Parliament to debate car imports, tall buildings

| 02/12/2022 | 252 Comments
Traffic in George Town

(CNS): Two private members’ motions set to be presented in parliament next week will see MPs debate the issue of increasing the current building height limits to 20 or even 30 storeys, and restricting car imports to alleviate traffic congestion. Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart has filed a motion calling on the government to “consider as a matter of urgency” a traffic report published during the last PPM-led administration that recommended only Caymanains be allowed to import vehicles.

Meanwhile, McKeeva Bush, who is expected to take a seat on the government backbench after resigning as speaker, will be sparking significant controversy with his first PMM in several years when he asks the government to lift the current height restrictions on buildings in certain zones to allow for towers as high as 30 storeys. Bush said his motion is seconded by government backbench MP Dwayne Seymour, though he did not say if it has support of Premier and Minister for Sustainability Wayne Panton.

Speaking on Radio Cayman last week, he said he was proposing that government allow up to 30 floors, claimed that this made sense because it would reduce the development footprint and land area required.

“We are a developing country and we only have a limited space,” he said, noting that he wanted it to apply to hotels but it also presented an opportunity for high-rise homes. Bush, who was behind the decision to increase to ten floors, said he “took a beating for it but it was the right thing to do”.

However, he does appear to have the backing of Deputy Premier Chris Saunders, who has noted on a number of occasions the need for the community to begin discussing an increase in building heights. Most recently, at the National Housing and Development Trust’s groundbreaking event in West Bay, Saunders said that, given the current population growth, it was “imperative that we have a national conversation on housing, land preservation and building heights, both in the residential and commercial sectors”.

The population growth is largely to blame for the pressure in the local housing market, including the desperate shortage of affordable homes to buy or rent. But it is also fuelling the mounting traffic congestion, which has reached unprecedented levels.

Last week, following the country’s largest ever traffic jam during the Pirates Fest, the premier said that the government was planning to do something about the Cayman’s traffic woes and blamed the unrestricted importation of cars, suggesting that McTaggart’s motion could see some traction with the government.

The report that the motion is based on calls for only allowing Caymanians to import vehicles and to restrict this to two vehicles, that are no more than ten years old, per year. Anyone who wants to import more than two must have a trade and business licence or be registered as a collector. The report also suggested that temporary work permit holders should not be allowed to own a vehicle, and long-term permit holders must buy on-island or seek permission to import a vehicle they already own.

See the opposition motion and traffic report in the CNS Library.


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Category: development, Laws, Local News, Politics

Comments (252)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    30 Stories is a massive increase in population if only
    say even five are built in the short run. We cannot sustain this increase with an already stretched infrastructure i.e. schools, hospitals, public services, roads etc

  2. Corruption is endemic says:

    Singapore has incredibly good public transport and extremely expensive vehicles.

    With a land mass of not quite 4x Grand Cayman they manage a population of over 5.5m people.

    Thye have high rises, but it also isn’t a concrete jungle as they have over 300 parks and 4 large nature reserves as well as significant areas of land set aside for water reservoirs.

    The difference is they have quality government and an effective civil service.

    But the biggest difference as is almost always the case when there is a problem in Cayman is that #LeggeWasRight.

    No matter what our politicians decide, does anyone really have confidence in them to get it right?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Sounds like you need to visit Singapore, there are so much petroleum by-products in the sea when you go for a swim your skin is covered in a greasy film. But that’s what happens when you let corporations take over a country and you cram 5.5 million people into a land mass with its size. God forbid Cayman turned into Singapore. 300 parks – what a joke, Botanic gardens are beautiful but once again the large population means its always overcrowded. Politicians don’t get it right and special interests constantly pushing growth are worse than the politicians.

