TravelTime to tackle evacuation and quarantine
(CNS): Government’s newest department, which was created to tackle some of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, took over management of evacuation flights and quarantine for returning residents and workers on Wednesday. TravelTime is expected to streamline travel until the borders are reopened to normal commercial travel, officials said. The deputy governor has also denied that Caymanians are being left stranded overseas.
TravelTime will now coordinate travel for those who want to leave or return to the Cayman Islands and manage the government quarantine facilities.
But speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson outlined some of the challenges government has had with isolation facilities in particular, as owners of the hotels being used for this have taken back their properties for various reasons.
However, he refuted claims that Caymanians were being left stranded overseas in favour of bringing back work permit holders. Answering a parliamentary question from Alva Suckoo (NEW), Manderson said he was not aware of any case where a Caymanian was denied entry to Cayman.
He explained that those wanting to return are in the far corners of the globe, from Australia to Vietnam. The DG said it had not been possible to get to everyone because of closed borders, reduced flights and capacity on planes because of social distancing. But he said that in some cases when they were able to help, people did not want to travel on the dates offered by government.
Manderson noted that there has been a shortage of quarantine space since May. This started when an arrangement with one hotel owner came to an abrupt end.
“The first major set-back occurred when our arrangement with one of the three isolation facilities came to an abrupt end due to issues beyond our control that could not be resolved with hotel management,” he said. “In less than 24 hours we had to relocate all occupants and stand down that facility.”
The deputy governor did not confirm which facility this was or why the arrangement abruptly ended. But in addition to losing this hotel, others did not extended their arrangements with government because they wanted to undertake maintenance and prepare the hotels for staycations this summer.
Government has now issued a tender to find new isolation facilities for people returning to Cayman, who must quarantine for two weeks. The RFP is asking for facilities with 20 rooms or more to “lodge Cayman Islands Citizens, Residents and Work Permit Holders” for an initial period of two months and possibly longer.
Manderson explained that Caymanians are not required to pay to stay in government facilities but they can choose to pay to stay in a more luxurious facility where government has secured 32 isolation rooms. This is also where work permit holders are also being quarantined at their own cost.
But as repatriation efforts continue, the issue is expected to present more challenges. With the winding down of the National Emergency Operations Centre and CurfewTime, the premier’s ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs (MITIAMA) has been given the job.
Transitioning from CurfewTime, Chief Officer Eric Bush will now run the team charged with the responsibility for policy formation, coordination and operations of repatriation flights to and from Cayman and the management of quarantine while the borders remain officially closed.
Government has said that this is an effort to streamline travel with all travellers arriving and departing directed to a single point of contact for registration.
Officials said in a press release Wednesday that a new form will facilitate communication between all participating agencies, leading to a more thorough and efficient response to travel applications.
Almost 3,500 people have already been repatriated to and from the Cayman Islands over the past two months but more are anticipated for many reasons.
The TravelTime team took over responsibility on 1 July and is now working on nine repatriation flights scheduled between now and 11 July. The nine round trip flights scheduled are to and from London, England; Miami, Florida; and Kingston, Jamaica.
People who have applied under the original emergency travel process and awaiting confirmation of a travel date and flight are asked to reconfirm their intentions and desire to travel here.
Flights after the 11 July are being arranged and will be offered based on demand via the registration process here.
See the question in the LA from Alva Suckoo about stranded Caymanians below:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News, Transport
I am a Caymanian who is stranded overseas and don’t know when I will be allowed to return on a flight from Miami. Please update the article as you have been the best and most detailed source of information even moreso than TravelTime, CIG, etc. For that I thank you.
CNS: We will update as soon as we hear anything, I promise.
Thanks CNS. I will have to write you more often.
I was sent an email today from Travel Time giving me a flight date that I will be able to come home on!!!!
Any advice/recommendation on if paying a little extra is worth it to stay in a better facility during the quarantine?
CNS: I have no idea. Perhaps someone with experience can chime in here. Or you could start a Forum thread – see here.
International students may need to leave US…😮
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/06/politics/international-college-students-ice-online-learning/index.html
How “brilliant” has it been for those Caymanians stuck abroad as there is “no room at the Inn”?
