Expat tax off table again
Posted on Mon, 08/06/2012 - 18:43 in Politics
(CNS): The premier has stated that he believes he has the commitment from the private sector supporting revenue measures that will not impact the poorest people and will enable him to remove the tax on earnings of work permit holders, which he had called the 'community enhancement fee'. Confusion reigned on all day Monday after conflicting messages were issued to the media about whether or not a group of business leaders had persuaded McKeeva Bush to drop his controversial tax proposal, and it was not until Monday evening that he said the fee was officially off the table. No details have yet been given about the alternatives, which are believed to include more fees on the financial industry and property fees in tourism zones.
In a short statement Monday evening Bush confirmed that the community fee was now off the table as “robust and credible alternatives” had been identified that did not impact poorer Caymanians, but he did not say what they were.
"I will give an update and confirmation on Wednesday evening at the Mary Miller Hall,” Bush said, following the cancellation of the planned Monday night meeting as a result of the weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the Facebook group Caymanians and Expats United Against Taxation submitted a range of possible alternative revenue sources to the premier’s office on Monday afternoon.
“We have come up with some great ideas that are not discriminatory,” said Eden Hurlstone, one of the young Caymanians who founded the group, which lit up the social media scene in Cayman following the premier’s announcement on 25 July that he would be introducing a 10% tax on the earnings of expatriate workers.
“We don’t think it’s right to ask the guests in our country to repair the financial damage which was as a result of mistakes made by both the UDP and the previous PPM administrations,” he said as he called on government to curtail the extravagant spending and produce audited accounts to show the Caymanian people exactly how it was spending the half a billion dollars it collects from the people every year.
Although there has been no confirmation on the alternatives that the premier has accepted, it is understood that they include increased work-permit fees on the financial sector, as well as further increases on the financial industry across the board. There are also suggestions of a property fee that will impact condos in tourism zones, though this had not been officially confirmed.
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Recent Comments
- Wow. What a headcase. Jom
21 hours 14 min ago - If there was a theft of 1
21 hours 27 min ago - Don't forget to add Winston
21 hours 27 min ago - Oh hell nah....ban it on the
21 hours 31 min ago - McKeeva Bush, Dr. Mac, the
21 hours 33 min ago - Thats all you gutless wonders
21 hours 35 min ago - Or bent!
21 hours 35 min ago - Check was returned. No degree
21 hours 39 min ago - I think you mean their moral
21 hours 39 min ago - Would you still vote for him
21 hours 44 min ago
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Comments
The tax may be off, but the
The tax may be off, but the devel is in the detail. Heavens only knows what new levies are coming our way. In all the uproar, what's happened to the pension. If that also goes by the wayside, well, that's a 5% pay reduction plus your employers' contribution which is a 100% return on your investment.
This place gone completely
This place gone completely mad. I hear Ossie on Radio Cayman supporting Mac's Expat Tax. Ossie you running with Mark and the Karate Kid awa ?
How you feel now that even Mac has come to his senses........well maybe thats a stretch. When you coming to yours BoBo ?????
Expat taxes or not, direct
Expat taxes or not, direct taxation will come in the next budget that the UK will approve. I am sure that the UK will reject every budget that does not contain a substantial reduction in expenses and an increase in revenues from a predictiable source. The budget will have to have direct taxes of some kind, income, property or VAT. Sad as it is Caymanians should realise this and face the facts that this is the way forward if we are to get approval from the UK. Sad day indeed but the government must cut cost and increase revenue.
I disagree completely. There
I disagree completely. There are many many options before we get to that.
Don't mention karate to John
Don't mention karate to John John.
XXXX Having said the above,
XXXX
Having said the above, I'm going with the casino theory and a couple of other deals that we all know about but don't talk about and frankly happy to have them come on board but I still say we need to reduce our civil service to what is needed to run a city of a population of 55,000 not the size of one to run a city or country that measures in the millions.
