Near 10% locals still jobless
Posted on Fri, 05/18/2012 - 06:34 in Local News
(CNS): Almost ten percent of Caymanian workers are without a job, the Economics and Statistics office has said in its latest report on the country’s labour force. Despite an increase in the size of the workforce, overall unemployment increased last year from 6.2% in 2010 to 6.3%. The rate of unemployment among Caymanian workers remained at 9.8% at the end of last year, while unemployment among non-Caymanians was 3.1%. The ESO reports that the size of the workforce is estimated at 37,620 and the number of people in work in 2011 was said to be 35,267. With an extra 23 added to the jobless list, 2,353 remained unemployed last year.
“I am pleased that the labour market has improved last year, and I expect it to further make progress this year,” said Premier McKeeva Bush who has responsibility for the ESO.
Non-Caymanians make up a greater percentage of the local labour force, taking 52.9% of the work. People aged between 35 and 44 years accounted for 33.2% of the labour force in 2011, followed by the 25-34 year-olds, which comprised 25.2%. However people under the age of 24 have the highest levels of unemployment at more than 20%. Overall, the largest group of unemployed people was Caymanian men younger than 35 as they make up more than 54% of the jobless total.
Despite Cayman’s claim to having a high standard of living, almost 37% of the work force earns less than $1,600 per month. The ESO report reveals that the highest earners in the country are still predominately non-Caymanian men and the lowest earners are non-Caymanian women.
The report also reveals that unemployment among Caymanians is, in many cases, long term with more than 50% being out of work for more than a year and one in six has never had a job. On the whole, they have been without work for longer than six months and have relied mainly on financial support from spouses or partners, parents, or other relatives and friends.
Despite this, over half of the unemployed (56%) had received some form of training and around a quarter had finished college or university.
The top occupation remains service and sales, which accounts for 19.4% of total employment. Elementary occupations account for 16.3%, professionals make up 15.1%, technicians and associate professionals 13.9% and craft and related trade workers account for just over 10%.
About half of the country’s work force is either a civil servant, or works in construction, finance or the wholesale and retail trades. Of those workers who remitted some of their earnings overseas, 28.3% sent up to $4,000 home.
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For you information 1.48 many
For you information 1.48 many Cayman business are getting rid of there employees that have worked for them for many years offering them a new salary of what a filipino will work for and if you dont like it they still save with paying the compensation and getting rid of that employee. Oh...and I am referring to an example with that same supermarket and I have also applied to then 4 times and not even a response.You have no idea what is going on in Cayman society !
Instead of your thread name being sick of compalints it should be tired of being ignorant.
Whilst I think there are some
Whilst I think there are some Caymanians who are unemployable or do not really wish to work, there are also major firms who only advertise every quarter and use those advertisements to apply for all their permits. When someone Caymanian applies, they just ignore them. I have applied for jobs and never heard back, know that they have hired someone on a permit and I am a qualified Caymanian.
If you still belive ANYTHING
If you still belive ANYTHING that comes out of CIG I have some lake front property I would like to sel cheap. Contact me at Iamnotapirate.com.
The REAL question is how many
The REAL question is how many of that 10% intend to remain jobless for as long as they can live off the UDP gowerment at the rest of our expense.
The Immigration Law has been
The Immigration Law has been amended so often it can't be counted the number of times to ensure that an expatriate 1. gets the job. 2. can stay as long as they want under the law in the job 3. they can move from job to job without any problem 4. they get to be annoited with Key Employee status which gives them the right to roam around the island working for up to 9 years then they can become a citizen 5. they can demand changes at any time and the UDP Govt. will give it to them 6. the Minister of Labour keeps voting his approval to all the amendments in the LA, but on the other hand can't even put his foot down and put a minimum wage that is in line with the high cost of living to aid his own citizens.
So, why is it that we want to keep the UDP Govt. in power again? I don't see why we should maintain and support genocide in this country one more election.
