Gov’t warned EIA needed for road extension
(CNS): Government is pointing the finger at the National Conservation Council for delaying the start of the East-West Arterial Extension, despite knowing for five years that if it wanted to press ahead with this road it would need to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA). A screening report from the Department of Environment for the NCC laid out the reasons why in 2016, but the department had previously warned government in 2014 that an EIA would be necessary because the road will slice through the Central Mangove Wetlands (CMW). At that time the premier made it clear that one would be undertaken.
But with traffic jams reaching unprecedented levels, government is currently battling to find not just immediate short-term fixes but long-term plans as well, and is now desperate to get the road started. In April the premier said the project would be fast-tracked and the money would be in the budget, which is expected to be delivered on Friday.
However, government is now seeking to avoid conducting an EIA, despite committing to one in the past and knowing that it would be required for several years.
The need for an EIA is based not just on the conservation threat posed by the planned highway but because of the impact it will have on drainage and flooding in the area.
An EIA would also examine the justification and inform government whether or not this extension would solve the traffic congestion issues for eastern commuters. While the minister responsible for roads has implied that the road is now desperately needed, the project will not necessarily address the bottleneck in the Red Bay area, which is where the current problem lies.
In its 2016 screening for the entire ten mile extension all the way to Frank Sound, the DoE outlined the importance of the wetlands. Although the government currently wants to take the arterial just to Bodden Town, this will still see the road cut through this ecologically sensitive site.
“As the ecological heart of Grand Cayman, the CMW is critical to many important natural processes which are vital to the long-term well being of the residents of the Cayman Islands,” the DoE experts who conducted the screening stated. “It is part of a large scale waterflow system, filtering and conditioning the surface water and shallow ground water which supports the mangrove communities and flows into North Sound.”
In addition, the area protects against storms and helps with flood mitigation, shoreline stabilisation and erosion control; it recharges the freshwater lens and sucks out retention sediments and pollutants, and exports organic matter to the North Sound. It helps stabilise local climate conditions, stores carbon and provides nursery grounds and habitat for a variety of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, including species under threat.
This mangrove habitat has been designated as an important bird area, supporting more than 80% of the local population of West Indian whistling duck, the endemic Cayman parrot and threatened mangrove species.
While the need for an EIA on the impact on climate and conservation is clear, the need for the assessment is also fuelled by the impact it could have on the hydrology and drainage patterns of the area, which means a flood risk assessment will be needed.
The need for EIA on major projects that pose a threat to Cayman’s natural habitat forms part of the National Conservation law, one of the areas the government’s review of the legislation wanted to address. But committee that Premier Alden McLaughlin convened to look at the legislation, which he has described in the past as “ridiculous” and has implied he wanted to water down, has not met since the summer, CNS has learned.
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Category: development, Land Habitat, Local News, Science & Nature
Getting Around Bermuda on Buses & Ferries.
https://www.gotobermuda.com/article/getting-around-bermuda-on-buses-ferries
The Bermuda Public Transportation Board (PTB) is the government agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Transport that operates all bus services in Bermuda. School children use public buses as well as PTB-operated school buses. Buses require exact fare in local currency, tokens, or prepaid tickets; transfers are available. Single- or multiple-day transportation passes, accepted on buses and ferries, can be purchased. Children under age five ride free, and at age 5–15 pay a reduced rate.
Buses run typically between 7 am and 11 pm at variable (often 15-minute) intervals.
Buses were introduced to Bermuda in 1945.
Bermuda buses are specifically designed for the peculiarities of the island, being narrow enough to navigate the Bermuda roads. They have no provisions for transport of luggage, bicycles, or golf bags.
The livery of all buses is pink and blue recalling the colors of the Bermuda beaches.
Bus stops, many of which are sheltered, are marked by pink (direction towards Hamilton) or blue (direction away from Hamilton) poles.
Most visitors from cruise ships use the bus system.
They wear socks with shorts. To hell with Bermuda.
Build the damn roads!
This place will never be no better than the other third world countries because they’re too much hurdles to get anything done! BRACKA
I sense deficient intelligence here
Easy and long term fix for free.
1. Make Shamrock Rd from Hirst Rd (Countryside Fosters) all lanes one way to town.
2. Make Newlands Bypass from Grand Harbor to Newlands 1 way.
3. Add connecting lanes / roads between the two.
4. Make all lanes on Linford Pearson one way to town.
5. Make all lanes on Crewe Rd to Lion Centre one way.
6. Expand connecting lanes between the two.
How about we get a proper bus system to combat traffic? With a schedule, a card system for fares, proper busses and a dedicated traffic bypass lane that changes direction depending on morning or evening traffic.
Wouldn’t that be more scalable then tarmaccing the whole island at the cost of our natural beauty?
I would take the bus if I could get to work faster and more reliable.
