$1,000 tourism stipend extended
![Cayman News Service](https://caymannewsservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Cayman-taxi.jpg)
(CNS): Government will be extending by three months the $1,000 cash payments being paid to Caymanians who were working in the tourism sector before the COVID-19 pandemic and have not been able to find work elsewhere. Premier Alden McLaughlin said the monthly stipend will be automatically paid to existing recipients until the end of the year. New applicants who meet the criteria can register from Monday.
“When tourism came to an abrupt halt, workers in the industry were among the first economic casualties,” the premier said at Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, as he announced the plan to continue supporting people from the sector for another three months.
“Thousands of Caymanians were either furloughed or lost their jobs completely. As a result, government stepped in, as any caring government would do, to provide economic stimulus programmes for businesses and financial support for displaced workers in the tourism sector.”
Early on in the crisis, following direct one-off payments of CI$600 to taxi drivers and others affected by the immediate tourism lockdown, more than 2,000 tourism workers went on to register for the CI$1,000 direct monthly payments that were made in July, August and September.
Those who already receive the monthly payments will continue to do so until December and they do not need to reapply, but from 14 September, the registration period will be reopened to give those who worked in the tourism industry and who have not previously applied for the stipend an opportunity to do so.
To qualify for the tourism stipend people must provide proof that they are Caymanian and that they were employed within the tourism industry before the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour confirmed that government would also be picking up insurance payments for those in tourism as well as any Caymanians who have lost their jobs or are still furloughed and have no means of paying their own health insurance premiums.
While no cover was provided for July or August, Seymour confirmed that the government had decided to cover payments in September and would carry that through until the end of the year.
See the press briefing on CIGTV below:
Category: Business, Health, Health Insurance, Jobs, Local News, Tourism
Are they planning to stop with the stipend? I have not receive the funds for October as yet. No information.
This says that government would extend until end of year I have not recieved the funds this month I was supposed to come yesterday now I am broke with no warning or nothing they just stop without notifying the public the wtf! What Am I supposed to do now!
Why exactly are we throwing money at people and at the same time complaining about lack of school buses, overgrown landscaping on the highways, trash in the bushes, etc.? Why are we not putting people to work beautifying the country instead of just handing out cash? This creates a social-support mentality. The US cannot get people to go back to work because they are happier sitting at home collecting their handouts instead of working. Is it because many have other jobs so are double-dippinginstead of tightening their belts like the rest of us? It sickens me to see this money handed out when it could at least have some work done or contribution to society in exchange.
What about p.r holders that work in tourism industry?
Those who have caymanian children or those that got naturalization?
Their permissions are contingent on not being a drain on the public purse, espescially for an extended period.
We try to go to as many local establishments as possibly so youd think taxis would also be getting some love from the community.. But that’s not gonna happen because their rates are way too expensive they have not adjusted to fit the times and they’re in the mafia and we all know it. Now flex goes on that stupid homophobic cross talk show and says the rates are the same as what the government has made for taxes so even flex isn’t saving us any money they just added a middleman so taxis now get less money they get a little bit of a cut of it and everyone still makes a huge profit and people still drink and drive because it’s cheaper to chance it then it is to take a cab.
If they haven’t adjusted that means they’re double dipping.
We would love to be working but expats are living like a can of worms making a slice of bread a hour we caymanians can’t match that… Go home expats then alden won’t have to help his own cayman ppl … U dufus
Wow,Wow,Wow! I wonder how many think like 7:26 am?
You expats love to complain about our government why don’t you go back to your country and praise your own government… Lol o wait your country is a @#$_&&–+(-_$#@@$$__&– . A p.o.s
Vote buying scam for da leader and the beat goes on!
Can some one in government tell my why full time government workers are getting the help from tourism.i mean the one thousand dollars a month, when they are getting a full time salary and have a full time job, they should be fired for receiving that money.
I understand that we have a lot of government workers,have full time jobs,and have gotten the three months, money already,its not fear if you only work part time in the industry ,you should not get it because government is paying you your salary every month, some one needs to look into this and have them repay that money ,back or they should be this miss,for steeling.
Please don’t blame taxi drivers for not working, the government close down the island, and therfore they have no way of working, think about it not every one can work in office, because if every one did work there then the government would not have reasons to issue work permits and thats where they the government get some of its revenue from, so somebody have to do the dirty job, please be nice
We are being nice. We would rather you were working.
If your rates weren’t so high then more of you would be working as more locals would use taxis.
How many taxi drivers are indigenous caymanians? The majority of them are from elsewhere.
How does Govt check that none of these Caymanians already on the stipend handout have not found another job but not reported it.
Easy! All the expats have the jobs so logically these Caymanians are still unemployed
Not necessarily as they may have found full time employment else where.
I know people in full time employment collecting this stipend. Their taxi gig was always on the side anyway.
But what about retraining? Retraining should have started long time ago. Only retraining would save these people in the long run. DoT has mentioned retraining few month ago. Anything happening? Other than Michael Myles nobody seems retrain tourism sector people. Why is that?
Electricians, plumbers, a/c repairs, auto repairs, carpenters- these are very well paid jobs.
9:05 you mean you missed the job fair at the Marriott that over 300 Caymanians attended.
hmm….didn’t find anything about retraining, actual retraining like they do in trade schools..
“The two-day event is aimed at getting people REGISTERED with government’s job agency, WORC, and matching them with the few jobs that are still available in the sector.”
