Dart chief reveals goal to develop more beaches
Barkers National Park coastline
(CNS): Mark VanDevelde, CEO of Dart Enterprises, has stated that the company is hoping to begin “thoughtful development in the Barkers area of West Bay” with beach amenities near Villas Pappagallo, among other plans for more development on Grand Cayman’s beaches. According to the developer’s own publication, Camana Bay Times, VanDevelde said there are plans to create something “similar to Rum Point, where visitors and local residents can come to swim, eat and relax on the beach” in Barkers.
This echoes comments by Handel Whittaker, the owner of Calico Jack’s on Seven Mile Beach, who is hoping to relocate to Dart’s land in Barkers when he is turfed off his current spot. Whittaker has insisted that the idea of moving to Barkers was entirely his and did not come from his landlord.
The bar owner said at a public meeting last year that Dart was enthusiastic once he suggested it but the firm was not using him as a way to open up development in the area.
The move has caused considerable controversy because the proposed plans included dredging 180,000 sq.ft of sea grass from an unspoiled beach.
It appears that speculation that Dart is keen to see Barkers become the next tourist beach attraction is grounded in reality. In a press release on the firm’s website in December, Dart stated that, as the primary private landowner in Barkers, it has engaged in discussions with the government to facilitate the creation of the national park there.
“Dart fully supports the creation of a national park in the Barkers peninsula that will enable both environmental conservation and low-impact recreational enjoyment,” Ken Hydes, VP – Special Projects for Dart Development, is quoted as saying. Noting that no two national parks are the same, he said it could support environmentally and culturally “compatible recreational and visitor opportunities”.
VanDevelde has said that the volume of visitors to Seven Mile Beach has prompted the need to look for alternative venues.
Dart is also waiting on a decision for an application, which was considered by the Central Planning Authority on Wednesday, for temporary structures on the site of the old Coral Caymanian Hotel to create a pop-up beach bar and restaurant, which will apparently utilize shipping containers.
In addition, Dart has revealed plans for Barefoot Beach in East End. “We have been approached by a third-party with an interesting proposition for an eco-resort,” VanDevelde stated. “There is low environmental impact as the buildings are pre-fabricated and leave very little footprint when removed. It aligns with the National Tourism Plan’s strategy to attract more visitors to the eastern districts and would diversify our tourism product.”
The group is also now in the final stages of the long-awaited Public Beach upgrade on Seven Mile Beach, which it had committed to as part of the controversial NRA deal it struck with government to close the West Bay Road and transform large amounts of land it had acquired into beachfront property. This includes new volleyball courts, a dedicated space for vendors and expanded parking.
“Dart is committed to sustainable economic growth in the Cayman Islands,” VanDevelde claimed, as he told the Camana Bay Times that the company was continuing to explore partnerships and investment opportunities “that build Cayman’s reputation as a premier destination for the affluent traveller”.
The news comes as public concerns are growing over the dwindling access residents of Grand Cayman have to the island’s beaches, and that as development increases, the situation is only going to get worse.
For more on beach access challenges listen to the latest edition of the Cayman News Service podcast, Listen Up! with CNS.
Category: development, Local News
Per previous posting, Dart has ” Jumped the shark”.
private developer looking to develop private land under current planning laws. end of story.
everything else is waffle of the most backward variety,
Turtle grass private land?
And today Compass had a nerve to publish the stupidest editorial ever! Who are they sucking up to? I bet some of their staff feels embarrassed.
what do you expect of the compass?
they support trump and brexit and they don’t believe in climate change.
You probably believe the gas prices is because of
Putin.
See page 28 and 31 of NRA Agreement (Third Amended Version) as of early 2013:
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/otphome/publications/nra-agreement-third-amendment
Then go see the one that was actually signed.
Huh? Signatures are on pages 20/21, executed on May 30, 2016 by Tristan Hydes, Jackie Doak, Samuel Rose, Paul Parchment.
CNS – “But a responsible media does need evidence and actual whistleblowers to expose anything.”
Genuine questions – I’ll come back later …
If one wanted to find out how much and which properties that Dart and his holdings now own across all 3 Cayman Islands. Then they were to shade those areas on a map and publish said map… First, how would one go about finding out exactly which companies Dart is behind?
How much trouble would that investigative ‘journalist’ get into?
And why is no one doing this?
Seriously, this is like a Disney movie where the conglomerate tries to take over the small guy’s farm, causes flooding, threatens to put the small town out of business to build a large development… But there ain’t no town trying to fight back, swooping in at the auction to keep other bidders out so that the small guy can keep his farm.
