Christmas Eve shopping limited by Sunday trading law
(CNS): Only those shops that are already exempted under the law will be allowed to open on Christmas Eve, the Department of Commerce has confirmed. Sunday trading is permitted this holiday weekend for all those businesses, such as tourist-related stores and small convenience shops, which are listed in the legislation. No exemptions have been made to allow any of Cayman’s larger stores to open on what would normally be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
“Existing businesses with permission to operate under the Sunday Trading Act (2023 Revision) are advised that operations may continue as usual on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24 December 2023, until 11:59pm,” the DCI confirmed
See the Schedule to Section (6) of the Sunday Trading Act here for the full list of the types of businesses that can trade on Christmas Eve.
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Christians goes to the resturarants to eat on Sundays. Doesn’t they contribute to those people working on the Sabbath.
It’s our culture, we don’t really need to ask.
Sunday is probably the one day the corner shops and tiny groceries actually get to make some money, leave the situation alone and do not tinker with it.
I would love to see one of these Christians sensibly explain why supermarkets and hardware stores can’t be open on a Sunday but the bars can.
…and no dancing!
It doesn’t have so much to do with being Christian, as it does with Caymanian culture. Many of those feel that modernism is being thrust upon us against our will in light of appeasement of those who are guests on our shores.
If the majority of electors want it quiet and noncommercial on Sunday — one day out of the week — is that such a dire hardship? Caymanian culture used to embrace that simpleness, that peace, that lack of labour as a day of rest and yes, enjoyment, regardless of personal theology. People used to walk to church. People used to get together as families and cook and play games and talk.
If you were born here, you understand that. If you were not, is it really so much to ask for, that we keep one tradition and expect it to be honoured by those who we have invited here?
There are many generational Caymanians born here who think it’s high time that changes. For those that want to not shop on Sunday, there is no suggestion that will have to change. Many people work 6 days a week (Mon – Sat) as their jobs require. Saturdays would be less a chaotic mess also!
Because it is one of most backward laws ever created, you can drink but you can’t buy food from supermarkets.smh
Blouse and skirt, I don’t too much bother about the Sunday trading law because i can still…and have done for many years now…bought liquor at my local liquor store on Sunday. Because you see, God don’t mind us buying a quart of liquor, it’s just the damn supermarket things he’s pissed off about.
If we would take the time to research the origin of Sunday sacredness we would find the truth in this matter is that it is nothing more than a man made holy day imposed on the people by the Catholic church from A,D 321. God gave mankind a Holy day of rest from the creation week but he never put legislation forcing anyone to keep it holy. Study to show yourself approved unto God. With all the knowledge available on the internet today I would think that we would be enlightened to this evil that the world counts as holy today.
God is non-exist. My mother and father made me not like Made in God!
Your mother and father should have taught you proper English!
It makes no sense that shopping on Sunday should be illegal. If a person of religion decides not to shop on Sunday or to work on Sunday then that is there choice of course, but for people who are not devout Christians, then there is no reason why shopping on Sunday should be illegal.
It is a facet of culture. Caymanian culture. Is your planning really so poor that you can’t anticipate a need that you will have on Sunday and prepare for it? What does it cost you to embrace a cultural ideal of a place which has invited you here?
Let the government not have electricity, water, internet, medical services provided to them by people who work sundays and then see if they like the restrictions.
Where is the Chamber of Commerce in this topic?
Absolutely ridiculous!
Only in Cayman…
The business lobby loves one less day of operations. Cayman doesn’t have a consumer or labour lobby.
I suspect they are all enjoying Sunday with their families. Nobody is really concerned about this besides you whiners! Get a life!
We can’t tolerate ONE day out of the week in which the music isn’t thumping and the traffic isn’t congested and people mostly stay at home and chill?
Dohdoh traffic be congested on Saturday because most people be busy at work during the week so Saturday is the one day they get to run errands.
Sunday trading would cut the weekend traffic congestion in half.
Old way of thinking for the Island still forgotten by time.
God wants his people happy and fed.
Plan, shop before Sunday! No problem. Personally I wouldn’t spend more on Sunday then I spent on Friday or Saturday. What is the problem?
A small group of people in the Brac running this country now…..
It’s like the islands are under the grip of a massive invisible octopus with its tentacles everywhere.
It is just a matter of time before the power behind it is exposed and broken.
oh Christ here comes the conspiracy squad
I wonder what the reaction would be if you asked government officials in other countries if they would be willing to grow their economy overnight by 14.3% (1/7th), while costing the public purse almost nothing, and in fact likely raising additional funds from duty on goods. All by simply amending one outdated law in a way that 90% of their constituents are desperate for, oh and also partially alleviate an infrastructure traffic nightmare that you have no clue how to solve. I wonder if the stampede to be the first to vote for such a measure would result in any injuries. Yet here we are Cayman, inconveniencing the entire population for the 10% (if even that) who consider it a sin to purchase anything on a Sunday.
