The de-Caymanization of Cayman
Ezzard Miller writes: The latest labour and population statistics released by the Economic and Statistics Office of the government are very troubling and alarming but not surprising to me as I have been trying to raise concerns about this for the last decade. Caymanians should be gravely concerned that they are now outnumbered three to one in the workplace and in our society in general. The urgent question is how did we get to this position and what can we do about it.
Young Caymanians are often faced with questions of identity that my generation never faced, such as: Who is a Caymanian? And what is Caymanian?
In answering these questions, we often, if not always, look to some legal definition as though we need some higher authority to support us or on which to hang our reply.
The reply often given is that found in the Immigration Law: a person who has British Overseas Citizenship by their connection to Cayman. The more colloquial Caymanian reply used to be someone who has their navel string buried in Cayman.
It is as though we no longer know who we are or have courage and confidence because, intimidated by economic and socio-political forces, we are ashamed, or at the very least reluctant, to say who Caymanians are and what the unique characteristics are that separate us from all the other nationalities that have taken up residence in Cayman.
Here, in my opinion, are a few character traits that separate us: our verbal skills (we talk differently), our Christian heritage, our cultural heritage, our friendliness and tolerance, our quiet wit. Caymanians were proud, confident, charming, honest, hardworking, educated, religiously tolerant, witty and friendly people, and should be in charge of the destiny of the Cayman Islands.
Today, the trend of the Caymanian identity is one that is complacent, disappearing, and under siege from several fronts. However, to understand and appreciate these forces, we need to look at them from a historical perspective, in particular, what actions have given rise to them and the threats to the Caymanian’s identity.
We need to determine what forces have contributed to this demise of the Caymanian identity. Why have we allowed these forces to erode this proud heritage and identity? What benefits have we, as Caymanians, gained by allowing this erosion, and was it worth the price? Do we as a people have the ability, need, or desire to recapture or recreate this proud Caymanian identity?
Or should we accept that the time has come for a complete debunking of this Caymanian heritage and forge a new identity drawn from the multiplicity of cultures now represented in these islands with a true melting pot philosophy?
The purpose of this article, as I see it, is to try to identify the dynamics that have contributed to the erosion of Caymanian values, work ethic and identity. Is this just an excuse that we Caymanians band about, looking for some justification for failure, our youth turning to drugs and crime, and the lowering of expectations from Caymanians as to job performance?
It is not the purpose of this article to place blame or to inflame the situation that is festering beneath the surface.
I am now seventy-two years old and have grown up and experienced all these changes to Cayman and Caymanian identity. I received my basic education in a one-room school in North Side taught by Caymanian teachers. I moved on to high school on an academic scholarship, moved on to college on a government scholarship, worked in government for six years to pay off my bond, went into the private sector as a businessman, entered politics, and am now comfortably retired.
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, the Cayman government decided to open up the Caymanian economy, particularly the financial and tourist industries, to foreign investors, workers, and influencers.
In a very meaningful and valiant attempt to prevent the situation we find ourselves in, where Caymanians have lost both economic and political control of Cayman and our future, Mr Benson Ebanks and others passed the Caymanian Protection Law, the Business License Law and the Local Company Control law.
These laws served their purpose well until the foreign influencers decided to lobby for changes to these laws to benefit them. All the changes to these laws that they asked for and were given to them by successive Caymanian governments reduced the protection of Caymanians and increased the benefits for the foreign influencers.
There have been many, even to change the name of the principal legislation from Caymanian Protection Law to Immigration Law. But not a single change enhanced the protection of Caymanians.
This infiltration or foreign takeover was not confined to the two pillars of our economy, Financial Services and Tourism, but included all aspects of Cayman Society:
The clergy. My great-grandfather was the preacher of the North Side Presbyterian Church for many years, and while he had a limited education, he loved God, saved souls, and built a beautiful church. Today, if I want to be the minister of the same North Side Church, now named the United Church of Jamaica, I have to receive special training and be ordained by the church authorities in Jamaica.
The police. When I was a youngster, the police force was all Caymanian, whom we respected and obeyed. Today, when I get stopped by a policeman, I can hardly understand their dialect.
The judiciary. Once utilized by Caymanian Justices of the Peace in the lower courts, it is now completely dominated by foreigners who have no local knowledge, while professionally qualified Caymanians are being completely ignored and bypassed.
The tourist industry. I can remember when, during the greatest growth in our tourist industry, every hotel in Cayman was managed by a Caymanian. Today, not a single one is managed by a Caymanian.
The financial industry. I can also recall when we had Caymanian bank managers. Today, we have only one.
The civil service. Once, it was all Caymanian. Today, many Caymanians are being overlooked and replaced by foreigners.
This paints a gloomy picture of Caymanian abilities and commitment to the job, as well as personal development and success in the workplace.
Hard to believe these are people with the same genetic structure as those of our parents who left Cayman in the early fifties as bedroom stewards and messmates and, within a decade, were recognised as the world’s greatest seamen on merchant marine ships of all classes
What changed? The gene pool? Yes, through inter-marriages and cohabitation, but more importantly, the system has changed.
Today Caymanians have limited opportunities in this open economy, but goals are less easily defined. They work hard, but rewards are not always the same as those on work permits, and success is more difficult to define.
Caymanians are always the ones being asked by Caymanians to be more accommodating. We are constantly being reminded and often browbeaten to be nice to foreigners and treat them well. They are here for our good, and God forbid that they should leave.
This is not the norm in other societies. Normally, when we Caymanians migrate to a foreign land, we are expected to change and conform to their lifestyle and culture or another identity. If we want to succeed in their land, we have to blend in with them.
Cayman is at a very serious crossroads, and we need to act now to prevent a national catastrophe. Caymanians, especially the young, educated Caymanians whom the Caymanian protection law was enacted to protect, are becoming increasingly frustrated and disappointed.
So what can we do as Caymanians, since next year is an election year? We should not support any individual or political party who is not prepared and committed to managing the growth of the Caymanian population. Here are a few policies we should consider:
- No more Cayman status grants. Limit Cayman status to only marriage and descent.
