Lawyers to head immigration boards
(CNS): Government has made several more appointments to some of the country’s most important boards. According to a government gazette published yesterday, lawyers will be heading up the main immigration boards. Maxine Bodden has been appointed as chair of the Work Permit Board, Richard Barton now chairs the Business Staffing Plan Board and Steve McField will be at the helm of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board. Bodden is one of only a handful of women currently chairing the multiple and controversial boards that run government-appointed public boards.
Despite PACT’s commitment to more diversity with these political appointments, the new government is facing criticism for the significant number of recycled faces and the lack of gender diversity in the chair and deputy chair seats. And while there is an increase in the number of women being appointed, the boards are still largely dominated by men.
Nevertheless, Bodden is taking up the substantial role of Work Permit Board chair, supported by Deputy Chair Robert Whittaker, having been appointed by a new government that has made a commitment to address public concern that work permits are being granted at the expense of Caymanians.
While Barton is heading the Business Staffing Plan Board, another critical board when it comes to the advancement of local workers, the deputy chair is Dawn McLean-Sawney from the Cayman Islands Small Business Association.
The only non-lawyer to chair an immigration-related board is Temple Tatum, who has been confirmed as chair of the Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Immigration Board, having previously been acting chairperson. Audley Scott has been appointed as his deputy.
As well as chairing the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board, where he is supported by deputy chair Magalyn Velana Robinson-Clarke, Steve McField has been appointed as chair of the Planning Appeals Tribunal.
The new PAT has six deputy chairs, all of whom are men: Richard Barton, Peter Broadhurst, Travis Ritch, Philip Boni, Alric Lindsay and Alexander Henderson. However, the planning law allows for up to seven deputy chairs, who must have legal backgrounds, plus seven other members. At least three PAT members (one of whom must be either the chair or a deputy chair) are required to convene a hearing.
Government has also gazetted the appointments for the National Pensions Board, which will be chaired by Marsha Patrica Ann Smith, with Daniel Peterson as deputy chair.
See the the new immigration boards in the CNS Library here.
See the new planning boards in the CNS Library here.
See the new National Pensions Board in the CNS Library here.
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Category: Government Administration, Politics
Let’s get this party start right! A Stevie Mcfield is going to be the best chairman yet. No PR no problemo some need to hit the road Jack!
Wow. I see a lot of comments here about Steve spewing venom in their direction. Spend the better part of your life putting up with systemic racism at home and abroad and see if it doesn’t make you a little venomous as well. Not excusing it. Just saying.
12.49pm I made a comment in that vein – let me give you the details of what happened some years ago, which will always remain in my memory. I was outside the GT Post Office wanting to check my external post box and politely requested Mr McField who was reading a letter from his box, to allow me access to mine.I then met with a series of very coarse expletives and invective ending with the comment “go back to South Africa”. Where he got that from is a mystery as I’m British.
I was quite astonished at his outburst and seriously wondered if his mind had been ‘clouded’ in some way. If this was not blatant racism, I don’t know what is – “just saying”.
Finally, the tables are starting to turn. Long time coming.
Too many self-serving expats weaponising status have been treated as first-class at the expense of locals for far too long.
Many of this expat subset have no shame in bragging about holding jobs over the heads of locals or anybody they think of as “less than” and profiting off of it.
Can dish out prejudice but can’t take the prejudice back. Border closing has only exposed the true colors of these deplorables all along.
Unfortunately as a result, these narcissists have gìven all expats a bad name when the broad brush is not appropriate.
Cayman kind
CaymanKind is a lot more than you think.
It can be cutting.
“Many of this expat subset have no shame in bragging about holding jobs over the heads of locals or anybody they think of as “less than” and profiting off of it.”
Laughable when the truth is generally the other way around
Many local employers have no shame in bragging about holding jobs / work permits over the heads of their expat employees and exploiting them for profit.
#leggewasright
What was he right about?
That Cayman is rife with corruption the ordinary person does not know about and those engaged in it have no shame about.
