Minister: We must enforce immigration laws

| 11/11/2022 | 161 Comments
Cayman News Service
Deputy Premier Chris Saunders

(CNS): Labour Minister Christopher Saunders has commended staff from his key department, Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC), for the work they are doing enforcing the immigration laws. Over the nine months from the start of the year through September WORC issued fines totalling CI$273,000 to rogue employers and people working illegally after several workplace busts. “I’m very pleased to see the emphasis WORC is putting on compliance and enforcement,” Saunders said. “We must consistently reinforce a strong message of deterrence.”

On the basis of suspected work permit violations, WORC teams have carried out a number of joint operations with the RCIPS this year and found dozens of people breaching the law. From January to October, 78 breaches were detected and $235,095 in fines were collected. Another $38,000 remains outstanding and over $6,000 is in the hands of the courts because the violators are unable to pay.

Five more people have been arrested for permit violations over the last two months and their employers are also now under investigation.

“Our immigration laws are in place to protect Caymanians from employers or individuals who try to beat the system,” Saunders said. “While I welcome the fines being levied, I would far rather see Caymanians getting real employment opportunities and both companies and individuals respecting our laws.”

He said that in many cases, employers guilty of work permit violations are also in breach of local pension and health insurance laws.

“I would like to strongly remind employers that they should only take out a permit to fill a genuine role. Otherwise, how are the people they employ expected to support themselves while in the Cayman Islands?” he asked. “In addition to having no legitimate income, these individuals also usually do not have any health insurance. What happens if they become ill or get injured while living here? It should be clear to all that these types of situations can lead to further social ills that our community can do without.”

WORC’s strategic compliance operations are expected to continue over the next several weeks. The focus of these operations is to carry out inspections of individuals and companies who are engaged in illegal working, illegal trade and business, illegal landing and overstaying. They are also on the lookout for other labour or pensions breaches. The goal is to process, fine, prosecute and, where applicable, remove people from the jurisdiction who are resident through illegal means.

Chief Officer in the Ministry of Labour Wesley Howell said WORC takes all breaches seriously. “My advice to those working illegally or employing persons illegally is to get yourself regularised and in compliance with the Immigration Act. These operations to detect, deter and prosecute illegal workers will continue,” he warned.

 Total BreachesTotal Fines IssuedTotal Fines CollectedNot Collected/CourtNot Collected Stayed/Reassessed
2019137$339,012.50$317,383.00$7,662.50$13,967.00
2020118$312,572.50$139,674.50$109,080.00$63,818.00
2021150393,569.00$283,199.00$83,730.00$26,640.00
2022
(Q1-3)
78$273,170.00$235,095$6,350.00$0.00
Total483$1,318,324.00$975,351.50$206,822.50$104,425.00

Individuals who would like to make a complaint or provide information about illegal working activities or other breaches of the Immigration Act may do so anonymously by completing the online form here
or by reporting the complaint to worccomplaints@gov.ky.


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Category: Crime, Government Administration, Immigration, Politics

Comments (161)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The fact of the matter is this; people like me would not be here on work permit if THEY WERE NOT HIRED BY CAYMANIANS.
    Also, your Government has set a minimum wage that is way too low.
    I can understand why CAYMANIANS do not want to work for lower wages or work in certain jobs.
    But seriously, if the country has thousands and thousands of work permit holders, like me, well that means there is work.
    This country could not thrive without work permit holders. Go to the airport, supermarket, any shoppe/store, restaurants, hotels – who are the primary workers there?
    Who is driving the delivery vehicles, working in the warehouses and building houses/condos -again the work permit holder.
    Lastly, the CAYMANIAN owner benefits by paying lower wages for the work permit while charging their clients much higher than necessary prices.
    The so called Honourable Minister doesn’t have a clue what it is like to be on a work permit. Publicly bragging about the number of cases and the amount of fines is all hot air from him. What did it cost for these investigations? Staff, court time and bureaucracy – yes.
    The so-called honourable Minister seems to chastise the rouge work permit holder but needs to clamp down on the CAYMANIAN employers- who bring people in make them reimburse the owner for permit fees, expect the work permit holder to hustle their own work and then give them a percentage of their salary – facts.
    Many of us work permit holders keep quiet and be good little lackeys (just like Government staff). If we speak out, we gone.
    So, CAYMANIANS, be thankful that your country is so blessed that you can import foreigners to do the jobs that many of you look down upon. Never know one day the shoe may be on the other foot.

