Policy for beach vending heads to Cabinet
(CNS): The government plans to adopt a policy created by the Public Lands Commission to deal with the ad hoc and illegal vending that has been causing problems on Seven Mile Public Beach. According to Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, the policy is expected to go before Cabinet this week, and once implemented, all vendors wanting to do business on any public beach will need to get approval from the commission.
Speaking on Radio Cayman’s For the Record on Friday, Bryan said he expected things would start to operate more smoothly at the location. Although the issue falls under Lands Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Bryan noted the importance of this issue to his portfolio of tourism.
For several years now, concern has grown over unregulated commercial activity, especially on Seven Mile Public Beach. With a general decrease in beach access and the number of venues offering facilities for cruise and overnight visitors not staying in beachfront accommodation, local traders have moved onto the Public Beach to offer everything, from cold beer to shade umbrellas. This has fuelled overcrowding on the beach and created a chaotic situation.
The PLC Inspectorate has been working on the development of a new permit application process as part of the policy due to be rolled out. In the interim, officials have clamped down on vendors trading without a licence, but there has been a reluctance to remove everyone, especially local traders who have been plying their wares in the area for several years and have come to depend on the business as their livelihood.
The PLC is also still trying to persuade vendors to use the controversial kiosks at the beach, but the traders have said the wooden huts are not fit for purpose. The commission said recently that it is a criminal offence for people to conduct commercial activities on crown land without a vendor permit issued by the PLC.
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I certainly hope this 7 mile public beach fiasco gets settled pretty damn quick as I can see Smith’s Cove going in the same direction and also Governor’s beach.KEEP THE CRUISE SHIPPERS AWAY FROM THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL AREAS.
One hears rumors of the Governor being moved away from the present Residence and to what end?Knock the beautiful house down and replace it with some 10 story condo?
WE MUST keep these areas intact for future generations period
This is so disgusting. I don’t even go to the beach any more because if it’s not the hustlers it’s the inappropriate music and behavior. There’s no enforcement of any kind and the PLC is a joke! They don’t like to enforce any policy or law which enables effective control of any situation.
Give validated vendors a proper place to setup shop and oversee that things are being done properly. This includes DEH, PLC, DCI etc. It is an easy fix someone just needs to grow some balls to do it
Gotta love the boaters anchoring in clearly marked swimming areas blasting music.
You have boats in swimming areas, punks flying around on jet-ski’s in swimming areas. It’s amazing snorkelers haven’t been hit yet. Doesn’t make for a nice experience.
Some robust anti-higgling legislation is much needed around these parts.
A few days of undercover work could fix this quickly.
They could simply enforce the existing laws, but we enjoy reinventing the wheel for even the most mundane of issues.
Let’s also have some robust knocking down of those stupid “kiosks” .
Shameful waste of money for silly design that’s never been fit for purpose.
So we’ve destroyed the south end of the SMB with over development which led to a total loss of the beach.
And now we’re ruining the north end with pop up vendors harassing everyone.
Well done you useless fing politicians.
Mother Nature sending sargassum to 7MB as a reminder who’s boss.
Them vendors soon be drying that out and tryin sell it to tourists.
Thank the sellers, developers, investors and buyers.
That pretty much is everybody.
Time and time again I read what is unpopular with the tourists. On top of that list is harassment by swarms of haggling vendors at every port, beach and even in the front of hotels when they visit Caribbean Islands.
Cayman has been excluded from this list of porta of call where this activities exist.
For the love of keeping Cayman different, please put a stop now on the nonsense. Keep these people off of our beaches.
Cayman beaches are to be peacefully enjoyed by all. Tourists and residente alive.
If we fail to get a grip on this, which is already supported by Law, what will happen next?
The vendors WHERE given licenses for years BY the GOVERNMENT, and since Dart got control of all the land around the public beaches the vendors were denied renewals that were granted for years.
The tourist like the coconuts, jerk chicken, and their illegal rum punch. They eat more local food on the beach than in any restaurant in Camana Bay or in town. THEY feed the chickens.
We have a public beach with a few huts, a few benches, and barely any trees. But over 15,000 people use this area every week.
Ban the sale of beach chairs and umbrellas, but install proper facilities that allow vendors to operate within the law and more facilities that offer shade and places to rest.
No vendor can work in a 4 x 4 kiosk without AC. This is inhumane under the hot sun on concrete pathways. This is not fit for purpose.
The public beach seemed to be made for volleyball tournaments and private events more than for the enjoyment of the public life.
The beaches are a mess because of the Illegal selling of alcohol and no one cleaning up after the tourists leave. The whole public beach has become a slum and we should all be ashamed to let such a beautiful place be destroyed by a few rubes exploiting the public beach. It belongs to us all but we all suffer when the beach becomes an over-monetized slum. There aren’t many places for tourists since Dart purchased everything on SMB including royal palms. No one is going to say how beautiful SMB is when the whole time they are tripping over trash and stepping on glass and being harassed by pesty vendors/beggars. Just watch any blog on the pyramids and you will see what happens when things get out of control with vendors.
On another note, why are cruise shippers being bussed to Governor’s Beach? Isn’t Public Beach reserved for them? Are we to lose that one too to higglers and cruisers?
Governor’s Beach is the next beach to go.
How about getting rid of the old, dilapidated, rusted out Calico’s building? That looks horrible on a beautiful beach.
The illegal vendor has entered the chat. Get a damn job!
There is no where else to go, so of course 15,000 people use public beach now. Royal Palms gone. Calico gone. Marriott/Hampton beach area gone.
Caymanians hell bent on ruining their golden egg. Either wreck the beach itself with development or just do nothing about the harassment of those who use what’s left.
