Task force relaunch to beautify Cayman

As Cayman begins welcoming back its long-awaited tourists, a task force has been relaunched to ensure that the islands are cleaned up and attractive once more. The task force, called the Cayman Islands Beautification Task Force or CIBTF, will be headed by chairperson Teresa Lewis-Pitcairn and is directed by Parliamentary Secretary, Heather Bodden. This new team is a re-establishment of the previously named Cayman Islands Beautification Committee. Its aim is to preserve Cayman’s natural beauty and improve its image, a press release said.

The CIBTF is made up of District Sub-Committees which empower each district to manage beautification issues on a community level by teams of volunteers. Mrs. Lewis-Pitcairn is joined on the Task Force by ten members, who will serve as designated district leads. Robert Bodden is the task force’s Deputy Chairperson and other members are: Felisiana Ebanks, Nickeah Esteban, Omeria Gordon, Karen Hydes, Janet James, Edney McLean, Graham Rankine, Margely Reve, Romelya Welcome, as well as the Director of Environmental Health or nominee, Director of Commerce and Investment or nominee, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service or nominee and the Chief Officer for Ministry of Tourism or nominee.

The Beautification Task Force, operating under the motto Clean and Green – Cayman Islands,’ will report to the Ministry of Tourism and will work closely with a cross section of government agencies including the Department of Environmental Health, the Department of Public Lands and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, among others.

Ms Heather Bodden said it had been a personal passion of hers to showcase the pristine beauty of the islands.

“As we continue to welcome back tourists to Cayman’s stunning natural scenery, I encourage everyone to take pride in your outdoor spaces, as this not only reflects our nation to incoming visitors, but adds to the quality of life for residents,” she confirmed.

The goal of the Beautification Task Force is to work with local communities on the removal of derelict vehicles, and to educate residents on their responsibility for having proper garbage bins and receptacles in place.

The Task Force will also serve as a conduit for the public to report any issues relating to litter and illegal dumping throughout the three islands, and will liaise with the relevant agencies to have the situation remedied.

Ms Bodden added that the increase in abandoned vehicles, messy properties and illegally dumped household items gave the impression that this type of behaviour was acceptable to residents, and the longer it was allowed to continue conveyed that there was no momentum towards change or improvement.

“That is simply not the case,“ Ms. Bodden said.

Kenneth Bryan, Minister for Tourism and Transport, said the ultimate aim of the Task Force was to change the attitudes and behaviour of the public, by encouraging those who lived and worked in the Cayman Islands, as well as those who visited, to act responsibly in keeping Cayman clean.

“Consequently the Beautification Task Force will operate on a strategic level to restore a sense of pride in our islands, by amplifying community consciousness to a level that will reflect the uniqueness of our culture, heritage and people,” he said. “The CIBTF is also tasked with educating the public on the laws surrounding littering and illegal dumping and they will be reporting violators who break the law to the relevant authorities.”