Mac clinging to expat tax
Posted on Sat, 08/04/2012 - 12:28 in Politics
(CNS): Updated -- Despite the statement from the representatives of the business community on Saturday morning, the premier has not yet given up on the proposed tax on work permit holders' earnings. In a short statement in the afternoon McKeeva Bush said he had not yet agreed to stop the tax. "The proposed Community Enhancement Fee will only be withdrawn if alternative revenue measures that do not affect the ordinary Caymanian can be implemented," Bush said, adding that further announcements would be made on Monday night at a public meeting at the Mary Miller Hall at 7:30. However, on Saturday evening the business group released a further statement denying that they had “jumped the gun” over the tax withdrawl.
The group signed by Woody Foster and six others stated that they were "unable at this time to explain the discrepancy between the news reports" and the clear understanding it has in writing with the premier.
The business leaders said the earlier press release had also been agreed by the premeir before it was issued.
Check back to CNS for more on this developing story.
Email this pageViewpoints
Latest Classifieds
- Cayman Brac Braccanal Parade – Traffic Advisory
- Fs:BB Porsche P9881,BB Q-10,Z-10 BBM PIN CHAT (29309170)
- Shop/Office For Rent
- Grand Court Juror Report Date Changed
- Summer Camps
- Apple Iphone 5 64gb,Samsung Galaxy S4,BB Porsche P\\\'9981,Blackberry Z10
- For Sale Brand New Apple Iphone 5 64gb,Samsung Galaxy S4,BB Porsche P\\\'9981,Blackberry Z10
- New Apple iPhone 5 ,BlackBerry Q10 and Samsung Galaxy S4
- PUBLIC NOTICE
- WTS:Blackberry Porsche Design,Blackberry Q10,Z10 With Vip Pin
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
- Wow. What a headcase. Jom
14 hours 28 min ago - If there was a theft of 1
14 hours 41 min ago - Don't forget to add Winston
14 hours 41 min ago - Oh hell nah....ban it on the
14 hours 45 min ago - McKeeva Bush, Dr. Mac, the
14 hours 46 min ago - Thats all you gutless wonders
14 hours 49 min ago - Or bent!
14 hours 49 min ago - Check was returned. No degree
14 hours 52 min ago - I think you mean their moral
14 hours 53 min ago - Would you still vote for him
14 hours 58 min ago
Search
Join Our Mailing List
Follow CNS via ...
Facebook Twitter RSS
Comments
Did not stop macslime from
Did not stop macslime from going to jJmaica with his cronies to party all paid for by us.
What an absolute lowlife this guy is
lower than a snake belly in a
lower than a snake belly in a wagon rut, as Jed Clampett would say
The expats just don't realise
The expats just don't realise how good they have it. They have somewhere to go, I don't. I have to stay here and endure the stupidity of government. I didn't vote for Mac and never will. The current voting system and the ones he buys pretty much guarantees his election. So please stop bitching about how much less money you make and how we dumb caymanians cant manage without you. Of course we can, it will just be very different.
I am sure everyone thinks the
I am sure everyone thinks the samething...we have how many MLA's and UDP's in office collecting a good monthly salary and doing absolutely nothing for this country??? Get rid of them, we don't need the dead weight and add up on how much we will save on a monthly basis not paying then their salaries!!!
Wake up Cayman, does anyone know who Captain Eugene is?? Oh yeah he is UDP from west bay...lol
Different in a Nassau or
Different in a Nassau or Kingston kind of different.
Try get a UK passport, then
Try get a UK passport, then you wouldn't be stuck.
Actually you do have
Actually you do have somewhere to go. You could take your British passport and go to the UK or any of the EU countries. You would have to pay tax wherever your dumb a** ended up but you would enjoy free schooling for your children, free healthcare and you would never have to vote at all. Or you could give up your British passport and apply for a visa waiver each time you want to visit the US. Your choice bobo.
And with your attitude in
And with your attitude in calling me a dumb a#@. How is that going to help? I didnt call anyone any names, just stated my opinion.