✳️ “Government has TRIED to prop up the sector by re-tooling and retraining workers, helping businesses transition to serve the domestic economy, and guaranteeing loans, BUT……..”
I think people registered, re-registered, shuffled, re-shuffled so many times already, but retraining is still in the “tried” stage.
People making comments about Caymanians that don’t want to work must have nice jobs and have no clue what people are going through who lost their jobs to COVID, and it’s not just in the tourist sector.
It could be you tomorrow with no income, worrying about losing your house, and still trying to feed your kids. And, yes I am ‘sweeping the floor’ with dignity cause that what mothers do.
!ALL CAYMANIANS ARE NOT THE SAME! Stop bringing our people down, everyone is going through something you know nothing about.
Agree 100%.
I really hope we are not paying civil servants the extra money when they have secure government jobs. There must be accountability and responsibility with the people’s money.
All work permit holders should first be asked to leave (work permit is for contracted period not for life or regardless of consequences).
Next review disbursements and if job in tourism was to make extra those funds should not be provided if tourism job not primary job and definitely not if employed with government.
All work permit holders should leave? Are you nuts? Enjoy the 3rd world mate.
Tell us how many of the work permit jobs and how many of the civil servant jobs you qualify for. Heck you should be able to get at least one.
Why would we be a third world country without expats? What if we judged your country by its least intelligent members of society?
Umm, most of the expats here are from third world countries. Just sayin.
Not to mention that the government should be looking at reducing expenditure rather than throwing money around without attempting to cut costs. How many government offices had the ac turned up (or is it down) when the island was shut down? How many people were on reduced salaries when they were not actually working for months? (I’m not referring to people who were working from home, there were many civil servants basically on vacation from work for 4 months)
Could someone please explain to me why there are hundreds of foreign nationals here on work permits, driving school busses, busses, delivery vans etc. all while hundreds of unemployed Caymanian taxi and tour bus drivers are being paid to sit at home to do nothing, using the public’s money?
Because the government is corrupt.
Next question?
Caymanians don’t drive school buses, buses and delivery vans for a living. We are an entitled people.
Now give me that $1,000 stipend.
No way. Governments should increase spending during economic retractions. This is Keynesian economics and basic monetary policy.
If you are out of work, try learning: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/economics
Love it – you lecture someone else on learning economics when you clearly have no idea as to the fundamental differences between monetary policy and Keynesian economics.
Why would you think civil servants would be receiving ” the extra money” as you term it? Do you know of any civil servant getting the money please tell us. We would all like to know!
…because Alden says everyone in CIG worked really hard and will get a bonus.
He did not say that. He said frontline and essential workers who worked continuously through the shutdown thus potentially exposing themselves to possibly contracting Covid-19 would get a bonus. Civil servants who did not work during the shutdown did not receive any bonus at all.
They were simply doing their jobs like the rest of us who were also potentially exposed but don’t happen to work for CIG
7:45. Why are you so jealous of civil servants. They kept you safe last night.
Kept us safe from the impoverished amongst us, whose very presence is made possible by the civil service’s failure to educate, protect and operate at efficient and effective standard? OK then…..
Money soon done. Not that Alden and Roy care.
When will we start incentivizing them to get jobs in (say) construction? General tourism is not coming back for at least a year. That might be an unpopular thing to say, but it is the reality. We need to face up to that and act accordingly.
There is already tourism open in many other locations. But fools like you think Cayman needs to be shut forever because of a flu. I guarantee you either dont work for a living, or work in government or are so rich that you have lost touch with reality about the struggles of ordinary people who lost everything when government closed off cayman.
John. First, I respect you for using your name. I wish I could too. Second, my position has nothing to do with right or wrong. It is reality. If we are to choose to be and remain Covid free we cannot have tourism. It really is that simple. The negative consequences are substantial, but will be much much worse if we continue to delude ourselves that commercial air traffic (or cruise ships) will be coming anytime soon. We need to prepare for the long haul.
Some of us ordinary people went out and got other jobs when tourism shut down. My current job may not pay what I was earning previously as I now work at a supermarket but I have an income. When tourism is allowed to reopen I will go back to my job but until then I have a family to feed and bills to pay. People like you are who give Caymanians a bad name and you then get upset when others label is as lazy.
Umm, and those that cant work in construction? My God, i don’t even want to imagine your type n of privilege to be able to make such a statement. The government needs to direct more effort into training or helping to redirect those who need jobs while ensuring the support continues from the stipend. They need to raise the minimum wage now more than ever and make sure they are doing something to hold these businesses accountable.
“(say) construction”. That means it is given by way of example for some of those effected. It is not the only option. There are academic pursuits, but it would seem you are ill suited to those. Agriculture perhaps?
If they raise the minimum wages, how can old people be able to hire helpers, lots of old people don’t have much money but they are too old to do for themselves and need helpers.
It is perfectly possible to raise the minimum wage for commercial activities, and not for domestic carers. It could be done tomorrow without changing the law or doing anything. All that would have to happen is for immigration to refuse any work permit for any position in a commercial enterprise paying less than CI$9.00/hour. Caymanians could compete at less than $9.00 an hour if they wanted to. This would incentivize the employment of Caymanians without destroying businesses.
If there’s an older Camanian where are their family where is the government helping them? That’s a social welfare question. I have seen many Caymanian mothers posting for domestic helpers to care for their children and they only want to pay them $250 a week but they must be available 15 hours a day basically. That’s not fair.
And they don’t have children? What then? I know many elderly that never had children.
Government should have a plan just like usa and the Medicare.