It’s the environment, stupid

| 30/07/2019 | 106 Comments

CNS Viewpoint: The premier’s attack on CNS over our reporting on the ins and outs of the controversial cruise port project was not unexpected but was nevertheless misplaced. We are fully aware that Alden McLaughlin’s pointed criticisms are largely due to his belief that we are tools or conduits for his political opponents. But he is dead wrong.

CNS has never hidden the fact that we oppose the development of cruise berthing facilities in George Town. This is because of the catastrophic impact on the environment, which can never be outweighed by the government’s claimed economic benefits, never mind the actual ones, which are very hard to find.

And not without good reason, because the evidence suggests that the majority of our readers don’t support this unnecessary and destructive proposal, largely for the same reason. It’s the environment, stupid.

Since the public consultation part of the environmental impact assessment in 2015, when three out of four people who took part in a survey said they were against the facility, that ratio has been reflected in almost all subsequent straw polls. CNS has been reporting on the environmental downside of this project and raising questions about who would really benefit for a long time.

Once the Cruise Port Referendum group was formed, we continued with our position and offered our backing to their quest for a national vote. The premier may believe that this is a personal campaign against him because some of his outspoken critics, such as Mario Rankin and Johann Moxam, are also involved in the campaign, but this has led to his continual dismissal of the message they are trying to deliver. We believe that it is to his own detriment, as he has never sought to truly understand or find out about the genuine opposition to this project.

There are many people involved in the CPR campaign who are staunch advocates for the environment, and they dominate the grassroots movement. Moreover, even if some of them, like Moxam or Rankin, do have political ambitions and oppose the premier, this does not mean that they cannot also have genuine concerns about the project and the negative environmental, social and economic ramifications for the entire country.

But because CNS has reported extensively on the serious environmental threats this project poses, we have consistently hit a brick wall when it comes to getting our questions answered. We have been denied comment and ignored at every turn, with officials involved in this project apparently taking the position that if they don’t respond to our enquires, then we won’t write the stories.

So, given little choice and trusting a number of inside sources, we opted to run stories that we had very good reasons to believe were accurate while making it clear that the information was not official and not always verifiable. Given the subject matter, we believe this was important. We also believe that they were accurate and felt the readers could make up their own minds.

By way of example, the premier is now denying that his government is considering challenging the referendum on the grounds that it is not a matter of national importance. (According to the Constitution, a people-initiated referendum must be “on a matter or matters of national importance”). While that may be the case now, we are very confident that it was on the table a matter of weeks ago.

Perhaps circumstances, perhaps legal advice or many other possibilities persuaded the premier to change his mind on that front, which may have led to his denials at the press conference on Monday. We don’t know, but what we do know is that standing in the Legislative Assembly just a few weeks ago, he categorically refused to say that he believed the project was one of national importance and refused to do so again yesterday.

The designs that we published in May (See: More design images emerge of proposed port), which were referred to as ‘fake news’ only a few weeks ago, are uncannily similar to the pictures shown at Monday’s press briefing. But in another twist, CNS has learned through unofficial and unverifiable sources that this is not actually the final design in any event. Our oftentimes very reliable sources tell us that was the image of the more expensive proposed option and not the one that government actually opted for. But hey, we could be wrong. We will let you, the reader, decide.

From the start, the facts about this project have been slippery, to say the least. Officials have been very reluctant to reveal anything. But we have done our best to ensure important facts, such as the removal of the Department of the Environment from the steering committee and the emergence of CHEC as a contender in the bidding, have reached the public domain. And no matter what the premier claims, at one point the Chinese firm was offering ‘extra projects’ as part of its bid, which had caused people to suspect it would help the Beijing-based company make the cut.

Reporting on this project has never been easy. The public knows this because those who are concerned about the proposal have also sought information themselves, only to be knocked back.

Urgent questions remain: Exactly what are those 900 jobs the government promised? What are the realities of the financing model? Where are the missing geotechnical reports and updated EIAs? The real cost benefit analysis, how the project will impact George Town, the cargo and general tourism operations during construction, and exactly how many passengers will we expect annually when the work is complete are also still shrouded in mystery.

The premier’s constant criticisms of us simply because he thinks we give a platform to his political opponents is absurd.

Given how many he now has, it would be almost impossible not to be a competent news organisation and not give some voice to those who criticise his actions, especially when even some of those on his own government benches and within his own political party have their disagreements with him.

