WP vaccine mandate passes with no PPM votes

| 06/10/2021 | 137 Comments
Cayman News Service
Premier Wayne Panton addresses Parliament on Tuesday

(CNS): Government has passed the necessary bills required to mandate vaccinations for work permit holders without any support from the opposition PPM members. The vote fell straight down political lines, with all members of PACT supporting the additional condition on foreign workers and the opposition voting against, following the PPM’s new found skepticism about the efficacy of the vaccines.

Speaking about the bills in Parliament on Tuesday, Premier Wayne Panton said the mandate was an attempt to “push every button we can find and pull every lever we can find” in an effort to get as many people as possible vaccinated in the Cayman Islands so we can live safely with the coronavirus in the community.

“We are certain that the vaccinations reduce people getting sick and reduce death,” he said, pointing out that Cayman has not experienced a significant death toll from this virus as others have, but if that happened it would weigh heavy because this is a small country, so if people died it would not be about managing statistics because everyone would know them.

“While there is a lot of criticism about pushing vaccinations… I don’t think we should be apologising for trying to get the vaccinations as high as possible,” he said.

Panton said he was concerned that the country had become complacent, given our circumstances, and that was how the virus had returned to the community. But he did not want people to be complacent about the protection offered by the vaccine.

He said the source of the re-emergence of the virus has not been confirmed but it was most likely a quarantine breach, where a member of the community visited someone in isolation and brought the virus out with them. Its arrival, however, revealed that the country was not completely ready and the pause has given government time to address the gaps, he said.

Panton criticised the opposition for their recent adoption of a mixed message regarding the vaccine. He warned that the misinformation about it being experimental, which the opposition had implied, was dangerous and wrong. He accused the PPM of fearmongering and adding to the false narratives. He said that taking vitamins was not more important than the vaccine and the government was going to continue maximizing efforts to get everyone vaccinated for the simple reason that it stops people dying.

The premier stressed that the requirement for overseas workers was not about “them and us” or not caring about permit holders, and promoting the idea that this was divisive was wrong. “We are doing this for the benefit of this country,” he said, adding that it would enable the borders to open.

Once quarantine is dropped when Cayman reopens, the country will move from depending on quarantine to relying on the vaccine for safety, as there will be more COVID coming in through the borders.

Panton said that testing will play a role, too, with much more surveillance testing with the deployment of lateral flow tests. He said these rapid tests will help address the problem of too many people being in quarantine and eventually there will be no need to isolate anyone who is negative as they can test regularly. Panton said the tests should be approved this week and government will begin importing them and noted that the new testing regime will help to operate the schools safely.

But Panton said adjustments will need to be made as we manage COVID in the community and the vaccine mandate was part of the process of living with the virus safely. He said government believes a truly maximum vaccine rate will prevent anyone from getting seriously ill.

“We are living with COVID now and we are seeing the consequences and we are learning the lessons,” he said. “We are doing it and we are going to do it safely.” He explained the balancing act of reopening the country while minimising hospital admissions, and the “moon shot” was zero new deaths.

See Panton’s address to Parliament on CIGTV below (set to start at his address in part 1 and continuing at beginning of part 2):


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Category: Health, Laws, Medical Health, Politics

Comments (137)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    This is illogical and makes no sense. The only equitable and safe way to impose vaccinations to mitigate risks for the benefit of the country would be to insist on vaccinations for ANYONE who travels beyond the islands.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Feels like Caymanians are being set up for a fail.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Authority is not truth. Truth is truth.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The big unwelcome mat to imigrants. Legal discrimination in the law on who deserves work over another and now on who does not deserve work. Any progressive government welcomes imigration……here it’s the root of all evil, the whole love thy neighboor thing doesn’t apply to the expats and gays lol banana replublic

  5. Anonymous says:

    Your career, your choice.

  6. Anonymous says:

    When the U.S. mandates vaccination for travel, then Caymanians will get vaccinated.

    • Anonymous says:

      They already have and I’m not taking shit. More places to go than the states boy

      • Anonymous says:

        The morgue?

