Questions from our readers

Friday, October 1, 2004

The following is a sample of the hundreds of questions we are continuing to receive from our readers. We regret that we are unable to reply to each individually because Cayman Net News itself is operating under reduced conditions and we just do not have the resources to deal with such a high volume of enquires. We are therefore passing on these questions to the appropriate government departments and/or private sector associations and we will publish any general or specific responses from them. 

Readers should however bear in mind that both public and private sectors are extremely stretched at the moment and, even assuming the information requested is available in the first place, a response may not be forthcoming quickly or at all. Indeed, Government Information Services (GIS) has already informed us that they “do not have the time” to answer our reader’s questions.

• We are going on a cruise (Royal Caribbean) to the Caymans the week of Oct. 18th 2004. Will we still be able to go to the island? - Jo Carter
  
  
• I am a resident in Grand Cayman and will be back to the island on October 4th. I won’t be able to get immediate work from my employer. I have a degree in Education (professional) and a technical degree as an English teacher (as a Second Language). How can I apply for a teaching position now that the Education Dept. needs help and I am in the same situation? Where can I present my paperwork? Thanks a lot - Elaine Ramos
  
  
• Is there any news of Morritt's Tortuga Club? Is it still standing? - Cheryl Smith
  
  
• Please e-mail me back on the manpower that’s needed, and what a person needs to do about coming to the aid of Grand Cayman. Laborers, skilled carpenters, etc. need info on how to get there. Thank you - Rick Gumm
  
  
• When are they going to allow the cruise ships to stop at Grand Cayman again? Thank you! - Joan Hickman
  
  
• Your photos are of great interest, but cannot tell the location. We have interest in the Grand Caymanian Resort, do you know the status. We live in the US. Thank you! - Irene Sari
  
  
• My name is Janet Jackson and all of the Jacksons in West Bay are my cousins. I am an orthopedic nurse in Dallas, Texas. Is there anything I can do? If I can help, please let me know. I would be more than willing to come. What is communication like at the moment? Thanks. God bless. - Janet Jackson
  
  
• Please let us know what you need. I am very sad to find out so many of the Cayman people lost their home, personal Items, and also all the damage your beautiful Island suffered. I am especially sad, since I love Cayman Islands, and have many friends who are from Cayman. I will try to get furniture, clothes, food, but I need to find out if any of your airlines will be able to take all the goods to your Island. Please I would like to help! I love the Cayman people and your island! - Sylviane Kitchen
  
  
• Is the Governor still in charge? - Bob
  
  
• It is good to hear that the recovery programme is at full steam. My wife and I have booked a holiday in Grand Cayman from the 1st November, will you be ready to receive tourists by then or should we look at cancelling the visit for another year? Thanks for your advice. - Alan Carter
  
  
• I have been to Grand Cayman several times and own a time share at the Grand Caymanian. If needed, I could come help in some way. I am a handyman by trade, a licensed electrician and do carpentry, renovations and own my own tools. Is it possible that you could use my help? Please respond. Thanks. - Scott Onstead
  
  
• Our concern is that it appears that costs of materials for hurricane damage repairs has doubled, will the insurance companies meet this increased cost of repairs? As there are so many broken down vehicles on the island, is it possible that replacement vehicles could be imported with a reduced import tax? It is vital that businesses have transport and at present they cannot get their vehicles repaired. - Chris Reed
  
  
• I am a qualified carpenter and qualified cement finisher. What are the possibilities of working to help rebuild all the damage to the homes and businesses that were damaged during your terrible ordeal? Please contact me if I may be of help - Terry Slingsby
  
  
• Do we have any idea when power will be restored in the Cayman Kai area? Is it weeks or months? - Niels Harpsoe
  
  
• Our daughter is trying to rebuild a nursery school and we would like to travel to Grand Cayman to assist. We would have accommodation available. When would be the earliest we could come to Grand Cayman and what are the restrictions on us travelling? - Anne Hoar
  
