Smith Cove protestors demand halt to bid

| 17/02/2020 | 122 Comments
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service
  • Cayman News Service

(CNS): Hundreds of people turned up to a rally on Saturday at Smith Barcadere (aka Smith Cove) to show their support for the campaign to keep it in its natural state and stop government’s proposed enhancement project. Demanding that the current public tender be withdrawn and the entire project dramatically reduced to just a new clean toilet block, protestors managed to get government representatives to agree not to move ahead with the plans without more public discussion. However, the bid process has not yet been stopped.

Berna Cummins, who led the charge at the rally, spelled out the issue in clear and certain terms to the members of government who came to the protest. She said the people in the South Sound community do not support any of the enhancements and are genuinely concerned that the goal is to create another cruise ship beach attraction. She said that residents simply want some basic clean facilities and nothing more.

“Leave something in its natural state for us,” she told the government members, as she detailed the concerns people have and the strong desire to leave the beach and surrounding bush entirely alone.

She said no one wanted big arches, side walks, cabanas, observation decks, any other decks or boardwalks, and certainly no office. Cummins even made it clear that, other than a foot faucet, there was no need for showers because no one wanted to encourage people to use the beach as a resort, all of which was greeted with enthusiastic support by the crowd.

Kurt Tibbetts, a former planning minister and political leader, as well as current Planning Minister Joey Hew, constituency MLA Barbara Conolly, and planning ministry Deputy Chief Officer Tristan Hydes, were all there to hear Cummins’ demands and see for themselves the breadth of support for preserving Smith Barcadere’s natural unique beauty.

A.L. Thompson, Berna’s brother, who is on the opposite side of this battle, also took the mic and revealed some of the hidden agendas surrounding this project, especially the parking plans, that have caused community concern. Thompson, who lives opposite the cove, is chairman of both the government’s enhancement committee and the Central Planning Authority, despite the fact that the project will have to clear the CPA before it can start.

The committee seeking to protect Smith Barcadere is protesting against parking on the shore side, as proposed by government, because many trees would have to be removed for this to happen.

But A.L. Thompson made it clear that parking was his major concern because people park in his driveway and around his large property when the cove is busy. But when Mario Rankin, who is part of team heading the protest against this project, challenged him to give up some of his land to add parking on the road side, tempers flared. Thompson attacked Rankin and made derogatory comments about him rather than addressing the issue at hand. (See video below.)

However, the hot headed flare-up did not derail the rally, and while the protestors’ demands to get the tender process stopped has not yet been achieved, they have managed to persuade government to hold further discussions with the community.

The lack of support for government’s plans was evident. Conolly has previously claimed that people are “encouraging” her to press ahead with this project. But towards the end of Saturday’s protest, when she was persistently pressed by Cummins and the crowd about who exactly was encouraging her, she pointed the finger at government.

Hew, the minister who is meant to oversee the project, also claimed that the first he heard about the tender moving ahead was when the advert came out in the paper. He further claimed that there had been miscommunication in his ministry, though he did not appear to convince the protesters at the beach of this.

Nevertheless, an agreement was reached that over the next week a public meeting at the South Sound Community Centre would be held, when the people would be given a chance to wade in on the current set of plans.

Although government has denied that there are any hidden agendas regarding this project, concerns remain that the real goal of the project is to prepare the site for cruise ship tours. And since the Department of Tourism is already promoting the beach as such, the public is increasingly losing trust in claims made by political leaders.


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Comments (122)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I have just have one question for Barbara..

    Why did you take this situation so personally both on the radio and at the protest? No one wants any harm to come to you. The majority of us are in total disagreement with this project but rather than listening to us both you an ALT has reduced this to personal attacks even going as far as calling people criminals and such.

    Barbara, you are a representative of all of the people. Sometimes they will agree with you and sometimes they won’t. You have to get over this personal foolishness.

    Now, I will say I voted for you in the last election but woman you need to straighten up now. This is getting ridiculous and you know it. Stop following these people that will continue to drag you down. You can make your mark without being derogatory and and taking things so personally.

    I was so proud to see women getting elected into the Assembly and hoped that some sense of reason and understanding would be espoused by them but not one of them elected, including you Barbara have made me proud, or stood your ground for what is right. I am so disappointed! This is why women are always the down trodden.

