There is a delightful addition to the landscape of downtown these days.
The Cayman Islands Craftmarket has finally opened for the shopping pleasure of visitors and locals.
While some Caymanian arts and crafts and plenty of Caribbean arts and crafts can be found at a plethora of gift shops and galleries throughout the country, this new market offers only what is unique to the Cayman Islands.
Shoppers can be assured that their purchases from the market are pure (or at least part) Caymanian, crafted by real Caymanians.
The wares being hawked there must be either 100 per cent Caymanian or semi-finished products that can be imported, but completed here. It’s all to reflect the Caymanian culture.
The first day of the market, Wednesday, went off without a hitch, even though there was initially only one cruise ship in the harbour, with a second diverted one in the afternoon.
The mood was upbeat and visitors and locals alike were leaving behind their cash and taking away real Cayman culture.
Thursday was a little different, but the lack of early shoppers can be blamed mainly on the weather, which greeted visitors with heavy skies and drenching rains.
The Kirkconnell family is to be commended for donating the land for the market, which is in a perfect spot.
But we think more can be done to lure visitors to the new market.
There should be better signage.
While the sign telling potential shoppers what the market is does a good job, there should be more markers directing cruise visitors to the stalls.
Once there, shoppers find a diversity of goods at the market from tasty morsels of heavy cake to T-shirts, colourful conch shells, wood carvings and even jewellery.
And the range of prices should fit just about anyone’s budget.
So far there are 18 artisans registered to sell their goods at the Cayman-only market.
They fork over $50 a month for the privilege of selling their wares, a small chunk of change that will easily be recouped once the craftmarket is truly up and running.
An official opening for the market will soon come.
In the meantime, every effort must be made by all of us to support the market and its artisans by visiting them, buying their goods and passing the good word along to friends and visitors.
Related Videos
