I am not a politician nor do I intend to be, but ever since I sent that first email, My Gosh! The response both from individuals and the media has been overwhelming.
I just want eveyone to know that I welcome comments of differing opintions on this policy - I'm not offended if you don't agree with my views. You have the God given right to your opinion. We should be a free country and free people! I would love to see more names and less signed anonymous. I admire the brave Caymanians who have given their names.
But, as it is said, “With questions comes more questions”. My first question is this, Why is it that more intelligent and hardworking Caymanians don’t speak up for themselves? There are lots of you and you know who you are:
1. The Caymanians that have gone to school or back to school to educate themselves, either locally or overseas, knowing they have to stay competitive in a global economy, and don’t think that Cayman is an isolated bubble.
2. The entrepreneurs- the ones that have taken the risk, spent every dime and more, to start a business in anticipation of a healthy growing economy. The shop owners, the mechanics, the car dealers, the realtors (yes, there are Caymanian realtors), the local developers, the large and small landlords, you all know who you are.
My next question - Is your business capable of surviving, the 6 months or 2 years that some suggest, it will take to “get rid” of those that are nearly due to apply for residency and for this policy to replenish the Island with new Expats?
Food for thought, let’s debate.
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6 comments:
Firstly, I would like to say that a lot more expats would put their name if they did not hear almost immediately “I will report you to immigration tomorrow and your work permit will be revoked” on too many occasions when they voiced an opinion.
Then we move on to the issue at hand – the Rollover Policy.
I would just like the government to set the example for all private businesses. They should show the Caymanian people that they are practicing what they preach. Everyday in the daily newspaper, they should list all the management jobs (I believe these are the jobs Caymanians desire) of one ministry/division and indicate if this position is held by a Caymanian, expat or status holder. The total % of management jobs held by each group should be shown. Further, where the position is held by an expat, it should give details on # of years expat has been on the island and identify the Caymanian that they are training for that position.
The rollover policy is only here to protect the Caymanians. However, a solution can be found elsewhere as I believe it only will lead to one expat being replaced by another expat thereby not accomplishing the goal.
Might I suggest the following:
1) At every annual review, Caymanians and expat should be informed of the requirement and the progress of the training to take over the expat’s position. When it is time for the Caymanian to get appointed to the job, there should be no confusion. Caymanians need to take some responsibility here and ask the employer for this at every review.
2) When a Caymanian is suitable qualified for a position and is stepped over in preference to an expat, they should be a division at Immigration where this is reported. Immigration will then follow up with the company as to the reasons and rectify this. Every month, an analysis should be posted in the daily newspaper showing #of reports made, date of report and the results of investigation (ie Caymanian got position or reason Caymanian was not giving the position).
i agree government should take the lead in regards to the rollover policy. this policy is long over due but better late than never. i hope that there will not be too many changes in favour of the expat workforce by the time this draft becomes law.
more true caymanians should speak up on how they really feel and support this draft for the good of the their children and grandchildren.
i dont understand what all the fuss its about,every country has the right to provide for its own first.
i must give Mr. Aiken credit for creatin this site and area to make comments.
Thank You
rollover policy is a discrimination to all expats and human rights violation...
I totally agree with the writer that government should be the first to disclose its statistics. The format as demonstrated by anonymous is perfect. Mr. Alden says that it will slow down the process if government has to also be subjected to roll-over. Well slow it down then, in a situation such as this, the government should certainly teach by example.
Based on the 30th August Cayman Compass, government employees are automatically exempt. How hypocritical !!
In other words, we the government can do what we want. The same rules do not apply to us as to other Caymanian business owners. We will not suffer, but as for every Caymanian owned business - we do not care what disruption we cause on your business or if it is eventually closed.
How shameful !!!
I really do think all Caymanian business owners need to stand up against this. Let us make the government adhere to their own laws before they make the private sector follow them.
If we have to wait 6 months for the legislation to apply to the government, we can wait. We already waited for years. And if we have to wait another 6 months for it to be implemented in the government, we can wait.
Please, if you agree, let us know.
With all the roll-over talk it was rather amusing to see in the Cayman Compass yesterday that the Government is not yet prepared to roll-over ITS expats ... perhaps the government expats don't diminish the Caymanian culture in as big a way as normal expats do ... ah well it just wouldn't be government if it practiced what it preached!!
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