No next steps unveiled in premier’s virus review

| 30/10/2020 | 158 Comments
Premier Alden McLaughlin in the LA with DG Franz Manderson behind

(CNS): In a statement that took more than an hour to deliver, Premier Alden McLaughlin gave a detailed review of government’s successful stewardship to date of the COVID-19 pandemic but did not explain what happens next. He said government was committed to keeping the islands safe from the coronavirus but that we must open up and begin to rebuild the economy safely at some point. However, he did not say what or when the next steps would be.

The premier gave a detailed recap of what has happened in the Cayman Islands from when the virus first began spreading around the world. He described its arrival here, the full lockdown, the phased lifting of the restrictions, up to the implementation of the Global Citizen Programme. But he said it was now time to move towards the future.

“We have been ruthlessly focused on the actions needed to deal with the immediate crisis. We have put in place the measures necessary to contain and to deal with the public health emergency. We have taken action to help businesses through this shutdown period. We have responded to the needs of the families in our community who needed help,” he said. “But now… is the time to look ahead once more.”

However, the premier gave few details about the foreseeable future and how Cayman would navigate the long-, medium- or even short-term as the virus rages around the world. While he did not rule out the concept of allowing visitors back into resort bubbles or stand alone isolation villas, he said these were still areas that posed significant problems and gave no indication of how realistic the proposals were.

“We know cannot remain closed forever… and we must do what we can to open up. But we are determined to do so with safety as our first consideration,” he said, noting the need to avoid the risk of another lockdown, as other countries around the world are now facing.

“All around us we are seeing increases of the virus and new lockdowns,” he said. “The UK and Europe in particular are now struggling as the virus takes off again and they return to strict lockdown measures. The virus in the United States has also been rising as that country struggles with its response to the pandemic. This is a danger for them and for us. So we shall be careful in how we open up.”

He said a way must be found to open and there would be some level of risk but that risk had to be reasonable and low when balanced against the impact of keeping the border closed.

“As we on these Cayman Islands begin to get back to something approaching normal, we need to chart a new course back to economic prosperity for all Caymanians and residents,” he said, as lauded Cayman’s entrepreneurial spirit and past success.

The premier stated that government, the people and the private sector would need to work together to rebuild the economy.

“It will take time. It will involve difficult decisions. There will be problems along the way. But we will get there and we will get there together,” McLaughlin added, describing it as a long term project.

See the full statement in the CNS Library or on CIGTV below:


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Comments (158)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    BVI just announced their opening plan. Pre flight PCR, test on arrival, quarantine, test after 4 days then some access out of quarantine, final test 8 days after arrival and if clear release from any quarantine.

    • Anonymous says:

      And it’s official, with BVI announcing its plan we are the ONLY one in the Caribbean that has no plan on opening.
      We are the joke of the Caribbean now!

    • Anonymous says:

      10:32. After BVI announced its reopening plan they had a slew of hotel cancellations.

      Bermuda and TCI tourism is way down after they reopened.

      Cayman sets the standard we don’t follow other islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        Not True at all!

      • Anonymous says:

        This is so fake! Any cancellations in BVI have been because people were expecting them to introduce less of a quarantine period than they did, which is set at 8 days and includes 3 PCR tests. Bermuda’s tourism infrastructure is open and demand is increasing every month. They will be ahead of Cayman on the curve.
        So what is the standard you are saying Cayman sets? Is it the number of tourism businesses destroyed? Is it the number of consecutive days before we receive any visitors to these islands? Or is it simply the number of people who lose their jobs?
        Your comment sets the standard for the most idiotic statement of any in this whole thread!

        • Anonymous says:

          My friend just canceled her BVI vacation due to the quarantine and for no other reason. No one plans to quarantine on a holiday.

          • Anonymous says:

            Completely agree. Would love to return to Cayman but not to a resort bubble or multi-day quarantine. Went to Aruba last month and their process was quite good. But they are also willing to tolerate a higher level of positive cases.

        • Anonymous says:

          Hear hear!

        • Anonymous says:

          Fewer deaths is a pretty good candidate.

      • Anonymous says:

        I was i the TCI for the opening it was full or tourists so you don’t know what to are talking about. Some resorts where at 60% the first week!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Hello 9:10! Spoken like a true government employee that is getting raises every month. This is all borrowed money from banks. This cannot continue. Go ahead and keep telling yourself how wonderful Cayman is. Go ahead back slapping and giving each other pieces of worthless plastic awards made in China.
    Cayman is not sustainable. Get a grip and get your people back to work.

    • Anonymous says:

      9:47. Unfortunately there is no 9:10zzzzzzzzz

      Get out from under your bed the civil service will keep you safe.