Seriously can we not centralize 3/4 of the duplicate departments and their staff. That staff can go work in the casinos. And if the civil service goes after those of us in the private sector one more time telling us how underpaid they are then we should force them to spend a month in our shoes (the average Caymanian in the private sector) and guess what you won't get to be on your iPhone during work and you may have to work weekends and public holidays and you won't get a lot of training days and you do have to show up and put in a full day's work and you won't get your insurance and your spouses covered 100% and you won't get your pension covered 100% and you will make less money so get over yourselves you may be half of the voting population but guess what there is another half of the voting population and we are getting mighty tired of you all especially when we go and use the services you are supposed to provide us and you treat us like dirt!
The time I learned that CIG
The time I learned that CIG "expropriated" other people’s money held by Banks, just because it were not touched for 7 years (yes, seven not seventy) I knew that I would never invest in this country. It was and is a pure "theft', as Forbes said “CIG got promiscuous spending other people's money" .
The second reason is The Dump- the ticking time bomb that will lead to the environmental catastrophe and endanger my health with a daily dose if carcinogens- in air and water.
Current developments with tax/budget ; hatred towards foreign workers just confirmed that my gut instinct did not fail me.
It was strategy all along.
It was strategy all along. MAC knew what uproar he will cause (and still didnt mind...) but he has something up his sleeve that he would otherwise not be able to get passed... We shall wait and see what he will come up next
Poor Cayman this is the
Poor Cayman this is the begining of the end, kind of remind me of 1974-5 when a group of people began to run out of their country because of what they saw coming and sad to say it did happen. I pray for my beloved island everyday but I must face the fact things are not looking so good. I don't want taxes here without benefits so off I go to Europe or the USA and pay my taxes atleast I will get benefits.
Up his sleeve..?....It's a
Up his sleeve..?....It's a CASINO....!!!
You ain't seen nothing yet
You ain't seen nothing yet baby the worst is yet to come. The chickens coming home to roost, this is the result of the mass status grant in 2004. More people, more demand for services, more spending by government, the pie have to now share in too many pieces. Cayman is on the fast lane to "Third World" welcome to auster measures.
Mac is hanging around ATMs in
Mac is hanging around ATMs in Macau as we speak.
Mr Bush you need to stop
Mr Bush you need to stop drinking that Expatriate coolaide. It had gone to your head. Stop eating out. Something has difinately gone in the food. Eat home.
Mr.Bush is never home long
Mr.Bush is never home long enough for a meal.
I think you are giving him
I think you are giving him too much credit...
sure would be interesting to
sure would be interesting to know what the recommendations of the FS, chief officer, and other high ranking officials in ministry of finance have been ..... of course they are not allowed to speak out ... we all know mac couldnt balance a checquebook , so where have all these proposals come from ????
did mac reject the budget presented to him by Ms sonja and her staff and instead rely on his cronies??? what is it with Finance ???? r they incompetent or does Mac just disregard them ????
I am still waiting to see the
I am still waiting to see the proposals before getting excited.
I am also still waiting to see whether those other party members have the collective strength of character to remove Mac from Cabinet altogether, and add another member of Parliament to Cabinet e.g. Mr. Glidden or even Mr. Miller.
We are supposed to be a first class financial center so why did they put someone who claims not to be a 'financial expert' in charge of our finances?
Please remove him from his post now! Before he does any more damage to our finances, our country, and our reputation.
Come on guys and the Lady Minister - do what is right for the country at this crucial time!
Remove him from Cabinet!!!
