Ezzard takes on budget alone
Posted on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 16:44 in Headline News
(CNS): Frustrated by government’s refusal to convene an emergency Finance Committee meeting as he requested, Ezzard Miller, MLA for North side, is taking on the budget single handed. Convinced that there are numerous areas in spending that government could cut more easily than the salaries of civil servants, the independent MLA says that he will be examining the budget documents line by line to see the exact details of each appropriation and attempt to cut unnecessary expenditure. Miller told CNS that he believes this is what government should do first before taxing public sector workers.
“I will do what it takes to find the cuts that will ensure my constituents will not lose their homes,” he said. “This is what a salary cut could mean to those at the bottom of the pay scale.”
Miller said that government is taking the wrong approach and needs to examine expenditure in the round before cutting salaries. Once that exercise is complete, Miller said government should then be seeking to reduce the headcount of the service rather than salaries. He said he believed that where Caymanian civil servants had to be cut, they could be found work in the private sector by simply matching the local staff to work permit holders.
“If government has to let go five accountants, for example, then we approach the large private firms and ask them to cut five accounts on work permits from their staff,” he said, adding that keeping the same number of public servants on less money would only serve to cause hardship to more people and undermine the efficiency of the administrative arm of government because of low morale.
Although he admitted that he was at a disadvantage with regards to his goal of finding savings in the budget since he did not know what had been spent yet, Miller said that if he could demonstrate where significant cuts could be made and present those savings to government, they would then have alternatives to the proposed salary cuts.
Miller also said he was concerned that if government did not direct the cuts in the budget and formalise them through appropriations, then the civil service was unlikely to make those cuts as demonstrated by the last administration. “It is my belief that the previous government made a mistake when they asked the civil service to make cuts of 6% in the budget without bringing those cuts to Finance Committee, and I believe the current government is about to make the same mistakes.”
Through this exercise of examining each of the budget appropriations, Miller said he could at least prove to government that it was worthwhile holding a Finance Committee meeting where all of the elected officials could work on the budget together and make cuts.
He said he had heard numerous rumours of public sector waste that could be cut, and he stressed again that government should at least try to cut back on spending before cutting back on salaries. “I’m trying to find legitimate cuts that have to be preferable to a tax on the public sector,” Miller added, saying that although it may be a lonely and ambitious project, it was worth a try.
Email this pageViewpoints
Comment Policy
The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of CNS or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by CNS. Read more
Recent Comments
- "Unfortunately, this article
1 hour 2 min ago - That picture is such a
1 hour 19 min ago - Looks like Cayman not out of
1 hour 21 min ago - This is coming from a country
1 hour 36 min ago - Contempt of court is an
1 hour 37 min ago - all because of a lack of
1 hour 40 min ago - To all the people who go on
1 hour 54 min ago - One can collect more evidence
1 hour 57 min ago - there is also the
1 hour 57 min ago - I, for one, am throughly
2 hours 8 min ago
Search
Join Our Mailing List
Follow CNS via ...
Facebook Twitter RSS
Comments
The N***** Word- Caymanians
The N***** Word- Caymanians use this word to describe someone who is a rude, disrespectful, badminded, spiteful, person. ( eg. Stop acting Niggerish when you are out in public" this simply means that you need to conduct yourself in a proper manner and not act as if your parens never trained you on how you should be respectful when you are amongst the public.) So please stop tryin to make a Mountain out of a Mole hill.
If he has actually called some "a N*****r to their face and in the context of degrading the person because of their skin color, than that for SURE would need to DIRECTLY addressed because we have enough against us now and we don't need a Racist politician here too.....
I totally agree with
I totally agree with Ezzard...when I now assess the statement he made and the situation he was in and how he used that sentence. We Caymanians know it means to...as the calyspo song says "go on and get on bad". It means to become obnoxious and ignorant. I think North Americans call it belligerent. But Caymanians, being Caymanians are not naturally racially antagonistic nor provoking, and so we usually get away with it. Even dark or negro people use the sentence. It means a situation of the last resort...when ignorance takes completely over after all other avenues of reasoning has expired. If Ezzard thinks its only one time Caymanians have to do this down at the hospital, he needs to think again. For e.g., I took tests 1 year ago. I still don't know the results. I had to "go on and get on bad" at the hospital -- and still I can't get my PAID results. My doctor still hasn't received them. When i asked him to also put pressure on them, he rolled his eyes saying "this is the way they are, they'll send them when they're ready". Well, it's been over a year. I still haven't gotten the call from the doctor to say he's received them. It was a cancer test. I guess if I'd had cancer, I'd already know it by now. I'd be dead by now! These are the type of things happening in hospital administration and also in the actual hospital. Who's really in charge there? ALL of the 3 people giving me a hard time weren't my own Caymanians. They were foreigners from Jamaica, who think once they get in positions like this, they're a stone's throw away from God's throne.
