Open letter to premier

Whilst I was happy to read your open letter, for which I am grateful, to the Great Dictator,unfortunately the recent development in the Cayman is just a peak of the iceberg. Division on us and them started to race into the community since Ivan. Before the Storm, everybody was happy and friendly, life was good. Salaries could cover for daily expenses, even some monies left for vacations, dining out. On occasions, BBQ with friends and neighbors. Yeah, life was good. Then Ivan came. Since then everything is going steadily downhill. The two party system is to blame for, where one crook is replacing another; spending more then there are available monies and making up by borrowing more and more thinking they can always point finger towards opponent. Now with Liebe Fuhrer (German for bellowed leader) driving the last nail into the coffin, we started to divide even more the Island between us and them. But it is not only (un)honorable Him that caused al this disturbance. There are also other hidden factors, greed to start with. Do you need evidence, just go to gas station, or visit one of the supermarkets. Supermarkets are, in all fairness, very well stocked, better then in Bermuda, or St. Vincent. Look at the prices in our supermarkets, several times more than in the States - country of origin. I cannot believe that certain items could cost four, five, even six times more than in the States, when one pays all one [importer] needs to pay. However, the other Caribbean islands' politicians are corrupted just as the Cayman's: corruption "sans frontiers". It would appear that corruption is the common denominator for entire Caribbean. Further, if you visit other Caribbean islands, local people are not ashamed to do gardening, attend tables at the restaurants, cleaning rooms in the hotels, etc. On the contrary, they are proud providers of a great quality service to welcome tourists. [Just look at Bermuda web site, these jobs are left exclusively for locals - no work permit will be approved for these jobs] Just searching the internet and typing in "cayman islands income tax" revealed that new articles seems to appear hourly all over the world, the latest being from New Zealand [please try this link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/7422060/Income-tax-for-Cayman-Islands]. With taxes or without, the damage has been made, and I am not sure that this may be reversed. Not this time we should say to our Dictator, you've done damage as many Ivans together, and unfortunately there is no insurance against you, or any other politician like you for this matter. The issue going on today has originated sometime in the past when we started to experience disproportion between value of the KYD and cost of living. I belong to the group of people which some would call ex-pats. I consider myself hardworking, law abeyant citizen. I brought over my family as well. We did well at the beginning, bought a place with intention to settle here. The salary was good and not taxed. But my salary remained the same since I arrived. My boss is complaining that I am too expensive for the business as what he needs to pay is going up every year. And now, this little what I am receiving will be reduced even further for 10% to feed "big belly man". Damage is done which cannot be reversed. The damage is not so much to the country economics, there will always be ups and downs by its definition. Otherwise, all filthy reach lawyers and accountants would be jobless the next day. Damage is done to humans, ex-pats will be blamed either way for there is a tax, or for there is no tax, if country would continue its way dawn. It will be even more us and them. Under this circumstances I cannot imagine another Ivan conditions. I think we payed enough in community enhancement and we started to think that there are some other communities that are needing enhancement. At least, I will have a voice in the community for enhancement that I will pay. I am not afraid of taxes, I paid them before, for what I paid, I received something in return - dignity for one. Almost free schools for my kids, reasonably priced university. And do not forget, protection from corrupted politicians. Some may call this certainty. So, I miss that certainty. I thought I have it. Until recently.

Maybe we should introduce a Male Enhancement Fee instead and tax men.  I get emails suggesting it would help me all the time.

Thank you for this post, Mr. Goff. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

The Premier of this country is an embarassment, and an ignorant disgrace. As a young Caymanian living and studying abroad, I feel embarassed discussing politics and the administration of this country.

I only hope that expats living here do not feel that all Caymanians are in support of McKeeva Bush and his brilliant "community enhancement fee".

2013 elections cannot come soon enough.

Well done, I just hope that there is enough left when the next generation of young Caymanians gets their chance. 

If Big Mac is really planning to get this in place quickly there may not be much left for these bright young people.

It is good to hear that the' tone from the top' is not being accepted.

well i was at the meeting, and i saw two white people got up and step out when the premier said the governor better stay on his beach where he can tan his two buns... lol... I admit I laugh, but seriously speaking, I didnt expect that from a premier. he has no fear or should I say care in the world by what he says in public. the governor may have been lying and may have been trying to pass the buck on him, but come on man... you are the premier!  at least you can set the example. sorry but this leader has to be replaced, he is too brazen in his speech and will get us into alot of trouble. even some udp members i know express to me their concern of their leader. some think rolston is more patient and thinks before he speaks

Anyone unhappy with the tax should email the FCO and tell them:

1. The tax is discriminatory on the basis of national origin.

2. It is illegal by reason of Article 1/1 and Article 14 of the ECHR.

3. The FCO owes duties under the Human Rights Act not to take steps in the UK which breach human rights outside the UK.

4. Approving the budget will be approving a breach of human rights.

5. The FCO will be liable in damages in England for every dollar claimed under this tax and all consequential damages flowing from the tax.

Here is an email address to send the notification : bellinghamh@parliament.uk .

 

How to kill the middle class and divide a nation. A Caymanian Story

I am not a party member only a concerned citizen who loves this country very much. What was witnessed Wednesday evening was a gross example of political lip service to democracy. Tyrannical rambling and double talk. Politicians tongue lashing the populace and blaming everyone besides themselves. If the situation was not so serious it would be a scene from a terrible movie.  We Caymanians are to blame for this situation, you, me, and others before us. Don’t rock the boat right? We used to laugh at Mac and sigh in embarrassment with him going around the world and making a fool of himself. Our leader is supposed to be a representation of the people of the nation and I refuse to believe that this is the best we have to offer. We were complacent when times were good,  he could not do any damage. Now when we are faced with this problem we can no longer laugh at. We brought ourselves here and we need to bring ourselves out.

