Only slightly more people said they
love the new immigration policy changes as opposed to those who hate them in
the caycompass.com online poll that ended 7 March.
Of the 449 respondents in the
one-week poll, 149 of them (33 per cent) said they loved the changes to
immigration policy.
“It is a good
idea,” said one person. “It will be beneficial to the Island.”
“Workers in
the financial industry are not the problem,” said someone else. “The financial industry here is on the verge
of pulling out.”
Only 10 fewer
people – 139 respondents or 30.9 per cent – hated the immigration policy
changes.
“It’s another
way to continue marginalizing Caymanians and for people to bring in their
buddies from other countries to fill top positions,” said one respondent. “It’s
totally unfair.”
“Bahamas does
the same thing and it doesn’t work,” said another person. “It’s selling out our
country.”
Several people
hated the idea because they didn’t feel the concessions should just apply only to
people in the financial industry.
“I hope this
change is also allowed in other professional industries that spend years
investing in someone’s knowledge, only to lose them unnecessarily because of a law
that could use an intelligent face lift,” said one person.
“People in finance are no more
important than any other people,” said someone else. “If all the mechanics or
electricians or plumbers left, the Island would grind to a halt.”
Seventy-seven people (17.1 per
cent) said they liked the new immigration policy, but they understood there
were drawbacks.
“People have
to understand that this protectionist attitude will be the end of the golden
times if we don’t give some concessions to businesses,” said one person.
Another 52
people (11.6 per cent) said they didn’t like the change to the immigration
policy, but they realised it was necessary.
“I don’t even
work in the financial industry, but I do know where the dollars that keeps us
afloat come from, plain and simple,” said one person.
“I don’t think
key employee status should be automatic, just easier than the current bureaucratic
nightmare,” said someone else.
A relatively
large segment of respondents – 32 people or 7.1 per cent – answered ‘I don’t
know’ to the question.
“I need more
info,” said one of them.