Little Cayman residents petition OfReg

(CMR) Over 95 Little Cayman residents signed a petition complaining to the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) about “service difficulties” with telecom provider FLOW that has extended for years. They copied CMR on the complaints after what they say have been years of “empty promises” with “no improvements,” leading them to state that the people of the Little Cayman have now “had enough with poor customer service.”

They begged:

“Sandra, Little Cayman needs your help”.

The petition shared that over the Christmas holidays, there was no available WiFi for over a week, and they have finally had enough. It was also copied to the Members of Parliament for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

They also noted that the phone wires are still on the ground after falling down during hurricane season. They indicated that the issues have persisted for years, often leaving Little Cayman customers with no internet service and multiple dead zones on the 11-square-mile island.

The complaint speakers of “multiple dead zones for cellular connection” that they hoped would have improved over time. However, the petitioners have now concluded that they have been neglected for far too long. The poor service has impacted “all aspects of their lives,” making it particularly difficult for small business owners on the island.

They are now calling about OfReg to hold them to task for their legal obligation to provide telecommunications service to the residents of Little Cayman.

CMR reached out to FLOW and understands that they are now expediting repairs on the island. Following the complaint, a meeting was called by telecom communicators, OfReg, to ascertain the seriousness of the ongoing issues. Sources revealed that FLOW requested additional spectrum due to network congestion between Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, which is most noticeable during peak hours. OfReg approved the additional spectrum in August. However, there has been little movement since then.

CMR has been made to now understand that there are some logistical issues with the arrival of needed equipment on the island. However, OfReg has indicated that they are committed to monitoring the progress made and will be making a trip to Little Cayman soon to assess the quality of service experience and to confirm exactly how long the issues have existed.

The town hall-style OfReg community meeting could happen in the coming weeks.

Little Cayman has a population of fewer than 200 persons and boasts some of the most pristine diving in the Cayman Islands. Many locals visit as a mini getaway from the more hectic larger island of Grand Cayman.