‘Can’t celebrate yet’ says premier
(CNS): The release of Little Cayman from both the hard curfew and the shelter-in-place order after 94% of the population tested negative for coronavirus is no cause for celebration for the rest of the country, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Tuesday. Describing the two positive cases of front-line personnel announced today as “sobering”, McLaughlin said it showed that “we can’t start to celebrate in Grand Cayman just yet… or relax our vigilance”.
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 briefing, the premier said the curfews in Cayman Brac were not expected to be relaxed as much as they have been on Little Cayman, which has effectively gone from level five to level two because public health officials are certain the virus is not present on that island. McLaughlin said that the curfew would probably go to level three, or possible two, as the authorities are not yet certain that the Brac is completely free of the virus.
But on Grand Cayman it was clear from the test results that the curfew had to be lifted very slowly and carefully, going through each of the phases.
“While it is tempting for people to want us to relax more and more of the restrictions, the fundamental principle that has guided us all along still applies,” the premier said, explaining that this was to reduce the chance of community transmission by reducing the interaction of people
He urged the community to stay home and observe the relevant social distancing and hygiene protocols. “We are not yet out of the woods… We can definitely see a clearing but we are still very much in the woods as far as Grand Cayman is concerned,” the premier warned.
With the public increasingly questioning why government is making decisions to lift some restrictions and not others landscaping has become a key focus for many people who do not see this as an essential service but see it has led to a rise in the number of people out and about increasing the risk of virus spread.
The premier did not say whether or not he regretted lifting the restrictions on landscaping companies specifically, but he said there had been some confusion over the need for workers to get exemption letters to work in that sector. Outlining what was required, the premier said he hoped that this would get sorted out quickly.
McLaughlin said that as the curfew goes through the phased easing and different people are allowed back to work, the impact would be examined. He said he was unaware that there had been complaints that landscapers were not observing social distancing and other safety protocols. However, he accepted that enforcement could prove to be a challenge with the phased re-opening of businesses because people were not always going to follow the rules.
“I suspect that this is something we are going to have to continue to monitor. When we get, as I expect we will in a few weeks, to open back construction again, we are going to have to be very very vigilant about that as well, ” the premier said. “It is one thing for people to say they are going to follow all the protocols but experience shows us that unless there is a rigid system of monitoring and inspection most people don’t.”
Health Minister Dwayne Seymour, who has responsibility for the dump, said large numbers of landscapers had turned up at the dump on Monday and they did not all have the requisite paperwork. He said that the Department of Environmental Health had instituted new rules restricting who can enter and when and reducing vehicles to one at a time at the drop-off point.
See details on the CNS Notice Board
See Tuesday’s full COVD-19 daily briefing below on CIGTV
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Category: Health, Medical Health
I have a single question that I wish the government would answer. What milestone has to be reached in order to re-open our borders? It’s a straight forward question. Just tell us what we are in for so we can make our plans accordingly.
The Impossible. The Premier has dictated the borders will stay closed until he has eliminated the virus here and then Cayman will live in a bubble until the rest of the world is virus free.
The outside world accepts this will never happen and must find a way to function in a vastly changed world. But the Premier will not accept that. So..do we rot in isolation like some bad dystopian novel? A very frightening future…
Better idea – why don’t these clowns get into the bubble and leave the rest of us alone.
The borders have to be opened sooner rather than later ( certainly a lot sooner than September) because of one major reason – CI Government will run out of funds.
Quite simply, since the borders were closed ( mid-March?), Government revenues have dried up to virtually zero BUT Government expenditure( i.e. civil service salaries etc.) remain at exactly the same levels as pre- lockdown. This, quite obviously, is an untenable situation which cannot last much longer without massive borrowing. I’m sure future generations of Caymanians will thank our Government for this!
The Civil Service has a huge voting influence so don’t expect those cuts to be made. Therefore the borders will have to be opened soon.
Sadly, we have not heard from our Minister of Finance in all of this. Personally, I have huge respect for Roy but find it odd that day after day we listen to the incoherent ramblings of our muppet Health Minister but not the Minister of Finance.
Alden’s ego will be the nail in the coffin of our economy unless he puts together a cohesive & intelligent exit plan NOW.
It has now been almost 8 weeks since we closed our borders, during this time any remaining COVID cases, either active or asymptomatic would have either resolved themselves or would have contributed greatly to the spread of COVID as we are all going to the supermarket, gas station, ATM’s etc.
