7MB wall continues to stir up trouble

| 09/12/2019 | 131 Comments
Cayman News Service
Controversial wall at Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

(CNS): A clear message was delivered at the weekend on the five-foot wall directed by the Central Planning Authority between the newly revamped Seven Mile Public Beach and the West Bay Road. As the barrier continues to stir up public anger, vandals took to using spray paint, writing “Tear down this wall” across it. Meanwhile, some 150 comments have been posted on the CNS report about the unsightly barrier, which although constructed by Dart was ordered by the CPA.

The public is having difficulty understanding the justification for the wall given that the only explanation seems to be that the CPA did not want people striding over the two-foot barrier that government had asked for in the original specifications.

Aside from the aesthetics, the wall is blocking the view of Seven Mile Beach in one of the few parts where it was still visible to passers by. The public is also concerned about the danger the wall presents, given the number of crashes already on local roads.

Despite the public stir that the issue has caused, CNS has still not heard back from government, in particular the planning department and the CPA, to explain to the people the need for the wall or what it plans to do about the public demands to “tear down the wall”.


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Category: development, Local News

Comments (131)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I hate when a wall stirs up trouble.

  2. Anonymous says:

    is the wall gay, bi, or transgender? If any one of those no need to worry Eden will deport it!

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  3. Kurt Christian says:

    Register To Vote

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  4. Comrade Pedant says:

    Actually, Reagan said “Tear down THIS wall” and it was addressed to General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Gorbachev (he didn’t assume the position of President until some years later)

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    • Anonymous says:

      Товарищ what is your point?

      The full quote is, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’

      Later in the speech he referred to words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner, “This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality.”

      If you’re going to quote history (and I was there) get it right.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    We’re complaining about a wall covering the view of the beach, but have you seen the beach lately? the sand looks awful, its polluted with trash all over.

    7 mile beach was never the same after dart, but even us as Caymanians didnt take proper care of the beach itself but we find it convenient to blame dart for our doings as well.

    theres too many things wrong in this island and too many ignorant people to solve it, if we really do care about our island we would unite and work towards a better tomorrow.

    but until thn, major problems will continue to rise and our future will be tarnish and our lives will be much more worst.

    as a young caymanian growing up i’ve seen major changes for the best and changes for the worst and my main concern is my child will not enjoy the things i did growing up and its pretty sad, Im only in my 20’s and i feel my future is in jeopardy because we’re not treating our island right.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians not ex pats sold the land to Dart.
    Caymanians voted this Government in
    Stop blaming anyone else!!!
    You are a victim of your own greed!
    …..and extremely gullible!
    If anyone held a gun to your head, speak now!

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    • Anonymous says:

      You need to think bigger.

    • Anonymous says:

      Agreed. The politicians are responsible for making backdoor deals with Dart and antisocial condo owners (Caymanian or otherwise).

      This wall is another wedge between Caymanians and their heritage and it should not have been allowed.

      Cayman belongs to Caymanians, so we need to start viewing public property as our personal property and take ownership of everything that happens on these Islands.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Government closed the road and gave the land to DART. No one sold it to him.

      • Anonymous says:

        Err – small issue of him building the Esterley Tibbets all the way to West Bay, and doing the public beach development in exchange for them “giving him” the land. And of course, they only gave him the land formerly occupied by the road – public beach, the park and the parking lot are still owned by CIG. And the wall was required by the CPA, not Dart. and is a boundary to government land, not darts. But lets not let facts get in the way of a good anti Dart rant.

  7. Anonymous says:

    I love that Caymanians are now standing up and saying hell no to this failure of a government, we’ve stayed silent for too long! CPR, this graffiti and etc, are examples that Caymanians are done with CIG and they know it too! They thought we would be silent forever! Your crapping your pants now bobo!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      There you have it. It’s not about the wall.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The question is “What are you going to do about it. I don’t think what passes for government here is afraid of the people. They know the people are all bark and no bite. Just like them.

  8. Anonymous says:

    You know things are pretty good when you have to hyperventilate about fake problems.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I’ve never seen graffiti painted over so fast! Must of struck a nerve!

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Original graffiti wording. Wish I’D been clever enough to think that up.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    what we need now is a team of jack hammers and finish the job

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Yes, we should always heed the advice of vandals.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m going to play the role of “Devil’s Advocate’ here. This wall could help some speeding car from driving through a vegetation hedge and harming individuals on the playground. I do understand the views of your readers but instigating vandalism is surely not the answer. Just my opinion.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Read 5:43 pm comment.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If you believe a concrete barrier is the solution, I assume you know nothing about roads design.
        Roads design involves the consideration of three major factors : human, vehicular, and roadway and how these factors interact to provide a road highway.

        For your information, read this,( at least).

        Sweden has a plan to end all traffic accident deaths.
        https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/04/sweden-zero-vision-traffic-road-deaths/

        Sweden is an exemplar of the power and potential of political commitment. This is the vital ingredient to making progress in reducing road deaths, relevant to every country, everywhere.

