Bush calls for new expats to ‘integrate or evacuate’
(CNS): Former Cayman Islands premier McKeeva Bush has said there is a growing “trend of people coming to our shores and want nothing to do with many native Caymanians”. During a press conference on Wednesday to launch a new political non-profit organisation, he called on these new arrivals to “integrate or evacuate”. The veteran MP said Cayman’s past immigration was successful because people integrated into the local community, but the behaviour now was un-Caymanian.
He said things are changing with a growing population and rapid increase in newcomers who are not mixing into the community, which is causing division. He said the government needs to find a new way of allowing people to secure residency rights while they live and work here, but in the future, Caymanian status should be reserved for the descendants of Caymanians and those who marry Caymanians.
“Our islands are too small for this kind of segregated mentality, and I can tell you that history is rife with many countries that went that route, and the division in their schools, their workplace, their supermarkets, and even their churches have created a social disharmony,” he said.
“To those people who do not want to integrate and be a part of this community, that behaviour is un-Caymanian, and I ask you to stop it. We don’t want our small islands to go down that route. Simply put, integrate or evacuate,” Bush added.
Launching his new non-profit organisation ahead of his plans for re-election, the former premier, now a parliamentary secretary in the ministry responsible for immigration and labour, said that in previous years, many people came here from overseas but integrated into the community, becoming part of its fabric.
Bush is infamous for the controversial mass status grants given to thousands of people in 2003, which came about because of the huge number of individuals who had been living in Cayman for decades at the time with no residency rights of any kind.
He said he knows that he was vilified for that, explaining that there were some 16,000 people at the time who “needed fixing” in terms of their immigration status. Immigration had been necessary to build modern Cayman, he said, and when the status grants were made, it was a result of decades of people coming to live, work and settle here without any rights, which had to be addressed.
He said you can’t build a country without foreign workers, but things were different now, and he was aware of the public response to the increasing population.
“The growth that we saw in the 1970s to the early 2000s was necessary to build the Cayman we have today. We have now reached a point where the population is growing faster than the opportunities that were previously available, so much so that too many people are being left behind,” Bush said.
“This is a recipe for social disharmony, and we need to slow down the population explosion, as our infrastructure and opportunities are not growing fast enough to accommodate this fast growth.”
Bush argued that he has never been anti-growth or anti-development but there is a time and place for everything. “People are saying the time is now to limit the grant of Caymanian status to descent or marriage and find a different form of belongership to our island nation. Any grants outside of that need to be looked at very carefully to ensure that we leave something for the next generation.”
Calling for a more balanced approach to immigration, Bush indicated that the government should be more careful with permit applications because the Cayman Islands cannot accommodate everyone.
Bush said the country must do a better job of building institutions that will serve, protect and prepare the people of the Cayman Islands for the challenges that they are now facing and will continue to face.
“We need to put our differences aside, live better with each other, and rebuild a community that creates opportunity for our people where we can once again share and care for each other,” Cayman’s longest-serving political representative added.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Sadly this is kind of rhetoric that McBeaters voters fall for hook, line and sinker thereby keeping in public office meanwhile the rest of the population is pulling their hair out.
I remember some of these recipients. Only in the Cayman Islands a few years. Now, they have businesses competing with generational Caymanians. One family went on NAU almost right away. You know what goads me the most: I couldn’t get help for my father a son of the soil but they could help someone that shouldn’t have had status,
Without the right sort of Caymanian friends, no reference letters are written in support of PR, Naturalisation, or Status. That doesn’t mean they are first string friends, or necessarily any thought or values in common.
I expected ‘garbage’ as this came from the MacBeater. I was not disappointed. This individual (can’t call him a ‘Man’) is a disgrace and should have no audience or political role. Unfortunately, the electorate in WB is profoundly lacking in its judgement of who merits its respect.
Truth! As a woman, why should I listen to anything that comes out of this man’s mouth, or ‘integrate’ with his supporters.
Hey Bush, why don’t you just evacuate and do us all a big favor. What a revolting creature you are.
Or evaporate. If you sucked all of the poop out of him that would probably happen.