There is NO good ending here for the Caymanian people. Even if they are the ones that sold themselves out for the almighty $$$.
Therefore I think it is imperative to show how much land is now under Dart’s very large umbrella in what has been a very systematic land grab over the past 10+ years.
CNS: These are very good questions. However, there is the issue of beneficial ownership (here’s the tag in case you haven’t been following it), which makes it impossible to discover the owners of businesses registered in the Cayman Islands (and the owners of the owners of the owners of businesses) unless you are a law enforcement agency.
The issue is that a lot of land may be owned by subsidiaries of companies owned by the Dart Group, or wheels within wheels within wheels.
The BO registry is being resisted because of its impact on the financial services industry but it also affects finding out who owns what here. If a registry is actually imposed by the UK, as they are currently saying, this may become possible, though even then it would be a pretty big undertaking. Right now we can only guess. Some estimates are as much as half the land mass but there is no way to corroborate this currently.
Law requires that valid Trade and Business licenses be displayed. Perhaps stop by their offices?
Nominee Holding Companies do not need T&Bs to hold real estate assets. DRCL use dozens of them to obscure the expansion of their empire. The consolidated maps are in the NRA Agreement, outlined in red.
They need a license the moment they start trying to develop.
I have seen the org chart, it would shock you.
It needs to be easily accessible to the public. Not everyone has access to a computer, not everyone is as smart as you folk, much less know where/how to look. Those are the ones that are blind to this.
People need to realize this is going on.
It cannot be stopped but we should at least be aware of what is headed our way.
Here’s an opinion (or 3).. Things are heating up in here. Know why? Because now that Dart and his multi-layered businesses (that you will never be able to pinpoint) have acquired more than 65% of our land (and that is only in Grand Cayman) – I actually do not know the real percentage but I can guarantee that it is at least 65%. Back when we picketed the closing of WB Road, they had a diagram with shaded areas of what they could dig up via public records, of what he owned at that time. I have never seen it since. Where is that now? How much $$ was exchanged to bin/hide that diagram? Why is it a secret? – He can now press further in blocked our (not just us Caymanians!! Everyone!) access to our jewel out front.
I have been spouting about this for a very long time but I knew that once he successfully got WB Road shut down, it was all downhill from there.
At least I can say I tried. I really did.
One answer is to EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN!!!!! That is the reason you keep blaming expats that have to come here to do the jobs that you CANNOT do because you are not educated. That’s the way they like it though. Keep ’em stupid. Easier to control and manipulate.
Do you not realize that those in power are the only educated ones willing to step up? And they will do anything (discredit others, rumor monger, sling mud etc) to prevent new blood from taking over, that will see below the surface of what is really going on?
Here’s another idea;
If you know something, say something. If you have proof and do not report it, you are as bigga fool as the MLA’s that are making shite decisions for your country and I would wager that you are getting some kind of payoff to look the other way.
I’m all over the place in this post… but it breaks my heart what is happening here. I have 3 passports. I can leave. (But I don’t want to! This has been my home for 28yrs) My Caymanian brethren do not have that option.
I would say you’d better wake up and smell the cancer growing but I am genuinely concerned that it is too late.
Please wake up Cayman
I wish I could sign my name… But I am Naked and Afraid
Agreed. Please tell who you are.
Why? What difference would that make? I do not have the same stability as you to be able to sign my name.
I’ll let you know next time I see you or M (whom I have known for 28yrs ;0)
@ 9:47 am
Your cry would fall on deaf ears. Your “Caymanian brethren” are too intimidated (and uneducated) to do anything. When generation that runs this “show” dies off, it would not be their children, but grandchildren who might have a chance. If anything would be left for them in their own country.
There won’t be.
What makes me sick is that none of our politicians are taking a stand on these things..
It would take more than millions of Dart money to make me want to destroy my country…
Sooner or later, these younger Caymanians are going to stand up and when they do these Dinosaurs and “pay to play” politicians are going to find themselves living on that reservation that Dart will build to put them on…
Next election I am not voting for anyone over the age of 40…
Its interesting, many people post about a lawful exercise of a land holders rights, or some post about how its not Dart’s fault that a Caymanian or other sold their property to them…that is all well and good, but it consistently fails to address what happens next – relocating beach access routes; seeking to dredge acres of turtle grass; relocating roads; positioning tunnels; restricting if not completely removing public access to beaches; whatever the heck they are doing to the Britannia owners; and so forth….just wait, just wait until someone signs off on them capping the dump and relocating it to your back yard…it will happen if this current regime goes unchecked…remember, sure, Dart bought private land – but the dump was always beside it….and so on, and so on….it’s total naivety to suggest that the issue is people selling property to them in the first place…thats not the problem…the problem is what happens next….