PPM party left us in
PPM party left us in financial uncertainty. Now it is the UDP party that is leaving us in national / further financial uncertainty. Vote for an Independent candidate that is humble, listens to people and financial expertise, and cares alot for the people of his country, and you will not be uncertain, because they are transparent and you will know what they stand for. Don't vote off of personality, who you like and who you don't like. Don't vote off of a campaign message, know them, know where they live, how they relate with family, people, and know their history. Don't put in religious nuts. The electorate has to be inform, it is crucial that we get people not with just the brains, but people in there with upright characters, commonsense, and have a deep love and understanding for the citizens of their country. It is the responsibility of news organizations to also report news and investigate entirely the lives of candidates seeking power so people will know. But if I was a voter, I wouldn't follow the media that much either, because I would have to know that person for myself before I vote for him or her. And not just know them or like them, but know their history and how they are with others.
UDP is not going to leave the
UDP is not going to leave the country in financial uncertainty. We can say with a great deal of certainty that they are going to leave it in financial squalour, shambles, ruin..... pick a word, any word.
Oh, I think the last
Oh, I think the last administration did that already.
Whatever PPM did, the last
Whatever PPM did, the last adminstration, UDP did it to the x factor.
Let's see PPM put us in a financial bind yes.
UDP has ruined our reputation, dug us a much deeper hole and burned every bridge along the way.
I personally in my 40 plus years have never even heard of a government as asisnine as this one. I mean take your pick of messes to elaborate on:
1) Deals - Dart, CHEC, Cohen & Cohen - just pick one.
2) Stupid Ideas - DART, CHEC, Mega Quarry, Refinery, TAXES - just pick one
3) Budget Chaos - Never in history. Only UDP can do it.
4) Abuse of Office - Boards being removed. CTC being overstepped.
5) Criminal Investigations - 3 against Premier, 1 against BT MLA and 1 DWI (or DUI) against WB MLA
We must be the laughing stock of the caribbean.
Now look we are attacking other Premiers. Goes to show you just when you thought you had reach the bottom of the barrel you can always reach back for a shovel to reach new depths.
UDP. 2013. There isn't a number they could dream up that would be able to buy my vote.
Flip-ity-flop-ity Easter's on
Flip-ity-flop-ity Easter's on it's way...
It's time for a change. I
It's time for a change. I think all those Caymanians who understand what the real issues are here and are willing to speak out- that's Chaz Hill, Eden Hurlstone, Casey Goff, Nick Pittman, Carolina Ferreira and their supporters- need to take the next step and create a political party that stands opposed to cronyism, self-interest, corruption, waste and incompetence. This country needs fresh blood in the LA; people who are outside the system and have not been tarnished by it. Too many of our MLAs on both sides have had their noses in the trough for far too long and they're only interested in preserving the status quo. If they have their way we'll be back here having this same discussion next year and the year after and the year after no matter how much new revenue is raised. It's time for a change.
Pitman is not a caymanian -
Pitman is not a caymanian - in fact he just got rolled!
It was all a shake-down as
It was all a shake-down as usual
I cant help but noting that
I cant help but noting that we were promised to hear a confirmation of the budget from the UK by Friday of last week. (3 August 2012). Could this possible mean that the governement did receive an asnwer from the UK which showed that they rejected the budget, then without announcing this to the public, the government run to meet with private sectors.mmmmmm I wonder.
I still would love to know if the UK did not approve that budget.
Is it possible to make a FOI
Is it possible to make a FOI request of the UK government to see if the budget was or wasn't approved?
That's what I just heard.
That's what I just heard. Emergency meetings in progress. UK rejects budget and says cut $70M from expenditure.
I've just heard this too.
I've just heard this too. The UK apparently declined the budget because they thought the tax would bring in a lot less than expected due to expats leaving or getting around the new tax law. So Mad Mac tries to spin it as him being open-minded and listening to voters. Now he'll come up with another crazy scheme and blame us for it.
God knows they can't raise duty any higher, they can't raise the fees businesses pay here any higher, they can't raise work permit fees any higher and we know they're committed to continuing their lavish spending so something's got to give.