He’s not even fit to be termed as garbage as the dump wouldn’t have him.
Does he mean we should be more like him and start groping women in a drunken stupor, starting fights and gambling away the public’s money? Is that the kind of “integration” McKeeva is looking for?
Assaulting women half your size isn’t really a fight
Is that how you see all Caymanians? In your head, is that what we do?
he is an MLA and a representative of Caymanians, voted by Caymanians, so he must be a role model for you
11:04, he is an MLA and a representative of West Bay, voted by a small constituency of West Bay. He does not represent the majority of Cayman’s residents, and that includes his colleagues. The problem we have is that 400 numb skulls from his constituency keep him where he is.
I get this. Because even though I’ve been here a while and have a lot of Caymanian friends I do know plenty of expats who don’t have a single one.
That said, for every expat like that who doesn’t want to integrate, there’s a Caymanian who doesn’t want them here. For every expat who does want to integrate, there’s a Caymanian who embraces that.
There’s two sides of this coin.
Most importantly: Mr. Bush is an evil convicted criminal and it’s an embarrassment to this country that he still holds office. Every time he speaks the world loses respect for us. Vote this piece of garbage out and let’s move on.
Birds of a feather flock together….is a social fact
The swan means no disrespect to the pigeons if they don’t hang out together, and vice Versa. Each chooses to hang out with their own crowd , it’s just that simple.
Sadly Mac is using that fact as an electioneering weapon to woo his mindless voters.
Swans and pigeons flocked together in Cayman. Until 2003.
Is that why some pigeons have all white feathers..?
After that Caymanians got flocked.
To 2:13. Mr NoSegregation:
shhhhh
You repeat the lame excuse..you can’t piously blame schools.
You don’t even want locals in the segregated Sailing Club, Visual Art Society, Law Society and the Drama Society ..etc.
In the UK you just Dare to ask someone which country they’re from and you’re branded a racist.
Here Bush will use any socially decisive tactic to seduce voters for himself and his fellow MPs who have nothing of substance to offer their supporters.
I’ll add – there are MANY others in Cayman that ask that question, and use that tactic to engender divisiveness.
While we can easily dismiss Bush’s statements as the typical pre-election, dog whistle stuff that he is known for, it is instructive to note his confused thinking on the matter of immigration.
For more than half a century Cayman’s politicians, with very few exceptions, have promoted development over everything else. Obviously, you cannot have development without population growth and immigration. Bush, more than any Caymanian politician, has pushed relentlessly for this growth. And it is Bush, more than any other Caymanian politician, who pushed to create ever more “new Caymanians”, in particular with his mass Cabinet grants of 2003/4. Bush made this calculation for political reasons and, by doing so, he has sealed the fate of “his people”.
It is Bush’s policies that have lead to “generational Caymanians” becoming a minority in their own land. And because they are a minority, it follows that the traditional Caymanian culture is being overwhelmed and is disappearing before our eyes. It is simply too late to turn back the tide.
Bush makes me think of the California Republicans out in farm country. Calling for more and more Mexicans to do the work. But at the same time wanting those Mexicans to go home.
Sorry Bush. You can’t have it both ways.
Look at that photo above. Just the simple way he shapes his mouth irritates me. Is that so wrong? Have we not all earned that right?
Imagine him kissing a lady’s shoulder and neck!
Fetch the swanky!
Solutions Mac:
Stop giving permits to businesses that are not making real effort to recruit and train Caymanians. If Maples and Walkers can do it, whilst operating at the highest standards, so can everyone else.
Rescind the Trade and Business licences of businesses that repeatedly do not meet their obligations in relation to employment laws.
Deport expatriate criminals wherever possible and take steps to stop new ones from coming and settling here.
Get rid of CXC’s and move back to internationally respected curricula in government schools. Recruit the best teachers from around the world. Unless you do these things there is no prospect of desegregating government schools, and reintegrating the community.
Apply the immigration law to the civil service.
Prosecute fronting.
Increase minimum wage.
Fix the PR system.
Stop giving status to persons who deny the existence of the Caymanian people.
