Beach vendor permits to be granted by end of October

Vendor permits for Caymanians selling goods and services on Seven Mile Public Beach are expected to be granted by the end of October, it was announced in Parliament this week.

The permits are a long time coming for many business owners who have battled with authorities for years over the legality of working on the popular stretch of beach.

Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who is also Minister of District Administration and Lands, gave the update in response to a parliamentary question on Tuesday, 19 Sept.

Joey Hew, MP for George Town North, had asked if she could describe the status of the “situation with the beach vendors on Cayman’s public beaches”.

In her reply, O’Connor-Connolly reminded members that Cabinet had approved the Seven Mile Public Beach Park Vendor Policy earlier this year.

This serves as an operational guide for the Public Lands Commission to process permit applications and manage the area.

“The commission… has been corresponding with the said applicants for additional information in order to complete the processing of the applications,” the minister said.

“I am reliably informed… the Public Lands Commission anticipates completion of the grant of vendor permits for the Seven Mile Beach by the end of October 2023.”

Hew went on to ask if the policy and vendor application process cover all public beaches.

O’Connor-Connolly responded that policy guidance on the Public Lands Act (2020 Revision) remains in place for all beaches other than Seven Mile Public Beach.

It allows for commercial vending at the Coe Wood Beach in Bodden Town.

However, it does not allow commercial vending at Smith Barcadere, Spotts, Governors, Consuelo’s, Kaibo, Cayman Kai, Starfish Point and Governor Russell public beaches.

Hew asked if that included West Bay Beach, by the boat ramp, which is at the beginning of North West Point Road.

O’Connor-Connolly said vendors had previously had temporary permission to operate there but that has now expired, so the policy extends to them as well.

A turbulent history

In March this year, the Public Lands Commission issued 17 traders with cease-and-desist notices during an enforcement operation aimed at ridding the beach of illegal vendors.

This was not followed up with any arrests and left sellers confused as to how they could operate legally.

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan told the Compass in April that a policy was in the works, saying it would allow traders to “know what their future’s going to be”.

The Seven Mile Beach Vendor Policy was approved in Cabinet in May.

Commission chair Woody DaCosta, in a press release, said the ultimate goal of the policy is to give the public access to the organised provision of food, drinks and other services.

It clearly defines the role of a vendor, he said, along with parameters which “strike a balance” between their interest and the good of the general public.

To apply for the permit, sellers have to pay an initial fee of $100 and then $75 per year. Additional annual fees include $250 per boat, $50 per jet ski and $250 for floating devices.

The new rules state sellers will be restricted to operating from the blue-and-green vendor kiosks, where electricity will be provided.

Only food-and-beverage stalls and trucks, local produce sellers, and water-sports and beach-gear assistants will be allowed to operate outside the kiosks.

The sale of alcohol is prohibited. However, the commission may issue occasional permits at the site allowing vendors to sell alcohol at their discretion, the policy says.

In September, the first vendor applied to the Liquor Licensing Board to sell alcohol at Seven Mile Public Beach. The owners of ice-shaving business Sno Patrol are awaiting a decision.