Since the Philipines has 7.2%
Since the Philipines has 7.2% unemployment rate as of 2012 why don't we terminate all the work permits for them and let them return home because at least they can find a job with a much lower unemployment rate.
Have you watched what is going on, every driver just about is a Filipino, all the fast food restaurants employ them, the grocery stores, I mean they are every where.
We have to put moratoriums in place otherwise we are going to be overrun by the Filipinos and I say that with all honesty, we have too many of them in this country along with the Jamaicans, but i prefer Jamaicans over Filipinos because we eat similar food and our cultures are similar so there that's my two pennies worth.
What an A$$! "i prefer
What an A$$! "i prefer Jamaicans over Filipinos because we eat similar food and our cultures are similar so there that's my two pennies worth" Hopefully your not employed with that sort of mentality!! I would hate to walk in an establishment and be greeted by someone so darn silly! Reallllly??? we eat similar food lol...stupidest thing I have heard in a while!
And what their doing now is
And what their doing now is marrying the caymanians
Yes, funny isn't it, dillute
Yes, funny isn't it, dillute the gene pool even further, perhaps eventually someone will make sense and run this country properly. Don't hold your breath.
Better still, lets move the
Better still, lets move the Caymanians who hold such vile views off the island and leave this beautiful place to peolple who understand their good fortune and who are not hell bent on ruining it. Only one problem, no one wants them.
Typical racist pig. You
Typical racist pig. You should be arrested for that kind of bigoted behaviour. In any civilised country you would be, but ooops, we're in Cayman where you can do as you want and get away with it, AS LONG AS YOU'RE CAYMANIAN. Lets hope this sad little country with its perverse views are over run by expats, if only to dilute the disgusting nature of people like you.
They wouldn't be there if
They wouldn't be there if Caymanians would be willing to take those jobs....But from I here is that they don't want that type of work. so what's the problem....?
By all means don't stop
By all means don't stop there. Just get rid of any expat you see doing all the work in grand Cayman. Then Cayman would have what? a 75% unemployment. Keep the 2 cents. Your going to need it.
Just like any other country
Just like any other country on this planet, Cayman has a certain population who is just not interested to work - and then there are the ones who really want to work but are not given a chance.
Ireland has an unemployment rate of 14.30% - so I guess they are also all lazy unemployable individuals with entitlement issues. Same goes for the 8.20% of unemployed people in the UK, 24.44% of unemployed in Spain, and the 8.10% in the USA.
I am sure, if they all would really want to work, they would be able to find a job. It's just odd however that there are also soooo many expats in those countries to do the "lower level jobs" when so many of their own country men remain unemployed.
Well, I guess it shows that lazy bums exist everywhere. What is sad however that on this blog people decide to paint all Caymanians with the same brush.
Unfortunately the EU has
Unfortunately the EU has warped the real unemployment figures through its open door policy to all EU citizens, including those from the former Iron Curtain countries. Ireland's figures would be considerably higher if all of the Irish 'travellers' who sponge off of the UK benefit system went home. However, the UK has a population of 60 million and appalling illegal immigration, the US a population of 250 million plus and the same immigration issues etc, etc...... Cayman has a population of 30,000 ish and under 3000 unemployed with draconian immigration laws, so what's your excuse? Answers on a sick note please.
Amen! The saddest thing of
Amen!
The saddest thing of all is that many Caymanians fail to realize all of what you have said then go as far as to disgrace themselves by posting ignorant crap against their own people. Absolutely ridiculous sentiments that have clearly been influenced by the prejudice and narcissism of some of these posters.
Furthermore, when one refers to basic facts of the state of other economies one is labeled as biased, xenophobic and even racist.
Facts are facts - regardless of who they offend.
Only if they are based on
Only if they are based on truth and supported with evidence, not empty rantings by you whodatis.