If it is necessary to quarantine everyone coming off a flight in case one or two are positive, why are infected people allowed to go home after they test positive on island. Shouldn’t they be rounded up and immediately sent to a facility?
If we need to lock people up then we should make sure we have space to lock everyone up.
Time Travel? True! As for me, 70s and 80s Cayman was even better but I’m a graying, ageing sentimental!
Thanks for the UK air-bridge info link.
Have they explored the option of allowing people to quarantine in their own homes on their return if no one else lives in the home? Charge them a fee that would cover the cost of monitoring that the govt could do. Employ people to do the monitoring rather than the money going into hotel owners pockets. That is what is happening in Canada for example. You are required to quarantine for 14 days and public health checks up on you.
And the penalty for breaking quarantine in Canada is $750,000 and 3 years in prison. Are we willing to enforce that ?
Just on the expats…
Most developed countries have a 14 day self quarantine in where ever you want to go to. Most third world have just closed themselves off or have limited Government run Quarantine and a failing economy.
I wonder if Cayman Islands are one of the UK OT’s which are on the just-published list for quarantine-free travel to UK. I hear 12 were listed but can’t find any specifics. If so, that may not necessarily be a good thing for us because, no doubt, UK will demand reciprocity. Are we ready for that?
Can anyone out there clarify?
@10:26 am https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/07/04/full-list-air-bridge-countries-can-visit-without-quarantine-rules-12943552/amp/
Article above might help with your query
Now I know what “no Doubt” means in Cayman speak. Then you ask if someone can clarify.
That is the maximum amount, a couple from the US recently was charged for breaking quarantine. Fine was $1,000 each.
SO…..As a reward from the UK we in Cayman must still isolate for 14 days in arriving.
But 45 other places don’t.
Mr Pm and Gov. I thought we are leading the world?
What a kick in the face that is.
Or was it don’t just to help keep us from traveling ?
No. Arriving in the U.K. citizens of the 14 territories do not have to quarantine. Try to keep up.
You don’t have to quarantine in a government facility unless you are going to another third world like Jamaica. You do have to Quarantine in a government run facility if you come back to Cayman. And Yes this is to keep you from returning.
Quarantine facilities on the water- what happens if a cat 5 hurricane comes through? No thought to that!
we should use one of the inland hotels?
Lol
So does this count towards my roll over year if I’m stuck here as a result of Government overreach?
nothing preventing you from leaving
You can leave on any repatriation flight..Call Travel Time…no overreach that I can see..
Have any Caymanian Tourism workers been hired on this task force?
Give it to the off-reg Caymanians. They are busy doing nothing and have proven that they can spend money and keep the job going.
It’s TravelTime
There’s no need to be afraid
At TravelTime
We let in residents and banish the unemployed
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
We throw our arms around Caymnan
At TravelTime
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
When you’re having fun
There’s a world outside Cayman
But it’s a world of dread and fear
We wont allow that here
Well tonight thank TravelTime it’s them
Instead of you
It’s TravelTime
But there’s nowhere to go
At TravelTime
We let in cash and we banish the poorly paid
And in our world of plenty
We treat our pensions as a toy
We throw our money all over cars and boats
At TravelTime
But say a prayer
Say it for the lucky ones
Where they’re having fun
In a world outside Cayman
They say is full of dread and fear
That we can’t allow it here
But tonight I’m telling them
That its us not you
Thanks CNS for providing the phone number for Travel Time – for anyone else looking it’s 244-3333.
Why do you need to call?? Just complete the online form and it will be processed.
@ 5.42 Oh my aching sides. Imagine trying to get anyone in the incivil service to answer a phone. And when they eventually do, you are nothing but a burden to them anyway. Rude doesn’t begin to describe them.
That number rings until it cuts off..waste of time..
Mother knows best. As of Monday our mother country is allowing persons in from 75 countries and no quarantine requirement. In stark contrast, we won’t even let our own people in to quarantine in their homes.
@4:28 that’s so true and those people are just booking their own flights and now writing an online essay. Interestingly, the EU has just published a list of “safe countries” to which the borders are open to travel but Cayman isn’t on the list 🤔. Canada made the list. I give up!! Maybe by 2021 it’ll get sorted.
Cayman isn’t a country.
How can you give this truth a thumbs down?
