100+ acres of natural habitat already at risk this year
(CNS): Since the start of this year, the Central Planning Authority has heard applications for development projects and sub-divisions that threaten well over one hundred acres of primary natural habitat, including mangroves. Despite mounting public support for conservation and significant concerns that development is destroying the environment, in less than two months the CPA has either already granted planning permission or is considering approval for projects that place unique flora at risk.
Despite the PACT Government’s stated commitment to sustainable development, nature continues to be under attack from plans such as Dart Realty’s application for a subdivision on 60 acres of mangroves in Rum Point and the Gun Club’s request to relocate to a 38-acre site of tidally flooded mangroves along the North Sound coast.
It appears from an examination of the minutes of CPA meetings published by the planning department that the board is still granting planning permission on wetlands and other primary habitat based almost entirely on the dated development plan. There is very little evidence that the extensive submissions made by the Department of Environment are being considered.
DoE’s technical experts regularly submit detailed information ahead of CPA meetings on all planning applications where the proposed project is not on previously developed or man-modified land. The submissions range from the very rare use of the National Conservation Council’s powers to order an environmental impact assessment or advise about mitigating threats to the natural environment.
On just two occasions, both of which were challenged by the CPA, the NCC has directed the CPA via the DoE to refuse planning permission.
Of the dozens of applications approved each month, the DoE will advise on the best use of land or how the loss of important habitat can be reduced. It often spells out why the CPA should impose conditions or even refuse an application. The advice is mainly about reducing the destruction of untouched habitat and preserving as much of the natural resources on a given site as possible. The DoE will also warn about the consequences of certain types of development and the loss of natural habitat.
Despite the limited powers to direct the CPA, the advice given by the DoE is still supposed to be considered by the board in the same way it considers the comments from other agencies, such as the fire service or the National Roads Authority. But the CPA rarely details its consideration of the information it receives from the DoE in the minutes. And where it is shown to be considered, it is regularly dismissed.
There has been a massive loss of wetlands and other important habitat on Grand Cayman over the last five decades. In 1976, the western end of Grand Cayman was largely composed of wetlands, with about 5,300 acres of mangroves and sedge marshes from Prospect to West Bay. By 2013, that number was just 1,600 acres, a 70% loss to residential and commercial development.
Since 2008 an estimated 184 acres of mangrove has been lost. But in less than three months, the CPA is weighing decisions on almost half that amount of land that is not man-modified and either all or partial wetlands and untouched primary habitat such as dry forest.
Just over 864.5 acres of wetland are currently protected, and only 11% of all land across all three islands is protected by either the government or the National Trust. The rest, around 89%, remains at risk. While much of that is already developed, the rest is disappearing under the bulldozers far quicker than the NCC or the Trust can acquire and protect the land.
The latest report from the Office of the Auditor General, which looks at Cayman’s adherence to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, points out that even though mangroves are now protected, the protections are removed as soon as planning permission is granted. The result is more and more wetlands are lost every month.
Meanwhile, the OAG was only able to find data relating to dry forest habitat that was a decade old. In 2013 dry forest habitat accounted for around 7,000 acres, or about 10% of the Cayman Islands’ total land area. At that point, just 10% of that habitat was protected.
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Category: development, Land Habitat, Local News, Science & Nature
Was reading on CMR of the 202 Global citizens on islands that contributed to the overall GDP. What I found disturbing as to why no type of research has been completed as to what the sudden increase of 202 more people has added to our garbage pile, our sewer system, out environment and our road system. Why? Our way of life destroyed for $1M? Going toward I’m begging that our premier weighs out the costs benefits to the people and future generations. For the record, the east/road extension and the port in breakers is the worst idea that one can even consider. I am a proud Savannah native and I can tell you, my vote and family will be strongly considering voting for opposition just on principle that our way of life has changed for the worst and way too expensive to survive.
Business as usual.
Give this country 10 to 15 years and we will see Caymanians boarding rafts and heading north like the Cubans and Haitians. I’m already packing to head back where my great grandparents sailed from to get here. Ireland! We should be ashamed of what we have done to this place. I respect cockroaches more than my “fellow Caymanians”. Ignorance and backstabbing: order of the day.