Last month I advertised for a
Last month I advertised for a sale assistant -- two adverts in the Compass and two weeks on ecay -- Caymanians only need apply, CI$9.50/hr. Of the six applicants that applied -- that's right, from the thousands of supposedly unemployed Caymanians we received just six applications -- four of them simply did not turn up for their interview; no call, no apology, just couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, I suppose. Of the two interviewees that did attend, the first girl chewed gum throughout the interview and struggled to complete a single sentence of intelligible English. Fortunately, the second girl was poilite, well-spoken, and well-presented and we hired her. This is a real world example of what's actually going on. So, would someone like to try to explain to me why, when we have such a dreadful unemployment problem, we didn't get at least fifty Caymanian applicants?
You have only to look to the
You have only to look to the "premeir" Caymanian to see why there is a percieved unemployment problem here. The unemployables are takeing the jobs from the employable unemployed.
Wow... That means 90 percent
Wow...
That means 90 percent of our people are employed?
Thats probably why our economy is having such an economic boom...
or it could be all of those projects that Mac has been promising would start soon...
Immigration has no mandate to
Immigration has no mandate to reduce work permits because 1] The government coffers relies on work permit fees, 2] Bush believes the island needs a population of around 100K to be sustainable, so permits will be graned with gay abandon, and 3]
. . . "I can’t see the Immigration people doing anything that would limit the number of expat residents. The Law has always accommodated (within the bounds of propriety- just!) the desire of ethnic Caymanians to own slaves. That’s why Work Permits are issued to employers, not to employees. Restricting migrants to one job each maximises the local population. You do the math. The Immigration Law and all its amendments (and the Caymanian Protection Law before it) were written by and for the local merchant-class. For them it was win-win: slavery as near as dammit, and the maximum number of bodies to sell things to. Indentured foreign labour keeps wages low for low-skilled Caymanian workers too. That's win-win-win. For the Immigration authorities, more Permits means more paper-shuffling, which in turn means a bigger bureaucratic empire."
- Gordon Barlow (2012)
The Caymanian ruling class is
The Caymanian ruling class is fully to blame for Caymanian unemployment.
If a Caymanian feels that he or she has been "sold down the river" then look no further than the Caymanian ruling class.
The Caymanian ruling class is the enemy of the Caymanian working class.
Expats are in Cayman because of Caymanian laws that were enacted for and by the Caymanian ruling class.
If Caymanians want work, start by electing Caymanians who will gut the current immigration laws and ban indentured slavery.
That's the way comrade, power
That's the way comrade, power to the people. Lets bring in Fidel, he'll know how to equal things up. Ha Ha Ha!!!
Segmenting Caymanians into
Segmenting Caymanians into groups like that is utter nonsense.
AMEN
AMEN
There are many unemployable
There are many unemployable on this island. They can't handle a structured work environment with stipulated hours or worse...responsibility. HOWEVER, there are also people looking for work that can't compete with the benefit of indentured servitude that the current permit system provides to employers. You don't have to treat employees very well if you know it is extremely difficult for them to leave their jobs and stay on island. The playing field for Caymanians would be a lot more even if we were to change to a permit tied to industry but not employer. Recruiting costs of the employer could still be protected. Obviously this option is not popular with employers including Caymanian ones.
The rollover system
The rollover system backfired....If you have an expat in a white collar job it is easier to keep them and know you get seven years out of hard working expat in the hopes that they get PR.
Even if a Caymanian is qualified most employers would rather take the expat....and that is sad. We have good talent here, locals with overseas experience and local mortgages to pay, yet the big companies set the worse examples. Shame on our system!
Nothing in the rollover
Nothing in the rollover system expects permits to be granted anything more than year to year. It is a lack of enforcement by immigration that has led many falsely to believe you can stay for 7 years, whereas what the law actually is is " you cannot ( generally) stay for more than 7 years. Blame the boards and the politicians, not rollover.
What's the big deal, I mean
What's the big deal, I mean Mac still has a job doesn't he? The pay is not all that good and he gets very little appreciation for all his valiant efforts and the pension sucks (pun intended) but it IS a job right?
