A private member’s motion “to Protect and Prioritise Caymanian Participation in the Real Estate Sector” passed with cross-party support in an early-morning session of Parliament on 25 June.
It proposes restricting the granting of new real estate agent licences to “Caymanians; Persons holding Caymanian status with full and unrestricted rights to work in the Cayman Islands; or Persons who are holders of a valid Residency and Employment Rights Certificate (RERC), granted on the basis of marriage to a Caymanian, and who possess full legal rights to work in the Cayman Islands.”
The private member’s motion, which was brought by the opposition MP for George Town West Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden, includes “grandfathering provisions” to protect non-Caymanians who already hold a real estate agent licence.
In his speech supporting the motion, Premier André Ebanks said the motion could be included in upcoming changes to Local Companies (Control) Licences scheduled for September.
The move to bar most non-Caymanian from being local real estate agents, which is supported by both the government and opposition, is unlikely to face any political opposition in Cayman. “I don’t think a work permit holder would ever dare put their head up and say ‘no, you can’t protect your own people’”, said Deputy Leader of the Opposition Kenneth Bryan, speaking on Radio Cayman on 25 June.
The Compass contacted the Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association for comment on the motion but received no response at the time of publishing this article.
Politicians confident real estate won’t suffer
Cayman’s politicians seem confident that Cayman’s real estate no longer needs international agents to thrive. “Let’s face it. Look at our pristine environment – this is not selling real estate in some murky jurisdiction where it’s hard,” said Ebanks. “The real estate almost sells itself, so how complicated is it?”
While paying respect to the frameworks that helped build Cayman, Ebanks noted that times have changed. “Our sophistication, our qualification, our financial wherewithal has changed,” said Ebanks. “So we now have to adjust the frameworks to the existing reality that Caymanians can handle and do more in their own country.”
“The issue of Caymanians in real estate has definitely been overlooked for too long,” said Athena Nicole, the Caymanian founder of MOD Realty. “There are many skilled Caymanian real estate agents who have been outnumbered and overlooked by foreign and work permit holders in the real estate industry for quite some time.”
Nicole noted that Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, Panama and the Bahamas have already passed similar legislation.
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Real estate agents aren’t needed in 2026. Silliest job ever. Cireba already a scam. Just list as for sale by owner.
Next the vote will be to raise real estate fees for expats online. Government pricing out expats again to leave.
Can a Cayman owned Real Estate Agency hire non Cayman realtors?
Can a non Cayman Real Estate Agency hire a Cayman and list him as an owner?
Just wondering?
Bravo!
Is this the thin end of the wedge. What other professions will be next. Any Caymanian who needs more income , annual cost of living increases plus an annual “honorarium”, no medical expenses and a free pension can join the Civil Service which seems to have unlimited availability for new hires.
It is long past time that someone finally took the bull by the horns and confronted this long‑ignored issue in the real estate sector. Caymanians have been patient for decades, and decisive action is not only justified but also overdue.
But if we are serious about protecting Caymanians, then we must apply the same level of scrutiny to the legal profession, where the barriers are just as entrenched and just as damaging.
Let’s speak plainly.
The major firms, such as Ogier, Maples, Walkers, Campbells, and Carey Olsen, have at least made visible efforts to offer internships, scholarships, and Articles of Clerkship. But the real problem lies with the other firms and sole practitioners who have built thriving businesses in this jurisdiction. Many of these individuals have benefited from our economy, secured Caymanian status, and then refused to contribute meaningfully to the development of Caymanian lawyers.
That is not an accident, it is a deliberate pattern of exclusion!!! I am living proof.
We cannot continue accepting this blatant disrespect.
Every firm, large, medium, small, and every successful sole practitioner, must be required to allocate part of their annual budget to provide paid internships, offer scholarships, and paid Articles of Clerkship for Caymanians. Not unpaid “experience.” Not token placements. Paid, structured, mandatory training pathways. If you want the privilege of operating in this jurisdiction, then you must invest in the people of this jurisdiction.
And the Cabinet must stop enabling the quiet loopholes that undermine Caymanians.
No person who does not possess Caymanian status should be granted permission to pursue the PPC at Truman Bodden Law School or to undertake Articles of Clerkship in the Cayman Islands, regardless. These opportunities were created to build the Caymanian legal profession, not to serve as a back door for firms to import their preferred candidates while qualified Caymanians are left waiting.
Work permits must not be rubber‑stamped for firms that refuse to train Caymanians. (As to the immigration reform regime, or as I call it, a debacle, unfortunately, is a discussion for another day. But this is what we get when our drafters are non-Caymanians and self-serving, like many of these modern-day politicians)
NCFC DOUBLE SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!
Articles should not be approved for non‑Caymanians while Caymanians remain sidelined. And firms, including sole practitioners with thriving practices, must be held accountable for their obligations to this country.
If we are going to talk about protecting Caymanians, then we must talk about it everywhere, including in the legal field, where the gatekeeping is subtle, systemic, and too often ignored. But we must also walk the talk.
Caymanians deserve real access, real opportunity, and real respect.
The time for polite requests has passed.
The time for accountability has arrived.
Fellow Caymanians, our CaymanKind has made us a minority in our islands. We have gone from an island that our forefathers fought for, to an island where the almighty dollar is a priority, and our leaders are self-serving blood-sucking vampires!!
I agree wirh the last comment, but it should have been phrased more diplomatically.
Ok, so when fully implemented, who will Caymanians blame for selling-off their island?
Another knee-jerk reaction with little benefit.