 

1.       Taxes now start at $36,000 KYD a year – another political move by this administration to pit expat against expat. The low income earners can now be silenced as this does not affect them anymore. The overwhelming proportion of the expat population is in this zone.  This tax is now specifically aimed at the expat middle class. This is the group with disposable income in the country that spends or saves for home, sends kids to school, visits restaurants, and the movies. The 10% they spend on these luxuries will now go to the Government and Caymanian companies will not receive this income and will need to make adjustments in staffing levels and expenses inside their companies.  Why would you farther  your tax base? No plan at all.

2.       Immigration to collect “INCOME TAX” – I was unaware of any tax accountants working at the immigration department. Ask yourselves do both Caymanians and Expats trust the Immigration department to do the job they are task with now? Ah I will let you answer that.  What if you are an hourly wage worker and not a salary employee? How do they collect that? What if you have your salary adjusted to $35,999 KYD, then have the rest given to you in stocks, bonuses, or options? If so how would immigration collect this information and apply their tax? Another example of an administration that is broken and has never had a plan since being in office.

3.       I want to throw one idea into the ring. An extra-ordinary one time tax on property based off value. Charged at a rate of 0.03 – 0.05%. This tax only comes into effect for property valued over $250,000 KYD. You spare the first time buyers and pull some money out of the beach properties. To those who say this will depress the realty market, can it really get much worse? The 1 – 5 million dollar properties along the beach are mostly investments for very wealthy people. The “normal” appreciation of these properties far outweighs this one time fee. Please do not get me wrong I am totally against all taxes until someone can provide me

with full audited documents that the Auditor General says are reliable. I have yet to find this.

There is a lot to said and write about and I feel we will have a lot of battles before this finds resolution.   Ask yourselves where has government spending been reduced? Are you better off then you were 3 years ago? This Monday everyone needs to come out and just be there. I am holding a meeting in my company on Monday and I am going to ask if anyone wants to join me at the protest. I do not care if they are Caymanian or expat. The is turning point in this country and I cannot stand by and not do something. I encourage and implore all owners, and managers to allow workers to join this protest without reprisal. Join them. I know the decent people of this island will not allow their children’s future to be destroyed. If you have a problem with immigration giving a job away this meeting is for you too. It is not the expats fault. The people we have voted in have failed over the years have failed the country and we cannot have a new deal unless we take a stand. While we still can.

Judges 16:20

And she said, The Philistines be upon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he knew not that the LORD was departed from him.

Casey,

I commend you for all that you have said here. Having not been able to attend the meeting last night as I feared for my job (civil servant) but listening to the audio of the meeting that was shared on the facebook page Caymanians and Expats united against taxation, I was utterly disgusted and embarrassed at the way expats and caymanians a like who are against the tax were spoken to. 

It is a sad day when people cannot realize the damage of their actions and words. I want to say to all Expats, please, please, please do NOT be discouraged by those ignorant, nasty Caymanians preaching that you should leave. The young, educated Caymanians want nothing more than for you to STAY! We see your value to our islands and we believe that we can co-exist in this country as we have done for many, many years. Casey is absolutely right when he says that it is our mess and we need to clean it up!

What this people fail to realize is that this country was started on expatriats! The first person's in the Cayman Islands were from England! There are no 'true' Caymanians. We are all a melting pot of cultures and it is times like this that we need to band together and not be ripped a part by the hatred and discrimination that has been created by this government. I say hatred, because ultimately, when the Preimer of this country, cannot have enough respect for his fellow Caymanian at a public meeting (referencing the young lady he called a 'little girl') hatred is all that is behind it. 

I believe it is time for the young generation to stand up. We have an opportunity in the next election. Although we may be young and inexperienced, we have the ultimate weapon on our side, we LOVE the Cayman Islands and we stand for everything that is good for our future generations. 

Young educated Caymanians will become Mr. Bush's worst nightmare.   

I would like to ask the Premier and the rest of the UDP elected members to clarify the following:

If the increased work permit fees and the now proposed tax to be collected from work permit holders is going to be a significant income for the Government, how will this discourage immigration not to rubber stamp even more work permits without proper checks and balances?  Why would immigration NOT give a work permit to someone for a position where a qualified Caymanian is available if Government clearly stands to gain income by issuing work permits?

Hmm?

 

Brilliant post, Casey!

 

I don’t pretend to know much about politics but, like MOST Caymanians, I am of the unwavering opinion that this is absolutely ludicrous!  We cannot stand by and watch our country crumble at the hands of people who are only interested in hearing themselves speak and lining their own pocket books.  The “because I said so” attitude does not make the cut and it’s shamefully embarrassing that we have let this go on for this long.  We need to speak up…shaky voice and all and demand to be heard.  The Caymanians who have bravely come forward, those who are fighting for the GOOD OF ALL people on this island, yourself included Casey, are the true leaders of this country.

 

Before we all merrily volunteer ways to raise more revenue - shouldn't we first insist on better systems of controls on how current and future revenues will be spent?  We need to address the root of the problem before we bail out the spendaholic.  If we don't ask for accountability now, then how dumb are we?