  3. Anonymous says:

    the sooner CIG and their minions fail the sooner we can kick them to the side and make Cayman great again. For everyone. So spend that money, get some more loans, and party till the sun comes up.

  4. Anonymous says:

    SHUT ER DOWN!!!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Turks and Caicos has been open for months and has Pre Testing and has less cases than us!

    Even after going through an outbreak in the locals they still keep the tourists coming.

    Look around the Caribbean nearly all are open!

  6. Anonymous says:

    Brac economy is booming – like the old days when we were doing offshore oil transfers.

    People from Grand Cayman coming over for staycations, many who have not even been on Brac. People buying land and old homes.

    Got locals using up their pension money on vehicles, ordering stuff from Amazon and celebrating Christmas early.

    Combine that with the monthly super spreader potential events that result in at least one young man crashing a vehicle each month and people are living in lala land, just partying it up and acting like nothing is happening in the out world.

    UK just got lockdowned – anyone in our Government paying attention?

    Now for the cruise tourism subject. It is temporarily suffering a setback. Americans will, repeat will, be back cruising around the Caribbean . . . and Mo$e$ will be anxiously awaiting the chance to get them into our islands.

    If Americans are not allowed to come onto our shores, they will just take their money and go elsewhere – fact.

    So Government-of-the-Day, while you are patting yourselves on the back for your initial response, time for you to get a plan together.

  7. Anon says:

    I don’t know what you mean by “tourism”, but I know that many expat Caymanians and Americans have homes in the islands where they live part of the year, and once they escaped the CIG’s nutty restrictions last spring, they haven’t been back. We personally spend thousands of dollars every year down there over the 2 or 3 months we stay. Those dollars are going to stay in the USA this year.

  8. Anonymous says:

    He said government was committed to keeping the islands safe from the coronavirus but that we must open up and begin to rebuild the economy safely at some point. However, he did not say what or when the next steps would be.

    Oy! Better have a plan to deal with this foolishness and not turn a blind eye to it like unna did the dump.

    Caymanians are sick of the back door leadership BS that has been allowed to go on and covid will be the last straw on the camels back. Better have a plan bo bo or your people will deal with it.

  9. Anon says:

    At least there is one plus from COVID.. Christmas in cayman with no American tourists being loud in the restaurants and hotels and clogging the roads in rental cars. I can’t wait.

    • Anonymous says:

      And all of them won’t have to put up with your hate and disrespect. Win, win for them. Too bad for us here. When your house is foreclosed on it will most likely be an American that buys you out(their economy is still going good)so you should get ready to kiss some American ass.

    • Anonymous says:

      Funny, you never complained about Americans when tourism was at an all time high. No problem, Americans will travel all over the Caribbean the next few months to islands that are welcoming and open.

      • Linda in Miami says:

        3:58. How true. Caymanians have become ignorant of economics and have taken their infrastructure for granted!!! All of your food and fuel come from overseas. You are a small cement like block in the ocean and not a high one either. Another Ivan and you are on your own. Oh thats right. You hate Americans so much that you could care less about needing help from us when Ivan hit you. Good luck. We can go to places that welcome us.

        • Anonymous says:

          Hi Linda in Miami. We Brackers love U S A and its people. When the virus is gone, please come to the Brac and visit us and stay. We love and appreciate you all. A true Bracker

      • Anonymous says:

        U S A. Is the greatest country on earth no doubt. That’s a 100 % fact, I.love that country. I am a true Bracker

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      It has not been my observation that the American tourists are the primary folk being loud in the restaurants or anywhere else, but perhaps my view isn’t representative of those everywhere.

      Regarding traffic, I think visitors from everywhere try very hard to flow with the traffic and understand the rules. I think those of us who live here drive far worse than the visitors. I’m painting with a broad brush, but that’s my impression.

    • Anonymous says:

      You mean Jamaicans and Caymanians right?

      • Anonymous says:

        6:11 pm. Facts are facts and the Jamaicans are the loudest, won’t wait in line , pushy, park in the drive lane and talk to friends and wont move. Always complaing about here is no good but they stay here and don’t want to go home, etc. Etc. Etc

        • Anonymous says:

          “Always complaing about here is no good but they stay here and don’t want to go home”

          That is people from all countries who come here and push their weight around and use the tourism bogeyman until they get what they want!! Banish the ungrateful and welcome the respectful, Caymanian or not!

          Always willing to share but can’t stand those who take the whole thing and still aren’t satisfied. Get rid of ‘em!!!!

    • Anon says:

      Hey 7:48. You will regret making that statement when you have more shortages of everything and your island goes into a Cuban style decline!!
      Wake up! You have a dysfunctional Government that expects to keep borrowing millions from banks and have no ideas of reality. That cannot go on forever. You are all crazy. Open up and go back to work. Government cannot keep you safe from a virus. Lockdowns and masks are just putting off things. Move on people. You cannot stay locked down forever!!!