whats even more interesting is that despite the expanse of the property being purchased, retail space, hotels, distributorships etc etc there has never been uttered the idea by our esteemed leaders the consideration/introduction of anti-trust laws, – am easy example, should we really assume that Cayman Distributors is selling to the Ritz and Kimptom at the same prices as The Westin & Marriott ?
dart owns your cayman distributors kiddo
This comment is a mix of thoughts that is hard to understand. Particularly about the Dump. Only naive people believe that capping would accomplish a lot. In fact- very little. It would be visibly appealing, bring a blanket and have a picnic, but its toxic, detrimental effect on the environment won’t stop.
So much anticipated WtE plant would be your worst nightmare in complete absence of regulations, expertise, experience and controls. At least the Dump is stationary and you can see and smell it. Extremely toxic air ash from WtE plant would drift all over the island and fall where it may. Proper disposal of the incinerator’ (aka WtE) bottom ash would be practically IMPOSSIBLE in the Cayman Islands, where nothing is ever done properly.
Building WtE plant in a remote corner of Grand Cayman with winds toward the sea would just shift poisoning from land to sea . It won’t solve the bottom ash problem.
Here is an example of what future would hold for you if incinerator is built:
“Covanta and other incinerator companies continue to have problems with dioxin, mercury, and other contaminants. Covanta reached a settlement with the Connecticut Attorney General to pay $400,000 for dioxin emission violations at an incinerator. The problems were serious enough to have forced a temporary closure of the incinerator.” You can google the rest.
If they cap that pile, that would turn it into a boiling cauldron waiting to explode like a volcano. It does nothing to deal with the seepage that is slowly poisoning our Golden Goose that is the North Sound. It was never lined as it should have been. The only real way to stop the cancer is to completely remove it. And we know that is impossible.
Uneducated layman explanation but the seepage is real. I cannot understand how capping it without allowing the gasses to escape would solve the bubbling mess. The foulness of that odor will always remain. Just make sure your car a/c is on recirculate as you pass. That helps with the smell.
Few seem to understand that. They would probably, actually they must, to cap it properly allowing gasses to escape. But it would require extensive and expansive monitoring, which is practically impossible, taking into account the history of the Dump management.
The Dump is here to stay. North Sound poisoning would continue for centuries. Future generations will have to deal with it. And they WILL condemn their parents/grandparents for creating the mess.
And if they bring into this nightmare waste-to energy plant, the consequences for resident’s health would be dire. But since it won’t happen overnight, nobody seem to care. Aunty’s pieces on current state of mini-incinerators fell on deaf ears. I guess people care more about LGBT issues than their children future.
7;41 if the property was not sold there would be no next!
I think Dart (a caymanian) and Mr Vanderveld, ( also a caymanian) have improved cayman by investing and developing areas like camana bay. They employ near 100% locals in their companies and support the devopment of young caymanians. I hope they continue their investment and forward thinking. Let us move on from this small minded anti Dart mentality.
People have rights be they Caymanian or expats. Look what Dart did to the Brittania people. A total disgrace. No respect for rights. Put the 800 pound gorilla back in the cage and tranquilize the animal. ALL PEOPLE OF CAYMAN UNITE.
Your statistics surprise me because ive attended many meetings at their offices over years with 20 and 30 people from their company and have often been the only Caymanian in the room, at the very least, a small minority!
Colour wasn’t to your liking? Did you check the passports?
If you read what i wrote, i said ive met with these people for a couple years which means ive come to know them and established they are all or mostly on permits/aka new to the island so no passports needed to verify! They are pleasant folks but the original post saying staff is almost 100% Caymanian is simply not true.
You do know that there are blond hair, green/blue eyed multi generational Caymanians right? I really cant believe, in this day and age, you brought colour into this!!
Anecdotal, but I personally witnessed Dart HR dept slowly swallow up almost every one of our key employees over a 3-5 year period. They were lured away with higher pay, better benefits and job stability. All but one of them are Caymanians. The HR manager was also Caymanian.
Think I’ll just move to the Brac. Waddya say, he’s buying there too? Ok Little Cayman then. Waddya say, he’s……….
Yeah he pretty much owns it all now.
nobody’s buying in the brac.
Dart has and is, fact.
of course…that’s just play money…
People of Cayman. Put the 800 pound gorilla in the cage.
