Vaccine mandate for work permit holders in effect

| 15/10/2021 | 180 Comments

(CNS): Immigration and border control legislation passed in Parliament last week has been brought into force, which means that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is now one of the conditions for new and renewal applications for work permits as well as a number of residency applications. A vaccine verification certificate will now have to be added to the application documents submitted to the relevant agency, either WORC or Customs and Border Control.

Labour Minister Chris Saunders said the legislation was part of government’s efforts to offer as much protection as possible to the community while the global pandemic continues.

“The revised legislation endeavours to make the new requirements as reasonable and humane as possible,” he said. “We have removed the mandate for persons with existing close, long term personal connections to the Islands. In addition we have built in grace periods where appropriate, and allowed medical exemptions where called for. We believe these changes have helped to improve what is otherwise a necessary piece of legislation.”

As of Friday, a long list of people applying for work permits or for one of the relevant residency categories (see who this affects for both amendments) will need to be fully vaccinated with one of the four approved shots: AstraZeneca, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.

Applicants who are off-island and for some reason unable to access a COVID-19 vaccination can submit, along with their application, a declaration of their intent to complete an approved vaccine course within 40 days of arrival on-island. Failure to provide WORC or CBC with a vaccination certificate confirming that the applicant has completed the full course will result in revocation of the approved application.

Individuals who are already on-island when submitting their application can also declare their intent to complete an approved vaccine course and provide a vaccination certificate within 40 days of approval. Failure to provide this to WORC or CBC will result in revocation of any grant and having to leave the Islands.

Anyone seeking exemption from the Acts on medical grounds must obtain a letter or certificate from a physician in the Cayman Islands if applying locally or from a physician from the country of origin if applying overseas. This document must be sent to the Health Services Authority for review and approval by the Medical Officer of Health, after which it should be submitted along with the application.

WORC and CBC officials stress that if a vaccination certificate, declaration or medical exemption is not included at the time of the application submission, this may cause a deferral or delay in processing. The declaration form can be found on both CBC and WORC websites.

To facilitate COVID-19 social distancing protocols, customers with queries should contact:

WORC at WORC@gov.ky or call 1-345-945-9672 or toll free 1 (800) 534 9672

CBC at visa.queries@gov.ky or call the Customer Support Centre at 1-345-649-4579.

See the new legislation and the lists of who they apply to in the CNS Library.


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Comments (180)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I see the term “Cayman Kind” denigrated on this platform and other social media platforms quite often lately, which is very disturbing, and quite telling as well. To me, this smacks of a particular tactic used in the US and other countries. It is the tactic of denigrating terms that originated in other cultures (particularly cultures of color) that originated as a source of pride or endearment to that culture. Denigrating these terms is done to willfully distort the original meaning of the term. The terms “Black Lives Matter” and “woke” have been denigrated in the US, seemingly by those with an agenda to disparage communities of color. To be blunt, it smacks of racism. The constant, daily denigration of the term “Cayman Kind” is unfair and wrong. Cayman kind exists whether you have opened yourself to accept it or whether you have not permitted yourself to see it. If you’re a good person and interact with all people with kindness, it will come back to you. Cayman kind will be revealed to you if you are open to it.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Wow. I am astonished at some of the hate towards us Caymanians.

    Us Caymanians, who are not members of Parliament (MPs), are not the ones that passed this legislation.

    It almost seems that, despite it being outside of our control, Caymanian private citizens are getting the blame.

    I am a inclusivist and try to judge all people on their own individual merits, whether Caymanian or expat.

    If blaming all Caymanians continues, it’s not going to be good for social relations.

    I do have sympathy for those who were forced to take the vaccine, but were against it.

    I just hope that all understand that and don’t blame all (or the majority of) Caymanians.

    Also, for Caymanians, many of us have nowhere to go and it is a bit unfair to generally stereotype all Caymanians.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s unfair to stereotype any race, religion or nationality, but that doesn’t stop bigots/racists from doing it.
      Don’t take this site as indicative of the whole population. Some of the people who comment on here are the fringe types who like to call in to radio talk shows all the time, too. And, because it’s somewhat dangerous for expats to call radio talk shows in fear of retribution, the fringe expats can write crap on her anonymously. I truth, I think most people living on this island don’t really care about the vaccination mandate for expats because most of them are vaccinated. The anti-vaxxer conspiracy tin hats aside, most people would like to see Cayman reopen as safely as possible. However, if any of the media polls are to be believed, the large majority of people living here – Caymanians and expts – do want Cayman to reopen sooner rather than later.

    • Anonymous says:

      11:28, When half the population is mandated to be vaccinated and the other half, indigenous Caymanians, are required to do nothing then you are going to get resentment.

      Certainly not hard to understand as it was Caymanian officialdom made that decision. Nobody else.

      Don’t understand why you are astonished.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Almost 7 Billion jabs given around the world. I guess all that we will be left soon are the few anti vaxxers to re-populate the world after all of us the vaccinated start dropping like flies from the vaccine.

    Should Cayman be preparing for the Apocalyse and will the New World Order be led by Dr. T and Kattina as head anti-vaxxers? Will Ivermectin be placed at the back of every newborn’s head to ward off any future viruses and diseases and will all adults be given free tubes since it is so inexpensive? We don’t want big pharma making and profits but they must make the drugs prescribed by the head anti-vaxxers..

    If this sounds stupid watch and see how many anti-vaxxers will defend it..