    GTS Voter

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  2. Anonymous says:

    Is diplomacy course being taught somewhere in Grand Cayman?

    Must be a requirement for every politician wannabe.

    I know that all managers in large firms take soft skills training.

    The entire world is failing in diplomacy from municipal to global. Restraint, correctness and careful choice of words, no matter how much you are disappointed and how painful a blow you get, are mandatory, because a public breakthrough of uncontrolled emotions exposes weakness and gives additional trump cards against you.

    • Anonymous says:

      Funny you used the phrase ‘trump cards’. He is the number one reason for the Recent sharp decline in diplomacy the world over. If the leader of the free world can get away with saying whatever he wants and throwing tantrums whenever he doesn’t get his way, name calling and spitting vitriol at every opportunity, then the rest of the world will follow suit. That’s why we used to recognize that leadership is an important and powerful responsibility, and we used to demand that leaders were persons of strong character. The beginning of the end.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Has nothing to do with Donald Trump.

        “Trump card” is something that gives one person or group the advantage over another.
        In general, something capable of making a decisive difference when used at the right moment; in certain card games, trump is the suit designated as having precedence over the others: “The prosecutor was about to win the case, when the defense lawyer produced her trump card: an eyewitness who testified that the accused was nowhere near the scene of the crime.”

        Source: dictionary
        ORIGIN OF TRUMP CARD
        First recorded in 1815–25

        • Anonymous says:

          4.44 thanks for the definition but I got the impression that. the original poster knew that and was only using a play on words.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I don’t want to listen to any rich person talk about their problems. AL T got all that yard and he’s complaining about the lack of parking when he knows he can sacrifice a bit of his yard for more parking.

    And I definitely don’t want a rich person to dictate to us what to do, look where that’s got us! He should’ve sat this one out because it backfired on him bad..

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Off the topic, but still interesting:

    Smitty’s Cove (a top-notch diving site in the middle of Whittier, AK) needs cleaning up, and you can help.
    https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Smittys-Cove-needs-cleaning-up-divers-help-in-March-567963731.html

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Smith Cove has been there from day one and no MLA thought to improve it now all of a sudden the crowd is larger because Dart destroyed Public Beach for Caymanians and because ALT don’t like people near his house he called in the puppet Barbara to do his bidding. It is that simple, don’t let them fool ya. Vote them all out next election.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    People, dont be fooled. This development of Smith Barcadere is for more tourists to come and visit there instead of SMB, as the vendors are harrassing the SMB tourists too much.

    But, what do you think will happen when the tourist go to Smith B?? The vendors will follow them there too and it will be like SMB ALL OVER AGAIN.

    This is also a development plan for Smith B so that our next Premier McKeeva can sell the SMB to Dart for another hotel.

    The two Brac Ministers Moses (Tourism) and Julianna (Lands) have authority to stop this but they dont care what happens to Grand Cayman, or what Dart wants to do in Grand. They dont care what ALT does in Grand either.

    So dont let them develop Smith B. If they do, there will be no peaceful beach left in Grand for residents.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Only card carrying Caymanians should be allowed to use Smith Cove. Problem solved.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    If they can’t buy ALT’s land behind the existing parking lot, for whatever reason, what about the land to the side where the old building and defunct tennis court are that belong to the condos across the road (or at least they used to?), the condos that abut Smith Cove to the east .

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    • Anonymous says:

      “No cars” zones are expanding in Europe.
      Roads being redesigned to accommodate bikers and pedestrians.
      Here, on this postal stamp size rock they keep widening roads and adding parking lots further destroying natural environment.
      Pure madness.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    It seems to me that Al T should be the one strongly protesting against any enhancements on Smiths Cove as more people, more amenities, more parking will bring bring more noise and disturbance straight to his front yard.

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  10. Andrew says:

    What about the fact that seven mile beach has gone to the dogs. Beach chairs illegally littered along the beachfront, drugs being sold in the restrooms, and petty thieves looking for unattended bags and anything shiny. CIG needs to get their priorities in line, or is this all a planned distraction from the whole port debacle? Is this $2 million dollar “restoration project” another way for some grubby politician to siphon money into their own pockets?