Worse yet was an emergency situation I had last December. I went there with high fever and then got thrown aside in a cubicle shaking and shivering and barely could speak. No one came to me as the minutes dragged on. Soon 1/2 hour passed. I was shaking uncontrollably, nothing but a thin gown on. I finally had to in my hoarse whisper get the person in the cubicle next to me to alert them. Then they came handed me a thin blanket then disappeared. Another 15 minutes dragged by. Finally they came to take blood, then at one point the blood in the vile was dropped all over the floor. Then I was poked several times before they got it in. When it was finished, i again had to alert my neighbor to alert their attention. It was another 1/2 hr again waiting. When they finally came, I wanted to use the bathroom. The nurse told me I'd to hold my bottle and carry it to the bathroom! I told her there wasn't any need to since the bottle was finished and to unplug me totally. When she insisted, I asked her how I'd wipe myself?! Needless to say, I was happy to finally get out of there AFTER 7 hours! Ezzard, you've all reason to "go on and get on bad!" And, while you're at it, go on and get on bad and niggerish as to why CAYMANIANS can't get jobs up inside that hospital! At least Caymanians wouldn't treat people that kind of way! Neither in administration nor in the actual hospital. Yet we're pushed aside for the likes of people who are coming into this country who are STONE COLD!!!!!!!!
It amazes me how people will
It amazes me how people will justify "anything" Would it be offensive if he referred to "that type of behaviour" as SEXY. I dont think so. Sooner our later we all show our true colours.
Only in Cayman.
Caymanian 2 D Bone, The word
Caymanian 2 D Bone,
The word "nigger" is derived from the word "Negro" and means a person with black skin.
You are saying that "nigger" to Caymanians means rude, disrespectful, badminded, etc.
Cant you see the racism in connecting the two?
I am a Caymanian and I try my best to be a good Christian, I pray for God's forgiveness for you and Mr. Miller and everyone who thinks this is acceptable.
Don't make excuses for the
Don't make excuses for the guy it was an ignorant comment!
I don't care how you want to spin it it had very definite racist undertones and in an "off hand comment" he allowed that part of his makeup to show.
Then... thought about it. And realized he was talking on the radio.
According to Ezzard's
According to Ezzard's defendants, the local definition of "Nigger" is a person who is any of the following:
Upset, Rude, Ignorant, Nasty, Foolish, Behavioral Problems, Disrespectful, Badminded, Spiteful, "a-whole", etc..
Its a such a beautifully diversified word, it can even be used as a friendly greeting. "Hey Ole N."
So if anyone new to the island wants to blend in to the local culture, this could be quite a useful word to learn. Perhaps a multiple choice question can but put on the History and Cultural Test to garner points.
Of course, I suspect the reality is that there are all sorts of unwritten rules (i.e. not in black and white) as to who can use the word. So new residents and visitors, good luck with your attempts at assimilation.
Caymanian 2 D Bone: You just
Caymanian 2 D Bone: You just don't get it do you? Read your first paragraph. Using "Niggerish" like this derives its effect from a supposed similarity between dreadful behaviour and black people, disparagingly called "niggers" in the pre civil rights days and, alas, by some in Cayman. You can't escape it or justify it as something nice and "Caymanian"-it isn't so stop trying to prove it is and just getting yourself further in the hole.
Well said 11:48!
Well said 11:48!
The difference between the
The difference between the accountants that Mr Millar is refering to and those at the accountancy firms is big.
For an accountant to be allowed a permit here they will always have a professional qualification be it CA, ACA, ACCA or even CPA.
Just look at the qualifications for an "accountants job" in a civil serive job description. It's nearly always an accounting degree.
The difference is big, one is a university degree, the other is a university degree and another 3 years or study and experience.
The reason industry wants qualified professional accountants doing their accountancy work is easy their clients demand the best work and the knowledge that qualified people are doing the job.
Only 10% of the members of CISPA are Caymanian, and they will generally be earning a lot more than an equivalent expat.
Looking at the state of the government financial reporting it is rather safe to asume that any professional accountant in the civil service isn't going to be the first poeple to be cut. More likely the last
While the word nigger is
While the word nigger is Cayman has traditionally had a less derogatory and different connotation than in the US, it is still an unkind word. One morning in discussing negotiations of Government contracts I heard Ezzard use the phrase "Jew them down" in the context of bargaining hard for a good deal. I was horrified and that morning he did not apologize. Albeit that in some people's opinions this phrase (which I have not heard used in Cayman) might also not be considered derogatory here because we have traditionally not had a Jewish presence, therefore the sensitivities of such expressions were not evident.
