Developers defend projects facing public backlash
(CNS): Local residents challenging the pace of development are no longer just committed environmental activists but increasingly include Caymanians who have been marginalized by projects that undermine the culture and heritage of these islands, but some developers are standing by their plans, despite the controversy they are causing. Matthew Wight, one of three Caymanian developers behind a proposed beach resort in Little Cayman that includes over-the-water bungalows, said he has received a lot of support for the project, and Joseph Coe told CNS he was proud of the Barkers Beach project.
Meanwhile, the largest developer of all is coming out fighting with the National Conservation Council, as Dart makes it clear it does not want to conduct an environmental impact assessment before it gets the green light for its controversial planned area development.
Despite opposition on social media and a very mixed response on CNS last month to the Little Cayman Boutique Resort, Wight said the developers (Naul Bodden, William Maines and Wight himself) were not a group of foreigners that do not respect what has made the island special and that local residents are backing the project.
“Ultimately there will be differing opinions, especially as this is a ‘change’ and not been done before in Cayman,” he said. “We are three Caymanians that have our own vision that also needs to be appreciated. This is not a group of foreigners that does not respect what has made Little Cayman special and trying to make drastic change for their own self-interests. Naul was a fishing guide in Little Cayman over 50 years ago, so there are very few Caymanians that could do a project like this proud and with Little Cayman truly at heart.”
Wight said the three shareholders have owned property on the island for over 25 years and it means a lot to them. “We very much feel this project is in-keeping with Little Cayman’s charm, will assist in diversifying its tourism product and add positively to the Island in terms of employment as well as economic stimulus,” he added.
Answering the question of climate resilience, Wight, who is the managing director at NCB Group, said that company had “led the way in sustainable development” and the bungalows were designed to sit eight feet above sea level to produce the right amount of light and shading for the sea-life to flourish and also protect them from storm surge.
The project will require a coastal works licence separate from planning permission and is likely to be subject to a good deal of public scrutiny in the coming months, given the issues it raises for the marine environment.
Another major project stirring up controversy is the first five-story project in the Barkers area. Barkers Beach Resort, if it goes ahead, will be located on land sold to the developers by the now retired politician, Captain Eugene Ebanks. It will see a block of affordable apartments bulldozed to make way for luxury condos.
Joseph Coe, the owner of COE Group Ltd, who is developing the project in partnership with the developer behind Boggy Sands, Morne Botes, said they were “very proud” of the project, which would be on Conch Point Road, west of the Villas Papagallo and Papagallo Restaurant but officially outside the area of Barkers National Park.
“Our project was called Barkers Beach Development as the beach leads to Barkers National Park,” he said. “We have satisfied enquiries by the government departments in regards to seeking planning permission, and look forward to our date with the CPA. We are excited to bring a new boutique hotel to the area that will help to rejuvenate and bring further business to West Bay.”
However, the project has been criticised because local environmental activists have concerns that such a large development is out of keeping with the area and will set a precedent for taller, more dense buildings that will encroach on the last area of untouched coastline in West Bay. Some local activists have also said the promotional material is misleading and that the project will not benefit the local community.
Meanwhile, the islands’ largest landowner all is also defending its massive new proposed project by Crymble Landholding, one of the Dart Group’s subsidiary companies. Dart has criticised the Department of Environment’s findings in its screening opinion regarding the proposed planned area development (PAD) that the company is planning in the Seven Mile Beach corridor, north of Governor’s Harbour, that will straddle the Esterley Tibbetts Highway.
In a press release last week, the developer raised objections to the DoE’s advice to the National Conservation Council (NCC) that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be conducted for the project before planing permission was given to the overall PAD. Despite outlining a huge amount of proposed development in the PAD that would breach current planning regulations, Dart officials claim that a PAD application is not really a planning application and so it should not be required to conduct an EIA.
The developer also said the NCC’s ratification of the DoE’s screening opinion was fundamentally flawed. Dart said the NCC had delegated their decision-making capacity to the DoE in breach of the respective law. This comes after a recent decision by the Planning Appeals Tribunal that has already undermined the National Conservation Act and opened the legal door for developers to challenge the council’s decisions and ultimately up-end the intention of the law.
Mark VanDevelde, Dart’s chief executive officer, said, “We are concerned about the inconsistency in the interpretation and application of the current law when determining at what stage an EIA is required… This inconsistency and lack of clarity in the law relating to the requirements for a PAD has led to what appears to be incorrect and unfounded conclusions, which in turn led to misinformation and confusion.”
VanDevelde called for comprehensive and synchronised legislation. “This is urgently needed to bring efficiency and predictability to the process and to balance the country’s environmental, social, and economic interests,” he said.