    XXX

    Isn’t smith cove too small for cabanas and a parking lot? Is it not working the way it is now?
    Now, every time you go to take a swim they’ll be someone haggling you to buy their Chinese made crafts. Repave and tidy up the parking lot across the road and call it a done deal. This once quaint beach will be destroyed in a pursuit of money and to appease someone who lives comfortably in a mansion across the street.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    The irony of this “protest” was that during the “event” plus for hours afterwards plus all day on Sunday, the DOUBLE yellow lines on the road side by Smith Barcadere were covered by vehicles.
    Yet it seems that the protesters do not want additional parking. I am not saying to pave over an area but there has to be a compromise. A few trees for additional parking either in a cleared area or in amongst the remaining trees.
    If a car is hit by another that is in the oncoming lane to avoid the parked cars, then all involved should be sued – RCIPS, NRA, & the protest group.

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    • Andrew says:

      How about the compromise being the police actually doing their jobs and enforcing traffic law? If the cars were illegally parked then by all means ticket and fine them.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Ageed, but that does not remove the need for more parking to accomodate the increased resident swimmers. Maybe we can can the numbers of people by the number of legal parking spaces.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Maybe we could restore Public Beach back to a decent family friendly venue where you can enjoy the beach without getting hassled by vendors or worrying about drug dealing in the toilets. No shortage of parking there. Smith’s Cove just can’t handle volume, its too small. Increasing the parking is not a solution, it makes the problem worse.

          • Anonymous says:

            @11:11 Exactly. Gov gave the WB Public to vendors and are to blame for this escalating mess!

    • Anonymous says:

      No cars or people ever got hit there, for most people proceed with a caution. It has been like that since forever, let it remain this way.
      A warning sign or speed bumps would suffice.
      Cars have no priorities over pedestrians.

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      • Anonymous says:

        “Beach crossing” and “ Slow, watch for pedestrians crossing” signs is easy to install. Or may be it’s already there?
        Locals know about the crossing already, so the signs are needed for visitors.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I have had to come to a halt due to other cars in my lane. They are breaking the law because to illegal parking.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Not sure if this is relevant but my locked car got broken into once there in the parking lot. So as much as I love the place, I am hesitant to go there.

        • Anon KY says:

          See, this is a good point. I feel a bit of the same sentiment but I don’t see how another parking lot would fix this. Wouldn’t proper lighting and [working] CCTV cameras, police patrols be a better, much cheaper option that would be better for the environment? I’ve seen no plan to improve this existing parking lot (please correct me if i’m wrong) but what will be happening to this parcel?

          With all of this development i just have to wonder when it all will stop? Clearly when there’s nothing left.

    • Anonymous says:

      Should have ticketed every single one of them.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I walked there, like I always do.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    If, as Joey claims, he did not know anything about it until it appeared in the Compass, he should have no problem letting us know who will be fired as a result.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Because she does as she is ttold.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Barbara, who is the “everyone” that is encouraging you? We still waiting for an answer!

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Can’t we spend $2M on something else of greater priority? I can think of many charities like Meal on Wheels and Feed our Future that provide meals for our elderly and kids that cannot afford meals that could really use the help.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    AL’T, conflict much??

    So AL’T sits as chairman of the board, gets up in front of everyone and complains about cars parking in front of his property etc..so Mario asks him why doesn’t he give up (or sell) to government the piece of land behind the current parking lot (which I thought was a good Idea) and he gets upset and starts yelling insults at him and throws the Microphone in the air which could have easily hit his sister or one of the other people there. After people moved him away he pushed away again and went after Mario as if he was going to fight with him whilst hurling more insults and telling Mario that the beach is his..What a despicable display of utter arrogant behavior. Why would he lower himself like that with all those people around him and knowing that it was being aired live.

    All of this tells me is that the NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome is now in full steam. He wants the parking lot put across the street on government land as far as possible away from his property so they don’t bother him. In his Radio Cayman interview he said there was no where else to put a parking lot yet the lot right behind the current one belongs to him..I’m not saying that he has to sell it but stop lying to the people telling them there are no other alternatives..

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    • Anonymous says:

      When someone shows you whohey are, believe it. Was,is and will be.

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    • Anonymous says:

      He is acting like … a pirate

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    • Anonymous says:

      Wisdom gives way to emotional incontinence, which, in turn, reveals the loss of self-control, weakness and inability to deal with the situation.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That lot is in Webster estate and covenants prevent it being a parking lot. A tasteful lot in amoungst the trees like governors beach would be safer and perfect….

