When the Rollover policy was implemented it wasn’t just a can of worms that was opened, but a whole bucket load.

Now, seven years later, Government has finally decided enough is enough and the system needs an urgent overhaul. And I say about time too.

The for-and-against arguments will rage on in all walks of life for many months after the Legislative Assembly rubber stamps Premier McKeeva Bush’s plans to allow expatriats to stay in Cayman for two years after they hit the seven-year barrier.

And yesterday, as revealed in iNews, McKeeva has another plan up his sleeve. His shirts must be pretty big as he keeps pulling out more and more ideas to improve and enhance our economy.

Bush’s latest offering is to give a 10-year work permit to senior managers and high profile companies – effectively securing the best overseas talent for an entire decade without the constant worry of permit extensions hanging over their heads.

A good thing? I certainly think so. Cayman            needs to maintain its status as a world-leader in the financial industry, and that cannot be achieved if senior members of staff at some of the leading companies have to depart on a regular basis if they want to continue their employment.

Take Hong Kong for example. The southern China island is a major hub in what has become the fastest growing economy in the world. Its business acumen is unrivalled and thrives on expats. And what happens after you’ve lived there for seven years? They invite you stay. For good.

Now I’m not suggesting for one minute that just because working visitors to our country have amassed a few years under their belt they should be given carte blanche to come and go as they please, but the current system here simply isn’t working.

And after so many came after Ivan tore the island apart to help rebuild, surely we couldn’t just show them the door?

The policy needs changing, and hats off to McKeeva for doing so. Let’s hope that by encouraging more people to come, start new businesses and improve existing ones, the knock-on effect will be beneficial to the whole of Cayman.