Caymaniac News & Reviews » News

Cayman Islands Marketing HELP!

Caymaniac — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:54:44 +0000

I am sure many of us have seen the totally enticing commercials that come on the TV for the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Barbados amongst others. They are all really very attractive and invite you to come and have the most relaxing, exciting, just can’t stop talking about vacations ever. I have to admit in the past few years I have been impressed with the magazine adverts for Cayman (not because I am the guy in the photo, even though I am) but because they are well placed attractive photos that really depict what most tourists want to come to Cayman for. Thank god that the ‘H2GO Find your element’ campaign is over. Caymans TV commercials have not yet progressed that far.

After announcing that tourism is declining you really do have to ask yourself, why ? I personally think it could be the way the money is being spent in marketing as well as the fact there is increasingly becoming less and less places for tourists to choose from to stay on the island. In the last 4 years we have lost the Hyatt, Treasure Island, Indie Suites, Sleep Inn (or whatever it was since) as well as many condos redeveloping and units being bought by companies or individuals that no longer rent them out.

I know in a short 10 second commercial you have limited time to get your point across but I have a feeling a better job could have been done. However the big problem is the placement of the adverts on TV, they were between two shows completely unrelated to travel or tourism and so missing any kind of demographic you may want to target. See the recorder adverts below, I only caught two and had to record them off the TV with a video camera rather than direct record to PC.

Cayman Islands UK advert from Caymaniac on Vimeo.

Cayman Islands & Human Rights

Caymaniac — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:52:58 +0000

Not Worth Water from Jorge Swaby on Vimeo.

Human Rights have come up a lot in the Cayman Islands news recently. There are a few reasons for this; The Constitutional Modernisation proposal and their effects on Human Rights, The Roll Over Policy (yes expats have human rights too!), and of course all the violence that has happened this year (small compared to other places and islands but its getting worse by Cayman’s scale with murders closing in on double figures).

When I saw this video on the Marl Road I was a bit taken aback. Not because I was not awar eof this is what happens, but because I had never actualy seen it happen. Whilst this is only a video it is very upsetting to see that Government Officials are actually not allowing residents to give the Cubans what they need to carry on. It is one thing to stop them from setting foot on land, but to not aide with water and fuel to carry on is plain mean. It is quite obvious that no Cuban would go through that ordeal only to land in Cayman and then repatriated to Cuba. Not allowing them on the island does not mean you shouldn’t care for their efforts and then actually stop willing people from giving them what they need to carry on their way.

Let us not forget that many people from Cayman like to vacation in Cuba, and many other people come through Cayman to get to Cuba. So while Cayman and Cayanians obviously like Cuba and Cubans it is obvious that Cubans are not worthy of being aided in their fight for survival on the waters or even a better life, which should be everyones human right.

So forgive me for a small self satisfying post here, however I thoguht this video may be of some interest to others, especially as the forums of Marl Road seem to be down due to too much participation and not enough moderation.

Blue Iguanas – RCIP & BIRP Press Releases & How to Help.

Caymaniac — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:25:40 +0000

Blue Iguanas will always need help, find out what you can do today !

It has been over a week now, one long busy week for the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme. They have been on the Radio, in the Newspapers, in the online forums but most of all in our thoughts. Already many people have gotten together to help out or raise fund. People have volunteered and helped at the Park, I am sure have all seen the fund raisers out and about at their various venues, and of course private organisation and individuals have all rallied to show their support. However what if you haven’t and you want to, or what if you simply want to do more .. well the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme will always need your help.

There is always the option of donating skills or equipment that they may need, there is also just donating your time or thoughts. However on a more regular occasion the program has received various efforts of help and here are just a few of the things you may consider if you want to help out.

Volunteer at the Blue Iguana Breeding Facility – email john@blueiguana.ky
- collect food, feed, collect eggs, general duties
Sponsor a Blue Iguana for a Year $500 – email sam@blueiguana.ky
Name a Blue Iguana $1000 for life – email sam@blueiguana.ky
Raise Funds to donate to the BIRP – email sam@blueiguana.ky
- organise your own event to raise money, make it fun !
If you are a organisation why not consider giving large to help out with various projects or operating costs. I am sure you will get to name an Iguana as your mascot ! – email sam@blueiguana.ky

Of course the best thing we can do is to catch the idiots that thought this was a good idea to do.Blue Iguana Crime Stoppers Poster. There is a reward out there for information leading to an arrest. That amount has reached over $10,000. DMS broadcasting starting it off with $5000 pledged, then the National Trust adding to it. From different amounts I have heard I think the total is about $12,000. The right thing to do is to offer any information you have, hope it leads to an Arrest, and then give a LARGE donation to the Iguana Program, say $12,000 ?
- feel free to download that link above to the crimestoppers poster and print it off and put it up somewhere public ! -

Royal Cayman Islands Police Blue Iguana Press Release – click to download

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE from BIRP: 14th May, 2008 – click to download – or read below

Some serious money raising happening from the Ritz Carlton’s Ambassadors for the Environment Jen Abels, Sarah Agnolin and Karen Lornie

As the police investigation into the slaughter of seven Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas moves into its second week, the National Trust and the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme are taking stock of the situation and looking to the future. “A review of funds received and pledged over the last week are testament to an extraordinary outpouring of community support in the wake of the disaster” said BIRP Director Fred Burton. “This is still happening – we’re being notified of donations and suggestions to raise additional support, almost continuously.”