However, apart from the fact that this island is different than it was 30, 40, 50 years ago and that our media is instantly global, despite how insensitive Ezzard Miller his, he should try to contain his boorish personality and respect the sensitivities of the day, the majority of Caymanian people and the audience that he reaches and keep his bigoted expressions to himself. At the very least, he should try to respect the office he holds and not speak in that manner as a representative of the people. Anywhere else, such remarks would be cause for a public servant's resignation. This is 2 now Ezzard. But he has been like this from school days so there is little hope of him changing.
Ezzard you are an educated man with a couple or three degrees, surely your vocabulary is larger than using derogatory terms to make you points. Generally, your message and your past political track record is sound but you will negate it by your blustery style. Try to act and speak respectfully and civilly because the alternative just labels you as a big mouth bigot.
I am very concerned that we
I am very concerned that we have now become an island where all we are able to do these days to blame each other and call each other names. If we don't like a person, we are unable to accept what may be a very good idea! Can we grow up a little here, please.
What these islands need now are solutions. There are sucessful businesses on this island. Mr Premier, check who the people are running them and bring them together and have a session for solutions. We are all in this together so we'd better work to save this place. If we don't we all will suffer. Forget the politics for a short while and talk to people outside your circle. They may have an idea of two that you have not yet thought of.
It seems that the civil servants are not ready to give up their salaries, some don't want to pay towards their own health costs, noone wants the GAB to be sold. so what are the alternatives?
Find 10 young bright Caymanians who are partners, lawyers, CEO's, accountants, leaders, maybe a former civil servant who understands - call them, lock down in a room and ask for 3 workable ideas each to create revenue and reduce the deficit. Leave the baggage outside and roll up your sleeves and work it out. Good luck.
Ezzard Miller is not
Ezzard Miller is not Pro-Caymanian as he would lead many of you to believe. He is, as he has always been, Anti-Expatriate. There is a difference between the two.
Well, if what you say is true
Well, if what you say is true Just Sayin, by default he is Pro-Caymanian and that is just fine in my books! The effect is the same and I applaud him.
What about the Caymanian
What about the Caymanian "Niggers" and Caymanian Jews? Is he Pro-Them as well?
In a similar tone, lets not
In a similar tone, lets not forget Mr. Benson O. Ebanks, OBE.
On the 12th of April 2006 he wrote "No Mr. Editor we are not going to just exchange white dog for white dog. We have been doing that for too long. We are going to exchange mongrels for German Shepherds. In case you do not understand the analogy, I mean we are going to replace unskilled persons with skilled or at least semiskilled ones-no more recruiting on Eastern Avenue at 7 O’ clock in the mornings. The roll over policy give these islands a real chance to change the quantity and quality of our workforce."
Since Cayman has had its "real chance to change" what has happened?
UP - Unemployment
- Division of Society
- Crime
- Debt
- Cost of Living
- Cost of Doing Business
DOWN - Real Estate
- Salaries
- My hope for the future of these islands.
Of course there is no
Of course there is no necessary connection between rollover and these issues as you seem to infer. Rollover is a convenient whipping boy for every conceivable economic or social problem.
No not necessarily. Other
No not necessarily. Other than the outcome was utterly predictable to anyone who understands human behavior and social history. Every time I open the Net News Editorials I'm looking for the headline "I TOLD YOU SO." So let me spell it out to those who still don't seem to understand - as long as the rollover exists Cayman will continue to deteriorate. Protectionism = Arrogance and Weakness. Education = Work Ethic and Strength. If we want to compete on a world class stage, we need to provide world class education. On the other hand, if really we want to go back to the island time forgot, then we are moving in the right direction.
Ezzard need to replace
Ezzard need to replace McKeeva Bush. McKeeva is working for X-pats and rich people.
Ezzard is working for his people and thats what every MLA is electd for!
“If government has to
“If government has to let go five accountants, for example, then we approach the large private firms and ask them to cut five accounts on work permits from their staff,”
I respect and admire Ezzard especially since he has always encouraged me to further my education and push for my career.
However honorouable his intentions are, what he proposes above will spark a slew of employment litigation cases. Please see the www.caymanjudicial-legalinfo.com.ky site and search for a case in the CI Law reports called Thomas v Cayman Islands National Insurance Company [2007] CILR 96. Firing a present expat employee in order to hire a suitable Caymanian is NOT the intention of the Immigration or Labour laws. Such termination is wrongful and could lead to finding of unfair dismissal with untold liability for damages on the parts of employers who do this.
