Businesses still causing curfew trouble
(CNS): Many business owners are still not heeding the message that, aside from essential workers, the only people who should be working in Cayman at the moment should be doing so at home. Premier Alden McLaughlin expressed his frustrations again on Wednesday that some commercial operations are breaching the COVID-19 curfew conditions and said he was disappointed with the number of requests for exemptions for non-essential workers.
The premier said that with the increase in local cases, which had been expected, he was still hopeful that the transmissions can be contained within households. But he said Cayman was now in a “very dangerous position”.
Speaking at the daily press briefing to update the community on the situation with COVID-19, he dismissed concerns that government was planning another full lockdown and round-the-clock curfew because of the impracticalities. But he warned that government may expand the segregation by name currently applying to supermarkets and banks for all outings to cut the number of people moving about.
Given the current circumstances and confirmed community transmission, he said he was deeply disappointed that many in the business community still don’t get it. McLaughlin said thousands of exemption requests continue to pour in, leaving officials shaking their heads.
He said some businesses just can’t accept that they are not exempt, such as pool and electrical maintenance, where only emergency repairs are considered essential, not general work. “We want to keep as many people at home as we possibly can,” McLaughlin said, pointing out that businesses should be shut unless their people can work from home or are genuinely providing an essential service.
“We are constantly pressured and hammered by the business community about an economic stimulus and getting Cayman back to work,” he said, as he urged people to understand that we are in a public health emergency. The premier stressed that people had to hunker down for several more weeks until they are satisfied this virus has burned itself out.
“Then we can start really… putting people back to work and getting businesses back up and operational. But now, we don’t want you to have employees out working unless they are providing an essential service. We want them to stay home,” the premier repeated, adding that anyone who could should keep working from home.
“Do not make non-essential visits to . Each time you do so you are risking your own health and that of the broader community,” McLaughlin warned.
He said he had heard criticisms that government is doing nothing to look out for the economy, but that was not the case. He said he knew the point will come when “we must grapple with that”, but now it was not business as usual and Cayman was not open for business at all and people should stay home.
Nevertheless, he said he was aware businesses need help and government was working on providing soft loans through the Cayman Islands Development Bank to support small businesses. He also said that government was looking at a pensions payment holiday and even allowing people to access the funds, but that would require legislative changes.
McLaughlin pushed back on criticisms of government from the Chamber of Commerce and other sources that it was not concerned about the economy. He said that was not true but right now the focus was on the health crisis. He asked critics to consider what is happening in the countries that had tried to balance an open economy with the health crisis, and wondered if they really believed that deaths were OK just so long as the economy is still rolling.
He said that we can either focus on funerals or we can focus on keeping people alive. “We are choosing life over economics,” the premier said. “We are always going to put the welfare of the people of this country above the economic welfare of businesses.”
However, McLaughlin made it clear that he was well aware that the economic fallout was going to be bad. He said the Chamber of Commerce estimates that some 11,000 jobs could be lost to COVD-19 was probably an underestimate.
He pointed out that the tourism industry is not coming back anytime soon and those working in that sector will have to bite the bullet and make decisions about their work permit holders. He said government would try to help them leave.
McLaughlin said he was grateful for the financial services sector but warned that the services it provides do not exist in a vacuum. He said that while there was still some movement in that industry, “things have slowed up” and there would be a further slowdown in the work.
He said he planned to have a meeting via Zoom, the online video conferencing platform, with that sector soon to seek their view on where they see the future of offshore services and the work it can still do.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
We don’t need any more mosquitoes on this island then there already are!
Take all the useless Civil Servants off the road and we’ll have nothing to worry about.
Then some of the real essential people can get back to work
My pool company has gotten the permission and hasn’t missed a week. What is everyone losing their minds about?
Not any more. Pool work is now emergencies only.
My pool is an emergency. My kids need to keep up swimming as we are just teaching them so they don’t freaking drown!!!!! Alden, you’re being hardheaded for no reason. I bet his pool guy still comes.
Did you really just say your pool is an emergency so you can teach your kids to swim during a pandemic?
What an idiot, sounds like someone with more money than sense.
As I said my pool company has a letter confirming they are essential. So does my pet sitter. The pool guy came Tuesday and the pet people filled the feeders yesterday. So, again, get a grip.
Meanwhile the Tarpon at GT water front are staving
When did Premier and others returned from overseas? They could have brought the virus. Not all virus hosts get symptoms. If their immune system is robust and or their particular genetic makeup effectively eliminates the virus before it causes any damage, they would still have antibodies to the virus. Would be interesting to find out. Germany is working on testing for antibodies.
I bet half of Cayman population either already had corona mistaken for flu or has been exposed to virus but remained healthy.
Is Cayman ready to buy testing kits once they become available? Do they follow the latest development in testing for antibodies? Otherwise they might endup buying too many unnecessary corona tests.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibody-blood-test-covid-19-2020-3%3famp
Do you read much? I bet you don’t know a whole lot about anything you are talking about.
close the dam liquor stores!
At least they deliver in a day or two! Close the damn supermarkets to delivery only!!!
Our last Kirk’s order took a week, stiffed us with spoiled produce and only half the order.
classic kirks…
Just so you won’t drink? Thinking only of yourself is not a good thing.
i can name on one hand essential businesses. get a grip people. stay the f home.
Alden if I could ask a special favor. Things are bad right now an everyone is stressed can you please remove Dwayne from the panel because he is only making things worse. Please have mercy on us!!!
