We are dumbfounded as to why Charles Clifford cancelled his planned protest march simply because the People’s Progressive Movement withdrew its support.

As far as we are aware, the only thing required for a protest march is to show up and march.  It helps if you have some signs made, but surely Mr. Clifford has the capability of making some signs for a cause in which he believes so much.

Perhaps the reason why the PPM didn’t continue to support Mr. Clifford’s march is because it didn’t agree with his arguments with respect to the dangers of key employees.

We know we don’t.

In particular, we don’t agree with Mr. Clifford’s contention the measure will lead to 9,000 people getting key employee status and ultimately Caymanian Status. 

In addition to the fact that the government denies Mr. Clifford’s quantification, it should be pointed out that just because a person gets key employee designation doesn’t mean he or she will get permanent residence.

Even if expatriates stay here long enough and do what is necessary to qualify under the points system to get permanent residence, they must remain here 15 years and then want to apply for Caymanian Status.  Given the many problems facing the society these days, some causing born-Caymanians to seek greener pastures abroad, Mr. Clifford’s assertion requires a big assumption.

Another troubling point about Mr. Clifford’s argument is that he suggests granting more key employee designations will result in an increase in “various categories of crime”.

Although he doesn’t explain what he means by that statement, we can only conclude that Mr. Clifford either believes key employees will commit crimes once they are given that designation or that educated Caymanians, blocked in their career paths, will take up a life of crime.

We don’t believe either of those possibilities.  

What we really think is, Mr. Clifford is trying to scare people for political gain by making them believe the country is going to be overrun by Status Caymanians and crime.

Given the current animosities between Caymanians and expatriates and the anxieties because of increased crime, we believe Mr. Clifford’s scaremongering is irresponsible and we applaud the PPM for withdrawing its support.