Minister makes sombre video about return of tourism
(CNS): As government increasingly hints that quarantine will be lifted in November for securely verified vaccinated travellers, in preparation for a full reopening of the borders, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has appeared in a sombre video delivering a message urging people to prepare for living with COVID-19 because the “borders can’t stay closed for ever”.
Bryan said the community has to have a discussion about reopening the borders to re-start the tourism industry and re-engage with the rest of the world. He said it was legitimate for people to be scared and anxious but that COVID was not going away and there are ways of “sharing our space with this virus”.
Talking about preparing for reopening “when there is an invisible threat that scares us”, he urged people to keep their bodies healthy and immune system strong as well as getting vaccinated.
A summary of the short message presented in the dark, gloomy, rather dramatic video and solemn background music appeared to be: we know you are worried but we are going to open; it will be fine, so get ready.
Government has not yet stated when it will now move into Phase 4 of the reopening plan, but it appears that the pause on the gradual lifting of quarantine measures will no longer continue until the year-end.
No press conference was held this week on government’s current position on the reopening plan but Parliament will be sitting Monday to steer through the introduction of mandatory vaccinations for work permit holders and the issue is likely to be discussed during the debate.
CNS has contacted the opposition to find out if they are supporting the amendments to the relevant laws to require permit holders to be vaccinated and we are awaiting a response from the PPM Leader Roy McTaggart.
However, his predecessor, Alden McLaughlin, who was a staunch advocate for the vaccine and getting as many people as possible to take the shots when he was in office, has been posting in social media chat groups that the laws being brought by the government may fall foul of the Constitution.
There is also some backlash in the community by people advocating for choice, despite the public health implications, and a demonstration is expected outside Government House, the governor’s residence, on Saturday.
See the minister’s video message below:
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Health, Medical Health, Politics
I went to the pharmacist today and asked the assistant “what kills the Corona Virus?”
She replied to me “Ammonia Cleaner”
I said “Oh, I am sorry, I thought you worked here”
GTC voters are as sure as hell NOT the sharpest tool in the shed, that’s 100 % true.
Can we trade this fool for a couple of magic beans or maybe a breadfruit or two?
I you think this is somber see how everyone feels about the next video when they say they are cutting the stipend and rolling back civil service headcount 10%. A closed Cayman is going broke slowly at first, and now quickly. We need to open up before the supermarkets and liquor stores start closing.
But first we have Kenneth’s big party at Pedro castle for all the Port workers .
Having given us his silly COVID video, he is cramming a couple of hundred or more people in a “please like me” party spending money we don’t have.
Wayne control this egomaniac.
It’s not though. 4000 furloughed tourism industry not selling shot glasses, perfume, wrist watches (!), or dangerously packed stingray city boats. In absolute GDP terms, the maximum impact is <25% of the economy. If CIG is going broke, it's due to other mistakes, not a temporary emergency hiatus of full tourism (which doesn't necessarily switch back on even if you flip the lever now).
12:37
Oh please. That doesn’t even make sense. You must count more than just tourism workers toward their value to the economy. If ‘you’ keep this up, Cayman will learn soon enough exactly what value tourism is to this country.
Full speed ahead to 1959.
Don’t think so.
Does Kenneth really think we chose him to be our Minister of Tourism?!? Buddy, remember you and your PACT peers self-appointed you to that role. You were elevated by the tiny constituency you ran in and the average voter would not have voted for you much less to be a minister.
Kenneth Bryan you need to take heed of what Bermuda is going through…begging assistance from other countries due to the out break don’t choose money over your own people I know you don’t care until your loved ones are dead due to you decision
Comment is so misinformed that it is embarrassing
Why don’t you hide in your house and let the rest of us live? Are you one of those collecting stipend for doing nothing or working from home with full pay?
It appears that, despite KB admitted his faults previously, not everyone one seems acknowledges this.
Also, while the PACT has issues, the PPM caused more unapologetic tragedy, hardship and oppression, which not all seem to acknowledge.
