Little Cayman fights back over airport plans
(CNS): Residents across Little Cayman and the tourism sector are raising their concerns about plans to construct a new airport and say they will fight the government over this as they believe it will change the island forever and encourage over-development and an influx of people that will negatively impact the pristine marine habitat and striking natural beauty. The Sister Islands Tourism Association is leading the fight and has launched a petition seeking the intervention of Governor Jane Owen to save Little Cayman’s existing Edward Bodden Airfield.
For at least the last two and a half decades, various administrations have talked about moving and upgrading the airport on Little Cayman using the same arguments as the current UPM Government: that the airfield does not comply with international safety regulations.
The CAA, which has been headed by Richard Smith since 1995, maintains, as it has done at least since the late 1990s, that the airfield must now do so, and this requires the construction of a new airport and runway. The authority is warning that it will not continue to issue exemptions of airworthiness certificates to Cayman Airways so it can continue to use the airfield.
However, the people of Little Cayman have argued that there are islands all over the world that use similar types of airfields that are certified by their local aviation authorities. They have made it clear that they will not accept that the airport has to be replaced and are challenging the government to take a different approach.
The petition, spearheaded by SITA President Peter Quilliam, asks the governor, who has responsibility for civil aviation, to keep the current airport and airstrip and not move them to a new location. It also asks Owen to engage an independent airport contractor to provide options that would satisfy the CAA’s concerns so that it will grant the current airport a more permanent status, and fully consult with local residents and landowners on any future proposals.
SITA members do not believe it is a binary choice and they are requesting that all efforts be made to facilitate the airport and airstrip remaining in its current location.
“It is our opinion that this is the wish of the vast majority of residents and land owners as well as being an integral part of the identity and character of Little Cayman,” the petition states. “There are other options which have not been considered. Those driving this change are trying to present this as an unavoidable and required change, which we do not accept.
“We are aware of other airports around the world, including in our region, that cannot comply with all regulations and are granted certain exemptions or derogations that ensure safety is not compromised. In fact, we understand that the current airport has operated with these types of exemptions for many years now without serious incident and has an excellent safety record,” the organisation stated in the petition.
While some changes may be needed to address any safety concerns, SITA said people need to understand what modifications are needed to allow the current facility to continue its operation in its present location.
“We are also aware that the proposed location for the new airport facility will have some very serious challenges, environmentally and from a geotechnical standpoint,” SITA said. “Additionally, the cost will be substantial and beyond any reasonable value for money analysis. This proposed misuse of public funds is reckless and shortsighted.”
Following a recent PlanCayman presentation to residents and landowners on Little Cayman, SITA said it was very clear that there is no development plan that would support the need for a new airport.
“Our view is that there is no need for this new facility, and this would be an incredible waste of Government funds while taking away from the distinct character of Little Cayman, against the wishes of a majority of the residents and land owners. Modifying the current airstrip has never been given serious consideration as a way forward. We are deeply concerned that the new proposed facility will change the unique offering here, destroy the character of Little Cayman and negatively impact those in business who rely on that character to attract guests,” SITA said.
There is a strong feeling on the island that the possible alternatives to a new airport have not been seriously considered and that a limited number of powerful and influential people are pressing for a larger airport in order to open up the island for more development, a situation that most residents are deeply opposed.
What’s more, Little Cayman’s marine environment is under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage Status, and for some time local activists have been campaigning for the island to become a fully protected area on land as well as at sea because of its unique beauty. However, a larger airport, bringing more tourists and development, would undermine the chances of either.
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Category: development, Local News, Travel
Re-Thinking our precious Tourism Industry
https://www.caymaniantimes.ky/news/seven-miles-but-less-beach
When Henry Ford invented the automoble that changed the historical way that transported people, services and products, it transformed the way we lived in the past and brought us into the future by creating new jobs of making aotomobiles, painting automobiles, car automobile repairs, etc…………………… creation of new colleges and universities, university housing developments, shopping centers, restaurants and other sources of leisure and recreational entertainment
Fastfoward those inventions to the modern day of Climate Change and the warming of the ocean waters where Ice Bergs are breaking away from Antarctica the size of the United Kingdom.