Mac: "Wah dis i hearing bout
Mac: "Wah dis i hearing bout rejecshun from dem UK peoples over my budget? Emergency meetin? Da nah goin wuk, I in Jamaica doin dis an dat. "
macidiot, or should I call
macidiot, or should I call you the TAX MAN
Your time in office is up, you are too ignorant to do the right thing by resigning but you and your party are finished in the next election
Bye Bye TAX MAN
So on Saturday, Scott,
So on Saturday, Scott, Foster, Kirkconell-Shaughnessy, McTaggart & AL Thompson were all ( Insinuated to be ) 'Liers' ...
Monday morning, different tune ....
We all know WHO the 'Lier' is Mr Premier, and it isn't any of those upstanding Caymanian citizens.
Why has no-one (the UDP) Thrown this despot out of office as yet?
Why are you all so afraid of one so willing to 'Fiddle while our country burns'?
I woke up with a hangover
I woke up with a hangover this morning even though I did not drink.
And I am making plans to get off of this roller-coaster as soon as possible...
Knot S Smart, I have to tell
Knot S Smart, I have to tell you, I look forward to your posts. Always give me a little laugh for the day, in the midst of all the bad news. Keep them coming.
CNS, I note that you do not
CNS, I note that you do not have a picture accompanying this article... may I suggest a pair of flip flops?
This is so destabilizing! He
This is so destabilizing! He is killing us with his rants and lunacy. Once again the extreme importance of how you vote. Please please I beg of the sensible Caymanians, register to vote firstly and vote for intelligent independent thinkers with integrity and humility. At this stage unfortunately I cannot think of a single one of the current lot that meet all of these requirements, and this includes PPM and Ezzard.
The problem is that as
The problem is that as 'Sensible Caymanians', we are outnumbered by the Ignorant and (funtionally) Illiterate ones.
Hence our dillema.
In defense of Mac . . . . .
In defense of Mac . . . . . .
It is Tuesday. What profound revelation will he have for us today?
Attention deficit disorder comes to mind. "My attention to the deficit has brought about disorder in my ability to make rational decisions pertaining to the governance of this country."
"That's my excuse and I stand by it!"
Sincerely,
Your beloved leader for life
Huh Huh, wrong title, it is
Huh Huh, wrong title, it is Honourable Beloved Leader for Life.
Civil service cuts? I thought
Civil service cuts? I thought they were 400% to large?
Isn't this just another bandaid to a deeper issue?
CUT THE CIVIL SERVICE ALREADY!!!
I went to the Immigration the
I went to the Immigration the other day to extend my visitor's visa. The place was full, no empty chairs, people were standing everywhere. Out of supposed to be working 13 windows, only may be 5 "operated". One hour into waiting, I approached the window 13, I was not greeted with a smile- for at least 15 min the person behind the window stared at his computer, clicking occasionally, not saying a word to me and then returned my papers saying I need to bring more papers and CASH, as they only take cash or checks. Imagine that!! There were no signs anywhere about it. People behid the windows have no name tags or some sort of identification. They were moving slowly engaging into what seem to be endless converstations between themselves, totally ignoring all people in the waiting area. On my second visit, the story repeated itself- in 30 minutes , only may be 5 people were serviced. The staff behind the windows would disapear, appear, talk to ecah other- they were in no hurry. They woud call for a missing ticket for 5 times, instead of proceeding to the next one. So I witnessed first hand, what "Caymanian efficiency" and kindness were. The only place where I experinced Welcome and smile was customs at the airport.
The Immigration building,
The Immigration building, like Customs, is a place where the truly mediocre like to exert their "it's my island" power trip on innocent visitors. I have never gone there and obtained satisfactory result on the first visit. It is a test of patience to bite one's lip and leave knowing one needs to return another day. The only solace I take is that I know I do not have to live my life as an embittered government drone wearing a uniform with a significant percentage of man made fiber.
Huh. I have been to
Huh. I have been to Immigration several times myself recently and have been treated each time to swift and courteous sevice. And no, I am not a government employee.
You got off easy! My record
You got off easy! My record is in at 8:30am and out at 3:45pm, and that is the GOD HONEST TRUTH.