We need to pray for all MPs and each other. We need to work together and build each other up, not tear each other down.
God bless all MPs, on both sides of the aisle.
Could we have a referendum on the question of whether the Caymanian people want to hold new elections ? That is the only recall option that the Constitution seems to contain!
Simple question “do you want to hold general elections on a specific date?”
If you want it, go ahead and do the work to get a People’s Initiated Referendum going.
Gov Taylor should come back and fix Nac and UDP like he did before.
MAC
The PPM (and Speaker) have stated their political stance is that they want the border to stay entirely closed, and ostrich Cayman from the world. Roy prefers to encourage unvaccinated to stay that way, and defends their freedom to be casualties. At least the PACT regime have ordered booster shots and will get those into arms before a Nov/Dec soft-reopen. Hopefully HSA will ramp up as well. I can wait a month or two, considering we’ll be reopening into the indoor winter months of North America/Europe’s delta fifth wave. Seems sensible.
Someone should ask the Tourism Minister when will he be traveling to the US promote Caymans tourism product???
Yes when is he going?
What o you bet his criminal record has been expunged?
true, it probably is now, it’s been long enough for it to be and NO it’s not because he’s in gov. All Caymanians are entitled to this if they have kept out of trouble.
11:26 am, it depends on what the record are about. Drugs are serious and takes extra time to be to be pardoned.
His opening comment implies “we” selected him as The Minister of Tourism. He should be reminded – “we” didn’t. Also if the music were louder and we couldn’t hear him, this video would be much better.
Lol…good one
Omg, this is like a trailer for a disaster movie! I don’t think you need to worry about tourists coming any more when they’re apparently going to be greeted by this apocalyptic vision of doom.
Why do these snakes recurrently misrepresent that we voted them to hold ministerial positions? Wish we could actually vote on that.
If Cayman decided that natural immunity was suffcient for access to the common needs of a running society, that would set a precedent and tourist would flock to a harrasment free environment…the only issue is can Cayman handle that demand shock?
No. Not with this kind of third world culture. Ignorance and hate over intelligence and kindness. Not gonna change.
He is the biggest joke of a minister and a perfect disgrace to the pact government. He lied about the stipend lied about the opening up what’s next . This island is on a sinking ship , they are giving jobs left right & center to foreigners even the government which is the biggest bureaucracy and facade in this country . You go for interviews they don’t reply to you and they run you around only to give the job to foreigners , this is disgusting but four years will go fast and they will come looking for votes , but be smart people they have not even delivered on one of their promises .
“He is the biggest joke of a minister”
NO, that’s an outrageous statement.
It is a highly competitive field, as the CIG press conferences demonstrate amply.
Clown
The U.S. is opening up its borders to Int’l Travel next month, and people aren’t interested in political posturing until the Cayman Government can decide on what to do next with the country & its people.
‘Travel Time’ need to be fully staff for fully vaccinated travellers who are ready to break from these islands for the Christmas Holidays to shop, relax, & embrace family time, while the Cayman Goverment figure-out how to put its “virus fear” to rest and think about all the other pressing matters pending or approaching a critical point.
Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinnations.
Pretty clear that by Christmas we will have no quarantine or negative test requirements for returning vaccinated travelers I think (and hope). This madness can’t last more than a few more months. There will be four full BA flights a week in November December and January full with cayman residents who deserve a quarantine free break to Europe over Christmas,
I’d be dancing a Jig if I could get back to 12 mile bank to catch a tuna or mahi without having to go thru the beauracracy currently in place, how can you expect people to come here on a trip when you can’t go by yourself , alone, on your own empty boat without the COVID boogeyman stopping you ? If they really think a double vaccinated fisherman or fisher woman poses a risk on their OWN boat with no one else, Kman is doomed.
The US borders were never shut.
The USA was only closed to selected countries!
US Citizens have been traveling the for over a year and people have been visiting the the US the from day 1.