Push for these things and push for these things now. Without them Cayman will not endure, at least not with Caymanians thriving and participating.
…and stop giving Bush any attention and evacuate him!
“Increase minimum wage”
This does absolutely nothing but increase costs across the board.
More damage than good.
Say what you like about Mr. Bush, but he does a great job of talking absolute nonsense.
you’re a wicked, awful man Mr Bush. Your maker is waiting
Anyone that doesn’t want to integrate with McKeeva or his cohort is a good judge of character.
Mac is the biggest enemy, liar, fraud, evil, etc, etc, etc. he says one thing and does another! Election time is here again and again he is up to his old tricks that will baffle people with his BULL sh….t!
He know me can say what he want with no competition in WBW he’s sailing in again to he up the government for 8 consecutive terms. If that’s not a recipe for disaster tell me what is!
yup…more division. just what our children need to learn. learn from the role models is à scary way forward. what people like him or hi new radio cohost soon come Sandra, the division that the rhetoric that only gets worse is a major part of our children’sproblems. a woman beater here. convicted person there, gossip queen there, bully’s everywhere. yup. we got rolemodels for sure. the illusion they see in the mirror must be remarkable. they should all sit down. shameful disguting behaviour. does anyone think what is viewed by the youth.
I worked in Cayman for over ten years, and lived the Cayman life. I integrated, but suffered constant racial bias in the work place and socially from Caymanians and those of Jamaican origin, and that eventually made our social circles. Being white European meant we were driven into our own clique. I know I and my family made a difference, but we never were truly welcomed. Cayman would be nothing without ex-pats, and those that became paper Caymanians, leading to children that are born Caymanians. And there is an underlying problem with both your elected officials corruption and civil service leadership, the majority of which are promoted way beyond their capability. There are a few that see the wider picture, but does the best person get the job?
How do you expect people to integrate, when their own children, born and raised in Cayman their entire life, shouldn’t be Caymanian according to Bush?
Mac too late, we are caymanians now so we can vote and be elected as well.
Expats are eating your pets, they are eating your dogs, they are eating your cats. When is the last time you saw a Cayman goose? You haven’t, as expats have eaten the geese.
Be fair. They are eating our parrotfish (the producer of almost all of our beach sand).
Thank you! I’ve been making this point forever. The sea at BT and FS used to team with flashes of bright colour from the parrotfish I used to just sit and watch for hours. For years now I haven’t seen them, and all the small and baby fish are being fished out too.
Be factual. In the Caribbean, most beach sand comes from organisms like calcareous algae, particularly Halimeda algae, which have hard, calcium carbonate structures.
9:58, But Caymanians are eating all the turtles. Such a primitive people.
#minavelinstodawurld
The Nigel Farage of caymanian politics. preying on people’s fears for votes whilst offering no real solutions and pocketing a nice stack of dollars on the side pandering to multinational corporations who have zero interest in doing anything that will actually benefit local communities in the long term. Immigration is an issue in the Cayman Islands, it needs a mature, transparent discussion untainted by corrupt vested interest. Will we get that from Bush and his cronies in parliament? seriously doubt it, particularly if it puts there personal financial interests at risk. You can tell when he’s lying, cause his lips are moving.
Your comparison of this wretch to Farage is far from accurate. When you consider the 35 plus years that this abomination has defiled the Cayman political scene and these islands, Farage is a saint in comparison.
Nearly 30 years of hearing and seeing hate on a regular basis. caymankind my back foot.
FACT… The best #1 integration of locals and expats was Royal Palms!!!
Royal Palms was the hybrid bar in contrast to now only having a clear divide spots by being a “tourist expat bar” or “locals bar”
It’s outrageous the most iconic bar on Seven Mile Beach is being demolished instead of rebuilt.
Major loss to Cayman SMB heritage, history and landmark site 😢
Absolutely!
That’s where Bush did some of his best work.
Making way for twin towers.
