Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control officials are exploring the possibility of issuing tickets to visitors who arrive at air and sea ports with small amounts of Class B drugs such as ganja.
As it stands, arriving passengers who are found with illegal drugs are arrested, charged and brought before the courts because the law prescribes no alternative means to deal with the infractions.
“I know we are currently exploring the possibility to issue tickets to persons with small amounts of certain drugs, providing that they do not exceed a certain threshold,” senior CBC officer Oral Lawrence told the Summary Court on Friday, 9 May.
According to Lawrence, if implemented, such a system would allow CBC officers to issue administrative fines by way of tickets, similar to speeding tickets issued by police.
He did not say when the system would be implemented nor if such a system would contemplate administrative fines for other frequent infractions, such as passengers travelling with ammunition.
Lawrence made the comments in response to Chief Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez’s calls for increased signage at airports as well as on travel-advisory and ticket-purchasing websites.
“There needs to be signs at the airports in big bold letters, on travel forms, on our tourism websites, even when persons are purchasing their tickets, there should be pop-ups that say, ‘Do not travel to the Cayman with these items’,” said Hernandez.
The magistrate was expressing her frustration while sentencing a man from Florida, who arrived in Cayman with six pre-rolled ganja cigarettes, and edible cannabis gummies.
“I know this is a policy matter, and as such I do not wish to comment in that regard,” said Hernandez. “But something must be done, because too many people are ruining their lives, by showing up here with drugs, when there are things that could be done to prevent it.”
Hernandez’s comments come on the heels of half a dozen passengers aboard a direct flight from New York who arrived in Cayman with varying quantities of cannabis.
“I must also say that I am baffled at the degree of entitlement that some of these offenders have,” said Hernandez. “You would think that someone who is travelling to another man’s country would research the rules before going, instead of saying well it’s legal in my country so it must be legal where I’m going.”
When disposing of the matter before her, Hernandez ordered that the American passenger pay $2,000 in costs for the tests conducted by the prosecution.
No conviction was recorded against the man, whose attorney told the court he intends to return to take up employment with Cayman Enterprise City.
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Excellent idea. The courts and police have better things to do. Plus why create strain and an airport scene with the travel industry? Many tourists are bringing substances at are legal in their jurisdictions.