        • Anonymous says:

          My family and I have all had Covid, not vaccinated, and I had colds worst than this nonsense. I have high antibodies and freely living my life. Go on and live in fear though, do you boo boo

          • Anonymous says:

            So you plan on never leaving the island again I guess? Let’s hope you don’t ever have to travel to the US to get medical care. I’m sure your high antibodies will keep you healthy for life!

            • Anonymous says:

              You realize there are either places to receive medical care? Furthermore, medical treatments are allowed, regardless of vaccination status. Plus, the many states recognize the significance of natural antibodies.

            • 11:13 says:

              I have been away, multiple times. It is only you fear mongering lot who seem to be afraid to leave island. My immune system has kept me healthy this long and survived Covid, so what is your point?

          • Anonymous says:

            Premier Alden needs to be back in power as he is the only leader for Cayman!

          • Anonymous says:

            you really believe that we should believe that you and your entire family had covid..Come on man, you can do better than that..most of us are not that gullible.

          • Anonymous says:

            Very lucky 11:13.. This is what we hope for all persons, vaccinated or not, to win this battle. We can’t run from this, we can only fight it head on, with weapons (the vaccine) or bare handed (natural immunity). Thankfully many of us fall in the category you and your family fall in, with strong immune.. some of your people/us do not, and need a weapon to hold in their hands. Frontline warriors better off with both :-).

        • Unvaccinated and fine post Covid says:

          Maybe for you, wasn’t the case for me.

      • Anonymous says:

        Lol they think the states is the holy grail of travel my friend. The world is a much bigger place… plus who wants to go there with Biden the fool running it to the ground? Not me.

      • Anonymous says:

        LOL, you’re going to have to take a whole more time off to travel somewhere. The US is the most expediate way to get most places. Good luck with that!

        • Anonymous says:

          Maybe you take issue with having time off, I don’t. There are many direct flights elsewhere, the states had gone to shit under Biden’s rule, so I have 0 interest in going to that shithole.

    • Anonymous says:

      They already have, except for U.S. citizens.

    • Anonymous says:

      Its already mandated that come November 1, 2021 all foreign nationals that want to enter USA must be vaccinated. Keep up with the news as that date is fast approaching.

  7. Anonymous says:

    How refreshing to see the Queen this morning with decorm in her bright outfit, smiling, shaking hands, no masks.

  8. Confused in cayman says:

    I run a business in cayman with many of these hard loyal workers are UNVACCINATED. I am vaccinated but I believe in free choice . I am now to fire these Caymanian who haven’t taken the vaccine and do not want to. ? Or it is ok for them but not expats ? If so how could that not bring up legal avenues for all sides very confusing and unfair it seems . Has the whole world gone crazy?

    • Anonymous says:

      You do realize the mandating is for work permit holders and not for Caymanians…Seriously you run a business???

  9. Anonymous says:

    So
    If they are requiring expat work permit holders to be vaccinated but not Caymanians, how does this make sense when they say they are trying to protect Caymanians?

    1. Both vax and non vax can transmit the virus.
    2. When you have a vaccinated expat working next to an unvaccinated Caymanian which one is at risk ? The Caymanian is because they are not required to get the vaccine.
    3. When both get infected who is more likely to become really ill? According to the science the unvaccinated Caymanian.
    4. Which one is more likely to be sick and unable to work for many weeks ? The Caymanian is!
    5. If the vaccine saves lives and the government says they are doing this to protect Caymanians why did they promise to not mandate the vaccine for Caymanians? The same people they have been telling to go get vaccinated.
    It seems to me this move is illogical and merely a political stunt to appear to be pushing the expats around and flexing their muscles when the truth is the end result is going to be worse for Caymanians. The expats (according to the science) will not get sick, will be at work sooner after being infected and will likely infect unvaccinated Caymanians because the expat will be asymptomatic in a lot of cases.

    Whoever said this was a good idea really didn’t think it through. It is an ineffective feel good policy that defies logic and common sense.

