Minister hints at imminent return of cruise ships
(CNS): Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has said the COVID-19 testing regime was presenting major hurdles for the return of visitors, and the “significant policy change” dropping the requirement for vaccinated travellers to do repeated tests will boost the ongoing efforts to increase stay-over tourism.
During Thursday’s COVID press briefing, the minister also hinted at the return of cruise tourism in the near future and urged operators to recall staff and get their businesses ready. Bryan gave no specifics but said there would be news about cruise tourism next week.
The relaxation of the testing requirements, an increase in the maximum number of people allowed to gather, and the return of regular hours for bars and nightclubs are expected to help tourism businesses that cater to overnight guests, especially groups and conventions.
However, the return of any cruise ships was still thought to be several weeks, if not months, away. But Bryan said that, given the number of jobs and businesses dependent on cruise tourism, discussions were ongoing with the cruise lines.
Following the recent visit by members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, local health officials here had followed up this week with Zoom meetings to discuss the safety protocols government wants to see in place before the ships can return to Grand Cayman and passengers disembark.
“We have gained many insights and been provided with significant enough information to allow the government to make some very important decisions,” the minister said. He noted that the management of these health and safety protocols was still being considered and did not elaborate on the decisions government has made.
Nonetheless, Bryan called on business to get prepared for the return of cruise ships. “In the meantime, for those in the cruise sector, it is time for you to start getting ready. If you need to bring back staff to work, start contacting them now, and if you need to hire new employees, please please focus on hiring Caymanians first.
The minister added, “I expect to be making some exciting news announcement next week,” and he urged people to stay tuned to the government’s social media and news channels because the announcements will be good for cruise and tourism in general.
With the “amazing announcement for tourism” on Thursday, as well as increasing airlift as more airlines return from more destinations, Bryan said that guests numbers are expected to grow significantly. However, he believes the numbers are already doing better than had been expected, including the arrival of around 1,200 people on Saturday alone.
There are still challenges ahead, however, and Bryan noted the issue of people testing positive when they leave. He also stressed the need to persuade tourism employers to take on local people, as there are still problems with some stakeholders.
See the full press briefing below:
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What part of “We don’t want cruise ships, period.” does Mr. Bryan not understand? In any case, most passengers stay on the ships rather than come ashore to be ripped off by food-sellers and other vendors.
The “don’t” part.
This is how he sees it:
We want cruise ships, period
The island should be a LUXURY destination. Mass amounts of cruise ships bring down our reputation as they congest our resources for little to no reward. We need to focus on QUALITY not quantity.
Who said “We should be a luxury destination?” It certainly wasn’t me!
If you want luxury, you should go somewhere else. Cruise ships pollute the ocean and the islands.
I said it and it’s true!
At least $20 per passenger whether they come ashore or not is all Kenny the Clown can see.
Are we ready for the cruise ships surely only maybe two a day and mainly on a weekend.do we have facilities and upgraded rest room facilities to look after the needs of the passengers
Royal Palms is out of action governors beach no rest room
Public Beach inadequate for large amounts and same for smith cove
Also the overall beauty of the island is now tarnished with litter just about everywhere
We need to sharpen up our product from top to btm
Go to public beach and see the sights that Grand Cayman has to offer! 3 different construction sites and let us not forget the rotten and dilapidated but once amazing Calicos that Dart bought and promptly shut down to stop the riff raff getting near his holdings.
I’m not sure why you would want to come here anymore.
I’m not sure why ANYONE would want to come here on a cruise ship!
Please no! I visit for 2 -3 weeks each year in normal times, I would probably do 2 or 3 trips per year if it was a destination with no large cruise ships. This could be such a great USP for Cayman.
Come on posters. You all voted for these fine men. Now you don’t trust Kenneth Blunders, Jay Mac Ebanks Bernie and Andre to get things right?
Sniffer – Andre? Where is he? He’ll soon be in the same boat with Wayne, “sailing away” while Saunders, Bryan and McKeeva duke it out for Premiership!
I just wish Panton could see the light and cross over and take Andre Heather and Wiks with him.
Leaving behind the overweight, the uneducated , unemployable and self serving to squabble amongst themselves .
According to another news source, Langevin was doing cartwheels after removal of post arrival testing was announced. I hope that employers will continue to support employees to protect themselves against COVID-19 as clearly this Government has caved to pressure to take ever more greater risks with our lives.