“On one end of the spectrum, there are lands and habitats of significant environmental importance which absolutely need to be protected, and on the other end of the spectrum, there are lands which, if developed, can provide the greatest economic benefits to the country. In the middle, where the value is not as clearly defined, having such a framework would be invaluable to guide decision making.
“A comprehensive Environmental Management Framework informed by all stakeholders, that reflects a shared vision for the future, would provide clear guidance on how land can be developed, managed or protected, and give much-needed certainty and clarity to all parties,” the CEO concluded.
However, the public opposition to the PAD centres on several important factors. Firstly, if Dart rolls out all of the proposal in the PAD, dozens of beach access points would be lost. Secondly, over 40 acres of mangrove, the last remaining wetland habitat in West Bay, would also be lost. Finally and fundamentally, objectors are asking what is the justification for allowing such a massive development that threatens so much natural habitat as well as the loss of beach access that will provide little, if any, long term or direct benefit to most ordinary Caymanians.
The current public backlash against over-development, especially on the coast, was a key issue on the campaign trail. Many voters are now looking to PACT to address the runaway development that does not have public support, that offers no long term benefit to Caymanians, puts a strain on infrastructure, pushes up property prices beyond the ability of locals to afford them and poses adverse effects on the natural environment.
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Category: development, Local News
It seems the Cayman Islands has pressing deadlines to demonstrate a change in cultural mindset to remove itself from black lists and CFATF warning sheets…why can’t we throw a few of these recidivist white collar developer corrupt to the wolves? eg. Start with the companies that actively launder and obscure their beneficial ownership to CPA by presenting applications in ridiculous corporate nominee form, pretending they are unique and new applications in their own right. Those same recurring signatories should be at the top of the pile for regulator example-making right now, as well as the Cayman professional elite that continue to cash-in on this kind of business in 2021.
I certainly agree that the ultimate beneficial ownership of developers of any development here, and those financing it (and if corporate, THEIR beneficial ownership), should be publicly available information. Any legitimate developer should have no problem with that. It’s those who resist it that I’d look carefully at.
There is another huge problem that needs to be addressed urgently.
That is the complete absence of any formal written policy or regulations regarding whether any development should be allowed in a Marine Reserve and if so what the criteria and limits for such developments should be. Tied to that is the absence of anything to regulate and monitor any such development. Planning enforcement has no jurisdiction for such developments and neither does anyone else. At the moment there is nothing. Cabinet has the power to permit anything to be done by anyone they choose with no oversight whatsoever.
We need to have publicly debated and approved written rules and regulations and a strict enforcement mechanism before any development of any kind is permitted in a Marine Reserve.
Everything Matthew Wight said is a total crock of horse shit. Want proof? go look at the Tides development. One day that beach will be lost because of the sea wall they built at that monstrosity.
Tides. A glass office block by the sea that’s had scaffolding on it ever since it was built.
Nicknamed “The Police Headquarters”, I’m told. Similar architectural values.
These three greed driven egotistical idiots can be compared to those that engaged to be the first with a ride to space in order to achieve their own personnel agendas at all costs. Our ‘Caymanian three’ however pursue their own ambitions with an indifference to the environment, destruction of natural habitat, division and pressure of the community, and tearing apart of a Country’s culture and aspirations to maintain their pre-existing way of life. Buy a ticket to Mars with your wealth, I really am f%#^*>g tired of it.
That comment ‘we are three Caymanians that have our own vision that also needs to be appreciated.’ Something else.
It’s basically saying us three are super duper important so leave us alone.
Honestly, it’s becoming more and more embarrassing to call myself a Caymanian in these modern times. I think we were better off without the money and development, to be honest.
CIG should put the stamp duty rate up for foreign buyers to replace the lost revenue from tourism and say no to development concessions. The UK has a higher stamp duty rate for foreigners why can’t we?
The problem with your post is that these foreign buyers are actually Caymanians now.
From the time the Government decided that purchasing property would be a part of getting permanent residency we have seen a rise in property sales as well as permanent residency as well as gentrification. Wouldn’t it have been better to come up with a different solution?
Naul, Matthew and Bill know this and they couldn’t care less. They know they are not building anything for the average Caymanian. They are building to keep amassing their fortunes which wouldn’t be so bad if they were reinvesting something back into the islands. The little bit of stamp duty on land value only from their previous developments did very little to help the Government’s coffers…
These guys need to be better cooperate citizens. If they want to call themselves Caymanians they really should ask themselves, what and who are they developing for? Are they planning on leaving a little spot of green space for their children and grand childen..I know for sure they don’t have any plans for mine or yours..
