Cayman Islands soft border opening delayed

| 08/08/2020 | 447 Comments
Cayman News Service
BA flight from Grand Cayman (file photo)

(CNS): Plans to reopen the Cayman Islands’ borders on 1 September have been postponed until 1 October and possibly beyond, in the face of rising infection rates around the world, especially in the United States. This follows several weeks of speculation that the planned soft opening to visitors was unlikely to happen next month. However, the UK air-bridge and repatriation flights on Cayman Airways will continue, officials said.

On Friday evening the Cayman Islands Government finally broke its silence on the reopening plans and explained that while there are still no restrictions on people leaving Cayman, those returning will face limitations.

With no mention of any intent to use bio-buttons as an alternative method to allowing people to return to Cayman under less restrictive isolation conditions, officials confirmed that the mandated 14 days quarantine process will continue.

Anyone returning to the Cayman Islands, which is now essentially COVID-free, must be quarantined for 14 days in a government facility and will need a negative PCR test before they can return to their own accommodation.

With the start of the academic year, officials said they recognised that parents were keen to confirm travel plans to accompany students needing to travel overseas to continue their education. A British Airways flight will leave Cayman for Gatwick, London, on 28 August, as planned for students and their parents. The governor’s office is also in discussions with British Airways to introduce a regular fortnightly service to Gatwick.

Cayman Airways is also providing a series of repatriation flights to Miami, US; Kingston, Jamaica; and Le Ceiba, Honduras.

Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell stated that the extension of the closure was based on the need to protect Cayman from the ongoing pandemic. “From the outset of the pandemic the government has placed the highest priority on public health and safety and we are approaching the reopening of the Islands borders with the same degree of due care and attention,” the minister said.

“It is unfortunate that this decision had to be taken but we believe it is the most prudent thing to do given the environment beyond our shores. Waiting to open our borders is allowing us to learn from the experiences of other countries and is ensuring that sufficient time is allocated to putting all of the necessary precautions in place keep our Islands safe and people protected,” he added.

Anyone wanting to come to Cayman, such as returning residents, property owners or new workers, must contact government’s TravelTime team before booking a flight. While some airline website are offering flights to the Cayman Islands and accepting future bookings, the borders remain closed and approval has not been granted for the operation of any commercial flights.

Travellers who make reservations directly with any airline while the borders are closed are doing so at their own risk. Airline vouchers issued by other airlines for such flights are not transferrable to the British Airways repatriation flights, nor are they valid for use on Cayman Airways.

Officials said that the CIG, through TravelTime, is “making every effort to assist residents with returning home. However, travellers should remain aware that we are in uncertain and challenging times and with inbound travel restrictions in place, delays in securing a return flight should be expected.”

Inbound travellers will need to board a repatriation flight only and must register their travel request with TravelTime, and complete the online form to receive pre-travel approval. Travellers who have not completed this process will not be permitted to board a repatriation flight.

Questions or concerns should be directed to TravelTime by emailing traveltime@gov.ky or by calling 649-6913 between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Current information about the Cayman Islands Covid-19 response and suppression strategies is available here.

Confirmed CAL repatriation flights are as follows:
Miami, USA: September 1, 4, 11, 18 and 25
Kingston, Jamaica: September 2, 16 and 30
Le Ceiba, Honduras: August 19 and September 23


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Comments (447)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    The terrible recurrence of Covid-19 in Australia has been linked to a scheme that allowed arrivals to quarantine in hotels monitored by private security guards rather than public health officials and police. It is another reason why we need to leave things as they are!

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12195808/sex-coronavirus-victims-melbourne-hotel-outbreak-guards/

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  2. Anonymous says:

    Covid19 is a pandemic, but it’s not the end of days. If anything, its a wake up call to the world to get our sh*t together for when a truly species eradication virus happens upon us.

    It is not that much worse than flu in many ways currently known. But we are hearing that is potentially has extreme long term ill effects on persons. But nobody knows because we’re only 8 months in.

    What we cannot do is hide from it. We have to embrace it and live with it. That means social distancing, respiratory etiquette, washing hands, and probably masks but even they are subject to evolving truths although currently i’d suggest its a net benefit to wear one in a crowded indoor space.

    Even a vaccine is unlikely to end Covid19 – that’s agreed on by most scientists who work in the arena. Just like flu, it comes and goes and some get the jab, others don’t. It’s going to be the same with Covid19.

    So, we can’t hide. Cayman must open up, but carefully. And we can. The news from NZ today is nothing to lose our collective sh*t about, it just shows that even the best laid plans are subject to occasional setbacks. We’ll be the same. But we will help ourselves if we open slow, smart and if the public and private sectors respect the rules.

    yesterday i was collecting to go food from an restuarant. There’s a sign – no entry without wearing mask. I put mine on, walked in and the guy infront of me has no mask, period. The staff? 2 had masks on, one had it over her mouth only. the other member had it hanging around his neck.

    Seriously? Get it right now so when we open, we help eachother and our nation.

    and let’s get the biobuttons ordered in time for Oct 1st

    Peace.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The current non-compliance of many in Cayman means that our best option for limiting the disease requires the strict border control measures we currently have. Our current system works. Let’s forget biobuttons until their efficacy has been proven, or more likely disproven, by proper research in other countries, rather than making decisions based on a sales pitch.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That’s fine keep the borders closed. But in doing so require resorts to reimburse those (no credit) who had reservations canceled before Covid shut things down. We were rescheduled for over the holidays but anticipate that’s not gonna happen either. This was to be our honeymoon with my wife having cancer i’m not gonna sit here and wait for this to be over. We are going to travel to a place that is open.

    • Anonymous says:

      I have noticed many people not wearing masks now, inside and outside. We must not be complacent. The virus could still be here. Please wear a mask to protect our vulnerable.

      • Anonymous says:

        I work in retail and it is incredibly frustrating when clients deliberately disobey our rules! Wearing your mask for anywhere between 5-30 minutes (depending on what you are coming in for) while you are inside is nothing compared to the 7/8 hours I wear mine to serve you. It isn’t enjoyable for anyone but we need to be sensible. It is unbelievable how many people will display poor behavior just because employees are upholding the rules and safety measure of the company they work for. FYI you make yourself look like an ass and will not receive the service you want, if any at all.

        We all need to be grateful that we are at this point and just be kind to one another!

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        • Anonymous says:

          The fact that someone would give this comment a thumbs down is mind blowing. You are clearly one of those trolls who gives employees a hard time when they are just trying to do their job. 6:15, I don’t know who you are or where you work but keep up the great work! Many of us appreciate and respect the staff and stores where we shop. If people don’t abide by the rules, exercise your right to have them leave. As you said, there is no need for people to behave in that manner, especially if since they are only wearing their mask for a short period of time.

          Stay blessed!

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  3. Anonymous says:

    For all of you here that think you are safe and keeping the borders closed means anything look at New Zealand.
    After 100 days of no community transfer they have 4 cases now!

    It is here, it is staying, let’s move on!

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    • Anonymous says:

      I suspect that it will turn out to be a quarantine breach. Australia had things under control until they had a quarantine breach and now they have thousands of new cases and many deaths. Strictly enforced quarantine is what is needed.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Confirmed that it is NOT by the PM.

        Stop trying to blame travellers!

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      • Anonymous says:

        You suspect means you don’t know but you need to tell us what you think is the smartest thing ever. Most of the world is going with 14 days isolation in where ever you want to go and afford. Hawaii still has people (tourist) coming in and self isolating in hotels, same all over the US. Just let all people who have a home here quarantine at home. In the US if you break quarantine its $5,000 and or 1 year in jail. Its working for everyone but the fanatics. Some people can go on without work (especially if your CIG sponsored for life or until they declare bankruptcy) but most of us need to work to take responsibility for ourselves. WE can do both.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This goes to show how important face masks and social distancing are.
      The CIG needs to mandate policy for this till next year.
      If New Zealand was who they where looking to and after 104 days they start getting local transmission we need to make sure we keep the masks and distancing in place.

      Maybe the the pre tested tourist are not our biggest risk maybe is ourselves?

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  4. BracFan says:

    Delaying the opening makes sense. Too much uncertainty in the United States right now. I fear that there will be a second resurgence of the virus in the United States after some – maybe most – of the thousands of American students go back to school next month. I don’t want that resurgence creeping into the Cayman Islands and further disrupting Cayman health and prosperity.

    As much as I’d like to return, I’m resigned to returning in 2021 now.

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    • Anon a mouse says:

      it will still be around in 2021.

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    • Buddy says:

      The virus is still gonna be going around in 2021.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Let’s not forget this is actually no worse than flu, I know you don’t want to think about that as it’s not popular, but if you take all the political drama away and behave like Sweden we’d all be done with this now, and before you get excited do you know how many children actually die from flu each year and remember how distorted the covid records are, oh and they even have a vaccine for flu, yet thousands still die every year….

      CNS: Covid is no worse than flu is a lie told to you by right wing media. I don’t know where to find the corresponding figures for other countries without spending a really long time, but this is for the UK. Compare the deaths this summer with the five year average – see here and weep for the thousands of people who died. The figures cannot be explained by ‘it’s only flu’ or ‘they really died of other things’. The longer people spout this nonsense that it is just like flu, the longer it’s going to take to deal with it. This is a horrible illness. People who survive may be affected for life and those who die do so painfully and often alone.

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      • V says:

        The Spanish Flu went away due to high immunity to the virus. They got their through exposure to the virus. High immunity is herd immunity.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Hey CNS, I would rather cat COVID-19 agin than have the flu ANY DAY of the week.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The IFR on Covid-19 is about .05% only about 800% lower than initially suspected, but yeah let’s continue to point at “right wing media” anti-hysteria in favor of left wing media hysteria. The average person has no clue what their risk is in any kind of meaningful context. Thanks left wing media.

