$45.5M spent since 2021 buying land for crown

| 28/08/2024 | 61 Comments
East End lot bought by CIG this year

(CNS): Since coming to office in 2021, the Cayman Islands Government, initially PACT and then UPM, has spent at least CI$45.5 million on acquiring more than 60 pieces of land, most of which were bought over the last 18 months. CI$12 million has been spent in Cayman Brac alone, over $2.1 million on Scranton Park and some $20 million for beach access on all three islands. But less than C$1.6 million has been spent on conserving endangered natural habitats or species.

The land shopping bill is significant, and much of it is on beachfront and shoreline land that has been acquired to provide public access and prevent development. But only a tiny fraction is being set aside for real conservation purposes, even though some of the lots, including some of the more expensive acquisitions, appear to have been financed by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

North Side land bought to expand NS Primary School

According to information released to a CNS reader following a freedom of information request to the Ministry of District Administration and Lands, the government has also spent $2,700,000 on the old Mariner’s Cove site in Prospect for a health and wellness park and $5,600,000 on the waterfront site in George Town for the tourism minister’s planned training and attraction centre.

While the documents released under the FOI law listed around 60 pieces of land, it is not clear where all of the lots acquired are located. CNS has cross-referenced using open-source information and government documents, such as the Ministry of Lands annual reports, to find out where the land is and more details on why the property was purchased and what the CIG plans to do with it.

However, in most cases, there is very little information available to the public about the land that has been purchased on its behalf.

Some of the beachfront acquisitions have been very expensive, such as block 39E parcel 67, which was acquired for $2,178,000 to provide public access to the shoreline and prevent development in the Rum Point area. The government has acquired several costly beachfront lots in the district of North Side along Rum Point Drive, but it is not clear exactly where many of them are or what the CIG plans to do with these sites, if anything.

The government also spent $1.3 million on land for public shoreline access and to prevent development in Old Man Bay using money from the EPF, a fund set aside to buy land to conserve specific habitats and endangered species under the National Conservation Act. However, this plot of land has not been acquired under the NCA, and, again, there is no publicly available information to explain the purchase.

As the Department of Environment and the National Conservation Council struggle to find the resources to buy land needed to protect specific endangered endemic flora like the ghost orchid or fauna like the blue iguana, the CIG has recently acquired a significant amount of land for an array of purposes. But it does not appear to be coordinating with its own environmental experts to find out which land parcels are in the most environmentally sensitive areas.

Beach access is a major problem, and it is extremely important to acquire land to enable people to continue enjoying Cayman’s beautiful coastlines. However, in some cases where land has been acquired, the government is clearing the natural habitat from these coastal areas and building infrastructure and car parks that local people feel are unnecessary.

At the new public beach at Pease Bay, the natural habitat has been sacrificed to make way for numerous parking lots, a turtle mosaic roundabout, and other concrete structures.

See a summary of purchases put together by CNS below and see more info in the CNS Library.


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Category: Government Finance, Politics

Comments (61)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    We need a clear list of every parcel bought, the price, the estimated value and who the seller was. There is no way this isn’t a SCAM.

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    • Anonymous says:

      12 million spent buying land in the Brac ? must bought lots of the Brac land ? as land are still fairly cheap there.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What have they done to the tower building site, the glass house site? Money could have been used to make better use of these sites? – 20 years and nothing! the politian’s should be ashamed?

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    • Anonymous says:

      if government is buying all this beachfront land j hope the put it in law that thr beach access should be wider enough for a ambulance to have enough space to get to someone that needs help and not a walk way

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Vote this lot out at the next election….

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  4. Anonymous says:

    Priceless! Remember how the cruise assoc said they needed more eco-attractions. The water park didn’t fly so they’ve used the EPF to ‘create’ eco-tourism sites and pocketed the incentives. Caymanians are so gullible to think this has anything to do with helping them. Watching a farce.

  5. Anonymous says:

    So now the people are competing with Government to purchase land? Is this not a form of market manipulation.? I don’t think for one minute that all of these properties were bought to deter development.
    We need to know who the properties were purchased from, what they were valued at, proof of business case for the purchase that defines future use of the land and which realtors were involved.
    Madam Auditor General we the people want answers.