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    • Al Catraz says:

      Zero emotional maturity. That man should not be on the board of anything, if he cannot control himself. It’s sad that Caymanians look up to a petty bully like him.

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    • Anon KY says:

      “You cannot move to a nuisance and complain about the nuisance”

  17. ThIs WrItInG Is VeRy IrRiTaTiNg says:

    If the main goal of this project is to increase the size of the parking lot then government simply needs to expropriate the empty lot behind the current parking lot and the problem will be solved. There’s no need to pave over the iron shore.

    If that land is owned by ALT all the more reason to proceed to show public that he is not running the show. He should be removed from the CPA and any other boards immediately as well.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Real Caymanians do not park in parking lots. They have no need of one. Just widen the road because they will be parking in and on it so they won’t have to walk far.

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  18. Concerned Diver says:

    See http://www.visitcaymanislands.com. Promoting Smith Barcadere to the cruise tourism industry. Here is your answer guys. Not the propaganda the government is spinning. Wake up. Watch the videos. See the actual foul words coming out of ALT’s mouth about an individual challenging him. So the Chair of the planning Committee wants a big spend in front of his own property. No conflict at all. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Wake up Cayman.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    ALT chose to build his house there. Smith Cove was already there and popular. So strike 1.

    ALT’s conflicts, nothing new there, SMH. Strike 2.

    The first that Joey and Babs heard of it was when the tender was published? Unbelievable, in every way. Strike 3.

    We’re done. End it, now.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I remember that monstrosity being built over a decade ago. At the time my partner and I christened it the ‘Munster House’. As for the bust up in the Video? My old Mum always taught me it was a waste of time arguing with anyone who had a waistline bigger than their IQ.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ” Berna Cummins…..said the people in the South Sound community do not support any of the enhancements ” End of story. Just another case of “Jack” not wanting us to bathe on our beach.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    The height of money, nepotism and corruption in this country is evident. AL Thompson owns the biggest hardware in the country and he also sits as Chairman of CPA and the enhancement committee boards. He doesn’t want people to park on his property but he has a big gate how would people park in his driveway? Joey claims he knew nothing of it until it made the paper and he is the Minister. They really take us for idiots.

    Mario struck a nerve!!! Lmao

    Wake up people and don’t make the same mistake this election! These boards are controlled by government for government. Every single one of them

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    • #JOEYWHO says:

      Joey Who proved to all he is a clown and not good at lying. How does Cabinet and the Ministry not know know about a tender for a project being supervised by the Deputy Chief Officer of the ministry of planning? The minister did not help the situation and only made things worse for mla Barbara. Clearly he is not a politician to be trusted as all he did was insult the intelligence of the public.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Wow! So much for a peaceful protest – anything but that!

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    • Anonymous says:

      At least the police didn’t douse protesters with pepper-spray as Bermuda police did on December 2, 2016

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yeah ALT came for a fight and to stir the shit but the people there wouldn’t let him do it…

      To be honest, I never expected such ungodly behavior from him..but i believe it was Maya Angelou who said “if somebody shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

      Got to say that kind of behaviour right in front of his sister and about 300 people was downright disgusting..

      He and Barbara both have lost my respect…

      GTS Voter!

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      • Anonymous says:

        Wrong 3.39 Mario poked the bear and the bear scratched back.

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        • Anonymous says:

          A bear is a wild animal. Mr Thompson is a grown man, a senior at that with lots of years on this planet to develop wisdom. He could have simply said he didn’t see why he should have to sell his property to deal with increased tourist volumes – instead of resorting to throwing insults, throwing the mike like a little kid and going through the whole “hold me back or I will kill him” macho play acting. As it was he completely undermined whatever point he was trying to make and just looked foolish. Sad.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I think you really need to understand what a riotous protest is, before you call this out for not being peaceful. This was a meeting of the people. ALT should not even have spoken and certainly not in the derogatory way he did. The peace was disturbed by him.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Well, when I saw the video I saw someone trying to get ALT away From bear Mario and heard a lot of shouting from the crowd, .looked like they were fixing to fight. Did not look too peaceful to me. Perhaps they didn’t really plan to fight but the optics were not looked like they wanted to.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I think you are very wrong I was there and it was AL’T that went after Mario and even after pulling ALT away one time, he got out of his seat again and rushed at Mario as if to strike him..Two wrongs don’t make a right but ALT should have been the bigger man and shut Mario down rather than reducing himself that low and calling him names and telling him to “get off my beach.” I don’t blame Mario for speaking up because we need more of that but he didn’t handle the situation properly either by continuing to argue with ALT.