        CNS: A spike of more than double the 5-year average death rate is not hysteria. This is just the death rate, it does not include the extreme spike in hospitalisations and ongoing, perhaps permanent, impacts of those who became seriously ill. It was brought down by extreme lockdown, mask wearing and hygiene protocols after BoJo’s government suddenly saw the light. Pretending that this is ‘just flu’ is criminal-level misinformation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Hiding under a rock is till further notice is not an option for most people. I am happy for you.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Let those who can prove they have an empty house to self isolate do so. Especially if it their own house. Treating everyone as if they are criminals is criminal.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No. It is responsible, and the only way we can be confident of people being able to come without risk of reintroducing the virus into our community.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That’s just simply not true. it is perfectly reasonable to enable people to self isolate at home as long as –

        they are tracked (bio gps buttoned)
        they sign off on massive fines should they breach
        they pay for the privilege of staying at their own home
        there is security 24/7 outside

        its really not that hard to see that some members of our community could and would be able to do the above. Many wont, they can quarantine at the Hanoi Hilton for 17 days or whatever. But why not give those who can and wish to, the option? its ridiculous that we can’t do this in tandem with gov facilities.

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        • Anonymous says:

          1.29pm points 3 and 4 are stupid.

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          • Anonymous says:

            And how do you police visitors, including boyfriends/girlfriends and pizza delivery people under your bio-button enforced quarantine system that you guarantee will keep us all safe and our schools and offices open?

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    • Anonymous says:

      They do it in the rest of the world but not here. Empathy is not a Caribbean cultural thing. If you live here it is easier to assume everyone is criminally minded because so many are.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree, but only if that empty house is in some other country.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    The context for the need to be extremely cautious in relation to opening to US travel is provided by CNN this morning;
    “To put the speed in which the number (of infections in the US)is growing in perspective:

    It took the country 99 days to reach 1 million.
    43 days to hit 2 million.
    28 days for 3 million and 15 days to surpass 4 million on July 23.
    The number has jumped to 5 million in 17 days.

    “This is such a sobering number,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.

    The pandemic shows no sign of slowing, and deaths continue to climb, with more than 1,000 deaths reported each day over the past five days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s Covid Tracker.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah except the early numbers are too low due to limited testing.

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    • Honest Beau says:

      First, you have to turn off CNN. It is agenda driven propoganda. Second, as of now 4 one hundredth of one percent of the US population (that is .0004) of the US population has died of this. The other 99.96% of the population is doing just fine. In addition, as others have posted, many deaths that occur because of something else (car crash) have been attributed to covid because of post mortem positive covid test. Again dishonesty abounds.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The BBC is saying the same thing as CNN regarding the coronavirus.
        Turn on the BBC. You will be schocked.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You saying all the stats from Johns Hopkins Medical are propaganda too?

        That what I look at every day and the numbers are not good by any normal person’s reckoning.

        Facts matter.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Where I come from 166,000 deaths in 5 months in one country is a lot of people.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Honest Beau?

        Less than 100,000 Americans combined died in the Vietnam war, Korean war, and 911 attacks on the WTC.

        This is a much better comparison, since the majority of the 150,000+ USA Covid-19 deaths, like those in the wars, were preventable.

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      • Orlando Bob says:

        First, you have to turn off FOX News Dishonest Beau. Deaths attributed to COVID as a result of car crashes. ????? Not only are you dishonest but stupid too.

        There is no place in America where people died in car crashes are attributed to having died from COVID. Stop making BS up and stop watching Trump’s crazy press conferences.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    January 2021!

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    • Anonymous says:

      I am in Florida and all is normal here unless you read headlines. Every death seems to be “tied” to Covid19 now. The latest case, and I mean no disrespect, is of a firefighter who contracted the virus while on duty, then died. Nobody ever would be able to prove he caught the virus while on duty. The virus is here and the number of positives really means nothing, unless it is reported in relation to hospitalized, active, asymptotic cases. So things are not much different in the US than everywhere else. Besides Cayman of course, where zero positives cases, but people still wear masks simply walking alone along the street (today photo).

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      • Anonymous says:

        He was an outstanding citizen, regardless where he caught the virus. MHRIP.

        The virus still kills and there’s still no clear understanding why some recover and some not. There’re no uniform treatments.

        With so many unhealthy people in Cayman and the total lack of experience in how to treat severe cases, Cayman is better off staying closed.

        Focus must be on retraining people and the Dump. Taxi and bus drivers should not wait for the re opening, but explore different avenues. Every crisis creates new opportunities.

        With the Dump in its current state Cayman must not promote itself as a pristine destination for well off visitors.

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        • Anonymous says:

          We had more than 200 known cases and probably 4 x as many unknown cases. Nobody died except the poor Italian fella that arrived practically DOA.

          Even if you contradict scientific norms and figure actual infections as half and count the Italian, that’s 1 dead in 400 infections and that’s being very generous.

          That puts the odds of survival if you get infected at 99.975%.
          There are people here in Cayman that think the odds are more like 50/50, they’re terrified.

      • Anonymous says:

        The context for the need to be extremely cautious in relation to opening to US travel is provided by CNN this morning;
        “To put the speed in which the number (of infections in the US)is growing in perspective:

        It took the country 99 days to reach 1 million.
        43 days to hit 2 million.
        28 days for 3 million and 15 days to surpass 4 million on July 23.
        The number has jumped to 5 million in 17 days.

        “This is such a sobering number,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.

        The pandemic shows no sign of slowing, and deaths continue to climb, with more than 1,000 deaths reported each day over the past five days, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s Covid Tracker.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I jumped out of a window on the 40th floor of my condo tower a short while ago. Just passed the 20th floor and I am fine which proves that gravity and the consequences thereof are a myth.

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      • Miami Dave says:

        7:39, 😱 😱 Like hell it is all normal in Florida. You must be living in a swamp somewhere because your views have no relationship to reality today in Florida.

        Guess all the doctors and nurses are just making the situation up. Cmon Mohn.

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        • Anonymous says:

          As a back up to the person in FL….I am here as well and yes there is cases and I have had it BUT it is not like the news you see on TV and the Internet.

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          • Hubert says:

            I am concerned in Florida with 5,000 new cases today, 100 deaths today. 536,961 confirmed cases and 8,400 deaths all in the last 5 months.

            The state received just 58,153 test results Sunday, which is one of the lowest totals in recent weeks and a factor in that low new case number.

            It is now predicted that Florida’s death toll will double by the middle of October and surpass 19,000 by December 1.

            We are in deep shit in Florida with no way out the way we are going.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Then you should go hang out in an emergency room for a couple hours without a mask. You’ll be fine.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Poor fools couldn’t finish the runway project in time.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I’m a public school teacher. If the Post Office staff won’t go back to work, neither will I.

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    • Anonymous says:

      SMH, pathetic. Mind you that seems to sum up our Government school system.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I disagree, the post office provides a completely different service than teachers. If you refuse to go back to work then make way for a teacher who will.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    All this “protection” based on pure speculation sure is expensive and harmful.

    The world, apart from a handful of rational countries has lost it’s collective mind.

    We can only hope for luck at this point it seems.

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    • Hubert says:

      No. Only America has lost it’s mind. Everybody else has a handle on the public health situation.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The approach in the US is not much different than “everybody else”. Death rate in US is less than most of W. Europe. Lockdown times were about the same. Mask policies are local mostly in Europe same as US and Canada.

        You really have no scientific basis for your comment.

        In any case the scientists seem rather confused regarding lockdown and mask effectiveness. But it is fashionable to bash the US because of bad orange man. I get it.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Stay off the Trump Kool Aid 10:45. . It is really messing with your head.

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          • Anonymous says:

            In Florida the death to infection rate in known infections is 1.5%

            In Canada it’s 7.5% or nearly 500% higher.

            How do you explain that? Is it that the health care in Canada sucks? What gives?

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            • Miami Dave says:

              The answer is very simple. Canada on a per capita basis has done far more testing than in Florida so their infection rate is obviously much higher. One still has challenges getting tested in large parts of Florida.

              Another problem in Florida is that many lower income workers don’t get tested because they cannot afford the testing cost. In Canada, the state picks up the cost for COVID testing.

              The Canadian health care system puts the American health care system to shame and it has been clearly demonstrated this year. However, if you are a high income American the system is excellent.

              Remember, American life expectancy has been dropping for the past decade while in Canada it is going up. The proof is in the stats.

              • Anonymous says:

                Talking to a few of my Canadian friends in different parts of Canada the past few months everyone seems to have been tested. While in Florida my friends there are still trying to get tested.

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                • Anonymous says:

                  That is BS.
                  Yesterday in Canada to get a staff tested was 3 days IF they have symptoms.

                  In Florida less than 24 hours from a private lab was done last week for me.

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                  • Miami Dave says:

                    Get it. Florida is a model for testing. You gotta be joking. You must be another Trump supporter. 😢

                  • Anonymous says:

                    Guess that doctor on Miami TV was making everything up yesterday about testing in Florida.

                    Good to know everything is good.

              • Anonymous says:

                What? I don’t think you thought that through. If you are diagnosed with Covid 19 in Canada, the statistics show you’re 500% more likely to die than if you are diagnosed with Covid in Florida. Testing would have the opposite effect on the Canadian statistic. Your comment makes zero sense.

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            • Big Bobo says:

              7:38, God help you if you are now one of the 129 million Americans who need health insurance and have a pre-existing condition.

              Now COVID is considered a preexisting condition by American health insurance companies. That’s another 5 million plus people. INCREDIBLE

              American health insurance sucks. What gives?

              Think I will take the U.K. and Canadian health care system anytime as I am not in the millionaire / billionaire category. But guess you are.

              • Honest Beau says:

                Thats BS. You cannot be excluded from coverage in the US for pre existing conditions. Premiums considerably higher for one year however if you did not have coverage the prior year. This has been the case for the past several years since the affordable care act was passed. The trade off however has been that private sector premiums have skyrocketed due to adverse selection in the risk pool.

