Letters to the Editor: Take a hard look at immigration proposal

This is an open letter to Police
Commissioner David Baines.

In a recent press release [from]
the Royal Cayman Islands Police expressed that you are seeking feedback from
the community.

As the Cayman Island’s top cop are
you not very concerned that the troubles of the RCIPS is about to double if the
premier has his way with this new and insane immigration proposal, [which] if
introduced… will break down the national security of our borders?

Can you as the RCIPS commissioner
sit comfortably with such a dangling proposal for new immigration policy set by
the Cayman Islands premier?

I am not at all convinced that the
UK minister for the Overseas Territories would approve of such an irresponsible
and dangerous policy. I’m also certain they were not consulted as it would
never be approved, since such a dangerous immigration policy could carry
serious national and international security consequences and break down the UK
relations with the United States, who would in turn certainly call out the UK
on such irresponsible actions.

As the whole Western hemisphere is
living out the memory of a post-9-11 attack on democracy, where thousands of
innocent victims were hurled to their death in September 11, 2001, we who
remain sober, vigilant, and responsible citizens and as a British territory and
ally of the United States have a duty to keep our national boarders secure.

Countering terrorism has become,
obviously the top national security priority for the United States and Great
Britain as they receive threats from time to time.

It is time for the Cayman Islands
premier and our RCIPS to reflect and re-evaluate the hasty decisions that are
being made that could very well make international headline news. We cannot
afford to discard the safe-guarded programs and sound policies of our local
immigration and work permit agencies, as there is a dire need to maintain our
national security as a responsible UK territory.

The premier’s ambition to bring
business from China and other countries is warranted some consideration and
accommodation.

However, the premier needs to
redefine his new immigration policy to be proposed inviting investment to these
islands, as it calls for a more comprehensive and sound plan of action. The
premier’s effort should redefine the tourist investor’s relationships with
government, working through the processes of not only the Cayman Islands but
also the American republic, as we have a great percentage of Americans as
visiting tourists, investors, and also living in the Cayman Islands as
residents and citizens.

Commissioner Baines you will agree
that our premier is to be reminded that in this sense 9-11 has taught us all a
hard lesson that the attempts and acts of terrorism against Americans interests
“over there in the United States” should be regarded just as we regard
terrorism against America “over here in the Cayman Islands.” In this same
sense, the Cayman Islands is a part of the planet and should act out of a sense
of national and international security and responsibility.

The rules of engagement to keep our
country safe are not to offer investment tourists a reckless free pass under
the radar as the premier is proposing; this would put way too many people at
risk, including Caymanians, Americans, Europeans and other nationals.

The premier seems to have a draft
proposal for a new immigration policy that will allow investment tourists to
walk off the plane into our island under the guise of doing legitimate
business. It is rumoured that laptops, etc., will not be confiscated by customs
for inspection, which is a worldwide standard procedure of national security
for every other travelling passenger or visitor!

According to the premier’s new
immigration proposal, regardless of who these foreign investors may be, they
will get a free pass that excludes no inspection by Cayman Islands Customs
Authority” That’s a little too desperate for dollars don’t you think?  And very dangerous.

Conspiracy theory suggests: With
such a dangling policy proposed, the local community could pay a very high
price only to find out later at the end of the day that the lap tops thought to
contain business contracts etc. are in fact laden with crack cocaine, marijuana
and other hard drugs, and possibly firearms or even weapons of terror!

This policy in my opinion is an
open invitation to illegal drug and illegal firearms and weapons traffickers.
In addition to this flawed policy making our borders even more insecure, the
new immigration proposed policy will allow these travellers or tourist
investors to land on our shores without even being questioned and legally
processed. (I’m curious about how and if the laptops will be inspected upon
boarding a flight to the United States!)

Commissioner Baines, what do you
have to say about this and the financial and physical workload effects this
will have on your RCIPS, where allowing possible criminals to come off the
plane on an international flight landing in the Cayman Islands posing as
investors that they in fact will be allowed this undeserved concession? That is
putting at risk the national security of the Cayman Islands and also the international
security of the United States and the UK responsibility for this territory.

Do you realize that this is all the
Mexican drug lords need to hear; this would turn the Cayman Islands into a
haven for the most dangerous international cartel criminals? And there goes our
tourism product flushed down the toilet.

I am very concerned. Should this
new immigration policy get the attention of the UK Minister for the Cayman
Islands, a British Territory, what would be his response?

Florence Goring-Nozza