Well after Matthew, Naul and Bill disrespected, invaded, and in one case toppled graves, in three separate cemeteries just to squeeze in as much condos as they could on Grand Cayman. They are now moving on to Little Cayman to claim the sea..
How much is enough guys? All of you are rolling in money..Go travel and live your lives. You cannot take money with you and and the only cement structure will be the one build around you to keep your box underground..
Take some of your money and give back to the islands that made you some of the wealthiest people in the world. We need a road from Newlands to East End and that the government can’t afford to build..Wouldn’t that be nice for NCB to build and we could name it after you guys so that when you pass on the people here are left with something positive to remember you by. This might be a bad example but there are lots of other projects needed that you guys could do to give back to the country rather than continuing to pile concrete on it.
This is so true. Mr. Linton Tibbetts a man so wealthy, I don’t think anyone knew just how much money he had. Mr. Tibbetts though, did everything he could in a quiet manner and without fanfare to help these islands particularly Cayman Brac and Little Cayman particularly whenever he saw a need, such as airlift, hotels, hurricane relief and even bringing in competition in construction materials to help lower prices. He died a well respected man in both Cayman and in Florida where he created a lot of his wealth but never got his homeland.
Today, we have one of these people that shares Mr. Tibbetts’ last name but nothing else. Naul, who was always enterprising but lost foresight along the way for the love of money. Lastly, a multi-millionaire expat turned Caymanian who wants to just continue making his profits without any thought about the environment or even the people of these islands by paving the islands with concrete and now the sea.
In my mind, they should take a page out of Mr. Tibbett’s book, a self made billionaire, who was always humble, always caring and lived a very fulfilled life and died a well respected and honorable Caymanian. The only thing these guys will be remembered for is for the ugly buildings, cemetery destruction and the first to want to destroy our beautiful Little Cayman.
Comment of the year!
The ocean is owned by the people and as such, if it is to be sold then every Caymanian should be compensated. How much further are we going to go in the name of progress? We just raised the dead all for progress. Shame on planning and shame on government to allow this.
Wrong. The ocean is the “Queens bottom” and owned by the Queen. These 3 greedy idiots have done enough damage to South Sound and elsewhere. They are not good developers. Look at Tides with scaffolding still on the sides on the building years after completion due to poor construction methodology. XXX It is a shame that these idiots are allowed to run rampant.
The water in little Cayman South Hole SOUND DOES NOT BELONG TO NCB, so how can they build on something that belongs to someone else, the Government and people of these islabds. We the people should put a case against the Government if they let them them built in the water
Reading about these proposals are we sure that ‘real estate consulting’ is not alive and well? Time will soon tell.
I have worked as a real estate consultant for most of my life. I am not a broker/realtor (they are not consultants, and could be substituted for car, furniture or any commissioned based “experts”).. A true professional does not sell their signature. If you hire someone like me, you get my opinion, not yours. I make that clear upfront. Our company is recognized internationally for our objective, impartial advice. That is why we have a blue chip client base. We see almost daily development proformas that uninformed investors drool over, but there is nothing to support it. We take a pass on those assignments
An unfortunate colloquialism perhaps. In Cayman when the term ‘real estate consulting’ is placed in quotes, it suggests something completely unlike what you are referring to.
The original poster was referring to certain consulting services that have been provided by e.g. a certain member of government in the past, whose client was a property developer, and for example invoicing them for “consulting services” immediately after assisting them in the rezoning of their property to something more lucrative.
If I understand this, the Little Cayman development is based on the developer’s expectation that government will give the developer title to, or exclusive use of, a large part of a Marine Reserve so that the developer can damage the environment with impunity and then sell what was a public asset at a huge private profit. The level of entitlement necessary to even propose such a thing would be laughable if it was not normal.
You have no idea on what happens in these situations. These rights of use will attract significant payments. That could be a prepaid lease (common historically in Cayman) or an annual Lease fee with regular reviews of rental payments. I am not saying I agree with the development proposal ( I would lean towards not in favour), but this should not be free. If that ends up being the case, then it will be either incompetence or corrupt
Really? Then explain why CI Govt accepted all the environmental liability in the Beach Bay agreement.
Hopefully this development will never occur even with the lease payments you suggest. Some assets of the people should not be sold or leased – period.
BTW – incompetence and corruption are not mutually exclusive – we have seen examples of both existing quite happily side by side in certain individuals with political influence.
Dart is crying because they didn’t get carte blanche permission to build whatever they like with no oversight. Waaaaaah waaaah waaah.
yep also they can see the backlash for their next development of over water houses at starfish point!