Corruption
maybe now some of the boards will get off their arses, stop pissing around with people’s lives and rubber stamp some bloody forms. I’m glad lawyers are in charge now – because there are a ton of law suits coming for sheer incompetence.
Same puppy dog.
Also, can these XXXX work virtually and clear up this massive backlog we got. It is insnae, the PR & Status board literally did not convene once during COVID (mid 2020) because they couldnt meet physically. Have these people never heard of ZOOM???!?!??!
I’m so glad I got Status before SlickField got appointed…that man holds a grudge and is definitely anti-expat imo and from what I’ve seen.
Yep, so much for impartiality.
He still has to go by rules, not by how he may feel. How are you not going to give status to someone who obviously qualifies and has been here for decades?Those are not personal favours.
It is allowing people to come here on a work permit and stay that has to stop. There should be no more than one work permit renewal. Also foreigners should NOT be allowed to purchase land. Our government giving points towards status grants for property ownership was a foolish idea which has hurt Caymanians. I hope we can start to right some of these wrongs
So Caymanians never sold any land to anybody ever! LOL
Kick foreigners out and ban foreign property ownership?
So you’re in favour of killing off the financial services industry then?
Public finances would be very interesting indeed without it.
It’s actually quite frightening how prejudice and envy can blind someone sufficient to make a suggestion as idiotic as this seem like a good idea when it would be to the long term detriment of so many Caymanians.
I hope you’re good at coconut farming
Oh you think the boards will follow rules? Like the CPA? And what happens if you don’t? Well if the person you have f;()$d over doesn’t have the cash to go for judicial review, not a lot. And if they do and you are overturned on review, so what? No consequences.
This why it’s good to have the Governor who can address some issues. Like it has happened before.
24/09/2021 at 7:19 am – Not true. Steve McField is NOT anti-expat. He is pro-equality. There is a difference. Simply because someone wants fairness in opportunity for citizens of his/her own country, does not equate to holding a grudge against, or having disdain for, everyone else. This is the smoke and mirrors used in many countries to keep the disenfranchised locked out of opportunity. A perfect example is the smear campaign used against people protesting against social injustice. Calling them anti-patriotic, anti-police, anti-veteran, effectively turning them into villains in the eyes of the public. This tactic has been used particularly well in the USA against citizens of that country calling for fairness and equality in their own country.
Don’t be absurd. The immigration position in Cayman is not “pro-equality” it’s deliberately and overtly protectionist.
Of course there is good reason for that, but equality has absolutely nothing to do with it.
He is not anti-expat. He just pro caymanian
Just as you thought it couldn’t get worse.. Monty Python come in please!
Once again the PACT/UdP propaganda offered us a change but all is see is nepotism. Steve is being recycled along with Gilbert and Ossie. Richie Barton and Jackie Scott are Saunders first cousins. Atlee is Andres father, I saw Bernie’s daughter being appointed somewhere, Marva is Kenneths campaign manager, Johann ran with Saunders this election. Marco is preparing for a run with PACT, CG … what can I say ? Smh what happened to all the wonderful young people that they were going to select ? All I see are political has beens, wannabes and family !
The younger intelligent Caymanians don’t want anything to do with any of the boards or parties that are on offer right now .we are in one big mess.
Someone has to do the work though, no?
Board members related to politicians are emboldened and get their way by shouting down other members.
Da wa U get .
Some good choices here. I especially like Mr. McField in that post. He should have been there a long time ago, and it reminds me of Mr. Ormond back in the day “which flight you want to leave on, this evening or tomorrow morning” when an expatriate crossed the line.
To 9:54pm: Is that you, XXXX? Still pining for the days when expats could simply be escorted to the airport in the middle of the night for deportation in the morning. The good old days, according to you.
What a shameful comment.
Yearning for a time when people can be deported because of some minor error.
Maybe put the insecurity complex down and ask yourself why you take so much pleasure in being able to stick it to someone simply because they aren’t of your nationality. Maybe take a moment to think about what expats have helped build here in Cayman and the immense amount they contribute to the public purse.
Have a look around the region are places that take your view and ask yourself whether Cayman would really wish to swap places.