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      • Chris Johnson says:

        Surely a moat would have been more appropriate and much cheaper. You know one like in the Robin Hood movies.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Safety is good. The problem is that the National Roads Authority proposed a smaller (less view-blocking) safety wall. (Which would have put the pedestrian sidewalk on the other side of said wall from the cars.) So we ended up with an unnecessary wall height which does not enhance safety but does reduce views.

    • Anonymous says:

      To the 37 cretins, perhaps someone one should spray paint their thoughts and opinions about you onto your houses.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Ummm, that wall is our land, and seems to have been built in breach of some of our laws.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Em nothing new there! A country that can turn its back on underage children have babies with older men, people getting paid to do jobs they do not turn up to, incompetence and theft by Caymanians overlooked, traffic laws breached every single day on our roads etc. Breaching is everywhere.

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        • Anonymous says:

          It was built because of the direction of the CPA a government appointed board.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Hmmmm wonder how many fatalities this will cause?

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  14. Anonymous says:

    What is it with egomaniacs and walls? The fastest way I know to get rid of it is to spray paint the rainbow flag on it. It would be gone by tomorrow.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Everyone: This thing ugly!!!! boo!!!
    (somebody makes it more ugly)
    Everyone: Hooray!!!!

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  16. Anonymous says:

    11:50 Spot on. Concrete barriers don’t absorb any of the impact and also tend to bounce the vehicles back into the traffic flow.

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    • Just a lay person says:

      Barriers should only be installed where a collision with the barrier is likely to be less severe than a collision with the hazard behind it. Where possible, it is preferable to remove, relocate or modify a hazard, rather than shield it with a barrier.
      WHAT KIND OF HAZARD IS BEHIND THIS UGLY CONCRETE BARRIER? Did anyone consulted road designers, engineers and traffic psychology and driver behavior professionals?

      If a vehicle crashes into a concrete barrier, there are generally three major concerns:
      – the vehicle may decelerate too quickly;
      – the vehicle may “climb” the barrier leading to a rollover incident;
      – or an occupant’s head may go through the side-window opening and impact the concrete barrier (which is known as “head slap”).
      All three of these events can lead to serious injury or death.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If you get into a head on collision on many of Cayman’s undivided roads(without proper cycling lanes), the same will happen.

        Yet, here you are protesting a wall.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Speeding also leads to serious injury or death.

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      • Anonymous says:

        If someone crashes into this wall & hurts themselves it is there own fault & we aren’t bothered. To prevent injury to other people just leave a big sand trap there, if it can stop lorries in England it can stop some numpty going to West Bay

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  17. Anonymous says:

    If we don’t do something fast cpa and aldart cronies will have us resembling gaza strip with all this unsightly concrete.

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  18. Tired of the BS says:

    Donald Trump can contract this bunch to build his WALL! These guys didn’t waste any time getting it done.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Donald builds walls to keep people from illegally entering a sovereign nation! Cayman Islands Immigration should build some walls too.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Except anyone who knows what they are talking about knows the vast majority of illegal immigrants in any country (including the US and Cayman) are persons who enter the country legally through ports of entry
        and then proceed to overstay their allotted time not persons who cross the border illegally when no one is looking

        His wall makes no sense considering:

        1. Illegal immigration to the US has been declining for years, building a wall is actually trapping some illegal migrants in the US because they cannot then cross back and feel they have to hide in place

        2. As has been proven by amateur climbers, the wall can be scaled by just about anyone, including children, because the metal bars are perfect for getting a good grip

        https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/border-wall-video-trump-us-mexico-climb-a9236656.html

        3. Not to mention the biggest flaw in his wall plan – Ladders exist, even in Mexico, anyone wanting to jump his wall wouldn’t have any issues whatsoever even if they couldn’t climb the wall vertically

        https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48629658

        https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46824649

        If you are actually concerned with illegal immigration into the US then maybe the US should stop interfering in Central and South american Governments and destabilizing the region causing people to flee their homes in the first place
        Just a thought

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        • Anonymous says:

          Too long; didn’t read, but can we all agree that trump is a liar, a huckster, a baby and a threat to democracy. Thank you.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Trump is the greatest leader in the history of the world. A brilliant genius who loves Putin.

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  19. Kman says:

    Tear it Down, as a Caymanian this in my view isn’t about a wall but rather the audacity of the present government, CPA and Dart all infringing our rights. Joey Hew & Tara Rivers are native West Bayers and both I’ve known personally for so long yet they clearly aren’t willing to speak out because of fear and lack of conscience.

    This is the Now Moment as seen around the world and now on our door steps with CPR, people have had enough of reckless spending, abuse of power and lack of transparency.

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    • Anonymous says:

      As a Caymanian, what are YOU and your fellow countrymen/women prepared to do about it? I can’t do anything. I’m a guest in your country. All I see and read is a lot of rhetoric from people shouting ‘Roll on 2021’. Really? And then what? Do you have the gumption to empty these people? Is there really the will to do it? Do you have the quality people ready to oust the old guard? Or will the dollar and self-preservation triumph again? I truly hope not.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Mr. Dart, Cayman is not the Gaza Strip! Go pour your concrete elsewhere!

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  21. Anonymous says:

    “that government had asked for in the original specifications” <– where is this in the NRA Agreement?

