Tourism Routes a Priority

for Debris Cleanup

Acleanup of beaches and dive sites along the Seven Mile Beach corridor and north and east coasts will begin this weekend (30/31 October), in preparation for next week’s cruise ship arrivals. It will continue every weekend until 14 November.

Organised by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, this weekend’s priority areas include Smugglers Cove, Royal Palms and the Courtyard Marriot. In West Bay, teams of volunteers will be at the Iron Shore and in the East End at Ocean Frontiers and the Reef Resort. Dive sites around these areas will also be a priority. Volunteers can contact CITA on 925-3817 for details.

The Chamber of Commerce is also continuing its major collection efforts along tourism routes next week, beginning with Airport Industrial Park. In an initiative sponsored by the private sector, the C of C has already completed a cleanup of the area from Smith Cove in George Town and all the way up to the West Bay Cemetery, in addition to Eastern Avenue. The cleanup was organised in preparation for the visit of executives from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) last Monday (25 October).

Next week C of C crews are moving into the Industrial Park area. The aim is to make George Town and tourism routes spick and span for next week’s arrival of cruise ships, said Mr. Wil Pineau, CEO of the Chamber.

For the C of C’s drive, several businesses donated garbage bags, gloves, brooms, shovels, rakes, water, ice, first aid equipment, snacks and more. Hundreds of persons are assisting with the effort and heavy equipment is being used to remove large debris from several buildings that were badly damaged during the hurricane.

The Department of Environmental Health will also be making collections next week in Belford Estates in Bodden Town and on Fairbanks Road in George Town. This week they are completing a first sweep of all of Prospect, and at press timehave so far removed some 50 to 60 trucks of debris from the area.

Meanwhile, the National Roads Authority (NRA) is completing its first sweep through central Bodden Town, including side roads. Debris removal in the area is also the focus of teams of community workers who are being paid by the DEH. That department has also organised similar initiatives in East End.

The Bermuda Regiment has been working alongside the DEH, completing initial debris collection in Watlers Road, Windsor Park, Washington Boulevard and Randyke Gardens. The regiment is expected to be replaced next week by a smaller contingent from the Belize Regiment.

Head of the national cleanup drive Mark Scotland, emphasized: “The public should not be concerned if more debris appears on the roadside after the first sweeps. We expect that we may have to make up to three sweeps to get it all.”

However, Mr. Scotland also appealed to those homeowners and businesses able to organize cleanup efforts on their own not to wait for these joint initiatives to come their way. “This is a massive undertaking and we really need all who are able to get involved. We suggest that neighbours or businesses may want to pool resources to hire trucks so that they can get ahead of the cleanup drive and by so doing contribute greatly to Cayman’s recovery.” Mr. Scotland reminded communities of the location of district collection areas:

East End:

The East End quarry, located off High Rock Road.

North Side:

Tony Powell’s Frank Sound Marl Pit, located just north of Frank Sound Fire Station on Mastic Road.

Breakers/Midland Acres:

Paul Bodden and Midland Acres Quarries, located on road immediately west of entrance to Midland Acres.
Anthony Scott’s Tarpon Springs quarry, located on the road immediately before the entrance to Breakers village.

Bodden Town:

Newlands Marl Pit, which can be accessed by going down Hirst Road, past the International College of the Cayman Islands and turning into a road located opposite Champs Fleur Drive.
Justin Wood’s marl pit, located approximately 100 yards east of the Bodden Town Police Station on the north side of the road.

George Town:

Two sites located at the George Town Landfill, please follow signs.

West Bay:

Empty plot on the sea side of North West Point Road just past the cemetery.
Rollin Ebanks’ old quarry on Finch Drive.

Opening hours for the landfill sites are 7am – 7pm. In preparation for roadside pick up, separate hurricane-related waste into four categories: vegetation (i.e., trees and bushes); (2) construction waste (i.e., sheet rock, wood, cement, rubble); (3) roofing metals and vehicles; and, (4) appliances.