CIG plans to rip up trees in George Town

| 15/10/2018 | 125 Comments
Cayman News Service

George Town, Grand Cayman

(CNS): Government has appointed Colin Lumsden as manager for the Cayman Islands capital, and he reportedly began his job on Monday, but so far few details have been revealed about his recruitment, which is part of government’s plans for the long-awaited revitalisation of George Town. Tristan Hydes, the deputy chief officer in the planning ministry, revealed Lumsden’s appointment at a recent NRA conference, where he said that one of the first things the town boss would be doing was to remove trees. CNS has contacted the planning department and the ministry, including Hydes, several times about this but we have so far received no response.

News about this removal of trees in the capital, which is already suffering from a severe shortage of greenery and shade, came just days after a new climate change report, which stressed the need to change our way of life completely to save the planet from the massively negative impacts of global warming.

It is also just a few weeks since Planning Minister Joey Hew, who will be spearheading the George Town revitalisation project when it gets underway, spoke at the Caribbean Transitional Energy Conference and said how important the environment was to his government.

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Hew acknowledged the impact climate change, especially sea level rise, was going to have on island states like Cayman and the need to reduce carbon footprints, making it hard to understand how his ministry could be sanctioning the removal of any trees.

CNS sent questions asking for more information about the plan to remove trees, including which ones, why they were being removed and what plans, if any, government has to replace those that are removed or to address the lack of trees in the capital. Two weeks later, no one has answered our questions.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly last November, Hew said that the redevelopment of George Town would include creating pedestrian-only zones and the beautification of the capital area, with the introduction of more trees and flora — contradicting the comments made more recently by his civil service management team.

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Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature

Comments (125)

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  1. A says:

    The government’s official response to this story: http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cighome/pressroom/archive/201810/Ministry%20Clarifies%20Inaccurate%20Article

    CNS: For heaven’s sake! No, this is not the official response to this article; it’s the official response to the last article, the one this article is about. Try to keep up. We linked it at the end of this article because, in the interest of transparency, we always try to provide our readers with the source documents. It’s the exact same one as the one on the planning website. It still makes false accusations about our original article, wherever you find it.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Trees huggers needed to occupy all GT ????.
    This Madness could only be stopped by equally mad resistance!
    Leave trees alone!
    Leave Smith Cove alone.
    Guard turtle nests!
    Reduce number of visitors.
    Stop the piers project.
    FIX the Dump!!!!
    Moratorium on ALL capital projects until solid waste disposal brought to the 21century standards.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Should have started with that disgraceful shoe tree.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Maybe they could spend a million dollars on a boardwalk like in south sound. Much less time consuming would be to just dump the million in the sea and let it wash away. Waste of money. Now waste money removing trees?
    What the hell is wrong with trees??? Idiots, appointing idiots, who do more idiotic things. Do they just wake up in the morning and wonder…..what’s the best way to screw things up and piss people off????

    Hello……McFly????? Is there anybody in there. Stop the madness.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    They should close some of the streets, make them grass and pedestrian only and plant about 1000 trees downtown – that would be a good start !

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  6. Anonymous says:

    I hope they put Smith Cove revitalization plan away.
    Revitalization doesn’t equal destruction.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    “Tristan Hydes, the deputy chief officer in the planning ministry, revealed Lumsden’s appointment at a recent NRA conference, where he said that one of the first things the town boss would be doing was to remove trees.”

    How long has this revitalization of George Town been under way and what has been done? Then we learn the first big initiative is to remove trees. Is this serious? Without shade it is like an oven on nothing but concrete. Someone needs to get involved who knows what they are doing, ask Dart for help.

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    • Ron Ebanks says:

      This stupidity by the government sounds like we don’t only need to have a referendum on the pier project , but also on the
      government too . I think we need to RECALL THIS GOVERNMENT ..
      What are they thinking would happen when all the trees are removed and replaced with concrete ? They don’t know that all the concrete around in the town will heat up during the daytime and cause an oven affect , and after the sunset the place would still be hot for hours after . Without enough trees in the aarea , we would have to change the name to Oven Town .

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      • Anonymous says:

        We need to recall this lot and legislate a 2 term per lifetime limit so that fresh bodies and ideas come into MLA.