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    • Anonymous says:

      No confidence in PACT or PPM.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Wait. Big Mac should not be in the parliament in any way shape or form. Why the hell is he still there!!?!?
    SMH This place is bananas! But that’s a how third world country operates.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Is there a public register of MP’s and their family’s business interests? There should be.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Meanwhile….and from good sources, there are 3400 cars bought and paid for by ‘dealers’ waiting in Jam to come to Cayman, as we speak.

    The last batch was only a portion and they themselves were backlogged for almost 1 year.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    The Hew report is one of the most horrendous products of a committe that I have ever seen. Parts of it reek, promoting the further gentrification and promotion of the elite above the working class.

    When I was just starting out in life, I could barely afford to buy from a friend in Tampa and import a clunker that was well over ten years old. I am sure there are young people just starting out in life, single mom’s barely making ends meet as it is, and retirees on a fixed income and Caymanian on low wages who are in the same boat. Yet McTaggart and Hew want them all to ante up with money they may not have to buy a newer vehicle. Can’t afford it? Too damn bad! Walk or ride a bike or beg rides. We do not care that you have children, they can walk with you. We do not care that you have a condition that does not allow you to walk or ride a bike, do it or die trying!

    That these dangerous elitist stooges clearly favour the well to do above the working class and are oblivious to the plight of the latter is glaringly clear.

    Does not matter what one can afford: we–your lords and masters–will dictate your fate. Reminds me of the famous quote: “Let them eat cake!”

    A wealthy “collector” can import and own as many vehicles as they afford. Why do they carve out special treatment for the rich? Answer: They are pimps for the elite.

    McTaggart and Hew and the other stooges who drafted, tabled, and support this report are so out of touch with the working class and Caymanians struggling to make ends meet that it takes one’s breath away. They should be made to hang their heads in total shame when the report is debated.

    And another thing…! Who the hell was on this committee anyway? I cannot find a list of the committee members. It would be interesting to know who they are.

    [Note: In the article it says one provision in the report is “to restrict (importation of vehicles) to two vehicles, that are no *less* than ten years old, per year. According to what I read in the report, the correct reading should be: “to restrict this (importation of vehicles) to two vehicles, that are no *more* than ten years old, per year.]

    CNS: You’re right, of course. Corrected now.

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  7. Caymanian says:

    I want to see who votes or supports 30 story buildings. They first to get voted out. Got to figure John John, the Big Mac wanna be and Saunders, the short sighted non Cayman loving MP are behind this and Big Mac pushing behind them.

    This is so wrong for Cayman. Everyday us Caymanian driving around wonder how we could have sone our country so wrong with so little beaches left now we want to create Little Miami here.

    Tourist do not like to leave the US to go to Miami. They come for Islands not high rises. This will turn off future tourism.

    STOP THE INSANITY AND GREED.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Now let’s stop and think for a minute or two. You know, think (or tink in Mac’s case)…that exercise that seems beyond the skill set of our politicians.

      High rise buildings will increase population density. Increasing the population density will increase the already horrendous traffic problems along the Seven-Mile/West Bay access corridors.

      Any sensible thoughts in Mac’s head died of loneliness long ago.

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      • Caymanian says:

        exactly. does not fix anything only creates more issues. we need to slow growth or incentivize it going outward so people have jobs in their district. If people have work where they live we get less traffic. tink people tink. instead of pushing up lets push out.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I agree except every time someone announces any kind of development in the eastern districts they all complain!

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Cayman gone.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I have a right hand drive and a left hand drive vehicle, that way I can drive 2 cars at once. I removed the driver’s door from both and straddle between the two going down the road.

    I like to maximize…

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  10. Anon says:

    it’s all about greed and corruption. by everyone. expats & caymanians alike. who sell their soul & reek of new money – an armful of cartier bracelets, designer clothes, a multi million $ house on SMB. the politicians who pimp themselves out to the highest bidder. police who ignore the law breakers, because it’s easier to do nothing. the employer that doesn’t pay pension. hotels that expect staff to live on poverty wages, because “gratuities”. the caymanian that fronts for an expat. the developer that builds on the cheap & the realtor who sells it for top dollar in the false market they’ve created. agreed & corruption.

