Letter to the Editor
Well after all the hoopla on this unwanted tax for expats put forward by the leadership of the Cayman islands, we have finally come to the end of this madness.
Mr. McKeeva Bush has pulled back this idea for as we should all know by now, this was not wanted by natives and expats alike. Hopefully ideas like this that will run away investors and make life harder for those of us that make so little money plus shut down many companies and run away working expats will go away.
No government now or in the future should try and impose taxes like the one the present government tried to impose on the people here in the Cayman Islands. All of the leaders should try and remember why the Cayman Islands is known for its tax-free status and also why so many different companies moved here to Cayman in the first place. I can tell anyone it was not because we have turtle meat.
We must be very careful how we handle the affairs of this country and at all times look out for the best interests of the people of these Islands and stop selfishness and selling out.
All of the elected members of our government and the Speaker of the House must be reminded of who they really are to us and that is, if they have forgotten, our servants. The are there to uplift our whole way of life, not to act as spoiled school brats and make big mistakes in the running of our country. The Legislative Assembly is not a classroom. Mistakes made there can cost the people of these Islands and not like when you are in school where if you make a mistake on your paper you can use White Out. All national matters that will impact the lives of all the people and these Islands must get the full support of all our people, not just a few members of government.
I am still waiting to hear about a national trade school that will help all the people that want to learn different trades. This way we can train more of our people and ease back on the permit workers. Too many of our people are being left out and social services is not the answer.
I have heard for the leadership lately that we should all work together, yet they don‘t want to work with anyone that can give good advice that is Caymanian or is a member of the other party.
What will happen is that if you do not want to listen to the wishes of the people and you do not want to work with anyone and you make stupid and reckless moves.
Now here is something for all to remember: King George of England said Cayman shall be tax free and protected and served by our still Mother England. All of the people of these Islands should know why. No direct taxes of any kind, ever.
Emile S. Levy
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Mr. Levy:
I am 100% in agreement with you.
We need trade schools and subsidized higher education for all who want it.
While not everyone is capable of managing a hedge fund, I certainly am not, surely many Caymanians could learn to be:
motor mechanics, plumbers, legal secretaries, hair dressers etc. and of course bank managers, hotel managers and lawyers.
I agree on the trade school comments, there also has to be incentives for businesses to train youngsters for a trade – in the past many people learned a trade through apprenticeships, these are a considerable investment on behalf of any business – government needs to assist there – make it so some of those costs can be offset against work permit fees and or import duties.
I must admit to having mixed feelings when reading about Christopher Delaney who recently received the Gwen Bush scholarship – He will be pursuing studies at a Maritime College in Rhode Island… I heartily commend his achievement but wonder why, given Caymans own maritime heritage, there are no comparable facilities here?
Just one final ‘coup de grace’ for the expat tax debate.
Do you remember the headlines 5 or 6 years ago when permits hit 30,000? Now it’s almost 10,000 less.
* I see no evidence that those 10,000 jobs have been filled by Caymanians.
Even the most frugal spender will be the wrong side of 100 bucks a week at Fosters, Kirks, et al.
* 10,000 people spending 100 bucks is over 50 million a year
There are some reasonably priced accommodations on island and if you look at e.g. Treasure Island for 1000 a month
* That’s another 120 million a year
Work permit fees for the old rates yielded some 50 million based on the current numbers,
* with 10,000 more permits that could easily have been 70 to 80 million.
So the expats could contribute DIRECTLY over a quarter of a BILLION to the Cayman Economy, thats without the indirect contributions via the sales and spending by the customers of Tourism and Financial services industries. When faced with this sort of income, it’s sad to see it squandered when the priorities are painfully obvious to all those without a ministerial salary! And yes TRADE SCHOOLS and APPRENTICESHIPS are up there.