Ex-talk show host to lead Public Lands Commission

| 26/10/2021 | 32 Comments
Public Lands Commission (L-R) Woody DaCosta (Chair and BT member), Sharon Roberts (Acting Secretary), Ezmie Smith (WB member), Teddie Ebanks (Deputy Chair and NS member), Elsie Kynes (CYB member), Jon Hall (Director of Lands and Survey), Shanna Myles (GT member), Shane Edwards (EE member) and David Fawcitt (Designate for Chief Officer of DAL)

(CNS): Woody DaCosta, a former host of the now cancelled early morning radio show Cayman Crosstalk, has been appointed chair of the Public Lands Commission (PLC). During his time as the host of what was then a popular show, DaCosta was a vocal advocate for public beach access rights. His appointment comes at a crucial time as the board is dealing with a number of legal cases, including one heard in court Friday dealing with two public rights of way to Seven Mile Beach that were blocked by one of the Dart Group’s companies when it construction the controversial West Bay Road tunnel.

All of the new members of the lands commission were present in court for the case last week and DaCosta briefly addressed the court during talks between the parties about how Dart will create new access points to make up for those lost to the tunnel. Pointing out the new appointments to the commission, he noted their intention to ensure that the public’s rights were protected.

In a press release announcing the appointment of the new commission, Lands Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly wished the board well in their deliberations in the best interest of the public.

The Public Lands Commission (PLC) was established in 2017 by the Public Lands Act (2017) and its main goal is to regulate the use and enjoyment of public land by members of the public and to protect the right of access to, and use of, public land, including access to the shoreline.

However, it took some time after its creation for the commission to get to the point where it was functioning properly, and over the last four years it has focused largely on clearing blocked access points.

The PLC is also tasked with advising the chief officer in the ministry on general policies regarding the enforcement of the law and in particular enforcement matters.

See the full line-up of the new commission in the CNS Library.


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Category: Government Administration, Politics

Comments (32)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Parking?!
    Beach Access by Royal Palms or anywhere is useless without it

  2. Anonymous says:

    ah Woody, I guess all the complaints about Wayne not speaking to you and having no use for you were just idle chatter. SMH

    • Anonymous says:

      Yep. Wayne has ti find a role for his brother in law. Last time Wayne was minister of Financial Services Woody was on two boards. Just search Cayman News Service for the stories on the nonsense he did as Chair of the liquor licencing board.

  3. Beaumont Zodecloun says:

    Finally. Some good news. It’s been so long since I’ve seen it, I hardly recognised it.

    There have been times I got irritated with Woody while I listened to CrossTalk, however I rarely missed it. One thing I feel for certain: He is an honest man with integrity, who cares deeply for the islands and all her people. He understands the value of humour, and that goes a long way in all things.

    I would much rather a person who always spoke their mind, than a person who always said what we wanted to hear.

    Good skill Woody! As you know, some people become ‘comfortably numb’ with being miserable, and deeply resent those who choose otherwise. Best of luck, Sir.

  4. Anin2 says:

    Good for you Woody especially after you were by far the best host of that talk show that went under. I guess you got the last ‘Cockle Doodle Doo”. Caymanians (born and raised), let’s support this son of the soil. At least he is one of our own, rise up against this crab in the barrel mentality as we out numbered by foreigners – – where a lot of them don’t have our best interests. It’s much harder to lift up than drag down. Bigup Cayman

  5. Anonymous says:

    Caymanians have always been impressed with those who have the gift of gab. Ellio, Austin and Kenny B all got elected because they had a medium to show how loquacious they were. Woody is following in their footsteps and I fully expect he’ll eventually run for office. That said, if you put a gun to my head and make me pick one of them, I’d pick Woody – just because I think he’s more earnest than the rest of them.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Woody DaCosta is the most qualified Caymanian in the land to oversee any board. All you good-for-nothing, tantrum-throwing PPM losers need to shut up. You will never be in power again.

  7. Anonymous says:

    How much do they get paid for this? I have to assume these are not volunteer positions.

    • Anonymous says:

      I’m always amazed how we as Caymanians rather that trying to raise up our brothers and sisters do no more than speak with ill will and hostility towards and about them. It is no wonder than groups like EPACI can thrive..You know sadly sometimes I don’t think they are far off with opinions of us. We are our own worse enemies. We have proven time and time again that we are no more than crabs in a bucket, always trying to get to the top of the bucket by climbing on top of others and pushing them down in order to get to the top.

      Cayman we are becoming more and more like the USA with our promotion of hate based on political affiliation. Years ago, elections would come and go and after the electioneering everyone went back to being friends. Now we don’t speak to our neighbors or associate with someone that we know supported someone else than we did..Caymanians are so divided now that if we needed to come together for something that is best for the country, we would would not be able to agree and/or disagree simply because of someones family members, political relationship and the latest vaccination status.

    • Anonymous says:

      Government board members usually receive a small stipend for their duties, if members serves correctly $100 per month

  8. Anonymous says:

    Hope they take proper minutes….unlike the liqueur board!

  9. Candid says:

    This board must be properly supported by the PACT government to finally resolve the issue of beach accesses. The last government was dancing with the issues. Go, team!

  10. Anonymous says:

    The critics will always try to pull down those who succeed.

  11. Anon says:

    Shanna Myles? as in Kenneth’s cousin and committee member, who he also put on Cayman Airways’ Board?

    Oh boy…

  12. Anonymous says:

    This place is a village, full of villagers.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Wow what a group!

  14. Anon. says:

    Was there any explanation given for the departure of the most recent host of CrossTalk? Seems very odd that she departed so unexpectedly, and only days after her on-air voicing of her opinion about EPACI.

    • Anonymous says:

      Not really, nobody gives a crap about that show or any other show after Woody left.

    • Fed Up says:

      At this point who cares honestly? That show was in the “pits” for the past 2+ years so no great loss. What is or should be more concerning is the appointments being made to these boards. I have not seen a single appointment that I can confidently say they were appointed because of knowledge/experience with the specific subject of the board to which they have been appointed. One needs to not look any further than the mouth champions on the BSP and the Work Permit Baird. The business of many will be thrown open for all to know.

  15. Anonymous says:

    That godforsaken uglyass tunnel has served its purpose now.
    Years back, when Planning may have had more of a backbone, the 8′ wall Ken applied for was denied. So he put a small rise in the road. I thought that was clever. You could no longer admire that majestic Royal Palm lined drive up to the front of the hotel.
    Cut to the big idea to build a tunnel… Yes, that’s the ticket! We will build a hotel on top of the tunnel too! THAT’s why we want a tunnel…

    I’m sure a pretty rendering accompanied that application. An imaginative picture of what it would look like in that fantasy land. By then, Ken was getting whatever he asked for.
    Shame they didn’t allow that wall! Joke is on us.

    But at the end of the day, there is no wall that would have ever been high enough for Ken. That is what this tunnel has always been about. Just wait for the rest of his property to be cut off from prying eyes. Water is now too deep to casually stroll across the sea side…

    Just consider dat! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

  16. Anonymous says:

    This will not end well, for Woody.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Wow what a selection.. Someone please for the love of god tell me what’s going ON!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      I will tell you what is going on, the people is back in power. The elites and the political establishment are done. That is what is going on. No more ppm-only appointments.

  18. Watt De Hell says:

    Woody DaCosta as Chairman? Well I am a son of a survivor from glass bottle reef. Did we not learn anything from his leadership at the Liquor Licensing Board?

  19. Anonymous says:

    How’d he make out as chair of the Liquor Licensing Board again? Asking for a friend.

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