    By the way, here is the fact check. Oh and by the way Bloomberg news is also anti-vax “fake news.” Sorry I couldn’t find anything on FOX News.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

  4. Anonymous says:

    I was fairly well anti-vax and paid a lot of attention to the anti-vax tripe spewed by tin hatters world wide. Then I realised that the anti-vax tin hats here are all too quick to point out tin hat fear-death data from the UK, USA, Australia, EU, Timbuktu, and probably Planet X. But I do not live in any of those places. I live here in the Cayman Islands and no tin hatter here can show me reliable data indicating that there are any excess deaths or excess serious morbidities in the Cayman Islands that are directly attributable to Covid 19 vaccinations. I have since had two fully FDA approved Pfizer jabs and I am happy to report I had ZERO side effects.

  5. Anonymous says:

    All these comments… CaymanKind
    Now we are seeing the true CaymanKind!

    When I go back to my country to visit, people always ask what it’s like to be a guest worker in another country.

    You should hear the stories I can tell! You can call it “buyer beware”.
    People should know what it’s like to come here and experience racism on the job daily. I mean if you weren’t sure exactly, you will after living here.

    You can also realize that the F&B staff have the most fun because they all work with expats. Once you get into the business world and work with the ‘locals’…
    So many of you will understand this and so many will pretend it doesn’t exist. LMAO
    Signed
    Driftwood of CaymanKind

    • Anonymous says:

      try being from here, the ONLY HOME you have and know and being pushed out via housing prices because developers are building for expats and/or high net worth people, education and job are low, and things constantly changing in favour of expats who have home options…

      While i think that civil servants police, doctors should have teh same mandate. I think that it will eventually come but they have to start somewhere and they decided to start with the bottom of the pyramid and EXPATS ARE THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE HOME OPTION IT IS NOT HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

      So im SORRY THAT this paradise island didnt do well for you in this one instance but damn you arent the only one that experience racism and classism etc. So please saved your tears. Actually just dont you bottle them up and sell them as water cost and evetything else is rising.

      PLEASE cut the woe is me attitude and understand that you are here for a reason, you came here for a reason and stayed for a reason. so it cant be that XXXX bad.

      • Anonymous says:

        AMEN! 3:52PM. You hit the nail on the head. It is always better where they come from but they come here in droves make all the money and then try to tell us how we should run our own country and just what laws they are willing to obey. Sick and tired of this..Too many good expats out there that are better and better ones waiting to come to replace these ungrateful wretches.

    • Anonymous says:

      Whatever. Being CaymanKind is sadly what has gotten us into this mess in the first place. Pushover no longer.

      The enemy always makes the most noise on the way out…..

    • Anonymous says:

      2;32 pm, if its so bad here, then leave and don’t come back, that simply to do, even you should understand that.

    • Anonymous says:

      @2:32

      Why do you keep coming back if we are so racist and unkind to you? I certainly wouldn’t. Maybe it’s because it is worse where you live than here.

      Maybe like the old people say, “you shouldn’t shit where you eat.”

  6. Anon. says:

    What is all the crying about? Before you started attending pre-school and kindergarten back in your homeland, it is very likely that you had to be immunized for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, and Chickenpox. Did you consider it a violation of your human rights then? The whole thing stinks to high hell of privilege. The rules have always applied to “those people” and now that they apply to you, you start whinging. Suck it up, get the shot, or go home. It is really that simple. Or maybe join EPACI and make some more ridiculous demands.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes and those were actually tested, proven “Vaccines” not an MRNA jab that has failed in all it’s animal testing but has simply been rolled out for humans as part of an “emergency” program.

      CNS: More anti-vax bullshit. Reuters – Fact Check-COVID-19 vaccines did not skip animal trials because of animal deaths

      Or this from AP almost a year ago, showing how long this particular lie has been knocking around on social media via anti-vax loonie websites – Pfizer and Moderna did not skip animal trials

    • Anon says:

      All of those innoculations you mention are taken voluntarily. It’s not the vaccine that is the problem. It is selecting HALF the population to be mandated while leaving the other half to be unvaccinated. That is discriminatory and divisive and without justification.

      • Anonymous says:

        Work permit holders are guest workers not citizens. So they dont have the same rights as citizens.

      • Anonymous says:

        @12:09 You do realize that nearly 80% of the Cayman Islands population has already had at least one does of the vaccine..

        I am not sure where you are coming up with “HALF” or 50% of the population. If you want to say HALF of those still wearing “tin hats” like yourself, then I would agree with you and in fact, if HALF of the remaining 20% will get vaccinated that will only leave 10% of “tin hats” out there…now that’s music to my ears..

    • Anonymous says:

      Those real vaccines were well established with well understood long term studies. Additionally, they worked long term and were not new technology.

      The fact that you are equating these vaccines with the mumps demonstrates you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

      Apparently you have no limits as to what a government can impose on anyone.

      • Anonymous says:

        Oh geesh Dr. T, go take your sinovec with less than 40% efficacy..At least you will have a little bit of something in you.

        The GOvernment is not imposing anything on you. you have an option. If you want to live and work here with us get the vaccine..If you don’t then go home to your country ..most likely they will want you to be vaccinated as well.

      • Anonymous says:

        12:12 so are you telling me you still believe the I-Phone 1 is better than the I-PHONE 13? You know, with all that new technology and everything, that can’t be good. Oh yeah, guess you are still using the Motorola Block..or did you at least move up to the Razr?

        Please go get vaccinated and stop talking rubbish. & billion people around the world have taken it..They can’t be all wrong, can they?

  7. Anonymous says:

    This is absolute crazy madness not based on any common sense or science. The vaccine does not prevent infection, carrying and spreading the infection and there are many people double and triple vaccinated who have died from contracting Covid, ie, US General and Secretary of State just died this past weekend and he was double vaccinated. Add to this stupidity the fact that HIV Aids is a deadly virus that can infect and be carried and people do not ever recover from this virus and work permit holders are only required to have a HIV Negative test. Why are they not able to have a negative Covid test the same as for HIV and not to be forced to have these experimental drugs which they pass off as vaccines. Chris Saunders and the entire Government will soon discover the fall out from their ill informed stupidity that is not based on any science.