But in reality there are been scant few new cases and to say that 2 new cases is sobering is quite frankly case for celebration no commiseration! Countries around the world are grappling with tens of thousands of new cases daily and multi-thousands of deaths daily.
This just goes to show how out of touch we are in the real scheme of things. If we don’t have the decease what are we trying to protect ourselves from? Bad breath??
I cannot begin to fathom the damage done to peoples livelihoods, job loss and the stress placed on everyone in pursuit of the idealogical notion that not one person should be placed in harms way with COVID.
The world is opening up with massively worse infection rates than Cayman and yet we still have to suffer under this draconian and totalitarian lockdown. It is inhuman and it is without merit or substance. It is based on fear – not facts!!
More flights scheduled to leave. Just saying
Pension – How do you know the value of your pension. Is it based on your last statement?
I have a better question. It takes 6 week to get your pension money they say. If one applies today, 5/6/20, when pension value is (for example) $20,120, but in 6 weeks it drops to $15,932 how much he will receive? $20,120 or $15,932
They aren’t stupid paying out pension. They are paying out less money now then they normally would.
Pensions have monthly valuations. That mrans that it doesn’t matter what the pension is worth the day your redemption is approved or the date you are paid. You will be paid the based on the value of the pension on the month end before you are paid.
So for everyone putting in redemption requests now that are approved in the next 14 days, you will get paid based on the value of your pension on May 30th. So you better hope the stock market doesn’t get crushed between now and the end of the month or you will lose a lot of value.
The market value of your account changes every day. Your distribution will be calculated on the date of your payment.
How do you see the value each day. On Silver Thatch web site the last value was December’s.
You can’t. You can only see the value as of the end of each month. This usually is available by the middle of the following month.
It must me calculated monthly and on your “pay” day. April 30 value must be available already.
This isn’t correct. Your distribution will be calculated based on the net asset value of the pension as of the month end before your distribution.
Aldart this is all blah blah blah until you stop the stupid port litigation.
Not happening sweetie!
Do all civil service employees stay home doing nothing but collecting paychecks? Is this the case?
Not exactly. Many are operating their side hustles.
i’ve asked before….its never asked at press conferences
how many cs are working full time?
how many are working from home?
how many are on full pay?
how many have been laid off?
Its none of your business.
My spouse is a civil servant, that entire department works almost 12 hours a day each week and also works on weekends [do you really think the MLA draft the laws and regulations etc …] so I don’t know that civil servants are doing nothing at home.
16 hours? What civil service has ever worked a full day? Asking for most who have to wait eons for anything from them.
Yes but they are just not at home but going around the island doing things
The Premier’s comments show clearly how they are focused ONLY on the direct impact on the virus and saving everyone from being infected and NOT on the indirect impact and the devastation it will have on our economy. If you look at the other overseas territories in the region (Bermuda and Turks) they are already opening up their economies and have rescinded the major parts of their stay at home orders. They are already well ahead of Cayman’s thinking here. Alden is so focused on eradication that he is forgetting the bigger picture. More than anything we need to understand their position on opening up the tourism sector. Tourism delivers a huge proportion of Cayman’s revenue either through hotel taxes, duty taxes on everything tourists and those that service them consume or through services like taxis, water sports, etc. In addition the amount of real estate owned by Americans and Canadians that don’t reside here is huge and they need to be able to use it directly or indirectly by renting it out. None of this can happen if we remain isolated for too long. We have a few months (4 or 5?) before this becomes not just a revenue problem but a credibility problem for Cayman.
Those that think we can hold off until a vaccine is introduced are dreaming. Waiting any longer than a few months will likely cause irreparable damage to many of Cayman’s tourism based sectors.
And to those who will undoubtedly try and make this a money vs lives discussion – it isn’t. Who is going to keep paying for all the civil servants salaries for the next 12 to 18 months when there is no revenue from tourism in 2020, 2021 or 2022? What happens when civil servants start being laid off and there are no other private sector jobs? Who will pay for their mortgages and grocery bills then? This is an avoiding the poverty trap issue not a money issue.
They are focusing on how they (think) will be perceived. PERIOD! Nothing else matters, certainly not your livelihood, your interests or anyone’s health not related to their Covid-19 ambitions.
We are going to hold out for a vaccine. Who cares if Americans or Canadians cant rent their condos we are trying to save Caymanian lives not make expats rich. You are welcome to stay but if you dont like it there are more flights scheduled
i refuse to place my trust in unproven science. The same argument that locked us down to save the few applies when the few might die from a vaccine.