It would be unconscionable of me not to speak on this. Cut from public spending are needed, Civil Servants' salaries should not form part of these cuts and in no uncertain terms should we try to force or guide private sector employers to cut staff to make space for ex-civil servants.
Read Thomas again. What says
Read Thomas again. What says (and it is not perfect) is that just because a qualified Caymanian applies for a job on renewal does not mean that the expatriates employment is automatically at an end at the end of their permit. The case says that the employer must either give the expat notice under their contract and pay them out, or apply for a new permit for the expat, declaring that a qualified Caymanian has applied, and wait for the Board to deny the renewal on that basis, which it is perfectly entitled to do.
Franz Manderson is quoted in evidence as saying that he has never seen a Board grant a permit where it knew a qualified Caymanian had applied. He accepted that nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances, it had the right to do so.
Thomas is dangerous. Whilst the Judge is almost certainly right on the law as it stood, no-one thought it through. Thomas invites employers to refuse to employ qualified Caymanians, and appeal the subsequent resulting denial of the work permit, keeping the issue tied up for (perhaps) years. Meanwhile a Caymanian will be hungry, unable to work, and run around town saying (correctly) that expat holds a job for which I am qualified and that employer is relying on technicalities to prevent my employment. That analysis will only end up in sorrow for all concerned. The judge also omitted to deal with the point that work permit applicants must dempnstrate a need, but that is what happens when there was not a single person who studied the Immigration Law in law school, in the Court room.
Go ahead, apply for the renewal of permits in the face of qualified good local applicants. Good luck with that PR application, and Expat/Caymanian relations.
IRT, you getting this?
Mr. Ezzard, when you are
Mr. Ezzard, when you are doing your review of the government budget, could you please find out how much government spends at the prison on air conditioning, fancy meals and all of the other luxuries that the prisoners get that your honest hard working constituents cannot afford. Why are we paying to give them a better life than many of us can afford?
Ask Franz or someone in the
Ask Franz or someone in the office of the Chief Officer of the Internal and External Affairs portfolio to speak to this. They should know since the prisons fall under them.
GOOD JOB EZZARD, GIVE MAC
GOOD JOB EZZARD, GIVE MAC SOME POINTERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Close all of the costly and
Close all of the costly and unproductive overseas offices effective immediately. Stop giving away services to the general public for free which they can and should be paying for. If there are no Pensions then what the heck are we going to need a Pensions Office and staff for? Eliminate any and all free travel on Cayman Airways without exception.
You want people to pay for their health care? Sell the hospital. Privatise the hell out of it, refuse treatment to non payers. Reinstate the refuse collection fees and this time add it as a $10 per month fee on the CUC bill. Cut the bastards who don't pay off.
Reinstate the book fees for the Public schools and this time, insted of making excuses as to why it can't be done, get off your rear ends and collect them.
Well said Uncivil Servant:
Well said Uncivil Servant: Closing the useless London office and selling its expensive real estate would raise AND save money-and not put any Caymanians out of work, just English people. Closing all the useless overseas tourism offices should have been done donkey years ago and, again, would not put Caymanians out of work.
There are barely any tourist
There are barely any tourist offices overseas now. McKeeaver almost every one the last time he was in office. Sorry to disappoint you but there are Caymanians working in some of them. mmmmclosing offices..tourism went down..connection? That's why we are looking high end people constantly and not giving value for money. We ran away our market when we closed those offices. Now people there have never heard of the Cayman Islands.
Dear Big Four Partner, At a
Dear Big Four Partner,
At a time when the quality of offshore services is under threat, please fire 5 accountants with relevant experience and hire these ones outcast from the bottom end of the civil service who will have great experience of filling out forms in triplicate. We guarantee each one will deliver as much as 90 minutes of productivity each day. Or four days a week at least.
Ezzard
PS We can assure you they chose the civil service rather than the private sector for reasons other than they could not get a job in a decent firm in the first place.
Miller's Law: The level of
Miller's Law:
The level of agreement with Hazzard Miller is inversely proportionate to the poster's ability make sense.
No one would say anything
No one would say anything against Ezzard's parents -decent people both. But you forget, anon 20:13, that the country as a voting whole did NOT want his hospital in the swamp and made it very clear at the polls in 1992. Good thing too, because that site flooded horrendously in Ivan-far worse than the George Town site.
You are so missing the point!
