Immigration officials train for changes

One group of Immigration staff at the weekend
training sessions. Standing at centre are Chief
Immigration Officer Gerry Maguire and CIO Designate
Franz Manderson. Standing 3rd from left is Human
Resources Manager Dawn McLean-Sawney, and 2nd
from right is Personnel Training Unit Training Services
Manager Clyte Linwood

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

With the advent of the new Immigration Law, published in January, and the accompanying Regulations which will be out within weeks, the Immigration Department management embarked on comprehensive training for its staff of more than 120 officers and administrative workers. Several new recruits are also being hired and trained.

To prevent disruption of services, this training is taking place during weekends in a programme organised by Dawn McLean-Sawney, who was appointed in April as the department’s first Human Resources Manager.

Working closely with her are the Acting Chief Immigration Officer (ACIO)/Human Resources Assistant Laura McLaughlin and the ACIO responsible for the Training Department, Dolcy Powery.

The main panelists taking the lead in information sharing and the discussions were Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) Gerry Maguire, CIO Designate Franz Manderson, Deputy CIO Kerry Nixon, Chairperson of the Trade and Business Board Sherri Bodden, Appeals Co-ordinator/Policy Analyst Christopher Eakin, and Immigration Board Secretary Liz Walton.

The training is facilitated by Personnel Training Unit Training Services Manager Clyte Linwood. The CIO explained that the objectives of the training were to enable each officer to recognise and understand the changes in the law, to clarify ambiguities in the new terms and procedures and to be able to communicate the law in common terms.

“This knowledge will serve to complement the overall departmental objectives, which are to apply the law in a consistent and correct manner, to advise and to assist customers promptly, effectively and efficiently,” said Mr Manderson.

The areas of training covered the powers of immigration officers, policing, application processing, counter operations and enforcement. Clarifications of specific areas, especially those recently changed, were also made.

For instance, the term of ‘right to be Caymanian’ now falls under five categories (Caymanian at the commencement of new law; Caymanian as of right; through grant of status; by automatic acquisition; or by grant through the Governor in Cabinet).

The details of qualifying as a Caymanian under each section were also shared. Similarly, permanent residency, which falls under four categories in the new law, was also discussed.

This is available to people legally and ordinarily resident in Cayman for at least eight years, those married to Caymanians, and two new categories, wealthy retirees and entrepreneurs or investors. Also reviewed was the detailed Point System, which is used to grade each applicant.

Mr Maguire noted: “ I acknowledge that this training forum is broadly based and we still have to focus even more sharply on developing specific areas, especially in the area of changes to the computer system.
“The management and staff appreciate the public’s patience during this period of transition but these changes enhance customer services as we bring compliance to the new requirements.”

In other areas, such as the processing of work permits there were vigorous discussions reflecting a genuine aspiration to speed up the process and cut down the bureaucracy.

Certain employees may now benefit from exemptions and be granted renewals for up to nine years if they are involved in training Caymanians, have special areas of expertise, or if their absence from the Islands will be detrimental or cause serious hardship to employers and to the country.
People exempted from permit requirements include those employed by the government; owners of up to two units of property, people attending seminars, meetings or trade fairs, those making purchases from local businesses, guest speakers at conferences; representatives of overseas institutions, and those in Cayman to receive training or to enhance work practices.

Under the new law, companies with Business Staffing Plans will also be given favourable consideration that will be based on the number of employees, their nationalities, and the ratio of Caymanians to non-Caymanians.

The Immigration Officers also heard that temporary work permits may be granted for periods up to 180 days, renewable within that period, but not extendable. Full permits may be applied for prior to the conclusion of temporary permits.

Fines have also been reviewed for immigration offences. The penalties are now as high as $15,000 and imprisonment of one year for the first offence and $25,000 and imprisonment of two years for the second, or subsequent offences.

The new law also outlines stipulations in many other areas, from student visas to asylum seekers.

Changes to the Immigration Department’s computer system were also outlined to the training participants. The collection and receipt systems are being modernised, ensuring that the department remains fully in line with Treasury Department requirements.

With the many new areas of consideration, managers of the various sections of the Immigration Department, as well as counter staff and the account and debt-collection employees, will receive focused computer training in the future.

Mr Maguire acknowledged that it would be some time before staff were fully comfortable with the new law, which he welcomed, and he further pledged to have an awareness programme on the new legislation for businesses and the public at large.

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