    • If I were living in an island in the middle of nowhere, that ha no natural beauty other than the ocean-that is no rivers, lakes, mountains, waterfalls etc etc, grows no food, produces no industrial goods, survives on nearly slave labor for poorer caribbean and some asian countries, completely dependent on import for everything and solely relying on hedge funds stashing their money to avid tax and rich foreigners spending their money, I would think twice or thrice before posting anything remotely hateful to foreigners.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians with no qualifications complain about lack of jobs…. if I do a staycation at the ritz or go for dinner at any decent restaurant the waiter or housekeeper/cleaner is Honduran or Italian, the people serving in kfc are Indian, even the people in torture and Blackbeard’s are on work permits. Surely you could do these jobs but reject them or are unwilling to gain basic service skills (smile and work hard)?

    • Anonymous says:

      Is there a special work permit for torture?

    • Anonymous says:

      The government got the people spoilt, they give them for votes. They give them fish instead of teaching them to fish.So Caymanians become lazy. Even those that work in Government is lazy, always late to work, call.in sick Won’t even answer their work phones. and they will not ever be fired

      • Anonymous says:

        Say what you want, but I couldn’t stand a deplorable cutthroat boss who would fire me over going to a single doctor’s appointment because quotas haven’t been met this month!

        It’s about priorities and having any common sense and human decency!! The “not my problem” attitude doesn’t fly and needs to stop! Cayman’s founding documents never let that slide. Profits over people need to stop before it’s too late!!!!

        If you don’t agree, you simply do not deserve to benefit from the fruits of labor in the Cayman Islands! Money will never make you immortal!!

  11. Elvis says:

    The premier and his covid team have done a sterling job so far.
    We don’t need an opening plan right at this moment. Uk has just locked down for 1 month that should tell you something.
    A vaccine is reportedly ready to roll out December in the uk. Lets stand by for this.
    We already have 20 cases too many here now.
    If you have a choice to leave and go home i suggest you do that if you dont like our no plan yet stance.
    No im not Caymanian

    • Anonymous says:

      How long do you think this vaccine will take to have a significant effect by enough people being vaccinated ….12 months at best.

      We can’t wait a year!

      • Anonymous says:

        Yes – better to let the virus rip through the population and if lots of people die, they die. At least the rest of us can make money – which is far more important than life. Besides – everybody dies!

        • Anonymous says:

          Why is there so much FOMO for opening the borders?!

          Major countries that have rapidly done so have resulted in their people paying the price of more COVID cases, deaths, intensified draconian lockdowns and social unrest (France, UK, US anyone…) Why are we trying to run in circles, only to end back up at square one? (Or zero for that matter) I am certainly not jealous!

          Most understand the economic consequences, but we also can’t afford to be blind to the obvious either. There can’t be a recovery, if enough people aren’t around to rebuild it. Every country around the world is feeling the pinch, some more than others, and everyone is a member of this special club in history, no matter how some may try to spin it or pretend it’s not happening. The world economy has been barely running on one cylinder for years, the bug just became the one thing that jammed the cogs. Even before the virus, we have bigger fish to fry in Cayman and are in urgent need of plans for those solutions too!!

          Besides when were profits declared the world’s most charitable cause? Make the rich and affluent sweat just like the rest of us are!! If anything it should teach the scrooges of the world to share beyond their tight-knit social circles and give them the opportunity to cleanse from their sins of irrational greed and self-centric lifestyles that won’t save them from any eternal fortitude of suffering. The world of haves and have-nots has done the opposite for way too long and we all have been paying the price in more ways than one!

          Is the current pace of the global rat race really worth it at the end of the day?! Frankly, we all need to re-evaluate what is really important in life, cherish the necessities, and have humility not entitlement when presented with the luxuries. Future generations will ask us what we did and why we did it. I intend to give them reasons to look up not down as most have for generations!!

          We all have to look past our nose and collectively think three moves ahead on this one. Proceed with caution!!!! Might be the last chance to do so. Pandemics and extinction events cause doomsday circumstances hand over fist than any other cause of global destruction or mass exodus.

          No more do-overs, take backs, or safety nets!!

    • scott says:

      we have too many cases because Cayman doesnt test people before they get on the plane. All the Caribbean countries do that at least… same with UK, they require testing.

      The Vaccine is a pipe-dream. It only has to be 50% effective to get approved and you cant vaccinate 200% of the population. It will not protect the local population…BECAUSE very few here will even take it!