You are so missing the point! not because the majority voted for a proposal or idea makes it right . I could give you numerous examples of where the masses of the day voted for an idea and it was dead wrong; as a matter of fact their votes did more harm than good, I will give you 3 prime examples
i) The Iraq war
ii) The Seven Day War
iii) The Vietnam War
in all those case those with the majority of votes were very wrong and history has already proven that the the minority were right. So I will say this to you history has already proven you wrong and the masses that voted against the proposed hospital at Fairbanks. I will agree that Fairbanks flooded in Ivan but do did the 99.99% of the Island. Have you forgotten so soon? As for Fairbanks being the swamps have you forgotten that about 80% of the Cayman Islands were at one point in time Swamp. In case you are too young to know let me enlighten you the great areas of Lime Tree Bay, Governors Sound, Snug Harbour, The Yacht Club, Salt Creek, and Caymana Bay (I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the point!) were at some point all less that 40 years ago Swamps. I am quite positive if Mr. Dart should offer the government to build a new hospital at Caymana Bay in exchange for the old hospital site you would be the first to say it is such a good deal and forget that Caymana Bay is built on nothing more that Swamp. So see my friend your little argument does not hold any more water than what have drained from the Fairbanks swamp.
No one would say anything against Ezzard's parents -decent people both. But you forget, anon 20:13, that the country as a voting whole did NOT want his hospital in the swamp and made it very clear at the polls in 1992. Good thing too, because that site flooded horrendously in Ivan-far worse than the George Town site.
"Excessive spending" implies
"Excessive spending" implies that the money was used on temporary goods or services of little or no lasting value which is clearly not case with the investments made by the PPM Government. The money the PPM Government spent was invested into infrastructure needed by the Country. If anyone thinks that too much was invested then, it is excessive investment, not excessive spending.
But then again, it suits the current Premier and some people in the UDP to say that the PPM spent too much instead of invested too much. After all, sensible people might then realise that our current economic problems are more to do with the G20/OECD/Brown/Obama assault on Cayman and the global economic economic recession.
This morning on Rooster Mr.
This morning on Rooster Mr. Miller said he only got attention for his mother at the hospital after he went on like a n****. What exactly did he man by that racist remark? How exactly does a n**** behave? Why did he use that derogatory and racist term? So well intentioned and respectful isn't he?
He offended many including myself with that remark and if he is any kind of respectful human, he needs to, at the very least, apologise for his remark.
Oh please, do any of you
Oh please, do any of you really know what N***** means, nasty, rude people, any of you on a good day use that word, there is two words here, with different meanings. However knowing Ezzard, I would understand what he meant, but what I do not understand is the man who is plotting to run in N/Side in the next election posting his rude comments on facebook, like "a leapord never changes his spots", who the h*** do you think you are, I hope north siders have a brain and keep you right where you belong. You cant do anything for them, at least Ezzard has proven himself and you know what you are going to get with him, no pretense and teeth showing, if you cant handle the truth, dont ask Ezzard for advice, he is just blunt with the truth.
Mr. Miller apologized already
Mr. Miller apologized already so get over it. If you are Caymanian you know very well that this term has nothing o do with race but rather means something like "ignorant" or "foolish". Get the chip off your shoulder please. Othewise, if the shoe fits...
"...he needs to, at the very
"...he needs to, at the very least, apologise for his remark".
He did apologise on air.
In fairness it has to be said that many Caymanians use the term without any racial meaning but to denote a person who has a very bad attitude.
Anonymous Wed 00:48 Mr Miller
Anonymous Wed 00:48 Mr Miller did apologise on the same show .Sorry you missed it.However most of us know that he meant no disrespect.
To all those Ezzard
To all those Ezzard apologists for his ignorant use of the n...... work on the national airwaves let me clue you into a higher level of expectation for one of the so called leaders in the country.
Ezzard is supposed to be an educated man as well as a statesman on the governance of the country. When he speaks is such an ignorant and inflammatory manner he brings down not only himself but his position as a member of government.
Another clue is that about 50% of the local Caymanian population are descendants of slaves so furthering this ignorance is offensive to all thinking people.
He has already defamed Jews on the radio show without an apology so I guess there aren't enough Jewish voters to matter to him.
"Another clue is that about
"Another clue is that about 50% of the local Caymanian population are descendants of slaves so furthering this ignorance is offensive to all thinking people."
Caymanians are mixed. The people who settled here were deserters (men) of Cromwell's army. Who do you think their women were? slaves..correct.
I'm not offended.
I thought that all of our
I thought that all of our elected members were supposed to examine all legislation including the budget in detail before voting approved. Anyway better late than never, hopefully this will set an example that all future MLAs will follow.
I'm sure that Ezzard can get some help from an accountant if needed, also might be a good idea to ask any of his constituents that work in government for ideas about where to look. Their jobs are on the line here.
The salary that we pay to our MLAs is for work, not a reward for being elected, and this is an example of the work that not only needs to be done, but should have been done.
