TV crew to get quarantine ‘pass’
(CNS): Government officials have confirmed that a TV crew will be arriving in Cayman this weekend to scout potential locations for a reality show and that the four individuals are getting a pass on quarantine. The crew is arriving from the US on a private aircraft and will be staying at an approved isolation facility, but they will be allowed out to scout potential film locations, a move that is certain to be controversial.
A press release issued Friday by the premier’s Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs (MITIAMA), after the crew had departed from the United States, said they had been tested for COVID-19 before they left and would be tested again on arrival in Grand Cayman.
During the weekend stay they will be housed in government approved accommodation and all members of the crew will require a negative result from their PCR test on arrival to carry out their work as planned. If the tests are negative, all four will be allowed to visit a number of unspecified locations.
“While inbound travel remains restricted, government has granted exceptions to mandatory quarantine in order that we accommodate professionals and engineers whose services were essential to maintain critical infrastructure,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee.
Although this is clearly not a critical infrastructure mission, the CMO justified waiving the very strict quarantine protocols applied to everyone else. “This is one of many efforts being undertaken by government in a sustained effort to promote economic recovery as vaccine availability widens and Cayman’s economy returns to normal.”
Dr Lee, who has approved the logistics for the trip, said stringent protocols had been put in place to safeguard the public. The crew will be managed jointly by the Department of Environmental Health (DEH), MITIAMA and Travel Cayman.
During the two-day visit, which starts today, the crew will visit a limited number of outdoor locations during the day and will view a set of unoccupied vacation residences, all on an agreed itinerary.
The four individuals will travel together in their own rental car; they will be escorted by representatives from DEH and MITIAMA along with private security personnel, all travelling in separate vehicles.
The scouting crew members will not be allowed to interact with members of the public, nor will they patronise any public or private establishment. They will be in isolation in their accommodation during the times that they are not being escorted on their scouting trip on Friday and Saturday, and will depart early Sunday morning.
CNS has asked for more details about the proposed show and we are awaiting a response.
Category: Local News, Media
John Lee left to his own devices is dangerous!
Firstly, he suggests a 5 day quarantine (thank you to Public Health England for using actual scientific facts to guide us) – this was pushed to the 14 day quarantine as it should be.
His 2nd ridiculous suggestion- bio-buttons! A tool to detect symptoms of a virus where 75% of people are asymptomatic. What a waste of money!
Public Health England guided all the decisions that he is being praised for.
He is XXXX. With an OBE to boot.
Perhaps, we should look to our leaders and demand better.
Reading out daily COVID stats doesn’t earn you a gold star in my book. XXXX
John Lee you should be ashamed letting a film crew in. XXXX
Protect our beautiful islands and local businesses from XXXX poor decisions like this.
Govt officials child escapes from home quarantine that is the only reality show we facing and government can’t explain why and how and who is paying for this whole fiasco!Just another one of Moses hair brain ideas To make him rich and show case his talents to Hollywood here is and idea put our resident Covid 19 spreader and escape quarantine artist in Crystal Harbour 3 security gate community and see how quick police respond now that’s a reality show I will watch for sure the Snobs will have field day trying to get of their crap holes.
Please don’t mention that disappointment Moses. Every time I hear his name, my heart sinks into a gaping hole of unreconcileable oblivion.
I wonder what the real Moses thinks? Oh yes. He never existed and our faith is just an illusion.
One step closer to the truth every day. Prepare.
So why can’t the rest of us walk/ street exercise while in quarantine? We can do this avoiding people just like this bunch 😠
I expected better from Dr. Lee. When did he switch from being concerned about our healthy and safety to allowing a film crew to come to possible ruin not help our economy? did Alden or Moses twist his arm or offer him a piece of their cut.
Why is it that for this government the love of money always overtakes reason and common sense?
Lee is not who you think he is.
Research the 7/7 bombings in London.
He and Roper are peas in a pod.
So if a negative test before flying and another on arrival is sufficient for this group to move around…..why are they talking the rubbish of the rest of us having to test on day 5, 10 and 15 in addition to these two tests. Stupid!