Man it is so hard to get a
Man it is so hard to get a job!
The last one I had they made me turn up 5 days a week and then do all this crap while I was there! It was unbelievable.
I would get a new one but I just got a loan to buy this new leather couch and big screen tv and it's not gonna watch itself ! Back to Judge Judy...
hope the loan was from Dart,
hope the loan was from Dart, then there will be public outrage if he tries to collect
Sick Individual...find
Sick Individual...find something more constuctive to do with your wasted time..
Lighten up buddy!
Lighten up buddy!
Cayman it is time to face the
Cayman it is time to face the facts about our people and our country. We must admit to ourselves that there is a genuine problem in our country where our people, yes, our very own people is the biggest problem here and not the expat workers. Before continuing I will admit that there are a few, a very small segment of our unemployed, that truely find themselves in a situation where they cannot find gainful employment in the field of there choice, but to say that they cannot find a job is hogwash. One can honestly say that "I am qualified in a certain area, field etc. and cannot find a job for which I am certfied to do" but to say you cannot find a job is an untruth. For if a person truely wanted to work and make an honest dollar, they would do any job, from garbage collection, to dishwasher, to working at a fast food restaurant, to waitressing, to bar tending, to cashier, to cleaning/domestic work, washing cars, even down to scrubbing floors one would do, IF one truely wanted a job.
The Caymanians will sit and complain about the lowly paid expat taking all the jobs, yet if you offered them the position they would refuse it, because they think they would be looked down upon. Admit it Cayman, it is not the expat that stands in our way, it is our own negativity and petty hatred towards others. We are truely our own worst enemy. We continue to hurt ourselves every time we bash the expats for it only breeds divide.
Stop the whining, get off your touché and get out there. Find a job at the car wash, find a job at burger king, KFC, Wendy's. I am sure that Foster's would love to reduce their work-permit fees and hire a Caymanian. And if you truely were interest in one specific job, approach the employer and offer your service for free, ask them to give you a trial period at your own expense to prove to them that you are truely interested, and have the desire to do the job. I am sure there are a lot of Local and foreign employers who would give you a shot if you were truely interested and proved yourself to be honest, hardworking, ambitious AND DEPENDABLE.
If a person was truely interested in and had a passion in something, nothing could or would stand in their way. We would go to the employer and say, Mr/Ms. So and so I really want to work in your establishment, i am willing to prove to you that I am serious about this, I will work for 1, 2,3 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, however long it takes to prove to you that I am serious about this. And if you are satisfied with me after that I will do my endeavor best to be the best employee that you have ever had. I will come to work every day, I will not call in sick for the slightest thing, I will not chat on my cell phone all day long, I will not whine about every single thing under the sun, I will always have a positive attitude, I will make you proud, I will make you wish you had ten more like me. I will give you my all, at all times, all day, everyday working day.
We have Caymanians that leave a job because " I do not like my boss, I can't stand her/him, I do not want to work with expats..., look ya, they wanted me to work overtime ya know...she want come and tell me what to do...oh no Bo Bo ....who she think she is...she think she better than me....this my country, I na taking orders from no body.... I was sick, my toe was hurting... I am carrying this to the extreme to say that, we complain about all things, we refuse to look at all things positive, like - i am so happy to be alive, to have breath in my body, to live and work in paradise, to have friends and family thank God that i was not born in Africa, where people are starving to death, or Cuba where people are unable to travel freely, or even our mother country the UK where we have to pay taxes (could not help but throw that in).
Caymanians what I am saying is, we are one of the luckiest people in the world, we live on a beautiful Island. Let's appreciate for a change and not hate. Get up, pretend that you had absolutedly no one to take care of you, imagine you were on a deserted island and had to fend for yourself and had no one. Find a job, any job, stick to it, work hard until you can find something else better and more to your choice, it might take time, but you can achieve all things if you really want it. Stop playing the blame game of who's fault it is. For you are hurting no one but yourselves.