    • Hubert says:

      8:35, Colin Powell at 84 had an underlying condition, cancer. People with obesity, diabetes, cancer and asthma are still very vulnerable to COVID even if they are fully vaccinated.

    • Anonymous says:

      The difference is that you can’t “catch” HIV by breathing the same air.

  8. Robert Mugabe IV says:

    For all those Caymanians and Permanent Residentsand WPH’s who support the Mandate to have all new WPH vaccinated, please tell us why the Pact are not Mandating vaccines for everyone else living in these islands, including frontline workers and the Civil Service.
    You can include scientific facts aswell if you don’t mind. Thanks

    • Anonymous says:

      Okay Mugabe sure..simply because unlike work permit holders, Caymanians don’t have the “choice” to leave the country for another…you know, like you could go back to South Africa if you like…tell us why you don’t want to back there though..

      Let’s face it, many of the people complaining like you have a simple choice, stay here until your work permit expires and move on or if you want to continue to stay and enjoy our milk and honey then you must obey our laws…Caymanians cannot go to your country and ask that the law be changed just for them..

      This type of crap can only happen in Cayman because you think you can continue to bully us into submission..those days are dead and gone where we would bend over and take it up the ass..Start getting use to it..Cayman is levelling up. The Government has taken a stand and majority of us stand by them..

      • Anonymous says:

        Shame it is not Constitutional to pick on only those that cannot vote as a public health solution. Any way, how come your Uncle’s Baby Mama and her teenage kids all about to move to Cayman are exempt, as is your doctor at the HSA, but not your doctor at Shetty?

      • Anonymous says:

        It’s nothing to do with being able to leave the country. It’s to do with saving lives and preventing illness and being a responsible citizen not an ignoramus who only cares about themselves. Foolishness.

      • Anonymous says:

        British passports much?

      • Robert Mugabe IV says:

        Oh my, it’s the ‘milk and honey’ poster.
        I’m Caymanian.

        You obviously weren’t paying attention to any world news over the last four decades. Mugabe and South Africa LOL
        “Caymanians can’t live in another country.”
        “The majority of us stand behind the Govt”

        I was wrong, it’s the Deluded Milk and Honey poster.

        • Anonymous says:

          Mugabe, you are a complete idiot. Just like the poster said, we have had enough of people like you and your BS.

          • Anonymous says:

            Yeah Mugabe, you are just pissed because you were fired from your job because you refused to follow any of their rules to help protect you and their other employees. See if Dr. T or Kattina will hire you now. I know that despite what Dr. T says the last time I went past his office, everyone in there was wearing a mask.

            Don’t go throwing around your Cayman Status like that makes you and better than the rest of us. You came here without a pot to piss in or a window to through it out. I used to have some respect for you and would even go and listen to you sing in your band from time but since you have been radicalized you are no longer bona fide to me.

        • Anonymous says:

          Mugabe, we are tired of you using a man’s name to cover up your identity to spew out your foolishness anonymously. Why don’t you sing another bona fide song, we don’t like the one you are singing?

    • anon. says:

      @Robert Mugabe IV – It is because Caymanians and front line civil servants can vote. Thank you.

    • Anonymous says:

      You clearly have a lot of built up animosity, sir.

      The Caymanians, like myself, who mean you no harm or ill will, are getting tired of being painted with the same brush.

      This is a Cabinet decision to put this policy in place. Parliament has only 19 MPs, some of whom did not vote in favour of this policy.

      Isn’t your commentary a bit far reaching. Some of us, like myself, sympathize with you and others.

      However, the more hate talk and outright insults about Caymanians really starts to make me wonder why we should care or sympathize, when we feel such unwarranted attacks.

      • Robert Mugabe IV says:

        Who were you replying to by the way? You must have hit to wrong ‘reply’ button.
        It certainly could not have been to me.
        I asked a simple question, maybe you can answer it?
        The fact that it was a Cabinet decision is not an answer.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Can anyone confirm that all the elected parliament members have had the vaccine? Rumour has it the the Speaker is one that has not had it? Just checking.

    CNS: McKeeva Bush said that he was vaccinated in a social media post. See here.

  10. Anonymous says:

    This is a great opportunity to clean out the riff raff expats and to give those that are willing to come and be a part of this country, it’s culture and it’s future the opportunity.

    Many in the past have come only for the milk and honey and couldn’t give two hoots about anything else.

    Just wait until Wayne Panton gives that re-opening date this week..Some of these same ones will be lining up to get vaccinated and begging to stay once those airplane engines start rolling again..Many of them know damn well they can’t live their live in their homelands as good as they have it here otherwise they would have been long gone.

    • Anonymous says:

      But they do the jobs that caymanians are either unwilling to do, or not qualified to do.

      • Anonymous says:

        Why would anyone take a job that doesn’t pay for basic necessities, treats you poorly, and constantly threatens that you could easily be replaced by cheap foreign labour?

        No thank you.

      • Anonymous says:

        I don’t think you are reading my post correctly..Cayman will always need expats.. I am talking about those that come here simply for the money and have no care, concern or ability to simply try to become a decent member of our society. This is not just about entry level workers. There are many people in the higher echelons that consider themselves better than us as well.

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      I think you are trolling for a reaction.

      You should go out in the sun. It’s good for you.

    • Anonymous says:

      I think you will find that the ‘riff raff’ ex pats have had the vaccination. The issue is all the Caymanians that have not had the vaccine. They are the ones that need to be rushing to get it.