This is my home, this is
This is my home, this is where I was born, this is my country. I dont want to be anywhere else do I not have that right? My loyalty lies with my country just as I sure yours would. Im just tired of hearing about expats and how bad it will be for them. because it is bad for Caymanians too!
I don't understand the thumbs
I don't understand the thumbs down here. This person makes a good point, and is not being antagonistic to we expats. How about a little empathy?
i think the first sentence
i think the first sentence condemned this writer to a thumbs down, all are wishing they did not after reading it all, has to be that.
"...without you. Of course
"...without you. Of course we can, it will just be very different."
Yes, I agree, very different indeed. Be careful what you ask for.
Independence? A KYD that is worth $0.02 USD? No Cayman middle class, just obsenely rich and destitute?
Why can't you leave?
Why can't you leave?
My dear people, Mac has to
My dear people, Mac has to make it sound like he has to be "convinced" that poor Caymanians won't be hurt by the proposal - he has to give the impression that he has to ensure the alternatives won't affect them, yeah, right. So even if he agreed privately with the 5 businessmen/women that had the meeting with him, to take the expat tax off the table, he still has to milk it for all it is worth, it seems, to make us believe he is only looking out for the interests of poor Caymanians. All these soundbites he throws out, to try and make himself look good, while it seems had no intentions to introduce an expat tax all along. My feeling is he was praying the FCO would come out and say you have to implement payroll tax on EVERYBODY, not just expats, or another alternative like property tax, value added tax, etc. That way he can turn around and blame the UK for forcing his hand to tax his own people and not just expats. So he can say "Look people, I tried my best, but my hands were tied, I had no choice but to take instructions from Mother Country." So he can go win the next election. This is all about the voting come May 2013, he is trying to save his job so that he can complete the deals with Dart, CHEC, etc. that are supposed to be sooooo good for this country. Yeah right. And the moon is made of blue cheese.
The chances of the UDP
The chances of the UDP winning the next election are as thin as a slice of air. Their fate has been sealed. Everyone now knows they cannot be trusted.
Is it true that they are now
Is it true that they are now looking at yearly property taxes for values of over $500,000 and excluding generational undeveloped lands?
Generational undeveloped
Generational undeveloped lands should be at the top of the taxation list because the poor economic use of such an important asset in a small island economy is hamrful to the the economy as a whole.
Chuckster.. ......Help needs
Chuckster.. ......Help needs to be on the way now !!!
Can someone please blog to
Can someone please blog to say whether the Chamber of Commerce has stated a position view on the Community Enhancement Fee?
Stating a view/position on the Fee is entirely within the Chamber's domain becuase the Fee will affect businesses: it certainly had a very publicly stated position on One Man One Vote Referendum, which was outside the Chamber's arena!!
Can anyone state whether the Chember of Commerce has put its view foward on the Community Enhance Fee?
YES - The Chamber has
YES - The Chamber has released a statement:
http://caymanislandskycoc.weblinkconnect.com/cwt/External/WCPages/WCNews/NewsArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1433
We are Doomed. None of this
We are Doomed.
None of this tax talk will "Destroy Cayman". It will just Detroy Cayman as You Knew it"
Adding taxes in tax-haven, even merely threatening to, is the Mother of all screw-ups. It is the arrogance of the government and the Country's citizenry to think that changing a cultural philosophy, sooooo near and dear to the hearts of everyone here and that it will pass without consequence.
I have often heard it said that Cayman is a very special place. It is indeed! Where in the Caribbean can you find a Country with such advanced infrastructure, with such a community minded populace and with good restaurants and air transport links. There are no tax havens like this.
BUt changing this core tennet of taxation will forever change the Country you knew, the services you can get here, the things that make it livable and great.. Your Country's politicians are tinkering with the heart of what makes Cayman work - and acting like it will not change anything here.
McKeeva Bush is such a coward. Such a shame of a man that he doesn't have a shred of courage to face his people, his governor, and say "We have to stop the spending" "We have to cut the civil service and government expenditure".. Were he brave enough to say those words, the Country would be saved or at least clutched from the path toward doom.