    • Anonymous says:

      Thinking and CIG are not synonymous

    • Caymanian says:

      1. Yes BUT vaxed is harder to catch so harder for vaxed to be spreaders PLUS virus load drops off quickly while unvaxed maintains throughout.

      2. Agreed. Stupid policy not to require Caymanians to vax also. Stupid stupid stupid

      3. Agreed. ANYONE who is unvaxed has a much greater chance of serious illness. Again. Stupid stupid policy. Everyone should get vaxed.

      4. Agreed.

      5. Stupid policy. EVERYONE should have mandate. Never ask or require someone to do something you yourself will not do.

      I agreed expats should be required to be vaxed to work in Cayman but Caymanians should be required also.

      • Anonymous says:

        Aren’t you the scientist?

        • Anonymous says:

          This PACK government was shouting and hollering about being fair, open minded, and embracing of everyone blah, blah, blah.! what they have done with this new law is completely contrary to all the noise they made. They didn’t take long to show their true colors. Obviously they were only focused on a particular subject matter. This is a hot mess!

    • Anonymous says:

      Please realize that Caymanians have no other place to go than here. Expats can either go back to their original country or to some other country that doesn’t mandate vaccines for entry or work but those are getting fewer every day..

    • Anonymous says:

      You 8:35 pm don’t get it do you. There is a minority of Caymanians who are against vaccination, therefore your argument as to risk to the overall Caymanian work force does not make sense.

  10. Anonymous says:

    So, forcing the ones and leave the others they claim to protect…
    While a bunch of locals getting away unvax’d saying that they would not get anything that destroys their bodies, obviously that won’t apply to weed and booze on a daily basis.

  11. Anonymous says:

    What a sorry state…on the one hand, Ironic that freedom means freedom to stay in power – I.e. don’t rock the boat politically. So government mandates vaccines for everyone possible but stays clear of possible litigation which could bring down the government. Result may very well be that unvaccinated Caymanians die of Covid. The price of the freedom of those who seek it and protest against a government which is trying to keep its people safe. What was the rallying cry of the American Revolution? Give me Liberty or Give me Death? Well, you may well get it!! Enjoy!

    • Anonymous says:

      Greater than 99% average chance it won’t be the latter even if infected.

    • Sick and tired says:

      All of my family who has had Covid has survived and has natural antibodies, higher than any foolishness this bullshit vaccine gives you. They also haven’t caught the virus again and said it was no worse than the common cold. They are unvaccinated by the way. I haven’t had Covid once durning this pandemic and I have been living my normal life, just being sensible with my actions and hygiene. The Cayman Islands is a joke with all the fear mongering. WAKE UP!!! It is NOT as bad as the media and your foolish government is making it seem. I’ve asked friends down there if anyone is hospitalized beyond the woman who had the stroke…no. People who are symptomatic only having mild, mild symptoms regardless if they are vaxxed or not. Doesn’t that tell you all something??

      • Anonymous says:

        How fortunate you had a mild case and survived. You do realize that millions weren’t so fortunate right? By minimizing the risk and seriousness of this disease you also demean and disrespect the millions of family members who were less fortunate than you. I have had 6 contacts pass so piss off ahole!

        • Anonymous says:

          12:21 you realize that many of the statistics are made up right? People dying of natural causes and because they had even a hint of Covid in their systems, they are deemed a Covid death. The poster clearly said being sensible and maintaining hygiene is beneficial in preventing one from catching it. It is horrible that people have died, many had underlying issues, but the reality is that this virus is 99.98% survivable. Cayman’s cases are mild for both those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, no one is dying, no one is in the hospital…it’s not as scary as the media and CIG is making it out to be. They are stalling opening up because they have no plan in place so they are ramping up their fear mongering. We all just need to eat healthy, take our vitamins, exercise, be sensible in our actions, and get on with life. It’s here to stay, we need to adapt.

          • Anonymous says:

            LMAO

          • Anonymous says:

            Yeah and the earth is flat

          • Anonymous says:

            2:34 agreed, people just want to live in fear. Refusing to believe that the virus isn’t as bad as it has been made to seem.