    • Anonymous says:

      They can dislike comments all they want but they prefer to live in fairytale land at everyone else’s expense.

      Most of these selfish low lives could care less that Caymanians are suffering in Cayman.

      However when they are the ones “suffering”, they all scream, wail, pout and shout to all of their friends in high places to fix it immediately and demand that everything must be halted until their golden spoons and platters are perfectly in order.

      Ignore the crocodile tears and gaslighting. They have made their own beds, make them lie in them, please. Allow them to leave but do not allow them to come back to start the same chaos again. We will all live happier because of it.

    • Anonymous says:

      cayman’s problem is more with ‘riff raff’ locals than expats.

      • Anon says:

        @Anonymous 18/10/2021 at 7:21 am – Riff raff locals are ours. They might be riff raff locals, but they are family and friends and we have to deal with them because this is their home. You on the other hand….

  11. Anonymous says:

    Other countries are requiring anyone who visits to be vaccinated. US, Canada. Why no up roar about them? Because it’s take it or leave it. You don’t want to take the vaccine, no problem. Just don’t come

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, but this effects everyone already here (unless your Mama just married a Caymanian then you can all come and stay and it don’t apply to you).

  12. Anonymous says:

    It surely looks like Caymanians are COVID proof at home but foreigners. Now if the same Caymanians travel let’s say to the US or Europe it will certainly look like the Americans and Europeans are COVID proof but the Caymanians.
    After 2 years coexisting with the virus, nobody has a clue how to handle it. The whole thing is a political charade here and everywhere else, make no mistake of it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Great comment.
      It amazes me how so many people do not see this. And the Media is playing into it as well. They push their own narrative and don’t allow ANY discussion on the subject.

      One of my vaxxed friends asked me, why I haven’t had it yet. Then when I started to explain my thoughts, she immediately argued with me. I wasn’t looking for an argument, I genuinely thought she wanted to know my opinion on it. Nope.

      Tired of being bullied, argued with and made to feel like I have leprosy… You will NOT bully me into getting it. Not at this time.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Like, hell I do..People like you are the ones that need to leave..There are a lot more good and ethical expats out there waiting to take your place..

    • Anonymous says:

      so your saying only “good and ethical expats” have the vaccine.

      with that logic it follows you must think that Caymanians not taking the vaccine are “not good and unethical”

      lol

      • Anonymous says:

        @3:25pm

        If the cap fits, let them wear it. Unfortunately, they are our own and have nowhere to go. Almost 80% of our population is now vaccinated so go blow your horn elsewhere.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Then, why bother waiting?..go home.. you apparently are only here for the money..

    A work permit renewal is not guaranteed..It is not a ‘right” for an expat. Have you not gotten that through your thick privileged skull as yet..

    • Anonymous says:

      More nationalism now!

      • anon. says:

        @Anonymous 17/10/2021 at 7:25 pm – Yes, nationalism just like back where you came here from. Brexit. America First. Build that wall. Shoe is on the other foot now though huh?

  15. Anonymous says:

    The vaccine mandates are contructed on a foundation of preliminary and crumbling science coupled with a vaccine without any long term studies. If this course doesn’t turn out to be a horrific miscalculation it will be out of pure luck.

    A recent study suggests vaccines don’t reduce infection rate. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-021-00808-7

    • Anonymous says:

      Your “study” cites references from euobserver and npr.

      But sure i’ll play along – this is from the npr article listed in your “study”:

      “the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people over age 60 (178.7 per 100,000) was nine times more than the rate among fully vaccinated people of the same age category, and the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people in the under-60 crowd (3.2 per 100,000) was a little more than double the rate among vaccinated people in that age bracket”

      • Anonymous says:

        Apparently you didn’t read the (2) of 10 references and and therefore can’t make a salient point about either reference much less the 8 others you ignored or the statistics contained within them. Neither can you make a salient point about mandates, which is the subject of this article. If you are at risk, get vaccinated, nobody is arguing against your choice to do so. Nobody should be mandated or coerced to take an experimental vaccine and the science doesn’t support a mandate either according to the study. You haven’t the foggiest idea what infections or hospitalizations are going to look like as it relates to vaccinations 6 months from now much less a year. Why? Because it’s unknown, it’s experimental.

      • Anonymous says:

        So your views are absolutely correct and dissenting views are absolutely wrong?

        • Anonymous says:

          Not sure who you are referring to here but I think you mean that there has been little to no discussion on the other side against the vaccine. Which makes me extremely skeptical.

          If you do say anything that doesn’t agree with the media and majority narrative, you are discredited and bullied into submission.

          Can you imagine if every single person on this planet agreed with everything that has been said about this virus? (First, that will NEVER happen)

          The past almost 2 years has ALL been experimental. NOBODY knows everything about this. And you better believe that a lot of it has been wrong. So mandate zealots need calm down, cool your jets and let people talk about it on both sides!!

  16. Anonymous says:

    How this is legal is beyond me. If hospitals somehow forced medicine on you against your will would be called called assault or coercion. Surely there is a lawsuit in this somewhere.

    • Anonymous says:

      Nobody us being ‘forced’. If a person does not want the vaccine, they dont have to get it.

      But there are consequences, including your work permit being in jeopardy.

      A work permit is a privilege. Not a right.

      W.P. holders are guests here.

      • Anonymous says:

        And by that logic, there can literally be no argument about what is right and whats moral and what’s wrong and immorale.

        Furthermore, there are quite a few work permit holders who have invested here and relied on a set of rules and a general sense of morality. Both have been violated. It’s abhorrent.