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      • Josh says:

        10:27 pm your comments are not well thought out sir. Do you want I assume your country looked at as a banana republic. If you don’t like the present government who will you choose?. It is not as simple as saying do this , then what?.

        If you are that dissatisfied you and others take time and find some sound intelligent and well educated people to form a.government for the next election. There is ample time to develop the neccesary skills that may be lacking, time also to develop a comprehensive plan as to where And how the country should grow, what are the priorities etc and time to convince people to raise money for a new and better cayman.

        Sir you and a lot of people with the rebellious statements need to engage brain before writing and speaking , for your thoughts tend to resonate negatively not only on yourselves, but to the outside world, your business partners and indeed your upcoming generations who need comprehensive education and guidance from you the elders.

        Peace be unto you .

        • Ron Ebanks says:

          Josh , My comments regarding this government are based on the stupidity and arrogance of the government’s and the disrespect they have for the people and the future generations .
          When you talk about removing the trees and destroying the Environment , that’s stupid . When they want to put the Islands in debt for hundreds of millions of dollars on a pier with no guarantee of return , when you have absolutely have NO CONTROL over the Cruise Lines , that is a stupid chance to take with millions of dollars .

          Yes there are smart and educated and honest Caymanians who can form a Government . I believe that they could and should be better stewards .

    • Anonymous says:

      Why do people keep forgetting that Dart’s plan was to move activity from GT to Camana Bay – why would he then now try to help revitalize GT. Yes he has some interest in GT but the majority of his investment is CB.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Obviously a slow news day at CNS. Making a story and stirrring up controversy when none exists. The plan is to revitalize GT via the use of a multi faceted Development Plan. New parks and ADDITIONAL green spaces are and have always been an integral part of that Plan. For goodness sake Cayman, get a grip.

    CNS: As noted in the article, we tried very hard to get input from government. If what you say is true, why would they not tell us that? As long as they refuse to answer our questions, we can only go on what information we have. The days when the authorities can ignore questions and then claim ‘they’re making it all up’ are long gone.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They have already started cutting the trees down at Countryside, savannah. I was there today, not a tree left, hot as hell and all the shade gone.

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    • Anonymous says:

      More like somebody in CIG is trying a bit too hard to be relaxed to cover their a$$ of poor planning. More ad-hoc governing.

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    • Anonymous says:

      CNS your approach is the farthest thing from investigative, objective, and unbiased reporting. Seems the days when news outlets can take the stance of a divisive tabloid with an anti-government agenda are alive and well, unfortunately.

      CNS: We do not have an anti-government agenda, which the PPM certainly did not believe when they were in opposition and we were performing exactly the same function. All governments everywhere (and their ardent followers) believe the press is against them – it’s the nature of the relationship – and here in the Cayman Islands, for many years the government of the day could rely on a compliant media because they were, and are, one of the main advertisers. When the press stopped being compliant, it was a bit of a shock (Treason!) and I think today’s politicians believe that we should behave like the old days, when the government could kill a story by simply not answering questions.

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      • Anonymous says:

        The CNS replies to the brainwashed PPM crowd are always worth reading

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      • Anonymous says:

        I wouldn’t say CNS is anti-government but I sure would say they have an agenda and are biased in their reporting. CNS’ two primary mandates, environment over the people and pro-gay rights.

        CNS: Being pro-environment does not mean that you don’t care about the people, it means that you are thinking of the big picture, which includes future generations. It means weighing what is being sacrificed for eternity in exchange a few bucks now. That’s why looking after the environment is in the Cayman constitution.

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      • Ron Ebanks says:

        CNS , I completely agree with your point , when the government could simply kill a story by not answering questions , days are all over . I believe that everyone should be holding the government to that standard of accountability , not only CNS .

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      • Anonymous says:

        @8:09 If the government wasn’t acting so shady then maybe CNS’s reporting would seem more government friendly in your view.

    • Anonymous says:

      @CNS let me answer that post from @4:53 if you don’t mind.

      @4:53 Baaaa baaa baaa baaaaaa baa baaaaaa

  9. Anonymous says:

    Maybe they intend to relocate them. Or plant new ones in better locations. Why is everything taken so negatively?