Causing alarming Beach Erosion, rising of the Oceans Sea Waters and the lost of our Famous Seven Mile Beach that is requiring Caymanians to Re-Think our precious Tourism Industry
If we wish to remain relivant in the Tourism Industry, we will have to start offering Condo/Hotels with Salt Water Water Attraction Parks in undeveloped parts of the the island with leisure and recreational activities to preserve and keep our Tourism Product in tact for the future if we wish to continue to offer our people honest and gainful employment as well as to continue offering our visiting tourist guest enjoyable scenic activities
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/01/25/world/antarctica-brunt-iceberg-climate/index.html
Can anyone say, or advise whether or not there is any plans to re-zone the Interior Lands in North Side, High Rock East End and the Cayman Brac Bluff to Hotel/ Commercial for local property owners to consider developing there land with developments like what is mentioned above???
a certain billionaire owns most of land there! he gets what he wants…ZZZZZ
They are threatening to cease the exemptions at the airfield coz Dart wants it moved to his land to the east, so that his land becomes more valuable.
Like someone said, Richie Smith has been saying for decades that they need to move. But, why?
Lay out all the options, including the following:
– CIG buy the land for current location;
– change operations or size of aircraft to meet CAA certifications for inter-island travel
– renovate the airfield building.
Surely all the above has to be cheaper and easier than building a new airport for large planes on dart land?
Kenny, please un-mute
Several of your statements are not correct.
The information and analyses you are asking for is in a report that was submitted to the CIAA and CAA in 2003. It was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan. I believe that makes it a public document. Get a copy and educate yourself.
The elites second and third homes in Little Smug Cayman should be taxed as such. Massive house shortage in Grand Cayman. If they love it so much compared to GC go live there permanently and let a Caymanian live in your other homes.
Buy my house if you need it. It is for sale.
It might come to that. Grand Cayman is pretty much ruined at this point. Doesn’t look or feel like Cayman anymore.
Cuba sounds like a better place for you.
You remind me of the little Donkey that used to keep the grass down on the airstrip over there – except he had a purpose. Dumb ass, this is about CIG wasting our money on a new airport that isn’t necessary.
Little Cayman is a municipal airport, and CAA wants all three to meet FAA international airport standards for security, fire suppression etc. No is the correct answer.
yes stop sending aircraft entirely.
Just stop flying there. End of problem. The elite want to keep Little Cayman for themselves let them fund the way to get there.
The elite being all of us that want to be able to go somewhere that reminds us of what Cayman once was? of the peace and tranquility we once had?
didnt know making 25K a year made me elite, can you tell my bank that?
No way you can make even one trip a year if you make $25k a year. My guess is you have a trust fund or wealthy family.
Bring back Island Air! End of problem!
The real tragedy in all this is that the current runway sits on several parcels of land owned by maybe a half dozen people, including some of the richest Caymanians.
They could easily work together and with CIG to build a new modern terminal across the road and create a secure fenced area around the runway. There is plenty of land on which this can be done, while leaving the runway as is.
If they were just a little bit civic minded they could even gift the newly created airport and runway to CIG.
CIG could them repurpose the current terminal land as a public beach facility.
I guess all of that is a stretch and perhaps I am living in an alternate reality even thinking it. But one can dream.
The UK CAA has no problem licensing commercial Twin Otter flights into Barra Airport in Scotland on a runway that is a public beach. So how can it be that the current LC airport is such an insurmountable problem for our CAA which operates under the authority of the UK CAA?
What we are looking at here is a bunch of local government authorities that can’t even bother to pick up the phone and call each other.
Does Cayman always have to be operated as if it’s the Titanic?
Exactly. Then there is the seaplane option a la Maldives. Of course that would not allow for tens of millions to be paid to preferred bidders so is not even on the table it seems.
Float kits for twin otters are readily available. it would add to the ‘charm’ of arriving in LYB while the pilot ties the aircraft to a purpose built dock.
We are all moving to Scotland anyway, so may as well get lined up with how the jocks do stuff!
Hoots mon! We dinnae want your foreign ways ower here! I’m awa to knit ma kilt and catch a wee haggis for dinner!
Ask the Governor’s Office which has oversight of Civil Aviation Authority if you really want an answer
Check out the exemptions for the Airport in Saba, Dutch West Indies or St. Barts, French West Indies. Spectacular landings and departures at both and both still operating on a daily basis. Leave the Little airport alone.
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
get ready to be over developed and over-populated just like Grand Cayman. You better fight this tooth and nail and by any means necessary, once its gone its gone and it aint coming back. once you give an inch its over. Trust a Grand Caymanian.
LTD da Unboozler
Time to get with the modern times. Build it already!
small town hypocrites….
i wonder what was there before they moved there and built their houses and started to pollute the place?
A small, safe, workable and efficient grass airstrip. A beautiful environment that the great majority of residents respect, and seek to preserve and protect.
Thank you. Little Cayman is all that’s left of the Cayman Islands. Cayman Brac is not far behind Grand Cayman in destruction.They are cutting down trees like they are making paper.