Cayman Crimestoppers has just released a reward poster, with donations towards the reward actually received by the National Trust standing at CI$ 7,210 by Monday afternoon, out of a total of over $16,000 pledged. DMS triggered the cascade of donations with a $5,000 pledge and extensive radio coverage. All donors to date have generously agreed that if the reward remains unclaimed, the funds will be directed to benefit other aspects of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme.

Contributions and pledges have also been received specifically towards the cost of increasing security at the Blue Iguana captive facility. In particular, Walkers has pledged to underwrite costs of a security system, and Sagicor also made a donation for this purpose, early this week. Three independent security providers have reviewed the facility in the last week, and the preferred solution will be selected by the Trust and the BIRP later this week.

The Blue Iguana Recovery Programme has also received substantial unrestricted donations over the last week. With the cost of the security systems yet to be determined, and income from Blue Iguana tours inevitably disrupted by the crime, many donors preferred to allow the BIRP to direct their funds to wherever the need proved greatest. Greenlight Re granted the programme $20,000 over the weekend, while a team of over 50 community volunteers led by Sarah Agnolin and Kurt Christian raised an astonishing $12,903 in cash donations from the public, over three days stationed in Hurleys Grand Harbour and Fosters at the Strand.

In addition to purely financial support, both Government agencies and the private sector are contributing in other ways. The Departments of Agriculture and Environment are placing considerable resources in support of the RCIP investigation, and to help the surviving injured Blue Iguanas along with St. Matthew’s Veterinary School and Island Veterinary Services. Ocean Frontiers is providing free accommodation for International Reptile Conservation Foundation personnel who came to assist during the crisis. Several other local businesses, schools, and associations are adding their weight to the effort, either in fundraising or other suggestions for assistance.

Meanwhile, the first eggs of the year are being laid by the surviving captive Blue Iguana breeders, turning the programme staff’s thoughts toward a brighter future. Volunteers from the Ritz Carlton Ambassadors of the Environment have been helping BIRP Head Warden John Marotta, in excavating the nests.
Blue Iguana Recovery Programme
PO Box 10308
Grand Cayman KY1-1003
Cayman Islands

Tel: 345 916 2418
Email: fjburton@blueiguana.ky
Web: www.BlueIguana.ky

Boatswain Beach a Loss, forget about Dolphinariums !

Caymaniac — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:32:56 +0000

The Turtle Farm & Boatswain Beach, now one in the same, advertise one thing and then give another. Is it any wonder they make huge losses ?

Ever since the idea of a Dolphinarium in Cayman started to spread around there were protests for obvious reasons, non other more poignant than “Why? We don’t need one !” Well on the same day that McKeeva Bush Leader of the opposition points out the Government is loosing money, revenues are down this year and Cayman’s debt will be $700 million by the end of 2008; Boatswain Beach gets it’s very own article announcing the government will be covering $8.6 million in operating losses for Boatswain Beach the new Turtle Farm experience.

Now beyond the politics this does push the point that if an organisation like the Turtle Farm that has been in business for a few decades now still can’t turn a profit, why set up more captive marine animal attractions, especially one with larger more pelagic marine animals. Hell the Dolphins won’t even be breeding for release !

Boatswain Beach apparently at some time recently was loosing 1/2 a million a month ! That’s mental losses in tourism, any other business with those losses would be closed before months end. They still seem to be dependant on cruise ship revenue (90%), which must be a mistake when we know cruise ship number are down and if you look at the cruise industry it is obviously going to continue to drop as they change up their destinations. It is time to start focusing once again on the sustainable tourism of stay over or fly in visitors. However even in that world should Boatswain Beach be allowed to carry on operating with such losses ! The image above shows you what type of experience it has become, the left image of baby hatchings looking very cute in the water against the reality of hundreds of large turtles all crammed in on top of each other with sores and scrape all over them. Is that really a tourist attraction ? On an island with so much nature and wildlife all around us in the water and on land do we really need to create a fake viewing area for these very same animals ? If those questions even make you think, why would anyone in their right mind consider a dolphinarium, it is destined to fail on a massive scale, especially when in the age of eco tourism people find out that the dolphins don’t even come from here !

7 BLUE IGUANAS DEAD, the toll rises !

Caymaniac — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:24:42 +0000

The number of Iguanas dead rises to 7, police investigation continues and the reward still stands !

As of this morning another Iguana at the Blue Iguana Recovery Program has died. Matthias spent his last day doing what he loved, sunbathing in his tree, unfortunately his injuries proved to much as he passed just 3 days after the vicious and un yielding attacks.

The Police investigation still continues, however there seems to be no news from the police in the public eye yet. There is now officially a $11,000 reward for any information regarding the attacks that leads to an arrest or conviction.