In closing I will say - it is not the Governments job to find work for you, it is their job to provide you with opportunities which they are trying very hard to do. If you want anyone to blame, blame the persons out there who are attempting at all turns to stop projects i.e. port and hospital in east end, dock in George Towm, roads in West Bay, new business to the Island, calling investagations on investors giving monies to help people in need of losing their homes etc. For we need these projects for the people to find jobs and opportunities. As our population grows we need more then anything to grow investment in this country, for we cannot stop our people (Caymanians) not expats from having children and increasing the population. So we need to encourage outward and inward investment for the country to continue to grow. If we continue to bash the expats who will eventually get enough and leave or not come at all, all we are hurting is ourselves and no one else.
May God continue to Bless the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people, including the expats who seek to make this country there home.
I never knew there were such
I never knew there were such negative feelings about ex-pats in your country. i am from Canada, not an impovrished country by any means, our employment rate is quite high, I have a very well paying job and live quite 'comfortably' (60k/yr), that being said I would pick garbage up to get by and live in a hut if that meant I was residing in your beautiful country. By reading some comments I think you are all getting caught up in what you dont have as opposed to thinking about what you do have. You all live in a virtual paradise. If you have a roof over your head and some food for your stomach, you should wake up with a smile and an appreciation of being alive somewhere so amazing!
The most thoughtful, honest
The most thoughtful, honest and intelligent post I have ever read. 100% spot on!
Some interesting points have
Some interesting points have been raised but this conversation is in dire need of some balance.
I trust those that will offer up their snide remarks will bear in mind the reality of the unemployment situation in the USA, UK, Spain, Greece etc. (Over 25% of British under 25's are currently unemployed! In Spain I believe it is 1 in 3 - maybe even 50% by now.)
All of those nations have recently witnessed major nation-wide protests, riots, arson, demonstrations and anarchy as a result of the failed policies of their respective governments.
In a nutshell, over the past few decades politicians and "leaders" collectively decided, perhaps subconsciously in some instances, that the foundation upon which their great nations were built - hard, manual, physical labour e.g. manufacturing - is now worthless and "education" is the key to (personal) success.
Whereas that may be true for themselves, their families, and those within their immediate circle - that attitude has had a disastrous effect on the masses of the people in this world - regardless of country!
Such "lowly" jobs were phased out or sent overseas to "lowly" parts of the world and as a result so were the prospects of hundreds of millions of people - with the worst affected being the young and "inexperienced".
(E.g. Try finding a human bank cashier in the UK or Europe today. The majority of transactions are done by machines now ... even real-time CASH DEPOSITS! Today you have to go specialist branches for such (humanised) services ... unless of course you happen to live in the lower-income areas of the city / country.)
Here in Cayman, as we have never had a strong presence of argriculture or manufacturing, we have not seen a phenomenon of "out-sourcing" of jobs and services, but instead we have seen one of the "in-sourcing" of cheap labour ... unfortunately, the results are the same.
The western model of "government" and "progress" has fantastically failed and interestingly, it was their biggest and brightest at the controls for all this time. So much for all that "education is the key" mumbo-jumbo huh?
Yes, education is the key on an individual basis, however, when we place arrogant educated individuals at the helm of "S.S. Mankind" we are left with the mess that is facing the (western) world today.
Adding to the local situation is that of prejudice, good old classic Western "racism", glass ceilings, extra-Caymanian patriotism, local (Caymanian) greed, callous disregard for the welfare of others ... but of course these particular issues will be outrightly rejected by many readers.
Lastly, we cannot overlook the fact that many westerners - not solely "Caymanians", as a well traveled and non-prejudiced individual will understand that this is an issue in many nations today - as a result of the official stance and attitude by way of their governments and leaders consider certain jobs to be below them. A sense of entitlement is the greatest threat to our young people today. E.g. The 2011 nationwide riots of the UK in particular. (The hottest items on those days were mobile phones, TV's, video games, stereos and designer clothing! The young and White majority of rioters in Manchester, Liverpool, Salford etc. were not very concerned about the fate of young, Black Mark Duggan from Tottenham, London - no, they were more concerned about getting their hands on the latest Iphone.)