I completely agree with your comment here. This law is long outdated. It’s nonsense really!
This notion that the economy will benefit from allowing seven days of grocery shopping is a fallacy. We shop for the same amount whether we do it weekly or daily or only on a Sunday. The shop owners will be the losers, having to pay for 7 days of business expenses plus overtime.
It’s less than 3% that would object to Sunday dealing. Even among the devout Christian population included in that 2500-3000, many celebrate their Sabbath on Saturdays…it’s time to join the rest of the world in the 21st century.
For it is written!
Outside of the public holidays, stores should be allowed to trade on Sundays! Then Saturday wouldn’t be total chaos on the road & supermarkets wouldn’t be rammed with people.
Caymanians….. strangling their own growth one year at a time.
You can’t open on Sunday unless the Government says you can. LMAO.
“[Any nation that utilizes TBL’s with restrictive terms]….. strangling their own growth one year at a time.
You can’t open on [any]day unless the Government says you can. LMAO.”
You see how stupid you sound? Seriously, you think Cayman’s growth is being “strangled”? Have you been outside recently?
I actually like the limited trade on Sunday law.
1. It is the one day we can actually drive on the road with less traffic since kids dont have to go to school and most dont have to work.
2. It makes Cayman unique. Other countries have customs like siesta where they close for a couple hours in the middle of the day which may inconvenient for some but its their culture. Respect them. Respect us.
3. If Sunday trading would bring extra money there would be a huge push by merchants for govt to change laws. The fact is its not that simple. More open days doesnt translate into higher profit. You have to hire more staff to cover days off, higher utility bills etc and the fact is people only have so much money to spend. If adding an extra day meant higher profit, all the banks would open on Saturday and would be pushing for Sunday too. Fact is they arent.
4. Rest. we all need it. We all get too little of it. We all appreciate it when we get it. Sunday is the one day most families have time off together. Kids home from school and both parents can be off together. Priceless. If we had 7 day work weeks, off days wouldnt necessarily be in scync with other family members which can have negative social effects.
CIG please keep and enforce this law.
thank you.
We like having stores closed on Sundays! It is good for our mental health. The shopkeepers do not mind – they get their money Monday to Saturday. All the owners and workers gets a day off to spend with their families. They are not complaining so why are all you moaners getting yourselves bent out of shape? It’s our culture! Enjoy it! If it is upsetting your lives, you all know what to do!
Bahhh humbug.
Hmnn, stock up and go to Church. . . after all isn’t it called CHRISTmas and not SANTA CLAUSmas.
It’s actually a pagan festival celebrating the winter solstice and then hijacked by christians but I’m sure you knew that.
christian fundamentalist state. like pakistan no difference.
There’s actually a part of you that thinks that closing non-essential stores on Sunday (so that people can rest) is akin to stoning rape-victims to death?
I can’t imagine how dumb someone actually has to be in order to think along these lines. Do better.
Yes. Fundamentalist belief in a fictional construct like a monotheistic god is a deluded way to construct legal norms whichever variety of the delusion you subscribe to.
Go home. You don’t belong here if you don’t have even a tiny bit of respect for decades-old customs.
All of it come out the same fairy tale book na true? Same book unna use to make us live like we’re in an actual theocracy.
Can’t buy groceries when I want and can’t love another human of the same sex because YOU don’t want me to. That’s theocratic, not democratic. Religion is dying and Christians are a minority in Cayman now.
Oh and don’t be a simpleton – people can rest – it’s called shift work and scheduling.
You poor thing. Required to actually plan ahead a day for your needs. How you must suffer so.
I’m just guessing here, but I imagine your ability to adapt to unanticipated situations is fairly minimal, right? Not really a survivalist in any sense of the term. It’s okay. Not for everyone. Still, you might need some of us who still know how to do things some day. Wouldn’t hurt you a bit to embrace the culture you live in and learn some of those things.
P.S. don’t use the word “unna”; it sounds fake coming out of your keyboard. It doesn’t help further the illusion that you were born here.
This is a place where we can all get along without too much stress and pressure. Be thankful.
choices. Don’t want to open your business then don’t. If you do and want to make a few extra $ then you should be allowed to do so. I would want to have an option to work on a Sunday to make a few extra $$ so that I can save for a house.
You haven’t travelled much and sure as hell have never been to Pakistan if you make that comparison. I would actually really enjoy the opportunity to send you there, but only if you were made to go and live on the same income as the average person for a month.
You would kiss the ground when you returned.
End the ban on Sunday trading now. It makes no sense.
It makes perfect sense to those who just wish for ONE day out of the week that is quiet and less crazy. We have come a long way from the days of old, and I’m not sure those changes are benefits. What I do know is that we used to be able to walk on the roads, and open our windows to the cool breeze without thumpy-thump pulsing through.
JUST. One. Day. Is it really so much to ask?