A Stevie Mickfield going to fix unaah Bizzness Cayman come first now yes suh !
Some of these members would not have a clue on how to even complete and application for a work permit. Member of these board should at least be familiar with process. When you appoint persons who are not capable of being objective to such boards it will only lead to unfair and bias decision making. How can any Government be so ignorant to think that it is in the best interst of the Country to select persons to such boards based on how much support they gave during the election campaign? The integrity of this Government is very questionable to say the least.
You’re writing this as if this is a new thing. ALL and I mean ALL past governments have placed who they want on boards for *whatever* reason. Some know nothing, some control everything….nothing new my dear.
More riggemeration, stack’em high boys and see where this gets you Cayman.
“Sacred Vessel” Dr. Steve rises from the ashes as the Phoenix would.
Where are Mrs. Theresa Pitcairn and Mr. Roy Bodden appointments.
Please don’t out leave those 2. Nice to see.
Roy is fine…he has great ideas.
Still interesting to see these board appointments.
Roy and Theresa are ideal candidates for any board far more than McField. He is not in the same league.
3.26pm I must say Mr McField has some sensible points of view, but he can certainly be overly excitable.I experienced this trait many years ago outside the G.T Post Office and will never forget the undeserved xenophobic venom that spewed in my direction.
Some of the stuff he has said publicly on Radio Cayman talk show is downright racist. Pull the tapes.
Mr McField has some issues with expats – sure it wasn’t just you. Great choice for the Chair of the status Board. Good luck in applying for status if you are a lawyer.
Oh yes, when just walking my dog some years ago, bothering nobody, the banshee screaming that came out of car, from the female, there was a parade in town but she was going to call the police for walking my dog. And I am Caymanian.
Had it too as a white female Caymanian, also from the fishy wifey from car. Because they don’t know you they think they can abuse you. Just listen to him ranting on radio all these years. Shameful. Now he appointed to tbis. Cayman – we done, whether you like furriners or not – Cayman done!
Done indeed. What do you suggest?
Let status holders run for office, not the ones McKeewa gave away.
I can assure you that he does not reserve that venom solely for persons that look differently than he does!
Interesting. He hangs out mostly with “foreigners”. He is happily married to a “foreigner”. Never noticed anything xenophobic about him in my 5 years in Cayman, (being a close friend of his wife) and being around him many many many times.
Please restrain yourself from talking nasty about people under fictitious name.
Tell that to white expats
Hahaha says the person who writes under the pen name “Anonymous” 😂😂😂
5:33 You deserved every bit of i what you received,with your pompous self no doubt.
What the hell is wrong with you? You think the poster DESERVES to have racist bile spewed at them?
Finally a stop to the status and permanent residence giveaway.! Thank you ! It’s about time this Be put to bed. Oooooooooh Yeaaah can you dig it
Except once you have gotten ast the permanent residence point, I. The absence of convictions or clear cause, qualification for status is largely a time served thing. Steve can try and refuse applicants, but unless he has good cause he is going to be on the wrong side of judicial review.
You should check out how well that faired in Bermuda. Million dollar homes worthless in less than 2 years time.
9.25pm Are you the person who writes about “boarders”?.
Trapper John How about a stop to full British passports, subsidised British University education, free Covid vaccines etc etc.
One causes economic and social imbalances in a population of 70,000 and the other adds an infinitesimally small number of people to a group already in the tens of millions. Don’t be silly. That subsidised university education is part of a post-colonial policy to upskill the entire population here over time. It is in the UK’s enlightened self interest, and not some magnanimous gift. As for COVID vaccines, if you hadn’t noticed, we’d be perfectly capable of paying – send us the bill for the vaccines and we’ll send you the bill for yours. The passport isn’t worth hardly anything anymore without EU benefits, the BOTC passport already provides right to remain in the UK. So what is it that the 21st most populous country in the world is doing for us today?
Ummm. A BOTC passport gives no right to work, study or remain in the UK.
To be fair I am talking about almost 15 years ago but I did not need a visa to do two of those three things. You tell me.