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  22. Anonymous says:

    Should we not be paying attention to the road instead of staring at the beach while going around an already dangerous corner? The wall doesn’t block anyone from going to the beach…drive another 100 yards and park your car in the public lot and take a closer look.

    Knowing dart the wall will get dolled up with coralstone and will probably look quite nice.

    Might also be nice to consider the perspective from the beach. Might be nice not to see a bunch of traffic driving by while enjoying the beach.

    Quit all this belly-aching. Island is full of a bunch of whiners….good grief.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The wall gets my vote.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m paying attention to the road when banking through this turn… should I be looking out to the beach instead? #askingforafriend

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    • Anonymous says:

      Thank you @12:34! Stop complaining about the 10 feet of ocean you can look at while you should be looking at the damn road and pull over and ENJOY THE BEACH!! Maybe then you’ll stop complaining about every damn thing! Take a moment , pull into the parking lot there and go for a WALK! You’ll actually enjoy the view… but no doubt you’ll find something to complain about still – insert eye roll here!

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Am i the only one who likes the wall?

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  24. Anonymous says:

    I would love to shake the hand of the person who did this. I am not sure what got into Caymanians because we never stood up for ourselves and country like I am witnessing now. About damn time I say!!!

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    • Anonymous says:

      ‘We never stood up for ourselves’ yet we voted in the politicians. Great argument.

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    • Ag says:

      This is a shame what the cayman people has to go through not only this crap with dart trying to own the whole Cayman Islands the government is letting him, not only that but now they have the cayman people confined to just the front ares of the beach why do the cayman people let these condos alongside the beach let them be confined to one section of the beach and won’t let them swim in front of their condos I think that the cayman people need to do something about that, and the government need to look into why do these condos have their lines so close to the beach I really don’t think their Boundary lines is that close to the water if the cayman people is not allowed to cross their Boundaries lines they should not be able to cross over onto to our beach , Its Wrong in what they are doing I am saying this to the cayman people swim any where you want on the beach because it’s your beach not just parts of the beach don’t let these condos remove you , sit anywhere you want don’t let the guard tell you to move , it’s your rights to swim in front of the condo because it’s your beach let them know point blank if you can’t sit or swim in front of their condos they are not allowed on your beach. Stand up for your rights, me when I go to the beach I sit where ever I want and dare the guard to try and move me I won’t be moved, stand up please for your rights. And please let dart and the cayman government know where you stand you’re the people you have the rights you will win in the end if you stand together

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  25. J|) says:

    Every change means another page from the calendar has fallen.

    Older generations – the primary demographic complaining about this – simply don’t like daily reminders that it isn’t 1969 anymore.

    My advice? Go retire in the tranquil Sister Islands.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I have to respectfully disagree with you. I was born in 1990 and can remember driving from the base of WBR up to West bay, around northwest point and be able to view the sea. Its getting worse each month with the amount of development that is going on. The CPA should know better, there is no valid reason to put up a wall there.

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    • Minnie Branch says:

      Yes, come live in the Sister Islands where things are beautiful and wonderful! They are the best of what is left of the Cayman Islands!

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    • Anonymous says:

      What are you talking about ?

      • Anonymous says:

        Stop thinking keeping Cayman looking and behaving like “the good ole days” will pause time for you.

        Old men send young men to kill in their wars. But old Caymanian men like Eden will also fight young Caymanian men legislatively for loving another man.

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    • Anonymous says:

      11:54 I’ve got a two word response to that comment but I’m sure CNS wouldn’t post it.

      Just remember this – with luck you’ll be old one day 😉

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    • Anonymous says:

      Okay, millennial.

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    • Chris Johnson says:

      What an obnoxious remark. Grow up and respect your elders. They built this island and just what have you done.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Neither of us will recognize Cayman in 2219.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Sorry Chris but these new generations respect us less and less. They’re all take, they don’t know the meaning of give back and learn from the voices of experience.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    It’s time for some new faces at CPA!

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Modeling traffic barriers crash severity by considering the effect of traffic barrier dimensions.
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40534-019-0186-1

    Conclusions:
    Box beam barriers were found safer than the other traffic barriers considered in this study.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Especially when you put the pedestrians on the wrong side of the crash barrier! Rock and a hard place.

  28. Anonymous says:

    LOL, nobody saw that coming did they? If this was where I come from the whole damn thing would have been spray painted by now.

    As for people not ‘striding’ over a two-foot wall? I could jump that thing in a heartbeat and I’m in my 60s – they’re going need to build a lot higher to stop people getting over it.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Nobody builds concrete walls anymore. Cayman is not in a war zone. People are not stupid here, not need to throw concrete to stop them. No fences or green hedges would have sufficed.

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  30. SeaviewFromRoad says:

    So is “PUBLIC BEACH” public property or road for beach swap? What was the agreement? As it is, the beach has been annexed and “Privatized”.

    “TEAR DOWN THIS WALL” Mr. Primier.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    don’t forget birdhouses!

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  32. Anonymous says:

    No comment from Minister Hew what a joke

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  33. SMH says:

    This government and the puppets on the boards like the CPA make Cayman look third world. SMH

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