We have become a crazed ,perverted and craven society led by a cadre of people who have watched our island moral and physical decay and said nothing.
Year after year, successive representatives along with Pirate Investors/ developers and business interlopers have come here seen the nascent beauty of these islands and the naivety of its leaders and decided to amd have raped and pillaged us and indeed have taken away the very essence of what first made us a worthy caribbeanndestination.
Our leaders poorly educated in the majority just allowed us to become like a prostitute in the whatever country , opened our borders wide and let everybody come in and well I guess you can see and have felt the rest caymanians.
It’s not enough to criticize our politicians, it’s not enough to say vote them out it is now about us lobbying our own people who have proven integrity , sound background and are experienced in business and have moral fortitude to take the reins of leadership of this country and set a plan for future leadership development, as well as implement a plan growth of development which ádresses, not just the environment but also social implications of growth, curtailing of massive influx of any one immigrant nation and the well being of the native population as well as those we allow to dwell amongst us. This exercise must also be inclusive of contributory fees by the populace that must be taken into budgets that address education, health insurance. Education etc.
In short this hodge posh system of electing governments that are not capable of presenting a viable plan for the islands must stop and politicians held to a much higher standard than on the past.
All of the above may sound Utopian to many and crazy to others , but the reality is fellow caymanians if we dont plan to change we will slowly allow the creeping expat population and certain sectors thereof to one day in the near future totally dictate our government and our lives . Woe betide is if that day is allowed to arise.
Let us stop talking and unite in heart spirit and sweat to take back the reins of these islands and carry them forward in a manner that no one gets left behind. Where there is respect for one another and intubad thought mind and creed is an integral part of the Caymanian way for present and future generations . As it was in the beginning when we went to sea United so let it be our goal and our legacy.
Stop and consider the case of Michael Ryan and Dale Crighton’s Fin project. The damage happened during construction. There are photos of the building material and contents of the artificial rock pool being dumped on the Marine Park. I haven’t heard of any fines being made. If the Ryans and Crightons of this world can just ignore the DoE the planning regulations are irrelevant.
https://www.change.org/p/dale-crighton-protect-cayman-s-reefs-from-construction-development-damage
The pickle ball courts is being developed on primary habitat. The DoE highlighted the importance of this in the CPA agenda. No one cared about this being destroyed…I wonder why…hmmm.
Because of hypocrisy, that’s why there wasn’t any outcry from some quarters about the destruction of PRISTINE habitat for pickle ball!
mother nature will be the winner,,why worry when you can pray. the foolish man builg his house on the sand,and the rock is in East End.
Nothing is sudden. Everything is as it’s always been.
DoE never had more than a sliver of power to direct Planning. They may only direct when the proposal is within or adjacent to designated critical habitat or protected area and only where the impact cannot be mitigated.
And the few times they’ve tried to exercise this right – like ordering the refusal to build on the postage stamp of cliff falling into the marine park at Boggy Sands – it’s been met with challenge and when that was won, by further appeal. It’s shameful.
Planning board should be renamed to construction board. They don’t give a ** about planning anything. They don’t even follow their own law. And no one does anything because the corruption and entrenchment of bowing down to the development kings runs so deep no one who is actually able is also willing to risk bringing it down.
Is anyone brave enough to come forward with evidence to bring this cancer of a Dept and board down? The future of our islands depends on it!
“Concerned Caymanian” at 12:00 pm. If you had even a shred of evidence of “corruption” at the CPA or Planning Department, you would have brought it to the Anti-Corruption Commission instead of hiding behind the shroud of anonymity on this website. Come on, be brave.
Guess it can’t be corrupt if it isn’t illegal, or if it maybe illegal, it isn’t sufficiently investigated or prosecuted eh?
Caymanian land, sold by Caymanians to, mostly, Caymanian developers, employing Caymanian sub-contractors who employ imported labour approved by Caymanians to build houses on land zoned for development by Caymanians and approved by plannig and environmental boards run by Caymanians, using construction materials supplied by Caymanians, all in accordance with laws made by Caymanians who are in turn chosen and voted for by Caymanians. And yet it’s apparently the foreign buyers fault. Hmm.
Absolute, profound, TRUTH!