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      • Anonymous says:

        3.55 Al T shouldn’t speak and he lives right next to the proposed project? But Mario should speak and he lives in Newlands. Obviously you only want to hear from persons you agree with. Anyone disagreeing should go home just like Mario told AL T. Talk about democracy.!! People complaining about a lack of democracy whilst exhibiting what.. a lack of democracy.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep, if it wasn’t for ALT, the head of Barbara’s group it would have been very peaceful. He should not have come at all. I saw him sitting there writhing in his chair which he should have remained in if he felt he couldn’t keep his cool. He was very unhappy having all those “selfish” people in his front yard.

      He should have taken a page out of Kurt’s book who was quite respectful and answered questions put to him

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    • Anonymous says:

      It was peaceful – there was only that one incident – and it was nothing to do with the crowd.

      Couldn’t help noticing when I walked back along the road, that there is already an area that appears to have been cleared which would make an excellent place for cars to park off the road. It’s about a car’s length in depth -just needs smoothing over a bit, and maybe some lines marked – at a slant to maximize the number of cars, and to encourage drivers to reverse onto their own side of the road – facing GT and voila! – space for probably 10-12 cars. (If you live in the other direction just turn down Denham Thompson and back on Walkers…) Right now, that bit of land is doing nothing to serve any other purpose, and it won’t interfere with beach-goers.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Miscommunication? Is that what we have to blame all of government’s problems on? It seems ridiculous to me that the government is digging their heels in on this one.

    Maybe this was a genuine idea that was proposed, but the second that this amount of people gather to say that they do not want this, we need to move on. Not continue to move forward with a project that has no support from the public.

    The money that bought that land came from the environmental protection fund and therefore should be used to protect the land, not develop it. That should be added to the covenants as well. No development.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    This project makes no sense at all.

    Why is MLA Barbara Connolly pushing this agenda so hard?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Because, according to her, her constituents want it, and Caymanians deserve the best facilities that they apparently don’t know they want and which would as a matter of pure coincidence be really useful for the cruise industry.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Blacklisted.. Your money eh. Got it.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Vote No for Barbara and ppm
    Vote No for Cruise Berthing project

    Time to drain the Cayman swamp

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    • Anonymous says:

      11.27am Vote no to rule by unelected individuals who have no accountability to the people.mm Vote no to rule by protests. Vote no to mob rule.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I think you are wrong here..It is the elected officials who have no accountability..Who the hell in their right mind spends $5M of the People’s money to buy a piece of waterfront land for environmental reasons and then turn around and build a $2M parking lot on it?…Are fricken kidding me? Accountability, they wouldn’t know that if it slapped them in their face!

        There is no mob rule here. It is good people, Caymanians and expats alike standing up, peacefully protesting and calling it what it is…bull shit!

        These old guard politicians have been too use to having their way without anyone keeping them in check…Well folks, change has come and it is not going to happen anymore and the next set that gets in there better take note..

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      • Anonymous says:

        as opposed to rule by a handful of elected officials whose total votes amount to a tiny fraction of the population. Barbara Conolly had a massive 375 votes and a majority of only 68, Joey 402. Al Thompson had 0. Yet what they say should be more important than the hundreds of people who turned up to protest?

  25. Anonymous says:

    Our CIG whistleblower apparatus is obviously not functional at all. Kurt Tibbetts, who presided over thick cabinets of backroom deals, is supposed to be retired from politics, and out of this arena altogether. He isn’t a standing minister or subject to any disclosure requirements, or standards, and everyone, obviously, would know that. He should be hiding in the tall grass forever, not spearheading as proxy, more new projects, along with outrageously-conflicted Board members. It’s almost as if they dare some underlier to blow the giant dangling whistle that they’ve pre-rigged with chalking.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Berna is not a Govt minister but she is involved .Mario cant even run for elected office and he is involved. End

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  26. Anonymous says:

    The Dept of Tourism is pushing for this and what Moses wants Moses gets.

