Shoreline online map reveals limited beach access
(CNS): The government has produced a Shoreline Interactive Map (IMAP) that pinpoints public pedestrian pathways to the shoreline and public beach areas across the three Cayman Islands, with information about each spot provided in pop-up boxes. However, the map also reveals the limited public access to beaches on Grand Cayman. Despite some 300 points, there are long stretches around the coast where there is no official public access.
The online navigation tool for the remaining public rights of way is now live on the Public Lands Commission’s website.
Beach access has become a significant issue of public concern on Grand Cayman as it was not so long ago that Caymanians could enjoy access to the beach all around the island anywhere, and blocked pathways or coastal access points were unheard of. But with the runaway development in the two decades since Hurricane Ivan, access to beaches has been curtailed or lost completely.
Previous governments were responsible for the loss of some beach access points through the NRA agreement with Dart, while others were lost due to developments approved by the Central Planning Authority. At least one battle between local residents, Dart and the government continues over the beach access lost as a result of the West Bay Road tunnel.
In some cases, landowners have blocked public access points, denying people the right to cross their properties or making them leave when they do find a way to the beach. There have been real concerns in Cayman that, like Jamaica, beach access could eventually become something that has to be paid for.
In a press release about the development and rollout of the project, Wilbur Welcome, the acting chief officer in the Ministry for Lands and the driving force behind it, said this was the first phase, which is paving the way for a more comprehensive solution.
“Recognising the pressing concerns voiced by our stakeholders, notably the lack of accessible shoreline information and navigational difficulties in specific areas, we embarked on delivering swift yet cost-effective solutions,” he said. “Our aim was not only to address these pain points but also to gather actionable insights from our users, ensuring a remarkable end-product.”
The online tool will be supported by a six-month public engagement campaign, starting this month until November, led by the Public Lands Inspectorate, which is responsible for enforcing the laws relating to the application and use of public lands. The ministry is asking the public to use the tool and give feedback towards the development of Phase 2 of the project, which is scheduled for launch next year and will involve the development of a standalone smartphone app.
Premier and Lands Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the launch of the Shoreline IMAP represented a step toward empowering residents. “Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the Shoreline IMAP offers an experience for understanding and accessing our coastal treasures by leveraging technology, all while preserving and promoting our deep-rooted maritime culture,” she added.
The release noted that the key features of the Shoreline IMAP include providing the location of around 300 public rights-of-way to the shoreline. It also generates real-time user insights through Google Analytics, and the campaign will provide opportunities for public feedback through online surveys.
The ministry wants members of the public to play an active role in the project by reporting blocked shoreline access points directly to the Public Lands Inspectorate. Recognising the shoreline as part of our collective culture fosters stewardship by all and facilitates responsible use and appreciation of our natural resources, the release said.
“Together, we can ensure that future generations inherit the same pristine beauty that defines the Cayman Islands,” officials stated.
The Public Lands Inspectorate under the oversight of MDAL was created to enforce the laws outlined in the Public Lands Act (2020 Revision) and the Public Lands Regulations, 2021. Their main job involves overseeing how public lands are used.
To report blocked shoreline access points, email PLCInspectorate@gov.ky or call 9467110.
See the Shoreline IMAP on on the Public Lands Commission’s website.
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Category: Local News
Most of the shoreline hasn’t really been used by the public “uninterrupted” for 20 years.
None of the shoreline has.
I sit in the US, born in Cayman, having been blessed with years of visits where a day didn’t end or begin without a swim. It pains me to see all the development focused for foreigners and wealthy and the resulting upward pressures on the price of property (and life) that my second and third cousins must now contend with. To deny or limit access to the beaches that Caymanians have always benefited from is further salt to the wounds and realities you all must deal with to live your birthrights. Progress is good but must be for all. Vote your power and secure legislation and legislators that keep Cayman and Caymanians FIRST in all of their assessments and grants.
this is indeed a very American attitude of property ownership. The English advert tradition of allowing public right of way even over terrestrial property but certainly coastal zones. Go to Florida however and you have to go many many miles before you can circumnavigate with the greedy developers and owners have done to Shoreline access
Yes, he/she as a Caymanian had been blessed having gone to the US and being able to visit Cayman several times a year. Sounds good to me, maybe in California, lots of wide open beaches for all them sides.
Once you look below the surface this is the exact same issue as many others –
Reckless driving
Un-roadworthy vehicles
Abuse of the work permit system
Abuse of the NAU system
etc
There is no regulation of anything, so any rules are completely irrelevant
You lose wotes if you enforce the law, didn’t you realize that yet..?
