The Cayman Islands has, by far, the highest number of Filipinos of any Caribbean country – as divulged during last weekend’s visit by officials from the Washington-based Philippines Embassy.

Resident Filipinos took advantage of the opportunity to meet First Secretary and Consul Arlene Tullid-Magno and Welfare Officer Saul De Vries, and use their services.

The visit, Mrs. Tullid-Magno’s first, was facilitated by the Deputy Governor’s Office, which has responsibility for diplomatic issues, and was assisted by Cayman’s Protocol Office.

Accompanying the visitors was the local Philippines Honourary Consul Mr. Arturo Ursua. Even though not formally appointed, he has been acting as a liaison officer for some time. He was cited by Mrs. Tullid-Magno “for doing a great job since 2008 – largely because of the Cayman government’s acceptance and support of his work.”

After making diplomatic calls on top government officials, the Filipino visitors conducted three days of meetings and official transactions with Filipino nationals, such as passport renewals, replacements and other services. Three other embassy staffers formed the delegation.

Over 450 residents, including status-holders and persons on work permits, came out to the consultations.

Recent immigration figures show 2,677 Filipinos on work permits (not counting those who have status or residency). By comparison, there are 8,206 Jamaicans; 1,747 from the United Kingdom; 1,352 Americans; 1,161 Canadians; 753 Hondurans and 719 Indians.

On other matters, Mrs. Tullid-Magno noted that the diplomatic matter (settled earlier this year) of the Deployment Ban on workers for the Cayman Islands has indeed been suspended, and had actually been initiated by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency.  “There was never an issue of the Cayman Islands not being in compliance,” the diplomat noted.

Other changes are also pending. While liaisons with Cayman fall under the auspices of the Philippines Embassy in London, issues in the Americas are usually managed by the Washington Embassy. However, with the closure of its Venezuela embassy in July and the closure of the Havana office later this month, the Philippines Embassy in Washington is taking a more active role in the region.

The Philippine officials are working alongside the Cayman government to establish a sanctioned local presence. Once established in Cayman, an Honourary Consul would process applications for e-passports (issued in Manila), serve as a civil registry of births, marriages and deaths,

authenticate documents, and assist nationals who are ill or imprisoned.

Another aspect of the delegation’s visit was to register nationals for next year’s general elections in the Philippines, in which they can participate via absentee ballots.

The issue of citizenship was also on the agenda. As that country allows dual citizenship, nationals who acquire Cayman Islands status must take an oath to recover their original status, thereby having dual-nationality.

The embassy officials were also updated on the sporting and general relations of Filipinos with others in the Cayman Islands community, and were pleased that they generally seemed to be integrating well.

Article and photos by Information Officer Lennon Christian