EDITORIAL
A Sensible Approach anda Moral
Imperative for Cayman's Stability
Interesting news has emerged out of Bermuda,that our sister territory will, within the next month table aGreen Paper that deals with the issue of long-term residents,which has also been a vexing problem for them.
This is expected to implement a system ofpermanent residency to provide security of tenure for personswho emigrated there and have lived, raised families and contributedto the territory for long periods -- a move that the Labour andHome Affairs Minister has described as a "moral imperativeto address the needs of long-term residents."
Various commentators in Bermuda have longargued for this action, seeing it as a sensible and just approachto resolving the issue of security for long-term residents.
Advocates for such residents argue that persons who have beenresident in the territory for 20 or 25 years do not now have theoption of returning to their homeland.
Such persons, they reason have assimilatedinto the society, have contributed to its development and shouldnot be treated with second class citizenship -- as holders ofa working resident's certificate (work permit) which does notconfer the right to vote or buy property.
Granting Bermudan status to these long-termresidents would not, they argue, adversely affect the job prospectsof Bermudans. Some advocate a U.S.-style green card system thatwould provide security of employment and residency, but wouldstop short of citizenship.
It may be argued, that here in the CaymanIslands, addressing similar immigration issues -- including thestatus of long-term residents -- is no less a critical issue.
The call has come from various quarters for a comprehensive reviewof the parameters for the granting of Caymanian status and thesystem of work permits.
It has been argued that as the Cayman Islands continues to develop,the need for foreign labour will be ever present. Equally, theneed to balance the needs of Caymanians with those of foreignresidents has been strenuously defended. The issue is not onlyabout "foreigners." Persons of Caymanian heritage whoare born abroad also face the convoluted process of gaining "status."
The salient issue emerging from the debateis the need for transparent and clearly defined criteria to addresssecurity of tenure, especially when someone has given up samefrom whence they came.
Some proponents for a review of the presentsystem point to a 'score sheet' system whereby persons intendingto secure a some degree of permanence, are graded for suitabilityaccording to established criteria. Such criteria, it is argued,could serve to erase perceptions of arbitrariness and eliminateactions such as the denial or revocation of work permits basedon persons complaining to the Immigration Department about personalconflicts with of permit holders.
It is worthy of mention again, that duringher recent visit to Cayman, Baronness Scotland, the Minister inthe UK Government responsible for the Overseas Territories, describedas a "knotty" problem some of the same immigration issuesthat have been fueling debate, and creating hardship on many familieshere.
It seems that Cayman will have to devise-- in the not too distant future -- its own sensible approachespecially as the Partnership for Progress and Prosperity (WhitePaper) provisions take effect.
Like the case of Bermuda, Cayman may wishto regard this issue as a "moral imperative."