News Bulletin
Resignationsfrom
Immigration Board
According to a Press Release issuedby Government Information Services at 1:04 pm today, there havebeen two new appointments to the Immigration Board following theresignations of two if its members.
Mr. Carlye Mc Laughlin, who acted in thecapacity of Deputy Chairman and Mr. Derek Farrington recentlysubmitted their resignations. They were replaced by Attorney-at-LawMrs. Sherrie Bodden-Cowan, who has been named Deputy Chairmanand Mrs. Dean Walrond to be a member.
This a second appointment for Mrs. Bodden-Cowan,having served previously as Deputy Chairman.
The recent appointments take effect immediately.
Cayman Net News will bring it's viewers future details as theybecome available.
Up-datedearlier today at 8:59 am
Chamber toair denial of Status to descendants of Caymanians today
The venue for this meeting is the600-seat Prep School Hall on Walkers Road, starting at 6:00 pm.In attendance, to provide 'resource' of information, will be theChairman of the Immigration Board, Ms. Sharon Roulstone, and theChief Immigration Officer, Mr. Orrett Connor, regarding the operationof the Law on the Grantor Right of Caymanian Status.
Over the years, many Caymanians went overseasto the United States, Jamaica, England, Cuba, Nicaragua, Hondurasand many other places to seek their fortune, to be closer withtheir loved ones who were fortunate to have a job in another country.
While there, they gave birth to children,and travelled back and forth to new place of domicile, being ableto enter and remain in their home of adoption at will.
They had children ... sometimes many, andtheir children had children.
Between the late 50's and 70's there wasa tremendous labour and brain drain from the Cayman Islands, Jamaica,Trinidad, Barbados, the Bahamas and other Caribbean Islands. Theseémigrés went to metropolitan cities - taking sometimemenial jobs in the United States, Canada and England - so thatthey could better themselves and their families economically.
After the average period of five years,they were free to come and go as they pleased - having been givenpermission to take up residence - which could be converted tocitizenship of their host country. They were welcomed .. and kept,because they became an integral part of the economic and socialgrowth of these countries.
In the past decade, several Caribbean countries- and to a lesser degree a former Cayman Government Administration- recognised that economic growth could only be sustained by havinga labour pool to fill the many jobs which had been created.
Campaigns were launched in the cities wherethe Caymanian and Caribbean migrants tended to settle. News ofthe prosperity of the Cayman Islands was spread. And many of theoff-spring have tried without much success to be accepted as prodigalgrandchildren in the land they learnt so much about from theirParents and Grandparents.
There is quite a lot of talk these daysabout succession of Caymanians to fill the many technical andadministrative jobs which are presently held by non-Caymanians.What is not taken into consideration, however, is the fact thatthe Cayman Islands has only been exposed to the world of technologyand disciplines required to match the global experiences for thepast thirty years.
It therefore makes good sense that the offspringof Caymanians - the parents and grandparents of those wising toreturn and/or find jobs and settle in the Cayman Islands shouldbe allowed to do so without any impediment.
The ratio of Caymanians (40%) and non-Caymanians(60%) in the work place continues to spread wider and wider. This,along with the notion that Caymanians are fast becoming an endangeredspecies in their own Country, is again politicizing this emotionalissue - which is driving good, indigenous people here to adopta feeling of xenophobia - the fear of foreigners and strangers.
Putting aside the issues for a while asto how long one must wait before given approval to enter and remainin the Cayman Islands at their will - the granting of some formof permanent residence, which seems to be most important now,is to make every effort to secure and encourage the tenure ofthose who have blood ties - mother or father, grandmother or grandfather- to the Cayman Islands.
What is really the motive behind the mathematicallogic of refusing to confer Caymanian Status to these descendants?Is it fear of the revenue which could be lost in the non-collectionof Work Permit fees? An orchestrated move to water down the voters'list?
Ironically, the country will be the loserif these folks who are descendants are denied the right to theirheritage are continued to be excluded - to the preference of thecontinued granting of work permits to foreigners and strangers.
Everyone with an interest in removing thedoom and gloom looming over Cayman these days, because of thevexing problems concerning Immigration matters, should make everyeffort to attend the forum being put on today by the Chamber ofCommerce.
Famous Caymaniansat times subjected to challenge by Immigration Officials
A few years ago, a former SeniorGovernment Official, who was born in Jamaica of Cayman Parentage,was stopped at Immigration and given a 'warm' time on his returnfrom a trip overseas.
In another recent case, a quite prominentdowntown businessman in his middle 60's was embarrassed by anImmigration Officer, who insisted in a not -too-helpful manner,that he must get a particular stamp in his passport.
These and more reports are discussed ona daily basis, to the point that businesses and lives continueto be negatively affected.
For once and for all, these debilitatingissues regarding the right to live and work here must be addressedin an orderly, administrative manner -- instead of being subjectedto the opinion and discretion of others who are not familiar withthe facts. Humane consideration should also play an importantpart.
What has brought this on?
The evidential lack of spending, promulgatedby the insecurity felt by Work Permit holders as well as Caymanians,who are having a far more difficult time borrowing because ofincreased interest rates and their inability to plan businessgrowth.
As long as the fear surrounding Work Permitsis allowed to permeate the economy, the downward trend of hardinvestments, such as real estate, automobiles, electronic equipmentand other high-ticket purchasing, will continue to wane.
There has also undoubtedly been a slowingdown of some business start-ups and expansion by others. The resourcesof financing, spending and people to staff operations are simplynot there.
Voice Mail- A means to ignore ... or cry for help?
In respect to the "people availableto work" issue, a monitoring of how quickly (or the lackof response) one gets through these days when telephoning intoseveral offices including the Central Police Station, the ImmigrationDepartment, and (would you believe...!!!!) Cable and Wireless,the Department of Tourism, large retail stores and other entities.
The use of Voice Mail in the workplace todayhas become either the invisible 'cop out' by many as a means ofnot responding to requests for information or help - or becauseworkers these days are so 'max-ed out' that they simply do nothave the time - or sometimes mere courtesy - to answer their phonecalls, opting instead to have their telephone's voice mail delivertheir message or 'ignore'.
Is anyone out there listening?
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CAYMAN NETNEWS... to be also presented as regular WeeklyNewspaper
In response to the increased desireof a wide cross section of the Community to access the news andcommentaries presented daily on our Website - we will begin publishinga weekly newspaper staring next Thursday - and every week thereafter,to be entitled - CAYMAN NET NEWS.
This full colour weekly newspaper will presentin depth reports of the subjects presented on the website - whichwill continue to be updated daily. This venture - which is inconjunction with the already published Cayman Islands Businessand Tourism News (CiBTN) - will allow readers to get expandedcoverage of all of Cayman's "News as it happens ... whenit happens."
Community organizations, sports clubs, businessowners and corporations are invited to submit their press releasesfor consideration of publication. Readers are also invited towrite, however, we will not be able to accommodate any letterwriter who is not prepared to stand behind their contribution,and have their name published.
Through this medium, we are prepared - bythe will of Cayman's Christian heritage - to assuage the permeationof fear which exists in our society these days -- causing fartoo much erosion in our Blessed community. We will resume publicationof the CiTBN as soon as we are permitted to getthe staff we need.
Meanwhile, it is our intention that CAYMANNET NEWS weekly newspaper - to be sold for 25 cents- will fill the community's longed need for an alternative voice.