McLaughlin is a political pragmatist who, like many who have been in the field for a long time, may have lost sight of why they became public servants. While ensuring that his political party retains power is neither unusual nor necessarily a bad thing if it’s done fairly, his dismissal of the petition and the campaign is just plain wrong. It is first and foremost about the environment and the socioeconomic challenges it will present, which many believe will drastically outweigh its benefits.

McLaughlin may genuinely believe that this project will shower us all in riches but his steadfast refusal to truly accept that the campaign is a grassroots organisation fuelled by a genuine fear of what will happen to the marine environment is to his detriment. The fight against the project and, more importantly, the battle to at least let the people decide on it at the ballot box is not about ruining his political career or bringing down the government but about trying to prevent a major natural catastrophe, even as we face the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, which will bite fiercely in the coming years.

In the end, if there is a vote and the people make it clear that they think the project is a truly splendid idea, then so be it. That’s democracy.

But here at CNS, we will not stop reporting about conservation concerns and the other threats this project poses, no matter what the premier thinks our motivation is. After all — and many of our readers are acutely aware of this — it is really hard to find destinations in recent years that partnered with cruise lines to build a dock where the local people still believe everything is really truly splendid.

The premier’s full statement is in the CNS Library: Cruise and Cargo Port Project remarks by Premier Alden McLaughlin, 29 July 2019

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Category: development, Local News, Viewpoint

Comments (106)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    History of the “It’s economy, stupid”.

    In order to keep the campaign on message, Carville hung a sign in Bill Clinton’s Little Rock campaign headquarters that read:

    Change vs. more of the same.
    The economy, stupid
    Don’t forget health care.
    Although the sign was intended for an internal audience of campaign workers, the phrase became a de facto slogan for the Clinton election campaign.

    The phrase has become a snowclone repeated often in American political culture, usually starting with the word “it’s” and with commentators sometimes using a different word in place of “economy”. Examples include “It’s the deficit, stupid!” “It’s the corporation, stupid!” “It’s the math, stupid!” and “It’s the voters, stupid!”.

    A 2019 cartoon by René Cattin depicts Bill Clinton expressing the line “It’s the economy, stupid” in 1992 while in 2019, Greta Thunberg climbs up a stepladder writing over the word “economy” and replacing that word with “planet”

  2. Say it like it is says:

    Cronyism is a fact of life in Cayman, not just in politics but everywhere where locals are involved, it’s an accepted way of life.
    The principals behind CNS are NOT Caymanian, so should not be falsely accused of being stooges, they do an excellent job of presenting facts in an independent manner.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Not just Caymanians! Expacts are famous for bringing in their own people – to the detriment of Caymanians. I believe every Caymanian has a story to support this.

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      • Anon says:

        12.45pm How many expats are politicians or civil servants where the problem lies?.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Has nothing to do with politics. The real estate industry is full of corrupt expats. Other sectors of the economy is rampant with corruption, both Caymanians and Expats. So all of you need to get off that high horse because it affects everyone that lives here, born or imported.

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      I agree with much of your ideals, however the principals behind CNS are Caymanians. This is the only country I’ve ever lived in or visited that had degrees of citizenship, and this practice needs to end. If a person has achieved Status, then they are Caymanian. You are right — CNS owners are not stooges, they are free-thinking individuals who express their views without rancor.

      As to the cronyism, you are absolutely right. It is a fact of life, but not always accepted — sometimes it is expected. Familial ties are somewhat more pervasive in Cayman than in other countries — likely due to our small size, and shallow gene bucket. We need to do better. Opportunity should be open for everyone and anyone who meets the criteria, regardless of family ties.

      And yes, CNS does a stellar job — an often thankless job. I once logged on here and the connection couldn’t be made. Thankfully, that was a brief situation. It made me realise how valuable this forum is, and how fortunate we all are to have a place to speak our piece.

      Peace. ;o)

      CNS: Just a little clarification: the two principals are Nicky and Wendy. Nicky has been a Caymanian for more than two decades and Wendy can apply for Caymanian Status next year but is already a Caymanian in spirit.

      Also, we really appreciate the kind words. Thanks!

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      • Say it like it is says:

        Beaumont, I stand corrected and you are also right concerning the “degrees of citizenship”, nicely put.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Thank you CNS !!!!!!!!!!!

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    • Say it like it is says:

      9.14am Thank you Caymanian. I do NOT represent CNS, I am not a stooge, I abhor cronyism, and I am an expat.