    • Anonymous says:

      1. I hope you understand that any potential vaccine will not be out in volume until the spring. Even if it is released in December (which is not yet confirmed) first responders and a limited number of vulnerable people will get it first. The whole point about a vaccine is that enougth people have it to either stop or reduce significantly the rate of infection. This will not occur until at least the summer of 2021.
      2. A covid vaccine is not a silver bullet. It will not stop Covid in everyone and some people will still die from it. It may reduce the severity of the illness in some but it will not stop Covid infecting people and causing deaths.
      3. We have 20 cases here because our government refuses to require pre flight testing and to create a comprehensive screening process which covers travellers coming in at arrival, 5 days and then at 10 days. We could have only 1 to 5 cases if pre flight testing had been introduced.
      4. What the UK lockdown tells us is that they are being responsible and proactive about managing covid. They are not closing schools and colleges. They are not closing construction sites and they are not asking people to work from home unless they can do so. It is nothing like the draconian measures Cayman introduced. There are no curfews and people are being encouraged to create social bubbles and maintain a healthy mental attitude.
      5. The Cayman government is being disengenuous when it makes reference to how bad it is in other jurisdictions. They have made the concious decision to allow any business sector which requires outside investment including tourism and large parts of real estate development to be sacrificed to their cause. While they talk about the positive things they have done they never provide substantive information about the damage to our social fabric that their actions have caused and will cause in the long term. How many jobs have been lost, how many businesses have closed and how much in life savings has been destroyed because they refuse to look at alternatives.

      • Anonymous says:

        The typical response is “lives matter more than jobs”. However we allow so many other harmful and life threatening activities by law. There is a personal responsibility to protect yourself rather than expect government to ensure your safety at the expense of others. Lives matter, and that includes those willing to accept some increased risk of catching a potentially deadly virus so they can feed their family instead of beg for sustenance. Compare that to many that risk killing themselves and others when they get behind the wheel of a car after drinking a lot of alcohol.

      • Anonymous says:

        That was beautifully put. All of Europe has been open for last 4-6 months and the “lockdown” was never as extensive as in here. The effects of lockdowns and severely restricting economic activity has to be balanced.

    • Anonymous says:

      “If you have a choice to leave and go home i suggest you do that if you dont like our no plan yet stance.”

      And you are are not Caymanian? Go home? Our plan? LOL.

      • ANONYMOUS says:

        What an ignorant oaf – you can look up “ oaf “ in a dictionary if you are not sure of the meaning – and of course if you have a dictionary………

      • Anonymous says:

        I am not Caymanian but I still have a home here. So for the moment I am home. I would like to live on an island with a working economy but I may have to go back to my other home in the States to do so. I understand right now many Caymanians still have jobs and money but every day there is less jobs and the money is running out with no refill this year for the CIG welfare program. I am used to planning my future so that I have a good one but it looks to me like Cayman is headed straight and fast to some hard times for whoever is left on island.

    • Anonymous says:

      Very sad that a comment has to be qualified with ‘Caymanian’ or ‘not Caymanian’

      • Anonymous LC says:

        Very sad too, that if you qualify as “not Caymanian”, whatever you write is followed by “don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out”…

      • Anonymous says:

        True, people like that believe all Caymanians are bonehead stupid and that they feel entitled to rob us in broad daylight and demand we should be grateful and Caymankind!! (Like that makes any difference)

        Very, very sad!!

        • Anonymous says:

          Unfortunately a large majority of Caymanians are boneheaded

          The ones that actually are intelligent and diligent use that advantage to rob the rest of the population.

          The problem is not “ex pats” but caymanian predators exploiting the system

  12. Anonymous says:

    18 million people die each year from poverty related deaths. Poverty is not safe.

  13. A Safe Plan to Reopen Cayman says:

    As others have pointed out, we are the only Islands in the Caribbean without a plan. Consensus is building around a common protocol in the Overseas Territories:

    St. Kitts and Nevis Reopening Plan:
    https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/island-vacations/st-kitts-nevis-reopening-coronavirus

    British Virgin Islands Reopening Plan:
    https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/premier-announces-protocols-entering-virgin-islands

    Both plans are almost identical to what has been proposed to the CIG:
    – Pre-arrival test, on arrival test, test again 4-7 days later
    – Contain guests within a resort bubble or what some are calling a “quarantine resort bubble”
    – Staff are able to work in the bubble under strict protocols but do not live in the bubble (similar to how the NBA bubble worked so well)

    Bermuda reopened successfully 4 months ago now and has fewer cases on Island than Cayman (and doesn’t requite a resort bubble).

    It’s also worth pointing out that the resort quarantine bubble is in some ways even safer than the current home isolation protocol:
    – Testing before arrival (now only test on arrival)
    – 24/7 monitoring of properties with cameras/staff
    – Tighter restrictions on leaving property

    There is a safe solution to reopening that the CMOs and Governments of multiple other islands have agreed upon. Let’s reach out to our politicians to let them know we need a plan!