                • Anonymous says:

                  Honest Beau, You are totally delusional. You can be excluded from coverage in most of the Republican states who rejected Obamacare provisions. However, there are some exceptions like Ohio. Having said that the premiums for people with preexisting conditions are massive. Of course, if you are upper income one can afford the premiums. The copays are incredibly high too for those with preexisting conditions.

                • Anonymous says:

                  Honest Beau, You obviously are unaware that Trump / Barr currently have a case before the Supreme Court to wipe out legally all of the provisions for health insurance companies to provide mandatory insurance for pre existing conditions under Obamacare.

                  Always great to see how Trump acts in the interests of the American health insurance industry.

        • Anonymous says:

          Every other country in the developed world has a national strategy. In America everybody is doing there own thing because of the total lack of leadership in Washington from Trump.

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        • Anonymous says:

          So how do you explain roughly 25% of total global deaths from less than 5% of the total global population?

          Not bashing…. just asking

          We don’t care about the orange genius but we care about the American people in all of the Americas….

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          • Anonymous says:

            How do you explain it compared to other approaches? The US has tested 64 million people. Mask policies have been in place at about the same time as other countries with similar guidelines.

            Why is the death rate in Sweden not several times that of Italy for example?

            Why is California surging? Look at their lockdown policy, mask policies.

            When will people wake up and admit the scientists have messed this up? They tried and they failed.

            As for me, I’m playing along like a good little sheep, but my eyes are wide open.

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            • Anonymous says:

              The explanation is simple compared to other countries. Practically no contact tracing in Florida and Texas. As a result, we are digging ourselves into a deeper hole in most parts of America. New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania major exceptions.

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              • Anonymous says:

                How do you explain California? The truth is contact tracing is no better in most of Europe.

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              • Anonymous says:

                If you look at the IFR (Infection Mortality Rate) the data shows that most people who have it don’t know it and therefore are not subject to testing or tracing. Those numbers out pace known cases by 400%. IFR is the standard used to calculate infections and deaths historically.
                You simply do not have a scientific basis for your opinion.

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            • Hubert says:

              No the scientists did not mess up but the “stable genius” screwed up royally because he did not listen to his medical experts. New York State and New Jersey demonstrated in March and April what had to be done. Instead, Trump rejected what had already been demonstrated to be effective.

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            • Anonymous says:

              It is a simple fact that we now have a situation in America where confirmed cases are lower than the actual cases, the reason for this is limited testing which Trump and his crony Governor friend in Florida are trying to find a way to turn a negative into a positive before November 3.

              The testing situation in so many states in the southern US is dismal and can take up to 10 days to get results.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Suspect data from some of the more populous countries (eg China, India etc)may not be completely accurate….

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            • Anonymous says:

              The poster never mentioned testing

              The poster mentioned deaths

              Don’t try to switch the discussion……

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              • Anonymous says:

                But testing and tracing is intricately linked to deaths in America. You don’t get it still after all these months, just like Trump. Otis simply beyond his intellectual capacity.

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              • Anonymous says:

                You think deaths data in China / India (esp rural / poorest sections of society where healthcare is limited and communication difficult) etc is accurate ? Not to mention political manipulation of deaths data in some countries. Covid has become a political football. It suits the pre-Election US mass media narrative to show the US in the worst possible light.

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            • Anonymous says:

              You think?

      • Anonymous says:

        Everyone who gets their information just from the “news” has lost their minds to the “news”. America has chosen to live with the virus meaning it has and will try to keep open. This does make more cases yes but it also allows the economy to keep going. If America’s economy was shut down Caymans economy is shut down. America has the leadership to make this happen. Caymans leadership still prays to Mary, Joseph, and the Donkey for guidance and it shows.

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        • Anon says:

          We have no choice but to keep the borders closed. New Zealand has seen 100 days of negative tests. We have seen only 25. Their borders remain closed as the virus is still viral in other countries:
          “Border controls are a key tool for stopping the introduction and spread of new cases from overseas. All people entering New Zealand are currently isolated in a government-controlled facility for at least 14 days on arrival, ensuring no new COVID-19 infections are introduced into the wider population. We anticipate border controls being progressively relaxed as it becomes safe to do so, for example, if we are confident certain countries eg, Australia, have low levels of community transmission. Further work will be needed to determine criteria for this.”
          We need to follow their example, we are at great risk with our proximity to the US especially. Well done to our Government for working on elimination here in CAyman. Two week isolation is essential, in a government facility—-until such time as an appropriate vaccine is discovered, we should continue to enforce this two week isolation. We have come so far, lets not move backwards, Cayman.
          Interesting, though, Masks have not been a part of New Zealand’s strategy! We can get rid of the masks, please.
          https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-elimination-strategy-aotearoa-new-zealand

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  11. Tax director says:

    Reduce population now send all those putting a strain on our economy home cut MLA pay 60% for doing nothing stop this rinky dink over spending on foolishness close borders till a January 2021! No problemo wid me ! Give Cayman a much need break?

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Caymans not reknown for enforcing penalties bobo. All you need is to know the right people and youre free to do what you want. You can start by thanking our own Govt leaders for setting that bar!

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Because they are relatively unskilled and those are the jobs that are available.

    As for the wages, just raise the cost of work permits. Permits for most low-wage positions are too cheap and easy to get. If you had to pay $10k to bring in a low-skilled worker the business owners might think twice about it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What an ignorant statement to make. $10,000. for an unskilled worker? You must not own a business, or you’d be screaming bloody murder. Check out how many Caymanians are applying for all the available jobs out there. But then again, trying to navigate Jobs Cayman portal is another time wasting stressful exercise in futility. WORC, God help anyone hoping to get very far with that mess.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Why can’t you find and train a Caymanian?

        We have lots of people supposedly looking for work?

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        • Anonymous says:

          You realize that there are 25000 work permits out there – way more than the numbers of Caymanian unemployed. Even before you get into being qualified for the job.

    • Anonymous says:

      They already think twice about hiring a person that cost a permit fee over a Caymanian who can’t figure that out.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    I respect the government’s decision to keep the borders closed particularly given the situation in the US, but I do believe they should allow returning Caymanians and residents to self-isolate at home. Given the limited numbers that would be involved, and the fact there are surely many people in Cayman who would like the chance to earn some extra cash, I am not sure why spot checks to ensure compliance are unmanageable. And with hefty penalties for breaking the rules this is surely something a small country can manage (eg Guernsey, Isle of Man). This is surely something that will have to be introduced if there are to be flights to and from Gatwick every couple of weeks, as well as returning students/parents.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If we actually enforced laws around here “without fear or favor” and the penalties were meaningful, you may be onto something.

      However, as things are, not a chance. The risks are too great.

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    • Jotnar says:

      Yep. No point having flights every couple of weeks if the quarantine facility only has a couple of hundred beds. Unless of course we are being forced to use the “optional” paid quarantine at the Ritz 😉

      Big gets problem tho is the lack of certainty – you are suppose to go off island on the assurance that Travel time will make “every effort” to help you get back…knowing that there is very limited number of spaces on flights combined with even more limited quarantine facilities. Those parents wanting to accompany there kids back to school better pack for a few months away, and the FS sector can forget about business trips on that basis.

      If we are going to keep border shut, for havens sake a) expand the quarantine capacity – where private sector or stay at home under supervision – and have some definite flight dates and a booking system (subject always to you passing the test before flying). That way people can plan.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with 10:13. Returning reisdents have a vested interest in keeping our Islands safe. The vast majority of them would abide by the home isolation rules Penalties for failing to stay at home should be severe and enforceable. That would deter anyone from breaking the rules. It just doesn’t seem fair that the government told us one thing last month, and people made plans and financial commitments based on that, and now they are faced with a completely different set of rules.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Like they had a vested interest staying the hell home when they tried a gentle lockdown at the very start. People cannot be trusted. Mandatory government facility quarantine and only free for Caymanian and residents returning for first time since lockdown. If you have left since the lockdown, you pay to come back and quarantine in an approved government facility as and when space allows. No gun was put to your head to leave… Full stop. The decision to leave – however tough or necessary, was yours. In 9-11 the world shut all air traffic and we stayed put. When the boarders were shit, it was not intended to be abused by shopping trips and the like. And taking kids to school too – if you are sending them away, they should get used to saying goodbye now. I did it and thousands of others over the years.

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  15. Something needs to be done about the families that are separated for 7 months it seems like no one care,because they in comfort of their families they don’t care about other families am so depressed about this borders keep pushing back

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    • Anonymous says:

      What do you propose, that keeps everyone safe?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Easy Test before abs test 7 days after arrival!
        Bermuda is doing it why can’t we?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Bermuda has Covid. We (it seems) do not. We have all worked damned hard to achieve that position, and need to work equally hard to maintain it.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Yes they have 4 Active cases so what!
            That proves the system works and they where not from travelers!

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          • john smith says:

            Your comment demonstrates a concern I have for Cayman in respect to expectations. I fear many Caymanians expect zero covid forever, this simply is not realistic. Covid will be aroind for years unless an effective drug or vaccine is developed. This is not a guarantee with viruses, look at HIV. There will be covid cases once the island reopens, we need to understand that and develop a plan to minimize its occurrence, that is more realistic than expecting complete eradication. I worry, based on the expressions of the public and the government, that as soon as a covid case occurs there will be panic and hysteria to reflexively implement severe restrictions. That is not a sustainable plan.
            A slow, progressive opening is prudent. Initially allowing residents and property owners and developing an effective monitoring system upon entry, stay, and departure so that a future progression to general commercial tourism will be a smooth effective transition.

