More than 600 people and 80 businesses have responded to the survey and public-education initiative launched by the Term Limit Review Committee last month.

Public feedback to-date shows diverse positions on the issue of term limits, commonly called ‘Rollover’, and the participation deadline has been extended until Monday, 16 January to allow as many individuals and businesses as possible to express their opinions. All residents can contribute to the Term Limit Review Committee’s (TLRC) official report.

The anonymous survey is divided into two sections: the Social and Economic Impacts of Rollover on Individuals, and the Social and Economic Impacts of Rollover on Individuals.

Following is a summary of the results as of last week:

Business Opinions:

Not surprisingly, of businesses responding, almost half (29) represented the tourism/hospitality sector, and the next-largest group was the accounting/financial sector. Seven other sectors also responded: retail, employment, construction/landscaping, legal, education, real estate and healthcare.

This snapshot of the local and global employment outlook included companies of every size – those with ten or less staff members; 25 to 50 people, 50 to 250, and those with over 5,000 people (including global organizations).

On the issue of the factors which affect their companies, most – 46 percent – selected the ‘cost of doing business’ (utilities/accommodations/salaries et); followed by the global economic conditions (39%); the Islands’ reputation’ (38%); and the cost of annual government fees (31%).

The businesspeople state that the financial impact on their businesses have been mixed: 54-percent of the businesses have seen increases in their human resources & operating costs, while just over half have seen decreases in their profit margin and productivity.

Individual Opinions:

Most of the individual respondents (55%) were Caymanians or status holders.  Most (38%) are native Caymanians; and the majority of respondents reported no professional or economic impacts. More than half had friends or acquaintances who were rolled over.

Half of these people feel rollover should be discarded, while 20% feel it should remain as is; 16% feel the employment period should be extended; while 14% feel it should be shortened.

Government and statutory authorities was the largest sector participating to date, followed by the accounting/financial, education and financial sectors. 83% of those surveyed earn between $3,500 and $6,000/month; while the next-largest group earn $2,000-$3,500.

“We appreciate the public involvement so far, and look forward to gaining even more input over coming days,” said TLRC Chairman Sherri Bodden-Cowan. 

This committee was appointed by the Governor-in-Cabinet to review the term limit provision of the Immigration Law (2010 Revision). It seeks public input to guide the development of independent recommendations to government on this immigration policy.

More specifically, its terms of reference are to address the effectiveness of the current term limit provisions; its effects on the social/economic interests of these Islands; and the fee structure associated with the grant of work permits. An associated topic is the ‘key employee’ provision.

Private individuals, companies and non-governmental organizations may also send written submissions by 15 January to: Cayman Term Limit Review Committee, PO Box 391 Grand Cayman KY1-1106.

To complete the survey, or for more information on this topic, visit the link on the homepage of Immigration.gov.ky.