Yeah – now can we get some cruises to come to Brac
What, moor at Scott’s Dock and spend the day at Barracuda? I mean, I spend several hours there and it’s a good place with good food and good people, but is this all we have to offer?
I remember years ago when there was a small cruise ship that tied up at the Brac port. On a Sunday. Oh Joy. People walking down the street, hoping against hope that they’d find a bathroom and either coffee or a beer, and found a home at La Esperanza. Nobody that I know knew that the ship was coming. Just suddenly there were dozens of people walking down the road aimlessly. We could have capitalised on that had we known.
We could have made them feel welcome.
19 @ 7:25 am – A new Starbucks in GT?! They need to stop selling their coffees in plastic containers! Their logo is green, that’s about all!
Jamaican-owned Cayman Starbucks franchise are you there??
Dart makes the plastic cups. Peas in a pod
Don’t know all Starbucks owners, but Jason a is Caymanian born to Jamaican parents. Good people. Don’t take unfair jabs based on nationality, at least, you truly know what you’re talking about. I’m a multi-generational Caymanian, who has been a childhood friend of Jason, and cannot sit by and watch such ignorant, misplaced comments.
With Public Beach left as the only place for the cruisers let’s see how long it takes before the Kimpton has guards to keep the riff-raff out. My guess about a week. Newly wed, over feed, Damn near dead our new best friends🤪🤪🤪🤪
Kids hang on because this is going to get a whole lot worse soon.
Combine the cruisehips with out drop in protections we had in place and the new version of Omicron BA.2 spreading which is proving more infectious and stronger than its predecessor.
Also consider all the experts saying new variant will emerge before summer and know that this sh!t show called PACT government is about to kill Caymanians by a reckless disregard for where we are truly at.
Covid is not dead. It too needs a vacation. It will be back stronger than ever.
Me and my family not stopping mask yet, not stopping sanitizing yet.
Snooze.
I have just one question. Royal Palms and Coral Beach have closed so the only place cruise shippers can go to the beach is the Public Beach.. Has anyone given this any thought or is DART planning on re-opening to scoop up this business?
We no longer have access to our own SMB, Government needs to focus on buying any open beach land that maybe left. Dive down West Bay road, an empty lot is harder to find the a needle in a haystack.
Good points.
It’s amazing that Kenny Beach (Turtle Farm II) as it was an extraordinary /emergency purchase did not have to go through normal procedures to get approved.
On top of that, $1,000,000 is earmarked to open a bar and restaurant there! It will cost $5m if it’s a nickel and lose $25k a month. Someone would know this is they did a business plan.
Best use of that site now since it belongs to the public is spend that $1m to tear the shacks down, plant some trees and put in some bathrooms and picnic benches and operate it like Smith Cove.
I believe the land alone cost $8M.
If that is not true Kenny, then tell us, it’s our money not yours.
Who will operate the bar and business. Are proposals being invited or will it be given to friends. ? Tell us Kenny, it’s our money.
Why no business plan, who negotiated the purchase, why the secret rush .?
Tell us Kenny, transparency was a campaign promise.
The land cost $5.6m. It is 1 acre not 2 as stated in the Compass. It was previously owned by the late Ernie Smatts. The media should get its facts straight.
*Smatt
Just saying.
Maybe if the cruise ships were back earlier, we wouldn’t see half the population out of job and having nothing to do but post on pubic forums…
or complaining about stipends..not saying that some people don’t still need it but if in two plus years you can’t find a job in this economy, something is wrong..
People need to understand that this can’t go on forever. We will soon be a socialist country if this keeps up.
We need to do better and stop depending on government to constantly give us a handout. We need to get our pride back and stop being beggars.
For the record, I was in tourism, I made the decision to upskill myself and now have a better job than I had before. When I got hired, I dropped the stipend so that those that were more deserving could get it but now it is a free for all and people don’t even care about going back to work. Guess I am one of those people that don’t like to be depending on government for my survival.
The socialism you decry works exceptionally well in European countries. Excellent free or very affordable healthcare, excellent roads and public transportation, excellent schools and excellent infrastructure such as drinking water, electricity and sewer. In general, a better quality of life for its citizens.
I think you both need to google what socialism means.
No kidding.
It works “well” by taxing the millions that populate those European countries.
We do not have that cash inflow to support economic migrants and have to borrow the money.
See the difference..?