However, this issue is compounded by the shameful remuneration attached to certain jobs. (This is where the ever-declining reality of the western economic / banking system comes into play but that issue is too complex to delve into at the moment.)
The "system" that surrounds us all was not designed with the majority of people in mind - instead it was created by those at the top for those at the top.
It is one that dictates an honest, tax-paying, and hardworking bus driver, construction worker, or plumber should never enjoy the peace and respect of owning his or her own home.
Absolutely shameful in my opinion.
The fact remains that the "highly educated" in society has always been and will always be outnumbered by the "less-educated".
I believe that there is much room for movement between the incomes of the business owners / company (firm) directors and that of the average worker within our local environment.
We are facing a growing number of socioeconomic issues in this tiny country and if something is not done we will all be going down with this ship.
It makes absolutely no sense for my parents to have witnessed their children grow up in a much improved environment that they could have never dreamt possible, for me to now be greatly concerned about the ever decreasing prospects for not only my children but even my generation.
Furthermore, even if myself and my own are doing well, but the majority of my friends and extended family are suffering - in my opinion that is a failure on the part of my society as a whole. I take no pleasure in such a reality.
It only takes a clear and open mind to see where we are going wrong. Hopefully we will be able to learn from the mistakes of other "greater" countries and get our situation back on the right track.
However, this will require much effort on the part of not only our government but the local employers, workers, residents and parents as well.
- Whodatis
Most forward thinking
Most forward thinking commentators tolerate or ignore your verbal diahorrea and bizarre conspiracy theories within the Cayman Islands. Because we, as residents, can actually see what is going on in this country and the actions and attitudes of those who live here, whether positive or negatively inclined. However, surfing the internet and spouting irrelevent garbage about a country you obviously hate will not wash with those who know much better and actually lived through those events.
Your stupid and racially biased comment in regard to 'young, Black Mark Duggan' was disgraceful. Duggan was actually of mixed race NOT black and was a known and active gangster who carried firearms to enforce his cowardly will on innocents and criminals alike. His colour should not be the issue, his lifestyle and behaviour absolutely should be and his death, although regrettable, was of his own making. 'The young and White majority of rioters' is also a racially aggrevating comment that is fundamentally untrue. As someone who was born and breed in Croydon, South London and witnessed some of the worst examples of rioting in the country, I can state categorically that the vast majority of rioters that night were of Afro-Caribbean and Asian decent. All issues relating to firearms were commited by the same and the murder of a young black rioter was attributed to a rival gang of black youths.
Take a look at the wanted posters that went up on TV and the internet after the rioting. There weren't that many white faces looking back at us, a fact lost on the apologists for that August week in 2010.
It is true that some of the participants were indeed white or members of other racial groups. That was only to be expected when the scum of white society look up to the gangster stereotypes that have corrupted suburban and city life in the UK. If you really knew your subject and you obviously don't, you would know that all of the towns and city's that you have quoted in your diatribe are well known in the UK for their racial tensions and high immigrant populations. White's are out numbered in many of these areas and completely non-existent in others, so don't try and pull the race card on those who really understand what it's like to live in a racially divided society and where you are definately a minority in the crowd.
They say that we should learn from our mistakes, well, as a UK citizen I believe we are. We have finally woken to the fact that we have an immoral and feral underclass at work in our midst. We have identified that for too long we have aplogised for history and the past deeds of our ancestors. Those people who came from around the world to populate our city's came for a better life and most of them found it. Unfortunately, their grandchildren have grown up on a diet of left wing propaganda and apologist agendas, consequently believing that they have an entitlement without responsibility. Most of the idiots taking part in those riots where in employment, with a national minimum wage of CI$13.00 an hour, not exactly poor by UK standards. It was their greed and anti social behaviour that was to blame, not their income or that of highly skilled businessmen. It is just another example of blaming everyone else for the behaviour of a few, they are the ones who are wrong and they should pay the price.