So ready to take a mini vacation, but I need to research the fares. I understand the local airlines was price gouging since the repatriation flights commenced, and that the wait time for confirmation was extremely long & frustrating. Some persons have made booking numerous roubds-trips to Miami, FL while others were still waiting for travel confirmation. If true, I wonder how CIG Travel Time & Cayman Airways were confirming passengers for travel to the U.S.?
Yes. Many persons have made numerous successful round-trips to Miami, Florida while others are still awaiting travel confirmation (due to full flights?)
The U.S. opens its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers next month (November) & many locals are looking forward to spending their holidays/personal time off-island.
Lots of Grand people coming to the Brac and Little
https://youtu.be/yPOKTaQobsU
Someone please share this with kenneth for me please
He is arrogant, this would have no affect on him.
Regardless of erratic policy, it’s here. For as long as that maintains, can we all concede to provide non-household people their necessary minimum required distance again? That should be #1. I’ve been in lineups so tightly spaced that I can feel half-masked breathing on my neck and fanning their microbes. That was at HSA. The jelly dispensers can’t seem to instruct people to take 3 big steps back. By now, we need to know to do it ourselves without intervention or reminder. Put the dots on the floors again. Measure them out.
Difficult to choose between the new bond film at the cinema and this cinematic masterpiece from this joker
Bond hands down
You get what you voted for. Congrats!
Next he will do a rap version with dancers no doubt.
@7:52 – A rap version with backup dancers; OMG that would be priceless!
The perfect representative for the ignorant. They are lucky to have you.
Wayne , please take control of your loose cannons.
You don’t have a team, you have a bunch of egocentric individuals heading off in different directions.
Saunders, Kenneth, Jay and their hero Mac, need to be disciplined for all our sakes.
Wayne is not in charge of this asylum.
He is merely a token “merchant classer” to appease that balcony in this here clown show that is cayman.
Dis wha ya get with Single Member Constituencies and the First Past The Post / Westminster style electoral system.
Garrison politics.
How can we even think about opening after the assault on the water-sports industry yesterday.
I think that what most people who have seen this are asking is this: Did KB pay for this media clip directly from his own pocket; for clarification, is this paid for by KB personally, or has party money, donations anything at all that is not DIRECTLY from his own pocket? I ask as it is beyond insulting, beyond hypocritical if this man used money that is not his, to make his lil movie to talk about hardship. I would love to be corrected and hear that the KB family came together and had a whip around to get this organised. How they got the videographer for free and the studio for free… If a dime of peoples money was spent on his self indulging promotion (funny he did on the day of the James Bond movie release..). Apologies for the rant, I’m sure that the honorable KB paid for every dime of this from his salary and savings.
Gambling here is illegal, correct? If it were legal I would bet that KB will not confirm (ever) or deny if it was his money (if it was, let him say) he used for his wannabe BOND show? Perhaps I am incorrect and KB will account for the who paid for his lil vid…, lol, state of the nation from his perspective, whilst we all look in bewilderment as to why, why, why, are we looking at this man on stool in staged lighting, because everyone has been waiting on baited breath…
..
i mean the black and white “grim reaper” style video AND WALK ON LMAO oh mannnnnn
Actually the cost of living was high way before COVID. The high cost of housing, again before COVID. High cost of medical insurance, again before COVID. Why the scare mongering again?
Here is an idea, why not cut all your salaries by 15% and save the coffers? That would certainly help the situation.
We should do a vote
Pretty sure we just did.
We are the joke of the Caribbean. We are opening we are closing we are opening…..Make up your mind you FOOLS!
Thank god we don’t have a military and this government needed to defend the place …They would never make a decision.
It’s 2021, time to move on and learn to live with it!
Is the minister even allowed in the US? Serious question.
That’s what the unwitting Islanders are trying determine if there are any truth to the allegation.
yup, it true
Do not believe so.
….which nobody has replied to.
I don’t think he is allowed in the US. And if he is allowed in I think the US should not accept his vaccine proof, you know just because…
The furthest north he can travel on a plane is West Bay.
He thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips.
Funyuns.
This shows how out of touch CIG is with present times. This early 2000 era video screams of behind the times thinking.