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    • Anonymous says:

      How tone deaf and politically unaware do you have to be to make a bare statement that an urban regeneration project in the 21st century will begin with tree removal, unless you say in the next breath that they will be relocated or replaced with new trees planted in better locations? Those two statements obviously go together and if the latter is the case, you say it at the same time. If you have any awareness of the political climate created by the dock debate you won’t even mention tree removal at all. We are practically in a state of civil war over removing and destroying coral and someone goes and announces the removal of trees. Corals are basically the trees of the sea. But… since the statement was made, we react to it and react negatively. It’s the same government doing both, telling us just enough to worry and upset us. Let me ask you: why should anyone jump to a positive or even neutral conclusion? This government obviously loves concrete and will go down in history as responsible for more of its blight than any other. Anyone would assume tree removal to be a precursor to more concrete. I hope you are right but I disagree that there is anything exceptional in the reaction to the statement Tristan Hydes made.

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  10. Say it like it is says:

    Mr Hydes you need to visit Caman Bay and see the benefit of trees and landscaping in a commercial environment. You are sadly out of touch and I’m phrasing that as politely as I can.

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  11. MM says:

    Splendid idea!!!

    Let’s rip up ALL the trees in George Town and then buy some new ones from DART’s plant nursery!!

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  12. Anonymous says:

    These fools seem to forget 2 things.

    1. We live on a tropical island covered in trees.
    2. We live on a TROPICAL ISLAND covered in TREES!

    They want us to look like a concrete block out in the middle of the ocean. I am glad I have about 20 years of live left God willing and hopefully the island will not be paved over completely before I leave it.

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    • Concerned Citizen says:

      “These fools” didn’t say such a thing…I was there…I heard what was said…and they said and showed pictures of MORE TREES…PUBIC SPACES…etc, etc, etc
      They also SAID they WANTED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE in the area…have them participate and be involved in the process. By the sounds of it…you’re a genius, so maybe you could join in and help too…or are you so smart you only know how to criticize and offer negativity?

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      • Anonymous says:

        I maybe smart enough to only criticize but at least I am smart enough to know the difference between “public” and “pubic”.

        • Anonymous says:

          Where oh where has the LOL button gone? ROTFL

        • Anonymous says:

          8.15am The poster did not say anything about “public” he referred to ‘pubic spaces. If you were not at the meeting then I guess you will have to take his word that indeed they ‘showed pictures of MORE TREES…PUBIC SPACES…etc’.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Come on people, wait until you have the facts before going off half cocked like CNS is doing here. CNS stick to reporting news instead of creating it.Used to be that CNS could be counted on to give a fair report when other media didn’t . Not anymore. Just about all articles nowadays seem to take a distinctlyañti Government stance. Looking more and more like Cayman Compass.

    CNS: I’d love to get the premier’s reaction to this comment.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Another backwards day in Absurdistan.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    If you give Carnival control of the dock I’m opening a Chuck-E-Cheese’s and a Dollar Tree down there.

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  16. S. Miller says:

    what trees are being spoken about…there is no trees anywhere??????

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  17. Anonymous says:

    OH MY GOD!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!! REFERENDUM !!!

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  18. KMR says:

    This Island is damned to hell if we continue to make our Government make foolish decisions…Who in their right mind thinks & approves of cutting down trees in George Town…trees are needed for oxygen. They are homes to birds, they provide shade on sweltering days. Depending on what tree it is, provides beautiful blossoms/fruits/leaves that change color depending on the season. WE NEED MORE TREES/PLANTS in George Town to make it look lively, not more of a ghost town.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Can we get some of those fancy cell phone towers that look like trees that they have in Dubai instead?

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Totally unbelievable! Trees are part of the natural beauty. In most developed countries that are crowded with skyscrapers and other buildings there are always green areas and parks for the people with lush vegetation near by. In fact it is proven that these green areas offer “peace of mind” away from all of the concrete hustle and bustle.
    I cannot believe how short sighted and ignorant some people can be. It just really shows how backward thinking the powers that be are. Most places are trying to replant and here they want to remove?????? You would think that as such a small island as we are here we would want to preserve some of the natural beauty. Absolutely no vision whatsoever…………

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    • Anonymous says:

      As Maya Angelou said, “when someone shows you who the are, believe them”

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    • Anonymous says:

      Tunnel vision, they prefer to allow tunnels than trees. In other places people are even attaching grow boxes to the sides of commercial buildings and on flat roofs to have something green in the environment. If we hadn’t had idiots who only appreciates dollars and cents, instead of dollars and sense. in charge for multiply decades things would be different. Hell bent on destroying land and sea while bowing down to the almighty dollar!!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Not here in Cayman where attaching plastic greenery to the front of your oceanside establishment raises no eyebrows because a quick fix is always better than something that might take some time and effort. Any idea how long that would take to deteriorate and end up contaminating the water?