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    • DIW@gmail.com says:

      And … if you and thousands like you were not here we would not, would not !!!!! need all these extra work permits.. BoBo they working for you!!!
      Don’t get me wrong I not blaming you altogether! The blood is on the hands of greedy people.
      We were managing just fine but now the “disease greed” is killing us!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone else wonder where Wayne is? He seems to have quit working…. wonder if he is still collecting inflated pay check?

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Few revelations are more distressing than middle managers that don’t understand the thing they complain about is part of the job they haven’t been doing. Publicly confessing that for (at least) the last two years, his portfolio of responsibility hasn’t been following the law, screams, “I’m incompetent, please replace me”.

    17
    • Anonymous says:

      True. Also some concern that he doesn’t seem to understand Caymanian priority in their own country….he begs industry for equal opportunity for Caymanians….not demands priority. Then he says he wants employers to have security of permitted employees…so after first permit the rest would just be runner stamp filings. I pity Caymanians looking for a position or promotion with this bozo in charge!

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  4. Anonymous says:

    What then does Saunders think his job has been as a Minister, these last two years, if not to ensure that governance, laws and regulations under his portfolios are being followed?!? Is he referring staff to the ACC? Where are those arrests?

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Tru say wi need do henforce di himmigration law dem deh.

    14
  6. Anonymous says:

    Complete lack of foresight and planning by the government. You can’t simply make it easier for executives to come a live here with their families then make it hard for service companies to recruit and other companies that have a direct impact on the population. Cayman is like a balloon that keeps getting blown up and eventually it will pop!

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  7. Elvis says:

    So your saying all these years you havent been enforcing them then ?

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  8. Anonymous says:

    So more or less the same amount in fines that has been levied for the last 4 years. Stunning news.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Correct me if I am wrong, but was he one of those who voted down the CPL when the court clearly stated there should be a legal framework equal to marriage put in place expeditiously, therefore creating constitutional crisis which the Governor had to promptly address? Where was rule of law then?
    Right …

  10. Anonymous says:

    So they are fining companies but not sending people back home? Ia the law only for certain nationalities?

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  11. Anon says:

    Are you guys really doing your job? One needs to not look much further than the number of temporary permit holders at certain financial services firms. Caymanians stuck for years but every few months there’s another work permit holder?

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Where does he stand on enforcing driving without due care and attention, dangerous driving, DUI and perverting the course of justice laws?

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    • Anonymous says:

      To be fair, not his purview – the Governors. Fairer question would be where does he stand on WORC doing the rest of their job.

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      • Anonymous says:

        He’s a law maker, pontificating about enforcing laws whilst his fellow law makers are apparently above the law. There really is no “to be fair”. As an MP he is part of the wall of silence protecting what appears to be blatent and serious law breaking by his fellow MPs.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Too many Jamaicans in Cayman, that’s the problem. End of.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But the Immigration Law REQUIRES that a balance of demographics be maintained and that no one foreign nationality be permitted to dominate. The Minister is calling for the law to be enforced. OK then. I’m waiting.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That has yet to hapoen. But it is ok for the pile of Jamaicans and Filipinos to get preference but other nationalities are not treated the same.

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      • Anonymous says:

        it also calls for priority for Caymanians…..hasn’t been enforced for a decade in financial service sector thanks to Greedy Aldumb, Sleepy Roy and now Simple Saunders.

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        • Big Bobo In West Bay says:

          If you are a Caymanian and cannot find a job currently here then you are not looking.

          Just a simple fact.

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          • Anonymous says:

            It’s our country and our government is supposed to enforce our priority in jobs we are qualified for…instead they beg you for the jobs you guests are willing to give us.

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            • Anonymous says:

              What does priority mean? Being qualified for a job is the absolute bare minimum and there’s actually qualified and there’s did an online course qualified. There’s qualified and been with the same employer for 10 years and there’s qualified and worked for everyone on island for 6 months. As a Caymanian business owner which qualified person are you going to give “priority” to.