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  11. Anonymous says:

    I man expat who just got PR. I have one vehicle in my family. I bought it on island 3 years ago. When I sell it in 5 years and buy a new car, will I have to get a permit to sell the used vehicle? I also contribute more to the economy than 90 per cent of people here.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I contribute to the economy more than you. Prove me wrong. See how stupid that sounds? You say you contribute more than 90% but this is not factually supported.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Not stupid at all. If they make 200k plus and spend most of it here, it’s probably a reasonable guess. Likewise if they are involved in exempted company formations and the like also likely a fair comment.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Ifs and likely is not factual, conjecture however you put it. Even ‘reasonable’ conjecture would have to be supported with cogent arguments.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Your comment that you contribute more that 6:49 is indeed stupid because you have no idea how much he “contributes” and have no way of knowing. Conversely 6:49 knows both what he spends and he can also make an educated guess where he sits in the spending demographic. Yes it’s a guess, but it’s not necessarily a stupid one, your objection to it is, no matter how pompously you dress it up.

            • Anonymous says:

              6:49 also does not know what 7:51 contributes either. There is no objection, you should learn the difference between objection and debateable point no matter how pompously you dress it up!

      • Anonymous says:

        The person said that they contribute more than 90% of the people here.
        Take what you want from that.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    I find the McTaggart/Hew Private Member’s motion to be nothing short of breathtakingly obvious and nauseatingly disingenuous political grandstanding.
    The telling clause in the Motion is this one: “AND WHEREAS the COVID Pandemic stopped the recommendations in the report from being progressed”. That is total unadulterated putrid bullzhit coming from two crafty amd reprehensible deceivers!
    Seems Covid gets the blame every time a bunch of lazy, worthless politicians need an excuse for their impotence. There was much they could have done to “progress” the recommendations contained in the report: They could have prioritised the recommendations. Priority one being taking strides toward the establishment of a public mass transportation system that is all-island (and all three islands!), frequent, convenient and AFFORDABLE! They could have fleshed out the time lines for implementation. They could have had the strategies costed including estimates on how this would effect government revenue; estimates on how this would impact total vehicles on the road and the time period involved; estimates on how this would affect the cost of living and how much this would impact the various ones restricted, from permit holders to households; estimates as to how much per annum the government would save on road construction and upkeep; estimated on lessening environmental impact and carbon emissions to name but a few areas of ground work that they were just too damn lazy and worthless to undertake. They could have done MUCH to start the process along; they chose not do so. Instead they now make a lame excuse as why they didn’t get around to doing anything at all. And now McTaggart and Hew bring this tripe motion!
    There is so much wrong with it that I have no idea where to start. I thought the Panton-PACTless Clown Car was bad, but I now have to reconsider as McTaggart and his crew make them look sterling by comparison. If this is any example of the types of policy and implementation we can expect from the McTaggart crew, I certainly would vote for Panton and his crew long before I would ever think to cast a vote for McTaggart/Hew and minions or anyone who supports these disingenuous buffoons. McTaggart might try to pull the wool over some people’s eyes but it is clear who/what is to blame. McTaggart/Hew blame the wrong disease for the proposals not being “progressed” during their time in office. It was not Sars-Cov2, it was the PC+WI disease: Political Carelessness + Worthlessness Impotence disease.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    This was so overdue. This one topic pulls all the elephants into the room at once- and is badly needed.

    Topics like:
    * population growth
    * 30 story buildings
    * traffic and lack of options- public transport, cycling, walking
    * education
    * inequality
    * management of waste
    * xenophobia
    * bashing of Caymanians
    * cartels
    * safety
    * cost of living

    It’s all on the table.

    Where to start?

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    • Say it like it is says:

      3.49pm Add the number of fully loaded new vehicles purchased by Govt every single year.

