Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

The Cayman Islands' controversial immigration laws could expel thousands of work-permit-holding Jamaicans who have been employed there for almost eight years.

If expelled, the Jamaicans and others from the more than 100 different nationalities must wait two years before being eligible for another work permit.

While unable to give precise figures, Franz Manderson, the Cayman Islands' chief immigration officer, admitted that there will be casualties as some will not be granted permanent residence or be adjudged by the Immigration Boards as key or exempt employees.

"If persons are unsuccessful in being designated key or exempt employees, or their applications for permanent residence are denied, then those people would, yes, be required to leave the Cayman Islands," he confirmed.

Manderson also stated that those who fail to apply for permanent residence before the December 31, 2006, deadline would be asked to leave the island.

Honorary Jamaican Consul for the Cayman Islands, Robert Hamaty, also confirmed that at the end of the process an undetermined number of Jamaicans will be told to go home, at least for a while.

"Without a doubt, that is obviously what will transpire," he emphasised. "We won't feel the real impact until next year when it takes effect."

Plans in the making

Reports to The Gleaner are that plans are in the making to send home about 4,000 Jamaicans by year-end or shortly thereafter; but this has been denied by Mr. Manderson who said that the figure was "way too high."

Anthony S. Eden, Minister of Health and Human Services in Cayman, said that many persons were late in responding to the legislative requirement. "This was actually done in 2002 or 2003 but no one really paid it any mind ... ," he explained.

However, Mr. Hamaty said that the two-year requirement is being examined and proposals are in the pipelines to have it shaved by a year.

He said too that many Jamaicans feel snubbed not by the requirements of the immigration laws, but by comments made by an official that were deemed to be discriminatory against Jamaicans. The chairperson of the Immigration Boards, David Ridge, said that Cayman would be turned into a welfare State if residency is granted to a large number of Jamaicans. Under Cayman's Immigration laws, which became effective on January 1, 2004, all work permit holders who have been on the island for seven years are required to take a two-year sabbatical before being able to return to the island on a work permit.

However, there are exceptions to the general rule; as persons, who have been granted key/exempt employee status by the Immigration Boards after seven years and persons who have been granted permanent residence status, which is only an option after eight years on the island, are excluded from the requirements of the legislation.