The port issue is not dead

| 20/04/2021 | 16 Comments

Shirley Roulstone writes: This PPM-led Unity government has told us many times over the last few months since we have been shut down that the port issue is dead and they are going to focus on medical tourism and other things. You all have heard that at many times… but listen to me… and listen to me carefully… the port issue is NOT DEAD. This government, including your outgoing representatives, did not honour the people’s referendum. Why? Because the port issue is not dead and because they knew that if a referendum was held, the people would have their say.

So a few weeks ago, after the government was supposed to have shut down, they suddenly changed the Marine Parks and Port Anchorage zones. Why? Because the portissue is not dead. 

Our port area has been used for a hundred plus years. Sure, there have been a few mishaps and we certainly would rather none had happened at all, but all in all our port and our reefs and wrecks have had a very good relationship and with very little change over all these many years.

Before COVID-19 halted tourism, it is estimated that our port area reefs and wrecks and surrounding businesses brought in approximately $500 million per year while still safely and efficiently offloading and onloading goods and passengers, as we have done for many decades.

Why this change all of a sudden? It is because the port issue is not dead. 

So listen to me… listen carefully… the port issue is on the agenda to be resurrected and come back to life in some new shape or form. So for these and several other reasons and because I still represent all of the people of these three beloved Cayman Islands who signed the Cruise Port Referendum petition and others like civil servants and Caymanians who are too young to have a voice, I have filed a letter before action with the Cayman Islands Legal Department regarding the Port Anchorage Regulations.

CPR Cayman is alive and well and we ask that you don’t mess with our Cayman and don’t mess with your Caymanians. Times are changing and we are not taking things sitting down quietly anymore. Especially now there are even more of us than before! As the past few days have shown, we stand together and fight together, otherwise we will all fall together.

So big yourselves up and join hands and hearts. Our survival depends on it.

See Roulstone’s Letter before Action in the CNS Library


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Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature, Viewpoint

Comments (16)

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  1. Rodney B. says:

    May God shine his light on you Shirley, and your colleagues in this fight.

    As the Cruise Ship Industry is currently shut down and reeling from so many months of no income (with little end in sight) it is not in the position to add capacity. However, where there is a will, there is a way.

    China continues to invest in ins countries around the world in an attempt to increase its presence and power internationally. Even though the first deal in Cayman fell apart, don’t be so sure another one won’t come along. With endless resources, China gets what it wants — every time. The US is losing influence on the world stage and we would also have some problems hoping The Queen would come to our rescue if China was determined to buy up our islands.

    So Shirley’s message is clear, VERY clear. The Tourism Port must be put to rest. Once and for all. A shipping port could be placed in a number of locations with little damage to its location, and a welcoming addition of jobs and associated business there.

    STOP THE PORT ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Bless you Shirley for keeping it real and keeping us informed.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Those objectors to the development of critically important infrastructure have no clue as to the costs to the country they cause. The cost of living for everyone in the country continues to escalate out of control as ships remain offshore every day waiting for a berth in our single berth port. You are also totally unware that the swallow depth of water at the port creates draft limitations for ships to the point that the liner shipping carriers must continue to utilize multiple inefficient and expensive small shallow draft vessels to service Cayman and its limited draft cargo dock. Thank You so much for making Cayman so expensive that it tops the list for the entire Caribbean. That is the result of what you have done.

    • Anonymous says:

      This was not, is not, and probably now never will be an “important infrastructure”. It was however a lucrative contract for certain individuals in Cayman.

      • Anonymous says:

        The port has always been the life line to our existence in this country, how do you think all the consumer goods and building materials appear here!!! object and block the development of important infrastructure for the country just means you are only pushing the cart down the road creating a far great environmental disaster somewhere else around the island. Read 5000 pages of EIA studies and other research documentation and you will get all your answers.

        • Anonymous says:

          You are missing the point completely. The main objections were:

          -the scale of the proposed structure
          -the destruction to the marine habitat
          -selling out to the cruise companies
          -further mass cruise tourism
          -the flawed business case

          – no one has objected to enhancing the cargo port.

    • Anonymous says:

      Maybe you can find another place for a megadock…………… and leave us alone!

    • Anonymous says:

      For which you need a cruise port?
      PS>> None of the studies done by the Govt trying to show support for the Port expansion focused on cargo. If it was so important, why didn’t they?

  4. mikey says:

    meanwhile Fin is creating damage and everyone is quiet even PPM D. White

  5. Anon says:

    The cruise ship lines are struggling to survive, they are not going to be writing a check anytime soon.

  6. Anonymous says:

    I think you’re totally correct Shirley…this controversial project was merely quietly shelved for the election. Is this and other non-transparent commitments/agreements responsible for PPM’s desperation??

  7. Anonymous says:

    You’ll have to pin your hopes on the new Premier.

  8. Anonymous says:

    100000000x yes!!!! The days of trampling us and our rights are over, we will take our power back, the POWER OF THE PEOPLE!

  9. Courtney Platt says:

    I’m praying for Wayne’s PACT. With Wayne as Premier the port issue is moot.

    No dredging for cruise piers in the Harbour! Please return the Harbour’s tourism attractions and fish nursery to the Marine Reserve! When it becomes necessary, I’m sure we can enhance cargo with very little, if any destruction of the nearby reefs.

  10. Anonymous says:

    And this another reason why the PPM needs to be made to sit on the backbench as the majority of voters intended.

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