Way to go Alden. Tenants are calling in saying you’ve said they don’t have to pay rent. One tenant in particular is in the medical field. Before the anti-wealthy jump on this, I’m employed. No rent collected, no job.
Hell no. I’ll put them on the street and let my properties sit empty first. Then they really be Alden problem.
If you don’t COMPLY with government’s rules, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED! And you will make it worse for us! And your facebook, twitter, and whatsapp accounts will be kept on record against you! The Governor has the power of surveillance and maintain law and order! DON’T BE FOOLISH spreading your Fake concerns and news!
Yes they are not complying because the government themselves is not complying. For example why are admin staff for HSA still being told by the deputy governor to come into work? Yes this is the case. Numerous government departments are still on the road and not essential and can work remotely
Stop SCREAMING at me! And get a grip!
My friend who said that I wouldn’t comply, arrested for what? The Governor and Premier can do what ever they want, I’m only speaking a provable fact, they don’t have the “Empirical Data”, to justify what has been done, trying to scare me into silence would never work.
All I’m saying is I hope the Government is prepared to deal with fall out of shutting down virtually the entire economy, that’s is coming.
Next time before making statement on limiting freedom of speech, do some research, just last week our own mother country the UK, said China would face a “reckoning” for its handling of the Caronavirus.
How should we interpret this?
Why don’t you ask our government to put the numbers into proper context and stop the fearmongering!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8163767/amp/Downing-Street-says-China-faces-reckoning-coronavirus.html
Sweetie, please. Calm down. Deep breaths. In through the nose and slow, determined breaths out through the mouth.
A rrested? Hope there are enough cells 3 feet apart.
They better prepare rooms to exposed police, medical and emergency staff so they won’t spread it to their families. That is how it was done in China.
But they should have been fully protected to eliminate even a slightest chance of catching the virus. On every photo or video police, medical staff don’t wear any protective equipment and get in close contact when not needed.
Wow. I can’t believe folk would rate up your comment. Typical attitude that will lead a world more into dictatorship. After they take away our freedoms, will we get it back after this crises remains to be seen!
CNS: Yesterday, 1 April 2020, CI Govt gazetted the Health Practice (Designated Care Facilities) Order – effectively allowing Health Services Authority to hire doctors who are from countries not on the Primary Medical Register (e.g. India – just like Health City can). This is unfair the a Caymanian Medical Students in the UK, USA, etc whose future jobs will now be taken over by Indian doctors etc.
If this truly COVID-19 related than the regulations should have been temporary (say for 12-18 months)
We should let people suffer so someone who might come back in four years has a job. Good thinking. Assume you’re also worried about stingrays.
If COVID-19 related then it should be valid for only a year. It takes 12 years of hard work to be a specialist doctor.
Pool companies should be exempt. Our guy comes by himself so he’s already isolated. Cleans, puts in the chlorine tablets and leaves. We pay over the Internet. My children are stuck inside all day then they get to swim after homeschool is done. Yes I understand my privilege but guess what, I also don’t want my pool to get gross and disgusting, mosquito infested… and then it breaks so after this whole thing is over we have to pay more money to fix. IM we’ve isolated ourselves and don’t even leave for groceries. All is delivered to us. We are taking this serious and a pool company with no contact isn’t a big deal.
Pools are like cruise ships- breeding ground for diseases. Drain, turnoff and thank your lucky stars that you and your family is safe.
What nonsense from the jelly.
Firstly they’re only unhealthy if they aren’t maintained secondly if you drain them they become a deathtrap for kids. Quite why someone can’t clean a pool and add virus killing chemicals is beyond me when the same person can go to a shop to buy beer.
Perhaps because the Premier has also stopped you from going to the shop that sells the chemicals?
Suggest your pool company drop off a bucket of Chlorine tablets and send you instructions on what you can do yourself. It’s not like you don’t have time to learn and drag your behind off the couch to get it done🙄
I’ve got children to teach at home now all while paying school fees. A little busy…. but thanks for your comment when not asked.
Also 🖕
Sorry all the pool companies have been closed as nonessential. You could try using bottles of alcohol, that is still available. Not very effective and very expensive.
Does not take a genius to maintane a pool do it yourself
But it takes chemicals… that we can’t
Obtain. Genius.
Gosh, we feel your pain.
Many people have lost their jobs, don’t have money to buy groceries, pay rent but heaven forbid that your pool would get gross and your kids can’t swim.
You are so out of touch.
Oh no, my pool can’t be cleaned.
What a whiny 1st world problem. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Well I just read 95 comments, 70 of which were about pools, and will never get the time I spent back. So much for a decent discussion of business needs and our needs of businesses at this time, will have to wait for another article.
Such is the mentality here. All of them THE expert of the island about pools and the virus all evidence to the contrary. Why is it the ones with nothing to say the very ones who have to talk so much? Plan on not reading and reacting to the foolish post.
We import 3.3 Billion in goods each year. The new number is going to be significantly lower. Let’s say it’s 2 Billion over the next 12 months.
That’s $167,000,000 leaving Cayman each month conservatively.
There’s virtually nothing coming in.
When I think about food, water and shelter in the above scenario I really begin to hate math.
is florida letting pool companies work?
why do we always think we can re-invent the wheel here???