Get rid of your own one McKeewa, nobody else gave them away and who did he give them to!
Expect massive confusion and hysteria with these appointments. Refusals of every immigration category will skyrocket. However fewer Caymanians will get jobs.
Good governance committees will be kept busy.
How are people identified for board appointments? It is important that these appointments are not just an old boy’s club type of thing.
Also, I don’t know if there is anything to celebrate by having lawyer’s in charge of these boards. When you look around you will see that there has been many lawyer’s in charge of us over the years and we can’t say that we have benefited from their leadership in any meaningful long-term sustainable way.
Honestly, often by asking the current members who else might be willing to do part of the state’s job for little or no pay and public abuse.
Maybe they asked women and they declined the posts. Anyone ever thought of that? A lot of these Board appointments are thankless tasks. No one ever gets it right, plus your career suffers as a result of being appointed to Boards.
Maxine and Richard are great choices. But Steve McField is a bit too excitable for the position of choosing who gets the right to stay in Cayman forever.
Hmm some arses at work already . You 5 and others who may follow you @3:26 , May just eat your vomit.
Nice.
Disturbed your non equilibrium?
That’s Dr McField to you
What Doctor?
He’s got a certificate and everything.
And he’s a constitutional lawyer apparently. I heard him say so on the radio so it must be true.
Like several other people who like to be called “doctor” in Cayman, Mr McField’s “doctorate” degree is an honorary one granted by UCCI. He ( and the others) did nothing academic to get it. In other countries, such people normally do not refer to themselves as Dr this and Dr that but here in Cayman….well…..
LOL Another Dr. Insult to real Doctors!
Read and inform yourself so you don’t sound so silly
https://education.seattlepi.com/difference-between-phd-doctoral-degree-2218.html
Damn Straight! Tell them. Disrespectful people
The right to citizenship is stated in the law(s). Easy to follow. The problems came when persons looked to bend/twist them.
Or just go ahead and change em again.
There is a law that says you have to keep your dog on a leash. Few obey that either.
could not be a better choice that knows or roots and struggle. Congrats Steve
The Business Staffing Plan Board is a CON. Businesses are supposed to be training Caymanians for succession, but that never happens. Those businesses also undertook to offer training/scholarship monies and that is hardly ever enforced. If SPs are going to stay, they need to be strictly monitored and enforced.
Who the heck are they to train? The Caymanian must first take the lower job to be trained for the higher. No one is going to pay them for the higher job while they are training. Training is different than doing.
Who cares if they all men. Why you don’t complain about all the men working in the hot sun doing construction? Hmmm maybe because it doesn’t fit the power level you seek under the guise of equality. Starting pushing for more women to work in the construction industry and the garbage collection services and stop this power hungry drivel. Or maybe start pointing out all the white people on these boards and in CEO chairs!
Most people in construction are men
Most homeless people are men
Most suicides are committed by men
Most people in prison are men
Most people murdered are men
Most leaders are men
In Cayman there is a law against insulting the modesty of a woman but to my knowledge not an equal one for men.
Selective equality is not equality.
I’m happy to insult these assholes whenever possible. This is one area of Cayman law that seems to he working.
Because I have yet to see any women whistle or cat call a man walking on the road.
OMG no more status or residency grants with that appointment!
Why bother to have these boards,?
All they have to do is ask Mac .
Not surprise that this Goverment would select persons that have no experience, no knowledge to make up these boards.
Mr. Temple excepted, possibly others. He is experienced — on the job experience, and is level-headed and fair.
Why does CB & LC have their own board? Aren’t they in the Cayman Islands? They should just have a member on the board in GC.
Seriously? Do you actually know any of these people or what they do? Maxine in particular is well respected in the trusts industry for her knowledge and passion in leading STEP. Christ – some of you will complain just to complain.
You seem to only be familiar with a few
No problem with Maxine it’s the others
Not only no experience and knowledge but some that are actually crooked.
Loose use of the word “lawyer” there.
You prefer “Doctor?”
LOL Applies to both in most.
Lol