Bermuda has a good bus system, Jersey has a good bus system, why can’t we?
Adding some bicycle lanes wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
An EIA would inform where and how the road is built, perhaps saving us millions.
Caymanian culture is all about staying in the past and not stepping a foot into the future. As long as a Caymanian has his house he will not want any other houses built. As long as he has his road no more roads. As long as he has his boat ramp no more docks. He has no use for tomorrow but tomorrow has no use for him. And by tomorrow I mean Caymanian kids and their future.
A strong argument is one in which the truth of the premises increases confidence in the conclusion. You start with the wrong premise that “Caymanian culture is all about staying in the past”.
Joey, I KNOW you nah ga just let them waarn you like that tho?!
Joey’s time is up
An overland highway, not a ground road.
NRA have no idea what they’re doing. Just last year they said that the Linford Pierson expansion would cut commute times in half! If anything it takes longer to get to work now! Just read this article from last year… absolutely depressing. Really makes you lose confidence in our leadership.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2018/08/12/road-opening-marks-step-toward-cutting-commute-times/
They keep throwing money on roads and are not consulting people who actually know what they’re doing. They’re just in a rush to act like they are dealing with the issue but nothing they’ve done has been helpful. I’m sure everyone living east would agree that their commute times have not been reduced in any way. Everything worsened dramatically when the public school start time was changed to 8am. I guarantee if they change it back there will be some relief. It was terrible before summer but ever since the start of this new term it’s been unbearable! Also they need to implement some sort of variety in work start times – 7:30 – 4, 8 – 4:30, 8:30 – 5 and 9 – 6. Encouraging it does nothing, they need to enforce it.
Elsewhere in the world some very large heads would have rolled, resignations would have been offered…
Stop importing so many dam used cars on the island! That’s the only solution to this traffic situation. I don’t care how many roads we build, it will never solve the problem due to the fact that this island has way too many cars on it. The greedy Government is only seeing ‘revenue’ though. They could careless about anything else. Very sad!
They would stop importing so many dam used cars when Public bus system is up and running. People have to get to work somehow.
Its not like its the Government importing the cars. And what difference if its used or new?
Question: How do you get to work/school/shopping/family? Why can’t other people do the same thing?
(Our problem is overpopulation, not the source of the cars.)
Bermuda is smaller, much smaller territory wise, more people live there,YET they transport masses without problems.
Bermuda’s bus system covers the entire island. The island’s buses are frequent, plentiful and service most areas of interest. You can’t miss them – they’re pink with blue stripes. The island has 11 bus routes and 14 bus zones, each one covering about 2mi / 3.2km.
Importing cars isn’t the problem. You can only drive one at a time. Need to put more restrictions on who is allowed to drive here. Driving isnt a right, it’s a priviledge.
Also, a real public transit system is sorely needed. If it existed, I would happily leave my car keys at home when i went to work.
Extending the East West road, NO! Saving the envorinment, indigenous animals and wildlife, YES! What a bunch of greedy, Power hungry Morons…..thinking just like a wooden duck!
Do the EIA to minimize the impact, but yes, please extend the road. This is part of a decades-old plan to build a major highway that runs from West Bay to East End.
Vote No
Much better idea than the port.
Could Governor Roper please confirm whether this circumstance accords with his understanding of any reasonable standard of good governance?
Build the road
Fix the damn dump
Is this the same “DoE” that “forgot” to object to The development that destroyed a turtle nesting area???
Is this the same DoE that has no issue with the destruction of the mangrove forest on the West Bay peninsula???
Anyone who has the benefit of a proper road(s) network on the western end of the island, and now claims that no more roads are needed, are just as hypocritical as the DoE!
An EIA would inform where and how the road is built, perhaps saving us millions. The alternative is to continue to allow dunce Ministers to shoot from the hip like children, pay three times with our limited money, and muck it all up. Independent (not Baird) EIA please.
#JOEYWHO minister of planning is as clueless as Joke Joke the environment minister.
At least the environmental minister has qualifications a college degree and track record of success in running a business. Cayman is screwed with people like this at the helm
Hew got to be kidding! No college degree and he’s the Minister of Planning? That doesn’t seem like very good planning to me!
Caymanians have got just what they voted for: people who are great at thinking only of themselves and no one else. If they don’t need it then no one gets it.
2:08 are you completely stupid? Or do just not read news articles properly? DOE DID object to both the mangrove removal and the beach bay development. And they object to any development that has a large environmental impact. Upper government just doesn’t take any notice of what they say and just go ahead and destroy the environment left right and center. Get your facts straight you moron.
5:27, you’re either blind or just plain stupid. And, for good measure, unwoke. I agree with 2:08, the hypocrisy is thicker than mud!
Let me guess 5:27, you’re another one that came here and hogged up all you could. Now you want to grow a conscience. Or, alternatively, you’re just another local village idiot that is clueless.