- Make status grants for marriage automatically revoked if divorced before ten years.
- Prevent persons who are granted work permits from remaining on the island for more than five years by granting fixed-term non-renewal permits for one year up to five years.
- Terminate the provisions in the Immigration Act that facilitate the grant of permanent residence.
Caymanians, these may seem like drastic measures, but I would issue a warning that they are now necessary as we have allowed the erosion of Caymanian authority.
The election in May 2025 may not be affected because there are still more generational Caymanians than those given status, but if we don’t make the changes now, the election in 2029 will see many of these second-generation Caymanians seeking and winning office if we allow their number to continue to grow.
To add a short statement of the disappearance of Seven Mile Beach, this is just another ailment of the disease of GREED that has consumed Cayman. The Caymanians in authority have allowed these persons to destroy Seven Mile Beach by allowing them to build their million-dollar homes too close to the sea, and those in authority who allowed this have been, and maybe are still being, rewarded for their actions.
I proposed over fifteen years ago that the government should re-establish the line of vegetation from old aerial photos, and any building below that line will have to be moved.
However, that requires bold, honest leadership, which is now in short supply.
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Category: Viewpoint
Restricting foreigners from working and living here doesn’t solve the problem. It is what that creates, you give them the ability to buy property, that creates the problem. Come, work, enjoy then leave.
Except, they rarely leave!
Look at how many time he refers to the past, and to how things were when he was younger. Ezzard – in life there is no going back. This letter shows me why you should not be returned to office. The same tired washed out ideas aimed at problems that are not in your capacity to deal with because they require forward think and a vision of the future rather than attempts to solve them which are based on the naive nostalgia that everything in the past was better than today. Your mentality is the same on that ushered in Brexit in the UK and which brought Trump to power in the US. It’s outdated thinking. Please step aside and let’s see if we can get some quality younger folk with fresh ideas and a vision of the future.
Leave your Remoaner claptrap out of this discussion,2:02. Believe it or not, not everyone agrees with you.
Why all the disgusting unecessary vitriol and divisiveness, we are all one people. Do something more productive with yourself in your ‘retirement’!
We are NOT one people. This is not Little Jamacia
you sure about that? I bet if you ran a survey you would find Jamaicans and their immediate descendants own more of Cayman than born and bred Caymanians.
You may not be aware of just how much wealth the wealthy Caymanian families possess as a group. I highly doubt they own less of it than Jamaicans and their immediate descendants. My own family owns 1.5% of the country, and that is just us.
Only 1.5%, if you are going to make numbers up, why not say 5% or even 10%.
Anyway, Dart is Caymanian so I think he owns more.
It isn’t a made up number. Dart does indeed own much more.
‘Here, in my opinion, are a few character traits that separate us: our verbal skills (we talk differently), our Christian heritage, our cultural heritage, our friendliness and tolerance, our quiet wit.’
LOL These do not exist anywhere else in the world! LOL
What you all fail to comprehend is the younger generation is quite over the situation Cayman is in, we’re frustrated and we’re not holding our tongue anymore. Sorry for whoever is on the receiving end, but we’re not tolerating what our elders did anymore.
errr, you think?
Actually, I agree, in so much that you’re all talk. I don’t see many younger Caymanians looking to blaze a trail in politics. I want to be proved wrong, but it’s unlikely.
You’ve been sold down the river by charlatans. It’s not the foreigners living here that should irk you, it’s the people (Caymanian politicians, voted for by Caymanian electorate) who enabled this current situation.
The issue is foreign ownership. Back in the day Cayman needed inwards foreign investment. Now it has sold its Crown Jewels to the highest bidder and lost control of the country. Cayman must be the only country in the world that allows (in fact encourages) foreign owners to buy up its best real estate, rent it and then flip it without paying a dime in tax. Ironically they pay tax in their own country for the foreign ownership. Madness
I agree with your post completely! I’ve long said this!
???…i thought all ‘real’ caymanians were going to move to scotland?
ezzard…ask yourself, what would jesus say/do?
get lost ezzard…your small minded, small town, backward thinking has you where you are right now…unelected.
Was Juliana elected???????
Why you are being so rude? This is the way of arguing or criticizing that ignores the larger issues at hand and just attacks someone’s character.
Do they teach manners, tact and diplomacy these days?
Ezzard must have a had a lot of help from someone to write this. I’ve heard him speak and met him countless times and he is not this eloquent. Usually, I cannot wait for him to shut up as most of what he says is utter rubbish.
This piece is crap and nonsense. How can you firstly even say that Cayman is tolerant when the same piece is ripping on foreigners.
Fear mongering bullcrap written by an out of touch dinosaur.
Unfair, 10:54. I am not an admirer but over nearly 50 years I have come to realise he is very intelligent and writes better than he speaks, though he can articulate his views (“utter rubbish” to you but not to everyone)more than adequately. His so called “village/kitchen band” mentality towards Cayman makes him poisonous to many, especially expatriates of a certain sort, but you know where he stands.
Calling this country tolerant is flat out rubbish. I’m Caymanian and love my home but the hatred towards certain groups of people here is some of the worst in the world.
Only in Cayman will politicians stand on the floor of parliament and rant and ramble for hours about who is going to hell because of their lifestyles.
If it wasn’t for the money we have here, nobody would stay.
Someone wrote it and left it on his windshield no doubt.
All that is highlighted by Miller lies squarely at the feet of those chosen few who have “represented the people of these Islands” for the last 30yrs+.
It is them who is to blame.
No one else.
Does Hazard Miller not realize this?
The blame lies with the elected officials as well as the electorate who are more interested in turkeys and appliances, than a competent and accountable government.
Civil servants have no role? The ones in charge of policy and their legal advisors? The ones from other countries? They have no responsibility?
Civil Servants have no say. When will you people realize this? Already they are sending out telling Civil servants how to act with the election coming up. Civil Servants can’t even comment on the issues of the country as it’s considered going against government. Working for government is like living in a Communist country. The politicians give all of the directives and the civil servants just do as they are told.