  
• I would like to know how Triple C School and Walker's Road Church of God fared. I taught at Triple C in the 80s. My home was destroyed in Hurricane Charley August 13th. So sorry to see that my Cayman home, Mariner's Cove, also destroyed in Ivan. Best wishes to Grace and Ken Wright in West Bay and Sue and JR Trull - Sherry Motz Stranahan
  
  
• Any news about the Cobalt Coast Resort and the manager, Arie? - Michael Sunderman
  
  
• What was the damage to the Grand Caymanian? - Bonnie Jean Hoffman
  
  
• Can you tell me when the airport will be opened for normal passenger operations for flights to and from the USA? Thank you - Denis Barrett
  
  
• I'd like to congratulate you on your web coverage. I live in England, and it gave more accurate reports on the situation than was available in our newspapers. The photos were staggering. I note you mentioned that the Marriott, Comfort Inn, Treasure Island and Beach Club had massive damage to their roofs. I regularly visit the Seven Mile Beach resort which is bang in the middle of those hotels but wasn't mentioned. I'm due to visit with friends in December and don't know whether it was badly damaged as there has been no response to e-mails. Are you able to provide any information so that we can make plans for our visit, or arrange to delay the visit to early next year? - Dawn Pillans
  
  
• I was just wondering if you would know if government intends to clean up the debris from the low income housing that was stored at the Fairbanks location, it sounded like missiles as it flew threw the air and hit the homes in Logwood estates. It is really too dangerous for the residents to attempt - Yvette Jordison
  
  
• How is the Turtle Farm after the storm? Is the 'Pink House' still standing? - Charlotte Whittaker
  
  
• I have been trying to locate the address for the East End shelter or a contact address for the NHC on the Cayman Islands, if you can help with this information it would be much appreciated - Alan & Lynn Kirkwood
  
  
• Any idea when US citizens owning Cayman property will be allowed on the island to assess damage to their property? - Shirley
  
  
• Who do I contact to find out when tourists will be allowed in? I have travel plans for the end of October and need to know if I should change them.- Sherri Friesen
  
  
• I'd like to help out in the Caymans with relief work, what can I do to get information? I already have a ticket, but am not considered relief or a national. Please let me know. - Luke Sargent
  
  
• I see on your website that the tourist ban will be lifted on November 15th, but I don't see this mentioned anywhere else. Could you please confirm this? My wife and I have been coming to Caymans for many years and would like to go there at the end of November. Thank you. - Gene Murray
  
  
• Beaches open? Water quality? Planning trip November 6th - should we wait until next year? Florida resident - our empathy to you. - Mark Northey
  
  
• We will need water and electricity and places to stay when we are coming back. Will this be so? I no longer have a place to live. I will try to rent a room or share with someone but I would like to have a clearer idea of the water and electricity condition. - Lorna Bjorklund
  
  
• I desperately need information as to when the Grand Cayman Airport will re-open to commercial flights. My elderly mother is still in a shelter, her home destroyed. I have booked a flight on Delta for October 6 to come to Cayman and bring her home to Indiana with me. I received an e-mail from Delta today saying the Airport may open on Oct 1 but that is "tentative." I have been to the Airport web-site many, many times, and sent inquiries, with no response. Do you have ANY information or update regarding the Airport for me? Thank you so very much. - Linda Bowman
  
  
• The devastation is unbelievable. Any information on Tamarind Bay Condos? - Morton Kantor
  
  
• Is there any way to find out if the Crows Nest survived the hurricane? I had dinner there in early June 2003 and the owner, Mr Ernest Foster sat with my two daughters and I and told us many things about the wonder of the Cayman Islands. He was one of the most interesting men I have met in my many travels around the world. I am 81 years old, have traveled extensively and truly have never met someone who loved "his Islands" as no one else I ever met. I trust God that he, his family and the Crow's Nest survived. - Jerry Mead
  