5.55pm Half the population needs to go back home instead of collecting a stipend they shouldn’t be entitled to and certainly wouldn’t get back home.
Kirks is charging 8.99 for a three pack of Romaine lettuce.
Inflation to cost of living is the Finance Ministers portfolio. Pre election there was so many simple answers, now?!…
Got Marco number??
Inflation is really doing a number financially on many people. Cayman is an expensive jurisdiction to live in.
Welcome to the new face of price gouging in the USA. growing your own leafy greens isn’t that hard indoors. Just get yourself an LED grow strip, plant pots, good potting soil and you’re good to go. And you won’t be eating suspect pesticide ridden produce. My South facing window sills are veritable herb gardens, I don’t even need Cayfresh anymore although they have not jacked their prices like on some overseas produce.
Then simply let the lettuce Romaine.
Ok so what a hot, hot mess. So they citizens voices of The Cayman Islands are once again being silenced by another Government voted in with promises of change. Not today Bobo. What a hot mess. Get it clear no more mass cruise tourism. We barley have a world famous 7 mile beach, and the underwater world that once made us so famous is surrounded by stoney coral disease. When the beach is totally gone and all the coral is gone dead. What a sad future for us Caymanians. Last class citizens in our own country. With power greedy landlords, business owners who only seem to continue to get greedier. Sad, sad.
Well this is 1 Caymanian who isn’t gonna be fooled anymore. When you continue to send emails to your Premier and Governor and they go unanswered. Who do we go to with our concerns.Time we do a protest and call for early elections. Sad, sad when Caymanians can’t live our survive in their own country.
We are as the old saying was. The Islands time forgot. But now it’s the people of The Cayman Islands who 3 now governments have forgotten. Time for you all to go. New elections please and protest,protest. Time for our poorly police service to be given a major cleanup too. Oh and also that inefficient Cayman Islands Civil Service.
Chet, I could not agree with you more. But calling elections to replace Lodge with Lodge has never worked.
Real Caymanians need to understand this threat and put everyone in jail who has personally profited illegally from the political process.
All travel documents should be surrendered and a thorough investigation needs to take place.
The Governor needs to lead by example and be the first to surrender his documents.
Since he has been in Cayman, corruption has been off the charts.
I am not accusing the Governor of corruption, but he needs to start standing up for the people and help root out the systemic dishonesty that has been the hallmark of our political landscape.
It looks really bad on him that the two things that he will be remembered for is overriding the will of the people and forming an army.
You make valid points but please get your head out the sand and see that it’s Caymanians in places of power that are wrecking this country for the working class. Caymanians selling out Caymanians. Pure and simple.
We so f’in screwed and we don’t even know it.
The next variant going to clean our clocks.
Marine life saw a huge resurgence in the absence of these polluting behemoths. Mother Nature will teach us all another lesson soon and we deserve it.
Noooooooooo !!! For 2 years I have loved not cleaning up the garbage they dump on their way our…
Everyone best be enjoying the abundance of the resurgence of marine life and peacefulness of our beaches and waters before March comes.
The polluting behemoths return to wreak havoc on the reefs and marine life soon.
I was down just as the border opened and there was plenty of trash on the beach and around the island. Don’t think the few tourists that came did all that.
Wow. In short order Kenny allows cruise ships to return, just after an entirely coincidental visit by the Florida cruise ship bagmen, announces a new Starbucks in George Town, and the purchase of a derelict site for $5.8 million, prior to costs of developing his tourist attraction and training venue. Nice work if you can get it – surprised he cannot afford better ties.
The CDC has an easy to understand color chart showing the number of vessels and which ones have Covid cases to trigger monitoring or investigation. As of today, there are 46 orange, 37 yellow, 30 green.
Orange means reported cases of COVID-19 have met the threshold for CDC investigation.
Yellow means reported cases of COVID-19 are below the threshold for CDC investigation.
Green means no reported cases of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like illness (CLI).
And for the record, Red means reported cases of COVID-19 are at or above the threshold for CDC investigation. Additional public health measures are in place.
The cat’s out of the bag. The ships are coming back, and they are coming back in a big way March 1.
Farewell to peace, tranquility and the resurgence of marine life.
19 @ 7:25 am – A new Starbucks in GT?! They need to stop selling their coffees in plastic containers! Their logo is green, that’s about all!
Jamaican-owned Cayman Starbucks franchise are you there??