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    • Anonymous says:

      until he doesn’t

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    • Anonymous says:

      Moses doesn’t care because he and Julie keep the Brackers in the dark..There are mostly older people over here and he/PPM ensured we don’t have any local TV anymore and then they took out Rooster for a while so all we had was Radio Cayman and the news and OC’s show is so sanitized you could use whatever they are using ensure you would never get coronavirus…

      On Grand Cayman they keep the people dumb and uneducated and give them hams and turkeys for votes. Over here you would swear that Moses was God and Julie was his wife..Brackers better straighten up and follow Grand Cayman’s lead and get some fresh blood over here.

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  27. Johann Moxam says:

    MLA Connolly is a nice lady and well intentioned.
    However, how did this proposed enhancement project become a national priority over all the other things impacting Cayman all the real priorities and issues facing our government and our people…

    How does CIG justify the expenditure of CI$2,000,000 for what is being described as an enhanced parking solution for Smith’s Barcadere?

    Can somebody in authority, elected, in Cabinet or those directing CIG policies, projects and capital expenditure please answer the following questions:

    1. Why hasn’t CIG enhanced the 7 mile Public Beach next to the Kimpton which has become a national disgrace and “free trade zone” for all sorts of activities?

    Why haven’t they proposed or provided 24hr security, proper bathroom facilities and an office with medical assistance at that larger public beach to date?

    2. Why isn’t CIG paving a parking lot next to WB cemetery beach…that currently has none but is frequented by many locals and tourists?

    There is far more to this project and story. The people deserve the truth…

    #STAYWOKE🇰🇾

    Johann Moxam

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    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with most of what you said. I know that you probably haven’t been to 7 Mile Public Beach in a while (I avoid it for the reasons you mentioned) but the Dart enhancements are pretty nice. Banish the peddlers that make Cayman seem like the streets of Cairo and you’d have a really nice area.

      Barbara is a nice lady and I don’t think she had a bad intent. ALT should recuse himself off all committees and relax in his mansion.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Well intentioned! I think you are just being nice, because I just cant reconcile the stuff she was coming out with about her supposed motivation for the project with any sense of reality? We have to have cabanas so that peoples cell phones won’t get wet if it rains? WTF? She is either well intentioned but incredibly stupid, or not well intentioned at all.

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    • Anonymous says:

      probably something to do with the off the record hearing for Dart to relocate beach access rights as reported today on this website. the entire country is going to ruins so the very few can benefit, and they’ve managed to convince just enough of us that its ok. Joey Who didnt know until he saw a presser? Give me a break. ALT being chairman of the board? Come on. Its all so corrupt, and just wait until we get the Moses shrine in GT port. Why are we not marching and stampeding the LA?

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      • Anonymous says:

        To 2.32pm “Why are we not marching and stampeding the LA?” Because that is what animals do; it is not the Cayman way. Now I belive that there are some out there who want that sort of unrest and may even be mixing with well meaning activists to create that unrest in an effort to get the UK to impose direct rule. Some of these new elitists seem to believe they are our masters and therefore have a hard time having ‘inferior’ Caymanians being in charge here.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Animals? Never seen them marching. Don’t insult brutes.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You can’t be serious…Who sits down and plans a coup for direct rule by protesting development of a beach or destruction of our harbor?

          Come up with some other cock a mamey story because that would it flying and is just plain dumb..

          This is the what the politicians are trying filling everyone’s head because they there chances of remaining in power is limited until next May..

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  28. Anonymous says:

    These enhancements to Smith’s Cove make absolutely no sense. Stand up people against it

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  29. Anon. says:

    Typical thing that we do here in Cayman. Bring up something from someone’s past to tarnish them so others will question the person’s intentions. And it is typically a weapon wielded by the powerful to keep the common man from having a say. It is a disgusting tactic that needs to stop.

    Regardless of which side of this anyone is on, the truth is that Smith Cove is for the people of this country and we have the right to protect it.