8:31, It is always the expats / foreigners fault here.
Gotta blame someone in a place with no political accountability.
My god, the comment section here is revealing.
So many deluded people who have fallen for the idea of trickle-down economics, where the rich convinced us to give them all the money, power, and land, with the promise that it would trickle down the pile to get to us.
Now we sit here, begging for scraps from their table, yet some people are still clinging to the idea that supporting and backing the developers will, against all the evidence, get them their little piece of the pie.
None of these houses are for us, no young Caymanian is going to get to live in these mansions in the mangroves. No low cost housing is going to be built near them. Not 1 developer gives a flying f#*k about what passport their buyers hold, just how much money they can pay.
We don’t even benefit from the development work. Most of the labour is underpaid, imported, and gives most of its income back to the same robber barons in rent, with the leftovers sent overseas.
In fairness to Panton, at least he tried, but there was never enough MPs elected that were able to support his goals. He built a gov that is still owned by the same rich men as the last,because there was no other alternative. He has been completely hamstrung from day 1, unable to progress any meaningful change, blocked by the lack of ethics, morals, and the greed of the MPs we keep voting back in.
Cayman needs to face the fact that we either sink under concrete, or we as a population need to force the issues we care about. Our Parliament will never be ours. But, we’re not lazy enough to stop complaining, yet too lazy to take the direct action we need.
Another very truthful comment. THIS is what should be emphasized more – stop the blaming of others and look towards ourselves to admit what we did, take responsibility, and try to correct our huge mistakes. But, it is probably too late.
Britannia Golf Course will be next large scale development. I’ll give it a name ( for Jackie)..
“Par Excellence”.
LOL!!!
The Business owners and developers will have all the cash they ever wanted, run to another country to try and escape the same urbanism they built with their money, and turn around and say the next generation cares too much about the wrong things.
I can’t wait for them to get old and throw us the keys to the car they never serviced, maintained and ran through the mud only to get cursed out about what type of shape the car is in like its all our fault.
still plenty Brac Bluff land and remeber the rising sea level
The Brac is a small rock in the water. Easily bought by greater resources than what they will be able to refuse. The deal is done!
Yup. And this is why early elections is needed RIGHT NOW. This fiasco of a PACT Cabinet needs to end. No consensus in Cabinet means the fewest sittings/meetings we have ever witnessed in the first two years of a term and the people’s work is not getting done! Parliamentarians’ primary job is to LEGISLATE, ie create laws. The three branches of a democratic government are the Judiciary (courts), Executive (enforcement/police) and Legislature (Parliament). But for the last two years, we have barely had a parliament, therefore one critical limb of our democracy is rotting.
This PACT grouping, such an inept group foisted upon us, is causing everything to which it is connected to ROT, including any plan or half-hearted desire to protect our environment even though we have a ministry dedicated to sustainability and climate resiliency. What a farce.
Meanwhile, for all who are naysayers, early elections writing is on the wall. Early campaigning is already underway, just check out Andre clutching on to his Meals on Wheels bags for his delivery to the elderly and indigent yesterday, and oh by the way his route just so happened to be his constituency WBS. How “kind” of MOW to “dispatch” Andre on the WBS route, facilitating early campaigning in his electoral district. One would think he has legislative work to do, especially in the aftermath of a massive shuffle of the Cabinet deck and a looming constitutionally mandated May 1 Strategic Policy Statement.
3:18, And vote for WHO? The gene pool is just too small here.
Therein lies the problem.
PACT should have been the ideal group to create a better future for these islands, but how many of them are actually onside with its ideals, and how many are just there for the power while in the pocket of the same developers as the previous gov?
PACT came in with great ideas and intentions, but without a real majority, as half the members were never going to be allowed to supports PACTs goals.
Worse, there is simply no alternatives to this puddle of “talent” for us to vote for.
What is so funny, is that there is a commercial on the radio now, talking about the marine parks being there so the future generations can fish, like their parents. This ad should be removed, as it is a joke!! I am not sure if the elected members are that dumb, that they do not know where juvenile marine life protect themselves until they can venture out to deeper waters!! As my dad would say; three times stupid and stuck on dumb!!