Mostly Jamaicans. With status, but Jamaicans.
aka CAYMANIANS … because Caymanian is an IMMIGRATION STATUS and not a Nationality !!!
PACT continue to sit on the following Legislation not in force:
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Advisory District Councils Act (Act 1 of 2011)
Design Rights Act (Act 3 of 2019)
Financial Assistance Act, 2022 (Act 10 of 2022)
Institute of Caymanian Heritage Act, 1991 (Act 13 of 1991)
Mental Health Commission (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 9 of 2022)
Pharmacy Act (Act 15 of 1991)
Plants (Importation and Exportation) (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 13 of 2014)
Residential Tenancies Act (Act 6 of 2009)
Stock Exchange Company (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 18 of 2020)
Sunday Trading (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 4 of 2016)
Sunday Trading (Amendment) Law, 2016 (Law 4 of 2016)
Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Act 19 of 2018)
thank you do-nothing-ppm and no-plan-pact.
“do-nothing-ppm” is an unfair moniker, as they were extremely active. Unfortunately, their activity was heavily centered around selling out the Caymanian people at every opportunity. We are still uncovering things they have done to ruin us (e.g. total planning waiver for ReGen) and they haven’t been in power for years.
The great PACT at work.
Why is beach vending a tourism priority for our public beach?!? PACT are giving this a higher legislative priority than Elections Law reform, or Bills that might support confidence in waning Property Rights, and/or missing Consumer Protection. The CIG still can’t deliver audit-ready reports. Let’s focus on enabling beach vending?
All tourists used to say how wonderful that they’re not hassled by vendors on the beach in Cayman, unlike Jamaica.
Now Kenny and Mac Woters ruining the product Caymanian is most proud of.
As a long time stay over visitor I used to tell people Cayman was special because you can sit on the beach without being hassled (unlike Jamaica, Barbados and even Spain!) Nowadays I just stay at East End and hope they never get that far!
This recent (last 10 years) development of allowing people to set up businesses on the public beach should never have been allowed. Shut them all down. Move the booths to the car park. Remove the loungers (people can sit on the sand as they did when we were kids – including granny!!).
can we not just be honest and admit there is zero poltical will to solve this issue?….its obvious that there are the usual higher powers that are making money from this and cig will not interfere…
And politicians are scared of losing wotes.
caymanians destroying their own future one step at a time….
guess they can always blame it on expats….zzzzzzzzzzz
8.47am Learn the difference between a Caymanian and a Jamaican please.
But the Caymanian politicians allow everything to go on.
Just enforce the friggin law.
Why do politicians have any say? Shouldn’t a professional civil service enforce all laws independent of political views and influences?
So what is the difference, 3:38? They seem pretty similar to me when it comes to things like attitudes to women, driving, lack of attention to children they father, a liking for gangs, a liking for a certain kind of music that comes directly from Jamaica, a dislike of authority and several other things.
Same dog puppy.
Jamaicans are expats , so the blame would be justified.
people have enjoyed the beaches in cayman for generations without this scum….get rid of them,,,now!
laughable from bryan and cig as usual….searching for a solution that is already there…..zzzzzzzzz
welcome to wonderland.
enforce current laws and the problem is solved.
Went to public beach for the first time in a long time and got hassled by 4 different vendors wanting me to pay for a spot on the beach. They set up shop in the PUBLIC cabanas so you can’t even use those anymore. Where are the cops on that beach everyday? It’s the worst beach in cayman now.
Unbelievable. The tail is wagging the dog. These businesses have stolen the public beach from the public of the Cayman Islands and we all seem happy to sit back and let it happen. Cayman has a tradition and accepted practice that no business operates on the public beaches. This MUST be enforced. For the record – who besides Kenny wants to allow beach vendors???? This has got to be an issue with 90+% support for enforcement. Please can some politicians stand up and take the popular position in this.
That always seems to be the issue when KB is involved. I still don’t quite understand how the bus drivers were able to protest with no warning (I believe most places you have to notify of your intention to protest well in advance) and the protest was all because the Public Transport Board wanted to enforce bus routes? Why do we let small vendors dictate to us how they want it to be run, instead of coming to a conclusion that would be most beneficial for the majority of the country? Funny like I mentioned that KB was involved in both issues. He doesn’t like to be the unpopular one that’s for sure.
9.10am Jamaicans rule. He depends on their votes.
Jamaicans cant vote … CAYMANIANS vote
Bullshit.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2018/03/seven-mile-public-beach-vendors/
This so maddening. Cayman, take back our beach and make Seven Mile Public Beach Great Again!
Before it all disappears
Sickening, sounds like super woke Kenny coming to their rescue.
Wow, really? Caymanians just never settle with enforcing existing laws. No means No, not lets talk about it and come up with another plan. Half the illegal vendors are register with WORC as being unemployed.
Drag them off the beach, fine them and if they go back jail them. They will stop then!
Mind you don’t get pepper sprayed.
Just imagine what that tourist said about Cayman when he got back to the ship.
Why? Just enforce the existing laws and get them out of there now.
Trade and Business Licensing Law
Local Companies (Control) Law
Harassment
Liquor licensing
Illicit drugs
Keep it going
Common Nuisance
Idle and Disorderly Persons
Rogues and Vagabonds
Disorderly Conduct
Pollution
Boats & jetskis in public swimming areas
Blocked and/or inaccessible public beach access points
I can also guarantee that no one has public liability insurance, so when someone dies or gets injured by one of these vendors it will be CIG on the hook.
CIG can almost certainly expect to be sued by the pepper sprayed tourist.