Constantly clanging the tax saber, and spending like a drunken sailor, this will all destroy Cayman eventually. We are on the path to a very bad outcome in this Country - a brick wall that will crush the Island as we knew it if we can't STOP THE SPENDING>
Reality Bites, I agree with
Reality Bites, I agree with you what is needed is not taxes but rather auster measures, cut civil servants and their benefits by 1/2, reduce spending, cut social services, reduce costs to business and open up to huge developments so that the government can gain more money from work permits. Absolutely no taxes this will destroy this country look around at how many courtries are destroyed by taxes. I don't see a single country in the world that have direct taxation that is better than Cayman or have a higher standard of living than us. I am for no taxes rather I welcome a cut in the civil service and social services. Overseas medical for people who do not have the means should stop. Cayman hospital is excellent better than any in the region so they can stay here and this will save the government lots of money and they won't have to introduce tax and destroy this country.
The 4 problems why the
The 4 problems why the Government is broke :
1) Immigration system is not working for proper fairness in employment for Caymanians and task force can enforce the laws. No data base exists for all Caymanians to brings in their credentials or resumes or update them to cross reference with expats allpying for the same job.They could also update the system if they are currently employed or not. No full time Immigration board. Business licenses Categories need to be refinded. If you have a retail license you can pretty much sell any product if trendy to make a little extra cash.
2) Customs is the gateway for revenue which there are no laws against the import of counterfeit products and proper control and diligence when importing by plane or by sea. # million dolars worth of boats sitting around. I am sure they catch someone with information and not by surpirse.
3) Cayman Airways - Opening new routes and hoping for the local residents to support when you have one leg of the flight returning empty. Money flowing out of the country and none coming back in. Same with Holidays.(I would double fairs off the island on Holidays)
4) Our Government representatives are just not visioning the global market looking at the world wide situation and economics to make sound decisons on investments. Overpaid and not showing up for work or certain person jetsetting around the world and making excuses to attract potential investors.
When you have less poeple making over 36K a year you will have less consumption in mainly GAS and then you will lose from your 25 cents tax. More morgages cant be paid, more foreclosures, more crime, less tourists, less attrative to visit or invest. less construction, less everything...Then to make ends meet expats from economic stricken countries will look here for work because its way betetr and safer and pay than 36K a year and then what? You keep lowering the cap? and then what more people start cooking the books. and then what Immigration cant keep up with it because there understaffed or task force is too small. And then what...come again with another brainy idea or another band aid to patch the gushing wound.
I once saw the most beautiful
I once saw the most beautiful rose growing out of the ugliest pile of manure you could ever imagine. Seeing it made me think that maybe there is hope for Cayman after all
This man not real. He
This man not real. He partying in Jamaica independence in the middle of a national budget crisis. While he leave the rest of us with task of coming up with alternatives to tax to present to HIM.. Wtf
Bumboclaat madman!
Unna Caymanians going take this kind of behaviour?!
Never in my born days!
U ever hear any ras foolishness like this yet?!
Dear Premier, Somethimes less
Dear Premier, Somethimes less is more. You could ease the burden on the ordinary Caymanian and at the same time increase government revenue by eliminating all fuel taxes and reducing duties back to 20%. Cutting work permit fees would also reduce the cost of goods and services to the rest of us which would result in increased public spending and renewed revenue growth for government.
I know it sounds hard to believe but you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Look at it this way, all of the increases you have made during your tenure have not helped. I suggest they had the opposite effect and resulted in less than expected revenue. You may wish to think different now to see how that works.
Less is more.
"...unable at this time to
"...unable at this time to explain the discrepancy between the news reports..."
The explaination is simple, McKeeva Bush is not a man of his word or his signature.
Cut the NationBuilding Fund.
Cut the NationBuilding Fund. Mac's vote buying slush fund. If Mac wsas genuine about cutting wastful spending that would be the first to go. I know the preachers will disagree with me on this one.
Here is my take on this whole
Here is my take on this whole situation. I am a Caymanian born and bred lest anyone think differently.