The name “Miller” has English and Scottish origins. It is an occupational surname for a miller, derived from Middle English “mille” meaning “mill”.
and?
Wtf does that have to do with what he wrote? Smh, this is exactly why this island is in the disaster that it is… By people squirting around the actual issues and just creating a smoke screen of foolishness
Ultimately there is a lot of truth in what Ezzard says but the horse has long bolted. Talking about multi generational Caymanians will not really be applicable within the next couple of decades due to combined factors of marriages, birthrates, pr status grants, etc that have taken place 20 years ago ! This has been allowed to happen by successive governments – can’t really blame people for coming here when it’s actively been encouraged for a v long time. Accepted the truth hurts but a return to the hellenic ideal of a Cayman Islands 50+ years ago is now impossible. It’s like trying to return the UK to the “golden era” of 50s or 60s. there’s no turning this ship around.
so when the “native” Caymanians came here there was no problem? I think people are missing the correct argument. “Paper” Caymanians have should be treated and considered the same as the “Natives”. Just because they came later should not diminish their rights, as they followed the same rules to become Caymanian. The issue is the “Natives” took payouts, and bribes to allow people who should not have become Caymanian in. Who is to blame for that? Ezzard should be more concerned about generational Caymanians cashing out and selling out our lands.
Forgive me for asking, but wasn’t Mr. Miller a member of parliament for a number of years while all this “influencing” was going on?
He spoke up many times, but the voice of one is not the voice of change when it comes to our government.
What will the government do without the hundreds of millions they make of foreigners each year?
It only needs that money now because it spends most of it on supporting impoverished foreigners, and imported civil servants.
How do they spend money supporting impoverished foreigners? They spend a billion dollars a year supporting Caymanians. Some examples:
$46.3 million per year in 2024 and 2025 to the Health Services Authority for the provision of various medical services.
$18.6 million in 2024 and $14.4 million in 2025 for tertiary medical care at various local and overseas providers for uninsured, underinsured and indigent people.
$11.5 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025 for the public school meals programme.
$23.8 million in 2024 and $24.3 million in 2025 for local and overseas scholarships to about 2,500 students per year.
$15.2 million in 2024 and $12 million in 2025 for financial assistance to support about 1,500 households.
$10.9 million in 2024 and $10.8 million in 2025 for ex-gratia payments to about 900 people for past service provided by seamen and veterans.
$31.9 million in 2024 and $33.9 million in 2025 for the continued expansion of educational facilities, including a new high school on Cayman Brac, a West Bay high school and the continued expansion of John Gray High School.
You are oblivious.
Who are the recipients? How many HSA patients are not or were not born Caymanian?
How many of the uninsured are not Caymanian?
How many students in the schools you refer to are not Caymanian?
The total numbers are in the thousands.
How many of the occupants of the 1500 households you reference are not Caymanian?
How many of the recipients of free meals in school are not Caymanian?
what support does a starving expat get from the govt? Comical really. why ahs minimum wage not gone up? would affect Generational Caymanian slave owners too much as well as government officials that are breaking the law and essentially own slaves
Tens of millions. Every year.
I will never blame foreigners for anything bad in Cayman. The blame is and always will be at the feet of Caymanians who lobby for foreign interests and their own bank account. who lobbied to change the laws to allow buildings to get closer to the beach? (isn’t he a national hero now?) who is bringing in people to work slave wages? who is selling off Caymanian owned land? who…
“We need to determine what forces have contributed to this demise of the Caymanian identity”…
Dare I say, Caymanians themselves…
We elect generational Caymanians as MPs who then spend tens of millions of dollars per year on “policy advice” from undisclosed foreign sources.
Every immigration board is filled with Caymanians by Right.
Work permits require Caymanians to be the employers…
The law ensures that all businesses are 60% Caymanian owned and controlled…
So… to get to this point… Caymanians themselves have opened their borders.
And is that such a bad thing?
It is the Caymanian parents responsibility to instill pride of heritage and teach their children about our history and culture. And it is our Ministry of Education responsible for investing some time and resources in to creating a proper Caymanian history and culture curriculum and writing it in to law for all schools to include.
Our financial services industry which has brought much prosperity and wealth to our people was in fact thought up and developed by experienced forward-thinking expats who saw the opportunity while our ancestors were busy thatching rope and making wompas… I do believe Mr. Miller himself has benefited from this valuable industry.
As he has pointed out the statistics of 3 to 1 Caymanian … who is it benefiting from the increased population? The countless Caymanian business owners.
Instead of spewing hate and intrigue of the people who desire to share our home. We should yes, set boundaries, but stop spreading prejudice and hate.
The time Caymanians take instilling suspicion of foreigners in to their children – they could be teaching their kids the valuable life lessons many expats teach there’s! Lessons like investing, stocks, shares, company formation, the importance of marriage for security and shared assets/income, negotiating loans and mortgages…
The world is changing and Caymanians cannot survive in it by sitting around crying for the good Ole days when mosquito swarms could kill a cow!
Our people need to unskill, learn proper communication and how to patiently handle differences.
Articles like this that are read all over the world are what put foreigners on alert to Caymanian mentalities… they feel hated and excluded before they even arrive. Thinking that every Caymanian is looking for the first boat to put them on.
We have to get past this now… this island was built through collaboration between peoples and cultures.
Our Legal industry was built to its success by EXPAT attorneys whose families now consider themselves generational Caymanians.
The constant hate and division puts everyone on guard… destroying potentially healthy and valuable relationships between Caymanians and foreigners before they can even form.
I am so sick of it… I grew up hearing the nonsense “expats stealing our jobs”… your Caymanian HR manager that interviewed the expat shuffled “your job”… so many Caymanians have no interview skills… no communication skills… and yet parents are busy drilling their kids to expect to be hired because “your navel string buried in Cayman”…
I could go on and on about this…
But… long and short… Caymanians tend to create their own problems and then blame them on everybody else.
