Tag: Charles Clifford
Cubans deported as changes speed up process
(CNS): Changes to the legislation at the end of last year to make asylum claims more difficult for irregular migrants have enabled the Cayman Islands Government to speed up the deportation process for Cuban migrants whose claims have been denied. The CI Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) repatriated six Cuban men from Grand Cayman […]
Customs order restricts import of older vehicles
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government is now restricting the importation of vehicles more than seven years old. About 24,000 vehicles were imported over the last five years, and there are concerns that older vehicles are harder to maintain, cause more pollution and fall short of safety standards. The aim is to curb the number of […]
CBC officers seize mushrooms and ganja
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control have arrested three people after two separate drug seizures at the Owen Roberts International Airport. On 31 March and on 2 April, significant quantities of ganja, mushrooms, THC-infused gummies and THC vape cartridges were recovered from passengers, according to a CBC release. Officials said they are seeing an increase […]
Ten Cuban migrants deported to Havana
(CNS): Another ten Cuban migrants were flown back to the neighbouring island last week, the Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service has confirmed. The men, who were deported on a chartered Cayman Airways SAAB from Grand Cayman, included one migrant released from HMP Northward after he was convicted and sentenced for escaping lawful custody.
Three arrested after customs seize fentanyl pills
(CNS): Two Jamaican men aged 47 and 38 and a 32-year-old Caymanian woman, all living in East End, were arrested last week on suspicion of importing 200 fentanyl tablets after customs officers seized an incoming parcel at the Airport Post Office containing the potent synthetic opioid some ten days ago. CBC Director Charles Clifford sounded […]
Twenty more Cubans deported to Havana
(CNS): Another group of Cuban migrants whose asylum claims were denied were repatriated Tuesday to Havana on a Cayman Airways charter flight. The 15 men and five women, including two minors and a former prisoner from HMP Northward, left Grand Cayman at 8:15am on 31 January and were back in Cuba just half an hour […]
Cubans deported as ministry navigates ongoing crisis
(CNS): Sixteen men were repatriated to Cuba on 11 January and twenty more people were moved from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman as the ministry responsible for immigration continues to navigate the ongoing crisis relating to the sharp increase in irregular landings by Cuban’s fleeing the neighbouring island. A Cayman Airways flight left Grand Cayman […]
PACT preparing new policy on duty waivers
(CNS) The Cayman Islands Government is working on a new policy that is likely to upend the traditional approach to duty waivers and other concessions. Premier Wayne Panton told CNS that past administrations had given up revenue in exchange for jobs or to boost economic activity. But Cayman’s priorities have changed, he said, and PACT […]
Customs boss to face MPs on failures over improvements
(CNS): Customs and Border Control Director Charles Clifford is one of several senior government officials due to face the Public Accounts Committee today (Wednesday) to explain why many of the recommendations made by the Office of the Auditor General have not been implemented. A report published in February highlighted the fact that the CBC has […]
Migrant policy under review as budget set to rise
(CNS): The Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) has warned that if the current increase in Cuban migrant arrivals continues, it will need more money to cover the costs of managing them as it has already spent $450,000 so far this year and only has around $300,000 left from the funds allotted for 2022. In […]
Cayman prepares plan for potential influx of migrants
(CNS): Last year government spent $850,000 managing Cuban migrants, but a continued surge of people fleeing the communist island nation could cost much more and put a severe strain on local resources, as happened most notably almost 30 years ago when more than 2,000 Cubans passed through the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands Government […]
