Tag: English Language Testing
WORC stops doing its own English tests
(CNS): The new agency that will be dealing with employment and work permits, Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman, will no longer be conducting its own English Language Tests (ELTs), from 14 October, for work permit applicants who are not native English speakers. As a corruption case involving around a dozen defendants relating to these tests […]
Immigration officer acquitted of corruption
(CNS): The second of what was expected to be three trials relating to allegations of corruption within the immigration department failed to get underway last week when the crown offered no evidence following several days of legal arguments. One 58-year-old female immigration officer and one 47-year-old civilian man from the Dominican Republic were both acquitted […]
Defendants deny messages relate to bribery
(CNS): Five immigration officers and one civilian have all denied that messages between them have anything to do with a conspiracy regarding bribes paid to them to inappropriately assist people to pass an English test in order to secure work permits. Each of the defendants who have appeared in the witness box have suggested what […]
Immigration officer denies messages reveal corruption
(CNS): A senior immigration officer who is currently facing trial in a corruption case relating to bribes over the English Language Test at the department has emphatically denied that messages submitted as evidence against him show his involvement in that conspiracy. Taking the witness stand on Tuesday, he told the court that the messages related […]
Text translations ‘best guess’, witness admits
(CNS): The lead translator who worked on phone messages that form a major part of the crown’s case against seven defendants accused of making or taking bribes in a conspiracy surrounding the immigration department’s English language tests told a court that the job of translating these texts was extremely challenging, with many being just a […]
Conspirator admits helping women pay test bribes
(CNS): A woman who has admitted her part in a conspiracy at the immigration department, in which people from Spanish-speaking countries seeking work permits pass their English test even though they don’t speak the language, told a court on Friday that she helped four of her relatives get jobs and organised bribes. She told them […]
Witness reveals failings around immigration tests
(CNS): A senior manager with the immigration department revealed many policy failings over how it was conducting English Language Tests at the time an internal review began, which happened after the department was tipped off that something criminal could be going on. Nicola Solomon, an assistant chief officer, gave evidence on Thursday in the immigration […]
English test backlog stops seasonal workers
(CNS) UPDATED MONDAY: The Department of Immigration has confirmed that as it does all it can to address a backlog of applications for English tests for overseas workers, those needed for Christmas work, especially in the tourism sector that have a permit, have 30 days before they must fill their obligation to complete the language […]
