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Cayman Islands News, Articles and InformationBRIGHT FUTURE FOR BARBADOSsBarbados can become the hub of international business in the region for companies coming from Europe, North America and Asia.According to newly-appointed President of the Barbados International Business Association (BIB A) Thomas Sears, the potential is there for future growth in the sector which already employs 4 000 Barbadians, generates 60 per cent of the islands corporate taxes, and also benefits local service providers such as lawyers, accountants, and auditors, a s well as the tourism sector. I see a very prosperous future for Barbados in the area of international business. The opportunities are there for the sector to grow and flourish, but what we need to do is work closely with Government to ensure th a t every element of the experience in Barbados is positive. When you look at other jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and The Bahamas, international business represents about 50 per cent of their economies.
CITA fears huge blow from US passport issueHospitality sector officials here are lobbying the Ministry of Tourism, fearing the financial crisis that could arise from the "must have passport" rule being implemented in the US.The US Government said it would be compulsory for its citizens and others travelling to the US from the Caribbean to have a passport or a specific travel document from 1 January 2007. One year ago, the George W. Bush administration agreed to push back a previous deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) after lobbying from regional tourism officials. The Cayman Islands Government said it was assessing its options and working with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association to come up with a solution. On the eve of the departure of a tourism delegation to the US capital, Washington DC, to lobby for an extension to the 31 December 2006 passport deadline, stakeholders have expressed concerns. Ken Thompson, Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), said members of his organisation were concerned about a possible loss of 60 percent of the US market. New options for vehicle inspections in sightComplaints about long lines and a huge number of hours that vehicle owners in the Cayman Islands have lodged for many years, in relation to getting their vehicles passed and licensed, could soon be a thing of the past.Hon Arden McLean, Minister of Communications, Works and Infrastructure, has said that in future people will be able to enjoy the facility of going to a certified garage or mechanic to have their vehicles passed, as opposed to residents going to one of only two government locations in George Town and West Bay for the test. "By October, we should have garages certified to do inspections. This will bring a whole new set of efficiencies to the Department's operations," Mr McLean said. Since he took office in May 2005, the Vehicle Licensing Department - one of Mr McLean's areas of responsibility - has been targeted for an overhaul, to make the Department's services more user-friendly and efficient in serving the public.
Fuel Safety ConcernsIt is now clear that the Government is not going to simply allow persons wanting to escape high fuel and oils costs here, to go ahead and execute their own importation of fuel products without Government's monitors being turned on to the process.At this stage - having only read about private individuals bringing their own supplies of oils into the Island, for themselves, in the 5 July 2006 edition of the Cayman Net News - Leader of Government Business, Honourable Kurt Tibbetts, has now said that there is an important safety factor to be addressed with this process. Speaking at a post-Cabinet Media Briefing on 14 July 2006, Mr Tibbetts said, "There is a tremendous public liability issue here." Commenting on the route taken by this group of persons who have found cheaper overseas sources for their local oils needs on their own Mr Tibbetts said, "We would not want to see a proliferation of that (individual importation). The Kings deserve betterIt's not too late for our Government to have this terrible injustice corrected. The Kings deserve better treatment than this. Now that they are approaching retirement, free medical care should at least be automatic for them.I am grateful for this couple, who have given forty years of dedicated service to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and made so many sacrifices along the way. Their first born child and also Mrs King's mother were laid to rest at the West End Cemetery. I personally want to thank Rev Lee and Mrs King for all the good that they have done for the people of the Sister Islands and for my family in particular. Sylvia Ritch-Goldstein Back... Send us your comments! Send us your comments on this article for publication in our Readers' Forum. All fields are required and in the interest of openness and transparency we will no longer accept anonymous submissions. We therefore request that all submissions include a name for publication, regardless of content. |
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