Cayman Islands, Honduras Talk on Trade and Direct Travel

The Cayman Islands government has initiated moves to begin trading and possible direct Cayman Airways flights to Roatan, Honduras as Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin led a high-ranking delegation to the Central American island for bilateral talks.

Premier McLaughlin, in a media statement announcing the whirlwind one-day visit, said the delegation, which included Deputy Premier Hon Moses Kirkconnell and CAL President and CEO Fabian Whorms among others, went to the island to talk about increasing in trade between Honduras and the Cayman Islands.

A brief discussion, the statement said, was also held on the creation of a consular office for the Republic of Honduras on Grand Cayman as many Caymanian families can trace their roots to Roatan. By 1844, the statement said, there were more than 250 Caymanians who had moved to the island.

Bilateral discussions, according to the media statement from the Office of the Premier, were also held with private sector members who work in tourism and the food industries.

Mr. McLaughlin, in selling Cayman to the packed room of public and private sector stakeholders on Roatan, said, “You will do better and we will save more money through direct trade”.

The Premier also seized the opportunity to broach the issue of cruise ship berthing as Roatan has two cruise ship berthing facilities, the Town Center and Mahogany Bay.

He told officials that his delegation “wanted to come and see what you have and talk to you about your own personal experiences with cruise berthing.”

Mr. McLaughlin pointed out that Cayman is “a long way down the track to start construction of cruise berthing on Grand Cayman.”

The possibility of opening direct flights from Grand Cayman to Roatan was also discussed at the table as Deputy Premier Kirkconnell pointed out that Grand Cayman would be the perfect connection destination for travelers from Roatan going to Miami, Florida.

Source: The Cayman Reporter