Stopping pool maintenance is asinine as a policy measure. What’s the point of all these measures? To stop spread of the virus. These pool maintainers (1) work alone, (2) drive clearly marked vehicles, (3) work outside their customers’ houses, (4) don’t touch door handles/surfaces etc that aren’t bathed in chlorine. Stopping them is shortsighted gov’t/police overreach, does nothing to stop the virus and only erodes public goodwill toward the government’s control measures. Once public goodwill is lost, good luck with all this, your authority will dissipate fast. Govt: admit this is a mistake (you’re allowed to make mistakes here) and undo it, quickly.
Alden doesn’t do admitting mistakes. Notice how little discussion there is about where the recent virus cases came from – just a “travel history” or contact with a traveller; incubation of 7 days, do the math – could it just be that they were the product of his decision to extend the airport opening for the UK? No, it was all the fault of the private sector and people applying for exemptions. Pool guys handling chlorine all day and not coming in contact with anyone – high risk. 120 more people coming from a covid hot zone who will make contact with airport staff , have their baggage handled, be transported to their quarantine by others, be feed and looked after in quarantine by others, all of whom are without masks and PPE – no problem. No – doesnt do mistakes, hell, he doubles down!
Lol Florida.. WTF are you thinking, The US has doubled the amount of cases in this last week and I wonder why you selfish idiot.
The Us will have 250000+ deaths by the end of this becuase they want their pool boy to come round and clean the pool.
If you love the US so much, their rules and not Caymans rules, you are more than welcome to catch the BA flight to London and catch a flight to the US.
Pool boy, glad your not mine.
UK not even testing… And thinks it good to get ride of the Caymanian because they aren’t really British. Alden kiss they ass…. Build and air bridge? The Bahamas got the UK well figured out and that common wealth won’t even let them put a jet on the tarmac. Wow, let me repeat that commonwealth and the rest won’t let the UK land a jet. That says a lot about how low they’ve sunken in the view of the world.
Yes Miami Dade lists them as essential services for reasons mentioned here.
So Aldart where are those surplus funds for non-biased (non-99% nasty taxi driver) stimulus plan? Are you rethinking “permits for everyone that can pay” policy now that Caymanians are out of work and being let go before permit holders? Lets see the effect on your people of your short term window dressing economic policies. Get rid of WORC (Worthless Organization to Ruin Caymanians) and start applying laws and regulations like your much smarter predecessors did.
He probably is not rethinking the current permits for all process. HIs wealthy backers still want cheap, easily controllable labor.
Aldart? Much smarter pedicessors? WORC(Worthless Organization to Ruin Caymanians? Who would listen to you besides yourself?
pedicessors…you idiot
“pedicessors”…I’m guessing your mixing this up with founders of your group NAMBLA
you’re
What is NAMBLA?
Here’s my two cents, some essential business like banks and groceries stores are very high risk for all involved, and some businesses are very low risk, like pool maintenance. I’m ok with low, or no risk business continuing as it keeps things limping along and will ultimately help. Leaving pools to get to an emergency state, which is all that’s allowed now
, will end up creating a bigger problem in a few weeks which pool companies won’t be able to fix. I’m sure there are many other examples, but Cayman is small enough to be able to work out the no risk stuff, rather than parroting the UKs mantra of ‘essential only’. If you want to stop the spread then it should be risk based descisons. One guy in a truck working outside, not interacting with anyone is not a risk, if you are super picky, don’t touch any of the pool stuff!
There are some sensible blocks concerning pools particularly the point raised about mosquitos. I have a pool and was surprised to see my pool people arrive on Tuesday, they had missed last week. When I enquired as to whether they were ‘legal, they advised me they had just got exemption.
In the devastating hurrican we had , we had no electricity for 80 days and thus no pool cleaning. The pool was full of sand and roof tiles, guttering from next door. It soon became green but a few colleagues and I ignored all cleaned it up and threw in clorine bleach in by the bucket load. However all the clorine came from the super markets.
With 200/400 swimming pools here I would guess they will soon run out. Thus CIG should rethink their views on the pool companies. I do hope the hotels have a skeleton staff for maintenance of their facilities. No one wants a fire or some other disaster.
So far I think things have gone well. I ventured out yesterday and found the RCIP very polite at road blocks and Scotis Bank well organized. Kudos to both.
No boy racers on the bypass . Maybe the helicopter kept them at bay.
I agree Chris.
The pool guys should have no contact with the residents.
1) it keeps some people employed
2) Social distancing is more than maintained
3) it stops a potential issue down the road.
Stopping pool cleaning is just a mistake, plain and simple. There is a near zero risk of spread with this service, this should be obvious to everyone. Alden and Martyn don’t spend your political capital on bad moves like this, you’re going to need it as this drags on.
While the whole world is wiping everything down in chlorine and bleach related products, we suddenly think thay a guy administering the same products – actually stronger for commercial use – to a large body of water outside our house is a huge threat. Im beginning to wonder if jumping into the chlorinated pool when I ever DO leave the house and come home isnt the best way to disinfect my entire body!!!
Our pool company has pointed out:
1) routine maintenance avoids the “emergency” treatment they are authorised to provide
2) they don’t have enough chemicals or staff to deal with all their clients having “emergencies” – particularly since they are all likely to arise at the same time once maintenance stops, and emergency treatments consume way more chemicals than routine maintenance
3) emergency treatment will have to be repeated ad infinitum if its not followed up by maintenance
4) there is not enough pool chemical stock on island for all pool owners to hold their own personal supply – its a bit like telling people not to buy two weeks worth of groceries from Fosters – there is enough for everyone as long as pools are serviced as and when needed rather than everyone holding stock to do it themselves
And I guess there is a fundamental issue too as to whether the pool companies can even stay open without routine maintenance – if they lay off all their workers, who is going to be around to deal with the emergencies when they arise.
