FrontPage
Because of the reductionin the population base and the declining economic growth of thecountry, Government has come to realize that they must grant ...
More Caymanian Status
Cayman NetNews has learned from a reliable source that the Government isplanning to announce imminently an increased quota for the grantof Caymanian Status to many long-term residents who have beenliving and working here.
The Leader of Government Business, the Hon.Mckeeva Bush, announced a few weeks ago in the Legislative Assemblythat this figure could be as many as 200 people. However, manyare hopeful that this figure will increase, particularly thosewho have been here on work permits for 10 -15 or more years.
Immigration laws now read that the Governmentmust announce a quota for Caymanian Status during the first halfof the year, and will be acting within the law when the announcementis made concerning the creation of more Caymanians.
Also, sources say, a condition disallowingthe almost 700 persons who applied for Caymanian Status last yearto do so again this year might be lifted.
When the Immigration Board selected 219persons to grant Caymanian Status to last year following a directivethrough the court, about 680 applications were rejected.
Over the past week, Cayman Net News hasreceived a considerable amount of feedback on this topic, followingits lead story on connection with this subject.
There are today some 4,000 people who havebeen working and living here for over 10 years, and as many as2,000 more who are going over 15 years.
These residents, an earlier story in CaymanNet News reads, who along with their spouses and children makeup an approximate 30 percent of the population are the key tobreaking a negative economic stranglehold the Cayman Islands isnow experiencing.
From reports confirmed by moving companies,it also appears that Cayman is presently experiencing a populationdecline, in proportions such as never before seen in the pastfour decades.
An increase in Caymanians will also meana significant amount of otherwise on-hold spending money wouldbe unleashed into the community.