Ask Auntie
May anyone use a toilet designated accessible?
When it comes to toilets for the disabled, should they get the same treatment as disabled parking spots? My wife (Canadian) thinks so; I (British) think not. It seems to me that they are marked as disabled to indicate the wider space, handrails, etc, not that they should sit empty until a disabled person heeds […]
Do Caymanians have a voice in British elections?
As we are now considered British citizens, are Caymanians allowed to vote in the upcoming UK elections on 8 June? Auntie’s answer: Whether you hold a British overseas territories citizen, passport of a British passport or a passport from any qualifying Commonwealth country, you must be resident in the UK in order to register to […]
Potential buyer thinks strata fees are too high
I am thinking of buying a condo but at the one I like the owner is paying what I think are very high strata fees. If I buy the condo, do I inherit the strata fees or can I renegotiate them with the strata? Auntie’s answer: I’m afraid you are stuck in this instance. I […]
How is stamp duty assessed on inherited property?
I am leaving my house to my children in my will. When I die, will they have to pay stamp duty on their inheritance? If so, how would government work out what that is? Auntie’s answer: Finally, I am able to tell someone that the government will not take a fee for something. Yes, that’s […]
Iguanas fouling track and field
Who is in charge of the upkeep of the track behind John Gray High School? There is a table beside the track full of iguana dirt that should be removed as it is impossible for anyone to use it in its condition. Auntie’s answer: That track seems to be a favourite of the ubiquitous green […]
Election billboard put up without consent
Does a political candidate have the right to erect a billboard on private property without the owner’s permission? There are some who think they do and refuse to remove the signage. Is the property owner allowed to remove the aforementioned signage since they have not approved its instalment and it is an eyesore? I have tried to […]
Upset by driver illegally using disabled spot
There is a clearly marked handicapped sign in George Town which is being respected by all we law-abiding citizens of Cayman Islands. But there is one lawyer who challenges this handicapped parking and parks as and when he desires. Is there anything that can be done to make the lawyer accountable to the law as […]
Eligibility for the ‘Caymanian’ immigration queue
1. If someone is naturalised and gets a Cayman passport but does not yet have Caymanian status, what queue would they use at the airport? 2. I have Caymanian status through marriage but never got naturalised and do not hold a Cayman passport. Do I get to go through the immigration line for Caymanians at […]
What entity has oversight of the OfReg?
Do you know if this new OfReg is answerable to the Ministry of Planning or is it independent like the Office of the Auditor General?” Auntie’s answer: For those readers who aren’t aware, the Utility Regulation and Competition Office, known as OfReg, is responsible for oversight of Cayman’s telecommunications, electricity and fuel sectors, and eventually […]
Regulation of noise pollution
Why doesn’t the Cayman Islands have any laws regarding residential noise pollution? “Environmental noise exposure is associated with adverse effects on human health including hearing loss, heart disease, and changes in stress-related hormone levels,” says the abstract of a recently published research paper found on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. What about tourists […]
Yard-sprucing companies messing up the neighbourhood
It seems that there are yard-maintenance companies who do not bother to pick up the garbage in the public places they are hired to maintain, but rather use their blowers to blow it into the street or into the neighbour’s property. In addition, there is an alarming increase of yard-maintenance companies who do not have […]
Curious about new construction
What is being built on the beach in front of Bodden Town Cemetery? Auntie’s answer: I can help point you in the right direction for this question but you are going to have to do a bit of research to get the answer you seek. I did first ask the Ministry of Planning for guidance. […]
Outdoor events can lead to rubbish problem
It seems that some event took place over a recent weekend along South Sound. Now someone has collected the garbage but left the bags (some untied) by the beach. The same happens every time there is an event at the Lions Centre when the whole surrounding area seems full with litter, especially those areas which […]
Waiting for improvements to Public Beach
OK, so the Kimpton hotel has opened but when are we getting the dog park plus walking and cycling paths in the area that Dart promised as part of the deal for government closing the road by Public Beach? Auntie’s answer: The short answer is that those changes are coming, but the final plans have […]
Beach needs to be cleaned up
I have a question about all the trash on the beach in front of Royal Palms. Every single morning their beach is completely littered with plastic cups, straws, broken bottles and general trash. Are there any regulations regarding littering for these venues? Imagine what tourists must think walking along the beach. It’s literally a dump. All those […]
Would like to see list of taxi fares
Is either the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s fare schedule or the Public Transport Board’s recently produced fare schedule available for publication? It would be really useful to have these to hand because on occasions that drivers have tried to charge me excessive fares, they have often been less than forthcoming with documentary evidence of the […]
Strata complexes need to help with recycling
Whichever company (private or government owned) does the recycling of plastic, metal and glass in Cayman, can they place separate bins at each strata for collecting these recyclables and pick them up at regular intervals? There are some large bins at Kirk Market, Camana Bay, etc. but not everyone would remember to save and take […]
Complaint about container sitting in neighbour’s yard
One of my neighbours has a 40-foot metal container in his yard and has done since we moved in five years ago. They are an utter eyesore. We have spoken with him and he won’t move them. My wife thinks there is a solution, but given the number of these ugly things around the island, I don’t […]