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  30. Cayman Kind says:

    The outbursts from Al T proves that racism and intolerance is alive and well in Cayman. It was uncalled for and showed his real character. He thinks he must not be challenged or questioned at all. That is the true Cayman Kind.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman un (kind):Racism and intolerance is not exclusive to the Cayman Islands and certainly not ‘true Caymankind’. Please choose some other way to express your dislike of Cayman. Perhaps your musings here show that the true intolerance and racism is what you showed in your description of “Caymankind”.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    I am a Caymanian 29 Years old. I say we let the younger generations less than 30 decide the faith for the future.

    Half of the people at this rally are old genors now just standing up and putting in there say, well you old generations your time is over for you( and maybe the planet). Let alone most of them can’t even stand for a few hours shows you the reality of our society.

    Here let me get you all a chair while we peacefully protest.

    Now look at the young kids at the dump protesting at the top getting notice and change.

    Do what you want, but in the next 5-10 years the lies and manipulation won’t be so easily accepted.

    The they watch, they see, they hear, they wait in understanding the unveil of the corruption the CIG has lied to the public for the past 100 years.

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    • Anonymous says:

      When you can put a coherent post together with correct English please let us know. Best wishes from a Gen X Caymanian.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I am proud to say that I am in my seventies and hopefully will live a few years more. However I shudder to think that Cayman might be in your hands and other of your mindset. I appreciate that the younger generations will naturally fill in and take over, that is what normally happens but you rude and ignorant anonymous at 11:06 probably won’t be able to contribute anything worthwhile unless you start now to cultivate some respect and manners. Your well educated and properly brought up peers will probably not want to have anything to do with you. Find a well intentioned, respectful and dignified person to mentor you.

      23
    • Anonymous says:

      11:05am ,your disrespect for seniors is despicable, are you sure you’ll be around to need someone to give you a chair?

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  32. Anonymous says:

    Vote No

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  33. Anonymous says:

    Smith Cove “enhancements” are undeniably designed for the benefit of cruise ship passengers.

    Interesting documentary I watched on YouTube yesterday.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0GQK84pdHI.

    Top Files – When cruises go wrong – the whole truth
    2:07 Viking cruise, Norwegian Nirvana goes wrong
    6:52 Venice protests. When tourists are unwelcome guests
    13:15 Darker side of cruises- when people drink all day
    24:28 The dreaded norovirus
    32:54 Organized crime
    37:36 Polluting air and water
    38:04 throwing garbage off the ship
    38:57 Princess cruises dirty secret-offloading oily waste through secret bypass valve
    39:43 Carnival: Cruise Line: Oily waste being dumped into the ocean for 8-9 years before they were caught

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    • Concerned Diver. says:

      And let’s not forget a Petrie dish for diseases. #coronavirus.

      14
    • Blacklisted says:

      I think I posted this a few articles ago as well, very good insight to the companies that our government is bending over backward to appease.

      Disgraceful.

      13
  34. Anonymous says:

    This is among the most openly conflicted and unapologetically corrupt regimes in our territory’s history – and I include all of the malicious buccaneer shipwrecking/insurance fraud salvage history in that statement.

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  35. Anonymous says:

    Still vote no

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  36. Anonymous says:

    To be honest, I thought briefly of going, but was dissuaded by the irony of having 15,000 people show up to a beach where that’s exactly what we never want to have happen. I’ll sign whatever, in support of leaving it as is. The fixation on sit-ins and protests (at wrong venues), that don’t result in desists or course correction, has proven over and over to have been a waste of time and energy. We need to keep up. Fundamentally this government seized power and was not elected to that authority, does not hold popular support, or a mandate, and campaigns with our money to tell us that ain’t so. The suppression they employ is a corrupt authoritarian regime hallmark. Lawsuits are the only language they speak, and even then, they disregard formal judicial reviews. We need limited UK intervention to hold their feet to the fire in other ways, and repel several of the worst to retire permanently.

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    • Anonymous says:

      10.27am I have come to believe that UK intervention by direct rule is the objective of the ‘ New Elite’ who are leading all these protests. Your statement that “this government seized power and was not elected to that authority” is an outright lie and should have been challenged by CNS. The current Administration was formed according to the Constitution..19 MLAs were legally elected ; the MLAs legally selected a Premier; the Premier legally selected his 6 ministers. All legal and according to the Constitution. No one seized power illegally as one might assume based on your statement above. While you may be unhappy with the outcome this Government was elected to power and did not seize it. I believe that people like yourself who are unhappy because they did not get the Government they wanted are using these protests to try to create unrest and provoke direct intervention by the UK.