        This mandate is almost guaranteed to not save a single Caymanian.

        • Anonymous says:

          It very naïve of you to think the world is a always moral, that the bad guys always get their comeuppance and the good guys win in the end. There’s no Disney theme being played as the backdrop to your existence. WP holders who have invested here will almost certainly get a good return on their investment if they chose to leave because they refuse to take a vaccine to support the community. Those who refuse to take the vaccine must accept they have become outliers on the bell- shaped curve of social responsibility.

          • Ruddick says:

            Is that the bell shaped curve of social responsibility that Caymanians don’t have to contribute to? So expats are forced to be socially responsible, while Caymanians risk their own safety by not being socially responsible themselves.

          • Anonymous says:

            Except there’s no science that shows the mandate will save any Caymanians. So what’s the point? To satisfy the hysterical mob evidently. This has become a sick and twisted religion for some of you.

      • Anonymous says:

        And by your logic, “rights” is for Caymanians (the ones who are actually mostly refusing the vaccine) is to have to right to spread Covid to everyone else.

    • Anonymous says:

      You choose not to get vaxed, CIG choose not to give you a permit. Free choice is a wonderful thing

  17. Anonymous says:

    I am vaccinated and suggest everyone do the same. That said, to enforce this against expats and not locals in beyond ridiculous. For new/first work permits no issue but for renewal permits this is pure discrimination. Caymanians are not immune and so should have the same requirement. Very disappointed in this government. Just more divisiveness but of course expats can’t vote and this groups of elected officials is afraid to upset the locals. Cowards!

    • Anonymous says:

      @9:00PM..

      As an expat living here for 5 years now, I beg to disagree. Firstly, despite what it appears some expats believe, no one is entitled to an automatic work permit renewal. It is not a “right” in the Cayman Islands, so how can this be discrimination?

      If you are the point of work permit renewal and you don’t want to be vaccinated, you simply don’t apply to renew your work permit.

      The Government here has done a better job than many of the countries in handling the pandemic than many of the countries that expats living here come from including mine of the United States. Some expats here don’t even want to go back home because covid is so rampant in their home countries. Here we were offered the best of the vaccines free of charge whilst many places in the world and even just around us in the Caribbean continue to suffer and watch their people die because they cannot even get access to vaccines.

      I love the Cayman Islands, I have made many friends here, expat and Caymanians alike and I applaud the Cayman government for keeping me and my family safe since this pandemic began. Kudos to you and as an expat I support you in your efforts.

      • Anonymous says:

        As clear and articulate as you appear to be, I am a bit surprised you cannot fathom how the OP @9:00PM was indicating discrimination is in play with this approach.

        Let’s simplify it – A Caymanian and and Expat are sitting in a room. The room is insulated from outside contaminants. Anyone coming into the room from outside (new permit holders) must be decontaminated first so they don’t bring it into the room.

        Now here is where it becomes discrimination – if the expat who is ALREADY IN THE ROOM wants to stay in the room, they have to get decontaminated. But the Caymanian that is in the room – nah.

        If you cannot see how that approach is discrimination then you need a serious recalibration in your thinking.

        • Anonymous says:

          @ Anonymous at 18/10/2021 at 11:13 am – You neglected to mention that, if the expat who is already in the room does not want to be vaccinated, he/she can simply leave the room.

          • Anonymous says:

            Which has nothing at all to do with the discrimination inherent in the new law/mandate or the scenario example.

            Their ability to leave in no way changes the discrimination.

            Would you like to try again with a different explanation that makes sense why it isn’t discrimination?

            • Anon. says:

              You’re kidding right? You’re claiming discrimination? Try living as a black person on this planet for a couple of years, then come talk to me about discrimination. Try breaking your back for years, working to earn the money to pay for your education, then going abroad to educate yourself in a country where you’re a third class citizen at best. A country where the citizens don’t give a damn that you’re a good person, couldn’t care less that you were raised to be hard working and honest, don’t give a damn what is in your heart because the only thing they see is that you’re a black man and therefore you’re a threat. Try traveling home at night having cops look at you with one hand on their gun, every white woman you stand next to on the train platform griping her purse at the mere sight of you. Try standing in line at the grocer and the white guy in front of you looks back and immediately puts his hand on his wallet pocket. Try dealing with the steady stream of daily micro aggressive behaviors all day, everyday for four years, and then when you finally get through that garbage and get to return to your own country, only to find that some of those same narrow minded people are now living in your country and they have the damn nerve to practice those same damn micro aggressive behaviors in YOUR home. Like YOU are the one that doesn’t belong here. Discrimination? Because you have to get vaccinated to renew the work permit that allows you to continue to live and work in a country that affords you a great life? Black people deal with discrimination all day, everyday. And you’re bitching about getting vaccinated? Caymanians have a saying. Boy, try hush.

              • Anonymous says:

                Interesting you assume the poster of the message isn’t black… or Caymanian. You appear to have some automatic discrimination going on as well inside.

                • Anonymous says:

                  Only someone who has never experienced real discrimination would have the audacity to call mandating vaccinations for work permit holders “discrimination”. There are other requirements that only apply to work permit holders (I don’t have to get a regular HIV test, for instance). Are those other requirements discrimination too? Rules are rules. Quit whinging.

        • Anonymous says:

          I call BS on the entire post. Probably doesn’t associate with Caymanians either. American’s don’t say “whilst” unless they’ve been brunching with Brits for the past 5 years…Vaccinated and afraid to travel. Triple masker driving alone.

          • Anonymous says:

            @2:13 Wow..discriminate much?? “brunching with the Brits.” Americans don’t say “whilst?”Do all Americans speak alike? Do all British speak alike?