Really ? 5.55 he Seems to do what he wants wherever and whenever.
Token resistance is overcome by a phone call from she who must be obeyed.
So, here we are again, or STILL. We have been operating on the principle which says that if you purchase a property, you can do what you wish with it, regardless of the impact on others.
I think that time should be finished. Almost all of these proposed projects impact us all. What is the rush for more hotels when the current Caymanian-owned ones are yet unfilled? Foreign investment is about future control for the super rich.
I’ve said before that I have nothing against the rich, and that is true. What I despise is how we suck up to them, offering them shiny trinkets (concessions) and kiss their rears as though they are doing us all a grand service by exploiting our resources.
Foreign investors should BEG to come here and build; they should be grateful for the opportunity. Very little of that trickle down ever makes it to the common people, and all the while we allow more and more “boutique” hotels. Our bread and butter (if there is ANY in tourism) has always been middle class/working class stayover.
Just say NO to cruise ships. Not worth the trouble. Just say NO to high rises which seek to alter the character of these gentle islands.
There was a time when we as a people were represented by our elected officials. I want that time again. We elect MPs based upon their platform and then they recombine with others in a way that wastes or devalues our vote.
Do away with the party system. Value for money. I want those highly paid elected officials to WORK and I want that work to reflect our collective wishes.
I agree. But Caymanians who sell out do not agree – that is the base issue. Caymanians are/have been for 60 yrs+ selling our country for $$$. To blame??? – Caymanians!
Very well stated. I agree wholeheartedly.
Well NCB uses cheap Jamaican labour to build so-called high end products that have leaky windows (Tides), uneven floors and wonky staircases. So based on this the proposed Little Cayman developement will probably fall into the sea after they’ve destroyed the marine environment.
So correct!
I wonder how the Jamaicans are doing at the 2020 Olympic games……says the Yanks & the Brits…..”they must be doping”
As Wight is manning the helm, it may even have the same architects as the Tides ,so the building deficiencies shall continue.
Not sure how they will get fresh water to the pods, as planning won’t let you run pvc for a dock water line to rinse your boat, building over queens bottom , waste water and sewage management also raises planning red flags 🚩. But we are being sold on it looking like the Maldives. Don’t let the environmental concern slow down the destruction.
Does the architect for the Tides have a T&B license?
These idiots foaming at the mouth will go to any length, say whatever it takes to get approvals, and sue and bully anyone who gets in their way to make as much money as humanly possible.
Ask the Maldives on how overtourism and poor environmental management is working out.
P.S. They are completely underwater. I encourage everyone to research the unfortunate fate of the locals there. Two words if you can afford it: artifical land.
Most developers do. The other big condo developer has the same issues. Shoddy workmanship.
“This is not a group of foreigners that does not respect what has made Little Cayman special and trying to make drastic change for their own self-interests.”
I agree with you Matthew.
This is a group of Caymanians who do not respect what makes Little Cayman special and who want to further their own self-interest. Does this distinction make it more acceptable or less? I’ll go with less.
Affordable development would be nice. Saw a 2 bed place going for CI$415K. That’s just craziness!
One has to wonder at the nature of the person who downvoted your statement.
I don’t think they belong with “us”.
probably the seller…
Althought I agree, please name three Caymanian’s (family here form 1950+) that is building affordable housing for their countrymen/women…
Waiting…….
Waiting…….
Yea, there you have it.
Stop blaming the new developers, blame the original owners that sold out!
The same group built Lakeside which was an affordable housing project with One Beds starting at CI$ 109k,Two Beds for CI$ 159k and Three Beds for CI$ 195k.
Lakeside? You mean the place so downwind of the dump you don’t want to live there?
Owner of the land in Little Cayman is Bill Maines. In 2015, Forbes estimated the family’s net worth at $1.8 billion. In 2012, Bill was granted citizenship in the Cayman Islands. Apart from investing in his own net-worth and development projects, what exactly has this billionaire contributed to the community he is enjoying without taxation? Meanwhile back in the US, Maines Paper & Food has filed for bankruptcy and laid off 300 staff. Perhaps the creditors should look to his assets here and donate them to the people of Cayman as a tax write-off. Leave Little Cayman alone.
Maines sold his business prior to the declaration of bankruptcy.
Even more salty if he did that and proving NotOK’s point!!
What is it with all these designers and developers that don’t understand the difference between sustainable design (affects their own project) and sustainable development (affects everything AROUND their development). Can they please take a class and buy a little education on what they believe they are professionals at…PLEASE FTLOG???
There is NO such thing as sustainable development. Don’t be stupid. And greed is a VERY unappealing trait.
