Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

[Yvonne N.]

From The JA. Observer...

JAMAICA HAS been negotiating with the Cayman Islands Government for a delay on its proposed imposition of visa restrictions on Jamaicans who have been blamed for the growing crime rate there.

As of October 20, all Jamaicans travelling to Cayman are expected to acquire a visa to enter the country following lobbying by its Chamber of Commerce.

However, Jamaicans holding visas to the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States will not need a visa since the Cayman Government is satisfied with the security checks made by those countries in granting visas.

The restrictions follow a rise in violent crimes in Cayman and long-held concerns that Jamaica's high crime rate is being spread there by Jamaicans. The restrictions are part of Cayman's new legislation targeting nations deemed as high risk...

[Pepper]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

[777]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Me see u still up...
Milo good??

Shandra, please to check the response..

[Yvonne N.]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Yeah, ok.

Ah dese hours wen mi get peace an' quiet m'dear. Anyway, mi going now.

Will search the archives. Ciao.

[Yvonne N.]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

http://www.jis.gov.jm/PMspeeches/html/20...BE R_OF_COM.asp

...and another version:

Patterson warns against discrimination
Catherine MacGillivray
Sunday 23rd October, 2005 Posted: 15:36 CIT (20:36 GMT)
In a bold speech at the Chamber of Commerce 40th anniversary dinner on Saturday night, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson warned the Cayman Islands against discrimination towards Jamaicans

And Mr. Patterson inferred that, if Cayman introduced visa requirements for Jamaican nationals, then the Jamaican government could also change its own immigration policies.

The Jamaican Prime Minister was guest of honour and principal speaker at the celebrations at the Marriot Hotel.

Referring to the proposed imminent introduction of visas for Jamaican nationals he said that every country had a right to protect its borders.

“Jamaica fully respects the rights of any administration, whether dependent or sovereign, to apply appropriate immigration controls,” he said.

“However, Jamaica equally reserves the right to effect such changes as are necessary to protect its borders and citizens affected by visa requirements elsewhere.”

And he stressed that, after Jamaican nationals had gone through proper immigration controls, they should be treated without discrimination.

“Once our citizens legally enter any territory they must be treated equally and subjected to no form of discrimination in any form,” he said.

Mr. Patterson praised the many contributions Jamaicans had made to Caymanian society at all levels.

“Our two countries share a unity of experience and history that has created a strong bond between us,” he said. “This connection has not been severed despite Jamaica’s independence since 1962.

“The people of the Cayman Islands have always enjoyed their own distinctive characteristics. These have become evident by economic growth of the islands and the worthwhile recognition as a major centre for international banking and business conglomerates.

“I need not remind this audience of the many Jamaicans who practice their professions here and contribute immensely to the progress of this territory.”

In particular, he commended Jamaican construction workers for helping to rebuild Cayman after Hurricane Ivan.

“I want to reiterate Jamaica’s firm commitment to fostering and deepening the traditional ‘good neighbourly’ relations with the Caymanian people,” he added.

“We remain committed to assisting in any way we can. We share similar economic and social development objectives.”

Mr. Patterson also referred to Cayman’s associate membership of CARICOM and urged the country to become more involved with the organisation.

Mr. Patterson arrived in Cayman on Friday – the day after the Government was originally proposing to impose the new visas requirements for Jamaican nationals.

[browningsugar]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

I lived in Cayman for a few years and I know that the majority of Jamaicans are hardworking contributing members of the populace in Cayman.However a few of us do make it bad for the majority. I however agree with PJ Jamaica propably needs to protect its borders as well.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Prime Minister Patterson did his duty


Friday, November 11, 2005



This newspaper welcomes the announcement by the Jamaican foreign ministry of its intention to initiate discussions, as a matter of urgency, with the Cayman Islands authorities to ensure the fair treatment of Jamaican nationals living in that former Jamaican protectorate.