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            • Anonymous says:

              I do not think many of us want to return to general tourism. We were not benefitting as much as we should, and it had an overwhelmingly negative impact on our quality of life. Relatively few Caymanians were engaged in it. Cruise tourism was a scar on our existence, and hotel tourism overtly operated to the exclusion of local people. The result is that too many of us are sick of it. It is no reason to risk a single life, or disruption to education and other sectors of the economy.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Excellent comment

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        • Anonymous says:

          We are not Bermuda. If it is so perfect and fits your desired governance level, go there!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Europe’s Top Health Officials Say Masks Aren’t Helpful in Beating COVID-19

        https://fee.org/articles/europes-top-health-officials-say-masks-arent-helpful-in-beating-covid-19/

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  16. Anonymous says:

    So how long will the people in tourism get $1,000 per month?

    Already heard banks forclosing on homes, especially Scotia Bank.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is strange. It is my understanding that all of the banks have offered a payment holiday until Jan 2021. Where are you getting your information from?

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    • Anonymous says:

      If no mortgage payments are made for 6 months, what do you expect the banks to do?

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    • Anonymous says:

      It is sad but banks can’t be expected to carry on not requiring payments.

      The Government needs to make a plan and open up or be prepared to borrow themselves to keep paying the out of work.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Or make sure that capable unemployed Caymanians get jobs presently filled by imported expatriate labor.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Cleaning other people’s houses. I don’t think so. Unless you give me an office, desk and 3 hour lunches.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Driving delivery vehicles. Working as boat hands. Bussing in restaurants. Washing dishes. Cutting grass. Farming….

          • Anonymous says:

            If only! I work 8 to 10 hour days without a lunch break (My contract says no paid overtime). I’m Caymanian & willing to do this office job to feed & keep a nice home for my kids.

    • Anonymous says:

      I suspect anyone getting foreclosed on now stopped paying well before covid.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    We need to focus on getting our schools open and our children back to in-person classes.

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  18. anon says:

    Cayman should allow second homeowners and Caymanians to come back and isolate in the comfort of our own homes for 14 days with bio-button and GPS. They should start this now in Sept, and then by October they would have more data and experience with opening for more people and less days. This is the only way for Cayman to learn how to deal with the new normal and bringing back tourism, rather than just postponing it and not trying something new.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Classic Civil Service incompetence, couldn’t get their shot together in time. No worries though, they remain in full pay and benefits.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed 100%.

      This is a perfect way to test the system.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What should be the penalty for failing to self isolate properly (and thereby risking lives, the ability of children to access proper education, and the wider economy)?

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      • Anonymous says:

        In other countries, people are allowed to self quarantine but theres a huge penalty, 100s of 1000s$$$ fine if you breach. Problem is in Cayman, no enforcement thus no motivation to deter breaking the laws. And when you have Ministers and VIPs able to side step the regulations for their friends or a bribe, then the system’s already broken before you implement it.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Don’t just vote that comment down. Answer the question! How many pieces of silver for our safety?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Canada fines up to $750k and/or six months in jail.

        I know that isn’t real money up there but CI$250k here might make some people comply.

        Or we do like Singapore and beat people with a stick.

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      • Anonymous says:

        $750,000 like Canada and a Government with the balls to enforce it!

        Don’t think anyone will risk that.

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        • Anonymous says:

          21,000 active police investigations of quarantine cheaters in Canada, as of a report a month ago. Plenty of people are willing to risk that.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Criminal charges.

    • Anonymous says:

      People, especially americans, wont self isolate.

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      • Anonymous says:

        There is definitely a much greater attitude of “These rules don’t apply to me, so I won’t comply with them” among a sizeable proportion of Americans than among the Caymanian population (local and expat). Why not make a distinction between visitors (even those with property – require them still to go to government mandated facility) and Caymanians/residents, who surely have a more significant interest in protecting the community and can self-isolate at home with spot-checks/hefty fines for breaches of the rules.

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        • Anonymous says:

          In general ALL the failures in the system Bahama put in place was Bahamians not doing the right thing it’s hard to blame tourists or Americans

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      • anonymous says:

        How do you know that? Cayman can enforce high penalties on people who break quarantine and create jobs for people to go and do random checks to make sure people are maintaining their quarantine at home. We will never know unless we try, better to do it now with small number of second homeowners and caymanians then just all at once with tourists as well.

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        • Anonymous says:

          We did that. We got Covid19 in the community, remember? Those last people that came in before lockdown was supposed to isolate instead the went to restaurants and shopping with their family.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Put it this way, is not just about trying and penalties. What happens if it fails and someone die? How much a person live is worth? Who is going to be responsible for that death?

          Just need one single person to start a pandemy (actually what happened).

          Imagine one single person, test fails and gives a false negative and has no simptoms (more than 40% are like this), then it contagiates someone that has been tested a week ago and was clean… perfect recipe for disaster.

      • Anonymous says:

        You don’t know that.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Actually we do. Look at how they behave in their own country!!! What makes you think thy would be different here? Not a chance.

      • Anonymous says:

        Americans think they have a constitutional right not to self isolate. The problem in my country is that most people do not give a damn about the greater good. A very sick and stupid society.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You should try and catch up, as the same mentality exists in UK and Europe. You have individuals in UK suing Government because they are forced to wear a mask. “Its my human right not to wear a mask they say, the hell with the effect it has on other human beings or society”. Sick and stupid indeed.

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          • Orlando Bob says:

            No, the general mentality in Europe is different. In America a number of people have killed each other over whether to wear a mask or not. 3 in different Walmart stores. Show me a country in Europe where people have killed each other over wearing a mask?

            America is preoccupied with the rights of the individual over the greater good of health in society. Trump has played on this and is helping to bring down America.

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    • Tundi says:

      The distributor in Lagos has collected his millions and CIG have been supplied 1000 black buttons.
      You may laugh but probably true

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Just do the sensible thing and close it until January 1 now so we are all realistic. No way any Americans can come in for Christmas or Europeans who will obviously have a huge winter second wave. We all know the borders will correctly be shut til 2021… let’s just announce it now.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Who will work though?

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree, but why not allow those who want to avoid the second wave to come here, through quarantine, and find sanctuary?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Caymanians and residents who have been stuck overseas should be the first priory to bring home. Not tourists or vacation home owners.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Agreed. So why are there not enough quarantine facilities to cater to everyone?

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          • Anonymous says:

            Have to ask Government that one

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          • Anonymous says:

            Because if they make it available with ease to many people will travel and they don’t want that.

          • Anonymous says:

            Quarantine at home – same as those who test positive!

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            • Anonymous says:

              Exactly Why is it ok for someone who actually tests positive to isolate at home, while a returning resident who hasn’t even tested positive yet has to isolate in a government facility? Seems to me it should be the other way around.

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              • Anonymous says:

                One is already here and is an existing risk. The other is a new risk. Not so hard to understand. Been that way since the Middle Ages. Look up the origin of the word Quarantine.

                Also look up what has happened in Australia as a direct consequence of quarantine breaches.

  20. Jazz says:

    Should be easier for residents to get inbound flights if they have travel. I live alone I don’t see why I have to quarantine In a government facility for 14 days. I should be able to do it in my own surroundings. We have to live with this pandemic for many years keeping the borders closed is not going to work. The Government needs to take time and rethink what is fair to there residents.

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    • Anonymous says:

      People couldn’t be trusted not to go to the beach at the start of all this. Try telling them to stay home. You may be responsible, or think you can do it, but when it comes to the crunch, the people, myself included, cannot be trusted to put others over self in the true crunch.
      To those who have been stuck since the start of all this, I am sorry, it is tough, but the government facility is the option.
      To those who left and want to come back, tough sh!t. You left knowing this is a whole new world. Suck it up. This is for the betterment of all, including those of us that stayed put and waited out patiently.
      I know some had to travel, but I am afraid the option has been clear for a while – if you want to return, you have to quarantine.
      To all the brats who said I will just wait until 1 sept and do it at home – welcome to the new world. You can now wait until at least 1 oct for that. And I for one would be happier to see self isolation off the table a lot longer.
      Too many of us have sacrificed for the spoilt bratty few to screw it up now.
      Rules are rules.
      Try to break them or work around them, suffer the consequences of your decisions.
      We are adults here – even though some are doing a damn good impression of spoilt toddlers….

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      • Anonymous says:

        Love your comment 12:18am, I wish I could like it a thousand times. My sentiments exactly.

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      • Anon says:

        Clearly you have no idea what it’s like to be separated from family for 6 months. Some of us can not afford to pay the thousands to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks. Your comment is very insensitive. We all want cayman to be safe, but this virus is not going anywhere. It’s time to accept the reality and start to allow our own people, to isolate in their own homes, just because you can’t stay put for 14 days doesn’t mean others won’t. A lot of people are really willing to respect the rules because they understand the consequences of breaking them. Says a lot about you.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Cry me a river.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I’m Caymanian but I have a daughter in Europe. I havent seen her for 9 months, except on WhatsApp. Yes, I would like to see her here for xmas, but travel isn’t possible right now. Yes it’s tough but she’s not a brat & I can suck it up, for another 9 months if I must.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You dont have to pay for the government FS ility if you are Caymanian or PR. It it’s irrelevant since there is never any room I. It anyway!

        • Anonymous says:

          I suspect you are one of the people who said a few months ago “why are we licking down. So what id people get sick. This virus us here to stay and you cant eradicate it from Cayman”. Well we did. And we dont want it back.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I haven’t even met my grandson and he’s almost a year old but you won’t hear me moaning about it. It is what it is.

      • Anonymous says:

        You do understand that people coming on a plane are not guaranteed to be sick…

        …but we allowed people who tested positive on island to self-isolate at home.

        Basically we locked up people at great expense who only might have been exposed and yet we did not lock-up/quarantine those who were confirmed cases locally.

        As for the beach that was clearly sloth and in competence on the part of the RCIPS. They did not want or were told not to arrest the people “pretending” to exercise on the beach. The police could just have enforced the law. Maybe by taking pictures/video on the beach of the violators after having blocked in the vehicles that we parked nearby.

        This should not be rocket surgery.

        CIG did a good thing by locking the borders to start but not much since has given anyone confidence in their ability to manage the current situation or get us back to a more open economy.