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  14. Joseph says:

    I cannot believe PPM would suggest that only Caymanians could own vehicles. This is absurd. First of all, the public transport system that we currently have cannot properly serve those who currently use it and you want to restrict people’s ability to move around? You are going to create a bigger mess with this proposal. What happens when foreign workers cannot get to work on time? What happens when they have to wait in rain for public transportation that they have no clue when it will arrive? What happens when they cannot get their children from school? What happens when they have an emergency with a family member? This is tantamount to communism! You are restricting freedom of movement and free trade! It doesn’t matter how many cars are being imported, a person can only drive one at a time. The others are not parked in the road. The ignorance of most of this motion is appalling! The only part that makes sense is limiting importation of vehicles for personal use to two per year unless you are licensed as a business to do so.

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    • YES says:

      Let’s keep our freaking feet on the ground transportation before we go in this blue sky high sky trip( wonder wa dey using rum don’t usually make you think da way) .

      Anywho. The transportation of people is one of the most significant aspects that these people who we pay so well “ must” deal with NOW!!!. Are we waiting to hire a consultant to tell us that as a minimum we need 8 bus terminals and three ferry docks/terminals of varying capacity based on statistics on the possible number of users. You need laws that enforceable that prohibit use of private vehicles in certain areas at certain hours on certain days.

      Most important in all of this you need parliamentarians to get the people together and discuss the possibilities and solutions. Tired of seeing our money spent in people that all they do is get up and talk around the subject and the beat goes on.

      When we solve the transportationmaster plan and deal with the importation of vehicles which will affect no doubt political campaign contributions if proper policies are enacted, then and only then we should be dealing with the craven minded hungry for upward stories which will do nothing to solve the cost of homes for our youbg people today or in the future. The price of property gracefully inflated by the Wolves of REstz is not likely to go down with the cost of construction being what it is. Therefore the age old question of who the rass we are going up 30 floors for is very valid.

      We may say and think that we must keep up with the times, but the reality is times catching up on us for not having the proper vision for the development of these three islands. I sincerely pray and hope that we wake up now rather than later.

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    • Doodlebug says:

      The story says that only Caymanians could IMPORT vehicles, not own them.
      The inference is that anyone could own one.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Other jurisdictions have done the same and it has helped avert gridlock like we have. Is Bermuda a bastion of communism then?

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      • Anonymous says:

        No they just have a functioning public transport system. I just don’t understand why this is so hard. In cities across the world multimillionaires and people on minimum wage use public transport side by side because it works not because they aren’t allowed to buy cars. How is this such a difficult concept to grasp here in Cayman?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Bermuda has a very good public transportation system

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        • Anonymous says:

          And also has gridlock most of the day! It didn’t work.

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          • Anonymous says:

            public transport isn’t magic but it certainly makes the traffic better than it otherwise would be.

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          • Anonymous says:

            @8:41:
            If they have gridlock with a robust public transportation system in place, it does not take a genius to imagine how much worse traffic would be without such a system. It would seem they need to more to limit the congestion.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @4:32:
        Bermuda is a bastion of good sense and good planning and policy. Unlike here, Bermuda has an excellent and quite extensive public transportation system that includes buses and ferries. That is because did more than just pay hot-air service to the issue: they actually DID something!

        The Bermuda government operates the main public bus services in Bermuda that provides extensive bus service and also charter buses and sightseeing services. The pink and blue bus services let you reach out to virtually every corner of the land. The service is efficient, reliable, well-maintained, clean, frequent and quite fast, and affordable. All public buses in Bermuda are also air conditioned and comfortable. Users may opt to purchase a one-day or multi-day Transportation Pass.

        The government also owns and operated the public excellent ferry services. The buses and ferries take locals and visitors to or near to almost anywhere they may want to go. Buses and ferries also make wonderful sightseeing transport to see the many beauties of Bermuda–from either land or sea. Both local users and visitors to Bermuda seem to love the services.