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    • BWindsor says:

      Why a tourist training building on the sea on North Church street. Any training can be done elsewhere . The property formerly owned by Ernie Smatts should be opened up for locals and tourists alike. Kenny purchased it three years ago and has done nothing until this week.
      More importantly why is there no planning permission. Is Kenny above the law?

  6. MERVYN CUMBER says:

    The Assembly building stands on what used to be Alexandria Park. It was not used much and that is probably why the site was chosen. I do wonder if the planned Scranton Park will end up the same way.

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    • Anonymous says:

      CIG can’t even bother to do something with the Glass House. And they can all see it from the windows of the new GAB.

      Meanwhile the $100,000,000 CHHS is going through the death throws of CIG maintenance and looking shabbier with each passing year. They can’t even bother to hose the mildew off the roofs.

      “Can’t even bother”. Proposed new motto of CIG.

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      • MERVYN CUMBER says:

        Countless times I have suggested that it be converted into a home for the National Museum. Perfect place with the surrounding grounds, and walking distance from the Cruise piers.

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        • Anonymous says:

          Ah yes, the national monument to asbestos and horrendous architecture. Makes perfect sense.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    No one should be able to chop down a tree without planning permission. These Landscaping companies are destroying the islands chopping down the trees. They should not be allowed to clear land. They do just as much damage if not more than a bulldozer.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I guess no one should sing lullaby to their kids or tuck them to bed without permission from the government. A private property is a private property. Let’s not advance ourselves to explicit plantation era. The government may designate areas of restrictions in place so that prospective property owners are aware of their rights. Let’s please respect private property rights and not communal mob mentality.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    and they haven’t done ANYTHING for our children! Oh no, sorry, the have… they broke their hearts by not saving the world famous Black Pearl Skate Park! Losers!!!

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  9. Anonymous says:

    Developing swampland in the central mangrove area presents a unique opportunity for the government to invest in the future of the community. The cost of land in this area is significantly lower compared to other regions, with prices ranging from CI$6000-9000 per acre. This makes it an attractive option for the government to acquire land for development projects, such as building low-cost homes.

    By constructing larger homes ranging from 1200-2500 sq ft with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, the government can provide affordable housing options to residents. Additionally, the proximity of quarries in the area offers the advantage of reduced transportation costs for construction materials, allowing for more efficient construction processes.

    Investing in infrastructure such as roads and potentially a cargo dock in the central mangrove area can further enhance the accessibility and connectivity of the region. This strategic development can address future challenges such as traffic congestion by encouraging a shift towards eastern expansion, as westward growth may become unsustainable in the long term.

    Furthermore, planned town development in the central mangrove area can accommodate the projected population growth effectively, resembling the success of projects like Camana Bay. The presence of natural water drainage areas in the swampland offers a practical solution for managing water flow and creating green spaces for families to enjoy.

    In conclusion, developing swampland in the central mangrove area not only offers cost-effective solutions to housing and infrastructure development but also presents an opportunity for sustainable growth and community enhancement. By seizing this opportunity, the government can establish a thriving and well-planned community for future generations to benefit from.

    When looking for a home that includes solar power, cargo area, children’s parks, walking spaces, and areas with water features, it’s important to prioritize these features during your search.

    1. **Solar Power**: Look for homes that have solar panels installed or have the potential to add solar power. This sustainable energy source can help you save on electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

    2. **Cargo Area**: Consider homes with extra storage space or a designated cargo area, such as a garage or shed, to store outdoor equipment, tools, and other belongings.

    3. **Children’s Parks**: Explore neighborhoods that have nearby children’s parks or playgrounds where your kids can play and socialize with other children in the community.

    4. **Walking Spaces**: Seek out neighborhoods with well-maintained sidewalks, walking trails, or pedestrian-friendly streets that make it safe and enjoyable to take a stroll or go for a bike ride.

    5. **Areas with Water Features**: Look for homes near ponds, lakes, rivers, or community pools where you can relax by the water, go fishing, or enjoy recreational activities like boating or swimming.