            You have not gotten of this island much it appears? Like Cayman, America is one of the melting pots of the world.

            Get a grip!

      • Anonymous says:

        LMAO

    • Anonymous says:

      @9:00pm..I think you are one of those people that say they are vaccinated so some people may believe your crap..

    • Anonymous says:

      A lot of indigenous Caymanians practice discrimination. It is free choice only for the entitled.

  18. Anonymous says:

    This is a fact: The more unvaccinated expats that have the leave, the safer the unvaccinated Caymanian who remain will be. That is why PACT did this. However, in the long run, it is not going to make much of a difference other than spreading out the coming hospitalizations of unvaccinated Caymanians, keeping the healthcare establishment from being overwhelmed. Now, just think how it would look if the hospitals get overwhelmed and can’t provide sufficient care because half the beds are taken by unvaccinated expats on work permits (and just think of the outcry if most of those expats on work permits were Jamaican!). There is no easy answer to opening back up to tourism and easier travel. As a strategy developed by politicians who want to be re-elected, this one isn’t as terrible as people think – as long as this is a prelude to opening up soon.
    And to the person who mentioned the fact that work permits renewals aren’t being heard – they will now and those who aren’t vaccinated will have a choice to make in quick order.

    • Anonymous says:

      Whose fact? Yours? Boy you can hear some shit!

      When you use the word fact, please have something credible to back it up or for God’s sake just say it is your opinion..You are starting to sound like Kattina and Dr. T now.

      • Anonymous says:

        Use your brain, please.

      • Anonymous says:

        3:12 so true..anti vaxxers lead my a crackhead and General practitioner/Surgeon who is in la la land believing that he is more qualified than the Virologists and Epidemiologists and claims that Pfizer is not Pfizer in Cayman.. You can’t make this stuff up..What cuckoos!

    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      A citation or two would be useful.

  19. Anonymous says:

    I sat and read all of the comments and I was hoping that someone could ask some really important questions:
    1. If this vaccine is about protection don’t the Caymanians need to be protected MOST?
    2. Does COVID knows the difference between Caymanians and work permit holders?
    3. Is it a case that only work permit holders alone can spread the virus?
    Can’t you all see that this is about human sacrifice and the Cayman Government is protecting his people and forcing it on expats?
    Do you expect them to tell you the truth about all this?

    • Anonymous says:

      @3:30pm

      maybe because people are tired of answering those same questions that you keep asking..ever thought of that?

      No matter what anyone says, unless it is exactly what you want to hear you will never stop asking the same questions over and over…In the the English language we have a word for that …”Insanity”

  20. Anonymous says:

    What sort of a ridiculous negligent governemnt would let unvaccinated people freely travel n and off island. If you don’t want to mandate vaccines then at least have a travel ban for the unvaccinated and a vaccine passport system for shops and restaurants and things in cayman. Careless.

    • Anonymous says:

      Please read carefully..all visitors to the Cayman Islands will have to be vaccinated.

      The only ones that are allowed to come here unvaccinated are Caymanians. I doubt we will see an upsurge in unvaccinated Caymanians travelling though because many countries are requiring just like the USA is that any visitors coming into their country must be vaccinated..so if they can’t get there, not sure how they can get back..

      Better get vaccinated if you to go shopping at Walmart before Christmas. Uncle Sam not letting you in without it..

  21. Wouldn’t you like to know says:

    Vaccination doesn’t stop the spread of the virus. Segregating people into medical camps of who is “protected” and who isn’t is assanine. Vaccination only lasts for a period of 4 – 6 mths with efficacy waning to zero very quickly. All the people who choose to be vaccinated early are now unvaccinated as they have no antibodies against the virus.

    We are all in this together boosters or not.

    If you logically look at the booster program it makes no sense. We were asked to take a two dose shot of the vaccines 8 weeks apart to get full protection, as only having one shot made us more susceptible to infection hence why they are counting 1 shot and two shots before 2 weeks thereafter as unvaccinated in their death counts.

    Since the vaccine wanes so quickly are we now not back to zero, so getting a booster effectively putting us into the one shot camp and making us more likely to suffer from Covid should we catch the virus?

    Get an antibody test to see what is really happening in your bodies before deciding on boosters. Others on island who were the first to get their shots have done so and it shows they are no longer protected…

    CNS: You haven’t really understood what the booster is doing. You’re not starting at zero. Try this from Boston Uni – Everything You Need to Know about COVID Booster Shots

    • weknowmorethanyou says:

      You are completely wrong. You get most (say 70%) of your immunity from the 1st jab, and the second jab gets you the rest of the way to “fully” vaccinated. You can argue about the efficacy of the vaccinations and how long they last, but that’s how it works.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Unbothered. Got vaccinated at the first opportunity. Waiting for the booster.

    Wear a mask. Social distance. Still living my best life.

  23. Anonymous says:

    PACT should be scared in upsetting indigenous Caymanians.

  24. Anonymous says:

    That 3rd paragraph has to be the biggest load of BS I’ve read in a long time. Can be shortened to a few words….’We are shit scared of upsetting the woters’.

    • Mari says:

      THE PFIZER CEO has not had the Vaccine….hmmm.

      CNS: More stupidity only believed by people who get their news from social media and then inflict it on everyone in their WhatsApp groups. See AP News – Pfizer CEO is vaccinated, or any other credible Fact Checkers, or just use your brain and see that it smells of BS.

      • Anonymous says:

        CNS: does the Pfizer vaccine contain fetal cells? XXXX

        CNS: No. You’re quoting the latest idiotic lies on Facebook or your favourite website for right wing conspiracy theorists. If the original source is Project Veritas, that should be a huge flashing red light that it’s BS. See AP – NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week

        • Anonymous says:

          For the love of Jesus, spot watching Fox News.