Well said!
very well said. Sad truth is that you could substitute Caymanian with American or Canadian or French. all nations are facing the open borders issue and push back from those that it challenges.
@9.17 Your last sentence is in need of correction, Firstly there is no long and short, the long line of Caymanian politicians and policy makers have created our problems, not the Caymanians in general. Please get that straight because I was born here in 1970 and had a lot of differences in ideas than these Political pirates that have never listened to the people, but we all know how that goes, The Ayes have it!!
And every day there is a New Real estate agent passing the Cireba exams on a Work Permit with a name you can’t even pronounce!!!To the CI GOV, NO MORE work permit approval grants for realtors to this Island making millions in commission, we have more than enough qualified born and bred Caymanians here to sell property.
Amen to that.
Whilst this article is largely nonsense, I do wholeheartedly agree with this comment.
Realty on this island has got to have one of the highest ratio’s of income to required skills/education of any profession (i.e. you earn a lot with no need for skills or education).
So why on earth are work permits being given out for these jobs?
This is so true. There are many examples of people who came here and started in the service industry and are now selling 7 figure properties.
Of course, I do respect the folks who, no matter where they started, have plied this trade for decades and who have integrated into society.
I have different thoughts about the ones who came lately and seem to rely on driving their range rovers and throwing air kisses vs applying local knowledge.
Those same Range Rovers won’t be running long . But who cares when they are raking in the CIREBA CARTEL commissions?
Caymanians, especially multigenerational Caymanians, should be the only real estate agents.
There should be a restriction against a non-Caymanian real estate agent.
No need for foreigners assisting selling land in the Cayman Islands.
Many Caymanians have never wanted to become real estate agents because there is no salary. The role requires you to work and get results before getting paid… most Caymanians want to know what their pay date is and get paid whether there are results or not. There is nothing stopping any Caymanian who wants to do real estate from doing it.
@10:15 You are correct, there is nothing stopping them, except for the hundreds of expat Realtors that have the market flooded and locked down, and worse, inviting their overseas friends to come to Cayman and follow suit
You apparently have missed the point. All those being invited in have to produce to get paid.
Now that fact that many of the expat realtors are basically unskilled and have limited knowledge of finance or Cayman should make it easy for any young Caymanians so inclined to do really well as Realtors. But for some reason they choose not to enter the industry in any significant numbers. Same thing with plumbers and electricians. Try finding a Caymanian plumber under 40…
If a Caymanian is married to a foreigner and living overseas, the spouse shouldn’t get Caymanian status.
Probably doesn’t want it, duh!
You would be surprised.
1) Limiting status grants is fine — but NOT in regard to people who are already here, paying the money, and part-way down the road to status. Why? Because it was CIG who offered the deal in the first place. So, it’s unfair for CIG to renege on their own deal. 2) Immediately institute a moratorium on approving any NEW work permits. Only allow employers to replace (one for one) a departing employee, but no increase in total. 3) Enough with the divisive talk about “indigenous” Caymanians. The truth is that SOME people got here before the rest of us — but ALL of us come from other places.
#1 goes without saying
Let’s be clear. There is no such thing as a “Caymanian” You are all here as guests of His Majesty as British Overseas Territories Citizens.
Wrong. On so many levels. Including the fact that thousands of Caymanians are neither British, nor British Overseas Territories Citizens (but you should speak to Mac and our Attorney General as to how and why that is the case despite Mr. Benson Ebanks expressly drafting the Caymanian Protection Law (with others) to prevent that from being possible.
Someone is wrong, and it isn’t me.
I am afraid it is. There are hundreds of Caymanians with US, Jamaican or other passports and no BOTC (or British) passport.
Personal issue, they should explain why that is themselves.
BTW – they are not “Caymanians”, there is no such thing. From what you are saying, they are US, Jamaican or Other citizens.
Nope. They are definitely Caymanians. Many have certificates and stamps in their passports confirming it.
Hey. Don’t leave the Solicitor General out of this. She could help explain too.
Wake and bake with 100% grade a pure nationalist racist jingoism.
Trump approves.
Check your passport for confirmation, if true.
You’re obviously uneducated!
We are guests? Of a land that our ancestors settled and ran by themselves for most of two centuries? Nobody gave us permission to start a society here. The UK did not come down here in 1750 and sanction whatever village existed then. This place was owned by Spain when its first recorded birth took place. You are simply wrong, but it is scary to think there are people going around with this belief, because you use it to delegitimise everything else we might reasonably want and expect. You do realise that our right to self-determination has been recognised by the UK and the UN yes?
It’s so strange to be proud of where you’re from. It’s a quirk of fate that determined you were born here, or Afghanistan, or Slovakia, or anywhere else on the planet.
Cayman people are no better or worse than people from anywhere else. So, on that premise, what he witters on about here is indeed a racist rant, no more, no less. You can appreciate the natural beauty, and note the local traditions, but you’re not taking credit for what’s gone before, by people you’ve never met, or lived with as contemporaries.
Miller, as a former legislator, should take responsibility for what he could have influenced but didn’t or couldn’t, at the time, rather than spouting this drivel.
In a nutshell, this reminds me of the British exceptionialism still common. Fetishizing World Wars one and two, by people who didn’t live through it.
Nailed it.
We definitely need to take action! Much of this problem started with the desire to have others to vote in elections when some candidates felt they would be voted out by Caymanians. So they had to get people from whom they could purchase loyalty. Then those people brought their people. It grew from there and grew out of control. I guess our politicians didn’t see that coming. Now we have to fix it as Generational Caymanians are losing control of their country. Many foreigners will be upset by this article but I want you to honestly answer this question: which other country on this planet is predominantly run by foreigners and not their own people? Let us start right here in the Caribbean. I don’t know of any. While there are many valuable points in some of the comments, this is an issue that Caymanians must deal with and resolve because we do have a problem with population explosion. While not every generational Caymanian can happily retire here, some of what has caused this is the increase in population, I give Mr, Ezzards kudos for addressing an issue that is making many Caymanians unhappy.
Ezzard, what you say, and sometimes how you say it, are not always popular.
