Ministry quits Smith Cove plans
(CNS): The planning ministry has announced that it has decided not to proceed with plans to ‘enhance’ Smith Barcadere (aka Smith Cove) in a rare response to the people’s wishes. In a short release Wednesday, ministry officials said the Smith Barcadere Committee agreed that the project should not be pursued. The news comes just as concerns were mounting that the government was planning to press ahead regardless.
“No project works have been undertaken on the site and none are planned for the future,” the ministry stated, after explaining that it had commissioned the project on land that was purchased by the government in 2016.
The Public Works Department was in charge of project management and consultancy services in the early early stages after the tender process, which has now been cancelled, was completed in February.
Check back to CNS for reaction from the activists and campaigners who led the charge against the proposed development project.
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Category: Community, Local News
This whole protesting is really a political thing. I call it the launch of the Green Party of Cayman. Just watch his page.A lot of those following along haven’t caught on yet.
Does this mean the WCs will remain inadequate, filthy and a health hazard?
But they push ahead with the Port which has larger documented opposition….makes you think maybe they have other interests in the port deal….maybe $200m contract has lot of room for many retirement size kick back$?
Common Sense – 1
Alden – 0
Moses-A-fretting-0
Hew – 0
Barbara C -0
Congratulations to Common Sense on your resounding victory over the aforementioned politicians who suffered another crushing loss. Great News and well done all the activists, protestors and campaigners who were against the travesty that was about to be upon Smith Cove.
This place is not safe and the lighting that was proposed would have helped. Two robberies have occurred here recently although nothing in the media, how many sexual assaults have taken place over the years at this exact spot – ask the community police officer. Also ask Shirley Roulstone what she found when she did the clear up? Now absolutely nothing will be done to improve the area AND the elderly and disabled will just have to look at Smith Barcadere from the road as there are no improvements to enable them to get down to the cove.
As opposed to looking at a parking lot, boardwalk and vendors.
How about police do their job or hire security. How about you tell us what Shirley found. How about you go help your older relatives to the beach.
Wrong wrong…. the clearing of the underbrush has eliminated crime areas intentionally “so the police can see through the brush on their patrols” **whilst it would be preferred the POLICE actually get out of their cars and assess any night “visitors”
We can simply post a sign saying the area is closed at dusk = done.
As for handicap access, the Websters donated $11,000 to Rotary for Mobi mats and beach wheelchairs = done.
Move the boulders 8FT inwards (off the road as they sit currently) and assign 3-4 handicap spots= done.
All this for low/no cost and preserving the area.
Common sense prevails not political posturing!!!
Those robberies occurred after the brush was cleared and you think a sign saying closed at dusk going to stop people?
Not until some is raped, run over or murdered will we care to improve. Caymanians are reactive not proactive. It’s time to face the fact that the charm of these island are dead because of the choices caymanians have made. Sell off everything to the foreigners and then trying to hold on to the scraps.
People have already been raped there. The consequences of which have been walking our streets for years…
7.27am Not just Caymanians but Caymanians being used by expats in South Sound?
Finally…something positive…
Now, “adopt Smith Cove” and contribute to keeping it clean. It is not that hard.
You can even start recycling initiative there, installing signs encouraging recycling and collection bins.
“Save our future kids“ could lead by example.
There is already a “save” group in place that can now help to keep it clean.
Perhaps in partnership with a service club?
Okay, now that this battle is won, but CIG is not keeping it clean, why not to form “Residents for SC” team and clean the grounds once a week?
It would be great if the sink in the men’s washroom drained and if there was a lock on the cubicle door.
Perhaps one of the contractors with a small motorized beach cleaner could be brought in to remove the beer bottle caps, broken glass and cigarette butts. We picked up a bunch today when were were there but there’s lots left.
Thanks
Lock on the cubicle door? Dude, shit in the sea.
Congratulations and thank you to all the people who stood up and made this happen. Another important part of Cayman has been preserved.
With all of the “discussions” back and forth…fault finding and lack of analytics go hand in hand….what about looking at the ORIGIN of these redundant issues and the INTEREST that our “leaders” have in mind…remember the definition of INSANITY….well has everyone gone mad? Grand Cayman sent a GLOBAL message in the design of their Coat of ARMS….can ANYONE talk about WHAT we stand for?
STAY WOKE PEOPLE
This has nothing to do with listening to the people who protested against SB development.
The Govt is cancelling and or restricting funding to a lot of other previouly planned functions and events as well as the fear of an economic slump becomes more and more possible due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
This move is NOT because the people wanted it.
Unna think Joey and Alden and Moses listening to unna??!! When was the last time they did anything for the people? Why are they still appealing the court decision on the cruise port referendum?
STAY WOKE BOBO!!
STAY WOKE and help keep it clean BOBO!
All Alden and his cronies are trying to do is distract us from other issues and get some good will back, this is the only reason it has been stopped.