          • Anonymous says:

            That is not true. I am a qualified Caymanian with a university degree from the USA and many years experience in the field and have been looking for 4 years and nothing . They hire who they want.

        • Anonymous says:

          Please do not forget the Jamaican Attorney General, the Trinidadian Solicitor General, the Jamaican Chief Justice, and the Irish Commissioner of police, ALL of whom share some responsibility. It is a shitshow.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yet a Filipino who is on a permit resigns ans gets another permit. what sense does that make. still working in cayman

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      • Anonymous says:

        yet that same Filipino can get another work permit demographics damned

    • Anonymous says:

      Too many Philippines as well.

      We need to start brining in Indonesians they are more humble and work harder.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ….And too many Jamaican Police Officers.

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    • Jah Dread says:

      Breda it’s not too many Jamaicans, it’s just too many people . The roads, hospitals, etc are not geared for he number of inhabitants, that is why we are having a rental s crisis.

      Quotas of labor must be Re established, and we must not allow the hoteliers to build without first demonstrating that they will hire and train a number of Caymanians in most if not all of the areas of operations at reasonable salaries ( government must increase the minimum wage to a livable wage ) and there must be extensive monitoring of this.

      A fund must be contributed to e.g. 3-5% of project cost to be used as funding for suitable and appropriate housing to be built forimported persons working on large scale properties to be housed, who will pay for utilities, while government will pay for general upkeep.

      Transportation to and from Wor to be handled by the Employers and laborers to use enhanced public transport rather than allowing importation of second hand vehicles.

      Government must look at ideas to change the present circumstances surrounding the labor market, be it foreign or local labor ensuring complete fairness and transparency and respecting wkrhpjers rights irrespective of origin.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You have some solid ideas that can be worked on. The frightening thing is you mention too many residents, the rumour under the PPM was that they wanted to increase the islands’ population to 250 000!

    • Anonymous says:

      Too many of everything in Cayman except Caymanians and affordable property for Caymanians.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Too many of everything in Cayman except Caymanians and affordable property for Caymanians.

      We as a young Caymanian couple have decided not to have kids because it’s simply too hard to exist in our own gentrified home island.. and the politicians wonder why our birth rate is tanking?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sadly, that’s also what I hear from friends and family in Canada and the US. Not a problem exclusive to Cayman.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The Ritch report details the plethora of issues Cayman would face if we didn’t bring balance to the immigration numbers, by nationality. Alden wouldn’t release it.

      Mr. Saunders, what day you??!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Get rid of half of the Jamaicans living here and improvement will happen overnight. Guaranteed!

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  14. Anonymous says:

    maybe enforced traffic laws, start pulling people over and you’ll find many.

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    • Annonymous says:

      The traffic laws here are a joke. I agree if the RCIPS actually pulled people over and did their jobs things would most likely improve. Start with the Tinted windows. There is a reason everywhere else in the world this is illegal and enforced. In most countries when you have tinted windows and pulled over the tint is removed on the spot along with a ticket given. When the front windows are all tinted out you have no idea if people even look to see you coming. Let alone are they doing something illegal behind that dark tint.

      The problem is most of the RCIPS are related to others on this island. They don’t want to enforce rules that would great waves in the family. I have been told this by more than one expat RCIPS that has left the island due to this. They felt they were a fish going up stream with no support from the top.

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  15. Numpty Dumpty Wind Bag says:

    Chris Captain Obvious, h’bout we must enforce laws period. Certain people/groups operate with impunity, grandfathered in so to speak, are you that clueless as to not know who they are? Favouritism rules, the big offenders never get punished. Easy targets, low hanging fruit, the situation is out of control just like the apathetic approach by RCIPS to enforcement of traffic law.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sad, ain’t it?

    • Anonymous says:

      ‘Favouritism rules, the big offenders never get punished’

      Could you be referring to a certain BT MP phoning the big cheese the minute he has crashed his vehicle whilst allegedly under the influence?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Low hanging fruit – a man behind the wheel of a car that ran off the road at 11pm on a Friday night and into a traffic pole – except it would appear law enforcement, whether criminal, traffic or immigration, depends rather on who is committing the offence rather than the offence. Same issue applies to immigration and labour offences by employers.

