Landowners warned to clear beach access
(CNS): Woody DaCosta, the new chair of the Public Lands Commission and a long time vocal advocate for retaining access to local beaches, has told CNS that he means business when it comes to addressing any impediments “to meaningful access to the beach”.
This week the commission’s inspectorate issued a warning to all landowners that it is currently in the process of re-inspecting all public shoreline rights of way and they should remove anything blocking access, as they could be found in breach of the law and they have already found that some landowners have taken deliberate steps to block access.
The increasing attempts by waterfront landowners to prevent the public crossing their land to access the beach is one of particular public concern that goes to the very heart of local culture.
Public Lands Chief Inspector Winsome Prendergast said, “Whilst conducting inspections, we came across registered accesses to the shoreline that are purposely blocked by landowners. We want to alert the public that we are currently working towards clearing all blocked registered public accesses and to erect standardized public access signs for better identification of public access points.”
DaCosta said that this commission was going to be very active and was already working hard to ensure public access is properly preserved.
“This commission has the full support of the ministry and we are looking forward to making sure that the public enjoys meaningful access to the beach and that where access is blocked we quickly address the issue,” he said. “Everyone knows I have been very outspoken and publicly articulate about the importance of preserving public access to our beaches.”
Da Costa said that by the New Year the commission would have its own website where minutes of its meetings, maps of beach access points, the legislation that protects access and other related information will be available to the public.
The commission is currently working on the changes required to the laws to ensure ongoing protections and address gaps, DaCosta said. He further noted that the commission hopes to work with the Central Planning Authority to become one of the agencies consulted when access is an issue in a planning application, which is very often the case for beach and waterfront property.
But DaCosta confirmed that the CPA had not consulted the commission or informed them of an application that was listed last week for a multi-million dollar house in Prospect Point where the landowners have applied to have their obligation to provide a 12ft beach access point on the site waived, claiming that it is unnecessary because there are other access points along the road where the home will be built.
The minutes indicating whether or not the request was considered and what the outcome was are not yet available.
The PLC advises all landowners to remove any blockages of Registered Public Access on their land. Should any landowner be in doubt regarding a Registered Public Access on their property, they can contact the Public Lands Commission at plc@gov.ky or (345) 946-7110.
See here for more information on the Public Lands Commission and to review the full Public Lands Act (2020 Revision).
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Category: development, Local News
I tried using the Beach access just to the north of Cayman Club just the other day and unbelievable, one of the owners of Cayman Club has built a concrete patio right in the access way. I literally had to walk through the patio to get to the beach..What the hell? not to mention some of the other areas where also encroached on by other properties from the other side as well. This one could use a really good trimming of trees as well as you can barely get through in some places.
Need to paint some stripes on that patio to designate the pedestrian lane.
There are no problems and there are too many access points. This is just pandering to the politics of jealousy.
I strongly disagree. Many problems, many access points blocked.
Disagree strongly
Fine them immediately. No warning required as it is a well known fact.
And make sure the fine hurts the wallet. Make it worth your while..
I agree. But fines are of no consequence. They have Caymanian supplied $$$$$$. They pay the fines with a smile;
“OK, this is the cost – very insignificant.”
I wish it would ‘hit the wallet.’ But their ‘wallet’ is HUGE – Caymanians on the dole don’t care anymore, they have gotten the $$$$ and patriotism be damned.
Is this why Dwayne came over to Govt, to make sure Woody doesnt stop the Bodden Town / Manse Road Mandarin hotel?
Or what? Woody will will throw a hissy fit? Oohh, scary.
Consider it a blessing thst we won’t have to listen to him ranting and railing on the airwaves!
@11:01..Well it is about time somebody did. Go get um Woody!
Cayman is finally fighting back.
Can we start by fixing the problem at Red Spot Beach where the fishmongers have prevented anyone from accessing the property and swimming there. This is a public beach as Mr Johnson who owns the land above high water mark has stated on many occasions. Government needs remove these people so we can all enjoy this beach including tourists. The state of the property reflects very badly on Cayman.