How can someone build a building on land they do not own? That is, using the public sea floor for support?
Can I do the same off any Public Beach or off an existing condominium?
Can anyone explain?
That would certainly be setting a precedent although I have a feeling with all the land left belonging to just a few big developers we may be force into the sea.
Yes. Your country is probably corrupt and rules and laws only apply when and where “convenient.”
Since parts of grand will soon start sinking from all the concrete and asphalt, we all better enjoy what’s left as no buyers will come to buy the developers lies.
You are a Moron… NO, the asphalt and concrete will not change the geology underneath our precious island.
But, sea level rises will change what is left above sea level. Get an education! And not from FOX!
https://cayman.loopnews.com/content/cayman-29th-most-vulnerable-country-world-sea-level-rise
Thank you Jesus. Joey cannot give away all those concessions like the developers are accustomed to anymore. ROFLOL
Yep, any remember Joey assured them all that those agreements will never be released.
If I was Wayne I would expose every damn thing from that PPM regime to let the world know how they encouraged and promoted destruction of our country all for the love of money and power.
Cry a little louder Matthew daddy will soon bail NCB out. The entitlement attitudes of developers is sickening.
No thank you Matty we have seen the poor construction of the Tides and Aura we don’t need that on little
I was a fishing guide for a short time 50 years ago so it is OK for me to take public land and destroy what I want. Did I get that right?
To summarize the developers statements, the take away message is ‘Greed is Good’.
Beware of American versus English view of private/public lands.
England has a history of maintaining a noblesse oblige when it comes to allowing public access to lands. Americans (and nouveau riche from most places) love to gate up and keep others “off their yards” which includes large tracts of land and beaches. Those who work to maintain a community will soon be looked down upon as servants to the rich and squeezed out of our natural beauty outdoors.
Lol. Yeah, the Brits are well known for their beneficence toward the lower orders. FYI, American land law is straight out of the English playbook in all but about three states where it is Spanish or French based. Our beach rights are almost precisely the same as yours (although we don’t talk about the Queen’s bottom as often.)
Does anyone know if there are petitions opposing these projects and if so where?
there are, seek out Amplify Cayman and Cayman Development Watch on Facebook.
Yes, I just signed a petition with the Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust. You can email them at littlecayman@nationaltrust.org.ky.
Why can’t I build in the reef off my land in Frank Sound?
Why can’t all of us do this in all of the Sounds around all 3 Cayman Islands, if we own the land down to the high water mark?
If I don’t own sea bottom behind my land then why can’t someone else build there once there is a required set back? That person could access their bungalow from the seaside without owning beachland.
I really hope that this is approved – many of us can finally own a piece of waterfront property, reduce overcrowding on the mainland whilst preparing for sea level rise.
PACT claims to be ‘People Driven’. The developers are hoping that they are ‘Developer Driven’. Soon we will know which.
Trust me if they thought they had PACT in their back pocket they wouldn’t have come out swinging like this..Things were good and easy under the PPM. As far as I know Wayne has owned a place on Little Cayman for years and I am sure the people there will bend his ear although this one should be a no brainer.
These development decisions and in particular the plan to destroy part of South Hole Sound on Little Cayman are a test of this government. Will government transfer public land to a developer buddy so that the buddy can build condos for rich people in a Marine Reserve? Will they act based on what they promised to get elected ,or was that just more lies to get votes?
This is not the PPM…
Like Mitzi always says..NOT FOR SALE
At least the expats can’t be blamed on this article
The Maines brothers are born Americans who obtained Caymanian status through investment in the early 2000s under the Mckeeva UDP government.
It is impossible to eliminate the expatriate/foreign interest in the construction/development space, with SOME locals assisting to destroy these islands forever. It’s too much greed and money at stake nowadays for them to worry about being secretive.
The wealthy developers have really misread the room huh!
Matthew you have your own vision just like Dart has his, the problem with Dart’s twisted vision that has translated into a concrete tunnel on west bay road (and a wall on SMB with a cabana blocking what once was a beautiful walkable stretch of beach) or yours that will see a pristine underwater world damaged is that it destroys the very soul and charm of islands that more than just you and Dart call home. Mark it’s time for you to stop defending the indefensible.
Matthew, Ian, Naul nor Maines have Joey Who in a position to advance the agenda this time around. He will continue to sulk on the opposition benches trying to figure why the public do not trust him given his track record. The project is a disaster and must not happen. Little Cayman is unique keep it that way.
I’m no friend of Dart but it’s amazing what he has invested in Cayman. I know it doesn’t give him carte blanche to develop what he wants but some of the arguments are pathetic.