Is SMB still SMB? Are ther places to sit, relax, eat and drink while renting a chair and umbrella?
Ignore the outdated marketing and watch these videos for your answers:
6 months ago:
https://youtu.be/4bFnXzsLsPQ
3 months ago:
https://youtu.be/kAhYTN2ZvDI
Masks off?
There was one woman sat on the beach wearing a mask this morning..
Hell no. Especially with nasty ass tourists back
Question for cruise passengers.
Is SMB not open anymore ? If not where would a cruise passenger go for food, drink and hanging out on a beach and contributing to the local community?
Thanks
Sadly, the only good remaining beaches are Governor’s beach up to Public Beach, but many many sandy beaches are either gone or quite narrow now. A combination of building too close to the sea and global warming continues to erode the beaches.
This goes directly against what the public wants so I am guessing that there is a politician’s “compensation package” to be found somewhere?? Either that or they think we are idiots with short memories – or maybe both
Ugh, no one wants cruise tourists and no one wants Cardinal Ave closed. I am glad Wayne is easing restrictions, but listen to the people! No one other than those with interests that should preclude them from the conversation want this!
Too late. Thousands return March 1.
LOL. He does know we can see them all on the schedule, right?
https://www.caymanport.com/ship-schedules-calendar/
The Walking Dead returns in March!
Ladies and Gentlemen grab your seats….this completely disorganized and chaotic government will do at least 3 terms. Why ? Because they are concerned only about their financial welfare. They continue to pander to the civil servants and offer portfolios and other government cushy jobs to members of parliament that were voted in but did not form a majority government( jumped a fence for a paycheque) Or members that did not even achieve enough votes to get in. You all say that these actions are for Caymanians but they are completely and unequivocally actions for yourself. The members of Parliament that were truly concerned about the future of our country…you know who they are , have been out voted by a voting base that bought into the elected members nonsense of a better Cayman.Hopefully the voters realize this now and in the next term vote members who will ensure the future of Cayman. At this pace the Banana Republic will destroy this country. KB is way out of his league….way , way out and we need educated veterans to ensure the quality of our tourism product. KB is a McKeeva in waiting.
There definitely will be a better options of Caymanians stepping forward in the next election.
It’s clear that the Caymanian people want change and the Cayman Islands needs positive change.
It is, however, something that will be in the hands of the voters to actually bring about change at the polls.
You mean all the entries in red, showing they were scheduled but cancelled?
Check March, bobo
You mean all two of them in March?
No,the blue entries in March, which count the number of passengers.
“I won’t slave for beggar’s pay
Likewise gold and jewels
But I would slave to learn the way
To sink your ship of fools
Ship of fools
On a cruel sea
Ship of fools
Sail away from me
It was later than I thought
When I first believed you
Now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of fools”
I’m not convinced he knows very much.
Yep. Looks like it all starts again in March.
We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out.
Break out the ether.
I would say bring out the ethanol.
These arrogant condescending idiots -“I expect to be making some exciting news announcement next week,” and Saunders “watch this space” – go home and talk to your kids like that, sure they would ignore you too and not jump and down in delight!
When I listen to him speak, I feel like he is a child “playing work”. No substance to anything he says. “please please please hire Caymanians”. Put real systems in place to make sure we Caymanians are working!
Then comes the smirk! Obviously taking reading, pronunciation, public speaking and look alike lessons from his mentor and failing miserably-fake is fake LOL
Think he was talking bout the watchin the space on his raised shoes. Tall man tings man
can we have a referendum to see if anyone wants cruise ships to return
Too late, bobo. March is filled up with cruise ships on the port site. Imagine 14,000 people on our shores with no proof they don’t have Covid.
Except they will probably have an LFT prior to disembarking. Whereas the 500 people on wone of those party boats – not so much
You people are too much. There is probably that many in the community alone with covid. How can the cruise passengers prove that you don’t have covid? Do you wear a special badge? Do you even get that close to any cruise passengers?
You people are too much. So eager to sacrifice the resurgence of marine life for the return of the polluting behemoths.
Demand one, not can we….
Cayman, you’re a hot mess run by clowns.
That man is wholly unsuitable to be a politician.
That is exactly why he is perfectly qualified 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Agreed.
18 @ 2:21 pm – ….as are most of the present and past over the last 40 years!
Yet he always get voters. Locals love him for some reason.