Shit. You never thought of that!
And investors surviving the pandemic and who somehow might save our economy … read comments like this will go elsewhere
Yes, please keep the boarders closed to tourists. Then we can buy more property for pennies.
9:49 Then what?
Those pennies will be used for something to eat!
Hold out for the vaccine! Wouldnt hold your breath looking at progress with other coronava virus outbreaks. SAR CoV 1 – outbreak 2002. Vaccine developed when? Not yet – 18 years later. MERS – first outbreak 2012. Vaccine developed? Yup, never. Both virus have considerably higher fatality rates than Covid 19, but despite that, the scientists couldnt crack it.
As for not making expats rich? Just wait until Caymanians are forced to start selling their properties and businesses to put food on the table. Who do you think is going to be buying them? Not going to be middle class Caymanians – going to be those that have the financial reserves – the local merchant class, the first generation Caymanian billionaires and high net worth individuals resident here, and foreigners looking for cheap property portfolios. Expats going to get richer off a local economic crash, not the other other way around.
Caymanian lives lost due to the virus = 0. Caymanian jobs lost =?
Don’t sweat it, the leaders have it all under control.
22:37 pm: I think both Bermuda and TCI are a long way away from opening up tourism. Bermuda just entered phase 1. The opening of the airport is in phase 4.
In any case, no tourist will come if our population isn’t healthy.
Further, right now anyway, I would be scared out of my wits if a plane load of tourists were to arrive any time soon. And so would most of you, the sane amongst us anyway.
And if a plane load of tourists came down here and brought a fresh wave of coronavirus with them, sending some people to their death, these same nitwits who are whining about not being able to return to their good life would be howling at the government saying they are incompetent and should be charged for negligent manslaughter. Actually, if the government were so stupid to do that, I might be one one calling them incompetent! Thankfully, that’s not the course we’re on.
I get that this is tough – I don’t like it any better than anyone else – but people have to understand that you can’t enjoy the good life if you’re dead. They also have to understand that although their enjoying the good life might be worth the risk of their dying to them, it’s not fair for them to risk the lives of others just so they can have their good life back (which isn’t coming back any time soon the way they hope it will in any case).
I normally hate the “if you don’t like it, leave” comments but seriously – no one is making people stay here. If people miss the good life so badly and think they can get it in the UK, the UK, Canada or wherever, then they have options. Our government is doing the best it can to preserve life, giving it priority right now to the economy – much like others have done in the world. I can tell you one thing for sure: I’m much more glad to be here right now than in the shitshow that is happening in the US.
OK, now it’s time for the Trumpholes and conspiracy theorists to attack this post with the typical right wing dogma about how this is all a hoax blown out of proportion, that the scientists don’t know what they’re talking about, that we actually need to get this disease so we can develop herd immunity, that it’s been proven that it’s now worse than the flu in terms of mortality, etc.
As much as I am inclined to agree that the government is not giving enough consideration to the bigger picture, I think you are a little off base here. I think that there is plenty in the local economy that could be opened up with minimal risk and they are not even willing to do that.
It’s true that other countries are more aggressively opening up their local economies but if we just open up the borders to allow tourists to come here without quarantining them, we could be instantly overrun by the virus. And even if we did that, how many people do you think would be coming down here for a vacation in the circumstances.
I would certainly agree with an argument that the government is moving a little too slowly on the local economy, but even considering allowing tourism at this point is premature.
The other thing is, most of the airlines have cut Cayman from their schedules anyway. None of them are going to be flying here for months even if we opened the airport tomorrow.
The reality is tourism is a small percentage of the government’s revenue. The vast majority comes from financial services, import duty and stamp duty. No tourism until the end of the year won’t matter much for the government’s bottom line. The loss of jobs is a tragedy and will have all kinds of negative knock-on effects for the economy. But there is not much to be done here. We will be lucky if the airport is open in time for November / December in time for tourist season. I am hoping this is the case.
I wonder where you think the majority of import duty and stamp duty comes from?
Stamp duty: sale of real estate
Import duty: residents importing stuff
11:29 where will the Tourist Season come from ?
12:37 is there an economy for dead people!
Our LIFELINE Depends on the outcome of our GREAT NEIGHBOR to the North!