          • Anonymous says:

            Keeping on with the Plandemic I see. LOL

          • Anonymous says:

            So can I ask, what if that .02% was your child that died? Would you be okay in me telling me its just fear mongering? Have you ever had a family member die of covid? I have and I can tell you this much, your mind would certainly change after watching your loved one gasping for air with a tube shoved down their throat. My poor mother died in a hospital room in florida all by herself. She never even got the opportunity to get the vaccine. She was only 55 years old and rarely got even the flu in her entire life…So next time you feel that it is okay for someone to die, I want you to think of my mother and consider whether or not you are willing to take that chance with one of your family members or for that matter have your family watch you die from it.

      • Anonymous says:

        What do you care then, you don’t even live here…piss off

  12. Anonymous says:

    When and how will they enforce it on the residents with wealth certificates. There are some very vocal ones and it needs to be clamped down fast. They want their cake and to eat it too…. How ‘bout they go back where they came from and stay untaxed – when they see death rates in some of these countries, they will change their tunes. South Africa springs to mind….

  13. Anonymous says:

    I know; it’s the Canadians playing dominoes. And the Jamaicans and Filipinos. And those bloody American Trump lovers.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations, PACT. You have officially divided us.

    Why it is believed that a Caymanian cannot get sick from COVID as compared to an Expat is beyond me.

    We are the same – all human. And we are in this together.

    Unfortunately, this decision will likely cause more harm than good in the place we call home.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who can vote and who can’t?

    • Anonymous says:

      No. PPM and Alden McLaughlin already divided us.

      • Anonymous says:

        He was not the one who mandated this BS. He fought against it, so hush your mouth.

        • Anonymous says:

          He is the one that has stoked the fire against the government to stir shit between Caymanians and expats in his continuing efforts to seek power again..

          He makes me sick to my stomach every time I hear him get up there with his foolishness. If his parents could see him now they would put a serious assing on him and trust me I knew Mac and Ethel well and they would if nothing else have a good stern talking to him.

    • Anonymous says:

      @4:34pm Who said that? That is your interpretation after the opposition did their part to continue to sow discord while the continue to look for power..

      This in my opinion is way to get more people to get vaccinated and why would we want people to come here unvaccinated anymore? If we are mandating it for visitors then why not work permit holders? We have to find ways to protect our people and we should not have to fight for the right to do that. The United States has now done the same exact thing? Are we supposed to go there and tell them what to do? I think not!

      The reason Caymanians are not mandated is because the majority of them have no other choice but to live here. For those that are unvaccinated, despite what many people say, we will take care of them if hospitalization is needed just like we will with the Vaccinated. We do know however that the vaccinated will less likely be hospitalized.

  15. Anonymous says:

    What kind of ridiculous backward government would not also mandate it for all healthcare workers, teachers and people working at the damn airport and can drivers driving people to quarantine, regardless of nationality. This makes no sense

  16. Anonymous says:

    I agree with mandating vaccines but should be for everyone. Thankfully no one would employ an unvaccinated caymanian anyway but why are we segregating between expats and caymanians. Especially when expats generate more government income than the locals?

  17. Anonymous says:

    We all know, or rather can SEE with our own eyes why this is happening. But no one dares to say a world.

  18. Pro vaccine, Anti mandate says:

    Shocking decision, which will have no material effect, as it’s more Caymanian’s than expats who are not vaccinated.

  19. SD says:

    A Letter to Our Caymanian Leaders:

    There comes a time when even the most quiet, unknown, insignificant person must speak. I’m not great, I don’t hold a high position, wealth, or status. I’m not a politician, nor a physician, nor a government official. I’m only a mother, a neighbor, a daughter, a wife, a friend. That is all I can come to you as. Who I am. Merely a person, speaking to you, another person who I hope has the qualities that I know God has given us all – compassion, courage, hope, love, and kindness to our neighbors.

