As reported in this article from International Adviser, a publication aimed at professional investment and tax advisors, Tony Travers took the chance at the recent GAIM conference here in the Cayman Islands to again call upon the government to reform the Immigration system.
I don’t think anyone disagrees with the need for reform, including the elected government and even the Immigration department itself (which has taken a few short but laudable strides in the right direction of late). However, as I have repeatedly pointed out to members of the financial services community here in the Cayman Islands, what is required is not a reminder of the problem, but a proposed solution.
Firms and organisations will complain that they cannot get the staff they need in timely fashion, but all too rarely will they pinpoint the problem in terms of the laws, regulations and departmental policies that caused the issues, spend time considering how that rule affects other stakeholders, and suggest a revision that would improve outcomes all around. In other words, do something constructive about it. On the one hand, you can hardly blame them for not sending someone to thump the desk at Immigration and demand change. But as the old adage goes “don’t bring me a problem, bring me a solution”.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for respected members of the financial services community advocating for Immigration reform and the bully pulpit has its place in any advocacy campaign. But it will always be more rallying point than inflection point.
What the industry needs to do, in my humble opinion, is translate the high level rhetoric into more detailed policy analysis that points to specific problems, specific consequences, and specific, practical recommendations. Something the government can actually act on. In other words, a white paper.