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      • Anonymous says:

        To Mr Say it like it is : any true Caymanian would recognize that you are expat by the anti- Caymanian tone of your post.Also you failed to say anything about the cronyism and collusion that occurs amongst expats. So there was no doubt that you were not Caymanian and probably just here for what you can get and nothing else.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    The other PPM members, like Minister Joey Hew, are giving Alden plenty rope so he can keep messing up and looking bad, so Joey can take over the Party from him. Sabotage from inside.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Fix the damn dump then CNS

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  6. Anonymous says:

    For once I can agree with little Al. CNS has crossed the line from journalism to activism.

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    • Anonymous says:

      As they should! They live here too dodo. Not everyone wants to continue to live with their head in the sand or up someone’s derriere. Thank you CNS and keep doing what you doing!! The wider community supports your efforts more than you will ever know!!

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      • A. Bodden says:

        I wholeheartedly agree!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry 8.33 but if you want to be accepted as creditable and unbiased then you have to state what is an opinion and what are the facts, all the facts. When you take sides and it becomes obvious in your reporting then your credibility gets questioned, and well it should.

        CNS: Just out of curiosity, which news media, local or international, do you consider unbiased?

    • Anonymous says:

      Had to check if I was on CNS or CMR after reading this.

      “We may be wrong” – hmm.. that’s a first to see here. At least unna admit it off the bat unlike Sandeh.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Most news you read is not factual, hence the name NEWS. It is up to the reader to pick sense from non-sense and follow the stories. CNS acts in a professional manner unlike CMR.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Fun fact journalists and outlets are allowed to have a perspective as long as they ensure they do not alter or falsify their reporting to back up their perspective.
      CNS has always been honest about their position on multiple issues
      If you don’t like their perspective go read the corporate compass or Sandy’s gossip rag

      Objectivity is not neutrality, you can be objective while having a perspective, they are not mutually exclusive

      We have too easily fallen into the american trap of simply having “real news” be the dull reading of a teleprompter with no nuance and no opinion and support for the status quo or reprinting a press release as the whole story and moving on
      That is not responsible journalism

      Every human has a perspective, every human has an opinion to pretend otherwise is farcical
      When the news is written we need a human element or else what is the point?
      If I wanted to hear the governments unbridled talking points I would read the press release myself (which i usually do) there is nothing stopping them from contesting stories with additional releases

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      What is wrong with either? I don’t recall CNS ever claiming editorial neutrality. They are people with educated views, and I for one, want to read their views. Even when I vehemently disagree with their editorials, I support their right to say it.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Politics = Active pursuit of policy / agenda. Therefore Politician = Activist.. but I’ll bet you dont see it that way.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Opening paragraph “we are tools or conduits for his political opponents”. Now CNS that statement made me laugh. Years ago CNS constantly berated the now Speaker of the House and member of the so-called Unity Government and that has now stopped. CNS has never done any sort of negative news story on the current Deputy Premier and we hardly ever see anything about the member for Cayman Brac East.
    So my conclusion is that CNS is pro-PPM members of the so-called Unity Government.
    As the friendly revolution up north is starting to take place, we will hope have an influx of new ideas/new faces in our political landscape.
    CNS has become very dull and predictable with its reporting. CNS for the Premier’s political opponents – well thank you for the laugh.

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    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Did you ever consider that CNS hasn’t found anything newsworthy about the ongoing absence of the MLA for Cayman Brac East? If there is any MLA that is more accessible that the Deputy Premier, I’d like to know who they are.

      CNS appears to ride the edge, but with class. You won’t find speculation or rumours here. I guess I’m sorry you won’t be logging into CNS anymore; I’d guess that every bit of traffic helps pay the bills. I’ll try to log in twice as much to make up for the loss of your participation.

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      • Anonymous says:

        That not happening Beaumont – like yourself, I am entitled to my opinion and tell it like it is. One of the principal owners of CNS is a strong supporter of one of the 2 politicians you mentioned above. I agree that the Deputy Premier is accessible and you may disagree with me on this, but Mo$e$ does everything he can for Brac because it makes him more $$$$ – do we need to go into details on this?

        CNS: A little cognitive dissonance going on here. You understand that the DP’s main focus is the cruise port project, right? Has CNS been supportive of that? Yes or no. You are specifically referring to me, Nicky, and basically, you are confusing liking the DP personally, which I do, with supporting him, which I am agnostic about. I assess each of his positions individually, though note that I am no longer one of his constituents. I don’t think you have a clear idea of what you mean by the term “supporter”. Perhaps you could explain.