The political appointed boards are serving their masters. How many planning board members have the requisite skills or knowledge to make informed decisions?
How many directors even know what the words corporate governance means?
Go to the planning website and check the list of names just like all of the other boards. There are directors serving on multiple boards and collecting a monthly stipend.
Development is always opposed by people who already have a home sitting on a piece of land which was already bulldozed.
I’ve noticed the ones who cry the loudest are the ones who bought those homes 10-15 years ago when prices were way lower.
Now we have a population boom, and a housing shortage and Caymanians who can’t afford anything and the folks sitting on goldmine homes don’t want any more built. By the way…the reason those old houses are worth so much now is due to the population boom which is due to economic development. You can’t have economic development without more people and you can’t have more people without more housing.
It’s a wicked problem but I’d love to hear these anti development folks give a solution for the housing affordability and shortage issues we’re struggling with now.
Well said! The “prices are too high, let’s stop making more” school of economics. Doh.
This really is a boring stuck record from an individual with an axe to grind and no solutions. Seriously man, get over yourself.
A third of the island has been bulldozed by developers whereas more than 50% of all land is no longer owned by generational wealth.
There are no affordable developments on the listings because the ‘what’s in it for me’ folks are not backing these projects.
This will never stop as long as there is “back handers” going on.
Not sure if it was a Freudian slip, but I got a good laugh out of “Dart Reality”.
CNS: Oops! Corrected.
Wayne Panton and Jay Ebanks as Cabinet Ministers need to get in a room in order to look up the meaning of compromise. Then figure how the much needed national development will help them achieve their objectives in order to satisfy their core supporters in the environmental and development lobbies that they pander to politically.
Can the PACT of egos agree on anything?
Can we the people (and our egos) find common ground and compromise on difficult topics?
Let’s have the same expectations for ourselves as we do for our elected officials.
Actually, no. That’s why they are elected to get this work done. How wide of a berth are we expected to give them? This is the problem with having a cobbled together government – because we the people were never given the opportunity to give a clear mandate on what we want, except “change”. Well the change effected inertia. A standstill government that has differing views across the board so there is zero consensus, while they collect a paycheck for not doing the job they were elected to do – make decisions and enact laws.
5:41 pm Completely agree. But I fear Wayne’s ego will be too big for the room. How will he be able to balance all his interests now that he’s now also responsible for Economic Development?
Wayne’s ego will have to fight with Jay’s ego. PACT is an inflated ego.
Wayne’s ego is not our problem, but if you think that is our problem, you are politically ignorant as to what is really hoppening.
Well, please tell us what is really happening. I thought it WAS just the “same old same old”, where every elected politician was only interested in how much wealth he could get as quick as possible.
Parliament Members should always remember that the voters gave them a job by voting for them, they MUST do a good job for the people, otherwise the voters will take away their jobs 9(fire) them the next election.
Land zoned for development is being developed. Hardly news.
Generational Caymanians destroyed Cayman by having sold out.
Generational Caymanians crying because Cayman is destroyed.
Generational Caymanians blaming everyone but themselves.
Generational Caymanians blaming developers for doing what they said they would do.
6:46 get a grip. It’s not the generational Caymanians complaining. It’s the expat Caymanians who came here and dug up mangroves for their beautiful mansions because it suited them then. But now they are the ones pointing the fingers and wanting development to stop regardless of what’s allowed in the planning laws. And causing the generational Caymanians to wonder how on earth their kids and grandkids will be able to afford a place of their own.
Enjoy your life in your bubble! Unfortunately, reality goes on for those who pay the price of what Generational Caymanians… like… maybe yourself sold old for???
It’s not expats complaining, they have what they wanted. The complaining is the 2’nd generational Caymanians that are repulsed of what their grandparents sold out for! Grab a mirror!!!
Yup, my grandp’ts sold 4 acres in 1968. They thought nobody would come to this rock.
Sounds like your parents sold out too early. No patted account for you; to wonder ‘how on earth I can be able to afford a place on my own.’ Hmnnn, GET EDUCATED??? Get a job??? Save??? Just like the rest of the world!
Sorry, reality sucks. Yes, it is the Generational Caymanians that are at fault; and their progeny that cries and bellows how unfair life is. You want to get ahead, look at how the expats did it: Education, work ethic, patience, don’t make stupid choices.