Appreciate pools are not as critical as other issues, but what exactly does the Premier gain by having the pool guys stay at home. They don’t come in contact with the customers for heavens sake. If he is going to get precious about unnecessary contact with service workers why doesn’t he stop home delivery of restaurant food – that’s not exactly essential and involves way more human to human contact. Because pools are seen as a privilege issue, whereas god forbid you should stop the good voter from scoffing fast food.
Sooo what about gardening and landscaping companies. What happens when pest take over my yard and lawn and thousands of dollars of plant material is lost? Is this a emergency? Gardeners can work single or at a minimum of two in a truck. What about when my irrigation breaks? Can the landscaper come out? Where do we stop with essential? When It comes to pools this is stupid. Skim your own leaves out and drop in a chlorine tablet, this is the minimum but will keep the pool clean, safe and mosquitoes free. This most home owners can do for them selves. Let me see you fix a broken irrigation main, wait till you get that water bill, will you blame government because you lobbied for the wrong service group to be exempt?
A month worth of chlorine for the average pool is about 6 tablets at most. There is plenty on this island.
BUT WAIT!!!
What about all of these saltwater pools! They dont add chlorine! It’s made from the salt and salt don’t evaporate!
Sounds like a lot of people make money cleaning pools!
When a child dies because they fall in to an untreated green strata pool and can’t be seen on the bottom, it’s on you people.
you now have all the time in the world to watch your children, keep them inside and away from the pool.
says the person with no children…
The new regulations to control the spread of Covid 19 provide a list of those businesses that may be exempted, however it appears that there is nor provision for individuals based on humanitarian health grounds where travel for specific health reasons is required. My son applied and recd the response “your application is denied” , reason given was his need was not on the list of exemptions in the new Regulations What sort of nonsense is this?
8.21am I see from the thumbs down humanitarian principles in Cayman are at the bottom of the list.
And what constitutes a health crisis for your child?
You bunch of idiots.
Put a jug of bleach in your pool every week and you will have no problems!!!
If I have to tell you where you get bleach, then you are already a lost soul (or a lazy ass)!!!
Well said Tommy Two Toes. Amazed that more people don’t know this about a jug of bleach in the pool once a week.
Obviously neither one of you owns a pool. So you are he usual type of “expert” who does not know what they are talking about.
Once again…..learn to clean your own pool. I have been doing so for many years. All I ever need is chlorine tablets, which you can get from Cost-U-Less.
Screw the “other chemicals”, for now, chlorine will suffice.
The trouble is, folks have no clue how to hook up a vacuum hose and switch on the vacuum function on the pump. Too much like hard work, and getting too sweaty!
Plenty of videos on You Tube…
WE CANT GET SUPPLIES TO DO IT PROPERLY! Also, a pool guy is more isolated than all the fools running to the shops together.
Exactly how much is a jug as it relates to the chemicals outlined in “parts per million” per Dept of Environmental Health regulations please? and thanks for your expert advice
CBS News has admitted that alarming footage of an overflowing ward used during a report on the coronavirus crisis in Big Apple hospitals was actually shot in Italy. 🤯🤯🤯
CNS: Someone made a mistake in the editing department and the right wing media explodes with conspiracy theories and general MSM bashing. Really reprehensible. Mistakes should not happen, especially about something so important and someone should get fired, but sadly they do. The fact is that there was certainly enough footage of the disaster in New York. The MSM that people love to trash has been reporting what was actually happening with COVID-19 for months while all those right wing media houses were saying it was basically the flu and nothing to really worry about. This is distraction at it’s most cynical. By the way, there is a reason there is a military hospital ship off NYC and they have a makeshift overflow hospital in Central Park and other locations. Focus on what’s important here.
Today in the hospitals in NYC it is much worse than Italy. Bodies everywhere and dozens of refrigeration trucks on the streets to keep bodies, as cemeteries cannot handle all the bodies. Doctors and nurses are dying every day now and many are sick.
This is not the flu like Fox News was saying last week.
Thank you CNS. These ignorant Fox News watchers need a slap on the bum and a long time out.
Who exactly has a problem from the Chamber of Commerce with choosing prevention and lives over economy? I’d like to know who so I can spit on the ground while i’m walking across them.
If this is an issue maybe the pool store can start DELIVERY to home owners….there is nothing else to do! Maybe we could refurbish yards and do some clean up….trash is on every road outside of homes!
You can’t save everyone Alsen. Some people are not meant to be saved. Go for 80% So far you are doing great. Just a thought: maybe if you punished the ones doing wrong (fines,jail time,etc.) your message might be made clear enough to those who need to hear it.
Good example, letting journalists attend via Zoom.
Now increase the distance between you all on the panel to 6′ please.
Rather than a jingle contest, wouldn’t it have been more educational to engage our youth in a contest on infomercials to get everybody to stay home, or inventing makeshift ventilators for countries in need, or retrofitting scuba masks etc. Harness that creativity in a meaningful way!
Eliminate Health Minister who brings nothing to the room but gas.
I disagree. Keep bringing him so the people can see what a complete idiot he is. And hopefully not vote for him in next election.
What will he have come up with today, every household to receive an arts and crafts supply box?
Alden,
I am requesting the below persons to be allowed to my house and the reasons.