These people should be made to use local workforce for any filming as a condition precedent. There are many people struggling financially.
Let’s hope it actually is a true ‘reality’ show and not just something that focuses on how the pretentious snobs in Crystal Harbour live and them then moaning a loaf of bread costs $4.69.
Not seen the crew in Prospect yet where the reality is crime is up, abandoned vehicles up, garbage tipping up, no lighting, no sidewalks, no drainage, no road upkeep and so on.
I was reliably informed that this application “slipped through” “Dr.” Tahsa’s process.
I wonder how that happened?
2.59am How did someone escape quarantine for a second time after being subjected to Dr Tasha’s “24 hour security?.
What a pile of crap! So ordinary people have to quarantine at their own expense and in some cases use up the last of their vacation time and meanwhile this bunch get a pass? The CIG have to be the most incompetent bunch on the planet. Every time you think they can’t get any more stupid, they pull another cracker out of the bag. Words fail me.
And penalty clauses for the dipshitz who allowed it!
Just what we need! A reality show that makes us look stupid and turns the world against us. We are still living with the legacy of The Firm 30 years later. I’m worried that this reality show will cause our beautiful island harm too.
I was reading today corona news in one of the US states. The headline says: 18 dead and 533 positive. I thought that is too many because 3-5 per week was kind of steady. The explanation was in the article “… five of the 18 deaths to be recent and 13 deaths were discovered over the past several months… from death certificate reviews over the past several months”
Why media is doing that? Why intentionally twist the headline? People need positive headlines and stories, human mind can’t handle so much tragedy, especially children.
CNS: I found the article. It’s here. Seems like an accurate headline. The idea that news organisations should avoid reporting bad news so it doesn’t upset the children is an interesting one. In the US, health authorities are struggling to convince a large swathe of the population that Covid is real so that they will actually take precautions.
The problem is that deaths “found” by later review and reported with and as current numbers distort and mislead the public about the true current situation, leading to more distrust of legitimate efforts to control the virus. When deaths are reported after the fact, the number from that day should be adjusted to reflect reality.
From a govenment who started so brilliantly with covid restrictions they surely have gone to the dogs now
Typical
Just couldnt hold out as usual
Mess
Shut this bullshit down Cayman we got govt officials and their spoil children breaching quarantine now we bringing idiots here to do the same . How much are we going to put up with Moses Fandango crap this man needs to be jailed for endangering the lives of Cayman citizens!
We don’t want them here.
To say this is “not a critical infrastructure mission” is the understatement of the decade. Why on earth do they need this special treatment, and who is paying for the Donald Trump motorcade touring this island?. I suppose at least it will allow umpteen staffers from DEH and MITIAMA to go on a 4 day jolly with their visitors,stopping at a selection of bars and restaurants on their way.
Let’ face it……. We have lousy government! I expect this means a little “something” for them.
I bet that if this mission is successful and in a few month a film crew is in Cayman. The negative posters will be cramming to get on the set.
This is exactly the kind of thinking we need from CIG.
We asked them to look at innovative ways to improve the economy. This is it folks.
6.20pm A couple of taxi drivers and half a dozen local extras will improve our economy?. We have lost millions during Covid.
I can’t believe all of the negative posters.
We have trusted public health for 9 mths now. Why the sudden change?
I hope to see the full film crew in Cayman in a few months.
I am really not bothered about crew filming/scouting here..
What makes my blood boil is that I haven’t seen my family for 2 years and if I did manage to take a trip this summer(I don’t have 10000 dollars spare for BA flights unfortunately) I would still have to quarantine for 10 days although myself and my whole family are double vaccinated.
In the meantime every Tom,Dick and Harry seem to be able to come over and don’t even have to quarantine.
We have DONE everything CIG has asked of us since last March 2020 yet the sensible reopening “carrot” keeps moving and we can’t catch a break…
I can’t be the only one that feels this is so insulting!!
I’ve spent $12000 on quarantine, where do I apply for a refund?
I hope they check the Dump site, great location for the next Survivor season.