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    • anon says:

      Numpty, you are right.But how many of these fines the Minister has been proudly spouting about have been levied on employers, and in particular on Caymanian employers?

  16. Anonymous says:

    No wonder Cayman is on Grey List. Unlawful employment => proceeds of crime.

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    • Anonymous says:

      So is the unauthorized practice of law, but no one cares. We are corrupt.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman is grey-listed because the PACT (like the PPM) has ignored the obvious (and blatant) major violators.

      Legal Services Act 2020, which the PACT brought partially into force, is now a PPM product, but the PACT has now bought and owns it. Very bad governance.

      FATF, OECD and EU are international bullies, who keep moving the goalposts unfairly, that CIG (with Attorney General leading the charge) keep approaching this the wrong way and, since they seek to go after low hanging fruit (instead of approaching things the right way), it is only going to get worse for the Cayman Islands.

      Bad leadership produces bad results for the Cayman Islands and it’s people.

      PACT no better than PPM: it a toss up as to who is worse.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Look at the amount of money being sent to Jamaica, via the money order services. THAT tells you something is wrong.

  17. Anonymous says:

    The government created the problem and adds to it. Where is everyones accommodation form.
    Wouldn’t a computer recognize the same address used 20 times

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Minister: my ONLY request is…
    ANY Permit Holder who refused to leave at the start of Covid, and who received Stipends, and who are STILL Here on Permit,
    …must Not have their permits renewed.
    …must have a four year Rollover break.
    …must Not have those years count towards and PR Claims.
    Please and thanks sir!
    And yes there are Many such people, from hotel doormen and bartenders, to shop clerks and cleaners.

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    • Anonymous says:

      There are zero expats on the island getting the tourism stipend my friend, that government sponsored laziness support system is for Caymanians only.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That is not true. There are some that have received the atipend and was gloating about it while thw reat of us was suffering

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        • Anonymous says:

          False. Proof of Status is required. Not liking those previously conferred with Status is a separate bias/resentment topic. Must have been awhile ago, because PACT illegally suspended granting of any new ones for a couple years!

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          • Anonymous says:

            Nonsense. Many Permanent Residents and spouses of Caymanians received stipends for sure.

            • Anonymous says:

              PR recipients? I doubt it. Please define “Many” otherwise it sounds like you’re making it up. Unless you are in government or their employer it’s also extremely unlikely you would know their immigration status.

    • Anonymous says:

      why though? what’s the benefit?

    • Anonymous says:

      What else fid you forget to come up with? Public flogging? Confiscating assets?
      Some of you out there breathe xenophobia.
      Permit holders were not eligible for the tourism stipend. At least know what you are talking about.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Fines!? All CIG knows to raise revenues are fees of some kind, through the same limited spectrum!

    Expand Government revenue sources!

    Spend the next couple of years framing regulations and mechanizations for the ganja and gambling industries. Then legalize them! They’re always doing things ass-backwards anyway.

    Why not now?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Gambling is only for the mentally deficient…… and so is ganja.

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      • Orrie Merren 🙏🏻🇰🇾 says:

        Medical cannabis extracts/tinctures, where prescribed by a medical doctor and dispensed by a retail pharmacy, are lawfully authorized in Cayman law: s.2A(1)-(2), Misuse of Drugs Act.

        In landmark judgment of the Grand Court it was held (with the benefit of evidence of an established expert in medical science) that pharmaceutical-grade vaporizable cannabinoids, which are available in the Cayman
        Islands by prescription from a medical doctor, were proven to have an effective admission delivery system and to have medicinal value for medical and therapeutic purposes, and that it is highly likely that vaporizing (pharmaceutical-grade) cannabinoids is not more injurious to the health than smoking cannabis (eg, a spliff): Cayman Islands Urgent Care Ltd et al v HM Director of Customs et al (unreported 4 February 2021: Cause No. G 169 of 2019) per McMillan J.

        In R v Parker (2000) 188 DLR (4th) 385 at [2], [39] per Ontario Court of Appeal, Hon. Rosenberg JA stated, inter alia, that:

        “It has been known for centuries that, in addition to its intoxicating or psychoactive effect, marijuana has medicinal value. The active ingredients of marijuana are known as cannabinoids. The cannabinoid that gives marijuana it’s psychoactive effect is tretrahydrocannabinol (“THC”). While less is known about the other cannabinoids, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that some of them have anti-seizure properties. The most promising of these is cannabidiol (“CBD”). Smoking marijuana is one way to obtain the benefit of CBD and other cannabinoids with anti-seizure properties.