        An interesting note: Ordinary car rental is not available in Bermuda: 3 or 4-wheel battery operated one or two person mini cars are now available on rent in Bermuda and are available to both hotel guests and non-guests through various hotels. Charging points are also available in most such hotels as well as in other location. Imagine the reduction in traffic that would occur if we had a similar policy in place once public transport is well established! That alone would go far in reducing traffic. But that proposal is missing from the Hew report. Wonder why?

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    • Rob says:

      Good points, Joseph. That will give them more to think about and discuss when they debate in Parliament.

  15. Anonymous says:

    building high is best for cayman and it’s environment.
    however you must also invest in surrounding infrastructure.
    all the worlds most poplular destination of have spectacular high rise streetscapes…new york, miami, londo , dubai, singapore…..etc.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Many people from those places pay good money to come to unwind in locations that are not concrete jungles.
      Do tell: How does vastly increasing population density result in a net increase in the well-being of the environment? It merely trades off one set of problems for another set of problems. It might do you well to put your mind in gear before putting your key board fingers in motion.

  16. anonymous says:

    Mr and Mrs Cig government, A Struggling Caymanian here, I really do not think I will be able to afford a 500 sq ft residence in a 20 or 30 storey building, can you ask the banks to qualify me for 800k to 1 mil making 4k salary a month please?
    I thought not.

    Thanks

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  17. Anonymous says:

    This island is screwed. I’m leaving on a jet plane, no chance that I’ll come back again….and yes, I’ll make sure the door hits my ass on the way out!

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    • Anonymous says:

      buhbyeeeeee

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    • Anonymous says:

      After 17 years, I’m sad to say we are going too soon. The lunacy of those voted in to be in charge has not improved in all those years. Now the corruption and ‘only in it for themselves’ of our politicians seems to be worse than ever.
      Add in the apparent refusal to process my legitimate status claim for political reasons and I’m just so over it now.
      So I guess they win. They want all the expats to spend tens of thousands of dollars in work permit and application fees, and then if I would kindly eff-off, that would be the perfect result for them.
      I can’t put up with reading how I wasn’t born here so I am to blame for everything that ails Cayman. A horrible ignorant and racist island and I’ll be pleased in the end to leave and go somewhere I am made to feel welcome.

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      • Anonymous says:

        @3:03 and yet you are still here cluttering up our infrastructure..You know as well as I do you wouldn’t be here but for our milk and honey..If you haven’t been frustrated enough in 17 years to leave, my thinking is you are doing nothing but blowing off steam rather than trying to find a positive way to resolve some of these issues..

        I would put $100,000 for you to give up your Cayman Status and leave but we all know that where you come from that $100K would dissolve in a very short time..My advice stop looking a gift horse in the mouth and get out and do something positive instead of threatening you are going to leave as if the island will sink if you are not here any longer..

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        • Anonymous says:

          I dare you big shot! Put your money where your mouth is. I know a few people that will take you up on that in a heart beat.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I will invest $2,000,000 into local business if you pay for my $100,000 PR.

        • Anonymous says:

          8:05…
          It seems that Caymanians have yet to find positive ways to resolve many of the most urgent issues. It is easy to see 3:03’s point.

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      • Goodbye says:

        Well it’s sad to say you are on your way looks like you won’t come back for many a day ,some will be glad others will be sad but Owen Robert’s Airport don’t give a damn. Byeeeeee

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Well how about this, if developers want to go over 10 stories for residential units, the condition should be that for every additional floor then 10% to a maximum of 50% of the sqft of units are sold to government AT COST for use of the NHDT. Not 10%-50% of the number of units because the luxury units could be 2500 sqft each and the affordable ones only 500sqft.
    These developers want to reduce their costs but maintain their selling price, nah, we ALL need to benefit from changes to the law.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You know what the cost per foot is for these kind of properties? And you want NHDT to buy those lol.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You might be talking about the cost to the purchaser, I think the OP is referring to the actual cost to build.

