Outgoing mail to USA resumes
(CNS): International mail to the United States only has resumed but no mail is yet entering the Cayman Islands. Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow said they are in regular contact with postal services in the US, Canada and UK to see when they are sending mail here but currently anything posted in those countries remains stuck there.
In a release Friday afternoon, the Cayman Islands Postal Service (CIPS) said it had resumed outgoing international mail service, including letters, parcels, registered and express mail service (EMS), but only to the US.
Glasgow warned customers not to expect pre-lockdown delivery times for any class of mail, explaining that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is finding it challenging to operate in a COVID-19 environment with reduced staff, social distancing protocols and self-isolation.
She noted that international mail entering a country like the US is the responsibility of the sending country.
With regards to mail coming into the Cayman Islands, Glasgow said that while they had reached out to international postal services earlier this month, CIPS is waiting to hear what arrangements they will make to get mail here.
In the meantime, CIPS is continuing work to establish transportation links to other countries so that mail can resume to those jurisdictions.
“We make weekly contact with our key postal partners namely, the USA, Canada and UK, to enquire if they are likely to get mail to Cayman Islands this week and discuss what transportation options may be available,” Glasgow said.
“We are aware that many residents with family and friends abroad are eagerly awaiting items that have been posted, but are still being held in the country of origin awaiting transportation here,” she added.
The public will be advised as increased services become available.
The CIPS release also said that its Savannah branch will become the second post office on Grand Cayman to resume counter services on Wednesday, 27 May. More information will be shared with the public on Monday, 25 May, CIPS said.
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Category: Local News
12.05pm If someone can make the effort to go to airport post office as soon as it opened on their letter day to pay for their Central GT post box which was due in May, why is same standard of service not reciprocated. All mail collected from airport PO on letter days or open Central GT PO. If employees can work at Airport, two employees can work Central GT. Only takes a minute for somebody to clear their box without any contact to others and not even necessary to go once a week. Give me the keys would be happy to go sort the mail and place in mailboxes on my three days out. What is pay scale? Would throw in a smile for free!
How are we still using paper bags, money, and cardboard boxes, while being mortally afraid of the lifespan of COVID-19 on mail? If coronavirus lifespan assumptions on paper range from a few minutes to 5 days, then have the APO postmaster invest in a UV machine/light, and zap all sortable incoming -or- a low-tech sit in the bag quarantine for 5 days, then get going. We all still need to send and receive payments in a timely manner. We still need replacement credit cards, mortgage and credit card statements of account from overseas. If we aren’t paying for mail service, credit our PO fees back. CIG needs to be prudent with our public money, and consistent in its application of policy.
Because PO workers are Caymanian and not subject to the same risks as every other frontline worker.
The postal service is a disgrace on these island. In the era of email and text, how can it be so difficult to get mail delivered on an island smaller and with a smaller population than most villages and small towns elsewhere?
I’m still awaiting a govt cheque that was TAKEN to the post office in GT 3 weeks ago. Shameful service, no excuses.
This is not about your mail. This is about Government employees stay home and get paid break from work. It’s a perk. Get used to it.
Looks like there are a lot of countries that are not getting mail from the states. https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm
According to the UK Royal Mail website update on 7 May, “Mail despatches to the Cayman Islands will resume on Sunday 10 May 2020…”.
https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5317/~/international-incident-bulletin
lols
3 months deduction +ongoing from mailbox fee as not able to access inside GT post office.
No kidding. Why must we pay for the disservice?
How is it even possible that there has been no mail service? The excuses given just make Glasgow sound stupid and incompetent.
i accept possible delays with new safety protocols…but the postal service here should never have been suspended.
prime example of lockdown measure based on no factual information
There is NO EVIDENCE that receiving international mail or packages poses any danger to your employees. See below and do your own research please.
This is causing unconscionable hardship for any Cayman Islands person or business who receives mail from overseas.
When will you again be accepting mail?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-can-it-spread-through-the-mail-package-delivery/
“There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through the mail,” the postal service said last weekend, alluding to the disease caused by the virus and citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization as its sources of information.
The federal agency, which employs about 500,000 people, is heeding recommendations from the CDC and public health departments, it added.
“The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low,” according to WHO.
“In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures,” according to the CDC. “Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods.”
Think about the workers that have to work in close proximity to each other. I have no idea about what the workspace is like, but if they can’t work 6 ft apart…
Even if the mail was slathered with COVID-19, the postmaster could acquire a UV hood for the sorting conveyer and sterilize it all before it reaches the sorting workers. CPI Minister has a duty to find a cost-effective and timely solution. There was mail service even during both world wars.
GT Central Post Office still closed but no doubt all employees on full pay, same with other districts I suppose.
of course…. everyone in the civil service is on full pay… the party never stops.
and these are the same people who want current lockdown measures maintained,,,, irrespective of how many people in the private sector are getting financiallly crushed
Everyone who has an employer should be paid during this time if possible. I am, and I’ve lost my business in tourism.
But not ALL civil servants have been working from home or sat in isolation watching reality tv or Tik Tok video’s.
Some of us have been out in the community facing considerable unknown risks and protecting the people, all of the people, of the Cayman Islands. And unlike some, not on enhanced rates or govt overtime.
Please don’t paint us all with the same brush, many of us care and are willing to take risks so that others can remain safe.
But I do strongly agree that some decisions, specifically at at the postal service, are senseless and causing immense distress and inconvenience to many people, especially if relying on finances or contact from distant loved ones.
Is there any set time to check mailbox inside GT post office?
I’m still waiting for a letter posted in George Town two weeks ago, to arrive on North Side.
These people are beyond hopeless.
CIPS has now come up with several excuses as to why International mail is not happening – none of which hold up when investigated. First it was because Cayman Air passenger flights had stopped – when suggestions for them to use cargo flights they claimed to be looking in to that?! They then said the other countries had locked down, but when investigated that proved false, as a simple google search showed the other countries had slowed because of staff out sick, but had never closed services as was implied.
Now these latest set of excuses some 2 months later. Never mind that International mail functioned during the world wars even!
Clearly CIPS is milking this situation and CIG is allowing it. Sad!
Another Joey Hew show.
Has Glasgow informed the Royal Mail of the BA airbridge. These aircraft have immense cargo hold space more than enough to include mail with our medical supplies and passenger baggage. We need to be proactive rather than “just wait to hear what arrangements they will make to get the mail here”. We should provide details of the airbridge flights to the Royal Mail as soon as they are confirmed by the Governor’s office.
Never mind the infrequent BA “air bridge” – some bridge, open once a month, what about the twice weekly flights from Miami. How do you think the couriered mail gets here? US postal service is still open, so is Royal Mail, and there is no issue with mail crossing the Atlantic. Of course, someone would have to get off their arse and organize it, and then heaven forbid some civil servants would have to leave their paid vacation at home and go into sort it on arrival. Perhaps all a little too much to expect.
“..customers not to expect pre-lockdown delivery times for any class of mail..” sounds like adding insult to the injury.
Besides, 19 century mail was delivered faster than in 2020 in Cayman, so if pre-lockdown delivery was at snail speed, then should we expect koala 🐨speed? I believe they are slower than snails.
Sloth mail
Lol
Well, you try sorting mail with 4 inch nail extensions.