    I watched the debates yesterday, and what I saw made me hang my head low. What the Opposition says is a fact. When the vaccine was developed, the world hoped that it would halt this pandemic in its tracks. However, nearly nine months (January 2021) into the deployment of the vaccine, we have robust data that confirms without a doubt, that the vaccine does not prevent contracting SARS-COV-2 nor does it prevent transmission. Indeed, recent scientific literature, including a cross-country analysis of 68 countries and 2947 counties in the United States (1), shows that populations with higher vaccination rates have equivalent or higher case rates than those with low vaccination rates.
    (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-021-00808-7)

    If the intent of mandating the vaccine on a specific class of people is to prevent the spread of SARS-COV-2 to the local population, then this mandate may result in the opposite. SARS-COV-2 is contracted (possibly at higher levels) and thus transmitted (possibly at higher levels) by vaccinated individuals. To say this information is hard to comprehend, and hard to accept, is an understatement. We all put our hope in this vaccine. However, data does not care about hopes, it merely states what is and what isn’t. Mandating that a large group of people must have the vaccine to remain in Cayman, to “protect” the Caymanian people will indeed, result in the spread of the virus at a greater rate.

    I have an unending, undying hope in the courage and honesty of men. Therefore, I hope, when the leaders of the government see this new data, with results from around the world, that they will acknowledge the fallacy of the mandate and look for new and better solutions to protecting the vulnerable within our beautiful islands.

    However, I must admit, I’m frightened that the true reason for this mandate may not be the protection of Caymanians, but for something else entirely. This is exemplified by many of the cutting remarks made during the government leaders’ speeches. It was with shame that I listened to leaders mock visitors, expats, and work permit holders for the fear of losing their homes or their jobs if they do not submit to the will of the government concerning this mandate. I’m raising a boy, and I pray to God that he never mocks another human being for their fear of losing their home, their livelihood, or the friendships they have created because they do not want to submit to a medical treatment that they have decided is harmful to their person (rightly or not). The leaders said that they have given a choice, submit to the vaccination or leave. They say this is a choice.

    My heart aches for the individuals forced to make this choice. Especially when data proves that vaccination does not prevent contracting or transmitting SARS-COV-2. There is no reason for it. Only reason against it. We have reached nearly 90% vaccination of the entire eligible population. What more? What else? Will we truly become a society that tears each other down, that forces submission, that mocks others, and encourages division? When someone cries, “Please! I do not want it, it is against my religion, it is against my beliefs, it is harmful to my person. Please, it will hurt me,”will we truly become those who say, “I do not care.”

    I said that I came to you as a mother, a neighbor, a daughter, a wife, a friend. That is all I am. I hope these words reach you, and that they don’t come too late. Although, in God, nothing is too late. We can always see that we have taken the wrong path, have the courage to admit our faults, and forge ahead in a new direction. Are we not all human beings? Are we not all deserving of compassion?

    I believe in you. I believe in your ability to acknowledge the new data, to understand that it is time to set aside differences, to rise above resentments and fears, and to embrace the qualities that God has given us – those of kindness, compassion, understanding, and humility.

    To force another to your will, to demand submission, to give a choice that forces someone to leave their home, their career, their community or betray their conscience and accept something they do not want, to oppress, yes to oppress, is this what you want to be remembered for? A decision made in fear, in resentment, in pride, in ego, these are not decisions that prove to be right. Rather, it is decisions made purely from hope, courage, reason, and love. I know you have these qualities within you.

    Passing this mandate and forcing the vaccine will not stop the spread of SARS-COV-2. That is clear and unquestionable.

    You all have the opportunity to be some of the greatest leaders that Cayman has seen. You can do so by setting aside differences, laying down grievances of the past, and invoking humility, courage, and compassion for all. Please, show the world that our beautiful islands are a nation of people who lead not with base emotions of fear or pride or subjugation, but with reason, courage, and love for all people, for all neighbors, for all alike and not alike.