Over the past 20 years or so I have seen our country go from one where it's people worked for a living and to seek help from government was unheard of unless you were indigent or in some other dire circumstance. Cayman today, however, has changed, we have now grown a generation or should I say generations who have grown up with a silver spoon in their mouth believing that they live in a land of milk and honey and that it should all be handed to them whether they work for it or not. Each successful government has continued to tell our people that they will have the jobs but they do nothing to properly educate them or get them qualified for jobs across the wortk spectrum. Instead what we have done is grow generations of people who believe that they are entitled to jobs of any kind whether or not they are qualified or not. This has caused resentment against the expats who have come here to take up both the jobs that the Caymanians don't want and the ones that the Caymanians are not qualified to do. The government in turn because it needs the money fom the work permits don't necessarily do anything to help the situation instead they make promises and give social assistance to those who are unable to find work or who are not qualified.
We have now developed a country where the majority of its people depend on the government for some sort of assistance. The politicians in turn use this dependence to keep them in power simply by keeping them on the gravy train.
There are a great many educated, qualified and good Caymanians out there, that yes, sometimes get overlooked by employers for the expats but only us, the Caymanian employers, can do something about that.
The solution to this whole mess cannot happen today or tomorrow but will take some time. What we have to do is educate our people, and not just high school, It must be mandatory that every child continue to some form of higher education or learn some skill that they can use throughout their lives. The one thing that no one can take away from us is our education and once we possess it we can use it and we can improve on it. Without higher education and learning our people will remain as they are, dependent on the government.
This is not a UDP or PPM problem even though they attribute to it. It is not an Expat or Caymanian problem. It is an education problem. Educate our people properly to take their position in society and these ill wills will diminish. We must though, free ourselves from the high dependence on government to provide everything for us. Just think how much money we could save if the socil services department cut back to one tenth of it's present budget.
I agree with you
I agree with you whole-heartedly.
It is ONLY the Education of our people that will be the long-term solution to our downward spiral, however .....
One cannot force people to educate themselves anymore than one can force a horse to drink water. What we need to create is the Desire for our people to Improve themselves and their situation.
Having 8,000 of our people on some form of Government BENEFITS in an island with just 33,000 Caymanians is ludicrous. That is almost 1/4 of all Caymanians !
If just $1,000.00 is given per person per annum, that is CI$8 million per year.
"Give a man a fish, feed him for today. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life".
We are not talking about poor indegent persons with no opportunity or means of providing for themselves.
It is the JOB of Govt. create Opportunity for its people to provide for themselves, NOT to be providing for them daily.
Like toilet paper clinging
Like toilet paper clinging to...
Mr.Bush has choosen the
Mr.Bush has choosen the accurate solution to assist with increasing the employment rate.
Even though most expats will disagree with this decision that Mr.Bush has made, they have to keep in mind it's a lot cheaper than the normal taxes most would have to pay back home.
This decision will help the Caymanians who want employment, to become employed this decision should have been put into motion long ago however this is a start and a very good start and as for Mr.Bush these are the choices you should continue to make this is what the locals appreciate you doing for us the people of your homeland also known the Cayman Islands.
As for the expats please give us Caymanians a chance to shine in our own country.
And not feel forgotten or neglected by those who have control over our country.
Kudos Mr.Bush keep up the good work.
Actually I disagree that this
Actually I disagree that this tax would be less than I would pay at home. At home the % might be higher however out of that I would receive school for my two children, medical coverage and my house insurance would be a fraction of what it is now.
If I add up those expenses they are already higher than the tax rate back home (most of the financial benefit of being here fades once the children arrive), therefore if the government takes more of my salary without any benefit to me and my property value plumments, other places look better. I can work anywhere, once the math no longer works, I will.
The damage this man has
The damage this man has single-handedly done to the Cayman Islands will take a generation to undo. His UDP henchman must share blame: they are accessories to his crimes.
There are not enough words in
There are not enough words in all the languages of this world that the Premier could use to try to undo the damage he has done. Any further run for political office would be futile.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/05/cayman-expat-tax_n_1744053.html
I guess the whole world knows now!!! and we sure know what they think of us!!!!
