals are not filed on time. However, many many PR holders owe thousands and thousands of dollars to the Govt for their annual PR fees and are allowed to get away with it. It would be funny if it was not so sickening.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    The Caymanian government has shown its true colours for a very long time. No need to seem surprised that the good Christian act is exactly that… just an act

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Disband the Central Planning Board and reappoint a new one.

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    • Anonymous says:

      In my view what happens here in Cayman is the unfortunate phenomenon of small town “Who-you-knowism”.

      And that cuts both ways.

      Story one: I am a Caymanian. A school bus driven by another Caymanian rammed me in a horrific crash some years ago and the police did absolutely nothing about it. I was blamed because it was presumed that I had braked suddenly, it seems.

      Nothing of the sort. I had signaled, was stopped for several minutes waiting for the oncoming traffic to clear, when the bus crashed into my vehicle. There were ample witnesses. I had spoken to them and they related that they sat waiting for the bus to hit. Police obviously disregarded them or did not investigate.

      They asked me if I did not see the school bus coming. The answer was no, when I stopped it was not there, and I was looking at the oncoming traffic. I guessed that was proof that I had stopped suddenly and caused the accident.

      Story two: In another instance, years apart, I was travelling at a normal speed, within the speed limit, just after a drizzle. As I came around a corner, my car skidded on a sandy stretch of road.

      I was really frightened but was in enough control to remember not to brake a d make the situation worse. Instead I steered the vehicle off the road into some rocks. No other vehicle was involved and I called the police and went to the hospital to treat an injury.

      It was only until years later that I learned that the then-police commissioner wanted to throw the books at me and would have, save for the fact that an off-duty police Officer was thankfully standing in his yard and saw the whole thing.

      The retired police officer told me years after the case that the police commissioner quizzed him as to whether he was family, friend, had personal interest, etc. Nothing of the sort. Didn’t have any association. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time for me and was strong enough not to buckle under pressure and to stand up for truth.

      I truly believe that if someone had died in that accident that I could have otherwise ended up in jail.

      I don’t believe the outcome of any of these two accidents had anything to do with me being a Caymanian.

      In both cases the motivations were about who knew who. If you think this is about conspiracy theory, think again. It happens and did happen in my case.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Further to 10:01 am, 2/7: I thought I would add with respect to Story Two: why would a Commissioner of Police take such interest in a minor routine traffic accident?

        Therein lies the answer to the puzzle. The old hidden agenda.

    • Anonymous says:

      It doesnt matter who the Board is. They are just a rubber stamping committee for the Ministry of Planning. When are people going to wake up and stop blaming the scapegoat board members!!! Its the Government, the ministries pushing all this BS through.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    🎵 Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying 🎵

    The Boomtown Rats ©️

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  7. John says:

    I remember a certain current MLA’s brother getting a job as a condo manager. A few days after he started work the Condo Board heard that he was asking vendors for kickbacks.

    They fired him on the spot and the condo chairman helped in the office for a few days while they looked for a new manager.

    She got a phone call to get out of the office quick because that MLA had called immigration and they were on their way to deport her for working without a work permit.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m familiar also with that same brother in a working environment. I worked in finance. The gentleman insisted on a company credit card in his name and used it rather freely without ever feeling the need to provide any receipts or justify any of the expenses. Again, he was ‘let go’ eventually without making good any of the great deal of money spent. Makes me wonder how this continues to happen.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It is probably because it is “normal” in the Caymans. I heard that a very high- up man once used a government credit card for gambling in the U.S. and nothing was done about it.

    • Anonymous says:

      If the condo chairman didn’t have a work permit he was contravening the Immigration Law..Helping in the office for a few days is the same as “working.” If we gave that leeway there would be many illegal people “helping in the office.”

      I’m not sure what this has to do with Planning permission though…maybe you could expand or give more details..

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      • john says:

        Happy to give some more details.
        The quickly fired condo manager had just ordered a big screen TV for his condo provided apartment. Apart from asking for kickbacks

        Fired on the spot but it was the middle of the tourist season. People were checking in for their paid vacation but there was now no one to help them.