  
• Can anyone tell me any hotels that might be open the mid to end of October? The airlines will not work with us with refunding our money. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. - Sherry
  
  
• We understand the government is requiring permits for all those wishing to come to the island. We would like more information as how to get the permits and what are the requirements and restrictions - Joe Gavura
  
  
• I am planning my first holiday to Grand Cayman starting 12/15/04. Could you tell me in your best opinion if this should be postponed until a later date? While I would love to visit I do not want to interfere with reconstruction efforts of locals. God bless all of you in your current struggle. - Mary Clark
  
  
• Has there been any official word from the government yet about import duties being dropped for a year or so to enable people to rebuild their homes and lives as quickly as possible? Surely, the government would not want to profit from such a disaster. - Ray Els
  
  
• My wife and I, who recently re-started our yearly trips to Grand Cayman, were greatly distressed to hear of Ivan's destruction. We are scheduled for vacation the last two weeks in October, and were wondering if there are any volunteer opportunities for two people from Oklahoma (US). We can help out with light construction or any manual labor such as just clearing debris, etc., or with distribution of food and emergency supplies, etc. If you know whom we can contact locally, please let us know. We welcome any chance to help dig Cayman out from Ivan's wrath. We'll pay for the airfare down there, and can stay anywhere it's safe to lie down and sleep. Best of luck and regards. - Rick (and Pam) Long
  
  
• First of all, I would like to say how very sorry I am that your beautiful island was hit by such a terrible hurricane. I have been to Grand Cayman and stayed at Morritt's Tortuga which I absolutely loved. We are suppose to go there this November 7 for vacation but not sure of the status of the facility nor the island. We are to stay at Morritt's Tortuga. We would like to come and help you rebuild the island but not sure if we are able to do that either. Can you please advise the status of Morritt's Tortuga and if we would be allowed to come in November to assist with the rebuilding. - Sharon Mosteller
  
  
• I understand Seven Mile Beach Resort sustained substantial damage; is this true? - Stanley D. Nixon, Jr.
  
  
• Thank you for keeping us up to date with what has been going on. I have many good friends down there and I would like to know when I can come down and assist them. Do we need work permits? Can we bring tools, material, and equipment in? What can we do? Please let me know. - John Forrer, Key Largo, Florida (Key Largo Volunteer Fire Rescue Department)
  
  
• We are a family having a reunion on a Princess cruise arriving in Grand Cayman on Dec. 26th and I would like information on dive shops that would be open, and do any hotels have day rates where we can use their pool and beach area for the day? Did they suffer a lot of damage from the hurricane? Thank you. - ILS
  
  
• Does anyone know whether www.gov.ky is still inaccessible because their computers are down or because there is a separate problem with their website? - Ray Harris
  
  
• Please advise if there is a UK collection/delivery point for us to send supplies to. If anyone is co-ordinating assistance from the UK we would be happy to help with a collection point but would need help with shipping/transport - Lauren Mansfield
  
  
• I am traveling to Grand Cayman by cruise ship in December, 2004. How will the damage from Ivan affect my stay? - Fred Fair
  
  
• We have been trying to find out the status of the Turtle Nest Inn and the owners with no success and wondered if you may be able to help. We are trying to find out if they are okay. Thank you for any help. - Pete Digiacomo
  
  
• Can you give me a damage report on Treasure Island condos? The one we stay in is 324. If you can help I would appreciate it. - Richie Martin
  
  
• I am a teacher in New York and we are creating a relief session with the students. Please advise me on how to send relief supplies from our school in New York to Grand Cayman as soon as possible. Thanks. - Francine Ross-Roden
  
  
• I am hoping you can help me out. I am trying to find out about the availability of both food and water on Grand Cayman. I am coordinating bringing over a number of machines that will help dry out some of the hotels, banks, and other commercial buildings. However, I do not know if there is an adequate food & water supply. Any help with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks. - Tom Desmond

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