No 7:03 I didnt come here from anywhere else I was born and raised here and im not as narrow minded as you idiots. Everyone is so quick to point fingers and blame the DOE and conservation council. Heaven forbid they want to stop you from turning this place into a concrete wasteland. You see all that flooding you get on roads when it rains heavily? That you morons is what happens when you replace wetland with concrete. Concrete is not absorbent (just like your brains it seems) and the water that would naturally be sucked up by the soil and grass has nowhere to go hence you get flooding. Im not even saying im even against them building the road. But there needs to be an EIA so it can be done properly. Christ, you idiots would have every construction project given the green light without giving a second thought to the consequences. Its not just wildlife thats effected but locals to. Also 7:01 I dont think anyone who uses the term “unwoke” can call anyone else stupid.
We know that you all are confused with the Caymanian people calling us clueless village idiots. Scumbags confusing niceness for stupidity !! Don’t ever forget that you had to run here because you messed up your Country where you found a village where idiots made into a good stable Country.
For the last time 11:14 I didn’t run here from anywhere else. I was born here you fool. As for stable country.. it wont be stable indefinitely if our politicians keep destroying our environment to make way for all out construction. Tourists (who form a large part of economy) dont want to visit a concrete jungle.
Well, Hong Kong gets more than 9 million tourists a year and it’s known as the “Concrete Jungle.” But… I take your point, tourists don’t come to the Caribbean to visit a concrete jungle.
If you assess a countries stupidity on the politicians it repeatedly elects, we are in trouble.
And how pray tell will the extension eliminate the congestion coming in to George Town? It will only mean that you may get to the congestion earlier.
What is needed is to open up the bottleneck at the western end of the LAP bypass and finish the other two lanes on Bobby Thompson Way.
But that won’t happen because McBush is there protecting the interests of his people and dear Alden simply has to toe the line.
VOTE THEM OUT!!!
Doing an EIA for a rural road through miles and miles of bush is absurd. Get on with it. No doubt some wildlife will have to move a few hundred meters. That’s exactly why they have legs and wings.
Spoken like a true uniformed fool.
Can’t tell if you’re a troll or completely ignorant.
Ignorant troll??
Trolling ignoramus?
And when houses flood due to bad planning, do the people have two legs so they can just move? EIAs are as much for people as plants these days. Please try to keep up with the rest of us Caymanians.
PS> Its not a rural road, in the local context, and this is through swamp not bush. Perhaps I was mistaken assuming you a fellow Caymanian.
At best you will just get to the bottleneck a little quicker. Seems like they just want to change the subject—what to do when all traffic has to go through one roundabout.
Just designate 1 lane for school-bound traffic. Allow vehicles to bypass the Red Bay roundabout via old prospect and a 3rd lane into South Sound. Have police monitor to confirm that only school buses and vehicles carrying children are using South Sound between 6-8am.
Oh, give Joey a break. He forgot about the EIA because he was so busy travelling to Monaco and other glamourous places to promote the Cayman Islands.
Our government is such a shit show. Change is a coming!!!
That’s a scary thought. Careful what you wish for.
Just as in Parkinson’s Law where we are told that “work expands to fill time ” ,so it is with building more roads. More roads will mean more automobiles and worse bottlenecks . Until we realize that something has to be done about importation of automobiles ,the Cayman Islands will have to cope with unresolved traffic jams.
The problem with the political directorate is that it lacks thinkers . Perhaps we should focus less on the cruise ship pier and place more energy on solving the trffic problem.
I always tremble at the thought of Parkinson’s Law.
You are wicked!
With 75% of Cayman Islands GDP derived from a back bending, hoop-jumping Financial Sector, under a never-ending global compliance magnifying glass, those voters (you would think) should have a vested interest in improving the real and perceived governance problems of the Cayman Islands. It’s become obvious that this regime has no self-interest in applying rudimentary PCAMLCTF and conflict compliance to itself, delivering required transparency/performance, or, it seems, amending past lies to the truth.
1. Nobody is currently lobbying to change the eligibility requirements in the Constitution, spec. §61(1) e&f, to expand the puddle of candidates we cycle through.
2. Nobody is (really) compelling the enactment of Standards in Public Life Law, required under §117, louder than a whisper.
The competence of our governance will NEVER improve with the lowest bar of the current status quo.
Despite half-hearted periodic mentions of SIPL, the LA appears to be very comfortable with how things are/have been, and will oppose, reject, and squirm, to avoid being called out in hopes for their continued enjoyment of protocol/airport/airline/radio show perks and hopefully some future turn at the enrichment through.
The voters, therefore, need to be the drivers of any change. It needs to happen with sufficient lead-time before an election for those candidates of good character to become open to the idea of working with anyone who wasn’t arrested or forced into an unscheduled early retirement.
The comment of the YEAR!