Manderson: ‘File for divorce before we get you’

Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has warned couples in sham marriages to “go to the court and file for divorce before we get you” as a crackdown on immigration-related marriages of convenience continues.

Manderson, speaking during the budget debate in Parliament Tuesday night, called on Caymanians to stop “selling” their birthright as he bemoaned the rise in sham marriages.

“It is getting worse in terms of what we’re seeing with the marriages of convenience,” he said.

He pointed out that this year he had received 930 naturalisation applications, 257 of which were through marriage. Cursory checks have uncovered cases of concern, he said.

He noted that, while processing naturalisation claims, his office would call applicants and ask them a series of questions to test the legitimacy of their marriage. If his staff had concerns, they would refer the matter to Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC).

He gave an example of a recent case in which staff called a Caymanian man in relation to one application, and he could not say what his wife’s name was.

“How did we get here? Why would you do this? This person that you have married, unless we catch everyone… which is very unlikely, it means that these persons are going to have our passport. They’re going to represent us at home and abroad. They have the reputation of our island in their hands,” he said.

930 naturalisation applications in 2023

250 – Through marriage

470 – Through permanent residency

201 – Through registration (e.g. births, etc.)

Manderson said government should not have to legislate to stop sham marriages; it is the Caymanian people who must stop selling their birth rights.

“It’s very important [for] all of us in the Cayman Islands to stand together on this one and have zero tolerance for this type of behaviour,” he said.

He said Caymanians complain that “people come here and take things from us,” but when it comes to people gaining residency through sham marriages, “we’re giving it away, we’re selling”.

He added, “You’ll find cases where people said ‘I felt sorry for this person so I married them’. Really? That can’t be it. Do we understand what we’re doing?”

Last year, WORC investigated 114 suspected sham marriages. Figures for this year have not been released.

Caymanians must ‘step up’

Manderson said some of the jurisdiction’s most dangerous criminals are people that are married to a Caymanian.

“Who are we going to blame for this? We have to blame ourselves. The Cayman people need to step up and say ‘my birthright is precious. I am not going to sell it to no one… I am not going to give it to no one. I’m going to safeguard my country’s reputation’,” he said.

He said stopping marriages of convenience is completely within the power of Caymanian people.

“We as a community need to stop this. Stop marrying people that you do not love, that you have no intention of being with. Stop feeling sorry for other people and feel sorry for your people,” he said.

Manderson said, as deputy governor, one of his duties is to swear in those being naturalised and advise them of the expectations as they become part of the Caymanian community.

“We expect them up uphold our democratic values,” he said. “We expect them to observe our laws. We expect them to uphold the high traditions of our people, which is why we have to be so careful when we say yes and when you say ‘I do’.”

He said if Border Control Minister Dwayne Seymour brings legislation to “fix this”, it will make things more difficult for those in genuine relationships.

Already Seymour and Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly have said changes to Cayman’s immigration law is coming to close gaps and enhance the existing framework.

Seymour, speaking in Parliament Monday night, said, the “critical areas of focus” include revamping the Residency and Employment Rights certificate regime and reducing the number of individuals qualifying for permanent residency and Caymanian status by improving information sharing for compliance and enforcement.

It will also strengthen the compliance and enforcement by enhancing the powers of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board.

“These expected amendments aim to strike a balance between protecting the interests of Caymanians, promoting employment of Caymanians and reducing Caymanian under employment while maintaining the attractiveness of the Cayman Islands as a destination for investment, innovation and skilled labour,” Seymour said.