Questions about the cruise dock project
‘A. Caymanian’ writes: Dear Government of National Unity Members, Please enlighten the public and provide clarity on the following questions:
1. Will the public be informed of the full details before you commit to the final agreement in Q2 2018?
2. (a) When will the public be able to review details?
(b) Is it a secret?
(c) Why are details being treated as a secret?
3. How will the project be financed? Cruise lines will not pay for the cargo expansion component.
4. Has the government updated the Outline Business Case given the new design and financing projections?
5. Will the results of the new Environmental Impact Assessment be made public? If so, when and how will the information be shared?
6. How will Cayman accommodate the 2.3-3 million cruise passengers per year?
7. Is new infrastructure being put in place along the SMB to accommodate the volume that wish to soak up the world famous beach and its pristine waters?
8. Where is the transparency that was promised and the Progressives campaigned on in May 2017?
9. What exactly do you have to hide? Is the deal that bad?
Unfortunately, the attitude and behavior being displayed by the government, Cabinet Members, caucus and ministry officials regarding the promised public consultation and information sharing phase with relevant details suggests that there are significant issues that may embarrass the government.
The question to be asked then is why are you committed to moving forward at any costs? In fact, your collective actions are reminiscent of the conduct of the previous UDP administration during its covert negotiations with China Harbour Group in 2011-12.
Sincerely,
A. Caymanian
This comment was posted in response to Cruise project progresses in secrecy
Category: Viewpoint
The government, in particular those that want to push their agendas especially when they know the people will react adversely, know all they have to do is wait and the majority of the public will get distracted and lose interest and they will quietly do what they want and by the time the people realize it’s too late and they wonder what happened.
What is the cost of the floating pier proposed for port royal JA
There are also some really good retractable piers. I think the CIG tried to make out there was insufficient room to accommodate them on land. Other technical concerns were raised all of which could be addressed by the engineers as part of the contract. Seemingly, they’d rather rip out acres of precious coral reef and make way for these unwanted piers instead.
Move the port out of town simple, many other islands have their ports out of the business center, it makes sense.
But most ports are also in the most geographically convenient spot, its why they became ports. Its why the main commerce moved from Bodden Town to Hog Sty Bay – easier to get ships in and out of on more days of the year.
This whole pier plan has spoiled and is beginning to smell. Given the huge number of cruise ship visitors now arriving in Cayman you would think the government would have reevaluated the pier project and worked on rehabbing downtown George Town or the numerous unresolved problems in the country.
Certainly someone in the government can plan, manage and think.
First of all, I, personally, do not agree with ‘cruise tourism’ at all.
However the Cayman Islands in general and George Town in particular are prime examples of failure to think ahead and plan accordingly over generations. Why was Hogsty Bay left as a cute half-built port until so many buildings had been erected close to the shore that no proper harbour or dock could be built?
The whole Port Authority area, including the three cruise-tender terminals is a joke.
It is amazing that so much infrastructure has been built over the past 50 years considering the difficulties in handling imported goods at the port.
Today, the mere sight of a cruise ship causes the port to shut down. If a container ship arrives while bulk sand/gravel/cement is being discharged, that operation has to shut down until the containers have been dealt with.
Is this a first or third world country? We need a properly designed port with sufficient depth of water and pier length to accommodate decent-sized ships instead of the toy boats which presently come here.
Its a third world country there has never been any argument over that, it will be at least two more generations before that changes. Once we accept that we can make some sensible plans for our future, instead of the “this here & that there” approach we have now.
Should be moved out of town therefore creating more jobs away from George Town no container lorries racing through George Town and concentrate on having a state of the art tender receiving area for the high end cruise ships not the current frys and burger brigade
Good questions. Don’t hold your breath on any answers though.
I am sorry, but I cannot support this project simply because the cost (approx. $300 Million ) is ludicrous and we will never see a quarter of the money made back profitably!
This project would only benefit a small few, who are already wealthy in these islands. This project does NOT benefit these islands.
Like Bob Marley said: “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time”.
Absolutely 90% correct.. Apparently you can fool all the people all the time. The dock is going ahead. The same politicians are re-elected every year. Cayman is slowly being bought out from the Caymanians and the same few people are benefiting while the rest of us suffer. I want the hood going over my hear to have radio.. it’s apparently going to be there for a while time so might as well make the best of it.
This government does not answer to the people. They move forward without the support of the people. A democracy would offer a referendum where the people would decide on this issue.
Time to march cayman ,get up stand up …….you know what else .pile of hog wash talk every day ,march we must . And this crap bout proving ye Caymanian !i tell ye I got my birth papers ,and that’s all they need to c .
Them a hide behind politricks
This is funny. Your government is your servant, not the other way around. What you are afraid of hiding behind anonymous names? You have already became slaves for the cruise ships industry. The local charm is gone and being replaced by high-rises. CIG wants to complete destruction of the environment, and make residents second class people, because tourists come first. And they will because you allow it. It is you, who would have to live under the ever growing shade of the mount Trashmore that is silently poisoning you and your unborn children. How much trash 2.5 mil visitors generate? Two things must happen without delay. A ban on cruise dock project and hotels height restriction. Where are West Bay ladies? You need them, since you are sheepishly hiding behind your keyboard. Remind your government who is the boss. Smith Cove saved. You have more work to do.
What was Smith Cove saved from exactly?
from condo complex. https://caymannewsservice.com/2016/10/community-rallies-to-save-smith-cove/
Fake news. There was never a condo complex planned to built on the land that is Smith Cove.
Massive public interest in the cruise port not being developed, yet here we are. What good is living in a democratic country when our elect leaders can overthrow public interest? Tyranny if I’ve ever seen it. Time to see what the new gov is made of, are you a man or mouse, will you put your foot down or sell us out like all the rest. Mr. Gov, your move.
We need the spirit of H.E. Thomas Russell to come back and haunt the LA for a while.
very sad that the the compass does not follow this up in a professional manner……
Advertising revenue and positive relations with the merchant class must be maintained at all costs. Does any know who really owns the compass?
These questions are precisely what they are afraid of nor can answer.
Dear Caymanian , you need to incorporate those questions along with your petition and get 4 ,999 more Caymanians signatures and hand it to the Government .
Well said! Hope the Auditor General STANDS UP and calls this what it is – effectively building a private pier at the expense of the country.
This is incredibly scary and offensive.
Where is the Revised EIA for new pier design? Revised underwater current/water temp and ecology study? Business Case? Passenger commitments?
I second this! We want answers!
don’t you all know what it means to be the goverment
Yeah, elected by the people to serve to the will and betterment of the people and the countr… oh wait.. you’re talking about the Cayman gov’t.. my bad.