Where are the masks for the Brac ? where is the Sanitizing solution’s, why is it so slow to test every one on the Brac lets set up a date and people will come we need to get back to normal and testing results will do this!
lets start a pettion to the fco for a formal review of our nonsensical lockdown measures and the total absence of economic recovery strategy.
Yea give it to the Governor he will know what to do with it. Ha Ha Ha
Good idea, the UK has been exemplary in their handling of the corona virus.
Yes, why don’t you do that.
Mr. Premier…please manage whatever funds is remaining in our Islands…it is best for the civil service to have a reduction in pay now, that can assist other needy people, than spend all of the funds and end up with none in the long term. If it is impossible for you to manage, please allow Mr. Panton and Mr. Archer to assist. Drop the appeal bro…can save us millions.
Are you proposing a pay cut just for civil servants? How about a mandatory 5-10% cut for everyone earning over a certain amount? It seems a little unfair to expect Civil Servants to carry the weight of the recovery all on their own; everyone should pitch in,
Why hasn’t government made it mandatory to wear masks?
Because they couldn’t enforce it – too many idiots would ignore it, just like they’re ignoring social distancing guidelines.
There is a lot of nonsense spouted in these comments every day. The usual expats vs Caymanians. People playing armchair lawyer, doctor and accountant. People insulting rhe government. The opposition. Dart. Jamaicans. Filipinos, Canadians. Americans. Hondurans. Indians. You name it.
The one thing I can’t wrap my head around is the constant call for civil servants to take a pay cut. Here is a guy with a ridiculous suggestion who somehow thinks he has an answer to all our problems. Well, if the rich civil servants give up some of their pay, we can use it to pay the needy. And he gets 28 thumbs up for it!?! Incredible!
All of you people trying to take money out of other people’s pockets should take a hard look in the mirror. Do you think civil servants dont also have bills? Do you think politcians don’t have mortgages, car payments and kids who go away to school same as everyone else? Are you yourself giving up a portion of your salary?
Almost all civil servants are Caymanians. Can someone explain to me why people are constantly suggesting they should take a paycut? Why does that make sense?
The government here has annual revenue of about a BILLION US dollars. I will say that again. A BILLION dollars. You think they can’t afford to feed a few thousand people who are temporarily out of work? They don’t need to cut civil servant pay. They have reserves. They can borrow.
Stop trying to bring other people down. Some of us are unlucky and have lost and will lose our jobs. Why would you wish hardship on other people who are fortunate to still have theirs?
Ask yourself honestly. If the financial services industry is crippled in the next few years (and believe me, this is a real possibility) and government jobs have to be cut, will you be calling up the government and offering 20% of your pay so that some of those people can keep their jobs? That’s what I thought.
Yesterday I bashed Caymanians. Today I’m bashing expats. Boy this is fun! I almost forgot there was a pandemic going on! I think I’ll bash aliens tomorrow – the illegal ones who haven’t taken advantage of the immigration amnesty and not the kind from outer space. I’ll save the Klingons, Romulans and Borg for Saturday.
People screaming about opening up will be the first to scream close it down should the virus spread through us. The virus hasn’t become less contagious, its just hiding, waiting for our mistakes. The only reason we’re not in trouble regarding health services being inundated and collapsing, leading to unnecessary and avoidable deaths, is due to social distancing. That’s it. Staying away from people. The virus spreads thru proximity.
We’ve learned this. Now we have to try to work an economy that facilitates continued social distancing. Its not rocket science, but its also not easily done. The landscaping? They’re not exactly in herds and inside our homes or offices are they? Give us a break, and they’re tidying up the place and chopping branches before hurricane season etc.
Tourism? Of course there can be no tourism, probably for 18 months. Who is coming here to swim with a stingray for an afternoon but first having to quarantine for 14 days?! Nobody.
This virus has been known to us now for 3 months or so, its very very very early days yet everybody thinks they are epidemiologists and has all the best ideas. You don’t. Not even the epidemiologists have the best ideas right now – they are still learning and trying to keep you alive in the long run. There may never be a vaccine. if that’s the case, we need to carefully reconfigure society to grow economically based on safe practices. That cannot be done in 2 months.It’s going to take many more months so just pull back on the burners and give everyone a chance to work thru
Here in Cayman we are in a bubble. Look at the USA, total sh*tshow, 3,000 dying per day unnecessarily by June 1st. States all on different plans. No testing worth a crap in terms of % of population, no tracing, no leadership. Its not going to end well for them, they will very possibly collapse economically which will change the entire world order – and with it, ours.They are printing money they can’t pay for at levels unparalled in history.