WHEN.WILL.THE.NCC.BE.RE-APPOINTED.
How about the CPA be re appointed
How about understanding the existing planning laws and regulations and that the CPA is bound to adhere to those and can’t just stop development because Gina says so?
If the public truly understands the planning laws and decides they want them to change, then lobby your MPs about that.
Can the environmentalist tell the rest of us where our children can buy land and build a house that rhe dont object?
Jamaica.
Or Miami.
Lol what are you smoking that makes you think the developments being described here will be sold at a priced locals can even dream of? Bruh, mangrove destruction means beachside development, these are vacation homes for millionaire expats, stop pretending we are all just temporarily hard-up billionaires.
You want a place for your kids to live? maybe stop selling off the island to the 1% so there is something left for them. Cayman gives 0 support to its own local communities, long standing Cayman homesteads are sold above value to whatever johnnie come lately has a checkbook big enough so they can be leveled to male way for more 21st century modernistic box houses, just look at the coast of north side through grape tree point and who can forget that monstrosity “Cayman Villas” built behind the graveyard in Bodden town. We even let them move graves across from Hurley’s to build that monstrosity, not even our dead are allowed respect. Local businesses are forced to compete with cheap production of the US which thanks to our import duties they simply cannot. I suppose One good thing about the global logistics issues is that it has forced Caymanians to actually buy some good locally. Hell we are now allowing a return of company towns for our foreign owned hotels.
Stop going to bat for robber barons who don’t care about you. I wish that we as Caymanian’s had the sense of self and community to stand up for ourselves 1/10th as fervently as we see the people of France doing now. You ask where our kids can build homes? at the current rate, they will be lucky to live in a 20ft shipping container paid for with company scrip.
I agree with all you noted, especially:
‘wish that Caymanian’s had the sense of self and community…’
But we didn’t years ago, and we still don’t.
We are now controlled by those who had ambition, goals and were willing to work to get ahead.
That was “Luxury Cayman Villas” not to be confused with Cayman Villas 😉
Hint…not a 75 square mile island that is on its way to being poured concrete.
It isn’t that type of sale that the conservationists and environmentalists object to; it is large-scale overdevelopment and overpopulation which is going to ruin everything unique and attractive about the Cayman Islands.
Houseboats
hurricanes
Stop your cryin! Hundreds of units across the island have pre-approved planning. Acres of pre-cleared land sitting to be developed. Plenty of little igloo boxes for you to choose from. Lots of foreign developers here just reaping in the cash.
Not being able to afford a home has nothing to do with environmentalists or are you seriously that dumb.
WOW. So how do we stop the CPA from following the Development Plan, Planning Regulations and Laws again? And why are DoEs powers to direct suddenly limited? I thought the judicial review confirmed that theyre expert opinions and advice trumps the development and planning regulations (laws).
Maybe CNS can also clarify as theyve written both sides on this so very confused – youve previously said that not all considerations/discussions are recorded in the Minutes but then said things ‘were not’ discussed or considered as they were not in the Minutes. Which is it?
Perhaps we should all live in the mangrove?
Nimbyville is filling up fast.
WE need the housing so please CPA keep up the great work.
Please crawl back in your cave
Don’t worry that gang of political supporters will approve what politicians anddevelopers want, without considering the long term impact on these islands. Knowing full well that none of these developments will help Caymanians. Hate to break it to you all but beyond the dollars they do not care.
Well you are not 100% correct. Look at who sits on the board. Guess who gets paid???
This is not being built for Caymanians. Caymanians sold the land, they had the chance to preserve/develop it. Look at your fellow countrymen.
These houses are not for you, you ditz! these are shoreside homes for rich expats. We are destroying our land to feed the 1%.
@5:10 pm. Pray do tell how destroying our mangroves will provide you with housing that you can afford? Unless of course you are one of the developers rubbing your hands and dancing with glee, waiting in the wings. These islands are being destroyed by the ignorant and greedy.
This is just sick!
You must be a rich person who does not need a job because we need development to have jobs and revenue for government. Thank goodness CPA chairman knows this and will stay the course.