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Mr Troy Whorms, Director of Public Works, has emphasized the importance of cemeteries across the Cayman Islands and has highlighted the Public Works Department’s commitment to the upkeep of these sacred grounds.

“We acknowledged the profound challenges family’s face during the grieving process and confirm that the Public Works Department is dedicated to honoring both visitors and the departed with utmost respect,” he said.

The Public Works Department (PWD) highlights the implementation of its regular cleaning and maintenance schedule, ensuring continuous monitoring of cemetery sites across the island. The PWD reminds the community about their guidelines aimed at maintaining the beauty of cemeteries throughout the year.

Mr Whorms emphasized the collective responsibility of preserving the cleanliness and allure of the Cayman Islands and urged individuals to consider the impact on maintenance and the environment before leaving any items at gravesites.

As the frequency of inclement weather conditions increase through hurricane season, personal belongings can become weathered, broken, or dislodged, resulting in litter or debris. Items protruding from the ground also pose risks to maintenance workers and members of the public, as they can be hazardous when struck by mowers or weed-wackers, potentially causing dangerous projectiles.

To mitigate these issues, the PWD recommends securely fastening all floral arrangements to the headstones to prevent items from being blown away by strong winds. Loose floral stems in a vase are prone to being dislodged, so the PWD advises using floral foam, tape, or wire to secure them effectively.

The PWD encourages family members and friends visiting their loved ones' final resting places to remove any items that are no longer desired. The PWD ensures the provision of suitable receptacles for refuse collection, particularly during busy periods like Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas.

“By adhering to these guidelines, the community can contribute to the preservation of the pristine appearance and sanctity of cemeteries across the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Whorms said. “We must all be respectful of each other and leave the area clean and refuse free for the next person to visit their loved one.”

The Public Works Department also holds responsibility for the collection and disposal of trash across approximately 14 public beaches in Grand Cayman.

“We remind the community to be more aware of their behaviour when it comes to littering,” Mr Whorms said. “Keeping Cayman’s famous beaches clean is everyone’s responsibility.”

“One of the most common issues is litter being left next to full bins, rather than people finding an empty bin. Litter left next to bins is not only an eye sore, it attracts birds and other vermin and can get blown into the sea causing harm to our marine life.”

The PWD collects trash from public beaches twice-weekly and more frequently, as required. Beach sand from the high water mark is mechanically cleaned by the PWD Heavy Equipment team and collected debris is disposed of. Beach cleaning is done at a minimum frequency of weekly and more frequently as required.

The Public Works Department extends its thanks to community groups throughout Cayman who frequently conduct island-wide beach clean-ups.

“Please remember to remove trash from the beach when you leave, and if the bins are full please dispose items at an alternative location” Mr Whorms said.

If members of the public would like to report any concerns related to the maintenance of cemeteries or other government properties, they are asked to email PWDHelpdesk@gov.ky or call 244-6694.