LOL
My first time in Cayman when I saw that Dump, I was like: How a place like Cayman has a dump??????? Still no solution for its garbage???
Now I am like: It seems Cayman deserves it. Year after year, caymanians (and tourists when they were around) are being treated with zero attention from government, and you don’t see any protest, no popular movement against it. it’s all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The Dump view from Camana Bay is priceless and the bad smell……. ughhhhhh. Big shoutout to Lakeside condos people. Hope you have health insurance to treat all the diseases about to come.
They prefer to treat cancers and have fundraisers for it and other diseases including congenital than PROTEST. Everyone is intimidated here. Some are afraid to lose jobs, others work permits and STATUS! Mind boggling they don’t understand that they’ll get more than status. Children attend a school at the foot of the Dump. And all inspections say it is safe. The soot alone, from the latest mega fire, is slowly but surely already destroying health. So yes, I agree, Cayman deserves it.
You know I really want to give Alden and Co. credit for their handling of the Covid situation. But every time you think job well done, they have to do something silly. This is beyond silly. Plain recklessness. Someone is pulling a fast one and they have fallen for it.
Hah! They fall for anything……… if it means more cash for themselves.
No exceptions, CIG.
Can I sue them if any of them infect us? Really who benefits from this? Show me the money trail! I want to be able to hold them liable. It went pear shaped in Australia with just a few breaches. Not cool. Not acceptable at all. So back door money over safety. Sickening!
First, You’ll have to proof that they infected ( practically impossible) you and you have suffered damages.
Personal injury lawsuits are civil cases brought by one individual against another person or business. These damages include:
Loss of earnings or loss of future earnings
Medical bills
Cost of future medical care
Household expenses, because the injured party was not able to care for the house (not able to do the cleaning or make repairs, for example) and
Costs associated with canceled trips or altered plans.
The same goes with the Dump. It causes cancer, neurological condition, birth defects, congenital abnormalities, yet, it is nearly impossible to proof. That is why CIG is not bothered by the Dump. But individually, sooner or later, each of them WILL suffer from the Dump’s toxicity consequences- either personally or through family members.
Ana are you okay? Money trail!!! Do you really think like this?
Poor you.
Please get some rest and be great full you live in paradise.
Nothing to worry about as they will be wearing mask and they are escort by security. Government will send them the bill for hotel and security.
I commend CIG for this decision. We need this type of flexibility in order for Cayman to flourish in March.
Kudos to all.
March?!?
Bullshit! With friends like you, who needs enemies?
I hope they do. Ticking timebomb though, so penalty clause in the agreement please in case us sitting ducks end up with Covid-19 again because they got to flout the rules.
And penalty clauses for the dipshitz who allowed it!
Disgusting!
Ana. I bet you will be the first person on the movie set in March.
We already have our own reality show starring 17 MPs who dont have a backbone.😡😡
Pityful, isn’t it!
Is that how an Englishman spells pitiful?
Yes! And we turn plates upside down before loading it with food. Try! Great for loosing weight!
If you have enough money, anything is possible in christian gullable cayman.
You mean Christian Buy-offable Cayman.
How sad.
Not the first time the International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs have issued and exemption for some BS essential service. During the lockdown they gave an exemption for a wedding to take place in a multi strata property…..Not sure how any of these are essential.
5.04pm Welcome to the Ministry of International Trade and Reality Shows, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, a multi-faceted department with multi-fatuous decision making.
And don’t forget all the UK military that were allowed to come here on BA and move about among us, all approved by the Governor and John Lee.
We have been lucky so far but trust me Alden and Moses hands are now becoming sweaty for some coin. More of this to come.
A reality show? Seriously? Will it get real about some of the long out of date supposedly Christian or bible based attitudes here?
Sounds like a sound plan to me. Clearly Cayman is going need all of the big spending and promotion such a film show in Cayman will generate.
…sarcasm people!
It doesn’t sound good to me! It sounds like our “Government Officials” want some extra money to fatten their bank accounts!
Don’t they always?
Just like in Barbados and Bermuda. Tested before they left the U.S. and tested again on arrival.
This is the way it should be for all tourists coming here now.