Nevertheless , you say what you say from a place of decency, which is completely lacking in our current government (except Andre and Wayne).
We need you back, you were the only one with the honesty and integrity to stand up against the self serving buffoons who are going to bankrupt Cayman.
Thank you and please come back to save us from these fools.
“our Christian heritage, our cultural heritage, our friendliness and tolerance, our quiet wit. Caymanians were proud, confident, charming, honest, hardworking, educated, religiously tolerant, witty and friendly people, and should be in charge of the destiny of the Cayman Islands.”
You speak for all of Cayman? I know gay Caymanians (generational) who probably don’t share your enthusiasm for wearing rose tinted spectacles.
These sweeping generalizations are ridiculously naive. All older Caymanians were hard working, confident? You’re a fool if you believe this exceptionalism.
The only thing I’ve seen from you that makes you proper Caymanian, is that you switch lanes in your pickup truck without indicating.
You’re both making arguments by making sweeping generalizations.
For Ezzard it must be to difficult to reflect and blame himself for this failure in his political career.
The Catron of North Side.
But yet it’s okay for gay Caymanians to be exiled to London?
When did that happen?
Ask Ezzard.
Yep. Send them anywhere but here.
That has never happened, so don’t even come here with that bullshit. Second of all, he himself has a gay son, he’s not against the gay population.
Anonymous says:
16/10/2024 at 4:34 pm
“Buzzard Miller. Take my status grant and I’ll see you and your cohorts in court”
———————————————————–
My Response as A Caymanian As Of Right:
Well, whoever you are do remember that your Status was a privilege NOT a right! Let’s start there.
What really bugs me is that persons like yourself who are quick to say you are Caymanian yet quick to kick another Caymanian down.
The author is a ‘Generational Caymanian’. A Caymanian by descent – probably 4th or 5th Generation. His Status is Caymanian As of Right. Not a privilege BUT a RIGHT! Your STATUS was given as a PRVILEGE that was GRANTED BY A BOARD.
Based on your tone, maybe they made a mistake.
The Cayman Islands are one of the last ‘Gems’ of the world. I get why others like yourself come and certainly don’t leave. But what I don’t get is why privileged people like yourself are OK when the Laws benefit you and YOUR KIND of Caymanians BUT when someone speaks about Laws or situations that have plagued Generational Caymanians and their extended families for quite a while, you lose ALL respect for people like Ezzard Miller and his ‘cohorts’.
He chose to ‘let it out’ on paper for all to see, maybe just ponder on the injustices that are going on throughout our islands with respect to Generational Caymanians and their extended families and then the wider society.
Your privileged status can always be revoked and until you and your ‘cohorts’ start to fully integrate into the Caymanian society, we will always be ‘us’ and ‘you’. Stop putting your nose in the air when you read articles like this one and see the value of educating others, including yourself, about the matters that are ‘eating away’ with Caymanians, will be a great start.
NOTE: Generational Caymanians and their extended families
are referring to ALL families represented at all levels of our Caymanian Society.
who gave the generational Caymanian that right? it was once given to them as a privilege so the criminals wouldn’t go home to the mother country, or just outright deserters from the army. and until 1972 when some autonomy was given to the Cayman Islands, you really cannot say there is a huge amount of generational Caymanians
That shows your level of ignorance. There were a lot of generational Caymanians, I myself I’m a 10th generational Caymanian.
Mr. Miller,
Thank you for this article. Many of us have missed you with your honest and on point contributions!
Being a multigenerational Caymanian I fully understand and agree with everything that you expressed here. It is very telling the mindset of those who have commented negatively, and dare I say that even this comment will likely attract their ire as well, however, so be it.
We needed to hear from a true Caymanian leader. Thank you for being that person.
In closing, let me just say that being Caymanian reaches far beyond a piece of paper. It is an experience that certain characters will never understand nor appreciate.
Mr Ezzard there are a lot of mis-stated facts.
The head of our police force is Caymanian.
We do still have Caymanians who own and manage financial institutions eg lawyers and accountants. Heck we even have Sir Alden.
Of course we still have Caymanian’s managing and owning hotels, restaurants and tourism.
And our grocery stores are all owned and managed by Caymanian’s including Chisholm’s in Northside.
The business community is not the melting pot you describe and has managed long time very well with all these so called foreign influencers because of…all the positive Caymanian attributes you have correctly emphasized.
Now for the civil service…would agree there are plenty ‘married to Caymanian’s’ streamlined into jobs who likely don’t meet the grade.
If anyone managed to catch the excellent ‘Wha Happenin’ show from the talented Matt Brown-it covers the concerns you have highlighted more accurately.
Of course
I am glad that you mentioned the Chisholm’s store in North Side which was traditionally run by the Caymanian owners. Now that it has been inherited by their lazy, holier than thou descendants you will find that it is being run by Filipinos. Every Caymanian who were hired there has been replaced because they could not survive on slave labor wages nor the ignorant, racist behavior projected against them by those now in charge. Ah but I forget dat paying slave labor can finance world tours and put money in pockets that were so empty the banks were closing in for nonpayment on homes. Aye Mrs Erena, we miss you and your kind and friendly ways and we are sure you wouldn’t be pleased with much that replaced you.
Isn’t Ezzard’s wife Honduran?
Which one?
Wait, what nationalities did you marry and bring into our culture?
16/10/2024 4:34pm Bluzzard Ezzard . . .
You are obviously NOT A CAYMANIAN and I don’t care which Board granted you Status saying so.
People like you have left your country and have come here for all you can get from the sweet tax-free Cayman Dollar.
If you had love for your adopted country, you would display some empathy to the writer and ALL Generational Caymanians, who by the way created this country, for people like you to come here and settle your a** down in a more comfortable way than your country of birth has every done for you!
I trust that you do not have Caymanian Status and if you do it should be revoked as your loyalty is elsewhere.
My fellow Generational Caymanians (Caymanian As of Right), this article is for ALL of US to digest.