  19. Anonymous says:

    free money making solutions to traffic:
    Sell goab and build new goab east of frank sound.
    or
    bring in car-pool lanes and congestion charge for single occupancy vehicles that come through hurleys roundabout morning or evening peak times.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    “The population growth is largely to blame for the pressure in the local housing market, including the desperate shortage of affordable homes to buy or rent. But it is also fuelling the mounting traffic congestion, which has reached unprecedented levels.”

    If that’s the problem, stop the “importation” of people rather than build 30 story buildings and turning the roads into parking lots. The island is 22 miles long and 7 miles wide. Hello (knock on head). . .anybody home?

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    • Anonymous says:

      So turn away all potential economic growth… to help increase the standard of living for Caymanians? Genius.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Yes. Exactly that. Why is that a crazy concept? If what we are doing does not benefit the people it should benefit (I.E. Caymanians), why are we doing it? Our people cannot afford to live in the only place where we have a right to do so. If it takes the cessation of importing poverty to work for slave wages, then yes, we should *absolutely* do that.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    There is a problem: Individuals without T&B license importing cars as personal vehicles but really selling them to third parties. I have heard from reliable sources that 300-400 cars per month are being imported. Unles you want the road to be a parking lot, THAT has to stop. AND. . .
    the testing centre must become MUCH more stringent to remove dnagerous cars from the road. I bet if emmissions testing was introduced 25% of cars would be gone.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3-400 cars a month HAHAHA 4000+ cars a year? Come on think about it. a) that’s not happening b)anyone can only drive one car at a time.

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      • Anonymous says:

        One household – both parents own a car and so do their two teenage children. And maybe dad owns a truck. That’s not uncommon. And yes, each of them only drives one car! You telling me you have never seen driveways with 3 cars on them?

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        • Anonymous says:

          of course. have 4 on mine. so what? if one of us goes to work 9-7 and one of us drops the kids 730 at school and picks them up 230 etc… what difference does it make to traffic if each journey is done with the same or different cars? none.

          • Anonymous says:

            Read this article from 2019: https://caymannewsservice.com/2019/06/car-import-figures-soaring/

            “Last year alone (looks like 2018) 4,457 cars, trucks and motorcycles arrived in Cayman”. You think the numbers have reduced or risen since then? You think importing over 4000+ vehicles a year onto an island 22miles long and 8 miles wide is a smart idea; that nothing should be done about this?

            And, your driving habits may not be the same as the majority. The trafiic is atrocious and chances are your trip to drop off the kids will take you twice as long in the very near future.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If that really is a problem then simply restrict the transfer of vehicle title for a period of time after importation, say 1 or 2 years, for anyone without a relevant T&B license. Relatively simple to implement without resorting to xenophobic bans and forcing non-Caymanians to buy through rip off dealers. In the mean time use DVDL transfer data and WORC to identify who is trading cars illegally. Shouldn’t be very hard. DVDL should be able to provide a list of names who have imported and transferred cars a certain number of times.

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      • N says:

        Cars that are imported without a T&B License are often not registered (titled) until sale. One can Import a vehicle and park in your yard or other vacant land area with for sale penned on the vehicle. This would need CBC, DVDL, RCIPS to coordinate efforts – which is as unlikely as consistent traffic law enforcement.

  22. Anonymous says:

    This places is completely screwed – very few of us can afford to live here. Its great for the wealthy and the 2-week a year ‘residents’ that own most of the SMB, but what happens to your life of superiority when we either revolt or leave. Because that’s where its going – we cannot afford to live here.

    And now the Govt for whatever reason are threatening to restrict movement and opportunity by way of digital id cards; censor free speech with current legal amendments; and continue to utterly destroy the culture and ambience with giant structures, more development, and on and on.

    The short termism of everything in Cayman (whilst packaged as being ‘long term planning’) is total destruction of Cayman. Even us Caymanians are in on it – see Little Cayman proposals and so much else.

    people, please just stop. Stop everything and sort the problems. Then at least have a solid basis, infrastructure and foundation for the next few generations.

