The prolonged closure of the Cayman Craft Market negatively affects the promotion of local culture, according to former manager Jean-Eric Smith, who added that if the facility is not reopened soon, he feared the recovery of Cayman’s tourism product could be further hampered.
“Many people think that the craft market is just a location where artisans pedal trinkets primarily to cruise tourists and, with the current ban on cruise tourism, they believe there isn’t much need for a craft market,” said Smith, also known as Mr. Notch.
“However, nothing could be further from the truth. The craft market represents the tangible parts of Cayman’s culture and should be open year-round for our youth and newcomers to our islands to learn about our rich past and our traditions.”
For the past 15 years, the market has been located at the junction of Boilers Road and South Church Street in George Town. The property on which it was located belongs to the Kirk Freeport group, who issued a peppercorn lease to the Tourism Attraction Board, which oversees the market.
In mid-2020, the craft market closed, following the collapse of the tourism industry after Cayman closed its borders as part of its COVID-19 suppression strategy. On 31 Dec. 2021, the lease expired and Kirk Freeport chose not to renew it.
In the interim, a petition signed by all the market vendors was submitted to the government calling for the reopening of the market.
During a Public Finance Committee meeting on 6 Dec. 2021, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said government had purchased a plot of land in George Town along North Church Street, north of the Lobster Pot restaurant. This location has been dubbed ‘The Waterfront Experience’ and is expected to be the future site of the craft market and other tourism attractions.
Although government has purchased the land, Smith said he is worried that a new site might not be up and running in time for the return of cruise tourism.
“The government has said cruise tourism could be back to our shores as soon as the end of the first quarter,” said Smith. “If that is true, there needs to be greater urgency placed on reopening the craft market ahead of any large-scale tourist returns.”
Tourism minister Bryan said the government hopes the new site for the market can be up and running shortly, “so that, in the event of cruise [tourism] coming back a lot quicker… then we have a place for those craft market attendees to be at”.
However, he noted that there were other waterfront locations that could temporarily house the craft market, if necessary.
During the Public Finance Committee meeting, government approved $280,000 for the management of the craft market for the 2022-2023 budget cycle.
At the time of the closure of the craft market, 21 vendors were licensed to sell their merchandise by the Tourism Attractions Board. While addressing questions about the craft market in Parliament, Bryan said those licensed vendors will have the right to first refusal when the new location is ready.
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How disappointing Kirk Freeport chose not to keep the Cayman Craft Market up and running on its original sight. This iconic spot to stop and snap up some beautifully skilled hand made items from Caymanians was always a favorite for me and my 3 children. We are not cruisers, but yearly (used to be) long term stay-cationers. Every year we would pick up Ivy’s pepper jelly’s and hot sauces, my children would choose a handmade doll, jewelry or a trinket that they still hold dear today. It was a great way for us to experience some of the islands culture as well, as we learned so much just talking to the local artisans.
I personally looked forward to adding to my collection of woven mats, baskets, pot holders (shaped as starfish & turtles) and hats…we also picked up gifts for others back home. The market was a strategic location for tourists, and it was where we either began or finished our walk along all the shops and restaurants. One more thing to change when (and if) we get to ever come back. This is an important market. I hope the relocation does it justice when it reopens.