At least here, in our bubble, we have very eager financial industry professionals who can spot opportunity to position Cayman as the global finance hub. it will take a while, but the finance industry will keep us going, along with (yes) Dart and a few other less well known large investors here. You do not want to be much anywhere else in the world but Cayman right now and if your biggest problem is being annoyed the landscapers and pet groomers are working but the car dealers are not, you dont have a problem.
yes its tough right now, but its nowhere near as tough as it can be. Lets just push thru, you’ve already heard that they may release more pension funds to you later in the year and all the other efforts to come. we are LUCKY being here, and the beach hasn’t gone anywhere by the way, you’ll be able to choose to not go again in a few Sundays….!
Amazing people voted this down. Shows you the unfortunate and selfish mentality of common folk. Thank god we have strong leaders!
Weak and politically correct sheep, is what you have in government
If you really want to know the reason people voted this down, I will humour you: The reason is that among the good points made there are many other points that are incorrect or complete speculation. For example:
1. Collapse of the health care system. Most people now realise that the initial projected mortality rate was far too high. As long as reasonable social distancing is observed although there might be an increased transmission rate, the chances of having hundreds of people hospitalised at once is unlikely.
2. Suggestion that the US will collapse and entire world order will change because the US has handled the initial outbreak poorly. Seems a little farfetched. People said things would change after 9/11 “the end of jokes” and the 2008 financial crisis. People have short memories. Suggestion that we are going to have to reconfigure society from this virus is even more of a stretch.
3. “Eager financial industry professionals” positioning us as a global finance hub. This is probably the worst take in the comment. If anything, the opposite is going to happen to us. Though no one is really thinking about this at the moment Pressure has been intensifying in the last few years. Between economic substance, insane AML rules, EU blacklisting (which we self inflicted by government incompetence) and making ourselves less user friendly every day, the opposite to what the poster is suggesting is happening. And, to make matters worse, where do you think these countries are going to look to pay for all the spending they are doing? That’s right, increasing tax revenue. What’s one way to do that? Things like OECD mandated minimum tax rates. Overhauling tax codes. All things that can be very dangerous for our financial services industry.
4. Mentioning the beach. Not popular. Nobody likes the beach being closed and no one thinks that people using it is really dangerous. If all that congregating was so dangerous before thy shut the beach down where are all the covid cases? Why aren’t they turning up now?
With all of those issues I am suprised it’s even 50 / 50 on the thumbs up/thumbs down scale.
Amen 9:33 And Alden if you read this you have the support of the vast majority of Caymanians. There is nowhere else in the world I would rather be right now. Pay no attention to all the negative posts on here. They are the same ones that always post and are against everything. They must be some miserable people.
Caymanians, residents, expats, anyone sane really would support 9.33’s comment
The reverse. Most people don’t believe the US is going to collapse, there will be no tourism for 18 months to name two things wrong with that comment.
The amateur epidemiologists may not know, but you make statements you do not know either: “The only reason we’re not in trouble regarding health services being inundated and collapsing, leading to unnecessary and avoidable deaths, is due to social distancing.” Really? So you know when it arrived on the island? New York, London and now Paris believe is was circulating there in December at least. There were hundreds and hundreds of people coming and going every week of every month on NY and London flights, but not one of them had it? Really? Indeed no one knows, but it’s a perfectly reasonable assumption that is was circulating in Cayman well before the poor Italian, and if it was circulating a bit, it was circulating widely. Look at the widely available charts of the evolution of cases and deaths in Europe and the US. The countries have done different things at different times, and all the evolution curves are extraordinarily similar. Is is a coincidence that those European cities and New York have areas of very high population densities? And in winter when people stay indoors, inside crowded bars, restaurants etc because it’s winter? And have large metro systems very densely packed with people? Australia has a low population density, a very outdoor lifestyle and has been in summer. Look at the rates for there.
It is the long term severe economic consequences of the lockdowns that should be terrifying people, and the impact on people’s lives, livelihoods, businesses, futures, employment, pensions, and public services.
You need a hug
sums up the world when such a sensible comment has equal up and down votes! we are such a bizarre species really!!! time for another margarita
Where are the masks?
Where’s my vote?
Jon-Jon has them ready for deployment!
Who cares.
It was good to hear leaf blowers going again, i like to breath in all the contaminated dust. It is better than smoking.
