A probe into allegations of work permit breaches has been launched at a construction site that suffered an armed payroll heist earlier this week, government said on Thursday.
Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman said it had received complaints that employees and employers at a site on West Bay Road, understood to be the Hyatt Residences project, were working outside the terms of their work permits.
A spokeswoman said, “This matter will be given the highest priority as WORC’s compliance and enforcement officers continue with investigations.”
The news came after an employee carrying what police described as a “a large quantity of money” earmarked to pay workers at the development was robbed by three masked men, one with a firearm, on Monday afternoon.
The raid meant that site workers were not paid as expected, which sparked a strike on Tuesday.
The theft happened in a car park at the Hyatt Residences’ site office in Commercial Centre on Eastern Avenue.
The men, who also stole a cell phone, escaped in a Honda CR-V SUV along Eastern Avenue after the robbery.
The cell phone was recovered after officers searched the area and the Honda was later traced.
The site office is on the first floor of the Commercial Centre. Police said no one was injured during the incident.
Police said efforts to trace the three men involved in the robbery continued and appealed for witnesses.
Developers Pageant Beach Hotel Ltd and contractor Americaribe, who have yet to respond to requests for comment on the robbery, have been asked for comment on the work permit allegations.
The 7.1-acre Hyatt Residences, when completed, will feature a total of 190 hotel guest rooms, 88 condo-hotel guest rooms, and 76 one-, two-, and three-bedroom condo-hotel suites, priced from US$1 million to US$10 million.
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