        Wealthy people are fine, those who work for gov’t on full wages are fine. Lots of other people are not fine.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The government facility is not an option as there is never space or no flights.
        You try getting an answer from them for 5 months.

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      • Anonymous says:

        This is the one of the most selfish comments I have read on here since Covid started! You obviously have no ability to see things other than from your own limited selfish vantage. “spoilt bratty few” sums you up, not others.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You clearly have not done a lot of reading post Covid then. Furthermore, it sums up those who unnecessarily bitching, like yourself. This isn’t a fun situation for anyone but constantly whining like a bunch of brats helps NO ONE!

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      • Anonymous says:

        You make me sick….because you admit you could not be trusted we must all suffer. I have done it at home many times why can’t you? Why should it be tuff shit for me because you are the spoilt brat that cant do it and stay home… you are disgusting

        Why is it so hard for you to trust people?

        Do you trust you government?
        Did you know they gave away exemption during curfew for people to have ” essential wedding ”
        How is that fair? Put people at risk so a few could get married but don’t trust anyone to self isolate because they have a need to travel.

        As for the government facility it is never available.

        You’re the child!

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    • Anonymous says:

      It was tried and several people did not follow the voluntary self isolation. You might, but it only takes 1 – 2 to set us back.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That assumes the person has the virus. Honestly CNS people who do not understand statistics or don’t realize August is not March when our closure was based on the model of 800 dying should not be allowed to post.

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      • Anonymous says:

        How vigilantly were those self-isolating at home monitored back then?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Please remind me how many people died due those not following voluntary isolation?

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Moving the date again is just moving the goal posts. Government have proved themselves hopeless at anything that requires organization. Quarantine facilities – enough said.
    We need a workable plan and fast. Remaining isolated for an extended time is not an option.
    Why not introduce the CMO’s plan starting with 10 day quarantine for UK flights and returning residents only to see how it goes and how many people test positive after 5 and then 10 days. If it works then reduce it to 5 days with confidence otherwise keep it at 10.
    We need to be cautious but we have to find a solution here. Keeping Cayman closed off will lead to an economic disaster once the pension monies run out in a few months.

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    • Anonymous says:

      A few months? Some persons have already depleted their pension money. Spending foolishly on TV, cars, and all sort of material things.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Staycation time!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Govt feeding us tidbits of a half assed plan. If they admit they likely wont open till 2021 then they must allow a second pension raid. And they certainly refuse to reduce civil service salaries or any other govt expenditure. Surely all CS earning over 72KPA could take a 10 or 20% salary reduction plus anyone who literally hasnt worked in 5 months (Post Office!!) Cry they will but 80-90% of their salary is a whole lot more than ZERO salary that many are facing!

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Government appears to be responding to an ever-changing, evolving landscape. I think they’ve done an excellent job with their response to the virus. Yes, there have been rules that are inconsistently applied, and others that weren’t perfect.

      There are several issues to complain about with the CIG, but this shouldn’t be one of them. The world has changed, and “normal” is not attainable — it is lost.

      You can look around the world and be thankful that we live here, where our health and safety are the first concern of the government.

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      • Anonymous says:

        It’s easy to shut everything down. This is the default position. It takes a different level of smarts to get it going again. Sorry but govt have been shown to be poor, at best, about getting things going again.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Couldn’t agree more. How could the virus spread in a small island when the borders are shut and people were forced to stay inside for months? The challenge is opening up the border and allowing people to come back and forth, without such draconian measures. I’ll be impressed when they stop running away from that and face it.

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          • Anonymous says:

            “How could the virus spread in a small island where the borders were shut and people were forced to stay inside” …what an idiot.

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        • Anonymous says:

          And to think some people didn’t understand my taking an engine apart versus putting one back together analogy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I don’t think residents returning from the UK are relying upon their 10% pension raid

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    • Anonymous says:

      Nope.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    I hope the border reopening date continues to be pushed back and further back.

    Why are we so anxious to bring untimely deaths to our most vulnerable people?

    If prices are kept reasonable we will continue to shop, eat, sleep, play, swim, dancing, etc at the local establishments that cater to these activities.

    No need to rush this process unless the government has some mysterious medical plan that we are not being made aware of.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You are obviously Government sponsored and can only think of yourself. Most people who live here are not. Why are you so anxious to kill the economy for everyone else in the future? We are all vulnerable people not just you and yours. If you can’t think for all of the people in Cayman you are relevant.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Civil Servant alert! Post Office?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Library?!

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      • Stop spreading hate and negativity says:

        I am not a civil servant nor do I have anyone close to me is but goodness me. Not every civil servant is horrible or doesn’t do their job. There are some bad apples but not all of them should be punished for the few. Stop the hatred and bashing, it is not helping the situation any.

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      • Anon says:

        Can you all get off of Civil service d*ck? I mean honestly, get a life.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Exactly. I don’t know about anyone else but I love seeing people in the community supporting local businesses!

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      • Anonymous says:

        3:02 those who disliked this comment are probably people who dipped into their pensions and wanted to blow it all on a shopping spree in FL. Or expats, because Lord knows they hate to support anything local that benefits Caymanians.

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        • Anonymous says:

          What is local that benefits Caymanians? The shops owned by Dart that are all closed in town anyway?

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        • Justice for all says:

          8.51am I’m an expat and do support anything that benefits Caymanians, like stiff sentences for those that commit serious crimes.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Don’t all businesses have to be partially owned by Caymanians? Caymanians taking a cut of something even if they just put name on business for foreign owner, but caymanian still benefitting. Who sold out to the expat? Oh right Caymanians. Unless everyone gets their little envelope, the expat taking everything. Stop blaming and accept responsibility. I fee sorry for the poor Caymanian. They can’t cheat the system like all the others.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Fronting…

            It is a crime but is mainstream and is never investigated, let alone prosecuted.

            Caymanians in fact own almost nothing now, which is why so many of us do not give a shit about the many shuttered businesses. Many would not even have us as employees.

            That is the sad reality we now all confront. At least we have some prospect of rebuilding something that actually works for the Caymanian people.

            • Anonymous says:

              But the fronting is what caused the issue. Caymanians filled their pockets once, now want more and blame the expat! If you didn’t sell your soul, island would be in such a better place. Perhaps change the laws and penalize the Caymanian for fronting and not taking an interest in that business .

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              • Anonymous says:

                The laws do not need to be changed. They just need to be enforced. And by the way, many of the people fronting, and many of the people responsible for the lack of enforcement, are not originally from here.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    there has never been a plan and never will be.
    we created the bubble and there won’t be any real travel/tourism till there is a vaccine.
    now can the cayman economy survive?….and what is the plan to keep it alive?

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    • Anonymous says:

      The plan as usual is tell the people what they want to hear, do what ever you want as long as its easy to do, wait and see how bad it gets, Hope the expats come back and fix it.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Spoken like an expat. FYI- expats are not wanted and they sure as hell don’t fix anything.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Nothing hurts like the truth.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Nothing about what was stated above was the truth. Expats only create more issues and that’s a fact. You all just like to be keyboard warriors on CNS.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Guess you never needed an electrician or plumber which are nearly 100% expat

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          • Anonymous says:

            Only use Caymanian electricians and plumbers actually. There are many 😉

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            • Tundi says:

              The distributor in Lagos has collected his millions and CIG have been supplied 1000 black buttons.
              You may laugh but probably true

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            • Anonymous says:

              and general quality of work is awful. Job finished and they disappear. Never return calls and they use expat staff anyway

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              • Anonymous says:

                So in other words it’s expats that are providing piss poor service but are “working for a Caymanian” company. Right, okay well thanks for clearing that up!

                I use Caymanian electricians and plumbers who work for themselves. I have never had an issue and always had a job well done.

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            • Say it like it is says:

              8.53am I assume you are referring to the business owners who have all the jobs done by Jamaicans/ Phillipinos etc.

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              • 8:53 am says:

                Nope, I am referring to Caymanians who utilize their skills, work for themselves, and do a damn good job. I support my people and their hustle.

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                • Anonymous says:

                  Don’t call names please.

                  Leave these Caymanian professional trades people for us who know them, respect them, and pay them fairly for their excellent work…

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    • Anonymous says:

      The cayman economy can survive and even thrive as a bubble but we have to do a number of things:

      1. Ensure that every Caymanian that can be employed, is employed (even if it means not renewing whole categories of work permit).
      2. Cut unnecessary government expenditure, including that spent on supporting hundreds of foreign nationals who no longer have any productive role to play in our economy.
      3. Invest in retraining/upskilling our workforce.
      4. Allow digital nomads and others who want to come in (through quarantine) for extended periods, to come.
      5. Create incentives for employment including rooftop solar, tree planting, storm defenses and other needed infrastructure.

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      • Anon says:

        I’m an expat – they’re are no caymanians capable of replacing my job and many other expat jobs within a 5 to 10 year time frame. The financial services industry is even more important now and caymanians who are unemployed are not qualified or able enough to do the senior jobs in the industry. So your comment is nonsense.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Graveyards all over the world are filled with irreplaceable people.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The poster did say certain categories. The clear inference was that there be Caymanians able to do the roles….

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        • Caymanian says:

          You certainly think a lot of yourself 4:47. Any Caymanian given the opportunity and training could do you job and do it well. Do not make the mistake of thinking you are indispensable.

          That is what is wrong with many of you expats, you develop this sense of entitlement, believing you have more right to things in Cayman than Caymanians do.

          Stay with your blinders on. Many young Caymanians are acquiring the education and experience necessary for jobs in our community, and we will not be complacent.

          Better hold on tight expat – we are coming for our positions within society and we will not be stopped.

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          • Anonymous says:

            @ 8.39 ‘you develop this sense of entitlement’ oh the irony of that statement. You win the internet today with that one!

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          • Anonymous says:

            We aren’t scared

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            • Anonymous says:

              Neither is the younger generation in Cayman, so watch yourself.