      5
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      • Anonymous says:

        As Dan Quayle once said ” what a waste it is to lose one’s mind”

      • Anonymous says:

        New elite??? Who are they? Name a few..

        The current government has forgotten that the people put them there. We are living in a different era folks and unlike years ago when we were lead like sheep to the slaughter, the young and old are standing up now.

        Stay strong Cayman…don’t be bullied by this corrupt government.

        No need to worry about direct rule, by the way..May 2021 is just about a year away and hopefully the remnants of both parties will be swept out along with their “so called independents” and we can get some new, forward thinking, people to run this country…

        I long for the years when the politicians worked for nothing more than love of country..Sadly those days will never return..

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      • Anon. says:

        @2:19 pm You are simply trying to use scare tactics and lies to turn people against these totally democratic protests. What is wrong with trying to avoid unnecessary government spending on projects that we do not need? What is wrong with insisting that government spend OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS on projects that benefit the majority, rather than benefitting the few? What is wrong with shining a light on corruption? What is wrong with protecting the environment? People are standing up and protesting because they have democratic right to.

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        • Anonymous says:

          @3.52PM Very telling that you accuse me of scare tactics but had nothing to say to @10.27am who lied and said that this Government seized power and were not elected to it. Now thats scare tactics.

        • Anonymous says:

          To 3.52 I support the project at Smith Barcadere as it would be of benefit to the majority. Not doing the project would be of benefit to the minority of Caymanians.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Who exactly is this majority? You said the minority is Caymanians but just wondering who majority is made up of? I know it isn’t people in South Sound.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe Mario should offer his very large piece of property in Newlands to Government for the new school that is needed there. Once he does that then maybe he can ask Al T to donate property.

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      • lol says:

        oops!

      • Anonymous says:

        Seriously..did anybody ask Mario for his land to build a school? Why isn’t government spending $2M plus on building another school if it is indeed a priority?

        This is about Smith Barcadere not Savannah Primary 2.

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      • Anonymouse says:

        @ 3:05pm. Isn’t this thread about the Smith Cove beach? Clearly you’re here just to add a comment for no good. The issue isn’t about AL T not offering to donate his land, the issue is how he went on at the protest. It was completely uncalled for. He could have disagreed with what Mario said, but he didn’t have to act as he did. I’m sure members of his business would get disciplined for acting as such at work. But AL T does, as AL T pleases. Mario asked a question and made a point just as many other did out there. People are entitled to that.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Anonymouse. You say “The issue isn’t about AL T not offering to donate his land” then you should be addressing this comment to Mario because he is the one who brought it up. And I repeat, Mario should be prepared to donate his property for the good of the public or he should not demand that you, or I, or Al T should donate ours.

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          • Anonymous says:

            I think the point should be that ALT being the older and more mature of the two should not have immediately launched into hurling insults and accusations. Both of them were wrong and tempers were flaring but in the end ALT did make a lot of people believe when he was on Radio Cayman that there was no alternative as to where to put the parking lot when everyone knew he owned the land right behind it. It was a bit mischievous of Kurt as well to say that they had been negotiating with the “landowner” for years without success, whom we all know now is ALT who was sitting there right next to him.

            It is unfortunate but the optics of this looks like ALT based on the remarks he made on Radio and at the Protest was that he was hell bent on putting the parking lot on the seaside to get it away from his property and telling us it was the best place, no alternative and with the backup from Barbara that she is doing it for the people. Still not sure who those people are and she couldn’t tell anyone at the Protest either.

        • Anonymous says:

          3.49pm Mario made it personal. He got a personal response.Thats what happens when you let hot headed people like Mario lead you around; there is always going to be a chance of a flashpoint being reached. Mario just met someone thats probably as hot headed as himself.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Al T complained to the government, so he should offer a solution. If he can’t offer a solution outside of the public footing a $2million bill so he is not inconvenienced by people enjoying the beach across from him, perhaps his land should be expropriated.

        Mario has not complained.

        10
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      • Anonymous says:

        Really you think Government could build a new school on that acre and a half of land he has up in Newlands…Come on, this is like apples and oranges..

        3
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