In recent times, I have come across the IMMIGRATION (TRANSITION) ACT(2022 Revision) Supplement No. 2 published with Legislation Gazette No. 5 dated 25th January, 2022 and I discovered the discrepancy in the 2022 revised law which I have included below.
For ALL Caymanians with little ones and children born in the 80s and beyond, you should investigate the Revised Immigration Laws, as many, if not all of them, seem to favour others who have received Caymanian Citizenship by other means other than by descent. i.e Grant by the Immigration Board.
Please note that these ‘New Caymanians’ and those that have PR and may eventually obtain Caymanian Status appear to have more rights than a Caymanian As of Right (AKA Generational Caymanian).
See the information below:
IMMIGRATION (TRANSITION) ACT
(2022 Revision)
Supplement No. 2 published with Legislation Gazette No. 5 dated 25th January, 2022
Caymanian as of right
27. In this Part —
“Caymanian as of right” means a child —
(a) born on or after the 1st January, 2004 whether in or outside the Islands, at the date of whose birth at least one of that person’s parents was settled in the Islands and was Caymanian;
(b) born outside the Islands, after the 1st January, 2004, at the date of whose birth at least one of that person’s parents was Caymanian otherwise than by descent; or
(c) acquiring the status of Caymanian under section 21 of the repealed
Immigration Law (2015 Revision) or under any earlier law conferring the
same or similar rights.
Please look at the interpretation below of Sections (A) and (B) of the Law according to Immigration Lawyer Nick Joseph, former partner at HSM, to see the unfairness of the Law for Caymanians As Of Right (AKA Generational Caymanians):
Children Born to Caymanians Under the Immigration (Transition) Act (2022) (the “Act”), children born on or after 1st January 2004 are ‘Caymanian as of Right’ (no matter where they are physically born) if, at the date of their birth, at least one of their parents was Caymanian and settled in the Cayman Islands. If the parents obtained Caymanian status any other way than by descent, and their child is born overseas when neither parent is settled in the Cayman Islands, then their child will also be ‘Caymanian as of Right’. The responsibility for determining whether or not someone is in fact a Caymanian now falls to Workforce Opportunities and Residence Cayman (‘WORC’). If the children’s parents became Caymanian by descent (i.e. through a parent or grandparent), and the child is born overseas, then the child is not necessarily Caymanian.
According to the interpretation of (A) and (B) of the Law above by Nick Joseph, then a child born to a Generational Caymanian is Caymanian As Of Right IF one of his or her parents is settled in the Cayman Islands at the time of birth.
However, a child born to persons who obtain Caymanian Citizenship other than by descent, is Caymanian As Of Right but neither one of the parents have to be settled in the islands at the time of birth for the child to obtain such status.
Why is it that one of the Generational Caymanians MUST be settled in the Cayman Islands at the time of the child’s birth overseas AND the Caymanian Status Holder neither parent MUST be settled in the Cayman Islands at the time of the child’s birth overseas?
Where is the fairness in this matter for Generational Caymanians?
This blatant discrepancy NEEDS URGENT attention.
In this Law and others, if left as is, as more and more persons obtain Caymanian Status, and our Immigration Laws continue to be revised to favour others, then GENERATIONAL CAYMANIANS are going to be the people who will be deemed as ‘Second Class Citizens’ in own country and in the future, their children and grandchildren are going to be the ones that will be disadvantaged and their citizenship rights always in question.
I believe Nick Joseph has been raising this discrepancy with the powers that be for 15 years. He has tried to meet with civil servants and leaders on this and similar issues. He has lectured openly, warning of the implications, both at the law school and in various other forums including the Chamber of Commerce. He has written of them, including increasingly publicly. Those responsible have seemingly ignored the issue at every turn. Their disregard certainly appears willful.
After reading this rant I have to tell you: I have no doubt that most Caymanians don’t know what hubris is. But they will find out about nemesis soon enough
Lawd me gawd! Well done Ezzard! This will have about 100 responses by Saturday of this week, most of them mashing you up for racism etc with a few congratulating you for courageously hitting the nail upon the head! It doesn’t quite gel with all these articles by Nick Joseph which unlike yours take account of legal rights and international obligations which, like it or not, Cayman is bound by. Stimulating read though. And signed by you, as always….unlike the poster who said it was a “nasty little racist rant” ( and this comment of mine, I acknowledge).
Anonymous!
As the poster at 8:10 himself or herself acknowledged, 1:25. So why are you commenting?
Well said Ezzard. We need an uprising of our people, we need to take our Islands back.
Good luck with that. Unless it’s against gay marriage, you would struggle to even fill a small community hall.
I agree we should take our Islands back, and quickly, but can we please do it fairly, deliberately, and applying our laws? We don’t actually need new ones. We just have to enforce the ones we have (and remove anyone who has willfully failed in their duty to do so).
Housing.
Caymanian ownership.
Work permits.
Term limits.
PR.
Who gets status and why.
Who loses status and why.
Education.
Scholarships.
NAU.
All are a mess, but all are pretty well covered in our laws. We simply haven’t followed them.
Yes, some changes are needed. We can and should do that too.
The opening sentence says it all. According to Mr. Miller, he has been trying to raise the concerns around this issue for a decade. Evidently he hasn’t had any success with it.
Say what you like about Ezzard, but what an admirable admittance of his own ability to be utterly ineffectual and irrelevant over such an extended period of time.
It is understandable that generational Caymanians do not want to be (though they are already) a minority in the own country. But it is the generational Caymanians who have held political office over the years who are to blame for this. Even the current gov’t does not want immigration reform. Dr. Steve’s committee has been scuppered. There will never be meaningful immigration or work preferences reform any time soon. Virtually all politicians have been bought and even the majority of the new government next year will have been bought. In some countries they go to the streets, lawfully, and get it done.
What a nasty little racist rant that was. Expected nothing less from the author.
I’m not sure you really understand what the words “racist” and “rant” mean. Look them up.
You are obviously NOT A CAYMANIAN by any means. People like you have left your country and have come here for all you can get from the sweet tax-free Cayman Dollar.