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              • Anonymous says:

                that younger generation, they come from that great 3rd world schooling you have..
                Look out! Here they come to take your job. Assuming they are not in prison first.

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                • Anonymous says:

                  Third world schooling? 😂 Okay Trump. ✌🏼 I am a young Caymanian who has a 4.0 gpa. I have been accepted by some of the best schools in the US & UK. My “third world” education did wonders for me.

                  Those who live in a glass house should not throw stones…

                • Anonymous says:

                  If our schooling system is so atrocious then why are you and your family here? Why are you kids enrolled in our “3rd world education” system?

                  Seriously shut up. You lot sound incredibly stupid always bashing Cayman but yet you find your asses to our shores.

        • Anonymous says:

          Why do not more Caymanians studying in America and the U.K. study subjects like accounting and finance if they want to be certain about getting a job here in financial services? Tired of meeting young Caymanians with general Liberal Arts degrees, from abroad, who complain that they cannot get a job on island when they cannot even read a company balance sheet.

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          • Pursuing Higher Education says:

            What Caymanians are you talking too? I know countless young Caymanians who are furthering their education in fields such as business, accounting, economics, law, marketing. That is what the vast majority go off and study. There are also Caymanians who are pursuing careers in medicine, public health, psychology, marine biology, etc. but are many who are seeking qualification thay are not related to liberal arts, not that you should knock those career paths. All are valid and needed in our world.

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            • Anonymous says:

              I talk to many young Caymanians certainly far more than you. Only a very small number are studying accounting and finance. I try and direct them in the right direction being a former teacher.

              Though you are correct that many pursue careers in other areas but many stay in the U.K.

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              • Anonymous says:

                Far more than me you say? I am a young Caymanian. So your quip there is irrelevant. I know many other young Caymanians who are pursuing higher education, especially in the accounting and finance field.

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            • Anonymous says:

              When one considers the size of accounting and finance in the overall Caymanian economy, it is a fact that only a minuscule number of young Caymanians study those 2 subjects. This is just a fact.

              All the subjects you mentioned are needed in the world but certainly far more young Caymanians should be studying accounting and finance in university if they want to get jobs in the Cayman Islands.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Why? because when Caymanians come home with thosr degrees, they are then turned down for expats with “worldwide/intl work experience” aka youre from somewhere else. Speaking from experience. Apparently its always easier to get a job in someone elses country. Again, speaking from experience!

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      • Anonymous says:

        I am a potentail ” Digital Nomad ” as you like to call it and also a regular visitor.
        I was on the page hoping Cayman would offer this like Bermuda BUT they have not.
        I would also point out I would NOT and don’t think many who are in my position would want to come unless the process of coming and going was more like Bermuda.
        I am not going to come for say 12 months maybe need to leave 2 or 3 times and pay thousands to isolate in a hotel. I could rent just as nice place in Bermuda and be allowed in when I want without applying and isolate at my own home with pre testing and two follow up test.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Enjoy Bermuda then. It’s cold for the winter, the rents are high, there are taxes, and there is always the overt racism and risk of Covid to deal with, but it is your choice.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Go to Bermuda then, troll…

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          • Anonymous says:

            # caymankind! Not!

            I was only passing a comment but given this I will now publish the link to my friends to show how you really feel about tourists!

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            • Anonymous says:

              You are not a tourist. You are a foreign worker who wants to come and live and work here without complying with our laws, and seem perfectly happy to risk reintroducing the virus to Cayman. Shame. You would have been welcomed through quarantine.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Go right ahead, if they think as you do then we do not want or need them to come here.

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        • Miami Dave says:

          Bermuda is always ahead of Cayman, from building new modern airports by Canada to an efficient operating bus system to aggressively pursuing digital nomads. Cayman could learn so much from Bermuda but don’t.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Racism, Segregation, Taxes, inability to advance to citizenship, no open spaces, … wow, Bermuda sounds great….

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          • Anonymous says:

            Cayman probably looked at the Bermuda, and Jamaica, bus system and decided that is the last thing we need here.

            Government owned busses broken down half the time, run by unionized government employees always on strike, perks out the wahoo for senior management etc. etc.

            No thanks, government needs to stay out of anything that the private sector is willing to do. Competing with the private sector by subsidizing services is how Bermuda, with a population smaller than Cayman, managed to get a deficit of around $3 billion or about 7 times the size of Cayman’s deficit.

            The Canadian company will be getting all of the revenue from the airport for the next 30 years, so the deficit will fall on the back of Bermuda citizens. I don’t see anything there for Cayman to envy.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Actually Cayman does offer this. Have done for years.. since at least 2014 for sure and maybe even before that? Check your facts before posting nonsense.

      • Glad I Am Not Caymanian says:

        You’re 2nd point: So you are saying kick out anyone who is not Caymanian or married to one? Secondly, the “productive role part” in your question, are you saying these people that need to go are not productive members BUT every Caymanian is?
        I’m curious, are you at the bar? Or maybe fooling around with the wacky green stuff right now?? Just curious…

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        • Anonymous says:

          Every country is entitled to prefer its own people. What are you smoking?

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          • Anonymous says:

            You’re own people?? How do you define that? By generation, or is it that blood of the soil crap. Or some of the complete trash on the island that’s 1 or 2 “generations” deep that we’re nationalized?
            What a joke

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      • Anonymous says:

        The only way Cayman can survive in bubble is if the offshore financial sector can support the entire economy. Nearly 100% of the goods consumed here are imported and need to be bought with US$ or other globally traded currency, which the CI$ is not. So if all the US$ is being exported to pay for imports then at some point the country will run out of cash regardless of how well the local economy is doing.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Government is the employer of last resort. It is bloated and unproductive.

        Are you willing to cut those jobs?

        That expenditure dwarfs anything that has been provided to the “hundreds of foreign nationals”

        This is a fact. Have you ever thought about the % of working age Caymanians that are employed by CIG, Statutory Authorities and non-viable businesses like Cayman Airways and the Turtle Farm?

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        • Anonymous says:

          Jobs that are unsustainable will have to be cut. Those are the facts. It matters not what the nationality of the holder of the position is. However, if an unemployed Caymanian can do a job, they should almost certainly be given it in preference to an expatriate, when the expatriate’s contract/permit is up for renewal.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Cayman airways is proving its worth right now like in a hurricane. Don’t always agree with it but do you think aa and delta would fly flights where we dictate loads and profit margins to protect our borders?

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          • Give your head a shake says:

            @12:34am, you are absolutely right… I mean it would be next to impossible to find a charter operator to provide lift 1-2 times a week right now with how busy airlines are.

            There are literally hundreds of idle aircraft and crews that operators would love to be able to use for any sort of flights right now. CIG could easily negotiate flights for passengers and cargo on whatever frequency they wanted.

            It would be much cheaper and frankly safer than having an airline that flys passengers less than 10x a month right now.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Bubble soon burst.

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      • Say it like it is says:

        2.47pm #2 Not hundreds of expats maybe 100 at most and all they got was a one time meal voucher for $150 after a lot of paperwork. A drop in the ocean compared to out of work locals.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong. Without Tourism , Caymans economy is finished. If you think the local Stay-cationers can support an industry that relied on +350,000 tourists a year spending a good chunk of their income to visit here , dream on. Tourism was the meat, potatoes and veggies of the economy for many , the Local “Bubble” economy now is spread thin gravy just dripped on the surface , thinned by too much water. Countries that do not rely on Foreign Tourism will prosper in the current Covid 19 world , Cayman is not one of them.

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    • Anonymous says:

      There is a plan. You and your cronies just don’t like it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No plan plan!

      Can’t survive with the border closed for ever. There more people that keep leaving the more we will suffer.

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        Nobody said closed forever. We have an excellent opportunity right now to make things better for Caymanians. People that leave are likely not invested in these islands. No shame to it — this is a strange time, but think of the opportunities that we can create for Caymanians if we are forward-thinking.

        Remember when dive operations and most hospitality services were filled by Caymanians? If you can’t remember that time, you are young. We can get back to that place, and create new opportunities. Those that are here, now, are the hardy folk: Caymanians and those that are with us, though they don’t yet have citizenship.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I’m very invested but will leave if they don’t allow a mature way for us to come and go!
          We are not children!
          Other Islands have established proven testing before and after arrival!
          We are one of only two Caribbean islands with no know plan!

          If you want to make sure people isolate at there home and don’t break the laws than make the penalty $750,000 like Canada and enforce it!
          Id be more than happy to come home and know that is the risk and just imagine how just one person that is caught and fined would be a perfect warning for all.

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          • Anonymous says:

            If you cannot appreciate what CIG has done and is continuing to do in order to protect us all then… GO! 🗣
            Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

            It’s people like you who this virus needs to creep up on so you can humble yourself and realize “oh damn, this is serious. I was behaving so stupidly before”

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        • Anonymous says:

          “ Nobody said closed forever.” 7 months is as good as forever for most businesses. What planet do you live on where businesses survive for this long without their regular customers. Sorry but this is crazy talk!

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      • Anonymous says:

        3:47 make them leave.

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      • Anonymous says:

        We can survive, if we allow people in through quarantine.

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      • Orlando Bob says:

        Still do not understand why there cannot be a slow opening for people from Canada and EU countries starting November 1? We have to start somewhere with opening so let’s go slowly. However, keep out Americans until they get their COVID case numbers down considerably and public health act together which probably will not happen till Trump is gone.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I wish I wish I wish, people would understand that a vaccine IS NOT THE FIX.
      Quiz time everyone:
      Is covid a virus or bacteria?
      Virus
      Is the “common flu” a virus?
      Yes
      Is there a vaccine for the “common flu”?
      Yes
      Does that vaccine work 100% of the time?
      No
      Why not?
      Because there are many strains of the “common flu” and each year the vaccine only covers so many
      Do a lot of people unfortunately die from the “common flu”?
      Yes
      Has this Covid virus strain mutated yet?
      Yes

      We don’t have one vaccine approved yet and there are already mutated versions of it.