Caymanian citizens also have a responsibility to get involved, how many have downloaded the budget and read it? Its a masterful work of spin and expense justification that wouldn't pass as a budget for any business that had to go to the bank for a loan. I'm sure that it wasn't designed for critical scrutiny.
There are a lot of good jobs in Cayman. The concern about redundancies in the civil service and the resulting unemployment is overblown. Good, hard working, educated Caymanians can find jobs in the private sector, business don't want to hire overseas and apply for work permits, all they want is performance.
This might be a good time for government employees to make either a move to the private sector or start their own business where they can control their future and with hard work make a lot more money in the long run. Early retirement programs will help a lot. Many of the one's that I know are just waiting for retirement before starting a new life of self employment. I'm told that it is a long wait.
Our politicians are under the gun at the moment and casting about for income producing and long term economic solutions. Unfortunately such solutions are not a one time event they are built up bit-by-bit over many years of struggle, improvement, learning and profit encouragement for enterprise. In any other field of economic activity it is called management and getting an MBA is only the first step down a long road to becoming a powerful and competitive manager. Politically Cayman is a long way from an MBA let alone managing a internationally competitive economy. I wish all of our leaders the very best. Cayman was unprepared for this change and they are swimming in a unknown sea.
The salary that we pay to our
The salary that we pay to our MLAs is for work, not a reward for being elected
I like that comment Dennis! It explains more than you know.
I'm having a hard time with trying to understand what people expected of these two parties. The same people have been saying the same things obviously for years. With the same results! They get elected, and collect enormous salaries. Or...they don't elected and collect enormous salaries. The differences it seems are only academic. In many ways it's like watching wrestling. We all know wrestling is phoney and pre-rehearsed. But we still watch it for the action and supposed suffering by the opponents.
The UDP and PPM are like that in so many ways it's laughable. Bouncing off the ropes, and charging across the ring to land a drop kick, while the audience yells, I can almost picture McKeeva and Kurt in shorts with masks. Madman McKeeva!!! against Kurt the Kruncher!!! The Bout of the Century.
Swimming in an unknown sea? I have to take exception to. The worldwide financial crisis was apparently unforeseen by the leaders of most countries. If we are to believe them. But unfortunately, and sadly, Cayman has paid to watch this local WWF for much longer than that.
We know every rehearsed move by now. And still cheer and yell! Get 'em!! Hit 'em!! You tell 'em Kurt!!! Don't take that Mac!!!
Even more bizarre, the UDP and the PPM believe now the salaries they are paid is just the price we offer up to watch the match.
It's the same everywhere. Popcorn anyone?
Thank you Mr Smith for your
Thank you Mr Smith for your well written article.
If I may suggest we do have MBA in Cayman - McKeewa Bush Accounting.
Ezzard Miller; the epitome of
Ezzard Miller; the epitome of all that is wrong with Cayman. Unfortunately conditions are perfect for Ezzard’s ignorant and bigoted rhetoric and he certainly seems to be garnering some support.
None of the international firms will tolerate a government forcing them to swap their staff for redundant civil servants. They will just leave. The idiocy of even suggesting something so stupid is beyond belief. Cayman is only attractive to firms because of it’s tax status. They’re not here for the weather, or workforce, or to listen to you Mr. Miller – they are here because it makes business sense. If you start putting idiot policies in place they will just leave – jersey, gurnsey or one of the other tax havens. When it stops making business sense they will leave – what then for Cayman?
Caymanians need to embrace the expat community and thank the organizations that invest here. These organizations provide opportunities for Caymanians to get well paying jobs and have great careers – and it’s on their doorstep.
The expat community didn’t create the financial mess the government is in. Caymanians created the mess. If you are going to impose the salary reductions on the civil service it should only apply to Caymans – don’t you think Mr. Miller?
By the way your use of the n-word on the radio this morning wasn’t appreciated.
Liam, sorry, you do
Liam, sorry, you do not (generally) get it.
Ezzard is not proposing anything new. The Immigration Law has always required that any employer prove a need to employ someone on a work permit. Save in really exceptional circumstances, you cannot prove a need if there is a Caymanian (redundant civil servant or not) ready, willing and able to fill the position.
No-one is suggesting a qualified expat be replaced with an un qualified Caymanian. No one is suggesting that Caymanians ought not embrace the expat community, but can we please see a little more reciprocity so we can all get along better for everyone's benefit?