Regardless what we think of
Regardless what we think of him, never the less the media is printing that he isn't implementing the tax to the expats, where some business owners are stating he isn't going through with it....can someone explain how can one say it isn't and what says it is???
Welcome to the cayman islabds
A generation is roughly 25
A generation is roughly 25 years. if he signs deals with CHEC and Dart with 50 year commitments it will take at least two generations to get out of it probably never to recover. Cayman will be gone and Darttania will be the new norm.
It is entirely unfair that
It is entirely unfair that our Government has over spent and now needs additional income to further run the country.
But truth is, Caymanians have recieved benefits just like those of the higher income earning foreigners, who state they LOVE this country but will betray this nation and leave, -IF- they have to fork over 10% of their yearly salaries!
As a Caymanian I have no qualms with the expat. tax, rather I fully support it considering many arrive only for the dollar and leave, and many want to stay ONLY BECAUSE of our Tax free status.
However should this tax be handed over to me, A very hardworking Caymanian who is NOT Wealthy by any means, I will have to pay it, and I will have to stay!
But for now, I see this expatriate tax as fair, and one that is direly needed considering the times that we are now in economically.
Should my fellow expatriate workers want to kick up and call this tax racist DO repatriate by all means, do go on your strike and do stand by your word, and DO remember to leave!!
As we don't need ingenuine people mixing with our Caymanian people, who genuinely love their country and will remain in it through THICK AND THIN!
The Cayman Islands has been good to many an expatriate, AND we will continue to welcome those who desire to contribute in any means necessary, FOR the benefit of this beloved country.
Thanks, And please vote for
Thanks, And please vote for MAC, AGAIN
racism and discrimination are
racism and discrimination are two different things - I have not seen anyone sugget this idea is racist. It is discriminatory though. I believe you need to also educate yourself on what you think the average ex-pat earns. Yes, there are a very small minority who earn ridiculously high salaries but the vast majority live hand to mouth each week or month just like you claim to. They simply choose to do that in Cayman as beyond all the high cost of living, bickering and politricks it is actually not a bad place to live you know.
This issue is only suceeding
This issue is only suceeding in bringing out some very ugly and inflamitory comments on both sides here. The more insulting they become the more polarised the factions become. A trade of insults is not a healthy way to debate anything. The problem appears that this has become the norm following the example of politicians here. I am an ex-pat and I came here to make money. I am prepared to contribute some of my earnings to a society that is inclusive and to which all can contribute and all can gain from. I find it incredible that some folks believe in the entitlement culture so strongly that it has clouded the reality of the roles here. If someone has the skills for a job they should have the oppertunity to do that job, however no one should believe they are able to do certain jobs just by birth. That is plain stupid. By the same token if folks come here and fail to perform in the role they have been given they should lose that position because of proper management and performance reviews. That should include both the public and private sector. I am not in favour of tax in any shape but believe if it comes for one it comes for all. If you don't contribute how can you expect to be allowed to benefit? More importantly why should you be allowed to do so. In many other parts of the world the social assistance type funds are being cut. Here they appear to be growing. Why? And why is it deemed to be socially acceptable that it is being allowed to do so? Will the society here need to re examine itself in the near future and realise that because it took discrimatory action against certain groups it caused a social and economic rupture in itself that not even a skilled surgeon could stitch together. We wait and see.
Ignorant much?
Ignorant much?
Sir or Madame.. you just
Sir or Madame.. you just don't understand how the World and your fair Country work. It is not the magic of God that gave you the wonderful island you have today. It is intelligence, and inward investment and stable economic structure, and equity, and rule of law, and balance and reason.. The cornucopia of choices on your grocer's shelf and the infrastructure and the services that make your fair Country so liveable are all provided because there are enough relatively wealthy expats who spend and spend and spend to keep those services here.
Chase those bright overacheivers away at your peril. Mercifully there are still enough good Caymanians who are well educated enough to understand this reality and nature of ecosystem they control and maintain.
You can't roll out taxes in a hurricane prone tax haven. If you change "the Deal" you made with the foreigners who you lured here with the promise of low-taxes, then the foreigners will change the dewal on you and your future.