Does anyone know if there’s a phone number for this Travel Time crew? In an expected fashion nothing on the website, just a form asking you about everything; only thing missing is what are your eating and toilet habits. Greatly appreciated if someone on here knows if there’s a number to call, just have a question that doesn’t warrant filling out my life story 🙈😣
LOL
Yes please help us! Could CNS find out how to reach a human being for answers with this latest CIG delaying tactic?This is absolutely infuriating and penalizes anyone who doesn’t have the online resources to play this game.
I wish it was TimeTravel instead of TravelTime. I’d love to go back to the 1990s in Cayman. Fun times!
10:54 am: 😂😂😂😂😂
Still no flights to Honduras?
Do you have to provide a notarized copy of your Lodge membership card to get on a flight?
Always. Dues must be current as well.
Someone in the lodge really hurt your feelings, didn’t they. It’s OK; you’re gonna be OK … deep breaths …
The photo: is it safe to spray unknown chemicals toward a person? Who approved that?
It is safe if and only if you want to fly. Does anyone know why they discontinued the “Angry Whopper” at Burger King? Time for another drinky poo.
No skill, experience, or work ethic in the job assigned. Sit back and see how bad they screw this up. Is it important? Depends on which side of the expat/ Caymanian line your on. But the line is getting thicker and longer by the day. Make no mistake (ya right) how Caymanians treat expats will determine how they are treated in kind when it becomes Expats turn to help Caymanians try to save their economy. It won’t be long that $500,000,000 in free money becomes something else entirely.
Here we go, loads of issues coming to a place near you soon. lol
We have known for months that Government failed in its quarantine facility planning and organization. What we didn’t know were the details. It is embarrassing. Think about it. for the last 4 months, on an island with plenty of empty hospitality properties and no tourists, government has been unable to organize enough quarantine space for people to return home. We still have hundreds of people waiting to come back.
It shows Government is good some things but when it comes to doing something outside of its regular remit it cannot handle it. Even now the Holiday Inn site is basic with people locked up in their rooms for 24/7 without any ability to get outside for a short time everyday to do basic exercise. Even prisoners have this ability!
And this is just dealing with the few hundred people who were off island when the airport was closed.
We need solutions for the thousands of people who need to move off island and ultimately back again for medical, work or educational reasons.
We live in an interconnected world (The premiers words not mine) and Cayman survives by having workable links to the US, Canada and Europe. Government need to come up with a plan which allows people to be tested pre-arrival and quarantine in their own homes with the proper restrictions and safeguards in place. This is the ONLY way we will be able to transition to allowing tourists back at some point in the future.
Bringing fresh strains of the virus on island and allowing people to take them home is reckless.
Let those returning continue to stay in quarantine.
Also as far as I know Holiday Inn does not have one set of people there. My family member was an essential worker and because she had someone high risk at home she was staying at the Holiday Inn to keep that person safe.
So you can’t have people returning from the UK with Covid 19 mixing with people staying there for other reasons.
Criticize all you want but Cayman in general and the Government have done a far better job than the US, UK and all the Caribbean in managing quarantine and containment. Cry all you want.
People from the last U.K. flight were at the Holiday Inn.
@4.37. Am not crying at all. You cannot compare a group of islands of 60k+ people and countries like the UK which has 60 million+ people.
Shutting down Cayman was easy. Stop flights coming in and stop all cruise ships. After that enacting a lock down meant it was easy for government to contain covid here. But that’s only the start of our problems. Cayman relies 100% on the ability to have access to international markets. Yes you can fudge this for a few months but this time is up.
Government did an OK job of isolating us and getting us to where we are but have shown an inability to think outside of the box to come up with creative solutions which will allow us to keep our business sectors running properly. Case in point is the complete mismanagement of the quarantine facilities. We still have hundreds of people wanting to come back and they keep being told – wait. At the same time we have hundreds of hotel rooms sitting empty!
This isnt rocket science, its simple operational management and they failed. This doesn’t bode well for moving to the next stages where we need to move many more people on and off island.
You can stick your head in the sand for as long as you want but covid is not going away.
Yes, Government is supposed to walk in and take control of private property and dictate to the hotel owners the terms and conditions under which they can operate.