I trust that you do not have Caymanian Status and if you do it should be revoked as your loyalty is elsewhere.
Ezzard is right, and not a racist.
16/10/2024 5:48pm
“What a nasty little racist rant that was. Expected nothing less from the author.”
YOU Sir/Madam is the racist. If you are a Caymanian you should be ashame of yourself for trying to belittle someone who has the galls to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
If you are not a Caymanian then ask yourself these two questions:
1. Why are you here?
2. Why do you see Caymanians standing up for the rights of Caymanians as racist?
A bit of self-analysis is needed, like yesterday.
If you are a non-Caymanian, I pray that you will never be given the privilege to become a Caymanian!
Please remember it is a ‘Privilege’ and NOT Your ‘Right.’
What exactly did he say that was racist? You are obviously an expat so let me be clear in my comment, if you or any other expat has an issue with a Caymanian voicing concern with the impact of over populasing Cayman with non Caymanians then LEAVE. He is absolutely correct in everything he said and it’s about damn time that Caymanians stand up and fight for what is ours and future generations
Everyone invading this land and kicking up their feet is no different from Columbus. He used firepower and cruelty, you use money and college educations. The real racist are the people who prefer to hire their own rather than Caymanians. Its high time we stop allowing this and treat you with the same disdain you’ve treated us.
Ezzard i know exactly where you took your talking points from. I agree with this article but you were in government forever so this happened on your watch.
Racist? Do you even know what being a racist means?
article written by a man married to a non Caymanian.
be aware of those men who constantly talk about a Caymanian first policy but is married to a non Caymanian.
We have to elect persons who actually care about Cayman. we have elected persons who only care about being elected.
Caymanians it’s time to clean house. take their handouts and vote them out.
You’re obviously one of those ungrateful expats!
Hardly racist when it’s the truth and based on fact. Mr Miller’s points are valid and the historical information he has laid out is accurate. It is however a case of shooting the messenger and ignoring the message.
His time has come and gone in politics in these islands, and he should have provided the input to someone else to ventilate, perhaps someone younger with political ambitions, and it would have been better received.
How many professional Indians work in Cayman? How many Indians works as domestic help for professional Indians. How many family members professional Indians brought to Cayman?
What about Phillipinos?
Agree on all 4 points as well,
Buzzard Miller.
take my status grant and I’ll see you and your cohorts in court.
The court of the streets will meet you thereafter. Caymanians are getting fed up, especially with the likes of people like you.
That you Kenny? Will blood be spilt? It won’t be mine, just so you know.
@Multi- generational Caymanian – You violent hate mongering POS! That’s the mentality that keeps you in the gutter. Enjoy it!
Actually, I am a successful Caymanian who works at one of the big 4 For law firms on Island. If this is considered the gutter, I am more than happy to be here!
Entitled, demanding, no good foreigners like you do not need to be here. You have a problem with what I said, LEAVE and go back to your country. I stand ten toes down by what I said. Caymanians, like myself, are getting sick and tired of people like you with your entitlement. The streets will meet you if you all keep pushing your luck.
You should do more research on your fabricated back story. The Big 4 are Accounting Firms, people sometimes talk about Offshore Magic Circle Firms but that is a stretch.
I’d list Maples and Walkers as 1&2 but I doubt very many people would agree on who 3&4 are and I suspect you don’t know either.
The token legal secretary has entered the chat.
5:21 Are you mad that 5:14 has called out you BS fabrication? Hahahaha!!!!
@ Multi- generational Caymanian – What is a “big 4 for”? Hahahaha. You claim to work at a law firm but can’t properly word a sentence? Hahahahaha.
Ohhhh, someone is sensitive.
Well said @Multi-generational Caymanian, as a fellow Caymanian, I agree! The anger is almost vibrational within my generation (the up and coming generation). Fed up and disappointed does not even begin to adequately describe how we feel. So many people come to our shores and have no respect for our three beautiful islands, our culture, our heritage, or our people. It is not just disheartening but disgusting to see and hear the way foreigners talk about us and our home. The sad part is, their home was clearly not so great for them to come and inhabit our islands. Since they have such issues, I wish they would pack those same bags that they brought here and get out of here. We need a government that will stand up for us and do our people. We desperately need our own Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling to rise up and run the foreigners out of our beautiful islands, the way he did in the Bahamas. Sir Pindling took a stand, and helped the Bahamian people regain majority control of their home again. That is the kind of radical change we so desperately need within our Islands.
The court of the streets! What utter nonsense. Cayman is the most compliant place on planet earth… and do you know why? Because you ain’t ever had it so good.
Good is the only thing that expat have, not Caymanians
I am not confident you would win. I do not sense you earned your grant, or even understand the privilege it is.
Who the heck do you think you are? Sue for something you are not entitled to? Can Caymanians do that in your country? You are exactly the kind of expat that needs to get the eff of these islands. Go home and take your entitled attitude with you.
Hah? Are you lacking reading comprehension?
You will meet a different type of court.
Who needs a war to acquire new territories? The Cayman Islands are practically occupied by the foreigners of all sorts.
Ezzard. We know that you tried to champion some of these issues in the past but sometimes you need to put pen to paper.
Did you ever aide with drafting an Anti-trust legislation bill to debate in parliament that could have protected businesses? Not a criticism just an observation as I feel that so much of your time was spent challenging issues and at times to no avail.
An independent candidate therefore can speak on these issues but may not be able to transfer to paper either without joining the right party. Unfortunately, independents screwed the last election up and we will be returning to a party system.
I recall attending an economic forum wherein an outside speaker mentioned the threat to the indigenous population that was largely ignored.
This government has allowed runaway development and increased the population as they are not forward thinkers, don’t care about future repercussions as they stay in campaign mode and kick the can down the road.
Immigration needs to be a priority topic my friend but we have been lied to so many times.
Mr. Ezzard you make some good points. Now let me say this to you.
I am a paper Caymanian. When the Caymanian Protection Board ended it moratorium in the late 90’s I was in the first batch of expats granted Caymanian Status – thru the combination of marriage and investment here.