    Move forward, work to bring in the Phase 3 clinical trial new anti-viral medicines currently under consideration for emergency approval. Work to find employment opportunities, shore up the damage this long closure has caused. Bring hope to our islands. Bring jobs. Bring community. Bring a common bond. You claim to be giving a choice “vaccinate or leave”. You also have a choice. You can choose to inspire, or you can choose to continue down this path of oppression, fear, and division. I dream of the day, perhaps today, that you choose the right path, withdraw this mandate of folly and oppression. Maybe you’ll say I’m a fool to dream. But without dreams, humans would still be in the dark, on their knees. Instead, we stand, on our feet, looking at the heavens, dreaming of better days, of a time when we respect each other, care for each other, love each other, as if we are all brothers and sisters, no matter where we are from. Please, make my faith in you come true. I believe in you and I believe in your goodness.

    • Anonymous says:

      For goodness sake, how many times: vaccinations REDUCE the transmission of SARSCoV2 due to a reduced viral load, and significantly REDUCE the symptoms and the possibility of death. A Government must do all it can to protect its citizens, including the ex-pat community. This is the right decision based on all the evidence of the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine. Take the shot or take home your unnecessary risk and the risk you pose to the sensibly vaccinated people of Cayman.

      • FINALLY says:

        Finally someone with common sense AND compassion.

      • Anonymous says:

        quite the opposite happens. you are just parroting whatever someone had said.

        by the way, the Delta wave is waning all over the world and is expected to be the last one. But it is just starting in Cayman. will wait and see if what you said in your comment stands true. 80% of Cayman population is vaccinated after all, Delta should not be a problem then.

        • Anonymous says:

          Where are you getting info that Delta will be the last one?

          • Anonymous says:

            I don’t disagree with your sentiments but if you are going to cry “research” you should cite some of your own – perhaps a link to a peer reviewed journal.

      • Anonymous says:

        Why is it so hard for these anti-vaxxers to understand that if you are less likely to get covid, then you are less likely to spread it? And that hospitals in other countries are mostly filled with unvaccinated people.

      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry to break it to you but the data is now starting to show that the reduced transmission goes away a couple months after the second dose.

        That said your second point is valid – it does still seem to reduce hospitalisations and death which is a very good reason to take the vaccine.

    • Seriously, get a grip says:

      Get your facts straight SD, the vaccination prevents death by COVID, not the spread. Nobody in their right mind ever claimed it would prevent the spread of COVID.

      COVID is here to stay (at least for the forseeable future), just like any other virus over the years, why do you think we still immunize for MMR and Diptheria, and vaccinate against shingles and the flu?

      Honestly!!! Do your research and stop watching these stupid politicians at recess, they’re all a bunch of spoiled brats throwing tantrums. They don’t have a CLUE what they are talking about, watch the real experts going about their daily lives, fully vaccinated, traveling at will, eating in restaurants besides other people gasp.

      Get on with your life

    • anonymous says:

      Jesus what is wrong with you people. Vaccines reduce spread, chance of catching it and chance of dying. The vaccines have saved millions of lives around the world already. Get in the real world please

    • Anonymous says:

      Slow clap.

      You made some good arguments. We’re probably only a month or so away from people understanding that vaccination (after a time) does almost nothing to stop transmission.
      Then you went too far:

      “SARS-COV-2 is contracted (possibly at higher levels) and thus transmitted (possibly at higher levels) by vaccinated individuals.”

      With all due respect this is extremely unlikely to be true. Let’s concede, for argument’s sake, that after 3 months or so, the benefits against transmission from taking the vaccine fade to negligible levels, on what possible basis do you draw a conclusion that people contract and transmit the virus MORE than if you’re unvaccinated?

      And, leaving that aside, the real reason to take the vaccine is lower levels of hospitalisations and death among vaccinated people. That had not been disproven. Nobody should be concerned about people catching a cold which is why locking people up the way we’re currently doing it will have to end at some point.

      I agree that mandating vaccines for certain segments of the population will do more harm than good. We already have very good compliance and I believe a lot of time is going to be wasted fighting over something that will, in the end, make a marginal difference.