Helper –
I need someone to clean my house
I need her to be here to cook and wash dishes
I need her to help with school work
I need her to wash my clothes
Gardener
I need him to trim the bushes
I need him to cut my grass
Pool maintenance
I need him to clean my pool
Painter –
My house needs a fresh coat of paint
TV guy –
I need him to come hook up my new TV
Pest control –
We can’t have ants or cockroachs in my house, there are way to many bugs and rodents in the Caribbean
Car cleaner –
I haven’t cleaned my car for the last two weeks, it’s a bit dusty
I humbly put these requests forward as I’m way to busy watching TV, posting on social media and just don’t want to do these jobs myself
What a dreadful life we here in Cayman.
Get off your @ss and do these jobs yourself, donate the funds you would have spent to either continuing to paying these companies or donate to a local charity who really need help.
So a little solution
Pools supplier’s –
yes I can see the need to deliver treatments but not work, drop items outside, give instructions how to use.
Pest control
Ant and cockroachs – buy some spray, just get the f.. Over it
Rodents – call DOE they will drop a rodent box off of buy some traps and do it yourself
It’s very simple, we want to get back to some sort of normality. We have to live without our luxuries hopefully for the next month. Self isolate!
How about doing without liquor or KFC for the next month. Or are they not luxuries. How about TV or the Internet? I remember when they were considered a luxury.
don’t call their bluff….the self-righteous are out in force….and are blind to their own hypocrisy
You lot need to get a grip, get your damn heads out of the sand, stop the money making greed and face reality about this situation!! I am having make shift hospitals erected around me in local Leisure Centre Gyms and in empty large buildings to house the ever increasing Corona virus victims here in the UK. They are erecting temporary mortuaries in readiness. We haven’t enough ventilators for the sick and they are talking about not resuscitating the elderly with underlying health issues and issuing the ventilators to much younger victims. Doctor’s surgeries have already issued letters to this effect. . How would you all feel if they made that decision about your wife/husband or parent. No one is immune to this virus however much power or money you have. You are a small island Cayman, this virus is already creeping over you. Don’t be complacent, this will wipe you all out very quickly!! Then where will you all be!!
Can you comment without shaming, blaming and manipulating? Because “How would you all feel if …” is a manipulation.
So back at you:
How would you feel if your parent had a stroke but not taken to a hospital because they have no room because they are saving the virus patients?
Who knows why and from where the virus materialized. The world is adjusting the way it can. Superiority attitude is simply silly at this time. Because even so called experts know nothing or very little about pandemic control.
What are you on about 8.57am you nut!! ? all I am reading in posts is how hard done by you all are because your poor little pool boy isn’t coming to clean your fancy pool. That the liquor stores should remain open and what about your KFC. Dear God!! That’s the least of your worries you moron!! Have some empathy in your soul for the victims of this horrendous virus sweeping the world. You obviously have your head well in the sand! All I’m saying is, abide by the curfew, close the unnecessary stores, stay at home with your family because any moment they could be taken away from you by this virus. How is this advice from a resident of the U.K. being manipulative? We are nearing the peak around May and dread to think how many lives will be lost by then. We have 3,000 dead now that died in hospitals not counting all the dead in Nursing Homes. 600 dead in last 24hrs! This is common sense advice. Take to be told from a country that’s learning the hard way. I am an ex resident of Cayman and have many Caymanian friends and work colleagues I love dearly. You need to watch that programme about Italy’s dead from this virus. It’s called:- Coronavirus – Into The Red Zone. ….this will alter your mind.
Ahh a TV educated expert.
Wondered when you would turn up. Check the statistics on the Spanish. Flu before your “end of the world” pronouncements. That pandemic occurred long before the era of rapid world travel.
I agree with the experts who tell us to try to isolate to slow down the spread of the virus however, the fear mongers like yourself should also heed their advice. Try researching the Clinical effects of depression caused by spreading panic.
free tip for alden….say no to business exemptions when requested as you see fit.
then get the police to enforce the restrcitions . end of story.
the commissioner reports on very few breaches of the law….but then alden starts crying about about too many breaches by the business community?????
When your business is on the line, about to be bankrupt and employees have to be fired and then ultimately you have to close, its easy to sit up there a speak about which businesses are essential, people’s lives are already left in ruins.
The government is simply fear mongering without “empirical data”, who knows how many people worldwide may have already caught the virus? I dont recall a panic in 2009, when an estimated 50mm Americans caught the H1N1!
The Cayman Islands government is over hyping, just like the rest of the world, this global panic is clearly planned at the highest levels in my opinion to destroy the global economy.
Anyone notice how China, which has a 1.5 billion population (according to the WHO, China had 81K Caronavirus cases with 3.5K deaths, they don’t even report cases now, THEY’VE STOPPED TESTING!) back to business as usual, after this virus in CHINA.
China has brought the rest of the world to its knees? Big cover up going on and the WHO is licking China’s boots straight to the bank!
I hope the CI government are ready for the economic depression and the problems that will follow.
I’m not willing to give up my freedoms and liberties for some action a tyranical, satanic, communist regime took to panic the world.
Sad times for everyone coming, please keep safe.
I think you might be a little naive if you believe anything that comes out of China. They will only tell the world what they want the world to know; and it may or may not resemble the truth.
Read my comments again, I’m well aware and informed that China is lying. The virus started there, 1.5billion people and they haven’t reported any new cases in over 2 weeks, doesn’t make sense and we must sit here and rely on the World Health organization for guidance!
Big joke.