You also seem to make a distinction between industries. Perhaps you are right to do so, but would you really have a problem if a backhoe operator or labourer did not have their permit renewed so that a qualified Caymanian backhoe operator, or hard working Caymanian labourer, made redundant from Public Works, could get a job? If that was what Ezzard was suggesting, might you find some common groound with him in all the circumstances? Do you have a better solution? You cannot call (as many do - including me) for a significanty down-sizing of the Civil Service without dealing with the employment fall-out. If you do not deal with it then you can forget Cayman/Expat relations entirely, and you will certainly bring about the demise of BOTH the financial and tourism industries.
Cayman is not your whore. She sleeps with you because she likes you, and thinks you like her. She has maturity and more common sense than you give her credit for. She imagines that whilst not a marriage, this is more than a one night stand. A partnership of sorts. Many others in the financial services industry are here for the money, but they also enjoy the walk on the beach, the camaraderie of friends, the choice of restaurants, the expat lifestyle, the climate, the cosmopolitan nature of society, the proximity to many intersting places, and the quality of life. Some even like Caymanians and count them amongst their friends.
But if, as you suggest, you are only in it for the money (and nothing else) then don't let the plane door hit you in your ... (well you know the rest).
Still, I really hope you work it out. Most expats are not like you, and are willing to work together with Caymanians. I, and my (financial services) business, certainly find that beneficial, and we are doing rather well as a result, thank you.
Oh, and when you refer to the expat community not creating the mess, you are mostly right. However, if you are only paying secretary work permit fees for your in-house counsel, and arranged for your helper's children to come from overseas to attend government schools for free, whilst under-paying and under-insuring her so the hospital ends up treating her at a large subsidy, then you do share in some of the responsibilty. Even more if you insisted that you must have an expat PA because the Caymanian has an "accent". That Caymanian had to get a job in Government or be unemployed. The fact that she was hired by Government even though not really needed MAY have more to do with you than you are willing to acknowledge.
As for the N-word - its use was wrong, but if you understood North Side culture, you would not be as offended. Rather like the free use of the word "piss" in the UK, and "crap" in the US, different cultures attach different connotations to the same word. Don't be so quick to impose yours.
Anonymous, Firstly, Ezzard
“No-one is suggesting a qualified expat be replaced with an un qualified Caymanian”
“But if, as you suggest, you are only in it for the money (and nothing else) then don't let the plane door hit you in your ... (well you know the rest).”
Liam - semantics in play. You
Liam - semantics in play. You and I are not that far apart. I apologise that I seem to have made some unfair assumptions about you. I think you are a little harsh in your analysis of Ezzard, though - he does make a lot of sense in many areas (he is the one leading the charge on budget cuts). Nevertheless, although your e-mail is in response to my original post, I just voted thumbs up for your reply. Many Caymanians are sensitive to obvious abuses against Caymanians (and, I accept, against Expatriates) in the immigration system, including in our industry, and some of that frustration is poking through, including in my post. That is regrettable.
We all just want to get along. Perhaps we can all do a better job of understanding each-others perspectives.
Interesting.Every thumbs down
Interesting.Every thumbs down poster (unless their issue is purely with the N word explanation) seems to be saying Caymanians ought not to be preferred in employment over Expatriates. If this is a truly held belief they are refusing to apply the principles their own countries apply to Expatriates, including Caymanians, in their land. If true, then there can be no reasoning between the sides to the debate, and we are all truly screwed.
Look forward to hearing from a thumbs down poster. Do I misunderstand you?
Let me see if I understand
Let me see if I understand you. I am a US citizen living and working in Cayman therefore tacitly I agree with US immigration policies toward expats, Caymanian or otherwise, that US citizens are to be preferred in employment? Sorry, I never subscribed to that particular theory. If "us first" actually worked, there would be far less expats, wouldn't there? People have been mobile and willing to relocate to find food, shelter, work, whatever since we learned to put one foot in front of the other. I trust we will continue until the earth is no more.
For me, there is no debate. I simply do not subscribe to your theory. We can sit in a bar room and fling accusations and "facts" at each other all night or at least until we realise we are pissing up a rope. No matter the outcome of our debate, the fact is the situation will not change: There will be expats and there will be natives out of work. None of us are obligated to spend their entire life in the place where we are born nor is there any guarantee of our "making it".
As for the thumbs down, if I think the post is crap then it gets one. Two if its really crap.
I'd like to join the fray.
I'd like to join the fray. Liam, Anonymous, and you, Frank. Mostly, because I partly disagree, and partly agree, with all that's being said. I mean no offence by this, but it seems to me in many ways Caymanians have been treated like children by their politicians. Obviously I'm an expat for having said that. Put that aside, and I also support any country's attempt at providing meaningful sustenance for it's citizens through policies of employment and immigration.
Along with that I often wonder at the animosity shown towards expats on the island although hopefully that is beginning to settle down.
