People seeking employment need to be aware that Work Permits are issued to employers, not to employees. It’s an indentured-labour system, and foreign workers can switch employers only with the permission of one or other of the politically appointed labour-control committees and bureaucracies. A bit like in the Arabian Gulf states, it may be. Professionals (accountants, engineers, etc) have few problems, usually, but unskilled workers are usually limited to the occupations and employers they start with. Jamaican domestic servants call the system “near slavery”, and with some employers that’s an accurate description. The law is always on the side of the employers. (The Philippines government put Cayman on its blacklist a few months ago, and I think it’s still there.)

All three of our Islands can be very, very, pleasant places to live, if you overlook the “near slavery” all around you; the money is excellent. However, prospective newcomers would be wise to expect a bit of a culture shock. Human and civil rights are only selectively applied to expats; for instance, breaching local censorship rules can result in deportation without any kind of hearing or appeal. I can’t go into all the ins and outs of the system here. The subject is covered in many of my blog entries (www.barlowscayman.blogspot.com), and you’ll just have to wade through the posts, I’m afraid. I’ll be glad to answer general questions.