        Consumption of marijuana is relatively harmless compared to the so-called hard drugs and including tobacco and alcohol and there is no “hard evidence” that even long-term use can lead to irreversible physical or psychological damage. Marijuana use is not criminogenic (i.e., there is no causal relationship between marijuana use and criminality) and it does not make people more aggressive or violent. There have been no recorded deaths from consumption of marijuana.”

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah! Bring in as many idiotic changes to normality you can think of, but remember that the drugs you are pushing are not approved for any normal person by any educated authority!

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  20. Anonymous says:

    REALLY? Sadly, not my experience. There have been a handful, but def not the norm.

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    • Anonymous says:

      When are we going to enforce the ‘fronting’ laws?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry. That has all been swept under the rug……. Many times!

      • Anonymous says:

        In the Cayman Islands? Probably never!

      • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

        Never. Those “laws” are intended to not allow a Caymanian to be the background ‘front’ for a business. Our social push is to allow anything which helps any Caymanian. Thus, the ‘fronting’ laws will never be addressed. After all, those laws make lots of money for Caymanians.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Unfortunately, it seems never. This is a major AML risk, because ALL profits are, therefore, illegal profits that, when deposited into bank accounts, attract money laundering offences.

        Imagine how much money laundering takes place of illegal profits from fronting.

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        • Anonymous says:

          This is a major exposure for Class A licensed banks.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Yes. But it gets worse at the management level of certain institutions. Imagine the fines in the law firms alone.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Law firms exposed, where they are accessories to advising on illegal fronting structures, because assisting clients to illegal contravention of the Trade and Business Licending Act and Local Companies (Control) Act implicates lawyers who knowingly assist in criminal breaches.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Good point. All profits from fronting are illegal. This is a major AML risk, but the Cayman banks are flooded with these profits.

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        • Anonymous says:

          And the law enforcers themselves appear complicit. I know this because it has been reported numerous times and they have done nothing. They are literally facilitating criminal conduct and the proceeds of crime. Whole law firms assist in it.

  21. Anonymous says:

    Pure lip service!! Meanwhile, overstayers are rampant – even 10 years on a murder victim’s passport!

    And the powers are supposed to be serious??!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      “Companies and individuals respecting our laws”.
      Could Mr Saunders please ask a certain restaurant , that has been dragged before the courts numerous times, to pay their staff pensions..?
      Hope this is not too close to home .

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  22. Anonymous says:

    I would LOVE to see a breakdown of the nationality of the employers.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Honorable Saunders you need to have them hit the large projects as you will catch a lot more on one surprise inspection visit. Lots of people working on these jobs with gardener and car washer permits

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    • Anonymous says:

      Mr Saunders go to the public beach to see how your fellow countrymen and women are abusing the work permit and business license laws.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The destruction of Cayman in full operation. Government supervised. Multiple laws, including the Immigration Act being openly broken. An outrage. Apparent for all to see and yet no accountability, either of the miscreants themselves of the highly paid and resourced civil servants deliberately choosing to do nothing.

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      • Anonymous says:

        And pension. And health insurance. And planning. And Health. And Criminal. And towns and communities.

        All seemingly undetectable by our varied and exponentially growing robust law enforcement agencies.

        World class Franz?

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      • Anonymous says:

        How many of these illegal traders deposit money into bank accounts? All those profits are money laundering.

        Not a victimless crime, because the Cayman Islands will eventually suffer the consequences.

        Wait until the FATF and EU find out about this. They are going to have a field day with this issues.

        The Cayman Islands will be blacklisted for a long time!

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  24. Anonymous says:

    You must sort out the mess that is WORC first. Six months plus for simple applications to get rubber stamped is a joke, especially when you’re not allowed to work. Why don’t you just issue a “Pending” and get on with it whilst CIG sort their s*!t out.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Of course we must enforce our immigration laws. We hadn’t yet, but look forward to it. The fines are window dressing. The breaches are everywhere and run much deeper.

