George Town MLA Alfonso Wright has begun his re-election bid a bit early, and on the platform of, “I have no idea what I’m talking about but I’m going to bash ex-pats in order to get re-elected.”
Wright told the Cayman Observer that foreign human resources managers are preventing Caymanians from reaching senior management positions and went on to say, “the majority of HR managers are ex-pats,” further saying that Caymanians' slow advancement up the corporate ladder was the result of “…these people in these companies that can make decisions as to who to hire.”
Implying that local ex-pat-owned companies aren’t pulling their weight when trying to advance local workers into senior positions is irresponsible and flat out false. I’m not sure (so readers maybe you can help on this one), but I would be willing to bet that “these companies” have much higher funded and better organized education programmes for Caymanians than does the government. Alf – maybe “your people” in government should think about that.
And lest we forget that The Ritz had two major job/hiring fairs to encourage Caymanians to apply for jobs for which they would be trained by ex-pats who were hired specifically to come to the Islands to train and leave. And, by and large, no one showed up.
What’s even more dumbfounding is that it’s 2006 and a black man is using terms such as “these people.” Let me guess Alf – you don’t think Cayman should allow “gay cruise ships” into port either. You, sir (and I use that term loosely), are a racist fool.
Not to mention that the head of the Cayman Islands Society of Human Resources Professionals (one of “your people,” Alf) refuted the contention that the majority of HR managers are ex-pats and confirmed that 80% of CISHRP members in Cayman don’t qualify as “these people” but rather “those people,” (aka ‘Caymanian” in Alf’s parlance), Wright’s implication and discriminatory comment is irresponsible at best and inherently false.
What’s worse is a lot of people will believe him.
So Mr. Wright, here are some other things you may not be aware of: Blacks, whites, ex-pats, Caymanians, tourists… HUMAN BEINGS can all walk in through the front doors of restaurants; drink from the same water fountains; use the same facilities; sit anywhere they please on a bus; vote; purchase land and homes; go to school; get hired and promoted based upon training education and experience and not entitlement; and not have to put up with being called “these people” by boneheads like you.
And let’s not forget that “these people” can take “these companies” and go to “those countries” whose jurisdictions and populations understand that this forced integration of “your people” into senior positions cannot be rushed at the expense of the profitability and overall positive impact of “these companies” on the local economy and “your people.” At that point “your people” could go to “those jurisdictions” and progress up the corporate ladder faster if your theory is correct - which, by the way, it is not.
I say we give “these people” and “these companies” a chance to work their business staffing plans under the current construct of the now very stringent immigration laws. The BSP will allow for Caymaninans to be trained and to advance - but the process isn't fixed and the BSP is still a fairly new concept.
Let's just hope you government-types can get the BSP scheme ramped-up in less time than it takes to build a road to West Bay which - by my estimation - once finished will have taken the better part of 15 years. In other words, don't blame "these people" for the failed social planning and economic policy of "your government."
At the very least I say this: As soon as “your people” stop slagging off “our people” perhaps we can all become “ONE PEOPLE" and put this small-minded way of thinking behind us. But until then, perhaps you may want to try talking out of the head attached to your shoulders instead of your other and larger head that is better adapted for sitting upon while you go to the toilet.
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