Better be nice to China. They control 85% of the worlds mask and medical gown supplies and 90% of all the chemicals needed to make vaccines.
We are very dependent now on China whether we like it or not.
When you have more than one Conspiracy theory, the governments and mainstream media calling fake news, there must be some truth to them.
Mclaughlin, keep on expressing your freedom of speech 👍🏻
You must be an American and you are more than welcome to go home via London on the BA flight.
You honestly think China is giving the world the correct figures? Oh yes you do, your an American beleive everything I read, see on TV.
As of today there is a million cases in the world, 50000 deaths, 200000 recovered. This is since December. And really only hitting the western world in the last month. Now those are the facts.
The US will have over 250000 dealths probably more if they believe what you believe.
Read my comments again!
So in a meeting between representatives of the financial sector and the Ministry for Financial Services to see what government can do to assist the Minister tells the sector they can apply for exemption for essential staff to maintain their office IT systems that allow the rest of their employees to work from home. The very next day the Premier says he is still angry at employers applying for exemptions, but he intends to have a conversation with he financial services sector to see what can be done to help them. Do they actually talk to each other?
A pool can be shut down by draining. If you can’t find pool tablets, then pretend its a cistern and use chlorine bleach. You can buy that at the grocery store next time you go to get eggs. That will do for a long time.
Do not drain your pool. Most pools here will crack or be floated out of the ground by the ground water. Just google how to take care of it and you’ll all be fine
AWFUL ADVICE. know anything about our water table? Know anything about how draining a pool will damage not just the finishes but the structure? WOW. If you dont know about this stuff, do not give advice.
Agree 100%. When pools are refinished you sign a waiver absolving company of any liability if your pool/deck/house crack as a result. Pools here below the water table. Weight of water in them keep the slab stable.
It doesn’t need an expert; it’s not rocket science. Look on the Internet and you’ll find plenty of instruction videos. Too bad you didn’t have the sense to arm yourself with emergency supplies. You’ll know next time though!
I have just spent sometime watching videos of how to maintain a swimming pool on YouTube!
ALL of them feature what I would call specialist equipment or chemicals. Some of them also warn of problems (some can be dangerous to health or equipment) that can happen.
Some mention bleach as an emergency treatment….but the bleach “burns off” much quicker than the type of chlorine pool companies use. So you would have to use gallons every day. Good luck with that.
Strikes me that the majority of negative comments against pool companies are made by people who haven’t a clue (like me) how to look after a pool or don’t have a pool in the first place.
A big jug of bleach once a week into a normal size pool will do the job.
You are an idiot. What is a normal size pool? Seen the 50 metre ones on South Sound?!?!?
You lot whingeing about having someone to clean your pool are quite sickening. You should have supplies in your pump room ready for any situation whereby the guys might not be there to do it for you. And you should know how to use them. Look it up on YouTube if you don’t know.
Bunch of ninnies.
Hey I have a solution to all those with pools… drain them and do without for now. You all sound so out of touch. Boo hoo so you won’t be able to use your pool, you all realize that there are people out of work and those needing assistance?! My heart cry’s with you for the great sacrifice you must deal with. Get over it.
how do you drain a pool?
with a bucket
11.11pm Stick to your violin. Do you have any idea what it costs to drain an average sized poll and refill it with fresh water, and who is going to do it?
You are going to do it unless you are totally stupid. Too many snowflakes on island.
4000 gallons like 200 bucks
Probably about 1200
The pool companies will be adding to those unemployed if they don’t get the money for the pools they are supposed to maintain.
What if we keep having a handful of cases a week and it doesn’t ‘burn itself out’ as the Premier says? There is a strong possibility that this virus becomes something that the world lives with (like other viruses). I’m not clear on how many weeks this goes on for? That’s something I’d like to hear addressed in the press briefings – a timeline based on probable/possible scenarios. Perhaps a clear plan could replace the song lyrics, bible verses and his own childish poems that one member of the panel keeps bringing.
Are we really worrying about private pools when in the midst of a global health crisis? First world problems that will be the end of this island
We have been in the midst of a humanitarian crisis of one kind or another for some time, but that doesn’t sell newspapers or advertising on television shows! How many people have died in the last year from starvation? We are in a position to cure that killer! But it’s not happening in our backyard so we don’t have to worry about it. Try closing all the supermarkets and liquor stores for just one week here and see what happens.
What shade of green does my pool need to turn before it is considered an emergency? Options appear to be pickle, seaweed or crocodile.
Algae farm? New source of local food?
On average 350 people die per annum in Cayman. Is Alden’s plan to save everyone from this nature’s course?
CNS: We have hospitals and doctors to try and save people’s lives under normal circumstances. But they’re enormously costly to maintain. Perhaps we should forget the whole saving lives thing altogether.
Back to sanity… The government and health officials are trying to save all those who don’t need to die, many of them because their lungs stop functioning. Try to keep up.
Well, according to new directives for NYC First responders if a person in a cardiac arrest is not resuscitated “in fields“ he is to be declared dead and not taken to a hospital’s ICU. ICUs are for saving virus patients.
Don’t know if it is true, but we’re certainly entering into NewEra.
2stranded at sea ships with living and breathing people are not to be helped because it could “strain resources”. Trump surprisingly intervened.