        That’s what the board chairman did. Unpaid of course.

        What choice did she have? Give them their money back and send to the Holiday Inn? Couldn’t even do that legally either.
        She would have to have let them stand knocking on the door of an empty office until they went away of their own accord.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Miller, you just earned a new fan.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Story #1 – I parked illegally and dangerously, had my car clamped. Got pissed off because I’m extremely important and used my position of authority to outlaw clamping.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    On balance Ezzard might compare better than most of our MLAs, but he is by no means free of abusive Caymanian vindictiveness.

    Last November 2019, he joined with Anthony Eden in calling on the Attorney General, Sam Bulgin, to have Dr Raznovich deported for having provided pro bono legal advice to Colours Cayman…and earlier in 2017:

    “…Miller pressed Bulgin to make a commitment that government would fight the case in courts and “do what is necessary” if the tribunal ruled against the Business Staffing Plan Board’s decision to refuse the dependent application”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Go Ezzard! Thank you for standing against the LGBT AGENDA.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s been shown to be unlawful to hold that position time and time again – which is the very inequality and privilege he whines about.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @ Anonymous 01/07/2020 at 7:17 pm. Are you serious? You’re thanking a senior government (and I might add, ELECTED) official for standing against equal rights for your fellow humans?? What if he was against equality for black and brown people? What if he was against equality for women? What if he was anti-Latinx? What if he was against foreigners? What makes you so superior that you expect rights and privileges for yourself, and at the same time expect the rights and privileges of “others” to be denied?

        I’m sick of some people wanting to see others denied the same rights and freedoms that they themselves enjoy. And no, I’m not gay. Not that it even matters.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He has a close family member who is gay and lives abroad because of it so why are you congratulating him?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Who remembers Ezzard as a “hired HR sacker?” Complaints were made to the Staffing Board and even Franz, so no clean hands there.

      I admire his focus, but Ezzard has left a lot of bodies in his own wake.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I guess I can’t say I______o?

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  12. Anonymous says:

    So many people in Cayman are not aware about their basic rights and how things work:

    🛑 Fault determination after a traffic accident: What You Should Know.

    ✅ While the police will make a report and may issue traffic violations, they do N🅾️T determine fault of an accident.
    It’s important to understand that even if a police report states who was responsible for a car accident, this DOES N🅾️T automatically mean that the person will be held legally responsible (or “liable”) for damages in a subsequent lawsuit.

    ✅ Either a judge or a jury, depending on who is responsible for deciding the case, will determine based on the evidence whether the other driver was negligent and must pay you money to compensate you for your injuries and other losses as a result.

    ✅ After an accident is reported the insurance companies involved will begin their investigation.

    ✅ Do N🅾️T voluntarily assume liability, take responsibility, or sign any statement regarding who is at fault for the accident while at the scene.

    ✅ Instead, focus on recording and documenting the facts. Exchange insurance, car registration, and license plate information with the other driver. Take photos of the scene and damage to the vehicles and get the names and contact information of witnesses if there are any.

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    • Anonymous says:

      In general, the driver who rear-ends another vehicle is held responsible for the accident due to negligence on their behalf.

      The most common conclusion is that the driver who rear-ends another vehicle is at fault for the car accident because they were not following at a safe enough distance in order to stop in time.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Free condo for planning permission anyone?

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  14. Anonymous says:

    The CPA is a huge problem. If you were in charge, would you kick them all out?

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Another two stories. Story one: healthcare entity who failed to prepare clean accounts. The Board Chair, CEO, and senior staff brought to PAC and raked over the coals so hard, an ambulance had to be called for the HR Manager who almost suffered a heart attack.
    Story two: Regulatory entity with years of documented public wastage of funds, subject of reports from Auditor General, Ombudsman, public and political outcry, but chaired by a lodge brother. This brother has never been called to the PAC to give an account of his failing organization since its inception, no accountability for unnecessary travel, conflicts of interest, or wastage of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
    You see, we all selectively decide who and who not to hold accountable due to associations and relationships, you and your colleagues in the Parliament are no exception.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Story number 1: I am a politician who has a problem with morality. I was Kicked out for no confidence but not fired. Voted out but not fired. Beat a poor woman because of issues caused by past family members but not fired. Still getting paid, still double dipping, and my court case keeps getting move forward until I die. I am untouchable.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Oh, let’s not get started with the politicians. How many drunk driving, wife beating, mistress beating stories of politicians not being held to task can this site take?

