Column: Chris Famous On Immigration & More
[Opinion column written by MP Chris Famous]
During the years of 2013 – 2016, Bermuda was gripped by a significant social and political movement as citizens took to the streets to march and protest against proposed legislations by the then-One Bermuda Alliance [OBA] government aimed at liberalising the island’s immigration rules. They were rightfully concerned that the changes would negatively impact the job & housing market for Bermudians and fundamentally alter the cultural and demographic landscape of the island.
During this time, the Cayman Islands were frequently cited by both government and various business entities as the ideal, or even “Utopian,” model of immigration. This viewpoint held up the Cayman model as a standard of liberal immigration control that Bermuda should emulate.
In March of 2016 thousands of Bermudians locked arms and blocked Parliament for 1 week until the then Government withdrew the “Pathways to Status” legislation.
Caymanian Reality
Fast forward to 2025, due to growing concern of Generational Caymanians of lack of jobs, housing and national identity, the Cayman Islands Government has passed significant legislation that introduces several restrictive measures.
The key provisions of the new Cayman Islands legislation include:
- Mandatory Re-entry Ban for Early Job Leavers: Work permit holders who choose to leave their employment within the first two years of their contract are now required to depart the Cayman Islands at least one year before they are eligible to apply for another job or a new work permit on the island.
- Increased Residency Requirement for Status: The minimum residency period required for non-Caymanians to qualify for Caymanian Status has been significantly increased to twenty [20] years. A slightly reduced, though still substantial, period of fifteen [15] years is set for spouses of Caymanians. This change signals a strong governmental commitment to ensuring that only those with long-term connection can achieve the ultimate status of citizenship.
- Elevated Income Threshold for Dependents: The minimum monthly income that non-Caymanian workers must earn to be allowed to bring their dependents to the island has been substantially raised from $3,500 to $5,000 per month. Furthermore, the required additional income for each dependent has been doubled from $500 to $1,000 per month.
- Expansion of WORC’s Authority: The legislation broadens the investigative and data-sharing powers of the Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman [WORC] department. Crucially, it also strengthens WORC’s overall authority concerning decisions related to the granting of Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency [PR].
- Amendments and Revocation Powers: a further seventeen amendments were tabled immediately prior to the legislative debate. Including provisions that grant the Director of WORC the power to revoke grants of Caymanian status under certain specified circumstances.
Land Ownership
In at least three other OTs, including the Cayman Islands, non-citizens can purchase any value property, leading to shortage of affordable property for locals. In Bermuda, land ownership below a certain property value is reserved for Bermudians only. Had the Bermudian people not stood up against the previous proposals to allow the sale of land to foreigners, there would be an even more acute shortage of Bermudian owned housing than currently exists.
Regional Reality
The reality is that all 6 islands of the Atlantic and Caribbean British Overseas Territories are facing a demographic challenge with declining birthrates and increasing seniors. Added, most of our young people do not wish to go into hospitality, service or trade industries. So, we will need to import labour in order for our economies to grow. However, as seen in both the Bermuda Islands and the Cayman Islands, the key is balance between industry needs and protecting the birthright of and opportunities for generational islanders.
- Chris Famous, MP for Constituency #11, Devonshire East
Meanwhile thousands of Bermudians have been emigrating to the UK or elsewhere because they cannot afford to live here. Only to then have that labour replaced by non-Bermudians, importing labour by driving Bermudians out and then pretending you’re safeguarding future generations of Bermudians that will be born elsewhere.
Famous and his colleague seem to miss the point at every turn, all for the sake of congratulating themselves for doing laughably little to address the real issues.
Many have left to evade the law , child sexual charges, refused to save money wasted their time in school. Owed landlords, friends and family thousands of dollars. Wrote off their car at great expense. Often late at work with a poor attitude. Cry themselves into every charity. Go to England and get no sympathy and are told go home or work. They work and many improve. So Bermuda, what ya gonna do. Meanwhile we need lanour and guess what? They all hsve adopted our grandmother’s plan to survive. It worked then but they want free until all doors are closed. Then there us the impacted drugs…real bad in bermuda. Just look at the importation of drugs stopped but we hear little about court cases. Who is asking about that?
There are just so many untrue statements here. Its dissapointing that an MP is allowed to state things thats simply are not true.
“Its dissapointing that an MP is allowed to state things thats simply are not true”
it happens everywhere. Lying politicians are not unique to Bermuda.
We’re not talking about other places though , are we ?
They want to emulate US republicans.
Much of what CF wrote is incorrect. He write this propaganda nonsense in an attempt to rewrite history. Thousand ps of people, I was there, it was a few hundred.
He never comments that the PLP are responsible for so many Bermudas leaving Bermuda, for the massive influx of foreign workers. He never comments that the PLP changed the 60 40 rule which basically allowed the bank of Bermuda to be bought by HSBC, Butterfield to be bought b6 the Carlisle group, BELCO to be Canadian owned and our tourism product to be sold off and decimated.
The pain we all suffer is directly attributable to the PLP.
“In March of 2016 thousands of Bermudians locked arms and blocked Parliament for 1 week until the then Government withdrew the “Pathways to Status” legislation.”
Illegally blocked democracy you mean.
This foreigner is a trump supporter, watch your children.
Notably, Cayman does have a clear pathway to status for long term residents. Bermuda does not. Famous doesn’t mention that in his article, of course.