    Are the pensions, health insurance, Labour and Trade and Business licensing laws to remain voluntary?

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  26. Anonymous says:

    It’s an interesting article where the MP is bragging about doing more but is actually doing less than the previous government.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I saw that too. Saunders is trying to remain relevant, but is irrelevant.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sir SellOutAlot’s government created the entitlement of work permit holders with their record work permit fees and permits and PR for whomever could pay policy. Col Squanders continues the process with begging employers for equal opportunity for Caymanians and wanting employment security once employers are awarded a permit. One was greedy and the other is weak.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Really?

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Five cases in two months – WOW that is tremendous! This could really be increased greatly in one day if the department went to a couple of the large construction projects just on either side of public beach. But perhaps it is only certain places that are targeted for political posturing? Stop the talk and really round up all these “independent contractor” work permit holders along with the people who apply for the work permits just to send the person out searching for jobs to do. For years a blind eye has been turned to this situation and now it is massive. Lets see what happens now.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    is this a joke article. “he commends his staff” really. literally leave your office for ten minutes and you could more effectively enforce the immigration law.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    umm let me get dis strait. you catch me breaking the law, if I can pay u, I dont go to court and so no one else knows. Sounds good to me!

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  31. Anonymous says:

    Inconceivable to think this occurs. I have traveled far and wide and worked in many different countries. I have to say that Caymanians are by far the hardest workers I have ever come across always giving 110%. It boggles the mind why these employers don’t just open their eyes that no work permit is required for Caymanians and they are the very best guaranteed!

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    • Anonymous says:

      The experience of many employers contradicts this

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      • Anonymous says:

        The experience of VERY MANY employers contradicts this!

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        • Anonymous says:

          I say I say that’s pure malarkey! Caymanians are best in breed. If the entire world was Caymanian we would be so far advanced in society it would make your head spin!

      • Anonymous says:

        No way! Try to name the companies. See you can’t. Best in business there’s no question the heart and soul of giving 125% effort. Tina Turner Simply the Best sums it up on Caymanians dedication to their craft.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Let me judge your comment. Your typing is fine, but your words aren’t true.

  32. Anonymous says:

    The quotes in this article pass blame to employees. How about he take responsibility. If he was a uk Home Secretary saying this he’d be gone.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Is this a different department then to the one which has taken over a year to consider and grant multiple valid permanent residency applications which inevitably will see the government lose legal challenges? Not sure this guy understands the workforce that generates his pay packet and builds the infrastructure on grand cayman if so. I may be wrong and worc may be separate from granting PR.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Nope. Same department. Haven’t granted any status applications based on 15 years residence either – even though on paper it’s simpler than PR. Can’t deal with their basis day to day responsibilities but the Minsiter commends them on a handful of enforcement cases, when they could detect any number by simply walking down Easyern Avenue in the morning looking at the guys being picked up for casual work. Disfunctional and not fit for purpose- just a revenue gathering unit.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, status is much more complicated than PR. No one is entitled to it. It is not points based and requires considerable discretion.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I completely disagree. After 26 years on island, WP’s, Key Employee, PR and spending more hours than I care to remember at immigration, my Status application took two weeks, same with BOTC and my UK passport.

      • Anonymous says:

        It’s so simple. Passed 15 years… yup… paid up to date… yup… here’s your status. Nothing else to it… yet this process takes upto and over a year.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The PR situation is becoming unbearable. They put one of the most loud mouth “expat” basher on the board and so far all he has done is “defer”. I believe if an eligible person who can positively enhance our Beloved isles Cayman, who has been allowed to live and work here until being able to qualify for PR that person should have no problem getting it. Delaying and deferring just because it makes someone feel “powerful” is nonsensical, frustrating the applicant and will only cost the island some heavy court fines.

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  34. Elvis says:

    Just turn up at any construction site Sherlock

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Well said Minister but not enough. There are civil servants in your own Ministry that have literally facilitated widespread non compliance with important requirements for a decade. Any accountability? When are the truly rogue employers, and there are many, going to have their Trade and Business licenses revoked. The fines are meaningless to some, and in no way compensate to the incredible harm caused to literally thousands of Caymanians in the process.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Trade and Business License Law is often breached without enforcement of these criminal contraventions.