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  17. Anonymous says:

    He’s not wrong, but the mayor of North side has been sitting in the LA quietly going along with Cayman’s targeted inequality for years. The record shows he’s been an MLA from 1984-1992 and 2007-present. 21 years in the LA to make any kind of impact on the problems, and has failed. Now in the twilight of a mediocre career, and while enjoying the special perks of his station, he starts complaining about the systems he has complicitly endorsed for years as a serving law-maker. We need new, younger, smarter blood in the LA, judiciary, and the Portfolio of Legal Affairs should not be exempt from scrutiny.

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    • Rick says:

      I feel this is an unfair and inaccurate description of the NS MLA. He has maintained a very ethical position, which is also pro-Caymanian. Everyone changes but this MLA has contributed tremendously over the years, even at the risk of his political reputation (and he did pay for his rather principled stands in the past). Did he fix everything? No. But to sit at home in the safety of anonymity and make these broad condemnations of a person’s character and contribution is not acceptable. Thankfully, you do not have more than one vote; hopefully, not one in NS. BTW, I am not a Northsider and have never voted for Ezzard, but I have had to deal with the man and I know his contribution. Long may he continue to be a leader in these Cayman Islands.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Thank you for this viewpoint. I have experienced nothing but incompetence from the individuals that work at the Department of Planning. They refuse to enforce the laws and regulations fairly. It is time for the current leadership to step aside and make way for competent individuals to take over the management of the department.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Story number 4: An expat is driving down Shamrock Road, going to turn into Ocean Club, but it stopped, waiting for oncoming traffic to pass. He gets rear-ended by a Caymanian. The Caymanian police officer attending the crash scene files a report saying the expat was at fault because he didn’t have his turn signal on. The expat swears he did, but in any other place in the world, that wouldn’t be the deciding issue of fault. But the Caymnian knew the police officer and that’s how it went. Ezzard is right. There is inequality in law enforcement.

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    • Anonymous says:

      How do you know that the other individual was a Caymanian? Did they present you with their passport of some other form of government issued ID that states their nationality?

      You need to simply report this matter to the CoP.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Cayman passports are not indicative of nationality.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It wasn’t me that it happened to, but a work colleague on a work permit. It was some years back, but the cop and driver were both definitely Caymanian. If you’ve been here long enough, you know who’s who by accent and skin tone. If you’re Caymanian for instance, you can tell a Caymanian and Jamaican apart with a high level of certainty.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The correct thing to do is to report the matter to the CoP.

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        • Anonymous says:

          11:28 the fact that you said you can tell a Caymanian by their skin tone proves you are a damn moron. It is impossible to tell a person is Caymanian by their skin considering Caymanians are various shades of color. Get out of here will your ridiculous story.

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          • Anonymous says:

            If you have a brown-skinned person speaking with a Caymanian accent, as opposed to a Hispanic or Jamaican accent, you can generally tell that the person is Caymanian. If you can’t, then you’re either dense or a newbie.

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            • Anonymous says:

              And the many hundreds of persons from the Bay Islands who are Honduran, or those from San Andres, or Bluefields, who have Caymanian accents and are not Caymanian?

              • Anonymous says:

                No Nicaraguan or san Andres person has a Caymanian accent. Some of them may have Caymanian ancestors but their English accents are very jamaican sounding.