    • Anonymous says:

      They have a plan they just are not saying what it is yet .. duh

    • Anonymous says:

      And that is why you clearly will never be in any form of senior role
      anywhere ever. Thanks for your nonsense . Caymanian or expat, if you don’t like the policy then leave and work elsewhere and let the rest of us get on with a COVID free cayman as we have been

      • Anonymous says:

        I don’t like your policy but I will stay and take over when you have exhausted yourselves on trying to get others to keep you fed and housed by kicking them out and keeping them out. Not to worry. We will take care of Cayman much better than you ever could.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hear Hear!

    • Anonymous says:

      Why can we not follow what Bermuda has don CIG?

    • Hubert says:

      Beyond me why now in November we can not adopt the Bermuda model. The model can work for us too.

    • Anonymous says:

      Those other countries haven’t done that many tests either. They just test sick people and travelers.

  14. Anonymous says:

    We are the ONLY Islands in the Caribbean that does not have an opening plan. Any future tourist will just travel to other places.

    GET A PLAN!

    • Anonymous says:

      ENGLAND GOING INTO ITS SECOND LOCK DOWN DUE TO INCREASE OF COVID 19….but yet we are allowing flights into the cayman islands and no other flights from the US other than cayman airways…

      Doesn’t make any sense

      • Anonymous says:

        It makes perfect sense. In a matter of days, there will be an “outbreak” and Cayman will enter a second even more restrictive lockdown.

        • Anon says:

          3:03…. News Flash!!!
          Cayman hates Americans but allows in British Airways freely with zero restrictions!!! Can some of you out there start running for office and get the current group of arrogant men out of your LA? Things need to change or you all will be another Venezuela!!! Good luck with your crazy ideas, incompetent government bureaucrats and insane ideas of lockdown forever!!

  15. Anonymous says:

    They should announce mandatory Covid screening at departure airports. That is a no-brainer in terms of minimizing the risk health and economic risks to Caymanians and residents. The last thing we need at this stage is to have imported Covid requiring another total shut down.

  16. Anonymous says:

    As we on these Cayman Islands begin to get back to something approaching normal????????

  17. Anonymous says:

    The plan is to continue to watch what other islands do and replicate in Cayman without any consideration to the differences in cultures or economies.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Too little too late my friend. Hotels could not wait till forever and have closed down. All related infrastructure to soon follow. And now your financial goose egg is failing. You have saved the few and sacrificed the rest. Hard times coming to Caymanians in the next few years. Expats still have their skills, money and a homeland with a functional economy. Caymanians have a huge debt that just keeps growing every day and now no way to pay.

    • Anon says:

      They may have to work hard now

    • Anonymous says:

      Pray tell,

      Which countries will our expatriate population return to enjoy their freedom and wealth without fear or concern for their health or well being?

      Surely not America which is on the verge of civil war.
      Surely not the UK which is about to collapse and whose glory days are long gone
      Surely not Jamaica- because for everyone that leaves 10 more are trying to come
      Surely not the Phillipines who depend on remittances and exporting their citizens
      Surely not Canada because…well Cayman is better eh?

      Stop the scare mongering. It is highly unlikely that Cayman will be alone in suffering. The entire world is headed for a serious financial crisis. Opening up for mass tourism will only make our situation worse.

  19. Disorder of Cayman says:

    The plan is to get a knighthood for Alden. That is the plan.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not happening. If he wanted a knighthood, he shouldn’t have revived the ‘Order of the Cayman Islands’. That’s the best any Caymanian will get from now on, but the UK will continue to honour its own citizens and members of Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Government with its real honours.

  20. Jaz says:

    Well our economy is taking a huge hit. We need to have a plan not good to be in lock down for the foreseeable future.

  21. DB says:

    What’s that old saying…”Same song, second verse.” Well this one is “Same song….100th verse.” No news, no plan, just recognizing how much good they have done during this pandemic. At some point the Premier is going to break his arm patting himself on the back.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Guided by the hysteria

  23. Anonymous says:

    The US has had a little more than 90,000 infected with COVID according to their numbers with a population of over 328,200,000 people in 2019. That is a rate of .000274 of the population. I wonder how many people have ruined their financial lives, addicted, depressed or have long term anxiety as a result of all the shut down. COVID is real but at some point you can’t ruin the mental health of people and the financial health of your society because of this. Vaccine efficacy for the flu is between 40-60% so the vaccine isn’t going to resolve this long term either. Surely you can figure out a shorter period of self isolation than 14-17 days with geofencing, contact tracing, temperature checks etc to open up the Islands somewhat that you are not ruining peoples lives.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Could someone explain to me why caymanians on these threads continuously claim that having tourism closed will ‘ruin’ the economy, whilst also aggressively criticizing the offshore financial services employed expat community and vigorously opposing developments like Fin, or that pre development planning bar thing by Sandbar, or the owners of trafalgar and the old couts building applying for a re-zone yesterday… etc etc…

    Tourism is about 8 to 20% of caymans gdp over the last 20 years… the economy is not ruined in terms of government revenue. Don’t confuse gdp contribution with number of people employed by that industry. The offshore finance industry employs less but pays for much more and is booming ironically thanks to the EU making us have a new fund law.