So, we are surprised at the consternation and venom directed at the Jamaican prime minister, Mr P J Patterson for fulfilling his obligation and standing up, in inoffensive fashion, for the rights and dignity of the people who elected him to office and whom he is duty-bound to represent.

That he did so at the 40th anniversary dinner of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, which he was invited to address, was neither inappropriate nor rude. Indeed, Mr Patterson could hardly have been expected to deliver a major speech at such an event without addressing the issue of the moment - that is, the decision of the Cayman Islands to introduce a visa requirement for Jamaicans entering the territory.

That the semi-autonomous government of the Cayman Islands decided to implement such a policy, which it considers in its national interest, is its own and, we suppose, Whitehall's prerogative.

But the Caymanians could hardly expect that a Jamaican government would not undertake a review of this policy decision and what ought to be its own response. And as Mr Patterson indicated in the ad lib portion of his speech, Jamaica reserves the right to impose a visa policy against countries which require that Jamaicans have visas to enter.
Mr Patterson also raised the issue of reported discrimination against Jamaicans in the Cayman Islands.

Anyone knowing Mr Patterson's disposition and demeanour would not believe that in delivering those remarks he was haughty, offensive or disrespectful. Indeed, one of Mr Patterson's prized qualities is his diplomacy and a self-effacing way of diffusing tensions.

There are two reasons, we suspect, for the venomous responses to Mr Patterson. One, the least of them, being that given its status, the Cayman Islands are unpractised in the hurly-burly of international relations. Countries may differ on specific points of interest without this leading to the collapse of their broader relations.

Indeed, Mr Patterson in his speech called for a deepening of relations between the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which suggests that Jamaica values not only its bilateral relationship with its former protectorate but believes that relationship is worthy of broadening into a regional compact. Of course, it is up to the Caymanians to determine whether they see any value or have any interest in any such deepening of relations with Caricom. Up to now, official policy, which appears to be underpinned by popular sentiment, is not in favour.

There also appears to be an undercurrent about Jamaica and Jamaicans in the Cayman Islands, which is openly manifesting in the face of Mr Patterson's remarks. From this distance, the irritation rests on more than the fact that some Jamaicans may be involved in crime in the Cayman Islands, as are too many at home, which is a problem we have to tackle and defeat.

Whatever the factors, relations between friendly countries can only be conducted on the basis of fairness and mutual respect, not on the basis of assumption or historic peeve.

[Seveen]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

a jamaican friend of mine returned after a three week visit to the Cayman's looking for work - she said Jamaican's were actually called "the N word" - very shocking to her [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

i've never heard that word used in jamaica

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Jamaica is the only caribbean Island in which blacks are treated some what like they treat whites every where else,but of course,there are those in Jamaica too,but they are very discreetin their actions toward blacks. Especially those who have landed most recently.

[Yvonne N.]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

There is a deep resentment I believe because of the ill-treatment they ostensibly received at the hands of Jamaicans as their 'rulers' way back in the days when they had "nothing". Now that they are prosperous, they would truly prefer to see the backs of us.

So, for some to go there and pour salt on those wounds via the crime (and whatever else) will not harbour well for any improvement in relationships any time soon. Sad.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

That is rubbish,Cayman is populated by Jamaicans and Btitish.jamaica bever ruled Cayman,the btitish did. Jamaica was a colony of britain just like Cayman. It was just that it was more economical for the Brits to rule Catman from Jamaica.
The only resentmene that the Caymanian s are that althouth they think that they are rich and Jamaicans are poor,jamaicans do not behave with the sort of humillity they expect.
They are not the forst,many other countries,thik so too.
As a mayyrt of fact Cayman is only acting as a puppet for another'big' country.
Whi they think they are fooling.
Incidentally I think that Cayman has nothing.
So they hace 1 trillion US$ on deposit for people who are are tax dogers,including many Jamaicans. ..so what??

[Hopyoneson]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Cayman people a call jamaican N word to dem face, and we a tek it, mi find dat hard fi believe cause we very proud and no tek dem sort of behavior from nobody.