Oh my… Caymanians preventing access to beach usage. Where are all the self-rightous “all problems start with money-grubbing expats” now.
Hondurans.
Government does not give a crap about this problem. The fish guys hold all hostage to make a buck or two. It is a disgrace and time Wayne had the balls to fix it.
They are not Caymanians and that is not fresh fish but fish brought in from Honduras..
False news people.
At Red Spot anyone can fish or swim wit the majestic tarpons.
The fishermen even give bait to anyone casting for a tarpon.
However, as this area of the coast is now officially a port controlled are then maybe the Port Authority will now stop people swimming, snorkeling or fishing in this area, NOT THE FISHERMEN.
They are fishmongers not fishermen and import the fish. The place stinks is unhealthy and does not meet the requirements of the Health Law.
It is not Port controlled. Land is privately owned.
Please Woody block access to Balboa Beach and you will get a Knighthood!.
If you think Balboa Beach is anything remotely like a beach then you’ve not been to many beaches. It is a con calling that a beach. It’s a grotty mess.
You are correct. One of the first things cruise ship passengers see is Balboa Beach and the crappy fish market. Government needs to do something. Unlikely to happen whilst Bryan is around. He could not organize a pissup in a brewery.
The beaches are for everyone. No law or commission is needed to see that. If the government can at least buy back some of the beaches for public use, it would be a good thing. I still think Smith Cove can be expanded by buying the properties next to it, and closing the road like they did to public beach. They have the monies. As for public beach, still too much desert and not enough trees near the shoreline. It would be nice to see more seagrape and coco plum trees.
where the sea grape and coco plum used to be is now high rise buildings
nice job, does he get paid for this job?
What I find interesting in the application submitted is the assumption that the Prospect Fort is public land. It is not. It is private land which the owners have chosen to allow the public to access. The Beach Access nearby is, in fact, not on the Prospect Fort land at all but over the driveway of the lot adjacent.
@ 14/12/2021 at 10:01 am – and the access is over the driveway because a previous owner decided to flagrantly ignore the law and build his driveway right over the beach access. That did not go down well and resulted in the owners having to either tear out their driveway or allow access to the the beach over their driveway and along the side of their house. The only time CIG stood their ground.
And the application as submitted is trying to do away with public beach access on the basis that ‘not all beaches in the Cayman Islands are public’ – ie there can be private beaches as long as the area has been managed in a way that never allowed any public access. Who are the lawyers trying to wipe out private beach access?
Edit: public beach access
yawn.
very strange…i have been here 20 years and never once had an issue accessing the beach.
14 @ 9:18 am – Yet, I know of dozens of locals who has had such problems? Mmmm…wonder if it’s a “local” or even “racial” thing? Hope not!
It’s just a matter of respectful behavior.
Noise, loud music, trash will all create a pushback from neighboring properties, right of access or not.
Born here, same.
Vacationing annually (until 2020) since 1984. Never had a problem also. And have used beach access many times for SCUBA dives. Also no problem. I remember fondly diving off of the ironshore by the turtle farm in the late 80’s and 90’s watching the ‘New’ Crocked Conch get built. No dive shop then, no ladders. What a hoot – it was built about 12″-24″ every year! We had bets on what decade it would get finished. At age 62 I would never again scramble off of the ironshore up there judging the ebb and flow of the water surges to time a jump.
you’re white I’m guessing? you probably just blend in with the others.
And there lies the problem. I suppose those who feels it, knows it.
Willingness to commit blatant fraud is a serious character flaw…
#leggewasright
“Articulated” haven’t heard that word since Woody was on Rooster lol
Seriously though I do hope he makes a difference but I suspect that when he pisses off a few developers they will call their favorite Minister and Woody will resign from the Commission in protest.
If anyone has intentionally blocked off a public beach access, if they are not Caymanian, can they please be reported to immigration? Arrogant half-wits are destroying Caymanian/Expat relations and need to be stopped. This is not a minor issue.