    • Anonymous says:

      Very good idea, we should have thought of getting rid of all the trees long ago. Once the trees are gone, no more iguanas or chickens. The Iguanas need the trees for food and the chickens sleep in them at night. That’s what we call killing two birds with one stone. Well done Mr. Lumsden, great idea, OBE in New Years Honors!

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Sadly, I have been here long enough to remember the time and energy that went into Vision 2008 which went nowhere. I can also remember how nice it was to sit and eat my lunch in the park across from the LA under the beautiful shade trees.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I remember Vision 2008. I was 10 years old in 1998 and I remember thinking how good it was that our society plans ahead. Then I became an adult and saw how things really work here and I am still not done laughing about how wrong I was.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    As I keep saying…..morons in charge!! I’m not surprised if two sides of the same Government agency don’t know what each other are doing. Sounds like everyday life in the public service!!

    Don’t our leaders and their civil service stooges travel and observe other countries?! I guess they just travel to waste our funds and get away from work!!

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  23. Anonymous says:

    https://www.caymancompass.com/2006/04/06/today-s-editorial-april-06-help-cayman-plant-a-tree/

    Can’t believe we still have such ignorant people in our midst and running the country at that!

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Lets face it. CIG does not have any vision. They need to goto several conferences, consult several agencies and probably read these comments to get ideas. They are clueless and their ideas are infantile and unsophisticated.

    They have been living off the super-rich for way to long and have a fake sense of self-importance and entitlement for being blessed from so many rich people helping them out on so many levels. Unfortunate that this leaves them with no true grit when times become tough.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They can Skype, and research on the internet, no more jollies.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What does that mean precisely “living off the super rich”? As opposed to living off of what? The average income person? Living off the land and sunlight? Or living off the poor? What are we supposed to live off of exactly?

      Or is this just another emotion laced economics retarded comment?

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  25. Anonymous says:

    I’ve always commented to others how cool it is in other cities with shade because they have designated spots in the sidewalks to plant trees.. They need to plant more trees all over George Town.

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    • Ron Ebanks says:

      Does Mr Hew even have a development plan for GT ? If , why don’t he show it . I think that this madness by these politicians need to be stopped once and for all . Removing trees and replacing them with concrete is greedy and mad .

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      • Anonymous says:

        Appointing people whose only job has been as civil servants with the planning department is not the same as employing professionals .
        Please Joey, get your pals at Dart to suggest some landscaping and urban Architecture.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Can we just remove all the politicians and replace them with trees? Problem solved!

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        • Anonymous says:

          @2:12 I just had the image in my mind of the meeting of the Ents in LOTR. Sad part is as slow as those leafy bastards were they would most likely make better decisions than these moldy pieces of Maiden plum and log wood trunks.

    • Naturegirl says:

      Not palm trees either. We need real shade trees and lots of them. We have some lovely fast growing native trees which provide wonderful shade and flowers, seeds and fruit for the birds and bees. I would be very happy to help consult on the choice of trees and locations.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Government loves to spend our money.
    If people want to know the truth as to why this world is in such a mess, they only need to look as far as the banks.
    Banks wield more power than any politicians. Corrupt politicians lead nations into debt and as we have been told, “The borrower is servant to the lender”.

    Just as we strive to be debt-free in our own lives, a truly successful nation is one that owes nothing to the evil banks.

    Mayer Amschel Rothschild is quoted as saying, “Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws!”

    Is this not our story, Cayman? If the politicians wanted to lead this nation properly, they would begin by forensically looking at the finances.

    It is fine and dandy to sit in the LA looking all important and pretending to be a statesman, but if you are slaves to faceless and nameless money people, then the whole exercise is one in futility.

    You have to hand it to the world’s elite money people. They have managed to sucker us into electing brain-dead politicians through a flawed “democratic” system that just does not work.
    We have fought horrific wars, passed stupid laws, destroyed national identities and through all of this pain and suffering, we blame politicians.