  8. Anonymous says:

    THANK YOU, CNS! You do a phenomenal job, always.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Proposed Cruise Berthing Facility, Grand Cayman Environmental and Engineering Consultancy Services Environmental Statement
    http://doe.ky/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CaymanCBFEnvironmentalStatementFinal.pdf

    • BeaumontZodecloun says:

      Thanks very much for that. :up: I’d neglected to save it last time around. This is an important document.

      CNS: That and all other relevant documents that we’ve got hold of are all in the CNS Library here.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Someone was busy all night playing with voting buttons; so childish and pointless.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Thank you CNS. Premier McLaughlin’s boorish behavior reminds me of McKeeva Bush

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    • Anonymous says:

      PPM have become the old UDP.
      It is the same narcissistic tyrants running the Unity Government cult of personalities

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      • Norman says:

        Let us not forget that it was this government that allowed Dart to build a tunnel over 600 ft of publicly owned West Bay Road. Certainly it was reasonable to allow a footpath as did the Ritz Carlton and the old Hyatt. But no reason at all to allow this monstrosity.

        And it has set a precedent for other developers who own property on both sides of West Bay Road.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Misleading McLaughlin on his usual media rampage! The View Point clearly sets the record straight.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    I support CNS 100%

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  14. Anonymous says:

    I suspect another accusation of treason is on the way?

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  15. Caveat Emptor says:

    We need to accept there is no difference amongst the current Premier and his predecessors McKeeva Bush and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.

    How can anyone come to expect any better from Alden McLaughlin who has a track record of expensive failures. Look at the facts starting with:

    1. His most expensive failure the clifton hunter high school that costs double the original budget.

    2. Look at the john gray that sat derelict for over a decade

    3. The new leaking airport

    4. Next up is white elephant cruise dock and the inevitable cost overruns

    5. His partnership with McKeeva Bush to guarantee his position as premier in 2017. This decision cost him his integrity and the moral high ground while destroying both the PPM and UDP as political parties.

    The above are all monuments to his ego, leadership and political legacy.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Alden is losing the plot and his leadership style and arrogance explains the poor decisions that he makes.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    The Premier and his handlers has not yet figured out that the more they dig in on this and continue to be untruthful the more those who do not trust a word they say will reject this plan. He knew from the get go that persons who were not eligible voters signed the petition. CPR told the election office and the Premier was not left in the dark on this issue. He also know that that category of signers are above and beyond the crucial numbers needed to trigger a Referendum. By now trying to muddle the waters with that only serves to make us more aware that he is only agreeing to the Referendum if the threshold of signatories are reached because according to the constitution he really does not have a choice. He is also reminding us that he is the person responsible for putting that option in the Constitution. To that I will say “Thank you kindly Mr. Premier.” I hope and pray that the information on the plans for the port is bonafide, I hope and pray that the Referendum will be held and after the votes are counted if by any chance the government gets the green light to build the port that it will not be a detriment to George Town and the wider Cayman. I hope the wave wall will be able to hold back the water in case of a storm or hurricane. I hope they will be able to deliver all the jobs they are saying will be available. If not it will be like the aftermath of the Clifton Hunter High School and John Gray. I would not wish to be in their shoes.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Let us face facts, there are already more than 2 1/2 times the Caymanian workforce.

      IDENTIFY THE REAL PROBLEMS.

      1. Many employers prefer to employ foreign workers rather than Caymanians because they can pay them slave wages and treat them like slaves under the oppressive work permit system.

      2. The Minimum Wage at $6.00 is a shameful disgrace. No full time worker can exist at that pay rate in the Cayman Islands. Government found that out with the NICE Program, those workers are paid $10.00 per hour.

      3. We do not need more jobs, we need equity in employment and cease issuing more work permyits.

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      • Anonymous says:

        5:53 employers prefer foreign workers not because of slave wages, but because
        they get their ( work done )
        If or when the minimum wage is increase it will still go to the foreign workers.
        Employers has bank loans too!

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        • Anonymous says:

          BS, Caymanians refuses to work for slave wages, I know for sure I do,employers can keep your 6$ an hour peanuts because it truely cant do anything for me and my family here, but to most foreign workers from 3rd world countries will bend over backwards for it due to the fact that they can feed their families back home and still survive here by themselves.
          Plus employers can violate foreign slaves labour rights, cant pull that shit with caymanians though.
          Pay us a better minimum wage without violating labour laws and im sure you all will get your work done.