If there is one thing that all this tax talk has proven beyond a doubt, it's that Cayman and the Caymanian people need the money and expat investment a whole lot more than they are comfortable admitting, or than the expats need Cayman.
as you keep on telling us
as you keep on telling us you don't want us to stay and then we can only stay for 7 years, you have intentionally marketed Cayman to thise you only want to come for the money
So frankly if you someone to blame for expats leaving if this high dicrimatory tax is imposed, then just look in a mirror
We should they feel loyality to somewhere that has time and again made them feel un wanted.
And you don't HAVE to stay, menay Caymanians have left, the UK gave Caymanians British Passports so you can work and live in the UK and most of Europe and you will pay the same in tax as everyone around you. You will also be able to use all the same services including healthcare and free schools.
You expect only expats to pay your taxes and then deny them use of the same services, very chiristian of you
Caymanians treat expats like a dog you frequently beat, to take out your own inadequances on someone and you think that is treating them well?
To Anonymous (not verified)
To Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 08/05/2012 - 13:27. I too am a proud Caymanian and would suggest that you concentrate on whether income tax is good or bad for Cayman and stop turning this into a" us vs them" debate. Of course there are issues in the workplace that need to be addressed ,but lets not tie it to the tax debate.By the way, we have our own Government to blame for failing to address the numerous issues that have been raised in the past and,surfaced again during this discussion.eg Mr McKeeva Bush has stated that he would like to increase the population of the Cayman Is. to 100,000.To achieve this will mean a huge increase in the expat population (unless Mac finds a way to clone Caymanians).Perhaps at his next meeting you might want to ask him what effect this will have on the Caymanian workforce .Now back to the subject at hand.Just ask yourself "Is income tax good for Cayman no matter who is paying it;Expats only ,Caymanians only ,or Expats and Caymanians alike?"If you answer no to any one of these options,then you should be speaking out against this tax.Thank you..
Mate, you dont get it : such
Mate, you dont get it : such a tax, or indeed anything that worries people overseas ( not expat workers here, but investors overseas) will ruin the whole Cayman economy - the expats are not the issue, its the people in the USA etc who pay for the workers of all nationality here to do their thing. The further worry is that this mess has alerted the world to what a joke the Cayman goverment is, thus already making Cayman a less attractive financial centre to use.
Caymanians are generally lovely. But please wake up to the fact that Grand Cayman is a small flat swampy rock in the middle of nowhere with no natural resources. Cayman has nothing of its own that has made it so rich compared to the rest of the Caribbean - it was simply a blank canvas on which the financial services industry could be painted when the Bahamas committed suicide in like style back in the 60's.
CIG overspending is the issue, not the expats.
Please be careful what you wish for, unless what you wish for is for the next generation of Caymanians to be scratching a living on ships, or fishing in Honduras, like your forefathers (peace be upon them).
McKeeva Bush has truly
McKeeva Bush has truly "Lost the plot' !!
With his HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE reputation and involvment in multiple Police Investigations, he has displayed his Lunacy as well (hopefully for the last time).
Who is McKeeva Bush to state that these Esteemed, Reputable, Hard-working, Patriotic Caymanians with UNQUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY are not speaking the truth?
Here are some of the HIGHLY RESPECTED persons and CAYMANIAN FAMILIES who's Reputation he has INSULTED.
Woody Foster
Brigitte Kirkconnell-Shaughness
Roy McTaggart
Dan Scott
Al Thompson
To bite the very hand that has fed his Political Carreer?
I hope ALL of Cayman (especially the UDP Ministers) are taking heed of this Treachery.
THROW THIS MAN OUT OF OFFICE !!
Many expats can afford to eat
Many expats can afford to eat out in Camana Bay a few times a week. They would not notice a 10% reduction in their salary. Poor Caymanians struggling to make ends meet will notice a 1% cut in their salary. Keep with the Expat tax Mac
Dumb da dumb dumb... Take a
Dumb da dumb dumb... Take a high school econ class, or at least trust those who have a clue.