Government is yet to agree on a solution or a way forward on the issue of vending on Seven Mile Public Beach.
Lands Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, speaking in Parliament on Thursday, said the Public Lands Commission has prepared a policy that could be adopted for the granting of some permits to the vendors at Public Beach in accordance with the Public Lands regulations 2021.
However, she said, “the policy is under active consideration by caucus and Cabinet at this time as well as the overriding principle of whether or not to permit any vending at this location”.
O’Connor-Connolly was responding to a parliamentary question from George Town North MP Joey Hew on the contentious issue.
Longstanding issue
The return of vendors to the popular beach has been a cause for concern for many.
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said, in his view, vending should not be allowed on Public Beach.
Speaking on the Cayman Compass weekly talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’ on 2 Nov., Bryan said the situation is already “out of control”.
He noted that government has a proposal to address the issue. However, apart from O’Connor-Connolly’s statement in the House, there have been no updates on what the plan for dealing with the vendors would be.
Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Troy Leacock, speaking on Wednesday’s ‘The Resh Hour’, said that the situation has to be addressed soon.
“We absolutely need to get in front of that and the reason why is that things like water-sports rentals at a public beach can be dangerous… are they insured? So you get into the whole visitor safety element,” he said, adding that Cayman has promoted its tourism industry a premium product.
The reality, he said, is mass tourism and “ad hoc wild west vendors just flies in the face of what it is that we’re trying to maintain.”
Leacock added, “I don’t believe that these individuals wouldn’t like to step up to offering those premium wares and premium services but we need to get in front of it. We need to figure out how to license it. We need to make sure that the customer service seals are there… so that can actually enhance the visitor experience when they go to beaches… rather than detracting away from it.”
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Oh, like how the waterfront high rises enhance the beach experiences?…no detraction on the overdevelopment of eyesore 14 million dollar condos, where beautiful, sensible and charming condos once stood. Give me a break. The over development of what was once a magical beach and island deserve all the heart ache that comes with it…the traffic AND beach vendors. Isn’t this what the Government wished for?
NO VENDORS on any Public accessed beaches.