And you know what, out of the whole article this sentence stands out…’were not a group of foreigners that do not respect what has made the island special’ – even though this was said by a local developer and not a protester it points to the division in these islands that are ruining life here. Essentially ‘I’m not johnny foreigner so why are you pointing at me, I’m Caymanian.’ The point is it’s the development at issue not where the developer is from. Why oh why does every debate come down to us v them. It’s pathetic
If I may, it comes down to intent. Do developers want to ignore the environment and worship the ability to exploit it and make tons of money, or do they want to honour these islands?
What? Am I insane? Honour the islands? Yes I am. I want people to build here that give a damn. I don’t want our shorelines filled with high rises and I don’t want everything to be asphalt and concrete.
Seriously, is that too much to ask? To not ruin these islands?
Too late.
Not a great PR exercise.
The article highlights the different world they live in and their entitlement. The island, it’s culture, it’s heritage and its future generations (other than their own) do not benefit from anything they do.
The only ones that significantly benefit are themselves, the land owners who sell the land and the CIG who get the stamp. And a hardware store owner. The labor force will send the majority of their wages to different countries.
When the day comes that the investors feel they have had enough of the pushback and red-tape, and they decide to move their investments (and bank accounts, hires, social contributions etc) to another location/land, that is more appreciative of their offerings…. it is then that the tide will turn and it is then that history has shown us that the cries fall on deaf ears. It is the descendants of these same ‘objectors’ and the wider (entire middle class) population that sees the REAL slippery slope was not the developers and their plans but RATHER, the naysayers and progress-killers that were too short sighted and self righteous… When the tide is stemmed, its never returns.. just ask all those other Caribbean islands that have >70% population living in poverty because REAL money left.
Investors in what? Are you referring to the handful of developers who are mostly local.
Get your head out of the sand. The vast majority of investors/developers that have benefited from the recent construction boom are not Caymanian. They range from quiet and low-key single home/project builders to the large and loud groups concreting every square inch of grand cayman with large-scale commercial and residential developments. Sounds like you got a lot of due diligence to do.
What middle class?
Excellent example of an entirely false dichotomy. What the OP is say is, either let me destroy the environment so that I can make more and more money or I will take my money and go home (to South Sound/SMB) and you will be sorry. I am one Caymanian who would like the developers to be sent to sit in a corner together with their more than sufficient wealth where they will be required to put on a dunce cap and repeat all day – “It is not good to be greedy”
Add a few senior civil servants and a barrel of rum.
Seriously…apparently you miss the fact that middle class Caymanians are already sinking as we speak, yet you fearmonger.
Boo hoo buttercup. You have to jump through a few little hoops. They are not NEARLY enough. I hope you and yours find your new place to exploit and I hope you and others like you leave soon.
People like you don’t give a DAMN about the places you use. You expect us to be grateful for the crumbs from your plate.
You do not deserve to call these islands home. Begone foul creature.
I think that’s the point Stephen hawking! Except for the fact that poverty will occur within whatever society accepts them and their nefarious greed-laced ideas next. The Cayman Islands would’ve dodged a bullet.
and what about jobs for Caymanians?
Naul Bodden like ALL of the developers of recent times have one interest at heart. That being, their wallets/bank accounts.
Agreed, but that is what they do. It is up to CIG, Planning, DOE etc to make sure it is done properly and with long term view. Sadly after living here for 25 years I have to conclude there there has never been a government with a long term view.
And yet, we continue to elect fools. So fools are electing fools.
We need a moratorium on new construction other than single family homes on the Seven Mile Stretch for at least five years so that we get a handle on things such as infrastructure.
That’s a great way to drive up the cost of real estate and rent in Cayman, thus screwing young generations even more. Young Caymanians will never be able to buy real estate in Cayman with your idiotic proposal.
so how would that make it worse? young Caymanians can’t buy anything on the SMB stretch now? I am talking about getting the infrastructure under control.
Well said poster number 1.
Now let’s hear from all my fellow Caymanians who sold their land to others (without ever once thinking of their future generations), developers local and foreign built on it over the last 50 years. Let’s hear the former owners how they made a lot of money out of it.
When they have finished let us hear from all my fellow Caymanians who were or are members of past and present Planning Authority and Planning Boards.
Let’s hear how they made a lot of money out of it without ever once thinking of their future generations
We only have ourselves to blame !!! The central theme being overwhelming greed.
Someone who keeps saying “my fellow Caymanians” is probably not Caymanian.