Cayman at the mercy of the Patriot Act, if they ever get too big for them briches, the US just slap dem up and seh "money laundering" and mek dem shake in a dem boots.

Also time we stop apologize fi the bad apples, anybody come to yu wid "see how much jamaicans in our prison"...just say "so, and what I had to do with them going to jail", stop tek scraps from people yah man. Dem days deh done, Bogle and Sharpe already walk dem road deh so wi no have to.

[Hopyoneson]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

BTW unu type in www.caymans.com and see what come up...just like dem culture...nut-ting.

[Yvonne N.]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

Originally posted by Dr.Dudd:
[qb] That is rubbish,Cayman is populated by Jamaicans and Btitish.jamaica bever ruled Cayman,the btitish did. Jamaica was a colony of britain just like Cayman. It was just that it was more economical for the Brits to rule Catman from Jamaica.
The only resentmene that the Caymanian s are that althouth they think that they are rich and Jamaicans are poor,jamaicans do not behave with the sort of humillity they expect.
They are not the forst,many other countries,thik so too.
As a mayyrt of fact Cayman is only acting as a puppet for another'big' country.
Whi they think they are fooling.
Incidentally I think that Cayman has nothing.
So they hace 1 trillion US$ on deposit for people who are are tax dogers,including many Jamaicans. ..so what?? [/qb]

Doctor:
Here is what Mr.PJ said about Cayman being a 'dependency' of Jamaica :

Many of you may not realize that the Cayman Islands were at one time an overseas extension of the local government of the parish of Westmoreland in Jamaica.

Additionally, in reading the history of The Cayman Islands, if I remember correectly, many references were made to the ill-treatment and ridicule of Caymanians doled out by our folks in the House.

Now, mi was not dere but I have heard folks say that these reports have coloured the attitude of the Caymanians to Jamaicans...from way back then ...and subsequently down through the ages .

Whatever the cause, dem noh like we...and some of us by calling them stupid etc. will not make it any more harmonious.

Soh ah noh so much rubbish mi ah talk. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]


See a refernce from a homepage:

Although discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503, the three islands were never occupied by the Spanish. In 1655, Jamaica was captured from Spain by Britain and was ceded along with the Cayman Islands to the British Crown in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. Serious settlement did not begin until the 1730s.

The Cayman Islands remained a dependency of Jamaica until 1959, at which time Jamaica became a unit territory within the Federation of the West Indies. All constitutional links were severed when the Federation was dissolved and Jamaica gained its independence in 1962. Today, the Cayman Islands remains a separate dependent territory of the United Kingdom.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Visa for The Cayman Islands...hmmm...

That is what they say,but Jamaica was a colony of britain,and was not even inchatge of iot self until it got independence from Britain.Why they csay ir was a dependewncy,is simply because britain administeted Cayman Is,Turks Island and Caicus Is from Jamaica. As soon as Jamaica became indepebdent,all those Islands were administert4ed from Britain.
The onlt thing that are coloring the Cayman adminbistration, nit the black population,(because the blacks and some others are transplant from Jamaica,and many are from southern St elizabeth too..
I have read many things in Jamaica's histiry that are not true. I have read about the former PM seaga was an ecinimist. It was reported and recorded in history,and it is not true.
It is im[possible for Jamaica to rule anywhere when it was being ruled and fighting for it's indepebdebce from colonialism.
Iny person that bother to thibnk would have been aware that this is not true.
The resentment is racist plain and simple.
They will come baclk with their tail between their legs,but I have a long memory and will remind them.
They are doing the bidding pof their tacist owners,but they should know that they will never get aby respect from those they serve. respect on the pther hand are usually ;avished on those that earn it,and Jamaica have a way to earn it's resp[ect. We just don't beg,or grovel.
If I had the influence in the Jamaican governmemt, I would enact laws that requires Jamaicans that go to Cayman Is,to pay for an exit visa,at such exorbitant rates that they just would not go.
That is what I would do.