I understand the importance of building shiny new buildings and hotels but some iconic locations should be a protected Cayman heritage site and Royal Palms should be protected rebuilt and preserved. Such a happy place Royal Palms was 😢
This is the man that caused all the cultural and environmental issues we have now. This is the man who lied to us about how much beach Dart was being given. This is the man who used the government credit cards to gamble at a Casino. This is the man on video beating a woman at a restaurant. This is the man who allowed the Ritz to be built as 7 floors and paved the way for the erosion of our beach. This is the man who said he was ‘t concerned about “some scrappy reefs” in hog sty bay. This is the man who brought the Jamaican garrison politics to Cayman.
This man is the reason we are is the crap we are in. Every election cycle he comes out talking about issues that he know people are concerned about and EVERYTIME he has been elected in he sells us out.
Ya’ll need to shut the hell up about him talking sense.
We ain’t going back to Mac!
Tell that to the West Bay voters. They are like the three monkeys – “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. But they elect evil!
You forgot he is the reason we have overpopulation. The most important thing is that he caused this issue he is talking about:massive grants of 2003.
Bush trying to climb out of a massive hole he has dug for himeself over many years lol.
Anyone need a stove? Washer? Politricks every move a magic trick. Now you see him then you wont. Watch and see.
Bush has a point about integration, but the Govt has not changed its immigration or schooling policies for many years. Until it does, his comments mean nothing beyond looking for votes.
As most Caymanians (incl status holders) consider immigration to be somewhat out of control these days, its ironic that neither the current Govt, or the last one, or the one before that, have taken any action to tighten it. Why is that?
Conclusion: its election time, with much similar spouting off to follow.
How about getting rid of all these buy a work permit people who are paying Caymanian people to start a shell business and buy them work permits so they can roam the island looking for job. How about raiding the work sites checking all the status of workers so to catch over stayers, people working outside the confines of their permits or anyone else working illegally. Stop permit holders from “job hoping” and doing their own side hustles. This will irritate some but the fact is these people are hurting legitimate businesses by allowing theses workers to skirt all the laws. How about enforcing the labor laws and make companies have proper workman compensation, public liability insurance, paying pensions and health insurance, paying overtime and the other labor laws. Shut down the large developers who employee all these so called sub-contractors.
We can’t do that as the large developers and rich people will not like it.
This fool conveniently forgets he opened the immigration floodgates to feed his support base of ignorant uneducated voters.
As parasites do, these people have now multiplied to also keep Seymour, Kenneth and Saunders in power.
Add JuJu and Jay to the list and this is who we will have as our Jamaican controlled government under Mac’s OBC..!
Nah, he hasn’t forgot, he just thinks the people forgot and some (too many) are still fool enough to believe him, and new fridges, washers, etc. go a long way towards erasing memories it seems.
I only want nothing to do with Bayers
Bush trying to unring his own bell. SMH
I’ve been living in the Cayman Islands for nearly 20 years now. I’ve even received community awards and was honored on National Heroes Day, and I truly love Cayman and its culture. But it hasn’t been easy. Coming here without speaking the language, I made a point to learn it and respect the country and its people—something not all expats do. But no matter how long I’m here, there’s still this wall. I’m a “paper Caymanian” and know I’ll never fully belong, but I don’t fit in back home anymore, either.
Sometimes, it’s tough dealing with the hostility. I’ve gotten racial comments and side eyes just for showing up at local spots like Corner Restaurant or Blue Marlin. Once, at the old Bus Side restaurant, someone called out, “Look, white boy ordering in a Black people’s place…must be lost.” I’d already been here 15 years by then!
I’ve built my life here and most of my close friends are generational Caymanians. I get why locals might be wary; a lot of expats are just here to take advantage, and maybe the resistance is a defense mechanism. But for those of us who truly call Cayman home, feeling like an outsider after all this time…it’s hard. Acceptance can still be hard to come by, and I still feel that resistance.
Those local restaurants you refer to are not local. They haven’t been for more than 30 years. No Caymanian would reference race like that.
Interesting. And quite weird.
What is your native language? I thought it is a requirement to speak English when you come to work in Cayman.
“…respect the country and its people…” what were you doing to make “a point”?
“… something not all expats do”. What one should do to disrespect the country and its people?
“… know I’ll never fully belong, but I don’t fit in back home anymore, either.”. Maybe try some other places instead of seeing yourself as a victim?