        • CUNNING QUESTIONER :) says:

          I don’t think having the cells or not having the cells in the vaccine is the real issue for people of faith, CNS. The correct question should be – Does Pfizer USE fetal cells to confirm their vaccine product? And the disturbing answer is – YES!

          CNS: Just to note that I answered the question posed in the previous comment correctly. On to yours… These vaccines are not tested on the cells of aborted fetuses. The cells used are fetal line cells grown in a laboratory, descended from cells taken from abortions 50 or 60 yeas ago. This has never been denied or covered up.

          Quoting from this informative page on the matter in Nebraska Medicine: “As a practicing Catholic, I think the moral balance of indirectly benefitting from an abortion that occurred 50 years ago in order to take a vaccine that will prevent further death in the community is a no-brainer – especially considering that so many of the over 620,000 American deaths have occurred in the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society. We need to focus on saving lives right now. We need to care for our neighbors.”

          Or this from the Vatican: Without alternatives, current COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable

          • Born Caymanian - think ! says:

            But what if the Pope (vatican), pastors, and other false shephards are not my moral voice??? What if I don’t want to cooperate in anyway with abortions-in-research even though it was 50 years ago? 🤔 You say, “love thy neighbor,” but I complete the saying with the the remaining of Jesus words, “AS THYSELF”? Am I not being moral for loving me as well as others???

            • Anonymous says:

              what if you don’t want to prepare before a cat 5 hurricane.

              Do you think it won’t affect you still, or it the damage be a lot worse than preparing?

              You aren’t loving thy neighbor you are endangering them as yourself.

              Oh and those cell lines have been used in testing nearly all medicines today.

              So good luck with never being able to use healthcare, or even a blood transfusion from someone who’s never had any vaccine.

      • Anonymous says:

        Thanks you CNS for outing this anti-vaccine misinformation spreaders.. they are worse than the virus itself..

    • Anonymous says:

      To late for that, they won’t get elected again.

  25. Anonymous says:

    No mandates for us; only turkeys, fridges and paved driveways.

    • Anonymous says:

      You a Progressive or wha? Bout your turkeys and fridges.. You better check them on Crewe Road this year for them..

  26. Anonymous says:

    My permit was due for renewal in March 2021, my application has been in since February.

    It was due to be reviewed at a meeting in 2 weeks.

    Do I now have to send in my vaccination information and delay the permit approval for another 8 months?

    As they have such a huge backlog of permit renewal applications already submitted, could the Government please give a bit more guidance on everyone stuck in the renewal process for months?

    • Anonymous says:

      There isn’t really a backlog, they just don’t want to get on with it…

    • Anonymous says:

      The regulations would only be effective from their commencement date, which is 14 October.

      • Anonymous says:

        In a normal universe yes. But the fact they haven’t looked at the renewal yet means they will apply the rules in force at the time they can bothered to actually look at it.

    • Anonymous says:

      Go home

      • Anonymous says:

        I can’t, you need me!

      • You would be poverty stricken if we all went home !!

        • Anonymous says:

          Really Dickie??? All of us would go home? Speak for yourself..Maybe you would, but there are many Expats here with their heads on straight that would not even dream of it. Stop trying to be divisive. If we, as expats didn’t like it here, why would we be here.

          • Anonymous says:

            Hey Dick..You do realize that almost 80% of the population of Cayman are vaccinated with at least one jab? That means there is only 10% left to be vaccinated. I have no idea what the percentage split is between expats and Caymanians but doesn’t seem like a lot of expats will be following you out..

    • Anonymous says:

      You should be grandfathered in…

      • Anonymous says:

        @5:43pm..Only if the work permit is actually approved..There is no guarantee whether you got the jab or not that the work permit will be renewed.

        It is still hard to believe that some people still think that a work permit renewal is just paperwork and nothing else.

        • Anonymous says:

          3.21pm The problem is sucessive governments watered the process down until it actually is just paperwork. Hence so many stay and get PR/Status even though they only benefit themselves not Cayman.

    • Not A EZ Road says:

      This another story not being even spoken of. With annual renewals at a dead stop since May. Nothing but pump and dump Temp permits.. Beings done. Wonder if CNS can Do a check and see when was the last time the board approved an annual permits in large scale apart from making person now pay a express fee for them to review it after it been in for over 5 months.. Almost dubl the time it should have taken normally. And the boards been formed. We had 3 permits annuals set to mee the board every 2 weeks since May.

      Money in cashed and spent but no results out.. #Caymankind🤣

    • Anonymous says:

      Did you train a Caymanian to replace you?

  27. Anonymous says:

    should include all civil servants. end of story.

    • Anonymous says:

      Agree. Maybe should be. But work permit holders are guest workers, none of whom have a “right” to be in Cayman. So legally, that is probably as far as we can go.

      Our adult vaccine rate is very high though (extraordinarily high, almost leading the world). Approaching 90%.

      Not really a lot of holdouts left. Eventually, being unvaccinated will practically be too restrictive – in Cayman, cant go to a gym or play squash, or go to yoga. Internationally, cant travel to the US, Canada, other places.

      • Anonymous says:

        And aren’t you repressive totalitarians just SO happy with yourselves. I hope we all get what we deserve. All of us.

      • Anonymous says:

        Believe it or not, there are a group of people with no interest in squash, gym, yoga or even leaving the islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        Every year you will need a booster to get those freedumbs. Pfizer should sign you up to a subscription.

      • Anonymous says:

        Just make it a rule that you have to be vaccinated to order KFC and a Whopper and we’d be at 95% in a flash!