      Why are we (or anybody in this world) waiting for a vaccine?
      So some people can sleep at night knowing “they got the shot”

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  24. Anonymous says:

    I would love to hear from CIREBA. How was the last quarter? Prices still holding up?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Never been a better time to buy.

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      • Anonymous says:

        One should only buy if the asset appreciates or generates income. Kind of difficult with people being expatriated, a closed airport, an increase in global covid cases, and no plan.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You miss the fact that tens of thousands of wealthy foreign nationals want in to our bubble. I do not blame you. Government are ignoring that too.

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          • Anonymous says:

            I don’t miss that fact. But it’s irrelevant because of government’s ignorant and paranoid stand. Alden is an egomaniac and will not change his stance. He’d take pride in being the last Premier of Cayman and ignore the fact that he destroyed it!

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        • Short-sighted says:

          Ever heard of long-term investments?

          • Anonymous says:

            Sure in places like New York, London, Toronto. But on a tiny island? One which has the potential to become independent?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Standard realtor comment.

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      • Anonymous says:

        People will want to be here more than every considering how well Cayman has handled this pandemic. Great time to be in real estate.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You do know the airport is closed?

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        • Anonymous says:

          LOL that may want to be here but they cant get here SO…….they are going to Bermuda and Barbados where the Government released the opportunity!

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          • Anonymous says:

            The ones we want are coming in through private jets, testing, quarantining for a few days, then are out and about. Bermuda and Barbados can keep those other peasants

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            • Anonymous says:

              Funny. Heard a conversation with one of the ones you want. The person literally told the another person “You know I own you!” Nice. Hope you have more money than they do.

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      • Realist says:

        2.38pm Standard response from CIREBA, a bit like “our world class Civil Service”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes they are. Indeed they are going up at the higher end of the market.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    I’m 💯 behind this decision, but the gov really does need to set a date, not just keep moving the goal post. I get that all is fluid, but decisions need to be made so people can make arrangements. If we find that COVID becomes a problem then a plan needs to be made for that situation so that we all feel more comfortable when we do finally open back up.
    Where are we with the airport runway now? Is it almost complete?

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Tell me, at what date will the U.S. virus numbers attenuate? What date will the deaths level out and then decrease?
      When will a vaccine be available, or is it unlikely to ever happen?
      When will a vetted treatment for Covid-19 be trialed, tested, produced and be available?
      What will happen when the Covid-19 second wave combines with the seasonal flu?
      Is it true that approximately 15% of those who recover from Covid-19 are left with permanent organ damage?
      Is it true that a nine-year-old child with no morbidities died of CV today in Georgia?

      This the nature of the questions the government is having to deal with, which you tried to distill down to a simplicity that serves your needs. YOUR needs.

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      • Anonymous says:

        And I may get killed by a crazy driver here tomorrow.

        I want to live my life and you live yours….Nothing stopping you from staying home.
        Me I want my freedom

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        • BeaumontZodecloun says:

          So, for you, “freedom” is a lack of responsibility, no further requirement of wearing a mask or taking simple precautions?

          Gee. I’m so very sorry for your inconvenience. It must have been rough on you.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Big Beau, The answer is simple. Just KEEP OUT Americans. We are going the completely opposite direction from Canada and the EU countries. Too many dysfunctional Governors, a totally incompetent President, and an inability to understand what American public health policy experts are saying.

        My country is in a total mess. Never seen anything like this from a public policy perspective in my lifetime.

        A totally disillusioned former Republican.

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        • BeaumontZodecloun says:

          I don’t disagree with anything you said.

          Don’t you just wonder…. is the CIG fearful of what President Trump might do when he realised we’d just banned U.S. travelers? I don’t have any information regarding this, but I wonder if it isn’t more prudent for the CIG to ban everyone, rather than just U.S. citizens.

          Every country/territory/providence had to react suddenly to an unprecedented viral threat. I think the U.S. could have done much better, but hindsight, as they say, is *cough* 2020. There appears to be much disparity of though in the U.S., but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As with competition in business, it sometimes produces excellence.

          Like you, I think that overall, the American view is not in step with our own; we are fortunate to be small enough to have controlled the virus. I think we should enjoy some time without the stress of infection. Money isn’t everything. My small business is toast. I think it will rise again, later.

          We’ll see.

          We shouldn’t be in a rush to open our borders, imo. We’ve all been through quite a bit to get to this place. Let’s don’t waste the sacrifice.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Big Beau, With 85 days to go before the election Trump has far bigger concerns on his mind than the Cayman Islands. Canada and the EU countries have already banned Americans from traveling to their countries.

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  26. Anansi says:

    Preventing foreign owners who have spent billions of dollars buying Cayman Islands real estate from accessing their properties in the Cayman Islands as safe sanctuary during this crisis exactly when they need to is simply suicidal stupidity based on fear and ignorance, nothing more. Apart from being wholly unnecessary given the ability of these owners to self isolate it will have very negative long term effects for what remains of the economy in the Cayman Islands. But this is precisely the outcome you can expect if you allow an anesthetist with marginal to no understanding of economics run your economy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They should be allowed to come, through quarantine, like the rest of us.

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      No property owner is being prevented from coming here.

      There are necessary procedures with which they must comply. Reasonable procedures, imo.

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      • Anonymous says:

        BZ, actually the Governor’s office has been refusing anyone without PR a place on the BA airbridge. That may have changed recently, but last I checked some property owners were being denied entry, even through quarantine. It may be that there were not enough quarantine facilities to accommodate everyone that has been wanting to come.

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      • Anonymous says:

        BS……Been trying to come for months but your TravelTime is a Joke!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Lots of people cannot home here even if they have property, because the government quarantine (currently Morritts) doesn’t have room.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The lack of adequate quarantine facilities at this point, with more than 5 months to organize, and countless empty hotel rooms and apartments, is astounding.

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          • Anonymous says:

            People would have to be willing to have their hotels and apartments turned into a quarantine facility which many are not. Furthermore, many of them are making more money by making allowances for staycations etc, which is brining great profit.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Morrits is not where they are quarantining fool. That’s in EE, people are staycationing there.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Check Locale

      • Anonymous says:

        ahh no wealthy property owner is going to be willing to be locked up in quarantine just to come here!

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        • Anonymous says:

          I know over 30 people who tried to come in through quarantine to do just that, and were turned away by CIG on the basis they were not residents. People are willing to do it. Government has not been willing to let them.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    BA won’t be flying an empty plane here with a closed border, if ever.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Especially as Bahamas are now on the UK quarantine restriction list. This means no travellers there and the flight to Cayman is not commercially viable. The fact that the air bridge is flying into Gatwick is a downgrade in itself

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  28. Anonymous says:

    More people have died on our roads than contracted COVID-19 this week, close our roads!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Typical debater’s trick! Without the measures that you apparently are against there would have been a lot of deaths here. Just look at the USA, hell even look at the number of deaths from COVID-19 in other countries that have had a better response than the US.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Look at the size of their populations.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Our community would have been wiped out had went been proactive in establishing our safety measures.

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          • Anonymous says:

            No community in the entire world has been wiped out. You are as ignorant as they come.

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            • Anon says:

              The deaths caused by this virus have far surpassed Cayman’s population. Had CIG not taken the protective measures they did, our community would be suffering and more than likely wiped out. So you are ignorant.

  29. Anonymous says:

    There are many potential tourists who do not own property, but are willing to come in through quarantine and would like to stay in a rented condo on the beach for up to 6 months. Why are we not letting them apply to come???

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    • Anonymous says:

      First they have to let stranded Caymanians return home.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Stranded Caymanians can return home. The only hold up is that we do not yet have enough quarantine facilities, which is pretty crazy given all the empty hotel rooms and apartments all over the island.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because we are dumb and will make them isolate in a shit box at over 3K for 16 days by the time they get the test back.

      WHY when it is proven by science are we not isolating them for 7 days and then testing this is when the teat is most accurate?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Please share yiur sources to backup your claim that”proven by science are we not isolating them for 7 days and then testing this is when the test is most accurate”.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Read any study on RT-PCR testing and the reliability facts sheet that even comes with the test results.
          Maybe in Cayman you don’t get the test results sheet from the lab??
          It list the percentages of false negatives all day day 7/8 are the most effective day to minimize false negative.

          Try Quest diagnostic fact sheet on Rt PCR

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because we can’t even bring residence back and trust them to isolate at home.
      We don’t have enough rooms at the Government run sh..t hole isolation prison for our own people!

  30. Anonymous says:

    Close it until January then re-evaluate. Open too soon and face another lock down.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    That’s fine but surely self isolation for 14 days with bio buttons has to be an option along with Govt facility? Make people pay extra but just like Canada, their nationals can self isolate, why not caymanians?

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  32. anon says:

    Something has to be done about the families and couples who have been separated now for 6 months because of the borders being closed. Many of us have made plans to see our loved ones off-island in August, with hopes of returning back to Cayman in early September and quarantining in the comfort of our own homes. I understand and respect the government’s efforts to keep our people safe, but there needs to be a solution aside from quarantining at comfort suites for 14 days for over $2000? I miss my loved ones, but cannot afford to pay the price for the gov’t facilities, and just wish something could be done for us Caymanians who truly need to see our family and significant others.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Comfort suites might have been $2000 but to help Mr. Dart the old Beach Suites is $4000 and only option given.
      And wait until you see the price of the latest flights $1000 one way.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If you’re so sure, do an FOI to see exactly how much Government has paid for quarantine facilities and to whom those payments have been made.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We are all ears. What do you propose is the solution that will keep all our families here safe?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Pre Test 3 days before……..Isolate at you home 7 days and test again with a $500,000 fine if you break the isolation.

