GRAND CAYMAN – An increased number of trade and business licence applications over the past few weeks are resulting in delays in processing time by the Trade and Business Licensing Board.

The Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) has said that some applicants have contacted the office with queries regarding their new trade and business licence grants or renewals. “Before this public health emergency, DCI was focused on improving the customer experience and reducing wait times. We have not lost that focus,” said a representative of the DCI. “The Board is working assiduously to keep up with an extraordinary demand at this time alongside some limitations we have due to COVID-19. We are therefore asking members of the public to have some patience when applications are made or when enquiring about applications.”

The Department of Commerce and Investment has processed and issued over 4000 trade and business licences since March 25, 2020.

Of that number, 878 have been new trade and business licences, 3083 trade and business licence renewals and 277 trade and business licence amendments.

In April this year, Government approved the Trade and Business Licensing (Temporary Reduction in Fee) Regulations 2020, which temporarily waived the payment of trade and business licensing application fees for businesses, from May 1 to July 31 2020.

In addition, late fees from March 1 to July 31 2020 have been temporarily waived for all applicants.

Members of the public can visit the Department of Commerce and Investment website,www.dci.gov.ky for trade and business licensing and other information.