    • Anonymous says:

      I get that you care, but please stop watching Fox News.

    • Anonymous says:

      “Especially when data proves that vaccination does not prevent contracting or transmitting SARS-COV-2. There is no reason for it.”

      The data actually proves that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of both those things. And also, rather more importantly, greatly reduces the risk of requiring hospitalisation if you do contract it.

      No major religious denomination opposes vaccination.

      The risk of you being “hurt” to any meaningful degree by the vaccine is significantly less than the risk not only of you being hurt as a result of not taking it, but also the risk of doing any number of things which you do in your day to day life without protest or question.

      In the face of those realities, you perhaps should be rather less surprised at people’s lack of tolerance for a position based on obviously defective data. You are, regrettably, only oppressing yourself.

    • Anonymous says:

      1.58 You’re a typical Caymanian who believes everyone’s sob story and thinks everyone imported loves this country. Sorry but nowadays not many do and due to our naivete our country is overun with riff raff. We have got to take off our rose coloured glasses.

    • Anonymous says:

      I too watch that disaster that went on in the LA. I felt like throwing up when I saw/heard Kenneth trying to embarrass David Wight for reading his contribution. Everybody is not as adept at rambling on and on and not really saying anything worthwhile as others are. At least David can read! Also no one in there can debate as well as the Past Premier. As an aside, I am also wondering about the ” LA Papers” that always seem to magically appear, disappear and appear again.

    • Anonymous says:

      SD ..I have the most horrible headache after getting half way through this..what a waste of time and hogwash!

  20. Anonymous says:

    Already booking our re-location to U.K.

    • Anonymous says:

      see yaaa 🙂

    • Anonymous says:

      will you be having a yard sale soon?

    • GoLung says:

      1:23pm FROM GOV.UK.. To help you out on your move! Cheers mate!

      If you are not fully vaccinated
      This is what you need to do if you do not qualify under the fully vaccinated rules for travel to England.

      Check this section of this guidance to see if you qualify as fully vaccinated.

      Before you travel to England – not fully vaccinated
      Before you travel to England you must:

      take a COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 3 days before you travel to England
      book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests – to be taken after arrival in England
      complete a passenger locator form – to be completed in the 48 hours before you arrive in England
      Read more about taking a COVID-19 test before you travel to England.

      When you arrive in England – not fully vaccinated
      After you arrive in England you must:

      quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
      take your pre-booked COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 – you must book these tests before you travel
      If you are in England for less than 10 days, you need to quarantine for the time you are here. You need to book day 2 and day 8 travel tests. You only need to take the tests if you are still in England on those days.

    • Anonymous says:

      With a 90% vaccination rate, you will definitely be in the minority.

  21. Greg Merren says:

    Excellent – well done. Now let’s open up & get on with our lives.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Excellent news.

    It’ll save some people from their own foolishness, if not, they’ll be clogging up hospitals elsewhere.

  23. Anonymous says:

    totally meaningless if not applied to civil servants.
    welcome to wonderland where nothing makes sense.

    • Lucifer the expat says:

      “push every button we can find and pull every lever we can find” Really?! How?! If they were doing that, they would mandate public servants get vaccinated.

    • Likeitis says:

      We have basically @ 80% vaccinated. Most of the responsible and sensible front line workers I would expect are vaccinated. Some of our local IG,Facebook & tik tok “celebrities/activists” can have their way and not be vaccinated.. hopefully they taking care of themselves and won’t get sick and fill our hospitals. We definitely don’t need unvaccinated work permit “foreigners” filling our hospitals at worst case scenario.

  24. Anonymous says:

    100% had they been the party in power they would have introduced and passed this bill.

    • Anonymous says:

      PPM did not vote for this bill nor would they. Most of their families are comprised of foreigners, they would not venture in this direction.

  25. Caymanian says:

    Here is where I stand and I think from a commonsense stand point the majority should stand:

    1. Work Permits – I have no issue with a vaccination being added to the list of things needed. We have Police Records and HIV test and this is simply another. It deals with the changing times.