If you ever watched crosstalk when he was on it with woody (or when he did it by himself) you would realise how much of an idiot he was – and how self centered he was.
It’s true. He just doesn’t have it.
Two of the jobs that require the most skill are that of parent and that of politician. However, those jobs are typically taken on by the people least able to do the jobs successfully.
So will cruise ship passengers be subject to the same testing regime as stay over tourists? If not the policy will be beyond belief and should be subject of a Judicial Review.
yup because as of today there is no testing regime for stay over tourists
There is if you’re partially or unvaxxed, or unverifiable.
That’s on you
True. Because the vaccinated don’t catch or infect others with covid apparently. Btw-Not saying we don’t need to relax restrictions.
We don’t want selfish unvaxed in cayman, or cheap cruise tourists blocking the gt roads with their stomachs
There are already plenty of selfish unvaccinated in cayman and plenty of cheap people blocking the roads with their stomachs.
Unbelievable 8:01.
Cruise lines aren’t booking unvaxxed adults anyway. Want to travel? Get your vax.
You do know that vaccinated people can carry and transmit the virus as well?
If it makes no difference, what’s the concern?
just lucky that cig has spent the last 2 years solving our traffic crisis……ooppps.
Can’t wait for the return of cruise shippers coinciding with the closure of Cardinall Ave to traffic. What could go wrong????
How obtuse is the planned closure of Cardinal Ave? Is there even one person in favour of this boneheaded idea? If there is I have yet to meet them.
Just did with the one that voted down, always one LOL
GT redesign Tasked to unqualified civil servants who had nothing else to do, and the rest of Us have to live with the ill considered amateur decisions.
Maybe tens of thousands from countries such as the US where Covid is still going strong?
Dat’s what dem new lanes by Gran Harbor for Bobo……
Open it all up..i want travel instead of creating.money deal with LFT and ocr crap!
People think we’re back to normal & only certain groups are at-risk. They aren’t the only ones dying, becoming disabled, & having their lives destroyed, but those stories aren’t told. It’s manufactured reality in order to repeatedly force people into unsafe situations for profit.
Austin part 2 – just the extended version. Kenneth best hope no one with a brain runs against him because he is finished in town. Seems like he has bloomed into a true politician. But i do agree, bring back the cruise ships just dont lock us all down when Covid starts spreading around again. 7K cases of covid positive in Cayman, no bodies piling up in the morgue! the cat is out of the bag, this is big Pharma’s bite at the apple! watch the news tonight!
There should be a referendum about cruise ships.
Question 1. Do you support large cruise ships visiting? Yes/No
Question 2. Do you support smaller cruise ships(less than 1000 guests per ship) visiting? Yes/No
Question 3. How many cruise visitors per day do you think can Grand Cayman realistically support?
10,000
Question 4. Should Cayman legalise gambling for visitors, including on cruise ships(would allow for smaller ships to overnight)? Yes/No
Check the port website for the month of March. Tens of thousands landing throughout the month with no verification of Covid required. We already have over 10,000 cases.
Beware the ides of March!
Please start it, won’t you?
Spoiler alert:
There will be no referendum. The port website calendar shows tens of thousands of cruise shippers here all through the month of March.
https://www.caymanport.com/ship-schedules-calendar/
A referendum can only have one question, what you are proposing here would be four distinct referendum
Referendi!
Fix the damn dump.
But fixing the dump would destroy the cruise passengers view of Cayman as they are coming into port.
It’s already been fixed as a tourist attraction, come one come all, come see our dump deh.
We live in the dumb timeline.
NO TO CRUISE SHIPS! They are cess pools full of cheap people.
So rude and inconsiderate.
Yes, cruise shippers are rude and inconsiderate. You, however, can get a new job.
Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor pay note.
Thanks for pointing it out to both TripAdvisor and Cruise Critic.
Perhaps you can send a summary email to both entities if you have the right person to address this summary to.
You would be doing Cayman great service💡
Yes they are.
That is definitely the way I find the passengers.
You are right. They are cess pools full of cheap rude and inconsiderate people. Thank you for drawing that omission to my attention.
I have never cruised anywhere, but I would never cruise to the Cayman Islands and comments like the one above (7:12) just shows ignorance. There are many people who have plenty of money who go on cruises. There are some people who just do not like to fly or can’t fly for medical reasons, but still like to travel. Then, there are people who just enjoy them. In fact, I know two friends in Grand Cayman who rave about cruises. Are they considered to be cheap people? Stop being so rude. Not a good look and certainly not good for tourism.