If CIG wants to give public beach access without confusion it needs to get off its beach chair and provide some legislative clarity. Sticking signs in the ground without ever addressing things like high water mark etc is just cowardly.
There is legislative clarity. The Prescription Act.
Which won’t stand up in court when the day does inevitably come.
A law that cant or wont be enforced is irrelevant. The Prescriptions Act has so many holes and dispensations that it has less power than an HOA.
And yet the UK has followed and enforced it for a thousand years.
The “Beach” cleanup folks need to study the PLC map of public beach access areas and mentally update their assumptions, given all the derelict DART properties they have been clearing for years. If DART, with all it’s purported means, cannot muster it’s own crews to manage these areas, they should be fined, or forfeit previous Crown land-swap frontage back to the public.
Why on earth would they, or anyone else, clean up properties for others to return and continually abuse?
The Registered Land Law requires owners to maintain and take care of their land to prescribed standards, regardless of who they might think was responsible for littering that surface. The CIG has a Public Lands Commission, DEH, and Public Works Department for crown holdings. Private billionaire land-bankers have their own hyped wallets to deliver on their obligations, or have that land granted, properly forfeited back to the Crown.
Good luck with that
Three departments and still shit everywhere.
#worldclass
But those beach cleanup folks need their points for PR bobo.
Who else is going to clean up the trash left behind locals?
Simple answer is the property owner, per the Registered Land Law.
Which is not happening, as CIG will not enforce it’s laws.
Isn’t it strange how, as the population skyrockets due to immigrants, so does the amount of trash? I wonder how that knowledge allows you to paint a picture of it being the locals’ fault. The same locals that kept this place pristine back before all the immigrants “discovered” this jewel in the Caribbean.
Do you even get to enjoy the views you paid so much for with your head so far up your own ass?
Did you ever suspect that if the Generational Caymanians (who have sold out their heritage) look at their trash contribution, the dump would be still rising?????????? Shoot, everyone generates trash! Caymanians, tourists, even our Ministers. LOcals have not kept ‘this place pristine!’ They SOLD IT! And they are doing nothing to keep it pristine – why not??? They LEFT!
Cleaning up the billionaire’s property portfolio is a misspent exercise when they already have that private duty themselves. If DART doesn’t have the money or resources to manage its properties adequately, they should list them, or forfeit the land given back to the Crown. DART certainly don’t deserve to be rescued for internal mismanagement with public charity.
And you will do the same for Generational Caymanians who also “cannot muster.. to manage these areas”? Yea, I suspected not.
Maintenance of private land is the responsibility of the landowner per the Registered Land Law. Doesn’t matter surname, but there are definitely some surnames who have no excuse for leaving their portfolio the way they do. The public, made poorer via previous unsupervised government land transfers, do not owe any time and charity to these benefactors.
the cheap Google Maps overlay doesn’t identify property owners so good luck.
Were Wilbur and Gloria flown over and accommodated just to take the picture or did they actually install the sign to make the expense even somewhat justifiable?
Juju’s greatest work after all these years in office, putting up a sign LOL.
This is bullshit. The website even incorrectly quotes the Prescription Act referencing the high water mark as the extent of public use, rather than the natural vegetation line which is in fact the limit for public use. This insanity is not only wrong – it is dangerous and has every potential to cause literal conflict.
False, you are entitled to your own opinion but not your own set of facts. If you had beachfront property you would know this is not the case.
Ah, but having walked the whole beach, from vegetation line to sea, my whole life – to have used it as a literal road since before roads existed, having used it to fish, to picnic, to sunbathe, and otherwise peaceably enjoy, I and every other member of the public of these Islands, resident and visitor alike, have an unassailable right to it, no matter who owns it. Right to the vegetation line. And that is fact AND law, something you have neither of.
Prove it.
Easy. Another 40,000 people can also prove it.
Ah but you can’t.
An affidavit, 100 witness statements, and 50 years of photos will cement the deal.
What you got? A foreign realtor telling you what Cayman law is?
No it won’t.
someone bought some beach and is now petulant…woooo…
Bring your prescriptive claim smartass and lets see which way the cookie crumbles.
Where is your “private” beach? We will arrange a date to come prove it.
Enjoy the burr grass I planted for you.
No – that’s natural vegetation. That’s your side of the line…
The line is the high water mark.
May I suggest you read section 4 of the Prescription Act, and adjust your position accordingly?