    And can we please ban leaf blowers? Seriously, its all day long, everywhere, total noise pollution. Whats wrong with a rake and a shovel and a brush? Too hard?

    FFS – we are doomed.

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  23. Truth says:

    CIG has never solved any problems that it caused in the first place. Watch as it gets worse. Traffic, the dump, Price of gas, price of food, will all get worse as time goes on. This is all on Caymanian culture and it will not and can not change.

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    • 🤫 says:

      Price of gas price f food is the responsibility of the CIG, man.woman me que ke or whatever you is stop it.you just stop it. This na Fe u.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Ok. But while the Parliament members will also debate the National ID and other topics, one that is not receiving attention but threatens to broadly impact free speech beyond the responsibilities of the free pree and actually impede ordinary citizen is the proposed Contempt of Court Law.
    It also removes self protection to not incriminate yourself and the right to also remain silent!!.
    This needs serious public discussion.
    As it states a crime will include –

    (c) refusing to answer questions if you are called as a witness; and

    (d) publicly commenting on a court case on social media or online news articles.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Point D: Does that include this?

    • Anonymous says:

      In regard to (c): If I am called to be a witness against my will, “I do not recall” will be my stock reply if I do not desire to get involved in a more detailed response. If, pressed, and so as not to invite any allegation of contempt, there are many strategies to avoid engagement and invite–yea, demand–impeachment that fall well short of being illegal.

  25. Anonymous says:

    Government officers lobbying itself for private sector.
    Win Win $$. Terrible times.

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  26. Anonymous says:

    Duplicitous.
    If papa wants 20 or 25 storey buildings, then ask for 40 and “compromise” to 25.

    Dumb and impactful for the amount of parking needed will decimate all public Lands around it. As seen in Town!

    Government has sold or bartered much lands. Even airspace. What next??!

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  27. Anonymous says:

    I can’t believe 30 storey buildings are even being considered! You all need your heads examined! I’m sure Mr. Dart is behind this bright idea!

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    • Anonymous says:

      He is. The whole airspace law and high rise debate we are seeing now is the fallout from Darts original proposal to built 50 story towers by his tunnel an d Royal palms

  28. Anonymous says:

    So only Caymanians will be able to import cars, so they will import them and sell them to those who can’t at a vast markup.

    56
    4
  29. N says:

    Discussing 30 story buildings (which will undoubtedly increase the population) makes no sense.
    Limiting the number of vehicles per person makes no sense – as one person can drive only one car at a time. I have 3 vehicles (including a twenty-five year old classic, with less than 15k miles and in excellent show room condition) and I have only ever been able to drive one at a time – though I have contributed to the public coffers for multiple, and do so annually with licensing fees and insurance costs.
    What needs to be discussed, and more so BUILT, is proper roads infrastructure and a proper public transport system! And this needs to be discussed by actual experts with proven experience….not the usual local political crew, who are clearly more interested in “what’s in it for them!”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      This is the most underrated comment. I also don’t understand the “limit imports”. One person can only drive one car at a time. The other one or two cars sitting in that person’s garage are not in a traffic jam!

      Also, without a proper public transport in place, you cannot ask people not to own a car. There is just no other way of getting around. What will happen is that Caymanians will buy a car, keep it in their name and lend it out on a monthly basis to some poor wp holder for a fee.

      26
  30. Anonymous says:

    so they dont want to make there be less vehicles on island, they just want to make sure that you have to pay more and make sure somebody gets rich. just wow.

    45
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  31. JC says:

    If you do not allow certain people to own cars, they will rent them and the cars will be here anyway! Allow UBER, reasonable Taxi rates, so that tourists do not need to rent cars.

    39
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    • Anonymous says:

      They tried Uber and the taxi drivers vigorously protested and, ultimately, got their way.