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      • Rick says:

        An obvious lie. If you are not the liar, then you are at least much too simple minded for repeating it. In the first place, the police officer does not decide who is at fault, the court does. Granted, the police officer investigating can influence the case; but, s/he would have to convince every other individual involved in the investigative process to collude with her/him – this just does not happen. In any case, if the ‘victim’ was so right, why not challenge the matter in court? Oh, I know; the judge is Caymanian, right?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Some you know

    • Anonymous says:

      Hahahahaha 99% of police in cayman are not caymanian. Facts! I don’t believe a word of this comment

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      • Anonymous says:

        Believe what you want to believe, but it happened. I ended up buying the car from the guy when he left the island in disqust – mashed back bumper and all!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Same type of event happened to me. I’m an Anglo expat and was rear ended by a Jamaican security guard on his cellphone. My road branches off Shamrock on a slight curve. A Jamaican cop stopped at the scene and wanted to charge me for being in the opposed lane where I was pushed by the car which rear ended me. What’s worse is that I was told by the cop to stay in my car, with oncoming traffic whizzing by. Luckily a Marine Police detail stopped and I was told by the Caymanian officers to get in their vehicle out of harms way.
      Skin colour, your last name or who you for should have NO bearing on how you are treated or what privileges you are or are not entitled to.
      Equality goes all ways!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Since you made the point that you are “Anglo”…I guess it’s a little better than a Anglo Cop showing up and killing you bcus you’re Black.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yeah, because that totally happens outside of the US.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Why bother worrying about an ‘Anglo’ cop showing up and killing you. You just need to sit around in Chicago or NY and your own race will do it for you.
          But that doesn’t make a good headline for the lefties. So let’s celebrate a man who gave nothing but misery during his life, and ignore the names of the lives that really matter, the young children killed by assholes with guns who are bent on revenge and greed regardless of cost.

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      • Rick says:

        Another lie. Firstly, there is no charge for being in an ‘opposed lane’, whatever that means. Secondly, if you are so right, complain to your Anglo countrymen who run the police and demand an investigation into the corrupt cop. What is your excuse for not doing so? Thirdly, would you prefer if the police officer told you to walk across the street while the traffic was whizzing by? Is it not safer to remain in the safety of a vehicle while the police direct traffic and clear the roadway of your vehicle? Not too late to make a complaint. Let’s hear your updated report on the outcome. I dare you.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You want a reason why I did not pursue going after the bias cop. When I first came here, many many moons ago, probably before you were just a glint in your parents eyes I encountered another bias cop. This was where ALT roundabout is now. I had a brand new car and had an invoice for a licence plate bracket in the glove box. My front licence plate was clearly displayed in the windshield. A senior cop pulled me over accompanied by a trainee. I was issued with a fine for not having a front plate. At the GT Police Station I disputed the charge with the then chief of Traffic. During the conversation I noted that my next door neighbour, a prominent MLA at the time, never had a plate on the front of their car for at least the last 3 months. The Chief then ordered the fine to be doubled. So I learned not to contest things like this for fear of digging a deeper hole.

          To add to this, Cayman was the first place out of over 50 countries that I ever witnessed overt racism and bigotry. And this wasn’t just against expats it existed and still exists between Caymanians. So it’s not just a skin colour thing. Yes many things have changed since then but we a still a long way from an all inclusive, where the law is dealt out equally.

          And please, don’t make yourself look like an even bigger fool if you’re suggesting I go somewhere else, it’s not going to happen. I prefer to stay here and fight the inequalities for the benefit of the common good.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Ole 3.46pm You prefer to stay here because you are an elitist beneficiary of some of that inequality.

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    • Anonymous says:

      i believe there are double yellow lines opposite the entrance, is it not illegal to cross a double yellow?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Overtaking crossing a double yellow line is illegal, crossing over one into an entrance is not.
        Please reread your road rules!

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    • Anonymous says:

      at 9:17 am

      Fault Determination After an Accident: What You Should Know

      #1 Do not voluntarily assume liability, take responsibility, or sign any statement regarding who is at fault for the accident while at the scene.

      #2 focus on recording and documenting the facts. Exchange insurance, car registration, and license plate information with the other driver. Take photos of the scene and damage to the vehicles and get the names and contact information of witnesses if there are any.