HM Customs Prohibitions & Restrictions:
“Caravans and prefabricated buildings other than storehouses and aircraft hangers”
http://www.customs.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/cushome/restrictions
good catch! Thank you
All laws can be amended.
Irrelevant
Let’s examine the Barefoot Beach comment with the prefabricated buildings?
Why is everyone who builds in Cayman held to strict building codes, increased after Ivan, yet Dart can float bringing in prefabricated buildings?
You know who is going to remove those buildings? The first hurricane that rips through. Either those buildings are going to be in the sea or ripping up someone else’s house. That is irresponsible!!
As usual, we see the bending of the rules for the rich.
How about pre-fab homes for lower income people?
Who lost their panties when the mobile homes were in Bodden Town after Ivan? Right.
Stop DART now!!
Eco-resort. Laughable. Nothing that guy does is with an eye on the environment. Nothing.
Errr, prefabricated houses are already being built on island, get informed you fool.
Where?
Decco
Thank you for proving my point. DECCO is Dart.
How about an average Joe submit plans to the planning department for a prefab house or mobile home to go on their piece of land and see what happens.
Report back.
Don’t call someone a fool, you fool!
It’s tragic what’s happening here.
yeah who would want another rum pt?…one of the most picturesque locations in the caribbean and one of the islands top attractions….?….who would want that??????
barkers, as it now, is an unused dumping ground for locals….
Dart really has had a massive public relations problem over the past year. What are the senior management in Dart thinking? They need to hire a full time and fully staffed Public Relations Department ASAP before they become public enemy # 1 in the Cayman Islands.
they are insulated in a bubble of their own making, power corrupts, it may not even be that they don’t care, it can easily be that nobody tells them no…just like Trump
Their arrogance would indicate that they really don’t care.
The Government elected by the public have allowed all of this to happen. That is the root problem even if Dart own the government. We need to look at the actions of the government of today and the last governments over twenty years that grant all the permissions, pass legislation and give exceptions. No amount of PR can change that fact. The Cabinet and MLA’s are ultimately responsible for what is allowed every time.
The other obvious point is people chose to sell their land and businesses to Dart and continue to do so. Nobody was held hostage to make those decisions. These are the harsh realities of the current political and financial landscape today in Cayman. Dart is the main driver of the Cayman economy and acts like the bully who knows they control things because they have long term plans while your elected governments have failed to plan for anything properly over the past thirty years. They can’t even collect the rubbish or have the parking machines at the airport to work properly.
Blame your elected governments and yourselves for selling everything to Dart and giving him control. Life is about choices and consequences.
They are thinking: “We have the money to do what ever we like. to influence politicians whoever we want. Screw the people, the environment, and heritage of the islands.” That is what they are thinking.
And that’s what they are doing!
Thank God, Tammi got out of there,,,
Dart controls the media including Cayman 27. Tammi still works for them as the messenger.
Thank God for CNS
When was the last time you were there? It is probably the cleanest part of the Island and certainly not a dumping ground.
What about the Horse Riding establishments who have been doing rides for years? What will happen to them?
And destroying the turtle grass in their wake….
They can ride on their own property.
A dumping ground for locals?
It’s really disgusting how some people come here and talk about locals like we are ignorant and uncivilized animals, who don’t love our home.
Far as I’m concerned, Cayman has become a dumping ground for racist, arrogant tripe like you. I wonder if I could go to your country and talk about the locals there the way you come to my island and talk about us?
And even if I could be as disrespectful as you, I wouldn’t because… well most of us locals are polite.
Remember this is Dart Island, the rest of you just live here.
dart island…cig/ppm, where is the reservations…i want a plot with a good view of mt thrashmore??
Develop the beach and make that money. That’s all that matters here now and its a travesty. Eventually no more public access to Seven Mile unless you pay an entrance fee at one of the designated hotels / beach bars.
I’m just sickened by the level of greed, lack of foresight and the treatment of the Caymanian people who should at least be able to step on their own damn beach without having to pay money.
This island now belongs to the super rich and eventually they will evict everyone who doesn’t have a spare $10 million in the bank.
Not just Caymanians. Anyone who doesn’t have lots of money. End of story.
Are ALL of the MLA in cahoots with Dart??? Shame! Shame! Shame! Money talks!!!
Yes, at least most of them.
Our problem is that we don’t read, and we have no media willing to blow the whistle harder on stuff that flies in the face of good governance. Not a new problem.
From the Journal, June 5, 2013:
“Swap SMB for Barkers
According to the second amended NRA Agreement, government agreed to extinguish the existing and public right of ways (worth about US$3 million) to Seven Mile Beach on Dart’s land. In exchange, Dart agreed to create a new public beach farther north up West Bay Road (worth about US$7 million).