        Simple!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Isolate a home. Cayman is the only “democracy” in the world where its people are not deemed trustworthy enough to do what is good for themselves and society as a whole.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sorry Karen. It isn’t about you…

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  33. Anonymous says:

    The right decision. Now stop dangling a carrot of a border reopening that anyone paying attention knows cannot safely happen for the foreseeable future. Increase the quarantine capacity and welcome people in for the long haul. We have spent long enough turning people away. Let them come in through quarantine and stay for 6 months with no issue. We have a lot of empty Airbnb apartments to fill, and can do so without opening our borders and creating risk for our population.

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  34. Anonymous says:

    This isn’t any real surprise. But considering the news of just how ineffective a vaccine will be (CNBC Dr. Fauci):

    White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci that the chances of scientists creating a highly effective vaccine — one that provides 98% or more guaranteed protection — for the virus are slim.

    Scientists are hoping for a coronavirus vaccine that is at least 75% effective, but 50% or 60% effective would be acceptable, too, he said.

    The FDA has said it would authorize a coronavirus vaccine so long as it is safe and at least 50% effective.

    What is the game plan if vaccine is only 50%?

    How long will the CIG keep things locked up?

    What happens if the rest of the world builds a natural immunity and the Pharm companies decide not to pursue a vaccine at all?

    Many are thinking that this is just another thing to worry about like cancer, heart disease, and now just add Corona.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This is good news. Prudent decision. New Zealand is still closed and other countries are being ultra cautious—some have backtracked.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I read a competitor’s article that the US has warned about travel to Cayman. That is Trump at work. Wants to persuade the world that the terrible state of affairs in US is worldwide.

      In any case, I don’t want them, especially his ignoramus followers, bringing the virus here,

      So happy they are discouraged, and happy the CI Govt has moved the target date for reopening.

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      • Anonymous says:

        11:26
        Please keep your stupid to yourself.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Sorry Donald… don’t you have a country to mismanage and some inane tweets to post?

        • Anonymous says:

          Just keep stupid Americans out of here. The ignorance in Floriduh, Georgia and Texas is simply beyond belief. Trump is blowing up America as his ship sinks.

          Last night I heard him say that things were great in America. The man is totally delusional and should be removed before he destroys my country.

          America is very sick and it is not only with COVID.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The CDC has removed the Health Warning on Cayman on August 6th.

        But the State Department warns:

        Travelers to the Cayman Islands may experience border closures, airport closures, travel prohibitions, stay at home orders, business closures, and other emergency conditions within the Cayman Islands due to COVID-19.

        Basically they are saying we are shut down and it is not fun to come here. Nothing about it being unsafe.

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    • Anonymous says:

      But Fauci says masks and social distancing work. Cayman has the capacity to do both.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They can keep us closed for as long as necessary. We have done exceptionally well and do not need this virus to get out of control by bringing in people from overseas. Cayman’s hospitals could not handle that kind of devastation. Prevention is better than cure.
      As for immunity, people are catching this virus more than once so it does not appear that immunity will be happening any time soon either.

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      • Anonymous says:

        There is minimal proof of many repeat case.
        I’m trying to catch it again now……will report back if I get it BUT the problem is if I get the regular flu it will be worse than the COVID I had.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Always an excuse for poor performance. You say the border must open sometime soon or the economy will take too big a hit. But you still can’t make it happen. Takes too mush work right? Too busy right now fighting to keep human rights from the Gay people or is it Sahara dust again? I must say no one I know expected any other outcome. World Class Incompetence.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Alden is going to wait for a vaccine. That way he doesn’t have to make a decision or come up with a plan. He’s not hungry and looks down at everyone so their votes are irrelevant to him. Everyone supporting him are financially comfortable and like minded.

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  36. Anonymous says:

    Alden can’t keep feeding the 5000 forever. Money soon done.

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    • Anonymous says:

      So why do we still have thousands of relatively unskilled foreign nationals here with work permits to drive busses, taxis, cut grass, etc. and other tasks that there are unquestionably many Caymanians available to perform?

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      • Doodlebug says:

        Able, maybe, but willing?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Because, in case you haven’t noticed this trend for the last however many years, caymanians are not applying for those jobs. I run a business and hire about a dozen people a year for all sorts of income ranges. We have a few Caymanian staff (about 15%) and the rest are expat. Every single time we renew or post for a work permit we have ZERO Caymanian applicants with almost no exceptions. And we pay well for various types of jobs. So, there’s your answer. If you know some Caymanian that wants to drive a taxi or bus or whatever then go look up the job and apply for it and stop asking this question.

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        • Anonymous says:

          There are hundreds of taxi and bus drivers being paid by the government to stay home and do nothing. They want to drive. There are large numbers of foreign nationals here being paid by the private sector to drive.

          Your math does not add up.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Your comment does not add up either my friend. If they’re being paid to stay home they’re lucky. If the private sector is paying drivers then great. I fail to see an opportunity to employ a bunch of caymanians as drivers??

            And for whatever it’s worth, why are you targeting the lowest value jobs? People have already said caymanians don’t want to work for those wages. Those wages work for some people who come from places with lower costs of living. They can make it work and caymanians can’t. Raising minimum wages just drives up all costs so that’s not a solution I want to hear about.
            So…if the market dictates the wages must be low to keep the service affordable…and caymanians don’t want to perform that task for said wages…then the math adds up perfectly and there’s no reason to suggest caymanians should be chasing that specific job market. That’s the math, full stop.

            In every job market in the world you will always have people at the very bottom, who struggle to stay employed, get in trouble and are fired etc. No country in the world has zero unemployment and there are always bad apples everywhere. The difference here is that you expect the market to hire EVERY Caymanian. I’ve worked with and met plenty of caymanians I’d hire in a heartbeat; but they already have good jobs. I’ve also met and worked with a smaller handful who underperform and job hop constantly and struggle in the workplace. It’s not some national shame or some expatriot conspiracy to keep these folks unemployed it’s just how it works out sometimes.

            In short: forget about the damn taxi jobs and grass cutting. Focus on what creates value and can be learned. Plumbing, HVAC, auto mechanic, administrative work, excel, quickbooks, cellphone repair, or anything like this. That’s a handful of things right there that can be learned without a college degree in a fairly short time and pay a decent wage. There’s cheap training or free training everywhere. Stop whining. Stop with the conspiracy theories. Stop calling the radio and telling a story of a guy you know who is “super qualified” and can’t find work. The work is there and if you’re actually qualified you’ll get hired. If you’re a chronic underperformer then you won’t and need to look in the mirror and come to grips with that.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Ask the government you elected.

      • Anonymous says:

        Like Shrek said to Donkey. “it’s not the right to to work that is lacking, it’s the capacity / willingness to do those jobs that is lacking.”

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        • Anonymous says:

          Most Caymanians are not willing or able to work for slave wages and why should they in their own country.

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          • Anonymous says:

            So you’ve established the following: 1) Cayman has slave wages. 2) Caymanians will not work for those wages because of national rights. 3) It’s perfectly acceptable for other nationalities to work for slave wages.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Because they are relatively unskilled and those are the jobs that are available.

            As for the wages, just raise the cost of work permits. Permits for most low-wage positions are too cheap and easy to get. If you had to pay $10k to bring in a low-skilled worker the business owners might think twice about it.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Because those will be the only opportunities available if we keep on this track. Why did you once make rope? How much did that pay?

          • Anonymous says:

            2.53 They wanted to be waited on, not waiting on someone else. No status in pouring drinks and serving food.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The taxi drivers are all out of work, genius. Plus there’s no such thing as a taxi driver on a work permit – you have to be Caymanian. And if Caymanians don’t want a grasscutter’s salary, the employer has to go elsewhere.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I’d rather have a grass cutters salary than zero income personally…

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        • Anonymous says:

          There are many non Caymanians driving busses and taxis. If you paid attention you would know you only need to be Caymanian to own a taxi. You can hire expatriates to drive. There are large numbers of expatriate drivers here, driving taxi’s and busses and all manner of delivery vehicles.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Stop arguing with the expats who take the jobs and go argue with the caymanians that hire them!!! Damn sickening. Always blaming someone else. If a caymanian has to own the taxi why the hell do they keep hiring expats over their own people? And don’t tell me about slave work and pittance money because I’ve seen caymanians on this same forum saying that they prefer to have some money than no money, so clearly they will work for any money. So what then is the issue? Go and do some reflection!!!!!!

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          • Anonymous says:

            So then tell us, whose fault is this?

            • Anonymous says:

              The department of immigration, which is supposed to be regulating this and stopping permissions in areas where suitable Caymanians are available and willing to work.

            • Anonymous says:

              It is the fault of President Trump who because he is a total incompetent did not follow his public health experts. The situation could be under control by now if he was not so friggin stupid.

              How the hell in America can wearing a mask be a political statement?

              Thanks to Trump he has politicized wearing a mask. INSANITY.

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              • Anonymous says:

                If you are stupid enough to have to listen to a political figure tell you to wear or not wear a mask….then it is your own issue. You should be adult enough to wear a mask for your own health and don’t blame a politician.

    • Anonymous says:

      Trouble is, we are also done. Real estate, businesses and lifestyles will collapse. For the first time in my life I’m ashamed to say I’m Caymanian.

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      • BeaumontZodecloun says:

        You may be done. I can adapt, and my business will recover. Not soon, but it will recover.

        You go ahead and collapse. This is my home, and nobody in my extensive family will collapse. This is a speed bump. Life will go on, and we will all adapt, and grow.

        I’m truly sorry you are ashamed of your people. Maybe you need a dose of hope. Your and my ancestors were made of stern stuff; they endured hardships which we cannot imagine, and because of their efforts, we do not have to.

        It will be okay eventually. It may be years; only God knows and He’s not saying.

        I wish you the best; maybe you can do something different that you have been that will make your life better. I either garden or build when the stresses press down. Anyone can grow something to eat. Anyone.

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        • Anonymous says:

          BZ. Our ancestors didn’t have any sense of entitlement. The new lot are oblivious to the fact that one has to earn a living. Our government is bloated, ignorant and cowardly. Nothing comes from nothing.

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