Streets Closureonly a Test - Says Chairman of PIBC
The street closures planned for George Town'swaterfront reported in Friday's edition of the Cayman Net Newswill be conducted only as a "test exercise" on heavycruise ship days, July 10 and July 24 only, officials said.
The exercises are designed to study theflow of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic in the area for futureconsideration. No other road closures are scheduled at this time.
The Wednesday exercises, when as many asfour cruise ships are in port - will be coordinated by the PortAuthority, the Royal Cayman Islands Police, the Department ofPublic Works and the newly formed Port Improvement and BeautificationCommittee (PIBC). Mr. Robert Hamaty, chairman of the PIBC saidthe exercise is just one small part of a larger project the committeewas created to carry out -- the beautification and redevelopmentof downtown George Town.
The PIBC was assembled on 28 May under thedirection of the Leader of Government Business and Minister ofTourism, the Hon. McKeeva Bush, in anticipation of a 25 percentincrease of cruise ships due to visit Grand Cayman this upcomingtourism season.
"The streets of downtown usually becomeovercrowded with visitors when cruise ships come into port. Pedestriansthere cannot find safe haven along the present inadequate sidewalksand bathroom facilities", Mr. Hamaty said "and the streetsbecome even more saturated with the arrival of several thousandmore visitors to the island".
"What we're trying to do is createa more pleasant visit for the visitor," Mr. Hamaty continued,"because right now the facilities are inadequate." Thewaterfront will be closed to traffic from the Fort Street trafficsignal to Boilers Road.
Mr. Hamaty, who is the owner of the TortugaRum Company also announced Monday, that the committee will proposeto the Government, who will make a decision next year, that theCayman Islands participate in Daylight Savings Time to bettercoordinate cruise ship arrivals and departures with the businesshours of downtown shops, which are at a disadvantage because thecruise ships arrive and leave an hour earlier.
This will also assist the early morningflow of traffic prior to the road closure, he said, and be a welcomechange for the airlines servicing the Cayman Islands, becausethey will be able to accommodate their published schedules andnormal connections in the United States.
Other members of the PIBC include Mr. PaulHurlston, Mr. Renard Moxam, Mr. Gerry Kirkconnell, Mr. HandelWhittaker and Mr. Noel March Jr.