Lets get back to what’s going on with the dump, port and of course the speaker of the House?
Cay
another huge humiliation for the do-nothing ppm….
any comment mr governor???
direct rule now.
I wish that the UK could direct rule you – numskull always calling for some foolishness.
😘😘😘😘
At least they finally heard the public’s cries. All that is needed is to paint maintain and clean up the toilets and area in general.
Hear hear- government keeping area clean is needed please.
More trash bins please
And recycling bins
Why does the Government have to keep it clean? Can’t you and others that go their pick up your own shit? We won this battle, lets do a big Saturday clean up and then put bins in place for garbage and if we see anyone throwing their garbage on the ground we speak to them ..Littering is a crime and the police can and should be called..not that I expect much from them though…
They didn’t stop because of our protest they stopped because the golden goose is under assault from the coronavirus, the markets are tumultuous, travel is almost at a standstill because of coronavirus, despite appealing the judge’s decision on the port/referendum they know it’s a losing battle, the Speaker of the House is has admitted to abuse, the landfill is on fire more often than not & they’ve realised there’s probably going to be a recession – even this government can see this isn’t the right time. Plus they’re hoping if they give us this win we’ll forget about McKeeva and maybe vote them all back in next year..
When I pass Smith Cove every morning I see a Government pick up truck with”Recreation & Parks painted on the door. I assumed they are keeping the beach and facilities spotless! Seems not.
When someone is knocked down crossing the road. The same haters will be blaming the Government for not building a car park on the sea side.
Huge mistake!! What will CPR say when cruise numbers plummet and Caymanians go hungry.
So, getting knocked down by a car will lead to the cruise numbers plummeting and Caymanians going hungry? You can’t make this stuff up!
He just did make it up.
9.05am LOL
oh please! You act like this is the only place in the world where people have to park on the side of the road and take a “risky” walk to get to their destination! Try going to Sedona, AZ at Slide Rock! After the parking lot fills up, people park on the side of a frigging mountain, road much more narrow than any here, and walk to the park… all the while sharing the slender road with cars and trucks- there’s only one road into Sedona and it’s literally cutting through a mountain. So please, save the drama for something more worthy… like the toxic smoke we are all inhaling daily and the silence, complacent government trying to cover up and hide anything they can! Oh, and let’s not even get started about Mac and his horrific excuses for assaulting a woman in public!!
Has it happened yet, in all the years the car park has been across the road? Genuine question but I don’t remember it happening. Also now have the flashing lights which add safety if horrible to look at.
11:24, can you confirm if anyone has been knocked done crossing the road at Smith Cove in the last 39 years?
I don’t believe so and that’s as long as I have been living on Earth/in Cayman.
I hear people have been “snuffed” our there before.
What an idiot.
Ridiculous.
Crosswalk is perfect and this is sound sound rod folks not a highway-
It is safe and sound
What a bunch of losers we have as a govt. Shame on us. Shame on me!! I voted for these idiots.
Year before an election is the only time the PPM responds to public criticism (barring the Port and Mckeeva because the former is what they promised the people who fund their party and the latter would put them one vote away from losing their majority)
CNS – how come when I click a “like” or “dislike” it immediately shows multiples? My one click each just awhile ago on two comments showed 35 likes and 19 dislikes, respectively!!
CNS: When you click a thumb it essentially acts like a refresh and will suddenly show all the votes that have been made since the last time the page was refreshed.
People are questioning the validity of the release as the date is March 12, 2019!! Not 2020!!!
The fact the date is wrongs proves it really came from CIG.
There you go. Politricks at it’s best.
Has anyone told Joey yet?
He will say he didn’t know about it he found out like the rest of the public from the press.
What a joke and embarrassment. No wonder he is Alden’s handpicked successor who thinks he should be the next leader of ppm and next Premier. Joey is nothing more than a con man now making it because of politics. Follow the ca$h he is puppet for the JLP and Camana Bay glitterati.
Camana Bay Glitterati consists of Cross Fit + Bon Vivant + Dart Real Estate.
I just wish he would rake care of the #1 issue in his district, THE DUMP. As Minister of Infrastructure, he should be spending 100% of his time on THE DUMP issue.
Has anyone ever heard a word from him on THE DUMP? If yes, can somebody please tell us.
Joey Who? Sorry, but there’s been some miscommunication.
Yeah, all very good but where is McKeeva hiding?
Monaco?
Self Quarantine
My husband and I spent a few days of our holiday at Smith Barcadere. We were sad to see how unkempt it was and how filthy the toilets are.there were bottle tops and cigarette butts lying aroun even empty beer bottles! It is such a shame that a beautiful spot in Grand Cayman has not been looked after as it used to be when we used it many years ago!
First world Government.
Governent is too busy flying around the world and drinking wine.
How bored they must all be to have to stay home and deal with the masses.
You are right! The campaign against new toilets and some decent facilities was wrong. Smith Cove looks a mess!