You cannot blame a person selling an asset. It is the buyer who does the damage
They’re like a broken record. Reiterating the same old “we’re developing environmentally and sustainably. For who, I ask. When you clear acres of salt marsh and mangroves, demolish ironshore, import fill, aggregate and flora from other jurisdictions, some halfway across the globe, how on earth is this environmentally sound and sustainable?
Most of all they have alienated most of these islands Caymanian population, at least the ones who were born here in before the 1960s. Who do these greedy, selfish irresponsible developers think they’re kidding by touting their self righteous crap?
It’s obvious now that there seems to be a race between all these developers to build the biggest most sprawling, outlandish and out of place architectural structures that have ever littered the Cayman Islands.
Our past elected members and policy makers have also failed us miserably by their apathy and greed. Decades ago when we needed a sound National Development Plan based on strict environmental preservation and sustainable land use practices for all three islands our politicians were more interested in money rolling in from the burgeoning financial industry. I suppose they thought that both development and solid waste would evolve sustainably by themselves?
After more hesitation and fiddling, Dart lands here and throws his money around buying up real estate to no end. When his flagship development, Camana Bay is still just an artistic rendering, Cayman’s environment and sustainability are not even notions in his mind. When did Dart adopt LEED certification exactly, after he built 90% of what is Camana Bay today? But this is probably par for the course in the mind of a styrofoam cup tycoon and vulture capitalist.
As for NCB, Mr. Naul Bodden is arguing that just because he was a fishing guide in Little Cayman for half a century that planting upscale huts over one of the most picturesque spots on the island is environmentally sound. Come on Naul, do you really want to do that to one of your favourite bone fish holes or have your really gone senile? You certainly don’t need the money do you? You failed miserably on your environmental scorecard with FIN, do you want to make it worse?
It’s time for our elected members to act decisively, represent the majority of public opinion, come good on their promises and slay this monster created by past administrations once and for all. The alternative is nothing but a hideous, contrived concrete metropolis with a smattering of foreign flora, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea lapping at its foundations.
Developing for themselves. Developing for personal profit.
The customers are rich foreigners.
The developments are being done by local developers for their own personal profit.
Agree 100% except that Naul was not a fishing guide for 50 years, he was a guide 50 years ago. No clue for how long, not that it matters!
Caymanians STILL selling out their own people.
Anyone remember Morne Botes raising a stink over a condo development next to (not on) Smith’s Barcadere? Destroying the ambiance of a much greater and pristine stretch of coastline not an issue?
Maybe because he lives nearby?
@ 05/08/2021 at 12:42 pm & 05/08/2021 at 1:46 pm Maybe because he wants no competition and a beach of some type he can advertise for one of Coe Group’s developments – South Club Cove? On the sea side next door to Bobby Bodden’s old house on the sharp bend in SS, opposite Rene Hislop’s house. Maybe that’s why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mCsq12498
Isn’t he now doing his own development..?
All for the love of money. Greed!
Defending the indefensible. Caymanian or Martian these developers truly believe that they are entitled to destroy these islands for their own profit. As a Caymanian I say that these projects are all bad for Cayman. The Little Cayman project wants government to give them public land – part of a Marine Reserve – so that their land costs go down and their profits go up – all at our expense. Disgusting. Hopefully the new government does not break faith with those of us who voted for a government that respects the environment.
“On one end of the spectrum, there are lands and habitats of significant environmental importance which absolutely need to be protected [not owned by Dart], and on the other end of the spectrum, there are lands which, if developed, can provide the greatest economic benefits to the country [owned by Dart].
Yep. And NOBODY saying anything about road infrastructure to provide transport for all of these people that will be residing in these developments.
Traffic loosened up after the bypass finally opened but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
You think traffic is bad coming from the other direction now? Lol Hide and watch folks.
Exactly. Complete lack of foresight.
In the UK you have planning gain / Section 106 whereby those responsible for any significant development need to provide, or at least contribute, to the necessary infrastructure works required as a result of increasing traffic etc. Here, nobody cares.
Perwinkle, Indigo Bay, Arvia, Bahia, Harbour Walk to name a few new developments. All those additional cars feeding onto Hurley’s roundabout. It’s going to be absolutely hellish.
A few years ago one of the developers involved in a project you mentioned literally gave the government the purpose-designed engineering specs for the redevelopment of that very junction for free. As is typical, it probably ended up on some “forgotten” government shelf for providing inconvenient truths, and subsequently the other nearby developments were granted approval / broke ground – likely making it impossible to meaningfully redesign the road.
Equipped with the free engineering specs (and I’m sure free expertise to assist in its implementation), and the duty levied on those very developments it’s the government you should be upset with.