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          • Anonymous says:

            11:52 pm, Ain’t $ 6 better than none, or do you think its better to be on Social Services, with no shame or pride, just wondering my friend, God bless.

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            • Anonymous says:

              But why does the NICE program pay $10 an hour?

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            • Anonymous says:

              Actually 6$ an hour for a caymanian family to survive off of is next to nothing maybe it can work for the expats who come here by themselves and bunk up with about 10 other roommates in a single room but for the rest of us that has to pay mortage/rent and light/water plus feed our children only means we are destined to fail, even those that live under these conditions are finding it hard to survive here.
              And FYI NAU only caters for the drug addicts and expats (or so i’ve been told) so you my friend needs to wake up and smell the roses before you can say anything behind your phone/computer screen, and thanks but i am forever bless.

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          • Anonymous says:

            most people in the world bend over backwards when they start at the bottom of the ladder to help them quickly climb up the ladder to a better position and more pay.
            Too many think they should join the labour market in the middle and get top wages immediately so they can get a big fancy car through a big car loan.
            I started as a refuse collector on little pay, living in a closet sized apartment living on ramen noodles and now 20 years later I am a CA and have an MBA on a good salary, but still drive around in a car that cost me 2k, and save up for later years and a family.

            Its called life

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            • Anonymous says:

              Idk what kind of bubble you have been living in but you know nothing of me and any others like me, i started from the bottom of this so-called ladder you speak about and cant even see the top for all the slaves that the high society piled on top of us,(just like crabs in a barrel) for example i grew up wanting to be an electrician for the fact that at the time they were the most paid on the island and i have spent years studying this trade and at 17 years old i got a job with the biggest electrical company on island as an electricians helper making 10$ an hour and not so far from that after hurricane ivan came along and then an over seas company came in and merged with the said company and they brougth with them 200 filipinos paying them at 3$ per hour and to this day now as an electrician i am only being paid 12$ per hour, i am still grateful that it’s not 6$ but now i only do it for the money and the means of survival and trust me i have bent over backwards for these people for many years and only have a mortgage and a 18,hundred dollar POS car to show for it, so my point is dont tell me about life because you all didnt know any until you came here to our shores.

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              • Anonymous says:

                Sounds like you may think too highly of yourself. I haven’t seen a filipino electrician in my life on this island.

          • Anonymous says:

            And that is the reason you will never make more than $6 an hour. Change your attitude and maybe jobs would pay you more because you actually work and show up. Or just stay on NAU and enjoy “sticking it to the man”.

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            • Anonymous says:

              Ignorance is bliss when it comes to this one, but let me educate you for the fact that before you drifted here to our shores caymanians and jamacians built this island up and still is to this very day, who do you think built all the hospitals, hotels, luxurious homes and sites for all to enjoy and who do you think rescued and risked their lives for the royal family off the coast of east end many years ago allowing us to become a tax free haven for all to reap the benefits and hide, with us being so passive and introducing you to the real caymankind, and what did we get in return our kindness taking for weakness, maybe we should change our attitude to that of the pirates mentality and call for a mass mutiny and take back our islands and make cayman great again.

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              • Anonymous says:

                You can’t seriously have missed the news that the Wreck of the Ten Sails ‘royal on board’ thing is a myth.

              • Anonymous says:

                You, my darling, need to grasp reality before you really get washed ashore. Yo ho.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Is there anywhere in the world that a Dock was built that it destroyed environment and the beach ? Please name a few places. Not that I am for the Dock, but just wondering.

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    • Anonymous says:

      There sure is! CNS is not a search engine! I suggest you use google and do some research.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Why don’t you do it yourself!

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you can post a comment, you can google.

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      • Anonymous says:

        5,:02 pm. It had never happened and will never happen in Cayman, people saying different have never did much travelling and seeing beaches close by the Docks.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Miami for starters.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The answer to your question is no one here, including CNS has any such evidence.

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    • A belonget says:

      Grand Turk in TCI.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:48 pm, there is no place that has happened. Check Grand Turk, the ships dock up and the passengers come off and go swimming close by the Docks in beautiful waters by the most beautiful white beach.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Ask the people of Roatan bay islands honduras.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:48 Your questing is silly. You’re probably the one who said that if skyscrapers are built on Miami coast why can’t it be built in Grand Cayman. There are so many factors that come into play that determine where skyscrapers and docks can be built. I am not an engineer but can name some: geotectonics, ocean currents&dynamics, weather patterns.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yes, anywhere a cruise dock has been built. Go to youtube and look a the videos on the silt dredged up by the cruise ship thrusters and look at the color of the water before the silt. It’s not the pretty turquoise but dead bottom black or brown.