And in regard to your blinkered view of cause and effect, these delinquents think more about gangster rappers and celebrity than they do about bankers and others who get up and actually do a days work. Most of them couldn't spell 'shameful remuneration', let alone understand what it means.
Sorry Whodatis, you've got it so wrong this time buddy. You've spouted off about a subject that you have no experience of and a country of which you clearly have no understanding. Your anti colonial rantings are normally amusing and benial, however if you think that blaming the UK for all of Cayman's problems is the way to achieve respectability, you are delusional. Yes, the UK has made mistakes, but we are a large population with many of the social issues found in most developed country's around the world. There is no panacea for all ills, you just have to keep learning and taking advise from those who are wiser, even if you have to swallow your pride.
The UK has nothing to apologise for and nothing to be ashamed of. We are a proud nation and a truly great country, with a very long history and rich culture that is the envy of the world. And frankly, we don't care what you think. We will be out of recession and will have reduced our deficit years before Cayman gets its act together. If you spent more time listening instead of moaning, you might learn something and get this country back on its feet. One things for sure, like the UK you will have to take a look deep inside and confront your preconceived and misguided notions of nationhood.
Instead of indulging in your persistant whinging and persecution complex, perhaps you could give the world your highly prized socio-economic and fiscal package that will cure Cayman for ever. But that's the point, you don't have one and you never will, so put up or shut up.
All too true, Whodatis!
All too true, Whodatis!
Whodatis, totally agree with
Whodatis, totally agree with your article for most part and that:
""Adding to the local situation is that of prejudice, good old classic Western "racism", glass ceilings, extra-Caymanian patriotism, local (Caymanian) greed, callous disregard for the welfare of others ... but of course these particular issues will be outrightly rejected by many readers."
However, have you really listened, spoke to any of those in construction, plumbing etc; especially those who have recently moved to Cayman? Trust me, in my opinion there are many 'skilled, unskilled workers' with their own mortgage free homes, several lots of land in Cayman and homes in their native countries. so again, maybe a distinction between native Caymanians and others is crucial for really understanding this problem. It is not only those with top positions doing better.
So to say....."It is one that dictates an honest, tax-paying, and hardworking bus driver, construction worker, or plumber should never enjoy the peace and respect of owning his or her own home." may be too general a statement when probably less than 10% 'native Caymanians are in these professions and unlikely to be the success stories. Technically yes we have to include the status holders, who have those jobs and many are allowed flexible schedules to keep their secure civil service posts too.
think we'll see the 'mess' when the serious demand is made on pensions, healthcare and other social service programmes several years from now, hope you're willing to pay for all the new hardworking Caymanians.
Are you serious, NATIVE
Are you serious, NATIVE CAYMANIANS, there are no such people? You are all immigrants of mixed race and backgrounds, unless you can trace your direct lineage to the original settlers without racial dilution. And even then, you are not NATIVES just decendants. These islands were only lightly populated up until comparitively recent times, the growth came from further immigration and inter marriage between new arrivals. It would be like calling the white population of Australia, native Australians. We all know that Native Australians are Aboriginals as we do that Native Americans are the American Indians, not the subsequent settlers or immigrants.
You have no native Caymanian genetic trace, only a mix of races/cultures and that does not constitute a NATIVE population or indiginous peoples. So the fact is that you are ALL expats from one source or another, how's the hypocracy feeling now?
So if so many Caymanians have
So if so many Caymanians have there minds and hopes set high- why encourage our education and go to college? Just teach us our 123 and abc, mathenatics, written english and then set a diploma in our hand.
hmmmm...... My parents raised me in a nice home with my own room and then i go to school, university come back home to get a minimum wage and shack up with 6-8 other people working on shifts. Now that something to look forward too. Cayman is one of the only countries i see a foreigner come in and get a express permit approved in 24hrs.