    I get confused when people contest things like the trafalgar place potential development article yesterday, proposed from someone who created CUC, has maintained caymanian jobs owning west shore, galleria plaza, marquee plaza etc through Ivan, the 2008 recession and COVID (and gave you your first cinema here)…

    I get confused when people criticise law and accounting firms for taking caymanian jobs when in reality they train caymanians and invest millions to help them potentially have those jobs in the future…

    Cruise tourism is gone, it’s 10 per cent of gdp. Time to start trying to be good enough to excel and get to the top in the 5 star condo and offshore finance worlds. It starts by stopping feeling victimized.

    • Anon says:

      True tourism WAS minor to financial industry in contribution to gdp, however, over the last 5-6 yrs tourism has greatly surpassed the financial industry.

    • Anonymous says:

      Many different threads here to unravel.
      Various GDP figures have been quoted for tourism and I suppose it depends on what the definition of tourism is. As an example if 95% of seven mile beach condo’s are owned by non Caymanians, then how much of the real estate construction / development / sales area is part of tourism? How much do visitors contribute to all service industries here including both the obvious ones like restaurants and the less obvious ones like importers of food products which supply the restaurants or cleaning companies that clean them? What happens when you extrapolate this across all support services?
      I have worked in tourism for over 20 years and what I do know is that when people are on vacation they spend a lot more than if they were at home. I think that we would find this is also true of tourists coming here vs. Caymanians and residents who live here. The overall spend by tourists per head will far exceed the local market.
      The other issue you bring up is the difference between sustainable development and excessive development. You only have to look at the Fin development and how it, literally, pushes the boundaries of the site it sits on to see why so many people are up in arms about it.
      I don’t think this is an anti tourism thing by Caymanians or anyone else. I think it is an anti excessive development thing that is not going to change.
      Historically Cayman has not had a good track record of managing things like tourism well. It is ironic that people think that the government has “managed” covid well when all the government has done is close the island down. If there is one thing that government needs to start doing better is understanding its new role, post covid, is working with the private sector better across industries but especially tourism and development.

    • Anonymous says:

      The US just had 100,000 PER DAY!
      Blows a hole in your theory.

      • Anonymous says:

        Hello 9:10! Spoken like a true government employee that is getting raises every month. This is all borrowed money from banks. This cannot continue. Go ahead and keep telling yourself how wonderful Cayman is. Go ahead back slapping and giving each other pieces of worthless plastic awards made in China.
        Cayman is not sustainable. Get a grip and get your people back to work.

    • Anonymous says:

      Unfortunately you have not experienced nor is it possible for you to experience being qualified and experienced but not getting the job because being Caymanian means that you’re not friends with the right people.

  25. Anonymous says:

    It’s quite simple if you don’t want to create your own plan. Go out to one of the other islands who have been having success for months now and copy their plans. It’s really not that difficult. Bermuda, St. Lucia, Barbados, just to name a few.

  26. SKEPTICAL says:

    How can we open up to travelers from the US until we are certain they have the pandemic completely under control., or of course there is a proven effective vaccine which people can show they have received.
    As long as we have to quarantine arriving visitors there will be virtually no tourists – who wants to spend 10 or 14 days locked in a hotel as a holiday, and the average stay over US tourist probably only comes for a week at most, so no point in coming anyway.

    • Anonymous says:

      Easy pre-test, test on arrival, test at 5 days so on….Bermuda has done it!

    • Anonymous says:

      Although numbers are high in the US, I have been teaching in person classes since July ( summer program and now fall session) and not one COVID case in our school. We are in a red zone. We all wear masks, social distance, wash hands. It is not an issue, but something that we built into our schedule.

      I would be very comfortable traveling with my family as i know how to wear a mask, social distance and wash hands. I would not quarantine on a holiday. I am not afraid of Covid, but do respect the protocols one must take to remain healthy (masks and social distance)

  27. I just want the best for Cayman says:

    What a full blown complete and absolute idiot you are 4.49

  28. Sherri says:

    What a bunch of ungrateful people.

    You should be on your knees thanking the Government for keeping you safe.

    This is just like the travellers complaining that it took to look to get permission to come home and then testing positive on arrival.

