Transport

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.

The Royal Watler Cruise Terminal will officially open on September 22. Minister of Tourism Charles Clifford will speak at the event.

The Cayman Islands have joined with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the International Council of Cruise Lines and other travel organisations to support a delay in the January 2007 deadline of the US Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The current proposal places the Cayman Islands and other Caribbean destinations at a disadvantage to destinations such as Canada and Mexico, which can be accessed from the US by land. The WHTI does not affect such crossings until 2008.

Financial Secretary Kenneth Johnson revealed a pretty impressive set of economic statistics for 2005 today.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% from 4.4% the previous year, despite an 18% increase in population to 52,466. Per capital income rose to $39,801 (2004 – $38,173) while GDP growth stood at 6.5% (2004 – 0.9%).

Cruise visitors rose slightly to 1.8 million, although the number of visitors arriving by air dropped by around 35% to just fewer than 170,000.