As usual arm chair quarterbacks assume the absolute worst. There was at some point 3 or 4 hotels providing quarantine services.
Why don’t you do your research into why they aren’t doing so any longer…
I don’t want to live in a country where Government can just commandeer my property without my consent.
Thanks I have done my research and know pretty much what happened. It’s called poor planning and organization! No contingency planning and certainly no understanding of the scale of what they were dealing with. It was a classic case of the left hand not talking to the right hand.
It has nothing to do with government commandeering properties and everything to do with a complete lack of good management and governance.
So before you mouth off, why don’t you take the time to understand what happened and realize they dropped the ball, completely, leaving hundreds of Caymanians stranded overseas. This is the reality, nothing to do with what you imply.
Who dropped the ball. It takes no talent to say it’s government’s fault. I’ve heard some things as well and when you have hotel owners making decisions to close a hotel, or not pay utility bills who’s fault is that?
Speak facts and stop using the blame the government routine.
@12.18am LOL!!
Seriously – listen to yourself. This is what I said:
“It’s called poor planning and organization! No CONTINGENCY planning and certainly no understanding of the SCALE of what they were dealing with. It was a classic case of the left hand not talking to the right hand.”
I stand by my comments.
Sounds very much like you are related to those that screwed this up! Why else would you be defensive of a system which has shown to be so lacking in effectiveness!
People who can only think of themselves will only be listened to by the same kind of selfish bastards. Lots of those here.
@11.20am. What’s selfish about trying to find the right balance between protection from Covid and ability to have some functional life? Are you one of those that purports that we should remain locked down or isolated whatever the cost?
This isn’t a binary issue where one side is right and the other is wrong. Like most things in life it’s a grey issue with many potential solutions if people are prepared to open up their minds a little.
Even without bringing tourism back there are many valid reasons why people will need to travel off island and back again. If we don’t find a solution to this then the main drivers of our economy (excluding tourism) financial services and construction will ultimately fail. Financial services will stop because no one from abroad will wish to work here if they are trapped here. Construction will stop because no one from abroad will buy property here if they can’t get here to use it.
We are now in a bubble and while its a covid free bubble, to a large extent, it doesn’t mean it can continue for any extended time without the ability for people to legitimately come and go, with the proper safeguards in place.
Nicely said
Not their choice. That’s where they were put up by their employer.
Initially there were 2 other hotels being used strictly for the returnees but things changed when those hotels closed.
The cost of cutting yourself off from the rest of the world is a lost economy. We understand that if your CIG or civil service you have a paying job for life and 500 million in the bank to keep you going. For most of us (Caymanians and expats)We need a working economy to make a living now. opening up and living with the virus is the only way to make it happen here. Cayman Islands have nothing to export, and can only make money on bringing in tourist and bringing in money for the financial industries along with the jobs and skills needed to keep them working. If the Government leadership is only concerned with itself and its voting base(civil servants) after they have burned through that 500 million They are also done. Is it possible that no one in leadership can see past tomorrow? Right now Those who can see into the future see’s Cayman islands as just another failed place.
I think its great.. Interconnected world by Zoom. This thing going push Caymanian wages way up and those plsne fares after this only the highest level of professional going be travelling. And the land price, rock bottom bobo. Hell yeah, a win for the average man for certain.
Why are the number of PCR tests being done declining? A few weeks ago we were testing about 3000 per week. Now we are testing less than 2000 per week.
10:15 pm: the numbers are declining I believe because the demand from front line workers is declining. Dr. Lee has actually reported that.
Dr. Lee also announced that the Government is now opening up testing to the wider population, among whom, I believe, there is not a rush for testing.
But now is the time for anyone wishing to be tested.
I think that would explain it.
The original demand came from employers not workers (with the possible exception of health care). Just opening up testing, without any other organisation is not sufficient if we want to understand the distribution of the virus and reach sections of the population that have not been tested. Why not have specific days in each district with transportation made available to get people to the testing locations?
You can only test those who show up.
True but if you ask specific groups of people to show up as part of a national effort to eliminate the virus then more wood. Service clubs could be invited to organise their memberships, so could churches, etc.
I think the antibody testing would make more sense as a national drive.