      • Anonymous says:

        Do you have have a ‘right’ to have a British Passport? And if you do not your choice!

    • Anonymous says:

      Should include nobody. People can get it if they want it and they should expect no greater protection than that. The forcing on a particular group just makes it that much more repulsive.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yep,so what is the difference you are still going to complain that you don’t want to take it..

        No one is forcing anyone…Quite simply if you want to come to work in the Cayman Islands, get your vaccination done..

        • Anonymous says:

          You’re right. Not forcing anyone. Just making it so they can’t afford water, food, rent or gasoline, unless they capitulate. Fortunately, air is as yet not regulated.

          You’ll just have to keep your fingers crossed.

          • Anonymous says:

            How is Cayman making it so you can’t afford water, food, rent or gasoline unless you capitulate to taking the vaccine? Listen, you have a choice, if you don’t want to be here and you cannot afford these things then why are you here. Vaccine or not you are still going to have to buy these either here or in your home country..Your argument makes no sense.

  28. Anonymous says:

    Just sharing…

    https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-global-pandemic-trend/a-53954594

    “While the first countries are easing their lockdowns, others report more and more new cases every day. Data for the global picture shows the pandemic is far from over.”

    • Anonymous says:

      Very true. Better get vaccinated to increase your odds of surviving. Make no mistake; people will die, but the world can’t stay shut down forever. Good luck!

      • Anonymous says:

        We could stay shut down forever. That is a reality. But for some reason no one is willing to consider that. The economics work. Thousands would come and invest if we maintained our bubble.

        • Anonymous says:

          Eventually the financial services industry would also suffer because they’d be unable to recruit workers. People don’t want to live in a prison when the rest of the world is open. And there are not enough Caymanians to fill those positions.

          • Anonymous says:

            12.25 Well we see how laying off most Caymanian staff, never having any Caymanians in high positiins and recruiting foreigners is working for Butterfield. They’re reducing hours.

        • Anonymous says:

          True. We could follow New Zealand who still have 14 days quarantine for tourists and getting lots of tourists still in spite of the quarantine. Reason – no Dart there to make the government bow in front of him.

          • Anonymous says:

            No tourist wants a quarantine- a 5,10,14 day prison sentence. The world is open and people will just go elsewhere.

      • Anonymous says:

        But the world isn’t ‘shut down’ is it? Sounds good to support your cause, but in reality it just isn’t what it used to be.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Public school teachers? Census enumerators? HSA staff?

    • Slacker says:

      Not only HSA staff, but the Health Practice Commission could set a deadline by which facilities would need to only have vaccinated staff and the four councils could do the same for all licensed practitioners or have their licenses suspended.

    • Anonymous says:

      Afraid you’ll find that labour esp healthcare works call the shots now. It’s a workers market, they broke the pony’s back and tech came in and strangled the employers.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Let’s hope the coming court cases challenge this. Hopefully it won’t pass judicial review.

    • Anonymous says:

      HRC and Sam Bulgin have already weighed-in with support for the CIG/CMO and Governor’s Office decision on this. So good luck. It’s just a pity it stopped short of mandating fully-approved vaccination for the 321 Physicians, 550 Nurses, and all HSA Covid task force members. In many other parts of the world all frontline staff would need to be vaccinated, or find something else to do.

  31. Anonymous says:

    What about voters? No mandate for them?

    • Anonymous says:

      Work permit holders can’t vote.

      So no, no mandates for voters is the policy.

      If you don’t like it, go back to your country

      • Anonymous says:

        Can I let the plane door hit me on the way out though? You know, if I’m in to that kind of thing.

        • Anonymous says:

          Thank you for transforming an assholic comment into humour. We need more of that in light of all the angry folk.

      • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

        3:18 my entitled friend, you are a very entitled Caymanian voter.

        So much easier to Lord it over the work permit holders and expats.

      • Anonymous says:

        What happens if all the expats leave and the government tax revenue dries up

        • Anonymous says:

          Cayman becomes a very poor Caribbean island. You reap what you sow

        • Truth fairy says:

          Lol can you imagine

        • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

          7:09: Then we will have tourism again and Caymanians will have no choice but to take jobs in the tourism sector, just like the old days.

          Civil service jobs would have to be cut because CIG would no longer have all that revenue coming in from the private sector.

          Might be a good thing to bring our people back to the ways of the real world.

          • Anonymous says:

            Last time that happened, most Caymanian moved to the States.

          • Blonde says:

            Maybe more Caymanians will be able to get some of the Govt.Contracts that are Foreigners, that have or is expired, or is, expiring and give Young Caymanians or Caymanians in general an opportunity in in securing their future in the Civil Service, which should be the first to have that chance first, before any Foreigners. This is an opportunity for our people to given an opportunity, and allow those persons that have benefitted, while the Caymanians have been overlooked and neglected, those should be able to return to their Countries and get employment. While.Caymanians should be able to live and enjoy the benefits in their Country.
            So let this be the break for Caymanians be given the opportunity to get the experience, that others come here inexperienced, and rise to the top so quickly. Foreigners look out for their Country.people and friends, and they’re supported also by Caymanians, while our own people are ignored and left behind. Enough,is enough.

        • Anonymous says:

          Necessity is the mother of invention. Cayman will survive

        • Anonymous says:

          You actually believe all of the expats will leave?..don’t be stupid! There are many of us expats already vaccinated and in support of the Government. For those that don’t want to stay Cayman is still a very sought after jurisdiction to live and work..I am here to tell you particularly from the finance industry side that Cayman is doing the right thing..My company has a long list of qualified well educated, prospective employees just waiting to jump at the opportunity to get here.

      • Anonymous says:

        Troll!

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