If I am not mistaken during the campaign that need for toilet facilities was strongly expressed by the organizers.
Needs work, should have let it happen.
IMPORTANT/URGENT MESSAGE!!
What they need to do now is put a Security Gaurd there 24/7. If not upgrade the water system on the showers to run on a timer/10:00am until 3:00pm.
There’s to much abuse of water @ these public beach bathrooms. Especially @ Smith Cove that causes the Government thousands of dollars every month…Wake the Ministry in charge of this portfolio!!
On my way in to work early mornings, I see people sleeping there in their vehicles. I took it upon myself & stopped there a few times & seen many expats come out of there vehicles or either come by just to take a shower.
There’s this guy he sleeps in his van, he parks on the side of the road puts up a pile of cardboard to block the view.
Little do we know now he’s probably an illegal immigrant.
He bathed there all the time & steals the water to fill up his water tank in his vehicle.
This is a site for Immigration to visit on regular basis 24/7.
Tap water costs 3 cents a gallon here. Be a human.. Jeez
It is the principal and precedent. You want a hundred people lined up stealing? That’s what it is. If you want, leave your name and number there so they can come and bathe at your house as your benevolence is noble and admirable (but doubt it stretches to personal sacrifice)…
Then you pay it for him and all the other free loaders to use all they want on your dime.
@7:34 pm – Agreed. Be human indeed. I just hope that you would have the same charitable response if you saw a Latino/black/homeless person doing the same thing in your home country.
Or the guy is homeless.
Wow you guys are really some bastards. We can afford to spare free water to these people. What we cannot afford to do is keep ruining our environment with these “projects” Government keeps proposing.
That’s the point, the water isn’t free – we are all paying for it as tax payers.
What taxes are you paying…?
If you don’t know then you’ve got bigger issues. Mainly comprehension. I’m guessing you change jobs often.
Of course it has to be an expat, could never be a Caymanian. No sir, they would never do anything like that. Dear Jesus save us from ignorant bigots. Please.
Awesome news!! Please make sure it’s kept clean at all times if possible!
Finally some good news Cayman. We sure can use it.
Some good news in Cayman, for a change!
Will RCIPS be administering tickets daily to the vehicles parked on the double lines? Keep it up until they stop. This is a dangerous practice.
Now they’re just throwing their toys out of the pram. We did say that new bathrooms and showers, new garbage bins, new benches, minor cosmetic improvements etc. were overdue and welcome. We never said we wanted EVERYTHING, rust, chipped paint and all, to stay the same, did we? We just said no shore-side parking, no pathways/boardwalks requiring tree removal, etc. Basically no to the plans they had, but yes to much smaller plans that don’t adapt the site for heavy cruise visitors but do improve the site for all users. Do they have a problem doing something that benefits everyone or are they only able to act on behalf of special interests?
Two down one to go? Mackeeva must step down next! Cayman needs a reset- a new beginning!
The port deal is where the money is.
Spineless cowards will get no votes from me. #fixsmithcove
Fix Smith cove? But there’s nothing to fix. It’s beautiful the way it is, in its natural state.
And you not voting for them is a win for us! Lol
It is…if you like trash everywhere and rotten toilet facilities
Now if they could push the boulders back so when the lazy park they are not in the middle of the road
Have you not seen the double yellow lines – they should not be parking there period!
me park where me want
You are the problem
Credit where it’s due, nice to see the Government listen to the people for once
It’s called being spineless
Nothing of the sort. They are smashed with so much at the moment that they are about to have a collective breakdown. Has to be one of the most inept ‘governments’ on the planet.
Have you been watching American news? If you google “idiot”, their president shows up high in the image search results.
Just sayin’… MAGA! MAGA! MAGA! WAKA! WAKA! WAKA!
That’s one for the people. Wow! Government listened. Now, let’s hope they listened real good on the port project. Who knows, they might even take care of the feral cat problem on Little Cayman
I can tell you they are not currently listening on the port.
On the feral cat issue they are doing their best, the problem is there is a court injunction in place obtained by Feline Friends and co. DOE are trying to resolve it, with support from Seymour.
So solve the problem. Don’t tell me about it
That place is a dump. Needs some clean up
You know what needs to be cleaned up? THE ACTUAL DUMP!
Imagine thinking a beautiful natural beach is a dump but will ignore the actual dump that covered town in blankets of smoke.
I would sh!t in the water first before using those bathrooms.
I have.
Can the Ministry advise the public how much money has been spent and wasted on this aborted project?.
“Can”… is different than “will”.
Say it like it is…. Hope that means you are going to pay for it; afterall you agitated to get it stopped.
6.39pm We are talking about plans that were prepared and about to be proceeded with without the knowledge of the public. We certainly agitated to have it stopped but the point is Govt. ignored public opinion and kept us in the dark so why should we pay?, you seem to have a twisted logic.
7:56 who is in charge?