And damaging to our marine life that has seen a resurgence thanks to their absence. Nature will punish us for our greed in due time.
What a horrible, ignorant , and small minded, excuse for a human being .
That big sign that says “Get Boosted” is he trying to sell me something?
Assume he has planning permission. Time for an FOI request
He doesn’t have planning permission and is in breach of the law. But as per usual rules for the public and different rules for the “Honorable”.
Tear down that sign Commissioner Byrne!
Stop pretending anyone has any interest in enforcing the rule of law around here.
Agreed. The irony is that, with respect to subverting the rule of law, the Attorney General is one of the biggest failures (maybe not as bad as his predecessor, David Ballentine).
After the Doctors Express fiasco, the Attorney General, Dr. Lee and Charles Clifford should have been criminally charged and minimally should have been removed from office.
Not to mention the AG’s and the former Governor’s unlawful involvement in the “Operation Tempora” fiasco, which caused much socio-economic and reputational damage.
Now, since the recent report of the Office of the Auditor General leaked to CNS, Eric Bush is in the hot seat, but after the dusts settles (if the rule of law is upheld) the question of whether the Governor, Deputy Governor, Alden McLaughlin (former Premier), Roy McTaggart (former Minister of Finance) and other Cabinet Ministers (as well as Cabinet Sercretary, Samuel Rose) are implicated in unlawful actions.
Time is longer than rope.
Dept of Planning enforcement officers asleep at the wheel. World Class Civil Service.
C’mon man. Those days are in the past. I’m sure he can tell you where to get it though.
Ha ! If you know you know.
If you let up to 6 floating petri dishes disembark each day, then you might as well throw out all the other rules.
Carnival and Princess soon get their own strain of COVID Bobo.
Passengers will get it in the community when they reach cayman. How many cases in the community now? How many not reporting the positive LFT?
Likely over 10,000 as tens of thousands of cruisers are scheduled here in March according to the website.
We had it good for awhile. Enjoy the downward spiral.
Booooooooo cruise ships. They hardly add anything to the economy and take away from the experience of our stay over tourists.
And they pollute
And they beat down local operators on prices
And they stink
Unless stay over tourists are flying in here on a glider, they are using a conveyance that contributes more carbon emissions proportionately per person (by multiples) than a cruise ship.
OK Dr Spock, but cruise ships suck more than planes so
Nope. Do the math. Stay over here for a week. Cruise 5 or 6 hours. Stay over uses less fuel for flight and cuc than one day of cruise per passenger. Plus cruise is burning filthy fuel oil. No contest in stay over favour. Cruise ships should be banned they’re an environmental disaster.
How dare they! While kids are forced to mask up all day? I am disgusted.
“Some parents and teachers have cited concerns that masks harm kids by impairing their ability to breathe, slowing their social and emotional development, and causing them anxiety. But experts say that the science doesn’t back up those worries.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/do-masks-really-harm-kids-heres-what-the-science-says
Yay, cruise tourism. I’m really happy the money launderers that own the POS jewellers in GT and only employ wage slave imported poverty are going to be back to ripping off dumb tourists.
Meanwhile, the rest of us have to contend with out of date food at frankly criminal price points, a dump thats leaching the worst toxins known to humankind into the surrounding area, a power company monopoly that burns diesel and actively pretends and hinders renewable energy on one of the most vulnerable places on the entire bloody planet to sea level rise.
then we have the bent politicans absolutely robbing us all blind (http://www.gov.ky/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/12030108.PDF)
– land for Barkers National Park was purchased for $3,000,000 against an assessed value of $2,200,000 at the direction of Cabinet
– the Government purchased a house next to the Brac fire station after the owner complained of noise and fumes from the station. The Government paid $171,000 versus the assessed value of $142,000. The fire station plans to use the house for storage, although it had no pre-existing requirement for additional space. Although the property was purchased in 2012, the property transfer is still incomplete and the building is unused; an
– in 2012 the Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture (DAWL&A)directed that the Government purchase a property in an undeveloped subdivision in Cayman Brac at its assessed value of $125,000 with unspent funds at year end. Although a Cabinet Paper states the rationale for the purchase as development of affordable housing, the property has never been vested with Sister Islands Affordable Housing nor is there any evidence that the agency was consulted prior to the acquisition
These politicians deserve to be strung up, they should be swinging from the gallows for what they are doing to these islands without the slightest consultation of what we actually want, maybe it’s a case of “by 2030 you’ll own nothing and be happy”.