“… , it’s tough dealing with the hostility.” Maybe you’re super sensitive and don’t understand jokes?
“… a lot of expats are just here to take advantage”. WOW! Didn’t you “take advantage” when you came to Cayman to build your life?
Sorry you’ve experienced this but the places you mention are frequented by mostly Jamaicans not native Caymanians. Unfortunately we’ve been invaded and now this is the type of behaviour that’s found everywhere. I for one as a light skinned Caymanian refuse to let them intimidate me but I’m in the minority.
There is no white people place and there is no white people place. This is Cayman. It is different. It is one. The clear divisions, like the people you speak of, are imported.
The comment from Bus Side, might have been in jest, I have a lot of local friends who are not raciest at all. Maybe they were surprised to see a white guy at the restaurant, and wanted to make you feel ok…and themselves too?
McWasteman STFU.
mac, we won’t apologise for coming here with our first world views and educational standards and then questioning the daily nonsense of ‘caymankind’
First world views? LMAO stfu
With the first world views and educational standards, what was the point of coming here for the ‘Caymankind’ nonsense? Ah yes, your prior lack of access to that first world $$. Sounds like the only thing first world about you is your passport but otherwise, you’re right at home …
Translation: Come and be a faithful servant, give Caymanians 60% of everything you make, be thankful for the opportunity or leave. And than they complain that it is all Jamaicans staying on island
Then take their land away under the Land Acquisition Act and I quote Bush “ for fishermen (2’) and vendors”. That is just what Cayman needs to attract reduce the expat population . Brilliant Bush. Very clever.
We know no one is complaining that it ‘is all Jamaicans staying on island’. You’re here after all.
I’m a Brit, been around a couple of decades now. Witnessed steep decline of Cayman as a direct result of Mac’s mass status grants, new immigration laws and poor immigration policies. It’s not just Caymanians, I too complain there are too many Jamaicans. Filipinos too. That’s not a slight on decent, hardworking immigrants, but on the law makers (politicians) who failed to strike the balance between economic and social needs, while preserving what little remained of Cayman’s cultural identity. There are also some greedy capitalist employers who like to exploit this to increase profits, by hiring immigrants on minimum wage.
Nothing makes them (politicians and employers) happier than to hear us all blaming each other when the finger of blame points squarely at them.
maybe all expats should be like caymanian mla’s…..woman beaters, drug dealers, cheats, liars……etc?
Well well here is an eye opener for you! BoBo most of them are just that! Plain criminals.
yawn…just a populist empty nationalistic soundbite…
hahahah…too late mac. we didn’t come to take part, we came to take over…..job soon done bobo!
😀 finally!
What his definition of an expat is?
A work permit holder?
A status holder?
A “paper” Caymanian?
Are Jamaicans expats..?
yes yes and yes. all of those are expats
How many family members of the thousands of people he gave status to are now Caymanian? 10 thousand? More? How many of them are on NAU?
Killing us.. bleeding us to death.
how many in northward?
What a joke! How do you expect all these expats living in the gated communities…I don’t need to name them….to mix with Caymanians, only a very tiny percentage of whom can afford to live in such houses in such places. A “them and us” Cayman was created long ago when the money flowed in and the developers were allowed to do what they wanted and no one had more to do with all that than Bush did. So please…..
Segregating the kids at school didn’t help either. And its not just expats now – the private schools have the Cayman money class and politicians kids in them. My daughter, who has graduated now having spent her whole school time in a private school, has friends who are a mix of generational Caymanians, paper Caymanians and expats. But they are all from well off families. Her circle of friends doesn’t see a difference between Caymanian and expat, black or white – but they have limited contact with ordinary Caymanians.
Bush has to understand that he brought unprecedented crime to Cayman by inviting thousands of uneducated unemployable Jamaicans to flood our towns and multiply.
Bush is in fact the real reason why communities feel they need to be gated.
Mac – why did you grant status to people who did not even live here?
What criminal background checks were done on recipients?
Did any of your clients get status?
Just asking.
And waitresses been on Island for two months..?