According to the third amended NRA Agreement, government again agreed to extinguish public right of ways through Dart’s land along Seven Mile Beach. In exchange, Dart had agreed to create a new public beach – however, in the Barkers area, not on Seven Mile Beach (worth about US$4 million). Additionally, Dart had agreed to give government land near Smith Cove (US$3.5 million).”
http://www.journal.ky/2013/06/05/the-moving-pieces-of-the-nra-agreement/
CNS: “… we have no media willing to blow the whistle harder on stuff that flies in the face of good governance.” We take issue with that. We work very hard and do what we can with very limited resources, including a very limited staff. But a responsible media does need evidence and actual whistleblowers to expose anything. The whistleblower issue is real. Despite legislation and government assurances, most people remain convinced that the blowback would have serious and consequential impact on their lives, and therefore do not come forward. This is also why people like you comment anonymously. Easy to criticise.
Take note that this is only the second amendment and there was a third that changed a lot of things.
Despite public outcry over the backroom dealing, there were four versions of the so-called NRA deal, none scrutinized in any depth, even after each version of those documents became public domain. GIS moved these docs around their website like a peanut under a red solo cup:
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mpchome/publications/nra-agreement-review/13-05-10%20NRA%20AGREEMENT%20-%20APPENDIX%20D%20%20-%20NRA%20AGREEMENT.PDF
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mpchome/publications/nra-agreement-review/13-05-10%20NRA%20AGREEMENT%20-%20APPENDIC%20D%20-%201ST%20AMENDMENT%20TO%20THE%20AGREEMENT.PDF
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mpchome/publications/nra-agreement-review/13-05-10%20NRA%20AGREEMENT%20-%20APPENDIC%20D%20-%202ND%20AMENDMENT%20TO%20THE%20AGREEMENT.PDF
http://www.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/otphome/publications/nra-agreement-third-amendment
CNS: Thanks for finding these. I’ve now put them in the CNS Library under Developments here and also under the NRA here.
I stopped reading after the first one, these are sickening.
Thumbs up CNS
Shame the public are only now beginning to visualize and question the Cabinet-approved content of closed-door deals made while Kurt Tibbetts was Minister of Lands. These were Gazetted so long ago that the Unity regime is no longer required by law to retain any of the negotiation paperwork, phone logs, or other data – in fact, Kurt and McKeeva would probably eagerly confirm that the National Archives Law requires CIG to immediately destroy this information, if it has not already been! #ollyollyoxenfree
If this was agreed, then Darts land in Barkers would have been rezoned from H/T to otherwise because the applications that are on the table now are per H/T regulations and these types of facilities are certainly not for ‘public’ use…the only govt owned land in Barkers area is inland (DoEs portion) and its certainly not ‘on the beach’
Perhaps the real problem is that we don’t have enough Caymanian’s who are bold enough to stand up for injustice. Imagine representatives of the people agreeing to give up our right of access to the beach! That’s shocking and even more shocking and disheartening is that WE the people did not come out in force and object. Those strong West Bay women had a sound case and could have won with more support. Shame on anyone who would even consider asking for what our forefathers enshrined in law as our ‘Right’.
I agree with your comment to a point; however, the people that are elected officials should be standing up for those without a voice. Instead, they push them down.
Unfortunately, your elected MLAs have been bought, each of them, to some extent.
I don’t see things changing any time soon in Cayman. Even when the next election phase comes along.
Further, all it is going to take is one good Cat 5 hurricane or a 6+ earthquake to set the record straight of how this kind of damage will impact Grand Cayman.
Dart will be long gone in that instance. Collecting insurance checks and moving on to some other tiny nation with political people who are thick as thieves.
Ha, I know personally that Dart was the largest private supporter of Cayman after Ivan and know many more Caymanians and others that would agree.
Don’t tell lies, 10:52. People go to hell for telling large lies like yours.
#fakenews. Here ya go. https://dart.ky/about-us/timeline
why do we think that we have to do everything that the rest of the world does? Can we not keep something ‘sacred’……..the environment for example!
Because we have media-supported crooks/imbeciles in charge.
What’s going on with Royal Palms? When is the shut down date for that? I’ve been looking for details.