Yep, every week the garden service people blow my neighbours leaves on to my property and the day after, I blow them back
Anyone know if Batabano is happening next weekend?
yes
Please..please tell me you are joking?
it is in my backyard….
The closest your dumb ass will get to that debauchery this year will be the paper plates cost u less is selling!
Enjoy!
The premier’s line about his rigid system and “ MOST people don’t follow” tells you what he thinks of the population The population has followed you it was a handful that cost the population the beaches and 90 minutes on Sunday. With what the last week or so has seen with the MoH and these seemly random/ weird business approvals the population has to question the sanity of the path forward. The inability of the police force to enforce restrictions on the beaches is over use the UK helicopters but arrogance forbids it. A brilliant start to this crisis has been overshadowed by the final stages. Fire the chef from Southpark open the beaches and make transparent the openings of business and this still can end in a victory for you
Those of us that disagree 100% with this strategy are still following it by and large. It’s the people that don’t follow rules generally that are not. However, the former have a serious timer that may soon wind down to zero.
FOI curfewtime for a list of exemptions, it will make for entertaining reading if nothing else
Given curfew time struggle to respond to requests for exemptions – even just to say no – asking them for an exemption list is optimistic, quite apart from the political difficulties it may cause because of the obvious inconsistencies, even if concerns that favoritism is at play are unfounded. .
Why won’t he tell us the truth about the Sunday curfew? What’s it really for? Come on Alden, justify it to the people, we dare you.
Voters wouldn’t want to hear it. But we know the reason, don’t we?
Yes we do.
no
If you knew the secret handshake and how to ride a goat, I would tell you. But I’m sworn to secrecy.
Celebrate the ruination of Mother’s Day with no rational justification?
They should probably call it “Baby Mama Day” around here anyway.
OF COURSE it’s not time to celebrate yet! Your arrogant and tunnel vision ass isn’t done destroying the place yet!
Predictably, our MLAs haven’t made any attempt to fairly distribute face masks. No mention of who is eligible and why, and where and when to collect.
The ones they have handed out have been used once and discarded along the roadside, Covid and all. #caymankind
They are already washing up in the canals. Thanks Civil Service.
You want the MLA’s to come out and get exposed? Be sensible fella as we need them for there great leadership skills!
At least McKeva can go back to mowing lawns.
I think the previous anonymous correspondent means wanton unless the premier believes that much loved Chinese snack, the wonton, is some devilish carrier of Covid-19!
Good point – overlooked the Chinese connection. You may have something there – bit like 5G.
Can’t celebrate yet … still many weeks ahead having to listen to that numpty Seymour
he was asked a simple question about current unemployment rates…
he said he did not know and it had not been calculated. says everything you need to know about his ‘economic plan’ .
time to go alden.
governor…i ask again for you to bring in top economic advisors …. do-nothing ppm and no-plan-alden will destroy cayman forever
Governor did bring in 12 advisors from the UK – but they are here for the logistics planning for a military intervention, not for economic advice. Thing is, the governor has responsibility for security, but not for the economy, so bringing in “security” advisors is one thing – flying in an economics and government policy quite another. . Our government has freedom of action in that, as long as they don’t borrow money. But keeping 100% of the civil service and statutory authorities on full pay when government revenues have falloff off a cliff means that very shortly Alden is either going to have to persuade the FCO to let him borrow, or furlough a sizable chunk of them – especially all those non front line workers who are – ahem – working from home. And if you are the UK, who brought the borrowing limits before the UK had their their own massive expenditure demands, going to look sideways at Alden saying its essential to borrow to pay people to stay at home when he has shut down the private sector.
Don’t forget spending for the port appeal because that is not chump change!
Well there’s 12 work permits we don’t need.
CELEBRATE?? Can’t you people unnastand that 9000+ people would have died had they not did what they did??
Oh.. wait… I mean: Can’t you people unnastand that 900+ people would have died had they not did what they did??
Oh.. wait… I mean: Can’t you people unnastand that 90+ people would have died had they not did what they did??
Oh.. wait… I mean: Can’t you people unnastand that 9+ people would have died had they not did what they did??
Oh.. wait… I mean: Can’t you people unnastand that *some* people would have died had they not did what they did??
You losing your house, job, children’s education fund, health insurance and livelihood because you can’t work (by force)??
You selfish bastard!!!!