      Too much businesses operating illegally without a Trade and Business license.

      31
  36. Anonymous says:

    start with the construction or handy men on island.

    27
    1
    • Anonymous says:

      but the high dollar people living in the exclusive neighborhoods love these type of workers because they get their work done cheap. Fine these customers and shame them publicly and you will see it drop off.

      14
      2
  37. Anonymous says:

    Mr. DP it’s good to see you finally discussing matters that are affecting Caymanians. Your pie in the sky 30 floors was a bad day for you and the destruction f the mangroves for the east west arterial road was due to lack of sleep. Glad to see you on point again.

    14
    9
  38. Anonymous says:

    the civil service wouldn’t have to employ so many staff if the private sector would comply with laws.

    I read here that laws are not enforced???

    16
    1
    • Anonymous says:

      They are not. These fines are less than 1% of the problem. Breaching laws is mainstream. It has been for 20 years.

      Take the guy imprisoned for two years after overstaying for 10. No prosecution of a single one of his employers. None had permits for him. None provided health insurance. None paid pension.

      XXXXX

      Then there is the scammer who left last weekend. No permits, no pensions, no health insurance… and NO action by the police or many others agencies.

      Then just go to public beach. No licenses, no pensions, no health insurance, no permits.

      If you think we enforce laws around here you must be high.

      37
    • Anonymous says:

      C’est la vie!

  39. Anonymous says:

    yeah right…how about doing something about abuses by financial service sector. Grow some and don’t just protect ditch digging jobs for us. Start by getting rid of the slimy recruiters.

    21
    6
  40. Anonymous says:

    Let’s see the honourable ministers immigration credentials. Has he given up his Jamaican passport?

    Source: trust me bro.

    38
    3
    • Anonymous says:

      The Honorable Minister is not a Jamaican. If he were it would be impossible for him to run for office. He simply went to school in Jamaica, and as a Caymanian would have needed a visa to do so. The records of that would be very clear, and readily available. There will also be a record of him getting acknowledged to be Caymanian. The Elections Office will have all of this to hand, as required not only by the Elections Law, but also our Constitution.

      12
      21
      • Anonymous says:

        Well , y’know what they say.
        If it walks like a duck…and so on.
        Or as Forrest Gumpnwouldcsay.
        “Jamaican is as Jamaican does”.

        22
        • Anonymous says:

          During the campaigning my neighbour’s primary school child saw him on TV talking and asked his mother ” how come that Jamaican man running for election. I thought only Caymanians could do that? Talk about out of the mouth of babies!

      • Anonymous says:

        So why he sound like he come straight from yard ?

        22
      • Anonymous says:

        No matter how far we go, no matter the time we stay away, no matter where I call home, no matter situation of the day. Jamaica I spring from, the land of wood and water, will always be my home.

      • Anonymous says:

        Perhaps someone should ask the Elections Office to confirm? Surely they checked, right?

        12
        1
        • Anonymous says:

          Chris is only Jamaican when its time to get votes from Jamaican/Caymanians, he plays the role very well. His prformance at Jamaica Independence was epic lol so was Kenneths.

          Ps. I saw Wayne slip off the stage in the background very embarrased, when kenneth was doing his dancehall freestyle

          14
        • Anonymous says:

          Right?

  41. Anonymous says:

    There has been a concentrated strategy to be bring the current immigration regime into disrepute.

    There is an effort amongst the ruling party to build narrative against the current rules.

    Daily we have had government agents on Cayman Government Owners radio casting disinformation on the airways to the public. All arguments full of red herrings and logical fallacies underpinned by xenophobia. Will the Cayman voter fall for it.

    Government, we know what you are doing., we see it.

    20
    1
    • Anonymous says:

      The current rules are ludicrous and set the bar far too low. We are importing and retaining imported poverty at rates that will guarantee our economic and social failure. We are failing and even refusing to provide legally mandated protections for Caymanians. Cayman and and the Caymanian people deserve so much more.

      17
      4
  42. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    I fear we are in a terrible place, where anticipated fines have become a budgetary item, as opposed to creating an environment wherein there are few immigration-related fines.

    24
  43. Rick says:

    Finally, . . . although it appears that we did more last year, Mr. Minister.

    But, the year is not done yet.

    12
    1

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