      #3 While the police will make a report and may issue traffic violations, they do not determine fault of an accident. Be sure to ask the police officer at the scene for a copy of their report or the report’s file number. Once the police officer decides that he or she has enough information, they will submit their report to their department. It’s important to understand that even if a police report states who was responsible for a car accident, this DOES NOT automatically mean that the person will be held legally responsible (or “liable”) for damages in a subsequent lawsuit.

      #4 Either a judge or a jury, depending on who is responsible for deciding the case, will determine based on the evidence whether the other driver was negligent and must pay you money to compensate you for your injuries and other losses as a result.

      #5 After an accident is reported the insurance companies involved will begin their investigation.

      #6 If it’s difficult to prove fault, insurance companies will sometimes split the cost of damages 50-50 (if the state allows).

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      • Rick says:

        Great information. I agree with most of what you say here. You could have also added that in accidents, expect many of the participants to lie about their actions afterward, like many of these fantastic stories.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Did you hear the one about a former commissioner’s son and a suspected DUI ?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Didn’t know we had Caymanian traffic cops. Every other nationality yes.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Story 5

    I am a well connected partner of a law firm. I assault my domestic partner in a violent domestic abuse case. Although I am a prominent figure locally and my business is a major employer, my case is subject to a gag order so that my violent conduct is hidden from the public view. I face no consequences for my actions.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Or I assualt my wife in Florida then “resign” from my “Offshore Magic Circle” law firm only to join a new small firm with a fake sounding name.

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  21. Working Class Stiff says:

    Story 4
    I am a middle class hard working stiff. I save me entire life and follow all the rules. All my savings are in an discount brokerage on Island. One day i wake up, and my money is frozen because the regulator had failed to do their job for 5+ years. To make matters worse, the court appoints a “liquidator” who is given the right to take money out of my account, and i have little to no recourse because i cannot afford a lawyer now to protect my interests and the so called “regulator” is nowhere to be found. I watch as my savings are evaporated while this liquidator gets to enrich themselves.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You put all your savings in with a discount broker with minimal track record who then mismanages the brokerage so badly they stop filing returns with the regulator so they can blame their failure on the regulator.

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      • Anonymous says:

        So this is the middle class hard workers fault? for not understanding the poor regulatory environment we have here in Cayman?, we should pay the price? Not the people who get paid the big bucks who run the system? I guess with that attitude, nothing will change. Good to know, another thing i get to learn in time.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Yes blame yourself for putting all your savings in with a broker with little track record and the broker. The regulator did their job….this isn’t a Madoff situation that went on for decades.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That sounds like something that would only occur in a third world country

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Election season is in the air and the wannabe Premier’s have come out to play early.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard is right on this one.

    However, the problem does not start with enforcement. It starts with changes to the Planning Law and regulations over the past few years that create barriers for ordinary people for the benefit of certain groups.

    In academic papers that is called ‘regulatory capture’.

    It is ridiculous that Planning now requires people to spend thousands on engineering and architectural signoffs in order to build a 4 ft by 6 ft concrete pad outside a back door.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    I’m a white American accountant working in Cayman under permit with a company with a shady history but connections…I get caught with and on cocaine. I’m charged but case dismissed. Next case I’m 1 of 100’s of Caymanians living in Northward for possession and consumption of ganga.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You may want to double-check those numbers

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      • Anonymous says:

        I’m a white American accountant working as the head of a division of an offshore funds firm. For an amount of cocaine that’s less than a quarter gram for personal consumption, I’m arrested at my workplace to embarrass me and destroy my career. I return to the USA after losing my job and can’t pay my taxi fare because I’ve lost my wallet. The Cayman Compass dedicates over a page to write about my arrest over a laughable amount of cocaine and even wrote about the taxi fare issue that didn’t even occur on the island. That’s incredible journalist, ah? More like anti expatism. Way to go Compass, you’ve got Pablo Escobar!

