CIPS issues alert re Christmas post
(CNS): With November fast approaching, the Cayman Islands Postal Service has issued an alert regarding postage for Christmas 2013. The deadline for surface parcels has already passed for many countries and the regional deadline is today. Anyone wishing to use the surface parcel service to send Christmas packages to Canada, the US, Britain and Western Europe must do so by 5 November to be guaranteed of their arrival before 25 December. Deputy PMG, Operations Melissa Martinez-Ebanks warned posters that there are also a number of posting restrictions to various countries that they must bear in mind before posting which could require the local service to examine packages before they leave Cayman.
“In order to comply with international security requirements,any package, letter mail, small packet, parcel and EMS, weighing more than 16oz must be examined by the Cayman Islands Postal Service counter staff,” she said. “Due to new restrictions, items containing lithium batteries, including cell phones and laptops, cannot be accepted for transport in mail originating from the Cayman Islands.”
Martinez-Ebanks said other items were also prohibited from the postal system, such as hazardous, flammable, combustible or explosive materials. “This includes perfume and alcohol which is 70% proof and over. In addition, the CIPS will not accept any ink or toner cartridges that weigh more than 16 ounces, for mail transportation,” she added.
The post office urged customers to post early, fill out a customs declarations form, particularly if the items are valuable, use only white labels and write legibly to ensure that packages get to the intended recipients on time.
The minister responsible for the post office, Kurt Tibbetts, encouraged people to use the service over Christmas and remember their loved ones.
“Everyone likes being remembered and sending greeting cards is another way to stay in touch with family and friends overseas. It shows you took the time to say you care,” the minister said.
The post office offers four different services. Surface mail is the most economical postage service for transporting cards and packages by sea. However, it also takes the longest to be delivered. To send a 2lb package to the US costs CI$3.50 and takes six to eight weeks to arrive. For most Caribbean Islands, the deadline is Tuesday, 29 October. For the USA and Canada the latest posting date is Tuesday, 5 November. The United Kingdom and Western Europe is Wednesday, 9 November.
Airmail service is the most popular posting method for cards and letters as it has a delivery time as quick as three days, though it can take up to two weeks depending on the location. The deadline for the US, Canada, most Caribbean Islands, the UK and Western Europe is Tuesday, 10 December. For all other countries, the deadline is Wednesday, 4 December.
The third option of Air Parcel service with tracking is still good value as a 2lb package to the USA costs as little as CI$4 and takes two to three weeks to be delivered. The deadline for all other countries is Friday, 15 November. For Canada, the USA, most Caribbean islands, the United Kingdom and Western Europe, the deadline is Tuesday, 3 December.
Express Mail Service (EMS) offers both tracking and speed but is much more expensive as a 2lb. package costs CI$18 and takes about three to five days to be delivered to the US. The deadline for all other countries is Wednesday, 11 December; for the UK and Western Europe, it is Friday, 13 December and for the USA and Canada it is Monday, 16 December.
For more information, please go to www.caymanpost.gov.ky or call 949-2474 and see posting schedule below.
Category: Local News
Anyone else suspect there is rampant theft of anything that looks interesting at the airport post office?
Where do all those packages go. I've mailed letters, cards and small packages via the mail from the US to Grand Caman and most of them were never received and never returned. They need to install video security cameras and invistigate.
This year all friends and family around the world are under strict instructions not to send anything more than a card under any circumstances. Last year half of the stuff never arrived, some eventually turned up returned to sender (in about May) with a Cayman stamp in it showing it was here at one point, the rest just vanished. The stuff that did arrive meant half a day at the airport post office, then watching a random person open the gift in front of me, then having to pay them some arbitrary amount to get my hands on it. Not worth it!
Going to collect a package is a nightmare! I went on three consecutive 1 hr lunchbreaks and had to leave each time as my break had run out. I was out running an errand next day around 10.30 and decided to see if there was a queue, there was none so I went in, only to find customs had not shown up. Still trying to get my package!
Mail going out is not the problem… its mail coming in. I would love to have a rummage through the post office – I bet there is mail bags lying there waiting to be opened from long time!
US Postal Offices are equipped with anti-theft cameras. Can you imagine placing cameras in Cayman's post offices? Oh, the possibilities!