Links to News sites carrying the story around the world.
Associated Press – Cayman Islands investigating slaughter of blue iguanas – By David McFadden
BBC – Probe into giant iguana slaughter – By Georgina Kenyon
National Geographic – Rare Blue Iguanas Found Butchered
Yahoo – Cayman Islands investigating slaughter of blue iguanas – By David McFadden
Fox News – Endangered Blue Iguanas Stomped to Death in Cayman Islands
Cayman Compass – Another iguana found injured – By Carol Winker
Brisbane Times – Mystery over deaths of rare blue iguanas
Wildlife Extra.com Six critically endangered blue iguanas butchered in Cayman Islands breeding facility

The Gay Kiss in Cayman

Caymaniac — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:27:24 +0000

Mr Chandler Caymans Innocent Gay Kisser

On a pseudo religious island it is less than ironic that a gay public sign of affection from a visitor is shunned upon. I know many gay people from Cayman and there is nothing wrong with their choice of sexuality. However in a world where a majority of earnings and incomes come from Tourism you would hope that simple signs of affection wouldn’t bring about a ride downtown !
I have bowed my head in shame when ignorant wanna be preachers spent an entire day shouting abuse at tourists as they disembarked their cruise ship. That is not the sort of welcome the DoT or CITA would endorse nor anyone with half a peanut for a brain.

Not to undermine the stupidity of people who stomp Iguanas to death but they are all in the same mental age group when it comes to ludicrous acts of prejudice or discrimination. I am sure the detaining officer would not have taken two women to the police station.
Thanks be to the international influences of foreign cultures on the Cayman Islands that for some part brave through & dampen some of the worst images of the islands it’s so called local patriots try to portray.
News Links:
Gay Kisser ~~Arrested~~ Detained [link]
DoT Appologises [link]

six SEVEN BLUE IGUANAS MURDERED IN BOTANIC PARK

Caymaniac — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:08:24 +0000

Fred Burton Blue Iguana Recovery Programme & Dr. Colin Wakelin
from the Department of Agriculture trying to save an older female
‘Jessica’ after the Murders and Attacks May 3rd.(photo credit BIRP)

Update : 7 BLUE IGUANAS DEAD, the toll rises !
Before I paste in the Press release just a couple of personal words. This is completely unacceptable behaviour on any persons part. Killing animals has only one place and that is hunting for food, for survival. It certainly should not be a sport, nor a pass time to amuse idiots with nothing better to do. These poor Blue Iguana were viciously and horrendously beaten. These animals were all captive and had no means of escape; and beyond that were tame and use to human interaction.
The people that committed this monstrosity need to be brought to justice and punished suitably. Although I am completely against physically punishing people occasions like this make me give leniency towards thorough beatings !

If you wish to show your support towards this cause please either email Fred Burton, feel free to donate or perhaps spread the word and help the cause !

PRESS RELEASE [from the Blue Iguana Recovery Program]
5th May, 2008. For immediate release.

Six critically endangered Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas were killed by unknown persons late on Saturday evening, in the QE II Botanic Park. The crime was discovered by volunteers with the National Trust’s Blue Iguana Recovery Programme, shortly after 9am on Sunday morning.

The iguanas appeared to have massive internal injuries, as if they had been stamped on violently and repeatedly. Some were also cut and partially dismembered. Three were found dead inside their breeding pens, two had been carried out of their pens and left in the tour area outside. The body of the sixth is still missing, but entrails on the trail outside his pen are a grim sign of his fate.

Department of Environment enforcement officer Carl Edwards was on the scene almost immediately, fast followed by the Royal Cayman Islands Police who began forensic work and have commenced an investigation. Dr. Colin Wakelin from the Department of Agriculture closed a large gash in one of the surviving victims and began making arrangements for an autopsy to confirm the causes of death, which will probably take place later today.

Dead on Sunday morning were the adult breeding males “Yellow” (sponsored by Caribbean Publishers), “Pedro” (sponsored by Websters Tours), “Digger” (sponsored by Simon Hicks), and “Eldemire” (christened by Kent Eldemire). The grand matriarch of the captive facility, “Sara”, was also dead. “Jessica” had been thrown out of the neighboring pen and was in shock, but still moving. Both females had been preparing to lay eggs.

The effort to save Jessica’s life went on into the night, but despite specialist advice by telephone from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Dr. Wakelin’s resourceful and determined attempts to stabilize her, she passed away during the night.

The persons responsible may have broken into the Park after closing hours, and found a way into the fenced-in captive breeding facility. No motive is known for this act of extreme violence against these unique and much-loved symbols of Cayman’s natural heritage. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Royal Cayman Islands Police.

UPDATE: Radio Interviews 6th May 2008
CayRock 96.5 (missed the 1st half)
Kiss 106.1 FM
Hot 104.1 FM (missed the start)

CayCompass.com [ link ]
National Geographic [ link ]

Our note to Readers : Please feel free to go https://ircf.org/donate.php and donate to the Cause everything is greatly appreciated by the programme I am sure, especially in this time of need ! (be sure to select Blue Iguana Fund !)

all photos coutesy of the Blue Iguana Recovery Program