      30
      • Anonymous says:

        Good chunk of woters driving dem sh*t heaps badly.

        12
      • Anonymous says:

        I don’t remember seeing any protests at all… Not allowing Uber and shuttle services has always been about protectionism for years. Its also such a small group that are being protected to everyone’s detriment.

        6
        1
  32. Anonymous says:

    I can have 6 cars on my drive and can only use one at a time. This just means cars will become even more over-priced. Putting a band aid on a bullet wound.

    37
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  33. Anonymous says:

    SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

    We dont have the infrastructure for more people, more cars and taller buildings which will inevitably house more people with more cars especially since we have no proper public transportation system. Only dealerships will be allowed to import cars? great…that just means they will be more expensive and only the wealthy – living in the 30 storey luxury towers who are only here a few months of the year – will be able to afford cars.

    I wonder if we will ever have a government with common sense and long term solutions.

    46
    • Anonymous says:

      Allowing dealerships only to seel cars is a reasonable idea IF, AND ONLY IF, a very cheap and efficient public transport system is also created.

      5
      2
  34. Anonymous says:

    Screw them with their typical shortsighted, unresearched and “no alternative” “solutions”, I got mine!!

    Classic 40 + year-old convertible Brit sports car; almost-classic 20 year-old convertible American muscle car; large American luxury sedan; 4-door American truck, large American commercial van, mid-size American SUV; large American commercial SUV;
    Gas guzzlers and polluters all and I bet they will all outlast me, barring catastrophic accident. Don’t need any more!

    But I can drive ONLY ONE at a time.

    So screw them with their import restrictions!!!

    Call me selfish and small minded, I don’t care!

    28
    9
    • Anonymous says:

      You must be proud of yourself. What do you contribute to society other than taking out of it and pulling the ladder up behind you?

      5
      16
      • Anonymous says:

        04 @ 8:41 pm – Me? I worked my ass off for 40 years before retirement and still working. How I contributed?

        Hundreds of thousands of $$$ in duty payments to the public coffers for the very expensive vehicles I’ve imported over the years for my commercial business. Did I ever get a waiver or duty reduction? NEVER!!

        Still paying company license fees and T&B business license every year, plus all the gas tax Government tacks on to every gallon my thirsty vehicles consume….etc.

        Must have contributed something, received a Pioneer Award in my field.

        Yes, I’m very proud of myself. How about you??

        16
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  35. Anonymous says:

    ❓What country wants to restrict cars import in the absence of Public Transportation?
    🅰️The Cayman Islands.

    ❓What country would debate building high rises without establishing fundamentals of high-rise fire safety first?
    🅰️ The Cayman Islands

    ❓What country would debate building high rises in the absence of a comprehensive chapter specifically for high-rise buildings (in Building Codes)
    🅰️The Cayman Islands

    ❓What country has no basic understanding what Waste Management is?
    🅰️ The Cayman Islands

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    • Anonymous says:

      04 @ 7:26 am – Bang on!

      But, please excuse me but I thought “Waste Management” was the description for the political AND Public Services leadership of Cayman over the past 30 years?

      No?

      21
    • Anonymous says:

      It might be an idea to go research the difference between a Country & a Territory.

      5
      12
    • Anonymous says:

      ❓What country allows a Cancer Treatment Center to be built in the absence of Radiation Safety legislation and regulations?
      🅰️The Cayman Islands.

      ❓What country incinerates medical waste in the absence of updated regulations that limit emissions of nine air pollutants (e., particulate matter, carbon monoxide, dioxins/furans, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, lead, mercury, and cadmium).
      ✳️”While the DEH has provisions in place to monitor the construction and operation of incinerators, the official explained that the regulations do not include the “guidelines indicating what pollutants one should test for”. In addition, the DEH does not have the “necessary equipment to allow for adequate monitoring of such emissions at this time”.
      https://cnslocallife.com/2018/09/emissions-incinerators/
      🅰️ The Cayman Islands.

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