(We in gom’ent good tho. Salaries fo-evah! Especially the fat salaries the MLA’s getting!)
If you don’t like it get on a plane and please leave with the rest of non-natives who moved here to suck money out of our economy to build house back home.
I am a Caymanian and agree with the comments from 10.19 and so do most other Caymanians I speak to. Maybe we don’t drink the same Kool Aid as you do.
Typical nonsense from the very small population of Caymanians who think like you. I bet you don’t think there are any gay Caymanians too?
We’re following the New Zealand model EXCEPT for reducing government salaries. I’m beginning to wonder if Alden’s been give the key to London.
The potential number was never 9000, and if they had done nothing and a bunch of people had died you would still be on CNS complaining that they should have done more.
I don’t know of anyone that is celebrating anything. Most of the people that I have communicated with are fearful of an uncertain future and worry about how they will provide for their families going forward.
The decision to allow the landscaping companies to resume operations was misguided and, once again, calls into question the process that is being used to determine what type of economic activity can resume at each phase of the recovery process.
The take away from what is happening in Little Cayman is the importance of large scale testing. We talk about having so many test kits but we have not put in place the testing processes, equipment and controls that will ensure that the residents of Grand Cayman can quickly and safely get back to some sense of normality.
What exactly is wrong with the landscaping companies going back to work? They have little interaction with members of the public. They work autonomously as well. They don’t stand side by side cutting grass. As well the majority of them have their entire face covered. So tell me what is it exactly that you have a problem with?
My observation is that many of the workers do travel together in close proximity. I am not saying that strict adherence to the social distancing guidelines can’t be achieved. However, if that is the case then many other types of businesses can also be allowed to open on the basis that they will also make the necessary adjustments to comply with the social distancing guidelines.
I guess it boils down to how much is a human life worth and unfortunately the answer is not very much to some people. We are finding out now what people are made of.
I am ending some friendships for exactly that reason!
I have ended all friendships with the mask wearing sheep.
Good. I wouldn’t want you as a friend anyway.
Yep, and you can use that same logic for the flu. Disagree with me and you are a selfish ahole that doesn’t care if people die.
Two words you need to understand “Denominator” and “Demographics”.
With 2,752 tests completed, the Cayman Islands is now up to #19 in the world on Tests/1M pop. That’s pretty good for a little island territory, I gotta say.
especially when you bought 200.000…come on
10:27 that was the minimal amount they could buy. They didn’t want all of the kits but it was either purchase that quantity of you dont get any at all.. Hence why the excess is being sold to other islands. This has been covered multiple times in the press briefings
Still miles behind Bermuda
Yup. Cayman has 1 death. Bermuda has 7 as I recall. Let’s push ahead of them shall we. Are you volunteering to die?
This has gotten totally out of hand. We need to reopen the economy. Alden and the Doctor talking about opening up the country in September/November. If there is vaccine which could be 6months to 10 years away.
If you have a guaranteed pay check coming in why rush it
spot-on…what do the panelistsd know about the reality facing most people…they all on $15k a month for life….
Lives or greed .
No poverty will kill more than the virus.
Actually, Einstein, hunger is going to be the next world emergency. Already started. But glad you can ignore everything outside of your bubble.
Must be from one of the guaranteed paycheck bunch!
Was originally supportive of Alden, but he has just made too many mistakes recently. His defense and support of the incompetent stooge religious zealot MOH, the money transfer inaction, the select payments to favored friends ($1000 for each musician?), the blatant abuse of the curfew provisions of the Police Law, the upcoming mask fiasco (thanks in large part to the MOH) and his meltdown during Monday’s press briefing all point to someone who is losing it.
Call it “Goodwill” or whatever, but he is quickly losing support of he majority of the people. If Grand Cayman is not unlocked within a week or so people are just going to ignore the rules and do what they want.
The economy is f**ked, sorry to say! The way forward is to adopt mass all inclusive tourism! Long gone are the days of welcoming rich folk from the USA, reality check coming our way, use it or lose it!
Good luck shopping in the supermarket with zero money in the back!
Why don’t you get that for all inclusive at least 50-70% of food must come from cayman sources- grown and harvested LOCALLY!
Cattle industry from feeding animals to slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, and other livestock must be done LOCALLY.
Bottling water must also be done locally.
Celebrate what? A police state? The rise of a dictator? A fearful population? A tanked economy? No plan…no let’s not celebrate yet.