14:59 Have you travelled to
14:59 Have you travelled to Miami lately? Take a trip and I am sure you will be swetting by the time you reach outside. Cayman Immigration does not have to smile with you all. Take a trip to Cuba, and you will want to get back on Cayman Airways before it leaves. Talking about not knowing what is going on in the world, check out other places before you critize our immigration. What are you lookinf for anyway?=
The person is critizing what
The person is critizing what she observed when she came here. Not any other country. If she goes Cuba she would still write the same thing. Its better to remain silent than to write that dump comments you just wrote.
21:23 I think your attack on
21:23 I think your attack on 14:59 might be because they mentioned they were here on a visitor's stamp. Is that really how you want the visitor's to our country to perceive our country by the way Immigration line people treat them which is also how they treat Caymanians by the way. It costs nothing for them to smile and say "I am processing your work please take a seat and I will call you back up in a moment" many do that but the latest batch they have have gone downhill rapidly and yes I have travelled to Miami lately and the UK and Central America and in each instance I have been greeted with a smile and welcome to our country.
If it were just Immigration that acted that way fine but general registry good luck, customs, forget about it, lands don't even bother about the only one is probably civil aviation and the team at the passport office. They actually grasp customer service ideas. The new labour and pension department is a joke they don't even pick up the phones and five times I have called the new whatever we are calling it human capital workplace agency thingy to try and get someone to tell me where I register jobs for Caymanians and no one answers phones or returns emails where I am legitimately trying to hire Caymanians and my favorite this week I was at Governors Beach eating lunch and an NRA truck pulled up and out tumbled three kids while the guy sat there on his phone the kids headed for the icecream truck and crawled back in and I saw the sign saying no riders allowed I wonder if a gas card was used to fuel that icecream run
I am a public market CEO and
I am a public market CEO and I genuinely enjoy my time spent in Cayman.
I have heard Mr. Bush's government tell the Country twice now, (in the most public of ways) that he and his political ilk wish to levy some form of direct taxation against those who reside in these lands.
First time:
http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=10385035
Second time:
http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2012/07/24/is-direct-tax-coming
While I feel I know Cayman as a long term visitor, I am an investor with fiduciary responsibilities to his investors; and I don't have the luxury of sitting on my hands and telling my shareholders that "everything will be okay", or "I know things are stable in Cayman", so I have begun the unpleasant task of decreasing my presence in your Country in favor of other jurisdictions.
I take the time to point out the consequences of such public mismanagement because the Court of public opinion assures that public instability will lead to the greatest losses of your future. If you truly love your Country it is imperative that you not see it burnt to the ground in the popular press, because as the past has shown; perceptions very quickly have a way of becoming reality.
There is no telling when fortunes will begin to reverse ~ or for that matter, what reversals of fortune are attributable to which particular circumstance.
Glad you share the link. This
Glad you share the link. This proves to us that UK did indeed "pressured" the Cayman Islands government to implement a payroll tax.
Cay Compass then said:
"Getting that approval will likely be easier said than done. Foreign office officials have warned Cayman that it cannot continue to rely so heavily on its offshore tax status and should not expect added borrowing to be approved based on “one–off” expenditure cuts such as the temporary ‘holiday’ for civil servant pension payments.
The UK suggested that Cayman “widen its tax base” by considering options like payroll or property taxes.
Mr. Bush told those attending Thursday’s meeting that government’s position was indeed grave.
The leader revealed that government was forced to withhold payments in August for civil servant pensions, health care coverage and even some construction projects just to pay civil servants’ monthly salaries."
See link:- http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=10385035
Casinos. There, I said it. Do
Casinos. There, I said it. Do it now. Increases revenue from a variety of sources, We all know the big hotels are already equipped and waiting to set up so why bother hiding the fact any more.
The only ones who will be unhappy will be the Churches but bung them a few million and they will be OK in the end , wait and see.
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