It will take them a while to get plans put together for it. Still a relatively new acquisition for Dart. Expect it to be there until 2020 unless any announcement is made. Really is going to be the last place left to go for some beach activities after Calico’s closes its doors. 7 mile beach is now 7 mile private beach.
at least we know we were are confirmed in writing, – Mark Vandevelop Ken’s right hand man has confirmed that the Dart charge in relation to their development projects is directed to opportunities “that build Cayman’s reputation as a premier destination for the affluent traveller”. Earlier in the Caymana Bay Times article Mr Vandevelop also said they envisioned the Barkers project to be “similar to Rum Point, where visitors and local residents can come to swim, eat and relax on the beach”. The truism here lies in ‘visitors’ and by definition aligns ‘local residents’ be ‘affluent’ as well. In short for the rest of us unless we have a windfall of money, the Cayman Islands largest real estate holder having grabbed swaths of land and frequently visited destinations by everyone is developing/redeveloping it and only a select few are welcome. ‘Live Work Play’ – forgot to mention that was all conditional.
We should however ultimately thank the CIG, CPA etc etc for the ensuing division within the Cayman Islands this will all cause and their complete lack of responsibility to represent all the people. I trust they are happy within themselves and the purse within which they ride representing yet another example of why ‘utopia’ towns will never survive.
“VanDevelde has said that the volume of visitors to Seven Mile Beach has prompted the need to look for alternative venues.”..its either utter contempt, or wilful, blissful ignorance…the SMB didnt need any alternate venues, it needed protection from the relentess policy regarding closure to the general public that Dart in particular has remroaded thru…Kimpton/Royal Palms/etc, etc are all Dart moving the access away from public to private, and actually causing the issue he’s pretending he’s fixing…
yes to this a thousand percent…not just Dart, a lot Dart, but many more complicit hands…the SMB beach, enjoyment of it and access to it has been effectively stolen from the public..Dart has even been allowed to relocate public beach access points to facilitate a tunnel thats the largest eyesore after the dump on this beautiful Island…we dont have a visitation problem, we have a land grab problem….this past weekend i walked the whole of west bay road kimpton to grand old house, the amount of beach access signs that are either not in place, or hidden…the pathways they supposedly mark, many of them overgrown…its a scandal…development is fine, sometimes great…but this current level of development benefits very, very, very few and harms so many…it is so short sighted…and nothing seems to stop it
Great comment. What can we do about this though? The government has turned us into spectators. The tradition of the media pressing the government on behalf of the public is dead, and the majority of people are too busy working, making ends meet to put up a fight. The only thing more depressing than the status quo is the reality that there is no one else to vote for to change it. We seem to have no ideas about where to go from here. The only thing we can all do I suppose is make our views known as part of the planning consultation taking place now. I haven’t got around to it, illustrating the problem I’m talking about, but not many people write in and it doesn’t take that long to do.
CNS: “The tradition of the media pressing the government on behalf of the public is dead.” As with a previous comment with similar sentiment, we take issue with that, and I don’t believe that anyone with a reasonable perspective would agree that CNS does not press government on issues.
To repeat: CNS works very hard and do what we can with very limited resources, including a very limited staff. But a responsible media does need evidence and actual whistleblowers to expose anything. The whistleblower issue is real. Despite legislation and government assurances, most people remain convinced that the blowback would have serious and consequential impact on their lives, and therefore do not come forward. This is also why people like you comment anonymously. Easy to criticise.
CNS is right, the anonymous comment people are right. A riddle wrapped in an enigma as someone brighter than myself once said. Clearly the power is corrupted, sometimes innocently mind. The limited resources on Island for positions in CIG and Oversight Boards (Planning, etc) have been well played by many savvy wealthy persons, and on occasion some dodgy persons too.
We do seem to be at the mercy of a very select few who are convinced that their vision is correct and money enables it – I don’t think the majority believe it is infact correct, and it will most likely be too late before the folly of the ways of one group comes home to roost. Having said that, not everything Dart or others do is bad, much of it is incredible. But it simply cannot be right that the SMB has effectively been lost to the public. It is just but one of many huge issues we have in Cayman, (growing crime, poor infrastructure planning, education, health costs, cost of living, the dump, the cruise fiasco, likley corruption everywhere, etc, etc)..but to focus on SMB, how can anyone think it’s right to have one of the great wonders of the world (it is, or it was) be effectively gated off? And for who…tourists and a few permanent condo owners and many very temporary condo residents? its fine to develop for all these people but how is it fine to do so by excluding the resident majority access?
A law is supposedly rigid in place regarding public access every few hundred yards (of course, CIG got played by Dart on that one)…why not create a new law where every couple of kilometers must be a public beach on SMB…why not?
I’d urge CIG to place a moratorium on SMB development, and purchase a few of these Condo Developments and create permanent public beaches on SMB before its gone forever..and do you know who can lend you the money to do that?!
