All Electedand Official Legislators invited to attend Immigration Forum ...
To addressanother vexing problem: The discrimination towards persons ofCaymanian descent

In a recent Press Release, the Cayman IslandsChamber of Commerce announced that a forum is being held by itssubcommittee of the Immigration/Labour Task Force which is studyingthe Immigration Law and its effect on persons of Caymanian descent.

The public-at-large is invited to attendthis open meeting on Monday, 27th March at 6:00 p.m. at the CaymanPreparatory School Hall on Walker's Road. This gathering comeson the heels of another forum a few weeks ago, which experienceda tremendous overflow of interested parties in attendance to discussthe report of the Sub-Committee of the House in regarding theneed for sweeping Immigration reforms.

The purpose of the forum is to bring attentionto the "perceived inequities" in the way the ImmigrationLaw addresses the needs of those persons of Caymanian descentwho have elected to maintain bonds with the Cayman Islands andmay also wish to work in the country, and also to enable personsthat find themselves in these situations to submit written comment

"We must address the descendants issuesfor persons with Caymanian descent before we can begin to adequatelyaddress the issues associated with the importation of foreignlabour", says Mr. William Adam, chairman of the CaymanianDescent Subcommittee. "We should be encouraging and welcomingpersons of Caymanian descent rather than excluding these individualswho can contribute greatly to the future of these islands."

According to Immigration statistics, approximately65 percent of the labour force are work permit holders, includingpeople of Caymanian descent, some of whom have been resident forover 15 years but remain in a tenuous position of an uncertainfuture.

The Chambers release went on to say:

Between 1989-92, the Select Committee ofthe Legislative Assembly on Immigration Legislation publisheda report addressing the issue of persons with Caymanian descent.At the time, the opinions of the legislators varied greatly, withsome believing that persons of Caymanian descent should be encouragedto acquire Caymanian Status in a move to increase and stabilisethe number of Caymanians in the rapidly developing workforce.

The other view supported restrictive requirementsto persons of Caymanian descent who wished to acquire CaymanianStatus.

The Legislative Assembly in February releasedproposals dealing with five main immigration issues, includingCaymanian Status. Legislators proposed that the Immigration lawshould remain unchanged with regard to the acquisition of CaymanianStatus by birth or descent."

Persons of Caymanian descent who are havingdifficulties in acquiring Caymanian Status are encouraged to attendthe public forum and are encouraged to submit in writing theircircumstances and attach all relevant correspondence and supportingdocuments so that the Chamber can fully understand the varioussituations persons have found themselves in as a result of theexisting legislation.

This information will be presented by theCaymanian Descent Subcommittee to the Immigration/Labour TaskForce of the Chamber to include in its official response to Government.

Mr. Adam said there are other sections ofthe Immigration Law which have had serious effect on those personswith family connections by marriage and/or adoption which areimportant, but should be discussed at another forum.

Chief Immigration Officer Mr. Orrett Connorand Chairperson of the Immigration Board Ms. Sharon Roulstonehave agreed to attend the meeting as resource persons, he said.

The venue for this meeting - the 600 seatcapacity Cayman Prep School hall - was chosen so that there couldbe ample room those wishing to attend.

US Governmentdrops opposition to sales of food and medicine to Cuba -
Cayman's Grocers/ Retailers to benefit?
Successive Cayman Islands Government Administrations have takenthe stance that if it's good for America, it must be good forCayman -- and if America says it is not good, then it must alsonot be good for Cayman.

Dependent on the 75 percent plus amountof tourists who come to the Cayman Islands, over the past fourdecades -- the opposition to trading with Cuba has been mirroredby many local merchants -- who feared that they may be deniedaccess to purchases made in the United States for re-selling toCuba.

It is known that of the high volume of foodand consumer goods - particularly electronics - imported fromthe US, a hefty percentage is sold to 'higglers' - individualtraders from Jamaica - who make frequent trips in and out of GrandCayman, and taking back same with them to resell. Without thistrade, the major wholesalers of grocers will undoubtedly findit difficult to meet its commitments.

With the news that a key United States congressionalcommittee has approved a measure to ease economic sanctions againstCuba, imposed after Fidel Castro came to power 41 years ago, Cayman'smerchants could very well get a jump start of doing a tremendousamount of business with its neighbour - which at 12 million ismore than five times the population of Jamaica - because of theclose proximity of both countries.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votedto allow the sale of food and medicine to Cuba after its chairman,Senator Jesse Helms, dropped his opposition to easing the US embargoagainst Cuba.

It is inevitable that not before long, Cubawill be opening up to tourism and business relations with America.Canada, the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and a host of other Europeancountries - as well as Jamaica and a other Caribbean states arenow benefiting from the US embargo - by taking advantage of theabsence of US competition.

The Cayman Islands as a financial planningcentre could be in for some warm competition, if long-range planning- including the impending possibility that Cuba will be a formidablecompetitor for tourism - is not prioritized by the next CaymanIslands Government which comes to office in November.

Governmentacquires 50 more acres adjoining Northward Prison
With plans to construct a high securityfence and a perimeter road surrounding the entire prison property,a new 'proper' security and a self-sufficient block for femaleprisoners, this purchase is a sensible move.

The recent breakout - and recapture - ofthree prisoners from the cells at Police Headquarters, have causedAuthorities to focus on the immediate requirements of the Penalsystem in order to meet the needs of the Prison Service, whichis now in the hands of a recruited seasoned, professional, ActingDirector - Mr. Nicholas Brooke.

It is known that while efforts are beingmade to try and move the prison institution 'forward' to totalcontrol, the lack of proper holding facilities are hampering theimplementation of disciplines required from prisoners.

The meeting of the Parole Board a coupleof weeks ago, may have brought some relief, whereby recommendationshave been made to the Governor for the release of some 30 convicts.This will create room at Northward. Therefore, the male prisonersheld at the Tent City facility, because of the damage to cellblocks and overcrowding at Northward - which was originally constructedto hold Cuban rafters - may be moved back to Northward in a fewdays.

This may allow, the reshuffling of femaleprisoners back to Tent City from where they are being kept atthe East End Civic Centre.

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