We all know some ladies provided a variety of “services” to get status. Probably the worst 2 or 3 minutes of their lives, but hey they are Caymanian now.
You assume their grants were lawful?
And you assume as long as 3 minutes..?
Until the government takes over education in Cayman, we will be doomed to segregation. How can you expect my child to play well in a social environment with other nationalities if he has consistently been deprived of exposure until he goes to college? However, he is consistently exposed to our neighbor’s island culture and influence for several reasons. Tell me once again why scroll segregation is ok.
Government is in charge of public education, thus the problem. Don’t mess with private education.
The Government of the Cayman Islands is not in charge of Public Education. Members of the Civil Service (often from elsewhere in the Caribbean) are in charge of Public Education.
The Government lost control of it years ago.
say it again for the Premier!
I always think the government could at least introduce well subsidized summer, easter camps etc.., open to all to encourage inclusion. Their website stated camps coming soon for 2024 and was never updated. Not a solution but a start. With so many working families what is the government doing to help. Camps are now around 300 per week. Get children integrating and learning skills, Caymanian culture etc..
Absolute nonsense. How’s about you take some responsibility for how you and your children behave instead of blaming the school system.
Bush tells expats to integrate, while blaming them solely on all Cayman’s problems.
So historically familiar
These new expat women complain after being sexually assaulted, it’s so Un Caymanian
Not the ones working in the bars mind you. They keep well quiet.
Which one of you expats refused to fund his campaign? How dare you? How many times he will announce ” I na running agin” He needs to just leave.
Kinda LATE there sir.
Did you message the thousands that got it FREELY thru you years ago??!!
It’s election time. Every election candidates blame expats for the country’s problems.
The thing is ‘Honourable Bush, when they do integrate with you, you beat them up, which one is it ?
what a f***ing moron, Mr ‘Status Grants’…
Crooked Caymanians need to evolve from the “you need me more than I need you” attitude of the past, and join a world rapidly incorporating transparency and prioritising law abidance. Xenophobia has no place in that world, and it’s certainly not going to earn an invitation to the expat cocktail parties McKeeva used to muscle his way into. Cayman needs to reject this man, and any like them. They are echoes of a revolting past.
I dislike Bush but this is the smartest and most insightful thing he has ever said. Lots of expats on our shores that have close to no caymanian born friends.
Maybe that is true, maybe it isn’t. I am now retired and during my working decades I had the opportunity to work with many Expats. Like everywhere in the world people are different and associate differently. In my last place of employment my co-workers included persons from Canada, NewZealand, Ireland, and 2 Cayman Caymanians. Guess who would come in late, already upset, slamming the front door, slamming the mail down on the desk ( she collected the mail). No one could get a decent response from her before 11:00 o’clock! They were afraid of her!! Then because I happen to have a good working relationship with all of them she turned on me. Before I forget “I was the other Caymanian.
What a load of baloney. For 2003 professional expats, including those who had only been in Cayman for a couple years, with the right lawyer channel, you could pay him $10,000 to his own account or foundation, or if a pretty sushi club waitress, who knows what horrors of quid pro quo. Everyone who was a partner or partner track got on his magic list, many that would later be surprised to learn they had been added.
100%, I remember getting the call, I refused and did it the right way and saved $10K!
Hey ACC! You exist, right?
Partner track? I will raise you some grand court judges and an attorney-general.
The man had such vision. His foresight is incredible. He should work in recruitment if he does not get re-elected.
they come here from jam and still want to behave like theyre still there. agree mac.
Problem is he is not talking about his Jamaican pals but the other imports. He and a majority of the high ups love the Jamaicans and wants Cayman to be just like it
Having read his text rants to Sandy over on CMR it seems from the patois he might think he IS Jamaican!
Mac gave them all status, now they are a burden on NAU. I wish he would just go away, far, far away. He coming up with his nonsense again complaining about being under the U.K. Heck that is the only thing that keeps us from becoming the ghetto that most other independent island/countries are. Perhaps that is another thing that should be on the ballot next year. I vote to remain! Yes I am an overseas dependent citizen and proud to be.