People applying for permanent residence are being short-changed by the current format, according to a majority of respondents to a poll conducted by the Caymanian Compass.
The largest number of people, 173 of the 441 who took part, felt that people “should be provided with a list of questions and answers relevant to living in Cayman to study, and then be posed a selection of those questions.” That constituted 39.2 percent.
Another 147 people, or 33.3 percent, selected “They seem pretty obscure. Who knows this stuff?”
On the other hand, 77 people (17.5 percent) felt that “Anyone who researches the history of Cayman should know the answers,” and 36 people (8.2 percent) selected “They’re too easy. They should be harder.”
The remaining eight people, or 1.8 percent, selected “Other.”
Of those who felt a list of questions and answers ought to be provided, there were numerous viewpoints.
“So many of the questions could not be answered by lifelong third generation Caymanians, let alone those applying for PR,” one person mused. “It is a joke. We should do as in the U.S. – have 200 or so question and answer related texts which people can study and then be questioned on. This would be sensible, practical and useful rather than the current scheme which appears to try and catch people out! Not fair at all.”
Another person took up the same thread: “Are the questions about the introduction of mosquitoes, or the number of mosquitoes, or animatronic doll, or cross-piece, etc., really necessary?” asked the respondent. “In fact, if you asked these and other similar vague questions from an average real Caymanian (as opposed to ‘paper Caymanian’) would he/she know the answers? Chances are minimal. The question asked should be relevant to what the expats basically need to know about the Cayman history, culture, heritage, current affairs etc. Isn’t that enough?
“And the best course would be to give a set of questions, or maybe a small book, to them to read to prepare themselves. This way, they will also learn about the culture, etc., that they should really need to know. Mosquitoes, really! Are they more important than the National Song or National Flag?” One person who felt the questions were too obscure pointed out a perceived flaw in logic. “If it isn’t part of the National Curriculum’s Key Stages of History, a PR applicant should not be expected to know it,” said the respondent.
Research into Cayman was key for another poll participant. “Remember, the point is to give points to the people who really know their stuff,” wrote this person. “And tests, especially this one, are supposed to be hard to pass. I hope they change the ‘revealed’ questions now. Nothing is more unbalanced than a test where the questions/answers are known in advance.”
Those who said the questions were too easy had some strident opinions, best summed up by one individual who appeared to be against any immigration as a rule: “People need to understand clearly that they are not WANTED in the Cayman Islands, even though they are NEEDED,” one person said.
That point was contested strongly by another poll respondent.
“Questions should be relevant to the future of the Caymans,” this person said, perhaps revealing by that nomenclature their origin outside Cayman.
“Are they difficult and obscure enough to eliminate expats with potential benefits to the Caymans or protect local, insular mentality and encourage in breeding to the islands detriment?,” the writer continued. “Questions should be directed to what expats have done to contribute to the islands well being and what they have to offer for the future.”
A final respondent had a practical take on the issue.
“Just get rid of the history test,” said this participant. “Instead make the PR applicants take guided tours of the museum, Pedro Castle, Mission House, Mastic Trail, Botanical Park, Heritage Days and other important historical and cultural locations/events in the islands. Make them do history workshops as well and record their attendance at all such locations and events.
“This way, they will learn about the islands’ history and culture first hand, not from books or websites.”
Next week’s poll question
- Should bars and clubs located near residential areas be required to keep their noise levels down?
- Yes, all day long, every day
- Yes, after 9 p. m. every day
- Yes, but not on Friday and Saturday nights
- No. Don’t let the killjoys win.
- Other (explain)
To participate, visit caycompass.com.
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It would be interesting to know how many of the respondents are native Caymanians.