Arden McLean, Minister of Communication, Works and Infrastructure, has proposed a number of measures designed to reduce Cayman’s increasing number of traffic accidents and offences. These include a points system for driving offences, immediate disqualification for excessive speeding, and restrictions on the importation and tinting of vehicles. Cabinet approval is required before the measures become law.
Minister for Aviation, Charles Clifford, has unveiled plans for a massive expansion of Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman. The work will be finished in approximately two years and will involve doubling the size of the terminal building, separating arriving and departing passengers and increasing the number of aircraft parking positions. The airport currently serves around 800,000 passengers a year. Once development work is complete the airport will be able to handle around 1.25 million passengers a year.
Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford announced that a record 1.9 million cruise visitors arrived in the Cayman Islands during 2006. The figures for air arrivals were equally impressive, with numbers up 59 percent on 2005.
Figures released this week by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service show that traffic accidents and offences rose sharply in 2006. Fatal accidents rose 180 percent, non-fatal accidents rose 60 percent, while traffic offences increased by 80 percent. The police are looking at the possibility of installing speed cameras to curb the increase.
Louise Gales, a 55-year old passenger on the cruise ship Carnival Valour, died December 28 after suffering difficulties on a snorkelling excursion with Frank’s Watersports. The Royal Cayman Islands Police are investigating to determine the cause of death and whether there was any negligence by the tour operator.
The Caymanian Compass reports that Works and Infrastructure Minister Arden McLean is pressing for a change to the rules for obtaining a driving licence that currently apply to expatriate workers. Currently, most workers can present a licence from their home country and obtain a Cayman licence without taking a driving test. There has been a big increase in the number of fraudulent licences presented by expatriate workers, particularly from Filipino citizens. Road traffic accidents have increased significantly this year.
Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford has announced that construction of cruise berthing facilities in George Town will begin no later than the second quarter of 2007. Ships currently anchor at sea and passengers are ferried to land by tender.
New baggage regulations are now in place for passengers departing from any airport in the EU.
Hand Baggage - Passengers are allowed 1 item of hand baggage measuring a maximum of 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm. Large musical instruments will be allowed as a second item of hand luggage.
Liquids - Passengers can only carry small quantities (maximum 100 ml per container) of liquids, gels and aerosols in their hand baggage. These containers must be carried in a resealable, clear plastic bag (1 per passenger) and be presented separately at security control. Exceptions will be made for baby formula and medication required during flights.
Boatswain’s Beach will officially open its doors on November 1 with a gala hosted by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. The organisation is holding its annual Cruise Conference and Trade Show on the island from October 31 to November 3.
The US government has delayed the passport requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until January 1 2008 for land crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders and for cruise passengers coming to the US from the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada or Bermuda. They amendment does not apply to those travelling by air, who are still required to have a passport from January 8 2007. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) believes the amendment doesn’t go far enough and has equated it to “a category 6 hurricane” in the Caribbean region.