    Shame on you

  29. Anonymous says:

    No Plan Alden in full swing.
    When they are pushing older persons month and honoray medals for people you know they are scraping the bottom of the barrel with things to keep us distracted.
    The only plan they have ever had is to keep delaying until they have to make a decision and nothing and no one has forced them to do that, yet.
    Moses had a plan for reopening to visitors which was actually more strict that Bermuda’s but Alden killed it because it had some risk. Bermuda has made it work without any quarantine once you test negative 8 days apart.
    Cayman could have done the same type of thing and started at a pre flight test and 10 days quarantine, reducing it over time when they could verify it worked, but they can’t bring themselves to do anything other than delay and wait it out.
    Sadly Covid will win. It isnt going anywhere and Alden as much as admitted this today. They never have cared about the economic pain they have created and will continue to inflict on us. Why should they? It isn’t their money.

  30. Anonymous says:

    We can’t move faster than the rest of the planet, and almost all other jurisdictions are struggling with containment efforts in a crescendoing second wave. We should be glad with our prior efforts and current oasis of normalcy. There’ll be lots of time to mull and discuss next steps. It will likely fall to the next regime, and hopefully a continuation of CMO Dr Lee helming the response policy. Everyone else still has to figure out what the few success stories have done and catch up.

  31. Do you really think says:

    Either of them have a clue?

    • Anonymous says:

      5:45 I pity you. Our Premier and DG are our heroes. Stop being so jealousy.

      Try and learn from them.

    • Anonymous says:

      The Priemer did and is still doing a very good job of keeping us safe, no doubt about that

    • Anonymous says:

      The Government has a plan and it is simple enough for CNS posters to understand.

      The plan is centered around one basic principle – keep caymanian and residents safe. The plan is working perfectly.

      Kudos to all.

    • Anonymous says:

      You got a crystal ball that tells you exactly what will happen and when…?
      Govt have done their best to protect us and will balance future needs as the Covid situation eases.

  32. Anonymous says:

    Well the only real options are give into the business interests and reopen the Island to tourists right before an election
    which will cause dozens of deaths (most likely of older Caymanians)

    or

    Remain as is with limited travel

    Call my crazy but the only reason tourists are not currently being allowed in is because the PPM wants to win the 2021 election as soon as that hurdle is passed and they secure seats for 4 more years they will likely reverse their policies and give in to business interests

    • Anonymous says:

      You hit right on the nail. That’s exactly what’s governments doing and caymanians fail to realize that.

    • Anonymous says:

      it will NOT “cause dozens of deaths (most likely of older Caymanians)

      Older Caymanians are probably the healthiest people on this rock. They were conceived and grew up before industrial revolution which brought unprecedented pollution; they don’t sit infront of blue screens 24×7 but spend lots of time outdoors under sunshine.

      So stop the nonsense. Don’t compare Caymanian’ elderly to those living in care homes in Oregon under artificial lights, intensively vaccinated, eating jello from the box.

    • Anonymous says:

      Why will it cause dozens of deaths?? Other places have opened safely, so could we!

  33. Anonymous says:

    Destroying the Cayman economy, ans the lives of thousands of people, and taking away basic rights and freedoms, all because of a virus with a 0.02% death rate that the WHO says has infected up to 10% of the global population ready. I challenge anyone who works in government to donate their salary to those who lost their businesses and jobs from government lockdown.

    • Anon says:

      How destroying the economy? Look around… tourism and especially cruise tourism is 10 per cent maximum of the economy

      • Anonymous says:

        Tourism is much higher than 10% of the economy, and money spent in tourism sector helps poorer people much more than the handful of rich lawyers.

        • Anonymous says:

          Tourism also has the trickle down effect. It also helps the rental cars, the restaurants, the bars, the shops, the gas station, the taxi drivers and on and on.

  34. Anonymous says:

    Why would there be a next step the Virus is raging all around us.

    Thank you Premier and DG for keeping Cayman safe.

    • Frustrated caymanian says:

      Go read cayman compass. Government acknowledges that they are aware that COVID is all around us but it’s not best for our economy to stay closed.

    • Anonymous says:

      There you go, talking out your wrong end again. At least you won’t have to wipe the brown from around your mouth.

  35. Anonymous says:

    All these months and they still do not have a plan. I get it, they aren’t Ms. Cleo so it’s hard to predict the future but some kind of game plan even if it’s plan A,B and C would be helpful. I guess the Premier and Cabinet are waiting until election when it’s no longer their responsibility and the island has gone beyond broke, locals continue to lose their businesses, homes, Investors losing income every month we are closed on their investments, companies deciding whether to keep open or not. As the a famous saying goes “come on man” think, act, plan and get it going. At least have something to say for the new year we all know we aren’t opening for the rest of the year and January but at least give people hope that by Feb something is going to happen.