Having said that, the statisticians have a way of determining penetration with the antibody testing by sampling rather than testing everybody.
yes churches should require to be tested before opening up
I’m a Caymanian, stuck in Canada, who was told there is no room in government facilities.
What generation?
5th.
Dark or light skin?
Closer to light.
Canada is cool🇨🇦.
And then it gets cooold.
Why they don’t use that stupid field hospital For you guys is beyond understanding.
I feel for you!
Been Living there for 7 years and have been stuck away from my family there for 3 months, I have been told there is no room multiple times.
So just so ALL know it makes no difference if you are Caymanian, PR or WP, we all have been told the same thing. It’s a complete failure of the system and could have been fixed months ago.
Your tribal affiliation?(who do you know)
Cause it’s their country!
Cayman is not a country! If we were, we wouldn’t be allowing flights from England.
FFS, you know what was meant. And if it wasn’t for “England” we also wouldn’t be in as good as a position that we are in!
Always amazed how many people who live in the Cayman Islands think they live in a country. Really some major flaws in the educational system here.
It’s a country not a nation.
No, it is a territory. It is neither a country or a nation.
For now.
Wasting away again in Margaritaville. Pay your light bill folks or it could be you.
Whatever happened to official CIG overseas JollyTime?
Soon come!
Also, they will take you with them if only they knew what name to put on the ticket.
Ah, the burgeoning behemoth that is the civil service. And let’s also discuss the blatant discrimination of WP holders having to pay their own costs in isolation facilities. WP holders and residents put as much, if not more, into the local economy. Why are they being asked to pay ludicrous sums to stay in an isolation facility? Why are Caymanians not having to fork out as well? And therein lies the basis of a lot of expat anger. The entitlement culture strikes again.
Sounds like you have a serious case of entitlement to me! If Govt wants to pay for their own citizens to return home, what is it to you? Why do you feel you should have the same rights as citizen? I would never dream of turning up to another country under any circumstances and demand equal rights to its own citizens. And there in lies the basis of a lot of the resentment that Caymanians feel towards some expats. Remember, you have options, stay and stop being resentful or go home where perhaps the grass is greener.
Many a true word is often said in jest…
well said 8.17pm
The single reason to why we should get the same rights as Caymanians is the simple fact that we have the same obligations. (to be honest we actually have more)
When it comes to the (barely existing and insufficient) social system, sure, it should work exclusively for locals.
But when it comes to a human rights issues (mandatory isolation in a government facility is a physical and mental health issue!!)we expect equal treatment.
At least let us use the repatriation fee for.. well… repatriation!! but it should also go towards mandatory quarantine fees.
This is OUR money that we paid the government EXACTLY for a time like this, and now they are stealing it.
New Zealand wouldn’t even let expats in period. Perhaps that was the better option since New Zealand do everything better.
Ok, I’ll pay your repatriation fee, I think it’s $200? That will cover 1/2 day at your isolation facilty
Maybe because what the gov’t is doing is idiotic and unfair. Someone who tests positive on island is allowed to go back to their home and self-isolate there.
If you come on a plane and are not positive you are still told, regardless of Status, PR or WP, that you must stay in a Gov’t facility for two weeks.
This actually increases the chances that someone who is not infected becomes so due to interaction within the quarantine facility.
In other countries people can self-isolate in their own homes or a location of their choosing. A combination of mobile phone tracking apps, with calls at random times by gov’t and large fines if caught breaking isolation keep people in line.
For some reason here we think jamming everyone into a gov’t facility is a good idea.
It’s actually worked brilliantly. Every single flight from the UK and most from the US has brought someone positive. Every one!
How about that for a fact?
Can you imagine letting asymptomatic people walk around come off the plane and walk around in supermarkets and go hang out at the beach? We all know they won’t stay at home…
I stayed at home for 14 days when I returned from Italy in March. And I stayed at home until 2 weeks ago. Had Everything delivered that I needed.
Whoever you are, thank you for doing that. Honestly it shows you care and respect others around you.
Can only wish others returning play it conservatively and comply with their quarantine rules.
Many are too eager to get out and celebrate and enjoy their freedoms.
Thank you for doing that. Sadly, I do not think others or at least not all would be as considerate as you which is why the facility exsists.
DING DING DING!