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      • Anonymous says:

        8:17 am, B S, go to Grand Turk, and see the crystal clear pretty water and beautiful white beach right next to the dock. Go and see for yourself, i been there and saw it.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Without reading Environmental and Engineering Consultancy Environmental Statement for Grand Turk dock it is impossible to have an opinion. So your statement has no merit.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Unless we compare Grand Cayman’s and Grand Turk’s:

          Geotechnical Analysis,
          Coastal Engineering Analysis,
          Environmental Impact Analysis,
          Master Planning and Architectural Layout,
          Cruise Pier and Site/Civil Engineering Design
          Financial Proforma, and
          Project Summary / Business Plan

          we could be talking about apple and oranges.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s the millions of people coming from the docks who destroy the environment. The water still looks pretty but the bottom is dead. They don’t mean to do it, it’s just an overload that the sea creatures can’t sustain.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Thank you CNS for reporting on this major project if it was not for you and CPR who knows where we would get the truth from.
    The latest report by GOV raises more questions and conforms a lot about their mind set.
    My only question at this time what guarantee do we have with the EIA new study?
    Oh I forgot the new study isn’t complete yet but the berthing facility plans are and budget already worked out. ..

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    • Anonymous says:

      @3.48pm You got the truth from the Government although you had people like Mario and Johann trying to make you believe that Government was not telling the truth.

  20. Anonymous says:

    Well put, CNS. Well said!

    Continue on the right path.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    You all are very disrespectful. Who are you calling stupid? That headline shows how unprofessional you are. Also it is Mr. McLaughlin not McLaughlin.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Perhaps you can can confirm that at the Country & Western?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Three words…….FREEDOM OF SPEECH! Now be quiet, for the people that actually care, and go crawl back in that hole you came out of.

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    • Anonymous says:

      They owe that man 0 respect, he is nothing more than a puffed up city councilor parading around like some extravagant head of state

      At every turn taking the opportunity to demean the media and ignore the will of the people

      There is no reason why he should have entered a second term in office after his second consecutive failure to get a governing majority elected he should have resigned and called new elections

      He is nothing more than an power hungry autocrat

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      • I see you... says:

        City councilor? Hmmm. I take it that it that you don’t view the Cayman Islands as a country then?

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      • Anonymous says:

        4.59pm He is indeed owed respect as a person and as the Premier. I rather suspect that the lack of respect has more to do with the fact that he is a Caymanian in that position. There are a number of Brits in particular who can’t stand the idea that when in Cayman they are subject to our rules and regulations and to a Government made up of “locals”.

        • Anonymous says:

          You are pretty misinformed… if you must continue thinking xenophobia is behind the mistrust in Alden, you then are more lost than I previously thought.

    • Anonymous says:

      The simple definition of stupid is to be unintelligent and to have or show a lack of ability to learn and understand things. To be stupid is to not be sensible or logical. Building on this definition, stupidity is defined as acting in an unintelligent manner or making decisions that lack reason or are uninformed.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Calling someone stupid is no doubt often understood as a patronizing insult; however, it can also be a not-so-subtle plea to bring someone back into the fold of the social group.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:36 pm You have misinterpreted the word because you took it out of context, the set of circumstances or facts that surround this particular situation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:36pm If you’re aware of any completed project under Premier’s watchful eye, that was successful, cost efficient and greatly benefited people of The Cayman Islands, please so kindly name it. Education? The Dump? Infrastructure? Traffic? Vocational schools? Airport? License plates?

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    • A. Bodden says:

      Why are you using “Anonymous”?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Mr. McLaughlin is Not stupid, he got to be Premier, that sayd he is one smart man. You that say different, how come you are not premier

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      • Anonymous says:

        Maybe because we do not want to be involved in the incompetence of the CIG, and quite frankly, i make more money without kissing ass and the stress.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s a play on “The economy, stupid” popularized as part of Bill Clinton’s campaign messaging in his successful presidential campaign in 1992. Yourself notwithstanding, it’s a well-known cultural reference point for modern politics.

  22. Anonymous says:

    What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall of the Premier’s office as he reads this headline

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