Well yes, ultimately the buck stops with the CIG and relevant bodies. If it wasn’t for them blindly rubberstamping everything and anything, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
I guess you can’t really blame the developers after years of being given free reign to do whatever they want subject to how far-reaching their social circle goes.
Out of interest, the Director of Planning hasn’t changed with the change of government has it?
It’s ALREADY hellish. I don’t know what adjective is beyond that, but it’s where we are headed.
Used to be you had to be rich to live on the sea. Now you have to be rich just to see the sea.
Yep but DART prefers to do it where he can maximize the most benefit for his companies not for Cayman in general. I suppose that his right since we conferred Cayman Status on him..
Yes no reason for him to be any different to other Caymanians.
I think that this shows that projects that haven’t yet gone before planning, eg Aqua Beach, should be put on hold until a clear government policy is developed and enacted.
AMEN!!!!!!!
These are the Caymanians that sell us all out. Just like they did in the 80s and 90s, and that’s why smb now looks like Miami! And that’s also why the beach is now eroding. Well done guys, you’ve destroyed your country.
There you have it Caymanians.
As has been pointed out on numerous occasions but you’ve been unwilling to accept, it’s your own, wealthy developers that are ripping up the island to further line their deep pockets. And judging by the tone of the article and Darts unwillingness to undertake a EIA, they don’t care much for you.
“We are three Caymanians that have our own vision that also needs to be appreciated.’
Yep, I read that and thought of self serving, selfish and disingenuous. Obviously Mr. XXX (CNS: Wrong name) and his three partners couldn’t give two shits about how the rest of Cayman feels..How much more money do these guys need? They could never live long enough to spend it and they should know that they can’t take it with them.
Please leave something for your children and grand children to remind them of what Cayman used to be even if you couldn’t care less about mine. If Naul was a fishing guide in Little Cayman he should know how fragile and important that island is to us and how much we need to keep it in its pristine state.
What a load of BS. Anyone can go and look at 7 mile beach and see why developing close to the water is a bad idea. No l developing barkers no Overwater bungalows in Little Cayman.
Crunch time is coming to test PACT.
The way previous governments, and their conflict-stacked committees, have swayed like a willow in the breeze to every fleet of fancy of the DART organization, and all of their associated corporate tools, is exactly why we confront this conditioned developer belligerence. This new PACT government, which has pledged to represent the people of the Cayman Islands, ahead of select interests, and corporate greed, should revisit the NRA Agreement and every section that has been reneged by DART, to the detriment of Caymanian Public, and impacted third-party resident stakeholders. They should also be fined for the eyesore that is the former Hyatt. Many of us recall the fine was proposed to be $10,000 a day 10 years ago. What happened to that money? Assess the fine, penalties, and interest, and order them to write that cheque to CIG general revenue. Give them 6 months to produce their plans for the overpasses, or cancel those permits, fine them, and order them to disassemble and remediate. Fine them for not maintaining all their land holdings per the law. Also suspend every future CPA application laundered in various corporate names by the same underlying UBO. We can’t pretend these are all unique and separate applications, each new in their own right. Not if we are to be taken seriously as “money laundering” experts. Every record at L&S should also drill down to the UBO, and those should be the names recorded on the public record files. It’s time we behaved like we want to restore our global reputation, while also recognising there are larger territorial inter-generational legacy interests to protect. We can no longer expect snakes and eels to police themselves. We need leaders that can recognise the blacklists we’ve landed on, and why, and fix these glaring political corruption problems when it comes to property, development, public rights, and the environment.
Hang tough Mr. Premier and the rest of the PACT goverment!
Of course these developers are crying as this will hit them in the wallet plus they are so used to getting whatever they want whenever they want it. Look for some high priced legal action from the deep pockets of Dart & NCB.
Yep, ALT and his rubber stamp are gone now..They were all rushing to get in their projects before the PPM was dethroned. Now the developers actually have to try to justify their projects to get approval and it’s pissing them off.
I can only hope and pray that the new CPA does not become [like] the last one.
For the sake of the Sister Islands I hope that the Development and Control Board (CPA has no jurisdiction in the Sister Islands) do not behave like the old CPA either.
Profound oversight is needed. DCB has run wild at the whims of local movers and shakers for decades.
The DCB in Cayman Brac needs a clean sweep there too…to much friend friend and family giveaways in that one..
They do, and that is very worrying as the board members remain the same as the Immigration board who pretty much rubber stamp every work permit.
Is this Joseph Coe the same person who was on the previous CPA?
Yep..How else do you think he and Morne have been going gangbusters..Nothing but developers or their family members were on that board..There was nothing brought to them that wasn’t rubber stamped..