Nothing to see here!! Shame on the compass for the alarmingly tweet
Are you sure it wasn’t The Marl Road?
They had 40 new cases in Bermuda over the weekend.
Bachelor
.. ette
This is some stupid and reckless shit by Government. So, some snake-oil salesmen can pay whatever to avoid national laws which protect our residents, stick around a few days in multiple locations with the potential of bringing and spreading the virus?? Reality show?? You mean like the mindless Kardashian crap??!!
Does stupidity and greed never end in Cayman??!! CIG, please reverse this decision asap!!
Doesn’t matter but curiously, where are they arriving from?
2:11 are you okay? Did you read the safety precautions?
Please get some rest this weekend
“Are you Okay?” what are you hoping to accomplish by asking this irritating and patronizing question?
You might mean well, but other people aren’t always going to view it that way.
So please, stop asking people if they’re Okay, unless you are their mother.
Spot on! It’s such a passively aggressively hostile move.
Do they have work permits? Who is their locally licensed employer?
CNS: Business Visitors’ Permits
Even Business Visitor’s Permits need a locally licensed employer, don’t they? And are they not only available for multiple visits in a calendar year?
Employed by MITIAMA, possibly – so exempt?
Then not Business Visitor’s Permits.
Yes, a local licensed employer is required. BVP’s are for two visits or more in the year. Otherwise it should be a Temporary Work Permit I believe.
Nothing new. I work at the airport and when BA first started coming in here after the lock down there were quite a few UK military that came and went without quarantining.
Community spread is just a matter of time with all the breaching that is happening. We only know of the ones that got caught. 40 hours of community service is not much of a deterrent or punishment for that matter.
Thanks for info. Anybody sick in hospital as a result?
60,000 locked down
You wish
Mhmm now all you sheep are awake. Your government doesn’t really care about your well-being like you think they do. This is all about MONEY. Thousands of people who haven’t seen their husbands, kids, grandparents, parents etc in a whole year or more and these people get to come to the cayman island and get a “quarantine pass” just because they’re part of a reality tv production crew !. This is some bs
Sad, sad, sad. Our leaders are stupid…………………………. and GREEDY!
What a load of bollocks! There’s always different rules for Hollywood.
Money talks in Hollywood and Cayman.
What reality show? About what? Hopefully nothing trashing Cayman as usual.
Don’t worry, Tara will have told them that’s not allowed.
We are a reality show!
Bachelorettes In Offshore Paradise. A new show coming next year.
Homophobic politician’s and hipochristian’s paradise you mean
If they come upon trash while they’re here they have every right in the world to air it. That’s the reality, suck it up or eradicate the trash.
The best place to get trash is at the dump! No limit. either!
Is this a JOKE!
This government is going to require a COVID vaccine and 4 tests in March to enter and they are letting people in for this.
I’m coming in March and will do what I want now they can stick it!
Good luck with that…up to 2 years in jail, & $10,000 fine if you get caught “doing what you want” without approval. Don’t think you will get through customs in the airport unless you meet the criteria, though, so if getting right back on the plane is “doing what you want,” then I guess you will be.
Guessing my passport give me the right no problem to come home!
When I have the Vaccine and fly back I will do as I please I tell you that!
Yes, along with the 4 tests required. You’ll do as you please after completing the required testing.
1) I come in with the vaccine
2) I socialise all day as I please as I test negative on arrival
3) I sleep where I want and spend time where I want every night
How will they know where I am and what I am doing OR are you saying that are going to make us wear tracking bands even when we have had the vaccine?
If so that is NOT open and no tourism will return. If not AGAIN I will do what I want and there is no way to know what I am doing!
If they follow the guidelines I really do think it will be fine, We are going to have to come up with these type of plans if we are expecting the islands and we the people to survive. Money really does not grow on trees. Please nosey people,m when you see them on location do not stop to yap, toot your horns and keep moving.
Just how is this going to help us Caymanians? If you want to see a reality show, turn on the TV when the Parliament is in session.. They can lives stream that if they want..
Disrespectful A-hole
Shame
Sounds good!