Fair enough, I agree… BUT, are you going to expel the arrogant half-wit Caymanians on all the commissions/boards that grant waivers against the wishes of the people; those that get bought out to ignore regulations; those that decline recommendations to protect the shorelines and approve ill fated designs? You elected these ‘half-wits knowing their history. Take responsibility and blame for the corrupt system you established.
Very true 8:40. The beach access problems were self induced by Caymanians not expats. Caymanians have all the power but regrettably so many of us can be bought off by favors.
Sadly, we have no one to blame but ourselves for our beach access predicament.
No one, half witted or otherwise, can deprive me or any other person of a prescriptive right. Any acknowledgment that they can is a disservice to the public. That is a line that should be vehemently held.
Those are registered rights of way, not prescriptive. Your prescriptive rights, if any, can be lost by non-use.
So if they are Caymanians they are free to block the access, including fellow Caymanians ? How about ANYONE blocking access, including Caymanians, is fined heavily and the access restored. You say it’s a divisive issue and then suggest making it more divisive by only punishing expats.
Yes, would be appropriate that anyone driving over and parking on a beach access was also fined. There’s always some ignorant person who thinks the beach access is there so that they can drive their car or motorcycle down to the water.
A caymanian has effectively blocked access to the north end of the Mastic Trail, first with piles of soil, derelict vehicle, etc., now with a cow tethered in a narrow point.
Chief Inspector Prendergast, start enforcement with DART, he has blocked two registered rights of way at Kimpton and two at Royal Palms / Coral Caymanian. But then from before you became Chief Inspectator at the PLC you knew this was the situation with DART.
So Chief Inspector Prendergast when are you going to actually take effective action to restore the beach accesses?
I am very very happy to see we have a man such as Mr. Dacosta to lead this charge as it is very obvious that these accesses are being blocked spitefully by money people who come here and expect to keep locals from accessing our beaches and iron shore. You have our support Woody.
Woody was on a talk show, but they took him off. I believe after that day he interviewed the Governor and showed no support for LGBT views, but allowed callers to freely voice their opinion. Lol .. oh man, that Governor was in a hotseat. After that time they took him off and replaced him. .. smh
Yeah, yeah, yeah…..believe it when I see a landowner in court for non-compliance.
No need for court in most instances. If they have intentionally blocked a public right of way, just revoke their immigration permissions (including any cabinet granted status). They will have demonstrated themselves as being unfit to be a part of our community. And yes, cabinet grants can be revoked in certain circumstances.
Grants? We don’ need no stinking grants.
Start with anyone convicted of a crime Mr Speaker
Beach? What beach?
Yes Cayman Jack don’t want you to bath on HIS Beach ! Because consistent government politicians and govt officials and our resident land God have been in an unholy alliance and conspiracy to destroy and erode our rights to even access the beach. We now find ourselves fighting for space to park to walk and now by law we are trespassing on Jack Beach.Its so bad even the Beach is trying to leave now too!
Beach already gone now man.
What a waste of time and money. Go and fight crime, do something useful FFS
Which public beach access do you want blocked to prevent use by the citizens?
It is a crime FFS!
No its not. A breach of [prescriptive rights is not a criminal offence.
You realize this is the Public Lands Commission, not the RCIPS, yes?
Let’s see if anyone faces the music for their supposed ignorance.
Bravo! The new leader is a voice of the people. Far too many public beach access points are little more than pig trails with some purposely blocked by debris next to high end properties. It would also be prudent to install cameras at all public beaches to monitor for safety and littering.
A pig trail is all that’s required.
I am almost certain that those who are blocking public beach access do so to avoid having to pick up a ton of garbage every Monday morning. Can’t really blame that on the tourists since they haven’t been here for 18 months. Take your beer bottles, KFC boxes, condoms, dirty diapers, etc., with you when you leave, please. If you show some respect you will be respected.