As a foreigner I came here only knowing my wife and her immediate family. I knew from day one here that I was not a local, was not Caymanian and would always be looked at as a foreigner. Be that as it may I chose to move here.
Over the years I have worked in various capacities in the community – both public and private. I have been involved with volunteer organizations, bought multiple properties and hired/worked with numerous Caymanians.
And yet, I still know that I am only a Paper Caymanian. Your generation and people like you do have a way of making it known that we foreign influencers are changing the composition of the community. Possible solutions:
1. Quit selling land/houses to non-Caymanians.
2. Have Caymanian owned businesses stop employing non-Caymanians
3. Quit letting non-Caymanians do volunteer work, serve in volunteer organizations.
4. Have Government stop hiring non-Caymanians.
5. Cut back on all the work permits for gardeners, labourers, construction workers, hotel employees and on and on.
Mr. Ezzard I am in your district. There are many more people like me in your district than Caymanians. You should not allude to the fact that people like me are to blame for the ills of Cayman. You need to look at your own people Mr. Ezzard – those who sell off their land, those who front for foreigners, those who willingly hire foreigners instead of Caymanians.
While I look at you as being a “Protectionist of sortS” for Caymanians – we both can name the younger Caymanian politicians and businessmen who look out for the foreigners interest and their own bank account at the expense of those whom you seek to protect.
You know me Mr. Ezzard and you know what I am saying is not any sort of animosity towards you or Caymanians.
I will always know that I am a Paper Caymanian, always know that I am a foreigner.
If you want the 1960’s and 1970’s back it is very simple – get rid of the foreigners. For that all you have to do is introduce an income tax and property tax.
Income and property tax for foreigners but not Caymanians
I agree with everything you say but i can concerned when you suggest property/income tax. If this is purely a tax on non Caymanians/foreign nationals then fine but I don’t want to see the tax turned upon Caymanians. It’s expensive enough already here. We don’t need to make it even more so for locals.
Yew 8:12PM my comment was focused upon foreign nationals and non-Caymanians. I would not support imposing any sort of property tax or income tax on Caymanians.
You are missing the point. The tax will be needed to support some sort of system after you send all the permit holders and driftwood home.
Ezzard should enjoy his retirement and travel more.
So glad this guy retired!
Like I said, I would like to see Eden, Moxam, Suckoo, Miller, and Ozzie to form a part of any new Government.
Lets make it happen.
No.
Fair points but answer me this: I was born in Cayman to British parents. I have never lived in the UK nor do I have any sole connection to a certain area of that country. The UK is not my home. So what does that make me here? I am a first-generation Caymanian and have applied and received status as is our law. Am I less worthy to call myself Caymanian? I can understand the resentment of many generational Caymaninas as they see themselves becoming smaller in number with each passing year. However, I feel that I often face unfair prejudice because I can’t trace my lineage back to the original settlers of Cayman. Cayman is my home. My loyalty and love are to these islands and to its people. Perhaps we need to focus our frustrations and anger at the people in charge of our country who have let us get to this state. Going forward we should be more discerning with whom we allow to become Caymanian. That’s how it was back when my parents first arrived. You had to earn it and give back to the community. As it should be.
What status did your parents have when you were born?
Paper/status Caymanians
Then you are a second generation Caymanian. Love cherish and protect Cayman, and the Caymanian people, and you are welcome.
Thank you! I always have and I always will love and cherish Cayman <3
You are Caymanian as of ‘Entitlement’. The author’s article is to highlight the fact that Caymanian As of Right – AKA Generational Caymanians – Rights continue to be eroded and more favoured for others that gain Caymanian Citizenship by other means i.e. By Grant from the Status Board.
For your information, there are many people like yourself whose parents are Caymanians, and so are their parents and Grand Parents, yet the laws do not favour such Caymanians.
Get to know the recently Revised Immigration Laws, and you will understand the plight of Generational Caymanians and empathize with us since you are Caymanian rather than jumping down the throats of us who speak up about these discrepancies for Generational Caymanians.
@ 16/10/2024 at 3:51 pm I wasn’t born here but came here with my parents in the 60s as a very young child and consider myself Caymanian. I know too, that I will always be a ‘furriner’ in the eyes of Caymanians – there’s no changing that. I was educated here and abroad, my friends are Caymanians and expats I’ve known since I was a child, 50+ year friendships. I could no more return to the country of my birth than Ezzard could leave Cayman.
But we do need to do something – put in place term limits, stop status grants, a moratorium perhaps, restrict ownership of property? and somehow, some way stop the massive corruption and greed perpetuated by our very own elected officials – that’s the single biggest problem. We, too, must do our part and make better choices when we vote, despite the limited and quite frankly, disgracefully poor choices we have. Looking at our elected representatives and potential future candidates I can only despair for Cayman’s future, they will surely destroy Cayman.
Firstly, you being born in Cayman does not necessarily make you a Caymanian.
At the time of your birth, if your foreign parents did not possess Caymanian Status and since obtained it, you would have been eligible to obtain Caymanaian As of Entitlement before your 18th birthday.
Anytime after that you would have had to obtain your Caymanian Status through Grant by the Status and Permanent Residency Board.
Either way, through Caymanian As of Entitlement or Caymanian Status, both have Loss Provisions.
Well said!
Agree on all points. Work permits for domestic help for Caymanians only. Expats should not be allowed to employ domestic help. N
Caymanians as domestic help? Ok. Let’s imagine that. Who will hire them if not expats ? Why don’t you think a little before suggesting something so ridiculous.
Read it again….slowly
learn how to read. not hire caymanians for domestic help, only caymanians should be able to hire domestic help
Moronic statement
“Work permits for domestic help for Caymanians only.” => Only Caymanians should be allowed to hire household helpers from overseas.
Mrs. Bodden from George Town and Mrs. Bush from South Sound both did a pretty good job helping to raise me.
Mandatory sarcasm recognition courses for Caymanians are a must going forward.
*going
this is sarcasm, I take it.
Unless from a local person