In the 60s before of any of crap took off we had real leaders, women that were enfranchised whilst the men were away, they warned against the exact crap that is happening now.
In 1974 Annie Huldah Bodden told us;
“I want to see that beautiful British [flag] on the top of all our flag poles, on the ships. I don’t want to see any red and green and yellow, or whatever the colours Jamaica’s is, or Honduras or Cuba. I want to see the British flag, and I hope the day will never dawn that we try to be foolish enough to talk that we can get our independence.”
Are we really independent now? with a parliament full of convicted criminals and bigots? With people that we’re granted status and do nothing but take, take take?
70000 people on this rock, I’m certain if this government had the brains (it doesn’t) to do an actual census that mattered they would realise half of this population live close to or below the poverty line. But then I suspect they all own the businesses that employ these people that earn minimum wage to sit around being security guards that secure nothing, leaf blowers that blow nothing – but thank god it’s on a sunday though right? and the cleaners that get held hostage by their Jamaican and Caymanian bosses.
Welcome to wonderland, except it’s f****d.
Do not forget Bryan buying the acre of land near the Lobster Pot for $7m. Of course nothing has happened and like much of North Church Street it looks appalling.
Looks better than the fish market mind you.
The fish market is a Cayman cultural icon doncha know?
The fish market is contrary to all health regulations as well as in contravention of planning laws. With no enforcement from the authorities what do you expect. With no access for swimmers it is one unholy mess . You can swim at Balbpa beach next door to the market courtesy of Rackman Thompson but it will cost you ten bucks with a chair thrown in.
Bryan relocate the fishmongers to your investment up the road where they can educate tourists on the benefit of eating fish from Nicaragua.
Leave Ken-Ken alone, he is getting everything clearified.
Did minister Bryan find the real owners for the property
I have not heard.
The late Ernie Smatt..,,,!!!
Best comment in a long time!
Hehe anything for money ,
Good luck
Minister “HINTS” at imminent return of cruise ships? Hell, he said companies who profited from the ships should start hiring. I think he is saying that the cruise ships are coming and there isn’t anything we can do or say about it.
I feel SO represented by my MP. I just know, deep in my heart, that they really, really care about what I want. 🙁
How much is this government willing to spend of OUR money to defeat a Referendum against the ships?
Let’s just pay the people who used to work in Cruise tourism the stipend? But it should reflect the cost of living. Bump it up to 50% of what those people were making to CI$2000 per month. Add to that free medical,dental and eyecare. Pay half of their house insurance, vehicle insurance also.
No one needs to worry anymore about those cheap tourists. Good? 55% of those people were old, they soon will kick the bucket, problem solved.
No worries. We know many here are emotionally like children. There are so many like you that we are low on candies but hugs are available.
We don’t want them.
Don’t you get it Minister?
Time for another referendum.
Do you want cruise ships in the Cayman Islands?
Yes or No?
Let’s do it people.
How many signatures are required to have a referendum?
Yes
Rather, do you want politicians in the Cayman Islands?
I say a resounding “No”, but only if they take Roper with them.
Sadly, CIG will then spend $10M trying to defeat the referendum.
that ‘Minister’ is an idiot
Yep. On 15 large a month!
All good, but the prices are absolutely ridiculous to fly and stay in Cayman. Even the “inexpensive hotels” are now close to $400 a night. Holiday Inn, not on a beach, the Marriott without a beach are so overpriced it is mind-boggling. Locale on West Bay Road. The Hampton….each and every one is between $400-$700 per night. Airfare close to $1,000 if not over. I love Cayman, been coming for years, but I can go to any other island in the Caribbean and get great deals. Even car rental now in Cayman is way over the top. Crossing Cayman off because of price. The price can not be justified. If it could, I wouldn’t mind paying it. Bottom line, it is just over-priced.
I thought that has to be BS, Holiday Inn tonight crappy King room is $462 WTF
Anyone want to rent a 3 bed villa in South Sound with a pool, let me know. $200 a night. 😎
South sound- if there was a way to get in touch… yes, $200/ night is fair value. I’d rent your place next week, a week in April , a week in the summer and at Christmas. See how price makes a difference????? But, he’ll no, not at over $400 a night!