    The truth is far more nefarious. Politicians are the pawns of the bankers and until this fact is addressed life will never improve. Elite bankers are so invisible, elusive and powerful.

    Destroying the natural beauty of this world is a huge part of their plan because once the climate change agenda can be firmly pinned on carbon dioxide, each one of us will need to pay penance by way of the the global carbon tax where all cash flow is digital via centralized computers and a personal, subcutaneous microchip. On that day, we will all be the servants of money.

    The end game is the complete subjugation and control of the human race through a one world financial system.
    The simple truth is that man cannot serve two masters. He will love one and hate the other.

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    • Anonymous says:

      oooooohhhh kkkkk

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    • Anonymous says:

      I have to agree with this entirely.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Dear friend, I am the original poster. I knew that I would be ridiculed at some point (and that’s ok, no harm done, no offense taken), but the journey from being asleep to awake is quite a painful one as you probably know.
        Thank you for your support and I would be honoured to meet you one day, if not in this temporal dimension, then in the eternal next.

    • Anonymous says:

      Perfectly worded, the truth is the truth but I’m afraid we are all born into a lie, the 1% is very small compared to the other 99% so it’s their goal is to keep us stupid amongst each other, and what else can I say but their plans are succeeding, anyways if we want to fix this problem then I suggest you go on YouTube and type in Bill Williamson’s message and then let the purge begin.

  27. Anonymous says:

    now this action just sums up the ignorance and stupidity of the people who are running this country. May God help us to get them out of our law-making as fast as possible

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Bunch of expat trees anyway. Get them out of there and make some room for some Caymanian trees.

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  29. Mary Green says:

    Pure breed stupidity….let’s build concrete trees to replace them and of course pave everywhere with asphalt! Everything green should be destroyed, after all who needs oxygen and shade from the hot sun?! Tourist don’t want the natural environment, right….they desire more concrete buildings and don’t forget concrete piers to make their holiday more enjoyable! Is there anyway the elected officials who by the way “work” for the people will do the right thing and work to save our precious environment, our future?!

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  30. Anonymous says:

    What? Does ALT sell saplings?

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  31. nickcayman says:

    How Planting Trees Affects Climate Change – The Atlantic

    When Abigail Swann started her career in the mid-2000s, she was one of just a handful of scientists exploring a potentially radical notion: that the green plants living on Earth’s surface could have a major influence on the planet’s climate. For decades, most atmospheric scientists had focused their weather and climate models on wind, rain, and other physical phenomena.

    But with powerful computer models that can simulate how plants move water, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals between ground and air, Swann has found that vegetation can control weather patterns across huge distances. The destruction or expansion of forests on one continent might boost rainfall or cause a drought halfway around the world. http://bit.ly/2pUEyQv

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  32. You can't make this stuff up. says:

    Everywhere else is breaking their backs to plant more trees in the face of climate change and these knuckleheads are trying to tear up what little trees we have left. Do us a favor, don’t make any more decisions for us and this country after a stupid idea like that one.

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Decco & CHEC will get the revitalization done, this is only preparatory works so you all need to calm down. Our leaders know what to do and are doing it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sarcasm? Good one!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually, it is the truth more than anything else that has been said. You don’t think Decco & CHEC are going to get involved with building the cruise dock and not make sure that town has their same vision???? Dart has been planning this from the get go. Mark my words. You’re going to be shocked when (if) this all comes out about what he already owns and his larger vision. This was never just about Camana Bay.
        Unfortunately, I am afraid this is all already a done deal. No matter how many signatures, there will NOT be a true fair vote for this to go forward.
        However, in saying that, I also don’t think they reckoned on all of those that are actually against it! This was a surprise. So is the referendum! Keep going folks!!!

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        • Anonymous says:

          Correct they are doing what they want and we will be very happy with the superior quality once completed. Everyone love Camana Bay

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      • Anonymous says:

        I know, I love this parody account

  34. Anonymous says:

    Well there is one idea to make the dump that is George Town even worse.

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  35. Joan Walter says:

    You guys don’t know squat! Cutting down trees decrease rainfall, it also takes away the homes and nesting areas for some animals, plus it gives shade when the weather is hot, they also provide a wind breaker when storms arrive here. So, get rid of this guy, before he even begins if this is what he’s planning to do.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I saw a pair of parrots last week. First time in years.