    2. Work Permit Renewals – FUNDAMENTALLY I have no issues with this also so long as two things happen:
    a) The business is given 30-60 days to either convince staff to get vaccinated and if not then replaced.
    b) In the case where a new permit is taken out to replace an employee then an expedited approval process so long as we are happy with the prior permit.

    3. Caymanians (Public & Private Sector) – This is where I start to have issues. We are trying to protect Cayman but we don’t expect Caymanians to participate? Having a hard time swallowing that pill. How can I expect something from someone that I myself won’t do? People argue “open up, living with Covid is the new normal”. It would be, if we all vaxed up.

    Frankly, I am tired of stupidity and I am even more tired of double standards. Why MUST I fire someone and send them home for not getting vaccinated but I can’t with another because he/she is a Caymanian but does the same thing?

    I agree completely with 1 and 2 but not with 3. We need a more complete mandate.

    • Anonymous says:

      exactly. If the legal underpinning is that this “helps protect Caymanian lives” then so would mandates for front line health workers, tourism workers, cab drivers etc. The same logic applies.
      I’m all for mandating it for permit holders. But we should also be mandating for certain jobs/roles etc regardless of immigration status.
      How many teachers in the schools are Caymanian (generation or not) and unvaccinated???

    • Evatik says:

      Why MUST I fire someone and send them home for not getting vaccinated but I can’t with another because he/she is a Caymanian but does the same thing?
      Easy – Fire the Caymanian for not being vaxxed! If its good enough for expats, you can’t be criticised for wanting to protect the health of your employees and that of the unprotected (and fired) Caymanian.

      • Anonymous says:

        You can make your own rules at your place if business. Do mandate a vaccine rule or they must produce a negative PCR test at their own expense every 3 days.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s easy really…. They want you to sack the expat and employ a Caymanian. Caymanians first remember! PACT won’t be upsetting the people who voted them in and the balance of power is quite unsteady. Division at its finest!

    • CYB says:

      @ 12:20 you are 100% correct and I’m in total agreement!

  26. anon says:

    When you look at the areas of community spread it’s pretty obvious which sector of the community is ignoring quarantine protocol.

    • Anonymous says:

      Or another way to look at it is, once it’s in the school system the vectors are numerous and have no barriers. As the cases grow exponentially, it’s impossible to draw conclusions like you are doing.

  27. Anonymous says:

    This is great news! PPM should be ashamed of themselves for not putting Cayman first and politicizing the pandemic. No one really believes that they wouldn’t have done the exact same thing if they were in power.

    Now let’s get to work on a vaccine passport for non-essential businesses.

  28. Anonymous says:

    If he wanted to get the most people vaccinated as possible wouldn’t he mandate vaccines for the largest single group…Caymanians? Oh wait…he wants to side step science and sound reasoning for votes…

  29. Anonymous says:

    What happens for people who got myocarditis from the vaccine? Will they be forced to get boosters?

    Or is this just mandating first vaccine.

  30. Anonymous says:

    Well, the slippery slope has started. There’s no going back anymore. Everyone not with the government will soon be against it and in the interest of ‘public safety’ freedoms will need to put on hold until the government says its okay for you to have them.

    • Anonymous says:

      Careful you don’t slide off

    • Anonymous says:

      you can go back. new legislation to remove the requirement. just like how we had restricted movement, then later we went back to being able to move about freely.

  31. Anonymous says:

    If Mr Panton really want to ” Push Every Leaver ” Why not mandate for all citizens?

    Also Mr Paton you are a Premier because we ate a British Overseas Territory, If we where a Country as quoted you would be a Prime minister right?

  32. Anonymous says:

    PPM would have done the same thing. Don’t kid yourself

  33. Anonymous says:

    So now we can be 100% sure in the coming months that the hospital capacity, ventilators and spread of COVID, as well as quarantine breaches (because vaccinated soon won’t have to quarantine), will all be down to Caymanians not expats, as they will be the only unvaccinated ones. That clears that up at least.

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