    By keeping these features in mind, you can find a home that suits your lifestyle and provides a healthy and enjoyable environment for you and your family.When looking for a home that includes solar power, cargo area, children’s parks, walking spaces, and areas with water features, it’s important to prioritize these features during your search.

    1. **Solar Power**: Look for homes that have solar panels installed or have the potential to add solar power. This sustainable energy source can help you save on electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

    2. **Cargo Area**: Consider homes with extra storage space or a designated cargo area, such as a garage or shed, to store outdoor equipment, tools, and other belongings.

    3. **Children’s Parks**: Explore neighborhoods that have nearby children’s parks or playgrounds where your kids can play and socialize with other children in the community.

    4. **Walking Spaces**: Seek out neighborhoods with well-maintained sidewalks, walking trails, or pedestrian-friendly streets that make it safe and enjoyable to take a stroll or go for a bike ride.

    5. **Areas with Water Features**: Look for homes near ponds, lakes, rivers, or community pools where you can relax by the water, go fishing, or enjoy recreational activities like boating or swimming.

    By keeping these features in mind, you can find a home that suits your lifestyle and provides a healthy and enjoyable environment for you and your family.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You mean Dartville #2

    • Anonymous says:

      This was written by ChatGPT: there are several giveaway artefacts in the text. That further diminishes its credibility, even beyond the diminution caused by the content of the comment.

  10. Cheese Face says:

    $45 Mil on land, but no traffic police?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Plenty of police – in fact, one of the highest #s of police per capita in the entire world – but they are not concerned with actually doing their job. Most are just immigrants here on a prolonged jolly. Many will not arrest their fellow Jamaican countrymen, who are the ones that are primarily (but by no means exclusively) breaking the rules of the road. Just wait for the next road block and watch how they interact with one another if you have any doubt that this is reality.

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  11. doodlebug says:

    Good research here, CNS.
    Thanks for your efforts to throw some light on this land-buying matter.
    Are the Scranton purchases possibly for low-cost housing? Strange there’s no stated policy behind those acquisitions – gov’t needs to bear in mind that people assume the worst (ie corruption) when there’s no explanation offered.

    CNS Note: Sorry if that’s not clear all of that land is under the same heading as its all for the Scranton Park development.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    It’s clear to see what is happening here. Pieces of land are bought at very much inflated prices as a way to direct public funds to the personal bank accounts of the MLAs, their friends and families, and others. Then they are sold again I expect at much lower than market value back to those same sorts of people. It’s just a way of transferring money from the ordinary people to the rich people again, robbing all of us.
    We all know it, but we are unable to stop it happening. Each and every transaction should be fully transparent, public record, and investigated by an independent auditor. Then when transactions are found not to be in the public interest, or at the correct valuations, the people responsible should be jailed.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Zero spent on chicken management programs.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    More vote buying ….. where are the business cases and independent valuations to support prices paid… hope the auditor general reports on these.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    I’m a bit confused as to why it’s necessary to purchase property to protect beach access when, as far as I understand, landowners are legally required to provide, or at the very least not obstruct, beach access around waterfront properties.

    If this is not being done isn’t that more of a matter of enforcement? Or have I misunderstood something?

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    • doodlebug says:

      You are correct. Landowners have to provide beach access if so asked by CIG.
      There is not a problem with beach access in Cayman. Govt has recently stated, as far as I recall, that there are are over 300 beach access points. In Pease Bay alone we have four beach access points within a space of 800 yards. They are very rarely used.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    “CI$12 million has been spent in Cayman Brac alone, over $2.1 million on Scranton Park”
    Clear evidence of corruption and vote buying.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    And Julianna bought good bluff land running farmers off to build a school.That is some good soil. Also, destroying trees to build a parking lot on the bluff.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    Election promises being delivered just in time.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    sell it all to the billionaires! u cant fix stupid! i looking elsewhere in retirement….

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  20. Anonymous says:

    What a joke. Our government hate us.

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  21. Anonymous says:

    just don’t buy more beach land for cemeterys….