CNS, my comment was not meant as a criticism. It is not for want of trying by the media that we are in this situation. The Compass lost a very public fight against the government not long ago and has not landed a punch since. Government is less transparent than ever and complacent because of the strong but unbalanced, challenging economy that they are coincidentally insulated from by their high salaries. They are responsible. I should have been more specific and said that pressure from the press seems to be less effective now than it has been at other times. The government is all-powerful and knows it. They just got a governor removed for daring to be popular and public-spirited. They don’t face the tough questions ordinary people have like ‘why does Dart seemingly get everything it wants and the Premier only cares about financial services while the cost of living does not even go commented upon?’ They don’t hold press briefings with any regularity. They don’t allow the Legislative Assembly to sit so they can be held accountable. They seem to be following the same program as in other countries right now, where governments in supposedly strong democracies do not even pretend to be listening to what the majority wants or what is objectively right. That corrosive problem is what I am talking about, not the tenacity and efforts of any media house.
CNS: Thanks for the clarification, and also the understanding. We can ask the questions but getting answers is a whole other thing.
perhaps a story regarding the current number of corruption complaints and investigations that are being handled by the ACC, Ombudsman, A-G and others? And how the laws are not being enacted that would give teeth to these investigations? maybe time for dirty linen to be washed in public and start cleaning house
In other, late breaking news; “Developers intend to develop their own property within the confines of local law, tabloid media up in arms.”
Dredging 180,000 sq ft of a Marine Park is not lawful unless a corrupt regime allows it to happen.
The acquisition should have been prohibited in the first place or at least subject to restrictions
Prefab buildings is not lawful.
It our world too, A-Hole.
Another eye sore to look at. Pretty soon you won’t be able to see the ocean from land for all the nasty hotels in the way.
you forgot about re-developed 10 story high condos. Lacovia is just a start.
And let’s not forget mega cruise ships docked in front of GT, which will be much higher than any of the structures on land and completely obscure the harbour view.
Pressha buss pipe.
– Who
“If you can’t stand the pressure, stay the f out of my way!”
(See above)
– Who
(See above)
– Me
If you can’t stand busting pipe shrapnel, stay out of the way.
I am behind the development of this private land 100%!
good stuff Troll, good stuff indeed…
I am opposed to any legal development you seek to undertake on any land owned by yourself or your family.
and forego any non-legal underlying moral or ethical principles as well as consideration for others – well done Mr Troll for the precedent of shallowness you choose to represent
The 180,000 square feet of turtle grass doesn’t belong to Dart! It is a DoE marine zone designed to preserve the important nursery ground for our depleating marine ecosystem. I don’t see any EIA impact report that instructs Cabinet to waive this designation, can you point us to that document please?
There is an established application process which appears to have been followed. If you don’t like it, vote accordingly when you have an opportunity to do so. This is a case of simple democracy.
9:52, The problem is that all of the people you can seriously vote for are totally in the pocket of Dart. In the last election the only big name not in Dart’s pocket was Wayne Panton, and look what happened to him.
We tried that. We voted both parties out, and Helen allowed them to combine and form this latest season of the Sopranos.
Many, many developers have legally removed turtle grass … when they have requested and received permission to do so through the correct and established legal channels. This does not make the developer a villain. If you are concerned with the activity you should take your protests where they rightly belong – to the government.
Nah, taking it to the government takes far more effort than the virtue signaling brigade is willing to expend.
Continue with your fantasy of being a US Republican.
Take it to the government? Why? They have already endorsed Dart…… or at least his money!
Are you really ignorant enough to think that many others havent made legal applications to develop their property but been rejected on the basis of appropriateness?
My point is that just because an application meets regulations or zoning, it should still be reviewed as to whether it is appropriate in its surroundings or environment. And this should apply to ANY developer. Past applicants have had applications to DoP turned down for this reason so why cant Darts application(s) also be rejected
Thank you for your input Mr. Dart
What happened to the clearest water on the island? No one is talking about it. Rum Point has been desecrated by development. Time to destroy a new frontier, it seems.
I have invested a lot of beer in that water quality.
Exactly 8:19! Who needs a loo at Starfish Point when the sea is right there!
Unspoiled? Barkers is the most abused part of the coast in Cayman, by far. Hideous rubbish like some needles and condoms, but bottle after bottle everywhere, and endless junk. In fact, our company annually sends a group on our community day to do a clean up because we know we can collect bags of trash.
Anything is better than what is there now. At least if there is a full time business out there there will be some upkeep.
(Don’t tell me more than a small handful of people currently use Barkers because I won’t believe you).
