I think I need to tell everyone that regardless of what the government and dept of tourism are saying, we were completely devastated by Hurricane Ivan 2 1/2 weeks ago The island, except for the financial institutions in Geroge Towm, is in ruins and it will be a long, long time before we recover from this Category 5 hurricane. We stayed in our well build condo on the beach during the storm (had people staying with us as well) , but most people lost homes, possessions, and cars and we had windows blown in, glass shattered, roof tile as well as roof ACs flying around, lots of water damage, and both cars were lost due to water that came over the top of our garages. We still do not have water or power and there are lots of homeless people, although we are fortunate that we can stay where we are. (our offices in GT still have people living there) Any of you who are planning on a trip here, please think twice and make other arrangements. Even if they can get some hotels and condos up and running by Christmas, the rest of the island is vitually destroyed and many roads still impassable. There are no cars available for us, let alone any tourist trade. It is one huge mess!!!

Bruiser,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the people who have been affected by Ivan and the other hurricanes this season.

We visited Grand Cayman last year and loved it, and were looking forward to a return visit. To hear about the devastation, and to see the photos of it which were posted here on FT last week, really saddened me as it was a beautiful and welcoming island.

I'm sure that, in time, it will return to the vacation spot it was. We certainly look forward to that day, and will keep you and the other residents in our thoughts.

I am very surprised at how little information has been made public here in the US about the devastation on Grand Cayman. It's a very popular cruise destination for those of us here on the east coast, and I think many people are unaware of just how much damage was done by the storm.

Agreed. My dinner companion earlier this week made the same comment, telling me that the Caymans were extremely hard hit but that no journalists were being allowed in to report on the severe damage (is that true?). Here in the US we've heard next to nothing about the Caymans, and much more about Cuba, which is ironic. Thanks for your report and please know that our sympathies are with you. I had a wonderful diving holiday on Grand Cayman several years ago and I hope I get the chance to go back soon.

I'm so very sorry. Thanks for letting us know.

See also KIR@GCM's report:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=358175

I rarely venture outside the realm that is OMNI. However, I had to respond to your story.

My thoughts are with you & your island. Your country has been on my mind ever since one of my family members went there- pre-hurricane- & came back to give it high praises.

Even though I have some idea, I would rather hear what you have to say. Why is the scope of destruction being covered up in this way?

I think the reason the devastation is not exactly being covered up, rather than minimized, is that the government seems to feel that the tourist sector needs to recover quickly in order to help the island during the "high season" but I am of the opinion that this is not fair to the travelling public. Although the beaches are getting back into some kind of shape and the hotels say they will be ready by Christmas, I do not know what any visitor would do here. There will be no rental cars ad most cars were hit hard by the rising water, some restaurants will open but apart from George Town, no one has power or a steady water supply. And to venture anywhere outside of the GT or 7-mile beach area will be pretty difficult - Bodden Town does not exist anymore, East End is almost closed off, and South Sound is devastation - in fact, they will have to move roads that were ruined or destroyed by the storm. The place will be one large construction site for years!!

The financial sector (us) is up and operating, but a lot of our staff do not have homes anymore and we are trying to find them places to live in condos and places generallly used for daily rentals. But at that, they have to be out of these places in anticipation of Christmas season and visitors for the holidiays. Housing is a huge issue as are cars. There is talk of bringing in cruise ships to house residents as well as workers comihg from abroad to help in re-construction. There is a lot of sadness here right now, although everyone is trying to keep up a good face - I wonder how a visitor would feel about all this.

And the government seems to feel it is better to take care of things rather than go begging for help. We have received very little help from the UK and even the US Coast Guard had to be invited in to help out, and the UK did not do that. When the leader of government business goes to a tourism forum in NYC and tells everyone how well things are going and how we are going to be operating by the end of October, that simply is not the case, and therefore we do not get the outside help we need.

Sorry to be so windy - I am trying to answer a question I do not understand myself.

Here's a report from a fellow home theater aficianado, who lives on Grand Cayman. It is quite a story... w/ some pics. He used to be in the tourism biz there... now there is none. And he said exactly the same thing about the gov't "coverup."

A truly harrowing night he and his wife had!

Artguy's Experience