C’mon Woody, ‘sic em! I about time someone takes this on, seriously. But family pull or not, will Woody have enough stamina to chase down some of these offending landowners and really bite them where it hurts? All puns intended!
Go Woody!
You cry babies need to put a cork in it. The rich need their privacy and do not need all kinds of rif-raf coming around trashing the beach.
9:25, But when the rich bought their properties they were fully aware of their needed to provide beach access. Of course, perhaps they did not do their due diligence before they bought.
So cry me a river.
You people better show respect to the rich or they will take their money elsewhere and then Cayman will be screwed. Alden and PPM know how to treat the elite class.
If they’re not doing anything to benefit the Caymanian people, they can go ahead and take their money elsewhere. We don’t need them.
There is plenty of room for them in North side
If anyone trashes any beach they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and suffer meaningful penalty. The right to peaceable enjoyment is however is sacrosanct.
And when does Cayman Law ever get applied fairly?
Sure, it isn’t. Which is why the police and almost everyone in authority is perceived as either corrupt, complicit or inept. But that must change. We should all demand to see landowners blocking access, and members of the public causing a nuisance and/or littering dealt with with equal fervor.
When they are white expats
Sort the ones down Old Prospect Point Road (about x3) – looks like government land. Why isn’t government maintaining accessibility?
Good. They bought this land at Prospect Point fully aware of their obligation to provide a 12ft beach access point just as the previous landowners were aware and honoured it. They certainly didn’t claim it was “unnecessary because there are other access points along the road” – time for these landowners to lose their NIMBY attitude.
Just like Boddentown district used a NIMBY for a slam-dunk solution to the dump? NIMBY is good for you, but not for others? (For the recored: I agree that the 12 ft rule should be enforced, just tired of the worn out attitude that it’s always someone else’s fault and rules should be applied to them, not us).
What about in your backyard then?
So sadly typical. Throw back a statement without any thought to logic. You do realize you basically proved the point – NIMBY. To answer your question – YES, if it is the best solution for the island that I love.
NIMBY vs Bigger NIMBY
My back yard isn’t 200ft of beach coastline on a property zoned Beach Resort/Resident. But this one is.
There is no existing public access on the property. There is one on the lot next door adjoining the property. The CPA is requiring the property owner to establish a new public access, which the owner is appealing.
Not Woody again. I am just recovering from all of the negativity on rooster.
Way to go, Woody et al. I have told people before that you are a good man, and like all good men, you can’t help yourself proving it. Well done!
Great. Now that there’s no beach they’re going to dry and protect it. Fab.
Perhaps the Commission could tell us how we can exercise my prescriptive right to walk along the iron shore in front of Fin? Or along the coast in south sound where docks are literally blocking passage. This is not just about access. Our rights to peaceably enjoy are being eroded (and taken).
What prescriptive right to walk on ironshore?
That of every member of the public that have traditionally used the entire coastline for shelling, fishing, and exploring.
8.03pm In some sections Fin removed almost all the ironshore, so it will be like walking along the miserably narrow sidewalk they installed fronting the road which now has advertising flags planted right down the middle of it.
Advertising boards? Five years and the concrete bunker is still not finished. It doesn’t bode well if there are condos that still need to be sold. It sounds like Michael Ryan is going to maintain a straight flush of failed projects.
To be fair to Michael Ryan the Ritz Carlton project was finished. There was the small issue that the investors lost nearly $400 million. $250 million of that was lost by a Christian Foundation.
The projects went bust.
How could Michael Ryan buy his superyacht?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd_UXTsannQ
This guy?
https://caymannewsservice.com/2018/03/premier-woody-dacosta/
Or a different one?
Asking for a friend.
A very different issue and the 2 issues are not comparable.
Once incompetent, always incompetent.
Assuming it’s incompetence. Granting a licence that has economic benefits for someone, then fabricating minutes – sounds more like intent than incompetence.
Denial is not just a river in Egypt.