EDITORIAL

Stingray City too crowded for safety

Monday, January 19, 2004

As the Cayman Islands struggles with its declining stay-over tourism scenario, and with the European Union and the United Kingdom's threats to our financial sector, one might be inclined to turn a blind eye toward conditions that might otherwise be quickly addressed. 

However, there are a few instances where the evidence is manifest that we must act immediately, and one of these is the problem of massive overcrowding at the Sand Bar site in the once pristine North Sound.

Previous press coverage over time has voiced alarm over the shocking conditions that occur almost daily there. Apart from one or two individual letters, the outcry has clearly not yet triggered any remedial action from the the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association, or from individual watersports operators themselves, and as a result, the problem not only continues, but seems to be getting worse. 

There are reports of a control plan being developed by the Department of the Environment; clearly, this plan must now be hastened as common sense has not come to the fore on this matter from within the watersports community.

On a random visit to the sandbar two weeks ago, on a day when the sea was less than calm, there were well over 300 people on the site, with approximately 200 in the water, jockeying for position, literally bumping into one another, amid turbulent sea conditions that made things difficult, if not dangerous, for young people or unaccomplished swimmers. 

Alarming as that is, investigation has revealed that that was, in fact, a slow day. Several watersports employees have said that there are days when the body count at the Sand Bar reaches 1,000 and more. Some estimates are even expressed beyond that.

The immediate issue is obviously one of the safety of the people who are patrons of this attraction. When visiting Stingray City, on one of those peak visitor days, one realises that a charter boat captain is not exaggerating when he warns that "a serious accident is going to happen there sooner or later."

Indeed, given the daily scenario, it is surprising that such a calamity has not already taken place. 

Apart from the inevitable jostling that can imperil young children or novice swimmers, the proximity of over a dozen boats jockeying for position, sometimes only a few feet apart, makes for a situation that only can only be described as hazardous. To be fair, some operators have admitted their concern; but the lack of regulation means profit-minded attitudes and dangerous conditions prevail.

Furthermore, although it can be argued, as some do, that "nobody has been hurt," we are obviously hurting our long-term tourism prospects as we allow this congestion to continue. While some individuals might take the present Sand Bar jamming in stride, and perhaps even still enjoy it, many of the people on these shuttle trips are not going home reporting positively on the experience, or on us.

The stingrays, one would expect, are getting a good review for their grace and beauty, but Cayman has already come in for some fierce criticism for the way we are operating in this area, and more is certain to come, particularly from today's environmentally-conscious North America and European traveler. 

Just as the Sand Bar and Sting Ray City combination has generated enormous positive exposure for Cayman in the international media, those very media will criticize us on what they previously extolled if we do not act to rectify the situation. 

The watersports industry, often commendably proactive on self-regulation, has been too indifferent for too long on the conditions at this truly unique site. Government action must be fast-tracked to make sure the Sand Bar operations are safe and enjoyable and, to use the current mantra, sustainable.

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