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    • Ron Ebanks says:

      But , Ms Walter , money is more important to government and developers , than the things that you mentioned . That really show what the government cares about . I agree with you that trees are very important to have been included in the plan .

  36. Anonymous says:

    This committee directing Mr Lumsden needs to be comprised of people who have lived elsewhere, places they make good, responsible, 21st century decisions. The usual yokels will not do the job here. They will only make things worse.

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    • Anonymous says:

      great comment.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes and people who have travelled to see what makes other places enjoyable. Stark cities are not appealing. A new redesigned port in a total concrete jungle is not appealing. Sad. Cayman is turning into its West Bay atttaction namesake

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    • Anonymous says:

      12.04am So that is it. Expats once more wanting to run things and run off the locals.I guess that’s why they don’t criticize Dart for the huge amount of trees he has removed to create Camana Bay (which expats see as their Town) and to create a huge playground for Kaaboo and the great Spring break festival Dart is promoting.

      • 12.04am says:

        But I’m not an expat. I’m a Caymanian who has lived in other countries, and in big cities. I have seen enough urban layouts and architecture and experienced enough cultures to have an idea how you purposefully bring the two together to be more than the sum of their parts. This is what we are seeking to do with George Town. The vast majority of my fellow Caymanians do not have this exposure. But there are more than enough of us available to look at artist renditions and say “yes, people like that” and “no, people do not like that”. Those are the people we need directing the project.

  37. Rick says:

    Best to rip up the Government instead

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  38. Nicholas Sykes says:

    Certainly it would be good for the Government to preserve and promote fine trees in our towns. Equally it would be good and say just as much if every private owner of a garden at home curtailed the back-hoe as much as possible and tried to preserve, to a sensible extent, any woodlands and trees possible, both wild and fruitful.

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  39. Anonymous says:

    I had been thinking….

    Thousands of trees had recently died beside the bypass between the school roundabout and Camana Bay. Most were bulldozed to make way for whatever is going in by the school. There is still a rather large stand of them.

    I was wondering what caused this and I hope that it does not happen to the trees surrounding the dump.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I can tell you what happened.

      I was the result of building the bypass and the new road to the school. The land in the middle became full of stagnant water and drowned the trees. That used to be a seasonal flood land until they built the roads, locked in the water and killed the trees.

      Guess they should of done an environmental impact assessment.

      Good job to dart.

      Atleast it will be easier for them to clear the land since it’s all dead.

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  40. Anonymous says:

    cig has not a clue regarding revitilisation of gt or modern urban living generally…….

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  41. Chris Johnson says:

    The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman planted the Black Olive trees along Cardinal Avenue with the full support of the Government of the day many years ago. Should today’s Government remove them may I suggest a refund to the club. Where Government has totally lost the plot is the beatification of George Town or lack thereof. On several occasions I have personally offered money and assistance as well as that of the Rotary Club to provide both fauna and benches for people to use in town. Look around Heroe’s Square. There is nowhere to sit.

    Moreover many years ago the club provided about eight benches that were built in Northward Prison for which the inhabitants were paid. Where are they I ask. Before you wags answer that question , it is not Northward.

    What George Town needs is a local council to take over and do something positive rather than procrastinate like our well worn government. As one says procrastination is the thief of time. Maybe that is the same thief that nicked the benches.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The benches were most likely removed for Heroes Day parade every January. However, they should have been replaced for persons to sit the rest of the year.

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    • Anonymous says:

      the only thing G. Town needs is a place to park our cars.this is never mentioned
      every thing is private parking

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      • Chris Johnson says:

        I cannot figure out why government does not use the Glass House land which should have been knocked down years ago or the Tower Building land for a car park. One could go ten stories high and design it like Brian Butlers new condo on the beach so no one would notice. Even better go underground. It just needs a little imagination, a bit more than Government has.

        56
    • Anonymous says:

      I’m all ears about the fauna: Giraffes? Penguins? Herds of wilderbeest sweeping majestically around the Post Office?

      12
      22
    • Debbie does Dullards says:

      Hello again Mr. Johnson. Now is the time for you to step up and help with things b
      ecause you have the vision. Your ideas will help. We are behind you and people of good will like you. Stay the course and do not get discouraged. Is it possible that this is a tactic to get us off the subject of the cruise ship piers?

