Government will consider applications from beach vendors to operate on Bodden Town’s Coe Wood Beach but intends to keep all other public beaches free of commercial activity.
Micro-businesses have also been told they can seek deals with private landowners to cater to tourists on other beaches around the island.
Bids for 34 spaces to sell food or rent chairs and jet-skis to tourists at Seven Mile Public Beach were four times oversubscribed, leaving multiple applicants disappointed. Several long-time vendors said they were unhappy with the new policy and are now left fighting for their livelihoods.
But officials have defended their actions and insist there are other options for businesses and for cruise tourism elsewhere on the island.
Wilbur Welcome, the chief officer in the Ministry of Lands, said the arrangement was the culmination of efforts over several years to find a fair compromise amid public opposition to businesses operating on the beach.
He acknowledged comments from traders that the restrictions would impact their businesses – in some cases leaving them to look for another way to make a living – but said government had a duty to protect the public’s right to use the beaches.
“The public beaches are for the use of Caymanians and residents first and foremost,” he said.
Welcome acknowledged comments from vendors that there was high demand for their services on Public Beach, especially for deck chairs and sun umbrellas – which are restricted to 384 across eight different vendors.
“It is accepted that demand from cruise ship passengers will exceed supply in terms of lounger rentals on Seven Mile Public Beach,” he said.
“It is about striking a balance between accommodating cruise tourism and ensuring public beaches are available for residents to enjoy at all times.”
Welcome said government’s initiative aimed to reconcile broad public opposition to allowing cruise tours to “completely take over Seven Mile Public Beach on cruise ship days” with the needs of the businesses and their customers, by limiting the services available and banning vending of any kind on weekends and public holidays.
He said there would be clearly marked lounger rental zones alongside areas that would remain clear for anyone to use.
Beyond Seven Mile Beach
It is hoped that the limitations will help disperse tourist demand from Public Beach to other areas around Grand Cayman. He said vendors were free to make arrangements to expand rental options on “privately owned beaches” on Seven Mile and beyond.
“Restricting lounger numbers may well have the effect of encouraging more cruise ship tourists to explore other attractions, tours and experiences that Grand Cayman has to offer.”
In terms of opportunities on public beaches for vendors, he said the current plan is to limit that to two beaches.
“The Public Lands Commission is willing to consider applications to vend from Coe Wood Beach in Bodden Town.
“All other public beaches are not available for vendors to apply. As noted… there are other attractions, excursions, and tours for cruise passengers to experience.”
Vendors have cautioned that most tourists want to come to Seven Mile Beach and the distance to drive out east makes other sites less viable when cruise ships are anchored in George Town.
Government defends selection process
Addressing concerns from long-established vendors about the application process to select the 34 permitted to work at the beach, Welcome said the commission strove to ensure a fair evaluation and scoring process.
Micro-businesses with relevant experience were given additional points, but he acknowledged that not everyone who applied could be accommodated.
“With applications four times oversubscribed for the number of permits available it was a very competitive exercise.”
He added, “We are unaware of any unfairness in the process but we will be undertaking a review of all scorings to ensure accuracy across all applicants.”
Welcome said the need to regulate commercial activity on public beaches had been one of the main reasons government had passed the Public Lands Act in 2017.
“Regulating vendors makes them fully accountable to the Public Lands Commission, Inspectorate, and the general public through the detailed terms and conditions issued with a permit, including expected minimum standards of behaviour, mandatory basic qualification when handling food, liability insurance and first aid training for water-sports operators, and a specific location at the beach for each approved vendor to operate.”
He said the layout for vending – mapped out in the policy – accommodated a significant amount of vendors while also allowing the public free space for use such as the cabanas and ‘no-vending zones’.
He added that it would be reviewed on a regular basis based on feedback from vendors, beach users and the general public.
From mid-February, anyone operating without a permit at the beach will be considered to be committing an offence under the Public Lands Act.
“We are working with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the regulation of commercial activity at the location,” Welcome added.
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There should be no public vendors of any sort on any public beaches.
If cruise boats want beach accommodation for their guests they should make arrangements with private beach owners as they did previously.
I’m sorry for the vendors but their business was built on a falsehood; that they had the right to operate their businesses on public land.
What happened to Royal Palms. It was a great beach with all the amenities. It should be reopened. which would take some pressure of public beach
As for the comment above we get1 1/2 million people on cruise ships. That creates lots of jobs for locals and brings in millions of dollars to the island. There has to be a beach or beaches where they can go
Yes Bruce, as I said above, there should be a beach they can go to. But not at the expense of Grand Cayman residents.
Royal Palms used to be an excellent choice, but it is a construction site and is closed.
The Public Beaches are for the public and should not be taken over by merchants rent free.