Meantime Lee Health hospitals in SWFL are only at 65% capacity, I assume all “other” patients are sent home or encouraged not to come in, yet ”has highest mortality rate among Florida counties with 100-plus COVID-19 cases”
I can’t help wondering what it means for the government to be “focused on health right now”. Realistically, are they actually sitting around making big decisions on health all day? Really? What like? We have 22 cases and the country’s already in total lockdown. None of them are in any way qualified to “focus on health” at the best of times. Are they making respirators in their garages? Visiting the sick? Stitching masks on their sewing machines? Patrolling the streets during curfew hours? Calling Chinese hand sanitizer suppliers? What are they actually doing? Oh, it’s all important “behind the scenes” stuff. That only they can do. These experts in epidemiology. Riiigggghht.
They seem to have plenty time on their hands to write poetry and hold daily ever less informative, ever more sophisticated two hour coronavirus infomercials.
Meanwhile restaurants and supermarkets are still making people sign credit card slips with pens touched by forty other people.
Bring your own pen. simple.
Boi’ u sore
What you been riding?
Any bimbo can criticise
Most people on here are really trying to make a positive difference.
Join in, you might actually like sensibly contributing🙏🏼
Exactly! Great comment!👍👍👍
Every time someone praises Premier or Mr.Lee I ask what exactly they are doing?
Closing the Dump and working on recycling and 21st century waste management system would be “focusing on health».
Getting mad at people and businesses is not focusing on health.
Bring your own pen. Duh!
Many of our local businesses and their leading lobby group are accustomed to having their way at all costs. They have never cared about the lives of the residents of the Cayman Islands so nothing mentioned in this article should come as a surprise to anyone.
There are some good businesses out there that genuinely care about the country and their employees; but that is the minority and those businesses are typically not the types of businesses that can exert significant influence over the government.
And how is the government helping those businesses? Oh right, they’re not.
I’m sorry. I just launched a business and really struggling too. But I am right behind Alden I have friends and family out there in the world being affected by this. I barely have enough to cover this months rent, but rather than whinge I am offering my services (remotely) for free to help others. What are you doing?
Pool companies still planning to continue service. what must customers and workers do?
Where am I supposed to buy a kit/chlorine tablets when everything is closed?!
Mosquitos carrying disease here we come from all those shut down pools
Put a some bleach in and do the best that you can……
Costuless
Clueless👆
Is the plane out spraying? Haven’t seen it for a long time.
I hear it’s engine was showing symptoms last week, has it died yet?
Drain the pool
Drain the swamp!
And watch it pop out of the ground, taking the pool deck with it.
Some pools take $1,000’s to fill & hundreds to rebalance the chemicals. Meanwhile pool companies lay off staff.
The roads are packed. I’ve seen plenty of work trucks and people in work gear travelling. People will pretend it won’t impact them until a loved one gets sick.
Where can we buy the bleach tablets or treatment kits? Happy to do mine..
Exactly. You don’t need the pool company to maintain your pool: you can do it yourself. I’m not sure whether you would have to buy from them or where you would buy them from but you can do it yourself. Cayman Brac doesn’t have a pool company nor Little Cayman.
Chlorox, anyone can use it.
One big jug of bleach once a week into the pool. Simple.
Ha! How many jugs in condo 50 metre pool when I cant buy more than 2…oh wait. Let all 50 owners go to the store & buy two gallons each every week. Much safer than letting the pool guy come (that’s sarcasm for the few that won’t get it).
We now learn about the true nature of business people. Money is all that counts and people are just tools you can replace.
Really? You’re just now learning this? It’s in the Bible for Christ sakes. It’s the root of all evil rearing it’s head again. And again…
love of money*
Hence the need for 20,000 ‘essential’ employees. SMH.
Is anyone really surprised? Forever shall the $ be king here.
Mr Seymour, the “Health Minister”, after his Christian contribution, lamented today that when he was driving in to the briefing that there were far too many people on the road. I am a Bodden Towner who lives by the main road and watches traffic and I can tell him it is his own hard core supporters in Bodden Town that are out on the road. I could name them but CNS would not print it. But the surname of a frequent offender begins with B. If the Police had the resources, a road block at the by pass where Belford meets the main road to the East and Guard House Hill would net all sorts of curfew breakers. And what about these guys on motorbikes running about the place?
So here’s one thing I know about pools. If it is not properly and regularly maintained it will become a filthy health hazard. So we are all supposed to wait for the emergency of illnesses being contracted from swimming pools. Really, the pool guys are on their own, near no-one, not touching surfaces others touch. Please let some common sense get through here.
Considered cleaning it yourself? It’s not hard. My mums been doing it for 26 years. there are allot of whinny princesses on this island. And as for the mosquito comments, pools do not chlorinate for several weeks. Mosquitos are not going to be laying eggs in people pools. Come on people use some common sense. SMH
Well our condo pool is green already. Think the pump had packed in. No circulating water so def a mosquito breeding site.
I would clean it but pool company’s bring all the supplies & im not qualified to look at a pump. We font even have a scoop net (too many broken by feral kids),
I have maintained my own pool for 20 years. Not difficult, just needs regular attention. I have a salt to chlorine converter for last 15 years, can’t beat them.
Where do you buy the salt and other chemicals? I have a salt water pool and part of the regular attention is to test the pool chemistry. Where do you get the test kit? Do you have spares you can let me have? Thought not!
Pools do not chlorinate for several weeks?? did your mum tell you that?
It was supposed to be de-chlorinate wise ass. Pools arent essential. If you cant clean it yourself drain it. there are other things we need to focus on atm.
Just drain the pools for now,simple fix.you all are just a bunch of cry babies…will be plenty more when you lose a love one.
