Business leaders call for November reopening

Business leaders across multiple industries are calling for Cayman’s borders to reopen on 22 Nov.

The ‘Reopen Cayman’ initiative extends beyond the tourism sector, which is most directly impacted by the pandemic, and includes supermarkets, salons, developers, real estate and telecoms operations among others.

A total of 16 private-sector business people are spearheading the campaign, with almost 2,000 other employees and businesses making pledges of support so far.

Some say their own businesses, as well as their ability to employ people and contribute to government revenues, are directly affected.

Others fear the longer-term damage to the economy from an extended closure or are supporting the campaign out of solidarity with the hotels, restaurants, transport and water-sports operators that have been most severely hit by the loss of tourism.

Randy Merren, director of Hurley’s and managing director of the C3 cable and internet company, believes the quarantine requirements should be dropped as soon as possible. He said there was little sign that COVID-19 was going away and Cayman is now as prepared as it ever will be to welcome back tourists.

“Our tourism industry is suffering. I feel for the people in the restaurant and service industry, they have weathered the storm and I am amazed at their resilience but we need this leg of our economy functioning again.”

Increased risk

Merren said there would inevitably be some increased risk from COVID-19 once visitors return. But he believes with the vaccine and the therapeutic treatments now available, that Cayman can reopen with some confidence.

“We have got to reopen at some point. No one can fault the government; they have done all they can to get the people vaccinated. We are as ready as possible.

“They have done as much as they can to get people vaccinated. At this point it is a matter of personal choice and personal responsibility for individuals, but we have got to open.”

James Bovell, broker/owner, with Re/Max Cayman Islands, said the impact of the border closure was starting to bleed across from tourism to real estate and other sectors of the economy.

Highlighting a multi-million-dollar sale that had fallen through the day after the delay in reopening was announced, he said that one lost transaction had cost government $600,000 in stamp duty revenue.

Bovell said he was also fielding calls from current vacation-home owners looking to sell as the border closure drags on. He said jurisdictions like Turks and Caicos and other islands were poised to benefit from lost clients in Cayman.

While the positive and negative impacts of tourism and real estate industries on the jurisdiction have been debated, Bovell argues that both are important sources of revenue for Cayman.

Beyond the 3,000-plus people in the tourism sector receiving the government stipend, he said whole entities, like Cayman Airways, the Department of Tourism and the Cayman Turtle Centre, were reliant on government subsidies and that visitors and the revenue they bring would inevitably be needed in the longer term.

High season still possible

He said he believes a November reopening can still ensure that the tourism industry gets some kind of high season and the chance to begin the long road to recovery.

Bovell added, “I see the country being made of many types of services, business and attractions that all make for this amazing environment we all live in and as such we need them all to survive.”

Paul Pearson, who co-owns Davenport Development and Get Nailed & More beauty salon with business partner Ken Thompson, said they were supporting the campaign for the health and wellbeing of their staff.

Pearson said the construction industry had weathered the impacts of the border closure quite well. But he said the beauty salon had been impacted and Thompson’s Island Taste catering group had also been affected.

“We have to get the border reopen for everybody’s mental health as much as anything,” he added.

“None of our people have left the island in two years. They can’t afford to leave and then be in quarantine for a week. We are lucky to live in paradise but it can feel like a prison as well sometimes.

“We have been very lucky in how the government has handled it. Both government and the health services have done an excellent job but COVID is in the community now and it is not going anywhere so we have to deal with that.”

Pearson said Davenport had implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for its staff and could ensure that all its employees and sub-contractors were fully vaccinated. He said the business has also bulk-ordered lateral flow tests in preparation for reopening.

Difficult decisions

Woody Foster, owner of Foster’s supermarket chain, said he understood why some people were reluctant to reopen. He said it was an enormous responsibility for government to contemplate the increased risk of infection, and the possibility of deaths from COVID-19, that could flow from the reopening of the borders.

“We are moving from zero risk to some risk and you have to ask yourself is it really worth it?” he acknowledged. He said the reality that COVID could go on for five years or become endemic across the globe had persuaded him that Cayman should start the process of welcoming back visitors.

“What is the difference between now and six months time? We would just be kicking the can down the road. We can’t stay closed forever and hope COVID goes away.”

Foster said he understood if anyone, including the government, feels differently.

“These are really hard decisions when you are talking about life and death. We can’t be so tough on people who feel a different way to we do.”

*Compass Media owner James Bergstrom is one of the backers of the campaign.