Ummm…
1. I own beachfront land
2. You (and everyone else) is entitled to peaceably enjoy it
3. The fact that I own beachfront land does not make me “know” anything
4. I know this to be the case because it is the law (one that applies equally to you)
Section 4 of the Prescription Act puts it beyond any doubt:
“4. (1) When any beach has been used by the public or any class of the public for fishing, for purposes incident to fishing or for bathing or recreation, and any road, track or pathway passing over any land adjoining or adjacent to such beach has been used by the public or any class of the public as a means of access to such beach, without interruption for twenty years, the public shall, subject to the provisos hereinafter contained, have the absolute and indefeasible right to use such beach, land, road, track or pathway, unless it appears that the same was
enjoyed by some consent or agreement expressly made or given for that purpose by deed or writing.”
My guess is that you regret cutting down those old grape trees and pulling up all that cocoplum about now. You could always replant them where they used to be if you don’t want me gutting fish or sunbathing with my friends at the infinity edge of your pool.
Section 4 of the Prescription Act is untenable and the PLC and the courts know it.
So you come here from another country and operate in open opposition to our laws and culture. You expect this to end well for you?
I know it will, and you’ll be broke from trying to fight it.
Attitudes like yours is exactly why we’ll always be at the brink of a civil war between blood and paper Caymanians.
Buy yourself a nice piece of beachfront property and live in peace.
What, and have a neighbour like you?
Or, you bought property under a clear legislative context and don’t like that you didn’t understand the impact. So now you state that part of the law is untenable, rather than that your decision was poorly informed.
Unless you purchased before this legislation, I don’t see the position carrying water.
I willing bet two pattehs you ga beachfront property and siding with the incorrect quote for your own personal gain
Lots of expats on your side too.
We appreciate you.
Which of Cayman’s myriad public works arms is supposed to be responsible for supervision and maintenance of these PUBLIC access points? Surely that’s part of the missing government oversight we already pay for? If not, why not?
They expect the landowners to keep them clear to facilitate the public dumping their trash on the beach.
FA simple drive around the island shows that many of these so called “public access” points are in many instances completely obstruvted by landowners who wish to deny public access.
Not only are many obstructed, few are accessible for the disabled.
PLC, do your job!!!
But is it PLC’s job? It’s unclear – perhaps deliberately so. This is important enough topic that there should be a department authority with a head person ultimately responsible for supervising this public access and keeping these points in width compliance, clear of obstruction, and in safe/good condition (ie. no broken glass). Who’s is that?
PLC
This is Cayman. Where all progress is measured by planting signs.
and laying concrete
And pipe
Go deh Will, so proud of you fam.
JT
Doesn’t stop the wealthy near public access putting out cones on a PUBLIC road to stop people parking on the road outside their condos though. Some even employ security guards to run you off with BS stories like ‘this is a fire lane’ etc. Yep we have got to the point where the wealthy believe they have more rights than the common man because they paid a lot to enjoy the beach. Making it worse is the government doing absolutely nothing to stop them putting cones on the public road with no double yellow lines.
Yeah but build a monstrous cruise terminal for cruise passengers who have no beaches to visit. Couldn’t make it up… The incompetence of the PPM is staggering!
Exactly – but also why are the government promoting and supporting all these airbnb properties which if they are not in a condo ON the beach means they are in the same boat as the locals – trying to find beach access locations where they can actually park a car so they can bring along some basic beach accessories.
Whilst our political nuisances can point all their grand accomplishments in the sister islands We here in Grand Cayman are resigned to hard reality and fact that this place is gone and beach Access do not mean Squat if you cannot get to BEACH or SEA our Heritage and a right all Caymanian use to enjoyed.So these Photo Op only stand Mock the loss.
There’s at least a couple by Prospect Point that are a disgrace.
One path ends high above the beach, on top of a retaining wall. Several feet drop to the beach.
Still, the beach is covered in sarsgassum (never cleared by government) & trash / plastics. Never cleaned except by Montessori school kids and sometimes a lady with 2 kids.
Organised beach cleanup?
The original steps down to the beach are just over that wall.
Some in east end completely blocked. One by the place on the front of magazines in stores has one that is totally blocked.
One owner on Prospect Point Rd built a wall and Tesla power wall right in the middle of the public right of way. Right in front of the sign. And PLC doesn’t seem to do anything about it at all!
Because they can’t.
Because they won’t. High time demands are made to enforce these public access points that the wealthy block.