They are charging the winter rates, which are about double the summer rates. This makes no sense given the extremely low numbers of visitors right now.
They think tourists are stupid. No one going to pay $485 or even $285 for a Holiday Inn. Even $185 is a stretch for that Holiday Inn away from 7mb, sipped bump road, no swimmable beach. Still moldy halls?
Americans are planning Easter and summer trips, but not going to pay overpriced prices when there are excellent deals out there.
$485….lol. Thou shitteth me.
They are charging Christmas- New Year’s Eve rates NOT winter rates and hoping stupid tourists will just pay these rates as they haven’t traveled during covid. What they don’t realize is a lot of people DID travel during covid and are smart enough to know these hotel prices are inflated x3 for no reason… not for a fabulous hotel, not fit for a stunning beach. Smart people will just wait till cayman prices drop or go elsewhere where the deals are already good for luxury accommodations.
Maybe Cayman shouldn’t be trying to compete in a race to the bottom. Cayman should differentiate themselves from the other islands that want to sell everything for the cheapest dollar. Preserve the gains we have had with the oceanic wildlife and make ourselves the premiere Caribbean destination for high end tourism. We already have the restaurants and relatively low crime rate and the property is already priced like this is St. Tropez. Ban cruise ships and your tourism product will be different than every other cheap island and bring in more dollars in the end. Only way forward.
Get rid of the thought of high end tourism. That just isn’t in the cayman cards. Think families, single professionals, repeat customers.
Yes, there are many restaurants in cayman, but they are just overpriced, they really don’t have the “wow”. They aren’t bad, but amazing? Probably not.
Crime rate low? Not by the headlines. Too much building and too much traffic.
Not much to do on the island if you are not a diver or drinker.
Cayman is a nice island to relax. It is a nice island to bring a family. It is a nice island to hang out with a group of friends. Have a wedding, a reunion, a birthday or anniversary celebration. It is a nice island for relaxation. Don’t be snobby on where your dollar comes from and welcome the people who love the island for what it is and don’t try to make it something it isn’t.
But the biggest problem of all is we are rapidly losing Seven Mile Beach.
Better hope we never lose financial services or we will be royally screwed.
Suck it up, Buttercup. There are thousands who aren’t pinching pennies to experience our world-class destination.
You know what they say? “If you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it.”
No disrespect, but I hear Haiti has some great deals.
World class, my ass
It isn’t world-class, that is the problem. If it were, then we could justify paying those prices.
Name something that makes cayman world-class?
7mb? – disappearing
Hotels- nothing to wow and overpriced
Restaurants- nothing to wow and overpriced
Ease of getting around- Can you say traffic, no reliable, comfortable transportation service
Airport- get soaked if it rains
Casinos- none
Live music- barely
Night life- bar scene ok, but club scene could be taking a big risk there
Shopping- George Town? Or Camana Bay? pass on both
What is world-class? The diving? Google and many other Caribbean islands also come up that offer more in the above categories that are less expensive to fly and stay at, but would love to hear why cayman is a world-class destination.
An excellent summation of the state of the island
Ugh. Miserable. SMB has been so nice without cruise ships. Where are they all going to go exactly there’s nowhere left?
Barkers….just watch
They will use Public Beach for a limited time until its closed completely to the public like the rest of SMB…..then Barkers is the only option.
Guaranteed.
All the cruise ship people are going to go to Public Beach.
No where left to go now.
Build our damn cruise berthing facility Kenny !
NO ONE WANTS ONE
Enough is enough, I will no longer wear a mask.
Enough is enough. I will no longer obey any traffic laws.
Like anyone does that now. Try another one.
No one does anyway. Cops care about a maskless face more than a reckless driver.
So sorry the mask frightens you. Do you need a hug or your binkie?
you probably never did anyways
Never been tested either. Never bloody will. Very early on, I saw through this fake fakery and I vowed that I would not be violated or abused for someone else’s agenda.
You do you and I’ll do me. Your you has nothing to do with my me. My me has nothing to do with your you.
You wanna get a jab, fine. You don’t want a jab fine.
Quite frankly, I don’t care one way or the other. You get information and you decide if it is worth acting on. Totally your call, don’t involve me.
Violated and abused, LOL. Nice manufactured reality you have there.