The million dollar answer.
How “brilliant” has it been for those Caymanians stuck abroad as there is “no room at the Inn”?
If it is necessary to quarantine everyone coming off a flight in case one or two are positive, why are infected people allowed to go home after they test positive on island. Shouldn’t they be rounded up and immediately sent to a facility?
If we need to lock people up then we should make sure we have space to lock everyone up.
It’s been brilliant for keeping us safe.
Everywhere else that has reopened has had huge new waves.
It’s slow and painful but it’s working well
We all know that people who can’t be trusted trust no one. Caymanians do not trust expats.
Actually it should be the permit holder, i.e. the employer, paying the quarantine costs not the employee.
6.33pm Why is your employer not paying it if they want you to come back and work?
Why are you even coming back here right now? What’s selfish to me is that you would leave your home country where you most likely have benefits to come here and have our government waste money on a person like you that has other options rather than a Caymanian that can’t go anywhere else. If you don’t want to pay, stay where you are.
Maybe they had a family member pass away and they wanted to go and be there with them. Stop being so insensitive we’re all in this together you asshole.
You have a choice. If you don’t like it here, go home.
As an expat I can see why some Caymanians hate expats. Makes me embarrassed.
As an expat I can see why so many expats hate Caymanians. Makes me sad the government created the line in the sand just for wotes.
Go home. You aren’t needed.
Glad you admit it. The hatred is indeed mutual.
Caymanians are getting tired of being spat on. You have come here by choice to enjoy unparalleled economic benefits. The fact that our policy of protecting all lives has interfered with you ability to make money has made you and many like you lash out in anger and hostility.
You have mocked our elderly, our culture, our value for life. You make light of our hesitation to throw the gates open to the world.
If you dislike us so much, then really you should rethink being here. You can’t force your will upon us. And if you can’t abide by our policies in our territory, then just leave. We owe you nothing, and you sure as hell don’t owe us anything.
Our friendship with benefits is no longer mutually beneficial.
Leave us in peace. Please.
6:33 pm: Employers should pay the hotel costs for work permit holders.
Government’s contribution is to make the hotel arrangements, airport transfers, monitoring of the state of health of those in quarantine and necessary testing. All courtesy of the Cayman Islands Government, as far as I know. It not correct please update.
Not enough for you?
Work permit holders are not eligible for many government services—education, voting rights, health care, etc.
Same thing would happen to Caymanians going to another country to take up jobs on work permits. It is just a fact of life.
But work permit holders have options. They are obviously choosing to come to the Cayman Islands for the benefits of living here.
Not quite true!
There are plenty of countries that the government is paying for their residence accommodation ( Citizens and Work Visa ) To isolate in.
BUT that’s not the point why after 120 days and now that the hotels are opening to staycations are we just starting to look for facilities?
Please all that need to travel back forget the Cayman Vs Expat part it should be The People VS Government demanding a solution NOW
Name 1 country paying for non citizens. Australia, UK, US, New Zealand?
Jamaica wouldn’t even let their citizens come home. I know it’s not Canada. So tell us please.
There wasn’t any quarantine in UK until last month. When they started it you stayed where you wanted – including private homes.
And the pandemic is spreading almost freely in their community.
4:14 pm: I don’t know what is “not quite true”. You seem to be referring to the comment that employers should pay for quarantine accommodations for work permit holders. That is an expression of an opinion, to which the poster is entitled. And by the way, government now does foot the bill for incoming status holders (not sure if permanent residents are included).
However, you do state a fact — that there are plenty of countries that pay for quarantine accommodations for work permit holders. I did a quick search and could not find one.
What I did find is that New Zealand, whose borders are still closed to non-residents, is mooting the view that New Zealanders who opt to take holidays in countries now welcoming tourists should pay for their quarantine on return home.
Here is the link: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/kiwis-holiday-in-europe-should-pay-quarantine-upon-return-winston-peters
Well to me the not quite true seems to lead to a very false claim about other countries paying for non-residents to stay in quarantine.
Still waiting on the list…so we can send some of our ungrateful guest workers there.
Then go back to your place of berth if you don’t love the rules.
I’m certain the poster is not a boat.
So true bobo. These people full of ship.
Where is your berthing place anyway?
Lol