      26
    • naturegirl says:

      Chris, remember the trees also that were planted around the Bank of Nova Scotia Building? They were small, but offered some shade. They were wantonly ripped out. Goodness only knows why.

      • Chris Johnson says:

        Rotary also put a bench there as well. It disappeared with the trees. This is the only town I know that has no park benches. Why why why. No tourist or local toilets as well. Why do we not get a town planner who has no chain saw!

  42. Anonymous says:

    Is this news

    2
    42
    • Anonymous says:

      PPM Bot you would never understand that it is news because like Mac, your PPM bosses do not understand the importance of the natural environment.

      37
      1
      • Anonymous says:

        Unless they can grab it, close their fists, walk in to the bank and deposit it in their account they won’t understand it. Destroyers of land and sea. I do not blame Mr. Lumsden, poor thing he has to carry out their stupid orders no matter how he feels about it. We continually blame civil servants, but they are not to blame, their masters does not want them to think, they just want blind obedience. If they complain or dare to have an opinion they will be harassed and transferred to another post.

  43. Patricia Bryan says:

    What in the world?! People are over here in different areas of the US telling me of their vacation experiences in Grand Cayman and highlighting the beauty of the trees in George Town especially in front of the court house, library and waterfront. WHAT is going on there?!

    72
    2
  44. Anonymous says:

    I hope Mr Lumsden isn’t the same CI Govt architect that ripped up all the trees in front of the courthouse in favour of the useless fountain that nobody enjoys because it’s too damn hot. Great start.

    84
    2
    • Anonymous says:

      If I remember correctly, all the trees, bushes and benches in front of the courthouse were removed because of the bad element of people that were hanging around there. If you stood in the right place, you could smell where they were relieving themselves… Oh, how soon we forget.
      But basically, This rumor of removing trees is merely bait. A distraction so that when they reveal what is really happening, you’ll be all happy ‘n’ sh!t with the ‘new’ plan.

      6
      7
      • Anonymous says:

        So they could not insist that the bad element not congregate there? I would have put a couple of security guards and if they insisted on hanging around then call a police officer put their butts in lockup. Taking out the trees should not have been the remedy. A bunch of pea brains.

    • Anonymous says:

      He is certainly not an Architect.

      7
      1
  45. Spare me the cutter says:

    As I said before we don’t do trees here, just concrete and barber green. Seems like all the old trees and indigenous here is regarded as weeds to be mowed down at the first opportunity. Take a page out of the book from all great cities of the world, they have plenty of green space. what a waste land we’re turning into.

    79
    2
    • Anonymous says:

      Yes. I have flown over several cities in my life, and what is often remarkable — at least from the air — is the greenery. Even New York City appears more green that George Town.

      14
  46. Anonymous says:

    Only stupid people with no foresight would talk about revitalization, yet hell bent on destroying trees. Other parts of the world they are planting trees but here in Cayman, those stagnated brains are getting ready to destroy trees. What’s wrong with those bright birds?

    81
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    • Hancock says:

      Two more brain cells those politicians would be a Bush. Get it?

      51
      1
      • Anonymous says:

        Totally agreed. Looks like they are all turning into burnt bushes. CNS I am going to send you a bill for my blood pressure meds. Just when I get it down to manageable level you go and print this stuff. I am retired and now spend most of my time, ( also a bit of my retirement money) on planting trees, shrubs, veggies and fruits in my little 2×4 plot, and these jackasses are planning to strip George Town. I heard Mr. Lumsden talking about getting George Town to look like it was 30-40 years ago, well sir, if you are too young to remember take a walk to the library and the archive building and look at some pictures of what George Town looked like then. It was shady, lush and beautiful. I know it is much too late to get that back because we have allowed buildings to be literally in the streets leaving no space for greenery. if you are planning on uprooting trees to arrange planter boxes in their place it will definitely lose the natural look. If your plan is to have pedestrian paths instead vehicular traffic in some places then instead dig up some of the asphalt and plant trees along the paths-.not taking the trees out. Anyway excuse me while I go take my meds.!!

        26
        • Chris Johnson says:

          Anyone remember the tree on South Church Street that you sat under to get your haircut? Happy days. No stress and honest politicians.

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