    • Anonymous says:

      If they were going to have a plan they would have had it by now. They keep blaming the virus. It sounds more and more hollow, every time he opens his mouth now. “No Miss, I don’t have my homework because my dog ate it!” It is getting that absurd.
      Almost every other Caribbean country has a plan and are working towards it. We have nothing apart from “let’s all hold on tight and pray!”
      I say it again – hope is not a strategy.
      We are now moving from the government being cautious to negligent with how it is managing the economic fallout from Covid. Many other jurisdictions have shown there are alternatives to the 14 day quarantine Cayman has enacted. The more they make it work the more negligent the government is in not considering and enacting alternatives.

    • DLF says:

      4:46 you are on point. Plan A, B, C, etc would at least be something. It is very difficult to understand why our leaders can’t or won’t come up with a plan to restore tourism. Yes, it will come with risks, but staying closed also comes with great risk. If by this time next year the borders remain closed to all but a few, it is frightening to think how many businesses will close forever. The government can’t continue to go into debt, the money will have to be recouped, and where will that money come from? Direct taxation, higher stamp duty on property purchases, higher permit fees…the list is long and depressing. I know many will disagree but continuing to stay closed is not going to bode well for the future of these islands.

  36. Anonymous says:

    If Australia and New Zealand can do it with relatively large populations, minimal deaths & falling infection rates, why is fear driving Cayman ?

  37. Anonymous says:

    The private sector cannot face any more of your waste. If you want to work with it you will have to bring efficiencies and automation to the provision of government services. Half the civil service can and should be doing other things

  38. Anonymous says:

    They’ve only had 6 months to plan, give em a break…

    • Anon says:

      The best thing about COVID hopefully will be realizing that the cayman government is so inefficient and should halve its work force and become automated and electronic like all modern respectful countries and cayman can then modernize and not have so many caymanians being poorly educated and doing terrible unnecessary service jobs. Let COVID be a wake up call…. the government employed departments have worse service than third world African countries and should cut CI GOV employment positions by 50% to save money. These caymanian employees could retrain and do the bar and housekeeping hotel jobs that many Indians and Central Americans did but now left on evacuation flights and increase caymanian employment levels. .

      • Anonymous says:

        7 55 You need to know that the CI Government is borrowing money from banks to keep their incest like employment going. They could care less about a budget. If they did they would get Cayman Airways and travel all done by other carriers. They and other bloated groups are all government subsidized. It is all a sinking ship. Cayman is sinking deeper and deeper into debt.

  39. Anonymous says:

    classic no-news update from no-plan-alden and the do-nothing-ppm.

  40. Anonymous says:

    Maybe this time Alden should focus on prosperity for Caymanians..the focus on the success of Caymanians has not been the focus of politicians since the early 80’s.

    Politicians in Cayman need to ensure their prosperity, success and ego are fulfilled before any other Caymanian is even considered.

    I can’t wait to hear about all the promises about jobs for Caymanians as elections rolls in again..Looks like the Election year road construction and repaving is in full swing..

    • Anonymous says:

      Prosperity is made with hard work, discipline, and skill over time. There was never a time when Caymanians could do this. All those millions all those years was spent on just keeping Caymanian voters fed and sheltered. Nothing was spent of ensuring a future(like a real education). Everything CIG was only a welfare scheme that will soon run out of money. How will the the pets get fed now?

  41. Anonymous says:

    Because he does not have a clue what to do next unless dictated to by Dr Lee and/or the Governor.

    • Anonymous says:

      But we know that. And this is why KY needs independence. Before such a thing, a full audit should be taken of all politicians and crown representatives; all perpetrators that have exorbitantly enriched themselves during their tenure should go to prison. No ifs and buts.
      We will be ditching the fake UK democracy that favours freemasons.

      • Anonymous says:

        FREEEEEEEDUMMMMBBBBBB!!

      • Anonymous says:

        Shut up! Bout indepemdence.

      • Anonymous says:

        You’d better take the next flight to Jamaica then so you can get acclimated. And if you didn’t know the lodge in Cayman is a branch of the Jamaican lodge, and that’s not about to change, independence or not. Either way just stay in Jamaica, you’ll feel right at home.

      • Anonymous says:

        We know our Premier is clueless, and that is a good reason to go independent and put him in complete control? Come again?

    • Anonymous says:

      Dr. Lee, the Governor, Mac, the Brotherhood, etc, etc.

    • Anonymous says:

      3:52 an. If Dr Lee and the governor was smart, they would make sure everyone was tested for c-virus 3 hours before being able to board a flight to Cayman, think, if they was smart and cared about Cayman

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