Because it does not take into account for one thing how they all got here and for what reason.
No one relocates, in some cases half way around the world and especially in Cayman where a pre-determined job must be available, unless there is employment. Who employs them? In many cases, it's Caymanian business owners. Why? Because the work permit system, not set up by expats but by Cayman's own government with feed back from local employers, allows a compliant workforce. Some jobs just needing being done. This is an appropriate way to do that. Maybe. Then, when this seemed to get out of hand, Caymanians, and sometimes rightfully so, complained to the government. That they were being left out of the tastier jobs.
The government often took their hand, patted it, and said "It's ok, you can come and work for us as long as you remember who gave you the job. And who to vote for." It's a rather simplistic description, but that is exactly what has happened. In the process, chips were created- and enhanced- on peoples' shoulders because the boogey man... waiting in the closet... was not government ineptitude, mismanagement, and over-spending, and... further along the road an economy in crisis. It was expats. Always ex-pats. Blame them. They can't vote. Never once was it questioned why the same people, the same relatives, the same families, ran politics on the island. Never speak of favoritism, nepotism or cronyism. And, if you minded your political manners, coddled when necessary and pushed the right anti-expat sentiment buttons, you could rest assured of another four years of comfortable living for you. And your associates.
Now people who were brought under the protective blanket of government when it seemed, or were told their way of life was threatened, are beginning to realize the boogeyman wasn't outside, and didn't come from outside. It was inside and under the covers.
Cayman and it's voters are maturing and with that asking the right questions of the people they elect. And, the Fairytale is over. There was no boogeyman. Although some elected representatives would like it to continue. And use it. Because it was just tooo easy.
Now people and voters are beginning to question. And rightly so. "Haven't we seen them before?" "Haven't we heard this before?" "Was it really true?"
"Or... was it a bedtime story to get us to sleep?"
Frank. This is not about
Frank. This is not about political belief or point of view. It is not a theory, but a fact. It is simple. Either the Laws of the Cayman Islands (as with those of most other countries) require local persons to be given preference in employment over all others, (including persons already here on work permits) or they do not.
I think they do.
The Immigration Law says yes.
The politicians who wrote it say yes.
The Attorney General says yes.
The Grand Court says yes.
The Caymanian People say yes.
And every employer acknowledges it by the terms of their adverts in the back of every Friday's Compass.
The world is not flat, and continuing to insist that it is does no-one any favours and just breeds resentment.
With all due respect Sir,
With all due respect Sir, what you are suggesting may save a few millions at most, judging by the excessive expenses budget in the CS. In all likelihood, this process has already been undertaken. The problem that Cayman is faced with is a $70M deficit which can only be addressed through draconian measures. Even the CS salary cuts will not achieve the required cuts in govt expenditure to reduce the deficit to an acceptably low level, let alone balance the budget. I would not be surprised to see direct taxation of some sort, be it payroll or property, being introduced a very near future.
Mac is in an almost impossible position and has an immediate choice between cutting the CS salaries, which will be a relatively easy process, from an administrative perspective, but politically, a very brave decision. The alternative would be direct taxation, which will be difficult to implement in the short-term with no proper infrastructure and setup to administer such a tax system. The other drawback of direct taxation would be the impact on the image of Cayman as an offshore jurisdiction. Most professional expats take home only slightly more in Cayman than they would in their own country, considering they are on a lower base salary here coupled with higher cost of living, save no income tax. If direct taxation were included into the equation, it would be an easy decision to head back home for most expats. While this will please many hardcore Caymanian expat bashers, it would not bode well for the future of Cayman. This will eventually lead to less businesses, less tourists, more crime and ultimately a worse situation for Caymanians in general. If the CS cuts do not resolve the immediate problems, the situation in the next few months, however, may force Mac's hands, and see the introduction of direct taxation in any case. Then it will be a real nightmare scenario for Cayman in years to come.
Selling the govt building now appears out-of-bounds, most likely because the govt did not get a big-enough offer rather than Mac ceding to pressure from Chucky. IF there was a big enough bid, no question, it would have been considered. In retrospect, selling the govt building does not make much business sense in the long-term as it would only delay the cash flow problem another year but increase the extent of the cash flow problem significantly next year.
It's a pity that most people in Cayman do not appreciate the extent of the problem the country faces right now and are only concerned about the short-term impact of the necessary evils needed to try to rectify decades of govt living above its means. It's time to reflect on how to make the CS a more well-managed organization for years to come, so such drastic cuts will not be required in future and learn to live within our means (as a nation and as individuals).
People jumping on Ezzie's bangwagon, mainly as a result of disappointment from your successive govts, please think before you commit to doing something you might later regret.
Post new comment