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        • Anonymous says:

          You’re a guest in the country and apparently had consumed most of your cocaine. Why do you get off easier than actual citizens? “Lost” your wallet right…you rode and ran guy.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Do you geniuses realize that the poster is not really the one who went through that? It’s just to point out how you losers wait for the successful expat to slip up so you can destroy him. Yet, cocaine is the candy like party drug on this island. But Caymanians aren’t hauled out of work in handcuffs while they supply the crap. And to the “ride and ran” idiot comment… yeah a managing director coming from the airport with luggage is going to ride and run. You’re really bright. At the end of the day, the guy who went through this is back on Wall Street making serious coin with a far better quality of life. Hahaha. And before one of you responds bashing America, don’t step foot there again. We won’t miss you, better believe that.

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            • Anonymous says:

              I’m glad the expat is now back in his own country making lots of coin and can now support his habit and enable him pay for taxi’s….and…buh-bye

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              • Anonymous says:

                Yup, the he very happy too. It is a shame that you all can’t develop the skillset and motivation to actually work. If you did there wouldn’t be a need for expats. Never going to happen.

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            • Anonymous says:

              “candy like party drug”..so you go to parties where instead of candy there is cocaine…are these like kids birthday parties..how do they feel about the substitute? Not bashing America…just some American’s that think they are above the law no matter what country they are in.

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              • Anonymous says:

                All you tards constantly trash America. Stay in your dump. We don’t need or want you in America. Your country is a tick that lives off the blood of developed countries, mostly America. If it wasn’t for the US Coast Guard you’d probably of already been overrun by drug cartels. You all can’t even defend your sovereignty. Remember that next time you trash the US.

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                • Anonymous says:

                  Can read man…or to hopped up? No one is badmouthing Americans in general…just you and people from any nation that are like you. You should maybe give up the yayo and maybe you can get your wife back…but I doubt it.

        • Anonymous says:

          Hey you should go snort up in Turkey with your “less than a gram” defense.

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        • Big Pappa says:

          You sound like a real loser. Go snort some more coke. Grow up little boy.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Welcome to the real world of humans. Even in developed countries this must be dealt with(much better than here) In a little third world island like Cayman it is rampant and will never change in your lifetime. If Cayman did not do things this way you would still be eating bushes and crabs and growing pot to survive.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Why would not community help a single mother with 2 jobs lost to lockdown?

    Remember, in July 2015 GT house got burned down? By December they had half-finished house (the article says).

    So it looks like obtaining building permits in such a short time was a smooth sailing. Hope that construction and building inspectors regularly visited the site to ensure that it met local building codes and ordinances and the fire marshal signed off on the building upon its completion.

    “A family who received unprecedented community support after their home was destroyed by fire…”

    “Arch and Godfrey is managing the project and other businesses have chipped in with materials, technical expertise and logistical support”

    Re-read the 2 article below to see how fast things were moving back then: from demolition to permits and completion of the house.

    https://www.caymancompass.com/2015/08/06/family-who-lost-home-in-fire-to-help-others-rebuild/

    https://www.caymancompass.com/2015/12/14/new-home-takes-shape-for-fire-hit-george-town-family/

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  27. Just asking. says:

    Development deals remain secret. That is what we call CORRUPTION TO THE CORE.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Calling a spade a spade. I still can’t remember too much of anything. May be it is because our politicians have truly done very little in recent times to improve the lives of our people. “Caymanian Lives Matter.”

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    • Anonymous says:

      Do not under any circumstances believe that co-opting the slogan of the BLM movement is acceptable. I understand your frustrations, but if you think for a moment that your situation equates in any way with the systematic beating, murder, and mistreatment of generations of black people you best check your privilege.

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      • Rick says:

        And I guess you speak for them? Can I have permission to speak about a black person? Let me know and please show your credentials so I know you are legit and not some idiot feigning outrage due to your total ignorant state of mind.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Thank you, Ezzard.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    The problem is Ezzard, this kind of crap will continue. Caymanians want people like you to have to deal with this stuff, but they won’t put you in charge to actually change things!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The civil service should be fixing this stuff. Politicians should simply help with the reporting to them. Why is the civil service so inept? World class, Franz?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Civil service fixing stuff????? – You new or wha?