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  22. Annoying says:

    My humble opinion is that it’s great for Government to purchase land, however this Government and past Governments why did they wait until prices were through the roof before thinking of this? With a little financial foresight like Dart for example knows how to obtain value for money. Is it not possible for elected officials that claim they are all for the Caymanian people have this quality?

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  23. Corruption is endemic says:

    Let’s face it, lots of straight up thieving goes on around here.

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Friends and family plan.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Knowing the people involved you can put sure bets on the realtor selected for these sales..UDP what’s in this for me is back in full force.

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  25. Anonymous says:

    Land acquired by any government should not require an FOI request. The acquisitions should be made public knowledge via the Internet as soon as possible after the transaction. This should include the cost, location, seller, and potential usage.

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  26. Patricia Bryan says:

    I cannot help but to say that in the immediate past 9 years, even almost 4 years, a new facility could have been built (if that is what it would take). Since the existing property/facility have not materialised find a Plan B please. Governments have the authority and power to get these projects passed and operational. Land has been bought around the islands, projects have been approved, started then completed. Yet the most DIRE needed facility is still in limbo. With no end in sight. Our people want to be home amongst loved ones. The millions being spent to facilitate them overseas. Who exactly is benefitting from this?! We sadly realize it is not the patients or their beloveds 😔. This is an utmost failure to provide services for our vulnerable. Utmost failure. 💔
    My personal heart tugging opinion is that families/loved ones may want to consider consulting Human Rights and Constitutional Rights attorneys, maybe a class action suit for Judicial Review if necessary. All else efforts obviously have failed for all these years. Taking action through provisions in the law is the only power one has. Patients are broken hearted, missing their homeland, and missing loved ones and families.

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  27. Anonymous says:

    Up until the PACT/UPM disaster, where the corruption is out in the open and blatant, prior governments were somewhat more restrained and only employed the EPF to fiddle CIG’s accounts by showing it on the books as an available cash balance.

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  28. Anonymous says:

    Government should own more land.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Depends on what type of land. Government certainly does not need to buy random plots that have no environmental, historic or preservation value.

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  29. Anonymous says:

    Since the lands were purchased with public money it requires ultimate transparency where these parcels are and whom they were purchased from. It’s our money, we deserve nothing less than full disclosure! By the sounds of it there seems a high probability that some lands were purchased from persons with a direct connection to MPs.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Like the parcel bought in West Bay for over a million, then valued at $75,000…!

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      • Anonymous says:

        And the police make no arrests. And the Governor grins. And the Commissioner says the crime situation is stable. And the DG says it is all world class.

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  30. Anonymous says:

    Probably the best money spent during their time in office, even if there was nothing altruistic about the purchases.

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  31. Anonymous says:

    49B46 – Access to what exactly? The bush?

    39E67 – You sure they don’t mean 39E69?

    49B234, 235, 236 – Prevention of development? Didn’t Jay say he was building a park there? A couple hundred feet away from an existing park?

    20C184 – Bullshit

    – No development would ever have been permitted give the proximity to the runway.
    – Access? – Why is the gate locked and who has keys?

    57E224 – How is the Bo Miller Memorial Park coming along?

    59A333 – Conservation of what? They giant road running through the middle of it and the adjacent quarries?

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  32. Anonymous says:

    Ah yes. Using the EPF to buy property from your favoured constituents and voters.

    The politicians took a while to figure this out. But then along came PACT/UPM.

    Corruption is real and here folks.

    Lady Guv? FCO? Any concerns?

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    • Anonymous says:

      Well now they can use it to buy John John a new Tahoe as well. Given that he used the last one to attack an excavator, I’d say its environmental protection.

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    • Jus Dis says:

      Oh dear! Fancy a cup of tea?

    • Anonymous says:

      Nah, happened under PPM too. Remember Barbara Connolly’s purchase of land next to Smith’s with EPF conservation money? Yeah, her plan after buying it was to cut down the trees and make it a car park. SMH.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Her and Julianna should be bffs. No politician in history has destroyed as much trees for parking lots as Julianna. Have you all seen Watering Place Gardens? Not a single garden there. She chopped everything down. It looks like a desert. I wish I could upload pictures here to show what a real garden looks like.

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