Ahh shame, obviously didn't
Ahh shame, obviously didn't get the right degree then. If the demand is there, why shouldn't a permit be issued in 24 hours, must be that your qualifications weren't needed eh? With so many spelling and grammatical errors within your comment, you should definately continue with that education or you'll never get that top job that you feel you are so entitled to as a Caymanian.
The figure is much higher as
The figure is much higher as a few hundred Caymanians did not register with the labour board. I have sent out over 80 applications and heard back from 4 in the last 3 years.
Its either no credentials and when you do , then the excuse is you have no experience. Only to be interviewed and disappointed as it was a tactic to renew a work permit. There are many Caymanians out there who are just lazy,no work ethic and not qualified and we decent job seekers suffer as we are labeled.
Yeah right. They don't even
Yeah right. They don't even know how much money the country has, there are no accounts and it took 2 years to publish the census. Why should we believe this figure either?
I will get many thumbs down
I will get many thumbs down for this comment but the REAL problem here is that you have Caymanians looking for work however their expectations with salary, shifts etc are unreal. They come out of school and want to make $3K per month. they cant work nights, holidays or weekends. They constantly call in sick with every excuse in the book. They spend countless minutes on their cell phones. They have a member of the opposite sex disrupting them at the workplace and the list goes on. I acknowledge that there are those persons out there who are GENUINELY looking work- however their positive demeanor is over-shadowed by the negativity above. Why would I hire a Caymanian at $10 an hour and know that I will have constant issues with him versus me hiring an expat for $5 an hour and I know that my job is going to get done- it is simple economics. The other issues here is that the DER Job Placement Unit needs to be tagged with Immigration as the right hand has no clue what the left hand is writing.
I'll give you a thumbs up,
I'll give you a thumbs up, because that is the way it is. Very sad.
That's what happens if you
That's what happens if you pay someone to sit on their butt all day, drink beer and go fishing. Stop all welfare for those who refuse to take a position appropriate to their education, experience and ability. Most of those unemployed are unemployable due to poor education, drink and drug abuse, criminal behaviour and a complete lack of motivation or moral fibre. Expats aren't to blame for an obvious gap in your employment requirement, nor are the multi-nationals that utilise Cayman's services. How is it that with some of the most draconian immigaration laws on the planet and a strict requirement that Caymanians should be given first refusal at any interview, results in 3000 people out of work? I'll tell you why, it's because they never appied in the first place as most of the service industry in this country is poorly paid and so completely reliant on expat labour who work hard and don't have such an over inflated opinion of themselves. I'd rather be served by someone who has a strong work ethic and the courage to travel half way around the world to seek employment than a whinging Caymanian who can't get out of bed in the morning, turns up when they feel like it and thinks the world owes them a living. Stop blaming everyone else for your own inadequate policies and attitudes, the jobs are there, where are you?
So lets see the Immigration
So lets see the Immigration department says they dealt with some 19,000 work permits last year. And yet we have 10% unemployment Caymanians.
Now I will admit that we have some Caymanians that are lazy that applies to all people.
I will admit that we have Caymanians that are not educationaly qualified to command some jobs.
However it seems as if a number of you are saying that all caymanians are this way which is completly untrue. It satisfies your arguement.
Now unless 19,000 helpers needed their work permits renewed at once and because the number of work permits is listed for an entire year it would be fair to say that the 19,000 work permits represents a spectrum of jobs in the Cayman Islands. And yet we have such a high precentage approved.
Our problem here has always been the Immigration department. So when these companies put down on the work permits that they tried to get Caymanians you believe them and when they say that they are training a caymainian for the job you believe them.
Gee I have a wonderful house lot for your new Hurricane proof home out on the reef.
Wake up
No, it doesn't suit our
No, it doesn't suit our argument, its our experience and widely known amongst employers.You have a cultural problem that needs attention, until then you need expats, like it or not.
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