Buoyant human sea trash and plastic is a problem even in Antarctica. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone local has left it there for you, though admittedly, than does happen. Bulk of trash and barnacle-encrusted flip flops originated far away.
8.41am A lot of the trash dumped at Barkers could never float. It has to come from people nearby in West Bay who have absolutely no concern for the environment. This trash mentality is related to the poaching of our marine life much of which has th same origin.
If Dart is such a fine steward and land owner, why are you, and hundreds of others, left to voluntarily organize groups of your people (using your capital) for cleanups to maintain their various beachfront land holdings? At what point do you clue in that the Billionaire vulture capitalist is too cheap and disorganized to create jobs and hire local crews to do it responsibly as a matter of routine obligation?!
Majority of that trash is washed ashore in the current from neighbouring islands. Sure there are the occasional fly tippers that ruin it for everybody but that’s on government to get a handle on.
Every day of the week you will find dog walkers or people exercising and most days there will be tourist rentals down there looking for beach spots off the beaten track to experience plus the kite-surfing and horse-riding too.
Maybe you should try going more than once a year for your annual ‘feel good’ deed. Good try though…
Keep SMB as SMB, Rum Point as Rum Point and Barkers as Barkers. They are 3 completely different experiences and shouldn’t be made more alike to each other.
Been a couple of years since I drove out to Barkers but yeah, it was pretty bad. Junk everywhere. Discarded kitchen appliances, car parts…junk in general and straight up garbage. Tons of empty beer bottles. Even garbage bags full of trash just straight up dumped. Maybe it’s been cleaned up now.
You cry babies need to just shut up as you all make us sick! Mr Dart, please proceed with all the development you feel that needs to be done as we need more beaches and we need more income to our island. Once you get CHEC here then you can get the costs of development down so things will be more affordable.
This individual makes similar comments on anything to do with the port. Clearly a clown.
Imbecile comment
Stay away from Rum Point and I’m good. Hope he doesn’t FU the Coral Gardens at Barkers. Best snorkel in Cayman.
Are we supposed to be comforted by the use of the word ‘thoughtful’. All Dart’s projects are guided by thoughts of profits. Our thoughts are not his concern but his thoughts are ours.
You jest Mr. VanDevelde. Since when have locals been able to enjoy Rum Point? The place has become an overcrowded and gawky tourist trap, with expensive drinks and unsophisticated mass market American food. That is what you actually want to replicate? I think you just doubled the number and tenacity of the objectors.
And now you want to import pre-fab buildings that leave little environmental footprint when removed? I am sure all the underemployed East End construction workers who have been promised development will bring them opportunity will be delighted. What is this going to be, a pop up hotel to compliment your proposed pop up bar?
Lol unsofsticited America food…. you mad they’re not killing turtles?
No, I’m mad because they are. The turtle nesting sites at Rum Point can no longer be used, and now they are going to destroy the sites in Barkers AND dig up all the turtle grass they and other things they eat live on.
9:25 Last time I looked in at Rum Point even the visiting cruise shippers who’d made the trip out there because it was a famous ‘tourist attraction’ were bitching about the prices and state of the place.
And the disgusting noise and intrusion by those on boats who believe they have the right to share their foul mouthed music, Ganga smoke and trash with those who actually do seek the peaceful attraction that is referred to on numerous occasions.
As for turtle beaches. The local poachers have destroyed the numbers of turtles on this island, as they have lobster and conch, RP has had no hand in that local greed.
Its a caribbean island….get a real life in your cold country with meth heads
yawn…more anti-dart hysteria….zzzzzzz
When is the application going in for the first 10 storey hotel at Barkers?
Most likely when the law, passed by your elected legislators, allows for it.
But it will be 12 (two will be buried underground so the planning department cannot see them).
Oh the futility….
We know how it goes….build it then get planning permission. And as long as the building material suppliers are in the planning board no one is going to say no. Soon all the public beach will be private and the free activity of going to the beach will come at a cost – social cost – as the locals will not be able to get near the beaches without feeling like they intruding or being accused of trespassing.
This country needs to wake up – we don’t need more concrete structures and ugly high rises.
Turn the Barkers area into a biking/hiking trail with picnic areas and free Access to the beaches. Let’s keep some of the natural paradise for future generations to enjoy.
Its already H/T zoned so its coming soon. I suspect its already part of the larger phased plan to Calicos relocation!
Oh shit. Here we go. What will it take?
We need to enact SIPL, and pull back the curtain on successive regimes that continue to negotiate very badly on our behalf, in complete darkness, and well beyond their intellectual depth.