        Who do you think is behind the enforcement mess that Ezzard refers to?

        Who do you think drafted the changes to our laws that make this crap ‘legitimate’.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The civil service in Cayman is mostly just a welfare plan.

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        • Anonymous says:

          For foreign nationals who do nothing, supervising Caymanians, who follow the lead of their bosses.

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      • banon says:

        7:25. Lesson no 1 you should have learned many years ago. Never comment without the facts.

        We are only hearing one version of a story.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your first four words were enough.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    You had your chance to make a change, what did you do?

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    • Teacha 2 says:

      I think Mr. Miller has done far more than any politician on these Islands to try to bring about correct and necessary changes. The fact that he hasn’t been able to achieve this is not due to lack of effort, but rather to being blocked by those with greater power. Unfortunately, this will only continue to harm the Cayman Islands.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You think wrong. Ezzard cares about nothing but himself

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        • sunshine says:

          I do not know which Ezzard you are talking about. He is one man I can tell you is always willing to help. It does not matter who you are.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If Caymaninas keep electing the likes of Dwayne “John John” – “I am the law” Seymour to represent them, this is just going to get worse.

      If this guy gets elected again after he showed us all what a bad joke he is, we will know that there is no hope coming from the local government.

      New blood in the LA is crucial!

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  32. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard you are lying the beach access is out side the property and is not blocked by the developer. My family and I spent the day on that same beach this week and never had a problem. And yes he does have a gate to enter his place, if you did drive up there you would know that the gate opens automatically.

    When we look the truth we must tell the truth first.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why would anyone think to drive up to a closed gate just to see if it will open automatically. Then what is the point of the gate?
      Besides that, Ezzard mentioned way more issues with the situation than that gate.
      Go back and read it.

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  33. Born Caymanian says:

    There is alot of things that I don’t agree with this man for, but he’s hitting the nail on the head right now.” Facts”

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  34. Anonymous says:

    Ezzard, well said. What you call frustration, others perceive as corruption, David Legge once tried to tell us the same thing. Look what happened then.

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    • Nicholas Robson says:

      The Cayman Islands have lost what they used to be, which was a caring, compassionate society.

      Unless we can return to wanting to help our neighbor, friend or fellow citizen when they are in distress we will end up with an island that no one will want to live on.

      Government departments that cannot follow the spirit of the law and want to penalize the smallest infraction must be taken to task, as should those that let developers have their will to the detriment of struggling Caymanians.

      Ask who we are developing for? Are we developing for the benefit of Caymanians or the Mega-Wealthy?

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    • Anonymous says:

      That man cried down corruption in Cayman but surrounded himself with the so called elite and attempted to be a power broker.

      He considered CNS a rag and criticized free speech.

      XXXX He had a lot of cheek.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Yawn, nothing to see here been going on for years and clearly Caymanians accept the two tier system that has been in place for donkeys years because they keep voting in the same politicians that are beholden to the developers. Just ask Chris Johnson about his fight on the waterfront in GT.

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  36. Anon says:

    It started with the Ritz Carlton develpement. Nough said

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    • Anonymous says:

      And look at the beast that developer is now building on south church. Surprise when you find out who “purchased” units there as well, just like the ritz. Term limits for all MLA and board members is a must!

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      • Stop the traffic says:

        7.32am I live nearby and they have been using S.Church St as part of their construction site for more than 2 years and still no sign of when it will be finished. Who is this developer and who are his cronies that have “acquired” units there?. The public needs to know.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Speaking of which, did we ever find out why certain people of that era were granted status by the cabinet? Still waiting for an explanation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Started long before that. You are just too naive to have noticed.

  37. Anonymous says:

    Way to go Ezzard. This unity government and their underlings do not care about the poor locals when it comes to building and infrastructure. The poor Caymanians cannot afford to contribute to their special interest.

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