10-06-2002
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,120
Rep Power: 10
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USVI Marinas & Jobs
I realize it''s way west of the Virgins but I''ve been surprised at how unaware Caribbean cruisers are of unemployment opportunities in Grand Cayman. When we were there about 6 months ago, they were running job fairs and announcing jobs on TV. There were over 600 open positions and 200 ''residents'' (that''s not us...) who were unemployed and looking for work. Once you look at skills needed vs. possessed, it was wide open. Moreover, the Cayman laws require employers to offer health insurance and provide a convertible retirement plan that they contribute to, 50-50, with the worker. After one year of employment, the worker can exit the company (and country) with both contributions. This is more generous than most U.S. employers. Pay is relatively high given the high cost of living there (tho'' not necessarily for liveaboards) and many of the positions lend themselves to yachtie skills: boat operator, diving instructor, computer-literate office worker and other tourism & banking-related employment. Working a boat that takes tourists out to feed the Rays, or in an office where the business is conducted, or servicing high-end boats that abound in numbers but are relatively lightly used - all these are common occupations down there.
If facing the combination of really wanting to shove off but knowing the kitty was only going to fund a year or two''s cruising budget, a plan I''d seriously consider is to enjoy the waterway, island hop as far E and S as my desires allowed me, and then head W via the Central Caribbean, which is far less frequented by cruisers (and no charterers) and also less expensive. Get my logistics fix in Puerto Rico with its U.S. infrastructure, enjoy the S coast of the DR (totally different from its N coast and much more ''Caribbean''), visit Ile a Vache in Haiti (a 1950''s Nat''l Geographic scene, safe and with wonderful people), choose between Cuba and Jamaica (total opposites in govt. formalities, cost and regimentation, but each interesting in their own way), and then clear into Georgetown, GC at one of the free moorings. Once cleared, I''d go around the corner into North Sound, pull into one of the protected lagoons next to the Grand Cayman Yacht Club and begin my job search. Once employment (official employment, not the pick-up jobs available immediately which will pay for groceries) is obtained, I''d move into the YC (which is just a marina) and settle in. Tradespeople from the yacht management companies are living aboard there, even the Director of the British Red Cross - all nice folks and welcoming of a newcomer. It''s difficult to connect with the islanders but there''s a large ex-Pat community that''s very approachable, the weather''s great, protection superb, and lots of banks where you can save your cruising coins!
Jack
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