Poor little baby. Go see mama; she’ll give you a nice hot mug of cocoa with little marshmallows on top and make it all better.
What sort of childish response is that.
The kind you get from people who work for the government and take a great pay check home.
Civil “Servant” alert
Absolutely. The Cayman economy cannot wait much longer to be opened up.
Cayman Islands Government has had virtually zero revenues since this lockdown- zero from import duties, zero from tourism, zero from land sales etc. etc . BUT expenditure has not been cut- 6k + civil servants on full salaries, loan repayments need to made on Government loans etc.. etc.
So, we either open up to the outside world or our economy disintegrates- civil servants, you will have jobs no more- you will be sharing the pain.
Almost certainly, the fear-mongering from our ‘leader’ is leading us into economic oblivion but I truly hope common sense , ego suppression from our fearless leader will prevail & we will open up to the outside world by the end of this month. Any later & I truly fear for our country.
Final thought – easier to completely close a country than reopen it. Leadership is now desperately required but I fear we have weakness rather than strength.
Import duties haven’t been waived and tourism makes up a small fraction of revenue.
What planet are you on? What about the head tax CIG was collecting for each manifested passenger on the cruise ships!! Not those who actually came ashore and spent anything. This is gone for the foreseeable future as is the bed tax for stayover visitors. And this doesn’t even take into consideration the lost income for all the tourism-related businesses.
you have no understanding of basic economics.
Don’t hold your breath. Anyway Alden will get a loan to cover the government payroll as must kerp all the essential ones in place. As for the rest; wear your mask!
I guess you should have saved a few dollars.
yea on that big $6.00 per hour paycheck!
You must be highly qualified for the $6.00 per hour.
You must have hired them to clean your house or tend for your children at that price. Stop with the nonsense. Not everyone here makes a decent wage.
9:27 stupid the outside world is close,this is not a CAYMAN ONLY THING.
I couldn’t have said it better.
Problem is all expats are scared to say anything and/or protest and lose work permits, even though this is nuts. Caymanians are either running awesome businesses and making $$$ or think they get awesome handouts if they need them and gvt are doing a great job. Scary times.
Let me make you all a little smarter. Most expats aren’t afraid. I’m not talking about the lowly hospitality workers and cheap labour who are all gone and of little consequence. I’m talking about the rest, the expats who have big homes on the water, condos at the Seafire, offices in the shiny buildings in Camana Bay and who are still getting paid quite well or have no ties to the local economy. They’re licking their chops at the cheap real estate that’ll “soon come” and the opportunity that crisis creates. As the Jamaican-Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin likes to say “crisis = danger + opportunity”. What the “if you’re not happy go back home” crowd of sheep don’t understand is that expats already own most of this place. Don’t let the ridiculous Premier give you any false impressions that he has any real power. The government knows exactly who butters their bread and he’s just being allowed to play the dictator because nothing he does impacts the real players. If Dart decides he’s had enough you’ll see the act end pretty quickly I think. All the nice things here are because of expats and they already own most of what’s worth owning. This economic destruction will obviously destroy many lives, but it is just a wide open door for some to take what’s left. The rich get richer… the rest of you are expected to eat corned beef and rice with your exalted premier. Sorry if the truth hurts.
Dart is first in the queue
These people are just throwing bullsh!× around to make themselves look good while they carry out their secret agendas (like pushing thru the port). Where are all the masks that they want us all to wear? None of the stores that are open have any for sale. What’s their plan once the money runs out since all the government people are still getting full pay? These breifings are getting stranger as they drag it out. Now our esteemed health minister wants social distancing at the dump. They are just driving us to oblivion.
Hey hold on, you wait till the Little Cayman and Brac economies get firing !! #silverthatchrope #saltfish #conchshell
Happy to know you are alive and able to comment, even if you don’t think that worth celebrating.
With all due respect, have you checked Dr. Lockhart’ free podcast about mental health during quarantine? Long overdue.
everyone keep calm and do not feed the troll
8:31 no stupid, its about you being above ground!
Celebrate? What he planning to celebrate? The wonton destruction of the Cayman Islands?
Maybe the spring rolls.
Poor little baby. Go see mama; she’ll give you a nice hot mug of cocoa with little marshmallows on top and make it all better.
You have a fixation with your mom and marshmallows, I am going to recommend you see a therapist about your many issues.
Wonton is best with sweet and sour sauce, and can’t destroy the Cayman Islands.
*wanton, Alden knew what I meant.