Great advice. Will you pay the 10K it costs me to re-tile, re-Diamonbrite and repair all the structural fractures caused by emptying it? I will cover the cost of water to refill if youre cool to pay these other items.
Rubbish. Emptying a pool doesn’t cost that much in damage. The only major expense is re-filling it. Stop being a bunch of fairy’s…
Pools here are below the water tanks on reclaimed/filled land (all the expensive locations that can afford pools like along the 7 mile corridor ). Empty the pool at your own risk as it might pop up along with the deck & maybe bar/kitchen/guest quarter attached areas. Pool companies make you sign waivers when they empty the pool to resurface it.
This is an excellent point and I hope the Premier is reading CNS.
Drain the pool
I can’t beleive the pool companies, especially the one individual who has written complaining on Aldens FB page (so won’t say company). I use his company and now I will effective immediately cancel my business with him.
‘LEARN TO CLEAN YOUR OWN POOL’
just for a week or two.
As for stratas, which I’m sure I’ll get a bit of a back lash, the pools are supposed to be closed, empty them out or have your strata manager, boardmember, maintenance man to buy a treatment kit, some bleach tablets.
If you don’t know how to do this, just go on YouTube and learn!
Mr Premier,
If you asked me a month or so ago how you are doing in politics, I’d have said sh..t and in a political dive.
Today, you are being a true leader to these islands.
If you ever wanted a legacy this is it! Thanks
Thank you, to all the essential workers out there for all your hard work and dedication, especially those on the front lines, yes of course emergency services and government agencies but supermarket, delivery staff, teachers, chefs etc.
Stay off the road and remain at home please.
Learn to clean my own pool? Good idea. I’ll just pop to the pool shop to but all of the supplies. Oh, wait a minute…….
Yeah, tough to go to Cost U Less and buy a big jug of bleach. Obviously you are not too bright.
How far does a big jug of bleach go in a 50 metre Vela pool?
True leader? LOL. Giving orders is easy. People follow true leaders without being intimidated and threatened. Ever wondered why his tactics don’t work?
He already said the Dump won’t be his problem and neither will be the ruined economy.
True leader? Hmm..none of the below quotes could be applied to Premier.
“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower
“A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.”–M. D. Arnold
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” –Ronald Reagan
“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.” –Arnold Glasow
Well, I guess Donald Trump, the “stable genius” does not make the grade for leadership.
Can you please tell me where I can get the equipment and chemicals to clean my pool? Do you sell them….
Brilliant comment.
The commentator on The Premier’s Facebook Page had a valid concern about future problems neglected pools can bring. Not everyone is an expert on pools like you make out to be. I was warned many years ago not to empty my pool for many reasons including the fact that extended periods of a dry surface being exposed to the strong sun we get here can cause permanent damage. Of course that will mean lots of money for the pool companies you are deriding when they have to replaster the pool. Also where am I supposed to get the chemicals and equipment my pool service people use.
Before you get on your high horse try to use the one brain cell you have and think the situation through.
Pool fixer? I don’t think so
Maybe allow pool companies to take orders which can be prepaid by card and can be picked up or delivered…whichever minimizes contact…if people can still enjoy their pools that will encourage them to stay home….just my 2 cents.
You can maintain your own pool. You do realize that Cayman Brac and Little Cayman don’t have a pool company right? So guess what? The people do it themselves.
You can also live without alcohol but the liquor stores are still open.
Why?
“You can also live without alcohol”
Not entirely true. Alcoholics can die from withdrawal, and last thing we need is more strain on the healthcare system.
Why close all the liquor stores just for you? Are you that much more important than anyone else? Is this because they made you close the Churches? Get a life and leave everyone else to their way of life please.
How many pools on Cayman Brac? Little Cayman?
Bro hang in there and if we survive this pandemic, you will have many more years to enjoy your pool. However, today we are in a global crisis and the bigger picture is that you can catch this virus and die! Worst yet, you could infect others such as me, my grandparents, my parents, my children, my best friend and what then? So you can have a pool? People are dying from this virus and as an individual living in a community, please stay home and respect the law of land!
I never said I was a pool Proffesional.
To those asking how to buy the materials, well our pool guy leaves tablets in our pool house, I’ve just chucked a couple in the pool.
You guys are just a bunch of entitled bunch of snowflakes…
As a solution maybe your pool mainelerdon could apply to do deliveries, just drop off the supplys needed.
They’d make a fee dollars, wait a minute, they’d figure out you don’t really need them for general maintenance.
To those critical of my comments to the Premier,thats my opinion, you can have yours. What have you contributed, Cayman is doing a way better job at trying to contain this virus than any other.
U r an idiot,if that is ur only worry..#stayhomecsuman#
You mustn’t have been here for Ivan, our pool (we live on a canal, at sea level) was empty for months, it didn’t raise and there was no damage. This was confirmed by the person who owns the pool company complaining right now on Aldens page..
Depends on the length & depth of the pool (weight of the removed water). Were you there during/after Ivan or are you taking the word of the seller?!?
I don’t see how one pool guy with no person to person interaction is a problem.
But then again maybe he is servicing your wife to???
Learn to clean my own pool, sure no problem but I’m struggling to synthesize my own calcium hypochlorite out of washing up liquid and milk.
You can make it from decomposed toilet paper.
Chlorine gas works much better, just mix equal parts muriatic acid and bleach. Oh I forgot to mention, you’ll probably be dead after doing this!